Industry News

Singapore-listed Wee Hur Holdings Limited has announced its foray into Hong Kong’s purpose-built student accommodation sector with the launch of Starvia by Y Suites on Fortress Hill. The 246-bed, 19-storey facility is set to begin student leasing in the second half of 2026, strategically located opposite Fortress Hill MTR Station for easy access to Hong Kong’s top universities.

The project is a joint venture between Wee Hur Hospitality and Starvia Holdings Ltd. It aims to address the growing demand for student accommodation in Hong Kong, a market currently experiencing a significant shortfall in supply. According to Colliers, the city faces a projected shortfall of approximately 120,000 beds by 2028, driven by an increase in non-local student admissions and government policies positioning Hong Kong as an international education hub.

Starvia by Y Suites will offer a range of fully furnished flats, from Studio Deluxe units to multi-bedroom shared layouts, complete with amenities such as study areas, a gym, and 24/7 security. The development is part of Wee Hur’s strategy to expand its student accommodation platform beyond Australia, leveraging the Y Suites brand to capture demand in Hong Kong’s undersupplied market.

Eric Wang, Deputy General Manager of Wee Hur Hospitality, stated, “Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most compelling student accommodation markets, with strong, policy-backed demand and a clear shortage of quality, professionally managed supply.”

Wee Hur plans to continue exploring opportunities to expand its portfolio in Hong Kong, aligning with its strategy to invest in alternative real estate asset classes that offer stable, long-term returns.

Capgemini’s 30th World Wealth Report reveals that the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has once again topped global wealth growth charts, with high-net-worth individual (HNWI) wealth increasing by 10.5% in 2025. This growth outpaced other regions, including North America and Europe, and was driven by AI-driven market momentum.

The report, released by the Capgemini Research Institute, highlights significant gains in key APAC markets. Japan saw a 12.3% increase in HNWI wealth, buoyed by a 26% rise in the Nikkei 225 and a 21.6% growth in market capitalisation. Hong Kong experienced a 13.6% rise in HNWI wealth, supported by a 27.8% gain in the Hang Seng Index. Meanwhile, China’s HNWI wealth grew by 12.2%, despite challenges in the real estate sector.

Globally, HNWI wealth reached a record $98.3t, marking an 8.7% increase from the previous year. However, the report notes that traditional wealth management firms are struggling to meet rising HNWI expectations, with only 17% of HNWIs reporting a seamless advisory experience. As $1.5t in assets shifted to non-traditional players between 2022 and 2025, the report suggests that firms need to adopt augmented intelligence to deliver personalised advice at scale.

Capgemini CEO Kartik Ramakrishnan emphasised the need for wealth management firms to transform their operating models, stating, “Firms can optimise legacy models for incremental improvements, or they can embrace an intelligence-led operating model that compounds advantage as they move ahead.” The report underscores the importance of personalised, empathetic advice in shaping the future of wealth management.

TransitionZero has launched a significant upgrade to its Scenario Builder platform, enabling comprehensive energy system modelling across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This enhancement allows for integrated analysis of power systems in 10 Southeast Asian countries, addressing the fragmented nature of the region’s cross-border electricity trade.

The ASEAN Power Grid, envisioned in the ASEAN Vision 2020, aims to create a regionally interconnected power system. However, progress has been limited and uneven. TransitionZero’s latest upgrade facilitates the testing of cross-border scenarios on a single interface, covering energy generation, transmission, and trade flows. This development eliminates the need for separate studies or fragmented national models, streamlining the planning process for energy planners.

Isabella Suarez, Head of Engagement for Southeast Asia at TransitionZero, highlighted the significance of this launch. She stated that it represents a step towards more informed cross-border planning, market design, and regional investment decisions. The upgrade is expected to reduce duplicated modelling efforts across the region, promoting efficiency and collaboration.

TransitionZero also offers insights from legal and policy experts on the necessity of robust regulatory frameworks to support a regionally interconnected power system. This initiative marks a pivotal moment in advancing Southeast Asia’s energy infrastructure, potentially transforming the way energy is managed and traded across borders.

