The Exchange Asia

The ESG PLUS Awards 2025 are now open for nominations – across Asia! 
This prestigious platform celebrates excellence in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) by honoring impactful initiatives, responsible leadership, and sustainable innovation from individuals and organizations throughout the region. Open to all companies, professionals, and ESG champions across Asia. * If you’re leading by example * If you’re on a mission to inspire, educate, and encourage others to adopt and practice ESG principles. * If you’re driving real change in sustainability, social impact, or governance 📥 Submit your nomination today.
🔗 Theexchangeasia.com/nominate-now #ESGPLUS #ESGAwards2025 #SustainabilityLeadership #AsiaESG #CorporateResponsibility #InspireChange #SustainableAsia

Microsoft And Novata Strengthen Alliance To Scale AI-Driven Sustainability Solutions For SMEs Microsoft and Novata have announced a strategic collaboration to scale AI-powered sustainability solutions for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) on a global scale. Through this expanded alliance, Novata will integrate Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry—including Azure AI Search—and Microsoft Fabric into its platform, enhancing its capabilities in data management, ESG reporting and sustainability performance tools for Microsoft’s extensive global ecosystem of clients and suppliers. Microsoft will serve as a key distribution partner, supporting the deployment of Novata’s technology through its SME channels. This includes direct access to tools such as Novata’s Carbon Navigator, which is purpose-built to streamline carbon footprint tracking and sustainability planning for smaller businesses. Click link in bio for full story. #Microsoft #Novata #SustainabilityTech #AIForGood #SMESolutions #CarbonNavigator #AzureAI #ESGReporting #GreenInnovation #DigitalSustainability #TechForSMEs #SustainableBusiness #ClimateTech #AIinBusiness #TheExchangeAsia

Alibaba Hits 80 Million Deliveries In A Day Amid Escalating Price War With Meituan And JD.com Alibaba Group Holding has matched its single-day delivery record of 80 million orders, as competition intensifies across China’s instant commerce sector. The figure, achieved on Saturday and reported on Monday, reflects the company’s aggressive campaign to gain market share from key rivals Meituan and JD.com. The deliveries were fulfilled under Alibaba’s new instant commerce division, Taobao Shangou, which also reported a 15 per cent week-on-week increase in daily active users. While the company did not disclose a precise total, the growth places estimated usage at around 230 million users. Click link in bio for full story #Alibaba #InstantCommerce #TaobaoShangou #ECommerceChina #DeliveryMilestone #JDcom #Meituan #PriceWar #RetailTech #ConsumerTrends #LogisticsInnovation #DigitalEconomy #ChinaTech #OnlineRetail #TheExchangeAsia

Shanghai’s West Bund Emerges As New Business Powerhouse Amid Broader Property Downturn Shanghai’s West Bund, a dynamic 11-kilometre-long waterfront stretch in the southwestern Xuhui district, is defying China’s wider property sector malaise by drawing major multinational corporations and luxury retail brands to its growing commercial hub. Rapid development, strategic planning, and high-profile investment are transforming the zone into the city’s newest central business district (CBD), outpacing many other parts of the capital in terms of occupancy and appeal. Since redevelopment began in 2010, the West Bund has undergone a dramatic transformation into a modern urban district, blending premium office towers, luxury retail outlets, upscale residences, and cultural venues. Central to this revitalisation is Hongkong Land’s flagship Westbund Central project, a landmark mixed-use development that integrates office space, retail, hospitality, and residential units across more than 1 million square metres of gross floor area. The developer acquired the site for 31.1 billion yuan (US$4.3 billion) in 2020. Click link in bio for full story. #WestBund #ShanghaiDevelopment #HongkongLand #MixedUseDevelopment #UrbanRevitalisation #LuxuryRetail #ChinaPropertyMarket #CommercialRealEstate #WaterfrontProjects #CBDShanghai #InvestmentOpportunities #RealEstateChina #OfficeSpace #SmartCity #TheExchangeAsia

BRC Asia Secures S$570 Million Contract For Changi Airport Terminal 5 Substructure BRC Asia has secured a landmark contract valued at approximately S$570 million to supply steel reinforcement for the substructure of Changi Airport’s highly anticipated Terminal 5 development. The award was granted by the joint venture between the Singapore branch of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Obayashi Singapore. This collaboration marks a significant step in the realisation of one of Singapore’s largest infrastructure projects to date. Click link in bio for full story #BRCAAsia #ChangiAirport #Terminal5 #InfrastructureProjects #SteelReinforcement #SingaporeConstruction #CCCC #Obayashi #MegaProjects #EngineeringContracts #AsiaInfrastructure #AirportDevelopment #ConstructionNews #ProjectMilestone #TheExchangeAsia

Temasek Deepens Focus On India With Targeted High-Value Investments Temasek Holdings Pte is refining its investment strategy in India, signalling a shift towards larger, more concentrated bets as it seeks to optimise returns on its expanding US$50 billion (RM212.7 billion) local portfolio. The Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund, a long-term investor in India, is adjusting its approach in response to improving market conditions and greater ease in exiting positions. “The market is getting bigger and bigger, so we need to concentrate,” said Ravi Lambah, head of India operations and strategic initiatives at Temasek. The fund, which has been investing in India for over two decades, recorded a US$13 billion or 35 percent increase in its Indian portfolio this year, driven by capital appreciation and fresh investments. Click link in bio for full story. #Temasek #IndiaInvestments #SovereignWealthFund #HighValueInvestments #PortfolioExpansion #AsianMarkets #CapitalAppreciation #EmergingMarkets #StrategicInvestments #SingaporeInvestments #IndiaEconomy #TemasekIndia #GlobalFinance #InvestmentStrategy #TheExchangeAsia

