Industry News

Singapore Management University (SMU) has launched a new brand campaign titled “Bold Ideas Big Impact,” aimed at enhancing the university’s communication of its ambitions and impact both locally and internationally. This initiative is part of SMU’s SMU2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on creating meaningful and measurable impact through education, research, and partnerships.

The campaign seeks to translate SMU’s strategic priorities into a clearer public expression, emphasising the university’s role as Asia’s premier global city university. It highlights the importance of transforming bold ideas into actions that address real-world challenges. The campaign includes a new brand video and tagline, alongside a series of advertisements across various platforms, each focusing on SMU’s core pillars: education, research, and partnerships.

Christopher Chew, Vice President of the Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing at SMU, stated, “As we deepen our role as Asia’s premier global city university, this new brand campaign gives expression to that ambition. It provides a clear and compelling platform to communicate who we are, what we stand for, and the difference we seek to make through education, research, and partnerships.”

The campaign marks a significant step in how SMU presents its identity and ambitions to external audiences. As the university advances its SMU2030 priorities, “Bold Ideas Big Impact” will serve as a platform to communicate SMU’s intent to deepen its relevance, broaden its reach, and strengthen its contribution to society through meaningful and measurable impact.

Vietjet is set to launch a new direct flight service between Singapore and Nha Trang starting 1 June 2026. This marks the airline’s fifth direct route connecting Singapore to Vietnam, enhancing travel and trade links between the two nations. The service will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a flight duration of approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

The introduction of this route provides Singaporean travellers with direct access to Nha Trang, a renowned coastal city in Vietnam known for its scenic beaches and vibrant resort scene. To celebrate the launch, Vietjet is offering promotional fares starting from SGD86 for Eco-class tickets, inclusive of taxes and fees, along with 20kg of free checked baggage. This promotion is available from 16 to 20 March 2026 for travel between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.

Nha Trang is celebrated for its turquoise waters, island excursions, and rich marine life, making it a popular destination for tourists. The city also serves as a gateway to various cultural and natural attractions, including waterfalls and fishing villages.

In addition to the Singapore–Nha Trang route, Vietjet will commence a new service connecting Da Nang and Jakarta from 29 April 2026, further strengthening regional connectivity. Passengers on Vietjet can enjoy a variety of Vietnamese culinary options onboard and benefit from the airline’s SkyJoy loyalty programme.

A prime three-storey commercial building at 535 Kallang Bahru, Singapore, is now on the market, offering significant redevelopment potential. The sale, managed by CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield, will be conducted through an Expression of Interest exercise closing on 22 April 2026.

The property, occupying a 22,283 square foot plot, currently boasts a gross floor area of 36,207 square feet. It is nearly fully occupied by tenants such as a restaurant, fitness centre, and offices, providing immediate rental income. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2025, the site is zoned for commercial use, with potential to expand the gross floor area to 66,850 square feet, subject to approvals.

Located in the Geylang Bahru precinct, the building benefits from dual street frontage and proximity to Geylang Bahru MRT station, major expressways, and a robust bus network. This strategic location offers easy access to Singapore’s Central Business District.

Joshua Giam, Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, highlighted the site’s versatility, stating it offers “significant upside potential through creative repositioning or a full-scale redevelopment.” Sophia Lim, Director of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, noted the area’s growth, driven by government rejuvenation plans and new residential projects.

The guide price for 535 Kallang Bahru is S$55m, equating to approximately S$1,519 per square foot on its existing gross floor area. This sale presents a timely opportunity for investors to capitalise on the precinct’s transformation. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the marketing agents for further details.

Singapore has experienced a significant increase in on-device threats, with over 3.8 million incidents recorded in 2025, according to Kaspersky. This marks a 16.2% rise from the previous year, primarily driven by worms and file viruses. The surge underscores the growing risk posed by infected removable devices to both individuals and organisations in Singapore.

Despite assumptions that on-device threats might be declining in a cloud-centric environment, Kaspersky’s data reveals their persistent prevalence. In 2025, 3.8 million threats were detected on Singapore-based devices, largely spread through removable media like USB drives, CDs, and DVDs. These threats can execute automatically, bypassing traditional defences and compromising sensitive information.

Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, noted the underestimated vulnerability to on-device attacks, emphasising the trust Singaporeans place in removable media. “Most users rarely second-guess plugging in an external device despite the fact that such on-device infections remain a very real threat,” he stated.

Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, continues to innovate in protecting over a billion devices worldwide. As on-device threats rise, the importance of effective cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly critical for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining organisational integrity.

OUE Healthcare Limited’s subsidiary, O2 Healthcare Group, has launched Singapore’s first private sleep laboratory, O2 SleepWell Laboratory, to provide advanced sleep medicine services. The SleepWell Lab, operated by O2 SleepWell Pte. Ltd., offers diagnostic and therapeutic care for sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address sleep health, a growing concern in Singapore.

The launch coincides with a memorandum of understanding with HSBC Life, aiming to expand access to sleep diagnostic studies and treatments for HSBC Life customers. This collaboration seeks to make medically necessary sleep treatments more accessible through insurance partnerships.

Chairman of OUE Healthcare, Lee Yi Shyan, highlighted the importance of sleep in preventive health care, stating, “Singapore has placed growing emphasis on preventive care. Data and clinical experience show that many Singaporeans are chronically sleep-deprived.” The SleepWell Lab aims to support Singapore’s preventive health agenda by offering comprehensive sleep health services.

The SleepWell Lab collaborates with Cura Day Surgery Centre and Parkway East Hospital to conduct overnight sleep studies, providing patients with flexible options for their diagnostic needs. The lab’s integrated approach ensures a seamless patient experience, from diagnosis to ongoing treatment, with a team of sleep technologists under one roof.

Dr Swee Yong Peng, CEO of O2 Healthcare Group, emphasised the lab’s role in shaping the future of sleep health, stating, “We are building an integrated ecosystem that supports each person through every stage of their sleep health journey.”

The launch of the SleepWell Lab and its collaborations are not expected to materially impact the company’s financials for the year ending 31 December 2026.

UI Boustead REIT has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising approximately S$973.6m, making it the largest IPO in Singapore for 2026. The offering, priced at S$0.88 per unit, saw robust demand, being oversubscribed by 3.3 times. The IPO included an international placement of 643,275,200 units and a public offering of 33,900,000 units in Singapore.

The Placement Tranche, aimed at institutional and accredited investors, attracted S$1.9b in demand, whilst the Singapore Public Offer was 2.9 times subscribed, receiving 4,697 valid applications. This strong interest highlights investor confidence in UI Boustead REIT’s potential, despite current geopolitical and market volatility.

Tan Shu Lin, CEO of the REIT Manager, expressed gratitude for the investor support, stating, “The successful close of the IPO reflects confidence in the quality of our portfolio and its ability to generate stable and resilient cashflows.”

UI Boustead REIT’s initial portfolio consists of 23 properties, primarily in Singapore and Japan, with a total gross floor area of approximately 5.9 million square feet. The REIT is managed by UIB REIT Management Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of UIB Holdings Limited.

Trading of the units on the SGX-ST Mainboard is set to begin at 2.00 p.m. on 12 March 2026.

The Assembly Place Holdings Ltd. (TAP), Singapore’s largest community living operator, has announced a joint venture with S11 Granuity Management to establish a new migrant worker dormitory at 2 Seletar North Link. This facility, housing approximately 886 beds, will be the first in Singapore to adopt a community-driven approach, aiming to enhance living standards for migrant workers through structured welfare management and technology-enabled operations.

The joint venture company (JVC), with TAP holding a 60% stake and S11 the remaining 40%, will leverage TAP’s expertise in community-driven living solutions and S11’s experience in managing foreign worker dormitories. This collaboration marks TAP’s entry into its sixth living sector and the launch of its seventh brand, “Habitat,” further diversifying its portfolio.

Eugene Lim, TAP’s Executive Director and CEO, stated, “This joint venture reflects TAP’s commitment to expand our community-driven living model across diverse accommodation sectors. We believe worker housing deserves the same structured social programming, experience, and governance standards as any other living asset class.”

