PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 12, 2026 – Full Text

During the two-day event, more than 60 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral co-operation agreements were witnessed. The total value of these MoUs, together with new projects and deals finalised before and during the Summit, is over US$3.1 billion.

Hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government since 2016, the summit remains the premier business and investment platform for Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the BRI.

Noting that the BRI is a shared blueprint for the future, rooted in a rich history of cross-cultural collaboration, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said: “Hong Kong, as a place where East meets West, is where capital, talent, businesses and opportunities converge. In addition to strengthening our relations with traditional partners, Hong Kong continues to expand our network of friends along the Belt and Road.”

Under the theme “Advancing High-quality Development · Embarking on a New Journey”, business and government leaders discussed co-operation across trade and commerce, legal services, green technology, logistics, artificial intelligence and new quality productive forces.

The summit explored new co-operation landscapes and emerging opportunities in trade, investment and development across Belt & Road markets and other regions, with a special focus on ASEAN, Central Asia and the Middle East, underscoring Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.

Mr Lee has led high-level business delegations to explore opportunities in 13 Belt and Road countries across ASEAN, the Middle East and Central Asia, delivering a total of over 250 MoUs and other agreements. These covered policy coordination, trade and investment, expanded connectivity and support for companies, underlining Hong Kong’s focus on opening new markets, forming new partnerships and advancing regional co-operation.

This year’s summit featured three newly-added special chapters – the GoGlobal Chapter, Central Asia Chapter and Middle East Chapter. The GoGlobal Chapter offered a one-stop platform for exchange and matchmaking for Chinese Mainland enterprises looking to tap new markets overseas, while the Central Asia and Middle East chapters invited local officials and business leaders to share investment opportunities.

“In light of the shifting geopolitics, rising trade protectionism and the reshaping of global supply chains, businesses going global is no longer simply an option; it is an increasingly important strategy for Chinese Mainland enterprises to diversify risks, strengthen resilience and pursue new growth opportunities,” said the HKSAR Government’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau.

A freshly integrated University Zone highlighted Hong Kong universities’ R&D strengths and their capabilities in technology commercialisation across the Belt & Road region, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international education hub. The Summit also introduced a debut Dialogue for Future session, promoting think-tank exchanges on “The Belt and Road Initiative and Asia-Pacific Co-operation in a Changing Global Landscape”.

Through the Project Investment Session, Belt and Road Deal-Making, and Exhibition Zones, this year’s event showcased over 300 investment projects, and arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, helping enterprises connect with potential partners.

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Hashtag: #HongKong #Belt&Road #BRI #Summit #Global #Business #Opportunities

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), entry-level professional, managerial, executive and technician (PMET) openings increased from 32,500 in December 2025 to 32,800 in March 2026, despite an overall decline in job vacancies. MOM also reported that around nine in 10 university graduates from the 2025 cohort found employment within 12 months of graduation, suggesting that fresh graduate employment has remained relatively resilient.

Financial services, professional services and technology remain active hiring sectors

Financial and Insurance Services, Professional Services, and Information and Communications were among sectors identified by MOM as experiencing active PMET hiring and wage growth. Together, these sectors recorded approximately 14,200 PMET vacancies as of September 2025, compared with 12,600 a year earlier, including roles suitable for fresh graduates.

Opportunities span finance, risk, compliance, accounting, consulting, software, systems and data functions. Increasing digitalisation also means these boundaries are becoming less distinct, with banks and professional services firms increasingly recruiting technology and data talent.

Information and communications continue to require digital capabilities

Singapore’s technology workforce reached 214,000 in 2024, according to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025, with AI and Data and Cybersecurity among the fastest-growing technology occupations. The latest MOM data also shows concrete entry-level demand. As at March 2026, Information and Communications recorded 200 vacancies for software developers, 130 for IT support technicians and 80 for computer engineers among its entry-level jobs with higher vacancy counts.

Technology graduates are therefore finding opportunities not only within technology companies but also across finance, manufacturing, professional services and other industries.

Financial and professional services are evolving with technology

Singapore’s financial sector continues to provide opportunities across banking, insurance, investment, risk and compliance. As at March 2026, MOM identified financial compliance officer or risk analyst, insurance sales agent or broker, and financial or investment adviser among the entry-level Financial and Insurance Services roles with higher vacancy counts, with 30 vacancies recorded for each occupation. Technology is also changing the nature of financial services, with institutions applying analytics, automation and AI across areas such as fraud detection, customer service and risk management.

