RHB Investment Bank Research sees Malaysia’s technology sector revenue and earnings growth momentum to continue to prevail in FY26, supported by the ongoing global semiconductor recovery and robust artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand.

The research house said in a note on Monday that engineering support and automated test equipment (ATE) manufacturers should see sustained growth on rising semiconductor volumes and complexity.

Meanwhile, outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) players are positioned for recovery, though performance may vary by exposure.

However, it sees the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) segment to remain challenging amid customer cost-down demands, sub-optimal utilization and limited visibility.

Meanwhile, it said software and information and communication technology (ICT) players benefit from structural trends in digitalization, cloud adoption, cybersecurity and information technology (IT) refresh cycles.

“Encouragingly, a broader-based recovery is already evident in the improving orderbook, revenue growth and earnings trends reported by many local technology names,” RHB noted.

According to the research house, most companies recorded year on year revenue growth, and the sector year on year revenue growth stood at 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 8.4 percent year to date despite foreign exchange (forex) headwinds.

While margins were pressured by delayed repricing and cost pass-through, RHB said overall growth prospects remain supported by replacement cycles, automotive recovery, AI-driven upgrades, stronger server/peripheral demand and rising power management integrated circuit (PMIC) needs.

“Management guidance remains constructive with improving loadings into FY26F and program wins from project transfers and supply
chain reallocation,” it added.

On the US-Iran conflict, the research house opined that there is minimal direct Iran exposure as trade with Iran accounts for only 0.1 percent of Malaysia’s total trade, while trade with the broader Middle East region represents approximately 4.2 percent.

That said, it noted rising energy costs and a prolonged war situation could slow the sector capital expenditure (capex) cycle and/or reducing demand for electronics products indirectly affecting their local supply chain, in the medium term.

Besides, it said the elevated memory prices may pressure the consumer market and weigh on output for smartphones, personal computers (PCs), automotive and other electronics.

In fact, IDC has revised downward the 2026 growth for smartphones from 1.2 percent growth to 0.9 percent decline, due to a combination of component shortages and product cycle adjustments, exacerbated by the ongoing global memory shortage that is expected to constrain supply and lead to price increase.

Similarly, for the PC market, IDC sees a potential downside to its earlier 2.4 percent contraction forecast in its 2026 unit of PCs shipment.

The other key risks for the sector include forex volatility (potential MYR strength), cost-driven margin compression, and sporadic order delays due to external uncertainties.

Nonetheless, RHB noted the ongoing US Federal Reserve rate cut cycle should provide valuation support and help cushion MYR/USD-related headwinds.

“Our sensitivity model across the sector indicates a 0.8 to 3 percent earnings impact for every 1 percent change in the FX rate,” it said.

The sector’s key downside risks include softening electronic sales and consumer demand, unfavorable FX movements, slowdown in AI-related capex spending, obsolescence of technology, and intensifying geopolitical conflicts.

Malaysia boosts AI, semiconductor push for technological sovereignty amid global uncertainties

Carsome Group Inc, Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, announced on Tuesday a strategic investment round of more than $30 million from a set of new and existing investors including the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Gobi Partners, and Asia Partners.

This fundraise underscores the investors’ confidence in Carsome’s journey to profitability and long-term vision across the region, as demonstrated by the recent record FY25 results. These funds will further accelerate its profitable growth in the region for the coming years, the company said in a statement.

This investment and partnership reflect a shared ambition to strengthen connections between Southeast Asia and Greater China, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a regional gateway for advanced automotive capabilities, technology development, and global talent.

With the support from the HKIC, Carsome will drive initiatives across areas such as supply chain sourcing and technology collaboration, accelerating the application of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the automotive sector, which further empowers Carsome for its regional expansion.

“This strategic collaboration and fundraise is a vote of confidence in our continued momentum and long-term vision. This partnership gives us crucial access to innovation capabilities, cross-border networks, and world-class talent that will support our work in AI, data, and next-generation mobility services across Southeast Asia,” said Eric Cheng, Carsome Group Co-founder and CEO.

Clara Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the HKIC, said, “With Hong Kong’s unique position as a gateway connecting global innovation and investment opportunities, Carsome exemplifies the type of high-conviction, technology-driven enterprise that aligns with the HKIC’s mandate to foster scalable innovation across our strategic sectors.”

Chibo Tang, Managing Partner of Gobi Partners, said, “Carsome is a leading example of how Southeast Asian startups are well-positioned to create close ties with partners in Greater China, leveraging each region’s unique strengths. We are pleased to be a returning investor in CARSOME, having supported them for almost a decade. Gobi was an early believer in CARSOME’s ability to scale across international borders, and we are happy to see their early potential come to fruition as they reimagine the way consumers across Asia purchase vehicles.”

Malaysia’s Carsome delivers $23M EBITDA in FY2025, 16% gross profit growth

Sweden’s networking and telecommunications giant Ericsson and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) will jointly deliver next-generation mobile infrastructure for major airport projects in Vietnam.

Ericsson announced the collaboration in a press release on Monday, saying that the partnership is the first between the two sides in airport industry, leveraging advanced cellular connectivity to enable greater agility and advance airport operations.

This deployment reinforces Ericsson’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s digital transformation, according to the Swedish firm.

VNPT will deploy Ericsson’s latest radios and RAN Compute solutions to support enhanced connectivity across the airport environment. These solutions will provide high-capacity c-band coverage optimized for dense indoor environments typical of airport terminals, alongside multi-band support to ensure seamless compatibility and roaming for international travelers.

The move can modernize passenger and operational connectivity, enabling secure, high-capacity communications to support critical airport operations, passenger services, and other tasks.

The enhanced connectivity as part of this airport modernization project can support smarter operations across areas such as passenger processing, baggage handling, and asset management while helping the airport to operate more efficiently, VNPT Deputy CEO Nguyen Nam Long highlighted.

Nokia extends partnership with VNPT to boost digital connectivity in Vietnam

VinFast, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer under Vietnam’s top conglomerate Vingroup, posted a net loss of $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, totaling $3.9 billion for the whole year.

According to its preliminary and unaudited financial results released on Tuesday, for the full year 2025, revenue totaled VND 90,427.6 billion ($3.6 billion), representing 105.4 percent growth compared with 2024.

The figure included VND39,411.7 billion ($1.57 billion) in the last quarter of 2025.

The company’s gross margin improved to negative 39.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the full year, gross margin was negative 42.5 percent, compared with negative 57.4 percent in 2024.

Regarding vehicle deliveries, VinFast said in the fourth quarter of 2025, the company delivered 86,557 EVs, representing a 63 percent increase year-over-year.

Commercial models under the Green brand and the EC Van accounted for approximately 49 percent of total deliveries during the period. International markets contributed around 18 percent of total vehicle deliveries for the quarter.

For the full year 2025, global EV deliveries reached 196,919 vehicles, a 102 percent increase compared with 2024. The result exceeded the company’s guidance of at least doubling the 97,399 EVs delivered in 2024, marking the highest annual deliveries since the company’s inception.

Deliveries of e-scooters and e-bikes also increased. In the fourth quarter, the company delivered 171,962 units, up 43 percent quarter-over-quarter and 452 percent year-over-year. For the full year, deliveries totaled 406,498 units, representing a 473 percent increase from 2024.

In Vietnam, VinFast ended 2025 with an estimated 36 percent automotive market share, up from approximately 22 percent in 2024. VinFast remained the leading e-scooter brand in the Southeast Asian country.

As of the end of 2025, VinFast operated four manufacturing facilities globally with a combined maximum capacity of approximately 600,000 EVs per year, including plants in Hai Phong, Ha Tinh, Indonesia, and India. The company also produces e-scooters in Hai Phong with an annual capacity of about 500,000 units.

VinFast is collaborating with VinRobotics, a sister firm in the Vingroup ecosystem focusing on robotics, automation systems, and artificial intelligence technologies for manufacturing. The partnership strives to improve factory productivity, quality control, and operational efficiency.

Vietnam’s VinFast signs dealer agreements to approach Indonesia’s e-scooter market

Dtcpay, a digital payments company headquartered in Singapore, announced Tuesday it has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India.

Dtcpay said in a statement that the investment will support enhancements to the firm’s product suite, strengthen its underlying infrastructure, and expand its operational presence across its newly licensed jurisdictions, with a focus on accelerating European market entry through its Luxembourg EMI license.

“Our mission is to deliver a platform where faster, safer, and more cost-efficient transactions are the standard, not the exception,

“By prioritizing compliance and regulatory rigor alongside a user-centric experience, we have built a foundational infrastructure ready for global scale. This capital will accelerate our product adoption and facilitate our entry into high-growth markets,” said Alice Liu, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of dtcpay.

The raise comes at a pivotal moment for the stablecoin payments industry.

Dtcpay noted regulatory frameworks are tightening across major economies, raising the bar for providers that want to serve businesses and consumers at scale, and dtcpay has spent years building the infrastructure to meet that standard.

Founded by Alice Liu and Band Zhao, dtcpay bridges digital assets with traditional finance, enabling businesses and individuals to accept, store, and transact in stablecoins for everyday use.

Its real-time swap engine delivers instant settlement across stablecoin and fiat currencies, enabling seamless real-world transactions.

