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: BOCHK and Ant Expand Cross-Border Fintech Partnership; MicroLEAP and Provident Banc Boost SME Financing; DayOne Secures S$530M Green Loan for Data Center; Zig Invests S$10M in Electric and Hybrid Fleet; Foxconn Adds US$322M to Vietnam and Singapore Investment; and NVIDIA Proposes Four AI Cooperation Areas With Vietnam
Environmental Sustainability: Nestlé Studies Banyuwangi’s Circular Waste Model; China and Solomon Islands Advance Seaweed Blue Carbon Credits; China and Mongolia Expand Desertification Restoration; Malaysia and Brunei Turn to ASEAN Mechanism on Transboundary Haze; and UNDP, Ulaanbaatar Partner on Green Urban Development
Aviation: Fiji Fuel Contamination Disrupts Qantas, Virgin and Fiji Airways; Shanghai Electric Begins Green Methanol and SAF Project in Jilin; EcoCeres, SF Group and CNAF Launch SAF Cargo Program; SITA Expands India-Made Airport Technology Across Asia-Pacific; and Oregon, South Korea Explore Aviation Partnerships
Advanced Air Mobility: Eve Air Mobility and RV Connex Develop Thailand AAM Framework; EHang Launches eVTOL Fast-Track Program With Sri Lanka; EHang Begins Hainan Low-Altitude Corridor Project; SkyDrive Signs First Australian eVTOL Sales Deal; Thailand, Aerofugia Explore eVTOL Certification; and Thailand, AutoFlight Discuss eVTOL Testing and Deployment
Marine: Shenzhen International Begins US$140M Foshan Port Project; Bulk Carrier Sinks in Bay of Bengal, 22 Missing; TGS Wins Rights to Market Brunei Offshore Data; Singapore Hosts First Cashew-Based Marine Fuel Bunkering; and South Korea Tests Arctic Shipping Route to Europe
Space: Australia Tests First Domestic Advanced Solid Rocket Motor; LandSpace Achieves China’s First Orbital Booster Landing; CAS Space Advances Lixun-1 Upper Stage Toward Flight Testing; South Korea Completes Five Mass-Produced Earth Observation Satellites; and Taiwan Tests First Domestic Maraho Sounding Rocket
Financing & Investments
Regional investment is concentrating on SME financing, green infrastructure, electrification, advanced manufacturing, and AI capacity, with cross-border partnerships playing a central role.
Hong Kong-Singapore
Hong Kong’s Bank of China and Singapore’s Ant International have formed a strategic partnership to jointly develop cross-border payments, treasury management, and SME financial services across Southeast Asia. BOCHK will provide settlement banking for Ant’s Alipay+ gateway, while the two firms will combine BOCHK’s FX pricing with Ant’s AI for treasury offerings.
💡For corporate clients, Ant’s WorldFirst will work with BOCHK on trade fund management for SMEs, including Chinese firms expanding overseas, while the Bettr business will develop blockchain-based cash management tools. The partnership builds on their collaboration since 2013, with both sides aiming to enhance fintech connectivity in Hong Kong and the region.
Malaysia
Malaysian P2P financing platform MicroLEAP has signed a memorandum of understanding with Provident Banc Berhadto explore initiatives supporting responsible financing and broader access to alternative funding for small and medium-sized enterprises. The collaboration will cover financial education, knowledge-sharing and potential financing solutions under both Shariah-compliant and conventional P2P structures.
💡The companies said the partnership aims to help SMEs make more informed financial decisions and access financing beyond traditional bank lending. The MOU forms part of efforts to strengthen responsible borrowing and support the longer-term financial resilience of Malaysian businesses.
Singapore
Singapore-based data center operator DayOne has secured a S$530 million ($415 million) four-year green loan from DBS, OCBC and UOB to finance its first data center in Singapore. The 20-MW facility in western Singapore is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027.
💡The facility may use solid oxide fuel cells to generate power on site, potentially using hydrogen, along with building-integrated solar panels and air and liquid cooling. The loan was structured under the Green Loan Principles, with the banks acting as joint arrangers and green-loan coordinators.
Singapore-China
Zig by ComfortDelGro is investing more than S$10 million in its private-hire vehicle fleet in Singapore, adding electric and hybrid vehicles supplied by Vantage Automotive. The new fleet will include BYD SEAL 6 DM-i and BYD M6 models and will be introduced progressively in the coming months.
💡The investment is part of Zig’s shift toward a hybrid taxi and private-hire model. Drivers will have access to preferential charging rates through CDG Energy and maintenance services through ComfortDelGro Engineering.
Taiwan-Vietnam-Singapore
Taiwan-based Foxconn will invest an additional US$265 million in its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and US$57 million in Singapore, according to filings with the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Vietnam investments include funding for operations producing televisions and components, electric-vehicle energy and components, and tablets.
