Industry News

Digital Edge Singapore Holdings and B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited have commenced construction on their first joint data centre in Thailand, marking a significant step in the country’s digital infrastructure development. The 100-megawatt campus, located in Chonburi within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, is part of a US$1b investment plan to establish hyperscale and AI-ready data centres across the nation. The project, announced in June, is expected to be ready for service by Q4 2026.

The data centre will serve as a critical hub for AI and cloud service providers expanding in Southeast Asia, offering high-density colocation, advanced interconnectivity, and hybrid cloud solutions. This initiative is designed to meet the growing demand for AI and machine learning capabilities, supporting enterprises undergoing digital transformations.

John Freeman, CEO of Digital Edge, highlighted the project’s significance: “Breaking ground on our first campus in Chonburi is a pivotal moment for Digital Edge. Together with B.Grimm Power, we are delivering AI-ready sustainable infrastructure at a scale and speed that matches the ambitions of our customers and the needs of the region.”

The facility will be powered by B.Grimm Power’s renewable energy portfolio, aligning with Thailand’s sustainability goals. Dr Harald Link, Group President of B.Grimm Power, stated, “Today’s groundbreaking marks the next step in our partnership to realise our shared vision of combining green energy and advanced technology to power Thailand’s digital future.”

This development is expected to strengthen Thailand’s position as a leading digital hub in Southeast Asia, catering to global tech leaders and supporting the country’s rapid digital transformation.
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HubSpot has launched a new marketing playbook, Loop Marketing, to help Singaporean businesses navigate the challenges posed by AI-driven “zero-click” searches. Announced at the INBOUND 2025 conference, the playbook is designed to aid businesses in adapting to AI-driven discovery and enhancing customer engagement.

The Loop Marketing framework is a response to the growing trend of AI engines and chatbots, like ChatGPT, providing answers before users click on links. This shift has significantly impacted how businesses are discovered online. HubSpot’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kipp Bodnar, explained, “The old marketing funnel assumed customers would come to you. Now the funnel isn’t flowing, and the old playbook is broken.”

The playbook consists of four stages: Express, Tailor, Amplify, and Evolve. Each stage focuses on different aspects of marketing, from defining brand identity to leveraging AI for personalisation and diversifying content across channels. The aim is to create a seamless integration of AI and human efforts to improve customer interactions and business growth.

In addition to the playbook, HubSpot has unveiled over 200 AI-powered product updates. These updates include a new Data Hub for unifying data, specialised AI agents for various tasks, and enhancements to the Marketing Hub to streamline operations. Carol Fong, Head of Asia at HubSpot, noted, “Our latest AI-first updates provide the engine for the entire front office—sales, service, and marketing—to operate on a new level.”

These initiatives are part of HubSpot’s strategy to address the challenges identified in its Singapore State of Business Growth report, which highlighted the importance of integrated systems for business success. With these tools, HubSpot aims to empower Singaporean businesses to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.
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Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled a curated list of Asia’s most stunning cave destinations, inviting adventurers and nature enthusiasts to explore these natural wonders. As interest in unique and immersive travel experiences grows, cave exploration offers a rare glimpse into nature’s artistry, sculpted over millennia.

Amongst the highlighted destinations is Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh, Vietnam, known as the world’s largest cave. Its vast chambers and unique ecosystems, including a subterranean river, make it a bucket-list destination for many. In India, the Borra Caves in Andhra Pradesh are celebrated for their impressive stalactites and stalagmites, offering a magical atmosphere through guided tours.

Japan’s Ryusendo Cave, famous for its crystal-clear underground lakes, provides a serene escape, whilst South Korea’s Hwanseon Cave, the largest limestone cave in Asia, boasts a labyrinth of tunnels and stunning rock formations. Malaysia’s Mulu Caves, located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gunung Mulu National Park, offer vast chambers and unique formations that captivate visitors.

In Indonesia, Gua Gong in East Java is noted for its mesmerising stalactites and stalagmites, making it a hidden gem for photographers. Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply at Agoda, stated, “Agoda’s curated list of cave destinations is sure to capture the imagination of nature enthusiasts.”

Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, making it easier for travellers to plan their cave adventures. For more information, visit Agoda’s website or download their mobile app.
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Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) is set to capitalise on several growth opportunities, according to a recent report by Maybank Research. The telecommunications giant is benefiting from a favourable operating environment in Australia, market consolidation in Singapore, and burgeoning opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure. These factors are expected to drive Singtel’s continued success despite foreign exchange challenges.

