Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone - JSSEZ – Sustaining Malaysia’s Investment Upcycle

Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone  - Singapore winners

Centennial Asia Advisors

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Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>Malaysia and Singapore have formally agreed to establish the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). </li>
<li>Still, compared with Shenzhen, the exemplar SEZ, the JS-SEZ lacks key ingredients such as preferential policies and market integration for firms in the Zone. </li>
<li>This agreement is thus just a beginning. We expect subsequent talks to produce more concrete commitments that will make the JS-SEZ more of the game-changer it can be.</li>
</ul>


Malaysia and Singapore have formally agreed to establish the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). 
Still, compared with Shenzhen, the exemplar SEZ, the JS-SEZ lacks key ingredients such as preferential policies and market integration for firms in the Zone. 
This agreement is thus just a beginning. We expect subsequent talks to produce more concrete commitments that will make the JS-SEZ more of the game-changer it can be.


Regional Economics: Despite the Fanfare, Hold the Applause for JS-SEZ