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Southeast Asia’s digital economy will contribute 56% to its GDP by 2027 : Una Financial

Southeast Asia’s digital economy will contribute 56 percent to its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, with digital payments taking the lead (61.5 percent), said UnaFinancial on Tuesday. In 2027, the gross value added (GVA) of the digital economy in Southeast Asia is expected to reach $2.35 trillion, increasing by 45 percent (+$732 billion) compared to…

Southeast Asia’s total food delivery spend on platforms grow 5 percent on year to $17.1B in 2023

Southeast Asia’s total food delivery spend on platforms grew a modest 5 percent year on year to reach $17.1 billion in 2023, mirroring the growth rate observed in 2022, Momentum Works said Tuesday. The growth was driven primarily by the region’s smallest food delivery market, Vietnam (+27 percent), followed by Malaysia (+9 percent).

SoftBank Ventures Asia changes name to SBVA after closing $150M fund

SoftBank Ventures Asia is officially changing its company name to SBVA after closing $150 million fund. SBVA, through this fund, aims to actively discover early to mid-stage startups that capitalize on technological innovations in ICT, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and computing, and create new business opportunities.

ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft launch AI TEACH for ASEAN Program to shape the region’s tech future

Recognizing the crucial role of artificial intelligence (AI) skilling in fostering inclusive economic growth by empowering workers and job seekers to supercharge their careers and businesses, the ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft have launched the AI TEACH for ASEAN program aimed at shaping the region's tech future where AI proficiency is a cornerstone of…

APAC businesses expected to nearly triple spending on generative AI to $3.4B in 2024: Infosys Research

Companies across Asia-Pacific (APAC) are quickly ramping up investments in generative AI (GenAI) and entering a higher stage of maturity, according to Infosys. The research forecasts a bigger increase than in any other region – 140 percent in the next year. This translates to an estimated $3.4 billion to be invested across Australia, New Zealand, China,…

Higlobe partners Triple-A to deliver near instant, free transfers from the US to Filipino remote workers

Higlobe, a payment solution for global businesses and remote professionals, has on Monday announced a partnership with Triple-A, the digital currency payment institution, aimed at transforming the landscape for remote workers in the Philippines by providing instant, free payment transfers from the United States.

MCI, DISG, SNG, EnterpriseSG, and Google Cloud unveil new initiatives to advance Singapore’s national AI strategy

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), Smart Nation Group (SNG), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), and Google Cloud have on Monday announced various joint initiatives to further accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across government and industry; cultivate a vibrant ecosystem of AI startups;…

Danfoss unveils Asia Pacific’s Sustainability Technology Center in Singapore to accelerate decarbonization efforts regionally

Danish multinational engineering group, Danfoss, has unveiled Asia Pacific’s first Sustainability Technology Center (STC) in Singapore on Monday at the Nordic European Center, International Business Park. The STC is set to become a prime gateway for introducing global decarbonization solutions to bolster the region’s sustainability efforts through…

Singapore’s Mesh Bio raises $3.5 million of series A funding led by East Ventures

Mesh Bio, a Singapore-based health deep tech startup, announced Tuesday that it has raised $3.5 million in Series A financing led by East Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on Southeast Asia. This round of investment is also participated by Elev8, Seed Capitals, and other existing shareholders.