ASEAN as a Middle-Class Society

All in all, the ultimate goal of ESG is to build resilience. In this time of disorder, this resilience is important so that we can shape, to a certain extent, the global order.

Efficiency is no longer the only priority, and derisking is key to many corporations. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is well-positioned to build a future-ready regional supply chain with enhanced economic security and resilience. This was the key message I shared at my panel discussion during the inaugural JS-SEZ Joint Business and Investment Forum. The session was moderated by Mr Wong Meng Yew, Global Trade Advisory Leader at Deloitte SEA, and featured fellow panellists Dr Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group; Mr Ahmad Adly Alias, Vice President of PETRONAS; and Ms Lim Pei Jet, Head of AirTrunk Malaysia.

Under the context of a volatile global trade environment, it is especially important that Malaysia act fast to build a stronger middle-class society with greater purchasing power that is able to absorb some the capacity originally meant for export to the U.S market.