Industry News

Ant International has announced it facilitated over 2 billion digital transactions in 2025 across key emerging markets, including Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company, which supports more than 150 million merchants worldwide, is enhancing its AI-powered digital financial and commerce solutions to meet the diverse needs of these regions.

The company’s efforts are focused on improving access to payments, credit, digital banking, and cross-border connectivity in rapidly growing digital economies. Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, highlighted the potential of AI and new technologies to unlock growth opportunities, stating, “It is time for fintech innovators to convert access into real growth momentum.”

Key achievements in 2025 include Bettr’s expansion of credit services to over 30 million SMEs and individuals, and Alipay+’s partnerships with five national QR payment networks across ASEAN. In Singapore and Malaysia, travellers increased their spending via SGQR and DuitNow QR, respectively, boosting economic value for SMEs.

Ant International’s flagship merchant payment services, Antom, recorded a 75% growth outside China, whilst 2C2P saw a 38% year-on-year growth in transaction volume for merchants in Southeast Asia. WorldFirst expanded into Malaysia and Thailand, achieving nearly 40% growth in transaction value as more SMEs engaged in global e-commerce.

As digital economies continue to scale, Ant International remains committed to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth through partnerships with governments and businesses.

Asia-Pacific’s Islamic banking sector is poised for significant growth post-2025, with financing growth projected to accelerate towards 10% by 2028, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings. The report, titled “Asia-Pacific Islamic Banking Outlook 2026: Rebound Masks Regional Divergence,” highlights that whilst the sector’s assets are expected to climb to $550b, this growth conceals notable regional differences.

Credit analyst Nikita Anand from S&P Global Ratings noted, “We expect financing growth for Islamic banks in Asia-Pacific to edge up toward the higher end of our forecast range of 8%-10% over the next three years after a slowdown in 2025.” The total assets, currently around $430b as of the end of 2024, are anticipated to surpass $550b by the end of 2028, making up about 20% of the global Islamic banking market.

The growth is largely driven by domestic operations, although overseas business is gaining traction in some markets. In Malaysia, high competition is prompting major Islamic banks to explore growth opportunities in Southeast Asia, including Islamic wealth management. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Pakistan are expected to maintain higher growth rates than their peers, leveraging stronger margins and consolidation to enhance efficiency.

In contrast, Bangladesh faces challenges with asset quality, though growth may improve if political and external conditions stabilise in the coming year. The report also highlights the importance of digital innovation, diverse funding sources, and adequate capitalisation for banks to enhance their scale and competitiveness.

The findings underscore the dynamic nature of the Islamic banking sector in Asia-Pacific, with varying growth trajectories across different regions.

Empyrion Digital, a Singapore-based data centre developer, has commenced construction of its inaugural data centre in Taiwan, marking a significant expansion into the Taiwanese market. The facility, located in Taipei’s Neihu technology hub, is set to become a key player in the region’s digital infrastructure by Q4 2027.

The new Taipei Data Centre, known as TW1, will feature a 10MW power capacity with 7MW of scalable IT load, catering to the increasing demand for high-performance cloud and AI computing. Designed with sustainability in mind, the 4,260-square-metre, five-storey facility will incorporate energy-efficient air-cooled systems and green features such as vertical green walls and solar panels. It aims to achieve Taiwan’s Green Building Gold Certification.

Empyrion Digital’s CEO, Mark Fong, highlighted the strategic importance of the Taiwanese market, stating, “Breaking ground on TW1 is a significant milestone for Empyrion Digital as we continue to expand our footprint across Asia. Taiwan is a strategic market with a strong digital economy and a world-class technology ecosystem.”

The data centre will support liquid cooling and high-density deployments, aligning with Empyrion Digital’s commitment to delivering sustainable, AI-ready infrastructure. This development follows the company’s recent project announcement in Johor, further solidifying its presence in developed Asia.

As Empyrion Digital continues to grow its operations, the TW1 facility is expected to bolster Taiwan’s position in the regional digital network, providing essential infrastructure to support the country’s burgeoning digital economy.

Fastly, a global edge cloud platform, has appointed Rachel Ler as Area Vice President of Asia, overseeing operations in ASEAN, Greater China, and South Korea. With over 20 years of experience in enterprise technology, Ler will focus on regional growth, localisation, and enhancing digital experiences for customers.

