This year’s Singapore Fintech Festival surrounds six major themes that will frame 2025. 

One of the themes among industry leaders, in particular, is the need to bridge the financial gap and ensure equitable access and usage of financial services and products to the underserved. 

On this note, did you know that 1.4 billion people globally still lack access to bank accounts? Yes, and that is according to an article published on the World Economic Forum in just September this year. 

So what can we then do to level the playing field for the underbanked and underserved – both individuals and budding entrepreneurs who are starting out? 

Well, the numbers appear to point to fintech as the answer, given increased internet adoption and digitalisation.

In this panel discussion on "Bridging the Financial Gap", we talked about the challenges individuals as well as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises faced in accessing traditional financial services and how the use of digital banking and digital tokens can level the playing field for the underserved. 

We also looked at the metrics used to determine progress towards equitable financial outcomes and identify areas for further intervention, and the need to ensure that digital technologies continue to narrow and not widen the wealth gap. 

As part of MONEY FM’s on the ground coverage of Singapore Fintech Festival 2024, Money Matters’ Finance Presenter Chua Tian Tian spoke with Kai Qiu, Deputy CEO and CTO, ANEXT Bank and Eric Barbier, CEO, Triple-A for more.

This year’s Singapore Fintech Festival surrounds six major themes that will frame 2025. 
One of the themes among industry leaders, in particular, is the need to bridge the financial gap and ensure equitable access and usage of financial services and products to the underserved. 
On this note, did you know that 1.4 billion people globally still lack access to bank accounts? Yes, and that is according to an article published on the World Economic Forum in just September this year. 
So what can we then do to level the playing field for the underbanked and underserved – both individuals and budding entrepreneurs who are starting out? 
Well, the numbers appear to point to fintech as the answer, given increased internet adoption and digitalisation.
In this panel discussion on "Bridging the Financial Gap", we talked about the challenges individuals as well as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises faced in accessing traditional financial services and how the use of digital banking and digital tokens can level the playing field for the underserved. 
We also looked at the metrics used to determine progress towards equitable financial outcomes and identify areas for further intervention, and the need to ensure that digital technologies continue to narrow and not widen the wealth gap. 
As part of MONEY FM’s on the ground coverage of Singapore Fintech Festival 2024, Money Matters’ Finance Presenter Chua Tian Tian spoke with Kai Qiu, Deputy CEO and CTO, ANEXT Bank and Eric Barbier, CEO, Triple-A for more.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

Under The Radar

Step into the future of finance with MONEY FM 89.3, the official radio station of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024. 

Coming to you LIVE from the Singapore Expo on the 6th and 7th of November from 12pm to 4pm - tune in for exclusive interviews with industry leaders, C-suite executives, and innovative start-ups. From the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing in the world of finance, to critical issues around inclusion and sustainability - don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the trends that are shaping the future of financial innovation. 

Your ears on the ground at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024,  MONEY FM 89.3!

Step into the future of finance with MONEY FM 89.3, the official radio station of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024. 
Coming to you LIVE from the Singapore Expo on the 6th and 7th of November from 12pm to 4pm - tune in for exclusive interviews with industry leaders, C-suite executives, and innovative start-ups. From the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing in the world of finance, to critical issues around inclusion and sustainability - don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the trends that are shaping the future of financial innovation. 
Your ears on the ground at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024,  MONEY FM 89.3!

Singapore Fintech Festival

[SFF 2024 Special] Panel on Bridging the Financial Gap with ANEXT Bank and Triple-A

Today we’re going to take you to a sleepy pocket of Japan’s countryside called Myoko. Located about a three-hour train ride from Tokyo, Myoko was said to be one of the oldest ski areas in Japan, where it once saw young skiers streaming along its neon-lit streets.

That was, of course, during the economic boom back in the 1980s and 1990s, before ski-lovers swapped Myoko for other popular destinations like Niseko in Hokkaido and Hakuba in Nagano. 

But one Singaporean company is hoping to inject life back into the area by buying up ski resorts in Myoko and the nearby Madarao, and building an integrated township out of them. And that company is called Patience Capital Group.

Founded in 2019 by the former head of Japan at Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC Ken Chan, Patience Capital Group manages assets on behalf of institutional and private investors worldwide. 

The firm says it currently manages two close-ended funds. The first is a hospitality fund focused on unlocking value in the Japanese tourism sector, and that’s where the ski resorts come in. 

