Industry News

CBRE’s latest report on Asia Pacific Hotels & Hospitality Performance & Outlook reveals a robust growth trajectory for the region’s hotel sector, with investment volumes expected to approach the record high of $16.3b set in 2024. As of August 2025, investments have already reached $12.1b, with Japan, Australia, and Korea leading the charge.

The report identifies several trends shaping the future of tourism and hospitality in Asia Pacific. Tourism is on the rise, influenced by macroeconomic factors and social media trends, which are reshaping travel planning and foreign exchange rates. This growth positions the region as a future global tourism hub.

Investment in co-living spaces is also accelerating, particularly in Korea, Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong SAR. This trend reflects a demand for flexible living solutions in increasingly tight residential markets.

Despite the positive outlook, the report notes that hotel performance improvements require innovative revenue management strategies. Hoteliers are encouraged to adopt demand-based pricing, hyper-personalisation, and expand loyalty programmes to enhance profitability. However, the sector faces challenges with constrained supply due to rising construction costs, though opportunities exist in conversion and rebranding.

CBRE’s report underscores the dynamic nature of the Asia Pacific hospitality market, highlighting both opportunities and challenges as the region continues to evolve as a key player in global tourism.

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a significant increase in demand for neocloud services, according to JLL. The global neocloud segment is expected to grow at an 82% compound annual growth rate through 2025, as traditional data centres struggle to meet the rising demand for AI infrastructure. Neoclouds, which offer specialised access to graphics processing units (GPUs), are emerging as a crucial alternative to hyperscalers, providing faster deployment and flexible pricing for AI workloads.

Neoclouds, also known as GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS), cater specifically to AI, blockchain, gaming, and scientific workloads. They offer tailored solutions and lower costs than traditional hyperscalers by partnering directly with hardware providers. Andrew Batson, Head of Data Centre Research, Americas, JLL, stated, “Demand for AI infrastructure is growing at an exceptional pace, and the global data centre market has become capacity constrained. Neoclouds have developed an advantage over traditional cloud providers by moving faster and pricing lower with flexible terms.”

Despite the advantages, neoclouds present higher investment risks due to their capital-intensive nature and shorter lease terms. However, they attract investors with rental premiums compared to traditional data centre tenants. Mohd Syafiq, Director of Data Centre Research, Asia Pacific, JLL, noted, “Funding will be a major factor to translate the potential of neoclouds into a reality capable of handling the AI load.”

Whilst neoclouds are gaining traction, JLL does not foresee them replacing hyperscalers. Instead, they are expected to complement the diverse computing services offered by hyperscalers, ensuring that global enterprises have access to a wide range of solutions. As AI continues to grow, the demand for specialised infrastructure like neoclouds is set to rise, presenting both opportunities and challenges for investors and service providers.

A new forum, the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM), has been established to bolster cooperation among ASEAN member states in tackling transnational crime. The declaration was signed on 15 September 2025 by Attorney-General Lucien Wong of Singapore and nine other prosecutors and attorneys general from ASEAN countries in Bali, Indonesia.

The APAGM is designed to facilitate coordination on prosecution cases, promote capacity building, and enable professional exchanges among ASEAN prosecution agencies. This initiative comes in response to the increasing challenges posed by advancements in digital technologies and interconnected financial systems, which have led to a rise in transnational criminal activities. Lucien Wong stated, “It is essential for prosecution authorities of ASEAN member states to work together and enhance our mutual capabilities to tackle these challenges.”

The forum will also support the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 by strengthening prosecutorial cooperation and capacity-building efforts. It aims to coordinate with other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies to address and counter transnational crimes effectively.

The APAGM will function as an ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Body, with the establishment of a supporting Senior Officials’ Meeting to implement its strategies and initiatives. This move underscores ASEAN’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and justice across the region. The forum is expected to meet annually, with the chairmanship rotating alphabetically among member states.

APAC Realty has been downgraded from “Buy” to “Neutral” by RHB, with a revised target price of S$0.80, reflecting a 9% downside. The downgrade follows a 129% year-to-date increase in the company’s share price, driven by robust primary residential sales and a significant rise in first-half net profit. However, RHB analysts believe the current valuation, trading at 16 times the forecasted price-to-earnings ratio for 2025, is unsustainable as earnings are expected to decline slightly next year.

