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New Report Highlights Need for Ecosystem Approach to Help MSMEs in Southeast Asia Adopt More Sustainable Practices
- Report by the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) finds growing momentum among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia to adopt sustainability practices, driven by commercially motivated goals such as reducing costs, improving long-term efficiency, meeting consumer demand, entering new markets and attracting talent.
- As significant variations in ESG awareness and adoption exist across the region, advancing the adoption of ESG practices will require coordinated efforts from governments, industry associations, MNCs, investors, and financial institutions to provide MSMEs practical, constructive assistance.
- The report identifies key challenges and five ecosystem actions to unlock the full potential of MSMEs in advancing sustainable supply chains.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 May 2025 – The “Transforming for Sustainability: Driving Impact and Value through Supply Chain Action” report, by the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) found that MSMEs in Southeast Asia recognise the business value of adopting sustainability practices – from lowering costs and improving long-term efficiency (39%) to attracting or retaining talent in a values-driven workforce (27%) – and want to do more.
At the same time, many global multinational corporations (MNCs) are making long-term sustainability commitments, setting higher expectations across their supply chains. As MSMEs often serve as key suppliers, aligning with these evolving standards – including MNC supplier codes – is becoming increasingly critical to remain competitive and secure long-term growth opportunities.
Launched today at Ecosperity Week’s Impact Investing Roundtable 2025, the report explores key barriers to increasing supply chain sustainability and identifies practical enablers and tools across four sectors: consumer goods, food and beverage, electrical and electronics, and tourism. The findings are based on a survey of over 3,500 MSMEs from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, alongside interviews with 85 organisations across Asia — including MNCs, solution providers, and ecosystem enablers. The report builds on CIIP’s 2024 study, developed in partnership with PwC Singapore, titled “It Takes a Community”: Enabling SME Resilience in FMCG Supply Chains.
While sustainability and ESG are separate concepts, they are closely linked – especially when looking at how ESG practices support sustainability goals. To better understand how MSMEs are putting sustainability into action, 21 practices were identified and mapped across the areas of “environmental”, “social”, and “governance”.
Encouragingly, 84% of MSMEs have adopted at least one ESG practice, with social practices being the most common due to mandated social employee protection policies in each of the countries studied. Waste management was the most common environmental practice, reflecting this key concern across the region. However, much more needs to be done.
“MSMEs are the backbone of Southeast Asia’s economies and essential partners in advancing sustainable supply chains,” said Ms. Dawn Chan, Chief Executive Officer, CIIP. “Their growing interest in ESG signals a real opportunity to unlock business resilience and long-term value. This report aims to provide a clearer view of what MSMEs need to succeed, and how ecosystem players, from industry leaders to governments and financial institutions, can work together to accelerate scalable, sustainable impact.”
MSMEs Are Making Progress, But Practical Challenges Continue to Hold Them Back
While MSMEs are making progress in meeting new sustainability requirements, many continue to face practical challenges in advancing their efforts. With lean, multi-functional teams focused on daily operations, they often lack the capacity for dedicated roles to oversee the adoption of more ESG practices – and 60% report moderate to significant difficulties in hiring staff for sustainability or ESG roles.
Financial constraints remain a key hurdle. Many cite high upfront costs, though encouragingly, half of all MSMEs surveyed plan to increase their ESG budgets by 2027.
Many also cite the inability to derive immediate benefits from adopting ESG practices, with 32% saying the ability to gain new clients or enter new markets would be a key motivating factor for future adoption of ESG practices.
To overcome these challenges, the report provides five recommendations to shape ecosystem actions.
Five Key Enablers to Raise ESG Awareness and Adoption among MSMEs
- Make ESG clear and simple. Clearly emphasise the commercial benefits of ESG practices – from cost savings to increased revenue opportunities – while highlighting clear improvement pathways. Companies should be assured that adopting ESG practices is not a formidable task and can be done in gradual steps.
- Build capacity, both internal and external. Develop industry-specific toolkits or education materials with global standards and local inputs, which are simple and actionable, while encouraging MSMEs to leverage external expertise for ad-hoc support and personalised guidance.
