SINGAPORE \u2013 The Asia Future Summit (AFS) returns for its fifth edition later in November as leading policymakers, business leaders and industry experts will examine Asia\u2019s evolving role in an increasingly uncertain global environment.<\/p>\n
The full-day event, set to take place on Nov 27 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, is being jointly presented by SPH Media\u2019s key news titles \u2013 The Straits Times, The Business Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu \u2013 for the first time.<\/p>\n
The presenting sponsor is OCBC Bank. The official venue partner is Marina Bay Sands, and the official cloud partner is Amazon Web Services.<\/p>\n
The summit takes place as Singapore assumes the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027<\/span><\/a>, with the expanded newsrooms\u2019 collaboration allowing the event to examine the region\u2019s challenges and opportunities through a wider range of editorial perspectives, expertise and networks.<\/p>\n The theme for 2026 \u2013 Asia Ascendant: Shaping the region\u2019s role in a new global order \u2013 reflects a period of profound global uncertainty, as established norms are challenged and economic and geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve.<\/p>\n Against this backdrop, the summit will explore how Asia can navigate these shifts, strengthen regional cooperation, forge new partnerships and play a greater role in shaping the global agenda.<\/p>\n Discussions will centre on the region\u2019s priorities in economic integration, technological transformation and regional resilience.<\/p>\n Among the speakers are Singapore\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Malaysia\u2019s Minister of Economy Akmal Nasir, OCBC Group chief executive Tan Teck Long, and Singapore Exchange Group CEO Loh Boon Chye.<\/p>\n Akmal and Loh are part of a four-person panel along with the Indian government\u2019s chief economic advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran and Hutong Research partner Guo Shan. They will discuss if the world is headed for a global crisis and how Asia\u2019s economies should respond.<\/p>\n OCBC\u2019s Tan will join Trip.com CEO Jane Sun, Temus CEO Sng Ren Yeong and Amazon Web Services\u2019 head of AI acceleration Varun Dayal at a separate panel to discuss how Asia will shape the future of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n A third panel will comprise Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia founder Dino Patti Djalal, Singapore Management University external research fellow and political economist June Park, and Fudan University\u2019s professor and deputy director at the Centre for American Studies Zhao Minghao. They will speak at a session on geopolitics and discuss whether the world\u2019s major powers will clash and what middle powers can do.<\/p>\n SPH Media executive chairman Chan Yeng Kit said the AFS will help the national news company build on its role of fostering informed public discourse on issues of national and regional importance.<\/p>\n \u201cBy harnessing the collective strengths of our five key publications, we amplify our convening power for influential voices, connect diverse perspectives and deepen conversations that are shaping the region\u2019s future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n OCBC\u2019s head of global consumer financial services Sunny Quek said 2026\u2019s AFS takes place at a time when both businesses and investors are navigating an increasingly complex global environment.<\/p>\n \u201c(We are) pleased to provide our Premier Banking clients with access to perspectives from leading policymakers, business leaders and industry experts as they discuss the forces shaping Asia\u2019s future. The summit offers a valuable platform for our clients to be part of conversations that matter and gain fresh perspectives,\u201d he said. THE BUSINESS TIMES<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n For more information, visit www.asiafuturesummit.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nEconomics, AI and geopolitics<\/h2>\n
Fostering informed public discourse<\/h2>\n
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