The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

Experts say the global ESG fund landscape will look significantly different in 2025 which could see a much-needed pragmatism to push for the actions – and finance – to implement the transition towards a more resilient global economy for the 2030s and beyond. What are the factors that will be recurring themes for investors? London-based Hortense Bioy, head of sustainable investing research, at financial services firm Morningstar shares insights into the themes sustainability-aware investors should know about.

China's economy faced significant challenges in 2024, including a property downturn, local government funding issues, and a sluggish labour market. As the World Bank raises China's economic growth forecast for 2024 and 2025, questions remain whether the country can overcome challenges in confidence and the property sector. Is the world's second-largest economy heading into another tumultuous year? What’s in store for China’s economy in 2025?  Hong Kong-based economist for Asia Pacific at global financial institution, Natixis, Gary Ng shares his perspectives on what to expect.

With the World Health Organisation predicting a near doubling of the global population over 60 years old by 2050, businesses are increasingly navigating the complexities of a multigenerational workforce. From Gen Z to Baby Boomers, Asia Pacific workplaces host a unique blend of perspectives, experiences, and skills. While this diversity drives innovation and problem-solving, it also presents challenges in fostering collaboration and alignment across generations. What are the strategies to unlock the value and full potential of a multi-generational workforce? Simon Tate, Asia Pacific President at enterprise cloud application provider Workday, shares his views in addition to insights from the company's recent multi-generational report.  

The global EV landscape has undergone a massive change. Chinese EV manufacturers led by BYD have successfully combined technological advancement with cost efficiency to create vehicles that appeal to domestic and international market. As Southeast Asia accelerates its push for electrification, EV adoption is transforming the region's automotive landscape. NETA Automobile, manufactured by Shanghai-based Hozon Auto is one of the new Chinese brands making its debut at this year's Singapore Motorshow. Its distributor Evology Automobile will introduce two vehicles, NETA X and NETA AYA to motorists here. Despite the recent safety rating of NETA AYA's predecessor NETA V, at the Asean New Car Assessment Programme crash test, Nathan Koh, Sales Manager, Evology Automobile Pte Ltd is confident of capturing the Singapore market. Koh and Gao Peng, Overseas Sales Director of Asia Pacific Region at NETA Automobile, give their perspectives on the EV market in Singapore and share more about the new NETA vehicles.

The advent of autonomous agents signals a transformative shift in the field of artificial intelligence. Top executives from tech giants like Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI are at the forefront of the revolution unveiling their own AI agents which are pegged to be the next big thing in 2025. How will AI agents be deployed? Is it just hype or a game-changer that will transform the way businesses operate? Gavin Barfield, Chief Technology Officer and VP of Solution Engineering for ASEAN at Salesforce shares his insights into what he calls "one of the biggest technology transformations of the generation" - agentic AI. 

Singapore’s office market is facing headwinds. Despite a 14.9% surge in Grade A office rents since early 2021, recent data shows a dip in activity, with office rental indices registering declines and vacancies rising to 7.8% due to new supply additions like IOI Central Boulevard Towers. Coupled with limited demand from tech sectors and the rise of flexible working arrangements, the market has plateaued, relying on smaller-scale demand from private wealth and professional services firms. How will the current conditions augur for Singapore’s office market in 2025? What will growth look like? Alan Cheong, Executive Director of Research & Consultancy at Savills shares his insights on Singapore’s office market outlook for 2025.

Low-code technology is accelerating application development, allowing even non-technical users to quickly build apps and automate business processes. Across industries, low-code platforms are gaining traction, enabling faster, more agile solutions without the need for extensive programming expertise. However, many enterprises still see them as tools for quick fixes or departmental solutions. How can organisations leverage enterprise-grade low-code technology to tackle complex, mission-critical challenges and enable large-scale digital transformation? What is the role of low-code in integrating emerging technologies like AI, cloud, and edge computing? Raymond Kok, Chief Executive Officer at Mendix, a leading low-code application development platform which is part of tech conglomerate Siemens, shares his insights on the impact of low-code technology, trends in application development and the state of low-code adoption in Singapore and Asia.

2024 was a memorable year for Bitcoin and the entire cryptocurrency sector. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in January marked a significant milestone in crypto investment in the US. It reached new all-time highs in March and October, and crossed the symbolic threshold of US$100,000 in December, solidifying its position as a global benchmark asset.  Singapore is emerging as a digital asset hub, attracting talent, investments, and groundbreaking projects. With advancements in blockchain technology, increasing institutional adoption, and clearer regulatory frameworks, the sector is poised for growth and promises to redefine the way we interact with financial systems in the new year. What will 2025 bring for cryptocurrencies and DeFi development in Asia?  Danny Chong, co-chairman of the Digital Assets Association in Singapore and co-founder of decentralised protocol Tranchess, shares his outlook for 2025.

In an era of unprecedented digital connectivity and data growth, securing sensitive information has never been more critical. With increasing threats and advancements in technology, how can businesses stay ahead of the curve? From the rise of AI-driven threats to the growing importance of zero-trust architectures, what should organisations be aware of to safeguard their data and infrastructure in an ever-changing digital world? Terry Ray, Senior Vice President and Fellow at Imperva, shares his predictions for data security in 2025 and critical trends shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Asia Pacific offers one of the best coastlines in the world, housing thousands of islands in the pacific ocean which boasts many popular tourists spots. In this region, the growing appetite for luxury assets such as superyachts is in tandem with the surge in the number of high net worth individuals. How are industry players riding this wave of Asian wealth? Industry Insight dives into the world of marine opulence and luxury with Peter Mahony, General Manager (Asia) at Benetti Yachts. Peter shares his insights on the burgeoning superyacht industry in Asia and how the Italian yacht builder is shaping the future of luxury yachting.