Daily Briefing: SIA, Qantas tie up with Australia to carry produce to Asian markets; Three quarters of UOB staff now WFH

And DWS acquires warehouse in Singapore.

From Channel News Asia:

Australia has reached agreements with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Qantas Airways to carry food to Asian markets, according to an announcement.

Qantas will begin a weekly flight from the country's north to Hong Kong carrying seafood and other produce from Queensland state starting 12 May, whilst SIA will carry food from the state of South Australia.

A mix of South Australian products, including chilled seafood, tuna, lamb, chicken meat and eggs, will be carried to Singapore, and later distributed to Hong Kong, Thailand, and China.

The agreement is said to help re-establish direct freight routes for exporters who have been struggling to ship overseas during the pandemic.

The flights will fall under a $909.8m (A$1b) Australian government fund to support regions, communities and industry sectors affected by COVID-19.

Read more here.

From eFinancialcareers:

UOB now has more than 75% staff working from home in Singapore because of COVID-19, according to an announcement. This is after stringent circuit breaker laws have been in force since April.

UOB did not elaborate on which types of employees are still coming into the office, but they are most likely working in functions including operations and trading.

Office-based staff at UOB, including those in branches or operations teams, have staggered working hours and work on split shifts.

UOB announced last month that it won’t cut jobs during the pandemic, and technology roles at the bank seem particularly secure.

Read more here.

From DealStreetAsia:

DWS, an asset manager mostly owned by Deutsche Bank, has acquired a grade A logistics facility located in Singapore as it seeks long-term stable cash returns, in line with its Asia core real estate investment strategy.

This marked the third acquisition for the strategy, following the purchase of the Coles logistics facility in Brisbane, Australia, and a second logistics facility in Singapore in 2019.

The industrial precinct located in Jurong will serve as the Asia Pacific headquarters for its sole tenant, a leading third-party logistics global operator. The facility comprises a four-storey, ramp-up industrial warehouse, with ancillary office space and car parking.

The property benefits from a prominent location in Jurong close to the upcoming Tuas Megaport, with excellent connectivity to other parts of Singapore via major expressways and other arterial roads.

Read more here.