Asset Finance & Alternatives in APAC & Beyond
Aviation Finance, Alt Asset Finance in APAC & Beyond
Your exclusive gateway to the latest developments across transportation and space, and most importantly, how to finance it all - debt, equity, and defi! We follow and forecast where the money’s at.
Join us as we navigate through the latest roundup to uncover key developments across the region.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**
Summary
Financing & Investments: OMOWAY Closes Series A Financing; Kling AI Raises $2 Billion at $15 Billion Valuation; Schneider Electric and Seraya Launch Faraday Energy; MAS Unveils SAFR Framework for Agentic Finance; dConstruct Technologies Raises $125 Million Series A; Amity Robotics Secures $7 Million Seed Round; Wesco Acquires Newark Engineering for S$175 Million; Vietnam Opens Fourth Net Zero Challenge; and G-Group Invests $300 Million in AI Data Center Project
Environmental Sustainability: Cyan Ventures Launches Green Fuels Accelerator in Australia; Zenobē Secures Financing for Zero-Emission Transport in Australia and New Zealand; ACME Signs $1 Billion Green Methanol Deal With MGC; India and Japan Plan 1,000-Plant Biogas Initiative; Sarawak Explores Algae-Based SAF Production; GuarantCo Backs Vietnam Solar Expansion With Green Bond Guarantee; and KBR Selected for Singapore SAF Project
Aviation: SCTI Launches Automated Flight Delay Benefit in Australia and New Zealand; Cambodia and US Sign Open Skies Agreement; COMAC Showcases C909 Medical Jet in Central Asia; Air China and Singapore Airlines Expand Partnership; and Thailand Tightens Aviation Security Measures
Advanced Air Mobility: MD Aircraft Secures Order for Up to 40 MDA1 eViator Aircraft; Sarla Aviation Completes Sylla 1.0 Flight Tests; The ePlane Company Unveils Full-Scale e200X Prototype; SkyDrive Surpasses 300 SD-05 Test Flights; Toyota and Joby Expand eVTOL Manufacturing Partnership
Marine: China’s Largest Methanol Container Ship Begins Commercial Service; China Completes Trials for 10,000-Tonne Electric Bulk Carrier; China Launches First Zero-Carbon River–Sea Shipping Route; Kelsian Wins Auckland Ferry Contract and Enters New Zealand Market; Maersk Orders India-Made Containers to Support Localization; and Lightstorm Consortium to Build India–Southeast Asia Subsea Cable
Space: China Reports Record In-Space Propulsion Test for Satellite Engine; China Develops Space–Ground Asteroid Early-Warning System; Skyroot Sets Launch Window for Vikram-1 Orbital Rocket; JAXA and BULL Study Rocket Debris Mitigation System; New Zealand Advances TPA-2 Rideshare Satellite Mission; and South Korea Prepares Nuri Rocket Launch
Financing & Investments
Investment activity remains concentrated in AI, robotics, energy infrastructure and data centers across Asia, while regulators and industry participants are also advancing frameworks to support the adoption and scaling of emerging technologies.
China
OMOWAY has completed its Series A and Series A+ financing rounds, raising tens of millions of US dollars with participation from Lochpine Capital, Monolith, CICC Capital and existing backers including ZhenFund. Lochpine Capital is backed by battery manufacturer CATL, while other strategic investors include funds linked to XPeng and BYD.
💡The company is developing intelligent two-wheel mobility systems built on its proprietary OMO-ROBOT architecture, with its OMO-X electric motorcycle already in commercial rollout in Indonesia. OMOWAY reported strong early demand and said it plans to expand into Thailand, Singapore and Europe as it scales its self-balancing motorcycle and robotics platform.
Hong Kong-Mainland China
Hong Kong-listed Kuaishou Technology said Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent participated in a $2 billion funding round for its spun-off artificial intelligence unit, Kling AI, valuing the company at about $15 billion before the investment. The round could expand to $3 billion, implying a post-money valuation of roughly $18 billion and reducing Kuaishou’s stake to around 68%.
