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.**
Announcement
Excited to share that I am a co-author of a new article, The Ongoing Evolution of eVTOLs: Urban Transport Potential and the Security Dimension, published in Urban Planning and Transport Research.
I’m honored to contribute to this research on eVTOLs and urban transport and grateful for the opportunity to be published in a Scopus-indexed journal!
Events
Asia-Pacific Space Events
October 2025
28–31 Oct 2025: Nihonbashi Space Week 2025, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan – Brings together 100+ start-ups and companies, highlighting developments supported by Japan’s Space Strategic Fund.
November 2025
4–6 Nov 2025: Asia-Pacific Satellite and Space Community (APSCC 2025), Taipei Marriott Hotel, Taiwan – Market insights, partnership opportunities, and business deals for space professionals.
18–21 Nov 2025: Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31), Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, Philippines – Focus on regional policy, education, GNSS, and applications.
December 2025
9–11 Dec 2025: Airspace Asia Pacific 2025, Hong Kong, China – Addresses integration of space launches and satellite operations into urban airspace, fostering dialogue between airspace managers and space industry stakeholders.
Summary
Financing & Investments: FWD Launches AI Lab; SoftBank to Acquire ABB Robotics; PayPay Buys 40% Stake in Binance; Moomoo Integrates Fireblocks Wallets-as-a-Service; and FPT Forms AI Partnership for Insurance Solutions
Environmental Sustainability: ISO Launches Biodiversity Standard; Google Introduces Carbon Footprint for Ads; NREB and BCX Develop Sarawak Carbon Registry; CCS Issues Guide to Prevent Greenwashing; and Vycarb Raises $5M for Carbon Capture Technology
Aviation: ACI Reports Rising Airfares in Asia-Pacific and Middle East; Techo International Airport Opens in Phnom Penh; Navi Mumbai Airport Inaugurated by PM Modi; Singapore Explores MRO Partnerships with India; and US DOT Proposes Restriction on Chinese Airlines
Advanced Air Mobility: Aerofugia Begins eVTOL Production; Aridge Completes First Middle East Flight; Dassault Partners with ePlane for eVTOL; Volocopter Plans Four New Aircraft; and SkyDrive Completes Public eVTOL Demonstrations
Marine: MARBEM Launches Methane-Free Shipping Coalition; Geely Unveils Methanol-Hydrogen Riverboat; DANA, Ant, and Konservasi Launch Ocean Buddy; ICTSI Extends Subic Bay Terminal Operations; and Hafnia Partners with DNV on Underwater Noise
Space: Geespace Launches Sixth GEESATCOM Orbital Plane; Japan’s H3 Rocket to Carry Sake to ISS; JAXA Commissions ArkEdge for LEO Satellite System; Faraday Factory Partners with Zenno for Space Superconductors; and Rocket Lab Signs Electron Launches with JAXA
Financing & Investments
FWD, SoftBank, PayPay, Moomoo, and FPT drive AI, crypto, and digital finance innovation across Asia, combining strategic investments, partnerships, and advanced infrastructure to accelerate automation, secure transactions, and sector-specific solutions.
Hong Kong-Singapore
Hong Kong-based insurer FWD Group Holdings Ltd. launched the FWD AI Lab in Singapore, aiming to accelerate innovation in insurance through artificial intelligence and data science.
Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and aligned with the country’s National AI Strategy (NAIS 2.0), the lab plans to develop hundreds of AI models and PhD-level agentic AI systems by 2027, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and other research institutes. The lab will focus on applications across underwriting, claims, fraud detection, agent recruitment, and personalized product recommendations, positioning itself as a center of excellence for generative AI in insurance.
💡FWD Group, which began its AI initiatives in 2019 and generative AI exploration in 2022, also participates in Singapore’s Pathfin.ai program and Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority AI cohort, both designed to foster knowledge sharing and talent development.
Japan
Japan-based SoftBank Group Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ABB Ltd’s robotics business for $5.38 billion, part of SoftBank’s strategy to expand its AI robotics capabilities. The deal, expected to close in mid-to-late 2026 pending regulatory approvals in the EU, China, and the U.S., will see ABB carve out its robotics unit into a new holding company, which SoftBank will acquire through a subsidiary.
💡The acquisition complements SoftBank’s existing robotics portfolio, including SoftBank Robotics Group, Berkshire Grey, AutoStore, Agile Robots, and Skild AI, aiming to accelerate innovation and growth in AI-driven robotics.
