Connect with us

Media OutReach

ShopUp and Sary Merge to Create SILQ, Gulf-Emerging Asia’s Largest B2B Commerce Platform, Secures USD$110M Funding

Published

on

DHAKA, BANGLADESH – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2025 – ShopUp, Bangladeshs largest B2B commerce platform, and Sary, the leading B2B marketplace and services platform in the Gulf, have merged to form SILQ Group. This merger brings together Gulf & Emerging Asia, creating the largest B2B commerce platform to serve the fastest-growing consumer markets in the region, and across the globe. The merger is backed by a $110 million funding led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Peter Thiels Valar Ventures. This funding includes an equity investment and financing facility for SILQ Financial, the group’s financial services arm.

Together, ShopUp and Sary have served over 600,000 retailers, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and wholesalers, impacting tens of millions of customers in mom-and-pop shop communities since inception. To date, the combined network has made over $5 billion in transactions on their platforms and exceeded $750 million in embedded financing disbursements. Furthermore, the companies have facilitated a total of 100 million shipments. This will establish SILQ as the platform of choice that enables businesses to grow by increasing their efficiency through a combination of financial tools, logistic services, and commerce features.

Post-merger, both ShopUp and Sary brands will continue to operate in their respective geographies under their respective brand names, while leveraging SILQs infrastructure and combined capabilities. The group will also establish SILQ Financial as its financing arm. It will be creating financial infrastructure, doubling down on the embedded financing scale of both markets and the Point-of-Sales (POS) business.

ShopUps Founder & CEO, Afeef Zaman, will serve as SILQ Group CEO, while Sarys Founder & CEO, Mohammed Aldossary will lead SILQ Financial as CEO.

Through this merger, were entering whats set to become one of the worlds largest trade corridors—projected to reach $682 billion. Were in the front seat to serve some of the most exciting, fast-growing economies that are set to shape global consumption in the coming decades, giving them greater access to products from around the world.”, said Afeef Zaman, CEO of SILQ Group.

“By merging our strengths, we’re not just expanding our reach – we’re revolutionizing how digital commerce serves Gulf’s merchants and South Asia manufacturers. This alliance brings together the best of both worlds: deep regional expertise and world-class technology to empower every business in our ecosystem where financial services are a cornerstone,” said Mohammed Aldossary, CEO of SILQ Financial.

“SILQ is poised to become a leading B2B commerce player both regionally and globally. It addresses numerous challenges faced by B2B businesses seeking a fully integrated platform that combines financial, logistics and commerce services. This merger will enhance SILQs depth, expertise and scale. We remain committed to supporting the companys leadership to ensure this merger benefits all stakeholders,” said a spokesperson at Sanabil Investments.

“Saudi Arabia and the Gulf represent one of the most exciting economic stories in the world today. This merger reflects a bold vision to place these markets at the center of a new commercial ecosystem connecting with South Asia. With a leadership team that has consistently demonstrated courage and foresight, SILQ has the potential to define this category through ambition that matches the regions it serves,” said James Fitzgerald, Founding Partner at Valar Ventures.

SILQ is backed by renowned investors, including Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF), Peter Thiels Valar Ventures, Flourish Ventures, VSQ, MSA Capital, Rocketship VC, STV, Wafra Investment (owned by Kuwait PIFSS), Peak XV, Prosus, Tiger Global, Endeavor Catalyst, and Raed Ventures. This round will also see participation from new investors like Qatar Government owned Qatar Development Bank. SILQ is set to establish a strong presence in Qatar to extend its offering to SMEs in Qatar.

Hashtag: #ShopUp

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About ShopUp

ShopUp is a B2B commerce company that connects mills, brands, and manufacturers to small neighborhood shops, creating a seamless distribution for food & essentials. Currently, millions of people in Bangladesh access food and essentials through ShopUp’s network of small shops.

For more information on ShopUp, visit:
LinkedIn:
Facebook:

About Sary

Sary is the leading B2B marketplace and services platform in the Gulf that connects small businesses with manufacturers and lenders to procure supplies efficiently.

For more information on Sary, visit:

LinkedIn:

About SILQ

SILQ is a platform dedicated to bridging economies and empowering businesses to trade, grow, and navigate new frontiers. By enabling seamless commerce, logistics, and finance, SILQ unlocks opportunities in emerging economies, fueling ambitions and redefining global trade.