- Encourage more win-win customer-supplier partnerships. MNC buyers are a strong predictor of ESG adoption, and some are already leaning in to support their supply chains. This should be more widespread – MNCs can offer incentives such as longer-term contracts, paying more for sustainable products or services, and implementing shorter payment cycles.
- Invest in innovative MSME-targeted solutions. Venture capital firms and impact investors play a crucial role in facilitating ESG adoption across supply chains, providing catalytic funding to incentivise innovation and reducing the barriers to adopting ESG practices. They can play a particularly important role by backing early-stage solutions and business models that are priced and designed for MSMEs.
- Finance the change. While sustainability-linked loans are increasingly available, MSME uptake remains low – suggesting that concessional rates alone are not enough. A more holistic approach is needed, combining fit-for-purpose financing with practical guidance, stronger support for early adopters, and tools like digital platforms to assess ESG baselines and customise loan terms. These elements must work together to drive meaningful, scalable ESG adoption.
For more insights and takeaways, the full report is available at:
https://ciip.com.sg/knowledge-hub/research-insights/Details/transforming-for-sustainability–driving-impact-and-value-through-supply-chain-action
Turning Insights into Tangible Solutions
The report also revealed that country-specific conditions significantly influence ESG adoption, underscoring the importance of tailored approaches that address local needs. Notably, industry associations serve as a key source of sustainability and ESG guidance for MSMEs, given their deep understanding of sector-specific needs and ability to recommend fit-for-purpose tools and approaches.
In line with this, CIIP today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) to drive supply chain sustainability within the fashion and textiles industry. Under the agreement, SFC will lead the development of a sectoral plan, a resource guidebook, and a digital toolkit tailored to the sustainability needs of fashion and textiles MSMEs, leveraging insights from this report and CIIP’s ongoing ecosystem engagement efforts.
In parallel, CIIP and the Philanthropy Asia Alliance have launched the second edition of the Amplifier mentorship programme, with two dedicated tracks aimed at scaling innovative solutions for supply chain sustainability in tourism, as well as, fashion and textiles. Adopting a whole-of-ecosystem approach, the programme is supported by over 55 cross-sector partners this year.
CIIP welcomes more partners – including industry associations, corporates, technology and solution providers, investors, and financial institutions – to work together and collectively advance ESG adoption among MSMEs in the region.
For the full announcements, please refer to: https://www.temasektrust.org.sg/newsroom
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices
The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (“CIIP”) was established in 2022 as a non-profit entity by Temasek Trust to foster impact investing and practices in Asia and beyond by building and sharing knowledge, bringing together stakeholders in the community, and bringing about positive action that accelerates the adoption of impact investing principles and practices. CIIP is the anchor partner for the United Nation Development Programme’s Private Finance for the SDGs, providing Asia investors and businesses with clarity, insights and tools that support their contributions towards achieving the SDGs. Temasek and ABC Impact are CIIP’s strategic partners. For more information, please visit www.ciip.com.sg.
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No Judgement, No Awkwardness: More Hongkongers Are Opening Up to AI for Mental Health Support
A newly completed Hong Kong study suggests there may finally be a way to bridge that gap. The AIM Greater China Psychology Research Group has completed a Hong Kong-based study conducted in the 2025–2026 academic year, comparing the effectiveness of human hypnotherapists against AI in delivering hypnotic experience-based stress relief experiences. The findings were striking: a significant proportion of participants felt that both approaches yielded virtually equivalent levels of relaxation — and more than 60% reported preferring their AI session after the fact.
Over 400 Applicants: A Reflection of a Generation in Need of Being Heard
The research team recruited participants experiencing family-related stress via Facebook. Within a short period of the post going live, over 400 individuals voluntarily applied — a figure that speaks not only to the pervasiveness of stress in modern life, but also to a growing willingness among the public to prioritise their own emotional wellbeing and actively seek self-care solutions.
From the applicant pool, 48 participants were randomly selected to take part. Each participant underwent two separate hypnotic experience stress relief audio sessions, each lasting approximately one hour — one recorded by a human hypnotherapist, and one fully generated by AI, including both the script and voice. Participants then compared their personal experiences of both sessions.