Ler’s appointment is part of Fastly’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Asia’s diverse markets. Nicola Gerber, Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan at Fastly, highlighted Ler’s extensive experience and understanding of the region as key assets. “Having Rachel onboard reinforces Fastly’s commitment to deliver the Fastly experience even closer to our customers,” Gerber stated.

Ler has previously held senior roles at Commvault and Versa Networks, where she successfully drove growth through customer-focused strategies and strong partner ecosystems. Her new role at Fastly will involve modernising digital platforms, enhancing application security, and delivering low-latency experiences across the region.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Ler said, “What excites me most about joining Fastly is its authenticity and its passion for building a faster, safer, and more engaging internet.” She aims to leverage Fastly’s engineering strength to meet the rising digital expectations in the region.

Fastly’s continued investment in regional leadership aims to provide localised expertise and high-performance digital infrastructure, supporting its broader strategy of edge cloud innovation and international expansion.

Levanta Renewables has announced the acquisition of a 93 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar portfolio in Thailand, marking a significant expansion of its presence in the country. This portfolio, spread across eight provinces, is set to generate over 140 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity each year. The energy produced will be supplied to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

This strategic move aligns with Thailand’s renewable energy goals, enhancing the nation’s capacity to produce sustainable energy. The acquisition underscores Levanta Renewables’ commitment to supporting Thailand’s transition towards a greener energy landscape. By increasing the availability of clean energy, the company aims to contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability in the region.

The solar portfolio’s integration into the national grid is expected to bolster Thailand’s renewable energy infrastructure, providing a reliable source of clean power to meet the growing energy demands. This development is a testament to Levanta Renewables’ strategic vision and operational capabilities in the renewable energy sector.

Levanta Renewables, a Singapore-based company, continues to expand its footprint in Asia, leveraging its expertise to drive the adoption of renewable energy solutions. The company’s latest acquisition is a step forward in its mission to deliver sustainable energy solutions across the region.

Colliers has announced the appointment of Oliver Rigg as Executive Director of Occupier Services for North Asia, a strategic move aimed at bolstering the firm’s presence in the region. Based in Hong Kong, Rigg will oversee operations across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, with a focus on expanding the company’s Office Leasing business.

Mike Davis, Managing Director of Occupier Services, Asia Pacific, stated, “Oliver’s appointment reinforces our commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions for occupiers across Asia Pacific. His leadership and proven track record will be pivotal in driving growth and unlocking opportunities for our clients across North Asia.”

Rigg, who brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the Asia Pacific region, is well-versed in advising tenants and landlords across various sectors, including office, retail, and industrial and logistics. His expertise encompasses leasing, transaction management, portfolio management, occupier consulting, and workplace strategy. Rigg’s leadership is expected to enhance client engagement and promote technology solution initiatives throughout the region.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Rigg commented, “I’m excited to join Colliers and be part of the ongoing growth of our Occupier Services business. This is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with talented teams, deliver innovative solutions for our clients, and accelerate growth in this dynamic region.”

As office demand in the Asia Pacific region continues to rise, Colliers’ strategic appointment of Rigg aims to capitalise on the momentum, positioning the firm for accelerated growth and enhanced service delivery in North Asia.

Atome, Southeast Asia’s leading digital finance platform, has announced the successful closure of a US$345m upsized syndicated debt facility, a substantial increase from the US$200m secured in 2024. This facility, supported by HSBC as Structuring Bank and Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, with DBS joining as a new Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, aims to accelerate Atome’s growth across key Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The expanded facility will bolster Atome Financial’s regional portfolio and products such as its Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) lending and the Atome Pay Later Anywhere Card. New lenders Fubon Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank have joined existing partners like Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Baiduri Bank, and Cathay United Bank in this financial endeavour.

Andy Tan, Chief Commercial Officer at Atome, expressed gratitude for the support from both new and returning lenders, stating, “This facility has grown significantly within a year. We’re now even better positioned to support a rapidly growing, healthy, and profitable loan book whilst scaling transparent and flexible credit solutions.”

Atome’s financial performance in FY2024 showed a 63% year-on-year increase in operating income to US$236m, with a 50% rise in gross merchandise value (GMV) to over US$2b. The growth momentum continued in 2025, with annualised net revenue surpassing US$500m and GMV reaching US$6b.

