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Mastercard has unveiled the Asia Gourmet Circle programme, offering World Legend, World Elite, and World Select cardholders priority reservations at more than 400 award-winning restaurants across 10 Asia Pacific markets. This initiative, part of The Mastercard Collection, allows cardholders to secure tables at prestigious dining venues in countries including Australia, Japan, and Singapore, enhancing their culinary experiences both locally and abroad.

The programme caters to the growing demand for premium dining experiences, with Mastercard research indicating that 67% of Asia Pacific consumers are passionate about culinary experiences. Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President of Core Payments at Mastercard Asia Pacific, noted, “Dining has emerged as one of the most meaningful ways cardholders express their passions, at home and especially whilst travelling.”

Participating restaurants include Michelin-starred establishments such as Bennelong in Australia and JAAN by Kirk Westaway in Singapore. Cardholders can enjoy additional privileges like dining credits or complimentary wine at select venues in Australia, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore with a minimum spend.

The Asia Gourmet Circle is part of a broader suite of benefits under The Mastercard Collection, which aims to redefine premium cardholder experiences through curated dining, entertainment access, and travel privileges. This initiative underscores Mastercard’s commitment to enhancing consumer experiences by connecting them with world-class culinary delights.

UI Boustead REIT has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising approximately S$973.6m, making it the largest IPO in Singapore for 2026. The offering, priced at S$0.88 per unit, saw robust demand, being oversubscribed by 3.3 times. The IPO included an international placement of 643,275,200 units and a public offering of 33,900,000 units in Singapore.

The Placement Tranche, aimed at institutional and accredited investors, attracted S$1.9b in demand, whilst the Singapore Public Offer was 2.9 times subscribed, receiving 4,697 valid applications. This strong interest highlights investor confidence in UI Boustead REIT’s potential, despite current geopolitical and market volatility.

Tan Shu Lin, CEO of the REIT Manager, expressed gratitude for the investor support, stating, “The successful close of the IPO reflects confidence in the quality of our portfolio and its ability to generate stable and resilient cashflows.”

UI Boustead REIT’s initial portfolio consists of 23 properties, primarily in Singapore and Japan, with a total gross floor area of approximately 5.9 million square feet. The REIT is managed by UIB REIT Management Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of UIB Holdings Limited.

Trading of the units on the SGX-ST Mainboard is set to begin at 2.00 p.m. on 12 March 2026.

The Assembly Place Holdings Ltd. (TAP), Singapore’s largest community living operator, has announced a joint venture with S11 Granuity Management to establish a new migrant worker dormitory at 2 Seletar North Link. This facility, housing approximately 886 beds, will be the first in Singapore to adopt a community-driven approach, aiming to enhance living standards for migrant workers through structured welfare management and technology-enabled operations.

The joint venture company (JVC), with TAP holding a 60% stake and S11 the remaining 40%, will leverage TAP’s expertise in community-driven living solutions and S11’s experience in managing foreign worker dormitories. This collaboration marks TAP’s entry into its sixth living sector and the launch of its seventh brand, “Habitat,” further diversifying its portfolio.

Eugene Lim, TAP’s Executive Director and CEO, stated, “This joint venture reflects TAP’s commitment to expand our community-driven living model across diverse accommodation sectors. We believe worker housing deserves the same structured social programming, experience, and governance standards as any other living asset class.”

Johnathan Cheah, Director of S11, expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to improve resident welfare and operational excellence. The initiative aligns with TAP’s strategy to expand its portfolio to over 10,000 keys by 2030, enhancing its position as a leader in community living.

The new dormitory will offer purpose-driven programmes to foster social cohesion, setting a new benchmark in migrant worker accommodation in Singapore.

Empyrean Sky Partners (ESP) has achieved the fastest first close of 2026, raising $90m towards its $200m target for the Global Technology Fund. The fund focuses on growth-stage companies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced manufacturing—sectors poised to transform industrial productivity and global technology deployment.

The fund is co-managed with Lion X Ventures, the technology venture investment partner of OCBC, combining ESP’s investment expertise with Lion X Ventures’ extensive network. This collaboration aims to identify and scale innovative companies by providing capital, global networks, and operational support to accelerate commercialisation. Additionally, the fund has formed a strategic partnership with Dreame Technology, allowing portfolio companies to benefit from Dreame’s industrial insights and engineering expertise.

