The Straits Times · 21 Oct, 07:40 · Business briefing

Singapore, UAE can do more to connect their businesses and investors: PM Wong

Prime Minister Wong has urged Singapore and the United Arab Emirates to deepen economic ties, specifically calling for stronger connections between their respective businesses and investors.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Prime Minister Wong has urged Singapore and the United Arab Emirates to deepen economic ties, specifically calling for stronger connections between their respective businesses and investors. The statement highlights a strategic push to enhance bilateral trade and investment flows between the two Asian hubs. This initiative aims to leverage their complementary economic strengths, fostering greater collaboration across sectors. The announcement signals a renewed governmental focus on expanding commercial opportunities, encouraging enterprises from both nations to explore new partnerships. For professionals, this suggests an impending increase in cross-border projects and joint ventures requiring robust international coordination and strategic alignment.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You should anticipate a surge in demand for professionals who can navigate complex cross-border transactions and regulatory environments. Skills in international finance, strategic negotiation, and cross-cultural communication will rise significantly in value. If you work in trade, investment banking, or corporate development, this is your moment to demonstrate expertise in connecting disparate markets. Smart professionals will immediately research UAE-Singapore bilateral agreements and identify gaps in current market offerings. Focus on understanding the specific regulatory frameworks of both jurisdictions. You might also consider upskilling in risk management to address the nuances of international investment. By positioning yourself as a bridge between these two dynamic economies, you become indispensable to firms seeking to expand their regional footprint. Act now to build relevant networks and showcase your ability to facilitate high-value international deals.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Business And Management, Risk Management Strategies and Compliance And Governance — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.