Industry News

Asia Pacific’s office markets are undergoing a strategic transformation in 2026, as revealed by a new report from Colliers. The analysis indicates a shift from expansion to precision, with organisations focusing on high-quality spaces to gain a competitive edge. Leasing activity in the region’s key office markets increased by 11% year-on-year, reaching 9.8 million square metres in 2025, driven by improved business confidence in major economies such as India, Mainland China, and Japan.

The supply of office space rose by 19%, yet the emphasis is now on quality rather than quantity. Mike Davis, Managing Director of Occupier Services at Colliers, highlighted that the market is no longer volume-driven. “Advantage will go to organisations who are clear about what they need from their offices, which is performance, resilience and long-term value,” he stated.

Investment in the office sector also saw a significant rise, with a 21% increase year-on-year, totalling $58.6b. South Korea and Japan accounted for over half of the regional office investment volumes, whilst India showed the strongest growth in investment activity. Theo Novak, Managing Director of Capital Markets & Investment Services at Colliers, noted the alignment between occupier demand and capital deployment, emphasising that real estate is now seen as a competitive advantage.

As vacancy rates tighten in prime locations, the focus is on strategic decision-making in securing office spaces. This shift underscores a broader regional re-engagement, with markets like the Philippines, New Zealand, and Hong Kong showing strong growth momentum. The next phase of the office cycle will be driven by execution and strategic alignment, rather than mere expansion.

The latest report from MSCI reveals a significant rise in female representation on corporate boards across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, with a 1.4 percentage point increase in 2025. This marks the largest growth in three years for APAC-domiciled constituents of the MSCI ACWI Index, as highlighted by Moeko Porter, APAC Corporate Governance Research Lead. The report, titled “Women on Boards and Beyond 2025,” tracks the progress of women’s representation on boards since 2009.

Globally, women now occupy 28.3% of board seats at large- and mid-cap companies, with nearly half of these companies having at least 30% female directors. In APAC, the percentage of women on boards rose to 20.7% in 2025, up from 19.3% the previous year. Notably, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia saw the most significant increases in female board representation.

Despite this progress, APAC still lags behind the global average, with only 22.4% of companies having at least 30% women on their boards compared to the global figure of 48.7%. However, the region’s upward momentum of 3.1 percentage points surpassed the global increase of 2.5 percentage points.

Sector-wise, healthcare and information technology lead in female board representation, whilst energy and industrials remain the lowest. The report also notes a modest increase in women holding board leadership positions, with APAC seeing gains at the board chair, CEO, and CFO levels.

The findings underscore the ongoing efforts and challenges in achieving gender balance on corporate boards, with structural factors and market environments playing crucial roles in shaping diversity outcomes.

Delta Electronics, a global leader in power management and smart green solutions, has announced a strategic expansion in Southeast Asia and Oceania, appointing new regional and country leadership to enhance its market presence. This move aims to leverage regional resources, accelerate execution, and improve customer engagement by transitioning to local leaders with deeper market and cultural understanding.

The company is expanding its footprint with new offices and increased manpower in Vietnam and Malaysia, alongside team expansions in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. This expansion supports the region’s rapid industrialisation and growing demand for smart, energy-efficient solutions across 16 critical industries, including AI data centre infrastructure, smart manufacturing, and EV charging.

Jason Yuan, the newly appointed President of Southeast Asia and Oceania, brings nearly three decades of experience in information technology and business transformation. Yuan succeeds Jackie Chang, who will now focus on expanding Delta Electronics Thailand’s manufacturing operations. Yuan’s leadership is expected to drive continued growth and achievement in the region.

David Leal and Lili Mow have been appointed as Vice Presidents of Solution Business Infrastructure and Automation, respectively, to focus on business development and growth across Southeast Asia. Additionally, new country managers have been appointed in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam to strengthen local teams and support customers more effectively.

Jackie Chang expressed confidence in the new leadership, stating, “With Jason Yuan now taking the helm of the Southeast Asia region, I’m confident that Delta Electronics will continue to deepen its local presence, strengthen customer engagement, and drive sustainable growth.” Delta Electronics remains committed to providing innovative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow.

Agora, a leader in real-time engagement and conversational AI technologies, has partnered with Vietnam’s FPT Corporation to expand artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in Southeast Asia’s banking and financial services sector. This strategic collaboration, announced on 24 February 2026, combines Agora’s real-time communications and AI platform with FPT’s enterprise AI capabilities to enhance customer engagement, automate workflows, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The partnership comes as financial institutions in Southeast Asia accelerate digital transformation to meet rising mobile adoption and customer demand for personalised banking services. “As banking and financial services across Southeast Asia continue to digitise, innovation must go hand in hand with trust, security, and compliance,” said Tony Wang, Co-founder of Agora.