Professional Services provides opportunities across both corporate and technical functions. MOM’s March 2026 data identified 100 vacancies for resident technical officers, 60 for auditors and 50 for IT support technicians among the sector’s entry-level jobs with higher vacancy counts. As AI increasingly assists with research, analysis and routine processes, graduates who combine professional knowledge with digital capabilities, communication and judgement may be better positioned for changing roles.

Healthcare and social services continue to offer graduate pathways

Health and Social Services continues to provide entry-level opportunities for graduates. As at March 2026, MOM identified 210 vacancies for social workers, 190 for registered nurses and other nursing professionals, and 80 for social work associates among the sector’s entry-level jobs with higher vacancy counts. These roles demonstrate that graduate demand extends beyond digital careers. Specialised professional knowledge and interpersonal skills remain important in sectors where human interaction and service delivery are central.

AI is changing entry-level roles rather than simply removing them

Generative AI has raised concerns among students and parents about its impact on graduate employment. MOM data presents a more nuanced picture. Among firms that had adopted AI, 6 per cent reported reducing headcount and 8 per cent lowering hiring activity, while 19 per cent redesigned roles and 14 per cent created AI-related jobs. The impact of AI has therefore been more visible in job redesign than broad-based hiring reductions. Fresh graduates may increasingly be expected to use AI tools, interpret data, assess AI-generated information and focus on areas requiring judgement, communication and problem-solving.

Skills-based hiring is changing how graduates compete

Employers are also looking increasingly beyond qualifications alone. MOM’s Job Vacancies 2025 report found that academic qualifications were not the main consideration for 79.6 per cent of vacancies.

This places greater emphasis on what graduates can demonstrate alongside their qualification, including internships, technical capabilities, communication, teamwork and analytical thinking. For students choosing a degree, employability is therefore not only about entering a growing industry but also about developing skills and experience that employers value.

SIM graduate outcomes reflect employment across diverse industries

Graduate employment data provides another way for students and parents to assess career outcomes. According to the Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey 2024/2025, 81.0 per cent of SIM fresh graduates surveyed secured employment, while 47.0 per cent were in full-time permanent employment. The median gross monthly salary was S$3,565. Across all private education institutions surveyed, 78.9 per cent of fresh graduates secured employment, with a median gross monthly salary of S$3,500.

SIM’s Graduate Employment Survey also shows graduates entering sectors including banking and financial services, ICT and cybersecurity, consulting and professional services, aviation and engineering, healthcare and social services, logistics and transportation, retail and manufacturing. Employment outcomes remain dependent on factors including programme choice, individual skills, work experience and labour-market conditions.

Parents can consider employability alongside programme fit

For parents supporting higher education decisions, current hiring trends provide useful context, but today’s strongest industry may not necessarily offer the greatest opportunities several years from now. A broader assessment can include a student’s interests and strengths, programme curriculum, awarding university, recognition, fees, career support and graduate employment outcomes.

The SIM Parent Resource Hub brings these considerations together, covering degree pathways, programme recognition, fees and financial support, student care and graduate employability. Its Graduate Outcomes & Employability resource provides information on SIM’s PEI Graduate Employment Survey results, industries and organisations where SIM graduates have worked, and career and internship support available to students.

These resources can help parents consider not only where jobs are available today, but how a higher education pathway can help their child develop relevant knowledge, experience and transferable capabilities.

Career resilience increasingly depends on transferable skills

Singapore’s labour-market data shows that opportunities for fresh graduates remain spread across multiple industries. Financial Services, Professional Services and Information and Communications continue to offer professional opportunities, while Healthcare and Social Services, also show meaningful entry-level demand.

For students entering higher education, career preparation may therefore be less about identifying one “future-proof” industry and more about developing disciplinary knowledge, practical experience and transferable skills that can remain valuable as employment needs change. Parents and students can refer to the SIM Parent Resource Hub, including its Graduate Outcomes & Employability resource, when evaluating degree pathways, employability, recognition, fees and student support.

