Industry News

A recent HSBC Global Trade Pulse report indicates that Asian businesses are increasingly adapting to the evolving trade landscape, with a significant shift towards intra-Asian trade. The survey reveals that 68% of Asian respondents now feel more certain about trade policy impacts compared to six months ago, as the initial shock of the “Liberation Day tariffs” begins to subside.

The report highlights a decrease in expected revenue impact from supply-chain disruptions, with Asian firms forecasting a 13% negative impact over the next two years, down from 18% previously. In Singapore, 79% of businesses remain optimistic about trade growth, demonstrating enhanced supply chain resilience and risk management.

Asian companies are increasingly focusing their trade strategies within the region, with 41% planning to increase reliance on Southeast Asia, 34% on East and North Asia, and 29% on South Asia. Aditya Gahlaut, Regional Head of Global Trade Solutions, Asia at HSBC, noted, “Our research data suggest that companies in Asia are adapting to the new environment. Though their concerns around revenue have eased slightly, they remain alert to risks.”

Runa Baksi, Head of Southeast Asia, Global Trade Solutions at HSBC, emphasised the importance of supporting clients through uncertainties, stating, “The HSBC Trade Pulse Survey highlights the resilience and optimism of businesses in Singapore, and we are committed to empowering them with the tools and insights needed to navigate these challenges.”

As the trade map continues to evolve, Asian firms are poised to leverage regional opportunities, ensuring competitiveness amidst global uncertainties.

EdenX Group, a fintech company based in Melbourne and Singapore, has announced a US$5m funding round to enhance its platform for private capital raising and business exits in the Asia-Pacific region. Supported by SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered Bank, the funding will help EdenX expand its regulated capital markets infrastructure and develop a comprehensive platform for business transactions.

The company, which integrates business sales, franchise development, media, and capital raising, has already onboarded over 250 brands, including notable names like Red Rooster, Pizza Hut, and Donut King. EdenX is licensed in both Australia and Singapore and plans to introduce tokenised capital issuance tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2026.

EdenX’s strategic expansion into Southeast Asia is driven by the “grey tsunami” of ageing business owners seeking succession solutions, alongside rising SME formation and demand for franchise systems. The company has secured a Capital Markets Services licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and is gaining traction in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The capital raise follows a successful year, with EdenX’s FY24 revenue exceeding US$1.3m and projections to reach US$16.1m by FY28. CEO Dhanush Ganglani stated, “This raise gives us the firepower we need to take a major step forward in delivering the capital markets infrastructure that SMEs have long lacked.”

EdenX’s platform offers a complete ecosystem, including business sales, capital raising, franchise strategy, and media services. Founder Raghu Rajakumar highlighted the company’s success-based model, noting that one franchise client generated over US$150,000 in annual revenue through EdenX’s services. With the funding round now open, EdenX is engaging investors interested in the future of digital private markets and franchise growth in Asia-Pacific.

Foodpanda, a leading food and grocery delivery platform in Asia Pacific, has announced new partnerships with ride-hailing providers TADA, Bolt, and LINE GO. This collaboration aims to enhance the value of its pandapro membership by offering subscribers in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan exclusive ride discounts and cross-platform perks. The initiative is part of a broader regional rollout, with more markets expected to follow.

The partnerships are designed to simplify and enrich everyday life for customers by integrating food and transportation services into a single membership. Giuseppe Randazzo, Chief International Officer of Foodpanda APAC, stated, “Pandapro is no longer just about food delivery; it’s about delivering convenience and maximising value wherever our customers go.”

Key benefits for pandapro members include exclusive ride discounts and up to six months of complimentary subscriptions for new users in select markets. The collaboration also aims to boost growth opportunities for Foodpanda’s merchant partners by increasing visibility and cross-platform reach. In Taiwan, pandapro merchants have already experienced a fourfold increase in orders, with membership engagement reaching record highs.

Foodpanda operates across 10 markets in Asia Pacific, including Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, and the Philippines. As a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, Foodpanda continues to spearhead the growth of quick commerce in the region. The new partnerships are expected to redefine convenience for millions of customers, whilst also supporting sustainable growth for local businesses.

Singapore’s self-storage operators have been ranked first in Asia for their adoption of energy- and water-saving environmental features, according to the latest survey by JLL and the Self Storage Association Asia (SSAA). Released on 21 November 2025, the survey reveals key insights into consumer preferences and industry trends, highlighting Singapore’s leadership in sustainability within the sector.

The SSAA Annual Survey report for 2024 underscores the self-storage industry’s optimism for medium-term growth. “Self storage continues to provide immense and growing value for business customers, personal users, and investors,” said Helen Ng, Chairman of SSAA. The report indicates that Singapore’s self-storage market is heavily dominated by institutional-grade properties, with retailers and start-ups being the largest business users.

