Industry News

The 3rd Changi Aviation Summit, taking place from 1 to 2 February 2026, will see around 350 government and industry leaders from over 50 countries gather in Singapore. The summit aims to address the challenges and opportunities in the aviation sector amidst a rapidly changing global environment. With air travel demand projected to nearly triple in the next 25 years, the summit provides a crucial platform for dialogue among ministers, directors-general, and CEOs from airlines, airports, and air navigation services.

Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow will open the summit with a keynote address, marking his first appearance at the event since taking office. The newly elected President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Toshiyuki Onuma, will also deliver his inaugural international address. The summit, themed “Rising Above Disruption: Building the Aviation Ecosystem of Tomorrow,” will feature discussions on growth, technology, and connectivity.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) plans to sign nine agreements focusing on sustainability, innovation, and human capital development. These agreements aim to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore’s air hub, which handled a record 70 million passengers in 2025. A significant initiative includes the introduction of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Levy from 1 October 2026, alongside a voluntary SAF procurement trial.

The summit will also host a Sustainable Aviation Forum and an Innovation Symposium, featuring industry leaders from companies such as Airbus, Boeing, and Thales. These events will explore the potential of SAF and the role of technology in transforming aviation. Additionally, Singapore will collaborate with ICAO on a global leadership programme, furthering its commitment to nurturing future aviation leaders.

EPG, a Singapore-based modular data centre provider, has successfully raised nearly $100m in its Series B financing round. The funding, co-led by Forebright and Silicon Peak, with contributions from GL Ventures, NRL Capital, YF Capital, and Rockets Capital, will bolster EPG’s capacity expansion and global growth. This follows the company’s Series A and A+ rounds in 2025, which laid the groundwork for its current phase of development.

Founded in 2004, EPG specialises in factory-prefabricated integration of power, IT, and cooling systems. The company aims to address the growing efficiency challenges in the global data centre industry, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia and Europe, where local supply chain weaknesses and skilled labour shortages extend construction cycles and increase costs. EPG’s modular data centre solutions (MDC) shift construction activities to the factory, allowing for rapid onsite installation and commissioning.

EPG’s approach is supported by manufacturing hubs in Johor Bahru and Shanghai, and in-house technologies such as cold-plate liquid cooling systems and self-developed diesel generator sets. These innovations enable EPG to achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.3, facilitating faster, more reliable, and cost-efficient data centre deployment.

Alick Wan, EPG’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, stated, “This Series B financing reflects strong confidence from leading global investors. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in R&D, manufacturing, and global delivery capabilities to support fast, reliable data centre deployment for customers worldwide.”

EPG’s strategic expansion is poised to meet the increasing demands of AI-driven workloads, enhancing its ability to deliver high-power-density data centres on a global scale.

Gu Sheng Tang, a prominent Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) healthcare group, has donated S$1.06m to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) to advance TCM research and education. The donation, announced on 26 January 2026, marks the launch of the Gu Sheng Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Education and Research Programme at NTU.

The programme is designed to enhance the understanding and application of TCM in Singapore, a field that has seen growing interest and integration into modern healthcare practices. The funds will be used to support research initiatives, educational programmes, and collaborations between TCM practitioners and academic researchers.

Gu Sheng Tang’s contribution is significant as it represents one of the largest investments in TCM education and research in Singapore. The initiative is expected to foster innovation and development in TCM, providing students and researchers with the resources needed to explore new treatments and methodologies.

“This partnership represents our long-term investment in the future of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Singapore,” expressed Tu Zhiliang, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gu Sheng Tang TCM.

The collaboration between Gu Sheng Tang and NTU Singapore is anticipated to strengthen the role of TCM in the region, potentially influencing healthcare practices and policies. As the programme develops, it is expected to attract further interest and investment in TCM research, contributing to the global understanding of traditional medicine.

Blue Planet Environmental Solutions, a Singapore-based sustainability and circular economy company, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Majees Technical Services in Oman. This agreement, announced during the World Future Energy Summit 2026 in Abu Dhabi, marks Blue Planet’s official entry into the Sultanate and strengthens its expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The collaboration with Majees Technical Services is a significant step for Blue Planet as it seeks to broaden its footprint in the Middle East. The partnership aims to leverage Majees’ local expertise and Blue Planet’s innovative solutions in sustainability and circular economy practices. This move aligns with Blue Planet’s strategy to enhance its presence in key markets within the GCC, which is known for its growing focus on sustainable development and green technology.