Travellers and residents in Singapore can now use DBS Remit to fund Weixin Pay wallets globally, enhancing cross-border payment options. This development follows the initial launch in February 2026, allowing users to transfer funds directly to Weixin accounts verified by Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macau identification documents.

Since the February launch, DBS Remit has experienced significant growth, with the number of customers using the service quadrupling and transaction volumes increasing eightfold. The average transaction size has risen to over S$800, indicating growing customer confidence in using DBS Remit for everyday payments in China.

P’ing Lim, Regional Head of Ecosystems & Cross Border Payments at DBS Bank, highlighted the importance of seamless payment integration, stating, “Consumers today no longer view payments in isolation, especially in China, where digital wallet apps are ubiquitous and deeply woven into everyday life.”

The new feature not only facilitates payments but also extends to services such as transport bookings and food ordering, reducing transaction fees typically associated with credit card payments. By funding digital wallets directly through DBS Remit, users can avoid additional platform fees.

DBS continues to strengthen its cross-border payments ecosystem, reflecting rising consumer demand for intuitive payment experiences across Asia. The bank is seeing strong growth in regional scan-to-pay and cross-border payment linkages in markets like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. This expansion underscores DBS’s commitment to supporting customers’ evolving payment needs across interconnected digital ecosystems in Asia.

Southeast Asia’s climate-tech sector has secured approximately $1.1b in disclosed equity funding across 268 rounds, according to a report by Tracxn. The report highlights that seed and early-stage rounds account for nearly all the capital, underscoring the region’s focus on nurturing nascent climate technologies.

The report reveals that Singapore is at the forefront, attracting around $872m of the total funding. Indonesia and Vietnam follow, with $162m and $53m, respectively. Notably, four of the five most-funded companies, including Beam and Neuron, are based in Singapore or Indonesia, primarily focusing on electric mobility.

Solid Waste Management Tech emerged as the top-funded sector, securing $105m, followed by Smart Grid at $97m. Significant contributions to these sectors include Amperesand’s $80m Series A in Smart Grid and Blue Planet’s $46m Series B in Solid Waste Management.

The climate-tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia is also witnessing an increase in exit activities, with 20 acquisitions and 10 public listings recorded to date. Acquisitions are mainly concentrated in Singapore, whilst public listings span across Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

In 2026 to date, four rounds totalling approximately $17m have been recorded, all at seed or early stage. This trend aligns with the broader market pattern, indicating a continued emphasis on early-stage investments. The report suggests that the region’s climate-tech ecosystem is still in its formative stages, with most capital being committed at the entry levels, paving the way for future growth and development.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced two significant leadership appointments in the Asia Pacific region, aiming to expand its Value-Added Services (VAS) and accelerate growth in Southeast Asia. Serene Gay, formerly Group Country Manager for Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, has been appointed as Head of Value-Added Services for Asia Pacific. She will focus on expanding Visa’s VAS business, which includes Issuing and Loyalty, Acceptance, and Risk & Security solutions.

Serene Gay brings over two decades of experience in payments and financial services, having held senior roles in digital banking, product strategy, and marketing. Her leadership is expected to drive transformation and build strategic partnerships across the region. “Serene will play a pivotal role in scaling these capabilities for our clients across Asia Pacific,” said Stephen Karpin, Regional President for Asia Pacific at Visa.

Adeline Kim steps into an expanded role as Group Country Manager for Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and Senior Vice President of Global Clients & Acquirers for Asia Pacific. Previously the Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, Adeline will lead Visa’s business across these countries, focusing on client engagement and regional collaboration. With over 14 years at Visa, she has been instrumental in advancing the company’s business and client relationships in Southeast Asia.

These appointments underscore Visa’s commitment to investing in talent and strengthening its capabilities to support clients and partners across the Asia Pacific region. As Visa continues to prioritise Value-Added Services, these leadership changes are set to enhance the company’s growth and innovation in the dynamic Asia Pacific market.

Singapore and Hong Kong are at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, according to Aon’s 2026 Human Capital Trends Study. The report reveals that 42% of Singaporean employers have fully deployed AI, with an additional 38% in the pilot phase. In Hong Kong, 60% of organisations have fully implemented AI, surpassing the global average, with 28% currently piloting the technology.

