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Ascend Money secured investment from MUFG to accelerate digital financial inclusion in Thailand

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BANGKOK, June 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ascend Money, Southeast Asia’s homegrown fintech company, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG), have announced that MUFG’s consolidated subsidiary, MUFG Bank, Ltd., as a lead investor, together with the Finnoventure Private Equity Trust I fund managed by Krungsri Finnovate Co., Ltd. have made a combined investment of USD 195 million in Ascend Money Co, Ltd.

This strategic investment signifies a strong commitment from both organizations to drive the growth of digital finance in Thailand. By combining MUFG’s global financial footprint with Ascend Money’s deep local market knowledge and innovative digital financial solutions, the investment will help Ascend Money accelerate its plan to provide inclusive financial services for underserved consumers and SMEs, fostering equitable economic growth and financial well-being in Thailand.

Ascend Money, Southeast Asia’s leading fintech company and the fintech arm of Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group), which is its major shareholder, became Thailand’s first fintech unicorn in 2021. Ascend Money, Thailand’s largest digital financial services provider, has a strong presence in 7 countries across Southeast Asia. Its TrueMoney platform offers a wide range of financial solutions, including e-payment, lending, BNPL, investment and insurance. With 30 million active users[1] in Thailand, it serves a broad customer base through an extensive network and strategic partnerships with leading corporations, businesses, and merchants in both online and offline landscapes. This robust ecosystem positions Ascend Money to capitalize on the growing trend of digital finance adoption in Thailand and the region.

Yasushi Itagaki, Senior Managing Corporate Executive, Head of Global Commercial Banking Business Group at MUFG said “MUFG considers the Asia Pacific its second home market, and as part of our commitment to this region, we have been making  strategic investments in leading digital finance players in the region. Ascend Money is a promising fintech player in Thailand with widespread penetration in the country’s consumer segment and deep understanding of their daily payments and financial requirements. With this investment,  we are making a significant contribution to the ongoing development of Thailand’s digital economy and financial inclusion, further underscoring MUFG’s commitment to the sustainable development of the country and the broader region as a whole.”

“We are delighted to welcome MUFG’s joint investment in Ascend Money alongside existing investors C.P. Group, ANT Group, and Bow Wave Capital Management. This is a significant milestone for Ascend Money, which not only validates our commitment to innovation and financial inclusion in Thailand but also demonstrates a growing interest and confidence in Ascend Money’s potential,” said Suphachai Chearavanont, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Ascend Money.  “We are confident that Ascend Money’s strong growth trajectory, combined with MUFG’s expertise and network, will enable us to create a more inclusive and vibrant financial ecosystem to accelerate both regional and local digital transformation, benefiting millions of people and contributing to the country’s economic development.”

[1] Annual Active Users as of 31 December 2023

About Ascend Money

Ascend Money is a leading Southeast Asian fintech company providing innovative payment and financial services across 7 countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia). The company is under Ascend Group, a digital technology business conglomerate providing digital financial, e-commerce, data & cloud services. Established in 2013, Ascend Money became Thailand’s first fintech unicorn in 2021. Its flagship service TrueMoney today has become the most popular digital financial application that enables ease of payments and convenient financial lifestyle. TrueMoney’s extensive agent network as well as offline and online payment services also enable millions of users across the region to access innovative financial services, leading them to better lives. For more information, please visit www.ascendmoneygroup.com

About MUFG

MUFG Bank, Ltd. is Japan’s premier bank, with a global network spanning around 40 countries. Outside of Japan, the bank offers an extensive scope of commercial and investment banking products and services to businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. MUFG Bank’s parent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,000 locations in more than 40 countries. The Group has about 120,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit https://www.mufg.jp/english.

About Finnoventure Private Equity Trust I Fund

Finnoventure Private Equity Trust I Fund, launched by Krungsri Finnovate, is Thailand’s first startup private equity trust fund. It targets ultra-high net worth individuals and institutional investors, providing unique investment opportunities in rising ASEAN startups. With a focus on fintech, e-commerce, and automotive sectors, the fund aims to drive innovation and strategic growth. Investors benefit from partnerships with startups to co-develop innovative products and services, ensuring impactful and sustainable returns. For more information, please visit https://www.krungsrifinnovate.com/en/Home/

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SOURCE Ascend Money

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SecurityGen and NEC Team Up to Strengthen Cybersecurity Operations for Indonesian Telcos

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Harnessing future-ready solutions and expertise to safeguard Telecom networks against emerging threats

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant development for telecom cybersecurity, SecurityGen, an award-winning global leader in telecom cybersecurity, and PT NEC Indonesia, a leader in IT, network and AI technologies and a multi-vendor system integrator, have announced a partnership to strengthen telecom network defences across Indonesia. This alliance brings together SecurityGen’s cutting-edge security solutions and NEC’s extensive expertise in telecom infrastructure in a bid to combat a spectrum of increasingly advanced cyber threats.

