The Business Times
Janice Heng

Janice Heng

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Janice Heng is BT’s deputy news editor for macroeconomics and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). She also covers Singapore politics and writes the monthly Barfly column, which profiles local craft cocktail bars.

emailjaniceh@sph.com.sg
email@JaniceHengBT
Lawrence Wong (left) shakes hands with South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung after their joint press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov 2.

Singapore, South Korea upgrade ties to strategic partnership

Such partnerships provide ‘stable, predictable framework’ for businesses, says PM Wong

While the longer-term trend seems to be for more economic fragmentation, countries can work together to tackle this, says PM Wong.

US-China truce ‘welcome’ but temporary; efforts to tackle trade fragmentation must continue: PM Wong

Global trade issues cannot be solved in one meeting, but countries can work together to advance multilateralism, he says at the end...

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also highlighted the Apec AI Initiative, which will promote cooperation on AI.

Apec members should keep cross-border data flowing to unlock value of AI: PM Wong

They should also prepare workers for artificial intelligence, as well as build trust

Apec business leaders have called for “de-escalation”, with economic leaders avoiding new trade measures that violate treaty obligations.

Apec Business Advisory Council calls for rejection of protectionism

The annual report to Apec economic leaders also includes recommendations for digital trade agreements

At the first session of the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong laid out three things that the Apec economies need to do.

With multilateralism under pressure, cooperate more across trade groupings: PM Wong

This is one of three areas where Apec economies can work together for their mission of free and open trade, he says

Environmental goods such as sustainable aviation fuel are among the topics to be considered under the Green Economy Partnership Agreement.

Singapore, Chile, New Zealand launch negotiations for green economy partnership

PM Wong and his counterparts launch the talks at the sidelines of Apec meetings in South Korea

From left: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcoming Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and PM Lawrence Wong to dinner on the sidelines of Apec meetings in Gyeongju, South Korea.

PM Wong hosted to dinner by New Zealand PM on sidelines of Apec meeting

Australia and Canada’s prime ministers were also in attendance

The preservation of hybrid work options will help to mitigate rush-hour public transport crowds.
THINKING ALOUD

Company-level gains aside, work-from-home options reduce strain on public infrastructure too

Drastic peak and troughs are a sign of inefficiency. Work-from-home options can smooth out commuter flow issues

In his address at the opening of the 15th Parliament on Sept 5, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that Singapore must foster an outgoing and experimental spirit among its enterprises and people, as this is the way to have leading firms and good jobs for Singaporeans.
THINKING ALOUD

Ministries’ new-term plans may seem broad, but do foreshadow specific moves

While containing few concrete details of new policies, these broad plans lessen the likelihood of future surprises

The new Grit programmes offer relatively few roles, but this might reflect their curated nature – which addresses concerns about the quality of such experiences.
THINKING ALOUD

Relatively modest scale of new graduate traineeships may be a good sign

A more ambitious scheme would suggest an ominous outlook for jobs

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