SYDNEY and SINGAPORE, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UQPAY has secured Visa Associate Membership in Australia, marking an important milestone in its collaboration with Visa and expansion across Asia-Pacific. The approval provides a foundation for extending its card-issuing capabilities in Australia, complementing existing financial services and supporting the evolving needs of businesses operating across borders.
As a major financial and commercial market with a well-established regulatory framework, Australia plays a key role in UQPAY's regional strategy. This milestone represents further progress in the company's development of financial infrastructure connected to international card schemes, creating new opportunities to build on its established local account services.
Connecting Account Services with Card Payments
UQPAY currently offers Unified Money Account (UMA) services in Australia, enabling businesses to manage funds across multiple currencies. For companies operating internationally, effective multi-currency fund management goes beyond holding balances. It also involves currency conversion, supplier payments, and day-to-day expenses, often requiring different methods depending on the transaction and recipient.
Building on its existing account, foreign exchange, and cross-border transfer services, UQPAY plans to introduce additional card payment functionality in Australia. While UMA supports multi-currency fund management and international transfers facilitate business payments, cards would provide another option for spending at participating merchants. Together, these offerings aim to give companies greater flexibility in managing funds and meeting operational needs.
By connecting account-based payment services and card-issuing capabilities, UQPAY aims to deliver a more comprehensive, integrated payment offering that brings financial management and business spending closer together. The development and availability of new services will remain subject to applicable regulatory requirements, Visa rules, and necessary approvals, with further details to be announced through official channels.
Supporting Regional Growth Through Strong Governance
UQPAY continues to invest in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and system security. As the company expands its presence across Asia-Pacific, these priorities will remain central to product development and daily operations, supporting sustainable regional growth.
"Australia is an important market in our Asia-Pacific strategy. Securing Visa Associate Membership further strengthens the foundation for our collaboration with Visa in Australia. We will continue to enhance connectivity across regional payment networks and develop stronger infrastructure to support businesses operating across borders," said Dr. Jack Li, Founder and CEO of UQPAY Group.
Looking ahead, UQPAY will focus on connecting its global account, foreign exchange, and international transfer services with planned card payment capabilities. This approach aims to bring fund management and business spending closer together, supporting companies operating across Asia-Pacific and global markets.
About UQPAY
UQPAY Group is a global fintech group headquartered in Singapore, focused on building borderless payment infrastructure for the next generation of the digital economy. Its business ecosystem spans full-stack digital payments, Payment Software-as-a-Service, and fintech venture building. Leveraging its global financial and payment licensing footprint, as well as direct financial infrastructure connectivity with leading international banks and global card schemes, UQPAY provides businesses with efficient, compliant, programmable, and scalable global payment services, helping clients connect with global markets, manage cross-border funds, and unlock growth potential in the digital economy.
Media Contact
UQPAY Group Marketing Team
Email: marketing@uqpay.com
Website: https://www.uqpay.com/en
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UQPAY Secures Visa Associate Membership in Australia
SINGAPORE, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ANESSA, Asia's No.1 Suncare Brand*, has successfully concluded its 2026 ANESSA Sunshine Project activities in Singapore, bringing together over 450 children through two football-focused community initiatives aimed at promoting healthy outdoor play, UV awareness and children's holistic well-being.
Building on its continued commitment to helping children enjoy the benefits of the outdoors safely, ANESSA collaborated with the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for the JFA–FAS U12 Girls Football Festival in Singapore for ANESSA Sunshine Project, held on Nov. 12, 2026. Through FAS' organisation of the festival and ANESSA's support for sun-safe outdoor participation, the initiative provided girls with opportunities to experience football in a fun and inclusive environment. The initiative was complemented by a community football engagement with FC Jurong on Oct. 4, 2026, extending the project's reach to more young participants.
Together, the activities reinforced the ANESSA Sunshine Project's mission of encouraging children to embrace active, healthy lifestyles while developing essential sun protection habits from an early age.
Empowering Children and Youth Through Football and Outdoor Play
Held at Kickoff! @ Kovan, the JFA–FAS U12 Girls Football Festival for ANESSA Sunshine Project welcomed over 350 children aged 8 to 12. Led by FAS in partnership with ANESSA and JFA, the festival was designed to provide an inclusive and supportive platform for girls to engage with the sport, develop their skills and build meaningful connections through football.
