OCBC and Marriott International have announced a strategic partnership to support the hospitality group’s 12,000 SME suppliers in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in two priority areas: timely access to working capital, and support in adopting sustainable business practices, including obtaining independent sustainability ratings. These needs are increasingly pressing amid rising cost pressures and a growing emphasis on sustainability as a critical business imperative, particularly in the global hospitality industry.

Suppliers working with Marriott International via its procurement platform will gain access to digital invoice financing, with same-day approval from OCBC. In addition, OCBC will equip these suppliers with tools to establish a baseline measurement of their sustainability performance, alongside resources to strengthen their sustainability capabilities.

Quicker access to funds via digital invoice financing

Under the partnership, SMEs will be able to tap same-day financing approval from OCBC of up to 80% of the invoice amount. They will not need to submit bank statements or financial reports, as the bank will assess credit quality based on transaction data from invoices submitted through Marriott International’s procurement platform. Loan disbursement and settlement will be automated.

Quicker access to funds will help SMEs optimise cash flow in a seamless and hassle-free manner, allowing them to respond more nimbly to growth opportunities.

This partnership builds on OCBC’s SME ecosystem banking focus, under which the bank provides financing solutions to SME suppliers on leading ecosystem platforms, including business-to-business supply chain platforms across Singapore and Malaysia. Since the existing programme launched in 2023, around SGD 250 million ($191.3 million) in loans have been disbursed to hundreds of SMEs in both markets.

Enabling SMEs to begin their sustainability journey

Through the partnership, SMEs will receive end-to-end support from OCBC to help them meet Marriott International’s sustainability expectations and remain competitive. This includes knowledge sharing, practical guidance and access to financing.

Partnering external assessor EcoVadis, OCBC will guide SMEs in establishing a baseline measurement of their sustainability performance. SMEs will also be offered targeted training and workshops to help improve their sustainability practices.

In addition, SMEs can access sustainability-linked loans from OCBC, where the cost of borrowing is tied to demonstrated improvements in their baseline sustainability metrics—providing both financial support and an incentive for continuous development.

According to research by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the global hospitality industry must reduce carbon emissions by 66% per room by 2030, and 90% per room by 2050, to prevent projected growth from driving a corresponding increase in emissions. Sustainable procurement is a key pillar of the industry’s climate action plan.

Marriott International is committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050. As a founding member of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP) and the world’s largest hospitality group, it aims to collaborate closely with trading partners to enhance transparency and drive positive impact across its value chains.

Empowering SMEs in their sustainability transition is also a core strategic priority for OCBC. As at December 2024, the bank had extended sustainable financing to more than 4,000 SMEs across the region, with total commitments exceeding S$9 billion—a year-on-year increase of more than 40%.

Launched in Singapore in the first half of 2025 and in Malaysia in the last quarter of 2025, OCBC and Marriott International plan to expand the programme to Indonesia in the first half of 2026.

Quotes

Rashida Ismail, head of SME embedded finance, global commercial banking, OCBC, said: “We are passionate about supporting SMEs across Southeast Asia to achieve their growth ambitions. In striking up this partnership with like-minded Marriott International, we intended to focus on two important areas – helping their SME suppliers gain quicker access to financing to improve their cashflow, and providing the SMEs support and resources to kickstart their sustainability journeys. We are confident these initiatives will empower the SME suppliers to thrive in an increasingly challenging and competitive business environment.”

Cristiano Rinaldi, chief lodging product & services officer, Marriott International, Asia Pacific excluding China, said: “Marriott International is committed to driving sustainable operations across our properties, and our suppliers play an integral role in extending our sustainability efforts across the supply chain. Tackling climate change in a meaningful way requires a whole-of-society approach. The partnership with OCBC empowers our suppliers in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to join us in our mission by providing frictionless lower financing cost.”

Two suppliers—IT services and custom software development firm Ergo SG, and food caterer Nosh Cuisine—have already accessed financing and obtained a baseline sustainability assessment under the programme.

Keith Lim, director, Ergo SG, said: “In the IT business, project timelines can run long which creates pressure on cash flow. Through the programme offered by OCBC and Marriott, we were able to have quicker access to working capital to manage our operations smoothly. Beyond that, the programme has helped us kickstart our journey towards ESG readiness and align our practices with international ESG standards. This is increasingly important as this positions us as a strong, future-ready partner for our global clients like Marriott International who are similarly looking to elevate their sustainability practices.”

KH Chew, director, Nosh Cuisine, said: “Running a food catering business means cash cycles can be unpredictable, especially when demand spikes. With the financing support offered by OCBC, we are able to manage working capital more smoothly and flexibly without compromising on quality or freshness. The ESG rating accorded to us has also helped us strengthen our sustainability practices. Thanks to OCBC and Marriott, we’ve become sharper financially and greener operationally.”

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker