Industry News

Standard Chartered Foundation has announced a $6m investment aimed at enhancing youth employability in Singapore and the ASEAN region. This initiative, revealed at a recent networking event attended by key figures such as Minister Chee Hong Tat and Standard Chartered leaders, seeks to improve economic opportunities for young people, with a particular focus on young women.

The majority of the funds will be directed towards developing a programme to foster a thriving blue economy in ASEAN, which aims to sustain coastal ecosystems and improve the economic livelihoods of local communities. This initiative is crucial given that 282 million young people globally are not in employment, education, or training, including 19 million in ASEAN, where young women face higher unemployment rates.

Additionally, the Foundation will collaborate with Community Chest and Daughters of Tomorrow to launch the “Youth Employment for Success” (Y.E.S.) programme. This initiative will provide job-readiness and well-being training to young women from lower-income communities in Singapore, running until 2028. Von Leong, Board President of Daughters of Tomorrow, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating it aligns with their mission to break cycles of poverty through long-term employment.

Patrick Lee, CEO of Singapore and ASEAN at Standard Chartered, highlighted the bank’s unique position to catalyse philanthropy and sustainability, noting the economic potential of the blue economy programme and the positive community impact of their partnership with Daughters of Tomorrow. The investment underscores Standard Chartered’s commitment to empowering youth and fostering sustainable development in the region.

Asia Pacific’s commercial real estate investment volume soared by 28% quarter-on-quarter to $41.8b in Q3 2025, marking the highest quarterly total since 2021, according to CBRE Research. This surge was largely fuelled by strong activity in Japan and Korea, with Japan alone seeing a 129% increase in investment volume to $14b.

Office occupier sentiment improved significantly during the quarter, bolstered by easing trade tensions and stricter office attendance mandates. Grade A office net absorption rose by 10% year-on-year, reaching 14.5 million square feet. The technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) and finance sectors led demand across most markets, although rents fell slightly when mainland China markets were included.

Retail sales in the region remained steady in July and August, with increased leasing enquiries and site visits as global trade policy clarity encouraged retailers to expand. Retail rents edged up by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter.

The logistics sector experienced a recovery in leasing momentum, driven by third-party logistics providers and domestic e-commerce operators. Despite a surge in short-term leases ahead of the festive season, logistics rents fell by 1.8% quarter-on-quarter.

The report highlights the resilience of occupier markets in the Asia Pacific region, with investment activity rebounding strongly, particularly in the office sector. As the region continues to navigate global economic challenges, these figures suggest a positive outlook for the commercial real estate market heading into 2026.

Digital travel platform Agoda and Japanese global payments brand JCB International have announced a strategic three-year partnership, effective from April 2026 to March 2029. This collaboration, revealed at the 18th JCB World Conference in Singapore, aims to enhance travel and payment experiences for millions of customers across Asia.

The partnership will leverage data-driven insights to attract new customers and optimise marketing strategies, focusing on inbound travellers to Japan. JCB cardmembers will enjoy exclusive discounts and special offers on Agoda in key markets, including Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. Joint promotions are already live, offering up to 12% additional discounts on hotel bookings through dedicated Agoda pages.

Damien Pfirsch, Chief Commercial Officer at Agoda, highlighted the partnership’s potential: “This partnership is a testament to the trust we’ve built and our shared vision to strengthen inbound travel to Japan and expand opportunities for travellers in the region.”

Masaki Yokawa, President and CEO of JCB International, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We endeavour to make every step of the travel and shopping experience smoother and more rewarding for our cardmembers across the region.”

The partnership aims to meet the evolving needs of Asian travellers, particularly as intra-Asia travel grows alongside the region’s rising middle class. By offering greater convenience and value, Agoda and JCB continue to contribute to Japan’s appeal as a top inbound destination and support innovation within the travel and payments industry.

Criteo, a global platform connecting the commerce ecosystem, has released its Q4 2024 Double Date Shopping Review, highlighting the significant impact of double-day sales events in Southeast Asia. The report reveals that events like 10.10, 11.11, and 12.12 have driven substantial growth, with revenue up 9.6%, transactions increasing by 6.5%, and traffic rising by 6.4% year-on-year. These findings underscore the importance of these events as a strategic opportunity for brands to acquire new customers.

The data shows that Singles’ Day was the standout event, boosting revenue by 172%, sales by 132%, and traffic by 48% over baseline performance. This event alone drove a 98% increase in new buyer acquisitions, outperforming other double-day events and Western sales days like Black Friday. Sukesh Singh, Managing Director (SEA) at Criteo, noted, “The impressive performance of Q4 double days across Southeast Asia underscores its growing significance in the regional retail calendar.”

Key categories such as Health and Beauty, Baby and Toddler, and Apparel and Accessories saw the most significant growth. In particular, Health and Beauty led the charge, with sales peaking at 311% during Singles’ Day. The report suggests that retailers should tailor their marketing strategies to local market preferences to maximise sales impact.

Looking ahead to 2025, Criteo advises brands to plan early for these events, focus on increasing basket sizes through strategic merchandising, and tailor campaigns to specific market trends. These strategies are expected to help brands capitalise on the growing consumer engagement during these peak shopping periods.