The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

The payments landscape is undergoing a major transformation, with emerging markets leading the charge in innovation. From low-cost mobile money solutions to differentiated banking models, Asia is redefining cross-border transactions. But what trends are driving this rapid evolution, and how can SMEs adapt? Nagesh Devata, Senior Vice President of Asia at Payoneer, shares insights into developments in fintech that are reshaping global trade, the impact of economic volatility, and what the future holds for cross-border payments.

Singapore is setting ambitious targets to become an urban wellness hub, with its wellness tourism sector projected to hit $1.1 trillion by 2025. As the wellness boom reshapes real estate, developers are rethinking ways of designing and building projects to support longevity and holistic health. How will real estate that integrates wellness and healthcare elements transform Southeast Asia’s urban landscapes and influence investment strategies? Otto Twist, Southeast Asia Director at Savills joins Lynlee Foo to discuss trends in the wellness real estate sector.

On Good Tech, our weekly segment spotlighting technology that drives meaningful social change, we explore how innovation is transforming maternal healthcare. Millions of expectant mothers still face complications that could result in mortality due to gaps in accessibility. But, what if technology could bridge that divide? Singapore-based MedTech startup Biorithm is leading the way with Femom, a remote monitoring platform that empowers clinicians with real-time data and improving access to maternal care. Amrish Nair, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Biorithm, to discuss how his team is redefining maternal care to prevent complications before they arise.

Asian stocks fell sharply as a market selloff extended on mounting worries that a wide-ranging trade war could dent U.S. economic growth and lead to a recession. Fears of an economic downturn have driven a stock market selloff that wiped out $4 trillion from the S&P 500's peak last month. What does this mean for the broader economy? What should investors be watching in the days ahead? Yeap Jun Rong, Market Strategist at IG, shares his views, unpacking the impact of the U.S. market turmoil, and the spillover effects on Asia.

According to the World Gold Council, at the start of 2025, central banks reported 18 tonnes of net gold purchases, reinforcing the metal’s strategic role in official reserves amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. But how is gold demand evolving across key markets like Southeast Asia, China, India, and Japan? Shaokai Fan, Head of Asia-Pacific (excluding China) and Global Head of Central Banks at the World Gold Council, weighs in on current developments and shares insights into emerging trends; from central bank gold reserves to digital gold platforms and what they signal for the future of gold.

China's new AI player, Deepseek has sent ripples across the tech world since it emerged on the scene in January. DeepSeek’s AI model with its capabilities, are said to rival, and sometimes even surpass OpenAI’s ChatGPT but at a fraction of the cost. Distillation is the industry’s new buzzword and enables AI models to run with fewer resources. Now, a global race is on to create AI models that are cheaper for consumers and businesses to adopt. Theos Evgeniou, Professor of Technology and Business at INSEAD, discusses how the machine learning technique works, the immense potential of distillation in AI across industries and why it is crucial for businesses to stay ahead in AI development.

As people become more aware of the importance of staying healthy, and the rising costs of healthcare, there is a growing focus on preventive care and personalised medicine. How is private healthcare in Singapore adapting to technological advancements, changing consumer demands, and an aging population? What are the latest trends and challenges in the private healthcare and wellness industry? Aileen Seah, Amelia Lee, and Goh Xin Ying, co-founders of The Health Collective, which integrates chiropractic, osteopathy, and dental care to prioritise early intervention and holistic well-being share their insights. The three women leaders also touched on concerns that women tend to ignore their own health while balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, and the steps they can take for better health and well-being. 

Advanced manufacturing industry has evolved rapidly in the 21st century. Phyllis Ong, Group CEO of Armstrong Asia, which isa homegrown advanced manufacturing group that has become a leading industry player in noise, vibration, heat & safety management solutions in the region discusses the developments of this industry and the critical role of digitisation and automation. Phyllis who chairs the Singapore Manufacturing Federation’s Women in Manufacturing Committee, also shares her work approach in a traditionally male-dominated manufacturing industry and what she believes to be an important factor to her success.  

The renewable energy sector is experiencing robust growth with advancements in energy storage, grid resilience, and off-grid solutions as we transition to cleaner energy sources to combat climate change.  Filipa Ricciardi, Executive Director at leading clean energy solutions provider EDP Renewables APAC, shares insights into the transformative growth of renewable energy in Singapore and the wider Asia Pacific region including innovative solutions and the importance of public-private partnerships for the future of renewable energy.

AI and automation are transforming the workforce at an unprecedented pace, bringing new opportunities and economic benefits. While AI can revolutionise industries, boost worker productivity, and improve job quality, its broad adoption presents challenges. How can organisations and governments reduce the risks of AI displacement while maximising its transformative potential for the workforce? Moutushi Sengupta, Senior Advisor at Asia’s leading social investment network AVPN, shares her insights into current efforts to bridge the gap in an AI-first era, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, and low-wage workers. Moutushi also discusses AVPN’s $15 million AI Opportunity Fund, aimed at equipping Asia’s workforce with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy.  Good Tech takes an inspiring look at initiatives and thought leadership, and ways technology is used to drive impactful social change.