Blue Planet’s participation in the World Future Energy Summit, held from 13 to 15 January 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, underscores its commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. The summit provided a platform for Blue Planet to showcase its capabilities and forge strategic partnerships in the region.

The MoU with Majees Technical Services is expected to facilitate the introduction of Blue Planet’s environmental solutions in Oman, contributing to the country’s sustainability goals. This partnership is anticipated to pave the way for further collaborations and projects within the GCC, reinforcing Blue Planet’s role as a leader in the sustainability sector.

Singapore is set to enhance its support for the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) initiatives aimed at assisting vulnerable countries, as announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The city-state plans to provide grants totalling Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 25.48 million, approximately US$34.7m, to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and the Trust for Special Poverty Reduction and Growth Operations for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (PRG-HIPC). This move is pending approval from Singapore’s Parliament on 3 February 2026.

The grants are part of Singapore’s commitment to support the IMF’s role in maintaining global economic stability. The PRGT, which offers concessional loans to low-income countries, will receive SDR 21 million from Singapore, drawn from MAS’ Official Foreign Reserves. Additionally, SDR 4.48 million will be allocated to the PRG-HIPC Trust to aid debt relief efforts in Sudan, utilising Singapore’s existing resources in IMF accounts.

In a broader effort, Singapore will also channel SDR 746 million, equivalent to about US$1,014.6m, from the 2021 SDR allocation as a loan to the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST). This initiative aims to provide long-term affordable loans to address structural challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness.

These contributions align with Singapore’s IMF quota share and underscore its commitment to collective global action. The grants and loans reflect Singapore’s strategic interest in supporting a stable global economic environment, crucial for its highly open economy.

HDFX Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based marketing and events agency, has unveiled the latest version of its Discovery E-Trail game, a GPS-enabled interactive platform designed to enhance community engagement. Initially developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform was launched as part of the Braddell Heights 50 celebrations, marking the constituency’s 50th anniversary.

The Discovery E-Trail game integrates gamification, GPS technology, and experiential design to create self-guided, location-based journeys. This evolution allows users to explore spaces and stories in an engaging manner, transforming neighbourhoods into interactive experiences. The platform’s launch was officiated by prominent figures including Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and Acting Minister for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

Founder and Managing Director of HDFX, Miki Hay, highlighted the platform’s origins and future potential: “We first started building these engagement games during COVID, when people couldn’t meet but still needed connection. Over time, the platform grew into something much more powerful.” Hay emphasised the platform’s ability to foster interaction and shared experiences, noting its potential applications in tourism and workplace engagement.

The Discovery E-Trail’s modular structure allows for customisation across various sectors, including corporate team-building, wellness programmes, and cultural tourism. Its adaptability positions it as a versatile tool for enhancing engagement through technology-driven storytelling. As part of the Braddell Heights 50 celebrations, the platform offers a digital layer to the neighbourhood’s heritage, allowing participants to engage with local history at their own pace throughout 2026.

Singapore’s real estate investment market concluded 2025 with a remarkable total of S$34.12b in investment sales, marking a 27% increase from the previous year, according to Savills Singapore. This surge represents the highest annual investment sales since 2017, when the figure reached S$35.16b. The growth was widespread across both public and private sectors, with public sector sales rising by 32.3% year-on-year to S$11.60b, buoyed by an increase in Government Land Sales (GLS) sites awarded. Private sector sales also saw a 24.3% increase, reaching S$22.52 billion, driven by high-end residential market momentum and significant transactions.

In the final quarter of 2025, investment sales totalled S$10.97b, a slight 3.3% decline from the previous quarter but a robust 44.4% increase year-on-year. The private sector led this growth, with sales rising 4.5% quarter-on-quarter to S$7.53 billion. Jeremy Lake, Managing Director of Investment Sales & Capital Markets at Savills Singapore, noted that the drop in interest rates in 2025 was pivotal, narrowing the price gap and facilitating deal closures.

The residential sector accounted for the largest share of Q4 investment sales at 40.3%, despite a 13.7% decline in transaction value from the previous quarter. The commercial sector followed, with sales of S$3.45b, a 31.1% increase from Q3. The industrial sector also saw significant activity, with sales nearly doubling to S$2.13b.

Looking ahead, Savills Singapore maintains its investment sales forecast for 2026 at approximately S$34b, citing stable interest rates and geopolitical factors as key influences. Alan Cheong, Executive Director of Research & Consultancy, highlighted opportunities in office, retail, and redevelopment properties, supported by lower financing costs and adjusted pricing expectations.

