Staff Reporter
Published:
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Country aims to deepen regional integration through stronger trade and digital connectivity.
Singapore is looking to advance artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across ASEAN when it assumes the bloc’s chairmanship in 2027, according to DBS’ Intentional AI report.
The agenda is expected to emphasise collective resilience, deeper regional integration, and inclusive partnerships.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has highlighted the need for more seamless connectivity across trade, investment, digital systems, payments, transport, and the power grid, whilst maintaining an open regional architecture that engages the United States, China, Europe, and the Gulf.
Speaking at the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference Grand Finale Dinner, Wong also said Singapore would deepen existing partnerships and build connections with new regions as global trade becomes more fragmented.
Singapore, whose trade is equivalent to three times its gross domestic product, cannot afford to turn inward, Wong said.
“We are still a trading nation. Trade remains three times our GDP. We cannot afford to turn inwards. We will get poor very quickly if we do so,” he said.
According to DBS, Singapore has indicated that wider AI adoption amongst ASEAN micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, workers, and governments will be a priority under its chairmanship.
Proposed support includes shared digital resources such as language models, governance toolkits and capability programmes.
The region’s digital economy exceeded US$300b in 2025, whilst data centre capacity is expected to more than triple between 2025 and 2030.
“The chairmanship can focus on the missing connective tissue: interoperable rules, cross-border data flows, common evaluation practices, affordable access and deployment support for smaller firms and lower-capacity public institutions,” DBS said.
It also added that Singapore could use its position as a trading hub, financial centre, technology adopter and regulatory convener to help ASEAN identify common challenges, test solutions across countries at different stages of development and finance their deployment.
The proposal also draws on Singapore’s industrial development experience, including Jurong, where land, infrastructure, labour institutions and incentives were assembled around a defined economic objective.
A similar approach to AI would bring together data, assurance, talent, capital and cross-border rules to address regional priorities affecting ASEAN’s 700 million people.
Potential areas for regional cooperation include healthy longevity, climate resilience, inclusive enterprise productivity and trusted digital systems. These initiatives could combine targeted programmes, regulatory test environments, blended capital, common assurance protocols and regional demonstration sites.
As AI adoption expands, workforce adaptation will also be important. Wong said the technology would cause some jobs to disappear and others to change, although its full impact on employment remains uncertain.
“Our approach is not to protect the job, but to protect every worker,” he said, describing Singapore’s system of cooperation between the government, employers, and unions to support enterprise transformation and help workers reskill and upskill.
Under this approach, companies receiving government grants for enterprise transformation and information technology are expected to help workers develop new skills.
Wong said businesses should pursue retrenchments only as a last resort and treat affected workers fairly, including by providing advance notice and retrenchment benefits.
Singapore has also developed institutional capabilities in financing, insurance, verification, cybersecurity, legal structuring, talent and physical infrastructure, DBS said.
“Connected into a coherent platform, these capabilities would allow Singapore to capture value from regional problem-solving without dominating every underlying technology,” the report said. “Its role is simple: make Asian innovation more investable, interoperable and trusted.”
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