For more information on SILQ, visit:

About Sanabil Investments

Sanabil is a financial investment company, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) that commits more than USD 3 billion in capital per annum into global private investments that include VC/Growth. Sanabil is a dynamic, nimble, and highly experienced team of investment professionals. Sanabil provides partners with patient capital, the ability to invest across multiple funding rounds, and access to the region. At Sanabil, we invest in great ideas, great minds, and great companies.

About Valar

Valar Ventures is a venture capital fund based in the United States, founded by Andrew McCormack, James Fitzgerald and Peter Thiel. The firm seeks out exceptionally talented teams and invests globally in high-margin, fast-growing financial technology companies that are pursuing huge market opportunities, such as Xero, Wise (formerly TransferWise), N26, Bitpanda, Qonto, Bestow, Octane and Moss. Valar expects to follow-on significantly as the business scales.

For more information visit-

Advertisement

Media OutReach

SL Aesthetic Group Marks 22 Years of Innovation and Regional Expansion in Singapore and Southeast Asia

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – SL Aesthetic Group celebrates its 22nd anniversary, marking its growth from a single clinic into a multi-brand medical aesthetics and healthcare group.

Founded in Singapore in 2003, the Group has grown to encompass five specialised brands operating more than twenty outlets across Singapore and the region.

  • SL Aesthetic Clinic offers doctor-led skin, face and body treatments, and is one of Singapore’s longest-running medical aesthetics clinic.
  • SkinLab The Medical Spa, a dermatology-focused medical spa, specialises in medical-grade facials and skincare products for sensitive skin.
  • TrichoLab, a dedicated hair and scalp health brand specialising in medical hair loss solutions.
  • Euphie (Malaysia) is the Group’s Malaysia-based extension comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic, delivering medically supervised aesthetic care.

The Group has served more than 100,000 patients, with care provided by a team of 12 doctors and more than 100 trained specialists.

Over the past two decades, the concept of beauty and wellness has broadened into a more holistic approach to personal care—one that goes beyond aesthetics to support overall wellbeing. People are placing greater emphasis on long-term health, from their mental health and nutrition to their physical appearance. This shift has driven growing demand for preventive, medically supervised services that integrate aesthetics with broader health concerns.

In response to these changing needs, SL Aesthetic Group has expanded its medical services beyond skin and hair treatments, introducing more than 40 new offerings across its five specialised brand portfolios, including women’s health services.

Dr Kelvin Chua, Founder and Senior Medical Director of SL Aesthetic Group, said: “Reaching 22 years reflects the continuity of care we have built over time. As patient expectations change, our focus remains on delivering medically supervised services that support long-term health and well-being.”

As part of this expansion, the Group launched Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic and Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness in 2025. Prologue The Lifestyle Medical Clinic focuses on preventive care for chronic conditions, supported by artificial intelligence–enabled health screenings for early detection of conditions such as dementia and cancer. Meanwhile, Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness addresses women’s health needs across different life stages, including perimenopause, menopause, and postpartum recovery.

Within Singapore, the group strengthened its physical presence with the opening of its tenth SL Aesthetic Clinic and SkinLab The Medical Spa outlet at iMall in Marine Parade, as a response to strong and sustained demand from patients in the eastern region.

Regionally, SL Aesthetic Group marked a milestone as its Malaysia-based brand, Euphie — comprising Euphie Skin Solutions and Euphie Clinic — celebrated its first anniversary. Building on this foundation, the Group plans to open an additional outlet in Malaysia, extending its medically supervised services to a wider patient base.

Looking ahead, SL Aesthetic Group plans to continue expanding its clinical footprint while maintaining regulatory compliance, clinical standards, and patient safety.

For more information, visit: https://slaestheticgroup.com/
Hashtag: #SLAesthetic

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SL Aesthetic Group

SL Aesthetic Group is one of Singapore’s longest-established medical aesthetic groups, with a presence in Singapore and Malaysia. The Group houses a diverse portfolio of brands, including SL Aesthetic Clinic, SkinLab The Medical Spa, TrichoLab, PROLOGUE, and Euphie (Malaysia).

Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group specialises in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Across its clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Singapore Medical Council’s Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

Aon Appoints Kulshaan Singh as Enterprise Client Leader, Asia Pacific based in Singapore

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the appointment of Kulshaan Singh as enterprise client leader, Asia Pacific, effective immediately.

