Beyond Horizons
Trailblazing Tales from Asia
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.**
Events
IMDEX Asia 2025
IMDEX Asia 2025, held from May 6-8 at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore, is a key event for the naval and maritime defence industry. The exhibition will showcase a wide range of technologies, from traditional sectors like shipbuilding and armaments to new innovations in cybersecurity, unmanned systems, and surveillance.
Learn more about IMDEX Asia 2025 here.
Australian Space Summit and Exhibition 2025
The Australian Space Summit & Exhibition will take place from May 27-28 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. This marks the event's fourth consecutive year, bringing together industry leaders to explore advancements in the space sector.
Learn more about the event here.
The Advanced Air Mobility Asia Symposium (AAM Asia)
The Advanced Air Mobility Asia Symposium (AAM Asia) will take place from September 16-18, 2025, at Aichi Sky Expo, Japan. The event will explore Asia’s evolving Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem, covering use cases, infrastructure, air traffic management (ATM/UTM), MRO, and regulations.
Learn more about the symposium here.
Summary
Financing & Investments: Asia-Pacific, Middle East Airports to Receive $240B Investment by 2035; HashKey Launches Asia’s First XRP Tracker Fund with Ripple Backing; Qatar Investment Authority and Danantara Launch $4bn Co-Investment Fund in Indonesia; ABC Impact Closes Second Fund at Over $600M to Drive Sustainable Growth in Asia; and Thailand Approves First Digital Banks, Set to Launch by 2026
Environmental Sustainability: RMIT's PYROCO Technology Enables Sustainable Bio-Oil Production from Sewage; Clorox Fined A$8.25 Million for False Eco-Claims in Australia; ASEAN Study Highlights Southeast Asia’s Potential as Global SAF Hub; Patrizia and Mitsui Back Kaer’s Low-Carbon Cooling Expansion in Asia; Lao PDR and IWMI Sign MoU to Strengthen Water Resource Management; and NTU Singapore Launches Climate Health Research Centre
Aviation: Newcastle Airport Installs First Aerobridge Ahead of New International Terminal Launch; China Halts Boeing Jet Deliveries Amid Escalating US Trade Tensions; AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Receives Type Certification; Huawei Unveils Five Smart Airport Solutions at Passenger Terminal Expo 2025; IATA Launches Digital Portal for Safe Live Animal Transport; and Singapore Airlines to Renovate Terminal 2 Lounges with S$45M Upgrade
Advanced Air Mobility: Volar Air Mobility Wins 2025 Aero Friedrichshafen e-Flight Award for RX4E
Marine: SuMi TRUST Backs Hayfin’s $620M Maritime Yield Strategy; Japan Powers Coastal Vessel with Used Cooking Oil Biofuel in Maritime First; Piracy Surges in Singapore Strait Driving 35% Global Rise in Q1 2025; GCMD Unveils Carbon Cost Tool for Shipowners; and Eximbank and KOBC Unite to Bolster Korea’s Maritime Supply Chain
Space: Indonesia’s PT Andyrana Agung Nusa Signs Geospatial MoU with China’s Xiamen Tianwei; Malaysia Signs LOI to Advance Regional Space Launch Capabilities; PCTO Raises Concerns Over Konektadong Pinoy Bill’s Impact on Telecom Sector; and Deloitte and SSTL Highlight Southeast Asia’s Expanding Space Economy; and Vietnam Unveils 2025 Digital Infrastructure Strategy
Financing & Investments
Asia-Pacific
Airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East will see US$240 billion in infrastructure investment from 2025–2035, according to ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East. The funding includes $136B for upgrades to existing airports and $104B for new facilities, adding capacity for 1.24 billion passengers and 71 million tonnes of cargo.
💡By 2053, the regions are expected to serve nearly 11 billion passengers.
Hong Kong
HashKey Capital has launched Asia’s first XRP-linked investment product, the HashKey XRP Tracker Fund, offering professional investors regulated exposure to the third-largest crypto asset without managing custody or trading. Ripple is backing the fund as an anchor investor.
The fund complements HashKey’s lineup of digital asset products, including its Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Benchmarking will be provided by CF Benchmarks.
💡HashKey hinted at plans to convert the fund into a full-fledged ETF pending regulatory approval. The firm is also exploring broader XRP-based initiatives with Ripple, including DeFi solutions, tokenized money market funds, and new crypto investment vehicles.