FPT’s AI solutions are already utilised by over 40 banks globally, including Sacombank, which has seen a 58% increase in call handling capacity through AI Voice Agents. Vietcombank and Home Credit Vietnam also leverage FPT’s AI to streamline operations and improve customer service.

The joint solution aims to deliver secure, multilingual digital interactions across various platforms, supporting retail and corporate banking, lending, insurance, and cross-border interactions. As competition intensifies in markets like Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, the Agora-FPT partnership positions both companies to meet the growing demand for AI-driven engagement platforms in the region’s financial services sector.

Weixin Mini Programmes experienced a significant increase in global transaction value during the Lunar New Year holiday from 15 to 23 February, with a 65% year-on-year rise. Chinese outbound tourists increasingly utilised the app for dining, transport, hotel bookings, and attraction tickets, contributing to this growth.

The Year of the Horse in 2026 spurred interest in horse-themed travel, with destinations featuring the character “马” (horse) in their names seeing a notable uptick in visitors. Malaysia, in particular, witnessed a 131% increase in offline transaction value by Chinese tourists, whilst transaction value on Malaysia-based Weixin Mini Programmes surged by over 140%.

Italy emerged as a standout destination, partly due to the Winter Olympics, recording a 190% increase in transaction value. Other “dark horse” markets included Qatar and Switzerland, which also saw significant growth in transactions.

In terms of inbound tourism, visitors to the Chinese mainland using Weixin Pay linked to international bank cards saw a doubling in average daily visits. The medical aesthetics sector experienced a doubling in transaction value, highlighting its rapid growth.

Weixin Pay’s support for 29 overseas wallets across 12 countries contributed to a 28% increase in transactions during the holiday period. This interoperability is expected to continue driving growth in international transactions. As the Year of the Horse progresses, these trends may further influence global travel patterns.

A recent study by Clearwater Analytics has highlighted a significant divide among Asia-Pacific (APAC) insurers regarding regulatory compliance strategies. The research, which surveyed insurance asset management executives managing a total of $3.823t in assets, found that 48% of insurers cite meeting internal and external reporting demands as their primary challenge in adhering to financial regulations.

The study revealed that smaller firms, with assets under management (AUM) between $1b and $5b, and medium-sized firms, with AUM between $5b and $10b prioritise reporting demands. In contrast, larger firms, with AUM ranging from $10b to over $50b, focus on adapting to regulatory changes.

Beyond reporting, 35% of respondents identified adapting to regulatory changes as their biggest challenge, whilst 13% pointed to the difficulty of meeting varying requirements across different regimes. The study included executives from life and health insurers, general insurers, and third-party investment firms in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.

Looking ahead, 14% of executives anticipate significant difficulty in meeting changing regulatory requirements over the next three to five years, with another 18% expecting moderate difficulty. Despite these concerns, 37% of respondents believe insurers are excellent in compliance, and 55% rate them as very good.

Shane Akeroyd, Chief Strategy Officer and President of Asia Pacific at Clearwater Analytics, noted, “Small firms are struggling with current reporting demands whilst large firms are positioning for future regulatory changes. This divide will become more pronounced as requirements continue evolving across multiple jurisdictions.”

The study underscores the need for insurers to develop integrated compliance capabilities to navigate the increasing complexity of regulatory environments.

Leading analytics firm Adjust has unveiled its Mobile App Trends 2026 report, showcasing a 10% year-over-year increase in global app installs in 2025, with sessions rising by 7%. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region was pivotal in this surge, with e-commerce app installs climbing 7% and finance app installs up 5%.

The report underscores the growing importance of multi-platform user journeys, predicting that integrated analytics and AI-driven optimisation will be essential for marketers in 2026. Tiahn Wetzler, Adjust’s director of marketing, emphasised the need to capture user journeys across various platforms, stating, “It’s no longer sufficient to view users in device silos when we know that conversion is influenced by multiple touchpoints.”

APAC finance apps saw a remarkable 50% increase in sessions, reflecting a deeper user engagement and the increasing reliance on banking and payment apps. Globally, finance app sessions rose 21% year-over-year. The report also noted that global ATT opt-in rates among iOS users increased to 38% in Q1 2026, with gaming leading at 39%.

