ADB-ESS Joint Seminar: "Asia and the Pacific’s Economic Outlook and Impact of the Middle East Conflict"

Singapore’s Budget 2026, as highlighted by Dr Chua Yeow Hwee, Dr Chua Hak Bin, and Dr Runchana Pongsaparn, marks a shift from short-term relief to long-term resilience and competitiveness. The panel noted sustained targeted cost-of-living support alongside strong investments in AI adoption, R&D, innovation, infrastructure and globalisation to boost productivity and growth. Emphasis was placed on upskilling workers and firms, strengthening retirement adequacy through CPF enhancements, supporting overseas expansion, and maintaining fiscal prudence. With tighter labour policies and more targeted household assistance, the Budget underscores adaptability, inclusive growth, climate resilience and deeper ASEAN integration as key to securing Singapore’s long-term economic strength and opportunities.

The 48th FAEA Conference convenes at a pivotal moment as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, steering regional cooperation amidst rising geopolitical risks, economic fragmentation, technological decoupling, and demographic shifts. The current U.S. administration’s implementation of significant tariffs on major trading partners and withdrawal from international climate commitments presents ASEAN economies with complex challenges and strategic opportunities in navigating an increasingly uncertain global landscape.

The 17th Singapore Economic Policy Forum (SEPF), jointly organised by the Economic Society of Singapore (ESS) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), was held on 24 October 2025, in conjunction with the Outstanding Economics Teacher Award (OEETA) presentation. The theme of this year’s forum was “Economic Policy in a Fragmented Global Environment.” We were honoured to have Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Minister in Charge of Energy, Science & Technology, Ministry of Trade and Industry, as our Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker. The panel featured distinguished speakers representing various sectors, including the private sector, government, academia, and finance.

The Economics Society of Singapore (ESS) is honoured to host Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned economist, global leader in sustainable development, and advocate for economic cooperation, as the distinguished guest speaker for the 6th ESS Distinguished Public Lecture, titled “ASEAN and the World Economy to 2050”. Professor Sachs shared how the global economy and ASEAN countries have developed over the years, and how it may be different in the coming years amid global uncertainty and tensions. He also raised three challenges relating to sustainable development, namely the climate crisis, ecological crisis and megapollution crisis. Professor Sachs encourages more cooperation and respect between countries to achieve a win-win situation for all.

In August 2016, ESS launched the inaugural Outstanding Economics Teacher Award in short OETA. The OETA recognises outstanding Economics teachers who have made exemplary contributions and exhibited excellence in teaching of Economics at the secondary school and pre-university levels. We would now like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the Outstanding Economics Teacher Award 2025 — Ms Chua Bee-Lian Valerie from Nanyang Junior College, and Mr Lim Mong Khai Melvin from St Andrew’s Junior College.

In celebration of the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) 69th anniversary, we were honoured to have Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong as our Guest-of-Honour and Keynote Speaker. On this occasion, Senior Minister Lee was conferred the 6th Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Society of Singapore, the Society’s highest lifetime accolade, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of economics in public life in Singapore.