References

1. Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Fresh Graduate Employment – https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/parliament-questions-and-replies/2026/0804-written-answer-to-pq-on-fresh-graduate-employment
2. Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Trends in Job Vacancies – https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/parliament-questions-and-replies/2026/0805-written-answer-to-pq-on-trends-in-job-vacancies
3. Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Sectors with Active Hiring and Wage Growth – https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/parliament-questions-and-replies/2026/0113-written-answer-to-pq-on-sectors-with-active-hiring-and-wage-growth
4. Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. Job Vacancies 2025 – https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2026/0320-job-vacancies-report-2025
5. Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Ministry of Manpower. List of Entry-Level PMET Job Opportunities for Fresh Graduates – https://stats.mom.gov.sg/iMAS_PdfLibrary/List-of-top-entry-level-PMET-job-opportunities-for-fresh-graduates-Q1-2026.pdf
6. Infocomm Media Development Authority. Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025 – https://www.imda.gov.sg/resources/press-releases-factsheets-and-speeches/factsheets/2025/ar-sgde-2025
7. Singapore Institute of Management. Parent Resource Hub: Helping Your Child Choose the Right Degree Pathway – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/parent-resource-hub
8. Singapore Institute of Management. Graduate Outcomes & Employability – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/parent-resource-hub/graduate-outcome-employability

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Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

TCMA received the Thai Climate Partnership: DCCE Climate Partner Award from the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in recognition of its continued collaboration to advance climate action in Thailand. TCMA also received the Trade Prestige Award 2026 at the Excellent Level from the Department of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of Commerce, for the fourth consecutive year, recognizing its contribution to industry competitiveness and Thailand’s economic development.

“These recognitions reflect the power of collective action. The transition to Net Zero cannot be achieved by any single organization or sector. It requires collaboration that connects policy, technology, investment and implementation, both within Thailand and internationally,” said Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of TCMA.

A key framework guiding the industry’s transition is the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap, which brings together technology, innovation, standards, energy transition and economic mechanisms to reduce emissions across the cement and concrete value chain.

One of the most significant areas of progress has been the broad adoption of hydraulic cement, a lower-carbon cement that has become mainstream in Thailand and is increasingly used across infrastructure, public buildings, industrial facilities and housing. The transition has contributed to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions reductions of more than 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent since 2019. In parallel, the industry is advancing energy transition and energy efficiency, including greater use of alternative fuels and renewable energy, together with efforts to improve energy performance across cement production.

At the local level, the Saraburi Sandbox is providing a practical environment to connect policy, technology, investment and implementation, with the aim of testing solutions that can be replicated and scaled.

International cooperation and financing are supporting the transition from ambition to implementation. TCMA has worked with international partners through the Decarbonization of Cement and Concrete Sectors in Thailand initiative, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), UNIDO and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). The programme supports technology development, standards and certification, capacity building and practical pathways for low-carbon cement and concrete. It also includes the development and demonstration of innovative solutions, including a Mobile Carbon Capture Unit (MCCU) pilot, providing a platform to explore carbon capture technologies under real industrial conditions and build knowledge for future scale-up.

At the regional level, TCMA is supporting the development of the 2035 AFCM Decarbonization Roadmap, helping cement producers across ASEAN move towards a common direction on decarbonization while strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

The transition to a low-carbon cement sector requires more than technology alone. It depends on an enabling ecosystem that brings together policy and regulatory frameworks, technology and innovation, finance and investment, standards and certification, and effective governance and implementation. These elements are increasingly important to strengthen industrial competitiveness and support Thailand’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.

“The next stage is about moving from individual initiatives and pilots to wider implementation and scale. We need an environment where technology providers, investors, governments, academia and industry can work together to develop solutions that are technically viable, economically meaningful and scalable,” Mr. Surachai said.

“For Thailand, the Net Zero transition is also an opportunity to strengthen industrial competitiveness and create new opportunities for innovation, investment and international cooperation. Continued collaboration across sectors and across borders will be essential to turn shared ambitions into practical solutions and lasting value for Thailand and the region,” he added.

Building on these achievements, Thailand’s cement industry is entering “The NEXT Chapter to Net Zero 2050,” with a focus on scaling technology and innovation, accelerating energy and circular economy transitions, and strengthening the enabling conditions for long-term, collaborative action across Thailand and the region.

Hashtag: #TCMA #TCMAtoNetZero2050 #NextChapterToNetZero2050 #CementDecarbonization #ClimateSolutionsPartner #InternationalCollaboration #ClimateFinance #CleanTechnology

DriveWealth veteran to lead global commercial strategy for Clear Street’s embedded brokerage and API business

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 September 2026 – Clear Street (“Clear Street” or “the Company”), a cloud-native financial infrastructure technology firm on a mission to give every sophisticated investor access to every asset in every market, today announced the appointment of Stephen Nash as Chief Business Officer, Global Partnerships. In this role, Nash will lead commercial strategy for the firm’s work with foreign financial institutions, banks and fintechs that use the Company’s infrastructure to offer their own clients access to U.S. markets.