In a market crowded with infrastructure providers, dtcpay said it is among a select few in Asia Pacific (APAC) to have partnered with Visa, offering Visa Infinite cards to individuals and corporate card solutions to businesses that settle transactions across digital and fiat currencies at competitive spot rates for daily usage.

The round arrives as dtcpay reaches a significant regulatory milestone.

dtcpay has secured an Electronic Money Institution license in Luxembourg, which authorizes the company to deliver regulated payment services across the European Economic Area (EEA).

Combined with its Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and additional licenses and registrations in Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, and Canada, dtcpay said it is progressively building a global payment network, positioning the company to serve businesses and individuals at scale, tapping into a market projected to reach billions of dollars.

“We see a massive opportunity in the ‘real-world use’ of stablecoin where utility meets regulated finance. dtcpay has demonstrated an incredible ability to balance cutting-edge technical innovation with a user experience that rivals traditional banking apps,

“They are uniquely positioned to capture the next wave of mainstream adoption in global digital payments,” said Genping Liu, General Partner at Vertex Ventures SEA & India.

Favour Capital, a Singapore based boutique investment bank, is serving as exclusive financial advisor for the deal.

Singapore’s dtcpay secures EMI license in Luxembourg, launches continental European headquarters

The mining industry has notoriously been defined by caution, favouring incremental improvements over radical transformation. But today’s operational pressures, coupled with the growing competitive advantages of agentic AI, are forcing a rethink, pushing even the most conservative operations to reconsider how technology underpins their core operations. Nearly 70 percent of global mining companies are already integrating AI-driven technologies into their operations, signaling a clear shift from experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment.

In Asia Pacific (APAC) countries like Australia, where mining contributes around 75 percent of the country’s exports, and Indonesia, where the sector is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1 percent through 2031, investment in AI is rapidly accelerating to improve safety, boost productivity, and meet mounting sustainability expectations. Yet, beneath this momentum lies an uncomfortable reality: AI alone rarely delivers impact at scale.

In an industry defined by remote sites, harsh conditions, and highly distributed systems, AI lives and dies by the quality, timeliness, and context of data. Many mining organisations are discovering that legacy, batch-based architectures simply cannot keep pace, leaving even the most advanced AI models starved of the real-time insight they need to act efficiently.

The gap between data and decisions

Mining operations generate a continuous stream of signals – from equipment telemetry and environmental sensors to safety alerts and logistics updates. Yet much of this data remains trapped in silos across operational technology (OT), IT systems, edge devices, and cloud platforms. As AI is introduced into mining environments, AI models and agents are layered onto this already complex landscape, further amplifying the challenges of siloed and poorly connected data flows.

Traditional batch-based integration and point-to-point connections struggle to keep up. Latency increases, visibility is limited, and information often arrives too late to be useful (if at all). It’s little surprise that 60 percent of mining professionals report having insufficient information to make data-driven decisions. This fragmentation is where many AI initiatives falter – not because the models lack sophistication, but because the data feeding them is delayed, incomplete, or lacks operational context.

As a result, most AI deployments remain largely reactive. They analyse historical data, flag anomalies, and raise alerts, but stop short of driving action. Human operators are still required to interpret insights and determine next steps, introducing delays in environments where seconds can determine safety, uptime, or loss. Without a real-time, event-driven foundation, even advanced AI remains an observer, rather than an active participant in mining operations.

Milliseconds matter in mining

To unlock the full potential of AI, mining organisations must rethink how data moves across their operations. Information can no longer be treated as static records, and every operational signal must be handled as an event – captured, shared, and acted on in real-time.

Mining is, at its core, a sequence of time-critical events: a temperature spike in a crusher, a deviation in haul truck performance, a sudden change in weather, or an unexpected safety hazard. Each demands immediate attention, and even minutes of latency can translate into lost productivity, heightened risk, or operational disruption.

This is especially critical for agentic AI systems, which are only as effective as the events feeding them, requiring continuous access to timely, contextual, and reliable information. In practice, this could mean AI adjusting haul truck routes in real-time to avoid congestion; dynamically controlling ventilation systems in underground mines to maintain safe air quality; or predicting machinery maintenance needs before a breakdown occurs.

Across APAC, mining leaders are already exploring these capabilities. For example, a leading ore mine in Western Australia has deployed autonomous haulage systems using sensors and machine learning to enhance safety and accident prevention while optimising operations.

Striking while the data’s hot

An event-driven integration platform provides the connective layer that enables this shift, allowing systems, sensors, and agents to share information as conditions change.

At the core of this architecture is the Event Mesh, which instantly routes ‘events’ – from sensor readings, system alerts, to operational updates – to any relevant system or AI agent that needs to respond. Layered on top is the Agent Mesh, a distributed layer of intelligence that uses shared context to automate workflows, detect anomalies, and maintain real-time situational awareness across operations.

Together, these layers enable AI to act autonomously or in coordination with humans, rather than simply analysing historical data. In essence, the Event Mesh delivers the signal, and the Agent Mesh decides how best to act on it.

This real-time foundation is critical in mining, particularly for unmanned worksite operations like autonomous haul trucks or automated production systems, where every millisecond matters. With thousands of sensors and hundreds of actuators, a single centralised hub can create bottlenecks and single points of failure. An underlying EDA platform distributes information safely across multiple applications and agents simultaneously, allowing operations to scale effectively while maintaining speed and reliability.

For example, in a gold mine, AI could automatically adjust ore processing rates based on real-time sensor data, while simultaneously alerting maintenance teams of equipment anomalies. In a coal operation, predictive AI could reroute autonomous trucks around sudden weather events or hazardous terrain.

Essentially, events power operational efficiency, and the agent mesh ensures AI agents operate with full, and real-time context to empower the decisions that matter the most.

Striking gold with the next era of mining

The future of mining will not be defined by who deploys AI first, but by who builds the infrastructure to make it effective at scale. Investment in AI in the mining industry has soared from less than $200 million in 2020 to $900 million in 2025, underscoring the sector’s urgency for smarter, more efficient operations.

Ultimately, the success of agentic AI depends on access to high-quality, real-time data. Mining organisations that get it right stand to gain stronger margins, improved fuel efficiency, and safer operations.

Yet AI alone is not enough. Without a resilient foundation that ensures data flows continuously, decisions are governed, and workflows are automated, even the most advanced models fall short. The question is no longer whether agentic AI will transform mining, but how quickly leaders are willing to build systems that think, respond, and adapt as fast as the mining operation itself.

Floyd Davis possesses extensive experience in solution engineering and sales within the technology sector, currently serving as Vice President of Solution Engineering for Asia Pacific, Japan, and the Middle East at Solace since May 2022. Prior roles at Solace include Sales Director for Australia and New Zealand, Director of Sales for Global Accounts, and Director of Systems Engineering for the Americas, among others.

Prior to joining Solace, Floyd Davis worked at Alcatel/Newbridge as an Applications Engineer from January 1997 to January 2005. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, attended from 1995 to 1998, and earlier academic experiences at the University of Waterloo and Memorial University, as well as the International School Bangkok.

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Building digital resilience in today’s AI-first era

As we usher into the new year, we sought insights from prominent figures across the Southeast Asian tech landscape. These leaders reflected on their triumphs in 2025, sharing valuable perspectives on their achievements and the challenges they overcame.

They also unveiled their ambitious aspirations, meticulously outlined their strategic plans for 2026, and offered insightful predictions on the trajectory of the tech industry in the new year.

We talked to Helen Wong, Managing Partner at ACV Capital, to learn more about AVC Capital’s achievements in 2025 and its plans and aspirations for 2026. She also shared her views on the outlook of tech ecosystem in Indonesia and Southeast Asia for 2026.

ACV Capital is a private equity investment firm backing high-growth businesses across Southeast Asia. With offices across Southeast Asia and headquartered in Indonesia, and a global network of partners, the firm said it helps scale high-potential companies into market leaders. The firm manages over $500 million across five funds and, over the past eight years, has invested in more than 100 companies across Southeast Asia.

How was ACV Capital’s 2025?

2025 was a year of stabilization and strategic clarity, both for Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem and for ACV Capital.
After the post-pandemic correction and higher global interest rates reset valuation expectations, capital became more selective. Rather than prioritising rapid scale at any cost, the market increasingly rewarded profitability, governance, and credible exit pathways.

Against that backdrop, we leaned further into our evolution toward growth equity, focusing on profitable, mid-cap companies with resilient unit economics and regional expansion potential.

Across our portfolio, operating discipline strengthened meaningfully. Several companies improved margins, tightened cost structures, and progressed toward or achieved profitability. For example, Fore Coffee completed a successful IPO on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, reflecting stronger governance, reporting standards, and scalable operations in Indonesia’s consumer sector. In financial infrastructure, Durianpay exited 2025 profitable after more than elevenfold revenue growth over two years, and is now extending its platform into regulated cross-border settlement. In mobility, CARSOME moved into a more mature operating phase, prioritising profitability, execution discipline, and institutional financing as the regional used-car and EV secondary markets develop. Meanwhile, Astro, the leading quick commerce company in SE Asia, raised over $50 million in fresh capital while continuing to refine its unit economics in a more selective funding environment.

