Semiconductors are the invisible foundation of our digital world – powering everything from data centres and electric vehicles to smartphones and even satellites.

But behind the global chip ecosystem lies precision engineering firms that make tools and parts used in the manufacturing process.

And our guest for today, Micro-Mechanics, is one of them. Founded in 1983, and listed on the SGX-Sesdaq in Singapore in 2003, the company designs and manufactures a range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors.

The company also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication and other high-technology industries.

In July 2008, the listing and quotation of Micro-Mechanics’ shares were upgraded to the SGX Mainboard.

Today, Micro-Mechanics’ boasts a headcount of 450 globally, with five factories located in Singapore, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in Silicon Valley in the US.

Micro-Mechanics is a company that we want to talk about right now, given how ongoing trade tensions and tariff spat between the US and China have thrusted the semiconductor industry and supply chain into the spotlight.

Despite global headwinds, Micro-Mechanics said it was somewhat sheltered given how it had plants set up in both China and the US.

So how is the firm capitalising on its relative advantage in the global semiconductor supply chain right now, and what are the growth opportunities present within the industry right now?

How does the firm assess the role of its presence in Singapore, and the vibrancy of the local stock market in boosting its valuation?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kyle Borch, CEO, Micro-Mechanics.

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Today we’re going to turn the clock back to the 1800s to share with you the story of a young man, Georges Nagelmackers, who had just fallen out of love.

Like some of us who might travel abroad to take a breather, Nagelmackers fled to the US, where he discovered railroads with the world’s first sleeping cars.

The enterprising Belgian engineer decided to take that idea back to Europe, where he would launch luxurious trains leading to the Gates of the Orient.

That’s right, we are talking about the Orient Express, or the luxurious train experience provider that would later be further popularised by a suspense novel by writer Agatha Christie in the early 1930s.

Then called the CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits), or The International Sleeping Car company, Orient Express’ inaugural trip happened in October 1883 from Paris to Constantinople (or the modern day Istanbul), redefining the meaning of long distance travel for luxury travelers.

As we know, the development of air travel has changed the way people move between places. That dealt a blow to CIWL, and eventually, the Orient Express made its last direct trip between Paris and Istanbul in 1977.

That same year, the SNCF or the French National Railway Company acquired the Orient Express brand, and the last Orient-Express train left Vienna for Strasbourg in December 2009.

But hope is not lost. Nearly 140 years after making its first trip, Accor Hotels fully bought over and redeveloped the brand in 2022, expanding the portfolio of Orient Express to include hotels and even yacht sailings.

As for the original Orient Express carriages – they will be back on railway tracks in 2027, though details are still scant at the moment. So, what should we know about the Orient Express portfolio of hospitality solutions today, and what is next for the firm?

In this episode of Under the Radar “SPECIALS”, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Accor & CEO of Orient Express.

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Today we’re going to take you through the ins and outs of a semiconductor optics company that made the headlines for its performance post-IPO on the Singapore Exchange.

Listed on the SGX in September 2025, our guest for today MetaOptics develops metalenses, or flat, glass-based lenses made with the same technology and process as semiconductor chips.

But what does this mean exactly? Well, lenses are typically made using curved glass, which helps them refract and focus light rays, say in the case of camera lenses or magnifying glasses.

MetaOptics, on the other hand, uses a different process to make its lenses. Instead of using curved glasses, it uses a process called semiconductor photolithography to carve out microscopic pillars on a flat wafer, just like how transistors are engraved onto silicon chips.

With the microscopic pillars engraved on the lenses, the lenses behave like silicon chips, where their reflective index changes when varying amounts of electricity passes through it. This means the same lens can adopt multiple properties and perform multiple tasks from zooming in, focusing, or even shifting depth, depending on the situation.

In application, this means that devices such as smartphones, laptops or projectors will only need one metalens to perform multiple functions. This reduces the thickness and weight of hardware devices, making them easier to carry around.

Beyond that, metalens can also be used to transmit information using light. This presents an opportunity for the firm to tap the rise in demand for computing devices in the age of AI. So how does the firm define its value proposition exactly, and what are the key revenue drivers for it?

Meanwhile, MetaOptics listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange in September 2025, and has seen its shares rise five fold in three months. More recently, the firm also announced plans to seek a dual listing on the US NASDAQ stock exchange.

So how has the firm used the additional public capital raised? What are its plans for the future and what is its assessment of the effectiveness of listing on the local bourse then?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Mark Thng, CEO, Metaoptics.

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We’re going to talk all about a hotpot ingredient that is sure to be on your reunion dinner table on Chinese New Year eve – the humble, inexpensive, yet comforting fishball that completes the meal.

Speaking of fishballs, one must talk about Thong Siek Food Global, who’s also better known as the parent company of Dodo fishballs.

Founded in 1976 as a family run backyard operation, Thong Siek Food Global has since evolved into a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of surimi (or minced fish paste) based seafood products in Singapore.

At its factory in Senoko spanning over 150,000 square feet, Thong Siek Global processes well over 28,000 kg of fish meat daily and more than 60 varieties of fish-based products including fishballs, prawn balls, cuttle fish balls and crab flavoured sticks.

