Can Singapore be the ‘natural choice’ to bridge Asean and Central Asia?

Singapore is positioning itself as a bridge between Central Asia and Asean, as both regions increasingly look to each other amid growing disruption to global trade and intensifying superpower rivalry.

The political appetite exists, but analysts say trade benefits will still hinge on overcoming obstacles such as geography and a lack of connectivity.

Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong pitched the city state to Central Asian businesses during his visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from August 24 to 31.

“Singapore has long been a gateway to Southeast Asia, a region of more than 700 million people and one of the fastest-growing parts of the world,” he told the Uzbekistan parliament on Monday.

Lee said the city state, set to assume chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year, would explore ways to boost cooperation between both regions in potential sectors such as transport, connectivity and energy.

“We strive for a Southeast Asia which is linked to many countries and regions, where many partners can participate in and benefit from Southeast Asia’s stability and success, and Central Asia fits well into this vision.”