MONEY FM 89.3, Singapore’s business radio station, featured our recent study on how six Asian markets are portrayed in the media as financial hubs.
Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian, hosts of Money Matters, spoke to our Research Solutions Director Sabrina Azmi on the findings of the study and discussed the financial landscape in APAC.
She shared commentary on trending narratives like sustainability and cryptocurrency, and their influence on investor confidence.
Listen to the interview
What are the core drivers behind the sustained interest in Asia?
Geopolitical uncertainty globally is nudging capital towards diversified markets, and Asia is really at the forefront of that shift, becoming one of the prime beneficiaries.
Investors are aligning with national priorities such as clean energy, AI infrastructure, and fintech innovation. It’s very clear from the media that most of this capital is strategic, not just short-term bets.
CARMA’s analysis of 14,000 articles shows a clear narrative: Asia is strengthening through its policy-driven incentives and growing regional integration.
Is ESG now a must-have for attracting foreign investment in Asia?
Sustainability has evolved from a nice-to-have to a must-have.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has crossed the threshold from trend to a baseline requirement. Investors, particularly institutional ones, now view ESG performance as a reflection of business resilience and risk management.
Sustainability and ESG themes were frequently covered in our report, they are now integral to how investment strategies are evaluated.
There are various examples across Asia. For example, in Singapore there is an SGD$500 million pledge towards decarbonisation. In Malaysia, we saw a surge in ESG-compliant finance. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, green bond issuances and strong EV transition policies are driving momentum.
These moves involve real capital and come with measurable outcomes, playing a significant role in building investor trust, signalling long-term commitment.
Singapore and Hong Kong are positioned as AI and cryptocurrency hubs. What’s fuelling their leadership in these technologies?
A few things that are driving Singapore and Hong Kong’s leadership in these technologies include policy clarity, regulatory innovation and institutional alignment.
Both Hong Kong and Singapore are offering a roadmap for how to balance innovation with regulation.
In Singapore, we’ve seen financial institutions like Prudential, DBS, OCBC launching AI labs and integrate machine learning across their customer journeys.
These are core to how future banking and insurance is being built. These initiatives were showcased at the Singapore FinTech Festival, and this positioned Singapore as a very regulated sandbox for digital finance innovation.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, has also made very bold moves by approving multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and launching Bitcoins and ETFs. This has transformed its image in the fintech world from somewhat of a cautious regulator to pro-innovation hub.
So, both markets are really winning.
Singapore attracted major partnerships and capital flows due to regulatory stability. How much of Asia’s investment success hinges on strong regulatory frameworks?
It’s hard to overstate the importance of regulatory credibility. Investors are betting not just on returns but on governance, transparency, and predictability.
A standout example is Singapore, where the regulatory environment is among the most stable and transparent in the world. This is why global players committed to the SGD$500 million decarbonisation fund launched last year, backed by government support and major institutions.
This is a model other Asian markets are learning from.
Takeaway: Asia’s financial hubs are competing for narrative visibility
Markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Manila aren’t just competing economically, but they’re also competing for narrative dominance.
The media spotlight on Singapore’s bilateral visits, Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency announcements, and the Philippines’ climate leadership all shape investor perception of these markets as forward-looking and relevant.
Sometimes, it’s less about who speaks the most and more about who delivers the most timely and relevant message.
This was originally featured on Omny.fm.
Commentary
How are Asian markets portrayed as Financial Hubs?
MONEY FM 89.3, Singapore’s business radio station, featured our recent study on how six Asian markets are portrayed in the media as financial hubs.
Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian, hosts of Money Matters, spoke to our Research Solutions Director Sabrina Azmi on the findings of the study and discussed the financial landscape in APAC.
She shared commentary on trending narratives like sustainability and cryptocurrency, and their influence on investor confidence.
Listen to the interview
What are the core drivers behind the sustained interest in Asia?
Geopolitical uncertainty globally is nudging capital towards diversified markets, and Asia is really at the forefront of that shift, becoming one of the prime beneficiaries.
Investors are aligning with national priorities such as clean energy, AI infrastructure, and fintech innovation. It’s very clear from the media that most of this capital is strategic, not just short-term bets.
CARMA’s analysis of 14,000 articles shows a clear narrative: Asia is strengthening through its policy-driven incentives and growing regional integration.
Is ESG now a must-have for attracting foreign investment in Asia?
Sustainability has evolved from a nice-to-have to a must-have.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has crossed the threshold from trend to a baseline requirement. Investors, particularly institutional ones, now view ESG performance as a reflection of business resilience and risk management.
Sustainability and ESG themes were frequently covered in our report, they are now integral to how investment strategies are evaluated.
There are various examples across Asia. For example, in Singapore there is an SGD$500 million pledge towards decarbonisation. In Malaysia, we saw a surge in ESG-compliant finance. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, green bond issuances and strong EV transition policies are driving momentum.
These moves involve real capital and come with measurable outcomes, playing a significant role in building investor trust, signalling long-term commitment.
Singapore and Hong Kong are positioned as AI and cryptocurrency hubs. What’s fuelling their leadership in these technologies?
A few things that are driving Singapore and Hong Kong’s leadership in these technologies include policy clarity, regulatory innovation and institutional alignment.
Both Hong Kong and Singapore are offering a roadmap for how to balance innovation with regulation.
In Singapore, we’ve seen financial institutions like Prudential, DBS, OCBC launching AI labs and integrate machine learning across their customer journeys.
These are core to how future banking and insurance is being built. These initiatives were showcased at the Singapore FinTech Festival, and this positioned Singapore as a very regulated sandbox for digital finance innovation.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, has also made very bold moves by approving multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and launching Bitcoins and ETFs. This has transformed its image in the fintech world from somewhat of a cautious regulator to pro-innovation hub.
So, both markets are really winning.
Singapore attracted major partnerships and capital flows due to regulatory stability. How much of Asia’s investment success hinges on strong regulatory frameworks?
It’s hard to overstate the importance of regulatory credibility. Investors are betting not just on returns but on governance, transparency, and predictability.
A standout example is Singapore, where the regulatory environment is among the most stable and transparent in the world. This is why global players committed to the SGD$500 million decarbonisation fund launched last year, backed by government support and major institutions.
This is a model other Asian markets are learning from.
Takeaway: Asia’s financial hubs are competing for narrative visibility
Markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Manila aren’t just competing economically, but they’re also competing for narrative dominance.
The media spotlight on Singapore’s bilateral visits, Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency announcements, and the Philippines’ climate leadership all shape investor perception of these markets as forward-looking and relevant.
Sometimes, it’s less about who speaks the most and more about who delivers the most timely and relevant message.
This was originally featured on Omny.fm.
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