Industry News

The Laughing Cow, a leading cheese brand known for its commitment to healthy snacking, has partnered with KidZania Singapore to launch The Laughing Cow Cheese Factory. Situated at KidZania, Palawan Kidz City, Sentosa Island, this initiative allows children to role-play as cheesemakers, introducing them to the steps of cheese-making in an interactive and engaging environment.

The factory offers a hands-on experience where young participants can learn the intricacies of crafting The Laughing Cow’s soft and creamy cheese. Through role-play, children explore the art of cheese-making, understand the importance of high-quality ingredients, and learn about the innovative and hygienic processes involved. The Laughing Cow Cheese is highlighted as a nutritious snack, with two portions of its Creamy Cheese Triangles providing the same calcium as a glass of milk.

Alamjit Singh Sekhon, General Manager of Bel Southeast Asia, stated, “At Bel, we are passionate about creating meaningful partnerships that inspire and educate. Our collaboration with KidZania Singapore reflects our commitment to promote nutrition and education in ways that are interactive, enjoyable, and memorable.”

The educational journey aims to inspire young minds, fostering critical thinking and motor skills through role-playing activities. At the end of the session, each child earns the title of “The Laughing Cow Certified Cheesemaker,” making the experience both fun and memorable. This initiative aligns with The Laughing Cow’s philosophy of providing accessible, nutritious, and enjoyable food for all.
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Singapore’s manufacturing sector experienced a notable downturn in February 2025, with output decreasing by 7.5% on a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis. “`

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The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA) have renewed their partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 26 March 2025. This agreement, witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, focuses on fostering people-to-people cooperation between the two nations.

Since their initial collaboration in 2017, SIF and VSFA have worked together to promote mutual understanding and cooperation. The renewed MOU aims to facilitate partnerships in areas such as climate adaptation, youth engagement, and development needs. It also seeks to support the identification and engagement of relevant stakeholders to participate in each other’s programmes and initiatives.

The collaboration will continue to strengthen knowledge exchange and dialogue between Singaporean and Vietnamese communities. Lian Wee Cheow, Vice Chairman of SIF, expressed honour in reaffirming the partnership, stating, “This MOU reflects our shared commitment to foster meaningful connections and collaborations between our peoples.”

Nguyen Duc Hung, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of VSFA, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of the partnership in facilitating meaningful exchanges and strengthening community ties. He added, “We look forward to expanding our cooperation and working together on initiatives that enhance mutual understanding and drive sustainable development.”

This MOU is part of several bilateral agreements signed during Prime Minister Wong’s visit, aimed at enhancing multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. The continued collaboration between SIF and VSFA is expected to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future for both nations.
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CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Sangfor Technologies to launch the SmartCLOUD CFUSION hybrid cloud series. This collaboration aims to integrate Sangfor’s technologies with CITIC Telecom CPC’s ICT capabilities, providing enterprises with innovative and trusted hybrid cloud services. The new series is designed to support enterprises’ digital transformation and IT resource management across China and global markets.

The SmartCLOUD CFUSION series offers a comprehensive cloud infrastructure, including private, virtual private, and public cloud services. It is compatible with multiple CPU architectures, ensuring seamless operations and compliance with national regulatory policies. This initiative is particularly significant for enterprises with compliance requirements for autonomous technologies, facilitating their “Going Global, Entering China” strategy.

Kenneth Wong, Vice President of Product and Digital Intelligence Development at CITIC Telecom CPC, emphasised the importance of this partnership, stating, “We strive to cooperate with an ecosystem of partners, including Sangfor. This announcement signifies our deepened collaboration and dedication to providing innovative and scalable IT solutions.”

The partnership will initially focus on the Beijing and Guangzhou markets, with plans to expand to other regions. Ringo Yiu, Sangfor’s General Manager for the Asia-Pacific Region, highlighted the collaboration’s potential, noting, “This strategic partnership will demonstrate the synergistic capabilities of both companies, enhancing not only the supply capabilities of our products and services but also propelling our global market growth.”

