Regional News

The Li Ka Shing Foundation and Temasek Trust have pledged $8.8m (S$12m) to introduce innovative histotripsy cancer therapy trials in Singapore. This funding will equip the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) with the first Histotripsy Systems in Southeast Asia, targeting liver, kidney, and pancreatic cancers.

Histotripsy, developed by US-based HistoSonics, is a non-invasive ultrasound treatment that breaks down tumours at the cellular level without the need for surgery or radiation. This method offers a painless and scarless alternative to traditional cancer treatments. The clinical trial, set to begin later this year, aims to enrol 40 patients who meet specific criteria.

Professor Brian Goh Kim Poh, leading the trial at NCCS, highlighted the potential of histotripsy for patients unsuitable for invasive treatments due to factors like tumour location or underlying conditions. “Innovations such as histotripsy offer an alternative option with potential advantages as it is non-invasive,” he stated.

The initiative addresses the rising incidence of liver, kidney, and pancreatic cancers in Southeast Asia, driven by factors such as ageing populations and environmental exposure. In Singapore, liver cancer ranks as the third leading cause of cancer death among men.

The funding will be managed through a Donor-Advised Fund by TT Foundation Advisors, aiming to attract further philanthropic support for future cancer research. This strategic philanthropy seeks to ensure sustainable impact in advancing cancer treatment options in the region.
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The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) has announced a new supply agreement with Singapore-based bunker supplier Golden Island Pte Ltd to provide ISCC-certified green methanol for bunkering operations in Singapore. This marks a significant expansion of Towngas’s green methanol network across Asia. The green methanol will be transported by Golden Island’s new Singapore-flagged bunker tanker, Golden Antares, which is set to depart a Chinese shipyard by late April and commence bunkering trials in July 2025.

Golden Antares, equipped with mass flowmetres and a 6,500-tonne methanol capacity, will adhere to Singapore’s Technical Reference 129 on Methanol Bunkering, ensuring safe and efficient use of methanol as a marine fuel. Sham Man-fai, Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuels & Chemicals of Towngas, expressed enthusiasm about the growing interest in their green methanol, stating, “Supplying green methanol to customers like Golden Island aligns perfectly with our commitment to developing low-carbon solutions that support the shipping industry’s decarbonisation journey.”

Tomohiro Yamano, General Manager of the Marine Fuel Department at Golden Island, highlighted the environmental benefits, noting that the green methanol offers carbon intensity savings of more than 75% compared to conventional fuels. Towngas’s production plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, currently produces 100,000 tonnes of green methanol annually, with plans to increase to 150,000 tonnes by the end of 2025.

Towngas is also collaborating with Foran Energy Group to establish multiple green methanol production bases across China, aiming for a combined annual capacity of 1 million tonnes by 2028. This strategic expansion supports the maritime sector’s transition towards carbon neutrality.
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Foundation Healthcare Holdings, Singapore’s leading private healthcare specialist group, has announced a strategic partnership with Great Eastern to enhance healthcare access and value for policyholders. This collaboration aims to explore advanced digital solutions to automate transactions, eliminate inefficiencies, and optimise workflows, ultimately improving customer experience and reducing administrative burdens.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed earlier this week, marking a significant step in transforming healthcare delivery. Liaw Yit Ming, CEO of Foundation Healthcare, stated, “Foundation Healthcare is committed to driving innovation in healthcare delivery, and this partnership with Great Eastern marks a significant step towards transforming the way patients experience care.”

The collaboration will leverage Foundation Healthcare’s extensive network of private specialists across Singapore to support Great Eastern’s digitisation and automation efforts. This initiative aims to ensure policyholders receive timely, efficient, and high-quality care whilst managing healthcare costs with transparent and consistent pricing.

Patrick Kok, Managing Director for Group Operations at Great Eastern, highlighted the partnership’s impact, saying, “This strategic partnership between Great Eastern and Foundation Healthcare marks a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our Great Eastern policyholders.”

Both organisations are committed to setting new benchmarks in healthcare experiences, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Through continued innovation and partnership, they aim to redefine the healthcare experience, strengthening Great Eastern’s market position with innovative service offerings.
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OCBC, one of Singapore’s largest banks, has announced a landmark £10b investment into the United Kingdom’s key growth sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and real estate, by 2030. This strategic partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UK’s Office for Investment, marks the largest inward investment from an Asian bank into the UK.

