Building and Deepening Long-term Relationships / Partnering Businesses To Unlock Regional Growth Opportunities

Partnering Businesses To Unlock Regional Growth Opportunities

Frederick Chin
Head of Group Wholesale Banking and Markets
UOB’s purpose is to contribute to ASEAN’s economic development and sustainable growth. This year, we doubled down on our position as the One Bank for ASEAN, anchored on our footprint, coverage, sector expertise and integrated supply chain platform. With ASEAN’s most extensive trade network, we are singleminded in our pursuit of connecting our clients across borders to capture business growth opportunities and expansion in the region and beyond.
ASEAN is primed to be the gateway for world trade and continues to be an epicentre of economic growth. UOB is well-positioned as ASEAN’s most extensive trade network to bank the world’s fastest-growing trade bloc and the fifth-largest economy.

UOB’s purpose is to contribute to ASEAN’s economic development and sustainable growth. This year, we renewed our focus on our position as the One Bank for ASEAN, anchored on our footprint, coverage, sector expertise and integrated supply chain platform. With ASEAN’s most extensive trade network, we are single-minded in our pursuit of connecting our clients across borders to capture business growth opportunities and expansion in the region and beyond.
Formula to attract clients and expand engagement
This is an exciting time for UOB to seize the market’s opportunities. We have crafted the ideal formula of the right people, right products, an extensive network and an integrated supply chain platform. This sets us apart and positions us to attract new clients and expand our engagement with clients.
Footprint, coverage, integrated supply chain platform and sector expertise
Today, we do not just bank individual companies. With UOB’s 90-year heritage, we are deeply entrenched and well-connected to bank the entire ecosystem along the supply chain to support businesses in the region, connecting them to Greater China and the rest of the world. Our $800 million investment over the past eight years to sync up the entire supply chain financing has been vital in empowering business to accelerate growth and overseas expansion.

We were named the World’s Best SME Bank in 2024 by Euromoney. We were recognised for providing one of the most comprehensive ranges of SME-focused advisory and product solutions for their long-term growth, bolstered by our clear focus on digital and ESG transformations.
Capitalising on ASEAN’s growth potential
Amid global geopolitical and supply chain volatility, ASEAN remains a growing bright spot with stability, and a rising middle class supported by opportunities in the digital and green economies.

There will be key pivotal forces driving a new era of globalisation, namely geopolitical tensions, redistribution of FDI flows, supply chain disruptions, the urgent need for an ESG transition, and rapid digitalisation.

UOB is well-primed to harness the region’s strong trade and investment opportunities.
ESG Transition and Rapid Digitalisation
There is immense potential for ASEAN to become a production base for the world, with a projected US$ 1trillion digital economy and US$1.5 trillion green economy investment by 2030. UOB will continue to partner businesses to build their resilience and seize these trending opportunities.

We are committed to supporting sustainable business models by helping to advance responsible practices and providing our clients with tools to build up their business networks and prepare them for the future of business.
UOB leverages our expertise in connectivity, digitalisation and sustainability to enable businesses to capture growth opportunities in ASEAN through our suite of services. These include FDI advisory, sector specialists, integrated supply chain solutions through UOB Infinity, and strong partnerships with industry and trade associations.

Our innovation accelerator UOB FinLab partners companies on their digitalisation journeys, while we continue to work with the Monetary Authority of Singapore and industry partners to explore use cases for blockchain technologies – for example, for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and tokenised assets.

We remain steadfast as we strive towards being the number one cross-border trade bank in ASEAN, partnering businesses to facilitate investment flows. We do this through our efficient, customised and sustainable cross-border financial services across key growth industries including technology, media and telecommunications, industrials, consumer goods, and energy and chemicals.
Key achievements
Net loans balance
+6%
year on year
Net deposits balance
+7%
year on year
Foreign exchange transaction value on electronic platforms
+200%
year on year
Cross-border income contribution
26%
As part of our commitment towards sustainability, we would like to encourage you to view our Annual Reports electronically. Thank you for joining us on our sustainability journey.

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