Singapore's Growth with OBOR Initiatives

This assignment examines the impact of China's OBOR (One Belt One Road) initiative on Singapore's economy and development. It analyzes how OBOR has created opportunities for Singapore in terms of infrastructure improvements, increased trade with China, and business expansion. The document also discusses challenges Singapore faces, such as competition from other countries participating in OBOR and the need to constantly innovate and upgrade technologies. Finally, it highlights the potential for mutually beneficial collaboration between Singaporean and Chinese companies within the framework of OBOR.

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Economics Assignment
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Executive Summary
One Belt One Route (OBOR) is an initiative that is taken by China in 2013. There are some
countries, which get benefits from this initiative. Singapore is one of these countries, who
support this initiative. However, there are various factors which were affected by these OBOr
initiatives. In this report, the effect of OBOR on Singapore’s economy is taken under
consideration.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
The capabilities of Singapore companies to capture this opportunity.......................................3
Infrastructure..........................................................................................................................4
Connectivity...........................................................................................................................4
The possible challengers ahead facing by Singapore companies:.............................................6
Competitive............................................................................................................................6
Politic risk..............................................................................................................................7
Exchange rate risks................................................................................................................8
Financing the projects............................................................................................................8
Corruption and poor governance............................................................................................8
Impact of the maritime lanes..................................................................................................8
The government’s support and assistance..................................................................................9
Monitoring financing condition.............................................................................................9
Strengthening RMB business hub........................................................................................10
Recommendation:....................................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
Referencing..............................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
The president of China, Xi Jinping, took the initiative of the “One Belt One Road’
(OBOR) in 2013. This initiative was taken by the President when he visited to Kazakhstan
and Indonesia in 2013 (Lim 2015). There, he announced about the Silk Road Economic Belt
and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives. These two initiatives are known as
OBOR. In China, this became an important foreign policy from different aspects. Moreover,
this foreign policy helps China to promote economic cooperation with different countries
along a road rout.
Singapore has a very small boundary. However, the economic condition of this state
is very advanced, compare to other countries of the Southeast Asia (Zhang and Xu 2017).
The state has tried to adopt different strategic planning. This is because Singapore has
understood that they can only survive if they can balance between West and China. The state
has identified since the beginning of 1980s that the economy of China will grow
significantly. They can understand that this belt, road initiatives (BRI) will bring positive
impact n the economy of Singapore. This OBOR initiative has provided various opportunities
for Singapore. As a result, Singapore warmly accepts this initiative. The state remains an
early and strong supporter of OBOR, from the beginning. “One belt One Route” helps both
countries to increase their international trade with each other. China’s 30% BRIs are in
Singapore. The state can play an important role in three chief areas for OBOR. These are
financial connectivity, infrastructural connectivity and third-party collaboration.
The capabilities of Singapore companies to capture this opportunity:
Different companies of China are expanding their business in Singapore. However,
companies of Singapore can also give complement to those Chinese companies by giving

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proper market knowledge and track record. This helps both counties to explore various
opportunities to collaborate mutually.
Infrastructure
In Southeast Asia, Singapore is a chief country with a great economical position to be
an infrastructural hub. It has large group of companies, which are involved in different
dimensions of infrastructural development. The state is also a leading business centre as it has
large number of financial institutions and specialists. Those financial institutions and
specialists are expert to undertake various projects of infrastructure to structure and finance.
Hence, Singapore is well-known and well-placed state to continue a successful relation with
BRI of China.
Singapore also gets benefits from the OBOR initiative of China. As Singapore has an
excellent infrastructure and capability in the logistic industry, it helps its neighbor countries
to develop their logistic infrastructure and trading (Yu 2017). Moreover, the OBOR gives
advantages to develop infrastructure in Singapore.
To capture infrastructural opportunities of OBOR of China, International Enterprise
Singapore has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s local branch of
Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICBC). According to this MOU, ICBC will provide
financial services and structures of projects to support enterprises of Singapore. To
implement these initiatives, ICBC establishes a Singapore team with the turnaround time.
This expects to shorten the loans.
Connectivity
Singapore possesses a well-developed transport network. As the state has some
advantage related to its geographical location, Singapore is one of the top transportation hubs
in the world for air and sea cargo. Container ports of this country are one of the busiest ports

