JP Morgan is making a number of senior leadership changes and hires in Asia Pacific (Apac) and New York, according to internal bank memos seen by FinanceAsia, and confirmed by a JP Morgan spokesperson.
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Q. This year’s building demand is anticipated to be sturdy. How is the business intending to reduce the current strain on staff and resources?
We have already experienced a COVID-19 problems and are now seeing strong desire. Firms can and should now claim that they can and must invest in changing the way the business builds, builds, and designs because of the first projection of four years of strong demand. Because we won’t be able to continue building projects in the future, we won’t have enough room to hold all of our labor without having to change.
Q. Modern structure systems are increasingly influencing how buildings are constructed. How popular are they currently being used?  ,
In Singapore, over the past 12 months, we saw the deployment of more than 20 different mechanical solutions across more than 50 websites. When no big work is done, robots can transport materials from location to location using robots that can paint and finish concrete. All of these allow businesses to assign their workers to higher-value, more challenging tasks, and permit one ( single ) operator to oversee numerous different machines. We are even seeing more use of artificial intelligence among builders.
Q. What are some of the difficulties faced by incorporating technology and AI into the process? Is the industry prepared to embrace that change?
No one robot can really replace any one work, so when we started pushing for the implementation of robots, we realized that to the businesses it is not about replacing a worker with a robot. It involves substituting certain actions performed by the employees. A approach change is necessary. The primary contractor must collaborate strongly with the various subcontractors to review the opportunities, determine where the equipment and robots can be deployed, modify the procedures, and work together to complete more jobs as a group.
Q. What might all these changes, in your opinion, have an impact on Singapore’s growth, from robotics to encouraging greater engagement?  ,  ,
Building is one of the lowest-productivity sectors on the planet. In consequence, it is not very appealing to young talent. As a town position, we must create more and more tasks in a drier atmosphere, making it more challenging. But, with some of these changes that we are making, whether they are related to AI, robots, sustainability, or creative contracting, we are equipped to truly transform the sector so that we can take on more thrilling and challenging projects. At the same time, ( this will ) transform the jobs ( and ) inspire the young people that this sector is not only capable of making a city like Singapore ready for the future, but also one that can demonstrate to the rest of the world what it means in terms of sustainable development.
HSBC’s profit before tax ( PBT ) climbed by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion. Overall revenue across the group climbed from$ 66 billion to$ 66.85 billion.  ,
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HSBC’s profit before tax rose by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion. Overall revenue across the group climves from$ 66 billion to$ 66.85 billion.  ,
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HSBC’s profit before tax rose by$ 2 billion to$ 32.3 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, according to a regulatory announcement, profit after tax increased by$ 400 million to$ 25 billion.
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Welcome to , FinanceAsia ‘s , annual poll, which celebrates Asia’s best companies across a range of markets and countries. In developing this priceless criterion of the country’s most important companies, their efficiency and corporate behavior in relation to their peers, we value the input of both investors and analysts.
We ask our audience to nominate any publicly traded Asian-based business that is leading in its field. It might be that the firm impresses in terms of new deal execution, inside structure, completed transactions, continued strategy, or possibly ESG credentials.
We want to , hear from you!  , The second 100 voters may get one month free, unlimited access to all of , FinanceAsia’s information.  ,
To vote , visit below.  ,  ,  ,
Poll findings will be published via the , FinanceAsia , site and will provide traders nationally with special insight into Asia’s best-managed companies, both by country / market and by business industry.
Key Dates
Available for Nomination:  , Tuesday, Janaury 7 2025
Election Deadline: Thursday, March 6 , 2025 at evening GMT 8
Outcome Announcement:  ,
North Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia:  , Monday, March 24 2025 ,
Regional:  , Tuesday March 25, 2025
Recommendations for Election
IMPORTANT NOTE: Individual responses will remain confidential – they will only be aggregated to provide overall results.
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According to Sunarso, leader director, Bank Rakyat Indonesia ( BRI),” Tr I will continue to focus on the MSME section to realize its dreams of becoming the most important banks group in Southeast Asia and a champion of financial inclusion by 2025.” He continued,” As the nationwide economic structure is dominated by Enterprises, providing loans to MSME people is anticipated to have a significant positive impact on the Indonesian business.”
The 130-year-old company’s outstanding achievement in FinanceAsia Asia’s Best Businesses Poll 2024 and the FinanceAsia Awards demonstrate how focused this perspective is on BRI’s peers in the industry.
In FinanceAsia Asia’s Best Companies ballot, the banks won silver in the following categories: Best Director for Sunarso, leader director, BRI, Best Managed Company – Indonesia, and Best Investor Relations – Indonesia.
Additionally, BRI won bronze in the types of Best Big Cap Company in Indonesia and Best CFO in Indonesia for Viviana Dyah Ayu Retno K, Most Committed to DEI – Indonesia, Most Committed to ESG – Indonesia, and Best Big Cap Company – Indonesia.
The bank had a stellar run at the FinanceAsia Awards 2023-2024 winning Best Bank for Financial Inclusion ( Domestic ) and Best Commercial Bank- SMEs ( Domestic ), apart from securing commendations for Best Sustainable Bank ( Domestic ), Most Innovative Use of Technology – Banks ( Domestic )
View Sunarso, the president’s director ,’s acceptance speech, below.
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The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the establishment of the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) on October 30, an ambitious initiative designed to reinforce Singapore’s standing as a global fintech leader and boost the tech potential of the ‘global south’.
