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OUE REIT Retains Four-Star GRESB Rating with Record Score of 88.7

SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OUE REIT Management Pte. Ltd., in its capacity as manager (the “Manager”) of OUE Real Estate Investment Trust (“OUE REIT”), is pleased to announce that OUE REIT has retained its four-star rating for the third consecutive year in the 2026 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”) assessment, achieving a record overall score of 88.7 points.

OUE REIT’s overall score increased by 3.4 points compared with 2025, surpassing both the 2026 GRESB average of 80.9 and the peer group average of 83.6. The improvement was mainly driven by stronger performance in the environmental category, alongside consistently high social and governance scores.

Mr Han Khim Siew, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Manager, said, “Sustainability is an integral part of how we manage and future-proof our portfolio, supporting long-term value creation through responsible capital stewardship, disciplined asset management, and operational excellence. During the year, OUE Bayfront joined the Marina Bay District Cooling System, marking a key milestone in its decarbonisation journey. The initiative is expected not only to deliver meaningful energy savings, but also to unlock additional value by converting the former chiller plant space into premium office space for lease. More recently, One Raffles Place Shopping Mall became the first retail mall in Singapore to attain the EDGE Advanced green building certification. Looking ahead, we will continue to advance our climate transition initiatives, improve resource efficiency, and deliver sustainable value to our Unitholders.”

About OUE REIT

OUE Real Estate Investment Trust (“OUE REIT”), formerly known as OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust, is one of the largest diversified Singapore REITs (“S-REITs”) with total assets under management of S$6.1 billion[1].

OUE REIT aims to deliver stable distributions and provide sustainable long-term growth in return to holders of units (“Unitholders”) by investing in income-producing real estate used primarily for hospitality, retail and/or office purposes in financial and business hubs, as well as real estate-related assets.

OUE REIT’s portfolio comprises seven high-quality office, hospitality and retail assets located in Singapore and Australia. Rooted in Singapore, OUE REIT’s three office assets, OUE Bayfront, One Raffles Place and OUE Downtown Office, are situated within the Central Business District, with a total net lettable area (“NLA”) of approximately 1.7 million square feet (“sq ft”).

OUE REIT’s two hotels, Hilton Singapore Orchard and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, are strategically located along the prime Orchard Road belt and within the Changi Airport vicinity, offering a total of 1,655 upper upscale hotel rooms. Complementing Hilton Singapore Orchard is Mandarin Gallery, a 126,283 sq ft high-end retail mall that has been a preferred destination for international brands in the heart of Orchard Road.

The latest addition to OUE REIT’s portfolio is 180 George Street (also known as Salesforce Tower), Sydney, a premium-grade commercial asset in which OUE REIT holds a 19.9% interest. Comprising 666,437 sq ft of NLA, 180 George Street is strategically situated in Circular Quay, one of Sydney’s key corporate and cultural precincts. As Sydney’s tallest office tower, 180 George Street is a landmark asset that strengthens the portfolio’s exposure to high-quality office real estate in a prime gateway city.

Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited since 27 January 2014, OUE REIT is managed by OUE REIT Management Pte. Ltd. (the “Manager”), a wholly owned subsidiary of OUE Limited (the “Sponsor”). The Sponsor is a leading real estate and healthcare group, growing strategically to capitalise on growth trends across Asia. Its real estate activities include the development, investment and management of real estate assets across the commercial, hospitality, retail, residential and healthcare sectors.

For more information, please visit www.ouereit.com.

[1] Includes OUB Centre Limited’s 81.54% interest in One Raffles Place, 50% interest in OUE Bayfront and 19.9% interest of Salesforce Tower. Independent valuations of the Singapore assets are as of 31 December 2025, and the valuation for Salesforce Tower is as of 31 January 2026, assuming an SGD:AUD exchange rate of S$1.00:A$1.117 as of 24 February 2026.

About the Sponsor: OUE Limited

OUE Limited (SGX:LJ3) is a leading real estate and healthcare group, growing strategically to capitalise on growth trends across Asia. Incorporated in 1964 and listed in 1969, OUE has a proven track record of developing and managing prime real estate assets, with a portfolio spanning the commercial, hospitality, retail and residential sectors.

