The 4th Singapore Defence Technology Summit 2023 (Tech Summit 2023) opened in the city-state on March 22 by Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), attracting over 600 participants in person and more than 800 participants online.
Singapore (VNA) – The 4th Singapore Defence Technology Summit 2023 (Tech Summit 2023) opened in the city-state on March 22 by Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), attracting over 600 participants in person and more than 800 participants online.
This year’s event has the theme of “Digital and Dual-use Technologies – Opportunities and Threats”, with discussions focusing on technology lessons learnt from recent conflicts, ways to mitigate defence supply chain risks, the impacts of the digitalisation wave and what they mean for the future of defence and warfighters, as well as how the emergence of dual-use technologies will lead to new commercial-military partnerships and reshape defence ecosystems.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senior Minister of State for Defense Zaqy Mohamad said innovative technology continues to shape conflicts and affect the balance of power between states. Digital and dual-use technologies are undergoing a continuous revolution, characterized by the rapid development and widespread availability of new technologies that have civilian or military applications.
Roy Chan, deputy chief executive of DSTA said the summit set out with an ambition to bring together leaders from government, industry, academia, and think tanks across the globe to share different ideas and collaborate in technology development to confront challenges in defence and security.
Tech Summit 2023 purposefully incorporates different elements – from government leader remarks, fireside chats and plenary sessions, tech demos and a tech showcase area, as well as networking events and site visits – to facilitate meaningful engagements and outcomes.
Singapore’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) inched up 0.2 point in February to 50 after five straight months of contraction, data from the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) showed.
Vietnam is emerging as a popular market in which Singaporean companies are interested in seeking opportunities to promote trade and investment, heard a conference on trade connection between the two countries in Ho Chi Minh City on March 9.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on March 16 said that Singapore and Indonesia are ready to cooperate in new areas, as the two countries signed agreements on energy, sustainability, health, and human capital development.
Singaporean President Halimah Yacob met with Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on March 21 within the framework of her state visit to Malaysia.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
