The rupee weakened to around 95.76 against the US dollar on Wednesday as rising crude oil prices, persistent tensions in West Asia and losses in domestic equities renewed pressure on the currency. The currency touched a three-week low during the session and finished near 95.75 to the dollar, extending its decline from Tuesday’s close of 95.68. Dollar demand from importers remained firm, while the sharp increase in […]
Britain recorded more than 220,000 fraud-risk cases in the first six months of 2026, the highest total ever registered for the January-to-June period, as identity theft, account takeovers and money-mule activity intensified across financial and digital services. The figure was about 1% higher than a year earlier. Identity fraud remained the dominant threat, accounting for 59% of all cases entered into the National Fraud Database during the […]
Matein Khalid So far, 2026 has been the best of all possible worlds for US money centre bank shares and Wall Street brokers, a Panglossian season of peak profits and blowout capital markets revenue growth. While software, memory and AI infrastructure stocks took a bungee jump on the Nasdaq in July, the major banks benefited from the SpaceX mega IPO, which generated a $500 million fee jackpot for […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice as escalating security tensions deepen economic disruption across the Gulf. Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the decision while rejecting allegations about the status of economic relations between the UAE and Iran. She said regional escalations were […]
Organized by Enterprise Asia, the ceremony was held on 7 August 2026 at Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai. This year’s recipients exemplified how strategic vision, innovation, and a commitment to positive impact can create lasting value for businesses, communities, and the wider economy.
Following a comprehensive evaluation by a distinguished panel of judges, over 150 nominees were assessed across ten AREA categories and five APEA categories. The AREA celebrated enterprises and leaders who have made significant contributions through responsible business practices and sustainability-driven initiatives. Meanwhile, the APEA recognized organizations and entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional performance, strategic agility, and forward-thinking leadership in shaping the future of business.
In his welcome address, Enterprise Asia President Richard Tsang highlighted the need for enterprises to embrace transformation and responsible growth, noting that resilience, strategic foresight, and purpose-driven leadership remain key to achieving long-term success in an increasingly dynamic global landscape.
Among the outstanding AREA award recipients, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. was recognized under the Green Leadership category for its Trusted Circular Materials system. By developing advanced recycling networks, digital traceability, and high-value recycled plastics, Chery has recovered over 10,000 tonnes of waste plastics, reduced approximately 9,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, and advanced sustainable automotive manufacturing.
Further advancing circular economy practices, SUS ENVIRONMENT won the Circular Economy Leadership award for its City-Benefiting Low-Carbon Solid Waste Management Model, demonstrated through the Xi’an Gaoling Project. By integrating waste-to-energy, district heating, AI-powered operations, and multi-source waste co-processing, the project has processed 5.34 million tonnes of waste, generated 2.24 billion kWh of green electricity, and achieved over 1.92 million tonnes of carbon reductions.
China Hongqiao Group Limited, a three-time consecutive AREA award recipient, has once again received the award under the Circular Economy Leadership category for advancing circular economy development through recycled aluminum. Its closed-loop circular economy model enables recycled aluminum to save approximately 95% of energy and reduce carbon emissions by over 85% compared with traditional electrolytic aluminum.
Honored with the AREA under the Corporate Governance category, E.SUN Bank (China) has embedded transparency and accountability throughout its operations. The bank implemented comprehensive Board meeting records three years ahead of regulatory requirements while strengthening stakeholder disclosure, maintaining a Moody’s Baa1 rating since 2022 and customer satisfaction above 97%.
Demonstrating the power of industry-wide collaboration, The Hong Kong Association of Banks received the AREA under the Social Empowerment category for its Anti-Fraud Education initiative. The initiative reached more than 11,000 people in 2025 and has contributed to strengthen its community outreach, with over 300 activities conducted across Hong Kong to date. According to figures released by the Hong Kong SAR Government, reported deception cases decreased by 2.9% in 2025 compared with 2024, marking the first decline after nine consecutive years of growth.
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited was honored with three prestigious awards at the AREA — the Social Empowerment Award, Investment in People Award and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Award, recognizing its exceptional and impactful sustainability practices. The Bank exemplifies a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility through a diverse range of initiatives that promote social inclusion, nurture talent development, and continuously enhance ESG disclosure. These accomplishments highlight its leadership in advancing responsible business practices and establish a new benchmark for excellence within the financial sector.