💡Foxconn also disclosed that its Singapore subsidiary had acquired additional shares in Vietnamese manufacturer FuKang Technology, bringing its ownership to 100 percent. Foxconn has invested in Vietnam since 2007, with its total investment there expected to approach US$5 billion.
U.S.-Vietnam
NVIDIA has proposed four areas of AI cooperation with Vietnam, including helping the country develop an independently owned large language model and expand its AI computing capacity. The company said Vietnam currently has about 10,000 to 15,000 GPUs, compared with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 in South Korea.
💡The proposals also cover AI training, startup and research support, and connecting Vietnamese AI companies with regional and global markets. Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology said it would work with NVIDIA to develop detailed plans for the proposed cooperation.
Environmental Sustainability
Asia-Pacific
Seventeen Nestlé Asia Pacific sustainability delegates from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia visited Banyuwangi, East Java, to study the “Banyuwangi Hijau” circular waste management system. The visit aimed to assess the local approach to waste processing and recycling as a potential operational model.
💡The company is exploring how the system could be replicated across its Southeast Asian operations to improve waste reduction and resource efficiency. Banyuwangi’s model integrates community participation with formal waste collection and processing infrastructure.
China-Solomon Islands
A blue carbon project based in Zhangzhou, Fujian, showcased Solomon Islands cross-border seaweed carbon credits on National Ecology Day. Initial development yielded 2,951 tons of carbon credits, including 61 tons allocated to shipping carbon offset projects.
💡The initiative links seaweed raw material imports from the Solomon Islands with blue carbon credit generation in China, creating a new model for marine ecological value monetization. The project demonstrates how transboundary partnerships can contribute to both climate mitigation and sustainable marine resource use.
China-Mongolia
China and Mongolia are expanding cooperation on desertification and environmental restoration, with China providing saplings, restoration knowledge and monitoring technology. Inner Mongolia had supplied more than 11.7 million saplings to Mongolia by early June, while meteorological agencies have also begun joint assessments of dust and climate risks.
💡The cooperation includes the China-Mongolia Desertification Prevention and Control Cooperation Center, established in 2023, and joint restoration projects. Chinese companies operating in Mongolia are also involved in land rehabilitation, including a mining project that had planted more than 12,000 trees and completed restoration work covering more than 55 hectares by the end of 2025.
Malaysia-Brunei
Malaysia and Brunei have agreed to use an Asean mechanism to address transboundary haze affecting parts of the region, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on August 22. Malaysia plans to submit an official letter to the Asean Secretariat through its Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
💡Air quality in parts of Malaysia was unhealthy, with Serian, Sarawak recording an Air Pollution Index reading of 190 on Saturday morning. Ten other areas also recorded unhealthy readings, ranging from 151 to 182.
Mongolia
The United Nations Development Programme and Ulaanbaatar’s Governor’s Office signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding during the COP17 desertification conference in Mongolia’s capital. The agreement aims to support green, inclusive and climate-resilient urban development in Ulaanbaatar, which faces mounting pressures from rapid expansion, environmental degradation and service delivery challenges, particularly in ger areas.
💡The partnership covers five areas: integrated urban planning, green financing for infrastructure, community-led development in ger districts, GHG emission reduction certification for renewable energy transitions, and carbon market finance mobilization. UNDP will work with the municipality on Green City indicators aligned with Ulaanbaatar’s master plan, while exploring public-private co-financing and high-integrity carbon markets to accelerate the city’s green energy transition.
Aviation
Aviation activity spans both immediate operational challenges and longer-term investment in sustainable fuels, airport technology, advanced aircraft systems, and cross-border industry partnerships.
Australia-Fiji
A batch of aviation fuel at Fiji’s Nadi International Airport was found contaminated due to an excessive electrical charge,disrupting operations for Qantas, Virgin Australia and Fiji Airways.Virgin cancelled two Fiji services on August 20, while Qantas and Virgin have been forced to bring in extra fuel for return flights to Australia. Pilots have been advised the issue may persist until the end of the month.
Fiji Airways, operating about 80 daily flights out of Nadi, is facing its biggest fuel shock in over 50 years. The government has approved an additional FJ$127 million guarantee to help the carrier manage rising costs amid the disruption.
China
Shanghai Electric commenced construction on the second phase of its Taonan green methanol and SAF integrated project in Jilin Province. The project targets annual production of 200,000 tonnes of green methanol and 10,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel upon full operation by 2028.
💡The project applies Shanghai Electric’s off-grid green electricity model integrating wind, solar, storage and biomass, along with proprietary electrolysis, gasification and Fischer‑Tropsch technologies. The company claims full‑lifecycle carbon emissions are reduced by more than 65% compared to coal‑based methanol.
