The View From Singapore: A TOTM Q&A with Alvin Koh

Key Takeaways

• CCS completed 50+ cases FY2024, spanning investigations and mergers
• First streamlined sustainability collaboration guidance issued Jan 2025
• AI Markets Toolkit launched Sep 2025 for voluntary self‑assessment
• Proposed merger and settlement guideline changes set for May 1 implementation
• Singapore leads ASEAN AI market study, results due later 2026

Pulse Analysis

Singapore’s competition authority is entering a new phase of proactive enforcement under Alvin Koh’s leadership. After more than two decades in public service, Koh steered CCS through a record‑dense FY2024, closing over 50 investigations that ranged from traditional merger reviews to novel bid‑rigging cases in public‑sector tenders. The agency’s willingness to issue the first streamlined guidance for sustainability‑focused collaborations demonstrates a shift toward integrating environmental objectives within antitrust analysis, a trend gaining traction globally. By maintaining a balanced approach in high‑profile airline joint‑venture assessments, CCS reinforces Singapore’s reputation as a business‑friendly yet rigorously regulated market.

Digital platforms and AI are now front‑and‑center of CCS’s agenda. A 2020 e‑commerce market study concluded no major competition concerns, yet it highlighted multi‑homing and data‑driven advantages that could shape future market dynamics. Building on those insights, CCS introduced the AI Markets Toolkit in September 2025, a voluntary, on‑premise self‑assessment solution that helps firms gauge compliance with competition and consumer‑protection standards without exposing proprietary data. Concurrently, the government is drafting the Digital Infrastructure Act to tighten cybersecurity and resilience requirements for data‑center operators, while the Online Safety Bill aims to curb harassment and doxing. These measures, though less prescriptive than the EU’s Digital Markets Act, reflect Singapore’s calibrated approach to regulating fast‑moving tech ecosystems.

Regionally, Singapore is positioning itself as a hub for competition policy expertise. The country will lead an ASEAN‑wide AI market study slated for 2026, and CCS’s recent consultation on merger‑process and settlement‑procedure reforms signals a commitment to procedural efficiency. Koh’s appointment as vice‑chair of the International Competition Network further amplifies Singapore’s voice in global antitrust dialogues, enabling the sharing of best practices and collaborative problem‑solving. By aligning industrial policy with competition enforcement—through targeted grants, subsidies, and market studies—CCS aims to foster sustainable growth while preserving a level playing field for both domestic and multinational players.