The SmartCLOUD CFUSION series is expected to empower enterprises with robust hybrid cloud solutions, reducing IT complexity and costs whilst supporting global market expansion.
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UOB Asset Management has announced a significant change to its Singapore-listed ETF, effective 25 March 2025. The ETF, formerly known as the United SSE 50 Index ETF, now tracks the FTSE China A50 Index, aiming to improve investability and operational efficiency for offshore portfolio managers. This shift is expected to make the ETF more appealing to international investors.

The FTSE China A50 Index comprises 50 Chinese A-Share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, including new technology stocks such as CATL and BYD. These companies are part of the index’s largest weights, with CATL holding a 6.8% weight and BYD a 4.0% weight. The inclusion of these stocks is part of a broader strategy to provide better representation and tradability of the China A-share market.

The revamped ETF now offers both SGD and USD counters, with a minimum tick size of 0.001. The change aligns with China’s recent economic policies, which include boosting foreign reinvestment and supporting industrial chain collaboration. These policies were announced in March, alongside a fiscal deficit increase to $219 billion (RMB 1.6 trillion) and a GDP growth target of 5%.

The FTSE China A50 Index has shown strong performance, generating a 21.8% total return in 2024. It ranks among the top three performers of China-focused indices maintained by FTSE Russell, with the second-lowest volatility. This change in the ETF’s underlying index is expected to enhance its attractiveness to investors seeking exposure to China’s dynamic market.
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SecurityScorecard’s 2025 Global Third-Party Breach Report has unveiled a significant rise in cyber attacks originating from third-party vendors, with 35.5% of all breaches in 2024 linked to these sources. The report, based on an analysis of 1,000 breaches across various industries and regions, underscores the growing threat posed by vendor-driven attacks.

The report identifies Singapore as having the highest third-party breach rate at 71.4%, followed by the Netherlands and Japan. Ryan Sherstobitoff, SVP of SecurityScorecard’s STRIKE Threat Research and Intelligence, noted, “Threat actors are prioritising third-party access for its scalability.”

Key findings indicate a shift in attack patterns, with 46.75% of third-party breaches involving technology products and services, down from 75% the previous year. This suggests a diversification of attack surfaces. The retail and hospitality sectors experienced the highest breach rates, whilst the healthcare sector reported the most breaches in total.

The report also highlights the role of ransomware, with 41.4% of such attacks now starting through third parties. The ransomware group C10p is identified as a prominent user of third-party access vectors.

SecurityScorecard recommends several strategies to mitigate these risks, including real-time monitoring of vendor relationships and demanding “secure by design” technology. The report stresses the importance of adapting security measures to industry-specific risks and enhancing vendor risk management programmes.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, organisations are urged to shift from periodic assessments to continuous monitoring to safeguard their supply chains effectively.
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SC Capital Partners, a Singapore-based real estate investment firm, has announced the final closing of its sixth Asia Pacific opportunistic real estate fund, Real Estate Capital Asia Partners VI L.P. (RECAP VI), at $900 million. The fund targets growth-oriented investments in developed Asia Pacific markets, with a focus on technology and hospitality sectors.

RECAP VI has already committed over 70% of its equity, with 44% allocated to Japan’s hospitality and data centre sectors. The fund’s investments include acquiring 27 hotels in Japan, managed by Japan Hotel REIT Advisors, a subsidiary of SC Capital Partners. This move aims to tap into the increasing demand from both inbound and domestic travellers.

Additionally, RECAP VI is developing a data centre campus in Osaka, Japan, and a hyperscale facility in Bucheon, South Korea, in partnership with SC Zeus Data Centres. These projects align with the fund’s strategy to capitalise on digital transformation and expanding cloud infrastructure in the region.

