Industry News

Cargobase has announced the appointment of Alex van Kampen to lead its Product, Engineering, and Customer Excellence teams. Based in Singapore, van Kampen returns to the company after previously serving as Head of Product from February 2017 to July 2022. His new role will focus on advancing the Cargobase platform, aiming to simplify logistics operations and enhance freight movement efficiency.

Van Kampen’s leadership is set to drive the evolution of Cargobase’s logistics platform, aligning with the company’s #GetShipDone strategy. “Alex helped shape the foundation of the Cargobase platform during a critical growth phase of the company, and we are excited to have him return to lead the next chapter of innovation,” said Wiebe Helder, CEO of Cargobase. His expertise in logistics technology is expected to accelerate the company’s mission to make global freight procurement smarter and more automated.

A significant aspect of van Kampen’s strategy involves integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to automate workflows and provide actionable insights, enabling quicker operational decisions. This initiative aims to deliver a more intuitive user experience with fewer clicks and richer data insights. Additionally, van Kampen will prioritise advancing freight procurement automation, a critical area as companies seek to build resilient and adaptable supply chains amidst global disruptions.

The appointment underscores Cargobase’s commitment to innovation in logistics technology, positioning the company to better respond to evolving market demands and geopolitical challenges.

A recent study by Kaspersky has highlighted that supply chain attacks are the most prevalent cyberthreat globally, impacting 31% of businesses over the past year. In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, these attacks are notably common, with China, Vietnam, and India among the most affected. Singapore, however, stands out for being the most targeted by trusted relationship attacks, with one in three organisations experiencing such incidents in the last 12 months.

The study, commissioned by Kaspersky’s internal market research centre, underscores the vulnerabilities in today’s interconnected digital landscape. Large enterprises, which manage an average of 100 suppliers, are particularly susceptible, with 36% reporting supply chain attacks. Trusted relationship attacks, where attackers exploit legitimate connections between organisations, have also been significant, affecting 25% of companies globally.

Despite the frequency of these threats, many organisations underestimate their severity. Only 9% of businesses globally consider supply chain attacks their top concern, whilst just 8% prioritise trusted relationship attacks. This underestimation could hinder adequate cybersecurity investments, leaving firms vulnerable.

Kaspersky’s Head of Security Operations Centre, Sergey Soldatov, emphasised the need for an ecosystem-wide security approach. Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, noted the urgent need for robust defences across APAC’s interconnected supply chains.

To mitigate these risks, Kaspersky recommends evaluating suppliers’ cybersecurity policies, implementing security audits, adopting preventive measures like zero trust, and developing incident response plans. These steps are crucial for maintaining business resilience in the face of growing cyberthreats.

Mastercard has unveiled the Mastercard Global Commerce Suite for Small Businesses, a comprehensive platform designed to streamline cross-border payments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia Pacific. The suite, powered by Mastercard Move, aims to address the complexities and limited visibility that hinder SME growth in global trade. Initially available to banks and financial institutions in Hong Kong SAR, the platform is set to expand to other select markets in the region.

The digital commercial payments sector in Asia Pacific is projected to grow by 14.7% annually until 2028, largely driven by the rapid digitisation of SMEs and their increasing involvement in international trade. Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President of Commercial and New Payment Flows at Mastercard, stated, “SMEs want to move money across borders with the same speed and confidence as domestic transactions, but many banks remain constrained by legacy systems.”

The Mastercard Global Commerce Suite offers SMEs a single touchpoint to manage payments, collections, and expenses. Key features include global finance flexibility with virtual bank accounts in multiple currencies, seamless integration with leading marketplaces, near real-time payouts for cash flow clarity, and robust security measures to reduce fraud and costs.

As banks in Asia Pacific modernise their commercial payment systems, Mastercard supports this transition by simplifying payment flows and integrating fragmented systems. The Mastercard Move portfolio enables funds to move quickly and securely across more than 200 countries and territories, supporting over 150 currencies.

This initiative is expected to help banks better serve SMEs, fostering long-term relationships as these businesses continue to grow in the global market.

Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (JMH) has announced its 2025 preliminary financial results, revealing a robust performance with an 11% increase in underlying net profit to $1.68b. The company, which is transitioning from an owner-operator to an investment-focused entity, reported a 5-year Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 8.8% per annum. This strategic shift has been supported by active capital recycling, with $4.8b recycled and $2.8b reinvested as capital expenditure.

