Serving as Executive Chairman of the Institute of East Asian Political Economy, Goh Keng Swee has had a long and distinguished career in the government of Singapore and the world of finance.
Married and with one son, he was born in 1918 in Malacca, Malaysia, and gained a BSc (Economics) and PhD at the University of London. From 1959 to 1984 he served as minister in the Singapore Government's Ministries of Finance, Defence and Education and from 1973 to 1984 held the position of First Deputy Prime Minister.
Later in 1984 he retired from Parliament and ministerial positions and from 1981 to 1994 he was Deputy Chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.
Since his retirement from politics he has also held numerous other positions, including that of Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of East Asian Philosophies from 1983 to 1992 and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 1985 to 1992.
In 1985 his financial experience saw him appointed economic advisor to the State Council of the People's Republic of China on coastal development and tourism and from 1988 to 1994 he was chairman of the Singapore Totalisator Board. Among other positions he holds are that of advisor to Kissinger Associates, Inc (New York), the NEC Corporation in Tokyo and the Straits Steamship Land Ltd.
He was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1972 and the Order of Temasek (First Class) in 1985.
In recognition of his services to the Asian economy, the University has resolved to confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa.