Taken together, 2025 demonstrated that sustainable value creation in Southeast Asia is increasingly defined by disciplined underwriting, operational rigor, and institutional governance rather than valuation momentum.

What are your expectations and aspirations for 2026?

We enter 2026 with cautious optimism. The excesses of the 2021 cycle have largely been absorbed, and both founders and investors are operating with more grounded expectations. Capital deployment is likely to remain selective, with continued emphasis on profitability, capital efficiency, and liquidity visibility.
We expect strategic M&A and sponsor-to-sponsor transactions to play a growing role in unlocking exits, even if IPO markets remain timing-dependent. The reopening of IPO markets in parts of Asia in 2025 is encouraging, and we saw 2 IPOs of Southeast Asian companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, signalling that companies from this region can have a good reception from other Asian investors beyond our own capital markets.
Structurally, Southeast Asia’s ecosystem is maturing. The earlier “mobile internet wave” created strong category leaders, but the next phase of growth will depend less on broad-based digital adoption and more on operational excellence and productivity gains. Practical AI deployment, stronger financial controls, and disciplined capital allocation will define competitive advantage.

Our aspiration is to continue positioning ACV Capital as a disciplined growth partner, providing not just capital, but institutional frameworks and execution support that prepare companies for scalable, durable outcomes.

What are ACV Capital’s plans in 2026? What is the focus in the new year?s

In 2026, our primary focus remains growth equity in profitable, mid-cap companies across Southeast Asia.
We will prioritise:
● Disciplined underwriting with strong downside protection
● Institutional governance and reporting standards
● Operational value creation, particularly in digitisation and AI-enabled productivity
● Clear pathways toward structured liquidity or strategic exits
While equity-led growth capital remains our core strategy, we are closely monitoring the development of private credit and structured capital solutions in the region. As Southeast Asia matures, hybrid capital structures may play a more meaningful role for companies with predictable cash flows that do not require incremental equity dilution.

However, our near-term priority remains building durable equity value in fundamentally strong businesses that can scale regionally without relying on perpetual equity raises.

How is the outlook for Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem in 2026?.

The Southeast Asia venture market has stabilised, but the recovery remains uneven across countries and sectors.
Deal volumes appear to have found a functional floor following the cyclical downturn, yet exit visibility remains the primary constraint on renewed momentum. Capital recycling is slower, and investors are more disciplined in deployment decisions.

Indonesia remains fundamentally attractive due to its domestic market scale, urbanisation trends, and relatively resilient macroeconomic profile. However, investor sentiment is more cautious, particularly around governance standards, consumer credit exposure, and the sustainability of growth models.

We are also seeing greater regional dispersion in momentum. Some markets are demonstrating stronger exit pipelines and cross-border capital flows, influencing allocation decisions across Southeast Asia.

From a structural perspective, the ecosystem is transitioning from a capital-abundant, early-stage-driven environment to one that rewards operational excellence, governance discipline, and financial sustainability. While this may result in a slower headline funding recovery, it ultimately strengthens the quality of companies being built.

If 2025 was a year of stabilization, 2026 is likely to be a year of selective rebuilding, not a return to exuberance, but the emergence of a more institutional and resilient phase for Southeast Asia’s technology and growth capital markets.

True Digital Park: 2026 is the year for Thai tech ecosystem to “find its true rhythm” [Q&A]

Singapore-based Ant International has announced a partnership with the Argentina National Football Team, becoming an official sponsor of the team in the Asia region, excluding the Middle East.

In a Monday press release, Ant International said the agreement would give it marketing rights to conduct promotional activities using the intellectual property of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Argentine national team. The activations will be carried out across the company’s brand portfolio, including Alipay+, Antom, Bettr, and WorldFirst.

Ant International provides cross-border digital payment, treasury, and digitalization services for merchants and financial institutions. Its payment and account services network connects more than 150 million merchants with around 1.8 billion consumer accounts across the Asia-Pacific region through the integration of over 300 payment methods.

Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, said the partnership aims to connect sports audiences with digital services across Asia.

The Argentina National Football Team is the reigning champion of the FIFA World Cup and has won the tournament three times, in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Claudio Fabian Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, said the collaboration is intended to expand the team’s reach to audiences in Asia. Leandro Petersen, AFA’s chief commercial and marketing officer, added that the partnership reflects the organisation’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the region.

Ant International reaches over 2 billion transactions across key emerging markets in 2025

Malaysia is intensifying efforts to strengthen its domestic technological capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, digital technology, and innovation, as the country seeks strategic control over the technologies that will underpin its future economy.

The country’s Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said in a statement on Monday that the ongoing conflict in West Asia serves as a stark reminder of an increasingly uncertain global environment.

“In times like these, every country must prioritize national resilience — whether in the economy, energy, technology, or supply chain security. Malaysia is no exception,” he said.

Chang emphasized that one of the key lessons from repeated global crises is the importance of technological sovereignty.

He noted that countries cannot rely entirely on foreign technology for critical systems involving data, communications, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

“Malaysia is therefore actively strengthening domestic capabilities through AI, semiconductors, digital technology, and a robust innovation ecosystem to ensure strategic control over technologies vital to our future economy,” he said.

The minister also highlighted that geopolitical conflicts have direct implications for the global energy market, underlining the need for Malaysia to expand alternative energy sources and accelerate the transition toward sustainable energy.

Diversifying the country’s energy mix, he said, is crucial not only for environmental sustainability but also for long-term energy security and economic stability.

Rapid technological advances, particularly in AI, present additional challenges.

Chang pointed out that in conflict situations, technologies such as AI, data analytics, and digital media can be misused, including for spreading misinformation.

He stressed that the ethical use of technology, responsible governance, and public awareness are essential to prevent misuse that could worsen already fragile situations.

Despite the uncertainty brought by crises, Chang said history demonstrates that they can also create opportunities for innovation and renewal.

“Malaysia must view these developments as a reminder to continue building national resilience through science, technology, and innovation,

“By adopting an approach grounded in knowledge, collaboration, and responsible leadership, we can ensure the country remains competitive and well-prepared to face future challenges,” he added.

Chang concluded that Malaysia’s approach is not only about risk mitigation but also about leveraging crises as catalysts for innovation.

“While global uncertainties may pose challenges, they also provide the impetus for renewal, creativity, and long-term national resilience,” he said.

Malaysia steps up push into IC design, advanced packaging and other high-value technologies

The Vietnam National Space Center, developed with official development assistance (ODA) from Japan, was inaugurated on March 13 with the participation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The nine-hectare facility, with a total investment of VND7,000 billion ($266 million), includes an operations center, a satellite data exploitation and application center, a research and development center, a ground system equipped with a 9.3-meter antenna, and a human resources development center, among other facilities.

The national space center aims to establish infrastructure for technology transfer related to Earth observation satellites while also training a skilled workforce. Another key mission is to enhance Vietnam’s capacity for disaster prevention, climate change response, resource management, and environmental monitoring.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that Vietnam aims to reach a moderately advanced level in space science and technology in Southeast Asia by 2030. Beyond 2030, the country seeks to strengthen its self-reliance in satellite technology.

He also requested that the center launch the LOTUSat-1 satellite in late 2027. The 600-kilogram Earth observation satellite was jointly developed by Vietnam and Japan and was originally scheduled for launch in 2025. However, the failure of Japan’s Epsilon-S rocket delayed the mission.

In addition, the Prime Minister urged Vietnamese and Japanese businesses and universities to continue expanding collaboration in the space industry. He added that the Vietnamese government would continue to provide support through policies, training, and financial assistance.

Vietnam says SpaceX’s Starlink plans $1.5B investment – report

Singapore’s data center operator Digital Edge has on Monday announced the successful close of a $665 million green loan to support the development of the first phase of its 500MW CGK Campus in the GIIC Industrial Estate in Bekasi – a $4.5 billion multi-phase investment and one of Indonesia’s largest artificial intelligence (AI)-ready hyperscale data center campuses.

Digital Edge said in a statement that structured under its Green Financing Framework, this transaction marks the largest green loan ever secured for a data center project in Indonesia and directly supports the company’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, reinforcing its leadership in delivering sustainable, next-generation AI- and hyperscale-centric digital infrastructure in Asia-Pacific.

Purpose-built to support AI and data-intensive workloads with resilient, energy-efficient performance, the CGK campus has been sustainably designed to target a market-leading annualized PUE (power usage effectiveness) of 1.25, achieve LEED certification, incorporate recycled water systems, and integrate renewable energy to reduce overall carbon intensity.

This green loan financing was led by BNP Paribas, Clifford Capital, Crédit Agricole CIB, DBS, Mizuho, OCBC, PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, and SMBC as Mandated Lead Arrangers, with each institution committed to advancing responsible infrastructure investment in line with Indonesia’s broader decarbonization ambitions.

Crédit Agricole CIB, DBS, and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk also acted as Green Facility Coordinators.

“From empowering businesses with high performance, AI-ready digital infrastructure to advancing innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact, this financing underscores Digital Edge’s leadership in sustainable digital infrastructure,

“This has been achieved with the strong support of both existing and new lending partners who share our commitment to responsible growth,” said Jonathan Walbridge, Chief Financial Officer of Digital Edge.

