Industry News

Ensign InfoSecurity, one of Asia’s largest cybersecurity service providers, has been acknowledged as a Research Sponsor in the 2024 MITRE Centre for Threat-Informed Defence (CTID) Impact Report.

This recognition marks Ensign as the first Singapore-based company to contribute to the global initiative aimed at advancing open threat-informed defence against sophisticated cyber threats.

The MITRE CTID Impact Report, celebrating the centre’s fifth anniversary, highlights the collective efforts of organisations worldwide in supporting its mission. Ensign’s involvement underscores its commitment to cybersecurity innovation and the defence of Operational Technology (OT) environments and critical infrastructure. Tan Ah Tuan, Head of Ensign Labs, stated, “Partnering and supporting MITRE CTID’s mission of enabling threat-informed defence was a natural match because we use ATT&CK to guide detection across the OT analytics that we develop to identify sophisticated attack patterns.”

Ensign’s participation aligns with its strategic focus on developing intelligence-led cybersecurity strategies that are both globally accessible and locally relevant. This collaboration has empowered critical sectors with effective defensive measures against emerging threats, reinforcing Ensign’s position as a trusted partner to enterprises and government agencies across the Asia-Pacific region.

Ensign InfoSecurity, headquartered in Singapore, offers bespoke cybersecurity solutions and services, with core competencies in advisory and assurance services, architecture design, systems integration, and managed security services. With two decades of experience, Ensign continues to serve clients from both public and private sectors in the region.
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Eden Restaurant is set to redefine Father’s Day celebrations with its “Glam Dad’s Day Out” Semi-Buffet Lunch on 15 June 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Pullman Singapore Orchard. Priced at $118++ per person, the event aims to honour fathers who appreciate style and sophistication, offering a unique culinary experience.

The semi-buffet format features free-flow starters, including Asian Beef Tartare and Double Cheese Cauliflower, alongside an interactive “Make Your Own Salad Bar”. Main courses promise to impress with dishes like Slow-Cooked Beef Cheek with Hoisin Pepper Sauce and Baked Salmon with Green Mango Slaw and Tangy Green Curry Emulsion. The event concludes with an exquisite Dessert Bar, providing a sweet and stylish end to the meal.

This celebration is designed for families to express gratitude to fathers in a manner that aligns with their modern sensibilities. “It’s a heartfelt tribute to the fathers who inspire us every day,” the restaurant noted, highlighting the event’s focus on individuality and refined taste.

Eden Restaurant, located at 270 Orchard Road, invites families to partake in this special occasion. For reservations or more information, visit www.edenrestaurant.sg. This event not only offers a memorable dining experience but also sets a new standard for Father’s Day celebrations, catering to the evolving tastes of today’s fathers.
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CBRE has announced the sale of a prime industrial property at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22, featuring a 3-storey light industrial building. Priced at approximately $13.2m (S$18m), the sale will be conducted via private treaty. The property, with a lease tenure until 2051, spans a plot of land measuring approximately 40,901 square feet and offers a gross floor area of about 64,548 square feet.

The site is designated as “Business 1” under the Master Plan 2019, with a plot ratio of 2.5, allowing for a potential built-up area of approximately 102,253 square feet. This presents significant redevelopment opportunities for potential buyers. The building itself includes 18,872 square feet on Level 1, 7,931 square feet on the Mezzanine, and 18,872 square feet on Levels 2 and 3, with ceiling heights ranging from 3.3 to 4.2 metres. Additionally, the site features 20 parking spaces.

Strategically located, the property boasts excellent connectivity to the Pan-Island Expressway and the upcoming Jurong Region Line. It is also within walking distance to bus stops and a 14-minute walk from Bukit Batok MRT station. The location is ideal for light manufacturing, production usage, and regional R&D offices, as well as self-storage operators on B1 sites.

Graeme Bolin, Head of Occupier and Leasing, Industrial and Logistics Services at CBRE, highlighted the property’s appeal, stating, “21 Bukit Batok Street 22 offers an opportunity for investors and owner-occupiers to acquire a property with excellent building specifications, ample land for potential redevelopment, and a strategic location within the heart of Singapore’s western manufacturing hub.”
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ESR Group Limited has announced a collaboration with a consortium of Japanese investors to develop the Sunview Logistics & Container Hub in Singapore. This modern multi-storey warehouse and automated container depot, located in the Jurong industrial cluster, is set to become one of the country’s largest logistics hubs when it opens in 2027. The facility will feature a solar power generation system, expected to cover a significant portion of its energy needs.