Qatar-Indonesia
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Indonesia's Danantara have launched a $4 billion co-investment fund, marking the first foreign investment in Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund (SWF). Each party will contribute $2 billion to support projects in food security, downstream processing, and tourism.
💡The deal, signed during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Doha, is seen as a vote of confidence in Danantara, which has faced governance concerns.
Singapore
ABC Impact has completed the final close of its second fund, raising over USD 600 million, doubling the size of its first fund. The Asia-focused impact investor secured backing from a diverse group of institutional and private Limited Partners, including Temasek, Temasek Trust, Asian Development Bank, and others.
💡Fund II will target clean energy and climate resilience, inclusive finance and digital access, healthcare and education, and sustainable food systems. Existing investments include Aye Finance (India), Tekoma Energy (Japan), and DCDC Kidney Care (India). The firm aims to address Asia’s most pressing needs while delivering long-term financial and societal returns.
Thailand
Thailand is set to launch its first digital banks in 2026 after the Bank of Thailand approved three consortium-led applications from Krungthai Bank, SCB X, and Ascend Money. The Ministry of Finance is expected to give final approval by mid-2025, giving the selected groups a year to prepare.
💡The Krungthai consortium includes Gulf Energy, AIS, and PTT Oil and Retail. SCB X is partnering with South Korea’s KakaoBank and China’s WeBank. Ascend Money, backed by Ant International and CP Group, aims to boost financial inclusion, especially among underbanked individuals and small businesses.
Environmental Sustainability
Australia
RMIT University has developed a breakthrough technology, PYROCOTM, that turns treated sewage (biosolids) into biochar, a catalyst for producing sustainable bio-oils to replace petroleum-based products in industries like electronics, construction, and automotive. The technology, developed with partners including South East Water, uses high temperatures without oxygen to convert biosolids into carbon-rich biochar, which can then help produce phenol-rich bio-oils. .
💡The project, backed by $3 million from the Australian Government, is nearing commercial-scale deployment. It also addresses PFAS contamination in biosolids, with the potential to generate a $3.3 billion biochar market by next year.
Australia
Clorox's Australian unit has been fined A$8.25 million by the Federal Court for falsely claiming that its GLAD kitchen and garbage bags were made from recycled ocean plastic. From June 2021 to July 2023, the company misled consumers by stating that the bags contained at least 50% recycled oceanic plastic, while in reality, the bags were made from plastic waste collected from Indonesian communities, far from the ocean.
💡The ruling highlights the importance of accurate environmental claims, and Clorox is required to implement a compliance program and publish corrective notices.
ASEAN
A major trans-Pacific research project has concluded that Southeast Asia holds significant potential to become a leading global supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), thanks to its abundant agricultural waste resources. Conducted by ASEAN, the Canadian Trade and Investment Facility for Development (CTIF), Boeing, and engineering firm GHD—with funding from Global Affairs Canada—the study assessed feedstock availability, carbon intensity, and production feasibility in seven ASEAN countries.
The report found that Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam could become net SAF exporters by 2040, while Japan and South Korea were identified as key importers.
💡The findings are expected to support ongoing regional policy, infrastructure, and investment initiatives aimed at scaling SAF production across ASEAN.
Asia-Pacific
Patrizia and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. have made a strategic investment in Kaer through the APAC Sustainable Infrastructure Fund (A-SIF) to accelerate the growth of its Cooling as a Service (CaaS) offerings in Asia.
The funding, which could reach up to US$350 million, is aimed at expanding Kaer’s presence in markets such as Thailand and Vietnam, in addition to its existing operations in Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia.
💡A-SIF will acquire a minority interest in Kaer while providing additional capital to fuel its expansion.
Lao PDR
Lao PDR’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has signed an MoU to enhance collaboration on water resource management. The agreement formalizes ongoing technical cooperation and supports Lao PDR’s Vision 2040 and 2030 strategies.
💡Key focus areas include integrated water resources management, groundwater governance, and capacity building. Both parties aim to advance water security, climate-resilient agriculture, and sustainable development, while fostering broader partnerships across the water sector.
Singapore
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has launched the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH) to address the growing health threats posed by climate change in Southeast Asia. The centre will focus on the impacts of air quality, extreme heat, and water supply and quality, using advanced tools like AI and environmental sensors.
