Industry News

Singaporeans are leading the world in their concern over deepfake impersonations and AI voice cloning, according to a recent global survey by Ping Identity. The 2025 Consumer Survey highlights that 39% of Singaporeans are worried about deepfakes, whilst 33% are concerned about AI voice cloning. This anxiety is coupled with a significant rise in AI usage, with 85% of Singaporeans now using AI, compared to 41% globally a year ago.

The survey indicates a growing distrust in organisations managing identity data, with only 12% of Singaporeans expressing full trust. This erosion of trust is driving demand for stronger authentication methods and tighter government regulation. Jasie Fon, Regional Vice President of Asia at Ping Identity, noted, “The rising concern among Singaporeans for deepfake impersonations and AI voice cloning highlight the urgent need for stronger and more user-friendly identity verification methods as AI adoption grows.”

Key findings from the survey include:

– 85% of Singaporeans are more concerned about personal data security than five years ago.
– Only 13% of Singaporeans feel very confident in spotting scams.
– 73% believe government regulation of AI is important for protecting identity data.
– Biometrics and multi-factor authentication are top features desired to increase trust in online brands.

The survey, conducted by Talker Research, involved 10,500 consumers across various countries, including Singapore. As AI continues to permeate daily life, the need for robust security measures becomes increasingly critical to maintaining consumer trust.

Universal Investment Group has announced the opening of its first office in Singapore, marking its expansion into the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This strategic move aims to enhance the company’s global presence and support its clients’ international growth strategies. Bjoern Beck, an executive with extensive expertise in real estate and APAC markets, has been appointed to lead the new office.

The Singapore office will serve as a gateway for APAC asset managers and institutional investors looking to access European fund markets. It will provide comprehensive support, including fund structuring, management, administration, and risk management solutions. Additionally, clients will benefit from Universal Investment’s extensive DACH investor network for active distribution support.

Francesca McDonagh, CEO of Universal Investment Group, highlighted the significance of this expansion, stating, “Establishing our first office in the Asia-Pacific region is a significant milestone in our ambition to become a truly global partner for our clients.” She emphasised the opportunities in the APAC region and the company’s commitment to putting clients’ needs at the centre of its operations.

Bjoern Beck, Managing Director of Universal Investment Singapore, expressed enthusiasm about the dynamic investment landscape in APAC, particularly in real estate. He stated, “By combining our scalable platform with local market knowledge, we look forward to serving as a trusted partner on the ground, creating meaningful opportunities for both existing and new clients.”

This expansion is part of Universal Investment’s broader strategy to leverage its strong market positions in Germany, Luxembourg, and Ireland, further solidifying its role as a leading global third-party ManCo and fund services provider.

Zouk Singapore is set to transform its iconic club space into a vibrant Sunday destination with the launch of ‘Hungover’ on 19 October. Running from 12pm to 7pm, this event combines elements of a market, festival, and daytime party, offering a fresh twist on the traditional Sunday experience. The event aims to attract a diverse audience by blending food, music, culture, and community.

‘Hungover’ marks the return of Zouk’s popular Flea & Easy series, reimagined to cater to the growing popularity of daytime events. Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group, stated, “Zouk has always been about bringing people together. With Hungover, we’re evolving the idea of the weekend itself — Sundays aren’t just for recovery anymore, they’re for rediscovery.”

The event promises a variety of attractions, including a diverse food and beverage line-up featuring favourites like Five Guys and Korio. Attendees can explore stalls offering preloved fashion, vintage pieces, and curated lifestyle goods. The ‘Bro Zone’ offers a relaxing space for those who prefer lounging, whilst the ‘Pet Zone’ caters to animal lovers with products and services for pets.

Additionally, the ‘Vintage Zone’ provides a nostalgic experience with collectibles and timeless fashion, accompanied by amapiano, baile funk, and afro beats. The ‘Hungover Flea Market’ encourages creativity with activities like DIY bag charms and flash tattoos. Music remains central, with live DJs providing a world-class soundscape throughout the day.

Free and open to all ages, ‘Hungover’ promises a lively Sunday gathering for food, music, and community at Zouk Singapore.

TransitionZero’s latest report reveals that Singapore could save at least $185m annually by 2030 through the adoption of hourly carbon-free electricity (CFE) procurement. This approach, which involves matching clean energy supply with demand on an hourly basis, is projected to reduce gas fuel costs significantly and enhance grid efficiency.

