Industry News

Zespri International has announced the appointment of Kok Hwee Ng as its new Chief Marketing Officer. With over two decades of experience in brand marketing across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and fresh produce sectors, Kok Hwee has held senior roles at Procter & Gamble and Mondelez International in Asia. Since joining Zespri in 2017, she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s brand strategy and consumer engagement.

Kok Hwee’s leadership at Zespri has included roles such as Global General Manager Marketing and Senior Marketing Director for Greater China. Earlier this year, she joined Zespri’s Executive Team, bringing fresh perspectives and collaborative leadership. Her expertise in brand innovation and integrated campaigns has strengthened Zespri’s market leadership and elevated its global storytelling.

In her new role as CMO, Kok Hwee will lead Zespri’s global marketing strategy, focusing on consumer engagement and brand innovation. Her appointment also sees the Market Research team returning to the Marketing function, highlighting its importance in shaping brand and consumer strategy. Based in Singapore, Zespri’s Sales and Marketing Hub, Kok Hwee is poised to drive the company’s ambition to become the World’s Healthiest Fruit Brand.

Kok Hwee expressed her vision for Zespri, stating, “My commitment is to build a brand that not only delivers exceptional taste and nutrition but also champions the wellbeing of communities.” Her leadership is expected to guide Zespri towards further brand growth and innovation, aligning with the company’s strategic goals.

The National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore and Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, have launched the Singapore-Shanghai Medical Innovation Centre (SSMIC) to foster collaborative healthcare innovations. Announced on 15 October during the 6th Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council meeting in Shanghai, the centre will focus on advancing breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy and orthopaedics.

The SSMIC is the first initiative from a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two hospitals in 2024, aiming to establish a framework for clinical cooperation. Co-chaired by Aymeric Lim, CEO of NUH, and Ning Guang, President of Ruijin Hospital, the centre will serve as a hub for developing medical technologies and conducting translational research.

Initial projects include clinical trials for a novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which uses a patient’s immune system to target cancer cells. This personalised treatment aims to offer new hope to patients who have not responded to first-line cancer treatments. In orthopaedics, the focus will be on using 3D printing for musculoskeletal tumour resection and reconstruction, aiming to improve surgical outcomes and patient recovery.

Professor Aymeric Lim stated, “Through the SSMIC, we look forward to partnering with RJH with a common mission to advance real-world change in healthcare.” Ning Guang added, “With the support from Shanghai government and Singapore stakeholders, I have the faith that we will succeed.”

The SSMIC is designed to be a dynamic platform, with plans to expand its scope and explore further collaborations, ensuring a continuous pipeline of clinical breakthroughs.

Eazy Pte Ltd has unveiled Singapore’s first unified insurance portal, allowing customers to manage all their policies from different insurers in one place. This innovative platform, launched on 17 October 2025, functions as a digital wallet, enabling users to view policy summaries, access renewal dates, and download official documents. Customers can also perform administrative tasks such as renewals, endorsements, and cancellations.

The portal addresses common challenges faced by policyholders, who traditionally relied on email or phone communication for document requests and renewal verifications. Now, users can update their details, make policy changes, and process cancellations without logging into multiple portals. Eazy’s CEO, Douglas Chia, highlighted that the portal was developed in-house over a year, focusing on customer control and transparency.

Data protection is a priority, with Eazy adhering to the Personal Data Protection Act and Monetary Authority of Singapore guidelines. The company has implemented strict security protocols to safeguard customer information. Future updates to the portal will include a quotation aggregator for instant insurance quotes and full claims functionality.

Eazy aims to expand the platform to cover additional products and services, ultimately creating a comprehensive destination for insurance and financial needs. This development marks a significant step in simplifying insurance management for Singaporean customers.

Proxima, a global procurement consultancy backed by Bain & Company, has officially launched its Singapore office in collaboration with ArcBlue, a leading Asia Pacific consultancy. This strategic move aims to bolster procurement offerings by combining international expertise with local market insights. Chris Hampden, who previously led international purchasing for Rolls Royce in Singapore, will head the new office.

The launch comes at a critical time as businesses in Singapore face increasing trade risks, supply chain resilience challenges, and sustainability mandates. According to Proxima’s Global Sourcing Risk Index, developed with Oxford Economics, Singapore ranks as the 12th most exposed economy to supply chain risks among the world’s 30 largest economies. The city-state also tops the Trade Barrier Vulnerability Index due to its re-export model and reliance on cross-border trade.

