The World Bank Group, through its private sector arm the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has announced a $40 million equity investment in Zetrix AI Berhad, to improve access to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) services in Malaysia and emerging markets in the broader ASEAN region and beyond.

IFC said in a statement on Wednesday that the investment will support the development and rollout of new, blockchain-based DPI applications and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled products that aim to improve digital inclusion, access to services, and economic efficiency in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.

In Malaysia, these new services would integrate with the country’s digital ecosystem through MyDigital ID, the country’s digital identity system, and the Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI), the country’s national blockchain service network.

Zetrix AI’s DPI applications and products aim to make a range of services more efficient, secure, and cost-effective, including the verification of digital IDs through to the digitalization of international trade and the tokenization of real-world assets, among others.

The investment will also support Zetrix AI’s expansion of its DPI services into emerging markets in ASEAN and the rest of the world.

“This investment reflects IFC’s commitment to advancing Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda, in line with the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan, 2026-2030,

“The development of Digital Public Infrastructure services is essential to improving public service delivery, strengthening economic competitiveness, and ensuring that growth is inclusive and sustainable,” said Judith Green, World Bank Group Country Manager for Malaysia.

She also said the investments like this allow them to scale innovative digital solutions and support the creation of resilient, secure and interoperable systems that expand access to services and opportunities for both people and businesses in Malaysia and emerging markets in the broader ASEAN region and beyond.

Meanwhile, TS Wong, Group Managing Director of Zetrix AI, said from digital IDs to digitized customs clearance processing to large language models and stable coins, the real-world cross-border use cases in blockchain and AI that they are deploying are aimed at catalyzing disruptive transformation across ASEAN and enabling deeper socio-economic integration in the region.

“With the participation and market access from IFC, we will accelerate our global expansion plans,” he added.

Headquartered in Malaysia, Zetrix AI, formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad, started operations in 2000 as a firm in the provision of electronic government services and complementary commercial offerings in Malaysia.

The firm is currently deploying blockchain technology and AI in supporting the public and private sectors across ASEAN.

It is leveraging its Layer-1 blockchain platform Zetrix and the convergence of Web3, AI and robotics to enable optimally-efficient, intelligent and secure cross-border transactions, digital identity interoperability and automation solutions that connect people, businesses and governments.

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