Digital Edge invests $4.5B to build Indonesia’s largest AI-ready hyperscale campus

The Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF) has on Monday announced the new initiatives – New Silver Economy Scheme and VC-Led ProfitSharing Incentive – for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to seek funding in emerging growth areas and make it easier for investors to access high quality investment opportunities.

the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said in a statement on Monday that following the 2026 Federal Budget allocation of MYR 30 million ($7.63 million), an additional MYR 20 million ($5.09 million) will be allocated to MyCIF for 2026.

The new initiatives announcements were made by Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan at the MyCIF Engagement Day at the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) on Monday.

Silver Economy Scheme is a new scheme to encourage investments into MSMEs supporting Malaysia’s ageing population, specifically in care-tech, specialized healthcare and senior living.

VC/PE Profit-Sharing Incentive is a new incentive to attract venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) led deals on equity crowdfunding (ECF) platforms, giving opportunities to crowd investors to participate in institutionally backed deals.

MyCIF will share 50 percent of the profits with VC and PE lead investors delivering exits on these investments.

It is noted that Gobi Partners and OSK Ventures International have expressed intentions to bring deals to equity crowdfunding (ECF) investors.

Meanwhile, the Food Security Scheme will be expanded to include agri-tech startups to encourage investments in innovation that supports national efforts to modernize agriculture for increased productivity and food security.

Beyond the new initiatives, MyCIF announced that it has exceeded MYR 1.5 billion ($380 million) in coinvestments since its inception in 2019.

Combined with MYR 6.2 billion (MYR 1.58 billion) from private investors, MyCIF has enabled MYR 7.7 billion ($1.96 billion) of funds raised to support over 11,500 MSMEs, ranging from traditional businesses to tech-enabled businesses, over the last six years.

In addition, returns from MyCIF co-investments has enabled MOF’s cumulative grant of MYR 290 million ($73.74 million) to be recycled by 5.2 times.

The MyCIF model is the first-of-its-kind in Southeast Asia that allows the government to co-invest alongside private investors on eligible ECF and peer to peer (P2P) campaigns.

SC Chairman Mohammad Faiz Azmi said that MyCIF has significantly helped MSME growth by attracting fundraising through ECF and P2P platforms as funding not easily available through more conventional avenues.

“The MyCIF model synergizes the resilience of public capital with the collective wisdom of the crowd,

“I strongly believe there is potential for this model to scale further to address funding needs and fuel growth for the economy,” he added.

Malaysia will increase capital flow to innovative start-ups in high value-add sectors

Malaysia’s utility firm Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and telecommunication firm Telekom Malaysia (TM) have announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cooperation in green energy solutions while developing smarter, more sustainable, and interconnected energy and telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

The duo said in a statement on Monday that the exchange of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) documents took place last week, aiming to combine the green energy and digital expertise of both companies, in line with the aspirations of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the nation’s digital transformation agenda.

The collaboration focuses on sustainable energy solutions, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) for the direct benefit of customers.

“As an initial implementation of this collaboration, we are assessing the potential installation of solar systems at up to 150 TM premises, while targeting the expansion of solar installations to more residential Unifi Home customers annually,

“Through GSPARX, solar system packages will continue to be enhanced to provide greater value to consumers. In addition, the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging station networks is also being planned under this collaboration,” TNB President/Chief Executive Officer, Ts. Shamsul Ahmad said.

With the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, he said users will have greater access to convenient charging locations, enhancing both convenience and the overall user experience.

“TNB also remains committed to supporting NETR to increase the adoption of renewable energy and strengthen the nation’s transition towards net-zero emissions by 2050,” he added.

TM Group Chief Executive Officer Amar Huzaimi Md Deris said TM and TNB represent two pillars of Malaysia’s critical infrastructure, and this collaboration reflects their shared commitment to strengthening the nation’s energy and digital ecosystems in a sustainable and future-ready manner.

“By combining TNB’s leadership in renewable energy with TM’s strengths in nationwide digital infrastructure, connectivity and AI capabilities, I am confident that this partnership will create value for both organizations,”

“Aligned with the Digital Powerhouse 2030 aspirations, this collaboration reflects TM’s efforts in empowering digital transformation across key national sectors,” he added.

According to the statement, the collaboration between TNB and TM focuses on three key areas sustainable energy solutions, advancing digital technology and strategic information and communication technology (ICT) sourcing.

Through sustainable energy solutions, GSPARX and TNB Electron, TNB will implement green energy initiatives with TM, including solar installations on buildings, bundled solar solutions, and the expansion of EV charging networks.

By leveraging digital technologies, these initiatives aim to enable more efficient energy management while encouraging greater adoption of green energy.

TM and TNB will also explore collaboration in digital technology and innovation as part of their joint efforts to strengthen organizational digital capabilities. These initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and support the development of a more sustainable and resilient digital ecosystem.

Both companies will also evaluate more structured approaches to sourcing existing ICT services while ensuring better price alignment to enhance overall competitiveness.

This initiative aims to strengthen the supply chain, optimize costs, and enhance long-term digital readiness.

Under this collaboration, customers will benefit from reduced operational costs, access to EV charging facilities at selected locations, and the use of smart digital systems and AI-driven analytics to monitor energy consumption.

These capabilities will enable earlier detection of disruptions and faster power restoration, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.

It is noted that the relationship between TNB and TM has long been established, including communications network support to major substations, SMS services, and cloud contact center services, as well as collaboration in green energy programs.

As of December 31, 2025, GSPARX, which was officially established in January 2018, has successfully secured more than 530 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar projects, supporting renewable energy adoption across more than 3,000 residential and commercial premises.

In addition, TNB has deployed approximately 256 EV charging stations nationwide under the TNB Electron brand, providing grid facilities and electrical support for charging operations.

These efforts further reinforce TNB’s commitment to delivering integrated and sustainable energy solutions to customers, said the statement.

Solarvest, Malakoff sign PPA with TNB for Malaysia’s largest 470MW LSS Petra 5+ solar project

Virdalis, a Singapore-based biotechnology company developing protein from Wolffia globosa—commonly known as duckweed—has secured $700,000 in pre-seed funding led by Wavemaker Impact.

In a statement on Monday, Singapore-headquartered Wavemaker Impact said Virdalis is working to develop a protein ingredient for the global animal feed industry that can be produced without reliance on arable land, water availability, or specific climate conditions.

With the funding, Virdalis, headquartered in Singapore and featuring operations in the Philippines, plans to scale pilot production systems, expand its technical team, and pursue commercial agreements with feed manufacturers across Southeast Asia.

The global animal feed industry is valued at more than $500 billion annually, with protein ingredients accounting for about $300 billion. Much of the world’s feed protein is produced in a limited number of countries and transported internationally, creating supply chains that may be exposed to price volatility, geopolitical disruptions, and food security risks.

As demand for meat, dairy, and aquaculture products increases, countries are placing greater emphasis on feed protein as a strategic resource. However, large-scale domestic production has typically required significant farmland and suitable growing climates.

According to Virdalis founder and chief executive JM Aujero, duckweed could provide an alternative protein source that can be produced locally. He said the plant’s biological properties enable rapid growth and may allow production with a lower environmental footprint than traditional crops.

Virdalis is developing cultivation systems, processing technology, and a data-driven production platform aimed at producing duckweed-based feed protein. The company says this approach could allow countries to produce feed protein domestically rather than relying on imports.

Quentin Vaquette, founding partner at Wavemaker Impact, said the organization assessed several alternative protein approaches before supporting the company, citing duckweed’s biological characteristics and potential emissions reductions compared with conventional production methods. “This is a protein source that any country can produce domestically, turning feed security from a trade dependency into a sovereign capability,” said Quentin Vaquette.

Wavemaker Impact announces spinoff from Wavemaker Partners to become decarbonization platform 100×100

FWD Group Holdings Limited has announced several senior leadership appointments, including David Junius as Managing Director & Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from July 1, 2026; Alex Wong as Group Chief Actuary; and Khun Knattapisit Krutkrongchai as Chief Executive Officer for Thailand effective May 11, 2026.

The change is subject to regulatory approvals, the Hong Kong-headquartered insurer said in a Monday press release. FWD Group is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business serving more than 38 million customers across 10 markets.

David Junius will initially join the company as Deputy Group CFO before assuming the CFO role. He will succeed Sid Sankaran, who plans to relocate to the United States with his family.

Alex Wong replaces Michael van Vuuren, who recently moved to a new role at another company.

Knattapisit Krutkrongchai will take over as CEO of FWD Thailand following the retirement of David Korunić on June 30, 2026, after more than 35 years in the insurance industry. Sankaran and Korunić will continue to support the company as advisors. In his advisory role, Sankaran will focus on investment strategy for the company’s general account and institutional investor relations.

Huynh Thanh Phong, Group CEO and Executive Director of FWD Group, said the new appointments bring significant experience to the company’s leadership team as it continues its development as a Hong Kong-listed company focused on customers.

Junius has nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial sectors. He previously held CFO roles at Pearl Health, Cowbell Cyber and SiriusPoint, where he also served as chief operating officer. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at American International Group, including corporate treasurer, international CFO for general insurance operations across 50 countries and Asia Pacific CFO covering the life business in Japan.

