Industry News

BYD by JC, an authorised dealer in Singapore, has teamed up with GXS Bank to introduce a green vehicle financing programme for Grab driver-partners. This initiative aims to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by offering 100% Loan-to-Value (LTV) financing under the commercial private-hire car exemption scheme, subject to credit approval. With no down payment required and interest rates starting at 2.78%, the programme seeks to lower financial barriers for drivers.

The programme also includes an 8-year or 500,000km battery warranty and 20 complimentary servicing packages, making EV ownership more accessible. Drivers can select from various BYD models, such as the BYD SEAL 6 DM-i and BYD ATTO 3 EVO, to suit their needs.

As Singapore moves towards sustainable transport, private-hire vehicle drivers play a crucial role in adopting EVs. GXS Bank’s involvement ensures full financing is available, aligning with the country’s green mobility goals. Jessica Ang, CEO of BYD by JC, stated, “We empower Grab drivers with affordable and reliable green vehicles that lower daily operating costs and helps boost their earning potential.”

Lai Pei-Si, Group CEO of GXS Bank, added, “Through our partnership with BYD by JC, we are making green vehicle ownership more financially accessible for our customers and supporting their transition towards greener mobility.”

Customers can explore vehicle options at BYD Teban Gardens or BYD VivoCity and book test drives through the GXS × BYD by JC Programme platform. This collaboration marks a significant step in promoting eco-friendly transportation solutions in Singapore.

UOB Private Bank recently concluded its 2026 Next Generation Programme, a five-day event held from 31 August to 4 September in Shanghai and Hangzhou. The programme aimed to equip the next generation of Asia’s wealth and business leaders with the skills needed to navigate China’s burgeoning innovation economy. This initiative, now in its sixth iteration, brought together 26 participants from seven markets, offering them direct exposure to leaders in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital finance, and more.

The programme, developed in collaboration with the Wealth Management Institute and the China Europe International Business School Centre for Family Heritage, combines academic learning with real-world experiences. Participants visited companies like Unitree Robotics and Ant Group, gaining insights into how these businesses are pioneering new technologies and market strategies. Chew Mun Yew, Head of UOB Private Bank, emphasised the importance of preparing future leaders not just to inherit wealth but to make informed decisions and uphold family values.

The event took place amid increasing investor interest in China, particularly in sectors aligned with the country’s long-term innovation goals. UOB’s trading activity related to Hong Kong rose by nearly 80% from 2024 to 2025, indicating a growing appetite for opportunities in China’s growth sectors.

Participants also engaged in discussions with industry leaders, exploring themes of entrepreneurship, innovation, and responsible business stewardship. Yeo Zong Han, a participant, noted the value of witnessing advancements in robotics and the potential for collaboration.

Beyond the programme, participants join UOB Private Bank’s alumni network, fostering a community of future leaders who can share experiences and insights. This initiative underscores UOB’s commitment to supporting generational success and sustainable wealth stewardship.

Visa’s latest report, “Money Travels: 2026 Digital Remittances Adoption Report,” reveals significant growth in digital remittances across Asia Pacific, with a notable shift in consumer priorities towards security and trust. The study, which surveyed over 45,000 individuals across 20 markets, including Australia, Mainland China, India, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore, highlights that 68% of Japanese and 57% of Singaporean and Australian consumers are willing to accept a 24-hour transfer delay for stronger fraud protection.

The report underscores the essential role of remittances in supporting families, with consumers in India and Mainland China often delaying bill payments to send money abroad. Mobile banking apps have become the preferred method for international transfers, with adoption rates ranging from 33% to 60% across the region. However, Japan remains an outlier, with 32% of consumers still favouring physical bank branches.

AI-enabled fraud is a growing concern, particularly in the Philippines and India, where 62% and 53% of consumers, respectively, express worries about deepfakes and financial scams. “Cross-border money movement is fundamental to how people, businesses, and economies connect across Asia Pacific,” said Chavi Jafa, Visa’s Senior Vice President, Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, Asia Pacific.

The study also explores consumer awareness of stablecoins, highlighting a need for education to bridge trust gaps. Rhidoi Krishnakumar, Vice President, Head of Visa Direct, Asia Pacific, emphasised the opportunity for financial institutions to deliver seamless cross-border experiences whilst managing complexity. As digital adoption accelerates, understanding these evolving trends will be crucial for banks, remitters, and fintechs in providing secure and reliable money movement solutions.

