User:Singapore2468/Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Overview
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is an independent organization dedicated to the research, analysis and discussion of regional and international issues.

Mission
The institute aims to make Singapore a more cosmopolitan and global society through research, policy work and public education on international affairs. Founded in 1961 and registered as a membership-based society, it is Singapore’s oldest think tank.

The Institute's goal is to make international affairs more relevant to Singapore, and to make Singapore more relevant in the realm of international affairs.

Structure
The SIIA is a membership-based society. The work of the organization is guided by an elected Council, and by a small group of advisers.

The present Chairman of the SIIA is Professor Simon Tay, a professor of law at the National University of Singapore, and former Chairman of Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA). The SIIA’s founders include academics and enthusiasts, among them Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large. From the 1980s to the early 1990s, the SIIA was chaired by Dr Lau Teik Soon, former Member of Parliament who helped start the influential ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies network (ASEAN-ISIS), of which the SIIA is a founding member. In 2005, President S R Nathan became the SIIA’s first Honorary Member.

The SIIA is an independent organization, funded by foundations, membership subscriptions and corporate sponsorship. It receives no regular funding from the Singapore government.

Research
The SIIA's research is driven by its Council and senior researchers who work closely with networks of academics and experts in Singapore and the region. Such networks bring expertise for specific subjects and provide a range of perspectives that reflect the differences in national interests and outlooks in Asia.

A key network for SIIA is the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS). This network, founded in 1984, brings together think tanks from nine ASEAN member states and includes some of the best-known policy research institutes in these countries. We are a founding member of the ASEAN-ISIS and communicate regularly with governments and policy-makers to offer policy recommendations and advice, in what has come to be called, "track-2" diplomacy.

This engagement has led to significant impacts on policies in ASEAN and for relations between member states, and major powers. One example is the recommendation that led to the ASEAN Regional Forum, now established as the leading multilateral dialogue in Asia on security. Other initiatives include recommendations for an ASEAN economic community, dialogues for a growing regionalism in East Asia, and an assembly for non-governmental organizations and community groups in ASEAN.

The SIIA and its ASEAN-ISIS colleagues also convene significant dialogues and conferences, including the influential Asia Pacific Roundtable, held annually in Malaysia.The SIIA also collaborates with some of the leading think tanks, academic institutes and organizations in East Asia, North America and Europe. These networks in the region and throughout the world give the SIIA significant reach and insights to draw upon for research.

Research Foci
Current research subjects include:

* ASEAN, Asia, Regionalism and Multilateralism, including the ASEAN-Plus efforts, East Asia, and discussions on the Asia Pacific community * Environment, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Energy Security, including nuclear energy, haze * Anti-Corruption, Governance and Transparency * Civil Society Engagement within ASEAN * Trade and Economic Integration * Asia, ASEAN and America relations * Asia-Europe Relations

Regional and International Conferences
SIIA is an active member of the ASEAN-ISIS (Institutes of Strategic and International Studies) network of think tanks from ASEAN countries. Together with its ASEAN-ISIS partners, SIIA co-convenes various regional / international conferences and Track II dialogue to contribute to debates and discussions about policy issues and provide inputs and ideas into the policy development process.

In addition to some of the regular conferences and dialogues, SIIA also co-organises conferences with many other different foundations and institutions. SIIA’s Council members and researchers also participate actively in various regional and international conferences, presenting research papers and debating ideas and issues.

Membership
Members' programme includes exclusive, closed-door meetings, briefings and discussions with notable political and business leaders and experts. Corporate and CEO Roundtable members (RTM) receive private invitations to lunch and dinner dialogues, which are kept small and closed to the media to allow an informal, off-the-record exchange of perspectives and insights.

Cost
Ordinary Membership (with voting rights) costs $100 per year, and is open to Singapore citizens only. Associate Membership costs $100 per year, and is open to non-Singapore citizens and Permanent Resident Holders. Corporate Membership costs $1500 per year, and is open to all organisations within Singapore.

Benefits
* Monthly invitations to free ‘Members Only’ confidential dialogues on international issues; * Preferential invitations to public events, such as lectures, launches, etc; * Invitation to international affairs and business outlook lectures/seminars/ symposiums at discounted rate; * Monthly SIIA E-Newsletter; and * Insights: Weekly and Monthly editions, which offer news summaries and analysis of issues that affect ASEAN and its member countries.

Current Members
SIIA CEO Roundtable Members

Asia Resource Corporation Pte Ltd, Jardine Matheson (Singapore) Ltd, Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd, Petroships Investment PL, Portek International Ltd, Roche Singapore Pte Ltd, SC Global Developments Ltd, Sembcorp Industries Limited, Shell Companies in Singapore, Sincere Watch Limited, Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd, United Overseas Bank Group, Wing Tai Holdings Limited

SIIA Corporate Members

Asia-Europe Foundation, Bain & Company SE Asia, Inc, BP Singapore Pte Limited, Credit Suisse AG, Daniel Teo & Associates Pte Ltd, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd, Haw Par Leisure Pte Ltd, Herbert Smith LLP, Hill & Knowlton (SEA) Pte Ltd, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, JETRO Singapore, Lee Foundation, LGT Bank in Liechtenstein (Singapore) Ltd, Management Development Institute of Singapore, Ministry of Defence, Morgan Stanley, OCBC Bank, Philips Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, Pontiac Land Group, Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd., Senoko Energy Pte Ltd, Siemens Pte Ltd, Singapore Exchange Limited, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, Singapore Technologies Telemedia Communications Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, Venture Corporation Limited, Wong Partnership

Events
The SIIA holds both closed-door and public conversations with leading members of both the public and private sector relevant to Singapore and South East Asia.

Recent speakers include:

Secretary William Cohen, Co-Chairman of the CSIS US ASEAN Strategy Commission

Dr. Kurt Campbell, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

H.E. Abdulaziz Aladwani, Ambassador, The Embassy of the State of Kuwait