The investment consortium includes Tokyu Land Corporation, Hulic Co., Ltd., Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd., Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., and RISA Partners, Inc. This venture aims to bolster Singapore’s logistics infrastructure and its status as a global supply chain hub. “This is a rare opportunity for Hulic Co., Ltd to invest in a prime asset anchored by high-quality tenants,” said Sohei Okuno, Hulic’s General Manager of Global Investment Department.

Anchor customers Allied Container Group and CEVA Logistics will utilise the state-of-the-art facility to drive operational efficiencies. Allied has committed $36.5m (S$50m) to integrate an automated container storage retrieval system, enhancing storage capacity and reducing land utilisation by 67%. CEVA Logistics plans to expand its Contract Logistics business, with the new site increasing its footprint to 370,000 square metres across 18 locations.

The Sunview Hub development marks a significant expansion of ESR’s portfolio in Singapore, offering diversified investment solutions and high-quality space to meet the growing demand for advanced logistics facilities.
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Retailers in Singapore are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) agents to maintain a competitive edge, according to Salesforce’s latest Connected Shoppers Report. The report reveals that 69% of retailers view AI agents as essential for overcoming rising costs and meeting growing customer expectations. This shift comes as the retail landscape becomes more complex, with digital spending spreading across multiple platforms.

The report, which surveyed 500 shoppers and 100 retail decision-makers in Singapore, highlights the pressures retailers face, including rising customer acquisition costs and the declining share of physical store purchases, projected to drop from 43% in 2024 to 38% by 2026. To address these challenges, retailers are focusing on improving store associate productivity, enhancing customer service, and implementing unified commerce strategies.

AI agents are seen as a crucial tool in this transformation, with 85% of retailers planning to increase their AI investments over the next year. These agents are expected to streamline marketing efforts, optimise websites, and manage inventory, among other tasks. Velia Carboni, CIO of SharkNinja, noted that Salesforce’s Agentforce is “key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back.”

Unified commerce is also playing a significant role, with 82% of retailers in Singapore working on initiatives to connect operations across channels. This integration is vital for AI agents to function effectively, providing personalised and real-time responses to shoppers.

Consumers in Singapore are already embracing AI, with 36% using it for product discovery. Trust remains a critical factor for wider adoption, with shoppers prioritising data privacy, transparency, and the ability to control AI interactions. As the retail sector evolves, the focus on AI is expected to drive growth and enhance customer experiences.
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LinkedIn has released its annual Grad Guide in Singapore, highlighting the fastest-growing job roles for new graduates amidst a tightening job market. The guide, aimed at helping graduates and entry-level professionals navigate their career paths, reveals a significant 8% drop in job postings per applicant over the past year, increasing competition for roles.

The guide identifies Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer as the leading role for Master’s degree holders and the second most sought-after position for Bachelor’s degree graduates. Other top roles for Bachelor’s degree holders include Legal Associate, Pharmacist, Marketing Assistant, and Interior Designer. For those with a Master’s degree, Management Associate, Research Engineer, Project Manager, and Data Analyst are among the top positions.

LinkedIn is also introducing AI-powered tools to enhance the job search experience. These tools allow job seekers to describe their desired roles in plain language, enabling AI to match them with suitable opportunities. This innovative approach aims to simplify the job search process by focusing on candidates’ aspirations rather than traditional keywords.

To support young professionals, LinkedIn offers video content featuring career tips and insights from its Career Expert. Additionally, new LinkedIn Learning features, such as My Career Journey and AI-powered coaching, provide personalised learning plans and practice scenarios to help graduates advance in their careers.

As the job market becomes more competitive, LinkedIn encourages graduates to embrace adaptability, build their networks, and leverage AI technology to enhance their career prospects. The Grad Guide serves as a strategic resource for graduates seeking to stand out and secure their ideal roles in today’s challenging environment.
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Great Eastern Holdings Limited has announced a 13% increase in profit attributable to shareholders, reaching S$345.5m for the first quarter ending 31 March 2025. This growth is attributed to steady insurance business performance and favourable investment returns. Despite a 34% decline in Total Weighted New Sales, the Group’s New Business Embedded Value (NBEV) rose by 19% to S$148.8m, driven by an improved sales mix.

The decline in Total Weighted New Sales, down to S$345.1m from S$524.2m the previous year, is primarily due to a strategic shift towards regular premium sales. The Group’s insurance subsidiaries maintain strong Capital Adequacy Ratios, well above regulatory requirements.

Greg Hingston, Group CEO, commented on the results, highlighting the focus on enhancing product sales mix and serving affluent customers with tailored solutions. “Our improved Group NBEV reflects a focus on propositions that enhance our product sales mix,” he said. In Singapore, increased purchases of protection and legacy propositions, along with Regular Premium Investment-Linked plans, contributed to this growth. In Malaysia, legacy and wealth accumulation solutions bolstered performance.

