Industry News

DHL Express has been recognised as one of Asia’s top employers, securing the second position on the 2025 Great Place to Work® Best Workplaces in Asia™ list. This achievement marks a decade of consistently being in the top three, underscoring the company’s dedication to fostering a people-first culture amidst challenging external conditions. Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express, emphasised the importance of maintaining focus on employee safety and wellbeing as the company navigates evolving trade patterns and complex supply chains.

The accolade comes as the logistics industry faces significant challenges, driven by changing workforce dynamics and technological advancements. DHL Express is committed to upskilling its workforce and promoting diversity, inclusivity, and digitalisation. Recent investments in advanced technology platforms aim to enhance the productivity of sales and customer service functions.

DHL Express also celebrates its employees through the annual Employee of the Year Awards, recognising over 200 individuals across the Asia Pacific region for their exceptional contributions. Additionally, the DHL’s Got Heart winners were honoured for their impactful community work and personal career development.

Looking forward, DHL Express plans to leverage its Smart Connect platform to enhance collaboration and personalised learning, whilst the Certified International Specialist programme will continue to be a cornerstone of employee development. From 2026, DHL will be certified as a whole rather than by individual business units, reinforcing its commitment to creating a safe and positive work environment.
“`

Otis, the global leader in lift and escalator manufacturing, has been awarded the 2025 SMRT Contractors Safety Award for its outstanding commitment to health and safety across Singapore’s SMRT rail network. This accolade, presented at the 2025 SMRT Annual Contractors Safety Forum, marks Otis as the only lift industry company to receive this recognition.

The award highlights Otis’s dedication to maintaining high safety standards whilst servicing over 1,000 lifts, escalators, and moving walkways across SMRT’s North-South, East-West, Circle, and Thomson-East Coast Lines. Nico Lopez, Otis’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Southeast Asia, emphasised the company’s focus on safety, stating, “Safety is the foundation of everything we do at Otis.”

Otis’s partnership with Singapore’s rail network dates back to 1983, and the company continues to play a crucial role in modernising and maintaining the city’s public transport infrastructure. The refurbishment of escalators across 42 NSEW metro stations was recognised as Elevator World’s 2024 Project of the Year for escalator modernisation. Additionally, Otis is currently providing 336 high-traffic escalators and moving walkways, along with 186 connected lifts, for the new Cross Island Line.

With a robust 24/7 customer service through its OTISLINE care centre and a team equipped with digital tools, Otis ensures the safety and efficiency of Singapore’s metro network. This award underscores Otis’s long-standing commitment to safety and innovation in public transport.
“`

Merz Aesthetics has been named the top workplace in Asia for 2025 in the Small and Medium Business category by Great Place To Work. This accolade highlights the company’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, people-first culture that prioritises respect, integrity, and trust.

With a 117-year heritage as a family-owned business, Merz Aesthetics has consistently invested in its people and innovation. Lawrence Siow, President of Merz Aesthetics Asia-Pacific, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, “Being awarded the No.1 under Best Workplaces in Asia 2025 is a proud moment for all of us at Merz Aesthetics. It reflects the confidence, trust, and passion our people bring to work each day.”

The Best Workplaces in Asia list was compiled after surveying over 32 million employees across Asia and the Middle East, representing the experiences of more than 75 million employees. Companies were considered for the list after being recognised on national Best Workplaces Lists.

Merz Aesthetics’ achievement follows consecutive wins in Singapore and Korea and its certification as a Great Place To Work in Australia, Greater China, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Karen Tay, Vice President of Core Services APAC, noted, “This win is a testament to the genuine dedication and passion of our teams throughout the region.”

Merz Aesthetics, with its global headquarters in Raleigh, USA, and a presence in 90 countries, continues to empower healthcare professionals, patients, and employees to live confidently. The recognition underscores the company’s long-term vision of success, focusing on building a sustainable culture that empowers its people.
“`

PropNex Realty, Singapore’s largest listed real estate agency, successfully concluded its inaugural International Property XPO, attracting over 500 participants at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. The event, themed “Global Property Playbook: Understanding an Alternate Investment Landscape,” showcased international developers and experts from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, offering insights into cross-border investment opportunities for Singaporean buyers.

A significant focus of the XPO was the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), with a presentation by Krishnamoorthy Kuppusamy, Senior Vice President of Iskandar Investment Berhad. The SEZ is expected to generate US$26 billion annually by 2030 and create 20,000 jobs in sectors like logistics, digital economy, tourism, and green energy. The RTS Link, set to complete in 2026, aims to enhance connectivity between Johor and Singapore.