Techtronic Industries (TTI), a world leader in cordless technology, was awarded two AREA accolades, receiving recognition under the Circular Economy Leadership and Social Empowerment categories. Through its award-winning initiatives, “Advancing Circularity Through Sustainable Product Innovation” and “Empowering Exceptional People and Strengthening Communities” , TTI is creating lasting social impact while accelerating the transition towards a more circular and sustainable future.
As the sole recipient of both the APEA and AREA in 2026, OrbusNeich Medical Group Holdings Limited was recognized under the Corporate Excellence and Health Promotion categories respectively. Operating in more than 70 countries and regions, the Group continues to drive innovation in interventional medical devices while advancing regional clinical capabilities through its cross-border medical education initiative, ultimately improving patient outcomes across Asia-Pacific.
In the APEA segment, Onewo Inc. was honoured under the Corporate Excellence category for redefining space services through technology-driven innovation. Powered by its proprietary “Link X” AI platform, the company manages over 5,300 residential and 3,400 property and facility management projects nationwide,driving the space service industry toward a smarter and more sustainable future.
The AREA and APEA 2025 China Chapter are co-organized by Enterprise Accelerator Co., Ltd. and proudly supported by Eruid (Shanghai) Inspection & Certification Co., Ltd., MayCham China in Shanghai, SingCham Shanghai, Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG), The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, and Tang Cultural Media. PR Newswire is the official news release distribution partner, with Dailywire.asia as the official media partner and Osin Au Pty Ltd as the official beverage sponsor.
| SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED | CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: BOCHK PARA SPORTS AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME |
| TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES COMPANY LIMITED | EMPOWERING EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES |
| THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS | COMBATING FRAUD THROUGH INDUSTRY-WIDE COLLABORATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN |
| HEALTH PROMOTION CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| ORBUSNEICH MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED | ORBUSNEICH MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED | EXEMPLARY EMPLOYER OF EXCELLENCE: BOCHK TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME |
| GREEN LEADERSHIP CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| AUO (XIAMEN) CO., LTD. | “GREEN MANUFACTURING, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE” AUO (XIAMEN) GREEN TRANSFORMATION PRACTICES |
| CHEERWIN GROUP LIMITED | SUPERB “DUAL-GREEN DRIVE” PLASTIC-REDUCTION & RECYCLING PROGRAM |
| CHERY AUTOMOBILE CO., LTD. | FROM WASTE TO WELLBEING: CHERY’S TRUSTED CIRCULAR PLASTICS SYSTEM |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| AUTOHOME INC | AUTOHOME SUSTAINABLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
| E.SUN BANK (CHINA) COMPANY, LTD. | THOROUGH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & EASY-TO-BE-UNDERSTOOD AND DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION |
| CIRCULAR ECONOMY LEADERSHIP CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| CHINA HONGQIAO GROUP LIMITED | GREEN LOW-CARBON RECYCLING ALUMINUM |
| SHANGHAI SUS ENVIRONMENT CO., LTD. | SUS ENVIRONMENT “CITY-BENEFITING” LOW-CARBON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL |
| TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES COMPANY LIMITED | ADVANCING CIRCULARITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT INNOVATION |
| CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED | A ROLE MODEL FOR ESG DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR: BOCHK SUSTAINABILITY REPORT |
| SUSTAINABLE INVESTING CATEGORY | |
| ORGANIZATION | WINNING ESG PROGRAM |
| PING AN BANK CO., LTD. | FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FOR A WASTE-FREE URBAN TRANSFORMATION – PING AN BANK SUPPORTS SHENZHEN TIANYING’S WASTE-TO-ENERGY POWER GENERATION UPGRADE PROJECT |
| CORPORATE EXCELLENCE CATEGORY | |
|
COMPANY
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INDUSTRY
|
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ONEWO SPACE-TECH SERVICE CO., LTD.
|
REAL ESTATE |
| ORBUSNEICH MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED |
HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOTECHNOLOGY
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About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)
The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership, Corporate Sustainability Reporting, and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.
About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region’s most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.
