Home to roost

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: What are the prospects for the global economy in the Year of the Rooster? In particular, what bright spots do you see, and what dangers?

Yeoh Oon Jin Executive Chairman PwC Singapore

The Year of Rooster presents new challenges and opportunities for the global economy. Politics will continue to dominate the headlines and have a significant impact on the economic agenda of nations; the increasing threat of protectionist policies will force globalisation to reshape itself. Closer to home, Asia will remain the fastest growing region in the world with Indonesia joining the elite club of 'trillion dollar' economies. Economic reforms in China will continue, and with the One Belt One Road initiative, China is expected to continue to grow at 6.5%+, and the region will benefit from spillover effects. In India, all eyes will be on the government's ability to roll-out the GST system of indirect taxes. Singapore is poised to benefit from Southeast Asia's continued high growth rate with rising wealth and consumption of the middle class. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will also begin to bring great challenges and opportunities to the manufacturing sector and Singapore businesses need to embrace these new technological advances especially in the space of robotics automation to improve productivity and reduce costs. Risks continue to exist due to global uncertainty and the threat of extremism.

Edmund Lee Senior Country Officer JP Morgan Singapore

While there are uncertainties surrounding the Trump administration's agenda, we believe there are reasons to be optimistic. President Trump is keen on boosting the American economy through U.S. business by deregulation and fiscal reform. This would be bullish for domestic corporate stocks and bonds as well as global ones. The US economic expansion is entering its seventh year and there seems no evidence to suggest a contraction this year. Despite fears around protectionism, business and consumer optimism is rising and we believe the global economy will grow by 2.9 per cent in 2017, up from a projected 2.6 per cent in 2016.

Lee Fook Chiew Chief Executive Officer Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

THE Asean region, with its growing middle class and the opportunities that this brings, will continue to be a bright spot for businesses. In countries such as Vietnam and Myanmar, forecasted gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates continue to be as high as 6-8 per cent. The rebound in commodity prices, while still not at the levels of the 2000s, is likely to help stabilise growth in Asean.

On the flip side, globally, the protectionist stance that the Trump administration in the US has adopted so far, as well as geopolitical tensions, could be major concerns. These could have an adverse impact on businesses globally.

Michael Blake Region Head & CEO Asia Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA Singapore Branch

FOR the first time in a number of years, we are seeing constructive data from the world's three largest economic blocs. The American, European and Chinese economies appear synchronised in a recovery phase as we move into the Year of the Rooster. This has important implications for investors - while the search for yield has been a successful strategy in 2016, it is time to pivot and prepare for recovery, some upside surprises in corporate earnings and, in particular, an acceleration in inflation across the US and Europe.

Pierre Veyres Regional Head for Southeast Asia Chief Executive Officer, BNP Paribas Singapore

CONTRARY to expectations, the global economy in 2017 is off to a positive start. Recent economic data have surprised on the upside - Brexit did not trigger an excessive slowdown in growth, and Donald Trump's election had a positive impact on markets.

We expect a favourable environment over the next few months, particularly for emerging markets. Commodity prices are higher, intra-Asian trade has revived and importantly, the Chinese economy is no longer experiencing deflation.

That said, there are some clouds on the horizon. 2016 taught us to expect the unexpected and for us, uncertainty will be the watchword for 2017. We are facing many unknowns (start of Brexit negotiations, changing economic policy mix in the US, European elections, China's slowdown) which could slow growth in this slightly buoyant environment.

John Bittleston Founder & Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

WORLD trade will expand in the Year of the Rooster. Further trade globalisation may be threatened by Brexit and Mr Trump but it takes time to impose tariffs, and those doing so will want to ensure that their economies do not suffer when it happens. Nobody wants a trade war, and there are enough pending military confrontations to satisfy even the most assertive nationalist. In Europe, it is border protection that dominates the political scene, not broader protection. In the United States, the Trump administration will start thinking of the timing of the approaching boom and bust in light of the next presidential election.

Paul Henaghan President, Southeast Asia Dell EMC - Enterprise Business:

AGAINST the current global economic backdrop, relentless innovation coupled with agility will ensure business success. Organisations that can meet the needs of the digital customer and enhance their experience will realise greater business value.

As advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep learning proliferate and drive automation across industries, there is a rising need for the workforce to be digitally equipped to excel. Conversely, a singular threat facing all businesses in the digital economy is the onslaught of cybersecurity attacks. To secure a productive and secure workforce, organisations need to integrate data protection at every point within their overall business strategy.

Vincent Magnenat Chief Executive Officer in Singapore and Head of Private Banking Asia Lombard Odier

THE global economy has enjoyed a solid cyclical upswing but we do not expect significant further acceleration. Risky assets will be a bright spot in the short term, but in the second half of 2017, we expect them to correct somewhat. Unlike consensus, we strongly believe that short-term rates will rise faster than long-term and that the yield curve will flatten, at least in the US. We favour long-duration emerging, and in particular Asian, credit in US dollars and are avoiding short duration investment grade. In a world where uncertainties will grow, we will stick to our successful risk-based strategy to help clients muddle through the unexpected.

Edwin Khew Teck Fook President The Institution of Engineers, Singapore

IT is difficult to predict the global economy for 2017/18. Ironically, the only certainty is uncertainty, going by how the new US president is already driving major changes that may undermine Asia's growth in his first days of office. The US's TPP withdrawal, possible retraction from climate change agreement and renegotiation of Nafta will inject instability across the globe, including Asia.

Singapore's dependence on open trade, and an Asean that is dependent on the support of the US, Europe and China will run into major economic development roadblocks. India could be a bright spot, with its burgeoning infrastructure growth, which could put Singapore in an advantageous position to support with our engineering, architectural and financial planning services and our financial resources.

Chris Price CEO, Asia Pacific Agility

DESPITE the blow of the US decision to withdraw from TPP, Asian economies continue to be strong. With 7 per cent annual growth, India has barely touched the accelerator - just wait until it overcomes the short-term shock of demonetisation and simplifies its tax regime. A "slowing" China is still the world's second largest economy, still growing more than 6 per cent, still seeing growing domestic demand, and still expanding a US$630 million e-commerce market that is 80 per cent bigger than that of the US. Deepening economic integration across South-east Asia has only just begun to pay off, and we will see regional trade agreements expand. I predict a good year ahead.

Goh Yang Chye Managing Director GYC Financial Advisory

WE strongly believe that nobody can accurately forecast anything - not the economy, markets or even the weather. Any attempts to look ahead into the year is ultimately guesswork, and 2016 is a case in point. We believe it is pointless to guess what Donald Trump, China, ISIS or the UK will do and how markets will react. Investors need to only worry about two things that could seriously derail their plans - a recession and/or a financial crisis. Neither is presently apparent.

We remain confident that a globally diversified equity portfolio will continue to provide investors with the best risk-adjusted returns in the market. We will continue to be unemotional investors and follow our Risk Matrix signals; together with other market indicator models, as they provide the best assessment of the investing climate. We will avoid being influenced by the forecasts of the financial media, investment strategists and economists.

Kwek Kok Kwong Chief Executive Officer NTUC LearningHub

SINCE the financial crisis in 2007-2008, the world has undergone major restructuring. Recovery is uneven across the globe. The US has trended upwards and seems stable. Europe's recovery is uneven, and its future is plagued by the Brexit decision last year. The twin engines of Asia - China and India - are still growing, albeit at different paces. The economic outlook looks reasonably steady.

However, the political landscape is filled with uncertainties, starting from the US and Brexit where there will be higher trade barriers to protect domestic jobs. More could play this political card to move the needle to a more sustainable equilibrium for the middle class and poor, and that would be a good social outcome.

But I do not think that any single party could and would want to undo the glue of globalisation. There will still be opportunities where like-minded countries could work together, but it just means working harder to suss out these opportunities and pursue them.

Heng Wui Liang Country Head, Singapore BankBazaar

ONE of the things that I look forward to in 2017 is the use of fiscal stimulus to spur economic growth in the US. In general, a stronger US economy is good for Asia. We should see a gradual rise in US interest rates, which will be good for financial stability. However, this will also be a drag on investments and consumption in Asia, which has traditionally benefited from a low interest rate environment in recent years.