OUE manages two SGX-listed REITs: OUE REIT, one of Singapore’s largest diversified REITs, and First REIT (a subsidiary of OUE Healthcare), Singapore’s first listed healthcare REIT. As at 31 December 2025, OUE’s total assets were valued at S$8.4 billion, with S$7.3 billion in funds under management across OUE’s two REIT platforms and managed accounts.

OUE Healthcare, an SGX Catalist-listed subsidiary of OUE, operates and owns high-quality healthcare assets in high-growth Asian markets. With a vision of creating a regional healthcare ecosystem that is anchored on Singapore’s medical best practices, OUE Healthcare’s portfolio of owned and operated businesses includes hospitals, medical centres, clinics and senior care facilities in Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, China and Myanmar.

Anchored by its “Transformational Thinking” philosophy, OUE has built a strong reputation for developing iconic projects, transforming communities, providing exceptional service to customers and delivering long-term value to stakeholders.

For more information, please visit www.oue.com.sg.

 

Women-Led Enterprises Record RM229 Million in Projected Sales at Inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026

Whole-of-Government initiative empowers women exporters to secure international trade leads at the inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026.


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Demonstrating the global demand for Malaysian innovation, women-led enterprises achieved RM229 million in potential export sales during the pre-arranged business matching sessions and the 4-days exhibition held at the Women in Export (WiEX) Pavilion @ MIHAS 2026.

The targeted 215 B2B meetings connected local women entrepreneurs with international buyers and distributors from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Women-owned companies from Selangor, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Penang topped the sales with a combined value totaling RM129.84 million for confectionary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa and sportswear products.

The WiEX platform held in conjunction with MIHAS 2026 underscores a strategic Whole-of-Government (WoG) approach to scaling women-led businesses into high-value global supply chains. Led by MATRADE with the support of Pertubuhan Hal Ehwal Wanita dan Keluarga Malaysia (HAWA Malaysia), the initiative brought together key government Ministries and developmental Agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corp, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) and UDA Holdings Bhd. This inter-agency ecosystem ensures the inclusiveness of women entrepreneurs’ transition seamlessly from domestic capacity-building to international market placement.

Speaking at the WiEX Forum, MATRADE Chairman, Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican highlighted that:

“The contribution of women entrepreneurs is not a side story in our economy; it is central to it. DOSM’s Economic Census 2023 shows women own 20.1% of Malaysian businesses, generating RM136.9 billion in output and employing nearly a million people. Yet, there remains room to improve export readiness. That is why MATRADE continues the WiEX initiative alongside HAWA Malaysia, chaired by Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. I am delighted that WiEX is now incorporated as a key component under MIHAS 2026, delivering a complete ecosystem of capacity building, market access, and recognition under one roof to help women entrepreneurs seize global opportunities.”

“In the era of Industry 5.0, success is no longer defined by high-tech alone, but also by high touch. Businesses must go beyond profit and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their employees, communities and society. As women leaders and entrepreneurs, we must ensure that technological progress is balanced with values that are inclusive, ethical and anchored in integrity”, said Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, President of HAWA Malaysia during her opening speech.

Complementing the commercial outcomes at the WiEX Pavilion is the WiEX Forum 2026 brought together over 300 participants for actionable knowledge-sharing under the theme “Thriving through Uncertainty: Adapt, Compete, and Grow.”

The forum featured an array of industry leaders and founders sharing practical international expansion models:

  • Ms. Low Ngai Yuen, Managing Director of AEON 360, detailed retail procurement standards and supply chain integration strategies for domestic and regional growth.
  • Datin Eryca Baiduri (Madammu), Founder of NOIR, delivered a fireside chat on evolving a home-based digital business into a scalable global beauty and health brand.
  • Founder-led Panel: Moderated by TV personality Ms. Azaria Tagaya, a dynamic panel consisting of Ms. Amnah Shari (Founder/CEO, Serunai Commerce), Tengku Norhanim Tengku Othman (Founder/CEO, NIMS Adeliciousz), Ms. Jesmine Tan (Co-Founder/COO, Applecrumby), and Ms. Amy Blair (Founder/CEO, Batik Boutique) provided tactical lessons on maintaining quality, navigating regulatory compliance, and managing supply chains across export markets.

