The Diplomatic Network (Asia) convened on Wednesday the DNA networking breakfast for November at the esteemed Breakfast Room of the Intercontinental Singapore.
A slew of ambassadors and members of the private sector enjoyed discussions on a range of topics, including technological innovation, banking in ASEAN and the efficiency of Singapore.
Attendees
Distinguished diplomatic guests included the Israeli ambassador to Singapore, His Excellency Eli Vered Hazan; the Panamanian head of mission, HE Enrique Villegas Gonzalez; and HE Eivind Homme, ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway.
Among the notable attendees from the private sector were Mehmet Akay, the general manager of Turkish Airlines in Singapore; Ashley Davis, the regional relationship manager of HSBC; Sandy Yap, the director of global sales for Park Hotel Group; Victor Katheyas, corporate counsel of Google; and Noel Ng from Goodwins Law Corp, who is also a member of DNA.
Insights
During the event, each ambassador shared insights into their personal and professional experiences in Singapore. Consensus among them highlighted their admiration for the efficiency demonstrated in the governance and private initiatives of the city-state.
The diplomats lauded Singapore’s remarkable journey over the past six decades, emphasising its continued operation like a well-functioning Swiss clock. Key descriptors used by the attendees to characterise Singapore were accountability, legal certainty, and transparency.
Representatives from the private sector expressed pride in the nation’s esteemed standing within the international diplomatic community.
Google’s Katheyas shed light on the role played by their innovation technology hub in the region, while Turkish Airlines’ Akay underscored Singapore’s significance as a gateway to Asia for their carriers, connecting Southeast Asians with Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa.
HSBC’s Davis spoke about his bank brand’s ongoing commitment to serving the business community in ASEAN.
Networking opportunities
Distinguished guests of DNA were acquainted with the dynamics driving the platform, and representatives from the business sector were encouraged to join the network as members.
This was viewed as a significant opportunity to engage with the foreign diplomatic community and international chambers of commerce, such as the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.
Heads of mission were invited to leverage the media-networking platform, which could facilitate the search for products and services essential to their missions and personal needs.
