Singapore 2006

Please visit the HPAIR 2006 Flickr Group to find general fotos from the conference. The official HPAIR post-conference report can be downloaded from here (file-size: 23 MB).

Please have a look into The German Delegation Book 2006 (shortened, file-size: 1.5 MB). It covers the people, ideas and partners of SPAIR Germany and is recommendable for those who want to understand our background and motivation to take part in the conference.

HPAIR 2006 in Singapore: A complete success.
Having organized the event in Tokyo last year, Singapore was selected as the venue for the 15th HPAIR annual conference in 2006. The theme of the four-day program was “Redefining Asia: Visions and Realities”, which focused on the discussion of various key issues facing the Asian region today and their implications for the future. The annual conference was again professionally planned and carried out by a motivated and dedicated student body. Apart from Harvard students, this year’s organizing student committee was formed by three local universities - Nanyang University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University. Among the 74 guest speakers of the HPAIR Conference 2006 were such distinguished personalities as SR Nathan (President of Singapore), Patricia, L. Herbold (United States Ambassador to Singapore), or Srivatsa Krishna (World Bank VP). The HPAIR Conference 2006 comprised three elements – ceremonies, workshops, and plenary sessions covering a wide range of relevant topics for the Asian-Pacific region. The event was kicked off and closed by several ceremony speeches of keynote speakers.

Academics as well as business leaders highlighted recent economic, political and social developments of Asian countries and outlined possible future scenarios for the continent. Topics compassed, for instance, the rise and future challenges of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the development and current status of the political and economical relationship between the U.S. and Asia.

Networking: Students from all continents came together.

Apart from attending formal ceremonies, workshops and plenary sessions, delegates broadened their horizon by interacting and exchanging ideas with other delegates with different cultural and educational backgrounds. Students enrolled in top-notch universities in Asia, the United States, Australia, Africa and Europe discussed current issues ranging from the conflict in the Middle East to Foreign Direct Investments in India and the interest rate policy of China. In fact, networking and reflecting with other students with different mindsets was for many delegates the most fascinating experience of the conference.

Culture: Getting to know the Asian way of life.

The success of the HPAIR Conference can not be fully explained by only mentioning its sophisticated and challenging plenary sessions and workshops, which take place every year. The fascination of HPAIR is also created by its venue. The conference is organised each year in a different Asian metropolis. Thus, students have the chance to not only talk about economy, politics and culture in Asia, but also to experience it in real life.
The city of this year’s HPAIR conference was Singapore - the major linchpin in South-East Asia. Since its separation of Malaysia in 1965, the city state has evolved to one of the leading trading nations worldwide. Its harbour, which is after Hong Kong the second biggest worldwide, is of major importance for the Singaporean economy and the welfare of its citizens.
With its tiny size of only 690 km_ and 4.3Mio inhabitants, the excellent business environment is the main driver for the economic success of Singapore: political stability and a progressive economic policy combined with a good educational system, a highly-developed infrastructure as well as an advantageous central location. Today, Singapore is one of the most prosperous countries, with a per capita income equal to that of Western European countries. Its economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing.

Apart from its economic top position, the insular state also stands out due to its cultural and socio-political diversity. Its multicultural society is composed of four major ethnic groups: Chinese (76.8%), Malaysian (13.9%), Indians (7.9%), and Eurasians and smaller minority groups (1.4%). The variety of religions is a direct reflection of the diversity of races living here. Singapore‘s principal religions are Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Catholicism.