About 14th ASEAN & Asia Forum

Regional Opportunities, Fractured World Order

 

2022 offered a breakaway from the COVID slump. Countries around the world were able to recalibrate restrictions and reopen their borders. Badly hit sectors such as tourism and aviation began to see a surge in demand. The digitalisation boom amid the pandemic also enabled businesses to transform and expand their market access.

Yet, global headwinds are threatening to disrupt the path of economic recovery. The Russia-Ukraine war and the intensifying Sino-American rivalry create an environment of uncertainty. Inflation risks and supply chain protectionism are pushing economies to become more inward-looking, threatening to reinvent globalisation. Climate change remains an existential threat and may be overshadowed amidst more compelling geopolitical challenges. What does this mean for ASEAN and Asia?

To help businesses understand these issues, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is organising the 14th ASEAN and Asia Forum (AAF), on the theme “Regional Opportunities, Fractured World Order”, focusing on the following questions:

  • What are the emerging challenges disrupting the pandemic recovery? How can ASEAN and Asia work together to face the headwinds of geopolitical rivalry, the threat of bifurcation, trade protectionism and climate change?
  • Amidst disruptions arising from geopolitical headwinds, how will ASEAN stay the course on sustainability and achieve its climate ambitions?
  • What areas of innovation are possible in the advancement of the digital economy? How can the public and private sector collaborate to drive growth and inclusion?

About the ASEAN and Asia Forum (AAF)

Into its 14th edition, the AAF is a platform for the private sector to better understand the region’s political, economic, and strategic challenges, as well as their implications for businesses. The annual Forum draws more than 200 high-level corporate leaders and policymakers each year, and encourages open dialogue and networking among regional stakeholders.

Previous AAFs have featured Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore; Tan Sri Dato’ Muhyiddin bin Yassin, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; and U Soe Thane, Union Coordinating Minister for Economic Development, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The AAF attracts significant media coverage, widely covered by both local and regional media outlets. News coverage of the AAF appears in media outlets such as TODAY, Channel NewsAsia (CNA), and Bloomberg, as well as via social media platform Twitter and Facebook. The media engagement has been useful in promoting awareness about ASEAN and international affairs.

About the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)

Founded in 1962, the SIIA is Singapore’s oldest think tank dedicated to the research, analysis, and discussion of regional and international issues that matter to business. The SIIA is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which plays a key role in Track II diplomacy, supplementing official dialogue between governments. The SII A is also a founding member of the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), a regional alliance of think tanks. Since 2013, the SIIA has ranked as one of the top think tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the Global Go-To Think Tank Index by the University of Pennsylvania.