Hashtag: #Business #Sustainability #ESG
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Wechat: Enterprise Asia 亚洲企业商会
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine toward sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. Please visit https://www.enterpriseasia.org/ for more information.
Matein Khalid I feel as if I am no longer skating on thin ice with the AI bubble on Nasdaq but now tiptoeing on a minefield that could well explode at any moment under my feet. Why this premonition of imminent disaster? It is clear that Iran is going to humiliate President Trump and not do any kind of a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz […]
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), comprising the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Federation of Thai Industries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the World Bank, has announced its readiness to convene a high-level leadership conference, ‘The Bangkok Business Summit 2026,’ under the theme ‘Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN.’
To be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), the summit will showcase the vision of public-private sector collaboration aimed at restructuring Thailand’s economy. This event serves as a milestone paving the way toward the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, which Thailand will proudly host in Bangkok in October 2026, as well as Thailand’s upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028.
A key highlight of The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 includes a keynote address entitled ‘Thailand’s Offer to the World’ by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand. The address will declare Thailand’s readiness as a global investment hub, shifting the nation from cost-based competition to enhancing capabilities, innovation, and digital infrastructure. Furthermore, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will deliver a policy address on ‘Unlocking the Next Growth Engines for Thailand & ASEAN,’ revealing policy reform steps designed to unlock private sector investment and drive the country’s new economic engines. Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, will address positioning Thailand as a regional investment platform for high-tech industries.
Mr. Payong Srivanich, Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), stated that this event aims to answer a critical question: How can Thailand transform global shifts and its central location in ASEAN into new opportunities for investment, job creation, and sustainable growth?
“The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 is not merely a platform for exchanging perspectives, but a venue where Thailand presents its concrete strengths, opportunities, and development directions to the global business community—bridging the government’s vision, recommendations from international organizations, and the practical expertise of the private sector,” Mr. Payong stated.”Thailand’s challenge today is not just growth, but building competitive growth in a rapidly changing world. We need a platform for collaborative efforts to ‘Reinvent Thailand’ by creating new economic engines and elevating our competitiveness so Thailand can capture new opportunities and become an integral part of a ‘Resilient ASEAN’ capable of adapting to global dynamics.”
Key Highlights & Session Overview
Afternoon Tracks
Additionally, the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 will feature a panel discussion titled ‘The Future of Agrifood Business.’ Under the concept of Elevating to a Regional Strategic Asset, leaders from top companies including Sea Value PCL and Olam Agri (Singapore) will share their perspectives on how Thailand’s agrifood industry is evolving beyond its traditional role as the ‘Kitchen of the World’ to become a vital strategic asset for regional food security, and another discussion on ‘The Future of the Human-Centric Economy,’ integrating health, wellness, tourism, and the creative economy centered around people rather than isolated sectors. Panelists include Minor International, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), and Cerecin.
Closing & Actions
To conclude the summit, leaders from the three JSCCIB member organizations will summarize actionable proposals to transform insights into concrete practices. These encompass enhancing competitiveness, building investment ecosystems, and developing future industries. The event will culminate in the signing of a Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Digital & AI Compact between Thailand’s economic agencies and the World Bank.
Note: Speakers and the event program are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Hashtag: #JSCCIB
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SafePal has warned nearly 40,000 customers that their personal information was exposed after attackers exploited a flaw in an order-tracking system, creating a heightened risk of targeted phishing and impersonation attacks against cryptocurrency holders. The cryptocurrency wallet provider said information belonging to approximately 39,798 customers was accessed without authorisation. The affected records covered purchases made between March 2, 2025 and April 11, 2026 and contained names, email […]
Cl0p has claimed a sweeping data-theft campaign affecting nearly 50 companies worldwide, placing Shell, Philips, GE and financial technology group Fiserv among the organisations named on the cybercrime operation’s leak site. Several companies have opened investigations, although the scale of the alleged theft remains unverified. The campaign appears to mark another large-scale attempt by the Russia-linked extortion group to exploit a weakness in widely deployed enterprise software […]
Under the MOU, VinFast and Gowa Motor Group will establish a joint venture to develop VinFast’s dealership network across Indonesia, with a target of opening at least 30 showrooms and service centers.