💡Kling AI develops generative AI tools for video creation and has become one of Kuaishou’s fastest-growing businesses, with annual recurring revenue reaching about $500 million in March from $300 million in January. The new funding is expected to support product development and overseas expansion as competition intensifies in the AI-generated video market.
Singapore-Global
Schneider Electric and Singapore-based infrastructure investor Seraya Partners have launched Faraday Energy, an energy infrastructure platform focused on distributed and customer-sited projects across Asia Pacific and selected international markets. Seraya plans to commit up to $500 million in equity capital to support the platform’s expansion.
💡Faraday will develop, finance, own and operate energy assets for commercial and industrial customers, grid operators and data centers under long-term, OpEx-based contracts. Schneider Electric will serve as the principal technology partner, while Seraya will oversee capitalization and platform development.
Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), alongside financial institutions and fintech firms, has released a white paper outlining safeguards for artificial intelligence agents in financial services. Titled Safeguards for Agentic Finance at Runtime (SAFR), the framework was developed under MAS’ BuildFin.ai initiative to help ensure AI agents operate within predefined mandates, policies and risk limits as they increasingly perform tasks autonomously.
💡SAFR introduces governance checkpoints to verify and record AI agents’ actions before execution, supporting policy-bound execution, real-time validation, auditability and interoperability. The framework has been tested across use cases including payments, treasury operations, wealth management and client engagement. MAS said the Future of Finance Institute will support adoption through industry pilots and sandbox experiments, while BuildFin.ai remains open to new participants to help refine the framework.
Singapore
Singapore-based dConstruct Technologies has raised $125 million in a Series A funding round, emerging as the top performer from the first cohort of Singapore’s RoboNexus accelerator under the National Robotics Program.
💡The company develops autonomous robotics powered by its proprietary d.ASH platform for applications in construction, security, inspection and logistics, and is building a 42,000-square-metre global headquarters at Punggol Digital District scheduled for completion in 2026.
Thailand
Amity Robotics has raised US$7 million in a seed round combining equity and debt financing, led by East Ventures with participation from 500 Global and debt funding from AlteriQ Global. The company develops physical AI systems for commercial environments, and said the capital will support expansion of its robotics platform and product rollout.
💡Its core product, ARC Base, is an AI concierge kiosk deployed across more than 30 properties in Asia and the Middle East, with early expansion into Europe planned. The system is used in malls and hotels operated by groups including IHG, Accor and Shangri-La, while the company is also developing ARC Move, a mobile robot designed for in-person guidance and assistance in large venues.
US-Singapore
US-based Wesco International has completed its acquisition of Singapore-headquartered Newark Engineering Group for S$175 million ($136 million), strengthening its presence in the data center sector in Southeast Asia. Newark provides engineered cooling, thermal management and lifecycle services for data centers, with operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and reported revenue of $60 million in 2025.
💡Wesco said the acquisition expands its capabilities in engineered cooling and mission-critical infrastructure services, while providing a platform for growth in Southeast Asia’s data center market.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s Net Zero Challenge has opened applications for its fourth edition, offering a prize pool of more than VND21 billion ($800,000) for climate technology startups. Applications will run from July 1 to August 31, with winners receiving VND15 billion in non-equity grants and a further VND6 billion in investment opportunities and partner support.
💡Co-organized by Touchstone Partners and Temasek Foundation, the competition covers renewable energy and carbon removal, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy solutions. Organizers said the program aims to help climate technologies pilot and scale in Vietnam by connecting innovators with investors, industry partners and public sector stakeholders.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s G-Group Technology Corporation will invest VND7.6 trillion ($300 million) to develop G-Campus Hoa Lac, a high-tech complex and Tier III data center focused on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing in Hanoi. The project, spanning more than 38,000 square meters, will include research facilities and a data center with an initial IT load of 20 MW, expandable to 30 MW.
💡G-Group received an investment certificate for the project last week and signed a cooperation agreement with the Hanoi People’s Committee and OTECH, part of Oman’s Omantel Group, to explore AI data center models, cloud infrastructure and digital transformation initiatives.
