Organizer: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Type/Location: Hybrid / Singapore
Description:
Southeast Asia’s export-led development model has resulted in substantial integration with strategic supply chains – the emerging supply chains that will underpin economic and geopolitical power in the coming decades. Strategic supply chains have been strong growth opportunities and are now important economic sectors for many in the region. However, geopolitical conditions continue deteriorating between the United States, its allies, and China forcing a re-evaluation of economic integration as dependency and vulnerability. That is creating substantial headwinds for the region.
This seminar explores these dynamics across Southeast Asia’s strategic supply chains and provides a sectoral deep dive into the most important sectors – semiconductors, critical minerals, solar panels, and electric vehicles and batteries. It then turns to discussing how the region can respond under rising geoeconomic competition.
About the Speakers:
Robert Walker is a Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute and works as an economist in the Institute’s Indo-Pacific Development Centre. His work focuses on growth and development in the Indo-Pacific region, with particular focus on emerging Asian economies. Mr Walker’s interests include macroeconomics, geoeconomics, industrial policy, international trade and supply chains, critical minerals and clean energy technologies. Previously, Mr Walker worked at the Australian Department of the Treasury and the Australian National University.
Dr Akhmad Bayhaqi is a Senior Analyst at the APEC Policy Support Unit. His research areas include trade and investment facilitation, connectivity, global supply chains, and infrastructure investment. Prior to joining the APEC Secretariat, Dr Bayhaqi was a Research Officer with the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies in Brunei Darussalam, where he oversaw research on education and social policy issues. Earlier in his career, he served as an Economic Consultant for the World Bank Office in Indonesia, supporting public finance projects in eastern Indonesia under the Public Expenditure Analysis and Capacity Harmonization (PEACH) program. In addition, Dr Bayhaqi held positions at the University of Indonesia as a researcher and lecturer, focusing on economics and public policy. Dr Bayhaqi obtained his PhD in Southeast Asian Studies and a Master in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore.
Registration:
To attend the event in person, please register here.
To attend the event virtually, please register here.