Singapore Fintech Festival to advance India-Singapore partnership with the launch of INSPire Forum, led by IIM Alumni Singapore

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. Redhill, a global full-service PR and communications firm, will support this prestigious event as its PR partner.

“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,” remarked Suresh Shankar, President of IIM Alumni Singapore.

Singapore Fintech Festival: The World’s Largest Fintech Gathering

The Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), the world’s largest and most influential fintech event, brings together global central bankers, regulators, industry leaders, and investors. In 2023, it drew over 66,000 participants from 150 countries and 970 speakers. Past speakers include Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Satya Nadella, Chairman & CEO of Microsoft; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet; Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank; and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

In 2024, the festival will focus on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing, exploring how these technologies can revolutionize the global digital economy and financial services to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. Hosted by MAS, Elevandi, and Constellar, in collaboration with The Association of Banks in Singapore, SFF 2024 will continue to be a critical platform where the worlds of finance, technology, and policy converge to shape the future of the global financial ecosystem.

INSPire Forum: A Platform for India-Singapore Dialogue

The INSPire Forum, designed by IIM Alumni Singapore in collaboration with Elevandi, will serve as a vital bridge between India and Singapore, promoting dialogue, collaboration, and actionable partnerships between businesses, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from both nations. The forum is set against the backdrop of India’s rapid economic growth and Singapore’s role as a global financial and strategic partner.

The inaugural INSPire Forum will delve into four global themes that hold significant importance for both nations, including the renewable energy transition, digital open commerce, population-scale skilling for aspirational growth, and the pathway for India to achieve a $7 trillion economy.

With 25 distinguished speakers, including illustrious IIM alumni and international thought leaders, the forum will provide unparalleled insights on how Singapore and India can work together to address global priorities. These speakers will include prominent names from Indian business, policy, and global leadership who have transformed industries, companies, and even entire sectors.

Arvind Sankaran, IIM Alumni Singapore Exco & Sherpa-INSPire 2024, conveyed his enthusiasm, remarking, “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!”

IIM Alumni Singapore: Leading a Visionary Platform

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Alumni Singapore, the largest IIM alumni network outside India, plays a pivotal role in bringing this forum to life. The alumni network comprises over 3,000 professionals who are influential across multiple sectors in Singapore and globally. By leading the INSPire Forum, the IIM Alumni Singapore has created a visionary platform that highlights the strategic importance of India-Singapore business ties.

As one of the world’s most successful professional diasporas, IIM Alumni Singapore is well-positioned to act as a bridge between India and Singapore in key areas such as technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This effort is also backed by an Alumni Advisory Council that includes luminaries such as KV Kamath, Chairman of Jio Financial Services, Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of SEBI and TV Narendran, CEO & Managing Director of Tata Steel. Together, they have curated the agenda and content for INSPire, ensuring that the forum addresses the most pressing and relevant issues of today.

INSPire is supported by Singapore’s largest independent PR firm Redhill, whose President Manisha Seewal is an IIM Alumni. “As an IIM Bangalore alumna and a Singapore citizen, I am proud to support the INSPire Forum as it embarks on this exciting journey to deepen India-Singapore ties. Redhill is honoured to be part of this transformative initiative, fostering collaboration and driving impactful conversations across industries,” said Manisha Seewal, Global President, Redhill.

Key Themes and Agenda at INSPire Forum

The INSPire Forum at SFF 2024 will feature sessions and roundtables aimed at fostering actionable collaboration between India and Singapore. Highlights include:

• Journey to the Global South: A roundtable on energy transition challenges and opportunities for the Global South, focusing on collaborative efforts in renewable energy
• A Playbook for Open Digital Cross-Border Commerce: A session on best practices from ASEAN to streamline India’s cross-border digital trade, with emphasis on MSME challenges like customs, payments, and logistics
• Cracking the Code: India Inbound: A panel exploring investment prospects in India, offering pragmatic guidance for global businesses using Singapore as a gateway
• Skilling & Capacity Development: This panel will address strategies for large-scale workforce skilling in an AI-driven era, with insights from India and other emerging markets