Environmental Sustainability
Activity in the sector is increasingly focused on scaling low-carbon fuels, transport electrification and renewable energy infrastructure through long-term offtake agreements, blended financing mechanisms and cross-border partnerships.
Australia
Cyan Ventures has launched a Green Fuels Accelerator funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), with support from Qantas and Boeing, to advance low-carbon liquid fuel production in Australia. The program will support seven selected projects to progress toward financial close and commercial-scale output.
💡The accelerator provides regulatory, technical, commercial, and financing support to reduce project risk and build domestic fuel supply, including sustainable aviation fuel. Industry partners including Qantas, Boeing, and Climate Tech Partners will provide advisory input, as Australia seeks to scale local production and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Australia & New Zealand
Zenobē, a fleet electrification and battery storage specialist, has closed a financing platform to support zero-emission transport projects across Australia and New Zealand. The debt facility, backed by a syndicate of global banks, will fund electrification of public transport networks and commercial vehicle fleets.
💡The structure integrates depot electrification, battery leasing, replacement services and operational optimization into a single model, removing upfront capital costs for operator.
India-Japan
ACME Green Molecules has signed a binding long-term agreement with Japan’s Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC) to supply 100,000 tonnes of green methanol annually, in a deal valued at about US$1 billion. The agreement is positioned as the first RFNBO-compliant green marine fuel collaboration involving an Indian company.
💡The offtake will support shipping decarbonization, with green methanol emerging as an alternative to conventional marine fuels due to lower lifecycle emissions and compatibility with existing infrastructure. The project will be based in Paradip, Odisha, and expands ACME’s green ammonia and clean fuels portfolio aimed at global export markets.
India-Japan
India and Japan are preparing to agree on a strategic biogas initiative to build 1,000 production plants across India and support up to 2.5 million biogas-powered vehicles supplied by Japanese automakers. The deal is expected to be formalized at a summit between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
💡The program would convert agricultural and livestock waste, including cattle manure, sugarcane, and rice straw, into biogas for use in compressed natural gas vehicles. It includes initial funding of about ¥400 billion in yen loans for 500 plants, aiming to expand India’s CNG vehicle market while boosting energy self-sufficiency and creating export opportunities for Japan’s auto industry.
Malaysia
Sustainable aviation fuel made from algae in Gedong could potentially power AirBorneo flights in the future, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari said. He noted that algae can be processed into oil suitable for jet fuel and described it as part of emerging renewable energy efforts in the region.
💡He said the state is exploring such technologies and the possibility of producing aviation fuel locally in Borneo. Separately, he also urged PETROS to assess potential natural gas resources in Gedong following reported gas emissions during construction works, noting similar findings in nearby areas such as Lawas.
Singapore-Vietnam
GuarantCo, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), has provided a payment default guarantee for VND 792 billion (about US$30 million) in green bonds issued by Verdant Energy’s Vietnam commercial and industrial solar platform. Proceeds will fund 58 MW of additional rooftop solar projects, which are projected to avoid roughly 31,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
💡Verdant Energy, a Singapore-based renewables developer backed by A.P. Moller Capital, said the issuance is the first certified green C&I solar bond in Vietnam and its first capital markets transaction globally. The 15-year structure is the longest of its kind in the market, with initial issuance fully subscribed by Vietnamese institutional investors, mainly insurers, and aligned with Vietnam’s Power Development Plan VIII and 2050 net-zero target.
USA-Singapore
KBR has been selected to provide technology licensing and front-end engineering design (FEED) services for a proposed sustainable aviation fuel plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island, developed by Keppel Ltd. and Aster Chemicals and Energy. The facility is planned to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of SAF annually, subject to final investment decision and regulatory approvals.
💡The project will use KBR’s PureSAF technology, developed with Swedish Biofuels AB, to produce drop-in jet fuel from flexible feedstocks. KBR also signed a memorandum of intent with Keppel to collaborate on wider decarbonization efforts, including waste-to-energy, recycling, biofuels and digital solutions.