The downgrade comes despite a dividend yield of approximately 5%, which offers some mitigation against the potential downside. Analyst Vijay Natarajan noted that the share price has surged ahead of the company’s fundamentals, suggesting a correction might be on the horizon as sales volumes normalise.

This development is significant for investors who have been buoyed by APAC Realty’s recent performance. The company’s rapid share price increase has been a highlight in the market, but the downgrade serves as a cautionary note about potential overvaluation. The adjustment in rating and target price underscores the importance of aligning market expectations with realistic financial forecasts.

Looking ahead, investors will need to consider the implications of this downgrade on their portfolios, particularly in light of the anticipated normalisation in sales volumes. The dividend yield remains a positive aspect, but the overall outlook suggests a more cautious approach may be warranted.

ComfortDelGro’s consortium with RATP Dev, known as KBH Metro Partner, has been prequalified to bid for the operations and maintenance contract of the Copenhagen Metro. This strategic move aims to expand ComfortDelGro’s international rail footprint and strengthen its presence in key markets. The Copenhagen Metro, comprising four lines, 44 stations, and 43 kilometres of track, serves approximately 400,000 travellers each weekday and recorded 126 million passenger journeys in 2024.

The prequalification of KBH Metro Partner highlights the consortium’s expertise in managing complex metro systems, having competed against a strong field of international contenders. Both ComfortDelGro and RATP Dev bring extensive experience from major metro projects in cities such as Paris, Singapore, Riyadh, and Lyon. This bid marks the third collaboration between the two companies on complex rail projects, following successful joint ventures in Paris with the Grand Paris Express Line 15 South and in Singapore with the Jurong Region Line.

The potential contract for the Copenhagen Metro represents a significant opportunity for KBH Metro Partner to leverage its combined expertise and further establish its reputation in the global metro operations market. As the bidding process progresses, the consortium’s proven track record in managing large-scale metro projects will be a critical factor in its success.
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Singapore has made a remarkable leap in the 2025 Global Retirement Index (GRI) by Natixis Investment Managers, climbing 12 places to secure the 13th position globally. This advancement is largely attributed to improvements in Material Wellbeing, Finances in Retirement, and Quality of Life, despite a slight decline in Health.

The city-state’s progress is highlighted by its rise in the Material Wellbeing sub-index, where it jumped 18 places to eighth globally. This improvement is driven by reductions in unemployment and increases in income per capita and income equality. In the Finances in Retirement sub-index, Singapore now ranks third, trailing only Ireland and Switzerland, thanks to its top performance in tax pressure and improvements in old age dependency and governance.

Dora Seow, Singapore CEO for Natixis IM, commented, “Whilst retirement pressures across the globe are rising, I am proud to see Singapore’s remarkable progress in the GRI, driven by a strong improvement in Material Wellbeing.”

Globally, Norway reclaimed the top spot in the index, followed by Ireland and Switzerland. The report also highlighted challenges such as inflation and ageing populations, which continue to impact retirement security worldwide. According to the Natixis survey, 43% of individual investors believe achieving retirement security will require a miracle, with inflation cited as a major concern.

Singapore’s significant progress in the GRI underscores the effectiveness of its fiscal policies and long-term planning, positioning it as a leader in retirement security in Asia.

Singapore has taken a significant step in strengthening its economic collaboration with Vietnam by launching a new Professional Services (PS) Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The centre, established by the Alliance—a coalition of Singapore’s leading trade associations and professional bodies—serves as a one-stop gateway for enterprises aiming to enter Vietnam’s dynamic economy. It offers professional services, regulatory guidance, market intelligence, and business networks to facilitate cross-border growth.

The Alliance, comprising eight trade associations and professional bodies, including the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Singapore Business Federation, aims to create a collaborative platform for regional expansion. The launch follows the successful establishment of the first PS Centre in Shanghai earlier this year.

The Ho Chi Minh City hub is strategically positioned to assist businesses in navigating local regulations and building trusted networks. ISCA President Teo Ser Luck highlighted the centre’s role in bridging gaps for Singapore enterprises by providing access to professional services expertise and local partners with deep market knowledge.