Uri Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Clear Street, said, “Our global build continues at a rapid pace, and global partnerships are the natural next step, extending our platform to the institutions serving millions of investors around the world. An opportunity of that scale demands leadership that has lived on both sides of the business, and Stephen brings it.”

Nash spent nearly nine years at DriveWealth, most recently as Chief Commercial Officer, leading global commercial strategy for the brokerage-infrastructure platform that lets banks, fintechs and financial institutions offer investing to their customers. Across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, he built and led partnerships with a wide range of sophisticated brokers and digital disrupters, including Toss Securities. Prior to DriveWealth, Nash spent a decade in cross-border capital markets banking: co-heading the International Markets Group at Cowen and Company (now TD Cowen), with earlier roles at Piper Jaffray (now Piper Sandler) and Citigroup.

Stephen Nash, Chief Business Officer, Global Partnerships, said, “I’ve spent my career around the evolving complexity of cross-border capital markets, first as a banker bringing foreign issuers into the U.S., then helping institutions bring their own customers in. Clear Street’s infrastructure was built and proven for the most demanding institutional clients in the market, and extending that same standard to banks, brokers and fintechs around the world is the opportunity I came here to deliver.”

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Hashtag: #ClearStreet

About Clear Street

Specializing in IT solutions for digital transformation, ASM develops software services that help organizations become more agile, competitive, and prepared for evolving business demands. With approximately 200 employees representing 10 nationalities, the company continues to empower digital leaders through innovation, collaboration, and its vision of “Together, WE build a brighter future for all through our greatest minds”.

ASM’s governance framework, established in alignment with the Bertelsmann Group, places ethics, compliance, and integrity at the center of its organizational practices. Through structured policies, regular compliance audits, and established management systems covering areas such as quality management and information security, the company ensures that responsible practices are embedded throughout its operations.

Transparency and employee engagement remain key pillars of ASM’s governance approach. Regular feedback surveys, open communication channels, and an open-door management culture encourage accountability and continuous improvement, while the sharing of survey outcomes and follow-up actions strengthens trust across the organization. The company also enhances business resilience through its Business Continuity Management Plan and continuous investment in employee development, including training, certifications, and AI-related upskilling initiatives.

Beyond governance, ASM extends its commitment to responsible growth through corporate responsibility programmes that empower underserved communities. Through initiatives such as the TechTrekkers programme, laptop donations, environmental activities, blood donation drives, and community partnerships, the company supports greater access to technology, education, and skills development.

Celebrating 20 years in Malaysia’s IT industry in 2025, ASM continues to strengthen its capabilities with initiatives such as the Cybersecurity Hub, enhancing risk detection and supporting clients with advanced security solutions. The company’s recognition at the APEA 2026 reflects ASM’s dedication to combining integrity, innovation, and sustainable practices in shaping a trusted digital future.

Hashtag: #ArvatoSystemsMalaysia

About Enterprise Asia

Established in 1976, EURO has grown into one of Malaysia’s leading office furniture providers, delivering innovative and functional workspace solutions to customers both locally and internationally. The Group’s business evolution continued in 2023 with its expansion into steel product trading and related businesses, a strategic move that strengthened its portfolio diversification and enhanced its long-term business resilience.

Driven by its philosophy of understanding customers’ businesses, EURO has built the “EURO” brand around trusted partnerships and a shared vision of creating workspaces that inspire productivity, innovation, and success. This commitment is supported by a governance framework that integrates sustainability considerations into strategic planning, risk management, and operational decision-making.

The Group’s focus on ethical business practices is reinforced through corporate governance policies that promote integrity, accountability, and responsible conduct across the organization. Supported by the Risk Management & Environmental, Social and Governance Committee, EURO continues to engage with key stakeholders and address sustainability priorities while identifying opportunities for continued growth.

EURO’s strategic approach has translated into strong business performance, with revenue for the financial year ended 30 June 2025 increasing by approximately 45.3% compared to the previous year, driven largely by growth in its steel-related products segment. This achievement reflects the effectiveness of its diversification strategy and commitment to sustainable value creation.

Beyond business expansion, EURO continues to invest in its people through structured training, upskilling opportunities, and leadership development programmes. By strengthening talent capabilities and fostering a culture of continuous learning, the Group remains focused on building a capable workforce that will support its future growth.

The recognition at APEA 2026 underscores EURO Group’s dedication to responsible business practices, strategic transformation, and long-term excellence as it continues to strengthen its position in an evolving market landscape.

Hashtag: #EUROGroup

About Enterprise Asia