Headed by Ravi Menon, former managing director of MAS from 2011-2023, the GFTN aims to “enhance global connectivity for impactful innovation in financial services”.
Menon old a media briefing that networks such as the GFTN aimed to tap the potential of the “global south”.
Beyond Silicon Valley
He said it was important to broaden fintech innovations beyond traditional centres like Silicon Valley and London to emerging cities such as Nairobi, Jakarta, and São Paulo.
He said that by 2030, the Asia-Pacific region is predicted to become the world’s largest fintech market, with Africa and Latin America projected to grow by 30 per cent annually. Yet regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East still faced substantial funding gaps, noted.
Through GFTN, Singapore would aim to address these inequalities by providing resources, infrastructure, and collaborative frameworks to foster sustainable growth, especially in underserved regions.
“Through our networks and partnerships, GFTN will aim to unlock sustainable and inclusive pathways that serve communities facing critical gaps,” Menon said.
He added that the world is “entering an era of growing digital connectivity across borders” starting with electronic payments and progressing toward universal trusted credentials and data exchanges.
Getting cross-border digital infrastructure right, he added, would be critical.
After years of experimentation, Menon stated, “the tokenisation of financial assets has reached a tipping point” with billions of dollars of financial assets now on-chain.
However, he noted that “the promise of a tokenised financial system has not materialised,” indicating it was still a work in progress.
Quantum leap
He observed that artificial intelligence is beginning to make significant inroads into financial services, bringing both AI-powered innovations and potential risks.
Menon pointed out that if quantum technologies develop, the coupling of AI and quantum technologies would “unlock new opportunities as well as unprecedented security challenges”.
Addressing climate change had also become a growing focus for the financial sector, he said, with increased interest in climate tech solutions for both carbon mitigation and climate resilience.
All these advancements, according to Menon, would demand “closer and more meaningful engagements between countries (and) between the public and private sectors” couple with coherent policies and regulations to “harness the benefits of these technologies while mitigating their downsides”.
GFTN initiatives
The GFTN will be launching four key initiatives as a part of its scope:
GFTN Forums will expand Elevandi’s five flagship events, including the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), to foster cross-border collaboration with experts worldwide. Elevandi – to be replaced by GFTN -is a not-for-profit entity set up by MAS to connect people and businesses, ideas and insights in the fintech sector in Singapore and globally.
GFTN Advisory will offer practitioner-led consultancy to help developing economies build digital infrastructure, form innovation-friendly policies, and support social-impact-driven private entities with market insights.
GFTN Platforms which will empower small enterprises and startups through digital services, improving market access, analytics, and sustainability reporting.
And lastly, GFTN Capital that will target early- and growth-stage startups in fintech and climate tech, providing patient capital and global partnerships to promote financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.
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FinanceAsia’s annual Achievement Awards recognises excellence in bringing together those issuers, banks, investors, advisors and other market participants, who are working hard to develop and expand Asia Pacific’s (Apac) financial markets.
This year, for the first time, we are also looking to recognise excellence in the fast-growing markets of the Middle East.
We are looking to recognise the standout companies and strategies that are redefining the way issuers and investors are interacting with markets and adapting to evolving regulatory requirements and diverse needs, amid an increasingly competitive environment.
There are both Deal awards and House awards across a range of categories and markets. For more details please see here for Apac and here for the Middle East.
In addition, our Deal Maker Poll rewards individuals who have been instrumental in closing some of the region’s most ambitious deals over the last 12 months.
The timeline for the deals is October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
We look forward to your participation and seeing your entries! Please click here to find out how to enter at our dedicated Awards website. For frequently asked questions click here and for list of our experienced judges see here.
Key dates:
August 19: Awards’ launch
Early-bird entry deadline: September 6, 2024
Main entry deadline: September 19, 2024
Entries’ evaluated by judges: October 2 to November 6, 2024
Winners’ announced: November 2024
Awards’ ceremony: February 2025, date TBD
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Paris-based Ostrum asset management (AM), an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has appointed Nathalie Beauvir to head up its newly created sustainable transitions department.
A spokesperson confirmed to FinanceAsia that Beauvir had been in her new role in Paris since the start of the job transition in May.
The newly established department, according to a July 10 press release, consists of five environmental, social and governance (ESG) experts and two corporate social responsibility (CSR) experts.
They will be responsible for strengthening Ostrum AM’s strategic positioning on ESG; optimising the interdependence of investment policies including exclusion, engagement and voting; and developing offerings with new thematic ranges.
The department reports directly to the firm’s chief executive officer (CEO) office.
CEO Olivier Houix commented in the press release that the team expects Beauvir to establish Ostrum AM as a “committed partner for transitions” for stakeholders, in terms of investment strategies and development financing.
Beauvir was promoted from her previous role as head of sustainable bond analysis and research at Ostrum AM,where she was involved in the launch of the firm’s climate and social impact bond fund.
Asia expansion
The Ostrum AM team currently has five portfolio managers and analysts in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region, led by Rushil Khanna, head of equity investments, within Natixis Investment Managers’ Singapore local operations.
Currently, the team has a specific focus on equity investments, while Ostrum AM also aims to provide fixed income expertise locally in Southeast Asia, with the upcoming arrival of a fixed income portfolio manager, the spokesperson told FA.
Globally, Ostrum AM manages around €40 billion ($43 billion) in green, social and sustainability (GSS) bonds, out of its €402 billion in assets managed for institutional clients as of end-March.
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