Through the combined impact of trade facilitation, strategic cross-agency backing and industry mentorship, MATRADE will continue working alongside HAWA Malaysia, KKDW, MARA, SME Corp and NCER and international trade partners to elevate the ‘Made by Malaysia’ brand globally.

Hashtag: #MIHAS

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

MATRADE

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency. Established in March 1993, its primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia’s commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation’s trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Indonesia is inviting the world to experience its culture through one of its most distinctive assets: gastronomy. Following a strong first edition, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) returns in 2026 with a bigger ambition, turning Indonesia food into a global storytelling platform

Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories
Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories

Taking place from 26 September to 4 October 2026 in Solo and Yogyakarta, WIG 2026 carries the theme “From Local Roots to Global Recognition,” bringing together culinary heritage, local communities, chefs, artisans, and tourism stakeholders to showcase food as a gateway to experiencing Indonesia more deeply.

With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s culinary traditions have evolved through centuries of local customs, agriculture, landscapes, and cultural exchange. Behind every dish is an ecosystem of farmers, fishermen, producers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and communities who preserve these traditions.

“We hope that in the long term, gastronomy can become one of the main pillars of Indonesia’s tourism marketing, not merely as a complement to travel, but as one of the reasons travellers choose Indonesia as their destination,” said Hafiz Agung Rifai, Acting Deputy for Events’ Organizer Development, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

WIG 2026 will host 18 media representatives and tastemakers, including voices from Forbes Travel Guide, La Liste, The World’s 50 Best, and CNN International on a journey through Solo and Yogyakarta’s culinary landscapes.

For the public, highlights include a Royal Heritage Dinner at Pura Mangkunegaran, WIG Talks, and the WIG Artisan Market at Grand Hotel De Djokja from 2–4 October, featuring 21 local producers and workshops and tastings, expected to welcome up to 1,300 visitors. Visitors can also join free walking tours with Jogja Good Guide, through Yogyakarta’s streets and living culinary traditions.

The impact of gastronomy tourism has already been proven. WIG 2025 generated 38 international media stories and IDR 16.5 billion in media value, while its Artisan Food Market brought together 25 local F&B tenants, welcomed more than 600 visitors, and generated IDR 1.01 billion in business opportunities, a benchmark WIG 2026 aims to surpass.

Through WIG 2026, Indonesia invites travellers not just to taste its food, but to discover the people, traditions behind every plate. For more detail https://www.instagram.com/p/DdYOOKtmrC2/?img_index=1

Laos to Reopen Applications for Non-Bank Financial Institutions by End of 2026

BOL Gives More Flexibility To Commercial Banks on Foreign Currency Exchange
(Stock Photo)

The Lao central bank plans to resume accepting applications to establish new non-bank financial institutions by the end of 2026, after suspending new applications earlier this year to review and update licensing regulations.

Visone Saysongkham, head of the non-bank financial institution supervision department at the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), said the review is intended to improve the application process for prospective operators while supporting the government’s broader push to expand access to financial services across the country.

The suspension, which has been in place for roughly two months, has given the department time to examine existing requirements and related legislation, according to the department.

Laos currently has 300 non-bank financial institutions in operation.

Of these, 166 fall under the direct supervision of the central bank, while the remaining 134 operate as branches in southern provinces.

The BOL said these institutions have played a role in the country’s economic and social development by broadening access to financial services, but added that it is also reviewing their management and risk-control practices to ensure compliance with existing laws.

Licensing Freeze

The move builds on a suspension first announced on 31 July, when the central bank halted new applications specifically in Vientiane Capital for deposit-taking and non-deposit-taking microfinance institutions, as well as pawnshops, covering both domestic and foreign investors.

At the time, the bank said the pause was meant to give authorities time to review the operational status of institutions already licensed in the capital and to tighten licensing conditions going forward.

It initially indicated it expected to reopen applications by November, though the detailed rules underpinning any reopening have not yet been made public.

The central bank has said the suspension does not affect existing borrowers or customers, as currently licensed operators can continue providing services as normal.

Investors outside Vientiane Capital have also been able to continue applying to establish new financial institutions through BOL’s provincial branches throughout the suspension period.

With the latest announcement extending the review nationwide and setting a year-end target for reopening applications, the central bank has not said what the new rules will look like, just as it did when the suspension first applied only to Vientiane Capital.

