As Singapore crosses the half-century mark, it’s timely for the country to reflect on how it can position itself amid the changing economic landscape for sustained growth. 

To achieve this, we need to leverage Singapore’s highly skilled human capital, and encourage our workforce to be ready for the jobs of tomorrow and adopt a lifelong learning mindset. The accountancy profession is no exception, and needs to constantly develop its skills. 

Regardless of future changes in the economy, the fundamental attributes of ethics and integrity, which is the bedrock of the accountancy profession, remains key to Singapore’s future economy and reputation as a financial hub. Recent cases of financial lapses have shown that  there cannot be investor confidence without a commitment to ethics and integrity.  In this regard, Singapore’s recent move to set up dedicated departments to combat money laundering and strengthen enforcement is in the right direction.  
 
- Lee Fook Chiew, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)