Industry News

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR) has announced a stable performance for the third quarter of 2025, bolstered by its diversified portfolio primarily based in Singapore. The real estate investment trust reported a portfolio occupancy rate of 91.3% as of 30 September 2025, with an average rental reversion of 7.6% for leases renewed during the period. This positive trend is expected to continue, with rental reversion for the full year anticipated to be in the low double-digit range.

CLAR’s proactive portfolio management strategy included S$1,317.2m in investments for five accretive acquisitions in Singapore, expected to yield between 6% and 7%. Notable acquisitions completed in August 2025 include 5 Science Park Drive and 9 Tai Seng Drive, valued at S$724.6m. Additionally, the trust announced plans to acquire three industrial and logistics properties for S$592.6m, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.

The trust also completed the redevelopment of 5 Toh Guan Road East into a logistics building, increasing its gross floor area by 71% at a cost of S$107.4m. In the US, an asset enhancement initiative at Perimeter One in Raleigh was completed for S$1.3m.

CLAR’s capital management efforts saw the raising of S$1 billion to refinance existing borrowings, including the issuance of S$700m in green notes. The trust maintains a healthy aggregate leverage of 39.8% and a weighted average debt tenure of 3.3 years. With a strong balance sheet, CLAR continues to seek investment opportunities to enhance its portfolio and deliver sustainable returns to its unitholders.

The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has unveiled ‘grovve’, Singapore’s inaugural youth-focused integrated wellness centre, at *SCAPE in Orchard. This pioneering initiative offers a safe and accessible environment for youths to receive professional support and early intervention for mental health challenges. The centre, launched on 1 November 2025, is a collaborative effort involving four Social Service Agencies (SSAs): SHINE Children and Youth Services, Brahm Centre, Limitless, and TOUCH Community Services.

‘grovve’ provides a comprehensive range of services, including on-site support and intervention programmes, as well as online services like a Digital Wellness Concierge. The centre aims to address the mental health needs of young people, with NCSS’s 2025 Quality of Life Study highlighting that 32% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 29 experience mild symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The centre’s integrated approach focuses on convenience, care, and community. Youths can seamlessly access multiple services in one location, participate in wellbeing activities, and receive guidance from ‘grovve’ guides. The initiative also seeks to normalise seeking help early, with outreach efforts promoting the centre’s offerings.

Since its soft opening in April 2025, ‘grovve’ has engaged over 4,800 youths, with more than 80% aged 17 to 25. This promising start underscores the centre’s potential to significantly impact youth mental health in Singapore. As NCSS continues to forge strategic partnerships, ‘grovve’ is set to remain agile and future-ready, ensuring that youth mental health services evolve to meet emerging needs.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has unveiled data showing a significant rise in post-race tourism and spending following the Singapore Grand Prix. Travellers extended their stays by an average of 3.5 days and spent 40% more per person compared to their usual expenditure at home. This trend was particularly notable among affluent travellers, who spent 20% more than their counterparts.

Visa’s analysis highlighted that 20% of visitors made further travel plans after the Grand Prix, with popular destinations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and Japan. Long-haul travellers, particularly from outside Asia, were more inclined to explore additional countries, with 35% visiting at least one other nation post-event.

Spending patterns revealed that restaurants and eateries were the top choice for visitors in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, whilst retail spending was higher in Australia and Japan. Affluent travellers, who made up 25% of those extending their trips, also favoured long-haul destinations such as Europe and North America, spending 65% more in department stores and 50% more on apparel.

The report also noted a strong preference for contactless payments, with 85% of face-to-face transactions made using this method. This trend was especially prevalent among travellers from Australia and the UK, where contactless usage reached 95%.

Prateek Sanghi, Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics Asia Pacific, stated, “Major events do not only drive tourism but also create positive spillover effects in neighbouring cities and regions.” Visa’s data capabilities enable businesses to tailor strategies to key segments, such as affluent travellers, enhancing visitor experiences and driving economic growth.

Singapore’s general insurance industry is set to experience significant growth, with projections indicating it will surpass $8b (S$8.6b) by 2030, according to GlobalData. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%, rising from $6.2b (S$6.7b) in 2026. This growth is driven by economic expansion, increased demand for health insurance products, rising auto insurance premiums, and resilient property values.

