Regional News

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) has been named the most connected airport in the Asia Pacific region, according to the latest Megahubs 2025 report by OAG, a leading data platform for the global travel industry. Released on 23 September, the report ranks KUL in joint fourth place globally, highlighting its significant growth in connectivity with a 22% increase in destinations served since 2015.

The report, now in its tenth year, underscores the rising prominence of Asia Pacific’s aviation sector, with three airports making it to the global top 10. Seoul Incheon (ICN) ranks sixth, marking a notable climb from tenth place in 2015, with a 58% increase in potential connections. Tokyo Haneda (HND), however, has dropped to ninth place from third in 2024.

In the Asia Pacific region, KUL, ICN, and HND are the top three most internationally connected airports, followed by Singapore Changi (SIN) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK). The report also highlights Kuala Lumpur’s dominance in low-cost aviation, ranking as the world’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC) Megahub, with AirAsia operating 36% of its flights.

Mayur Patel, Head of ASPAC at OAG, noted, “The Asia Pacific region has cemented its reputation as a global powerhouse in aviation, balancing world-class full-service hubs with dynamic low-cost connectivity.”

The findings reflect the region’s unique ability to cater to diverse traveller needs, reinforcing its status as a pivotal player in global aviation.

Food & Hospitality Malaysia (FHM) 2025 has commenced at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, marking a significant expansion as it occupies all 11 halls for the first time. Running from 23 to 26 September, the exhibition features over 1,500 brands from 15 countries and is expected to draw more than 25,000 trade visitors. Organised by Informa Markets Malaysia, the event aims to foster business growth and industry development through curated showcases, live competitions, and knowledge-sharing platforms.

This year’s theme, “Cultivating Solutions for the Food and Hospitality Industry,” is reflected in various event highlights. These include the International Signature Hall, Brew & Bake Hall, Malaysia Pastry Week featuring the World Pastry Cup Team Malaysia National Selection, and the Pastry Innovation Lab. The event also sees the return of popular segments such as Culinaire Malaysia, Housekeeping Malaysia, and Trend Talk.

Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Country General Manager of Informa Markets Malaysia, stated, “At FHM 2025, we are committed to developing innovative approaches that respond to the evolving needs of the food and hospitality industry.” The event also introduces a collaboration with local brand Bungkus Kaw Kaw to create exclusive merchandise, showcasing Malaysian creativity on an international stage.

Additionally, the FutureFWD Hospitality, Food & Beverage conference will take place on 25 September at EQ Kuala Lumpur, exploring topics like tech-driven transformation and sustainability. FHM 2025 continues its Food Share Initiative, redistributing surplus food to community kitchens in partnership with the Food Aid Foundation.

UK-based engineering firm IPM Group has acquired Singapore’s Celt-tech Marine & Offshore Ltd (CTM) as part of its strategy to expand its international portfolio. This acquisition, announced today, will integrate CTM’s 15-member team into IPM Group, strengthening its service offerings in the marine and offshore sectors across Asia.

Randall Smith, CEO of IPM Group, highlighted the strategic nature of the acquisition, stating, “The team in Singapore continues to deliver the high-quality outcomes and consistent successes that complement the IPM Group.” The acquisition aligns with IPM’s ambitious plans to double its £27m turnover within five years, leveraging CTM’s expertise in shipbuilding, vessel repairs, and engineering design.

Chris Lewis, COO of IPM Group, expressed confidence in the collaboration, noting the shared commitment to delivering sustainable solutions globally. CTM, founded in 2020 and led by Managing Director Craig Didio and Operations Director Thomas Davies, offers a comprehensive range of services, including structural fabrication and electrical & instrumentation.

The new IPM Group office in Tuas, Singapore, is strategically located near major marine and construction yards, positioning it well for future growth.

As part of its strategic initiatives, IPM Group plans to invest in new technologies, including bespoke software for asset management and advanced welding processes, further enhancing its capabilities in the region.

Singapore’s inflation is projected to continue its downward trend into the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest Global Economics and Market Strategy Report by RHB Bank. The report, attributed to Barnabas Gan, Group Chief Economist and Head of Market Research at RHB Bank, maintains the full-year projections for headline and core inflation at 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively.

