DBS CEO Tan Su Shan Presents Singapore Stability as Global Refuge

DBS Group CEO Tan Su Shan said Singapore’s political stability and predictable business climate are being presented as a refuge for companies navigating wars, trade disputes and fragmented supply chains.

Speaking at the DBS Asia Future Forward conference in Singapore, Tan described the city-state as open and dependable during a period of global volatility. She referred to Singapore as the “Little Red Dot” and said its reputation for being “almost kind of boring” can be an advantage when businesses face uncertainty.

Singapore has AAA-rated debt, a stable political environment and a strategic position in Asia. Those characteristics have helped frame the country as a place where companies can manage disruptions affecting trade and production.

DBS is Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets. Tan said companies concerned about geopolitical risks, blockages, war or shipping disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz can work with the bank to diversify upstream suppliers and pivot from one market to another.

She said global trade and supply chains have become more fragmented, increasing the need for companies to adjust their operations across markets. Tan also described DBS as having one of the safest credit ratings in the world during an interview on the sidelines of the conference.

Tan also addressed how artificial intelligence is changing the workforce and the skills managers need when hiring. She urged managers to prioritize attitude, saying it cannot be bought or trained.

Her comments placed adaptability at the center of both Singapore’s appeal to businesses and DBS’s approach to serving customers through geopolitical and economic uncertainty.