Aolani, Karman partner to unlock 50% more AI compute capacity with same provisioned power


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Aolani, a Singapore-founded neocloud powering AI growth, today announced a partnership with Karman (formerly known as Utilidata) to fully utilize available power of Aolani’s AI infrastructure through advanced power orchestration capabilities.

As global demand for AI compute intensifies, intelligent energy management has become crucial in maximising AI infrastructure performance and scalability. Being at the forefront of providing AI compute access in Asia, Aolani is continuously investing in technologies that optimise the use of available power resources to drive greater efficiency and value from their AI deployments.

Through this partnership, Aolani will integrate the Karman platform, a dynamic power orchestration platform that combines high-resolution metrology with local processing and AI, into its infrastructure stack. Karman is built on a custom NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and designed to measure and dynamically allocate available power capacity across high-density GPU workloads to actively manage rack-level energy consumption in real time. In doing so, the platform, increases infrastructure utilisation within the facility’s existing power envelope and lowers the cost per unit of compute.

The joint proof of concept project will be deployed on the NVIDIA Blackwell Platform. The Karman platform has already unlocked 33% more compute capacity from existing power infrastructure at its first commercial deployment in North America, potentially translating into a $20M increase in revenue per 1 MW.

“We are excited to be partnering with Karman to leverage their innovative technology and deliver greater value from existing energy resources. For Aolani, this represents an opportunity to further improve the economics of AI workloads and reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing our AI infrastructure platform. By optimising how power is allocated and used, we can help customers scale their AI ambitions and strengthen our ability to deliver the compute capacity quickly without waiting on the grid,” said Nicholas Chia, Chief Executive Officer at Aolani.

“Access to power is one of the defining factors in supporting AI adoption and the growth of increasingly demanding AI workloads. As we continue to advance alongside the latest generation of GPU systems, we look forward to working with Aolani to demonstrate how our Karman platform can fully utilize the power already available to data center operators and cloud providers,” said Karman CEO, Josh Brumberger.

Media Contact
H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani
pr@aolani.com

Hashtag: #Aolani #Karman

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

About Aolani

Where AI gets built in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore and founded in 2023, Aolani is backed by compliant and purpose-built infrastructure to deliver the performance capabilities for next-generation AI. Aolani’s AI factories enable organisations to build with confidence, scale ambitiously, and move at hyper-speed in the world’s fastest-growing AI market.

For more information, visit and follow on LinkedIn.

About Karman

Karman is an AI company providing dynamic power orchestration for AI data centers, enabling operators to better utilize the power already available to them. By embedding real-time visibility and millisecond control directly into power distribution equipment, Karman increases tokens per watt by 50% by unlocking stranded power. The Karman platform is built on a custom NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, and was previously embedded into smart meters to bring real-time visibility and power-flow control to the electric grid.

Khammouane Targets UNESCO Geopark Status to Boost Tourism

A picture of Towards the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Laos. (Photo by Thomas Calamé, Karst Laos)

Khammouane is preparing a UNESCO bid for the Hinboun Geopark, hoping the international designation will help raise the province’s profile as a tourism destination.

Provincial officials and international experts met on 29 September to finalize conservation plans and prepare the geological and cultural documentation required for the application.

The proposed site includes limestone karst mountains, river cave networks, dense forests, and prehistoric archaeological sites, including the recently opened Hidden Hands Cave.

Hidden Hands Cave

One focus of the province’s UNESCO bid is Tham Pha Mue, also known as Hidden Hands Cave, located near the geopark’s entrance.

Researchers have documented more than 285 prehistoric rock-art images inside the cavern, including hand stencils, human figures, and animal symbols painted in various pigments. 

The site provides concrete evidence of ancient human settlement, significantly elevating the region’s archaeological value on the international stage.

Authorities officially opened the cave to the public in June, positioning it as an important heritage destination designed to draw visitors into the broader geopark while maintaining strict, long-term conservation protocols.

Broader Tourism Push

The UNESCO initiative aligns with Khammouane’s latest aggressive push to commercialize its natural assets through private investment.

On 23 September, the province signed a USD 1.2 million, 50-year concession agreement with a private developer to transform Khounnamphone into a structured nature tourism site, dividing the area into distinct commercial and conservation zones.

