The biennial SMU Asia Summit returned to SMU’s city campus in Singapore on 20 November 2025, bringing together close to 75 SMU International Advisory Council chairs and members, members of SMU’s Board of Trustees, SMU senior management and faculty, and special guests. As a platform for regional knowledge exchange, the Summit convened leaders to reflect on the forces reshaping Asia’s economic landscape and the strategic decisions required for long-term resilience and opportunity.
Anchored on the theme “Redefining Asia’s Trade Playbook: Navigating the New World Order,” this year’s edition responded to the shifting dynamics of global supply chains, emerging East-to-West trade patterns, rapid technological integration, and the growing importance of sustainable business practices. Discussions centred on how Asia’s business leaders can recalibrate growth strategies, strengthen regional linkages, and seize the opportunities arising from a more interconnected and competitive global economy.
Professor Lily Kong, President, SMU kicked off the Summit by outlining the key tenets for SMU 2030: Shaping Impact, Transforming Lives - SMU's new five-year strategic plan; and unveiling SMU's plans to launch a fourth overseas centre in Shenzhen and an eighth International Advisory Council (IAC) in India, come 2026.
She also launched the SMU Emerging Asian Leaders or "SEAL" programme - an Asia-focused executive training programme designed at the suggestion of and in collaboration with several IAC members’ organisations.
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation Singapore and former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, delivered the opening keynote. His remarks set the tone for conversations on Asia’s role in a multipolar world and the imperative of long-term strategic adaptation.
Set against the backdrop of Mr Heng’s macroeconomic views, the plenary, “Redefining Asia’s Trade Playbook: Business Leaders’ Perspectives,” brought together Mr Haryanto Adikoesoemo, President Director, PT. AKR Corporindo Tbk and Chair of SMU IAC Indonesia; Dr Mai Huu Thin, Founder, Chairman and CEO, U&I Investment Corporation and Chair of SMU IAC Vietnam; Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, Petronas Adviser and Chair of SMU IAC Malaysia; and Mr Daryl Ng, Chairman, Sino Group and Chair of SMU IAC China. Moderated by Associate Professor Themin Suwardy, Associate Provost (Postgraduate Education) at SMU, the session examined how the private and public sectors can collaborate to deepen regional economic integration and the myriad upsides of a prioritised Asian playbook.
Panellists underscored the need for a mindset shift across ASEAN — one that embraces flexibility, creativity, and the agility to identify new opportunities. They reaffirmed the importance of education in uplifting economies across Asia, and SMU’s unique convening position in bringing together knowledge, people, and partnerships across neighbouring economies.
After lunch, the delegation had an opportunity to tour the PSA Innovation Centre, and explore next-generation logistics, automation, and port technologies shaping the future of global trade. Participants gained insights into how digitalisation, supply chain optimisation, and sustainability-driven innovation are transforming the movement of goods worldwide. The visit also highlighted PSA’s ongoing development of Tuas Port, which is set to become the world’s largest automated port by the 2040s, with a handling capacity of 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Delegates also attended the SMU Visionary Series, which welcomed global tech leader Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Infosys, and former SMU Trustee, back to SMU’s campus. Quipping that he had used generative AI to draft his speech in keeping with the times, Mr Murthy reflected on three decades of building and running Infosys, and how his core principle of treating everyone with equal respect continues to shape his business ethos and perspective.
Drawing on his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, he underscored the enduring importance of values-based leadership, clarity of purpose, and humility in driving innovation. His reflections on leadership were compelling, anchored in courage, discipline, and clarity of purpose — the very principles that guided the rise of Infosys and exemplify the mindset required to build organisations that stand the test of time.
Following his keynote, Mr Murthy was joined by SMU Chairman Mr Piyush Gupta for a fireside conversation on leadership in an era of rapid technological change. As a pioneer in the tech industry, Mr Murthy reaffirmed that the human mind remains our greatest instrument of progress, emphasising that innovation is powered by curiosity, clear and simple communication, and leaders who align words with actions.
The evening also marked the official launch of the 4th Singapore–India Hackathon at SMU, a flagship collaboration between both countries to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The hackathon will return to Singapore in June 2026.
The day concluded with a Summit Dinner at The Atelier at Capitol Kempinski Hotel, providing an opportunity for continued exchange, reflection, and strengthened connections among SMU’s IAC community.
In his welcome address, Mr Gupta reflected on the role a university like SMU can play in bridging human and artificial intelligence, and how SMU can serve as a convening platform for regional leaders to share perspectives, best practices, and build deeper collaboration. His remarks underscored why gatherings such as the Asia Summit matter — reminding us that Asia’s strength lies not only in its economic momentum, but also in our collective capacity to learn together.
The dinner also featured a showcase of three SMU alumni startups — Alterpacks, Bamboo Builders, and Fogo Fungi — all incubated at the SMU Business Innovations Generator under the Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