Japan
PayPay Corporation, the SoftBank-backed Japanese electronic payments firm, has acquired a 40 percent stake in Binance Japan Inc., making the crypto platform an equity-method affiliate as of September 2025, PayPay said. The investment marks a step in PayPay’s expansion from cashless payments into broader digital financial services.
💡The two companies plan to roll out integrated services enabling users to buy crypto assets within the Binance app using PayPay Money and to withdraw funds into PayPay accounts.
Singapore
Fireblocks, a digital asset custody and infrastructure platform, announced that global trading platform Moomoo will integrate its Wallets-as-a-Service (WaaS) technology to expand and enhance crypto offerings while ensuring scalability, security, and reliability. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the integration allows Moomoo Singapore to connect to the Fireblocks Network, which links over 2,400 exchanges, fintechs, banks, and liquidity providers, enabling better transaction rates and broader market access.
💡The platform’s multi-layered security, combining Multi-Party Computation (MPC) cryptography and secure hardware, supports seamless wallet creation and faster execution for Moomoo’s growing user base.
Vietnam
Vietnam-based technology firm FPT has formed a strategic partnership with AI developer CR Labs.ai and management consultancy Carlton Richards to provide secure, compliance-ready AI solutions for insurance and private equity firms.
The alliance combines FPT’s global engineering scale, CR Labs.ai’s sector expertise, and Carlton Richards’ advisory capabilities to deliver private, on-premises or dedicated cloud deployments with encryption, access controls, and regulatory safeguards. Solutions span the full AI lifecycle, including design, fine-tuning, monitoring, retraining, and reporting.
💡The partnership targets sector-specific challenges such as faster underwriting, fraud detection, seamless claims experiences, agent productivity, and portfolio optimization.
Environmental Sustainability
ISO, Google, Malaysia’s NREB/BCX, Singapore’s CCS, and Vycarb drive measurable sustainability through standards, carbon reporting, anti-greenwashing guidance, and carbon capture innovation.
Global
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched ISO 17298: Biodiversity for Organizations, a new standard designed to help companies assess and manage their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities.
Developed by a technical committee with experts from over 60 countries, including the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the standard provides a structured framework to embed biodiversity considerations into governance, risk management, and operational strategies amid rising regulatory and reputational pressures.
💡ISO 17298 aims to guide organizations in prioritizing biodiversity actions, setting measurable objectives, monitoring progress, and integrating nature considerations into broader sustainability efforts. It is interoperable with other frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ISO standards 14001 and 26000, and aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Global
Google has launched Carbon Footprint for Google Ads, a service that allows advertisers to measure and manage the carbon emissions associated with their advertising activities. Initially available only to select large advertisers, the service is now open to all, providing first-party data across Google advertising products, including Display & Video 360, Search Ads 360, Campaign Manager 360, and Google Ads.
💡The reporting tool breaks down emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Ad Net Zero Global Media Sustainability Framework.
Malaysia
The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX), a subsidiary of Bursa Malaysia, have signed a memorandum of collaboration to develop the Sarawak Carbon Registry. The two-year partnership will involve reviewing objectives, organizing capacity-building programs, exploring registry design, and creating an action plan for implementation.
💡The registry will operate under Sarawak’s Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance, 2023, which empowers NREB to regulate emissions and promote low-carbon initiatives across sectors.
Singapore
Singapore’s Competition and Consumer Commission (CCS), under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has issued a new guide to help businesses navigate quality-related claims and avoid greenwashing in marketing their products and services. The guide follows CCS studies and enforcement actions highlighting that many online product claims are vague, overly technical, or exaggerated, particularly environmental claims such as “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” or “green,” which may not reflect actual benefits.
💡The guide outlines five key principles for making claims: they should be true and accurate, clear and easily understood, meaningful, accompanied by material information, and supportable by evidence. CCS emphasized that substantiation must be credible, up to date, and reasonably achievable, with regular review.
USA-Singapore
Climate tech firm Vycarb has closed a $5 million seed funding round led by Twynam, with participation from MOL Switch, Hatch Blue, Clocktower Ventures, Idemitsu, and SGInnovate, the company said.
The funding will accelerate commercialization of Vycarb’s water-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which converts CO₂ into dissolved bicarbonate in natural waters, permanently sequestering it for 10–100,000+ years. The approach allows for distributed, on-site storage without costly purification, compression, or transport, and integrates real-time, sensor-driven monitoring to meet emerging standards for high-integrity carbon offset markets.
