The shift in global supply chains, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic, has accelerated due to trade tensions and tariffs. ASEAN has emerged as a key beneficiary, with businesses moving sourcing, production, and sales into the region to mitigate risks. According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, inbound foreign direct investment into ASEAN reached US$225 billion in 2024, with UOB projecting this figure to rise to US$370 billion by 2030.
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The conference brought together more than 1,000 participants in person and online. Photo courtesy of UOB |
Opening the conference, Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UOB, underscored the region’s rising role in global trade. “ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Supply chain rewiring is creating new opportunities, and investments are flowing into the region for production and market access.”
He also highlighted that UOB, as an ASEAN-focused bank, is well-positioned to support businesses navigating these shifts through its network and partnerships across the region.
As companies reconfigure their supply chains, UOB has seen increased demand for trade and Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM) financing, digital payments, and collection solutions. UOB Infinity, the bank’s digital platform for cash management, trade services, and FSCM, continues to gain traction.
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Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UOB, makes the opening speech at the conference on Oct. 16, 2025. Photo courtesy of UOB |
In the first half of 2025, FSCM anchors grew by 21% and spokes by 18% year-on-year, with over two-thirds of the growth coming from ASEAN-based companies. Digital payments accounted for 90% of total transaction volumes over the same period.
To enhance supply chain connectivity and working capital efficiency, UOB has developed sector-led solutions and streamlined credit onboarding processes to onboard suppliers at scale, including deep-tier suppliers. This enables corporates to strengthen business continuity and competitiveness across their ecosystems.
The conference, now in its fourth year, brought together more than 1,000 participants in person and online. It featured keynote addresses and panels examining ASEAN’s strategic role in global supply chain realignment.
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Frederick Chin, Head of Group Wholesale Banking and Global Markets at UOB, shares insights during the “Reshaping Global Supply Chain Pathway” section. Photo courtesy of UOB |
Frederick Chin, Head of Group Wholesale Banking and Global Markets at UOB, led a fireside chat on nearshoring in ASEAN.
“Global supply chains are being reshaped rapidly, driven by trade realignments, and ASEAN is benefiting from strong trade and capital flows. As these shifts accelerate, businesses need trusted strategic partners who can provide connectivity and insight across borders,” he said.
A global panel discussion featured Amit Mohta, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Unilever International, and Donghyun Kim (Don Kim), Chief International Business Officer at Lotte Shopping Holdings.
Sharing Lotte’s expansion strategy in ASEAN, Don said that the company is extending its footprint across Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, and has partnered with UOB to implement supply chain financing programs that empower suppliers and support mutual growth.
Kim elaborated on Lotte’s plans to use Singapore as a digital and sourcing hub for its ASEAN operations and its recent transformation of retail formats in Indonesia to enhance customer experience. “ASEAN is definitely our priority region. We need partners like UOB, which has a strong presence across the region, to support our expansion and supplier financing needs,” he added.
On UOB’s side, So Lay Hua, Head of Group Transaction Banking, explained how the bank’s “One Bank for ASEAN” strategy is implemented for clients like Lotte. According to her, when a company is growing a regional retail network and managing thousands of suppliers across multiple entities, the process becomes complex.
UOB provides not just financing but also digital and operational solutions across ASEAN, leveraging its branch network and on-the-ground teams in each market. “This allows us to tailor solutions and support clients’ expansion strategies effectively,” Hua said.
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Don Kim (L), Chief International Business Officer at Lotte Shopping Holdings, and So Lay Hua, Head of Group Transaction Banking, UOB, speak to the press. Photo courtesy of UOB |
UOB also launched the “Gateway to ASEAN” paper, a strategic study exploring how global businesses are navigating supply chain shifts and investment priorities. The paper found that 75% of global executives plan to reconfigure their supply chains within the next three to five years, with 45% intending to build local supply chains in ASEAN.
The bank remains committed to supporting clients as they seize opportunities arising from these structural shifts.
Wee concluded in his speech, “We are living in unprecedented times, in a dynamic region with immense potential. UOB stands ready to support businesses in seizing opportunities across ASEAN.”