The partnership reflects the two companies’ shared commitment to building a long-term strategic relationship in Indonesia’s growing electric vehicle market. By partnering with VinFast, Gowa Motor Group demonstrates its confidence in VinFast’s vision, capabilities, and the long-term potential of its electric mobility ecosystem.
The new network will serve as a key pillar of VinFast’s long-term growth strategy in Indonesia, offering VinFast’s electric vehicles alongside aftersales services, maintenance, and customer care that meet the company’s global standards. The partnership will contribute to VinFast’s broader plan to expand its dealership network in Indonesia. The company currently operates more than 40 showrooms nationwide and aims to add over 150 new showrooms in the coming years.
The agreement with Gowa Motor Group reinforces VinFast’s strategy of partnering with leading local companies to expand its distribution network, improve customer access to high-quality products and services, and support Indonesia’s transition toward greener transportation.
Gowa Motor Group is an established automotive group in Indonesia with extensive experience across multiple automotive brands and vehicle segments. Its operation spans automotive distribution, dealership operations, passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles, supported by a broad network and strong understanding of the local market. With its automotive expertise, operational capabilities, and market knowledge, Gowa Motor Group is expected to become a strategic partner for VinFast in expanding its distribution network, enhancing the customer ownership experience, and accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in Indonesia.
Mr. Antonio Zara, Chief Executive Officer of VinFast Southeast Asia, said: “Gowa Motor Group is an established automotive group in Indonesia with extensive experience across multiple automotive brands. We believe the combination of VinFast’s product development capabilities, advanced technologies, and comprehensive EV ecosystem with Gowa Motor Group’s local market expertise, automotive network, and operational experience will provide a strong foundation for expanding VinFast’s presence in Indonesia. More importantly, this partnership will enable us to deliver an increasingly convenient, comprehensive, and high-quality EV ownership experience for Indonesian customers.“
Mr. Sadikin Aksa, Commissioner of Gowa Motor, said: “We see tremendous potential in Indonesia’s electric vehicle market and strongly believe in VinFast’s long-term vision. Our partnership not only creates new business opportunities for both companies but also reflects our shared commitment to accelerating Indonesia’s green transition. Leveraging our experience across multiple automotive brands and our established network in Indonesia, Gowa Motor Group looks forward to working alongside VinFast to bring sustainable mobility solutions and high-quality services closer to consumers across the country.“
Indonesia is one of the key pillars of VinFast’s global growth strategy. Since entering the market, VinFast has rapidly expanded its product portfolio, commenced operations at its manufacturing facility in Subang, and built a comprehensive EV ecosystem through a growing network of strategic partners, including charging infrastructure developer V-Green, all-electric ride-hailing service GSM, financial institutions, banking partners, authorized service workshop partners, and dealerships nationwide. By combining manufacturing capabilities, a comprehensive EV ecosystem, and an expanding partner network, VinFast is steadily advancing toward its goal of becoming one of the leading electric vehicle brands in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.
Hashtag: #VinFast
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VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, e-bikes, and electric buses.
In Indonesia, VinFast is expanding its electric mobility ecosystem through a growing dealership and after-sales network, local partnerships, and its manufacturing facility in Subang, West Java, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market.
Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.id
Gowa Motor Group is an established automotive group in Indonesia with extensive experience in the automotive sector. The Group represents and operates across multiple automotive brands and vehicle segments, including passenger and commercial vehicles, supported by dealership, distribution, and customer service capabilities. With a broad network across Indonesia and a strong understanding of the local automotive market, Gowa Motor Group continues to build long-term partnerships and expand access to quality mobility products and services.
Washington is preparing another escalation of economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promising measures without precedent even as the options left to exploit carry growing risks for energy markets, China relations and the US economy. Bessent has said new steps will be announced next week and described the strategy as combining extreme financial isolation with the continuing blockade of Iranian ports. The administration has […]
SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – XTransfer, the World’s Leading B2B Cross-border Trade Payment Platform, successfully hosted China’s premier annual foreign trade event, XTransfer Summit 26, in Shenzhen. The summit gathered over 4,500 foreign trade enterprises, more than 50 top-tier banks and financial institutions, and numerous industry experts for in-depth discussions on global trade opportunities, business growth strategies, and digital intelligence in cross-border finance.
