Staying astute and agile key to sustaining Singapore's economy

IT'S like having a birthday and no one brings a present!

Singapore's 51st National Day arrives amid sustained falls in global trade, investment and commodity prices, economic slowdown in China and Japan and a creeping mood of protectionism epitomised by Brexit.

While Singapore has not been immune to these external gyrations, as seen by its 2016 moderation in trade, manufacturing and property activities, its economic resilience has continued. This is not a coincidence.