💡Vycarb’s system has been demonstrated at multiple field pilots, including the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and can be deployed across bioenergy, power, cement, steel, and coastal port facilities.
Aviation
ACI, Techo Airport, NMIA/Adani, Singapore-India aviation talks, and US DOT actions highlight rising fares, new airport openings, cross-border MRO collaboration, and regulatory tensions shaping global aviation trends
Asia Pacific & Middle East
Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) said airfares are rising across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, according to its 2025 Airfare Trends report developed with Flare Aviation Consulting.
💡Average fares in Asia-Pacific increased 8% from H1 2019 to 2025, reversing an 18% decline in H1 2014–2019, while Middle East fares rose 15% versus a 9% decrease in the earlier period. Southeast Asia and Oceania recorded the sharpest increases, with domestic short-haul low-cost carrier routes surging over 30% above pre-pandemic levels.
Cambodia
Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has officially commenced operations with the arrival of its first commercial flight operated by Air Cambodia. Designated KTI by IATA and VDTI by ICAO, the airport began serving passengers on new routes and temporarily supported Cathay Pacific during Typhoon Ragasa.
The facility, designed by UK-based Foster + Partners with Angkorian heritage motifs, has an initial annual capacity of 15 million passengers and is managed by Vinci Airports, with retail, catering, and maintenance services provided by Lagardère Travel Retail, Newrest, and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company.
💡Developed by Cambodia Airport Investment (CAIC), a joint venture between the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC), the project involved over 200 Cambodian engineers, 17,000 workers, and a consortium of domestic and international contractor.
India
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the second international airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Developed as a public-private partnership between Adani Airport Holdings’ MIAL and CIDCO, NMIA is managed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited, with Adani holding a 74% stake and CIDCO 26%.
The 1,160-hectare facility will initially handle 20 million passengers annually, with plans to expand to 90 million, and includes integrated cargo handling, a Pharma Excellence Centre, and automated systems for perishables.
💡Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the project was approved in 2007 and accelerated under Adani management in 2022. It is supported by a $750 million financing deal finalized with Apollo Asset Management in June.
Singapore-India
Singapore is exploring partnerships with India to develop maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in the country’s civil aviation sector, according to P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Speaking at a briefing ahead of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s official visit, Kumaran highlighted civil aviation cooperation areas including connectivity, flight frequency, and new destinations, with MRO identified as a key focus for collaboration.
💡The announcement follows the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries during the visit, aimed at deepening economic and sectoral ties, including in civil aviation, and potentially attracting Singaporean investment and expertise to India’s growing aviation market.
USA-China
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed a rule barring Chinese airlines from flying over Russian airspace on routes between China and the United States, citing an “unfair” competitive advantage for Chinese carriers. Airlines affected could include Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern Airlines.
The DOT said the current access creates “substantial adverse competitive effects” for US carriers and has set a 48-hour window for Chinese airlines to respond, with the rule potentially taking effect in November 2025.
💡The move coincides with ongoing US-China trade tensions, including prior tariff adjustments this year—US duties were temporarily reduced from 145% to 10% under a truce, while China raised tariffs to 125% on US imports. The truce is set to expire November 10, leaving open the possibility of renewed friction as the DOT moves to limit Chinese airline operations over Russia.
Advanced Air Mobility
China’s Aerofugia and Aridge, France’s Dassault/ePlane, Germany’s Volocopter, and Japan’s SkyDrive advance eVTOL innovation, combining prototype production, flight demos, and international partnerships for urban mobility and air taxi markets.
China
Aerofugia, the low-altitude aviation company under Geely Holding Group, has begun production of its prototype AE200-100, a six-seat electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Featuring an innovative eight-rotor, four-tilted-wing design, the AE200-100 is the company’s first independently developed eVTOL and is designed for urban mobility, tourism, and emergency rescue. The start of prototype production marks a key step toward airworthiness and type certification, with full-scale commercialization planned afterward.
💡The aircraft has already received over 1,000 commercial orders from China and abroad.
China-United Arab Emirates
XPeng AeroHT, now rebranded as Aridge, has completed its first public crewed flight demonstration in the Middle East, conducted in Dubai, and announced 600 new aircraft orders from groups across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including the UAE’s Ali & Sons, Qatar’s Almana Group, Kuwait’s AlSayer Group, and the Chinese Business Council in the UAE.
The deal marks the largest bulk purchase of flying cars outside China, bringing global pre-orders to more than 7,000 units. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2026 from Aridge’s Guangzhou intelligent factory, capable of producing 10,000 units annually.
