OCBC Targets China-ASEAN Trade Flows
OCBC is stepping up its efforts to capture growing economic links between Greater China and Southeast Asia, forging a new partnership with two major business chambers to support cross-border trade and investment.
Singapore's second-largest bank has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), aligning with its recently unveiled corporate strategy, The Next Frontier. A key pillar of that strategy is the so-called «Asia Shift», which focuses on increasing trade and investment flows between ASEAN and Greater China.
Riding the Intra-Asia Growth Trend
The partnership combines OCBC's regional banking capabilities with CCCME's network of more than 10'000 Chinese enterprises and SCCCI's business connections across Southeast Asia.
The move comes as Chinese companies continue to expand into ASEAN markets. According to OCBC, the number of new Chinese businesses it supported in establishing operations in Southeast Asia increased by 50 percent in 2025, following growth of 30 percent in the previous year.
Under the agreement, the three organisations will support small and medium-sized enterprises as well as mid-sized corporates seeking cross-border opportunities in both regions.
Focus on Strategic Sectors
The collaboration will concentrate on sectors expected to drive future growth, including green technologies, sustainable development, digitalisation and advanced manufacturing. The partners also plan to strengthen trade and financing ecosystems that facilitate cross-border business activity.
To oversee the initiative, the parties will establish a joint coordination group responsible for monitoring progress and ensuring implementation.
«Chinese enterprises have accelerated their internationalisation in recent years, creating a growing need for stronger on-the-ground support when entering new markets,» said Roy Tan, Head of Enterprise Banking International at OCBC.
According to Tan, the partnership will allow the bank to combine financing solutions with business matching and market-entry support, helping Chinese companies expand into ASEAN more efficiently while creating opportunities for businesses on both sides.
Singapore positions itself as gateway
The agreement was signed during the 2026 Conference on International Industrial Cooperation in Singapore.
At the event, SCCCI also launched the Singapore Investment Guide 2026/2027, a market-entry handbook designed to help foreign companies establish operations in Singapore and the wider ASEAN region. OCBC contributed to the publication's ASEAN-focused sections, drawing on its regional banking expertise.
The initiative reflects Singapore's continued efforts to strengthen its role as a gateway for Chinese companies expanding into Southeast Asia, while positioning local businesses to benefit from growing intra-Asian trade and investment flows.
