Founder Michael R. Bloomberg at the opening address of the high-profile event, attended by some 300 influential leaders and policymakers in-person and digitally.
Singapore has just wrapped up the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, and
while more than 320 leaders from government and businesses debated
global goals, the event was also a platform to modelling a safe
blueprint for in-person convening.
Leaders who flew in for the 16-19 November event included Henry M.
Paulson, Chair of Bloomberg New Economy Forum and the Paulson Institute;
Michael Mieback, CEO of Mastercard; New Zealand Trade and Export Growth
Minister Damien O’Connor; as well as Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of
Commerce who highlighted President Joe Biden’s firm intent on
re-engaging economically with the Indo-Pacific region.
With an increasing adoption of hybrid practices, the Forum also had a digital component, with sessions streamed live.
Topics spanned economic recovery strategies from the pandemic,
boosting digital economy initiatives, and reaching zero carbon economy
objectives, among other goals.
ITAP 2021 attendees were free to mingle over the three-day exhibition from 22-24 November.Developing a blueprint for future physical business meets
Since July 2020, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has piloted more
than 200 business events of various sizes — including gamescom asia in
October 2021, Milken Institute Asia Summit in November and now the
Bloomberg New Economy Forum — all serving as test-beds for newer
Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS+Test) at
business events.
Key updated measures included allowing attendees to move freely
between the main conference at Capella’s Grand Ballroom and dedicated
meeting suites on level two for various breakout sessions — so long as
they remained within the prevailing group size for gatherings.
Remaining status quo are the mandatory wearing of masks, one-metre
distancing while seated, daily pre-event antigen rapid test (ART)
testing, proof of full vaccination and rigorous management of visitor
access and registration remain in Singapore’s calibrated MICE reopening.
Foreign delegates must also test negative for two PCR tests: prior to
departure, and on arrival in Singapore. They are also subject to ART
testing regime on specific days of their stay in Singapore.
Since the three-day high-level business leaders gathering, other
notable MICE events have followed suit with similar VDS+Test protocols
implemented, such as at ITAP (Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific)
2021, and Architecture & Building Services which starts today until
26 November.
"This paves the way for us to conduct bigger shows in 2022 moving
forward, such as the Singapore Airshow 2022 in February, and the Tax
Free World Association Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in May,"
said Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Exhibitions & Conferences,
STB.
"The list is really long so this goes to show the demand for industry
events in the MICE sector is high, but what we hope is that [even as]
we work with larger shows in pushing safety management measures,
independent show organisers will be able to find the space to come and
organise their own business events as well."