💡CCEH aims to bridge gaps in climate health research specific to tropical regions, collaborating with local and global partners to develop solutions and influence policy.
Aviation
Australia
Newcastle Airport has installed its first 20-metre aerobridge as part of preparations for the opening of its new international terminal in four months. Originally slated for completion last year, the project faced delays due to supply chain disruptions.
The terminal upgrades include faster baggage handling systems for Code E and C aircraft, improved pick-up and drop-off access, a new arrivals café, and upgraded amenities.
💡Backed by a $250 million investment, the redevelopment is projected to bring in 850,000 additional passengers annually, generate $6.2 billion in tourism revenue, and drive $6.5 billion in freight growth over the next 20 years. The NSW Government has also committed funding through its Aviation Attraction Fund to help secure new international routes.
China
China has ordered domestic airlines to suspend deliveries and purchases of Boeing aircraft and US-made aviation parts, reports Reuters. The move follows the imposition of new tariffs by both nations, with China responding to the US’s 145% duties on Chinese imports with 125% tariffs of its own.
💡At least 10 Boeing 737 MAX jets were slated for delivery to Chinese carriers, including China Southern, Air China, and Xiamen Airlines. Boeing, which expects China to need over 8,800 aircraft by 2043, may now face further challenges in maintaining market share in the region.
China
The AG600 "Kunlong," developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has received its Type Certificate (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in April 2025. The aircraft is certified as the world’s largest civil amphibious aircraft by takeoff weight, under the provisions of China’s civil aviation regulations, CCAR-21.25 and CCAR-25.
💡After over a decade of development and testing, the AG600 has demonstrated its ability to operate on land, water, and at sea. With a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tons, the aircraft is designed for firefighting and maritime rescue missions.
China
At Passenger Terminal Expo 2025 in Madrid, Huawei introduced five aviation-focused solutions aimed at accelerating the industry's digital transformation through broadband, cloud, and AI technologies.
💡Key offerings include the Smart Airport Intelligent Operation Center (IOC), which integrates over 30 airport systems to boost decision-making, flight punctuality, and ground support. Other solutions feature fibre-based perimeter security, a digital intelligent platform with high availability and fast recovery, an integrated data network with Wi-Fi 7, and an all-optical network for seamless service access.
Global
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled LAR Verify, a digital platform designed to enhance the safe and compliant transport of live animals by air. The portal provides airlines, shippers, and freight forwarders with access to destination-specific regulations as outlined in the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR).
💡LAR Verify offers automated compliance tools to streamline booking, handling, and documentation processes. Integrated into cargo management systems, it features real-time updates on regulations, container specifications, disease control measures, and supports document uploads for airline verification.
Singapore
Singapore Airlines has announced a S$45 million (US$34.1 million) renovation project for its SilverKris and KrisFlyer Gold lounges at Changi Airport Terminal 2, aiming to enhance customer experience. The phased project begins immediately and is expected to be completed by mid-2027.The upgrades will expand lounge space and seating by 50%, with improved amenities and food options.
💡The First Class SilverKris Lounge renovation starts in April 2025, followed by Business Class upgrades later that year. KrisFlyer Gold Lounge renovations are slated for early 2026. New features include expanded buffets, full-service bars, quiet rest areas, and in-lounge shower facilities.
Advanced Air Mobility
China
Volar Air Mobility has been awarded the 2025 Aero Friedrichshafen e-Flight Award for its RX4E electric aircraft, developed in collaboration with the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA).
💡The e-Flight Award was presented at Aero Friedrichshafen, Europe’s leading trade fair for general aviation, which highlights the latest innovations in aviation, with a focus on sustainable and electric flight.
Marine
Japan
Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank has invested in London’s Hayfin Capital Management’s Maritime Yield strategy, pushing total commitments beyond $620 million. This expands Hayfin’s maritime investment platform, which now exceeds $1 billion in deployment capacity with leverage.
💡The strategy focuses on diversified, income-generating shipping assets, supporting global trade and decarbonization efforts.
Japan
Japan has achieved a major milestone in maritime sustainability by successfully powering a coastal vessel with biofuel made from used cooking oil—marking the first use of this type of fuel in marine shipping. The 24% blend of straight vegetable oil (SVO) and heavy oil was used without chemical processing, offering a cost-effective and low-emission alternative.