The summit explored how SME foreign traders can navigate global uncertainties. According to an XTransfer client survey, SME export performance remains optimistic this year. Despite geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions, SMEs are reporting healthier payment collections and stronger bargaining power in international markets.
Serving Over 1 Million Enterprise Clients: Protecting Every Foreign Trader’s Global Dream with Fintech
Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “SMEs are stabilisers of globalisation. Facing de-globalisation, geopolitical risks, and logistics volatility, they continue to show remarkable resilience. SMEs are more agile in adjusting market strategies while steadily improving pricing power and operational quality.”
Deng emphasised, “SMEs are the most capable force in global trade, and every foreign trader’s global dream deserves to be protected.” He added, “Through years of dedicated focus on SME cross-border payment pain points, XTransfer delivers secure, compliant, and efficient solutions to help more businesses go global. Since our founding, we have served over 1 million enterprise clients and continue to expand our local collection and settlement capabilities globally, optimising collection experiences and working capital efficiency.”
XTransfer’s pioneering Local Account service now covers nearly 60 countries and regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, enabling buyers to pay sellers in local currencies and significantly boosting capital turnover.
AI and Global Risk Control Enhance Compliance Efficiency: TradePilot Drives Audit Automation
To address SMEs’ core needs for security, compliance, efficiency, and cost optimisation, XTransfer has ramped up fintech investments, scaling AI applications in risk control and business processes.
XTransfer has also built a unified global B2B cross-border trade settlement and risk management system to safeguard SME transactions. According to CIC, TradePilot is the world’s first and most advanced AI model for B2B cross-border trade payments. With 72 AI agents embedded in TradePilot’s review workflow, covering KYC onboarding, transaction authenticity verification, and ongoing AML monitoring, TradePilot delivers industry-leading performance in risk control accuracy and user experience.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #XTransferSummit #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
XTransfer is the world’s largest B2B cross-border trade payment platform with over US$60 billion TPV in 2025, according to CIC. Founded in 2017 as one of the first payment platforms worldwide dedicated to B2B cross-border trade, we serve the largest customer base of over 1,000,000 registered SMEs globally.
We connect top-tier financial institutions directly to SMEs, the backbone of global trade, giving businesses of every size access to the same secure, compliant and seamless payment infrastructure once reserved for multinationals. As of March 31, 2026, we provide payment services across more than 200 countries and regions through partnerships with financial institutions, including some of the most established international banks around the world.
XTransfer has obtained required licenses in major hubs, including the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada.
For more information, please visit: https://www.xtransfer.com
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore today announced the official appointment of Claudia Soh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 14 Aug 2026. Over the past six months, while serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer and continuing in her role as Chief Financial Officer, Claudia has led Etiqa Insurance Singapore through a period of sustained growth and transformation, strengthening the company’s foundations while driving initiatives focused on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity. Her appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in her leadership and vision as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industry, Claudia brings extensive expertise across finance, strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and auditing. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, including experience at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and senior leadership roles within the insurance industry.
During her tenure at Etiqa, Claudia has helped build on the company’s strong momentum by supporting its growth agenda while advancing new initiatives. Her collaborative leadership approach and focus on long-term value creation have contributed to strengthening Etiqa’s capabilities for the future. She has also been an advocate for transforming the finance function from a traditional support role into a strategic business partner that helps create stronger outcomes for customers, employees and stakeholders.
“We are delighted to formally appoint Claudia Soh as CEO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore,” said Kamaludin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etiqa Insurance and Takaful. “Claudia has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic clarity, operational excellence and resilience. Her ability to drive innovation, build strong teams and adapt to changing customer needs will continue to strengthen our market position in Singapore to deliver long-tern value for our customers, employees and stakeholders”
On her appointment, Claudia said, “I am honoured to undertake the role of CEO at Etiqa Insurance Singapore at a time of significant change for our industry. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we must remain agile, innovative and focused on delivering purposeful value. By combining digital innovation, data-driven insights and strong partnerships, we will continue to enhance the customer experience and help more individuals and businesses build financial confidence and resilience.”
