As the year of 2024 comes to an end, we sought insights from prominent figures across the Southeast Asian tech landscape. These leaders reflected on their triumphs throughout the year, sharing valuable perspectives on their achievements and the challenges they overcame. Furthermore, they unveiled their ambitious aspirations, meticulously outlined their strategic plans for 2025, and offered insightful predictions on the trajectory of the tech industry in the coming year.

We talked to Leo Liu, Vice President of International Business, General Manager of North APAC and SEA at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence to learn more about the firm’s achievements in 2024, its plans and priorities in 2025. He also shared his views on the outlook of the tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia for the new year.

Founded in 2009, Alibaba Cloud is a leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, providing services to thousands of enterprises, developers, and governments organizations in more than 200 countries and regions. As part of online solutions, Alibaba Cloud is committed to providing reliable and secure cloud computing and data processing capabilities for clients.

1. How was Alibaba Cloud’s 2024?

2024 has been a remarkable year for Alibaba Cloud, marked by strengthened partnerships and new AI-focused initiatives. We have enhanced our AI platforms to encourage broader adoption and expanded training programs to empower businesses for the AI era.

As our global impact especially in Asia Pacific continues to grow, we remain committed to driving innovation with our partners and customers worldwide.

2. What are your expectations/aspirations for 2025?

As we enter 2025, we expect continued rapid advancements in AI and cloud technologies that will further redefine how businesses operate and interact with their customers. Our goal is to continue leveraging these innovations to help businesses achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and growth.

We believe that by making cutting-edge technologies especially in AI and cloud more accessible and user-friendly, we can enable organisations to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world while contributing positively to the communities we serve.

3. What are Alibaba’s plans in 2025 for Southeast Asia? What is the focus in the new year?

In 2025, Alibaba Cloud is focused on expanding its presence across Southeast Asia, ensuring more businesses and developers have access to the technologies and solutions they need to succeed.

We aim to make our services more accessible to international markets while driving innovation in critical sectors like finance, education, healthcare, and sustainability. Our plans include increasing collaborations with local enterprises, scaling up our AI and cloud offerings, and continuing to support the region’s digital transformation by empowering businesses with the tools necessary for growth and resilience.”

4. How is the outlook for 2025 for the tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia?

I believe the outlook for the tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia in 2025 is extremely promising. With rapid digital adoption, a growing startup culture, and a young, tech-savvy population, the region is positioned for significant growth.

As we move forward, the focus will be on fostering innovation and collaboration across industries, particularly in cloud computing and AI, to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation.

Additionally, there will be a greater emphasis on sustainability and delivering personalized experiences, which are key to creating a more inclusive and resilient future. We are excited to be part of this evolution, supporting the region’s efforts to build a sustainable and dynamic tech ecosystem.

 

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