Regional News

PURE Singapore is celebrating its 20th anniversary by launching a new brand film, “Switch Things Up”, and announcing significant investments in its wellness services and facilities. The film, created in collaboration with Havas Play, highlights fitness as a personal journey, aligning with PURE’s commitment to evolving with its members’ needs.

The brand’s Managing Director, Ron Hanerfeld, emphasised that PURE is about more than just fitness and yoga, stating, “For me, it’s about creating a space where people can switch things up, recover, and discover what’s possible.” This vision is set to be realised with new recovery facilities, upgraded equipment, and enhanced experiences at key locations like PURE Yoga Ngee Ann City and PURE Fitness Asia Square, starting from Q1 2026.

PURE’s expansion is supported by new funding from a strategic investment partner, enabling the brand to offer a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Members can expect refurbished spaces, including upgraded changing rooms and refreshed communal areas, ensuring an inspiring and comfortable visit.

Since its inception in Singapore in 2005, PURE has grown into a trusted name in holistic wellness. The brand’s latest initiatives underscore its confidence in Singapore’s potential as a fitness and wellness hub, as it continues to innovate and prioritise personal wellness and community engagement.

AIA Singapore and NHG Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening Singapore’s healthcare system. Announced on 24 September at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the partnership focuses on developing innovative healthcare solutions, delivering Value-Based Care (VBC), and improving population health.

The collaboration, signed by AIA Singapore CEO Wong Sze Keed and NHG Health CEO Joe Sim, seeks to ensure long-term sustainability and affordability of healthcare for Singapore residents. “Our partnership with NHG Health marks another significant step in our unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of Singapore residents,” said Wong. She emphasised the potential for co-creating solutions that enhance care quality and affordability.

Sim highlighted the importance of aligning financing with healthier behaviours, stating, “This collaboration will enable us to align financing with healthier behaviours, drive prevention and early intervention so that both individuals and our health ecosystem benefit from cost efficiencies and better quality of life.”

This initiative builds on AIA Singapore’s ongoing efforts to innovate and expand its health and wellness offerings. In 2024, AIA introduced teleconsultations, mental wellness services, and enhanced corporate insurance policies, benefiting over 1.3 million employees in Singapore.

The partnership is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the health challenges facing the community, reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to empowering individuals to live healthier, longer, and better lives.

Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) has revealed its masterplan for Berlayar estate, a new residential area at the former Keppel Club site, marking the beginning of the Greater Southern Waterfront’s transformation. Announced by the Minister for National Development, Chee Hong Tat, on 23 September 2025, the estate will provide approximately 10,000 homes, including 7,000 public housing units and 3,000 private units. This development aims to meet the diverse housing needs of Singaporeans, particularly young families seeking proximity to their parents.

The first Build-To-Order (BTO) project, Berlayar Residences, will launch in October 2025, offering 870 flats in various sizes and 200 public rental units. The estate’s design draws inspiration from its maritime heritage, with a terracing skyline and a white and blue colour palette to reflect its waterfront setting. Motifs of local fauna will feature in community spaces, enhancing the estate’s unique identity.

Berlayar estate will dedicate 20% of its 48-hectare area to green spaces, including four green corridors to support ecological connectivity. These corridors, designed with input from nature groups, will enhance biodiversity and provide recreational areas for residents. The estate will also offer a range of amenities, including preschools, supermarkets, and clinics, alongside well-connected walking and cycling paths.

Sustainability is a key focus, with smart lighting systems and eco-friendly design features to manage stormwater and reduce urban heat. The public can learn more about the development at the Berlayar exhibition at HDB Hub from 24 September 2025.

Zurich Insurance Group has unveiled a global study revealing that empathy is a crucial factor for businesses seeking a competitive edge. Conducted in collaboration with Professor Jamil Zaki from Stanford University, the report titled “Addressing the Empathy Gap” highlights a significant disconnect between consumer expectations and their experiences with businesses. The study, based on a YouGov survey of over 11,500 consumers across 11 countries, underscores the importance of empathy in customer interactions.

The findings show that 73% of consumers avoid companies that fail to demonstrate empathy, with 43% having switched brands due to a lack of empathetic engagement. Furthermore, 61% of respondents expressed willingness to pay more for brands that genuinely care. The study also reveals that whilst artificial intelligence (AI) is recognised for its utility, 71% of consumers believe it cannot replicate genuine human connections, and 92% prefer direct human interaction over 24/7 availability.