The partnership aims to enhance the performance, reliability, and security of telecom networks throughout the region with SecurityGen providing future-ready threat-informed defence platform, comprising its Breach Attack platform and Monitoring system, and NEC offering crucial professional services to support and optimize these advanced security solutions. SecurityGen will also ensure rapid, effective deployments through comprehensive training and onboarding. By focusing on future-proofed solutions and fostering local talent, this partnership supports NEC’s vision of bolstering its security-as-a-service offering and solidifying its position as a trusted partner for Indonesian telcos.

This collaboration becomes even more vital given the speed with which telecom networks are evolving – making them increasingly complex and vulnerable. Unfortunately, traditional security measures are not effective enough anymore. By integrating advanced, AI-powered threat intelligence with automated security systems, this partnership aims to provide telco SOCs with unprecedented visibility into signalling traffic and robust validation against real-world attacks. This proactive approach, with in-built remediation, will not only mitigate breach risks but also equip security teams with the essential tools and expertise to counteract sophisticated cyber threats and maintain business resilience.

Amit Nath, Co-Founder & CEO of SecurityGen, said, “Our partnership with NEC is a crucial step towards fortifying Indonesia’s telecom sector with the expertise and tools essential for securing modern networks and operations. Together, we’re committed to building local competencies and implementing advanced, research-driven strategies to ensure the long-term security and resilience of the telecom infrastructure.”

Joji Yamamoto, President Director of NEC Indonesia said, “”In Indonesia, we have seen rapidly increasing growth of cloud services, and connected devices and subscribers for IoT use cases. NEC Indonesia welcomes the partnership with SecurityGen to join forces in advancing network security in Indonesia to protect information assets through the introduction and operation of measures against cyber-attacks.”

***

About SecurityGen
Founded in 2022, SecurityGen is a global leader in telecom security. We provide a solid security foundation to drive secure telecom digital transformations and ensure safe and robust network operations. Our extensive product and service portfolio offers complete protection against existing and advanced telecom security threats. www.secgen.com

About PT. NEC Indonesia

NEC first established its Jakarta Representative Office in 1968. Through the years, PT. NEC Indonesia recognized the importance of instituting telecommunications infrastructure for the country and has introduced several NEC technologies and solutions. This has resulted in PT. NEC Indonesia achieving the market leader position of being a total solutions provider for the Indonesian telecommunications industry.

Today, with its headquarters in Jakarta, PT. NEC Indonesia continues to play a significant role in providing total telecommunications and IT business solutions to its customers in the government and enterprise businesses. For more information, please visit http://id.nec.com/ 

 

 

 

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SOURCE PT. NEC Indonesia

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Patricia Calderon, Global Head of Water of CDP: How to drive water action across supply chains

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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — This is an article from Patricia Calderon, Global Head of Water of CDP:

Supply chains are the knots that tie our global economy together and allow it to operate as it does.

In recent years those knots have become more complex and fragile.

Major trade routes can be held up by conflict, politics, or simply a container ship running aground. The world is deeply dependent on pinch points functioning with high volumes of traffic and little to no barriers. Below that level exist smaller, more intricate threads which have built up over time, across borders and through river basins.

The fragility now baked into the system is, in part, a result of our changing climate and the unsustainable nature of supply chains. Building resilience within supply chains to adapt to frequent extreme weather events is now crucial. Lessening their environmental impact is part of the same equation.

Deep dive

New research from CDP, the global non-profit leading the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions, has examined the problem using data directly from companies.

We looked at 3,163 large companies with an annual revenue of more than EUR/ US$250 million. These companies disclosed to CDP’s annual water security questionnaire. A total of 1,542 companies – 50% – responded that they are engaging their supply chain on water risks. This includes inserting water requirements into supplier contracts, collecting water data, raising awareness of water issues, or collaborating on innovation.

Further analysis provides a unique insight into how some of the world’s largest brands are grappling with water issues. 1 in 5 companies are facing supply chain risks which could have a substantive financial or strategic impact on their business. These risks were estimated to total US$77 billion. And according to 79 businesses, a total of US$7 billion was deemed to be at immediate risk due to urgent water scarcity, food, regulatory and reputational issues.

Stem the tide

The data is clearly telling us our water supplies are becoming ever more fragile and the financial toll is mounting up. It’s down to large companies with the biggest water impacts to take immediate action, working with their suppliers to stem the tide of water risk.

Our research points to some of the tools currently being used by responsible companies – financial incentives, stricter contracts, and closer engagement are key. A group of forward-thinking businesses are already working on the problem. 443 businesses – 14% – offer their senior leaders, including the board, incentives to improve water management across the supply chain. A smaller group provide direct financial incentives to their chief procurement or purchasing officers.

