Moderator:
Yong Hsin Yue
Group Managing Director, Kuok Group Singapore
Vice-Chairman, Singapore Business Federation

Panel Discussion 1
When Titans Clash: New Era of Globalisation

The global business landscape has undergone a paradigm transformation in recent years, characterised by the clash between economic titans and the end of globalisation as we know. This panel discussion delves into the intricate complexities of this unprecedented shift, with a proliferation of new ways of doing business and the emergence of a new economic order. Against the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties and technological advancements, businesses operating in Singapore and beyond must navigate through a landscape marked by intense competition, trade conflicts, and evolving consumer behaviors. Understanding the drivers, risks, and opportunities inherent in this new era is essential for C-suite executives and business leaders as they chart the course for businesses in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic global marketplace.

Moderator:
Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director, Economic Development Board

Panellists:
1. Ari Sarker, President, Asia Pacific, MasterCard
2. Peter Mumford, Practice Head, Southeast Asia, Eurasia Group
3. Philbert Chua, Managing Director, Container, PSA Singapore
4. Stephen Ng, Head of Southeast Asia and South Asia, CEO of Singapore, China International Capital Corporate Limited (CICC)
5. Roy Tan, Head, Enterprise Banking International, OCBC

Panel Discussion 2
Asia Path to Net Zero: Challenges & Collaboration

The Asia Pacific region consumes more than 40% of the world’s power and generates more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions. With fossil fuel contributing to 85% of the current energy mix in the region, transitioning to a sustainable energy future will be a key challenge in Asia’s path towards net zero.

Across the region, there is a crucial need to close the gap in universal electricity access, energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption, while ensuring that energy is accessible and affordable to support economic development and business growth, as well as to serve marginalised communities. This panel will delve into the multifaceted challenges and promising opportunities for collaboration in realising the region’s Net Zero pathway, focusing on the necessity of blended financing mechanisms, fostering public-private partnerships, and driving innovation to accelerate the transition towards sustainable energy.

Moderator:
Fang Eu-Lin, Partner, Sustainability and Climate Change Leader, PwC SG

Panellists:
1. Ho Ren Hua, Chief Executive Officer, Thai Wah Public Company Limited
2. Manish Pant, Executive Vice President, International Operations, Schneider Electric
3. Kelvin Tan, Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Finance & Investment, ASEAN, HSBC Singapore
4. Yuki Yasui, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Network Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)

Moderator:
Chew Sutat 
Chairman
Community Chest

Panellists:
1. Vipul Chawla, Group Chief Executive Officer, FairPrice Group
2. Karen Ngui, Managing Director and Head of Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, DBS Group
3. Tan Li San, Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Social Service

Panel Discussion 3
Asia Digital Economy: Payments, Participation, Profitability

Asia’s digital economy holds big promise. In Southeast Asia alone, it is estimated to reach US$100 billion in 2023, and China is far ahead with value reaching US$7 trillion in 2022. But challenges stand in the way of realising its potential. The digital payment landscape is fragmented – infrastructure limitations, interoperability and cybersecurity risks pose significant hurdles to ensure growth of digital payment systems in the region. Access to technology is unevenly distributed within and between countries, and a lack of skilled individuals make it difficult for SMEs to adopt new technologies. Is there a path towards profitable growth for Asia’s digital economy?

Moderator:
Wong Wai Meng, Chairman, SGTech
Council Member, Singapore Business Federation
Chairman, SBF’s Smart Technologies Action Committee

Panellists:
1. Chang Chew Lik, Senior Partner of Financial Services, NCS
2. Adelyn Ong, Managing Director, Singapore & South Asia, China Mobile International (Singapore) Pte Ltd
3. Albert Liew, Managing Director, Singapore and Indochina, BIPO Service Singapore
3. Jens Lottner, CEO, Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint- stock Bank (Techcombank)

Future-Ready Businesses (FRB) Spotlight
[By Invitation Only]

Group 1: Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant (MEDP)
KMEDP is a large scale dual mode desalination plant that can treat both seawater and freshwater by using reverse osmosis and other advanced membrane technology. The plant features a sleek modern design that breaks away from those of conventional water treatment plants and is the first to feature green spaces that can be used by public.

Group 2: Schneider Electric Innovation Hub
Explore the future of energy and technology with a captivating visit to the Schneider Electric Innovation Hub. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge solutions and visionary concepts shaping the world of sustainable energy management. Witness firsthand the latest innovations in smart buildings, renewable energy integration, and digital transformation. Discover how Schneider Electric is leading.

