Industry News

Microsoft has announced the appointment of Chia Wee Luen as the new Managing Director for Singapore. With over 20 years of experience in enterprise technology, Chia is set to drive Singapore’s digital ambitions through cloud and artificial intelligence (AI). His leadership aims to accelerate innovation and foster inclusive transformation in the region.

Chia, who has previously held senior roles at Red Hat, Qlik, and Oracle, was most recently the Managing Director for Asia at ServiceNow. He also contributes to the Digital & Technology Committee of the Children’s Cancer Foundation and chairs the Tech for Good Committee of the Singapore Computer Society.

Mayank Wadhwa, Microsoft ASEAN President, highlighted Singapore’s strategic importance, stating, “Singapore is a cornerstone for Microsoft in Southeast Asia, fuelling innovation, deepening regional collaboration, and accelerating customer success. Under Wee Luen’s leadership, we will empower our customers to harness the full power of technology to drive meaningful impact and unlock the region’s extraordinary potential.”

Chia expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am deeply passionate about empowering customers, partners and communities, so I’m honoured to join Microsoft Singapore at this pivotal moment. I look forward to working with the team, our partner ecosystem and visionary customers to capitalise on this transformative era of AI and continue shaping Singapore’s future together.”

He succeeds Lee Hui Li, who has established a strong foundation for Microsoft’s growth in Singapore. This leadership change is expected to further enhance Microsoft’s role in the region’s technological advancement.

Zurich Insurance has introduced two innovative features—Digital Wallet Policy Cards and Travel Alerts—as part of its Zurich Edge proposition, aiming to enhance customer experience across Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. These features provide seamless access to insurance information and real-time travel updates, ensuring safety and convenience for customers.

The Digital Wallet Policy Cards, developed in collaboration with Miss Moneypenny Technologies, integrate with Google Wallet and Apple Wallet, allowing instant access to policy details and emergency contacts. This first-of-its-kind solution for travel and motor insurance in the Asia Pacific region also enables sharing of policy information via QR codes and hyperlinks, which is crucial during emergencies. Anna Bojic, CEO of Miss Moneypenny Technologies, stated, “The Digital Wallet Policy Card is not just digital proof, but a living, interactive connection to Zurich’s services.”

Travel Alerts, powered by Riskline, offer pre-trip advice and real-time updates, delivered directly to customers’ email inboxes. This service eliminates the need for additional apps, providing peace of mind and timely support. Suzanne Sangiovese, CEO of Riskline, emphasised the importance of traveller safety, saying, “We ensure they feel supported and informed before and during their journeys.”

The rollout of these features marks the first phase of Zurich’s digital distribution platform expansion in the Asia Pacific, with plans to extend to more markets soon. Customer feedback highlights the effectiveness of these services, with 100% of respondents feeling better informed and 77% experiencing reduced stress when travelling.

Amazon Singapore has expanded its offerings by introducing Whole Foods Market’s private label products to the local market, marking the first availability of these items in Asia. Starting today, nearly 300 products from Whole Foods Market will be accessible to Singaporean customers through Amazon.sg, Amazon Fresh, and Little Farms, enhancing the selection of premium and organic groceries available online.

The launch aims to meet the growing demand for high-quality and organic food options in Singapore’s rapidly expanding online grocery sector. Mizue Arakawa, Country Leader for Amazon Fresh Singapore, expressed enthusiasm about the launch, stating, “This launch gives customers greater choice and access to high-quality groceries they can trust.”

Whole Foods Market’s Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer, Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, highlighted the significance of this expansion, noting, “Together with Amazon and Little Farms, we’re expanding access to high-quality and sustainable grocery options.”

To celebrate the launch, Amazon is offering special promotions, including a 20% discount on purchases of three or more Whole Foods Market products. Additionally, Little Farms will host tasting events at their Tanglin Mall and Sentosa locations on 27 September and 11 October, respectively.

Joe Stevens, CEO of Little Farms, commented on the collaboration, saying, “Whole Foods Market has set the benchmark globally for organic groceries, and at Little Farms, we share that same commitment to quality ingredients, transparency, and responsible sourcing.”

This strategic move by Amazon not only broadens its product range but also strengthens its position in the competitive online grocery market in Singapore.

Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have announced a new codeshare agreement, set to commence on 26 October 2025, offering customers increased flight options between Singapore and Vietnam. Under this agreement, SIA will codeshare on Vietnam Airlines-operated flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, whilst Vietnam Airlines will codeshare on SIA-operated flights to Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. These flights will be available for purchase from 10 October 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

This collaboration aims to deepen the partnership between the two airlines, potentially expanding to include additional destinations in the future. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development at Vietnam Airlines, highlighted the significance of this agreement, stating it enhances connectivity and offers a more seamless travel experience. “This partnership not only strengthens our international presence but also supports our commitment to aligning with world-class service standards,” he said.

Dai Haoyu, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning at Singapore Airlines, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership. “By leveraging our respective networks, we can offer customers more choice, greater flexibility, and seamless transfers across our services between the two countries,” he noted. This initiative is expected to bolster economic growth and tourism, further solidifying the ties between Singapore and Vietnam.

The codeshare agreement marks a significant milestone in the ongoing strategic partnership between the two airlines, promising enhanced connectivity and value for passengers travelling between the two nations.

Anchorage Digital, SAP, and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) are set to present at the Stablecoin Summit Singapore 2025, taking place on 2 October during TOKEN2049 at Andaz Singapore. The summit will explore the transformative role of stablecoins in cross-border payments and enterprise finance, particularly in Asia and emerging markets. Hosted by XREX Group and the Unitas Foundation, the event aims to address compliance challenges, scalable practices, and regulatory frameworks.

The summit comes at a pivotal time as stablecoins, digital assets pegged to the US dollar, are gaining traction with an annual transaction volume exceeding 27 trillion. The event will feature keynotes and panels with notable speakers such as Friedrich K from BIS, Wayne Huang from XREX Group, and Paul Brody from EY. Discussions will focus on the integration of stablecoins into existing financial systems, with SAP’s Tushar Gulhane highlighting the potential for stablecoins to streamline B2B payments.

Recent regulatory developments, including the US GENIUS Act and the EU’s MiCA, underscore the growing institutional recognition of stablecoins. As stablecoins become more mainstream, their adoption is expected to reach a circulating supply of 2 trillion by 2028. The summit will provide a platform for stakeholders to align on infrastructure, policy, and product design, with support from global players like Curve, Polygon, and Scroll.

Wayne Huang, CEO of XREX Group, emphasised the importance of the summit in setting standards for responsible adoption, stating, “We are convening global leaders to accelerate responsible adoption.” The event marks a significant step in the evolution of stablecoins as a key component of the global financial infrastructure.

Singapore’s co-living sector has transitioned from a niche accommodation option to a mainstream asset class, according to a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). The report, a follow-up to JLL’s 2023 white paper, reveals significant shifts in demographics, operator strategies, and investor perspectives over the past two years.

The co-living landscape in Singapore has matured, with established operators refining their service offerings and investors gaining a deeper understanding of the sector’s unique value proposition. This evolution is marked by strategic business model shifts, including a move towards asset-light management contracts and master leases for entire buildings. Larger operators are also adopting unbundled pricing models to enhance flexibility.

The introduction of Long-stay Serviced Apartments (SA2) by Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority in November 2023 has further diversified the market. This new housing typology, designed for stays of at least three months, aims to bridge the gap between short-term serviced apartments and traditional private leases, offering more rental options amid rising housing costs.

Eugenio Ferrante, CEO and Co-founder of Casa Mia Coliving, noted, “When we first launched Casa Mia in 2019, co-living was niche and often misunderstood. Today, it’s a mainstream category shaped by lifestyle shifts, rising rents, and hybrid work.”

The report also highlights the growing demand from foreign students, who now represent a significant portion of co-living residents. This demographic shift is supported by Singapore’s expanding international student population.

As the sector continues to evolve, JLL’s report underscores the importance of sustainable growth, regulatory frameworks, and market resilience in shaping the future of co-living in Singapore.

Amogy, a leader in ammonia-to-power solutions, has partnered with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to develop and deploy ammonia-based technologies. This collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to support Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 and the National Hydrogen Strategy by piloting ammonia-to-power systems on Jurong Island.

The partnership will see A*STAR providing expertise in safety, standards, and sustainability, whilst Amogy will leverage its proprietary technology to convert ammonia into hydrogen for electricity generation. This initiative is expected to offer a low to zero-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, particularly benefiting energy-intensive sectors.

Key aspects of the collaboration include the demonstration of ammonia-to-power systems, joint research and development on advanced ammonia-cracking catalyst technologies, and the development of digital tools and workforce training for system integration. A significant focus will be on decarbonising Singapore’s rapidly growing data centre industry, which faces substantial clean energy challenges.

Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This collaboration marks an important step toward advancing decarbonisation in critical sectors such as data centres and heavy industry.” Lim Keng Hui of A*STAR added, “By advancing technologies for low or zero-carbon ammonia for power generation, we can help pave the way to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries.”

This collaboration highlights Singapore’s commitment to clean energy innovation and its role as a regional hub for low-carbon technologies.

Quantified Energy (QE), a Singapore-based AI and automation company, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Generali China Insurance (GCI), part of the global Generali Group. This collaboration aims to revolutionise solar power plant insurance by incorporating QE’s advanced drone Electroluminescence (EL) mapping technology into GCI’s insurance processes.

The partnership will utilise QE’s proprietary drone EL inspection technology to detect internal defects in solar photovoltaic modules, such as micro-cracks and early-stage degradation, which are not visible to the naked eye. This technology will be integrated into GCI’s risk management ecosystem, setting new standards for solar asset protection throughout their lifecycle—from construction to post-disaster assessment.

Yan Wang, CEO and Co-founder of QE, stated, “By partnering with a global insurer like Generali, we’re transforming EL from a factory-based test into an industry-wide risk management standard—helping solar owners and insurers alike shift from reactive claims handling to proactive asset protection.”

The collaboration will also see QE developing a Technical Due Diligence evaluation protocol and rating algorithm to support risk surveys for reinsurance and refinancing. Jack Yuan, CEO at GCI, highlighted the importance of this technology, saying, “QE’s aerial EL technology offers an unprecedented level of insight into the health of solar farms.”

This partnership not only validates QE’s inspection technology on an international scale but also showcases Singapore-led innovation’s potential to influence the global renewable energy industry. As the renewable energy sector grows, the need for sophisticated risk management tools becomes increasingly critical, and this collaboration is poised to meet that demand.

Trip.Biz, the business travel management arm of Trip.com Group, has launched Trip.Biz ONE, a comprehensive solution designed to transform how organisations manage business travel. Announced at the Trip.Biz Transform 2025 conference in Singapore, the platform aims to address common challenges such as booking leakages, policy non-compliance, and inefficient reconciliation processes.

Trip.Biz ONE consolidates bookings, ensuring adherence to travel policies whilst integrating artificial intelligence and business intelligence features. This all-in-one platform is set to make business travel management more efficient for companies by providing a seamless experience.

The launch comes as companies increasingly seek solutions to streamline travel management and reduce costs. By offering a single platform for all travel-related activities, Trip.Biz ONE aims to eliminate off-platform bookings and overspending, which are common issues faced by corporates.

Trip.Biz ONE’s introduction reflects the growing demand for digital solutions in the corporate travel sector. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of travel management, platforms like Trip.Biz ONE could play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and compliance.

The future implications of Trip.Biz ONE could see a shift in how businesses approach travel management, potentially setting a new standard in the industry.

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO has announced the grand reopening of its Orchard Central Global Flagship Store on 26 September. The revamped store promises an enhanced shopping experience, featuring improved layouts, intuitive product discovery, and upgraded fitting rooms. The reopening also highlights UNIQLO’s dedication to the local community with a specially curated City Guide showcasing homegrown brands and a Singapore-inspired Mickey Mouse collection.

The store, first opened in March 2016, has been redesigned to offer a seamless, customer-focused shopping journey. Key changes include an expanded façade for better visibility of the latest LifeWear collection and aligning women’s and children’s categories for convenience. Joey Tong, Director of Store Development, noted, “We reimagined the store experience by anticipating the needs of our customers.”

In celebration of local culture, UNIQLO has partnered with twelve homegrown brands to create a City Guide, encouraging customers to explore local businesses. The store will also feature a MAGIC FOR ALL Collection with Mickey Mouse designs inspired by Singapore landmarks.

Opening weekend festivities from 26 to 28 September include traditional Japanese Taiko drum performances and exclusive offers for APP members. Customers can redeem items such as a free bake from Kamome Bakery and a UNIQLO Mickey Singapore Flower Bouquet with qualifying purchases. Additionally, spending S$100 in-store grants access to further rewards, including a tote bag and a $10 voucher for DBS or POSB cardholders.

The UNIQLO Orchard Central Global Flagship Store is located at 181 Orchard Road, Singapore, and will reopen at 10am on 26 September.