Wong brings more than 20 years of international life insurance experience. Most recently, he served as Group Chief Actuary at HSBC Life, overseeing actuarial management across operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas, as well as the global actuarial center of excellence. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from The University of Hong Kong.

Knattapisit Krutkrongchai has nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance sector, including more than a decade in Thailand and 17 years in Hong Kong. Most recently, he served as CEO of Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance in Thailand. Earlier in his career, he worked at AIA Group in Thailand and in its Hong Kong and Macau operations in senior agency and marketing roles.

Hong Kong’s FWD Group establishes AI Lab in Singapore

Grab Holdings announced a $3.2 million commitment for 2026 from the GrabForGood Fund to support education, community care and disaster relief programs across Southeast Asia, the Singapore-headquartered technology giant said in a release last Friday.

The funding will support initiatives across the region, including the GrabScholar program, which provides bursaries for underprivileged schoolchildren and full-ride merit scholarships for students with financial need and strong academic potential. The program also includes health and school meal nutrition initiatives.

The GrabForGood Fund was established by Grab to share the company’s success with the communities it serves. The fund was anchored by a personal contribution of more than $16 million from Grab’s Group CEO and co-founder, Anthony Tan, along with contributions from other individual and organizational donors.

The programs aim to help address systemic barriers by providing support such as nutritious meals for children and scholarships for students pursuing university education, Tan highlighted.

2025 Program Highlights

The 2026 commitment follows programs implemented in 2025, when the GrabForGood Fund disbursed more than $2 million. The funding supported over 3,600 students through the GrabScholar program across Southeast Asia with bursaries and full-ride merit scholarships. The fund also supported community initiatives related to caregiving networks, school nutrition and program designed to encourage learning and innovation in the region.

Since its launch in 2022, GrabScholar has supported 8,238 students across Southeast Asia, including driver- and merchant-partners and their immediate family members, as well as members of the public. In 2025, 3,486 schoolchildren received bursaries and 117 university students were awarded full-ride scholarships. The program expanded to Thailand and Vietnam during the year and is also available in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Additional Community Initiatives

Beyond the GrabForGood Fund, Grab operates other community programs linked to its broader commitment to financial performance, social impact and environmental sustainability.

Through its training platform, GrabAcademy, driver-partners receive courses aimed at improving skills and earning potential. In 2025, more than 1.5 million driver-partners completed at least one course. Grab also runs initiatives such as the Grab Women Drivers’ Program and GrabAccess, which supports persons with disabilities in accessing earning opportunities on the platform.

In addition, 17 environmental projects were supported in 2025 through Grab’s in-app Green Program feature, which channels consumer contributions to independently verified environmental projects across Southeast Asia focused on climate action, nature conservation and community resilience.

Singapore’s Grab provides immediate, interim relief for drivers as oil price surges

Despite a record-breaking year for the stock market in 2025, global investors entered the new year with much more concern for the prospects of growth. The questions of stretched AI valuation in the US, rising geopolitical tensions, and now mixed reviews of the new Fed Chair created a perfect storm, and then AI startup Anthropic triggered sharp sell-offs when investors expected the future of corporate America would no longer look the same again.

It was estimated that more than $600 billion was wiped out in market value in the week of February 2nd. The week’s volatility also drove Bitcoin edge after edge. Many in the past who saw Bitcoin as digital gold were left confused and started to realize that Bitcoin is not gold. The so-called AI scare trade continues to dominate the market, despite encouraging signs from AI leaders such as Nvidia on their recent earnings.

To muddy the macro backdrop even further, the Middle East tension risks pushed oil prices to new highs that ultimately could drive up inflation and dampen the prospect of a Fed rate cut. The verdict is not yet out for the debate around whether Bitcoin will act like gold in times of geopolitical tensions, but there are a few signs investors should follow before we see the conclusion.

Different risk profile

While gold and Bitcoin both serve as stores of value, they hold vastly different risk profiles. Gold remains an anchor in institutional portfolios as a defensive play during market turbulence. Despite being known as “digital gold”, Bitcoin behaves more like a high-beta tech stock. It correlates with Nasdaq moves, surges on risk-on sentiment, and falls during liquidity crunches. As the conflict in the Middle East continues, CoinEx’s Chief Analyst Jeff Ko wrote in the February 2026 CoinEx monthly report about the different market reactions of gold and Bitcoin.

“The jump in oil and gold prices reflects a temporary risk premium. When oil and gold retreat from these gains, the market will be signaling expectations of de-escalation. If the conflict intensifies, we can expect gold to remain strong while Bitcoin becomes more vulnerable, particularly if supply shocks tighten liquidity and raise real yields,” said Ko.

For now, Bitcoin sits in the risk asset category for investors seeking asymmetric upside rather than stability. That upside potential is where Bitcoin’s narrative diverges most sharply from gold’s ceiling. Gold’s market cap at around $33 trillion leaves limited room for risk-off growth after falling around 20 percent from its recent all-time high. However, Bitcoin has structural headroom at roughly $1.5 trillion while in the midst of an institutional market shift.

Additionally, the AI revolution adds another forward-looking perspective where blockchain infrastructure powers decentralized compute networks, tokenized datasets, and autonomous agent economies. Gold can’t participate in this technological shift, while Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can trade 24/7. On the other hand, Bitcoin can be integrated into the architecture of machine-driven finance. This positions digital gold not just as an inflation hedge but as a growth play on the largest development to the internet in decades.

Shared bonds

The narrative and fundamental appeal behind Bitcoin and gold are the same: they both offer a fixed supply when global currencies are increasingly inflating away their underlying value. Gold has established geological scarcity, continuous demand for industrial use, and a global cultural value that won’t disappear any time soon. Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap is enforced by a decentralized system. Neither can be debased by central banks, a vital quality as dollar dynamics shift.

The dollar debasement trade now has multiple triggers. Japan’s yen interventions expose currency war risks. Tariff threats from major economies signal fragmentation of global trade flows. Geopolitical tensions push nations toward non-dollar reserves. Both gold and Bitcoin benefit as investors hedge against fiat instability. Treasury yields matter less when the underlying currency’s purchasing power erodes.

This shared immunity to monetary expansion explains why both assets attract similar investor psychology during sovereign debt concerns. When fiscal discipline vanishes and money supply charts go vertical, hard assets with provable scarcity become the natural refuge, whether that scarcity comes from mining or cryptographic mining. For the outlook of Bitcoin this year, a few key developments are worthy to follow.

Looking ahead

We are still very early in the year, and looking at the market, we remain optimistic. The macroeconomic headwinds that clouded the opening months are real, but they do not fundamentally alter the structural tailwinds building beneath the surface. Regulatory progress, institutional adoption, and the expanding utility of blockchain infrastructure are compounding quietly in the background, and history suggests that Bitcoin’s most decisive moves often emerge from periods of maximum uncertainty. The catalysts taking shape across policy, finance, and technology point toward a maturing asset class that is increasingly difficult for the mainstream to ignore.

Improvement in regulatory environment

The long-standing regulatory uncertainty that limited institutional Bitcoin adoption is steadily lifting as more jurisdictions pass initiatives that enable corporate usage of crypto. Spot Bitcoin ETFs now pull in billions monthly, giving traditional finance a compliant on-ramp that didn’t exist years ago. More critically, the shift from enforcement-by-lawsuit toward clear frameworks changes the game to enable risk-averse institutions to participate and develop blockchain innovations. When pension funds and sovereign wealth managers can allocate without career risk, capital flows transform. Europe’s MiCA regulation and U.S. guidance around custody and classification remove the compliance barriers that kept trillions sidelined. Regulations onboard institutions to further push the crypto industry and its extensions into the mainstream and enable everyday use cases.

Tokenization

Real-world asset tokenization creates an unexpected tailwind for crypto infrastructure. As billions in bonds, real estate, and institutional funds migrate onto blockchain rails, the underlying settlement networks gain legitimacy and liquidity depth. Digital assets become integrated into traditional finance workflows rather than sitting in isolated silos.

Commodities, government debt, and treasuries make up a large portion of the $300+ billion US dollars in distributed asset value, while stocks quickly climb in transaction volume, according to rwa.xyz. Tokenized treasuries now offer yield within DeFi protocols, while major financial institutions pilot blockchain-based settlement for everything from carbon credits to trade finance. As tokenized traditional assets prove blockchain’s utility for institutional operations, the entire crypto ecosystem benefits from increased infrastructure investment, regulatory clarity by association, and capital inflows that lift the sector’s credibility.

With contributions from Nick Ruck, Director at LVRG Research.

Yiwei Wang is a passionate blockchain enthusiast who aims to create interesting storytelling at the intersection of crypto, economics, and public policy. He navigated the complex landscape of the blockchain industry with effective financial communications and has worked with various industry leaders and companies.

LVRG Research serves as the research and analysis division of LVRG PR. It delivers data-driven insights on market trends, macroeconomic developments, and industry shifts, with its frequent media presence underscoring its reputation as a trusted source for timely and thought-provoking narratives.

By combining deep industry expertise with tailored solutions, ranging from PR and marketing strategy to analytical research, LVRG Research assists clients in strengthening their visibility across both Web3 and mainstream markets.

