Cities have been the centres of innovation and economic growth throughout our history. By 2050, urban areas are expected to be home to 68% of the global population. As cities continue to evolve, transform and grow, technology has been playing an increasingly critical and differentiating role in the way that cities function. As next-generation digital technologies get more pervasive, they have the potential to transform the fundamental fabric of our cities and in turn deliver on key citizen outcomes – that of more efficient and inclusive services, more economic growth and opportunities, and a sustainable planet, thus driving better quality of life. The question is, what is beyond the horizon? Youths today are the architects of tomorrow’s reality, and it is imperative that we equip our young with the tools required to create the Cities of the Future that we envision. Hear from Dell Technologies’ President of Asia-Pacific & Japan and Global Digital Cities, Mr Amit Midha, on how the Cities of the Future will evolve and transform, accelerated by the increasing adoption of next-generation digital technologies, what skillsets will be in demand, and how you can leverage on resources available to you to thrive in this important growth sector. Mr Midha will join the panellists for a discussion on the potential blindspots which may come as we build these Digital Cities of the future: inequitable access, cybercrime, and sustainability are a few examples. The discussion will also address how some of these adverse impacts could be mitigated, and how the public-private partnership axis can help to ensure that we continue to develop technology in a way that leaves no one behind.

Wealth management in Asia has traditionally been dominated by traditional financial institutions. In recent years, however, as Asian markets matured and the number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in the region has spiked, External Asset Management (EAM) organisations have begun to fill the niche for bespoke services with more competitive pricing.

Organised by the Retail Centre of Excellence (RCoE), the annual Asia Retail Leaders Conference was held on 17 November 2021 at the Singapore Management University Mochtar Riady Auditorium. The full-day hybrid conference brought together 11 industry experts from the retail and academia sectors, was attended by more than 300 participants.

The theme of the conference, Pivot or Perish, saw experts sharing insights on a range of topics, from the impact of digital transformation to changing consumer expectations and purchasing habits in a post-pandemic environment.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, changing financial landscape and evolving job market, are the young adults in Singapore able to withstand financial challenges that come their way? How financially literate and resilient are they?

These are key questions the Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Programme for Young Adults aims to understand in its inaugural survey conducted between March and April 2021.