FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS YEAR OPENER 2026
As technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty reshape the global landscape, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information engaged in a candid and wide-ranging discussion on Singapore’s strategic response to global changes, particularly in the digital domain, at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) Year Opener 2026, titled “New Year, New Order?”, which took place on 28 January 2026, at UBS AG.
In his opening remarks, SIIA Chairman Prof. Simon Tay said, “AI is advancing an unprecedented pace and scale. It’s changing what businesses do, how citizens interact, how economies function, and how societies shape… Trust is under a lot of pressure. For Singapore, this matters deeply. We are not a bystander. We are hub, and where possible, a rule-shaper or path finder. Our challenge is not to choose sides but to remain open to all, trusted by as many as possible, and relevant in a much more fragmented world.”
Minister Teo discussed harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for the public good and underscored the importance of building resilient digital and cyber infrastructure while ensuring that AI is deployed responsibly to benefit citizens and businesses.
Speaking on Singapore’s proactive approach to AI governance, Minister Teo said: “For a general purpose technology that is so profound in its impact, we wanted to signal early our aspiration to pursue AI for public good. We hope this helps to shape appropriate actions in the private sector. For the public sector, it follows that we cannot be laggards. We must learn to use it and become masterful in it.”
The dialogue also explored how governments, companies, and citizens can collaborate to build trusted, connected ecosystems that drive innovation and sustainable growth in the year ahead.
Patricia Quek, Head of Wealth Management UBS Singapore and SIIA Council Member, said, “AI is rapidly reshaping industries worldwide, transforming how organizations innovate, operate, and deliver value to their clients. As a strategic regional hub for UBS, Singapore was a natural choice for UBS’s first and largest AI and Transformation Factory, which has since expanded to five AI hubs globally. The cutting-edge solutions developed at our hubs will be a game changer for wealth management, where human expertise and AI intelligence collaborate to deliver better outcomes.”
About the SIIA Year Opener
The SIIA Year Opener is an annual dialogue that brings together policymakers, business leaders, and experts to assess global trends and their implications for Singapore and the region for the year ahead.
About the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Insights • Networks • Access
Established in 1962, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is a non-profit and independent think tank committed to producing policy analysis, fostering in-depth dialogues and bridging gaps between policymakers, private sector decision-makers and experts to shape public policy and social responses. Centred around ASEAN focused themes, the institute aims to deliver policy analysis in international affairs and on issues driving environmental sustainability.
The SIlA has been consistently ranked as one of the leading think tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in the Global Go To Think Tank Index by the University of Pennsylvania. Since 2017, the SIlA was ranked the No. 1 independent think tank in Asia. It was also recognised as one of the top 50 think tanks globally, excluding the United States of America. For two consecutive years since 2019, it was recognised as the No. 1 think tank in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific (excluding India). In 2020, it was also recognised as one of the think tanks with the best policy and institutional response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Media Contact:
Ms CHUA Yi Jie
Senior Executive, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement
Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Email: yijie.chua@siiaonline.org