TNGlobal INSIDER publishes contributions relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation. You may submit your own original or published contributions subject to editorial discretion.

Crypto in 2025: A climate change

Being a remote-first startup can offer many advantages, such as a larger hiring pool, greater candidate interest, and higher retention rates. Even so, challenges can arise, requiring affected parties to think strategically and creatively to navigate them. What are some of the most common difficulties, and how can leaders solve them?

1. Communication

Formal and informal communications are equally important for creating strong teams. However, they do not necessarily occur as naturally across fully or mostly remote teams as they would in person. Sometimes that’s because people are working at entirely different times, meaning someone cannot necessarily pick up the phone and immediately reach a colleague.

Additionally, the communications people largely don’t think about — such as the chatter around the coffee maker or between cubicles — may be absent in a remote-first startup. These realities mean managers must act intentionally to encourage communication to occur organically and productively.

One possibility is to hold virtual coffee chats where attendees can discuss any topics they’d like while sipping hot beverages. These gatherings help workers get to know one another beyond their roles and can foster a stronger team spirit.

Workers should also receive clear guidance about which communication methods to use and when. These instructions should contain information about what to do if someone attempts to contact a colleague through the provided channels and has not gotten a response within a stated time frame. Going into that level of detail prevents workflow interference.

2. Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks have become incredibly common in modern society. Criminals understand that making entire networks or systems inaccessible severely compromises the businesses that depend on them. Many thrive on the notoriety that comes from successful, large-scale incidents.

Distributed teams working for startups may become prime targets because they collectively broaden the attack surface and may have access to trade secrets or other confidential information.

Complications also occur if employees lack the information needed to stay safe from online threats. For example, one study indicated that nearly a quarter of people working from home were unaware of the security protocols for their devices. Remote workers may also not know what to do if they receive suspicious emails that may be phishing attempts. They can’t necessarily notify someone in the IT department immediately, especially if the respective staff members are in different time zones.

Startup leaders can address some of these issues by providing workers with equipment to use from home rather than expecting or allowing them to use devices they already own. IT professionals should install required software, apply operating system updates, and implement other security measures to reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks.

3. Time zones

Not all remote-first startups have workforces across multiple time zones, but that possibility becomes more likely as they grow. Research indicates that employees maintaining different schedules may experience communication difficulties.

For example, they may spend more time writing each other emails instead of having video calls. It may then be harder to clarify specific details and get questions answered promptly, which can prolong the overall exchanges. Some workers feel pressure to alter their schedules so that they can catch their colleagues on the clock to discuss things. However, that can also become complicated, especially when employees work in countries with right-to-disconnect and working-time laws.

One of the best ways to solve this is to encourage employees to show extra patience and remember that their co-workers may have different schedules. Relatedly, startups should use asynchronous communication methods when possible. These help people stay connected regardless of their time zones and schedules.

4. Work-life balance

The lines between work and home life often blur for remote employees. They are typically on the clock and enjoying their downtime in the same physical locations, so it is not always easy for them to separate the two parts of their lives. This reality means they may burn out more quickly or overextend themselves by agreeing to take on projects outside of their usual work schedules.

Good managers avoid these situations by remaining aware when employees have taken on too much and helping them prioritize. That may mean telling them to hold off on certain tasks to make room for more urgent ones.

Leaders should also deal with this challenge during the hiring process by trying to find applicants who are good fits for the way their organization runs. Some people have no trouble setting clear boundaries between their work and home lives.

Remaining proactive to address remote-working issues

While these are among the most common challenges experienced by remote-first startups, others — such as cultural differences, rapid growth, and unclear goals — can also arise. Leaders should remain prepared by staying open to workers’ feedback and taking it seriously. When employees know that what they say matters to leadership, they will be more willing to come forward about concerns before those matters potentially become uncontrolled.

Zac Amos is the Features Editor at ReHack Magazine, where he covers business tech, HR, and cybersecurity. He is also a regular contributor at AllBusiness, TalentCulture, and VentureBeat. For more of his work, follow him on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn.

TNGlobal INSIDER publishes contributions relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation. You may submit your own original or published contributions subject to editorial discretion.

Featured image: Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

What makes a processor “AI‑native”? Inside the architecture powering edge AI

Australia’s hyperscale data center operator AirTrunk announced Friday the official opening of its new regional headquarters in Singapore, located at the Ocean Financial Center.

Marking a decade in Singapore, the new headquarters reinforces AirTrunk’s long-term growth plans and its view of Singapore as a key regional gateway and global digital infrastructure hub, the firm said in a statement.

Located within a BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building, the office reflects AirTrunk’s commitment to long-term talent investment in Singapore, housing senior executives and teams across design and innovation, development, operations, treasury, legal and corporate functions.

AirTrunk also expects strong growth in its workforce over the next several years as Singapore continues to serve as its Asia headquarters.

Since 2016, AirTrunk has committed several billion dollars of direct investment across three hyperscale facilities in Singapore totaling 180MW information technology (IT) load.

The firm issued a landmark S$2.25 billion ($1.76 billion) green loan to finance its second Singapore hyperscale data center, SGP2, in August 2025 which was Singapore’s largest-ever loan and green loan for a data center at that time.

“Singapore has been fundamental to AirTrunk’s growth over the past decade and remains central to our long-term Asia Pacific strategy. The launch of our new office signals our confidence in the country’s continued leadership in digital infrastructure and advanced AI ecosystems,

“As hyperscale demand continues to rise, we’re deepening our partnerships, investing in local talent and advancing sustainable operations to support the nation’s digital ambitions and the region’s growing infrastructure needs,” AirTrunk Founder and Chief Executive Officer Robin Khuda said.

It is noted that Singapore’s 2026 Budget reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to strengthening its digital foundations, including accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, enhancing digital trust, and building a resilient, high-performance compute environment.

Under the National AI Strategy 2.0 and the Government’s additional S$1 billion ($780 million) investment in AI research and development, demand for secure, locally hosted compute continues to rise.

This is driven by AI workloads that require low latency, strong governance frameworks and close integration with Singapore’s world-class research and talent ecosystem.

As one of Singapore’s largest hyperscale operators, AirTrunk said the firm is well positioned to support these national priorities.

It said its three data centers align with the Digital Connectivity Blueprint and Green Data Centre Roadmap, reinforcing Singapore’s role as a trusted, energy-efficient hub for advanced compute and digital infrastructure.

“AirTrunk’s decade long presence in Singapore, and its decision to establish its regional headquarters here, underscore Singapore’s role as a hub for global companies particularly in the technology sector,

“As global demand for AI and cloud services accelerates, we will continue to welcome companies like AirTrunk that are deepening their presence in Singapore and advancing research and innovation,” Singapore Economic Development Board Executive Vice President Pee Beng Kong said.

AirTrunk secures $1.24B green loan for hyperscale data center campus in Tokyo

Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad has on Friday issued a consultation paper seeking public feedback on the proposed rule amendments to facilitate the listing and trading of digital currency Exchange‑Traded Funds (ETFs).

The exchange bourse said in a statement that this review follows the Securities Commission Malaysia’s recent revision of the Guidelines on Exchange‑Traded Funds, issued on March 2, 2026, which now permits the offering of digital currency ETFs under an enhanced regulatory framework.

It is noted that digital currency ETFs are designed to provide investors with a regulated and transparent exposure to digital currency through a widely accepted and established capital market product.

“Bursa Malaysia welcomes the listing of such ETFs on the exchange as part of our ongoing efforts to expand and diversify the range of ETF offerings available to investors,” it said.

It added this initiative also aligns with the Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030, which aims to broaden access to investment opportunities beyond traditional asset classes and support the continued development of Malaysia’s capital market.

The proposed amendments to the MAIN Market Listing Requirements (MAIN LR) and Directives of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (BMS Directives) are focused primarily on enhanced disclosures in the following areas.

Firstly, the disclosures of specific material information relating to a digital currency ETF in immediate announcement and annual report under the MAIN LR to enhance transparency.

Secondly, the disclosure of key risks associated with a digital currency ETF in a risk disclosure statement to be signed by an investor before investing in a digital currency ETF under the BMS Directives, to promote investor education and risk awareness.

“These proposed enhancements demonstrate the exchange’s commitment to facilitating new products and services in the evolving Malaysian capital market whilst ensuring that our regulatory framework is underpinned by adequate investor protection,” it said.

Malaysia’s stock exchange and TERAJU collaborate to propel Bumiputra companies towards IPO

Singapore-based MetaComp Pte. Ltd., a unified Web2.5 payments and wealth group-level platform, has announced the completion of its Pre-A+ funding round backed by Alibaba, bringing the total capital raised to $35 million across two rounds within three months.

In a Friday release, MetaComp said the funding supports its efforts to develop a unified Web2.5 payments and wealth platform alongside its licensed affiliates.

MetaComp and its affiliates, including Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd., aim to build an integrated platform combining stablecoin and fiat payment capabilities with securities and real-world asset (RWA) token wealth management. Alpha Ladder holds Capital Markets Services (CMS) and Recognised Market Operator (RMO) licences and oversees products and services related to securities and capital markets.