What Humans Can Do, AI Can Do Too
In the most critical area of comparison — stress relief effectiveness — the largest single group of participants (41.7%) rated the AI and human sessions as equally effective. On a scoring basis, the AI hypnotic experience averaged approximately 2.92 points, compared to 2.58 points for the human session — with AI coming out marginally ahead.
The study further found that nearly 90% of participants indicated they would enjoy a session if it genuinely helped them feel relaxed. In other words, what people truly care about is whether it works — not whether the voice behind it belongs to a human or a machine. On this front, AI has passed the test.
Over 60% More Willing to Share Their Feelings with AI
The results around personal preference were perhaps the most eye-opening. When asked which session they enjoyed more, 62.5% of participants chose the AI experience — and among women, that number climbed even higher, to 68.4%.
So what made AI the preferred choice? Researchers believe it comes down to one simple thing: feeling safe. With AI, there is no worry about being judged. No fear of saying the wrong thing. No awkwardness. About 1 in 4 participants said they actually found it easier to talk openly with AI — because it communicates in a way that feels clear, calm, and natural, much like everyday conversation.
The truth is, some things are just easier to say when no one is watching. That is not a flaw in human nature — it is simply how many of us work.
When it came to privacy, the findings were equally reassuring. More than half of all participants said they had no concerns about AI handling their personal information. Only a very small number — just 2.08% — said they felt uncomfortable. This points to a growing sense of trust in AI tools among the general public.
AI Reads the Data; Therapists Read the Person
Beyond the hypnotic experience itself, the local research team also evaluated AI’s capability as an analytical tool — with equally impressive results.
AI was able to rapidly process large volumes of participant responses, objectively assess individual stress levels, and identify underlying patterns. For instance, AI identified that 35% of participants independently expressed a desire for “personal space” or “better soundproofing” in their homes. On the surface, these may seem like trivial lifestyle concerns — yet AI connected this pattern to the reality of Hong Kong residents living in constrained spaces, highlighting a deeper psychological sense of having “nowhere to breathe”. This level of insight would be difficult to uncover through manual review of dozens of questionnaires alone.
AI also observed that many participants habitually occupied the role of “problem-solver” or “mediator” within their households, suppressing their own emotional needs in the process. Researchers noted that this reflects a widely recognised social phenomenon — the pressures faced by eldest daughters and the so-called “sandwich generation,” caught between the responsibilities of caring for ageing parents and raising children. AI’s ability to rapidly identify these hidden emotional burdens allows therapists to bypass lengthy preliminary assessments and focus more swiftly on the core issues that require their attention.
AI Is Here to Help, Not to Take Over
The local research team emphasises that the study was never intended to position AI as a replacement for human therapists. Rather, the aim is to explore how the two can work in tandem. Much like how blood test reports assist physicians in diagnosis, AI can play an analogous supporting role in the mental health field — organising data, identifying patterns, and lowering barriers to seeking help, so that mental health professionals can direct their energy towards the moments that truly require a human touch.
Those who proactively seek psychological support remain a minority, often deterred by the fear of inconvenience, social stigma, or the awkwardness of speaking up. If AI can serve as the bridge that encourages more people to take that first step, that alone may be its most meaningful contribution to society.
Hashtag: #HypnosisInstitute
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hypnosis Institute
Hypnosis Institute is dedicated to helping people in Hong Kong lead healthier and more fulfilling lives through hypnotic experience. We offer accessible and practical hypnotic experience training programmes designed to integrate hypnotic techniques into everyday life, with a focus on stress management, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth.
Hypnosis Institute is Hong Kong’s only hypnotic experience professional development platform that simultaneously operates a research group, social innovation group, practical training group, crisis psychological support group, charitable initiatives, networking events, therapeutic services, and a comprehensive training pathway.
As the sole Hong Kong chapter of the Association for Integrative Medicine (AIM) in the United States, the sole overseas Hong Kong academy of UK educational institution Study House (Quality Licence Scheme), and the sole specialist hypnotic experience training school in Hong Kong under Cambridge International College in the United Kingdom, Hypnosis Institute provides internationally recognised qualifications that contribute to the advancement of the industry.