Based in Singapore, Singh will leverage his extensive experience across some of Asia’s most dynamic markets to deliver innovative approaches to Risk Capital and Human Capital for Aon’s enterprise and large multinational clients in Asia. Reporting to Craig Torgius, chief client officer and head of enterprise clients, Asia Pacific, Singh will focus on building strategic partnerships and unlocking new opportunities supporting clients to achieve their growth ambitions.

“Kulshaan brings a rare blend of strategic acumen with strong execution ability, global insight and local expertise to our Asia Pacific team,” said Torgius. “His ability to lead transformation, foster collaboration and deliver results across diverse industries will be invaluable in helping clients navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape.”

With over two decades of experience in consulting and executive leadership, Singh held prominent roles including managing director for talent solutions for southeast Asia at Aon, CEO Mercer Singapore and chief people officer at Charoen Pokphand Group. Most recently, as the global group chief people officer at Thai Union Group, he spearheaded large-scale transformation initiatives including organisation design, succession and leadership alignment.

Reflecting on his new role, Singh said, “I feel privileged and excited to be back at Aon and look forward to working closely with Aon’s global and local teams to deliver solutions that help clients navigate complexity and interconnected challenges.”

Read more about Aon’s capabilities in Asia Pacific here.

Hashtag: #Aon

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Aon

exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on and sign up for news alerts .

Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

Zero-Emission Technology Underpins the Future of Urban Living

Published

on

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2026 – In 2025, Vietnam marked a pivotal moment in its economic trajectory. Amid persistent global uncertainties, the country recorded GDP growth of 8.02%. Vietnam’s economic scale also reached a new threshold, with GDP estimated at approximately USD 514 billion and GDP per capita surpassing USD 5,000, officially elevating the country into the upper-middle-income category. Notably, Vietnam led ASEAN in growth momentum, reinforcing Vietnam’s rising profile as a resilient and increasingly attractive destination for long-term global capital.

As an economy reaches a new stage of development, the central question is no longer how fast it can grow, but how well it can sustain that growth over time. The development trajectories of many countries show that crossing an income threshold often brings complex structural pressures: Mounting strain on urban infrastructure, environmental degradation, and higher expectations for quality of life.

In this context, traditional growth models, those that prioritize short-term economic returns, begin to reveal their limitations. What emerges instead is a clear demand for development paradigms in which economic performance, environmental resilience, and social value are conceived together from the outset, rather than treated as sequential or secondary considerations.

For Vietnam, this transition is particularly significant as global capital flows increasingly favor ESG-aligned markets, and urban residents shift from a focus on asset ownership to a more holistic pursuit of living quality and long-term wellbeing. Real estate, therefore, is no longer simply a supply-and-demand equation, but a foundational platform for shaping lifestyles, communities, and sustainable urban ecosystems.

It is precisely within this structural shift that Vinhomes Green Paradise is positioned as a forward-looking benchmark, reflecting the long-term vision of Vinhomes to develop real estate on an “ESG++ from the ground up” foundation, where sustainability is not an added feature, but the core architecture that underpins enduring economic and social value.

Geography as Destiny: A Living Natural Heritage

Many believe that Vinhomes Green Paradise is a “new wonder” of modern society, bringing together a rare convergence of forward-looking planning, contemporary living standards, and visionary development. Yet beyond its scale or sophistication, its very location is a wonder in itself. It is a place where human intelligence and capability are applied not to dominate nature, but to collaborate with it, leveraging an irreplaceable “forest-backed, sea-facing” setting that cannot be replicated, while preserving, restoring, and ultimately giving back to the natural environment.

Among more than 90 submissions from across the globe, New7Wonders selected Vinhomes Green Paradise as the first project worldwide to receive the “Official Participant” certification in the global “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign.

“This is a truly exceptional project,” said Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the global campaign. “Vinhomes Green Paradise is a ‘precious jewel’, a place that is exceptional for living, working, and enjoying life. The project symbolizes the kind of cities that dare to dream, dare to pave new paths, and dare to break boundaries to realize a future where nature, community, and growth coexist in harmony.”

According to him, this spirit is exactly what the world is seeking in the cities of tomorrow.