Aviation
Recent developments highlight efforts to enhance aviation connectivity, passenger services and operational resilience, alongside increased attention to security and specialized aircraft applications.
Australia & New Zealand
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), with Blink, has launched an automated flight delay benefit in Australia and New Zealand. Eligible international policyholders receive support when flights are delayed two hours or more under the TravelCare Delay Assist product, available on policies purchased from 1 July.
💡Registered travelers are automatically notified of qualifying delays and issued an NZ$50 (A$40) digital voucher via SMS or email, redeemable through services like Uber or Woolworths. The feature is designed to provide real-time assistance rather than traditional post-travel claims.
Cambodia-USA
Cambodia and the United States have signed an Open Skies agreement establishing a bilateral air transport framework to liberalize civil aviation ties, expand trade, and enable more flexible passenger and cargo services. The agreement was signed on June 30 in Washington, D.C., by Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and the U.S. Department of State.
💡The pact includes all-cargo seventh-freedom traffic rights, allowing carriers to operate cargo flights between either country and third markets without routing through Cambodia. The deal comes as Cambodia’s air cargo volumes rose 34 percent in early 2026, and follows U.S. development financing support linked to the country’s new Techo International Airport project in Phnom Penh.
China
COMAC has showcased a medical variant of its C909 regional jet in Central Asia for the first time at the 21st Kazakhstan–China Commodity Exhibition in Almaty. The aircraft, on static display, is configured for emergency medical missions, including patient evacuation, remote medical deployment, and disaster response operations.
💡Based on the standard C909 passenger jet, the medical version features a reconfigurable cabin designed for multiple roles, from air ambulance duties to transport of medical teams and equipment.
China-Singapore
Air China and Singapore Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their commercial cooperation, aiming to improve connectivity and offer more travel options between Singapore and China. The agreement includes plans to extend codeshare services, coordinate flight schedules, and explore joint fare products, subject to regulatory approvals.
💡The partnership also outlines deeper integration of frequent flyer programmes, allowing Air China’s PhoenixMiles and Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem benefits across both networks.
Thailand
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is stepping up aviation security to tackle drug smuggling risks, ordering agencies to strengthen data sharing and use modern screening technology to eliminate gaps in airport procedures. Officials also said airline crew are currently screened under the same framework as passengers, and this approach is under review as part of wider reforms.
💡The move follows the arrest of a Thai Airways employee in Australia on drug-smuggling allegations. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has brought together airlines, customs, narcotics control officials and airport operators to agree on immediate and longer-term countermeasures, including tighter crew checks, stricter baggage controls and tougher penalties for misconduct.
Advanced Air Mobility
AAM developers are progressing toward commercialization through flight testing, prototype completion, production planning and strategic partnerships aimed at supporting future certification and scaled manufacturing.
Germany-South Korea
MD Aircraft has signed a letter of intent with South Korea-based Solyu Company for up to 40 MDA1 eViator electric regional aircraft, including a firm plan for 20 units and options for an additional 20. The aircraft designed to carry nine passengers, targets zero-emission regional travel with short takeoff capability, rapid battery exchange, and lower operating costs.
💡Solyu said the deal aligns with its strategy to expand sustainable aviation across Asia-Pacific, while MD Aircraft highlighted growing demand for electric regional mobility solutions in emerging markets. The MDA1 program is currently targeting initial flight tests around 2028, with certification and entry into service expected thereafter.
India
Sarla Aviation has completed flight testing of its Sylla 1.0 eVTOL demonstrator, marking a step toward developing controlled transition between vertical lift and wing-borne flight. The India-based company, founded in 2023 by former Lilium engineers, is building a six-seat electric air taxi aimed at urban and regional mobility.
💡The half-scale prototype logged more than 500 test runs and over 18 flight hours, validating integrated systems including propulsion, batteries, flight controls and airframe performance. Data from the campaign will feed into Sylla 2.0, which will focus on transition flight as Sarla advances toward a certifiable aircraft design.
