Reinventing Destiny — A Conference on the Occasion of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th Birth Anniversary

Guided by the late Mr Lee’s vision, Singapore has beaten the odds as a small nation-state and successfully shaped itself as a competitive player on the global stage. However, modern Singapore now faces new challenges, with increasing global geo-political tensions and economic fragmentation. Once again, questions have been raised about the vulnerability and survivability of small states like Singapore.

The conference will feature forward-looking discussions on politics, governance and economics that can help Singapore and other small states retain relevance and steadily navigate an ever-changing global climate.

The Reinventing Destiny conference will be held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The conference will feature three panels and close with a dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, moderated by CNN host and columnist for The Washington Post, Dr Fareed Zakaria.

Other prominent Singaporean and international speakers at the conference will include Professor Ian Goldin (Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford); Professor Lawrence H. Summers (President Emeritus and Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University, and former United States Secretary of the Treasury - participating virtually); Ms Jessica Tan (Group Executive Director & Group Co-Chief Executive Officer, Ping An); Mr Piyush Gupta (Group Chief Executive Officer, DBS Bank Ltd); Dr Kevin Rudd (former Prime Minister of Australia); Mr Bilahari Kausikan (Chairman of the Middle East Institute); Professor Wu Weiping (Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia University); Professor Cheong Koon Hean (Chair of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities); and Mr Peter Ho (Chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority). 

Please click here to view the programme.

* Please note that registration fee applies for this conference.

Opening Remarks by Mr Janadas Devan

• Speech by Mr Janadas Devan at the Reinventing Destiny Conference


Panel I — 21st Century Economic Transition

• Report on Panel I


Panel II — The Small State in a Turbulent World 

• Report on Panel II


Panel III — Governance of a City-State

• Report on Panel III


Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong

• Report on Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister
• Remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong at the Reinventing Destiny Conference


Closing Remarks by Professor Chan Heng Chee


Media Coverage
• Berita Mediacorp. 2023. Pertumbuhan lembap, inflasi terus belenggu dunia selagi isu geopolitik diutamakan dari dagangan bebas. 14 Aug.
• Mothership. 2023. Global trade increasingly influenced not by economics, but geopolitical alignment & security: Lawrence Wong. 14 Aug.
• Mothership. 2023. 'I don’t see an Iron Curtain falling between East & West': Piyush Gupta. 14 Aug.
• Mothership. 2023. 'We are only in the 2nd round of a 13-round boxing match': Chan Heng Chee on US-China competition. 14 Aug.
• Mothership. 2023. Migrant workers vital to S'pore economy, govt improving work & living conditions, but society also plays a part in helping them integrate: Lawrence Wong. 15 Aug.
• Tamil Murasu. 2023. கொள்கை வகுப்பதில் சமநிலை காண வேண்டும்: லாரன்ஸ் வோங். 14 Aug.
• The Independent. 2023. Lawrence Wong: Declining birth rate, ageing population mean Singapore will need to sustain the supply of migrant workers. 15 Aug.
• The Online Citizen. 2023. Reflections from the Centenary: The Legacy of LKY and Singapore’s Future. 15 Aug.
• The Straits Times. 2023. Important to strike a balance with greater contestation of ideas: DPM Wong. 14 Aug.
• TODAY. 2023. When geopolitical concerns take priority over open trade, world can expect slower growth, longer-term inflation: DPM Wong. 14 Aug.
• Yahoo. 2023. DPM Lawrence Wong: 'Ethos of accommodation and compromise' helps Singapore thrive in diversity. 14 Aug.
• Zaobao. 2023. 黄循财：首要任务是加强社会资本和互信. 14 Aug.
• Zaobao. 2023. 黄循财：行动党须反思成长再赢信任. 14 Aug.