The company’s parent free cash flow rose by 7% to $933m, enabling a 4% increase in the full-year dividend to $2.35 per share. Executive Chairman Ben Keswick highlighted the sustainable growth in underlying earnings and the strengthened management teams as key contributors to the improved performance. The privatisation of Mandarin Oriental, completed in January 2026, was a significant milestone, releasing capital for shareholders and allowing the hotel group to pursue its growth agenda privately.

Lincoln Pan, who assumed the role of CEO in December 2025, emphasised the focus on recycling capital from lower-yielding assets to enhance core businesses. “2026 will be an extremely busy and productive year ahead,” Pan stated, indicating a continued commitment to improving earnings quality and increasing dividends per share.

The results underscore Jardine Matheson’s strategic repositioning efforts, aiming for sustainable shareholder returns and enhanced investment flexibility. The company plans to maintain its focus on capital allocation and governance to drive long-term success.

Deloitte has released a report titled “Powering Asia Pacific’s Data Centre Boom,” which forecasts a significant rise in data centre investments across the region, potentially reaching $800b by 2030. The report emphasises the importance of integrating clean energy strategies to manage the anticipated surge in electricity demand and avoid grid congestion.

Asia Pacific is poised to become a global data centre hub, with China, Japan, and Singapore already established as major centres. Emerging markets such as Australia, India, and Malaysia are also experiencing rapid growth. The report warns that without coordinated planning, the expansion could lead to grid connection delays and increased price volatility. However, by adopting a “power-first” approach, data centres can support grid stability and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Will Symons, Deloitte Asia Pacific Sustainability Leader, stated, “AI, cloud and digital connectivity is surging, driving massive new investments in energy-intensive data centres. Across the region electricity grids are already under pressure to decarbonise and maintain affordability, resilience and security.”

The report suggests several strategies for sustainable growth, including the use of diverse clean energy sources, co-location near renewable resources, and integrating storage and grid support services. These measures aim to align data centre development with regional climate goals and energy policies.

K Ganesan Kolan De Velu, Sustainability & Emerging Assurance Leader at Deloitte Southeast Asia, highlighted the potential for Southeast Asia to lead in data centre growth by matching digital expansion with clean energy systems. This approach could enhance competitiveness and drive decarbonisation efforts across the region.

A significant wave of retirements is reshaping the CFO landscape in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, according to the latest Global CFO Turnover Index by Russell Reynolds Associates. In 2025, 62% of the 73 CFO departures in APAC were due to retirement, up from 57% in 2024. This trend has led to 58% of all APAC CFO appointments being first-time CFOs, with the region recording 92 total appointments, surpassing its seven-year average of 85.

Globally, CFO appointments reached a record high of 316, marking a 10% increase from 2024. The APAC region alone saw a 31% rise in appointments, with Australia leading at 49, followed by Japan with 15, Hong Kong with 14, India with nine, and Singapore with five. The Global Index of CFO Turnover tracks CFO departures from major stock indices, including ASX 200, HANG SENG, Nikkei 225, NSE Nifty 50, and STI.

Retirement remains the primary driver of CFO exits globally, accounting for 60% of departures, up from 55% in 2024. In APAC, 45 of the 73 CFO departures were due to retirement. Australia, Hong Kong, and India saw the majority of exits driven by retirement, whilst Singapore had a balanced split, and Japan had only 34% retiring.

Adelin Choy, co-leader of APAC Financial Officers Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, noted, “The demographic shifts, particularly the ageing population, necessitate businesses to critically re-evaluate their succession pipelines and the evolving qualifications for the CFO role.”

Despite these shifts, APAC organisations maintained a balanced approach to recruitment, with nearly equal internal and external CFO appointments. The region’s inclination towards first-time CFOs mirrors the global trend, with 57% of all CFO appointments being first-timers. The elevated turnover highlights the need for continuous governance in CFO succession planning, as noted by Choy.

Real estate investment in the Asia Pacific region surged by 8% in 2025, reaching US$162b, according to the latest report from Colliers. This growth was attributed to improved market clarity, easing financial conditions, and renewed buyer confidence, with momentum building in the latter half of the year.

The report highlights that domestic capital remains a key anchor for the region, whilst cross-border investors are re-engaging in markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and India. South Korea, Japan, and Singapore led the investment volumes, with Singapore and India experiencing the strongest annual growth at 35% and 29%, respectively.

Sector-wise, office assets continued to dominate the investment landscape, supported by sustained demand for high-quality, well-located properties. The logistics sector saw investments of US$30.1b, whilst retail investments increased by 15% as investor confidence improved. Alternative asset classes emerged as the fastest-growing segment, driven by strong institutional demand.