Founder Charles Leung is a trainer of trainers in the field of hypnotic experience, and has been specially appointed by the Association for Integrative Medicine as the Chief Instructor for Specialist hypnotic experience in Greater China. He has trained over 1,000 hypnotherapists and instructors, upholding the highest standards of professional development in the mental health field.
The Institute’s programmes integrate a comprehensive range of methodologies, including hypnotic experience combined with MBTI personality profiling, DISC behavioural analysis, mental health coaching, emotional education, and the HiddenMe Cards inner child tool — providing a holistic and personalised approach to hypnotic experience practice. Instructors specialise in paediatric hypnotic experience, Internal Family Systems (including inner child) hypnotic experience, stress and insomnia relief hypnotic experience, interpersonal relationship hypnotic experience, as well as hypnotic experience in reminiscence and palliative care.
Driven by the belief that everyone can harness the power of hypnotic experience to enhance their mental wellbeing, Hypnosis Institute is committed to sharing psychological knowledge and providing professional support in the areas of emotional management, life challenges, and the professional development of the hypnotic experience industry.
Follow us at hypnosisinstitute.com.hk, 
Facebook, 
Instagram and 
YouTube for the latest updates.
Held at deMori @ FCC Signature, the event featured a live platform demonstration, partner showcase, and networking sessions aimed at facilitating engagement between founders, advisors, and investors.
Introducing CapitalOS
CapitalOS, BizPal’s corporate finance platform, was presented through a live demonstration during the event. The system integrates operational, brand, and financial data into a structured framework designed to support investor readiness and due diligence.
According to BizPal, the platform is intended to help SMEs organise their business information into formats aligned with investor expectations, enabling clearer communication during fundraising discussions.
“SMEs should never walk into a funding conversation unsure of their numbers,” said Ms. Anya Tan, CEO of BizPal Malaysia.
MOUs Expand Distribution Network
The event also included the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between BizPal and two Malaysian partners, My Education Platform and VA Partners. Both organisations will serve as authorised distributors of BizPal’s education and advisory programmes across Malaysia.
The partnerships expand BizPal’s reach within the SME ecosystem by working with local organisations that support business development and capability building.
“Partnering with BizPal allows us to introduce structured, investor-ready methodologies to the SME community we serve,” said Mr. Jeff Lee, Director, My Education Platform.
A representative from VA Partners is expected to provide a statement following final endorsement.
Global Mentorship Exchange (GMX)
During the event, BizPal also presented the Global Mentorship Exchange (GMX), an ecosystem initiative designed to connect experienced business leaders with high-potential entrepreneurs.
The initiative provides a structured environment for mentorship supported by data-based evaluation and standardised assessment criteria aligned with investor expectations. GMX was first introduced during BizPal’s Data Fundraising Masterclass in December 2025 and was presented to a broader network of partners and investors at BizPal Day.
Next Steps
Following the event, BizPal plans to expand the adoption of CapitalOS and continue developing its partner network across Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
Hashtag: #NoDataNoTalk #DataFundraising #InvestorReady #CapitalReadiness #FinTech #BusinessValuation #ASEANSMEs #BizPalDay
https://www.bizpal.tech/
https://www.facebook.com/simplyfi.sg
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About BizPal
BizPal provides data-driven corporate finance solutions designed to help ASEAN SMEs become investor-ready. Its platform, CapitalOS, integrates operational, strategic, and financial data into a unified system that supports business evaluation and investor engagement.
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Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio And IHG Hotels & Resorts Partner To Bring Four International Hotel Brands To The Coastal Mega Urban Development
Under the agreement, IHG will develop four hotels with a total of more than 1,000 rooms at Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio, including InterContinental Saigon Can Gio with 400 rooms, Crowne Plaza Saigon Can Gio with 400 rooms, Holiday Inn Express Saigon Can Gio with 130 rooms, and Garner Saigon Can Gio with 130 rooms.
InterContinental Saigon Can Gio, a world-renowned luxury brand, will deliver premium hospitality experiences tailored to international travelers and domestic guests seeking high-end accommodation. Crowne Plaza Saigon Can Gio, one of the largest upscale hotel brands globally, will cater to frequent travelers with modern, flexible spaces designed to optimize productivity and foster connections.
