The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association has inaugurated its new Asia headquarters in Singapore. EMPEA is the industry association for private capital investment in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

“Private capital flows across borders will continue to expand in the coming years as investors seek opportunities that are scalable, diversified and global,” says EMPEA chief executive officer and board member Cate Ambrose. “Environmental sustainability, technology and innovation will drive investment decisions, and EMPEA’s Asia headquarters will be a hub to act on these themes.”

Asia continues to gain prominence as a global financial centre and international destination for private capital investment. The new regional hub allows the organization to effectively represent the leading fund and institutional investors based in Southeast Asia, and to build bridges among investors across global markets with Singapore as a key nexus, EMPEA says.

Lim Cheng Khai, executive director of financial markets development at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, welcomed the association’s establishment of its Asia headquarters in the city state. “Singapore is at the heart of Asia’s vibrant and growing private markets ecosystem. With its new Singapore office, EMPEA will be able to develop more targeted research and solutions for Asian managers and investors,” he says.

EMPEA’s Singapore office builds on the network of investors established by senior adviser Steve Okun since 2017. Okun will remain engaged and is joined by Asia research director Ethan Koh, who brings over a decade of industry experience including roles at Partners Group and PEI Media. In his position, Koh will lead dedicated Southeast Asia research focused on investment data and market trends and collaborate closely with EMPEA’s Asia Council, which will convene in Singapore annually.