The collaboration is set to enhance UK-Singapore relations during the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. UK Minister for Investment, Baroness Poppy Gustafsson, highlighted the significance of the investment, stating, “This £10 billion commitment from OCBC is a major vote of confidence in the UK economy. Not only will it help create more opportunities in real estate and infrastructure, but will also back our clean energy industry.”

OCBC’s Head of Global Corporate Banking, Elaine Lam, expressed pride in strengthening the UK-Singapore relationship, noting the bank’s significant growth in the UK, particularly in sectors aligned with the UK’s industrial strategy. “Our UK business has grown significantly over the years and our London branch is now the largest in our international network,” Lam said.

The investment is expected to create more opportunities for Asia Pacific businesses looking to invest in the UK. Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, remarked on the UK’s attractiveness as a world-class investment destination, with foreign direct investment stock exceeding £2 trillion in 2023.

As part of the agreement, OCBC will also support UK businesses seeking to expand into Singapore and Southeast Asia, further solidifying the economic partnership between the two nations.
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Aspire, a leading financial technology company, has announced it has obtained the Capital Markets Service (CMS) Licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as of 3 April. This achievement allows Aspire to broaden its range of financial services within Singapore, enhancing its ability to serve businesses with more comprehensive solutions.

The CMS Licence is a crucial regulatory approval that enables Aspire to offer a wider array of capital market products and services. This development is expected to bolster Aspire’s position in the competitive fintech landscape of Singapore, where regulatory compliance is key to gaining trust and expanding operations.

Maddie Gupta, Brand Marketing Lead at Aspire, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone, highlighting its importance for the company’s growth strategy. “Securing the CMS Licence from MAS is a testament to our commitment to providing innovative financial solutions whilst adhering to the highest regulatory standards,” she stated.

This licence acquisition is part of Aspire’s broader strategy to enhance its service offerings and solidify its presence in the region. By obtaining this licence, Aspire can now engage in activities such as dealing in capital markets products, providing fund management services, and more, thereby offering a more robust suite of services to its clients.

As Aspire continues to expand its capabilities, the company is poised to play a more significant role in Singapore’s financial ecosystem, potentially influencing market dynamics and offering new opportunities for businesses seeking financial services.
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Samsung Electronics Singapore has launched its 2025 Odyssey monitor lineup, featuring the innovative Odyssey 3D, the advanced Odyssey OLED G8 with a 4K 240Hz screen, and the ultrawide Odyssey G9. These monitors aim to deliver exceptional visual experiences for gamers and content creators.

The Odyssey 3D G90XF model introduces a groundbreaking 3D gaming experience without the need for glasses, using advanced eye-tracking technology and a proprietary lenticular lens. This technology, accessible via the Reality Hub app, transforms 2D content into immersive 3D, enhancing the visual experience whilst reducing eye strain. The monitor also boasts a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, ensuring smooth gameplay.

The Odyssey OLED G8, available in 27 and 32 inches, is the first 4K monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. It offers the highest pixel density for its size, delivering vibrant colours and contrast with VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certification. The monitor’s AI processor enhances picture quality, whilst its Dynamic Cooling System protects against burn-in.

The Odyssey G9 features a 49-inch Dual QHD display with a 1000R curve, providing high-quality visuals for an immersive gaming experience. It supports multitasking with Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture features.

Samsung is collaborating with game developers like Nexon, Neowiz, and Hoyoerse to maximise the potential of its 3D technology. The new Odyssey lineup is available for registration of interest until 6 April, with pre-orders from 7 to 20 April and general availability from 21 April. Prices range from $1,388 (S$1,888) to $2,188 (S$2,988).
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Emerhub, a prominent provider of market entry and corporate compliance services, has announced the opening of its new office in Singapore, marking the completion of its Southeast Asia expansion. With this strategic move, Emerhub now operates in all major markets in the region, including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The company offers a range of services such as company incorporation, visa processing, accounting, and tax services, aimed at simplifying the complex regulatory processes for businesses looking to expand in Southeast Asia. Lauri Lahi, Chairman of Emerhub, stated, “Our expansion into Singapore fulfils our mission to make Southeast Asia easily accessible for companies of all sizes.”

Singapore’s stable regulatory environment and business-friendly policies provide significant advantages for companies targeting regional growth. Emerhub’s presence in this key financial hub allows clients to efficiently capitalise on Southeast Asia’s economic opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and time-to-market.