The report emphasises the need for empathy, particularly in financial services, where 88% of consumers deem it important, yet only 63% feel the industry meets this expectation. Conny Kalcher, Zurich’s Group Chief Customer Officer, stated, “Empathy is key to shaping customer experience and building lasting relationships.”

Zurich’s Global Empathy Training Programme, co-designed with Be Human Partnership, has seen 26% of its global employees complete nearly 46,000 hours of training since 2023. This initiative has led to measurable improvements in customer advocacy and loyalty, with a 7-point rise in the Transactional Net Promoter Score from January 2024 to June 2025. The study advocates for integrating empathy into business strategies to foster trust and sustainable growth.

The Ascott Limited, a wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment, has announced that its Citadines brand has surpassed 200 properties globally. This milestone is attributed to the brand’s asset-light growth strategy, which includes management and franchise agreements. Currently, Citadines comprises 205 properties with approximately 35,000 units, of which over 60% are operational.

Since a brand refresh three years ago, Ascott has signed over 50 Citadines properties, adding about 8,000 units. This expansion has introduced the brand to 18 new cities, including Liverpool in the UK, Hobart in Australia, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. The brand’s conversion model has been pivotal, accounting for 61% of Ascott’s unit openings in the first seven months of 2025. Notable conversions include Citadines Antasari Jakarta, which opened within three weeks, and Citadines City Centre Liverpool, completed in three months.

Franchise growth is also gaining traction, with 15 franchised properties across the portfolio. In China, four out of five recent signings have been franchise agreements, highlighting the model’s efficiency. Citadines Universiade Centre Longgang Shenzhen is set to open in November 2025, just eight months after signing.

The upper-midscale hospitality segment, where Citadines operates, is experiencing favourable trends. The segment is projected to grow at a 6.8% compound annual growth rate through 2033. Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer at Ascott, noted the brand’s versatility and operational efficiency as key factors in its expansion. As Citadines continues to grow, it aims to deepen guest engagement and offer experiences that blend work, leisure, and discovery.

HSBC has announced the establishment of its Quantum Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Singapore, marking the bank’s second global quantum hub after the UK. The Singapore CoE will focus on the practical application of quantum technologies in financial services, prioritising areas such as post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and infrastructure resilience. This initiative aims to bolster Singapore’s position as a global hub for financial innovation.

Located in Singapore’s vibrant fintech ecosystem, the CoE will engage with regulators, researchers, and industry peers to advance quantum-safe solutions. HSBC is already participating in initiatives like the industry-wide quantum key distribution sandbox, in collaboration with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, DBS, OCBC, UOB, SPTel, and SpeQtral. Philip Intallura, HSBC’s Global Head of Quantum Technologies, stated, “The establishment of our Quantum Centre of Excellence in Singapore allows us to work closely with partners and regulators to explore how these innovations can strengthen long-term security, resilience, and in time, open new possibilities for financial services.”

The centre will focus on applied research into quantum computing and defence solutions, cross-industry collaboration to test interoperability, and strategic experimentation for infrastructure readiness. Additionally, it will foster talent development through partnerships with academic and public institutions. Singapore’s strong regulatory framework and collaborative financial ecosystem make it an ideal location for HSBC’s quantum initiatives.

The establishment of the Quantum CoE in Singapore underscores HSBC’s commitment to advancing quantum technologies and preparing the financial sector for future challenges and opportunities.

The Singapore International AgriFood Week (SIAW) 2025 is set to take place from 3 to 6 November at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, bringing together global leaders and innovators under the theme “Accelerating Climate Resilience in Asia Pacific’s AgriFood System”. Organised by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Temasek, with support from Enterprise Singapore and partners Constellar and Rethink Events, the event aims to tackle food security challenges exacerbated by climate change.

Building on the success of SIAW 2024, which attracted over 8,200 attendees, the 2025 edition will feature a broader range of participants, including policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. The Asia Pacific region, home to over 60% of the global population, faces significant food security risks due to climate-related events. In response, investment in agrifood solutions is increasing, with global agritech funding reaching $16 billion (US$16 billion) in 2024.

SIAW 2025 will host five events, each focusing on different aspects of innovation and sustainability. Key highlights include the launch of the Asia Food Challenge Report 2025 and the Asia-Pacific AgriFood Innovation Summit. The summit will gather over 200 speakers and 800 senior decision-makers to discuss strategies for sustainable nutrition and food system decarbonisation.