India
The ePlane Company has completed assembly of its full-scale eVTOL aircraft, the e200X (prototype PT-01), moving the program from design into ground and flight testing. The aircraft is intended for urban air mobility use cases including passenger transport, cargo delivery and emergency medical services.
💡The company said the build marks validation of full system integration, including airframe, propulsion and battery systems, and confirms readiness for ground testing followed by flight trials. Developed and assembled in India with about US$21 million raised to date, the e200X will next undergo structural and systems testing ahead of regulatory certification with India’s DGCA.
Japan
SkyDrive Inc. says its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft has completed 300 test flights over a 20-month campaign running from November 2024 to June 2026, marking a key milestone in its development program. The company said the flights, conducted across multiple test sites in Japan and in more operationally realistic airspace conditions, were used to gather performance data aimed at supporting future commercial operations targeted for around 2028.
Separately, SkyDrive also showcased the SD-05 in Indonesia during a two-day event with Whitesky Aviation in Jakarta, where it presented potential use cases across urban air mobility, mining, and agriculture sectors.
Japan-USA
Toyota Motor and Joby Aviation have agreed to expand their partnership to prepare for commercial production of Joby’s four-seat eVTOL aircraft. The companies said the focus will be on building manufacturing systems aimed at improving productivity, quality and cost ahead of planned series production of the S4 model.
💡Toyota has invested about $900 million in Joby and is supporting development of a production line in Ohio. The partners have also formed a joint venture, Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company, to advance manufacturing readiness as Joby continues FAA certification and early operational testing.
Marine
Maritime developments are centered on vessel decarbonization, electrified logistics networks, localized manufacturing and digital infrastructure investments to support trade and data connectivity.
China
China’s largest methanol dual-fuel container ship has begun its maiden commercial voyage from Qingdao Port in Shandong province, carrying more than 3,000 TEUs of cargo bound for Northern Europe. The vessel, with a capacity of 24,168 TEUs, is the world’s largest methanol-powered container ship built in China.
💡The ship completed a ship-to-ship bunkering operation of 1,500 tonnes of methanol before departure.
China
China has completed smart navigation trials for what is described as the world’s first 10,000-tonne pure electric inland bulk carrier on the Yangtze River. The vessel is designed for zero-emission cargo transport and can be remotely operated while maintaining stable performance in complex river conditions.
💡The ship features rapid battery-swapping capability and extended endurance to address operational limits of earlier electric inland vessels.
China
China has launched its first zero-carbon river–sea transport route, with a fully electric container vessel completing a maiden voyage from Jiaxing to Ningbo Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province. The corridor links electric trucking, inland waterways and coastal shipping into a single all-electric logistics chain.
The system spans roughly 330–350 kilometres and moves automotive parts from Geely’s Changxing plant to port via electric trucks and inland vessels before transfer to a 10,000-ton-class electric ship. The route is expected to reduce emissions and logistics costs, with the vessel powered by containerized battery packs and designed for scalable deployment across inland and coastal shipping networks.
Australia-New Zealand
South Australian transport operator Kelsian Group has won a contract from Auckland Transport to run passenger ferry services in Auckland, New Zealand, expected to generate about $83 million in revenue over seven years from July 1 next year. The company said the deal marks its first entry into the New Zealand market.
💡Kelsian also acquired Auckland-based Belaire Ferries for more than $7 million as part of the expansion. It will operate and maintain six vessels initially, with plans to introduce five new ferries over the contract term and reposition vessels from Australia to support the service.
India
Maersk has received its first India-made export-import (EXIM) container and ordered 1,000 more, advancing efforts to localize container manufacturing under India’s maritime and “Make in India” programs. The container was produced in Uttar Pradesh by DCM Shriram Group at a Maersk-linked inland depot.
The company is also in talks with Indian shipyards, including Cochin Shipyard and L&T Shipbuilding, to build smaller vessels such as tugs and feeder ships. Maersk said the initiative supports expansion of domestic container production and shipbuilding capacity, with further orders expected as capabilities scale.