Echoing this commitment, Bernice Wong, Head of Women's Football at FAS, said: "Girls need to see a place for themselves in football before they decide to stay in it, and a festival like this helps open that door. We are pleased to have worked with JFA and ANESSA on a festival that brought together girls from schools, academies and grassroots clubs to enjoy football and learn about staying active safely in the sun."
Building on this focus on both football participation and healthy outdoor play, the festival also emphasized the importance of sun safety. As part of its participation, ANESSA shared sun care and UV protection knowledge with children, helping them understand how healthy sun protection habits can enable them to enjoy outdoor activities with greater confidence.
Participants were also provided with ANESSA suncare products to experience and trial, reinforcing the role of sun protection as part of an active outdoor routine.
In Singapore's tropical climate, where high temperatures and year-round UV exposure can present challenges to outdoor participation, the initiative sought to demonstrate that children need not shy away from outdoor play. Instead, with appropriate sun protection and greater UV awareness, they can continue to enjoy enriching experiences under the sun.
Extending Community Engagement Through FC Jurong
Continuing its community outreach, ANESSA also partnered with FC Jurong for a Sunshine Project event held at the Old Shuqun Primary School on Oct. 4, 2026.
The activity engaged over 100 children aged 5 to 15, providing another opportunity to encourage outdoor sports participation while reinforcing the importance of sun-safe habits.
Through its involvement, ANESSA supported children's participation in football, shared practical sun protection knowledge and provided sunscreen products for participants to experience and trial.
By engaging children across different age groups and community football settings, ANESSA continued to champion the message that outdoor sports and sun protection can go hand in hand, helping children develop healthy habits that extend beyond the football field.
Nurturing Lifelong Well-Being Through the Power of the Sun
The ANESSA Sunshine Project is a global initiative established to promote children's holistic well-being by safely harnessing the power of the sun. Recognizing the important role outdoor experiences play in childhood development, the project seeks to help children build a foundation for lifelong well-being through healthy, enriching outdoor activities.
Outdoor play can contribute to children's physical, social, emotional and intellectual development, while supporting communication, creativity and overall well-being.
Guided by three core pillars — Experience, Education and Support — the ANESSA Sunshine Project creates opportunities for children to discover the joy of outdoor play, develop greater awareness of UV protection and access enriching activities through community partnerships.
The project is set to roll out across 12 Asian countries and regions, with the ambition of supporting approximately 300,000 children across Asia by 2030.
ANESSA's ongoing partnership with JFA remains an important part of this mission, using the universal appeal of football to spread brightness, fun and positive outdoor experiences among children across the region.
Complementing these efforts is the ANESSA Mild Series, which includes sun protection solutions suitable for children and sensitive skin. By combining accessible sun care with education and meaningful outdoor experiences, ANESSA continues to support families in making sun protection a natural part of everyday life.
Through the successful completion of its 2026 Sunshine Project activities in Singapore, ANESSA reaffirms its long-term commitment to nurturing healthier, more active lifestyles for the next generation, empowering children to play, grow and shine infinitely under the sun.
| *Source: Euromonitor, Beauty and Personal Care 2025 edition, retail value sales, 2024 data. Asia as per Euromonitor's Asia Pacific definition |
*Source: Euromonitor, Beauty and Personal Care 2025 edition, retail value sales, 2024 data. Asia as per Euromonitor's Asia Pacific definition
About ANESSA
Established in Japan in 1992, ANESSA is a Japanese sun care expert brand committed to helping people shine infinitely under the sun. Going beyond sunscreen, ANESSA combines advanced UV protection technology with a dedication to supporting healthy outdoor lifestyles. Through its range of sun care solutions and initiatives such as the ANESSA Sunshine Project, the brand continues to promote sun protection awareness and encourage individuals and families to embrace the outdoors with confidence.
ANESSA Sunshine Project Global Website: www.anessa-sunshineproject.com
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ANESSA Sunshine Project Champions Children's Well-Being Through Football and Sun Safety in Singapore