The AgriFood Tech Expo Asia will showcase cutting-edge technologies across the agrifood value chain, whilst the Global AgriFood Scientific Symposium will spotlight recent developments in agriculture and food safety. These events underscore Singapore’s role as a hub for agrifood innovation, fostering collaboration and resilience in the face of climate challenges.

Kronos Research, a global leader in quantitative and high-frequency trading, has announced the appointment of Kevin Lee Coll as Chief Operating Officer (COO). This strategic move aims to bolster the firm’s expansion into institutional asset management, responding to the increasing demand for digital asset investment solutions. Kevin Lee Coll brings a wealth of experience from both traditional and digital markets, having co-founded one of Asia’s first regulated crypto funds and held senior roles at global investment banks.

Kevin’s appointment marks a significant step in Kronos’s evolution from a quantitative trading powerhouse to a full-scale institutional platform. His expertise will be pivotal in scaling the firm’s institutional asset management capabilities, ensuring operational excellence and compliance. “Kronos has established itself as a global quantitative trading powerhouse,” said Hank Huang, CEO of Kronos Research. “Kevin’s expertise in building compliant, scalable platforms positions us to deliver the performance and operational excellence sophisticated allocators expect.”

Kevin’s career has been focused on developing institutional-grade platforms with robust technology and infrastructure. At Kronos, he will enhance the firm’s quantitative research, trading, and cross-asset capabilities, bringing global best practices in business management and operations. “Our priority is to build on those strengths to deliver superior institutional allocator-ready solutions,” Kevin stated.

ADDX, a leading wealthtech platform in Singapore, has announced the distribution of a new tokenised structured note issued by DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets. This initiative is part of ADDX’s ongoing effort to broaden its investment offerings, which will soon include currency-linked and credit-linked structured notes. The move aims to make private markets more accessible by lowering the entry point for structured notes from the traditional $100,000 to $14,600 (S$20,000) through tokenisation technology.

The introduction of these fractional investment units is a significant step in ADDX’s mission to democratise access to private wealth services. By using DBS as its custodian, ADDX ensures the security and compliance of these financial products. Vianne Choo, Executive Director of Structured Derivatives at ADDX, stated, “This new tokenised structured note launch is a landmark moment for our platform and the broader wealthtech industry.”

Beyond private blockchain offerings, ADDX is expanding its technology to support public blockchain issuance and provide white-label tokenisation solutions for financial institutions. This development underscores ADDX’s role as a trusted partner in advancing digital finance innovation in Singapore and beyond.

ADDX, approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a recognised market operator, serves accredited investors from over 50 countries. The platform’s expansion into tokenised structured notes represents a new era of financial accessibility and innovation, offering investors more choice and flexibility in their investment strategies.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad has announced its support for the government’s Perlindungan Tenang Voucher (PTV) 3.0 programme through its PerlindunganKu Allianz4All product. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive insurance coverage at affordable premiums, made more accessible with the PTV3.0 vouchers. The programme is designed to enhance social protection, particularly for lower-income households, by offering individual coverage for personal accidents, medical needs, and emergency relief.

Sean Wang, CEO of Allianz Malaysia, stated, “We are committed to supporting the government’s initiative to provide financial security to all eligible Malaysians through the PTV3.0 programme. PerlindunganKu Allianz4All is designed to offer the best coverage in times of need with affordable premiums, ensuring peace of mind for you and your loved ones.”

The PTV3.0 programme is available to two million eligible recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) on a first-come, first-served basis, with a redemption period from 1 September to 31 December 2025. STR recipients can redeem a RM30 voucher subsidised by the government to purchase simple and affordable insurance or takaful products.

PerlindunganKu Allianz4All offers two plans tailored to meet diverse needs. Plan 1 provides coverage of up to RM30,000 for death or permanent disablement due to accidents, with additional benefits for hospitalisation and medical expenses. Plan 2 offers higher coverage of up to RM50,000, with increased benefits for hospital income and medical expenses. Both plans include emergency relief in the event of evacuation due to floods.

A unique aspect of PerlindunganKu Allianz4All is the allocation of 53.5% of the premium to a Claims Allocation Fund (CAF), used to pay out claims. Surplus from the CAF is distributed to charitable causes, with a portion allocated to the government for policyholders using PTV3.0. In 2024, Allianz Malaysia distributed a surplus of RM219,148 from the CAF to charitable causes, highlighting its commitment to social responsibility.

PerlindunganKu Allianz4All can be purchased through authorised distributors using PTV3.0 vouchers.