Singapore’s deputy prime minister, Lawrence Wong also spoke at the gala and reportedly stressed on the importance of partnerships with companies like P&G. He also emphasised on the importance of developing strong trust between employers, workers, unions and the government. " By working together with all these partners, we build a reliable and trusted eco-system, one where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts, and where Singapore can always be relied upon to deliver results," he added.
Wong went on to note that the prior economic conventions that Singapore has relied on for growth, such as open markets, free trade and maximum efficiency, are no longer being prioritised due to national security concerns. "That's why we all feel a palpable sense of unease - the move away from an integrated global economy is accelerating, and no one knows where we are heading towards, or what will be the landing point for the new global order," he explained.