Buyers and suppliers need to collaborate to ensure sustainability is a business norm. Recognizing it as a key differentiator among suppliers will be essential going forward. If we fail to address these issues the mounting financial impact of water risks will become all too apparent.

Going beyond

The report makes a strong case for companies to take immediate action on water issues in their supply chain and offers six key steps for companies. Each one of these indicators follows from the next: assess supply chain risks and impacts; set global targets; incentivize executives to act; include water in supplier requirements; engage with suppliers; and incentivize and support suppliers.

Ensuring supply chains can build resilience, reduce water risks, and keep our economies going is within reach. But to do so quickly and comprehensively we need to go beyond voluntary measures. The bar should be raised much higher in order to close the gap between where we are now and need to be.

Stronger regulation for mandatory disclosure and transparent reporting mechanisms are imperative to drive progress. This requires a combined approach with government policy, industry standards, and stakeholder engagement all playing a role.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/patricia-calderon-global-head-of-water-of-cdp-how-to-drive-water-action-across-supply-chains-302254990.html

SOURCE CDP

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J-Stories launches special page to report on largest Japan-Taiwan summit bringing together startups and investors in the region

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This year’s event in Tokyo expanded to its largest scale yet amid growing interest in Taiwan’s dominant semiconductor and AI sectors

Japan’s solutions-focused news service J-Stories is an official media partner of the 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovations Summit. Here’s J-Stories’ special page where summit-related stories are featured in partnership with Startup Island TAIWAN, Taiwan’s national startup brand. J-Stories is run by Tokyo-based media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting.

TOKYO, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit, the largest startup event to date featuring Japanese and Taiwanese aspiring to expand overseas, was held this month (Sept.17-18) in central Tokyo. Over 1,000 participants from various sectors – including politics, academia, large business and media – engaged with approximately 70 innovative startups over the two days.

The annual summit, which started two years ago, expanded further from previous years, incorporating cutting-edge industries, including AI, biomedical science, cybersecurity, digital services, fintech, defense and aerospace.

The two-day event was co-hosted by Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC), a government body of Taiwan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tokyo-based media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting also supported the event as the official media partner, featuring various reports and videos about the event on a special online page, bridging the gap between Taiwan’s top entrepreneurs and the startup community in Japan.

Discussed among the main topics were Taiwan’s booming semiconductor supply chain and its uninhibited growth potential within the next decade. Taiwan’s leading chipmaker, TSMC, was launched as a startup more than three decades ago with the support of the Taiwanese government. Now, the international company is building factories in southern Japan, giving those in Tokyo high hopes for Taiwan’s investments in bumping up semiconductor production capabilities and building more factories in Japan.

At this year’s summit, it was not only Taiwanese entrepreneurs who took the floor, but also Japanese startups. The summit featured a significant number of Japanese participants from financial institutions, venture capitalists, and trading companies. This increased Japanese involvement is expected to strengthen the JapanTaiwan network and contribute to the development of a thriving international ecosystem.

To start Day 1, Taiwan’s NDC Minister Liu Chin-Ching (Paul Liu), the Taiwanese delegation leader for this summit, took the stage. Minister Liu stated: “We are implementing the ‘Bridge Plan’ to expand innovation internationally. While we have been advancing innovation domestically in Taiwan, our future goal is to pursue international collaboration, with Japan being our first partner.” He emphasized the significance of Japan and Taiwan’s collaborative efforts. 

A video message from Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike was shown following Liu’s speech. She emphasized, “Taiwan and Japan have built a strong cooperative relationship. Let’s join forces between Tokyo and Taiwan to launch significant innovation.”

Among the speakers was Kei Furukawa, an Investment Partner at UTokyo IPC, who gave a lecture titled “Innovation and Startup Development Systems at the University of Tokyo VC,” discussing the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship through collaboration between government and universities in Japan.

Additionally, there were presentations from Japanese and Taiwanese startups and innovation companies, speeches by notable guests, and more. The summit concluded with an invitation-only opening ceremony for the Taiwan Startup Tokyo office and a gala dinner with investors.

Visit J-Stories’ special page here:
https://jstories.media/jp/specials/jtis

Event Overview:

Name: 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation SummitDate: September 17 (Tuesday) – 18 (Wednesday), 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMVenue: Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB) 2nd Floor (3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, in front of Yurakucho Station)Format: On-site participationLanguages: Chinese, Japanese, and English (with simultaneous interpretation)Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN

For more information on the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit 2024, please click here:

https://togethergobig.jp/en-summit

About J-Stories:

J-Stories is an online news platform that communicates innovative ideas, products, and technologies from Japan that address global issues to audiences and investors worldwide in Japanese, English, and Chinese. As the media partner for the “2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit,” J-Stories will be publishing articles about the summit before and after the event. J-Stories is run by Tokyo-based multilingual media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting.

To receive the latest articles from J-Stories, please subscribe to our newsletter by emailing: jstories@pacificbridge.jp

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SOURCE PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING

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