The rapid execution of the first close, securing $90m in record time, highlights strong investor confidence in technology platforms that integrate AI with physical systems. Institutional investors, family offices, and industry participants have committed to the fund, citing ESP’s track record and access to industrial ecosystems as key advantages. Ming Lei, Chairman and Founding Partner of ESP, emphasised the fund’s goal to support founders in building the next generation of intelligent systems through long-term capital and industrial access.

With Asia emerging as a major innovation hub, ESP’s fund is well-positioned to support companies with global impact potential, focusing on businesses that integrate software intelligence with advanced hardware, including robotics and logistics automation.

The latest GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index reveals a significant rise in manufacturing activity across Asia in February, marking the region’s busiest month since October 2022. This surge, driven by increased purchasing in China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan, contrasts with a decline in North American factory input demand, reflecting a cooling in US manufacturing growth.

The index, which tracks demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories, and backlogs, showed global purchases of raw materials and critical components rising at the fastest pace in nearly four years. John Piatek, vice president of consulting at GEP, highlighted the impact of geopolitical tensions, stating, “The war with Iran is already creating an oil supply shock that will disrupt global supply chains.”

In Europe, industrial recovery is gaining momentum, particularly in Germany, though supply bottlenecks are emerging. The UK also reported full capacity in its supply chains. Despite these challenges, global reports of manufacturers stockpiling materials remain below typical levels, indicating a preference for lean inventories.

The index’s regional findings show Asia’s index jumping to 0.40, its highest since 2022, whilst North America’s index slipped to -0.26, indicating underutilised supplier capacity. Europe’s index rose to 0.05, and the UK’s increased to 0.01, suggesting robust activity.

As global demand for raw materials strengthens, companies are urged to assess their exposure to energy and shipping costs. The next release of the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is scheduled for 10 April 2026.

Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific has announced a rebranding to Logisnext Asia Pacific, effective from 30 April, as part of a strategic alignment with Mitsubishi Logisnext Co Ltd’s global vision. This change is a significant step in the company’s ongoing transformation under the Logisnext Vision 2035, which includes a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners to support sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

The rebranding will not affect the company’s commitment to its customers and dealer partners. Yasumitsu Baba, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific, assured that the company will continue to provide reliable equipment and trusted services. “We will continue to provide reliable equipment, trusted services, and solutions that drive customer success whilst further strengthening our global alignment,” Baba stated.

Logisnext operates through four regional hubs, including Asia Pacific, China, and South Africa (APACCSA), enabling it to cater to local customer needs effectively. The rebranding will see Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks transition to Logisnext Forklifts in the APACCSA region over the coming years, maintaining the brand’s reputation for reliability, quality, and value for money.

Throughout this transition, Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific is prioritising stability and consistency for its dealer partners and customers. Current support teams and service structures will remain unchanged to ensure a seamless process for all stakeholders. The company, headquartered in Singapore, continues to offer a comprehensive portfolio of materials handling solutions, backed by an extensive dealer network.

Global technology company EBANX is set to inaugurate its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore on 24 March, enhancing its footprint in the region. The new HQ will serve as a payments product and regulatory centre, supporting over 100 enterprise merchants, including AliExpress and Canva, in their expansion into emerging markets. EBANX forecasts a 30% growth in Total Payment Volume (TPV) for APAC merchants in 2026, driven by increased consumer and business purchases across more than 20 emerging markets.

In 2025, 36% of EBANX’s TPV was attributed to APAC companies. The company, founded in Brazil, has been expanding its presence in Asia, maintaining its largest office outside Brazil in Shanghai since 2019 and establishing a dedicated team in India in 2024. EBANX also obtained a Major Payment Institution licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore last year.

João Del Valle, CEO and co-founder of EBANX, highlighted the company’s commitment to strengthening South-South ties and building resilient global partnerships. “We keep seeing a strong expansion movement of APAC merchants into emerging markets, especially in Latin America and Africa,” he said.

The Singapore HQ will house 25 professionals, including senior leaders in engineering, technology, and compliance. Eduardo de Abreu, EBANX’s Chief Product Officer, was recently appointed CEO of EBANX Singapore and will lead the new centre. The headquarters aims to drive global market expansion, supporting North American and European companies in reaching fast-growing economies like India and the Philippines.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, and Trip.com Group have announced a new global agreement to enhance travel payment experiences across Asia Pacific. The collaboration introduces a virtual travel card programme, launched in Singapore and soon expanding to the Netherlands and Hong Kong. This initiative is designed to simplify booking and payment processes for consumers and travel partners worldwide.

The virtual travel card, issued through Trip.com Group’s fintech arm, TripLink, aims to improve payment efficiency and security for travel suppliers, hotels, and agencies. By integrating Visa’s virtual card credentials, the programme seeks to streamline B2B payment flows, reduce manual reconciliation, and enhance data visibility for travel partners. This development is particularly timely as Visa’s research indicates that 55% of Asia Pacific consumers plan to travel in the next six months, with Japan, China, and Australia being top destinations.

Arturo Planell, Group Country Manager for Regional Southeast Asia at Visa, stated, “Travel should be exciting, not complicated. By working with Trip.com Group, we’re making payments simpler and more secure for travellers and the travel industry.” Zhe Wang, Head of Fintech at Trip.com Group, added, “Together, we aim to enhance every step of the travel experience and support the continued recovery of global tourism.”

The partnership also includes joint marketing efforts to connect travellers to more destinations and experiences, further supporting the recovery of international travel. As credit cards remain the preferred payment method for overseas spending, this initiative is set to play a crucial role in the evolving travel landscape.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has announced a significant enhancement to its executive leadership team as it gears up for a new phase of global expansion. The appointments, revealed on 11 March 2026, are designed to strengthen leadership depth, succession planning, and executional capability across the group’s core areas.

The newly appointed executives include Craig Bond as Chief Operating Officer, Celine Du as Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, and Kate Loh as Head of Development. They join existing senior leaders Andreas Sungaimin, Senior Vice President (SVP) of People and Culture, Valerie Foo, SVP of Finance, and Wee Wei Ling, Executive Director of Sustainability Partnerships, Lifestyle and Asset.

Under the leadership of CEO Choe Peng Sum, the enhanced team aims to leverage their combined expertise in operations, commercial strategy, finance, development, brand-building, and talent management. This strategic move is intended to provide the necessary scale, cohesion, and discipline to support PPHG’s expanding global presence and evolving brand portfolio.

Choe Peng Sum commented, “As PPHG enters its next phase of growth, the strength of our leadership team is critical. These appointments reflect the depth and maturity of the leadership bench we have been deliberately building.”

The strengthened leadership team is expected to navigate the evolving hospitality landscape and changing customer expectations, positioning PPHG for sustained growth and innovation in the industry.

The latest report from Sumsub highlights a significant 65% increase in fraud across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, as AI-driven fraud becomes more common. Released on 11 March 2026, the report indicates that 74% of crypto providers are now prioritising verification accuracy over onboarding speed, marking a shift in industry focus amidst regulatory pressures and sophisticated fraud tactics.

Sumsub’s fourth annual State of the Crypto Industry report reveals that whilst global fraud rates remained stable at 2.2%, APAC experienced a surge to 3.3%. This increase is attributed to fraudsters exploiting gaps in fast-growing markets. In Singapore, however, platforms maintained a high compliance rate with a 94% pass rate, demonstrating that stringent regulations do not necessarily hinder user experience.

The report also notes that 63% of APAC platforms encountered fraud at least once in 2025, with attackers using deepfakes and synthetic identities to bypass traditional checks. Andrew Sever, Sumsub’s Co-Founder and CEO, stated, “Crypto has entered a phase where operational discipline matters more than momentum.”

As the industry evolves, the focus is on balancing user experience with compliance. Verification times have improved, with APAC maintaining an average of 19 seconds. The report suggests that future growth will depend on integrating reliability into product design from the outset.

Globally, the period from 2025 to 2026 marks a regulatory turning point, with increased enforcement of compliance measures. As the crypto industry adapts to these changes, the emphasis on robust verification processes and fraud detection is expected to continue.