Themes

The idea is to harness the HKMA's Commercial Data Interchange to help improve access for SMEs to trade finance.

With more fast and cheap options in the region's payments universe, transaction banks must now layer added services to remain competitive.

Adnan Zaylan Mohamad Zahid, deputy governor at the Bank Negara Malaysia, told an audience at Money 20/20 Asia that Asean is innovating with cross-border payments, QR codes, Project Nexus, sandboxes and Islamic finance.

The global economy is going through unprecedented times and expert panelists from Baguio Green Group, SF Reit Asset Management and HSBC discussed how to best manage the volatility.

Geopolitical and economic uncertainty is causing greater competition and supply chain concerns for businesses across Apac; investment in technology and new markets are ways to buffer the impact.

China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan and Indonesia to be hit particularly hard by US tariffs on imports announced on April 2; many fear the move could spark a global trade war.

The Mongolian national payment card has teamed up with a HK provider to be accepted in Hong Kong; the move is led by Mongolbank.

US president Donald Trump is causing chaos this week across global markets with a spate of tariffs set to take effect in the US on April 2, against a wide range of goods; Goldman Sachs is predicting an extra US rate cut this year, amid stagflation fears.

The agreement is part of a total package of $306m which will help provide funding for business loans and for financing electric vehicles; MSMEs contribute to 30% of India's GDP and employ over 120 million people, including female entrepreneurs.

Amit Chand was formerly CFO at TCNS Clothing, where he led treasury.

The pharmaceutical firm expects its workforce in Beijing to grow to 1,700 employees and is launching a JV with BioKangtai to help make vaccines; there is also investment into AI.

The money raised from the 3.5% notes, due in 2030, will go towards the data infrastructure firm's green projects such as energy efficiency at its data centres across Apac; DBS, Standard Chartered, HSBC and OCBC helped secure the bond.