Emerhub’s Entity Management System further simplifies company setup, compliance management, and administrative tasks by integrating user-friendly technology with local expertise. Clients benefit from real-time updates, straightforward reporting, and key regulatory insights, all accessible through a centralised platform.

Founded in 2011, Emerhub operates eight offices across Southeast Asia, supported by over 146 consultants. The company’s expansion into Singapore underscores its commitment to lowering entry barriers and facilitating seamless business operations across emerging markets.
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The European Union (EU) is set to make a significant impact at the FHA-Food & Beverage Singapore 2025 exhibition, running from 8 to 11 April at Singapore Expo. The EU Pavilion will feature a diverse array of high-quality food and beverages from all 27 EU Member States, emphasising the excellence, safety, authenticity, and sustainability of European agricultural products.

The event will kick off with an official opening ceremony on 8 April, inaugurated by Iwona Piórko, the EU Ambassador to Singapore. The ceremony will include a special cooking demonstration by Star Chef François Mermilliod, showcasing the versatility of EU ingredients in fusion with local flavours. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in live cooking shows and exclusive tastings, offering a first-hand experience of the EU’s culinary heritage.

The EU Pavilion aims to strengthen business partnerships between the EU and Singapore, highlighting the immense potential of European agri-products in the Singaporean market. Educational sessions led by experts will cover key product categories such as cheese, dairy, olive oil, and confectionery, providing valuable insights for buyers, retailers, and distributors.

This participation comes at a pivotal time in EU-Singapore trade relations, with the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement in effect since November 2019 and a Digital Trade Agreement concluded in July 2024. The EU Pavilion will serve as a platform for fostering new trade opportunities and collaborations in the food and beverage sector.
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Pepper Cloud, a Singapore-based tech company, has been awarded the Google AI Trailblazers Transformation Award 2024 for its innovative use of artificial intelligence in business solutions. The accolade highlights Pepper Cloud’s AI WhatsApp Sales CRM, which enhances business productivity through automation and intelligent insights.

The award underscores Pepper Cloud’s rapid expansion into major international markets, including the US, UK, and UAE. The company has been endorsed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) as a Productivity Solutions Grant-approved digital solution and CTO-as-a-Service provider, aiding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their digital transformation efforts.

Pepper Cloud’s solutions have been featured in an IMDA case study, showcasing their impact on improving customer engagement and operational efficiency for companies like 707-Inc. Additionally, Pepper Cloud was selected to participate in Meta’s Llama Incubator Kick-Off event, supported by Meta, AI Singapore, SGInnovate, and the Singapore Economic Development Board, further solidifying its position as a leader in AI innovation.

The company’s pioneering work in integrating WhatsApp with AI technology allows businesses to engage with customers more effectively and at scale. Trusted by local organisations such as Urban Mood and Nam Ho Travel, Pepper Cloud continues to redefine SME growth in the digital age.

This recognition from Google and other industry leaders highlights the significant role of AI in transforming the local tech ecosystem, positioning Pepper Cloud as a key player in the global market.
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A recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmChamSG) has highlighted significant concerns amongst businesses regarding the impact of reciprocal tariffs. Conducted in collaboration with BowerGroupAsia Singapore and PwC Singapore, the survey revealed that more than two-thirds of respondents believe these tariffs pose greater challenges than existing measures. The findings, published in the report “Navigating Tariffs: Insights from AmChamSG Flash Survey,” underscore the complexities businesses face in the current trade environment.

The survey found that whilst 20% of respondents believe the new US tariffs will not affect them, over 70% anticipate a negative impact on their operations. Nearly half of the businesses surveyed plan to pass on increased costs to consumers, whilst others are looking to diversify supply chains to mitigate reliance on high-tariff markets. Additionally, over 90% of respondents predict that the tariffs will harm the US economy more than those of ASEAN or Singapore.

Dr Hsien-Hsien Lei, CEO of AmChamSG, commented on the findings, stating, “The findings from the AmChamSG flash survey show that tariffs and trade tensions have caused companies to feel greater uncertainty, which then delays major decisions that would affect business operations.” She emphasised the need for businesses to exercise due diligence in examining their supply chains to prepare for potential disruptions.

AmChamSG, established in 1973, remains committed to supporting its members through advocacy, community, and thought leadership as they navigate the evolving tariff landscape. The full report is available for download on AmChamSG’s website.
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