DBS, Austrade sign deal to boost Australia-ASEAN investment

DBS and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) signed a memorandum of understanding to boost two-way trade and investment between Australia and Southeast Asia. The agreement, announced on the 10th anniversary of DBS’ Sydney branch, marks the first collaboration of its kind between Austrade and a Singapore-based bank. It aims to support Australian firms expanding into Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam through joint initiatives, regulatory guidance, and investor engagement. The deal aligns with Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, as both parties seek to tap into the region’s rising middle class, digital transformation, and infrastructure growth. A joint investor roundtable in Sydney is planned for the third quarter to showcase opportunities across the fast-growing Southeast Asian bloc.