Atome, part of the Singapore-headquartered Advance Intelligence Group, continues to expand its services, backed by investors such as SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Warburg Pincus.

Singapore-based fintech company HitPay has partnered with Primer, a global payments infrastructure provider, to facilitate faster international expansion for Southeast Asian merchants. This strategic alliance aims to address the challenges faced by local businesses in accessing global markets, particularly in the US and Europe, by providing seamless payment solutions.

The partnership comes at a crucial time as many Singaporean small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are compelled to expand overseas due to economic pressures. According to the Singapore Business Federation, 40% of businesses anticipate a worsening economy in 2026, with 22% experiencing a credit crunch. HitPay’s collaboration with Primer offers these businesses access to a unified payment infrastructure, reducing transaction failures and improving cash flow.

Key benefits of this partnership include the ability for merchants to instantly activate US and EU payment methods, ensuring successful transactions with Western customers. Last year, HitPay’s solutions helped merchants save over $10m in costs, a significant advantage in a tight credit environment.

Aditya Haripurkar, CEO of HitPay, highlighted the transformative impact of the partnership, stating, “Accelerated access to new markets and local-level payment performance will be transformative for our fast-growing merchants.” Gabriel Le Roux, CEO of Primer, added, “By partnering with HitPay, we’re opening new markets for their merchants and laying the foundation for long-term global expansion.”

The collaboration also benefits Primer, as HitPay integrates into its Primer for Partners programme, allowing global merchants to tap into Southeast Asia’s diverse payment landscape. This two-way partnership aims to replace payment complexities with resilient infrastructure, enabling merchants to expand internationally without compromising performance or speed.

Nielsen has announced the appointment of Matty Lin as the APAC regional sales leader, effective immediately. Lin, who will be based in Singapore, joins from TikTok/Bytedance, where he was General Manager of Global Business Solutions for Southeast Asia and South Korea. In his new role, Lin will oversee Nielsen’s Commercial Organisation across Asia and the Pacific, reporting directly to Chief Revenue Officer Amilcar Perez.

Lin’s extensive experience includes leading commercial strategy and innovation, with a focus on regional profit and loss management. He has a proven track record in building high-performing teams and driving transformational growth in global markets. Lin expressed his enthusiasm for joining Nielsen, stating, “APAC is one of the most dynamic and diverse regions in the world, and as consumer habits evolve at unprecedented speed, the need for accurate, independent, and future-ready measurement has never been greater.”

Perez highlighted Lin’s expertise in advertising, technology, and platform innovation as key assets for Nielsen. “I’m confident that Matty’s experience will bring value to our APAC team and help deepen Nielsen’s influence in shaping industry standards,” Perez said.

Lin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing and Communications from Northwestern University. His appointment is expected to strengthen Nielsen’s position in the rapidly evolving APAC market, with a focus on digital and cross-media audience measurement and AI-driven advancements.

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has strengthened its partnership with J.P. Morgan by joining its USD clearing network and implementing the Wire 365 service. This move allows SGB to provide uninterrupted, near real-time cross-border payment services, enhancing its clients’ ability to manage global liquidity effectively.

The collaboration marks a significant advancement for digital banking in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By integrating J.P. Morgan’s Wire 365 solution, SGB can now process USD transactions every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays. This eliminates traditional cut-off times, offering clients greater flexibility in optimising cash flows and meeting payment obligations efficiently.

Ali Moosa, Executive Vice Chairman of SGB, commented, “This collaboration is a major step forward for digital banking in the Gulf Corporation Council and further strengthens our position as the financial bridge between Asia and the Gulf.” He emphasised that joining J.P. Morgan’s global network ensures clients’ capital moves with the speed, certainty, and security required in today’s global economy.

Nawaf Humood, Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Payments, added, “We are pleased to provide Singapore Gulf Bank with the Wire 365 payment solution. This collaboration highlights SGB’s expanding position as a leading digital bank in the market.”

The partnership was formalised at a signing ceremony in Bahrain, marking another milestone for SGB, which recently launched its corporate banking service and a real-time, multi-currency clearing network. This development underscores SGB’s commitment to innovation and positions it at the forefront of digital transformation in the financial sector.