Published
November 18, 2024
Last month, Singapore hosted its ninth annual mega-gathering of cybersecurity officials worldwide, convening under the banner of “Trust and Security in the Digital Era.” Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) is a veritable institution, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to collaborate on the latest digital opportunities and cyber challenges, including the evolution of cyberspace and cybersecurity policy, cyber norms, and security in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) spaces.
In addition, the GovWare Conference and Exhibition—the region’s premier cybersecurity trade show—took place alongside SICW, showcasing cutting-edge tech from global and local innovators.
Why Singapore Cyber Week Matters
What makes this such an important gathering, and why do governments, companies, associations, and experts make the yearly trek to this small but mighty tech powerhouse?
Simply put, SICW—organized by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore—is the center of gravity for a global discussion on the world’s most cutting-edge and critical cybersecurity issues. Along with the RSA Conference and Israel’s Cyber Week, SICW is a rare chance for public and private sector actors to convene and examine key aspects of the digital dimension—many of which are emerging and evolving faster than governments can keep up.
As the world's largest business federation, the Chamber headed to Singapore, too, bringing a group of U.S. companies eager to engage cyber delegations from the broader APEC-Pacific region, Europe, and beyond on cybersecurity, data flows, and artificial intelligence issues. We discussed with visiting delegations, the government of Singapore, and others on the ground how the private sector can best push forward with the incredible innovation we’ve come to expect in the digital realm while participating as key stakeholders in the corresponding development of a harmonized regulatory environment.
Aside from hosting one of the key global cybersecurity conferences, Singapore is a leading force in tech innovation. Our delegation was pleased to participate in meaningful policy discussions with our hosts. Underscoring its commitment to securitizing cyberspace, Singapore recently established its fourth military branch—the Digital and Intelligence Service—which counters threats in the digital domain and capitalizes on emerging digital technologies.
The Importance of Trust
On the trade front, Singapore has developed TradeTrust, a framework connecting governments and businesses using a public blockchain to securely manage electronic trade documents. The Chamber is engaged with Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority on digital trade facilitation. Our recent joint IMDA and U.S. Chamber digital trade industry engagement session in Washington highlighted our shared commitment to promoting trade facilitation and desire for greater efficiency and security in digital trade, paving the way for a more resilient and interconnected global economy.
Singapore International Cyber Week often emphasizes “trust” in each annual theme. SICW and similar convenings—characterized by candid discussions—are essential to building that trust. In the digital domain and along its many as-yet-untraveled roads, a foundation of trust in the global multilateral order, public and private sectors alike, is an essential element we all can and must support.
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About the authors
Shannon Hayden
Hayden is Senior Director for Southeast Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
