As one of Asia’s top financial centres¹, Singapore has attracted significant investments in recent years, with assets under management (AUM) soaring 16 per cent in 2021 to $4tn.

Strong inflows, which outpaced the global growth rate, were driven mostly by overseas investors. But more than simply facilitating capital flows, the south-east Asian country has been at the heart of the biggest global conversations about the critical role of finance in today’s world, as well as the fresh possibilities it offers in a digitalised, sustainable future.

Singapore is increasingly the choice destination for top business events, which draw a broad spectrum of financial industry players, from fund managers and bankers to technopreneurs, sustainable investors and policy makers. Events such as the Singapore Fintech Festival², SuperReturn Asia³, InsureTech Connect Asia⁴ and SALT iConnections Asia⁵ provide platforms for them to discuss key issues, seek inspiration and forge new collaborations.

The power of private capital

Singapore’s asset management industry has seen rapid diversification amid the rise of private capital in global markets in recent decades. Private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and family offices, in particular, have been growing in influence as they deploy wealth across a broad range of assets, fund strategies and markets.

This, in turn, has driven up interest in alternative investments, with AUM in this arena rising 30 per cent in Singapore in 2021 to reach $900bn. The city-state now boasts close to 1,200 asset managers, including 425 private equity and venture capital managers⁶.

Its burgeoning base of financial professionals makes Singapore a natural choice for global thought leadership forums, such as this year’s SALT iConnections Asia, which will take place on November 14-16. Touted as Asia’s flagship “Cap Intro” event, it offers regional money managers and investors opportunities to forge connections and conduct initial due diligence on a large scale.

With single-family offices (SFOs) expected to make up 34 per cent of the 300 allocators that will attend SALT iConnections Asia, a dedicated session will offer insights into the strategic approaches that SFOs are leveraging to optimise their alternative asset allocations.

Another high-profile event is SuperReturn Asia, which drew more than 2,000 decision-makers from global funds to the city in September this year. Besides hosting key networking and business meetings, the event featured four summits with deep-dive discussions on venture capital, limited and general partner relations, climate tech and private credit.

Furthermore, a number of annual general meetings and fund-raising activities were held on the sidelines of SuperReturn Asia. Participants therefore found their trips to Singapore especially fruitful, allowing them to achieve multiple goals and drive their business agendas forward.

“Amid current market conditions and sentiments about sustainability, people are leaning towards consolidating their travel plans to get as much data as possible, meet more people and make more deals in one place within a short time,” said Shane Chesson, Vice Chairman of the Singapore Venture & Private Capital Association (SVCA), which partners SuperReturn Asia.

New frontiers of finance

Singapore is becoming a nexus for collaborations not just among financial industry professionals, but also for policymakers, innovators, academics and other players in the fast-growing ecosystem of fintech and sustainable finance.

This is reflected in the annual Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), the world’s largest platform for this diverse range of experts to engage, share insights and achieve actionable outcomes. One highlight of the festival is the Elevandi Insights Forum, which brings together top officials, central bankers and business leaders at an invite-only session.

The eighth edition of SFF, which will take place on November 15-17 this year, is expected to attract more than 62,000 participants from 134 countries. Participants will be able to explore business, partnership and learning opportunities in five new zones — technology, founders, ESG, regulation and talent — curated around the theme of “policy meets technology meets financial services” said Pat Patel, Executive Director of Elevandi, which organised the SFF with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy at fintech firm Circle, attended SFF 2022, remembering “its lively sessions, networking and engagements”. A highlight of the event is the SFF showroom, he said, which “is like peering into the future of money and banking, as participants demonstrate their latest market developments”.

A world-class host

The massive SFF is housed at the Singapore EXPO, which has 123,000 sq m of space to host mega conventions. Certified a sustainable “Green Mark Platinum” venue by the Building and Construction Authority, the EXPO aspires to reach net zero by 2024⁷. Like every event at the EXPO, the SFF minimises its carbon footprint through efficient energy practices, eliminating single-use plastics and obtaining food from sustainable sources.

The venue is located just a 10-minute drive from Singapore’s international airport and 15 minutes from the central business district, which offers multiple hospitality and dining experiences. Last year, SFF took over 10 restaurants and bars along Club Street, a vibrant enclave in downtown Singapore, to provide a conducive setting for delegates to network while enjoying drinks and culinary delights. The “SFF After Hours” experience proved such a hit that it will be back this year.

“Singapore is one of the very few destinations in the world that can offer this set-up of great connectivity from the airport to such a large-scale venue like the EXPO,” said Patel.

Singapore EXPO is just one of a wide array of exceptional meeting venues that the city has to offer, alongside Marina Bay Sands, the iconic Gardens by the Bay and many others. As a preferred host for best-in-class events, the Lion City is where the world’s top minds are coming together to chart a sustainable future for global finance.