Joko’s Fire and Fury: A Chance to Reform the Cabinet?

 

As a recession looms, President Joko Widodo has unleashed his fury on his ministers for their mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle is rife. Instead of focusing on personalities, however, the emphasis should be on areas which desperately need reform.

 

 

COVID19 in Malaysia: Pandemic Impacts on the Poor

 

The raft of measures announced by the Malaysian government to restrict people’s movements will help to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures, however, are having a huge impact on the country’s poor.

 

 

Singapore-Malaysia Border Shutdown: Counting the Costs

 

Recent policy responses effected by Malaysia and Singapore to combat the Covid-19 pandemic have been responsible and measured – and have also underscored the deep and wide economic relations between the two neighbours.

 

 

The EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement: Advancing Economic Security and Openness in Southeast Asia

 

The third EU – Singapore think tank dialogue that will be held on 25 November 2019 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Crescent Ballroom, 190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore, 248646

Building on the success of the first two think tank dialogues, this third event will focus on challenges and opportunities for promoting economic security and openness through the implementation of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

Co-organised by Egmont–the Royal Institute for International Relations of Belgium, and ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, with the support of the European Union Delegation to Singapore, the conference comprises a keynote speech and three panels. Taking its departure in the question of how the EU and Singapore can leverage the implementation of their FTA to promote economic openness in a time of economic uncertainty, the conference aims to provide think tanks, policymakers and academics with a platform for open dialogue as well as identify opportunities to enrich the EU-Singapore collaboration and offer key insights of best practices from past successes and promote mutual learning.


Details of the event:

Date:               25 November 2019

Time:               9.00am – 4.00pm (Registration starts at 8.30am)

Venue:             Four Seasons Hotel, Crescent Ballroom, 190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248646

To join us for the event, please register via this link by 20 November 2019.

For any queries, please contact: Magdalene Choo at Magdalene.CHOO-JOO-HONG@eeas.europa.eu.

Programme:
[Click here to download]

TIME AGENDA
8.30 am Registration starts
8.50 am Guests to be seated
9.00 am

 

Welcome Remarks

H.E. Barbara Plinkert

Ambassador of the European Union to Singapore

Mr. Choi Shing Kwok

Director, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Mr. Tobias Gehrke

Research Fellow, Egmont Institute

9.15 am

 

Keynote Speech

Representative from Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore (TBC)

9.30 am Panel 1: The Current Global and Regional Context for Economic Security
11.00 am Coffee Break 
11.30 am Panel 2: Geopolitics of Digital Trade and Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia
1.00 pm Lunch
2.00 pm Afternoon Opening Speech

Mr. Jayant Menon

Former Lead Economist at the Asian Development Bank

2.15 pm Panel 3: Economic Security in Southeast Asia Beyond the EU-Singapore FTA
3.30 pm Concluding Remarks
4.00 pm End of Programme

*Please note that the panelists are subjected to changes.