The fund, in particular, was said to have raised 39 billion yen from institutional investors ranging from sovereign wealth funds to a university endowment fund. The other close-ended fund, meanwhile, is a residential fund investing in mid-market residential assets located in the Greater Tokyo Area. 

Beyond that, the firm also has a lifestyle vertical that aims to create a suite of consumer experiences and businesses to complement its portfolio and encourage placemaking in its destinations. But how will the various business operations under Patience Capital Group come together to create viable recreational townships in Japan?

Meanwhile, the firm says it is tapping into the Japanese tourism and residential markets given a rise in investors’ interest in the country amid relatively low cost of capital. 

But how much money is in the Myoko and Madarao areas exactly and what are the risks of pulling off a transformation project of this size? How sustainable is the tourism boom in Japan for long-term infrastructure projects in both the recreational and residential space?

On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Ken Chan, CEO, Patience Capital Group.

Today we&rsquo;re going to take you to a sleepy pocket of Japan&rsquo;s countryside called Myoko. Located about a three-hour train ride from Tokyo, Myoko was said to be one of the oldest ski areas in Japan, where it once saw young skiers streaming along its neon-lit streets.
That was, of course, during the economic boom back in the 1980s and 1990s, before ski-lovers swapped Myoko for other popular destinations like Niseko in Hokkaido and Hakuba in Nagano.&nbsp;
But one Singaporean company is hoping to inject life back into the area by buying up ski resorts in Myoko and the nearby Madarao, and building an integrated township out of them. And that company is called Patience Capital Group.
Founded in 2019 by the former head of Japan at Singapore&rsquo;s sovereign wealth fund GIC Ken Chan, Patience Capital Group manages assets on behalf of institutional and private investors worldwide.&nbsp;
The firm says it currently manages two close-ended funds. The first is a hospitality fund focused on unlocking value in the Japanese tourism sector, and that&rsquo;s where the ski resorts come in.&nbsp;
The fund, in particular, was said to have raised 39 billion yen from institutional investors ranging from sovereign wealth funds to a university endowment fund. The other close-ended fund, meanwhile, is a residential fund investing in mid-market residential assets located in the Greater Tokyo Area.&nbsp;
Beyond that, the firm also has a lifestyle vertical that aims to create a suite of consumer experiences and businesses to complement its portfolio and encourage placemaking in its destinations. But how will the various business operations under Patience Capital Group come together to create viable recreational townships in Japan?
Meanwhile, the firm says it is tapping into the Japanese tourism and residential markets given a rise in investors&rsquo; interest in the country amid relatively low cost of capital.&nbsp;
But how much money is in the Myoko and Madarao areas exactly and what are the risks of pulling off a transformation project of this size? How sustainable is the tourism boom in Japan for long-term infrastructure projects in both the recreational and residential space?
On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Ken Chan, CEO, Patience Capital Group.

Under the Radar: How is Patience Capital Group revitalising ski resorts in the Japanese countryside areas of Myoko and Madarao and building them into recreational destinations? Its CEO explains.

Today we’re going to talk all about a leading hospitality player who began its business as not a property owner but an A&W Root Beer franchise! 

Founded by J. Willard and Alice Sheets Marriott close to a century ago in 1927, our guest for today Marriott International got its start quenching people’s thirst during the hot muggy summers in Washington D.C. 

The company then moved into serving food and becoming The Hot Shoppes, where it opened the first drive-in restaurant on the East Coast in 1928. The firm had also at one point dabbled in inflight catering as well as cafeteria management at government buildings and major institutions between the 1930s and the 1950s.

But it was only thirty years after its founding in 1957 that the Hot Shoppes Inc. expanded into the lodging business with the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Alington, Virginia, and the rest was history. 

The Hot Shoppes was renamed Marriott Corporation in 1967, before splitting into Host Marriott Corporation and Marriott International Inc in 1993 as it grew in the hotel business. 

More recently in 2016, Marriott International bought over Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for US$13 billion, bringing in 11 new brands including St. Regis Hotels and Sheraton Hotels, making it the largest hotel chain operator in the world.

In 2025, the region delivered its third straight year of record development performance with nearly 200 deals signed, adding over 28,000 rooms to its development pipeline. That’s a 32 per cent increase over the year, driven by growth markets including India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan.

But what are the key trends supporting the development activity and which is the most important market for the firm? 

Meanwhile, the firm is also laser focused on doubling down room signings for its luxury segment brands including JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton and Luxury Collection. It is also looking at expanding beyond traditional gateway cities to emerging destinations with rich cultural heritage. But what should we know about the moves, and how will they augment the firm’s top and bottom line numbers?

