Singapore, 21 September 2020 – UBS held its 8th flagship OneASEAN Conference in Singapore from 21 to 30 September, bringing together more than 400 institutional investors to debate what “The newer normal in ASEAN” might look like in the years after COVID-19. The conference discussed how the region has been impacted by the pandemic and why we believe ASEAN will remain a cornerstone in global investment portfolios.
Yeoh Choo Guan, Head of ASEAN Global Markets, UBS said, “2020 is proving to be a period of uncertainty for the world. While ASEAN has not been spared, this region continues to be an important engine for global growth. Despite ongoing volatility, Southeast Asia’s long-term fundamentals remain largely intact, and well-positioned to emerge stronger post-crisis. I am proud to launch our virtual flagship OneASEAN investment conference here in Singapore, as we bring together companies, investors and regulators to interact with industry brightest to expand investment opportunities.”
The conference attracted more than 400 institutional investors, reflecting strong international interest in ASEAN. This landmark conference has been one of the most highly anticipated and prestigious forums for institutional investors and corporate leaders to exchange insights on investment trends and developments in the region for many years, and this was unchanged by the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
Ian Douglas-Pennant, Head of Research, ASEAN at UBS added, “Investors arguably face more uncertainty today than at any time in the last 20 years. At the OneASEAN conference we enjoyed debating with our clients what life will look like after COVID on topics as diverse as healthcare delivery, the outlook for palm oil and rising sea levels. We explored new and challenging ideas such as Modern Monetary Theory, how corporates and employees can best work together, and how to manage mental health in these hard times.”
Ed Teather, Senior ASEAN and Asia economist at UBS highlighted that the OneASEAN conference was a great opportunity to see, across ASEAN, how government policy, corporates and investors are rising to and moving beyond the challenge of COVID-19. The virtual nature of the conference made it much easier for conference participants to engage with policy makers and experts from around the region and beyond. We were able to include UBS' top experts in global macro strategy, global commodities and on other more specific topics like US monetary policy and the implications of US elections for regional economies and markets.