India, Malaysia & Singapore
Singapore-based Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel and Tata Communications will jointly build the I-2SEA submarine cable linking India, Malaysia and Singapore, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2029. The 3,600-km system will connect Machilipatnam and South Chennai on India’s east coast with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, extending access to Lightstorm’s 30,000-km terrestrial network serving Hyderabad, Mumbai and more than 80 data centres nationwide.
💡The cable is designed to support hyperscalers, GPU infrastructure providers and enterprises running AI training and inference workloads across the India-Southeast Asia corridor. Japan’s NEC Corporation will supply the system, while ASEAN Cableship will oversee marine installation. The project includes carrier-neutral landing stations in India and a deep-burial design aimed at improving resilience and uptime.
Space
Space activity is increasingly focused on expanding launch capability, improving orbital sustainability, and developing dual-use monitoring and infrastructure systems for both commercial and planetary defense applications.
China
China has reported a record in-space performance test of a satellite propulsion system, with an engine operating intermittently for a total of 14 hours in orbit. The system produced about 750 newtons of thrust and completed multiple firing cycles during the mission.
💡The engine was used for orbital manoeuvres after launch on a Long March-7A rocket, helping place the satellite into geostationary transfer orbit and refine its final position. Such propulsion systems are used for orbit raising, station-keeping and later repositioning over a satellite’s operational life.
China
China is developing a space–ground integrated asteroid monitoring and early-warning system as part of a proposed planetary defense capability, according to a CNSA-affiliated scientist. The plan is still under feasibility study and aims to combine ground-based telescopes with a space-based satellite constellation for continuous observation.
💡The system would support automated orbit calculation and impact risk assessment once objects are detected, with alerts issued if credible threats emerge. Researchers say the approach is intended to improve detection of near-Earth asteroids, including those approaching from the sunward direction that are difficult to observe from Earth alone.
India
Skyroot Aerospace has announced a launch window for the maiden test flight of its Vikram-1 orbital rocket, scheduled no earlier than July 12 and extending to August 4, subject to final assembly, testing and regulatory clearances. The mission marks the first orbital-class rocket developed by a private Indian company.
💡The test, named Mission Aagaman, will focus on capturing in-flight performance data across all systems to validate vehicle design for future commercial operations. Vikram-1 is designed to carry up to 350 kg to low Earth orbit using carbon-composite structures and in-house propulsion, including 3D-printed engines.
Japan
Japan’s space agency JAXA and BULL Co. have launched a joint study to assess the integration of a post-mission disposal device on the Epsilon S rocket, aimed at reducing orbital debris from upper stages after satellite deployment. The concept focuses on using atmospheric drag to accelerate deorbiting, helping limit the long-term presence of defunct rocket components in space.
💡The work is being carried out under JAXA’s J-SPARC collaboration framework and will focus on defining technical requirements, interfaces, and safety conditions for potential future implementation. Both parties said the effort supports broader goals to improve space sustainability as orbital traffic continues to increase.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s Space Institute has launched development of its TPA-2 satellite mission, set for launch in early 2028,carrying six curated payloads from industry, academia and education. The mission builds on TPA-1 and is designed as a shared “rideshare” platform to provide flight access for local space technologies.
💡The payloads include maritime sensing from Lune Digital, a student-led education experiment, a University of Auckland biological mini-lab, an optical communications beacon, a dragsail deployment system, and a new in-house avionics and payload interface module. The mission received funding from the Kiwi Space Activator programme and aims to expand New Zealand’s CubeSat and space technology capabilities through in-orbit testing.
South Korea
South Korea’s KASA says preparations for the fifth Nuri (KSLV-II) rocket launch in September are on schedule, with final assembly beginning next month and a firm launch date expected in early August. The mission is part of a broader push to expand national launch capability.
💡The agency is also moving ahead with a second space center, with a site selection due this year and construction set for 2028. Upcoming activity includes the CAS500-4 satellite launch on July 9, while the Arirang-6 mission has been delayed to 2027 due to launch schedule changes.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**