Singtel’s Australian subsidiary, Optus, is experiencing a multi-faceted recovery. The company is seeing rational competition in the market, with broad-based price hikes and a focus on improving return on invested capital. Optus is also optimising its capital expenditure through a partnership with TPG, which is expected to enhance its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by 5-20%. The report anticipates Optus’ mobile revenues, EBIT, and free cash flow to grow significantly over the next few years.

In Singapore, the telecommunications market is undergoing consolidation, which is expected to rationalise competition and potentially lead to a rebound in industry revenue growth. This environment is likely to benefit incumbents like Singtel, as pricing discipline returns to the market.

Singtel’s digital infrastructure arm, Nxera, is rapidly expanding its data centre capacity across Southeast Asia. With significant pre-sales in its upcoming facilities in Singapore and Thailand, and plans to enter Japan and Korea, Nxera is positioned to capture substantial growth in the region. The management forecasts a compound annual growth rate of over 20% in data centre revenue through 2028.

The report raises Singtel’s target price by 11% to $4.75, reflecting a lower weighted average cost of capital and improved earnings prospects. The recommendation to buy Singtel shares is reiterated, highlighting the company’s strong strategic positioning in the evolving telecommunications landscape.
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Sanli Environmental Ltd, a Singapore-based environmental engineering group, is poised for significant growth, with an expected earnings per share (EPS) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 88.7% from FY25 to FY28. This projection is supported by a strong order book valued at $333.9m as of 15 July 2025, and the potential for further order wins totalling approximately $205m by the end of the calendar year 2025.

The company’s growth is underpinned by Singapore’s substantial investment in water management, with annual spending exceeding $1b from 2016 to 2023, according to the Public Utilities Board’s 2024 report. Sanli’s strategic focus on securing high-value contracts, such as the bid for the Changi NEWater Facility 3, positions it well to capitalise on these opportunities.

Sanli is also diversifying its revenue streams through the production of magnesium hydroxide slurry, a product used in environmental applications like wastewater treatment and marine scrubbers. This initiative is expected to yield a gross margin of approximately 40%, tapping into Singapore’s status as a major shipping hub.

Despite challenges such as potential policy changes and workforce shortages, Sanli’s established market presence and certification to bid for high-value contracts make it an attractive target for overseas conglomerates. The company’s strategy includes potential joint ventures to alleviate working capital pressures.

In conclusion, Sanli Environmental Ltd’s strategic initiatives and robust order pipeline suggest a promising trajectory for growth, with potential implications for increased market competitiveness and expansion into new business segments.
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Antom, a prominent merchant payment and digitisation services provider under Ant International, has unveiled a groundbreaking agentic payment solution. This innovative system introduces a secure alternative payment method (APM) checkout solution and is among the first to pilot card-based transaction capabilities for AI agents in collaboration with Mastercard and Visa.

The agentic payment solution is designed to meet the growing demand for flexible and reliable payment options in commercial settings. It offers comprehensive payment method coverage, including APMs and credit cards, ensuring seamless transactions through AI-ready payment mandates and enhanced asset management. This system aims to safeguard transaction security whilst providing transparency for users.

Antom’s solution is built on the Model Context Protocol, supporting embedded payment flows via dialogue-based interactions with AI agents. It accommodates both confirmed purchase requests and conditional transactions, such as those within predefined spending limits. The solution is now open-sourced on GitHub, allowing developers to access and implement it.

A key feature of the solution is Antom EasySafePay, the industry’s first streamlined checkout solution for APMs. It simplifies the payment process by allowing users to link digital wallets directly to the checkout page, eliminating the need for redirection to external apps. This integration is supported by Multi-Party Computation (MPC)-based AI risk management and mobile device security systems to prevent fraud and identity misuse.

Antom’s collaboration with Mastercard and Visa in Asia Pacific aims to explore tokenised card-based agentic payments, advancing AI commerce with secure and seamless checkout experiences. This initiative is part of Ant International’s strategy to support AI-driven commerce, enabling developers, financial institutions, and merchants to embrace this technology confidently.

Gary Liu, General Manager of Antom, stated, “Agentic payment is a foundational step in allowing AI agents to generate real value in our everyday life. We look forward to co-building the protocols and frameworks with partners across the financial, tech, and commerce sectors to ensure agentic payments are smooth and reliable.”
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Trip.com is set to delight travellers with its 9.9 Mega Sale, running from 9 to 12 September 2025, offering a plethora of travel deals designed to stretch your travel budget further. The sale includes daily midnight coupon drops, Buy 1 Get 1 Free offers on flights and attractions, flash hotel sales, and discounts on car rentals and tours.

