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SINGAPORE: Luxury Evermore, Singapore’s pre-owned luxury handbag reseller, marks its third anniversary, reflecting on a period of growth and setting sights on future developments. Since its inception in 2021, the company has established itself as a trusted source for authenticated luxury handbags from brands such as Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Strategic Expansion Across Southeast Asia Looking ahead, Luxury Evermore plans to enhance its sourcing network throughout Southeast Asia. By strengthening connections with customers interested in selling their items and fostering relationships with local supply partners, the company aims to expand its collection. This initiative will provide customers with a broader selection of designs and styles from top luxury brands. “Our goal is to offer an even wider range of luxury handbags to our customers,” said Company Director Carmen Ho. “By improving our sourcing capabilities, we can meet the growing demand and provide more options for those seeking timeless pieces.” Enhancing Customer Experience Through Digital Platforms In an effort to improve the customer experience, Luxury Evermore is upgrading its digital platforms. Planned enhancements include technical updates and seamless integration between the company’s website and its Telegram community – Luxury Evermore @ Marina Bay. The company is also developing a professional local courier team to offer secure same-day delivery to local customers. Additionally, the customer support team has expanded to provide 24-hour assistance, ensuring prompt responses to inquiries. “We recognize the importance of convenience and accessibility in today’s market,” Carmen commented. “By investing in our digital infrastructure and customer service, we aim to make the shopping experience as seamless as possible.” Commitment to Sustainability and Authenticity Luxury Evermore remains dedicated to promoting sustainable luxury by supporting the circular economy. Offering pre-owned handbags allows customers to invest in high-quality pieces while reducing waste. Each item undergoes rigorous authentication and condition checks by in-house specialists, ensuring the originality and quality of every product. “Sustainability and authenticity are core values for us,” said Carmen. “We believe that luxury should not come at the expense of environmental responsibility, and we are committed to providing genuine products that our customers can trust.” Vision for the Future With ambitions to become a major player in the luxury resale market across Southeast Asia, Luxury Evermore is poised for continued growth. The company’s focus on expanding its collection, enhancing digital platforms, and improving customer service reflects its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of luxury consumers. “Our vision is to lead the luxury resale industry in the region,” Carmen stated. “We are excited about the future and will continue to adapt and innovate to serve our customers better.”

HOHHOT:  As “China Travel” continues to gain momentum worldwide, the arrival lobby of Erenhot Port is bustling with eager travelers waiting to clear customs and embark on their adventures across country. Erenhot, in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border. Among the crowd, Batmunkh, wearing a backpack, stood on his tiptoes, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looked around eagerly. Booming Tourism “‘China Travel’ is a real hit in Mongolia. I’ve already traveled to multiple cities in China, including Hangzhou and Xi’an,” said Batmunkh, from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. He added that like him, many tourists in Mongolia are drawn to China because of convenience in traveling and reasonable vacation cost. Meanwhile, many Chinese tourists chose to travel to Mongolia to enjoy the landscape and folk customs of the neighboring country. Hao Xiaoming, a 34-year-old resident in Wuhan, capital city of central China’s Hubei Province, just concluded a five-day trip to Ulaanbaatar by train. “I enjoyed the grasslands and characteristic residential houses in Mongolia,” said Hao, adding that the trip was partly motivated by a Mongolian song which can be translated as “The Night of Ulaanbaatar.” The song is popular among Chinese people and its lyrics had been translated into Chinese. According to data from the port’s entry-exit border inspection station, from the beginning of this year to Sept. 5, Erenhot highway and railway ports recorded over 1.75 million inbound and outbound trips, up 95 percent year on year, and 442,000 transport vehicles, nearly double its growth year on year. The readings speak volumes for China-Mongolia ties. In recent years, China and Mongolia, as close neighbors with great cultural affinity, have expanded collaboration in tourism, education, medical care and trade to enhance the well-being and mutual learning of the two peoples. Educational, Medical Opportunities