ISCA and VNICG Join Forces to Build a Singapore–Vietnam Board Leadership Community

Partnership aims to connect directors across both countries, promote cross border learning and regionally connected board leaders

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 October 2026 – As Singapore and Vietnam deepen their economic ties and more businesses look beyond their home markets for growth, board directors need to understand not only their own businesses but also the opportunities, risks and governance expectations across borders.

Recognising this, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Vietnam Institute of Corporate Governance (VNICG) are joining forces to build a stronger community of board directors across both countries.

The partnership aims to bring together existing and aspiring board directors from Singapore and Vietnam to exchange knowledge, share practical boardroom experiences and develop the international perspectives needed to guide businesses in an increasingly connected and complex environment.

Connecting boardrooms across borders

ISCA and VNICG will explore opportunities for joint board leadership programmes, professional exchanges and networking activities that connect directors and governance professionals from both countries during this partnership.

The collaboration will draw on the strengths of both organisations: ISCA brings its professional network and experience in board governance, financial oversight and risk management while VNICG contributes its knowledge of Vietnam's business environment, corporate governance practices and independent director community.

ISCA's Board of Directors Masterclass, jointly developed by ISCA Academy and SAC Capital, will be incorporated into the Independent Director dual programme, a new initiative jointly developed by ISCA and VNICG. The programme will combine Singapore's board governance practices with Vietnam's regulatory and business environment, providing participants with opportunities to learn from both markets.

Beyond formal learning, the partnership seeks to foster lasting professional relationships among directors and encourage greater exchange of ideas on issues such as business strategy, sustainability, emerging technologies and corporate governance.

Strengthening Singapore–Vietnam professional connections

Mr Pang Te Cheng, Consul-General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Singapore and Vietnam enjoy a strong and comprehensive partnership spanning trade, investment, education, innovation and many other sectors. As Vietnam advances its International Financial Centre ambitions in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, alongside discussions at the HCMC Autumn Economic Forum, strengthening corporate governance and professional capabilities will be vital to attracting international capital. I welcome the partnership between ISCA and VNICG, which brings together Singaporean and Vietnamese expertise to enhance professional standards, transparency and investor confidence. Such collaborations can deepen our bilateral ties while supporting Vietnam's next phase of sustainable economic development."

Ms Fann Kor, CEO of ISCA, said: "The world is changing rapidly. From geopolitical developments and technological disruption to sustainability, these issues are occupying boardroom conversations. No single market has all the answers. Through our partnership with VNICG, we hope to bring board directors from both Singapore and Vietnam together to exchange knowledge, learn from real experiences and develop the capabilities to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Our ambition goes beyond training. We want to foster a connected community of internationally minded directors who can learn from one another, ask better questions and make better decisions. When the world enters the boardroom, our judgement must keep pace."

Mr Hoàng Đức Hùng, President of VNICG, said: "As Vietnamese businesses expand and engage more closely with international investors and partners, our board directors need both strong local knowledge and a wider international perspective. Our partnership with ISCA creates opportunities for Vietnamese directors to exchange experiences with their Singapore counterparts, learn from different governance practices and build valuable professional relationships. We look forward to developing a connected community of directors who can contribute to stronger corporate governance and support the long-term growth of businesses in both countries."

The partnership was formalised at a signing ceremony held at the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on 27 October 2026.
Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy #Vietnam #VNICG

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

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

New service handles property enquiries and books viewings around the clock, as field test of 394 agents reveals delays and unanswered messages.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 October 2026 - Rivo AI has launched a WhatsApp-based service that helps Singapore property agents respond to buyer and tenant enquiries in seconds, qualify prospective clients and arrange property viewings, even when agents are unavailable. The announcement comes alongside findings from Rivo's field test of 394 Singapore property agents, which found that those who personally replied took an average of two hours and 14 minutes to respond to enquiries.

A Rivo AI field test involving 394 Singapore property agents found that agents who replied personally took an average of two hours and 14 minutes to respond to WhatsApp enquiries. Nearly one in three took over an hour, while the longest recorded wait was 27 hours.

Conducted between 16 and 19 October 2026, the test found that nearly one in three personal replies (29%) took more than an hour, while 19% took over four hours. The longest recorded wait was 27 hours. Even during the day, about one in five enquiries went unanswered, based on an average of the no-response rates for Singapore and overseas phone numbers.

These delays point to a gap in how property enquiries are managed, particularly when agents are occupied with viewings, handling multiple conversations or attending to clients. For prospective buyers and tenants, a simple question about a property's availability can mean hours of waiting. For agents, every unanswered message represents a potential missed opportunity.

The findings come amid continued activity in Singapore's housing market. According to the Housing & Development Board, HDB resale transactions rose 19.5% quarter-on-quarter to 7,645 in the third quarter of 2026. With 36,816 registered property agents operating in Singapore as at January 2026, the ability to manage enquiries promptly remains an important part of serving prospective customers.

Rivo's service addresses this through two AI-powered assistants. The Viewing Agent operates through an agent's existing WhatsApp Business number, responding to enquiries in under five seconds, according to the company. It gathers information such as budget, property preferences and purchase timeline before scheduling viewings through Google Calendar. A separate Agent Assistant provides daily briefings, booking alerts and conversation updates, allowing agents to step in when personal attention is required.

"Buyers expect an answer in minutes, not hours. Agents aren't ignoring them on purpose; they are juggling hundreds of conversations on their own," said Raja Ahmed Shuja, Founder & CEO of Rivo AI.

The service has already been tested in a live property campaign at Lentor Gardens. According to Rivo's pilot results, its system managed more than 200 buyer conversations, identified 79 qualified leads and booked four property viewings without human involvement. The company's wider field test also found that only half of agents contacted from overseas numbers replied personally, highlighting another potential challenge for overseas buyers and tenants. The non-random study provides a snapshot of response patterns rather than a representative estimate for Singapore's entire property industry.

Rivo's Viewing Agent and Agent Assistant are now available to Singapore property agents, with a 30-day free trial and no setup fee or lock-in period. For more information, visit rivoai.co.
Hashtag: #RivoAI

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

About Rivo AI

Rivo AI is a Singapore-based technology company developing WhatsApp-based AI assistants for property agents. Its Viewing Agent handles incoming property enquiries, assesses prospective buyers' requirements and books viewings through agents' existing WhatsApp Business numbers. Its Agent Assistant keeps agents informed through daily briefings, booking alerts and conversation updates. In a live Lentor Gardens pilot, Rivo reports handling more than 200 buyer conversations and booking four property viewings without human intervention. The company aims to help property agents manage enquiries more efficiently while maintaining personal relationships with their clients. Visit rivoai.co to learn more.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **