Regional News

Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd, a Singapore-based leader in digital transformation, has announced a strategic investment in Tongxin Innovation Limited, acquiring a 30% equity stake. The transaction, valued at approximately US$3m, will be completed through the issuance of Trident’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to Tongxin’s shareholders. This move underscores Trident’s commitment to advancing blockchain-enabled e-commerce solutions.

Tongxin operates the ToMe Web 3.0 e-commerce platform on Telegram, a messaging service with over one billion users. The platform aims to address traditional e-commerce challenges with its “4F” value proposition: Fair, Fast, Friendly, and Free. This includes a focus on digital property rights, stablecoin settlements, and a community-based ecosystem. Tongxin has also formed strategic partnerships with blockchain projects and real-world asset companies in Southeast Asia.

The integration of Trident’s blockchain-based identity platform, Tridentity, with ToMe’s infrastructure is expected to enhance security and user experience. This partnership will leverage Trident’s presence in high-growth markets like Singapore and Africa to expand ToMe’s reach. Soon Huat Lim, Trident’s CEO, stated, “The synergies between ToMe’s Web 3.0 commerce capabilities and our Tridentity platform create tremendous opportunities for innovation and growth.”

This investment aligns with Trident’s mission to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, potentially accelerating blockchain adoption in mainstream commerce and creating new revenue opportunities.
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Pelita Air, an Indonesian airline and subsidiary of Pertamina, has officially launched its first international route to Singapore, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy. The inaugural flight landed at Changi Airport on 18 August 2025, establishing Singapore as Pelita Air’s first international destination. This move aims to strengthen air connectivity in Southeast Asia and support Indonesia’s national economic growth.

Pelita Air’s President Director, Dendy Kurniawan, highlighted Singapore’s strategic importance as a hub for tourists, business travellers, and investors heading to Indonesia. “Singapore was selected as our first international destination because it serves as a key hub in Southeast Asia and plays a central role as a central gateway for the tourists, business travellers, and investment to Indonesia,” he stated.

The airline’s domestic network already connects 17 cities across Indonesia, including popular destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. This extensive network allows passengers from Singapore to easily explore Indonesia’s diverse cultural and natural attractions. The new route is expected to boost foreign tourist arrivals and promote Indonesian tourism through affordable and reliable flight services.

Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub & Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, expressed enthusiasm about the new route. “We are pleased to welcome Pelita Air to Changi Airport. It is an honour to be the airline’s first international point and the launch of its daily Singapore-Jakarta service is a testament to the strong travel demand between Indonesia and Singapore,” he said.

Pelita Air enhances passenger experience with services like PASflix, an in-flight entertainment app, and “Dine in the Air,” a pre-book meal service. The airline prioritises on-time performance, supported by Pertamina’s strategic backing, ensuring a reliable travel experience. Daily flights between Jakarta and Singapore are now operational, with tickets available on Pelita Air’s website and mobile app.
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Influential Brands is set to mark its 14th anniversary with a prestigious awards ceremony in Singapore in March 2026. The event will recognise outstanding achievements in brand leadership, workplace excellence, and sustainability across Asia. The awards will highlight the contributions of over 500 influential companies, with a special focus on the Top CEO award, celebrating leaders who drive business success.

The awards selection process is based on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative market research, assessing consumer preferences, employee expectations, and sustainability practices. Jorge Rodriguez, Managing Director of Influential Brands, stated, “We are honoured to be the award platform of choice adopted by some of the most progressive companies in Asia.”

Prominent companies such as AirAsia, DBS, and Samsung are among the notable brands recognised for their excellence. The awards will also spotlight top employers, brands, and sustainability companies, with criteria including leadership, employee engagement, and consumer preference.

The event will feature the 2026 Regional CEO Summit, welcoming business leaders from across Asia. The summit aims to foster collaboration and share insights on sustainable leadership. The awards ceremony will also honour exemplary CEOs from Thailand, with recognition for their innovation and financial performance.

As Influential Brands continues to celebrate business excellence, the upcoming awards and summit promise to be a significant event for recognising and inspiring leadership across Asia.
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Singapore’s economic landscape is set for a positive shift following the National Day Rally 2025, with analysts forecasting a favourable outlook for local equities. The rally’s focus on innovation, healthcare, ageing, and urban renewal is expected to provide significant momentum for sectors such as healthcare, industrial real estate investment trusts (REITs), and construction.