Deepening Partnerships and Empowering Financial Readiness
As a leading composite insurer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore will continue to deepen its distribution capabilities and ecosystem partnerships to make protection more accessible and relevant to customers. Beyond its longstanding bancassurance partnership, Etiqa will work closely with Maybank to deliver more integrated financial and protection solutions, leveraging the strength of the Maybank network and customer ecosystem. Etiqa will also continue collaborating with partners across Singapore to develop innovative solutions that support customers’ evolving protection, savings and financial wellness needs.
Hashtag: #EtiqaInsuranceSingapore
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.
EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. The company is a member of the Maybank Group.
Standard Chartered has initiated coverage of Chainlink’s LINK token with a price forecast of $200 by the end of 2030, betting that rapid expansion in tokenised assets and decentralised finance will sharply increase demand for the blockchain network’s infrastructure. The projection implies an increase of roughly 25 times from the price near $8 used when the forecast was prepared. The bank has set an interim target of […]
Zerohash is preparing to submit a narrower application for a US national trust bank charter after regulators returned its first filing without reaching a decision, creating a regulatory setback for the digital-asset infrastructure provider that powers cryptocurrency trading for Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade platform. The Chicago-based company expects to refile with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by the end of August, restructuring its proposal around […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has emerged among the world’s 10 leading destinations for private artificial intelligence investment, strengthening its position in a global race to secure capital, computing capacity and specialised talent. The World Development Report 2026, The Promise of Artificial Intelligence, places the Kingdom among a relatively small group of economies attracting substantial private investment into AI. The assessment comes as Riyadh directs more […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Bangladesh Railway has received the first rake of 19 customised Linke Hofmann Busch broad-gauge passenger coaches manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, advancing a 200-coach procurement programme aimed at modernising its passenger fleet. The rake rolled out on August 12 with three air-conditioned sleeper coaches, three air-conditioned chair cars, 11 non-air-conditioned chair cars and two power cars. The coaches have been […]
SpaceXAI has released Grok 4.6, pushing its flagship artificial intelligence model into the top tier of independent performance rankings and intensifying competition with OpenAI and Anthropic on advanced reasoning, coding and autonomous agent tasks. The model, released on 12 August, scored 61 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, matching OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol at its highest tested setting. Grok 4.6 improved by five points over Grok 4.5, which […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai OpenAI has launched Inference Residency in the UAE, allowing eligible organisations to run artificial intelligence model inference on graphics processing units located within the country while using its enterprise and developer services. The move strengthens local control over sensitive AI workloads as government bodies and regulated industries expand their use of generative AI. The service is available to eligible customers using OpenAI’s API, […]
July’s US inflation report gave markets precisely for what they were braced. Headline CPI rose 3.4% year-over-year, core CPI came in at 2.5%, both a tenth of a point softer than June, both landing squarely on consensus. Stocks will likely take this as vindication, but I believe that investors should read it more carefully. An in-line print sounds reassuring by definition. It confirms the disinflation trend everyone […]
The yuan has gained about 3.6 per cent against the dollar this year, making it one of Asia’s strongest-performing currencies. The advance has persisted despite falling Chinese government bond yields and a widening yield disadvantage against US Treasuries, conditions that would normally encourage capital to favour the dollar. Strong export receipts and increased conversion of dollar earnings by exporters have instead provided sustained support for the currency.
Pressure intensified after the US and Japan intervened to strengthen the yen at the end of July. The operation marked the first coordinated action by Washington and Tokyo to support the Japanese currency since 1998, following a slide that took the yen to four-decade lows. US authorities had also alerted major banks to be prepared for possible intervention through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, highlighting Washington’s concern about excessive currency volatility.
The yen subsequently surrendered roughly half of its initial gains, but the intervention had broader consequences across Asian foreign-exchange markets. South Korea’s won, the Singapore dollar and the Taiwan dollar have shown relatively high correlations with yen movements, while several other regional currencies have been less sensitive. The spillover has reinforced a wider trend towards appreciation in currencies exposed to North Asian trade and investment flows.
For Beijing, the stronger yuan presents a complicated policy trade-off. Appreciation reduces the local-currency cost of imported commodities and can provide some insulation against inflation generated by energy prices. It can also create more room for monetary easing because policymakers need to worry less about triggering capital outflows or destabilising depreciation.