In August 2025, Singapore’s headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased to 0.5% year-on-year, down from 0.6% in July, and below Bloomberg’s estimates of 0.6%. Core inflation also eased to 0.3% year-on-year from 0.5% in July. These figures suggest a continued moderation in inflationary pressures.

As the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) prepares for its policy review in October, RHB Bank’s base case anticipates no changes to the current policy parameters through the end of the year. However, there is a possibility that the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) slope could flatten, reflecting a balance of risks.

This outlook is significant as it indicates a stable economic environment, potentially influencing monetary policy decisions and economic planning. The easing inflation could provide relief to consumers and businesses, fostering a more predictable economic landscape.

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) led a 27-member delegation to Egypt on 21 September 2025, coinciding with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s state visit. The mission, part of the Overseas Market Workshop, aimed to deepen Singapore’s business ties with Egypt, a key gateway to the Middle East and Africa. The highlight was the Egypt-Singapore Business Forum in Cairo, attended by President Tharman, where five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Singaporean and Egyptian companies.

The forum featured keynote addresses from notable figures including Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore’s Minister for Social and Family Development, and Hassan El-Khatib, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. These discussions emphasised Egypt’s strategic role as a trade hub and explored opportunities for Singaporean businesses in the region. Delegates engaged in business-to-business matchmaking and met with key stakeholders such as the General Authority for Investment and the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

SBF Chairman S. S. Teo highlighted the mission’s significance, stating, “Egypt’s rapid transformation and ambitious development agenda under Vision 2030 present a wealth of opportunities for Singapore companies.” The delegation, representing sectors like logistics, infrastructure, and renewable energy, also visited the Suez Canal Economic Zone to explore investment opportunities.

This initiative underscores the strengthening of economic ties between Singapore and Egypt, paving the way for future collaborations and enhanced market access in Africa and the Middle East.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) convened their 9th annual Supervisory Roundtable in Datong, China. Co-chaired by MAS Deputy Managing Director Ho Hern Shin and CSRC Vice Chairman Li Ming, the event gathered regulators and industry participants to discuss capital market developments and explore opportunities for enhanced connectivity.

Key topics included derivatives regulations, investor protection measures, and the supervision of non-bank financial institutions. These discussions aimed to deepen mutual understanding of each market’s supervisory frameworks, thereby strengthening the resilience and functionality of both markets.

The roundtable also addressed the development of equity markets in China and Singapore, focusing on facilitating high-quality listings and capital raising. Industry participants highlighted progress on cross-border initiatives, such as enhanced index collaboration, to broaden product offerings and mobilise capital into the region. This initiative is seen as a step towards reinforcing Asia’s position as a key destination for global investment.

The roundtable underscores the ongoing commitment of MAS and CSRC to bolster regulatory cooperation and innovation, with implications for future growth and stability in the region’s capital markets.

AXS, Singapore’s pioneering fintech company, is marking its 25th anniversary by launching a suite of new solutions that extend beyond traditional payments into the realms of mobility, finance, and rewards. The announcement was made at the inaugural AXS Connect event, which brought together industry leaders and partners to explore the future of payments in Singapore and the region.

The new offerings include AXS Drive, which expands the company’s reach into mobility solutions, and AXS Ready Cash, its first personal finance product. Additionally, AXS is introducing next-generation kiosks designed to enhance convenience and accessibility with intuitive features. These initiatives are part of AXS’s strategy to build on its legacy of over 700 million transactions and partnerships with more than 800 businesses.

AXS’s Group CEO, Jeffrey Goh, highlighted the company’s commitment to evolving with the needs of Singaporeans. “Over the past 25 years, we’ve transformed alongside the needs of Singaporeans, whether through kiosks in the early days, mobile and digital platforms, or new services we offer today,” he stated.

The company is also expanding its cross-border payment services, having recently partnered with eft Payments (Asia) Limited in Hong Kong. This move aims to deliver smarter, more connected financial experiences across the region.

Looking ahead, AXS plans to introduce the AXS Card, focusing on customer rewards, and enhance its mobility offerings with cardless Electronic Road Pricing payments. AXS is also collaborating with Amazon Web Services to reimagine its kiosk interface, ensuring it remains user-friendly for all.