💡Aridge is also developing the A868, a six-seat, hybrid eVTOL aircraft with a 500 km range.
France-India
Dassault Systèmes has partnered with Indian eVTOL startup ePlane to support the development of its all-electric e200x aircraft using the company’s cloud-based 3DExperience platform. The collaboration enables ePlane to perform model-based systems engineering and full digital simulations, streamlining design iterations, enhancing cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reducing engineering cycle times while supporting safety, reliability, and certification requirements.
💡The e200x is the first Indian privately developed eVTOL to receive Design Organisation Approval from DGCA for 2–19 seater aircraft, with Type Certification applications accepted in December 2024 and operations targeted for 2027–28. Dassault Systèmes’ cloud platform is expected to accelerate development, validate complex designs, and de-risk certification milestones
Germany-China
Volocopter, the German electric air taxi developer owned by China’s Wanfeng Group, plans to bring four new aircraft types to market by 2030 following its acquisition by Austria’s Diamond Aircraft earlier this year. The takeover provided financial stability and access to Diamond’s production and certification expertise, allowing Volocopter to continue building aircraft at its Bruchsal facility while tapping into a wider global supply network.
💡The two-passenger VoloCity is expected to enter service in 2027, preceded by the smaller VoloXPro in 2026 for private operators. Later additions include the VoloUrban in 2028 and the four-passenger VoloRegion in 2030, with all models sharing components to streamline certification.
Japan
SkyDrive Inc., has completed its “SKYDRIVE (Type SD-05)” public demonstration flight campaign, spanning July 31 to August 24 at the Expo 2025 venue in Osaka and September 14 to 23 at the Osakako Vertiport. The campaign included familiarization flights from September 6 to 12 and featured daily or twice-daily flights, with some weather-related cancellations.
💡The demonstrations, conducted in both a global event space and an urban residential area, drew large crowds and marked one of the most extensive urban eVTOL testing programs to date, according to SkyDrive.
Marine
MARBEM, Geely, DANA/Ant, ICTSI, and Hafnia lead decarbonization, marine conservation, and sustainable shipping initiatives, highlighting global efforts to reduce emissions, protect oceans, and improve maritime practices.
Global
Maritime Beyond Methane (MARBEM), a new international coalition spanning 13 countries, has launched to accelerate the shipping industry’s transition away from methane-based fuels. The group, comprising policy experts, economists, and research institutions, focuses on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain to clarify regulations and assess technologies driving maritime decarbonisation. MARBEM warned that methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships rose 180% between 2016 and 2023, noting that LNG now accounts for 55% of alternative-fuel vessel orders and risks locking the sector into long-term dependence on methane-based energy.
💡The launch comes ahead of next week’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) vote on its Net-Zero Framework, where LNG’s role is set to dominate debate.
China
Geely Holding Group has launched the Yuanchun 001, the world’s first methanol-hydrogen electric multi-purpose riverboat. Powered by Geely’s hybrid system and green methanol fuel, the vessel achieves net-zero emissions and offers a range of nearly 1,500 km across multiple operating modes.
💡The launch marks Geely’s expansion of methanol-hydrogen electric technology into marine transport, complementing its land-based fleet of over 50,000 hybrid vehicles. The company’s fifth-generation NordThor methanol-hydrogen EF system, featuring world-leading efficiency, flexible fuel use, and ultra-low-temperature starts, will debut in Q4 2025.
Indonesia
Indonesian e-wallet DANA, Chinese fintech firm Ant International, and Indonesian conservation group Konservasi Indonesia have launched Ocean Buddy, an interactive in-app mini program aimed at promoting marine conservation among DANA’s 200 million users. Modeled on Ant Forest, Ocean Buddy uses gamification and visual incentives to engage users in protecting whale sharks along Java’s southern coast, translating digital activity into offline conservation efforts such as habitat protection and first-response training for stranded marine mammals.
💡The initiative forms part of Ant International’s Program Sirius, a global sustainability platform linking 13 e-wallet leaders to promote inclusive environmental action through digital innovation.
Philippines
Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) has secured a 25-year extension to operate Subic Bay’s two container terminals, NCT-1 and NCT-2, under a new deal with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The agreement allows ICTSI’s subsidiaries, Subic Bay International Terminals Corp (SBICT) and ICTSI Subic Inc (ISI), to manage the facilities until 2058.