The province also began construction of a new LAK 2.5 billion (USD 111,207) clock tower in Thakhek on 24 September, intended to create a new landmark for visitors.

The focus on structured tourism follows a massive surge in provincial arrivals. Khammouane recorded more than 852,000 visitors in 2024, exceeding its government target by 70 percent, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Vinhomes Readies Its Integrated Mega-City Model as Vietnam’s Next Global Export

Vinhomes Green Paradise, the first Official Participant in New7Wonders’ “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign, advances to the global vote as the developer takes its township model into five overseas markets


HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – For decades, the world has known Vietnam by what it ships: rice, coffee, cashews, black pepper, apparel and footwear. VinFast then proved that a Vietnamese company could export advanced technology. Now Vinhomes is preparing a different kind of export: its all-in-one integrated mega-city model. The company’s flagship, Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio, was the first project New7Wonders recognized as an Official Participant in its “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign and has since advanced to the global vote.

A Vinhomes integrated township.
A Vinhomes integrated township.

As Vietnam’s leading real estate developer, Vinhomes has brought 32 projects and urban developments into operation, serving hundreds of thousands of residents nationwide. That strategy is now reaching beyond Vietnam’s borders, with projects and development plans in Congo, India, Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The model is built to meet a defining challenge of rapid urbanization: delivering homes together with commercial, educational, healthcare, transportation and public infrastructure, rather than years later.

An All-in-One Model Built for a Rapidly Urbanizing World

Vinhomes’ integrated townships, typically larger than 300 hectares in strategic locations, are designed to function as economies in miniature. U.S. market data shows master-planned communities outselling standalone developments and attracting households with markedly higher incomes than their surrounding areas.

The world is in the midst of a historic wave of urbanization. According to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025, cities are now home to 45% of the world’s 8.2 billion people, more than double their 20% share in 1950. Cities are also projected to absorb two-thirds of global population growth between now and 2050.

The real challenge is not how many homes get built, but whether infrastructure can keep pace with the people who move into them. In many fast-growing cities, housing comes first while schools, hospitals, parks and transit arrive years later, leaving residents with long commutes, scattered services and a steadily eroding quality of life.

Vinhomes’ model tackles that problem at the source. The company focuses on internationally benchmarked integrated townships, typically larger than 300 hectares in strategic locations, where homes are delivered alongside commercial, educational, healthcare, transportation and public facilities. Built this way, a township ceases to be merely a real estate product and begins to function as an economy in miniature, generating its own jobs, services and investment as residents move in.

International market data underscores the value of integration. Zonda’s Master Plan Outlook found that U.S. master-planned communities averaged 2.3 home sales per month in the third quarter of 2025, compared with 2.1 for standalone communities; in the entry-level segment below $300,000, the gap widened to 51%. Research by Cushman & Wakefield found that median household incomes in the master-planned communities it studied were 38% higher than in surrounding areas, a profile that helps draw premium retail and services.

What sets Vinhomes apart is its ability to execute at rare scale and speed. After visiting the company’s project in Can Gio, New7Wonders Director Jean-Paul de la Fuente observed that few developers anywhere have the capacity to build at such scale and pace while still managing the complexity involved.

Vinhomes Green Paradise Showcases a Human-Centric City Built for Export

Spanning 2,870 hectares with a construction density of just 16%, Vinhomes Green Paradise is the flagship of the Vinhomes model. Having stood out across New7Wonders’ three pillars of Environment & Nature, Smart City and Human-Centric Development, the project has advanced to the global vote of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign.

If one project captures the global ambition of the Vinhomes model, it is Vinhomes Green Paradise. The 2,870-hectare development reserves most of its land for greenery and water, including a natural seawater lagoon of up to 800 hectares and 121 kilometers of shoreline. It sits beside the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO.

Vinhomes Green Paradise became the first project New7Wonders recognized as an Official Participant after the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign opened on Oct. 31, 2025. Under the organization’s evaluation framework, the Vietnamese entry stands out across three pillars: Environment & Nature, Smart City and Human-Centric Development. The project has since advanced to the campaign’s global vote.

