OCBC and Australia Forge Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Southeast Asia Trade and Investment
Five-year collaboration targets growth across energy transition, infrastructure, fintech and digital innovation, with OCBC aiming to more than double regional trade and investment flows by 2030
OCBC
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
OCBC has entered into a five-year strategic partnership with the Australian High Commission in Singapore to strengthen trade and investment flows between Australia and Southeast Asia, marking a significant step in advancing regional economic cooperation and cross-border business expansion.
The collaboration aligns with Australia’s “Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040” initiative and will focus on unlocking opportunities in high-growth sectors including energy transition, infrastructure, green transportation, fintech, and digital innovation.
Under the partnership, OCBC will leverage its regional banking network, financing capabilities, and market connectivity to support Australian companies seeking expansion opportunities across Southeast Asia. The initiative will also involve collaboration with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Export Finance Australia, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.
OCBC said the partnership reflects growing momentum in Australia–Southeast Asia economic ties as businesses increasingly look to the region for long-term growth opportunities amid accelerating demand for sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, and green investment.
“This strategic collaboration aims to create a powerful platform for Australian companies and investors to expand into Southeast Asia, where there are growing opportunities for energy transition, infrastructure development and green transportation,” said Elaine Lam, Head of Global Corporate Banking at OCBC.
The bank is targeting more than a doubling of trade and investment flows between Australia and Southeast Asia by 2030 through the partnership.
This year also marks OCBC’s 40th anniversary of operations in Australia, with the bank highlighting strong growth from its Sydney branch across sectors including real estate, utilities, energy, and digital infrastructure.
Among the Australian companies supported by OCBC are global property and infrastructure group Lendlease and national carrier Qantas. The bank recently participated in financing Qantas’ fleet renewal programme while also supporting multiple Lendlease developments across Singapore, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur.
The partnership comes as Southeast Asia continues to emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions, attracting rising interest from Australian corporates and institutional investors seeking exposure to infrastructure development, urbanisation, renewable energy, and digital economy opportunities.
Industry observers view the collaboration as part of a broader push to deepen Australia’s commercial engagement with Southeast Asia while strengthening regional supply chains and investment connectivity in the years ahead.
OCBC has entered into a five-year strategic partnership with the Australian High Commission in Singapore to strengthen trade and investment flows between Australia and Southeast Asia, marking a significant step in advancing regional economic cooperation and cross-border business expansion.
The collaboration aligns with Australia’s “Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040” initiative and will focus on unlocking opportunities in high-growth sectors including energy transition, infrastructure, green transportation, fintech, and digital innovation.
Under the partnership, OCBC will leverage its regional banking network, financing capabilities, and market connectivity to support Australian companies seeking expansion opportunities across Southeast Asia. The initiative will also involve collaboration with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Export Finance Australia, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.