These are exported to markets across Europe and Southeast Asia as well as the US, Canada, Dubai, Qatar, Australia and more.

But how is Thong Siek Global positioning its supply chain to grow internationally? Which are the key global markets for the firm?

Also – what are the key product trends that Thong Siek Global is tapping to relate with next generation consumers?

In this Special, “On the Go” episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Thong Siek Food Global’s factory floor to seek some answers from Novelle Lim, CEO of Thong Siek Global and Fayy Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Thong Siek Global.

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It is back to the real estate sector today as we take you through the ins and outs of a real estate management services group that recently spun off its coliving arm on the Singapore Exchange.

You might have guessed it by now. Yes we are talking about the majority shareholder of coliving brand Coliwoo, or the SGX mainboard listed LHN Group. Established in 1991, LHN Group prides itself with the ability to generate value for space owners and users alike with its expertise in Space Optimisation.

The firm engages in four types of business operations, namely (1) space optimisation, where it redesigns unused, old and under-utilised spaces to maximise leasable area, (2) property development and investment where it engages in the acquisition, development and sale of properties, (3) facilities management including the provision of car park and energy management services, and finally (4) energy solutions, including the provision of charging stations for electric vehicles.

LHN had in November posted a net profit of S$5.9 million for the half-year ended September 2025. The performance marks an 82.7 per cent decrease from levels seen in the previous year, on the back of fair value losses on its investment properties. Revenue for the same period, though fell by a more modest 8.4 per cent on the year to S$60.9 million.

So how does the firm assess its latest performance and what will be the key drivers of growth going forward?

Meanwhile, the firm’s coliving subsidiary Coliwoo went public on the Singapore Exchange in November 2025. The move was said to help LHN better allocate resources within the remaining businesses within the group. So how far are we seeing that play out?

Speaking of resource allocation, LHN Group appears to be doubling down on its space optimisation business through its storage solutions subsidiary Work+Store. So how important will Work+Store be to the firm post-listing of Coliwoo?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kelvin Lim, Executive Chairman and Executive Director of LHN Group and Danny Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Work+Store.

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The CES is arguably one of the most powerful tech events in the world featuring speakers like Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip darling Nvidia, Lisa Su, CEO of AMD and Yuanqing Yang, CEO of the world’s biggest PC maker Lenovo.

Happening alongside the CES was Lenovo Tech World @ CES, or Lenovo’s annual global innovation affair taking place at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Money Matter’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian was part of the media team invited to the PC maker’s 11th Tech World, which featured conversations from its key executives, as well as a series of product launches and showcases.

In this three-part, “On the Go” Special series of “Under the Radar”, Tian Tian dived into the key announcements at CES and Lenovo Tech World 2026. She also sat down with Lenovo’s top executives to find out how the firm is harnessing the power of AI.

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Singapore has long been recognised as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions – or MICE events – backed by its world class infrastructure, connectivity to the world, and its business friendly ecosystem.

And today, we’re going to revisit a guest that sits at the heart of this industry to kickstart the year.

Incorporated in 2005, our guest Experia specialises in conceptualising, creating and curating trade events of strategic interest that spur industry development.

The firm prides itself in bringing together what it calls “captains” from all over the world to inspire ideas, influence decisions and move the needle in strategic issues for global, national and societal needs and progress.

More notably, Experia manages the Changi Exhibition Centre, and is also the player behind Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, or the Singapore Airshow.

But why are we speaking to Experia you might ask? Well, the MICE industry which Experia lies in is experiencing exciting growth of late.

In June 2025, the Singapore Tourism Board said the MICE global market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate or CAGR of 7.2 per cent from 2024 to 2032.

Asia Pacific in particular, is expected to take the lead due to the relatively higher growth rates seen in regional economies, the rising trend of business travel, as well as improvements in social services and infrastructure.

At Experia, the firm is preparing for the coming Singapore Airshow 2026 happening every two years. It is also organising the inaugural Space Summit 2026, an event which will see national space agencies, policy makers, investors and industry players convene to address gaps in the growing industry.

So how is Experia preparing ahead of the events, and how is the firm positioning itself for future growth, and working with industry players such as hospitality players to spur tourism spending and grow the pie for all?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia.

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It is a Special, “On the Go” episode of Under The Radar with Money Matters’ Finance Presenter Chua Tian Tian, who’s roughly about 14,300 km away from Singapore in the US city of Las Vegas attending CES 2026.

The CES is arguably one of the most powerful tech events in the world featuring speakers like Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip darling Nvidia, Lisa Su, CEO of AMD and Yuanqing Yang, CEO of the world’s biggest PC maker Lenovo.

The event is expected to host some 140,000 attendees from the 6th to the 9th of January 2026.

In this episode, Tian Tian provides a first look into how AI is transforming business, technology and everyday life, as well as the innovations to watch at CES 2026.

She was also part of the media team invited to Lenovo Tech World @ CES, where she spoke with Amar Babu, President of Asia Pacific of Lenovo, on the key themes for Tech World 2026.

Tian Tian will be back with more details in a radio Special, LIVE from Las Vegas on tomorrow’s Breakfast Show with Ryan, Emaad and Audrey so stay tuned!

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