India, October 30, 2024 – IIM Alumni Singapore, in association with Elevandi, the non-profit arm of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), is set to launch the inaugural INSPire Forum, a pioneering platform designed to strengthen business and economic ties between India and Singapore. The event, the first-ever “event-in-an-event” hosted by Elevandi, will be part of the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) 2024, taking place from November 4 to November 8, 2024.
India, the world’s fastest-growing economy, has become a significant player on the global stage, with its stock market now the fourth largest in the world. As India continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and domestic consumption, businesses around the world are looking for ways to enter this dynamic market. Singapore, with its robust financial ecosystem and strategic location, offers a compelling gateway for companies seeking to tap into India’s vast opportunities.
As the first event of its kind embedded within the renowned Singapore Fintech Festival, INSPire Forum will address critical themes shaping India’s growth story and India-Singapore synergies, including the renewable energy transition, cross-border digital commerce, population-scale skilling, and India’s bold journey towards becoming a $7 trillion economy by 2030.
IIM Alumni Singapore: Championing India-Singapore Synergy for High-Impact Innovation
IIM Alumni Singapore’s involvement underscores the forum’s strategic importance. As one of the world’s largest alumni organizations outside India, IIM Alumni Singapore is composed of over 3,000 professionals holding influential roles across Southeast Asia and beyond. Recognized for its leadership and strategic impact, the network has a deep-rooted commitment to fostering cross-border collaborations that leverage the strengths of India’s high-growth economy and Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. By co-hosting the INSPire Forum, IIM Alumni Singapore offers an exceptional platform that provides Indian businesses and policymakers access to insights, opportunities, and partnerships necessary for sustainable growth and a robust global presence.
Mr. Suresh Shankar, President- IIM Alumni Singapore “Over time, our alumni and their families have integrated into Singapore, with deep appreciation of the local ethos of business and community. Given our roots, we have deep networks and understand the nuances of culture and business that drives India. INSPire is our effort to leverage our natural strengths to promote better understanding and outcome-oriented engagement among the leadership networks of India, Singapore and the world.”
INSPire Forum: An Actionable Platform for Unlocking Opportunities
With a theme that resonates with India’s goal of reaching a $7 trillion GDP, INSPire’s agenda is built around four transformative pillars critical to India’s continued rise as an economic powerhouse:
- Renewable Energy Transition: Addressing global climate goals, India’s path to net-zero is pivotal. A roundtable, “Journey to the Global South: Navigating an Energy Transition Towards Net Zero,” will explore strategies to meet renewable energy challenges specific to India.
- Digital Open Commerce: The roundtable “A Playbook for Open Digital Cross-Border Commerce between India & ASEAN” will spotlight India’s e-commerce evolution, addressing MSME challenges and sharing ASEAN best practices for regulatory and operational improvements.
- Population-Scale Skilling: As India’s digital economy grows, the panel “Skilling & Capacity Development: A Playbook for Success” will focus on skilling pathways for a dynamic AI-driven landscape.
- Investment Opportunities: A flagship panel, “Cracking the Code: India Inbound,” will discuss how Singaporean and global stakeholders can engage with India’s growth trajectory and drive mutual economic benefit.
Distinguished Lineup of Indian and International Speakers
The INSPire Forum boasts a remarkable roster of speakers, many of whom are influential Indian policymakers and business leaders who have significantly contributed to India’s growth and global presence. Among the prominent speakers are:
- Mr. KV Kamath, Chairman of the Board at Jio Financial Services
- Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India
- Mr. K. Rajaraman, Chairperson IFSCA, Gift City
- Ms. Kirti Seth, Former CEO Nasscom Skills Council
- Mr. Ramaswamy Iyer, CEO and Founder of Vayana Network
- Mr. Shireesh Joshi, Chief Business Officer & President, ONDC
- Mr. Vivek Pathak, Global Head and Director of Climate Business at International Finance Corporation
- Mr. Vipul Parekh, Co-Founder, Big Basket
Mr. Arvind Sankaran, IIM Alumni Singapore Exco & Sherpa-INSPire 2024 “Over the last four months, a motivated team of alumni volunteers with day jobs have worked tirelessly to take the INSPire idea from concept to execution. The themes touch four of the biggest topics in the world today. The energy transition, open digital commerce, skilling for transformational growth and the biggest of them all – the growing economic opportunity that is India. Elevandi have been an amazing partner and we are delighted to be an integral part of their flagship event. There is no better or bigger platform to launch INSPire than the world’s largest fintech gathering.”
Elevandi: MAS’s Commitment to Building Inclusive Financial Ecosystems
Elevandi, the non-profit arm of MAS, plays a pivotal role in fostering public-private dialogue to build a more inclusive and innovative financial ecosystem. INSPire Forum is a direct outcome of Elevandi’s collaboration with IIM Alumni Singapore, and this partnership underscores MAS’s commitment to India’s growth story and to fostering regional synergies that drive real-world outcomes for stakeholders on both sides.
Singapore Fintech Festival: The Global Stage for Fintech and Innovation
Held from November 4 to 8, 2024, the Singapore Fintech Festival is the world’s largest gathering at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy, and continues to attract a remarkable lineup of speakers and participants. With over 66,000 attendees and nearly 1,000 speakers from more than 150 countries in 2023, the 2024 edition of SFF will spotlight the future of the global financial ecosystem through themes of Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Sustainable Finance.
As part of SFF, INSPire Forum will provide Indian and international attendees with exclusive insights into India’s economic landscape, fintech advancements, and the potential of the India-Singapore partnership to drive the next wave of global growth.
Redhill, a global full-service PR and communications firm, will support this prestigious event as its PR partner. “As an IIM Bangalore alumna and a Singapore citizen, I am thrilled to support the INSPire Forum as it embarks on this journey to deepen India-Singapore ties. As Singapore’s largest independent PR agency with a strong foothold in the Indian market, Redhill is honoured to be part of this transformative initiative, fostering collaboration and driving impactful conversations across industries,” said Manisha Seewal, Global President, Redhill.
