Industry News

Kearney’s 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index (FDICI) reveals that Asia Pacific (APAC) has secured the largest share of ranked markets for the first time in over a decade. The region’s dominance in the index, which ranks markets likely to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next three years, is attributed to its technological capabilities, economic growth potential, and geopolitical relevance.

Japan, China, and Singapore have made significant strides in the rankings, with Japan rising to third place, China to fourth, and Singapore making a notable leap from 15th to 8th. This shift is largely due to these countries’ focus on innovation and supportive industrial policies. Shigeru Sekinada, Region Chair for Asia Pacific at Kearney, noted, “The APAC region emerges as a winner as investors recalibrate how they make decisions in a more turbulent operating environment.”

The survey, conducted in January 2026 among over 500 senior executives, highlights that 88% of respondents plan to increase FDI over the next three years, despite global uncertainties. Technological and innovation capabilities have become the most important factors influencing investment decisions, surpassing traditional considerations like regulatory efficiency.

Geopolitical tensions and industrial policy are reshaping the investment landscape, with 84% of investors considering industrial policy as extremely important. APAC investors particularly favour infrastructure development and subsidies as effective policy tools. As the global investment environment evolves, APAC’s strong showing in the index underscores its growing appeal as a destination for foreign investment.

Urban consumers across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are moving away from the traditional three-meal-a-day routine, opting instead for occasion-based eating formats. This shift is driven by changing lifestyles, time constraints, and a growing emphasis on nutrition and emotional satisfaction, according to a recent survey by GlobalData.

The 2025 Q4 global consumer survey found that 86% of APAC consumers consider convenience essential when purchasing products. Sainul Abidin, a Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, noted, “Urban consumers are increasingly redefining traditional meals through an ‘occasion-based’ lens—seeking flexible formats that align with changing schedules, moods, and nutritional priorities.”

This trend has prompted major brands to innovate. In May 2025, LT Foods launched “Krispy Hopu,” a gluten-free snack in India, whilst Singapore’s Sainhall introduced DeeFruit snacks in April 2024. These products cater to the demand for nutritious, portable, and convenient food options.

Natural ingredients and functionality are becoming crucial, with consumers favouring foods that are easy to transport, require minimal preparation, and offer health benefits like protein enrichment and probiotics. Abidin highlighted, “Single-serve portions, resealable packaging, and spill-resistant wrappers are rapidly becoming standard expectations.”

As urban lifestyles continue to evolve, the traditional meal structure is losing relevance. Brands that offer flexible, nutritious, and convenient options are well-positioned to capture market share in this changing landscape.

CapitaLand Investment (CLI) has released a new research report titled ‘Tracking AI’s Impact on Offices and Business Parks in APAC’, highlighting how artificial intelligence (AI) is altering occupier demand for office and business park spaces in Singapore, India, and China. The report reveals a shift towards high-specification, infrastructure-ready assets, driven by AI’s influence on workspace requirements.

The report identifies a significant “flight to quality” trend, where occupiers are increasingly selective, prioritising spaces that meet AI-driven needs. This shift is prompting investors to focus on assets with enduring demand visibility, whilst also exploring value-add opportunities through asset repositioning. CLI’s findings suggest that AI is not reducing overall demand but redistributing it, creating a divergence between high-quality and commoditised spaces.

According to the report, AI is transforming workspaces into platforms for decision-making and innovation, rather than just sites for routine tasks. This evolution is particularly evident in markets with substantial supply pipelines, where commoditised spaces face structural challenges. CLI notes that tenant requirements now emphasise infrastructure readiness and the ability to support data-intensive workflows.

In Singapore, the demand for premium, strategically located offices is rising, driven by both AI-native firms and traditional sectors integrating AI into their operations. The city-state’s strong AI infrastructure and skilled workforce make it an attractive hub for global AI leaders and start-ups. As AI adoption continues to grow, Singapore is well-positioned to accommodate these demand shifts, reinforcing its status as a high-quality office hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aberdeen Investments has announced the appointment of Vivian Tang as the Head of the APAC Client Group, a move aimed at strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Tang, who joined Aberdeen in 2022 as Head of Institutional – Asia Pacific, will now oversee both institutional and wholesale distribution across the region. This strategic enhancement is intended to foster growth by deepening partnerships with financial intermediaries and asset owners.

John McCareins, Chief Client Officer at Aberdeen Investments, highlighted the importance of relationships in the industry, stating, “Enhancing our APAC Client Group and appointing Vivian to this expanded leadership role brings greater alignment and a more coordinated approach across all client touchpoints in the region.”