Despite these advancements, both cities face significant challenges in workforce readiness. In Singapore, only 31% of organisations have a clearly defined employee value proposition, and just 11% rate their pay transparency practices as mature. Furthermore, only 20% of employers offer customised benefits, despite 61% of employees expressing their importance.

Hong Kong’s situation mirrors this trend, with only 8% of organisations confident in their ability to recruit and retain sufficient AI talent. The study highlights a disconnect between employer intentions and employee experiences, as only 14% report mature pay transparency practices, and just 22% offer customised benefits, even though 65% of employees value them.

The findings underscore a critical gap between AI implementation and workforce preparedness. As AI reshapes the workplace, the need for new skills and employee engagement becomes paramount. The report suggests that organisations must invest in people through training, reskilling, and effective communication to harness AI’s full potential and drive meaningful change.

Colliers has announced a 41.3% reduction in emissions intensity across its Asia Pacific operations, according to its 2025 Global Sustainability Report. This achievement marks a 9.26% improvement from the previous year, underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainability amidst growing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expectations.

The report highlights that 36% of the electricity used in Colliers’ Asia Pacific portfolio now comes from renewable sources. Additionally, the company has contributed over 7,260 volunteer hours to community initiatives, reflecting its broader commitment to social responsibility.

Sam Harvey-Jones, Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific, stated, “As sustainability expectations become more performance-driven, our focus is on delivering outcomes that fortify, de-risk, and create lasting value within our own operations and for our clients.”

Globally, Colliers has achieved a 32.2% reduction in emissions intensity and sourced 42% of its electricity from renewable energy. The report aligns with international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Colliers’ efforts are part of its “Built to Last” strategy, which aims to manage risks and drive positive impacts through ESG priorities. The company continues to support clients across the asset lifecycle, helping them navigate regulatory changes and climate-related challenges.

Juspay, a payments technology company based in India, has announced its inclusion in the Mastercard Engage partner network as a certified Click to Pay partner. This move marks Juspay’s expansion into the Asian market, following a successful rollout in Brazil. The partnership aims to provide merchants in Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region with faster, more secure, and frictionless checkout experiences.

Juspay’s integration with Mastercard Engage introduces two key capabilities: biometric authentication with passkeys and card tokenisation. These features are designed to enhance security by enabling passwordless transactions and replacing sensitive card data with secure tokens, respectively. This aligns with Singapore’s efforts to strengthen consumer identity frameworks and reduce fraud risks amidst rising digital payment volumes.

Mark Ronayne, Juspay’s Associate Director – International, stated, “Joining the Mastercard Engage partner network is an important milestone as we scale Click to Pay globally. At Juspay, we’re focused on removing friction from the checkout experience whilst maintaining the highest standards of security.”

The partnership is expected to bolster Juspay’s position as a trusted payments partner for major enterprises and financial institutions worldwide. With over 300 million transactions processed daily, Juspay supports global brands such as Amazon, Google, and HSBC. The company’s recent Series D funding round, led by WestBridge Capital, valued Juspay at $1.2b, underscoring its significant impact in the payments technology sector.

SGX Catalist-listed Annica Holdings Limited and Scottish hydrogen systems integrator Logan Energy are set to participate in the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference & Exhibition 2026. This event, a significant gathering for the hydrogen industry, will provide a platform for both companies to demonstrate their advancements and contributions to green hydrogen technologies.

The conference, scheduled for 2026, aims to bring together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss the future of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. Annica Holdings, known for its commitment to sustainable energy solutions, will collaborate with Logan Energy to highlight their joint efforts in advancing hydrogen technology.

Participation in such a prestigious event underscores Annica’s strategic focus on green energy and its potential impact on the Asia Pacific region. Logan Energy, with its expertise in hydrogen systems, will complement Annica’s initiatives by showcasing integrated solutions that could drive the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative.

This collaboration is expected to foster new partnerships and opportunities within the hydrogen sector, aligning with global efforts to transition towards more sustainable energy sources. As the world increasingly turns to green energy, the insights and innovations presented at the conference could play a crucial role in shaping the future of hydrogen technology in the region.