There are a couple of big unknowns that could undermine global economic recovery. With the rise of protectionism and sentiments against globalisation, how would global trade be impacted? With US pulling out of the TPP, its future is now in doubt. Political uncertainties such as Brexit and other populist movements in other parts of the world would also reduce investment confidence.

Tan Mui Huat President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia International SOS

HEIGHTENED economic policy uncertainty and trade slowdown are twin key factors threatening the global economy in the new year.

Emerging Asia is expected to remain vulnerable in the face of increasing protectionism, global financial tightening and anticipated rebound in strength of the US dollar, as they cope with relatively higher inflation. That said, I am confident that Asia will remain resilient and navigate through economic turbulence in a post global financial crisis environment, as long as it continues to invest in people, skills, technology and infrastructure.

Martin Hayes President Bosch, Southeast Asia

THE Internet of Things is rapidly changing the way that we live, work, and play. At Bosch, we believe that the world will see even more new technologies and business models disrupting traditional ones. Robotics and artificial intelligence will reach new heights, while connectivity becomes increasingly viable. New partnerships between existing players as well as with new entrants will result in new solutions and services that generate new revenue streams. This is only the beginning; more than ever before, companies need to be agile and highly adaptable in these uncertain times, and be bold in delivering out-of-the-box innovations to take the lead.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director Plan-B ICAG Pte Ltd

I SEE more dangers than bright spots. Protectionism unleashed by US President Donald Trump's "America First" and "Buy America" policies and constant rhetoric will disrupt not just the economic order but will increase political tensions as well, given that both are inter-related.

The fact that many governments are scrambling to react to this new stance is fortuitous. It could lead to the United States being isolated, and to more uneven creation and distribution of wealth among nations, through free trade. The world will see more turmoil and instability. Our lenses will be clearer after Mr Trump's first 100 days in office.

Frédéric Gillant Vice-President and Managing Director, APAC ShoreTel

WITH the uncertainty in the market, companies should ready themselves for change and improve their productivity during this challenging time. Companies will have to rethink the way that work is being done and fully accept new ways of working such as flexible work arrangements to achieve productivity and to retain talent. In preparing for any change, investing in things such as technology can play a key part in helping to create a foundation for efficiency and productivity.

Loh Hoon Sun Managing Director Phillip Securities Pte Ltd

OVERALL, the global economy should continue to recover. This will be led by the United States, the world's largest economy. Among the bright spots will be initiatives by the new administration to support US businesses and economic growth. Singapore is also showing some early signs of economic recovery.

The main concerns for this year are higher interest rates, currency volatility, disruption to international trade by trade barriers and political uncertainties in Europe. There could also be political disputes in our region and among major power blocs, and this could adversely affect economic activity and global economic growth.

Andrew J Calvert Managing Director, APAC AchieveForum

THE Year of the Rooster will be tough. Bright spots, however, are many - and will be found and realised by those companies that take calculated risks. Speed of execution will be everything. Not too fast, but not too slow to miss the chance. It is like catching a rooster - move too fast and you scare it, too slow and it evades your grasp!

Leaders, more than ever, need to listen to their employees (no one person can see all the upsides nor recognise all the risks), use the wisdom of their team to plan their actions and finally to act decisively and without hesitation. Fortune favours the brave.

Gopi Mirchandani CEO NN Investment Partners Singapore

THE Year of the Rooster brings with it an anticipation of a better balance between monetary and fiscal policy. We believe that global growth will improve and the reflation theme will continue into 2017, leading to an increase in bond yields and commodity prices. For value-style investors, this will open up opportunities in undervalued and under-owned sectors such as financials and materials.

We are also constructive on valuations in emerging markets. US President Trump's protectionist policies could create uncertainty in markets and may hurt growth, especially in export-dependent economies. Elections in key European countries and impact of Brexit could dampen investor morale as well. We view the volatility as creating good entry points for us to invest at more attractive valuations.

Ana Dhoraisingam Chief Executive Officer, Singapore PineBridge Investments

THE Year of the Rooster should see better global growth, and this should be a boon to all. Domestic consumption is broadly seeing improvement in major economies, and this should be an added tail-wind for countries that are less reliant on export revenues.