In a classroom at No. 1 Middle School of Erenhot, 40 Mongolian high school students were taking Chinese language lessons. “I enjoy Chinese and physical education. I often play basketball with my Chinese friends,” said Midmererdeni, a 17-year-old boy from Khentii Province, Mongolia. Midmererdeni’s sister used to study in China. When she returned to Mongolia, she found a job related to trade with China. “I want to master Chinese like my sister did,” he said. Bao Xiuhua, vice principal of the school, said that it has welcomed more than 2,000 Mongolian students since 2006, most of whom went on to study at various Chinese universities. Apart from receiving education, Mongolian residents came to China for medical services. Grelqiqig, a 65-year-old resident of Ulaanbaatar, received medical treatment at the Erenhot Hospital of Traditional Mongolian and Chinese Medicine for her severe joint pains. This is her first time visiting China for medical services. Her pain was significantly alleviated after receiving daily treatments including acupuncture and cupping for about 10 days. Another patient who had her illness cured in China, Suyalt, a resident of Ulaanbaatar who had her cataracts removed in China, found a job after returning to Mongolia. In past years, this would have been beyond her wildest dreams. Over the past five years, Chinese medical personnel have performed free sight-restoring surgeries for more than 1,000 Mongolian cataract patients. Mongolian Goods in Town Numerous shop signs on streets and alleys in Erenhot are displayed in three languages: Chinese characters, traditional Mongolian used in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Cyrillic Mongolian commonly used in Mongolia. In an import commodity exhibition area of a warehouse store in Erenhot, there is a wide range of imported Mongolian goods on the shelves, ranging from honey, wheat flour, beef jerky, milk tea powder and camel wool to cashmere. Gu Xiaojing, an Erenhot local, is a frequent shopper at Yaojin import supermarket. As the weather has been getting cold recently, she bought Mongolian wool knee pads and sheepskin gloves from the store. “We like Mongolian honey and wheat flour,” she said. Li Wei, manager of the supermarket, said that Mongolian goods were very popular in the store, which also offer commodities imported from Japan, France and Germany. The popularity of Mongolian goods has also prompted Mongolian enterprises to expand their business in China. For instance, renowned cashmere brand GOBI Cashmere has flagship stores in both Erenhot and Xilinhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Bilateral Trade Working in Erenhot, 28-year-old Tuxig from Ulaanbaatar speaks fluent Chinese. She first came to work in Erenhot in June 2018, and returned to Mongolia in early 2020 to get married and start a family. She came back to Erenhot last year with her husband and children to continue working in trade, specializing in the procurement of Chinese machinery, equipment and parts for an agricultural processing company in Ulaanbaatar. In Erenhot, there are many Mongolian expats like Tuxig. Among them, Bideryaa’s case is special, as the 38-year-old driver of a refrigerated truck constantly shuttles across the border, delivering Chinese fruits and vegetables to Ulaanbaatar. “Chinese vegetables have enriched the dinner table of Mongolians,” said the driver, adding that trade in vegetables had changed his eating habit as a “meat eater,” making him healthier. In the area of Erenhot bordering with Zamyn-Uud in Mongolia, an economic cooperation zone is under construction, which is expected to become China’s third cross-border economic cooperation zone with neighboring countries. With a planned area of 18.03 square kilometers, the China-Mongolia Erenhot-Zamyn-Uud Economic Cooperation Zone is expected to support China’s goals of developing international trade, logistics and cross-border tourism while helping Mongolia realize its targets of developing bulk commodity logistics, processing, international commerce and cultural tourism. Not far from the construction site is a China-Mongolia barter trade market, where Mongolians sell cashmere while Chinese textile companies use it to develop exquisite cashmere products. In 2020, Erenhot was designated by the Chinese government as one of the first group of 13 pilot barter trade areas for the processing of imported goods in the country. In the first seven months of this year, the barter trade volume in Erenhot exceeded 400 million yuan (about 56 million U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian property sector has garnered significant attention, as RHB Investment Bank maintains its Overweight recommendation for real estate amidst key macroeconomic shifts and impending policy decisions. This positioning reflects optimism surrounding the economic landscape and the opportunities it presents, particularly with the prospect of rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. RHB’s latest report