The report suggests that achieving a 70% hourly CFE score could lower system costs by $16m compared to annual matching. This would require 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar and 0.5 GW of battery storage, secured through power purchase agreements by commercial and industrial buyers. The study indicates that hourly matching could lead to 16–22% greater emissions reductions at higher CFE scores, with potential annual fuel savings reaching up to $264m.

Regional interconnectors, such as those with Indonesia and Malaysia, are expected to further boost solar and battery generation, displacing costly gas usage and supporting system balancing. These interconnectors could increase Singapore’s base CFE score from 2.7% to 10%, cutting overall fuel emissions by 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

Isabella Suarez, Southeast Asia Lead Analyst at TransitionZero, stated, “Hourly matching transforms corporate procurement into a system-level asset. It helps displace high-cost fuel use, supports battery flexibility, and complements—not replaces—Singapore’s import ambitions.”

Singapore’s energy strategy includes plans to import 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035 and raise its carbon price to SGD 80 per tonne of CO2 equivalent by 2030. TransitionZero’s CEO, Matt Gray, described hourly matching as a “no-regrets” strategy, emphasising its potential to drive significant fuel cost savings and support national climate objectives.

The United Nations Global Compact Network Singapore Summit on 8 October 2025 saw the announcement of significant updates to the Singapore Emission Factors Registry (SEFR) and NetZeroHub.SG by Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah. These updates include the introduction of localised emission factors for five key sectors—professional services, cleaning, security, information and communications technology (ICT), and product carbon footprint—aimed at improving carbon accounting for businesses in Singapore.

From financial year 2026, Scope 3 emissions reporting will become mandatory for Straits Times Index companies. SEFR’s new emission factors will support this transition by providing sector-specific data, reducing reliance on generic assumptions, and enhancing the credibility of carbon reporting. This initiative is backed by key government agencies such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, with contributions from local businesses and trade associations.

In addition to SEFR’s enhancements, NetZeroHub.SG has launched new community-centric features, including a National Events Calendar, Community Forum, and an Expanded Directory of Solution Providers. These tools are designed to facilitate collaboration among businesses and individuals in their decarbonisation efforts.

Lee Chuan Seng, Chairman of the SEFR Governance Committee, highlighted the registry’s impact, stating, “SEFR has benefitted more than 700 Singapore businesses in its first year by helping them report all aspects of Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as some aspects of Scope 3 emissions, more conveniently and consistently.”

These developments underscore Singapore’s commitment to advancing transparent and reliable carbon accounting, positioning SEFR and NetZeroHub.SG as essential resources for businesses aiming to achieve sustainability goals.

Frasers Hospitality has reinforced its commitment to social inclusion and community care through a series of initiatives in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. In collaboration with Food Bank Singapore, the company distributed 200 care packs to elderly residents and low-income households in the Jalan Kukoh estate. This effort was complemented by a mural painting project involving youth from Club Rainbow and students from Lil’ Palette Workroom, transforming public spaces with art themed around nostalgic toys.

The mural initiative, which engaged over 50 volunteers, aimed to evoke shared memories and strengthen community bonds. “Our collaboration with Frasers Hospitality provided my team with the opportunity to showcase their creativity in a project with meaningful community impact,” said Lynn Teo, Founder of Lil’ Palette.

In Kuala Lumpur, Frasers Hospitality’s global leadership conference included a scavenger hunt to collect back-to-school items for the Dignity for Children Foundation. The company also donated $2,120 (RM10,000) to support the foundation’s educational efforts. This initiative involved nearly 100 staff volunteers globally, highlighting the company’s dedication to advancing education and supporting vulnerable communities.

Frasers Hospitality has implemented close to 70 community initiatives worldwide, contributing over 3,600 hours to support more than 50 organisations. CEO Eu Chin Fen stated, “Our teams have come together to support the needs of our local communities through various initiatives throughout the year.”

These efforts underscore Frasers Hospitality’s belief in the power of partnerships between businesses, non-profits, and local communities to create lasting social impact.

Schaeffler has inaugurated its Industrial Lifetime Solutions Remote Monitoring Centre (RMC) Asia Pacific, aiming to bolster industrial reliability across the region. Staffed by expert vibration analysts, the centre supports customers and service partners in India, South East Asia, and the wider Asia Pacific, utilising AI and machine learning to monitor equipment and predict faults, thereby reducing operating costs.