Ismail Gafoor, Executive Chairman of PropNex Realty, remarked, “The RTS link is a great addition. Though it will not solve every cross-border challenge, it is an important starting point that will significantly improve connectivity and pave the way for deeper integration between the two regions.”

The XPO also provided attendees with practical knowledge on legal, tax, and visa matters, ensuring informed overseas investments. Chua Shir Yee, Head of International Sales at PropNex, noted the strong interest among Singaporeans in overseas properties, emphasising the importance of education in investment decisions.

In response to high demand, PropNex will host a Johor-focused seminar on 27 September 2025, offering further insights into Malaysian property investments.
“`

MetaComp, a Singapore-based digital assets infrastructure provider, and OSL Group, a global digital financial platform, have announced a strategic partnership to advance digital solutions for cross-border payments between Hong Kong and Singapore. The collaboration seeks to improve real-world asset (RWA) token market infrastructure and foster regulatory-compliant innovation.

The partnership focuses on building a robust ecosystem for digital assets by enhancing liquidity, enabling cross-border payments, and facilitating compliant RWA token trading. MetaComp and OSL will explore ways to integrate liquidity networks to improve trade execution for institutional clients dealing in digital assets. This initiative aims to enhance over-the-counter (OTC) market efficiency, offering better pricing and seamless access to liquidity.

Additionally, the firms will co-develop infrastructure links to facilitate the use of stablecoins for cross-border payments, enabling faster and more cost-efficient transactions whilst adhering to regulatory frameworks. The partnership also aims to enable the cross-listing and trading of tokenised real-world assets, unlocking access to previously illiquid assets for institutional investors.

Tin Pei Ling, Co-President of MetaComp, stated, “By combining our strengths, we are not only advancing regional connectivity but also setting new benchmarks for compliance and innovation in digital asset markets.” Eugene Cheung, Chief Commercial Officer of OSL Group, added, “Hong Kong and Singapore are natural partners in shaping Asia’s digital finance future.”

This alliance underscores both firms’ commitment to responsible growth and technological innovation in digital finance across Asia’s key capital markets.
“`

Lazada, a prominent eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, is set to elevate its 9.9 Mega Brands Sale with the introduction of the AI-powered LazzieChat Challenge. Running from 8 September (8pm SGT) to 11 September, this event promises a more interactive and rewarding shopping experience. The LazzieChat Challenge, an evolution of last year’s LazzieChat Hunt, allows shoppers to engage in deeper conversations with AI Lazzie, unlocking tailored product recommendations, surprise rewards, and exclusive deals.

The AI-driven initiative follows the success of Lazada’s recent 6.6 sale, where AI Lazzie contributed to a 43% increase in order volume and a 168% growth in gross merchandise value (GMV). Howard Wang, Chief Technology Officer of Lazada Group, highlighted the shift towards meaningful interactions, stating, “With AI reshaping the eCommerce landscape, it is redefining how we connect with shoppers.”

Lazada’s AI capabilities have also bolstered brand collaborations, notably with P&G, resulting in a fivefold increase in daily engagement on P&G’s brand page and a 245% increase in basket sizes. The success of these collaborations underscores the potential of AI in enhancing consumer engagement and conversion.

The 9.9 Mega Brands Sale will feature mega promotions, including up to 90% off LazFlash Deals and storewide flash sales across over 300 brands. As AI continues to shape the eCommerce space, Lazada aims to expand its AI-powered engagements in upcoming campaigns, fostering authentic connections between brands and shoppers.
“`

Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, has strengthened its distribution network in Singapore and Southeast Asia by securing partnerships with Mediacorp and SPH Media. These collaborations make Media OutReach the only global newswire to offer guaranteed verbatim online news postings on Mediacorp’s CNA and SPH’s MoneyFM 89.3, significantly enhancing the reach and impact of press releases across the region.

The partnerships position Media OutReach as CNA’s first content partner, providing PR and communications professionals with direct access to Singapore’s top media outlets. This development is particularly significant as CNA is the most used online news source in Singapore, with a weekly reach of 47%, according to a Reuters Institute study.

Jennifer Kok, founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire, expressed enthusiasm about the partnerships, stating, “As champions of the PR industry and the media, we are pleased to partner with both SPH and Mediacorp and honoured to be the first newswire content partner of CNA.”