outlines the factors contributing to a promising outlook for developers, institutional investors, and property buyers alike. Impact of Interest Rate Cuts on Real Estate As the US Federal Reserve enters a rate-cutting cycle, regional institutional funds are expected to channel more capital into real estate, marking Malaysia as a prime destination for such investments. Falling interest rates generally bode well for property markets, offering attractive borrowing costs for developers and buyers. The stabilizing Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and interest rates further amplify this appeal. As institutional investors regain confidence, the local market may see a surge in demand for high-growth properties and strategic locations. Malaysia’s property sector has seen renewed interest, with particular focus on data center (DC) investments, as the country’s strategic location makes it a hub for such assets. Recent high-profile sales, such as the sale of AirTrunk, the largest DC group in the Asia-Pacific, for AUD24 billion (USD16 billion), showcase the global demand for digital infrastructure, bolstering investor confidence in Malaysia’s burgeoning DC sector. Local developers, such as Sime Darby Property (SDPR) and Mah Sing, stand to benefit from this global trend . Potential Growth in REITs Falling interest rates are not only favourable for traditional property investments but also for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). As more developers contemplate REIT listings, particularly those with significant portfolios of investment properties, the sector’s dynamics could shift toward greater monetization of assets. Companies such as IOI Properties and SP Setia have already considered this route, and SDPR is emerging as a prime candidate given its expanding portfolio, which includes KL East Mall, Senada Mall, and Elmina Lakeside Mall. With the completion of Google’s data center in 2026 expected to add MYR1.5–2 billion to its portfolio, SDPR could witness substantial valuation growth . Iskandar Malaysia: A Key Market Driver The Iskandar Malaysia region remains a significant driver of property demand, with several catalysts fueling this growth. The upcoming Rapid Transit System linking Johor Bahru and Singapore, alongside potential investments through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), positions Iskandar as a hotbed for both foreign and local investors. This renewed interest is already visible, as developers such as UEM Sunrise and Sunway report strong demand for their launches in the region . For instance, UEM Sunrise’s recent soft launch of Direka Square shop lots and Sunway’s Maple homes saw 3–4 times oversubscription for pre-launched units. Additionally, buyers from Singapore accounted for 20% of the pre-sales for Sunway’s projects, underscoring the region’s attractiveness to cross-border investors . Key Projects on the Horizon Looking ahead, several major developments are poised to shape Malaysia’s property landscape: Budget 2025: Scheduled for next month, it is expected to introduce measures that may further stimulate the property sector, particularly with favorable policies for industrial developments and affordable housing. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR): The potential revival of this ambitious project could reignite demand for properties along the route, benefiting developers with exposure in these areas, such as UEM Sunrise and Sunway . Special Economic Zone (SEZ): The Johor-Singapore SEZ, with its influx of foreign direct investments (FDIs), is anticipated to spur further real estate transactions in the Iskandar region. Developer Recommendations and Valuations In light of these favorable conditions, RHB Investment Bank has identified its top picks in the property sector: Sime Darby Property (Target Price: MYR2.00, 33.9% upside) Mah Sing (Target Price: MYR2.26, 32.7% upside) UEM Sunrise (Target Price: MYR1.60, 63.7% upside) Sunway (Target Price: MYR5.00, 14.1% upside) These developers, with their exposure to both residential and industrial real estate, are well-positioned to capture the opportunities emerging from Malaysia’s evolving property market. The overall sector trades at a 48% discount to Realizable Net Asset Value (RNAV), presenting attractive entry points for investors . Conclusion: An Optimistic Outlook As Malaysia transitions into a lower interest rate environment, its real estate sector is set for robust growth. Developers, institutional investors, and individual buyers are likely to benefit from favorable macroeconomic conditions, renewed investor interest, and strategic government policies. With key projects on the horizon, including the revival of the HSR and the development of the JS-SEZ, the property sector offers substantial potential for both local and international players. The Overweight rating by RHB underscores this optimism, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a prime destination for property investments in the region.