Towards greater Asean economic cohesion

SINGAPORE is hosting Sibos this week where the banking industry will debate, collaborate and project global themes and trends relating to payments, funds management, and trade. The last time Singapore hosted Sibos was in 2003. That Singapore is hosting the industry's preeminent international banking event again in 2015 reflects the growing global macro-economic importance of South-east Asia.

The conference will also shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing Asean as it strives for greater economic integration, a lot of which are within the finance sector.

Singapore's banking and finance community has an opportunity to take a prominent role in driving these discussions forward particularly in the areas where it has been a regional leader, including payments innovation and opening of the funds management and securities markets across the region and beyond.