After personally visiting the site in Can Gio, Jean-Paul de la Fuente identified the project’s geography as its most irreplaceable asset. Spanning 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise is uniquely positioned between two globally significant ecosystems. To the front lies the vast Pacific Ocean, with 121 kilometers of coastline. Behind it stretches the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO.

At the heart of the megacity sits an 800-hectare saltwater lagoon, the largest of its kind in the world, functioning as a natural ecological regulator, a “green heart” sustaining biodiversity, climate balance, and urban vitality.

Unlike many coastal developments around the world, nature here is not reduced to a backdrop. It is treated as a living heritage, actively preserved and regenerated through dedicated mangrove restoration funds that protect not only the project, but also the ecological shield of Ho Chi Minh City.

While many global developments aim to comply with ESG standards, Vinhomes Green Paradise goes further, introducing an ESG++ model built on five pillars: Environment, Social, Governance, Regeneration, and Adaptation.

This approach reflects a paradigm shift in urban development. Cities of the future must not merely “do less harm”. They must actively give back to nature and society.

Jean-Paul emphasized the importance of this vision: “Future sustainable cities must not ‘take’ from nature, they must ‘give back,’ helping restore and nurture the planet.”

This regenerative mindset is embedded from the earliest stages of construction. Advanced K-DPM technology transforms dredged soft mud into durable construction material, completely eliminating waste discharge into the environment, a breakthrough in large-scale coastal development.

Technology as the City’s Invisible Infrastructure

If nature is the soul of Vinhomes Green Paradise, technology is its invisible nervous system. The entire megacity is designed to operate on 100% clean energy, sourced from offshore wind turbines located 20 kilometers from shore and large-scale solar systems. Transportation within the city and connections to central Ho Chi Minh City are oriented toward zero emissions, supported by electric mobility and high-speed rail.

IoT, AI, and Big Data platforms operate continuously to monitor environmental quality, optimize energy use, and provide early warnings for climate-related risks, ensuring resilience in an era of increasing uncertainty.

One of the core criteria of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign is placing people at the heart of urban design. At Vinhomes Green Paradise, this principle is elevated further: Residents are not passive beneficiaries, but active co-creatorsof the city.

The megacity features globally scaled cultural and lifestyle landmarks, including a 122-hectare entertainment complex, the 7-hectare Blue Waves Theatre with 5,000 seats, an outdoor performance plaza for 60,000 people, two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Tiger Woods and Robert Trent Jones, a 108-story tower among the world’s top 10 tallest, and the Cosmo Bay night-time economy hub.

Healthcare, education, and lifelong wellbeing are equally prioritized, with Vinmec healthcare partnering with Cleveland Clinic (USA), Vinschool and Brighton College (UK) in education, and Vin New Horizon redefining senior living. Together, they form an ecosystem where human potential is continuously nurtured.

Residents also play a direct role in environmental stewardship, participating in biodiversity monitoring, mangrove planting, waste sorting, and adopting electric mobility, becoming true “ecological ambassadors” of Can Gio.

The Wonders of the Future Are Being Built Today

For Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Vinhomes Green Paradise represents far more than an urban project.
“The project is positioned as a powerful symbol of Vietnam’s national aspirations and its determination to assert its place on the global stage. What was seen on site is only a small part of a much larger vision,” he said.

Reflecting on the impact of previous New7Wonders campaigns, he noted: “The previous two campaigns, ‘New7Wonders of the World’ and ‘New7Wonders of Nature’, both generated what researchers call the ‘Wonder Effect,’ significantly boosting the economies and societies of the winning destinations.”

Drawing a parallel with Ha Long Bay, he added that he truly believe Vinhomes Green Paradise can achieve something similar, but on an even larger scale, competing directly with iconic cities around the world.”

As Jean-Paul concluded: “If our previous campaigns celebrated the heritage of the past and the beauty of the present, then the ‘7 Wonders of Future Cities’ campaign celebrates the vision being created for future generations.”

“The wonders of the future are taking shape today through the choices, creativity, and determination of pioneering urban planners and developers.”

In that global narrative, Vinhomes Green Paradise stands as a powerful testament to Vietnam’s ambition: A city where geography itself is a wonder, where growth does not compromise the future, and where nature, technology, and humanity evolve together, creating a legacy not just for Vietnam, but for the world.

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Continue Reading

Trending