💡As part of the extension, SBICT will invest over $130m in infrastructure and equipment, including the replacement of four quay cranes, addition of a fifth unit, and deployment of more hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes. These upgrades will increase combined terminal capacity from 600,000 teu to 1m teu per year.
Singapore
Hafnia has partnered with classification society DNV on a pilot project to measure and manage underwater radiated noise (URN) from operating tankers, marking the first permanent onboard system that links a vessel’s underwater noise profile with live measurements. The system, installed on the 2015-built LR1 Hafnia Excel and soon to be added to the MR2 Hafnia Osprey, continuously records underwater sound levels and compares them with external hydrophone data to better understand ships’ contributions to marine noise pollution.
💡The Singapore-based tanker owner said the initiative aims to develop a fleetwide “noise management plan” ahead of tightening International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines, supporting both compliance and future ship design improvements
Space
China’s Geespace, Japan’s JAXA, Faraday Factory/Zenno, and Rocket Lab drive satellite IoT, LEO navigation, space-grade materials, and experimental missions, advancing global aerospace innovation and international collaboration.
China
Geespace, Geely Holding Group’s commercial aerospace unit, successfully launched the sixth orbital plane of its GEESATCOM satellite IoT constellation from Rizhao, Shandong, deploying 12 satellites and completing Phase I with 64 in orbit. The system provides one-to-two-layer real-time coverage across 60° north–south latitude, supporting up to 20 million users and 340 million daily communications, with fully self-developed anti-interference and anti-interception capabilities.
Geespace has developed end-to-end in-house satellite, ground, and terminal technology, offering services at roughly 1% of traditional provider costs.
💡The constellation has undergone domestic and international commercial validation—including Oman—with network availability above 99.97%, now enabling global IoT applications across connected vehicles, logistics, construction, marine, and emergency communications, with multi-layer coverage set to expand further.
Japan
Dassai, a sake brewer from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced that Japan’s H3 rocket will carry sake ingredients and specialized brewing equipment to the International Space Station. Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui will test sake brewing in the “Kibo” module, using equipment that simulates lunar gravity. The experiment aims to eventually enable sake production on the Moon.
💡During the experiment, moromi—a fermented rice mash combining rice, kōji mold, yeast, and water—will be prepared, frozen, and returned to Earth, where it will be processed into sake. Only 100 milliliters of the resulting sake will be sold for ¥110 million ($720,400), with proceeds donated to Japan’s space development projects. The launch of the seventh H3 rocket is scheduled for October 21 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Japan
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has commissioned ArkEdge Space to develop a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite positioning system aimed at complementing existing GNSS infrastructure.
The contract, titled “Study of Elemental Technologies and Related Systems for Low-Earth Orbit Positioning Satellite Systems” (Dedicated LEO-PNT), tasks ArkEdge with designing microsatellite constellations, testing signal transmission, and evaluating system operations. Operating between 500 km and 1,200 km, the LEO-PNT satellites are intended to deliver stronger, higher-precision positioning signals than conventional GNSS satellites, which orbit around 20,000 km, and to resist interference such as jamming and spoofing.
💡The study, scheduled from September 2025 to March 2026, will focus on signal design, reception technologies, and C, S, and L-band communications to ensure GNSS-independent functionality. Benefits include improved signal strength, rapid positioning convergence suited for autonomous vehicles and precision agriculture, and expanded global coverage beyond current QZSS services like MADOCA-PPP.
Japan-New Zealand
Faraday Factory Japan, the world’s largest maker of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape, has partnered with New Zealand-based Zenno Astronautics to advance next-generation superconducting magnets for space use. Under the collaboration, Faraday Factory will supply new HTS materials — including its recently unveiled Mirai superconducting tape — which Zenno will integrate into magnet coils for spacecraft systems such as its Z01 Supertorquer.
💡The project aims to enhance performance, reduce weight, and lower energy consumption in space-grade superconductors, targeting the extreme temperature and magnetic field conditions of orbital operations.
USA-Japan
Rocket Lab has signed a direct contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for two dedicated Electron launches from its New Zealand launch site, marking a milestone in international collaboration for responsive space access. The missions, part of JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program, will deploy small satellites that showcase Japan’s emerging space technologies.
💡The first mission, set for December 2025, will carry the RAISE-4 satellite to demonstrate eight new technologies from Japanese universities and private firms. A second launch in 2026 will deploy eight additional spacecraft, including an ocean-monitoring satellite, ultra-small multispectral camera demo, and an origami-inspired deployable antenna.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**