💡Tested over a month between Mikawa Bay and Tokyo Bay, the vessel operated smoothly with no performance issues. This trial—backed by Hanwa Co. Ltd. and Tokyo Steel—highlights the potential of drop-in biofuels for existing vessels, especially smaller ones with limited space for alternative energy systems.
Singapore
Singapore’s Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation has launched a free calculator to help shipowners estimate penalties under the IMO’s new global carbon pricing scheme, starting in 2028.
💡Ships exceeding emission targets will face charges of $100–$380 per excess tonne of CO₂, or may offset with carbon credits. The tool aims to simplify compliance planning as the industry transitions to cleaner fuels.
South Korea
The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) has signed a strategic agreement with Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) to enhance resilience in Korea's shipping and port logistics sectors. The partnership, formalized in Busan, focuses on financial support, joint research, and data sharing through a dedicated "K-Logistics" task force.
💡Backed by a ₩10 trillion ($7.02 billion) supply chain stabilization fund, Eximbank will prioritize shipping, logistics, and maritime MRO services. Future plans include equity investments to secure key hub port terminals.
Southeast Asia
Global piracy and armed robbery incidents rose nearly 35% in Q1 2025, with 45 attacks reported, up from the same period in 2024. The spike is largely due to a sharp increase in the Singapore Strait, where 27 incidents occurred—up from just seven last year.
💡According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), 37 vessels were boarded, four hijacked, and four faced attempted attacks. Crew safety remains a major concern: 37 were taken hostage, 13 kidnapped, two threatened, and one injured. Notably, guns were involved in 14 cases.
Space
Indonesia-China
Indonesia’s PT Andyrana Agung Nusa and China’s Xiamen Tianwei Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding in Xiamen to advance cooperation in satellite remote sensing and smart agriculture.
💡The agreement aims to promote the use of geospatial data in Indonesia’s agricultural sector, supporting sustainable development and data-driven farming practices.
Malaysia
Malaysia is positioning itself as a regional space hub with a newly signed Letter of Intent (LOI) between the Pahang State Economic Development Corporation (PKNP), China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and Lestari Angkasa Sdn Bhd. The agreement supports the development of “Sea Launch” platforms, strengthens Malaysia’s aerospace supply chain, and promotes technology transfer and talent development.
💡Aligned with Malaysia’s National Space Policy 2030, the collaboration aims to spur economic growth in Pahang and boost the country's commercial space services. For CGWIC, the move expands its footprint in the ASEAN space sector, while PKNP and Lestari Angkasa reinforce their roles in building Malaysia’s emerging space ecosystem.
Philippines
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO) has raised alarms over the Konektadong Pinoy bill, claiming it could compromise national security, create regulatory imbalances, and hinder fair competition.
PCTO opposes the removal of the legislative franchise requirement for operators of international gateways and satellite services, fearing it could open the door to foreign-controlled entities bypassing cybersecurity protocols. The group also criticizes issues such as insufficient cybersecurity compliance timelines and the lack of obligations to serve underserved areas.
💡PCTO urges the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to retain vetting authority and calls for a more inclusive and secure approach to digital development.
Southeast Asia
Deloitte and Singapore Space & Technology Ltd. (SSTL) have released the “Space to Thrive: Southeast Asia’s Space Industry on the Rise” report, highlighting the region’s shift from government-led space initiatives to a dynamic commercial ecosystem. The study identifies major growth opportunities in sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture, health, logistics, and mining through the integration of satellite technologies like Earth observation, GNSS, and satellite connectivity.
Country profiles of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines reveal promising pathways for leveraging space technology to boost sustainable development and economic resilience.
💡The report calls for stronger national strategies, regulatory frameworks, talent development, and international collaboration to unlock the full potential of the space sector.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has launched an ambitious 2025 strategy to elevate the country as a regional digital transformation leader. Announced at the Vietnam Digital Awards 2025, the plan prioritizes 5G expansion, international-standard data centers, submarine fiber cables, and telecom satellites.
💡The strategy targets breakthroughs in AI, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, and cybersecurity, backed by legal reforms and efforts to grow domestic and overseas tech talent. Key goals include raising the digital economy’s GDP share above 20%, advancing national databases, and boosting digital inclusion in remote regions.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**