WEF's Singapore event likely to be held in dedicated event zone including MBS, other central hotels: sources

Singapore

THE World Economic Forum's (WEF) marquee event in Singapore this August will likely be held in a dedicated event zone in the city's central area that could include the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resort and two other nearby hotels, according to people familiar with the plans.

The plan for a special zone is among several steps that organisers are considering to ensure the forum - traditionally held in the Swiss resort town of Davos at the start of the year - can be held safely in Singapore, which is one of the few countries in the world to have contained the coronavirus.

While the MBS hotel and convention centre is expected to be the main venue, organisers are planning to use other nearby hotels, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the plans are not final and could change.

Dedicated transport would be provided between the sites, one of the sources said.

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as trade ministry, as well as the media office of MBS, declined to comment.

The annual high-profile WEF event, postponed this year until Aug 17-20, attracts leaders across government, finance and economics.

Amid ongoing social distancing requirements to control the pandemic, the event will likely be smaller than the usual 3,000 attendees, which includes delegates, accompanying officials, assistants, spouses and media, one of the people said.

The WEF's event in Singapore will be only the second outside Switzerland and the first in Asia. Singapore has averaged two new virus cases in the community per week in the last two weeks, according to figures from the Ministry of Health. BLOOMBERG