Johnathan Cheah, Director of S11, expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to improve resident welfare and operational excellence. The initiative aligns with TAP’s strategy to expand its portfolio to over 10,000 keys by 2030, enhancing its position as a leader in community living.

The new dormitory will offer purpose-driven programmes to foster social cohesion, setting a new benchmark in migrant worker accommodation in Singapore.

Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific has announced a rebranding to Logisnext Asia Pacific, effective from 30 April, as part of a strategic alignment with Mitsubishi Logisnext Co Ltd’s global vision. This change is a significant step in the company’s ongoing transformation under the Logisnext Vision 2035, which includes a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners to support sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

The rebranding will not affect the company’s commitment to its customers and dealer partners. Yasumitsu Baba, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific, assured that the company will continue to provide reliable equipment and trusted services. “We will continue to provide reliable equipment, trusted services, and solutions that drive customer success whilst further strengthening our global alignment,” Baba stated.

Logisnext operates through four regional hubs, including Asia Pacific, China, and South Africa (APACCSA), enabling it to cater to local customer needs effectively. The rebranding will see Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks transition to Logisnext Forklifts in the APACCSA region over the coming years, maintaining the brand’s reputation for reliability, quality, and value for money.

Throughout this transition, Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific is prioritising stability and consistency for its dealer partners and customers. Current support teams and service structures will remain unchanged to ensure a seamless process for all stakeholders. The company, headquartered in Singapore, continues to offer a comprehensive portfolio of materials handling solutions, backed by an extensive dealer network.

Global technology company EBANX is set to inaugurate its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore on 24 March, enhancing its footprint in the region. The new HQ will serve as a payments product and regulatory centre, supporting over 100 enterprise merchants, including AliExpress and Canva, in their expansion into emerging markets. EBANX forecasts a 30% growth in Total Payment Volume (TPV) for APAC merchants in 2026, driven by increased consumer and business purchases across more than 20 emerging markets.

In 2025, 36% of EBANX’s TPV was attributed to APAC companies. The company, founded in Brazil, has been expanding its presence in Asia, maintaining its largest office outside Brazil in Shanghai since 2019 and establishing a dedicated team in India in 2024. EBANX also obtained a Major Payment Institution licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore last year.

João Del Valle, CEO and co-founder of EBANX, highlighted the company’s commitment to strengthening South-South ties and building resilient global partnerships. “We keep seeing a strong expansion movement of APAC merchants into emerging markets, especially in Latin America and Africa,” he said.

The Singapore HQ will house 25 professionals, including senior leaders in engineering, technology, and compliance. Eduardo de Abreu, EBANX’s Chief Product Officer, was recently appointed CEO of EBANX Singapore and will lead the new centre. The headquarters aims to drive global market expansion, supporting North American and European companies in reaching fast-growing economies like India and the Philippines.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has announced a significant enhancement to its executive leadership team as it gears up for a new phase of global expansion. The appointments, revealed on 11 March 2026, are designed to strengthen leadership depth, succession planning, and executional capability across the group’s core areas.

The newly appointed executives include Craig Bond as Chief Operating Officer, Celine Du as Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, and Kate Loh as Head of Development. They join existing senior leaders Andreas Sungaimin, Senior Vice President (SVP) of People and Culture, Valerie Foo, SVP of Finance, and Wee Wei Ling, Executive Director of Sustainability Partnerships, Lifestyle and Asset.

Under the leadership of CEO Choe Peng Sum, the enhanced team aims to leverage their combined expertise in operations, commercial strategy, finance, development, brand-building, and talent management. This strategic move is intended to provide the necessary scale, cohesion, and discipline to support PPHG’s expanding global presence and evolving brand portfolio.

Choe Peng Sum commented, “As PPHG enters its next phase of growth, the strength of our leadership team is critical. These appointments reflect the depth and maturity of the leadership bench we have been deliberately building.”

The strengthened leadership team is expected to navigate the evolving hospitality landscape and changing customer expectations, positioning PPHG for sustained growth and innovation in the industry.