At the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals Conference (APPMC) 2026, Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), outlined a strategic vision to further develop Singapore’s gold market ecosystem. He emphasized Singapore’s role as a “Trusted Node”—a reliable hub connecting Asia’s growing demand for gold with global liquidity, rather than seeking to replace established centers such as London, New York, or Dubai.

Key initiatives announced at the conference include:

🔹 SGX to launch an OTC Gold Clearing framework for Loco Singapore by the end of 2026, enabling more efficient trading, clearing, settlement, and physical delivery of gold within the Asian time zone. Several leading international banks are expected to participate as clearing members.

🔹 MAS to introduce gold vaulting services for central banks and sovereign wealth funds starting in October 2026, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a regional hub for official gold reserves and secure custody solutions.

🔹 Expansion of gold-related financial products, including Physical Gold Futures and Tokenized Gold, aimed at enhancing market efficiency, price discovery, and risk management capabilities.

🔹 Removal of the 5% cap on physical gold investments under tax incentive schemes for funds and family offices, encouraging greater institutional participation in physical gold as an investment asset.

Against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Singapore is positioning itself as a trusted, transparent, and globally connected center for precious metals, serving the evolving needs of Asia’s rapidly expanding gold market.

“Trust becomes a form of infrastructure.”

One of the most powerful messages from the speech highlighted that, in an increasingly interconnected world, trust itself is becoming as valuable as financial infrastructure—emerging as a critical foundation for the future development of the global gold market.