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in the world. Changi international Airport of Singapore is linked with around 330 cities of 80
countries. Companies can move fright and services by land, telecommunication and air
linkages, all over the world. Currently, this republic has the most powerful network of free
trade agreements in Asia.
Moreover, Singapore supports OBOR to develop railways, ports and bridges to
increase trade and connectivity with Asia and Europe. This economy is going to experience a
great infrastructure and planning projects from China. Trade routes will be created as new
roads and ports are built around Singapore (Yu 2017). According to the President of China,
the Belt and Road initiatives is a difficult plan to connect China with Asia and Europe
through land and sea.
OBOR has taken initiative to develop ports of Singapore. Hence, with these
initiatives, the country has developed its portal system to compete with other countries.
However, as different countries are taking OBOR initiatives, there is a great chance to exist
other ports. This will negatively affect Singapore’s ports. Hence, this will adversely affect the
trade line of Singapore.
Financial Services and trade
Singapore is one of the best premier financial centers in the world. It has a strong
network of financial institutions with best governance (Kelsey 2017). Moreover, this state is
also the home country for a critical mass of international banks. Those international banks
have capabilities to finance project. At present, financial transactions of 60% project of
ASEAN are led by banks of Singapore. As the state is growing up as an international center
of finance, Singapore is the second largest offshore of China, at present. It offshore Chinese
Renminbi (RMB) centers of China. Singapore has the ideal position to trade mre RMB
products and investment related flows.

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This OBOR initiative also helps to increase various opportunities for professional
services companies in Singapore. Moreover, this initiative helps Singapore to increase and to
distribute equity and debt capital to increase investment around the region.
Fig 1: Economic Belt of Silk Route
Source: (Peng et al. 2016)
The possible challengers ahead facing by Singapore companies:
The partnership of Singapore with China based on OBOR brings both challenges and
opportunities.
Competitive
Singapore is aware about the opportunities and challenges that the country will face
for OBOR. As OBOR builds new trade routes and with different countries, the number of
strong competitors of Singapore is increasing. There are various countries that are looking to

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make a strong transshipment port, sea hub, air hub or financial hub for OBOR. This is
because, OBOR promises to construct and develop roads, railways, industrial parks and ports
with the trade routes (Johnson 2016). However, the country has self confident on its abilities
to take those challenges. The country has already started to invest and expand their airlines
and sea port. The capacity of those ports have made double for future.
The country has also developed its position of digital hubs to compete with other
countries. The republic has developed its science and technology policy. Due to lack of
natural resources, this state strongly depends on the trade, education and technology. As
political condition is good, it attracts various foreign companies to invest and work in
Singapore. It helps this republic to build and develop knowledge hub. It develops strong
technologies and sells those, all over the world.
In this context, cutting-edge technology is important to discuss. This technology
refers technological techniques and devices that employ high-level development. To make the
manufacturing sector of Singapore competitive, the government of Singapore will invest in
advanced production technologies. This will further encourage companies to develop.
Politic risk
Singapore is a well-regulated and well-developed country with a good legal system.
The corruption level is also very low in this country. The competitive advantage of Singapore
is chiefly depending on the Government of Singapore. Moreover, the government of this
country is helpful to build international business in this country. Legal laws and political
environment in Singapore attracts different foreign investors and multinational companies to
expand their business. This stable political condition helps Singapore to develop its economic
condition. Well-established macroeconomic policy is another important factor behind the

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economic success of this island. Its openness to global investment and trade and its efficient
regulation encourage private sectors to become more competitive.
Exchange rate risks
As OBOR is operating trade between two countries, that is, China and Singapore, the
exchange rate is very essential. As OBOR is initiating its business, different countries get
chances to improve their business. However, exchange rate is an important factor in
international trade that creates risk while trading with other countries. Hence, exchange rate
is an important factor that can influence OBOR.
Financing the projects
Singapore can play an important role to help OBOR projects. The country provides
various experts planning related to infrastructure. Different companies of Singapore make
partnership with Chinese companies to invest in different parts of South-East Asia.
However, Singapore is aware about the present competition as OBOR is making new
infrastructure around Singapore.
Corruption and poor governance
Singapore captures the top rank in the world to compete with other countries. This
republic has provided basic requirements infrastructure, macroeconomic factors, health and
primary education and institutions. The corruption level is very low and the government of
Singapore very efficient. Hence, this enhances the level of competition of Singapore.
Impact of the maritime lanes
Singapore has the leading maritime capital, worldwide. This includes terminal
operates, shipping lines, marine insurance and banks, law firms and classification societies.
The ship registry of this republic is one of the top 5 largest ship registries, all over the world.