Hong Kong-Mainland China
Hong Kong‑based renewable fuel producer EcoCeres partnered with SF Group and China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF) to launch a customized SAF commercial fueling program for air cargo operations in China. EcoCeres‑produced SAF will be blended by CNAF and supplied to SF Airlines’ outbound cargo flights.
💡The program enables up to 90% greenhouse gas reduction compared to conventional jet fuel.
Switzerland-India
SITA is scaling exports of its India-manufactured airport kiosks and Automated Self Bag Drop systems from South Asia into Southeast Asia. Further Asia-Pacific markets are expected to follow as the company expands its regional footprint.
💡SITA has doubled its India resources over the past two years, reflecting increased production capacity and demand for self-service airport infrastructure. The move positions India as a key manufacturing hub for the company’s global airport technology supply chain.
U.S-South Korea
Oregon hosted a South Korean aviation delegation from July 26 to 30 to explore potential investment and partnerships in aviation, uncrewed aircraft systems and advanced air mobility. The delegation included about 25 government, industry and research representatives, who visited aviation facilities and met with local companies and researchers.
💡The visit focused on opportunities in aircraft technology, manufacturing, testing and workforce development. Oregon officials said the discussions were intended to establish longer-term commercial and research partnerships between South Korean and Oregon aviation organizations.
Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced air mobility activity is moving toward regulatory frameworks, certification, infrastructure and pilot programs, with Thailand emerging as a regional testing and deployment market.
Brasil-Thailand
Eve Air Mobility signed an MOU with Thai firm RV Connex to co‑develop the regulatory architecture for commercial AAM operations in Thailand. The agreement covers airspace rules, safety standards, and vertiport infrastructure specifications.
💡No operational timelines have been set. The framework is intended to provide a tailored regulatory baseline for future eVTOL services in the country.
China-Sri Lanka
EHang has launched a Global Fast Track Program to accelerate pilotless eVTOL certification abroad, with Sri Lanka as the first market to adopt the framework; initial commercial services could begin within four months, pending regulatory and safety sign-offs.
💡Separately, the company has broken ground with China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau on a cross-sea low-altitude corridor in Hainan, establishing passenger eVTOL routes and shuttle services linking the island with Guangdong—scaling up from a 22‑kilometre Qiongzhou Strait test flight completed last December.
Japan-Australia
SkyDrive signed a letter of intent with Gold Coast Helitours for the purchase of up to five SD‑05 eVTOL aircraft, with deliveries scheduled for 2028–2029. The agreement marks the first eVTOL sales commitment for Australia.
💡The partnership plans to launch a sightseeing service from Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast in 2028. A dedicated vertiport and MRO facility will be developed at Southport Airfield as part of the deployment.
Thailand-China
Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) Director‑General Manat Chavanaprayoon led a delegation to Chinese eVTOL developer Aerofugia for discussions on type certification, passenger‑carrying scenarios and commercial operations. Talks covered overseas certification pathways for Aerofugia’s AE200 series.
💡Aerofugia stated its intention to work with local Thai partners under CAAT oversight to advance commercial deployment.
Thailand-China
CAAT Director‑General Manat Chavanaprayoon led a delegation to AutoFlight’s Kunshan facility for the second time since December 2025. Discussions covered airworthiness certification, flight testing, operations, maintenance, safety management, personnel training and commercial deployment.
💡AutoFlight presented its V2000CG cargo eVTOL (which holds CAAC full certification and an Indonesian VTC), the V2000CGF emergency variant, the V2000EM passenger model and the SUNSHIP water‑based vertiport. CAAT is exploring eVTOL testing and pilot programs through Thailand’s sandbox initiative, with potential applications in urban mobility, island connectivity, emergency response and medical transport.
Marine
APAC marine developments span port expansion, offshore exploration, alternative fuels and new shipping routes, alongside a major vessel casualty highlighting continuing operational risks.
Hong Kong-Mainland China
Hong Kong-listed Shenzhen International has begun construction of a RMB1 billion (US$140 million) port terminal in Foshan, its first port development in China’s Greater Bay Area. The Fuwan terminal, located along the Xijiang River, will have two 3,000-tonne general cargo berths and is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
💡The terminal will handle steel, aggregates, grain and other bulk cargoes. Shenzhen International owns a 97.1% stake in the project, which is intended to expand its port network into the Greater Bay Area and link with its existing logistics assets in Foshan.
India
Twenty-two seafarers remain missing after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, about 240 nautical miles off Paradip, India. The vessel was carrying about 72,000 tonnes of iron ore fines and had 24 crew members aboard, including 20 Chinese, three Myanmar and one Bangladeshi national. Two crew members were rescued from liferafts and are receiving medical treatment.
