Singapore (VNA) - Singapore's move to launch a new fund to support startups can help businesses conduct initial public offerings (IPOs), experts have said.
ꦚ However, it could take years before the Singapore stock exchange can become a hub for tech stock listings in the region, they added.
Despite being positioned as one of Asia's leading financial hubs, Singapore has seen a decline in the number of listed companies over the past decade and has also failed to attract a large number of IPOs.
However, market participants argue that the establishment of two funds with a combined capital of 2 billion SGD (1.5 billion USD) to support corporate fundraising and IPOs, along with enabling listed special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) will attract many startups to list in Singapore.
According to financial data analysis company Refinitiv of the UK, from the beginning of the year to September 16, only three companies have listed on the Singapore Exchange and raised 239 million USD, not yet half of the same period last year and the lowest level in six years.
Meanwhile, the amount raised on the Malaysia stock market reached 531 million USD, and 2.3 billion USD each on the Indonesia and Philippines stock markets, while the Thai market raised 3.5 billion USD.
♚ In recent years, Singapore's major corporations have conducted overseas listings. Typically, the e-commerce and game group Sea was listed in the US in 2017 and is being valued at 182 billion USD./.
Foreign investment into Vietnamese startups is predicted to increase although the COVID-19 pandemic has left negative impacts on the economy, according to experts.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Latvia, Venezuela and Nicaragua and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22 (local time).
Despite COVID-19 impacts, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam during the first nine months of this year rose 4.4 percent year on year to 22.15 billion USD, reported the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Indonesian authorities announced on September 23 that the country had approved a giant solar power link between Australia and Singapore after a 2.5 billion USD investment commitment.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Illustrative image. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
