Manu Bhaskaran Keynote Speaker

Partner at the Centennial Group and Founding CEO of Centennial Asia Advisors
Leading Asian economist with more than 30 years' experience advising governments, investors and global businesses
Expert on Asian economics, geopolitics and the forces shaping the region's business environment

Manu Bhaskaran's Biography

Manu Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He is a Partner of the Washington DC-based Centennial Group and the Founding CEO of its Singapore subsidiary, Centennial Asia Advisors. He coordinates the Group’s Asian business and leads its Asian economic research practice.

Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He was recently appointed as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund.

Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of IFS Capital Ltd and Jebsen & Jessen Southeast Asia Ltd and is a member of the board of advisors of CIMB Securities International, a leading Asian investment bank. He is also on the Board of Advisors of Singapore Management University’s School of Economics.

The Future of Asia's Economy

Geopolitics and Business in Asia

China, ASEAN and the Global Economy

Global Economic Outlook and Emerging Markets

Trade, Investment and Regional Economic Integration

He helps leaders and organisations understand the economic, political and geopolitical forces shaping Asia, enabling them to make better strategic decisions in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
He translates complex macroeconomic trends into practical insights, helping businesses navigate geopolitical risk, regional integration, investment opportunities and the evolving role of Asia in the global economy.
He combines more than three decades of experience as an economist, adviser and business leader, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of economics, politics and international business across Asia.
As Founding CEO of Centennial Asia Advisors, Partner at the Centennial Group and a member of the IMF’s Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific, he advises governments, financial institutions and multinational organisations on the region’s most pressing economic challenges.
His insightful keynotes equip audiences with practical frameworks to understand Asia’s economic outlook, anticipate geopolitical change and identify opportunities for sustainable growth in an increasingly interconnected world.