The group provides services to global enterprises, financial institutions, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Its platform offers hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions, access to traditional and tokenised wealth management products, and compliance-focused financial services supported by artificial intelligence.

The latest funding round was backed by Alibaba, Spark Venture, and other institutional investors, with participation from existing shareholders. 100Summit Partners served as the exclusive financial adviser. MetaComp said the capital will be used to expand its StableX Network in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, and to support the development of an Agent-Skills-MCP (Model Context Protocol) architecture intended to support Web2.5 payment and wealth services.

The company operates under licensing from the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Major Payment Institution providing Digital Payment Token (DPT) and Cross-border Money Transfer (CBMT) services. It provides cross-border payment and settlement services to more than 1,000 institutional and accredited clients across major financial hubs.

Through its affiliate Alpha Ladder, clients can access integrated payment and treasury management services covering both traditional and digital assets. The Client Asset Management Platform (CAMP), operated by MetaComp and Alpha Ladder, runs at a monthly rate exceeding $1 billion and holds more than $500 million in wealth assets.

According to the company, the group-level platform processed more than $10 billion in payments and over-the-counter (OTC) volume across more than 13 stablecoins in 2025. The infrastructure includes the StableX Network, supported by the StableX Engine and VisionX Compliance Engine. Payment and treasury functions are provided through PayX and WealthX.

Tin Pei Ling, co-president of MetaComp, said the funding reflects institutional confidence in an integrated financial infrastructure that combines traditional payment systems with stablecoin networks.

Spark Venture, one of the investors in the round, said it views payment infrastructure combining fiat and digital assets as a large market opportunity and cited growing demand in emerging markets as regulatory frameworks develop.

MetaComp said that, together with operating cash flows and other capital sources, the funding increases its available liquidity to more than $100 million. It currently serves more than 1,000 institutional and accredited clients globally.

Singapore’s MetaComp raises $22M Pre-A to scale stablecoin hybrid payment network for cross-border payments

SAP Labs, under Germany-headquartered tech giant SAP, will collaborate with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore to hire and train artificial intelligence (AI) scientists and machine learning engineers, expanding its role as an engineering hub for enterprise AI and supporting Singapore’s AI development plans.

The announcement was made on Friday at SAP d-com Singapore 2026, the company’s annual developer conference in Singapore. The event was attended by Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Ministry of Health.

Under IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative, SAP Labs East Asia Singapore, formerly known as SAP Labs Singapore, will hire and train 50 graduates and mid-career professionals over the next three years. Participants will work on development areas including generative AI, model orchestration and enterprise AI agents. The trainees will take part in a 12-month training and mentorship program and may also undertake rotations or short-term placements at SAP Labs locations in Germany, the United States, and India.

The program comes as SAP Labs East Asia Singapore reaches a milestone in its expansion. Since committing in 2023 to grow its AI talent pool, the Singapore team has increased to nearly 400 engineers, tripling in size. More than 90  percent of its AI workforce consists of local hires, including graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

SAP Labs East Asia Singapore has also contributed to the development of enterprise AI technologies within SAP’s global cloud applications, including AI agents embedded in core systems. Launched in 2022 in partnership with the Economic Development Board (EDB), the lab has filed close to 160 patents for AI innovations developed in Singapore, including 57 over the past three years.

The SAP Business AI product engineering team, based at SAP Labs East Asia Singapore, is involved in developing AI capabilities for SAP applications. These include scenarios for SAP S/4HANA, Intelligent Spend and Business Networks (ISBN), and SAP SuccessFactors to support information retrieval, navigation, and data extraction processes.

Other developments include generative AI features within SAP SuccessFactors aimed at improving employee productivity, such as generating compensation insights and career insights. The team has also introduced capabilities for Document AI, including document information extraction, instant learning features, and support for additional document types, languages, and file formats.

SAP stated that these AI systems are designed for enterprise environments and integrated directly into SAP platforms to meet reliability, security, and compliance requirements. More than 34,000 customers worldwide use SAP Business AI capabilities embedded across the company’s cloud portfolio.

SAP Labs East Asia Singapore also continues to collaborate with workforce development programs and universities. In March 2025, SAP announced a partnership with the National University of Singapore under the Industrial Postgraduate Program (IPP), supported by the Economic Development Board. The initiative aims to recruit and train nine researchers from local universities for the lab’s AI team by 2030, with three researchers already onboarded.

The Singapore lab will continue to serve as one of SAP’s AI development hubs, focusing on talent development and AI research.

Alibaba, SAP team up to accelerate AI-powered digital transformation in markets including SEA

Global AI video generation platform PixVerse has announced the completion of its Series C funding round and the opening of a global office in Singapore as it expands its international presence.

In a statement, PixVerse said the funding round, among the largest ones in Asia’s AI video generation sector, was led by CDH Investments. Other participating investors included Antler, EnvisionX Capital, iGlobe Partners, Lion X Ventures, UOB Venture Management, and 3W Fund. PixVerse said the new funding will support global expansion, including operations from its Singapore office. The office will focus on enterprise sales, partnerships, and market development, particularly in North America and Asia.

“The company’s focus is now on putting our technology in the hands of more creators and businesses worldwide,” said PixVerse co-founder Jaden Xie.

PixVerse’s leadership said the Singapore office reflects the company’s plans to expand internationally, with a focus on North America and Asia. CEO Changhu Wang is also part of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s Global Founder Programme, which supports founders building companies from Singapore.

According to the company, PixVerse had surpassed 100 million users across 175 countries by September 2025. The platform has generated more than 2.1 billion videos and reports 16 million monthly active users. Enterprise teams utilizing the platform have reported reductions in production costs and faster content creation compared with traditional workflows. In January 2026, PixVerse introduced R1, a real-time video generation model that produces video as a continuously responsive stream that reacts to user input.

PixVerse Raised $60M Series B to Accelerate Global AI Video Adoption

Singapore’s venture capital firm Empyrean Sky Partners (ESP) has completed the fastest first close of 2026, raising $90 million toward a $200 million target for its Global Technology Fund.

The firm said in a statement on Wednesday that the fund targets growth-stage companies at the convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing – sectors expected to reshape industrial productivity and global technology deployment.

The fund is co-managed with Lion X Ventures, the technology venture investment partner of and advised by OCBC, combining ESP’s growth-stage investment expertise with Lion X Ventures’ venture network.

The collaboration enables the fund to identify and scale companies across multiple stages of innovation, offering founders capital alongside access to global networks and operational support to accelerate commercialization.

Meanwhile, the fund has formed a strategic partnership with Dreame Technology, a global technology company.

This collaboration enables portfolio companies to leverage Dreame’s industrial insights, engineering expertise and commercialization capabilities, accelerating the path from innovation to market.

The speed and scale of the first close, $90 million in record time, reflect strong investor demand for technology platforms integrating AI with physical systems, said the statement.

It noted that institutional investors, family offices and industry participants have reportedly committed, citing ESP’s track record and the fund’s access to industrial ecosystems as key differentiators.

Ming Lei, Chairman and Founding Partner of ESP, whose prior investments include NIO Inc., RLX Technology and POP MART, said the fund aims to support founders building the next generation of intelligent systems through long-term capital, global networks and industrial access.

Irene Guo, Chief Executive Officer of Lion X Ventures, added that transformative technology is global from day one, and the partnership enables entrepreneurs to expand across markets with greater speed and impact.

According to ESP, it has been observed that growth-stage funds with access to strategic industrial partners remain relatively rare.

By combining sector expertise and industrial collaboration, the fund offers investors exposure to companies shaping the next era of intelligent industry.

The fund focuses on businesses integrating software intelligence with advanced hardware, including robotics, smart devices, logistics automation and industrial manufacturing.

With Asia emerging as a major innovation hub, ESP said the fund is positioned to support companies with global impact potential.

Singapore Singtel AI platform RE:AI, California-based Cohesity partner on AI search for backup data

Malaysia’s central bank has issued a policy framework outlining updated requirements for managing technology risks in the payment sector.

The central bank said in a statement on Wednesday this policy document outlines the new requirements for managing technology risks by payment services regulatees (PSRs).

It aims to consolidate the technology requirements within the payment sector into a single policy document, primarily for the approved issuers of electronic money (EMI), registered merchant acquirers (MA), and money services businesses (MSB).

The key objectives of the policy document are as follows: introduce proportionate regulations based on tiering given PSRs’ various sizes and complexity; augment PSRs’ resilience by elevating requirements to support system stability and reliability; elevate measures to enhance cyber security and data protection; strengthen the security of digital services through stronger fraud detection, monitoring and customer empowerment; and
facilitate secure and responsible adoption of technology advancement and new innovation.

Malaysia calls for feedback on sustainable finance taxonomy

CUSTA, a Malaysia-based businesses customization platform, has raised approximately $4.3 million in capital, including a Pre-Series A equity round co-led by Delight Ventures and Global Brain.

The firm said in a statement on Wednesday that the new capital will be used to accelerate platform development, strengthen the team through management and key talent hiring, and increase marketing investment to expand the customer base in Malaysia and Singapore.

CUSTA is also advancing systems and operations premised on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) across the value chain, including customer service, creative production, production planning and management, and logistics, to improve speed, predictability and scalability.

