Agrobank has partnered with Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to launch the NextGen Agropreneur Programme, investing RM100 million from 2026 to 2030 to support young agropreneurs in crops, livestock, fisheries, and food-based industries. It includes start-up and scale-up grants, enhancing productivity and technology adoption in agriculture.
Category: Business
Airbus Expands Footprint in Thailand as Global Supply Chains Shift
Thailand’s Board of Investment aims to transform the country into a regional aviation hub through collaboration with Airbus. This initiative seeks to enhance Thailand’s capabilities in advanced engineering, digital aviation, and supply chain development. Airbus plans to increase its workforce and establish Thailand as its global software testing base, responding to rising global aviation demand.
Vietnam’s AI Strategy Positions the Nation as Asia’s Next Innovation Hub
Vietnam has set an ambitious course to become a formidable player in the global artificial intelligence landscape. The government’s recently approved National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence to 2030, with a vision extending to 2045, outlines a sweeping transformation. The plan shifts the country’s approach from simply embedding AI into products and services to positioning AI…
How Indonesia Plans to Transform Cheese Consumption
MBR and PT Garudafood have teamed up with French cheese company Bel S.A. to build a modern cheese factory in Sumedang, West Java, aiming for operation by 2028. This investment reflects confidence in Indonesia’s market potential and addresses low regional cheese consumption, promoting sustainability and regional growth while enhancing MBR’s global stature.
China’s Expanding Appetite Signals Opportunity for Thailand’s Farmers
Thailand’s rice trade negotiations with China are advancing significantly, with discussions led by Director-General Arada Fuengthong of the Department of Foreign Trade. China plans to buy an additional 60,000 tons, enhancing Thailand’s export capacity. This aligns with the new harvest season and aims to stabilize domestic prices while targeting seven million tons of exports by 2026.
Vietnam’s Startup and SME Hub Raises the Bar with Billion-Dollar Lending Vision
Ho Chi Minh City has launched a loan program for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, offering up to VND 200 billion per project. The initiative includes interest rate support and credit guarantees, targeting sectors like technology, education, and healthcare. This framework aims to enhance access to capital and foster entrepreneurial growth in the city.
Malaysia Reinvents Its Industrial Identity With Chinese Smart Manufacturing Factories
Sapura Industrial Bhd has launched a new factory in Gurun, Kedah, in collaboration with Zhejiang Zhongze Precision Technology Co Ltd, diversifying into high-precision energy components like battery containers. This initiative, officiated by Kedah’s Menteri Besar, aims to bolster Malaysia’s manufacturing landscape and create over 200 advanced manufacturing jobs.
Tropical Storm Narra Disrupted China-Thailand Rocket Launch
China’s Chang’e 7 lunar mission, initially set for August 2026, is postponed to 2027 due to Tropical Storm Narra impacting launch conditions. Despite this delay, Thailand’s CE-7 MATCH instrument remains ready. The mission fosters scientific collaboration, enhances Thai space capabilities, and paves the way for future exploration advancements.
Starlink Joins Vietnam’s Broader Push to Bridge the Digital Divide
In Son La province, Vietnam, a satellite Internet initiative aims to bridge connectivity gaps while awaiting permanent mobile infrastructure. Focused on underserved villages, the project utilizes low-orbit satellites to provide essential services and improve access to education and healthcare. This hybrid approach demonstrates the importance of flexible solutions in overcoming geographical barriers and fostering digital inclusion.
Malaysia’s Digital Leap with Tokenised Islamic Bonds
Malaysia has taken a bold step into the future of finance with the successful settlement of tokenised sukuk (Islamic bonds) using CIMB’s tokenised deposits. This demonstrates the viability of distributed ledger technology in Islamic finance and also how traditional financial instruments can be reshaped for a digital era. The initiative was carried out under the…