In addition to Tang’s appointment, Natalie Tan will manage wholesale distribution in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, whilst Tina Tong will expand her remit to include Taiwan and cross-border China offshore business opportunities. Ian Macdonald, CEO – Asia Pacific, expressed confidence in the new leadership team, emphasising their role in positioning strategic partnerships at the core of Aberdeen’s future growth.

Aberdeen has been actively expanding its footprint in Asia Pacific, partnering with a leading digital bank in Singapore in 2025 to launch retail investment solutions. The firm also broadened access to its institutional-grade credit capabilities for various financial institutions across the region.

Vivian Tang commented on the region’s strategic importance, stating, “By bringing our institutional and wholesale capabilities closer together, we can better serve our clients with more tailored solutions and deeper, long-term partnerships.” Aberdeen’s recent organisational changes reflect its commitment to aligning product development with client needs, supporting long-term partnerships globally.

Velox Networks, a leading cloud telephony provider based in Singapore, has announced its expansion into the Philippines, marking its third Southeast Asian market after Singapore and Malaysia. This strategic move follows the enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, a landmark telecommunications law aimed at modernising the country’s voice and data infrastructure. The legislation creates favourable conditions for cloud-native communications providers, allowing them to offer enterprise-grade voice infrastructure without significant physical network investments.

Martin Nygate, Founder and CEO of Velox Networks, stated, “The Philippines is at an inflection point. New legislation is finally creating the regulatory framework for modern telecommunications infrastructure.”

Velox Networks is not entering the market remotely; it has established a 12-person team across Manila, Cebu, and other key cities. This local presence underscores the company’s commitment to providing the same level of service and support as in Singapore and Malaysia. The Philippines’ telecommunications challenges, such as the notorious “spaghetti wires,” are being addressed through recent government actions, including the Metro Manila Council’s resolution for cable management and Cebu City’s underground cabling ordinances.

Velox’s platform offers cloud-based business phone numbers, automatic call recording, CRM integrations, and enterprise-grade security, catering to over one million micro, small, and medium enterprises in the Philippines. As regulatory scrutiny around data privacy increases, Velox aims to bridge the gap between consumer-grade tools and enterprise requirements, enhancing productivity and operational resilience.

The Milken Institute’s 2026 Global Opportunity Index highlights Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s leading investment destinations. The report, released on 7 April, underscores the region’s resilience and growth amidst global challenges, attracting significant global capital inflows. The index evaluates investment attractiveness using 101 variables across five categories, including Business Perception and Economic Fundamentals.

Malaysia ranks highest in the region and 23rd globally, buoyed by strong institutions and economic fundamentals. Vietnam follows, ranking second regionally and 39th globally, with impressive economic performance and financial sector development. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has improved significantly in Financial Services, climbing from 78th to 38th place since 2022. The Philippines, despite strong growth prospects, faces governance and regulatory challenges that may hinder long-term investment.

Matthew Aleshire, director of GeoEconomics at the Milken Institute, noted, “Countries that can maintain macroeconomic stability whilst deepening their financial systems and strengthening governance will be best placed to attract long-term investment.”

The report also highlights Singapore’s consistent ranking among the top 20 most attractive countries for investors, placing 7th globally. The Milken Institute’s index uses data from sources like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, incorporating updated indicators to reflect evolving investment trends. The full report is available on the Milken Institute’s website.

CIMB Group Holdings Berhad has announced plans to expand its presence in ASEAN’s affluent wealth segment as part of its Forward30 strategy. This initiative aims to strengthen the bank’s cash and deposit franchise whilst enhancing cross-sell opportunities across the Group. The affluent segment in ASEAN is projected to grow by 5%-6% annually, reaching 65%-70% of the population by 2030.

The bank’s approach focuses on providing holistic wealth, advisory, and banking solutions, supported by a dedicated Chief Investment Office and personalised Relationship Manager advisory. CIMB has also invested in digital capabilities, offering real-time portfolio tracking and AI-enabled tools for its frontliners. Strategic partnerships will further expand its wealth, protection, and legacy solutions.

CIMB’s strong presence in Singapore serves as a key hub for affluent customers seeking cross-border and global investment opportunities. The bank plans to grow its Wealth Asset Under Management two-fold by 2030, aiming for a Non-Interest Income contribution of 33%-34%.