The rally’s policies are anticipated to enhance the performance of Singapore REITs, high-yield equities, and small to mid-cap stocks. Investors are advised to concentrate on quality, domestic-oriented, income-generating plays within consumer staples, healthcare, land transport, and industrial REITs. This strategic focus is expected to leverage the tailwinds from the rally’s policies, providing a robust foundation for growth in these sectors.

In addition to the rally’s impact, the report also noted the potential for improved momentum in Singapore’s small and mid-cap companies. The emphasis on domestic policy headroom and the anticipated easing of US interest rates are seen as pivotal factors that could further bolster the local market. As Singapore navigates these economic shifts, the focus remains on maintaining a stable and growth-oriented investment environment.

Looking ahead, the implications of these developments suggest a promising trajectory for Singapore’s economic sectors, particularly those aligned with the rally’s strategic priorities. The continued emphasis on innovation and urban renewal is poised to drive sustained growth and investment opportunities in the region.
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TalkMe AI, the flagship product of Singapore-based Inspired AI, made a significant impact at Google I/O by presenting a fully AI-generated brand film. Built on Google’s Gemini Veo 3 and Flow models, the film tells the story of a penguin learning English, embodying the mantra “Don’t worry, Give it a try.” This innovative approach highlights TalkMe’s mission to make language learning as natural and expressive as real life.

The app’s storytelling-first strategy has resonated with users, boasting over 1 million learners and a curriculum of 10,000 lessons. Users engage with the app 34 times per week on average, speaking over 2,000 words weekly, with more than 60% remaining active after three months. TalkMe maintains a 4.8 global store rating and reached the top spot on ProductHunt in March 2025.

TalkMe’s collaboration with Google, initiated through the Google for Startups Accelerator in 2024, underscores its commitment to innovation. The app’s upcoming release will allow users to create complete lessons from a single sentence, marking a step towards an education AI Agent. Guided by the slogan “Real talk, Real confidence,” TalkMe is demonstrating that language learning powered by generative AI can be simple, human, and inspiring.

Founded in 2023, Inspired AI continues to redefine language learning and communication through its AI-native applications, transforming education worldwide.
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Corporate and Specialty insurer HDI Global SE has reported robust financial results for the first half of 2025, driven by new business growth. The company, part of the Talanx Group, saw its insurance revenue increase to €5.1 billion, up from €4.8bn in the same period last year. Operating profit rose by 24% to €377b, whilst the return on equity improved by 1.7 percentage points to 17.4%.

The Singapore branch of HDI Global played a significant role in these achievements, focusing on growth and resilience with innovative solutions tailored to individual client needs. Alex Tarantino, Managing Director and Principal Officer of HDI Global Singapore, highlighted the branch’s strengthening of its Renewable Energy and Construction portfolios, aligning with the region’s infrastructure and energy transition. “Our Property book remains strong, amidst external pressures like the Thai earthquake,” Tarantino noted.

Globally, HDI Global’s insurance revenue, adjusted for currency effects, rose by 8%, with large loss payments well below budget. The combined ratio stood at 91.6%, within the expected range for the full year. The company’s contribution to Talanx Group’s net income increased by 23% to €274m.

Looking ahead, Tarantino expressed optimism for the remainder of 2025, emphasising HDI Global’s focus on profitable growth and strategic technology investments in South-East Asia. Despite geopolitical tensions, the company aims to forge strong partnerships and unlock new opportunities, ensuring continued superior service delivery.
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UOB Kay Hian Research has maintained its “hold” rating on Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering), following the company’s announcement of a 19.7% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first half of 2025. The net profit reached $403m, aligning with UOB Kay Hian’s expectations and representing 49.5% of the full-year forecast. The company’s revenue for the period was $5.92b, slightly behind projections but expected to catch up in the second half of the year.

ST Engineering, a global technology, defence, and engineering group, reported that its defence and public security (DPS) segment outperformed expectations with an 11.7% increase in revenue, supported by growth across all subsegments. The commercial aerospace (CA) segment also showed resilience, with a 5.2% revenue increase, despite challenges from the US-China tariff war. However, the urban solutions and satcom (USS) segment underperformed, with revenue growth of only 0.3%.

The company’s orderbook reached a record high of $31.2b by the end of the second quarter, with significant contract wins across its business segments. Management remains optimistic about the company’s growth prospects, maintaining its five-year targets, including an 8.6% revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2029.

