Latest news and trends about tech

LG Innotek is set to kick off the construction of its $1 billion semiconductor substrate packaging plant in Vietnam's northern coastal city of Hai Phong, in the third quarter of 2026.

New rules on imported electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to accelerate local assembly in Malaysia, but analysts say rising competition and softer demand could limit broader industry gains.

Boost, a Malaysian digital bank and fintech company, has announced enhancements to Boba AI, its agentic AI platform that enables customers to complete everyday banking tasks through chat and voice interactions across the Boost app and Boost Bank app.

TP, a global digital business services company, and Singapore-based regulated digital payments provider dtcpay will jointly deliver 24/7 customer engagement operations, supporting dtcpay's customers and merchants in English and Mandarin across digital and voice channels.

Southeast Asia's tech companies raised a combined $7.4 billion in first half of 2026 — more than double the $3.2 billion raised in the same period a year earlier — even as the number of funding rounds and first-time funded companies both declined, Tracxn said last Friday.

AscentHR, an India-based human resource technology provider announced Monday the acquisition of OS HRS, a Malaysia-based payroll outsourcing provider, to strengthen its position in Asia Pacific (APAC).

Singapore's Timah Partners has launched a Specialized Waste Management Platform to consolidate Singapore's fragmented specialized waste management industry, signing an agreement to acquire an established operator as its first deal.

XTransfer, a B2B cross-border trade payment platform, inaugurated a new office in Malaysia late last week, positioning the country as a strategic hub for its Southeast Asia operations and deepening its localized presence across the region.

Samsung Electronics plans to invest $1 billion in new capital in Vietnam in 2026, after cumulative investment in the country reached $24 billion by end of 2025, CFO of Samsung Electronics Park Soon Cheol said to Vietnamese Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan at a meeting in Hanoi last week.

Thailand has secured more than $4.1 billion in investment pledges across its electric vehicle supply chain, spanning 198 projects covering battery electric vehicles, hybrid systems, battery manufacturing, critical components, and charging infrastructure.