Industry News

Singapore-headquartered Aspire, a leading finance platform for businesses, has announced its integration with Stripe, a global financial infrastructure platform, to offer faster and more flexible payment solutions. This collaboration enables businesses across Asia to receive payments through credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, significantly reducing the typical payment cycle from seven days to just three.

The integration addresses a critical need for financial flexibility in the B2B sector, where lengthy payment cycles can hinder cash flow. Research indicates that businesses not accepting card payments face an average revenue loss of 46%. By enabling Aspire users to accept payments via credit cards and local payment methods like GrabPay and WeChat Pay, the platform provides a seamless payment experience for customers.

Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and founder of Aspire, stated, “This partnership with Stripe aims to address two critical pain points—speed and flexibility. Together, we are removing the friction of money, empowering businesses to focus on what they do best: growing and scaling their operations.”

Paul Harapin, Stripe’s Chief Revenue Officer in Asia Pacific, added, “Small and medium businesses make up over 97% of all businesses in APAC. Working together, Aspire and Stripe help ensure that SMBs fully benefit from cutting-edge technology to enjoy seamless and flexible payment solutions.”

Aspire’s integration with Stripe marks a significant step in its mission to empower global businesses with essential financial tools, enhancing its all-in-one platform to support businesses in managing payments and scaling operations efficiently.
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Singapore-headquartered Wilmar International’s recent site visit in China revealed the company’s extensive operations and its strategic plan to expand through food parks. However, analysts from RHB Group maintain a neutral stance on the company’s stock, with a target price of SGD3, citing potential delays in profitability due to ongoing economic uncertainties. The company’s valuation is expected to remain lower than its China-listed counterparts until a significant earnings turnaround occurs.

The visit highlighted Wilmar’s vision to increase its footprint in China, a market with vast potential. Despite the impressive scale of operations, the economic landscape poses challenges that could delay the profitability of these ventures. “We were impressed with the size and scale of Wilmar International’s operations in China,” noted the analysts, but they cautioned that it might take a couple of years for the expansion to become profitable.

The company’s strategy involves leveraging food parks to drive growth, a move that aligns with its long-term vision. However, the analysts emphasised that the current economic uncertainties could hinder immediate financial gains. Until Wilmar’s earnings show a significant improvement, its stock is likely to trade at a discount compared to its peers in China.

In conclusion, whilst Wilmar International’s expansion in China is promising, the path to profitability may be prolonged due to economic factors. The company’s future performance will largely depend on its ability to navigate these challenges and achieve a turnaround in earnings.
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SGX-listed Stoneweg European Real Estate Investment Trust (SERT) has released its Sustainability Report 2024, marking the seventh year of such reporting. The report, covering 2023 and 2024, showcases SERT’s commitment to sustainability with a 24.9% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity since 2019 and a target of Net Zero operational carbon emissions by 2040.

The report highlights the successful issuance of a €500 million green unsecured bond, which was over four times oversubscribed, demonstrating strong investor confidence. Additionally, 85% of SERT’s office portfolio by value is now certified by BREEAM or equivalent standards, and eight solar photovoltaic projects are operational, with plans for 17 more by 2027.

SERT retained its four-star GRESB rating, achieved an “A” MSCI ESG rating, and maintained a “Negligible Risk” score of 8.8 from Sustainalytics. The trust also ranked in the top ten of the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index for the fifth consecutive year.

CEO Simon Garing emphasised the integration of ESG into decision-making, stating, “Our ambition for Net Zero operational carbon emissions by 2040 guides how we invest, manage, and engage. ESG is no longer a nice-to-have – it is part of how we access capital, attract tenants, meet regulatory expectations and build long-term value.”

The report underscores SERT’s alignment with international sustainability standards and its strategic focus on enhancing environmental, social, and governance metrics. As SERT continues to advance its sustainability initiatives, it aims to further improve its environmental impact and stakeholder engagement.
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DKSH Consumer Goods Singapore has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Unicharm, a global leader in hygiene and personal care products. This collaboration aims to broaden the distribution of Unicharm’s market-leading brands across Singapore, enhancing accessibility to essential everyday products. The partnership builds on a successful collaboration between the two companies in Malaysia since 2008.

Under the new agreement, DKSH will provide comprehensive Market Expansion Services for Unicharm’s flagship brands, including Mamypoko, Pet Pet, Moony, Sofy, Silcot, Certainty, and Lifree. These brands cover a range of categories from baby care to feminine care, offering trusted solutions for all life stages. The partnership will leverage DKSH’s omni-channel network to ensure product availability across modern trade, pharmacies, convenience stores, and e-commerce platforms.