April Tayson, Regional Vice President for INSEAU at Adjust, highlighted the thriving mobile usage in APAC, stating, “These trends provide critical direction for brands shaping their strategies for the year ahead.”

The report further explores AI’s evolution from a strategic tool to core infrastructure, aiding in data analysis, audience segmentation, and real-time experience adaptation. As mobile becomes integral to daily life, these insights are crucial for marketers aiming to drive growth and deliver personalised experiences.

QBE Insurance Group has announced the appointment of Carles Tondo as Head of Property for Asia, effective immediately. Based in Singapore, Tondo will report to Stephen Geisler, CEO of South Asia. He will be responsible for driving the strategic growth of QBE’s property portfolio across the region, focusing on product strategy, pricing, and portfolio management.

Tondo’s appointment comes at a time when property development and infrastructure resilience are accelerating across Asia, with an increasing complexity in risk. With over 17 years of experience in international underwriting and leadership across Europe and Asia, Tondo is expected to strengthen client relationships and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. He will also manage regional performance for designated business lines, working closely with stakeholders to maximise growth and profitability.

Previously, Tondo served as Head of Property and Technical Lines for Singapore at another insurer and has held various leadership roles in Spain, Switzerland, and Malaysia. Stephen Geisler expressed confidence in Tondo’s ability to deliver exceptional value to QBE’s property clients, stating, “His extensive international exposure and leadership experience will be instrumental in helping QBE deliver exceptional value to our property clients, as they navigate increasingly complex risks.”

Tondo will take over the property portfolio from Brendan Dunlea, who will continue to lead the Construction, Engineering, Renewables, and Power Generation businesses at QBE Asia. Tondo remarked on his new role, “As the momentum of property development accelerates across Asia, it is now more important than ever that resiliency is at the forefront of our clients’ priorities.”

QBE Asia is part of the International Division of QBE Insurance Group Limited, headquartered in Sydney and listed on the Australia Securities Exchange.

The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT) has announced the launch of NextFin Asia, a dedicated investment fund aimed at scaling fintech solutions in Southeast Asia. This initiative, in partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), marks a significant evolution of the Catapult Inclusion SE Asia programme, transitioning from an acceleration initiative to a platform offering direct funding.

NextFin Asia will support fintech startups tackling financial inclusion challenges across ASEAN. The programme, now in its third edition, will provide selected startups with tailored mentorship, institutional partnerships, and direct investment opportunities. This new approach aims to accelerate market access and enhance the impact of fintech solutions in the region.

The 2026 edition of Catapult Inclusion SE Asia will kick off in June in Luxembourg, followed by a significant presence at the Singapore FinTech Festival in November. This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovative financial ecosystems in Southeast Asia, combining Luxembourg’s expertise in sustainable finance with ADB’s regional development focus.

Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Through the NextFin Asia programme, we are supporting local entrepreneurs and startups whilst using public investment strategically to mobilise private capital alongside it.” Isabel Chatterton of ADB emphasised the programme’s role in expanding access to finance for underserved communities.

Applications for fintech startups in sectors such as digital payments, climate finance, and SME finance are encouraged, with further details to be announced soon.

DBS has announced its first social loan for the healthcare sector, providing a S$72m (JPY 8.8b) facility to Parkway Life REIT (PLife REIT). The 10-year loan will fund elder care facilities in Japan, addressing the urgent demand for quality aged care services as the country’s population aged 65 or older reached a record 36.25 million in 2024, accounting for 30% of the population.

The loan is part of PLife REIT’s Sustainable Finance Framework, developed with DBS as the sole sustainable finance adviser. This framework aligns with international principles, including the Social Loan Principles, and supports projects in Singapore, Japan, and Europe. These projects focus on healthcare and eldercare infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate-resilient improvements.

Yong Yean Chau, CEO of Parkway Trust Management Limited, highlighted the significance of this refinancing exercise, stating, “This refinancing exercise marks an important milestone in PLife REIT’s sustainable financing journey, as we undertake our inaugural 10-year social loan under the Sustainable Financing Framework.”

Eugene Hong, Head of Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals at DBS, emphasised the importance of sustainable financing in the healthcare sector, noting, “As DBS’ first social loan in the healthcare sector, this transaction demonstrates how a well-structured sustainable financing framework can move quickly from intent to impact.”

Shilpa Gulrajani, Head of Sustainable Finance at DBS, added, “Sustainable finance goes beyond addressing environmental challenges – it is increasingly also about delivering meaningful social impact.”

This initiative marks a significant step in addressing Japan’s demographic challenges and enhancing healthcare infrastructure through sustainable financing.