Manu Bhaskaran

Manu Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist who specialises in translating complex macroeconomic and political trends into practical strategic insights for businesses operating across the Asia Pacific region. Based in Singapore, he heads the Asian office of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm The Centennial Group, where he directs economic research and contributes to long-term development strategies, including his recent work on Vietnam's modernisation of social services and pension policies. His extensive travel across the region to meet senior policy and business leaders equips him to guide executives through critical investment decisions, helping organisations assess risks and opportunities across Southeast Asia, China, India, Japan and Korea with confidence and clarity.

Since 1982, Manu Bhaskaran has travelled across Asia Pacific to meet senior policymakers and business leaders, building an understanding of the region that extends far beyond conventional economic analysis. This depth of insight, rooted in decades within Singapore government service and later as Chief Economist of an investment bank, has positioned him as a trusted adviser to those navigating Asia's complex and rapidly shifting landscape. His career reflects a commitment to translating economic trends into practical guidance, helping organisations make informed decisions in markets where political and economic forces are deeply intertwined.

As head of the Asian office of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm The Centennial Group, Manu directs economic research across Southeast Asia, China, India, Japan and Korea, providing in-depth analysis of macroeconomic trends that shape investment and policy decisions. His work extends beyond consultancy into shaping long-term development strategies, including recent contributions to Vietnam's modernisation of social services and pension policies, where he has collaborated with leading institutions to support reforms that will impact millions. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and multinational corporations, advising on asset allocation, country risk assessment and the strategic implications of China's economic evolution as it moves up the value chain. His analysis is widely published across Asia, with regular columns in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun in Japan and The Edge in Singapore, and he holds senior positions at the Institute of Policy Studies, the Economics Society of Singapore, and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. A graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge University, with a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, his academic foundation complements his practical expertise.

For business executives weighing investment decisions across Asia, Manu offers clarity on how macroeconomic shifts, political developments and regulatory changes will affect their operations. His presentations equip audiences with the tools to assess risk and opportunity in real time, helping them understand not only what is happening across the region but why it matters for their specific strategic objectives. Whether addressing asset managers, corporate boards or government leaders, he delivers actionable insights that enable confident decision-making in one of the world's most dynamic and consequential economic regions.