Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC is offering the public a rare glimpse into its history and investment philosophy through an interactive exhibition titled The Secret Vault. Running until November 1 at New Bahru School Hall on Kim Yam Road, the free event commemorates GIC’s 45th anniversary and aims to educate visitors on the fund’s evolution and guiding principles.
Established on May 22, 1981, as the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd, GIC was created against the backdrop of Singapore’s early efforts to build financial independence. The fund’s inception was championed by then-Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee, who was also chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore at the time. The first managing director, Yong Pung How—Singapore’s former chief justice—began the job with minimal resources, an era visitors can experience through an immersive reconstruction of his bare office.
The exhibition takes visitors through six themed chambers designed to highlight different aspects of GIC’s approach to long-term investing. The opening section, The Archive, uses historical news articles and artefacts to chronicle GIC’s founding and early milestones. Visitors can also listen to recorded first-hand accounts from Goh, Lee Kuan Yew, and Yong, who played crucial roles in the fund’s establishment.
Other interactive zones explore challenges such as inflation and global economic volatility. In The Global Inflation Hypermart, participants face a rising price environment with fixed budgets, underscoring the need for disciplined investment strategies that preserve purchasing power. The Weather Room presents key financial events from the past decades, reflecting GIC’s cautious stance of preparing for economic storms rather than attempting to predict them.
The Steward’s Gardens invites visitors to navigate a maze of hidden investment risks, highlighting patience and risk management as vital components of compounding returns over time. An interactive globe illustrates GIC’s extensive portfolio spread across numerous sectors and markets worldwide. The final section, The Reserves of Tomorrow, focuses on GIC’s responsibility to safeguard Singapore’s financial future for generations to come.
While the exhibition does not disclose the exact size of the reserves managed—an intentionally guarded secret—the experience serves as an educational tool for both the public and younger professionals interested in understanding sovereign wealth fund management and long-term financial planning.
The Secret Vault is open daily with varying hours, and admission is free upon registration at the official website. The display offers a unique opportunity to engage with the story of one of the world’s first non-commodity sovereign wealth funds and better grasp the principles underlying its sustained success.