CBRE has emerged as the leading firm in commercial real estate investment sales in the Asia Pacific region for the first half of 2026, according to MSCI Real Assets. The firm also secured the top global position, boasting a 33% market share across all property types in Asia Pacific, which is a significant 1100-basis point lead over its nearest competitor.

Globally, CBRE maintained its dominance with a 23% market share in commercial real estate investment sales. The firm also led the market in Australia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand. Greg Hyland, Head of Capital Markets, Asia Pacific for CBRE, attributed this success to the strength of client relationships and the consistent execution of their teams. “We remain focused on helping investors capitalise on opportunities and achieve their investment goals,” Hyland stated.

In the Asia Pacific region, CBRE topped the MSCI Real Assets rankings across various asset classes. The firm achieved a 28% market share in office properties, 42% in industrial, 32% in retail, 54% in flats, and 36% in development sites.

CBRE Group, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. With over 155,000 employees in more than 100 countries, CBRE continues to serve clients through its diverse business segments, including advisory, building operations and experience, project management, and real estate investments.

Businesses in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region are increasingly prioritising digital sovereignty, with over half seeking greater control over their sensitive and strategic data. This trend is driven by rising concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) security and compliance, according to a recent IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Expereo.

The research reveals that 51% of APAC organisations prioritising digital sovereignty aim to retain control over their data, closely aligning with the global figure of 53%. Notably, 43% of APAC respondents rank digital sovereignty as a leading driver of technology investment, compared to 30% globally. This underscores the growing importance of governance, risk, and compliance as organisations expand their AI and cloud initiatives.

Eric Wong, President Asia Pacific at Expereo, highlighted the complexity of achieving digital sovereignty across the region. “Businesses are navigating different regulatory environments, cross-border data requirements, and geopolitical risks whilst accelerating their adoption of cloud and AI,” he stated. Wong emphasised the need for multinational organisations to maintain visibility and control over data movement without fragmenting operations.

The report also notes that 60% of APAC organisations not yet using AI cite security, data privacy, compliance, or digital sovereignty concerns as significant barriers. Furthermore, only 9% of APAC firms report their network infrastructure is fully ready to support new technology initiatives, indicating a need for upgrades.

As AI adoption accelerates, the demand for flexible and scalable networks is expected to rise, with 57% of organisations seeking improved network resilience and reliability. This shift highlights the critical role of networks in supporting AI and digital sovereignty efforts across the APAC region.

Grab Holdings Limited has announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 60% equity stake in Atome Financial, a digital financial services platform, for $1.49b. This strategic move is set to enhance Grab’s consumer lending capabilities across five Southeast Asian markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The acquisition will integrate Atome Financial’s AI-driven lending infrastructure with Grab’s extensive ecosystem, aiming to provide greater financial access to underserved consumers and merchants. This collaboration is expected to accelerate Grab’s growth in consumer lending, with projections of a $6b gross loan portfolio by 2028. Additionally, Grab anticipates its Financial Services Segment Adjusted EBITDA to reach $500m by the same year.

Alex Hungate, President and COO of Grab, highlighted the importance of the transaction, stating, “The proposed transaction accelerates the growth and profitability of our financial services segment by deepening our consumer lending capabilities.” Jefferson Chen, CEO of Atome Financial, added, “With Grab’s ecosystem, we can extend financial access to millions more across Southeast Asia.”

The deal, expected to complete by Q3 2027, will see Grab financially consolidate Atome Financial into its Financial Services segment. A subsequent agreement allows Grab to acquire the remaining 40% stake in Atome Financial, contingent on regulatory approvals and performance metrics. This acquisition marks a significant step in Grab’s strategy to expand its financial services footprint in the region.

Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd has commenced construction on the Mapletree Sanbongi Logistics Centre in Osaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. This marks the third project under the Mapletree Japan Investment Country Private Trust (MAJIC) to begin in 2026. The development aims to bolster Mapletree’s logistics portfolio in Japan, focusing on high-quality, strategically located assets.

The three-storey facility, expected to be completed by April 2028, will offer a gross floor area of approximately 69,500 square metres. Designed for flexibility, it will feature adaptable small-box units, 40 lorry parking spaces, and 12 lorry waiting spaces, catering to both small-scale logistics and larger transfer operations. Freight lifts and vertical conveyors will enhance cargo movement efficiency.