Key findings from the survey show that Singapore, alongside Hong Kong, has the highest proportion of self-storage facilities in industrial buildings. Climate-controlled storage is gaining popularity in Singapore, and occupancy rates remain robust at over 84%. The city-state also enjoys healthy rental growth at 5.3%, with expectations of further increases in the next three to five years.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, self-storage stock has grown to 16.3 million square feet, with significant new supply expected in 2025. The survey highlights strong rental growth in Vietnam, the Middle East, and the Philippines, whilst India faces some rental rate compression. The demand from household users is rising sharply in markets including China, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

The survey also notes the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the industry, with many operators implementing AI for access control, electronic locks, and customer-facing applications. Despite challenges in finding suitable real estate, investment in the sector is picking up pace, although operators remain cautious about seeking external investment.

The comprehensive data provided by the survey is invaluable to self-storage companies, investors, and other stakeholders, offering insights into operational success and future prospects.

A Singapore-led initiative is set to revolutionise heart failure treatment in Indonesia by introducing a groundbreaking artificial heart assist device. Indonesia.md, a subsidiary of Borderless Healthcare Group, has obtained exclusive rights to launch this next-generation device, developed in Shenzhen, in Southeast Asia’s largest healthcare market. The device is notably the smallest and lightest of its kind, designed for long-term support for patients with severe heart failure.

With over 10 million heart-failure patients in Indonesia and a mortality rate exceeding 34%, the need for advanced medical solutions is critical. The country’s limited heart-transplant programme and low organ donation rates further exacerbate the situation. The new device, which is more than 50% smaller than existing US models, is tailored to fit Asian thoracic anatomy and aims to reduce post-operative complications. Its lightweight design and longer-lasting battery enhance patient mobility and independence.

This initiative aligns with Singapore’s ambition to serve as a gateway for Shenzhen’s medtech innovations into Southeast Asia. It leverages Singapore’s digital-health capabilities and Indonesia’s clinical needs, creating a robust platform for medtech deployment. Indonesia.md will operate its Borderless Medical Cloud from Singapore, facilitating cross-border specialist input, patient evaluation, and remote treatment collaboration.

Dr Lim Chong Hee, a key figure in the initiative, highlights the collaborative efforts across Singapore, China, and Indonesia. The project not only strengthens Singapore’s position as a medtech hub but also provides a scalable model for accelerating medtech adoption across Southeast Asia.

OCBC has extended its partnership with Visa, allowing Singapore customers to transfer funds directly to eight major digital wallets across Southeast Asia via the OCBC app. This development builds on last year’s integration of Weixin Pay and Alipay, making the app the most connected in the region with a total of 10 digital wallet options. The initiative aims to simplify remittances for Singapore’s foreign workforce, who often rely on slower and more expensive transfer methods.

The new feature enables near-instant, fee-free transfers to popular wallets such as Coins and GCash in the Philippines, GoPay and Ovo in Indonesia, Momo in Vietnam, and Touch ‘n Go in Malaysia. Collectively, these wallets, along with the Chinese options, serve up to 2.72 billion users. This expansion addresses key remittance challenges—speed, cost, and accessibility—particularly benefiting the unbanked population in the region.

Since the service’s launch with Chinese wallets, OCBC has processed over S$60m in transfers, significantly increasing cross-border transactions to China. The bank anticipates strong adoption among Singapore’s 1.6 million foreign workers. Sunny Quek, Head of Global Consumer Financial Services at OCBC, stated, “By connecting OCBC accounts to eight of Southeast Asia’s most popular wallets, we are removing friction from cross-border payments and making remittances faster, cheaper, and more inclusive.”

Visa Direct powers the app’s capabilities, providing access to nearly 11 billion endpoints globally. Adeline Kim, Visa’s Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei, noted, “Visa Direct is transforming the way money moves globally, helping to bridge financial gaps and support the millions who rely on remittances.”

OCBC’s long-term goal is to connect customers to 50 digital wallets worldwide, further enhancing its comprehensive wallet access.

The 2026 Global Investor Outlook by Colliers reveals a significant pivot of global capital towards Asia Pacific (APAC), driven by investors seeking growth and diversification in a region renowned for innovation and wealth creation. The report, based on insights from nearly 1,400 investors, indicates that APAC-focused capital raising has surged over 130% since 2024, now accounting for 11% of global fundraising in the first three quarters of 2025.

Investors are increasingly targeting dynamic markets such as Japan, Australia, Singapore, and India, with a renewed interest in sectors like office, retail, industrial and logistics, data centres, and residential. Sam Harvey-Jones, Colliers’ Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific, noted, “Investors are changing gears. After a challenging period, capital is moving decisively towards stability and opportunity.”