In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, Media OutReach’s unique offering of guaranteed verbatim news postings on authoritative online news media across Asia Pacific, North America, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America provides companies with a competitive edge in AI search, SEO, and GEO. Kok highlighted the importance of these postings, noting that they “make AI models find your content and cite it in search results,” which is vital for building brand trust.

These strategic partnerships further solidify Media OutReach Newswire’s position as a trusted newswire for PR professionals, communicators, media, and brands across Asia Pacific and globally.
“`

Singapore-headquartered Lighthouse Canton, a global investment institution, has appointed Pranob Gupta as Managing Director – Business Head for India Alternatives (Credit & Hybrid Strategies). Gupta will lead the expansion of the firm’s funds platform, drawing on his 23 years of experience in investment management and cross-border partnerships. Previously, he held senior roles at JM Financial Credit Alternatives, 360 One, KKR, and Kotak Alternates.

Sanket Sinha, CEO of Global Asset Management at Lighthouse Canton, highlighted the potential of India’s alternative assets market, projected to grow from $400 billion to $2 trillion over the next decade. “Pranob’s appointment reinforces our conviction in India’s booming private credit market,” Sinha stated.

Gupta expressed enthusiasm for joining Lighthouse Canton, noting the firm’s potential to become a multi-billion-dollar Alternatives AUM franchise. “The pan Asian and global nature of the firm opens up meaningful cross-border product and investor synergies,” he said.

Lighthouse Canton manages over US$4 billion in assets and advisory, with operations in India, the UAE, and the UK. The firm is known for its innovative investment solutions and strong relationships with institutional investors. Gupta’s appointment is expected to accelerate the growth of Lighthouse Canton’s India franchise and strengthen its global asset management platform.
“`

Forvis Mazars, an international audit, tax, and advisory firm, has announced a strategic partnership with EcoOnline, a global provider of safety and sustainability software, in Singapore. This collaboration aims to bolster Forvis Mazars’ sustainability reporting and assurance services by integrating EcoOnline’s advanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) solutions. The partnership comes as Singaporean companies face extended timelines to comply with mandatory climate-related reporting standards set by the Singapore Exchange and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

The partnership is timely, aligning with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the nation’s net-zero target by 2050. EcoOnline’s ESG software will enhance Forvis Mazars’ services, providing robust tools for data management and reporting. This includes framework reporting advisory, climate risk analytics, carbon accounting, forecasting, and sustainability assurance. These services are designed to help organisations manage reporting challenges and build capabilities for future compliance.

Lai Kee Yin, Partner in Technology, Digital & Sustainability Consulting at Forvis Mazars, emphasised the importance of not delaying efforts despite extended timelines. “We consistently hear from clients that their biggest challenge is moving beyond narrative-based reports to produce auditable, investment-grade data. Having used EcoOnline’s solution ourselves, we have firsthand confidence in its science-based approach,” he stated.

Sean Flynn, Regional Sales Director at EcoOnline, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the combined expertise will aid Singaporean firms in achieving sustainability goals. The partnership also includes educational initiatives to increase market awareness and understanding of the solution. The integrated ESG and sustainability solution is now available to clients in Singapore.
“`

Marco Polo Marine Ltd., a Singapore-listed marine logistics company, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Norwegian ship designer Salt Ship Design AS to develop the CSOV Plus, a pioneering Commissioning Service Operation Vessel. This vessel is uniquely designed for dual-sector operations in the offshore wind and oil & gas industries.

The CSOV Plus is the first of its kind, purpose-built from the keel up, offering enhanced capabilities with a 100-tonne Active Heave Compensated crane and a flexible cargo lifting system. It is engineered to operate in waves up to 3.0 metres, ensuring superior station-keeping. The vessel also features a sustainable design with a battery hybrid power system and accommodation for alternative fuels like methanol, aligning with evolving environmental regulations.

Construction of the CSOV Plus will commence in Q2 2026 at Marco Polo’s Batam facility, with delivery expected by Q2 2028. This strategic partnership involves Marco Polo Marine’s Taiwan subsidiary PKR Offshore, Salt Ship Design, and Marco Polo Shipyard. The vessel aims to meet the growing demand for versatile offshore assets that support the complete lifecycle of offshore wind projects.

Sean Lee, CEO of Marco Polo Marine, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with the innovative team at Salt Ship Design to bring our biggest advancements in CSOV – CSOV Plus – to life.” Egil Sandvik, Chairman of Salt, added, “We are honoured that Marco Polo Marine has entrusted Salt Ship Design with the development for their CSOV Plus concept.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing offshore capabilities, promising to set new industry standards for crew comfort and safety.
“`