Daniel Collings, Executive Vice President of Proxima APAC, emphasised the importance of procurement in business success, stating, “The procurement function has never been more critical to business success. With organisations typically spending around 70% of their revenues with third-party suppliers, the external enterprise is an immense source of value.”

The partnership with ArcBlue is expected to help Singaporean businesses navigate the complexities of global trade shifts, balancing cost, resilience, and risk. As trade policies and sustainability standards evolve, Proxima aims to support local companies in adapting their supplier strategies to maintain competitiveness.

The establishment of Proxima’s Singapore office signifies a significant investment in the region’s procurement consulting market, promising to unlock new value for businesses amidst ongoing global uncertainties.

Angel Investment Network (AIN), the world’s largest online angel investment platform, has announced the launch of its first Chinese language site in Singapore. This strategic move aims to capitalise on the entrepreneurial potential of the Chinese-speaking population and the dynamic growth of the region. With 17% of the global population speaking Chinese, AIN is expanding its reach to connect investors with early-stage startups in one of its top 10 markets.

The decision to launch in Singapore, a key global financial hub, is driven by the country’s high rate of bilingualism, which is expected to enhance engagement and local investment activity. Mike Lebus, co-founder of AIN, stated, “We are delighted to launch our first Chinese language site in Singapore. This is a strategic step to break down language barriers and directly support entrepreneurs in markets we haven’t yet covered in their local language.”

AIN, founded in 2004, now operates 42 networks across 90 countries with over 2 million users. The new site is part of AIN’s commitment to improving accessibility for its international user base. The platform has supported tens of thousands of businesses worldwide, with investments ranging from £10,000 to £1m.

The launch marks a significant milestone in AIN’s global expansion, aiming to connect more investors with innovative startups. As the largest angel investment community globally, AIN continues to support ambitious founders in scaling their businesses.

Visa has revealed that the recent F1 Singapore Night Race significantly boosted tourism and commerce, with a marked rise in visitor arrivals and spending. The event, known for its global appeal, saw a substantial increase in digital payment adoption and nighttime economy activities, according to VisaNet data.

During the race period, travel-related spending in Singapore surged compared to the previous year, with international visitors primarily from China, Australia, the US, and Malaysia. These visitors contributed to a double-digit percentage increase in transaction volumes across hospitality, retail, and entertainment sectors. Notably, affluent travellers, who comprised 30% of visitors, accounted for 40% of the total spending, highlighting their impact on the local economy.

Visa’s data also indicated a significant rise in corporate travel during the race week, coinciding with various conferences and exhibitions. Business cardholder visits increased by 80%, with their spending nearly tripling. The unique timing of the race led to a 90% surge in late-night spending, particularly in areas like Marina Bay, Clarke Quay, and Tanjong Pagar.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Singapore benefited greatly, with traveller spending rising by 65%, especially in retail and dining. Local eateries, cafes, and SMBs in electronics and groceries saw notable spending increases.

Adeline Kim, Visa’s Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, stated, “The F1 Singapore Night Race is a showcase of Singapore’s vibrancy and global appeal. Our data shows that the event not only attracts a diverse group of affluent travellers but also drives significant uplift for local businesses.” Visa’s insights aim to help merchants tailor their offerings and marketing strategies to maximise engagement and spending.

The Ascott Limited, a wholly owned lodging business unit of CapitaLand Investment, has announced the signing of seven new properties in Vienna and Seville, marking a significant expansion in its European footprint. This development adds nearly 1,100 units to Ascott’s portfolio, bringing its total to 64 properties across 26 cities in Europe.

The announcement was made during the official opening of lyf Gambetta Paris, Ascott’s first lyf property in France. The lyf brand, known for its experience-led social living concept, now has eight properties across Europe. Kevin Goh, CEO of Ascott, highlighted Europe’s importance in the company’s global growth strategy, citing strong tourism fundamentals and fragmented supply as key factors.

In Vienna, Ascott has strengthened its partnership with VIE Trust Real Estate Group by signing five new properties, adding over 750 units. These include a second lyf-branded property set to open by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, in Seville, Ascott has partnered with Forty Management SA to develop two properties as part of the Lagoon City resort, marking its first beachside resort project in Europe.

