Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Singapore’s tourism scene has shifted dramatically since 2019. According to a new report from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with input from the Singapore Tourism Board, total tourism receipts in 2024 have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels—even though visitor numbers haven’t fully recovered. Tourists are spending less on shopping and hotels, but more on dining, entertainment, sightseeing, and gaming. What’s driving this move from shopping to experiences? And how will it shape Singapore’s strategy to attract higher-spending visitors and boost tourism receipts by 2040? On The Big Story, Alexandra Parada speaks with Aidan Wong, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at SMU, to unpack these trends.

When you think of traditional kueh, nostalgia and childhood memories probably come to mind. Behind some of Singapore’s most iconic kuehs, however, is a woman who has quietly shaped this legacy for over 40 years. Esther founded Cooking Art Industries in the 1980s, starting as one of Singapore’s first professional culinary schools and later transforming it into a heritage confectionery trusted by hotels, embassies, and major events. Known for handcrafted Nonya and Thai kuehs—made fresh daily, preservative-free, and true to tradition—her brand is a living testament to Singapore’s dessert heritage. On The Right Business, Alexandra Parada speaks with Esther Kim Sim, Founder of Cooking Art Industries, to find out more. 

A record-breaking quarter for Asia-Pacific real estate, and investors are piling back in. Investment volumes hit US$63.8 billion in Q3. From Seoul’s skyscrapers to Sydney’s warehouses, what’s driving the comeback? On Wealth Tracker, Alexandra Parada speaks to Christine Li, Head of Research, Asia-Pacific, Knight Frank, to break down the latest insights from Knight Frank’s Q2 2025 report.

Singapore shares dipped today as global investors continue to mull the possibility of a US interest rate reduction in December. The Straits Times Index was down 0.3% at 4,483.00 points at 2.29pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$857.89M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Keppel, after the firm inked a deal with JTC to embark on a 2026 study that focuses on a microgrid testbed for renewables and trials demand-response solutions.  Elsewhere, from more on the dovish comments made by Federal Reserve officials, to how WeRide narrowed its third-quarter net loss on increased robotaxi orders – more international and corporate headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities.

Singapore will introduce Provo in 2026, a free online tool designed to help users verify the authenticity of digital content. The platform embeds metadata into photos and videos, allowing anyone to check the original publisher, posting date, and any edits made. Alongside Provo, Sleuth, a deepfake recognition platform, analyzes pixel-level and audio-level inconsistencies to detect manipulated media. Together, these tools aim to strengthen trust in online information and provide the public with new ways to discern real content from deepfakes. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Duan Yue, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, SMU, to explore Singapore’s new initiatives for verifying online media and tackling deepfake content.  

MAS has just launched BLOOM, a new system using tokenised money and stablecoins to power faster, smarter settlements. But as finance goes blockchain, what does this mean for investors, and who stands to gain from this digital shift? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Yee Shen Hao, Financial Services Manager at PhillipCapital to find out more.

Go-Genie is a logistics software company that unifies the entire supply chain bringing shipment, warehousing, fulfilment, and last-mile delivery onto one intelligent platform. Founded in 2022, the company set out to solve the deep fragmentation faced by logistics providers, especially smaller and independent players. By consolidating orders, centralising operations, and integrating multiple service providers into a single interface, Go-Genie empowers businesses to manage their end-to-end logistics with greater speed, visibility, and control. On Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ang Ming Cong, CEO of Go-Genie, and Markus Lim, Business Development Director of Go-Genie, to explore how the Singapore-based logistics tech startup is transforming supply chains with AI and sustainability-driven solutions.

Singapore shares inched higher today, tracking gains seen in the region. The Straits Times Index was up 0.59% at 4,495.73 points at 2.06pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$771.70M seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Jardine Matheson, after the Hong Kong-based conglomerate said in a bourse filing on Friday that its performance for the third quarter of 2025 was “in line with expectations at the half-year”.  Meanwhile, from how both core and headline inflation in Singapore picked up in October, at a rate that exceeded economists’ expectations, to how Alibaba Group Holding’s Qwen app drew more than 10 million downloads in the week after its relaunch, more economic and corporate headlines remained in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.

Just months ago, Ethan Brown was serving NS. Today, he’s back from Misano after battling some of the world’s top young drivers. He joins Sports Minutes to talk national service, national pride and the belief that a Singaporean can make it all the way to the pinnacle of GT racing. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Today we’re going to revisit one of our guests that’s long been a cornerstone of Singapore’s mobility ecosystem.  Think the yellow and blue coloured taxis that ply the streets, or the SBS Transit buses and Mass Rapid Transport or MRT trains we take to work and to go home.  Bingo if you’ve guessed ComfortDelGro, a household name in Singapore that has also evolved into one of the largest land transport firms in the globe. And talking about evolution and change, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the group’s point-to-point business, having in September acquired all of ST Engineering Land Systems’ shares in taxi operator CityCab for a total purchase consideration of S$116.3 million.  While ComfortDelGro had been managing CityCab since 2005, what would the full ownership of CityCab mean for ComfortDelGro? But beyond acquisitions, ComfortDelGro is also making bold strides in the autonomous mobility space.  The firm had in March launched its first robotaxi pilot programme in Guangzhou, China, as part of a partnership with Pony AI, a company involved in the large-scale commercialisation of autonomous mobility.  And in September, the firm announced that it would expand the autonomous mobility services to Singapore, starting with the Punggol area early next year, in line with the country’s plan to integrate mobility solutions into existing transportation infrastructure.  But what should we know about the move, and how would the introduction of autonomous vehicles shake up the point-to-point mobility ecosystem, and in particular, the relationship between customers and taxi or private hire drivers? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Michael Huang, Head of Singapore Point-to-Point Mobility Business, and CEO of China Business Unit, ComfortDelGro.