However, despite these bright spots, uncertainties still lie ahead, such as Brexit and the yet-unknown policies of the Trump administration. This increases volatility across markets, and investors have to be prepared to endure a bumpy ride. The continued rise in geopolitical tensions and increasing fundamental nationalism may give rise to political shocks that could stymie global growth.

Nirvik Singh Chairman & CEO Grey Group Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa

No doubt, 2017 starts with major shifts in the geopolitical landscape but macro-economic factors still point to global growth predictions between 3.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent, with inflation inching upwards as commodity prices stabilise. However, it is the fast-paced technological advances that will affect our daily lives. Tech innovation such as robotics and big data permeates through to most industries (communications, health care, banking, cars) and will offer opportunities for greater productivity, generating higher returns on investment to eventually raising incomes and improving general well-being. Applying these innovations and adapting rapidly to the environment will determine the efficient use of resources - whether it is countries or industries - identifying such opportunities will be the key to success in 2017.

Chong Kok Keong Senior Vice-President, CEO's Office CrimsonLogic

THE Year of the Fire Rooster will be a bright one for businesses in Asean. This year, Asean will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The harmonisation of standards and regulations under the ambit of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will reduce barriers to free trade. Trade growth will continue to strengthen with countries investing in trade facilitation programmes including Single Window platforms. At the same time, the region's diversity and growing population make it an ideal market to develop innovative solutions and products.

James Tay Chief Executive Officer Logicalis Asia

THE Year of the Fire Rooster will usher in much change and challenge with its fiery cocky presence and confidence. America's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a major blow to global trade, investments and economic growth. Fortunately for Singapore, we do have free trade agreements with most countries and our pro-business government has committed to pursue more trade agreements and to forge ahead with the remaining partners to find a solution.

Digital disruption will continue to accelerate in changing the way that we live, work and relate to one another. However, with the proliferation of technology whether in the use of Artificial Intelligence (Bots) or the Internet of Things (IoT), comes the threat of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity cannot be ignored. Businesses must develop plans to mitigate these new threats if they hope to fully utilise the potential of these new technologies.

T Chandroo Chairman MMI Group

THE current political landscape of the world's leading powers will determine the health of the global economic system. Consequently, the new president of the United States will directly act upon and impact new and old trade agreements, therefore producing a transformation in how businesses will work. Imposing unyielding trade agreements upon nations will only fuel self-serving policies that protect the interests of the respective country, thus blocking the development of open and free trade.

An uncertain political and economic situation may encourage businesses to become creative to ensure higher productivity levels. It is during times of uncertainty that success is usually achieved.

Toby Koh Group Managing Director Ademco Security Group

THE security threat assessment continues to be high in the Year of the Rooster. Terrorism will be a major concern for governments and companies alike, as social and political unrest is unlikely to abate this year. Companies are urged to ensure that their security and business continuity plans are reviewed and updated.

On the economic front, I do not believe that there will be a strong improvement this year. But US President Donald Trump's new policies, Brexit and soft global demand clouds our crystal ball.

Rebecca Chiu CEO MyWork Global

AN increase in access to technology and affordable technology services from emerging countries in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe are helping entrepreneurs create scalable businesses. Future economic success will continue to be driven by innovation and passion from the bottom up, reflected by the great modern successes of companies such as Facebook, Alibaba and Uber.

The challenges, however, are over-regulation, archaic regulations by governments and "crowding out" in already competitive markets by government entities participating actively in private enterprise.

Let's hope that governments will have faith in their people and encourage their entrepreneurial spirit leading to more success stories in the coming year.

Martin Mackay President and General Manager for Asia Pacific & Japan CA Technologies

THE global economy is being reshaped by new policies and the inevitable "fourth industrial revolution". On the plus side, the depth of awareness among organisations around the world on the need to digitally transform themselves in today's application economy is indeed remarkable.

But the issue of cybersecurity is very real, and it is demanding the need to elevate and prioritise discussions around this topic. So business leaders will be working extremely hard to minimise risks without compromising on efficiency, competitiveness and innovation.

If there was one area that Singapore companies could focus on in the Year of the Rooster, it would be to adopt a "built to change" mindset to remain agile in this increasingly uncertain business landscape. This will allow them to be more responsive to customer needs and make smarter decisions to ensure that they survive in today's digital world.