As AXS steps into its next chapter, it continues to build on its strong foundation, aiming to deliver seamless and rewarding services that support Singapore’s role in a connected regional economy.

International planning and management consultancy TBH has launched a new office in Malaysia, marking a significant step in its expansion across Southeast Asia. This move coincides with the firm’s 60th anniversary and complements its established presence in Singapore since 2010. Michael Tan, with over 25 years of experience in the Asia-Pacific region, has been appointed as Country Manager to spearhead this growth.

The Malaysian construction industry is projected to grow by 9.6% year-on-year in 2025, driven by developments in housing, data centres, and semiconductor facilities. TBH aims to leverage its expertise in planning, project controls, and risk management to support this growth. Tan will focus on building strategic partnerships and delivering specialised services in Malaysia’s burgeoning infrastructure, energy, and digital sectors.

Michael Tan expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “Malaysia’s infrastructure, energy and digital sectors are entering an exciting phase of development, and I’m delighted to lead TBH’s efforts in helping deliver projects that will shape the country’s future economy and built environment.”

Trevor Lam, a partner at TBH, highlighted the strategic importance of the expansion, noting, “As TBH celebrates its 60th anniversary, we are delighted to welcome Michael to our leadership team. His depth of expertise in project controls and delay analysis will be instrumental in enhancing our service offering in Malaysia.”

As TBH continues to expand its footprint in Asia, the firm remains committed to contributing to the development of a resilient and future-ready built environment in Malaysia and beyond.

Eaton, a leader in intelligent power management, has announced a strategic partnership with Westcon-Comstor Malaysia to distribute its Power Quality (PQ) portfolio, focusing on Distributed Power Quality (DPQ) products. This collaboration will enable Westcon-Comstor’s Cisco-focused Comstor division to deliver Eaton’s solutions to Malaysian customers, enhancing power quality and resilience for large enterprises.

The partnership is set to strengthen Eaton’s distribution network in Malaysia, allowing both companies to better serve enterprise customers where business continuity is crucial. It also expands Comstor’s compute solutions portfolio, reinforcing its commitment to providing comprehensive and sustainable IT solutions. Wayne Chong, Country Manager of Comstor Malaysia, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “Eaton’s Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) product range helps businesses unlock a new level of reliable and efficient power.”

In addition to power solutions, Comstor will offer Eaton’s server racks, designed for versatile configuration and efficient thermal management. These racks are essential for modern data centres, enabling significant energy savings and supporting sustainability goals.

The collaboration is expected to drive operational performance improvements and energy consumption reductions for customers. As both companies leverage their market expertise and regional presence, the partnership is poised to deliver enhanced solutions and opportunities in the coming years.

Actis, a prominent growth market investor in sustainable infrastructure, has announced its acquisition of a 90% stake in 800 Super Holdings Ltd, a leading environmental management company in Singapore. This acquisition, made alongside Founder and CEO William Lee, is through Actis’ second Long Life Infrastructure Fund (ALLIF 2) and marks the fund’s sixth portfolio company investment.

800 Super Holdings, known for its comprehensive waste management, waste treatment, cleaning, and resource recovery services, is a key player in Singapore’s circular economy. The company holds a significant presence across the value chain and is one of only three licensed municipal solid waste and integrated public cleaning providers in the country. The acquisition aligns with ALLIF 2’s strategy of investing in critical infrastructure assets with long-term contracted revenues, primarily from government contracts.

Adrian Mucalov, Head of Long Life Infrastructure at Actis, stated, “Our investment in 800 Super demonstrates Actis’ strategic focus in Asia, providing investors with resilience and exposure to the region’s economic growth through investing in defensive infrastructure that is essential to national goals.”

The acquisition supports Singapore’s 2030 Zero Waste Masterplan by enhancing recycling, resource recovery, and green energy initiatives. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

This move further solidifies Actis’ commitment to sustainable infrastructure, with the fund having already committed over two-thirds of its capital to similar investments across Asia, Latin America, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East & Africa. The core sectors of this strategy include renewable energy, waste and water infrastructure, and digital infrastructure.