As the philanthropy landscape evolves in Asia, traditional charitable acts are transforming into strategic initiatives. This panel, designed for business leaders and corporate stakeholders, will examine how strategic philanthropy aligns with corporate goals and how companies can leverage their resources and influence to drive social change across Asia.

Moderator:
Prof Annie Koh
Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice),
Singapore Management University

Panellists:
1. Keith Chua, Executive Chairman, ABR Holdings
2. Kathryn Dioth, Chief Executive Officer, Hinrich Foundation
3. Benny Lee, Executive Vice President, RGE
4. Patrick Lee, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
5. Ng Boon Heong, Executive Director and Chief Executive officer, Temasek Foundation

Panellists:

1. Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry
2. Zac Toh, Founder, City Sprouts
3. Pearlyn Phau, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singlife

Moderator:
Cheryl Chen
President, S&P Global Foundation and Senior Director, Social Sustainability
S&P Global

0903

Andrew Kwan
Group Managing Director, Commonwealth Capital Group
President, Restaurant Association of Singapore
Vice-Chairman / Honorary Secretary, Singapore Business Federation

Panel Discussion 1
Between Promise and Peril: How Asia’s Supply Chains Are Reckoning with Global Bifurcation

Global trade increasingly is at the vortex of a convergence between foreign, defense, and macroeconomic policies, much of these at odds with one another amid intensifying geopolitical competition between the world’s largest economies.

Businesses today are having to recalibrate difficult supply chain decisions that must thread the needle among converging and often competing interests over foreign direct investment, technology and innovation, and supply security in critical minerals and other key resources. These are decisions they have to make ahead of a blaze of consequential elections around the globe this year.

How do businesses see supply chains changing in their region and across the world? How are they hedging in an era when geopolitical alignment has become a key corporate consideration? How are they factoring in setbacks to multilateral cooperation, the rise of ‘minilateralism’, and as major free trade agreements such as the CPTPP, RCEP, and IPEF remain in fledgling state?

Moderator:
Alex Capri, Research Fellow, Hinrich Foundation and Lecturer, NUS Business School

Panellists:
1. Michael Kiely, President, Global Public Affairs, UPS
2. Jane Lim, Deputy Secretary (Trade), Ministry of Trade and Industry
3. Phil O’Reilly,  Managing Director, Iron Duke Partners
4. Tan Chong Meng, Vice-Chairman, SG TraDex

Panellists:
1. Frank Debets, Managing Partner, Customs and International Trade, PwC Worldtrade Management Services, PwC Singapore
2. Fam Wee Wei, Director, Carbon Mitigation Division and International Trade Cluster (Green Economy & Sustainability), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)
3. Jeremy Goon, Chief Sustainability Officer, Wilmar International
4. Law Heng Dean, Managing Director, Pollination Group

Breakout Track 1
Empowering Singapore Businesses through Digitalising Trade Processes
Digitalising trade processes and documents can enable businesses to improve cost, manpower, and operational efficiencies while improving sustainability. The adoption of digital solutions using interoperable standards and secure technologies allows businesses to automate and streamline workflows, improve transparency and traceability of documentation, and reduce the cost of manual processing. Industry experts for this breakout session will guide participants through how to start the process of incorporating paperless trade into existing processes and systems, drawing insights from real-world examples and best practices in digital trade implementation across industries and regions.

Speakers:
1. Choo Wai Yee, Director (Networked Trade Platform), Singapore Customs
2. Hannah Nguyen, Director, Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
3. Kerk Wei Yang, Head of Research, Stability Protocol
4. Sunil Senapati, CEO, XDC Trade Network
5. Loh Sin Yong, Director, TradeTrust, Sectoral Transformation Group, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Time: 1430 – 1600

Group 3: PSA Innovation Centre (HQ @ Pasir Panjang)
Showcase PSA’s next generation port and wider supply chain ecosystem

Group 4: Mastercard Experience Center
The Mastercard Experience Centers (MEC) are interactive spaces around the world that immerse customers, partners, and employees in Mastercard’s evolving story as one of the leading technology and innovation brands. Mastercard Experience Centers blend the digital and physical and leverage data visualizations, extended reality, and next-gen demos to enhance visitor engagement and spark conversations. In the Singapore MEC, visitors can participate in a unique showcase of Mastercard’s thought leadership in commerce ecosystems called the Innovation Circuit. The Innovation Circuit allows for a hands-on exploration of current and future technologies and an immersive depiction of how Mastercard leverages them to help our partners create advanced and engaging, but also seamless and secure transactions for their respective constituencies.