Commenting on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) warning on China’s growth model, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said increasing consumption as a long-term goal is appropriate, but policies should focus on raising incomes and strengthening social security, adding that China’s trade surplus is unlikely to shrink in 2026 despite IMF concerns over export momentum.
In a commentary, SMU Professor of Finance (Education) and Associate Dean of Pre-Experience Postgraduate Programmes Benedict Koh said that the Central Provident Fund’s (CPF) new voluntary scheme will be welcomed by those keen to grow their retirement savings but lack the investment know-how. Prof Koh added that if designed well, the scheme could empower more Singaporeans to grow their retirement savings with greater confidence.
Commenting on National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) report on the impact of leadership on social welfare and volunteer work, SMU Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship David Gomulya said companies donating to philanthropic causes have already moved beyond the trial stage and are willing to formally incorporate charitable projects into their corporate culture or operating models.
Commenting on Singapore Tourism Board’s auntie matchmaking concept, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami noted that the “Aunties, Not Algorithms” campaign’s novelty alone could help reframe perceptions of Singapore. Assoc Prof Ramaswami said that just the intrigue of the possibilities is enough to put Singapore into the consideration set of travel destinations as an interesting, unconventional place.
Commenting on Mediacorp’s 2026 World Cup coverage deal, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami noted that as the solo terrestrial broadcaster, Mediacorp is under pressure to hold on to its audience. Assoc Prof Ramaswami expressed his scepticism about whether fans will fork out for paid World Cup packages as Mediacorp announces that 28 matches would be aired for free, reducing the attractiveness of alternative packages for the viewer.
Commenting on Singapore’s hub status on the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), SMU Assistant Professor of Operations Management (Education) Joyce Low opined that any direct impact will be limited because the route is not suitable for most container trade. Therefore, she added that the core containerised trade that sustains Singapore’s transhipment hub role will continue to rely primarily on the Suez-Malacca corridor and intra-Asia networks.
- Read more about NVPC study: Leadership must drive and support initiatives for positive social impact
The 2025 National Corporate Purpose and Impact Study by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) found that senior leaders must lead and support positive social impact initiatives within their companies, making these part of long-term business practices. Commenting on the impact of leadership on a company’s positive social impact, SMU Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship David Gomulya, an advisor to the study, said companies often blame financial constraints, but the real issue is whether leaders believe social impact is important.
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that the advantage of ERP 2.0 is a continuous connection between the vehicles and transport authorities which would enable virtual entries and to charge people without having the physical infrastructure. Asst Prof Fan noted that 93 per cent of vehicles already received and installed the new generation of on-board unit (OBU), putting Singapore on the way to moving to the new system.
Commenting on the collapse of AVIC Trust, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said that placing AVIC Trust under custodianship is tantamount to “finding two helpers”. Assoc Prof Fu said that these helpers do not provide a full guarantee, and their role is only to assist in recovering assets from the relevant projects. He added that the outlook is probably not optimistic as to how much can be recovered. He said that the central authorities have yet to intervene because AVIC Trust’s defaults have not risen to the level of systemic risk.
SMU has launched a Master of Science in Business AI to develop business leaders who are fluent in artificial intelligence (AI) and grounded in cross-functional business knowledge, strategy and leadership. Aligned with Singapore’s SkillsFuture and Smart Nation priorities, the programme addresses the growing need for AI capabilities and data-driven decision-making across the workforce.
