Singapore
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As global tensions mount heading into 2025, Singapore’s business community stands apart in its ability to identify opportunity within disruption. While 84% of Singaporean business leaders – the highest among global respondents – agree that geopolitical tensions will meaningfully influence operations, 47% cite geopolitical shifts as a catalyst for potential innovation in defense technology, biotechnology, and AI. This industrious approach extends to climate change, where they again led all respondents with 46% seeing opportunity in addressing climate risk and 42% citing opportunity within the energy transition.
In the business landscape, Singapore’s status as an island nation-state and major financial hub for Southeast Asia is reflected in their responses. Singaporean business leaders cite fintech adoption (42%), de-dollarization (39%), and decentralized financial markets (37%) as three of their biggest concerns – among the highest in the global respondent pool for each. This focus on shifts in the financial markets aligns with operational shifts leaders are considering, as an overwhelming 90% agreed that supply chain resilience will increasingly take precedence over cost optimization. Most interestingly, Singapore ranked among the lowest when it came to active AI adoption, and 65% of leaders believe AI will impede long-term workforce planning.
Singapore’s business leaders exhibit a uniquely opportunistic mindset toward global challenges while remaining pragmatic about protecting their nation’s strategic advantages – a dual approach that mirrors the city-state’s historical success in turning constraints into competitive edges.
47%
Which regions present the strongest new business opportunities for your organization in 2025?
47%
Thinking about the following potential shifts in the international business landscape, which five do you think will have the most significant impact on fostering innovation and growth?
42%
Thinking about the same list of potential shifts in the international business landscape, which five are you most concerned about?
GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Governments are increasingly becoming more protectionist in their business policy (i.e. cross-border data sharing, onshoring of chip manufacturing). Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
84% of Singaporean respondents agreed that geopolitical conflicts and/or tensions will meaningfully influence how we operate - the highest rate across all countries surveyed.
BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
Which of the following actions is your organization planning to take or continue in 2025 - specifically with a focus on the transformation of the labor market stemming from AI?
AI will collapse traditional career paths and make long-term workforce planning impossible for business leaders. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Supply chain resilience will take priority over cost optimization. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Which of the following operational changes is your organization planning to make in 2025?
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