Singapore's economy grew 6% in the first quarter, but are workers actually feeling the benefits? On this week's Viewpoint Friday, Lynlee Foo speaks with Manu Bhaskaran, Founder and CEO of Centennial Asia Advisors and Senior Research Fellow at IPS, about what lies behind Singapore's strong growth numbers, why wage satisfaction remains a challenge, and whether the current AI-driven boom can be sustained.

They explore rising tensions in the Middle East, the risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and what volatile oil prices could mean for businesses, consumers and the global economy. With the Shangri-La Dialogue taking place in Singapore, Manu shares his perspective on China's lower-level representation, US-China competition, and what smaller countries should expect in an increasingly uncertain world.

As Manu puts it: "We have to build buffers and improve our ability to respond to shocks, because the shocks will come."