Theo Novak, Managing Director of Capital Markets & Investment Services at Colliers, noted a shift from caution to conviction among investors, who are now prioritising clarity and quality. “This broadening of activity is a key signal of a healthier and more sustainable recovery,” Novak stated.

Looking ahead, Colliers anticipates further strengthening of investment momentum in 2026, supported by stabilising interest rates and a gradual recovery in cross-border capital flows. Domestic capital is expected to remain the primary driver, with offshore participation likely to increase as risk appetite improves.

Visa has unveiled its latest innovation, Visa Intelligent Authorisation, designed to modernise payment processing for banks and financial institutions. This new capability, part of the Visa Acceptance Platform, allows acquirers to streamline their operations through a single API connection, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure rebuilds. The system promises to enhance transaction approval rates and reduce false declines, addressing the limitations of legacy systems.

Visa Intelligent Authorisation offers a robust solution with 99.999% uptime and an average global approval rate of 96.3%, setting industry benchmarks. By integrating transactions across major card networks, it provides acquirers with a versatile tool that can either serve as their main processor or complement existing systems. The product’s machine-learning engine optimises routing decisions and provides real-time risk alerts, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

The rise of digital wallets, stablecoins, and AI-powered commerce has increased the complexity of transactions, necessitating modern processing infrastructure. Visa’s research indicates that 74% of consumers in Asia Pacific already use AI tools in their shopping, highlighting the need for systems capable of handling richer data sets at scale. Axel Boye-Moller, Visa’s Head of Value-Added Services in Asia Pacific, stated, “Visa Intelligent Authorisation is designed for this shift, delivering smarter decisioning across networks through a single integration.”

Visa Intelligent Authorisation is now available to eligible acquirers, offering a scalable foundation for the evolving payment landscape. As digital payments continue to grow, this innovation positions Visa at the forefront of the industry’s transformation.

The MSCI Institute has released a new report highlighting that insurers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are increasingly concerned about the systemic financial risks posed by climate-driven physical hazards. The survey, which included 50 of the world’s largest property and casualty insurers and reinsurers, found that 100% of APAC insurers express high concern about infrastructure insurability in vulnerable regions, surpassing the global average by 4 percentage points.

The report underscores that whilst individual insurers rate their own preparedness above the industry’s, there is a significant gap in operational integration of these risks. In APAC, 64% of insurers express high concern about systemic risks, yet 63% are still in the early stages of integrating these risks into their management frameworks. This suggests a widespread awareness-integration gap that could have serious implications for infrastructure finance and real asset markets.

Globally, 91% of insurers see opportunities in climate risk and resilience advisory services, although this figure drops to 75% in APAC. Additionally, 58% of insurers, both globally and in APAC, identify parametric products as a key opportunity. However, only 17% of APAC insurers view insuring nature-based resilience as a significant opportunity, slightly higher than the global average of 11%.

The report also notes that physical risk is increasingly becoming a focus for regulatory bodies, with growing requirements for insurers to assess hazard-related scenarios and climate risks in their risk management and disclosure practices. Despite these challenges, the report suggests that the insurance industry is at a critical juncture, with significant opportunities for innovation and adaptation in response to the escalating physical risks.

Porsche Asia Pacific and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on sustainable mobility and next-generation automotive technologies. This five-year partnership aims to equip students and educators with industry-relevant skills, aligning with Singapore’s shift towards electrified mobility.

The collaboration will focus on key areas such as high-voltage battery technology, electric vehicle diagnostics, and digitalisation. Students will benefit from internships at Porsche Singapore and potential overseas attachments at Porsche’s regional facilities, including the assembly facility in Kedah, Malaysia. These opportunities provide a rare glimpse into top-level automotive production and technical innovations.

ITE educators will also gain from this partnership. Recently, two lecturers from ITE College West participated in specialised high-voltage battery training at the Porsche Service Centre in Singapore, gaining insights into Porsche’s unique EV battery repair concept.

Porsche will further support ITE by donating a Macan Electric for training purposes and sponsoring Book Prizes and Achiever Awards for top-performing students. Hannes Ruoff, CEO of Porsche Asia Pacific, emphasised the importance of equipping young talents with strong technical foundations and real-world exposure. Peter Lam, CEO of ITE, highlighted the partnership’s role in keeping students and educators at the forefront of emerging technologies, empowering them to shape the future of Singapore’s automotive industry.