In January 2026, CIMB launched its Private Wealth service in Indonesia, with plans to expand to Malaysia and other markets. Indonesia is seen as a particularly attractive market due to its economic fundamentals and growing middle and upper-income segments.

CIMB’s strategy is to deepen relationships with high-value clients, strengthen deposit growth, and increase fee-based income through investment and advisory products. The bank believes ASEAN’s wealth landscape remains underpenetrated, offering significant opportunities for growth.

Aon plc has announced the appointment of Winnie Loh as the real estate and data centre leader for Southeast Asia, effective immediately. Based in Singapore, Loh will spearhead the strategic direction and client delivery of Aon’s capabilities in these sectors across the region. Her appointment comes as data centre investments in Southeast Asia are on the rise, with increasing complexities in risk profiles related to development, financing, and long-term operations.

Loh, who joined Aon in 2021, brings over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. She will continue her role as director within Aon’s Commercial Risk team. Her expertise will be crucial as digitalisation, cloud adoption, artificial intelligence, and resilience expectations reshape the sector. Jon Pipe, head of Commercial Risk in Asia for Aon, noted, “Winnie’s appointment reflects both the pace of growth we’re seeing in the region and the increasing sophistication of the challenges our clients are navigating.”

The appointment underscores Aon’s commitment to enhancing its data centre and digital infrastructure capabilities, aligning them with real estate and broader construction and infrastructure services. Andrew Minnitt, CEO of Singapore and head of Southeast Asia for Aon, highlighted that clients are seeking advisers who understand the intersection of data centres with real estate and infrastructure risks. “Winnie’s appointment strengthens our regional leadership and supports our focus on delivering more integrated, lifecycle-led solutions for clients across Southeast Asia,” Minnitt stated.

This strategic move by Aon aims to provide clients with insight-led advice to assess risk, build resilience, and make informed decisions across the full asset lifecycle.

Southeast Asia has experienced an 86% surge in gaming-related cyberthreats during the second half of 2025, as reported by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. Singapore reflected this regional trend with a 22% rise in such threats, highlighting the growing risk to young gamers and their families.

Kaspersky’s findings reveal that popular games like Roblox and Minecraft are frequently exploited by cybercriminals. These games’ customisable features make them attractive targets for malicious actors who create fake game-related tools or mimic popular games to deceive children into visiting fraudulent websites or downloading compromised files. Vietnam and Thailand saw the most significant increases, with threats rising by 202.5% and 104.4%, respectively.

The implications of these cyberattacks extend beyond individual victims, potentially affecting entire households. Young gamers may inadvertently share sensitive information, such as their parents’ credit card details, which can be used for financial theft or other illicit activities. Additionally, malware downloaded on shared family devices can compromise the privacy and data of all users.

Choon Hong Chee, Head of Consumer Channel for APAC at Kaspersky, emphasised the importance of protecting digital interactions within families. “These threats endanger not only the cyber safety of our young gamers but also that of their households,” he stated.

To combat these threats, Kaspersky advises users to avoid installing applications from untrusted sources, regularly scan for malware, and educate children on cybersecurity. Parents are encouraged to use digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids to ensure a safe online experience for their children.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has revealed a 5% decline in investment banking fees in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan, for the first quarter of 2026. The total fees amounted to $5.3b, representing 15% of the global share. CITIC emerged as the top earner in the region, securing $340.6m in fees.

Equity capital markets (ECM) underwriting fees saw a significant rise, reaching $1.3b, marking a 62% increase from the previous year. This surge was the highest first-quarter total since 2023. Conversely, debt capital markets (DCM) fees decreased by 3% to $3.2b, and syndicated lending fees plummeted by 43% to $311m. Advisory fees from completed mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions also fell by 47% to $512m.

M&A activity in the region experienced a 6.3% decline year-on-year, totalling $212.5b. However, the number of announced deals increased by 3.4%, driven by mid-market activity. High Technology led the sector with $66b in deals, nearly tripling last year’s figures.

In ECM, the region saw a three-year high of $61.2b, a 40.3% increase year-on-year. China dominated with 61.7% of proceeds. Initial public offerings (IPOs) rose by 51% in proceeds despite a 19% drop in the number of IPOs.

The DCM sector raised $1.2t, a 2.7% decline from last year. China accounted for 79.6% of the proceeds, with government and agencies leading sector activity.

These figures highlight the shifting dynamics in the Asia Pacific investment banking landscape, with significant growth in ECM and challenges in other areas.