ST Engineering plans to use proceeds from the disposal of Leeboy and SPTel shares to reduce debt further, with net gearing expected to decrease. The company has also maintained its quarterly dividend of 4 Singapore cents, translating to a 2.1% dividend yield for 2025. UOB Kay Hian has raised its target price for ST Engineering to $8.56, citing the company’s strong orderbook and growth potential.
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Food Empire Holdings has seen a significant boost in its financial performance for the first half of 2025, with core profit after tax and minority interest rising by 32% year-on-year to $31m. This exceeded UOB Kay Hian Research’s expectations by 8%, leading the firm to raise its target price for Food Empire’s shares by 14% to $2.00 (S$2.73).

The company’s revenue surged by 22% year-on-year to $200m (US$274m), with Vietnam leading the charge with a 37% increase. This growth was bolstered by strategic initiatives, including a partnership with Capital A’s Santan to launch new products and expand capacity in India. Food Empire also declared its first-ever interim dividend of 3.0 Singapore cents per share, reflecting confidence in its growth trajectory.

Food Empire’s expansion plans include a $27m (US$37m investment in its spray-dried coffee manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh, India, expected to increase capacity by 60% by the end of 2027. Additionally, a partnership with Capital A Berhad’s Santan Food Services aims to co-develop ready-to-drink beverages, starting with Vietnamese iced coffee, to be launched on AirAsia flights and in regional retail outlets.

The company’s strong performance has been recognised with several accolades in 2025, including being listed in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 and receiving the “Company of Good” recognition from the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. These achievements underscore Food Empire’s commitment to sustainable innovation and community empowerment.
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UOB Kay Hian Research has reiterated its ‘buy’ recommendation for CapitaLand Investment (CLI), maintaining a target price of $3.49, reflecting a 28.3% upside from the current share price of S$2.72. Despite a 24% year-on-year drop in revenue to $1.04b for the first half of 2025, the company’s strategic initiatives in capital recycling and lodging expansion are expected to drive future growth.

CapitaLand Investment, a global real estate manager with a strong presence in Asia, reported a decline in its profit after tax and minority interests by 13% year-on-year to $287m. This was attributed to the deconsolidation of CapitaLand Ascendas REIT and the loss of contributions from divested assets. However, the company executed $3.1b in transactions and raised $2.1b in capital, indicating robust underlying performance.

The company is optimistic about the second half of 2025, with plans to scale its fee-related earnings through new fund launches and capital raising. Its lodging business saw a 5% increase in revenue per available unit (RevPAU), driven by higher occupancy rates and average daily rates. Additionally, CapitaLand Investment is on track to list its CapitaLand Commercial C-REIT, aiming to establish a perpetual onshore fund platform in China.

UOB Kay Hian noted that CapitaLand Investment’s asset-light growth strategy, supported by $116b in funds under management, remains a key driver for the company. The research firm also highlighted the potential for stronger-than-expected growth in funds under management and successful listing of the C-REIT as catalysts for the stock.
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UOB Kay Hian Research has reaffirmed its ‘buy’ recommendation for ComfortDelGro Corporation, maintaining a target price of $1.70, reflecting an 11.1% upside from its current share price of $1.53. The research firm noted that ComfortDelGro’s first half of 2025 core profit after tax and minority interests was $99m, a 7% year-on-year increase, though slightly below expectations due to softer UK margins.

ComfortDelGro’s revenue for the first half rose to $2.4b, driven by strategic acquisitions such as Addison Lee and A2B, as well as UK bus contract renewals. The company declared an 11% increase in its interim dividend to 3.91 Singapore cents per share, maintaining an 80% payout ratio.

The public transport segment showed strength, particularly in the UK, with revenue up 4% year-on-year. The taxi and private hire segment saw a 59% increase in revenue, although quarterly growth eased due to competitive pressures. Other private transport services benefited from the acquisition of CMAC, with revenue rising 11% year-on-year in the second quarter.

Looking ahead, UOB Kay Hian anticipates stronger performance in the second half of 2025, supported by Singapore rail revenue growth and UK bus contract renewals. The firm has adjusted its core PATMI forecasts for 2025 to 2027, citing lower-than-expected UK margins, but remains optimistic about the stock’s potential backed by a 5.5% dividend yield.
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