Eiji Yoshida, Managing Director of Unicharm Malaysia & Singapore, expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to deepen Unicharm’s reach in Singapore. “With DKSH’s extensive sales team structure, capillary distribution, and in-store excellence supported by insights, we are confident in driving growth and elevating the daily lives of our consumers,” he said.

Adrian Kang, Vice President of Fast Moving Consumer Goods at DKSH Singapore, highlighted the significance of the partnership in strengthening DKSH’s personal care portfolio. “This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering quality products that enrich daily life,” Kang stated.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to quality and innovation, aiming to enrich lives through access to high-quality products that support health, hygiene, and comfort.
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AECOM, a leading infrastructure consulting firm, is set to make a significant impact at the Asia Pacific Rail 2025 event in Bangkok, held from 28 to 29 May. As a Gold Sponsor, AECOM will present its cutting-edge digital solutions and sustainable practices aimed at revolutionising rail infrastructure projects across Asia. The firm, ranked first in the Transportation and Mass Transit and Rail categories by Engineering News-Record, is committed to advancing sustainable rail infrastructure through innovative technologies.

At the event, AECOM’s Transportation team will share insights into green strategies, cross-border collaborations, and emerging technologies.

Tim Wong, Technical Director and ESG and Sustainability Hub Lead in Hong Kong, will discuss the use of digital tools like AECOMzero and innovative construction materials to reduce carbon emissions.

C. Kamalesen Chandrasekaran, Technical Director, will highlight the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System as a model of international cooperation powered by digital transformation. Additionally, Wilson Wong, Associate Director, will address intermodal transportation solutions to tackle the last mile challenge in Asian cities.

Ian Chung, chief executive of AECOM’s Asia region, expressed enthusiasm about the company’s participation, stating, “It has been our mission at AECOM to deliver a better world using the most innovative and digital solutions to serve our clients across Asia and advance sustainable rail infrastructure.”

AECOM will also showcase projects such as the Orange Line West in Bangkok and the Northern Link project in Hong Kong, emphasising their role in strategic urban development. The firm’s presence at Booth E39 will further highlight their contributions to rail services through their Metro Hub in Malaysia and multidisciplinary teams in Hong Kong and Singapore.

With a focus on creating sustainable legacies, AECOM continues to lead in delivering innovative solutions for complex infrastructure challenges, reinforcing its position as a global infrastructure leader.
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Sanli Environmental Limited has announced a 21% increase in revenue, reaching S$157.6m for the financial year ending 31 March 2025. This growth was primarily driven by the robust performance of its Operations and Maintenance (O&M) segment, which nearly doubled its revenue. Despite this, the company’s net profit fell by 42% to S$1.7m, partly due to the lingering effects of legacy projects and increased costs.

The company’s O&M segment saw its revenue soar to S$44.2m, up from S$22.4m in the previous year. This growth highlights Sanli’s strategic focus on expanding its recurring revenue base through long-term maintenance contracts for water and wastewater plants. Meanwhile, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) segment remained the main revenue contributor with S$110.8m, although its gross profit was impacted by higher labour and material costs.

Sanli’s Chief Executive Officer, Sim Hock Heng, noted, “Our revenue growth is a clear indicator of our team’s consistent capabilities and technical expertise to execute large-scale projects in a defensive industry.” He also emphasised the company’s commitment to rewarding shareholders with a proposed final dividend of 0.173 Singapore cents per share, constituting 30% of the net profit attributable to owners.

Looking ahead, Sanli’s order book stands at S$228.6m, with several significant EPC projects expected to be tendered in Singapore over the next year. This positions the company to capitalise on growth opportunities as Singapore continues its infrastructure investments.

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Alpha Augmented Services, a leader in software-driven supply chain optimisation, has announced a strategic partnership with a local firm in Shenzhen, China, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy. This move not only establishes a foothold in China’s third-largest city but also strengthens its operations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

CEO and Co-Founder Massimo Rossetti highlighted Shenzhen’s importance as a logistics hub, home to major corporations like Foxconn and Huawei. “Transport optimisation is a significant competitive advantage,” he stated, emphasising the city’s role in global trade.

The partnership completes Alpha Augmented Services’ global footprint, enabling 24/7 customer support across all time zones. With offices in China, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Bahrain, Dubai, Europe, and the US, the company offers tailored, region-specific solutions. CTO and CIO Laurin Paech noted, “Global logistics never sleeps. Our global network enables us to provide local service teams in native languages.”