Lee Ngor Houai, COO for Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and China at Ascott, emphasised the company’s disciplined expansion strategy, focusing on destinations with authentic demand for quality accommodation. The new signings reflect Ascott’s commitment to expanding its asset-light model through franchise and management agreements, enhancing its presence in one of the world’s most attractive hospitality markets.

DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank, and Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), a leading financial institution in Saudi Arabia, have announced a strategic partnership to enhance trade settlement, financing, and regional currency clearing solutions. Formalised at the Sibos conference, this collaboration seeks to facilitate trade, investments, and remittances across the burgeoning Asia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economic corridor.

Trade between Southeast Asia and GCC nations reached approximately $130.7b in 2023, with an additional $50b expected by 2027. The partnership aims to leverage the strengths and networks of both banks to offer trade financing solutions, including letters of credit and trade loans, to their clients. Additionally, DBS and BSF will explore joint financing of client transactions to manage risk and expand financing capacities.

To address the increasing demand for seamless cross-border payments, the banks plan to utilise each other’s clearing networks. This includes DBS’ access to seven major Asian currency clearing corridors and BSF’s Saudi Riyal clearing services. BSF will also consider using DBS GlobeSend, a cross-border payment solution, to enable same-day payments across DBS’ global network.

Sriram Muthukrishnan of DBS highlighted the growing interconnection between Asia and the Middle East, stating that the partnership aims to facilitate the flow of goods, services, and capital. Faisal Darwish of BSF emphasised the collaboration’s potential to strengthen financial connectivity and open new opportunities for businesses and consumers. This partnership underscores Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in the Asia-GCC corridor’s growth.

Rex International Holding Limited has announced that its subsidiaries achieved a combined production of 10,999 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in September 2025 across fields in Norway, Oman, and Germany. Lime Petroleum AS, a subsidiary of Rex, reported a production of 10,501 boepd from the Brage and Yme Fields in Norway. Lime Petroleum holds a 33.8434% interest in Brage, operated by OKEA ASA, and a 25% interest in Yme, operated by Repsol Norge AS. The Yme Field’s gas is utilised for production operations and re-injected for enhanced oil recovery.

In Oman, Masirah Oil Limited, another Rex subsidiary, recorded an average production of 444 stock tank barrels per day (stb/d) from the Yumna Field in Block 50. The field experienced a shutdown from 1 to 20 September to facilitate a change in the Floating Storage and Offloading tanker, resuming operations on 21 September. Masirah Oil holds a 100% interest in this block.

Meanwhile, Lime Resources Germany GmbH reported a production of 54 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from the Schwarzbach and Lauben Fields in Germany. Lime Resources holds full ownership of the Schwarzbach Field and a 50% stake in the Lauben Field, operated by ONEO GmbH & Co.KG. The gas produced at these fields is used on-site for heating purposes.

These updates highlight Rex International Holding’s ongoing activities and interests in oil production across multiple regions, showcasing the company’s strategic operations in the energy sector.

Strutt Inc, a Singapore-based mobility robotics company, has achieved significant recognition by winning the Red Dot Best of the Best and the Red Dot Luminary awards for its flagship personal mobility product, the Strutt ev¹. These prestigious awards highlight the company’s innovation in integrating advanced automotive technology into personal mobility. Following this success, Strutt is establishing a manufacturing facility at JTC’s Bulim Square in the Jurong Innovation District, aiming to produce 1,000 units per month.

The Red Dot awards, evaluated by 16 international experts, celebrate design excellence and innovation. The Red Dot Luminary, awarded to only one project globally each year, underscores Strutt’s leadership in design. Tony Hong, CEO of Strutt Inc, expressed pride in bringing this recognition to Singapore whilst enhancing local manufacturing capabilities.

Strutt’s operations align with Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, which seeks to improve citizens’ quality of life through technology. The Strutt ev¹, featuring sensors and autonomous navigation, empowers users to navigate urban environments confidently. With Singapore’s ageing population projected to reach 25% by 2030, Strutt’s technology addresses societal needs by offering smart mobility solutions.

In collaboration with MOBOT, Singapore’s largest personal mobility device retailer, Strutt introduced the ev¹ to the local market. The company also plans to participate in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.