The RMC, which began operations on 1 August, is already monitoring over 8,000 sensors for 77 customers and 14 service partners. This initiative addresses the growing demand for predictive maintenance in industries such as oil and gas, power generation, and manufacturing. Alfred Lee, President of Bearings and Industrial Solutions, Asia Pacific, stated, “With the launch of the Remote Monitoring Centre, I am confident that we can better support our customers in the region with predictive maintenance strategies to optimise their plant operations by reducing the unplanned downtime, ensuring business continuity.”

The centre’s establishment is part of Schaeffler’s strategic expansion in industrial asset monitoring, complementing similar facilities in Germany, China, and Australia. It aims to tackle challenges like improper sensor mounting and escalating repair costs, which can hinder operational efficiency. Schaeffler’s Expert Services offer a structured “Closing the Loop” approach, providing comprehensive support from implementation to long-term optimisation.

As Schaeffler continues to expand its global footprint, the new centre underscores its commitment to customer-centred innovation and operational excellence, promising to make advanced monitoring solutions accessible to all its customers worldwide.

Investment banking activities in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, have seen a significant rise in the first nine months of 2025, according to LSEG’s Deals Intelligence report. The region generated $18.6 billion in investment banking fees, marking a 24% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth accounts for 19% of the global investment banking fees, with the Americas and Europe contributing 55% and 21%, respectively.

The report highlights a surge in equity capital markets (ECM) underwriting fees, which reached $3.7b—a 48% increase from the previous year. Debt capital markets (DCM) fees also grew by 15% to $10.6b, whilst syndicated lending fees saw a modest 3% rise to $1.8b. Advisory fees from completed mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions in the region totalled $2.5b, up 55% year-on-year.

CITIC emerged as the top earner in investment banking fees within the region, securing $1.06b and capturing a 5.7% share of the total fee pool. M&A activity reached a three-year high, with deals amounting to $684.6b, driven by mega deals despite a 5.1% decline in the number of announced deals.

In ECM, the region raised $190.2b, a 42.2% increase from the previous year, with China leading the charge by contributing 49.1% of the proceeds. Meanwhile, DCM saw primary bond offerings reach $3.98t, a 20.9% increase, setting a record for the highest January-September total since 1980.

The report underscores the robust growth in Asia Pacific’s investment banking sector, with significant contributions from various financial activities and sectors. As the year progresses, these trends may continue to shape the region’s financial landscape.

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) has released a comprehensive guide to help businesses make clear and accurate product claims. This initiative is designed to prevent misleading information that could potentially deceive consumers. The guide, available from 6 October, outlines best practices for businesses to ensure transparency and honesty in their marketing strategies.

The guide is part of CCS’s ongoing efforts to promote fair trading practices and protect consumer interests. By providing detailed instructions on how to substantiate product claims, the guide aims to reduce the risk of misleading advertising, which can lead to consumer distrust and potential legal issues for businesses.

CCS emphasises the importance of businesses being able to back up their claims with evidence. “Businesses must ensure that their product claims are truthful and not misleading,” the guide states. This is crucial in maintaining consumer confidence and fostering a competitive market environment.

The release of this guide is particularly timely as consumers increasingly rely on product claims when making purchasing decisions. By adhering to the guidelines, businesses can not only avoid regulatory scrutiny but also enhance their reputation and consumer trust.

Cushman & Wakefield’s latest MarketBeat report reveals significant developments in Singapore’s industrial and capital markets for Q3 2025. Prime logistics rents have increased by 0.9% quarter-on-quarter, driven by limited supply and strong demand. Meanwhile, total investment volume surged by 31% to $9.3b, with residential, commercial, and mixed-use sectors leading the charge.

Prime logistics rents have seen a modest rise after three quarters of stability, attributed to a constrained supply pipeline and robust demand. Despite subdued leasing enquiries, the market is expected to benefit from favourable US tariff terms compared to other Asia Pacific economies. The supply of business parks is anticipated to tighten from 2026, potentially boosting occupancy rates.

In the capital markets, the residential sector experienced a 127.1% quarter-on-quarter increase, largely due to Government Land Sales. Commercial investments rose by 40%, highlighted by the sale of a 55% interest in CapitaSpring for $1b. Industrial transactions, however, saw a decline, with volume falling by 55% due to smaller deals.

The report also notes a supportive environment for investment sales, with lower interest rates and mild inflation. “A lower interest rate and mild inflation environment coupled with steady property rental growth across most property asset classes should provide a supportive backdrop for investment sales,” stated Cushman & Wakefield.

Looking ahead, the industrial supply pipeline appears manageable, with a focus on single-user factories and warehouses. The tapering supply of business parks from 2026 is expected to improve occupancy rates, enhancing their value proposition.