Singapore Private Markets Hub Faces Growing Competition Across Asia

The Singapore private markets hub remains a leading regional base for investment funds and start-ups, although competing Asian markets are developing increasingly sophisticated investment ecosystems, according to panellists at SuperReturn Asia.

Singapore continues to concentrate investment functions and professional services, supported by its talent pool, regulatory infrastructure and international reputation.

However, expertise is becoming more widely distributed as private-market ecosystems develop in Japan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Eric See, partner at Capritaur Ventures, said Japan and India were leading destinations for fundraising last year, while Indonesia and Malaysia attracted strong investment activity within Southeast Asia.

Monk’s Hill Ventures managing partner Kuo-Yi Lim said fund managers were also increasingly looking towards Vietnam and Indonesia for specialised support.

The trend suggests Singapore is retaining its regional hub role while private-market investment capabilities and specialist expertise become more broadly distributed across Asia.