SIIA Talk | Beyond the Storms – Climate Adaptation and Resilience in ASEAN Agriculture
2026-03-16 17:30 - 19:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | SIIA, 60A Orchard Road, #04-03 (Level 4M), Tower 1, The Atrium @Orchard International Involvement Hub, Singapore, 238890
In 2025, several ASEAN countries experienced severe tropical storms and monsoon floods, affecting millions of people and straining response capacity. Aside from the humanitarian impact, these weather events illustrate that the region’s agricultural systems remain vulnerable to shocks. The hit to supply chains and manufacturing from the 2025 storms was relatively manageable, but damage to crops and delays in harvesting have been more significant with losses reaching billions of US dollars across the region. With climate change bringing more frequent and potentially more severe extreme weather events, it is increasingly urgent to ensure that ASEAN’s agricultural producers are both resilient and productive, in order to meet both domestic nutritional needs and regional trade for economic growth. This talk at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) will explore how countries are strengthening the resilience of food and agricultural commodity systems, as well as exploring longer term climate adaptation and productivity goals.

What issues have the events of 2025 exposed, such as inefficiencies and misallocation in flood control, or environmental violations that have worsened the impact of landslides?

What infrastructure, capacity, and financing does the agricultural sector need to build resilience against extreme weather events and enhance long term climate adaptation?

What policy and governance changes are underway in ASEAN countries that will impact land management? What does this mean for supply chains and financiers in the sector?

Speakers:
Dr Sonny Domingo, Senior Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)
Mr Tomi Haryadi, Director, Food, Land, and Water Programme, World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia
Moderator: Mr Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Programme

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SIIA Talk | US-Israel-Iran: Implications for Geopolitics, International Law, and the Global Economy
2026-03-27 10:00 - 11:30 | SIIA, 60A Orchard Road, #04-03 (Level 4M), Tower 1, The Atrium @Orchard International Involvement Hub, Singapore, 238890
Attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran have prompted retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, hitting Israel and other countries in the region. Critics have argued that the operation is both illegal under US law without congressional approval and a violation of international law. Spillover effects are already emerging, with oil prices rising and Iran attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles nearly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade. This dialogue jointly organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and the Middle East Institute (MEI) will examine the geopolitical, legal, and economic questions arising from the crisis.

What are the political implications of the conflict, not just for the Middle East, but for the rest of the world including Southeast Asia and Singapore?
Does this action by the US and Israel mean an upending of the basic tenets of international law? What does this mean for countries like Singapore?
What impact, both immediate and in the medium to long-term, could this have on trade with the Middle East and for businesses in general?

Speakers:
Ms. Angela Mancini, Partner, Head of Geopolitical Risk Analysis – APAC, Control Risks
Prof. Joseph Liow, Chairman, Middle East Institute (MEI), National University of Singapore (NUS)
Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Moderator: Ms. Michelle Teo, Executive Director, Middle East Institute (MEI), National University of Singapore (NUS)
Programme:

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[Closed-door] CompCom Roundtable | Enhancing Singapore’s Global Competitiveness – Session 3
2026-04-10 13:45 - 15:30 | Singapore
The closed-door corporate roundtable is part of a four-part series convened by the SIIA to examine Singapore’s global competitiveness amid geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, and evolving global investment patterns. This series brings together senior leaders from multinational companies with regional and global influence to gather forward-looking insights that will inform SIIA’s policy-relevant analysis supporting ongoing deliberations by the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) Committee on Global Competitiveness.
In this third session, Prof. Simon Tay, Chairman of the SIIA, will provide a strategic framing analysis and moderate a candid discussion under the Chatham House Rule. The dialogue will focus on strengthening Singapore’s competitiveness, with emphasis on creating quality jobs and reinforcing the role of trust in underpinning Singapore’s position as a reliable and strategic regional hub.