Holiday Inn Express Saigon Can Gio and Garner Saigon Can Gio will expand the destination’s accommodation offering with efficient, high-quality stays focused on value, making the development more accessible to a broader range of guests. This also marks the official debut of both brands in the Vietnamese market.
According to the development timeline, Holiday Inn Express Saigon Can Gio and Garner Saigon Can Gio are expected to open in 2028, followed by InterContinental Saigon Can Gio and Crowne Plaza Saigon Can Gio in 2030.
In this partnership, Vinpearl, a member of Vingroup, will act as the project operator and lead the collaboration with IHG Hotels & Resorts, while coordinating with all stakeholders throughout the development and operational phases.
Together with Vinpearl’s world-class hospitality brand, the addition of four premium IHG hotels will help realize a 7,000-room accommodation ecosystem at Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio, meeting the growing demand for extended stays and diverse experiences year-round in Can Gio and Ho Chi Minh City.
Complementing the hospitality offering, a series of large-scale entertainment and resort facilities unique to Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio will further elevate the destination. These include the 122-hectare VinWonders theme park featuring the world’s tallest artificial snow mountain and nearly 200 attractions, the 5,000-seat Blue Waves Theater, the 800-hectare Paradise Lagoon, the five-star international cruise port Landmark Harbour, and two 18-hole international-standard golf courses. Together, these developments aim to position Can Gio as a globally-recognized tourism and resort hub, targeting 40 million visitors annually and standing alongside leading destinations in Vietnam and worldwide.
Mr. Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, East Asia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “This agreement marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between IHG and Vingroup. Bringing four of our standout brands to Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio reflects the diversity of our portfolio, as well as our strong commitment to supporting Vietnam’s goal of becoming a leading global tourism destination. With brands spanning multiple segments, we believe this collaboration will help create an integrated hospitality ecosystem that meets the diverse needs of travelers at one of Vietnam’s most significant developments.”
Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, Chief Executive Officer of Vinpearl Joint Stock Company, said: “We selected IHG not only for its global brand portfolio but also for its proven operational expertise across international markets. Introducing InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, and Garner to Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio is a key step in completing our service structure and establishing international operating standards for the mega project’s hotel system. With this partnership as a foundation, we believe Vinhomes Green Paradise will progressively emerge as a world-class destination, where a fully integrated ecosystem continues to enhance its appeal to residents and both domestic and international visitors.”
Vinhomes Green Paradise is located in the southeastern part of Ho Chi Minh City. Construction began on April 19, 2025, with a total area of 2,870 hectares. The development features three sides facing the sea and is adjacent to the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized site. The project is being developed to leading ESG++ standards, integrating green, smart, ecological, and regenerative principles.
The development benefits from a well-connected transport infrastructure network, including the Ben Thanh – Can Gio high-speed railway, which will reduce travel time from central Ho Chi Minh City to just 13 minutes, the Can Gio Bridge, the interchange connecting Rung Sac Road with the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, and the Can Gio – Vung Tau sea-crossing route, enabling travel between two major tourism hubs in just 10 minutes.
With a diverse range of accommodation options, internationally-standardized hotel systems, and a wide array of cultural, artistic, sports, and entertainment facilities aligned with green, smart, and community-friendly principles, Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio stands out as a rare mega urban development that both sets new benchmarks for ESG living and delivers a world-class tourism and resort experience.
Hashtag: #Vinhomes
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About IHG Hotels & Resorts:
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of 21 brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs with over 160 million members. IHG currently franchises, leases, manages, or owns more than 6,900 hotels across over 100 countries, with more than 2,300 hotels in its development pipeline.
IHG’s brand portfolio spans Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, Essentials, and Suites segments, including well-known brands such as Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Garner, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites.
About Vinhomes
Vinhomes is Vietnam’s leading real estate developer, pioneering the development of large-scale, well-planned urban areas with integrated amenities, green living environments, and modern lifestyles. In addition to 36 urban developments currently in operation nationwide, Vinhomes continues to focus on building next-generation mega and super urban developments of regional scale and significance, aspiring to create some of the most livable cities in the world while significantly transforming Vietnam’s urban landscape.
For more information, please visit https://vinhomes.vn/vi
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