Private capital and innovative deal-making are gaining traction, particularly in Hong Kong and Australia, as family offices and high-net-worth individuals capitalise on unique pricing opportunities. The office sector is experiencing renewed interest, with US and Japanese capital flowing into Australia and Japan, driven by resilient demand and positive rental growth.

Retail assets are regaining attention, with investors focusing on core, high-quality assets. Lachlan MacGillivray, Colliers’ Managing Director of Retail Capital Markets, Asia Pacific, remarked, “Retail, long considered a premier asset class, then viewed as an alternative, has now swung back to premier status.”

The report also highlights the growing demand for industrial and logistics sectors, driven by e-commerce, and the emergence of data centres as a key growth sector. With increased competition and higher transaction volumes expected in 2026, APAC offers diverse opportunities for investors, each market presenting unique strengths and growth drivers.

Southeast Asia’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) market has experienced a resurgence in 2025, with 102 IPOs across six bourses raising approximately US$5.6b in the first 10.5 months, according to Deloitte’s latest report. This marks a 53% increase in total IPO proceeds compared to the previous year, despite a decline in the number of listings. The growth is attributed to larger deals and strong performances in key sectors such as real estate, financial services, and consumer markets.

The average IPO deal size more than doubled from US$27m in 2024 to US$55m in 2025, supported by several “blockbuster” IPOs. Notably, four IPOs from Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines raised over US$500m each, with 11 IPOs boasting market capitalisation exceeding US$1b.

Singapore emerged as the leader in IPO proceeds, raising US$1.6b from nine deals, driven by major Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listings. Vietnam followed with significant contributions from the financial sector, raising US$1b through two major IPOs. Malaysia led in the number of IPOs, with 48 listings raising US$1.1b, whilst Indonesia recorded 24 IPOs with US$921m raised.

Deloitte anticipates continued investor interest in 2026, bolstered by regulatory reforms and a growing pipeline of IPOs. Singapore’s market is expected to benefit from pro-business reforms and a shift towards a disclosure-based regulatory regime. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s upcoming classification as a Secondary Emerging Market is poised to attract significant foreign capital, further enhancing its IPO landscape.

A recent study by UnaFinancial has highlighted the growing adoption of financial technology services across Southeast Asia, with 68.3% of respondents in Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam having used fintech services. The survey, conducted in November 2025, involved 400 adults and revealed that 60% of participants have used two or more fintech services, with three being the most common number.

The study indicates a strong future interest, with 80.3% of respondents likely to use fintech services in the next 12 months. Mobile payments and digital wallets are the most popular services, used by 94.1% of those surveyed, followed by digital banking and neobanks at 82.1%. Investment and trading platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, InsurTech apps, and digital lending also feature prominently among users.

Distinct patterns emerged in the data, showing that men generally use more fintech services than women, with higher engagement in investment and cryptocurrency platforms. Conversely, women show greater adoption in digital lending and InsurTech apps. Age trends reveal that the 26–35 and 46–55 age groups have the highest adoption rates, whilst those aged 56 and above, despite lower current usage, show a strong intent to adopt fintech services in the future.

UnaFinancial analysts noted, “These data confirm that fintech has firmly entered the mainstream in Southeast Asia. Consumers are not only adopting digital financial services at scale, but are increasingly comfortable using multiple platforms for different needs.”

The findings underscore the importance for fintech companies to offer trustworthy, accessible, and locally relevant products to capitalise on this growth.

Asian firms are increasingly adapting to new trade policies, with Southeast Asia emerging as a key region for both Asian and global companies, according to HSBC’s latest Global Trade Pulse report. The survey, which gathered insights from 6,750 corporate clients, indicates a shift towards regional trade strategies, with 41% of Asian firms planning to increase reliance on Southeast Asia.

The report highlights that 68% of Asian firms now feel more certain about trade policy impacts compared to six months ago. Additionally, the anticipated negative impact on revenue from supply-chain disruptions has decreased from 18% to 13% over the next two years. Aditya Gahlaut, Regional Head of Global Trade Solutions, Asia at HSBC, noted, “Our research data suggest that companies in Asia are adapting to the new environment. Though their concerns around revenue have eased slightly, they remain alert to risks.”

The survey also identifies India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam as standout markets benefiting from current trade dynamics. In India, 80% of firms expect positive impacts from tariffs and trade uncertainty over the next two years. Similarly, positive sentiment in Malaysia and Vietnam is projected to rise significantly.

As trade-related volatility increases, 89% of Asian firms report a growing reliance on banks for strategic advice and risk management. This trend underscores the critical role financial institutions play in navigating complex cross-border trade environments.

The findings suggest a promising outlook for Southeast Asia, with the region poised to capitalise on its strategic position in the evolving global trade landscape.