As the company scales across Southeast Asia, it has already built an industry-leading catalogue of 4,500+ items and delivered a cumulative 500,000+ products in Malaysia and Singapore, demonstrating strong on-the-ground traction.

“Southeast Asia is one of the most important regions for the future of customization, and Malaysia has been central to our operating story from day one,

“This funding helps us invest deeper into the platform, hire the right leadership, and build infrastructure that makes custom products easier to access faster, more transparent, and more dependable for businesses across the region,” said Joe Yudai Takagi, Chief Executive Officer of CUSTA.

It is noted that Customized products such as corporate gifts, event merchandise, printed materials and brand kits remain a practical tool for relationship-building and customer engagement in Malaysia, particularly in an economy where micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contributed 39.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.

Yet the category continues to face persistent friction, in which pricing and delivery timelines can be unclear, ordering is often fragmented across vendors, and small-lot orders can be difficult to execute reliably.

Additionally, CUSTA noted that demand for customized products is continuously expanding, with the Malaysian and Singaporean market currently contributing approximately $6.7 billion, and that the Asia-Pacific region is projected to continue expanding as a major growth engine.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s active business events landscape continues to be an important demand driver for customized products and corporate activations.

For example, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) reported securing 393 business events in 2025, generating an estimated MYR 4.07 billion ($1.03 billion) in economic impact from international delegates.

Against this backdrop, CUSTA said it is positioning itself as a backbone platform that helps businesses move from bespoke, manual sourcing to more repeatable and reliable procurement for customized goods.

“The customized products market is a huge sector and the reality is that it remains largely analog, with structural challenges such as unclear pricing and delivery timelines,

“CUSTA has already proven execution in Southeast Asia at real scale and we believe the team is well-positioned to modernize how custom products are purchased and delivered,” said Kosuke Nishida, Partner at Delight Ventures.

As demand grows for reliable, scalable customization across corporate gifting, events and brand activations, CUSTA said it aims to help Malaysian businesses move away from fragmented, manual sourcing toward a more standardized procurement experience.

Malaysia will increase capital flow to innovative start-ups in high value-add sectors

TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance Ltd, is reportedly assembling significant computing power outside China using top Nvidia chips “to fuel its ambition of becoming a global artificial-intelligence leader”, Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The report cited people familiar with the matter, saying ByteDance is working with Southeast Asian firm Aolani Cloud to deploy around 500 Nvidia Blackwell computing systems in Malaysia, which would include roughly 36,000 B200 chips, Reuters reported, quoting WSJ’s report.

The hardware, acquired via Aivres, could cost more than $2.5 billion if fully implemented, the report added.

Aolani currently operates with about $100 million in hardware, a spokesman reportedly told the WSJ.

According to the report, ByteDance intends to use the systems for AI research and development outside China and to meet growing global demand from its customers.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report, and Nvidia, ByteDance, and Aolani Cloud did not respond to requests for comment.

Citing a source, Reuters reported last month that the U.S. is willing to allow ByteDance to purchase Nvidia’s H200 chips, although the chipmaker has yet to agree to proposed conditions for their use.

TikTok Shop launches $4.74M stimulus package to boost digital economy in Malaysia

Malaysia’s domestic logistics sector fared better amid Middle East tensions as the country is a beneficiary of booming e-commerce and trade diversion on US-China trade tensions, Kenanga Research said Thursday.

The research house said in a note that the on-going Iran war has scaled back global trade growth to the negative zone as port congestions worsen, however, it sees Malaysia’s logistics sector to stay resilient.

According to Kenanga Research, Malaysia’s total trade rose 5.4 percent in the cumulative period from January to October 2025, compared with 9.2 percent growth for the full year of 2024.

The trade surplus remained elevated at MYR 125 billion ($31.78 billion) during the period, versus MYR 139.1 billion ($35.37 billion) in 2024.

The domestic third-party logistics (3PL) sector benefited particularly from this trend, supported by the on-shoring of business activity and a booming e-commerce market.

“Being largely domestically driven, the 3PL segment is less exposed to external headwinds, helping it maintain resilience amid softer global trade growth,” said the research house.

Kenanga also highlighted that the industry experts project the local e-commerce gross merchandise volume to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 percent from 2024 to 2027, reaching MYR 1.5 trillion ($380 billion) by 2027 from MYR 1.2 trillion ($310 billion) in 2024.

However, it opined that some local players are faced with intense competition from Chinese players which constrain theirm ability to fully leverage on Malaysia’s strong total trade growth.

This situation arises due to the irrational pricing set by Chinese logistics players despite the rising logistics operating costs (manpower and stricter weight limit regulation) and Chinese logistics players typically coming in as a package from the new entrant of China’s foreign direct investment (new plants).

Kenanga also noted the booming e-commerce will spur demand for distribution hubs and warehouses to enable: just-in-time (JIT) delivery, reshoring/nearshoring to bring manufacturers closer to end-customers, efficient automation system, including interconnectivity with the customer system, and warehouse decentralization to reduce transportation costs and de-risk the supply chain.

There is also strong demand for cold-storage warehouses on the back of the proliferation of online grocery startups, it added.

cited World Trade Organization (WTO), Kenanga noted there is an emerging trend of connecting economies or countries that benefited from the trade diversion on US-China trade tensions.

It highlighted Malaysia, Singapore, India and Vietnam’s growth are surging due to their emerging role as “connecting” economies, trading across geopolitical blocs, thereby potentially mitigating the risk of trade fragmentation.

Based on the latest Malaysia’s external trade in January, Malaysia’s exports to the US recorded a strong growth of 33.9 percent year on year despite higher US tariff.

It is noted that the US remained Malaysia’s second largest export destination behind Singapore during the month.

“We expect domestic logistic sector growth to remain steady in 2026, which is a beneficiary of the booming e-commerce, supported by the global tech up-cycle led by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, a resilient US economy, and potential trade diversion amid US-China trade tensions,” said Kenanga.

Teleport’s revenue up 10 percent on year in the fourth quarter of 2025

China’s JinkoSolar, one of the largest solar module manufacturers in the world, has voluntarily terminated its $1.5 billion photovoltaic panel project in Vietnam’s northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

In a recent notice sent to the National Business Registration Portal of Vietnam, Jinko Solar said its terminated the operation of Jinko Solar (Vietnam) Intelligent Manufacturing Company Limited, the entity in charge of the $1.5 billion project.

The firm clarified that the project, named Jinko Solar Hai Ha Vietnam, was intended to export products to the United States. However, starting 2025, the United States applied high anti-dumping duty against PV panels originated from Vietnam, leading to sluggish sales.

As a result, the project is unlikely to meet its economic targets and Jinko Solar decided to terminate the project and the business. The Vietnamese entity will continue termination procedures, such as those related to ongoing construction, social security and taxes, and land lease.

In January 2025, the International Trade Administration, under the U.S. Department of Commerce, said that JinkoSolar’s unit in Vietnam exported crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells into the United States with a dumping margin of 71.85 percent.

Jinko Solar Hai Ha Vietnam is one of the biggest investments of JinkoSolar in Vietnam. Others major projects are Jinko Solar PV Vietnam Photovoltaic Cell Technology (Jinko 1) and Jinko Solar Vietnam Silicon Panel Technology (Jinko 2), with a total investment of $865.6 million.

As of end-2025, JinkoSolar had over 10 productions facilities globally, over 20 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, and other countries. In 2025, its preliminary unaudited net loss attributable to shareholders was RMB7.64 billion ($1.11 billion). The result was primarily attributable to a decline in the profitability of the company’s main business due to a fall in the selling prices of its photovoltaic products, JinkoSolar said in its preliminary unaudited financial result.

JinkoSolar’s Subsidiary, Jinko Solar Co., Ltd., Announces Certain Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results for Full Year 2025

Vietnam is capable of becoming a global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing hub, thanks to its strengths in workforce, supply chain, affordable cost, and high domestic demand, said Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung.

On a Friday post on the ministry’s website, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said Vietnam, along with China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, are part of the East Asia supply chain for UAVs. Vietnam’s position within this supply chain with chips, cameras, sensors, motors and batteries gives the country logistical advantages for production of UAVs.

Another advantage is Vietnam’s strong software and AI capabilities. The important components of modern UAVs include navigation, computer vision, autonomy and AI control systems. While software determines the core value of a UAV, Vietnam has a large pool of software engineers, a rapidly developing AI sector, and relatively-low research and development costs, which together facilitate innovation.

Additionally, Vietnam has a competitive, low-cost manufacturing base, according to Nguyen Manh Hung. UAVs are lightweight electronic and mechanical products produced in modular form, which fits well with Vietnam’s manufacturing ecosystem and technical workforce.

Besides, Vietnam offers a strong domestic demand for UAVs, such as for agriculture, power line inspection, forest and maritime monitoring, and logistics. The domestic market can nurture businesses.

He also affirmed that it is more likely that Vietnam can become a global “powerhouse” in UAV, in comparison to semiconductors and electric vehicles. The Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to helping tech firms in research & development and product commercialization, the minister affirmed.

Vietnam prioritizes UAV, 5G, Blockchain as key products for immediate development