Jimmy Fitzgerald Vice-President ServiceNow Asia-Pacific and Japan

2017 is certainly a year marked with much change ahead. Within the tech space, we are starting to reach a point where employees can't do more without technology stepping up. As we look into the future of work in 2017, the greatest gains in productivity will be achieved when the nature and structure of work changes. Increasingly capable technologies will be at the core of improving our productivity so that we can focus on the creative, value-add business issues that only humans can solve.

Wong Ka Vin Managing Director 1-Net Singapore

IN the Year of the Rooster, the data centre industry must manage issues arising from cloud adoption, in order to continue growing without being affected by the onslaught of "nationalistic politics" and "anti-open market economics". With workloads increasing exponentially on the cloud by 2020, most enterprises will embrace cloud computing to reap the benefits of cost savings and scalability.

However, heightened concerns around compliance and data privacy will prompt governments to tighten controls on cloud adoption this year, probably through imposing stricter regulations on data sovereignty.

As advocacy for data sovereignty grows, enterprises will be challenged to consolidate data in local data centres. Cloud service providers will also need to provide disclosure on their location of data centres to assure both regulators and customers.

However, most IT professionals still tend to be more pre-occupied with security than with data sovereignty when it comes to the cloud adoption. This can lead to serious implications, particularly with heavily regulated industries or MNCs with global footprints.

Wong Heng Chew Country President Fujitsu Singapore

EVEN in this turbulent environment, the global economy looks poised for strong growth. This will in part be driven by businesses differentiating themselves and powering their growth by utilising digital technologies.

Building innovative products and services will provide businesses with the ability to compete in the digital era and meet customer demands. This innovation will be augmented by the promise of smart technologies such as artificial intelligence driving further investments and creating new job opportunities.

In this digital journey, with the increasing sophistication and variety of cyber-attacks, businesses will need to integrate cybersecurity as part of the overall business strategy and not as an afterthought.

Hari V Krishnan CEO PropertyGuru

PROPERTYGURU understands that property seekers in the region are impacted by larger global uncertainties. With anticipated economic woes in the coming year, sentiments on home affordability remain somewhat mixed. Singaporeans report feeling that their affordability has reduced further, the lowest in the markets we measure. Meanwhile, Indonesians are the most upbeat on home affordability in their domestic market, with Thais and Malaysians expressing muted confidence.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the regional real estate market as home ownership still remains a key aspiration for many in South-east Asia. Locally, with Singapore's real estate market perceived by institutions and well-heeled investors as a safe haven asset, we are likely to see increased interest in investor grade properties.

Chandran Nair Vice-President, APAC National Instruments

EVEN though the current economic and political landscape present much uncertainty, technology will continue to take us further. We are already seeing glimpses of the future with Industry 4.0 raising economic productivity and efficiencies. Industry 4.0 will also enable greater interoperability and interconnectivity between machines, devices and people. This will push performance even further. There is a driving need for technology integration and innovation will shine like a beacon in an exciting albeit unpredictable Year of the Rooster.

Russell Young Managing Director, APAC Sojern

THE outlook and the economic underpinnings for consumer spending look solid for 2017, which lends the travel industry optimism for consumer demand. In Asia, specifically, consumer demand for travel in China and India is projected to grow significantly, facilitated by increasing disposable incomes and construction of new hotels. This is echoed by a Deloitte report, stating that global travel and tourism procurement expenditures will grow by 5.6 per cent over the next six months.

However, intra-APAC travel is likely to slow down, with Chinese travellers heading to Europe as opposed to habitually popular destinations like Hong Kong and Singapore as a significant example. Our data also shows that the slowing economy is spurring consumers to search for more economical destinations to visit.

Ernie Koh Chairman International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd

THE increasing global economic uncertainty and volatile political climate will present opportunities for companies that explore beyond traditional business models and lessen their reliance on purely organic growth. The protectionism-driven economy proposed by some countries may materialise in the near future, hurting global trade liberalisation.

With world trade agreements at a critical juncture and the onset of technological disruption, businesses need to refocus their resources in overcoming these challenges. For our international furniture fair in March this year, we will be partnering 28 countries from the European Union to boost trade and relations, and introduce technological solutions to over 20,000 international trade visitors.