CBRE has announced the sale of Anchorpoint, a prominent freehold suburban retail mall located at 368 & 370 Alexandra Road, Singapore. The mall, which boasts a total strata area of 110,373 square feet, is being offered at a guide price of $215 million (S$295 million), translating to approximately $2,735 (S$3,751) per square foot on its existing net lettable area. The sale will be conducted via an Expression of Interest exercise, closing on 10 March 2026.

Anchorpoint is strategically positioned in the bustling Alexandra/Queenstown area, featuring over 150 metres of high-visibility street-level frontage. The mall includes two prime retail levels and a standalone two-storey conservation building, with a net lettable area of approximately 78,636 square feet. It is well-connected to the surrounding area, with direct links to The Anchorage condominium, an overhead bridge to IKEA, and nearby MRT stations.

Following a recent asset enhancement initiative, Anchorpoint has been repositioned as a modern F&B and lifestyle destination, attracting tenants such as Cold Storage, McDonald’s, and Yoga Movement. Clemence Lee, Executive Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, highlighted the mall’s unique positioning and generational name recognition, stating it provides “an unrivalled competitive edge over neighbouring strata malls.”

The Alexandra/Queenstown area is undergoing significant development, including new residential projects and the expansion of Alexandra Hospital. These initiatives are expected to increase the area’s catchment density, attracting a younger demographic and boosting Anchorpoint’s growth potential.

OCBC has observed a significant increase in the number of seniors embracing digital red packets, known as e-Ang Baos, during the Lunar New Year celebrations in 2025. The bank reported that the number of seniors aged over 64 sending e-Ang Baos rose by over 40% compared to 2024, with nearly 80% of these seniors being first-time users. This trend highlights a growing comfort with digital transactions among older generations.

The popularity of e-Ang Baos is further underscored by a nearly 50% year-on-year increase in the total number sent by seniors. Additionally, there was a notable rise in the value of these digital gifts, with a 40% increase in seniors sending e-Ang Baos worth S$100 or more. The S$100 e-Ang Bao emerged as the most popular choice among seniors, with 1 in 10 opting for this amount.

Overall, the acceptance of e-Ang Baos has been on the rise in Singapore, with the total value sent increasing by close to 40% in 2025 from the previous year. The trend also saw more than 80% of e-Ang Baos being sent outside the first two days of the Lunar New Year. Popular amounts included S$10 and auspicious numbers like S$8, S$18, S$28, and S$88.

Ng Lee Peng, OCBC’s Head of Digital Business Singapore, remarked, “It is heartening to see how digital technology enables traditions to flourish across generations. e-Ang Baos enable seniors to send blessings of luck and good fortune to their relatives in a way that preserves the meaning of the custom, whilst remaining convenient and sustainable.”

The shift towards e-Ang Baos has been gaining momentum since the post-COVID era, with the number of customers sending them increasing nearly fivefold from 2022 to 2025. OCBC plans to continue this trend by offering refreshed e-Ang Bao designs featuring popular cartoon characters to enhance the gifting experience. The e-Ang Baos will be available on the OCBC app from 3 February 2026.

Citi Singapore and Citi Hong Kong have announced new strategic partnerships with Blackstone, Blue Owl, and KKR to enhance its private market offerings for Citigold Private Clients in Asia and the Middle East. This collaboration will allow high-net-worth clients to access alternative asset classes such as private equity, credit, infrastructure, and real estate, which were traditionally available only to institutional investors.

The newly launched funds are structured in an evergreen format, providing simplified access to private markets with flexible subscription and liquidity terms, subject to a minimum initial holding period. This initiative aims to offer clients opportunities for uncorrelated returns and long-term growth, directly participating in the value creation of private market assets.

Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth Asia North and Australia at Citi, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in today’s volatile market, stating, “This collaboration with Blackstone, Blue Owl, and KKR directly addresses that demand, providing sophisticated access to private markets that were once the exclusive domain of institutional and private bank investors.”

The partnerships are set to deepen Citi’s wealth management offerings, with Yeo Wenxian, Head of Wealth for Asia South at Citi, expressing excitement about leveraging the investment expertise of these global firms. Ed Huang from Blackstone, Sean Connor from Blue Owl, and Jacqueline Zhuang from KKR all emphasised the significance of expanding access to institutional-quality private market opportunities for Citi’s high-net-worth clients.

The rollout of these funds has begun and will continue over the coming months, marking a significant step in Citi’s commitment to delivering comprehensive wealth management solutions.