(14 May 2026 – APAC) OCBC Bank and the Australian High Commission Singapore have entered into a five-year strategic framework aimed at strengthening trade and investment links between Southeast Asia and Australia.
Under the initiative, OCBC said it expects Australia–Southeast Asia trade and investment flows to more than double by 2030.
The agreement aligns with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which is designed to deepen Australia’s economic engagement with Southeast Asia, a region forecast to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040.
Since the strategy’s launch in 2023, two-way trade between Australia and Southeast Asia has increased by AUD3.2 billion to reach a record AUD195.7 billion, while Australian investment into the region rose by AUD2 billion to AUD105.9 billion.
The partnership will target sectors including energy transition, infrastructure, natural resources, green transport, fintech and digital innovation.
It will also bring together Australian government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Export Finance Australia and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission alongside OCBC’s regional financing capabilities and network.
The collaboration aims to connect Australian businesses with Southeast Asian partners, support investor matching opportunities and improve market readiness through knowledge-sharing initiatives.
“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.
OCBC, which became the first Singaporean bank to establish operations in Australia in 1986, is approaching 40 years in the market. The bank said its Sydney branch loan book has expanded at an annual compound growth rate of around 13% over the past five years, supported by financing activity across real estate, energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors.
In 2025, OCBC also led financing arrangements supporting Qantas’ fleet renewal program.
“Singapore and Australia share a strong and trusted partnership and this collaboration with OCBC is a great example of how we can work together to unlock new opportunities for business, investment and innovation,” added Emily Follett, acting Australian High Commissioner to Singapore.