OCBc, the longest-established Singapore bank, and the Australian High Commission in Singapore have signed a five-year strategic framework to grow trade and investment flows between Southeast Asia and Australia. OCBC expects to more than double Australia-Southeast Asia trade and investment flows by 2030.
The strategic partnership provides a deliberate approach to meet the ambition set out in“Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040″. Under the strategy, Australia seeks to deepen its trade and investment in the region, which is projected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040. Since the launch of investment in 2023 two-way trade between Australia and Southeast Asia increased by AUD3.2 billion to a record high of AUD195.7 billion, with total Australian investment in the region increasing by AUD2 billion to AUD105.9 billion.
The collaboration will focus on high-growth sectors aligned with both OCBC’s strategic priorities, and those highlighted under Invested:Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040-energy transitionand infrastructure, resources, green transportation, fintech, and digital innovation.
This partnership brings together the Australian government’s policy and regulatory expertise with OcBC’s deep market insights, financing capabilities and regional network to drive cross-border growth and collaboration. The framework fosters collaboration between OcBC and three Australian Government agencies – the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Export Finance Australia (EFA) and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Through the partnership, the parties seek to connect Australian companies with industry leaders across Southeast Asia, facilitate investor matching, and advance knowledge-sharing programmes to enhance the companies’market readiness.
Government-level collaborations such as this, and the Memorandum of Understanding that OCBc signed last year with the United Kingdom Government, demonstrate OCBC’s global reach and track record in enabling international capital flows.
OCBC marks 40 years of operations in Australia this year, having been the first Singapore bank to establish a presence in the country in 1986. Since then, its Sydney branch has expanded significantly. As at 1Q 2026, its loanbook had grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 13%over the past five years. The branch’s expansion has been underpinned mainly by strong momentum in real estate, energy and utilities, as well as digital infrastructure and core physical infrastructure activities.
One Australian company OCBC has supported in the real estate sector is Lendlease. OCBC provided solutions spanning financing and capital raising towards Lendlease Global Commercial RElT’s recent acquisition of PayaLebar Quarter Mall in Singapore, and also supported Lendlease’s developments at One Circular Quay in Sydney and Tun Razak Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Another key client is Qantas, Australia’s national carrier and largest airline. In 2025,OCBC led a club of lenders to support Qantas’ fleet renewal programme, as part of its broader funding strategy.
Ms Elaine Lam, Head of Global Corporate Banking at OCBc, said: “As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of our Sydney branch this year, it is timely that we reaffirm our commitment to Australia. 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.As the only Singapore bank with a dedicated export credit agency desk, OCBC is well placed to work with EFA to support Australian companies expanding into Southeast Asia with structured and project financing solutions. Leveraging our comprehensive Southeast Asian network, together with deep industry expertise, we are confident of more than doubling our Australia-Southeast Asia flows by 2030.”
Emily Follett, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, said:”Singapore and Australia share a strong and trusted partnership and thiscollaboration with OCBC is a great example of how we can work togetherto unlock new opportunities for business, investment and innovation. lt isespeciallyencouraging to see support for sectors that will drive the energytransition and strengthen regional resilience.”
About OCBC
OCBC is the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932 from themerger of three local banks, the oldest of which was founded in 1912. ltis one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with Aa1 by Moody’s andAA- by both Fitch and S&P. Recognised for its financial strength andstability,OCBC is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 SafestBanks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank inSingapore by The Asian Banker.
OCBC is the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia byassets. The Group offers a broad array of commercial banking, specialistfinancial and wealth management services, ranging from consumercorporate,investment, private and transaction banking to treasuryinsurance, asset management and stockbroking services.
OCBC’s private banking services are provided by its wholly-owned subsidiary Bank of Singapore,which operates on a unique open-architecture product platform to source for the best-in-class products tomeet its clients’ goals. lts insurance subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings, isthe oldest and most established life insurance group in Singapore and Malaysia. lts asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors, is one of the leading asset management companies in Southeast Asia. ltsbrokerage subsidiary, OCBCc Securities, is one of the leading securities firms in Singapore.
The Group’s key markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. lt has close to 400 branches and representative offices in 19countries and regions.
For more information, please visit www.ocbc.com