On this Special episode of Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Neeraj Govil, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott International.

Today we&rsquo;re going to talk all about a leading hospitality player who began its business as not a property owner but an A&amp;W Root Beer franchise!&nbsp;
Founded by J. Willard and Alice Sheets Marriott close to a century ago in 1927, our guest for today Marriott International got its start quenching people&rsquo;s thirst during the hot muggy summers in Washington D.C.&nbsp;
The company then moved into serving food and becoming The Hot Shoppes, where it opened the first drive-in restaurant on the East Coast in 1928. The firm had also at one point dabbled in inflight catering as well as cafeteria management at government buildings and major institutions between the 1930s and the 1950s.
But it was only thirty years after its founding in 1957 that the Hot Shoppes Inc. expanded into the lodging business with the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel in Alington, Virginia, and the rest was history.&nbsp;
The Hot Shoppes was renamed Marriott Corporation in 1967, before splitting into Host Marriott Corporation and Marriott International Inc in 1993 as it grew in the hotel business.&nbsp;
More recently in 2016, Marriott International bought over Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts Worldwide for US$13 billion, bringing in 11 new brands including St. Regis Hotels and Sheraton Hotels, making it the largest hotel chain operator in the world.
In 2025, the region delivered its third straight year of record development performance with nearly 200 deals signed, adding over 28,000 rooms to its development pipeline. That&rsquo;s a 32 per cent increase over the year, driven by growth markets including India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Japan.
But what are the key trends supporting the development activity and which is the most important market for the firm?&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the firm is also laser focused on doubling down room signings for its luxury segment brands including JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton and Luxury Collection. It is also looking at expanding beyond traditional gateway cities to emerging destinations with rich cultural heritage. But what should we know about the moves, and how will they augment the firm&rsquo;s top and bottom line numbers?
On this Special episode of Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Neeraj Govil, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott International.

Under the Radar: (SPECIALS) From A&W franchise to world’s largest hotel chain operator and beyond – how will APAC ex-China region augment Marriott International’s growth story looking ahead? Its COO for the region explains.

This time, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian got up bright and early to head down to global investor Temasek’s corporate headquarters located at The Atrium@Orchard to find out more about the key happenings at Ecosperity Week 2026.

Organised by Temasek, Ecosperity is the firm’s key platform for sustainability and advocacy. 

Themed ‘Asia’s Race Towards 2030: Powered by Innovation, Driven by Intent’, the event, which took place earlier this week, brought together leaders across government, business, finance and civil society to explore practical, scalable innovations, policies and partnerships that can help translate the region’s 2030 climate ambitions into real-world impact. 

So where does Temasek see capital moving and how is it encouraging long term-investors to put money into the energy transition through a systems approach across renewables, infrastructure and other climate technologies? 

How does Temasek see what makes a green project investable and how does it align the interests of innovators, policymakers and investors to get deals done? 

And in terms of execution, how can policymakers and the business community come together to structure deals in such a way to de-risk projects while unlocking capital?

Tian Tian posed these questions to Steve Howard, Vice Chairman, Sustainability, Temasek.

This time, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian got up bright and early to head down to global investor Temasek&rsquo;s corporate headquarters located at The Atrium@Orchard to find out more about the key happenings at Ecosperity Week 2026.
Organised by Temasek, Ecosperity is the firm&rsquo;s key platform for sustainability and advocacy.&nbsp;
Themed &lsquo;Asia&rsquo;s Race Towards 2030: Powered by Innovation, Driven by Intent&rsquo;, the event, which took place earlier this week, brought together leaders across government, business, finance and civil society to explore practical, scalable innovations, policies and partnerships that can help translate the region&rsquo;s 2030 climate ambitions into real-world impact.&nbsp;
So where does Temasek see capital moving and how is it encouraging long term-investors to put money into the energy transition through a systems approach across renewables, infrastructure and other climate technologies?&nbsp;
How does Temasek see what makes a green project investable and how does it align the interests of innovators, policymakers and investors to get deals done?&nbsp;
And in terms of execution, how can policymakers and the business community come together to structure deals in such a way to de-risk projects while unlocking capital?
Tian Tian posed these questions to Steve Howard, Vice Chairman, Sustainability, Temasek.

Under the Radar: (SPECIALS) How is Temasek encouraging long term investors to put money into the green transition? Its Vice Chairman of Sustainability explains.

[SFF 2024 Special] Panel on Bridging the Financial Gap with ANEXT Bank and Triple-A

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