Looking forward, Hingston noted the challenging business climate due to global volatility and geopolitical tensions. The Group aims to strengthen its business and distribution model with data-driven propositions to meet customer needs. The positive reception of US dollar-denominated plans underscores alignment with customer demands.

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Manulife Financial Corporation has announced robust first-quarter results for 2025, with its Asia segment achieving record levels in annualised premium equivalent (APE) sales, new business contractual service margin (CSM), and new business value (NBV).

The company reported a 50% year-over-year increase in APE sales, reaching $1,412m, whilst new business CSM rose by 38% to $498m. NBV also saw a significant rise of 43%, totalling $457m. Core earnings in Asia increased by 7% to $492m, driven by higher sales volumes in Hong Kong, Japan, and other Asian markets.

The strategic highlights for the quarter included the renewal of Manulife’s bancassurance partnership with China Banking Corporation in the Philippines, extending their collaboration for another 15 years. This partnership aims to provide comprehensive life, wealth, and health solutions.

Additionally, Manulife enhanced its artificial intelligence capabilities, launching an AI Assistant to support agents in Singapore and brokers in Japan, thereby improving customer engagement and reducing administrative tasks.

Manulife also introduced a new Shared Values proposition, offering high-net-worth life insurance with health benefits, and expanded its cancer diagnosis services in Hong Kong. The company launched a cross-border Cancer Drug Support Service to facilitate access to affordable treatments in mainland China.

Phil Witherington, President and CEO of Manulife Asia, stated, “2025 has got off to a strong start for Manulife in Asia. Building on last year’s momentum, the Asia segment achieved record levels across all value metrics in the first quarter.” Steve Finch is set to take over as President and CEO of Manulife Asia on 9 May 2025, with a focus on sustainable growth and customer-centric solutions.

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Metro Holdings Limited has announced a substantial leasing achievement at its Asia Green property, reaching a committed occupancy rate of approximately 95% as of 31 March 2025. This follows the expiration of a major lease by Hitachi Asia, which previously occupied nearly 30% of the property’s net lettable area.

The Asia Green property, located in the Tampines Regional Centre, is 50%-owned by Metro and consists of two premium Grade-A office towers. The property has attracted new key tenants, including DIMENSIONS, a private school, SGX Mainboard-listed Food Empire Holdings, and the Eastern General Hospital Planning Office under SingHealth. These new leases have significantly contributed to the backfilling of the space vacated by Hitachi Asia.

Metro Group CEO and Executive Director Yip Hoong Mun commented on the achievement, stating, “The positive leasing progress achieved at Asia Green is testament to our proactive asset management efforts in positioning the property to continue capturing tenant demand for quality, decentralised but well-connected commercial space.”

Asia Green’s strategic location offers excellent connectivity, being a short walk from Tampines MRT Station and a brief drive from both Changi Airport and the Central Business District. The property, certified Green Mark Platinum, was valued at $320 million (S$435 million) as of 31 March 2025, up from $290 million (S$395 million) when acquired in April 2019.

The successful leasing progress at Asia Green is expected to enhance Metro’s recurring income and reflects the resilience of the Singapore office asset class within the company’s investment portfolio. The Tampines Regional Centre is poised for further development, potentially incorporating new mixed-use projects and enhanced connectivity.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has unveiled the HPE Networking Instant On Secure Gateway, a new network security solution designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) tackle increasing cybersecurity challenges.

Launched at HPE’s Customer Innovation Centre in Singapore, the gateway offers enterprise-grade security features without requiring extensive IT resources.

The HPE Networking Instant On Secure Gateway integrates essential security functions such as firewall protection, intrusion detection, and VPN support into a single, cloud-managed platform. This aims to simplify cybersecurity for SMBs, which often lack the resources to manage complex systems. The solution is available in two variants: the SG1004, a 1-gig, 4-port wired gateway, and the SG2505P, a multi-gig, 5-port gateway with enhanced performance and power capabilities.

Amol Mitra, vice president and general manager of Worldwide Small and Medium Business at HPE Aruba Networking, highlighted the challenges faced by SMBs, stating, “Today’s SMBs are under constant pressure to defend their networks from complex cyber threats, with limited IT resources, and a fast-evolving digital landscape.”

The gateway promises enhanced protection and operational efficiency by consolidating key security functions, reducing reliance on multiple tools and vendors. It also offers cost savings and regulatory compliance through unified security capabilities and automated policy enforcement. The solution is designed to be easily managed via a single-seat cloud system, making it accessible and affordable for SMBs.

The HPE Networking Instant On Secure Gateway is now available globally, providing SMBs with the tools needed to protect their networks and streamline operations in an increasingly connected world.
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