The market’s robust growth is supported by key lines of business, including personal accident and health (PA&H), motor, property, and liability insurance, which are projected to account for 81.3% of the general insurance gross written premiums (GWP) in 2025. Swarup Kumar Sahoo, a senior insurance analyst at GlobalData, noted that “motor insurance premiums are expected to rise due to elevated claims costs,” whilst the demand for PA&H insurance will be bolstered by medical inflation and an ageing population.

PA&H insurance is anticipated to be the largest segment, accounting for 24.7% of the GWP in 2025, with a CAGR of 7.7% forecasted for 2026–30. The growth is attributed to rising healthcare spending and the prevalence of Integrated Shield Plans, covering 72% of Singapore’s population as of H1 2025.

Motor insurance, the second-largest segment, is expected to grow steadily, driven by increased vehicle sales and premium rates. Property insurance, the third-largest segment, will benefit from public infrastructure investments and housing market growth.

Sahoo concluded that Singapore’s general insurers are well-positioned to accelerate premium growth through economic tailwinds and targeted product innovation, closing protection gaps and enhancing risk management.

Alternate Futures, a fund-backed innovation centre, has been launched during the Singapore International Agri-Food Week. This initiative, formed through a strategic alliance with Agrifood Futures, seeks to address climate, food, and energy challenges across Asia and beyond by integrating venture investment with innovation orchestration. The centre aims to create deployable, system-level solutions by investing in interlocking portfolios of innovations rather than isolated startups.

Keith Loo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alternate Futures, emphasised the need for a new kind of innovation architecture, stating, “The world doesn’t need another green fund. It needs a new kind of architecture for innovation.” The centre combines capital investment with hands-on deployment programmes to accelerate early-stage startups into market-ready ecosystems.

The alliance with Agrifood Futures allows Alternate Futures to collaborate with a global network, including Farmers2Founders, to accelerate the commercialisation and scaling of agrifood and climate innovations. Joshua Soo, Co-founder and Director of Agrifood Futures, highlighted the partnership’s potential, saying, “By linking Alternate Futures with our global ecosystem, we’re unlocking capital, capability and markets to enable solutions that regenerate entire systems, not just individual sectors.”

As part of its launch, Alternate Futures will raise a new fund to support founders in Agri-Food, Materials, Energy, and Data Infrastructure. This fund will back integrated “solution stacks” to drive system-level progress in Southeast Asia. The centre invites institutional investors, family offices, corporates, and ecosystem partners to join its mission in building sustainable systems for the future.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced on 31 October 2025 that it is intensifying efforts to combat financial crime by collaborating with the Police through the Anti-Money Laundering Case Coordination and Collaboration Network (AC3N). This initiative follows the case involving Prince Holding Group, highlighting the need for robust measures against illicit activities.

Since 2022, financial institutions have been proactive in filing suspicious transaction reports, with several taking risk mitigation steps such as closing suspicious accounts. These actions have successfully prevented larger sums from being held within Singapore’s financial sector.

MAS is committed to maintaining close cooperation with the Police and will conduct supervisory reviews with financial institutions linked to the case. Assistant Managing Director of MAS, Loo Siew Yee, emphasised the importance of global and local partnerships in tackling financial crime. “Combatting financial crime requires global effort as illicit fund flows are often cross-border in nature. In addition to international cooperation, close public and private partnership is crucial,” she stated.

The AC3N, led by the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force and MAS, includes sector supervisors, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies dedicated to fighting money laundering in Singapore. This collaborative approach underscores the importance of vigilance and cooperation in safeguarding the financial system against illicit activities.

Researchers from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered that pulsed electromagnetic fields can stimulate muscle tissue to mimic exercise benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes and excess belly fat. This non-invasive treatment, known as magnetic mitohormesis, activates metabolic pathways similar to those triggered by endurance exercise, potentially improving glucose control without physical exertion.

The exploratory study, conducted at SGH from June 2023 to January 2024, involved 40 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Participants underwent weekly 10-minute sessions where their leg muscles were stimulated by a gentle magnetic field. Notably, nearly 90% of patients with central obesity experienced improved blood glucose control, with their HbA1c levels dropping from 7.5% to 7.1% over three months.