The human-centric pillar comes to life in a new idea of the second home: the city by morning, the sea by evening. Once the planned Ben Thanh–Can Gio rail line, designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h, is complete, the trip from downtown Ho Chi Minh City to the coast is expected to take about 13 minutes. By road, with the Can Gio Bridge replacing the Binh Khanh ferry and Rung Sac Boulevard widened, the drive should take around 35 minutes. Families could leave work on Friday, have dinner by the sea and be back in the city Monday morning. Such travel times would bring a coastal home within daily commuting range of the city center.

The project is designed so that every generation finds its own joy in a shared place. Children can paddleboard and swim in the lagoon, cycle along seaside paths and explore the 122-hectare VinWonders, with 280 attractions and 30 shows a day, while Young Paradise Hub nurtures their talents in technology and the arts. Grandparents can stroll through 370 parks, unwind in thermal mineral waters at Retreat Hub, connect with friends at New Horizon Center and share their experience at the Wisdom Academy within Vin New Horizon. Shared moments can be simple: a sunset on the lagoon’s sandy shore, fireworks over the bay, an evening at the Song Xanh theater.

A city model becomes exportable not because of its size, but because it addresses a challenge shared by cities worldwide: creating places where people choose to live, work and return to each day. Having applied the model from Hanoi and Ha Long to Can Gio, Vinhomes is now taking it to international markets as a new kind of “Made in Vietnam.”

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

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

About Vinhomes

Vinhomes is Vietnam’s largest residential real estate and integrated township developer. The company pioneers the development of synchronized, modern large-scale townships, delivering premium living standards and unlocking sustainable investment opportunities for domestic and international clients.

Cambridge Linguaskill Business helps employers make more confident hiring and workforce decisions

AI-powered English assessment gives organisations a consistent way to measure the communication skills employees need in today’s workplace

SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As businesses operate across increasingly international teams, markets and customers, employers need more than a candidate’s stated level of English. They need reliable evidence that employees have the communication skills required for their roles.

Linguaskill Business from Cambridge provides employers with an online, on-demand and internationally recognised way to assess workplace English proficiency, supporting more informed decisions in recruitment, employee development and career progression.

Linguaskill Business
Linguaskill Business

Developed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge, Linguaskill Business combines Cambridge’s expertise in language assessment with artificial intelligence and computer-adaptive technology to deliver accurate and reliable results.

From hiring decisions to workforce development

English proficiency can affect how effectively employees participate in meetings, deliver presentations, communicate with customers, write reports and collaborate across international teams.

Linguaskill Business assesses English proficiency from B1 to C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), providing employers with an internationally recognised benchmark of an individual’s ability.

The exam assesses four workplace communication skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening. Its modular format allows organisations to select the skills relevant to specific roles.

This means employers can move from subjective assessments of whether someone has “good English” to defined proficiency requirements supported by measurable results.

A practical tool for HR and business leaders

Organisations can use Linguaskill Business across the employee journey, including:

• Recruitment and candidate selection
• Graduate and management programmes
• Employee skills benchmarking
• Learning and development needs analysis
• Internal mobility and promotion
• Measurement of language training outcomes

Employers can also establish different English proficiency requirements for different roles. A customer-facing employee, for example, may require a different combination of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills from an employee whose role focuses primarily on written communication.

Cambridge English
Cambridge English

Designed for modern organisations

Linguaskill Business is delivered online and on demand, allowing organisations to administer assessment when and where required.

AI and computer-adaptive technology tailor the assessment to the candidate’s ability, while results are reported against CEFR levels. Candidates receive a certificate and detailed results, while organisations can access group reporting to review results across cohorts.

CEFR stands for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is an international framework used to describe a person’s language ability. Instead of saying someone has “good English” or “intermediate English,” CEFR provides defined proficiency levels.

Cambridge English
Cambridge English

For employers managing teams across different functions, locations or markets, this provides a consistent framework for understanding English proficiency across the organisation.

Turning English proficiency into measurable workforce capability

Rather than relying solely on interviews, self-declared proficiency or different assessment approaches across departments, organisations can establish defined English standards for roles and measure employees and candidates against a common international framework.

This gives HR and business leaders stronger evidence to support recruitment, development and workforce planning decisions.

For organisations where English communication matters to employee performance, Linguaskill Business provides a scalable way to identify existing capability, uncover skills gaps and support targeted development.

To learn more about how Linguaskill Business can support recruitment and workforce development, visit Cambridge English https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/