The cost is greater pressure on exporters at a time when foreign demand has become an increasingly important support for economic activity. China’s export machine has remained resilient while household consumption, property investment and parts of the private economy have struggled to regain momentum. A rising yuan makes Chinese products more expensive abroad and reduces the value of exporters’ overseas earnings when converted back into local currency.
The People’s Bank of China has appeared increasingly willing to moderate the currency’s advance. Daily yuan reference rates have been set weaker than market expectations at times, signalling a preference for slowing appreciation rather than allowing the currency to rise unchecked. China operates a managed exchange-rate system in which the central bank establishes a daily midpoint and permits the onshore yuan to trade within a defined band around that fixing.
The yuan traded around 6.75 per dollar on Wednesday after strengthening through the 6.80 level earlier this year. Exporters have continued selling dollars when the US currency rises, while central-bank guidance has kept the appreciation gradual. Market forecasts generally point towards further controlled yuan strength rather than a rapid revaluation.
The currency’s resilience highlights an unusual divergence inside China’s economy. Long-term sovereign yields have declined as investors price weak domestic demand and subdued inflation, while the yuan has strengthened because of trade surpluses and exporter dollar conversions. China’s current-account surplus has expanded significantly as manufacturing exports have outpaced imports and domestic spending.
That divergence could influence the timing of the next monetary-policy move. One scenario would see the central bank reducing its benchmark policy rate by 10 basis points to 1.3 per cent before the end of the year, using currency strength as protection against depreciation pressure. Expectations remain divided, however, with many economists anticipating unchanged rates through 2026 as policymakers assess inflation, financial stability and the effectiveness of previous easing measures.
July inflation data strengthened the case for additional support. Consumer-price growth slowed to its weakest pace in six months, while producer-price pressures eased, renewing concerns that deflationary forces could return if domestic demand remains subdued. Higher energy costs had previously reduced expectations for further easing.
Currency policy is also becoming more closely tied to trade tensions. China’s expanding manufacturing surplus has generated demands among trading partners for a stronger yuan, particularly as exports of vehicles, machinery, electronics and clean-energy equipment increase. A materially stronger exchange rate would weaken some of that competitive advantage but could also reduce political pressure surrounding trade imbalances.
Earlier this year, Singaporean drivers crossing into Malaysia began receiving SMSes that appeared to come from a government transport agency, claiming they had outstanding road charges to settle. Those who clicked the link and entered their payment details had their banking credentials stolen — at least 10 victims lost a combined S$24,000. Around the same time, a separate wave of phishing messages impersonating a well-known delivery service tricked victims into making payments for fake parcel notifications, resulting in another S$22,000 in losses.
These are the kinds of everyday scams — a convincing text message, a familiar brand name, a moment of inattention — that Allianz Scam Protect is designed to cover. In the first three months of 2026 alone, more than 7,800 scam cases were reported in Singapore with losses exceeding S$144.4 million. Singapore has now lost more than S$4 billion to scams since 2019.
The name change reflects how Singaporeans actually talk about these incidents. When someone loses money after clicking a phishing link in an SMS, they don’t think of it as a “cyber incident” — they call it what it is: a scam. By renaming the product, Allianz ensures that every Singaporean searching for protection against scams can find it immediately. The coverage hasn’t changed — but the name now speaks the same language as the people it protects.
Allianz Scam Protect covers financial losses from phishing, smishing, stolen payment credentials, and unauthorised transactions (up to S$25,000 for Gold; up to S$60,000 for Platinum), as well as online shopping disputes involving undelivered, damaged, or incorrect items. Existing policyholders will see the updated name at their next renewal — no action is required.
Allianz Scam Protect is available from S$8.91 per month at www.allianz.sg and through Allianz’s network of authorised distribution partners. For enquiries, customers may contact the Allianz Customer Service Team at +65 6222 1919 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, excluding public holidays).
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
At Allianz Insurance Singapore, we aim to secure the future and create a positive impact on society and the environment by leveraging our expertise in risk management. As we work toward strengthening our position as one of Singapore’s leading risk solutions providers, we deliver innovative and customer‑focused protection solutions for individuals, SMEs, and mid‑corporate clients – spanning Motor, Home Content, Travel, Personal Accident, Cancer, Hospital Income, and a comprehensive suite of commercial insurance offerings.
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