Matthew Johnston Area Vice-President, Asean & Korea Commvault APAC

DESPITE global political shifts and policy reforms in 2016, the Asia-Pacific region remains one of the fastest growing in the world. Technology adoption, investment in research and development, and innovation will continue to fuel the growth of Asian nations.

The Year of the Rooster brings optimism through cultivating an active and collaborative APAC region. We will continue to see markets leverage technological advancements to innovate, grow and compete globally. In this digital day and age, enterprises across the Asia-Pacific must unlock business insights from their data to achieve greater success beyond 2017.

Boon Liang Seng Director, Southeast Asia Lutron Electronics

AS the global economy slows, companies worldwide face an even greater pressure to do more with less, to be more cost efficient and productive than ever.

Although uncertainty looms, over the last year we have seen more businesses and homeowners better understand the benefits of lighting control technology and they are embracing them to go green, reduce energy costs and enhance productivity.

We usher in the Year of the Rooster with much optimism and look forward to achieving a brighter, greener 2017 together.

Derrick Chang Acting CEO PSB Academy Pte Ltd

2016 was a year of surprises as the world saw nationalistic populism surge to the fore. Closer to home, the Singapore government announced new thrusts to re-structure the economy with greater focus on human capital. Recently when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was asked if the unemployment situation was a cause for worry, he said that our growth rate was constrained by the strength of our workforce: "And if I have more workers, more students coming out who are well-trained, well-educated, I can grow faster."

As one of Singapore's earliest productivity champions, PSB Academy remains dedicated to this national agenda, by delivering and building on its unique brand of industry-ready education. While employability and hard skills continue to be top of mind, we hope to launch more future-forward initiatives in tandem with the government to showcase the importance of and inculcating the softer skills of leadership, constant learning, collaboration and emotional intelligence to enrich our student experiences. We believe talent in Singapore will serve as the country's bright sparks for the future, as we seek to tackle economic uncertainty and political ambiguity with gumption and resilience.

Stephen Wang Director of Asia Pacific Talent Plus

AS leadership gaps continue to permeate, indicators signify that the need for leadership talent will not only remain constant but become more acute as the pace and the emergence of the younger workforce quickens. Regardless of the volatility of the global economy and political landscape, leadership training and development can only enhance the competitive nature of any firm.

Specialist roles and subject matter expertise will remain in high demand as a premium to have for any organisation. However, the challenge lies in developing leaders who are generalists, yet strategic thinkers who are natural at building vision, mission and value for their organisations.

Jessie Xia Managing Director - Singapore ThoughtWorks

AT ThoughtWorks, we believe that robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation will continue to rise across industries and shape the lives of people, bringing about unprecedented convenience and efficiency. The global economy will see a shift as jobs are both lost and created, with a requirement for new skills and the adaptation and evolution of industry. As we immerse ourselves in meaningful traditions and reunions this Chinese New Year, let us remember how technology ultimately serves to enhance our lives - enabling us to spend more time with those that matter.

Christophe Duchatellier CEO Adecco Asia Pacific

THE world of work is changing, and this has led to some uncertainty in the global labour markets in 2017. The uncertainty is driven by three key factors: rising rhetoric about protectionism and geopolitics; uneven global economic growth; and a faster pace of technological advances, creating skills gaps.

But there are several bright spots such as a steady growth in various sectors such as health care and IT; technology enabling greater workforce flexibility and mobility; and the greater flexibility and mobility allowing increasing participation from females and mature workers in the workforce.

In order to capitalise on the positives and overcome the uncertainties, businesses and governments will need to be at ease with, and even foster, workforce and workplace flexibility while educational systems will need to match markets' needs by developing technical skills, collaborative skills and most importantly, the ability to "learn how to learn". In other words, we need connected stakeholders - businesses, governments and educators - who create a strong ecosystem supporting lifelong learning and employability.

Stéphane Le Dreau General Manager, South East Asia NAGRA

AMIDthe sea of change in the global economy, innovation is the fuel driving the creation of new products and services. To that end, the pay-TV industry as we know it is evolving rapidly with the proliferation of new over-the-top operators commanding a share of the market.