The collaboration is expected to accelerate business development in Asia, leveraging the Chinese partner’s network of high-level contacts. Rossetti added, “Our strategy is global, our SaaS solution is global—so of course our presence must be global as well.”

Founded in 2020, Alpha Augmented Services uses AI and machine learning to optimise supply chains, achieving cost savings and CO₂ reductions of up to 20%. The company aims to further expand its network in Asia, a key growth region, to meet increasing demand from its international clientele.
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Maybank Securities has unveiled an upgraded version of its Maybank Trade SG app, designed to provide a more intuitive and personalised trading experience for both sophisticated and everyday investors. The app, now available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, integrates real-time insights, customisable tools, and access to Maybank’s award-winning research.

The revamped app aims to meet the growing demand for smarter trading solutions by offering a user-friendly interface that adapts to individual trading styles. “The launch of Maybank Trade SG marks a key step in Maybank’s digital transformation journey,” said Aditya Laroia, CEO of Maybank Securities. “By integrating advanced technology with our core strengths—proprietary research, personalised service, and seamless execution—we are empowering investors to make confident decisions.”

The app’s features include real-time market data, curated watch lists, and customised alerts, providing investors with the tools needed to manage portfolios effectively. This upgrade is part of Maybank’s broader strategy to create a unified digital ecosystem, integrating various financial services on a single platform.

Maybank Securities, part of the Maybank Investment Banking Group, continues to enhance its digital capabilities whilst maintaining its high-touch service model. The ongoing development of the app underscores Maybank’s commitment to delivering a cohesive client experience, combining banking and investing services seamlessly.
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Bruc Bond, a Singapore-based major payment institution, has unveiled a new hierarchical fee and client management system within its OSKAR platform. This development is designed to help fintech companies tackle the operational complexities of cross-border payments as the November 2025 ISO 20022 deadline approaches. The system allows financial institutions to consolidate client transactions, balances, fees, and reconciliations under a single login, regardless of geography or client structure.

The global B2B payments market is projected to grow by 40% to $124t by 2028, driven by digital payment adoption. However, fintechs face challenges due to legacy systems and regional payment rail requirements. The new OSKAR capability addresses these issues by enabling financial institutions to manage separate balances, execute transfers, and handle reconciliations through one platform. This innovation is expected to remove significant barriers to market growth for challenger banks.

Krishna Subramanyan, CEO of Bruc Bond, emphasised the importance of infrastructure in capturing the cross-border payments market. “The fintech sector has proven its ability to innovate, but capturing more of the cross-border payments market requires solving fundamental operational challenges,” he stated. A Canadian financial institution spokesperson praised the new system’s intuitive interface and operational efficiency.

As fintechs face rising interest rates and increased regulatory scrutiny, the focus is shifting from speed and user experience to building robust infrastructure for sustainable growth. Bruc Bond’s latest offering aims to level the playing field for fintechs competing with traditional banks in the evolving payments landscape.
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QuikBot Technologies has been awarded Best Startup of the Year at the Asia Tech x Singapore Enterprise Tech Awards 2025. The accolade highlights QuikBot’s innovative approach to autonomous last-mile delivery, which addresses urban challenges such as emissions, congestion, and inefficiencies. The company’s Agentic Powered Robotics Platform for Urban Logistics integrates seamlessly with smart city infrastructure, optimising delivery routes and ensuring efficient handovers.

The award, presented at Asia’s flagship technology event, acknowledges emerging companies that demonstrate entrepreneurial excellence and potential for scalable impact. QuikBot’s platform is noted for its ability to transform how goods are delivered in dense urban environments, from food and retail to healthcare and logistics.

QuikBot has successfully deployed its technology in Singapore at South Beach and Mapletree Business City. It is also officially empanelled under Changi General Hospital’s Robotic Middleware for Healthcare framework, enhancing its role in Singapore’s healthcare automation.

The company’s expansion into the United Arab Emirates began in late 2024 with partnerships with Dubai CommerCity and Aramex. In 2025, QuikBot signed a strategic agreement with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority to deploy its platform at Dubai Silicon Oasis, marking a significant step in global smart city development.

Alan Ng, Founder and CEO of QuikBot Technologies, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, “This award is a testament to the vision and grit of our team, our partners, and the forward-looking institutions that believed in our mission to redefine urban delivery.”

QuikBot’s recognition at ATxSG underscores the growing demand for sustainable automation in logistics, signalling strong momentum for smart delivery solutions worldwide.
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