Suchad Chiaranussati, Chairman and Founder of SC Capital Partners, expressed optimism about the Asia Pacific real estate sector, citing strong fundamentals in Japan’s hospitality sector, the data centre market, and industrial and logistics sectors. “Despite ongoing challenges in global capital markets, we remain optimistic about the Asia Pacific real estate sector,” he stated.

The fund has attracted a diverse group of institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds and corporations, due to its platform-driven investment approach. This successful closing highlights SC Capital Partners’ ability to leverage its in-house expertise across key sectors, enhancing operational efficiencies and generating long-term value for investors.
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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has taken significant strides in maritime innovation by launching Singapore’s first Maritime Digital Twin and signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to advance geospatial technology. Announced during the Singapore Maritime Week 2025, these initiatives aim to improve risk management and operational planning for safer and more efficient maritime operations.

The Maritime Digital Twin, a virtual model of Singapore’s port, was unveiled on 24 March 2025. Developed in collaboration with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), the digital twin offers real-time vessel monitoring and underwater visualisation capabilities, showcased at the EXPO@SMW.

In addition, MPA has signed a three-year MOU with several partners, including Jurong Port and the National University of Singapore (NUS), to explore geospatial technologies. These partnerships will focus on using location-based data to create visual insights, aiding in risk management and operational efficiency. The collaboration also aims to address challenges such as sea level rise and alternative fuel bunkering.

Furthermore, MPA and NUS have agreed to develop maritime geospatial courses and a professional certification programme to build a skilled workforce in this field. This initiative will equip students and professionals with expertise in 2D and 3D mapping, geospatial analytics, and advanced modelling.

These efforts align with the Singapore Geospatial Master Plan (2024–2033), which seeks to drive geospatial innovations and address the challenges faced by Singapore as a hub port and island nation.
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Australia and Singapore have announced the selection of eight research projects to receive funding under a $20m initiative aimed at reducing emissions in the maritime sector. This effort is part of the Australia-Singapore Initiative on Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET), which supports the Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) between the two nations, focusing on decarbonising and digitising shipping routes.

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Launched in July 2024, ASLET aims to accelerate the deployment of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission technologies for maritime and port operations.

The projects, selected from 32 applications, encompass a variety of innovative approaches. These include the development of hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol technologies, as well as safety and environmental monitoring systems. Notable projects include the University of Tasmania’s ammonia safety training programme and the National University of Singapore’s AI-based system for managing ammonia and hydrogen fuels.

The selected projects have attracted additional co-contributions and are expected to be completed within two years. This initiative marks a significant step towards sustainable maritime operations, with potential long-term benefits for the shipping industry.
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A recent study by International Workplace Group, the leading provider of hybrid working solutions, has highlighted the health and productivity benefits of hybrid work models. Conducted among over 4,000 hybrid workers, the study found that 36% of employees are taking fewer sick days due to the flexibility offered by hybrid work arrangements. This flexibility allows 74% of workers to prioritise preventative healthcare, such as regular screenings and lifestyle changes.

The research also revealed that 70% of hybrid workers experience fewer stress-related health issues, including severe headaches and digestive problems. Additionally, 80% of participants reported that reduced commuting time significantly lowers their stress levels, contributing to a better work-life balance and reduced anxiety.

In Singapore, mental health challenges like stress and anxiety are linked to decreased productivity, costing the economy approximately $11.8 billion (SGD 15.7 billion) annually. The Singaporean government has responded by implementing flexible work arrangements and guidelines to promote workplace wellbeing.

Dr Sara Kayat, a UK-based TV doctor, emphasised the tangible health benefits of hybrid work, stating, “By reducing the physical and mental strain of long daily commutes, workers are able to better manage their existing health conditions, access preventative care, and reduce stress.”

The study also noted that 75% of CEOs have observed increased productivity due to hybrid work, with 77% of employees becoming more engaged. As demand for flexible workspaces grows, International Workplace Group continues to expand, adding 899 new locations globally last year.
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