With more choice and an increasingly discerning consumer, the demand for seamless TV viewing experiences is more evident now than ever before. This, coupled with intensifying global piracy, is forcing businesses to rethink their strategies. The success of this hinges upon the ability to integrate technologies driven by consumer needs across the entire business framework, and players who can offer customers greater choice on a secure platform will flourish in 2017 and beyond.

Helen Ng CEO, General Storage Company

THE global economy looks set to continue to stagnate while advanced economies will continue their low-growth trend. Economies that spur small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt productivity-enhancing technologies, and invest in research and development to drive even greater productity, will benefit the most.

But political and economic uncertainties in Europe and the US could erase these modest gains. Financial markets could be roiled by American protectionism, rising geopolitical tensions, interest rate hikes and the increasingly fragmented political scene in Europe. Businesses have to prepare for disruptions and at the same time be agile enough to capture growth opportunities.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWide

WORLD trade ise in a high intensity flux. The United States is in a state of irrational exuberance. With its withdrawal of itself from the TPP, it is preparing to build a great wall to protect its borders from the influx of Mexicans. With this physical ring fencing combained with its assertive position on trade, the US is becoming insular and the most protectionistic since World War II.

The bright spot is that while we may see the US close its doors to multilateral trade, it will negotiate one-on-one trade deals which may provide a short-term boost growth for the US. The danger is that this may not be a sustainable model for international trade as the US would have an unfair bargaining advantage against many countries when it comes to one-on-one negotiations.

The other bright spot is the ascendancy of China, which will try to connect all the dots left unconnected by the US. China is the second biggest economy and the most populous nation with a growing middle class which will probably become even larger than the entire population of the US. This will spur growth in our region, and Singapore has to ride on that wave.

Robin C Lee Group COO Bok Seng Group

THE Rooster is crowing loud and early this year, giving everyone ample warning as to what may come in 2017. Globalisation in terms of world trade arrangements will have a new perimeter as more far-right leaders or political parties may be rise to answer to the plea of their people who feel left behind economically or socially.

This stark reality has hit the US and UK, and shortly Germany and France will also be put to the test. For the world to progress, global trade must continue to flow, but a lot more needs to be done to share and redistribute the wealth and benefits gained from it.

Karl Hamann Chief Executive Officer QBE Insurance (Singapore) Pte Ltd

WITH shifts in political and economic landscapes across the world, businesses will face new challenges in their day-to-day operations. Digital disruption will continue to impact all industries, forcing companies to leverage new technologies in ways that both deliver a competitive edge and make their products and services more relevant for customers.

With this opportunity, though, also comes risk. With the Rooster always first to greet the day, businesses and consumers should be looking at understanding and minimising their exposure to risk at the earliest opportunity, ensuring that they smoothly ride out the year ahead.

Zaheer K Merchant Regional Director (Singapore & Europe) QI Group of Companies

FACTORS such as elections in various European countries and the policies of the new US President are likely going to cause some consternation or uncertainty in the global economy. However, modest positive signals emerge from the negative backdrop, demonstrating some strengthening in qualitative growth factors, such as advanced technology and innovation, improved labour force skills, greater productivity, as well as a continued recovery in developed economies. But these potentially favourable factors are under pressure from ongoing geopolitical factors around the world which may contribute to a potential "topsy-turvy" attitude among businesses and national governments. Businesses have to prepare and brace themselves for more disruption from such geopolitical tensions, policy uncertainty, financial market volatility, and rapid changes in technology. That being said, there is also a need to stay focused on leveraging the qualitative sources of growth with investment in technology and business productivity especially in times of uncertainty. It may very well be the best time to inject a new impetus in order for businesses to flourish in this Rooster Year.

Henry Tan Managing Director NEXIA TS

WE see uncertainty in US, Europe and Asia as each jostles for power. In history, when a new power emerges there have been changes and uncertainty before a new order is established. I believe that this will be a year of ups and downs on the economic front as each region find a way to adjust. The bright spot would be more trade agreements between UK and many nations and this may open up opportunities. Also, as China takes on a leadership role, she may allow more trade opportunities for its partners. This would be good news for Asia, especially Asean.