[ELN Exclusive] Heat & Light with Mdm Halimah Yacob
2026-04-21 17:30 - 20:00 | SIIA, 60A Orchard Road, #04-03 (Level 4M), Tower 1, The Atrium @Orchard International Involvement Hub, Singapore, 238890
Our new ELN series titled “Heat & Light“, engages with complex and contested issues in international affairs. For our inaugural session, “Gaza – The Limits of Consensus”, we are honoured to host Mdm Halimah Yacob.
In this exclusive, closed-door discussion, we will explore the challenges of forging international consensus on the Gaza conflict, examining the tensions between political, humanitarian, and geopolitical perspectives amid an increasingly divided global landscape. This session will also reflect on what responsible leadership looks like in such moments, where clarity of judgment is required even when consensus is not.
Speaker:
Mdm. Halimah Yacob, Chancellor of the Singapore University of Social Sciences; former President of the Republic of Singapore
Facilitator:
Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
This event is exclusive to ELN participants only.

13th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SWR) - Resilient Commodities: Innovation and New Markets
2026-05-07 08:30 - 15:30 | One Farrer Hotel, 1 Farrer Park Station Road, Singapore, Singapore, 217562, Singapore
ASEAN’s commodity producers stand at a pivotal moment. Global trade flows are shifting, affected by Sino-American tensions. Nationalist and protectionist policies are changing how certain commodities are being traded. ASEAN economies are adjusting to these shifts and are increasingly looking to explore new markets beyond the United States, European Union, and even India and China, trading more within ASEAN and strengthening South-South trade. Producers in ASEAN are also aiming to move up the value chain, turning from primary exports of raw materials to high-value products such as sustainable fuels, while exploring avenues to turn waste to energy and contribute to climate resilience. Policymakers and businesses will need to consider what the future of commodities production and trade will look like, and how these evolving dynamics will affect sustainability in the region.
While commodities exports are important for ASEAN economies, food production is also crucial, especially as countries are increasingly paying attention to food resilience and social concerns. For ASEAN, sustainability is about more than conserving ecosystems. Sustainability is also about delivering affordable prices and securing livelihoods, while ensuring that agricultural systems are resilient in the face of climate change.
As a hub for business, innovation, and finance, Singapore has an important role in working together with its neighbours in ASEAN and the region’s private sector in navigating this dual future — staying competitive in global markets while advancing sustainable and resilient outcomes at home. The 13th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SWR) will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and experts to discuss the challenges facing the region’s agricultural commodities and food industries, while exploring opportunities for sustainable business and investment.
Programme
Please visit our website for more information on the programme and speakers lineup.
Registration Form
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SIIA Talk | U.S. Tariff Turbulence: Legal Uncertainty in Washington and What It Means for ASEAN Business
2026-06-23 17:30 - 19:00 | SIIA, 60A Orchard Road, #04-03 (Level 4M), Tower 1, The Atrium @Orchard International Involvement Hub, Singapore, 238890
As Washington moves beyond the one-year anniversary of “Liberation Day” tariffs in April, U.S. tariff policy remains in flux. Legal challenges and court rulings have raised fundamental questions about the authority underpinning recent trade measures, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional. U.S. importers are already pursuing refund claims against the federal government. In response, the Trump administration introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows tariffs of up to 15 per cent for a maximum of 150 days without Congressional approval. That temporary authority is set to expire in late July, although President Trump has expressed support for increasing the rate to 15 per cent. Developments in Washington continue to create uncertainty over the sustainability and legal durability of these measures.

How is the current U.S trade policy turbulence reshaping business confidence in the direction and credibility of future trade relations?
What are the implications for ASEAN economies as trade policy and geopolitics become more intertwined?
What does it mean for the reliability of agreement with Washington if new U.S tariffs bypass existing trade arrangements?

Speakers:
Mr. Alex Feldman, Partner, The Asia Group
Ms. Elizabeth Chelliah, Principal Trade Consultant, CFOTI, Singapore Business Federation (SBF); former Principal Trade Specialist (PTS), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Republic of Singapore
Moderator: Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Programme

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