The sale promises significant savings, with highlights such as up to $73 (S$100) off flight and hotel bookings through daily midnight coupon drops. Travellers can also take advantage of Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals on Korean Air flights starting at 9am on 9 September. Additionally, there are all-in-fare flight deals, including $438 (S$599) return flights to Tokyo on All Nippon Airways and $219 (S$299) return flights to Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines.

For those holding DBS/POSB cards, there are exclusive return flight deals to Kuala Lumpur and Penang from $50 (S$69), and to Bali and Bangkok from $72 (S$99), available daily at 1pm during the sale period.

The sale also features Buy 1 Get 1 Free attraction deals, with discounts on tickets to popular destinations such as Universal Studios Japan, Ocean Park in Hong Kong, and LEGOLAND in Malaysia. These deals are available at various times throughout the sale days.

Trip.com’s Hotel Flash Sales offer further savings on popular hotels worldwide, with the best prices available at 3pm on 9 September. This sale is one of Trip.com’s largest promotions of the year, providing a unique opportunity for travellers to secure their dream getaways at reduced prices.
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The Port of Singapore has once again been recognised as the “Best Global Seaport” for the fourth time and the “Best Seaport in Asia” for the 37th time at the 2025 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards. The awards ceremony took place in Hong Kong on 3 September 2025, underscoring Singapore’s pivotal role in the global supply chain.

Organised annually by Asia Cargo News, the AFLAS Awards celebrate excellence in the logistics and supply chain sectors, focusing on service quality, innovation, and reliability. Winners are selected based on nominations and votes from over 15,000 readers of the publication, reflecting the industry’s trust and recognition.

Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, expressed gratitude for the accolades, stating, “These awards reflect the collective efforts of our industry stakeholders, international partners, research community, and unions. We remain committed to developing Singapore as a global hub port and an international maritime centre. Singapore will continue to strive to be a preferred port of call.”

The Port of Singapore’s repeated success at the AFLAS Awards highlights its ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards and its strategic importance in international maritime activities. As Singapore continues to enhance its port facilities and services, these awards reinforce its status as a leading maritime hub.
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The Skechers Friendship Walk 2025 made a vibrant debut at Marina Barrage, drawing 5,000 participants to raise $10,000 for APSN, a social service agency supporting individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. Organised by Skechers, the event featured a 10KM Competitive Run and a 5KM Leisure Walk, promoting active lifestyles and community bonding.

The day began with the 10KM run at 7:00 AM, flagged off by Skechers’ management team, including Zann Lee, Irene Lee, and Eileen Tan. Following this, the 5KM walk offered participants lighthearted activities such as a Mini Photo Challenge and Walk the Plank mission. Mediacorp personality Hazelle Teo hosted the event, maintaining high spirits throughout.

Celebrity guests, including Aileen Tan and Eric Teo, joined the walk, showcasing Skechers’ Hands Free Slip-Ins GOwalk 8 shoes. The event also featured a giant Skechers logo photo wall, symbolising the collective effort of participants.

Skechers’ partnership with APSN continues to provide employment opportunities for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. This year’s donation was celebrated with a performance by APSN beneficiary Samuel Lee En Ci, adding to the day’s festivities.

Post-walk activities at the Skechers Race Village included interactive games and a stage game, Guess the Price. The event concluded with the announcement of the 10KM run winners and a lucky draw, where Zi Qin Saw won a year’s supply of Skechers footwear, marking a memorable end to the day.
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BDO Business Services & Outsourcing and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance accounting and business services training for students. Over the next three years, this collaboration will benefit approximately 1,000 Higher Nitec in Accounting students across all ITE Colleges in Singapore, providing them with essential skills and exposure to meet the evolving demands of the business services sector.

The MOU establishes a framework for cooperation that includes training in industry-standard software such as Xero and Prosoft Unit4, as well as internship and employment opportunities for ITE students and graduates. Additionally, BDO professionals will host guest lectures, career talks, and industry visits, alongside training workshops on current industry practices.

Low Khah Gek, CEO of ITE, emphasised the partnership’s role in preparing students for the workforce: “This partnership goes beyond equipping students with technical know-how. By exposing them to real-world industry practices and workplace learning experience, we are preparing work-ready graduates who can step confidently into Singapore’s dynamic business environment and make meaningful contributions from day one.”

Frankie Chia, Managing Director of BDO, highlighted the collaboration’s significance in shaping future talent: “Through this collaboration with ITE, we are proud to play a pivotal role in developing talent, strengthening organisational resilience, and shaping the future of business services in Singapore.”

The initiatives will be branded under the “BDO–ITE” banner, aiming to enhance the visibility and impact of the collaboration. This partnership marks a significant step in bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future careers.
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