💡The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are conducting a search operation, with assistance from commercial vessels in the area. The 72,928-dwt ship had departed Paradip on Aug. 20, with its AIS destination listed as Singapore, although Indian officials said it was bound for China. The cause of the sinking has not been established.
Norway-Brunei
Oslo-listed seismic data company TGS has secured rights from Brunei’s Petroleum Authority to market and license subsurface data from an offshore block. The data package includes 3D seismic surveys, well information and technical reports for companies assessing potential exploration opportunities.
💡The agreement is intended to support Brunei’s efforts to attract investment into its upstream energy sector.
Singapore
Olam Agri and Vitol Bunkers have supplied a marine fuel made using cashew nutshell liquid in Singapore, in what they described as the port’s first such bunker operation. The fuel was supplied to the 82,000-dwt Scion Mathilda and used on voyages between Asia, Europe and Brazil.
💡The companies said the fuel produced at least 120 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions savings compared with conventional VLSFO. The cashew by-product was processed during refining rather than directly mixed into the finished fuel, allowing the product to meet standard fuel specifications without additional onboard treatment.
South Korea
South Korea’s first container ship trial through the Arctic departed Busan on August 22, bound for Europe via the Northern Sea Route. The PanStar Acro is scheduled to call at ports in Britain, the Netherlands and Poland before returning to South Korea, with the voyage expected to take 40 to 45 days.
💡The trial is intended to assess the route’s commercial viability as seasonal reductions in Arctic sea ice improve access. The route could shorten Asia-Europe voyages by about 7,000km compared with the Suez Canal route, but its use remains subject to seasonal ice conditions and other operational constraints.
Space
Space programs across the region are advancing launch, reusable-rocket, satellite and propulsion capabilities, with several countries moving from development and testing toward operational deployment.
Australia
The first fully Australian-designed and manufactured advanced solid rocket motor successfully completed a flight test at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. The 100kg-class motor, developed through the Advanced Rocket Motor Technology Demonstrator Program partnership between the Defence Science and Technology Group and Thales Australia, was flight-tested aboard a vehicle launched by Southern Launch.
💡Post-flight analysis confirmed the rocket motor performed as designed throughout the test. The flight demonstrated real-time monitoring of performance data and enabled recovery of the vehicle for inspection and data validation. The test builds on a successful static firing of the larger-scale DRACO solid rocket motor at Woomera in February 2026.
China
Chinese private launch firm LandSpace successfully launched the Zhuque-3 Y2 reusable rocket on August 19 and achieved the country’s first-ever land-based recovery of an orbital-class first stage using landing legs. The booster deployed its four legs and touched down vertically on a concrete pad in Minqin County, Gansu Province, nearly eight minutes after liftoff.
💡However, a post-landing fire broke out in the booster’s aft section. According to multiple reports, residual methane leaked during propellant venting and ignited one of the four landing legs, which lacked thermal protection. The leg failed under high heat, causing the booster to tilt and fall over in the desert. The mission was still declared a success as the primary recovery objective — vertical soft landing — was achieved; the post-landing damage is considered a ground secondary incident rather than a recovery failure.
China
CAS Space completed a series of power system tests on its independently developed “Lixun-1” upper stage, with cumulative engine combustion test time reaching 5,211 seconds. The 20 kN liquid engine’s test campaign confirmed the stage is ready to transition to flight testing.
💡The vehicle is described as a space “shuttle bus” for orbital payload transport. Its first flight is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
South Korea
Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), together with KAIST, completed development of five mass‑produced ultra‑small Earth observation satellites designated “Ultra‑Small Cluster Satellites No. 2–6” and held a Pre‑Shipment Review before transport. The satellites, each weighing under 100 kg and equipped with electro‑optical cameras capable of 1 m black‑and‑white and 4 m color resolution, are scheduled to launch aboard the Nuri rocket on its fifth flight from Naro Space Center.
💡The five satellites are South Korea’s first mass‑produced Earth observation satellites built using low‑cost components, with design improvements based on operational results from the No. 1 prototype launched in April 2024 and a verification satellite launched in January 2026. The full constellation of ten satellites, with Satellites No. 7–11 scheduled for launch in 2027, will allow imaging of the Korean Peninsula more than three times per day once fully operational.
Taiwan
The Taiwan Space Agency on Saturday launched its first domestically developed sounding rocket, Maraho, in Pingtung County. The rocket reached Mach 1.2 and an altitude of 8.1km during the 432-second test flight.
💡TASA said the flight successfully tested the rocket’s propulsion, communications and other systems. Data from the test will support further development of Taiwan’s orbital launch vehicle program.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**