OCBC, represented by its Head of Global Commercial Banking Ms Elaine Heng (third from left), signed a strategic partnership 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), to accelerate cross-border trade, investment and financial flows between Greater China and ASEAN.

Singapore, 29 May 2026 – OCBC has entered into a strategic partnership 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), to accelerate cross-border trade, investment and financial flows between Greater China and ASEAN. This underscores the Bank’s new corporate strategy, The Next Frontier, which includes an Asia Shift aimed at capturing ASEAN-Greater China trade and investment flows.

Combining CCCME’s extensive network of over 10,000 Chinese enterprises, SCCCI’s regional business linkages, and OCBC’s strong ASEAN footprint and comprehensive financing, trade and treasury capabilities, the partnership is well-positioned to capture the growing momentum in intra-Asia flows. In 2025, the number of new Chinese companies that OCBC supported to establish a presence in ASEAN rose by 50% year-on-year, up from 30% growth in 2024.

Under the collaboration, the three parties will support SMEs and mid-sized corporates in ASEAN and Greater China to access cross-border trade and investment opportunities, while facilitating partnerships between businesses in the region. Efforts will focus on high-growth sectors including green and sustainable development, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, as well as cross-border trade and financing ecosystems. The partnership also reinforces OCBC’s role in supporting Chinese enterprises’ expansion into ASEAN markets.

To ensure sustained momentum in the initiatives and delivery of tangible outcomes, the parties will establish a joint coordination group, supported by regular senior-level engagements and oversight.

The partnership was inked at the 2026 Conference on International Industrial Cooperation on 28 May 2026, organised by SCCCI. The signatories were Mr Zheng Chao, Executive Vice President of CCCME, Mr Lim Hock Chee, Vice President of SCCCI and Ms Elaine Heng, Head of Global Commercial Banking, OCBC.

Mr Roy Tan, Head of Enterprise Banking International, OCBC, said: “Chinese enterprises have accelerated their internationalisation in the past few years, and there is a growing need for more robust on-ground support for them to navigate new markets. Partnering with CCCME and SCCCI enables us to deliver a more targeted and holistic proposition that addresses market access, business matching and providing on-ground ecosystem support combined with integrated financing solutions. This allows Chinese enterprises to enter ASEAN markets with greater confidence and speed, while fostering deeper collaboration and growth opportunities for both Chinese and ASEAN businesses.”

A Singapore–ASEAN market entry playbook, Singapore Investment Guide 2026/2027, was also unveiled at the Conference. Developed by SCCCI, the Singapore Investment Guide aims to present in a clear and accessible manner the market entry process for foreign companies establishing a presence in Singapore and across ASEAN. Its launch comes amid Singapore’s continued strengthening as a global hub for innovation and investment, while China’s increasing openness continues to create new opportunities for international collaboration. OCBC contributed its regional expertise and developed the Guide’s ASEAN-focused chapters.