PM Wong framed Singapore’s journey around five key areas: Our Economy, Our Young, Our Seniors, Our Future Plans and Our Singapore Spirit. These themes go beyond national priorities. They also offer lessons for how companies can communicate, engage and report with purpose.
PM Wong devoted significant attention to the economy, noting that Singapore must continually adapt to global forces such as AI reshaping industries, the race towards green energy and supply chain realignments driven by geopolitics. His underlying message was that economic success and sustained renewal is not episodic but an ongoing condition for a small nation like ours.
This urgency is no different for businesses navigating global headwinds. Markets shift, regulations evolve and breakthroughs in tech hit fast, disrupting business models overnight. It is no longer sufficient for corporate reporting to only document past performance. It must also explain how strategy evolves in response to disruption and emerging trends. Investors and stakeholders want foresight and clarity on long-term positioning. Companies that integrate this into their disclosures show they are not merely weathering turbulence but navigating it with intent.
Earlier this year, Singapore’s Budget 2025 set out many of the same priorities that underpin the Rally’s economic vision. Dive into our article on Budget 2025 and explore how these themes can be turned into meaningful narratives for stakeholders:
https://www.blacksun-global.com/insights/read/reporting/translating-budget-2025-into-value
A large part of the Rally focused on the future of Singapore, our young. PM Wong spoke about expanding education pathways, strengthening support for diverse learning needs and preparing students for an economy where AI and digital skills will be essential. His message was clear: there is no single route to success, but multiple doors leading to opportunity for those willing to learn and grow.
The corporate world faces a similar challenge with nurturing its future workforce. Younger employees seek purpose and inclusion. Beyond paychecks, they want to see values and opportunities. For employers, this makes talent engagement and culture central to retaining and developing the right people. Communication that highlights how companies invest in people, foster diversity and create fulfilling career journeys helps demonstrate authenticity. Just as Singapore commits to give its young a fair shot, companies must show how they nurture tomorrow’s leaders today.
Understanding what truly matters to stakeholders, including employees, is essential for building trust and prioritising resources. Explore how we helped Carlsberg Malaysia align its reporting with stakeholder expectations through a focused materiality process:
The Rally also addressed the needs of seniors and the realities of a super-aged society. From enhancing retirement adequacy to expanding healthcare support and ensuring affordable housing, PM Wong stressed that as society matures, caring for seniors with dignity is not optional but a measure of who we are as a nation. These initiatives underscore Singapore’s commitment to those who built its foundations and made us who we are.
For companies, this is a timely reminder of the importance of responsibility and accountability. It is about ensuring no stakeholder group is overlooked. Decisions made today have ripple effects across all stakeholders. The organisations that endure are those that balance different needs, act with integrity and remain accountable for their impact, not just to the most recent or most vocal groups.
Our latest Complete 100 flagship research explores how FTSE100 companies are reporting with purpose and strengthening trust with stakeholders. Discover key trends and lessons that can shape your own approach:
https://www.blacksun-global.com/insights/research/reporting/complete-100-2025-trust-in-transition
Looking ahead, PM Wong highlighted climate change and Singapore’s net-zero ambitions as central to future plans. He emphasised accelerating investments in renewable energy, growing green finance and positioning Singapore as a hub for low-carbon innovation. These were not distant aspirations but concrete steps to make sustainability the backbone of growth.
These priorities mirror the growing expectations placed on businesses. With ISSB-aligned disclosures becoming mandatory for listed issuers from FY2025, sustainability must shift from ambition to accountability. Stakeholders now ask not if a company is acting, but how fast and how credibly. Reporting provides the platform to show measurable climate action, credible transition plans and well-integrated sustainability strategies. Those that succeed will distinguish themselves among their peers.
Watch our recent webinar on how IFRS S1 and S2 are reshaping reporting expectations and how companies can prepare to commnunicate strategy and long-term value more effectively:
PM Wong closed his Rally speech on a deeply personal and unifying note. He spoke of the “Singapore Spirit,” the resilience and solidarity that have carried the nation through crises, the pride and empathy we have in diversity and the collective determination to build a better future together. These stories of perseverance and shared progress make the Singapore story compelling and unique. They remind us that a nation’s strength is found not only in policies or infrastructure, but also in its people and the values they uphold.
There is an equally powerful lesson here for businesses seeking to connect meaningfully with stakeholders. Data and disclosures are essential, but they do not inspire on their own. What resonates with stakeholders is an authentic narrative that brings the business to life. A report that combines facts with a sense of purpose connects far more deeply than one that simply lists achievements. Just as Singapore’s story is strengthened by the kampung spirit that binds its people, a company’s equity story gains meaning when told in a way that is true to its identity and impact.
Leading organisations are raising the bar by weaving purpose-led narratives across their digital platforms. Our Digital Index 2025 research highlights how effective digital storytelling builds trust, strengthens engagement and meets rising stakeholder expectations. Find out more here:
The National Day Rally 2025 was more than a policy address. It was a heartfelt reminder that progress is built when we look ahead with courage, honour responsibilities across generations and stay bound by a shared story. PM Wong’s reflections were a call for hope, resilience and unity, values that matter just as deeply in business as they do in nation building.
The path forward for any organisation is about having the conviction to act with purpose, the humility to stay accountable and the courage to connect meaningfully with those you serve. Companies that embrace these principles will not only navigate change with confidence, they will inspire trust and create lasting impact for their stakeholders and communities.
Like Singapore, every company has its own story. The challenge and opportunity ahead is to write the next chapter with clarity, authenticity and purpose, together with those who matter most.
In the same way that our nation’s progress has been anchored on trust and shared values, the advancement of our leading companies is likewise shaped by these enduring principles.
That’s why on 25 September, we’re hosting a webinar where we’ll explore our 6 Principles of Trust framework and share insights from our study of the STI30 corporate reporting — highlighting what’s being done well, where gaps remain, and the practical steps companies can take to strengthen stakeholder communication in today’s evolving landscape.
If you’re thinking about how your organisation can build trust, tell your story with purpose, and be future-ready — this conversation is for you. Register below and be part of shaping the next chapter of corporate reporting in Singapore.
Sign up here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4mXyvYjNSEqszNvwL82PHA
If you would like to find out more about how we can bring your stewardship report to life and leverage its impact across all of your channels, please get in touch.
Contact: Bob Crosbie-Dawson, Senior Growth Manager
Black Sun Global is a stakeholder advisory and engagement agency that's been driving transformation and positive change for ambitious brands for more than 20 years. With deep expertise in disclosure and reporting, ESG, sustainability, and digital engagement, we reshape how organisations connect with customers, investors, employees, and the wider world.
We are trusted partners to some of the most influential global organisations, sparking innovation and sustainable performance through our strategic insights, partnerships, and proprietary technologies.
As founders of the Positive Change Group, we are on a mission to create a new kind of stakeholder relations partner. Our world-class specialists work closely with executive leadership teams to protect reputations, inspire trust, and promote responsible business practices - building resilience and long-term value in a rapidly changing world.
For more information, please visit: www.blacksun-global.com
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