Strategically positioned in the Tohoku region, the centre is set to support regional distribution, providing an alternative to established hubs like Kuki Junction in Saitama Prefecture. It aims to serve logistics operators in the semiconductor and automotive sectors, as well as distribution activities for the greater Sendai metropolitan area.

Wong Mun Hoong, Regional CEO for Australia and North Asia at Mapletree, stated, “Mapletree Sanbongi Logistics Centre reflects our commitment to Japan’s logistics sector. Strategically located in the Tohoku region, the development is designed to meet evolving supply chain needs and support long-term logistics demand.”

This development underscores Mapletree’s strategy to expand its global logistics platform, aligning with its focus on accelerated growth in key markets.

Ant International has announced the global deployment of its Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP), designed to facilitate AI-driven transactions across digital wallets and mobile interfaces. Launched in April 2026, AMP is now being adopted by fintech and payment leaders worldwide to enable secure, large-scale commercial transactions.

The protocol is being integrated into the Alipay+ ecosystem, which connects over 50 mobile payment partners and 10 national QR networks, serving 2 billion consumer accounts globally. Key partners in this initial phase include Alipay (China), GCash (Philippines), and TrueMoney (Thailand), among others. Acquiring partners such as Adyen and Fiserv are also on board.

AMP’s open-source nature, available on GitHub, allows developers and financial institutions to access its source code and technical documentation. This initiative aims to maximise industry collaboration and innovation.

Ant International is also collaborating with Mastercard and Visa on a Know-Your-Agent (KYA) interoperability framework. This framework seeks to streamline agent onboarding and identification across networks, enhancing trust and governance in agentic commerce.

Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer at Ant International, stated, “AMP has been created to enable agents to enter existing mobile payment systems as trusted actors. We are inspired to see how, a few months into its launch, more and more wallets and payment partners are accelerating their AI strategy.”

As AMP continues to roll out, it promises to reshape the landscape of mobile payments by integrating AI agents into everyday transactions, ensuring security and efficiency across global markets.

Grab For Business has announced its integration with Concur Expense, SAP Concur’s expense management solution, to modernise corporate travel and expense management across Southeast Asia. This collaboration allows eligible transactions from Grab For Business, such as rides, meals, and deliveries, to be automatically recorded in Concur Expense, reducing the need for manual entry and enhancing the efficiency of expense reporting.

The integration is now accessible to all Grab For Business customers via the SAP Concur App Centre. Valerie Khoo, Regional Head of Grab For Business, highlighted the importance of this development, stating, “Together with SAP Concur, we’re connecting business mobility with expense management in one seamless experience, helping organisations automate expense reporting whilst gaining greater visibility and control over business travel spending.”

This announcement comes as business travel in Asia Pacific is projected to reach $700.9b by 2026, according to the Global Business Travel Association. Despite this growth, many companies still face challenges in managing travel expenses effectively. A study by Grab For Business and the Global Business Travel Association found that whilst 95% of business travellers use ride-hailing services, only 58% of companies have formal mechanisms to manage these expenses.

The integration aims to address these challenges by simplifying the capture and processing of business travel expenses, allowing employees to focus more on productive work and less on administrative tasks. This move is expected to improve financial visibility and control for organisations across the region.

All-Link has reported a significant 38.2% increase in revenue, reaching $40.1m for the first half of the financial year 2026. This growth is attributed to the company’s strategic expansion in Malaysia and across the ASEAN region. The acquisition in Malaysia alone contributed $2.78m in revenue, highlighting the rising demand for All-Link’s logistics services.

The company’s gross profit also saw a rise of 28.0%, amounting to $4.6m, with a gross profit margin of 11.5%. Adjusted profit after tax increased by 11.6% to $3.4m, excluding $1.0m in non-recurring IPO expenses. The successful listing on the SGX Mainboard has bolstered All-Link’s capacity, raising S$20.1m to support further expansion across key ASEAN trade corridors.

Peter Neo, Executive Director and CEO of All-Link, remarked on the company’s performance, stating, “Our 1HFY26 performance underscores the scalability and operational resilience of our asset-light freight forwarding model. Supported by robust organic volume growth and key contributions from our expanded presence in Malaysia, we delivered a 38.2% increase in revenue to $40.1m.”

Looking ahead, All-Link plans to leverage its expanded regional network and fresh capital to continue its growth strategy. The company aims to expand its footprint in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, enhance its digital logistics infrastructure, and strengthen long-term customer partnerships. These efforts are expected to deliver sustainable shareholder value and further solidify All-Link’s position in the logistics industry.