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With a good business environment, efficient customs and stable government,
Singapore is becoming competitive to trade with other countries. It is the maritime hub of
Asia regarding law and arbitration.
The government’s support and assistance
Governments and regulatory authorities have played an important role to help
industries to evaluate investment opportunities. They also make the easy path for mutual co-
operation with China and other economies related to OBOR route. To take the OBOR
initiatives, the government of Singapore builds The Monetary Authority of Singapore
(MAS) proposes regulatory rules for fintech solutions. This will observe products or services
that provide its customers under a structured space.
Monitoring financing condition
This “One Belt, One Road” initiatives of China has helped Singapore by providing
investment opportunities in infrastructure projects for their companies. According to the
International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore), the latest MOU brings more than $90
billion to finance for OBOR projects. The financial and professional services of China are
expecting to provide a great assistant to those enterprises of Singapore. Those institutions are
expecting to earn huge activities and prospects form different companies by financing.
In Singapore, the economy is facing a regulated and transparent legal framework. The
economy is indicating huge potential of growth. This is expected to incorporate. Singapore is
attractive for various multinational companies. Hence, the company is expecting to have
more foreign investors in the upcoming years as more and more companies of Singapore is
getting benefits from OBOR.

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Strengthening RMB business hub
Under the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, these two countries are increasing
their financial services. The People’s Bank of China (PBC) has appointed Singapore’s ICBC
branch as the Renminbi (RMB) clearing bank of Singapore in 2013. Singapore is the largest
offshore hub for RMB to trade outside Hong Kong. Singapore and China have agreed to start
new initiatives to strengthen cooperation to develop and regulate financial sector.
Co-chaired by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister, this agreement has reached at the
10th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation. This agreement has coordinated by Minister for
Home Affairs and Minister of National Security and China’s People’s Republic Vice Premier
of the State Council.
China will increase its Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor Program
with on aggregate of RMB 50 billion in Singapore. This will allow qualified investors of
Singapore to channel offshore RMB from Singapore to securities market of China.
Recommendation:
Singapore is getting good advantage through the OBOR initiatives. The country has
good infrastructural system and a good communication to promote their business. However,
more improvement is needed to increase their business. This is important for Singapore as
there are all other countries that are developing their international business through OBOR.
 Singapore is politically stable economy and this helps foreign investors to
invest and build multinational companies. However, the overall political
environment should be stable to expand the business in Singapore. As OBOR
is operating in this country, Singapore is expecting to increase its commercial
and economic activities in future.

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 As OBOR is operating in Singapore, more technological progress is needed.
Other countries are also getting benefits through OBOR. They are also
technologically efficient. Hence, the basic challenge of Singapore is to remain
constantly upgrade and innovate different technologies to get advantages.
 The country should develop its importance ports so that they can achieve its
full capacity to trade with other countries. In north Singapore, the traffic
related to trade is expected to pass through ports. However, the number is
decreasing significantly compare to all other countries. This spreads a serious
problem for that country for its commercial, economical and industrial aspects.
It creates constraint to achieve prosperity of the country.
Conclusion
The One Belt One Route of China helps Singapore to develop its infrastructure and
business opportunities. Therefore, the country is developing its transport system to increase
its trade with China. Moreover, the country is facing various competitions from different
countries as those countries are also growing up their business strategy along the OBOR.
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that with the initiatives of OBOR, the country
has great advantage to promote their business in future. OBOR helps Singapore to promote
its business as the country has already has various innovative technologies, good
communication system and a good location.
Companies of Singapore have developed various expertises across infrastructure
value chain. This includes master planning, engineering decision, operations and
procurement. As Chinese companies are expanding their business all over the world, the
companies of Singapore can provide complement by giving track record and marketing

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strategies. This will help both countries to explore various opportunities to benefit both
countries mutually.

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Referencing
Johnson, C.K., 2016. President Xi Jinping’s ‘Belt and Road’Initiative. Center for Strategic
and International Studies, 2.
Kelsey, J., 2017. The Risks for ASEAN of New Mega-Agreements that Promote the Wrong
Model of e-Commerce.
Lim, A.C.H., 2015. China’s “Belt and Road” and Southeast Asia: Challenges and
prospects. JATI-JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES, 20, pp.3-15.
Peng, J., Qiao, J., Leng, Y., Wang, F. and Xue, S., 2016. Distribution and mechanism of the
ground fissures in Wei River Basin, the origin of the Silk Road. Environmental Earth
Sciences, 75(8), p.718.
Yu, H., 2017. Infrastructure connectivity and regional economic integration in East Asia:
Progress and challenges. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 1(1), pp.44-63.
Zhang, L. and Xu, Z., 2017. How Do Cultural and Institutional Distance Affect China’s
OFDI towards the OBOR Countries?. Baltic Journal of European Studies, 7(1), pp.24-42.