Corporate Japan Faces Sharper Shareholder Scrutiny Amid Record Activism Corporate Japan is experiencing a marked shift in investor dynamics, as a record number of shareholder proposals passed at annual general meetings this year. The trend signals growing assertiveness among investors and a waning tolerance for underperformance or complacent governance. According to Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp., seven companies saw shareholder proposals adopted at their AGMs, the highest number since the bank began collecting data nearly 30 years ago. These resolutions included board nominations and governance reforms, highlighting a departure from the historically passive stance of Japan’s shareholder base. Click link in bio for full story #CorporateJapan #ShareholderActivism #InvestorPressure #AGM2025 #GovernanceReform #BoardAccountability #JapaneseMarkets #MitsubishiUFJ #StakeholderCapitalism #InvestorRights #CorporateTransparency #AsiaBusiness #MarketReform #JapanEconomy #TheExchangeAsia

Vietnam Sees Sharp Rise In Home Businesses Transitioning To Registered Enterprises Vietnam is witnessing a significant shift in its business landscape, with nearly 1,500 household businesses officially converting into registered enterprises during the first half of 2025. Of these, 910 made the transition in June alone, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total conversions. The data was disclosed by Mai Xuan Thanh, Director of the Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Finance, during a meeting held last Wednesday. This surge in formalisation reflects increasing momentum following the government’s issuance of Resolution 68 on 4 May 2025, which positions the private sector as a core pillar of the national economy. Click the link to read full story. #VietnamEconomy #BusinessFormalisation #SMETransition #Entrepreneurship #PrivateSectorGrowth #Resolution68 #TaxReform #RegisteredEnterprises #VietnamBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #HomeBusinessShift #BusinessPolicy #EnterpriseGrowth #AsiaMarkets #TheExchangeAsia

Maybank Extends US$150 Million Sustainability-Linked Loan To AT&S Malaysia Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has extended a sustainability-linked loan (SLL) valued at US$150 million to Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Malaysia Sdn Bhd (AT&S), marking a significant milestone in sustainable finance for the region. In an official statement, Maybank confirmed that the facility represents the first SLL issued by a Malaysian and Southeast Asian commercial bank to AT&S. It is also the inaugural SLL extended by a domestic financial institution to a multinational corporation operating within Malaysia’s semiconductor industry. Click link in bio for full story. #Maybank #SustainabilityLinkedLoan #ATSMalaysia #GreenFinance #SemiconductorIndustry #SustainableBanking #ESGFinance #MalaysiaBanking #ClimateFinance #CorporateSustainability #GreenInvestment #CleanTech #RegionalMilestone #EcoFinancing #TheExchangeAsia

Ramssol Divests 40% Stake In Rider Gate For RM25 Million Ramssol Group Berhad has formalised a share sale agreement with Sagtec Global Ltd for the disposal of its 40% equity interest in Rider Gate Sdn Bhd. The transaction is valued at RM25 million and will be settled through the issuance of Sagtec consideration shares equivalent to the disposal sum. Rider Gate, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ramssol, is engaged in mobile applications, electronic commerce, and integrated information systems. The divestment marks a strategic step for Ramssol, aimed at enhancing Rider Gate’s commercial scalability. Click in bio for full story. #Ramssol #RiderGate #EquityDivestment #StrategicMove #SagtecGlobal #TechInvestment #MobileApps #ECommerce #DigitalBusiness #MalaysiaStartups #CorporateRestructuring #ShareSale #BusinessScalability #VentureGrowth #TheExchangeAsia

Malaysia Mandates Strategic Trade Permit For US-Origin AI Chip Exports The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has announced the immediate enforcement of a Strategic Trade Permit requirement for all exports, transshipments and transits involving high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) chips of United States origin. The move, aimed at addressing regulatory blind spots, forms part of a broader commitment to uphold Malaysia’s international obligations. In a formal statement, Miti confirmed that the measure is instituted under Section 12 of the Strategic Trade Act 2010 (STA 2010), known as the Catch-All Control provision. This provision compels exporters to notify authorities a minimum of 30 days in advance should they intend to export, transship or transit any item not listed under the Strategic Items List (SIL), where there is knowledge or reasonable suspicion that the item could be misused or linked to restricted activities. Click link in bio for full story. #MalaysiaTrade #AIChips #StrategicTradeAct #ExportRegulations #MITI #TechControls #USOriginGoods #CatchAllControl #AIExportPolicy #TradeCompliance #MalaysiaEconomy #Semiconductor #GeopoliticsAndTrade #MalaysiaTechPolicy #TheExchangeAsia

Malaysia’s Wholesale And Retail Sales Reach RM154.3 Billion In May-DOSM Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade sector recorded a total sales value of RM154.3 billion in May 2025, representing a 4.4 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). In an official statement, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin attributed the growth to robust performances in the retail and wholesale trade sub-sectors. The retail trade segment posted RM67.1 billion in sales, marking a 4.9 per cent or RM3.1 billion increase compared to the same period last year. Similarly, wholesale trade rose to RM68.2 billion, up 4.7 per cent or RM3.1 billion year-on-year, underscoring consistent business activity along the supply chain. Click link in bio for full story #MalaysiaEconomy #RetailSales #WholesaleTrade #DOSM #EconomicGrowth #BusinessPerformance #ConsumerSpending #SupplyChain #MarketTrends #StatisticalUpdate #TradeSector #May2025 #MalaysiaBusiness #SalesReport #TheExchangeAsia