Vietnam has become one of Singapore’s top investment destinations, with Singapore ranking as Vietnam’s largest foreign investor from January to November 2024. The PS Centre aims to support both inbound businesses entering Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises seeking regional and global expansion.

The centre focuses on three key areas: facilitating international expansion, enabling business opportunities for professional services firms, and fostering a regional ecosystem for knowledge sharing and strategic networking. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to Vietnam’s business landscape and strengthen cross-border collaboration.

Univers, a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) for energy, has been recognised as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) Platforms. This accolade highlights Univers’s EnOS platform for its execution capabilities and comprehensive vision, marking a significant achievement in the company’s seven-year journey.

The EnOS platform, which connects 365 million devices and manages 845 gigawatts of renewable energy—nearly one-fifth of the world’s total capacity—has been pivotal in Univers’s rapid ascent. Michael Ding, Global Executive Director of Univers, stated, “Being recognised as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant so early in our journey is a proud moment for Univers. This recognition underscores the company’s ability to innovate at speed and deliver impact at scale.”

Univers’s AI-first approach enables enterprises to detect risks before they escalate, balance energy flows, and accelerate the transition to low-carbon systems. The company’s ecosystem strength is further evidenced by global integrators embedding EnOS into large-scale deployments and technology partners extending AI capabilities into new industrial and energy use cases.

Looking forward, Univers aims to advance from monitoring and optimisation to fully autonomous operations, empowering industries worldwide to achieve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability at scale. This recognition by Gartner affirms Univers’s commitment to helping industries decarbonise and innovate at scale, solidifying its position as a leader in the AI for energy sector.

Lime Petroleum Holding AS, a subsidiary of Rex International Holding Limited, has appointed ABG Sundal Collier ASA as its exclusive manager to organise fixed income investor meetings. This move could lead to a new Norwegian Krone (NOK) denominated senior secured bond issue, contingent on market conditions and favourable terms. The bond, with a proposed three-year tenor, aims to support the development of assets in Germany and other corporate purposes.

The new bond will hold the same rank as Lime Petroleum’s existing bond, identified by ISIN NO0012559246. This strategic financial manoeuvre underscores Lime Petroleum’s commitment to expanding its operations in Germany, leveraging its proprietary Rex Virtual Drilling technology to de-risk exploration and development assets.

Rex International Holding, listed on the Singapore Exchange, is a technology-driven oil exploration and production company with interests in Norway, Germany, Oman, and Benin. The company has successfully made four offshore discoveries since its listing in 2013, highlighting its expertise in the sector.

The engagement of ABG Sundal Collier ASA marks a significant step for Lime Petroleum as it seeks to secure funding for its ambitious projects. The outcome of the investor meetings and subsequent bond issue will be pivotal in determining the company’s future growth trajectory in the European market.

Jennings Trading Enterprise has launched its innovative Experience Centre at Kranji Green, Singapore, aiming to transform the laminate selection process into a tactile and immersive journey. This centre at 28 Kranji Loop offers a design-led environment for exploring materials.

Unlike traditional showrooms, the Jennings Experience Centre focuses on personalised consultations. Visitors are greeted by indoor sales consultants who guide them through the laminate selection process, ensuring tailored choices. The centre’s layout is designed for effortless navigation, with laminates categorised by design type, such as solid colours, woodgrains, and stones.

Key features include oval-shaped panels for intuitive browsing and pull-out panels for viewing full laminate sheets. The centre showcases Jennings’ complete range of high-pressure laminates, including the new 2025–2027 Designers Collection, which features 10-foot laminates inspired by natural elements.

The Experience Centre caters to homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors, offering tailored material recommendations and technical support. Jennings collaborates with design firms and carpentry workshops to stay connected to market demands, including the use of metal laminates in modern interiors.

Jennings is also exploring the integration of interactive digital displays to enhance the showroom experience. The company has opted for a curated launch approach, with private previews for design firms and upcoming promotions on Instagram. Whilst there are no immediate plans for regional expansion, Jennings is open to establishing more local centres based on demand.