Dr Tan Hong Chang, Senior Consultant at SGH, highlighted the significance of this treatment for patients unable to exercise due to age or health issues. “This treatment could give similar benefits to exercise without having to work out physically,” he stated.

The study, supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and QuantumTX Pte Ltd, was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in September 2025. Whilst promising, larger trials are necessary before widespread implementation. Future research will focus on optimal treatment duration and identifying patient profiles that benefit most. Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón from NUS emphasised the potential of this therapy in various health applications, noting its ability to lower inflammation and improve health outcomes.

Enterprise Singapore has announced the launch of Stage One, a new campus located at One-North, designed to support both local and international startups. Officially unveiled on 30 October 2025, the campus is set to become a hub for innovation, providing startups with the resources and environment needed to thrive.

Stage One at One-North is strategically positioned to offer startups access to a vibrant ecosystem of industry leaders, researchers, and investors. The campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including co-working spaces, labs, and meeting rooms, all aimed at fostering collaboration and creativity. This initiative is part of Enterprise Singapore’s broader strategy to enhance Singapore’s position as a global innovation centre.

The launch of Stage One is expected to attract a diverse range of startups, from tech-driven enterprises to those in the creative industries. By providing a conducive environment for growth, the campus aims to accelerate the development of innovative solutions and business models.

Enterprise Singapore’s commitment to nurturing startups is underscored by its investment in infrastructure and support services. The organisation believes that by bringing together a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, Stage One will serve as a catalyst for groundbreaking ideas and partnerships.

As the campus begins operations, it will play a crucial role in Singapore’s economic landscape, driving innovation and creating new opportunities for startups to scale and succeed on a global stage.

A recent survey by Sun Life Asia has revealed that financial security is the top priority for legacy planning among families in the region, yet 60% worry their wealth may not extend beyond their children’s generation. The study, titled *Passing the torch: Building lasting legacies in Asia*, surveyed over 3,000 individuals across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The findings highlight the importance of structured planning and financial literacy as Asia undergoes a significant intergenerational wealth transfer. Seven in 10 respondents emphasised the need for protection to ensure their family’s financial security, whilst 59% expressed a desire for their wealth to be invested in long-term growth through financial assets, life insurance, or family businesses.

Concerns about wealth preservation are prevalent, with 55% of respondents doubting their heirs’ financial readiness to manage inherited assets. Only 31% are confident their children will uphold their wishes regarding wealth transfer and asset growth. The affluent are particularly worried, with 28% describing themselves as “very concerned” about the longevity of their wealth.

David Broom, Chief Client & Distribution Officer at Sun Life, noted, “We are seeing a clear shift in how families define legacy – from wealth alone to a combination of financial security, education and purposeful living for future generations.” This shift underscores the need for open family discussions about money and the importance of financial education to ensure lasting legacies.

ROLO Robotics, a Singapore-based food robotics company, has successfully raised US$3.45m in an oversubscribed seed funding round. The investment, led by BEENEXT and supported by Blueprint Ventures, TIS Japan, Seedstars, A2D Ventures, SUTD Ventures, Antler, and Lotus One Investment, will be used to scale the company’s autonomous micro-kitchen solutions. Strategic angels Valentin Schillo and Gilbert Rodrigues also participated in the round.

The funding comes at a time when labour shortages and rising costs are challenging food operators worldwide. In Singapore, food and beverage wages have increased by 40–50% over the past five years, with turnover rates exceeding 100% annually. ROLO Robotics’ micro-kitchen solutions aim to alleviate these pressures by offering unmanned cooking and service through robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI). These systems can operate 24/7, reducing labour costs by up to 80% whilst enhancing food quality and safety.

Ravi Nahappan, Co-Founder and CEO of ROLO Robotics, stated, “At ROLO, we believe the future of food service is human-robot collaboration — food that’s affordable, customisable and always fresh.” The company’s flagship product, MAYA 3.0, is the world’s first autonomous fast-food kiosk, capable of cooking, packaging, and serving meals with full customisation options.

Jeremy Soh, Vice President at BEENEXT, commented on the investment, saying, “ROLO isn’t just prototyping — it’s deploying real systems that solve real labour and cost challenges.” The company plans to deploy its technology across Singapore in collaboration with food operators, universities, hospitals, and transport hubs, with pilot sites in Australia to follow.