Ant International Sees Malaysia Among Key Southeast Asian Growth Markets
From Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid
BANGKOK, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is seen as one of Ant International’s key growth markets in Southeast Asia, supported by the rapid adoption of digital payments, strong cross-border transaction growth and close collaboration with local partners, said Singapore-based digital payments and financial services provider Ant International.
Its president, Douglas Feagin, said the company has worked closely with its ecosystem partners in Malaysia to swiftly and effectively roll out digital payment solutions, positioning the country as a standout market in the region.
“Malaysia is a country that has really adopted digital payments and worked very closely with various players and us to implement our solutions in a very rapid and effective fashion,” he said during a question-and-answer session with the media after Ant International’s media briefing.
With its global wallet gateway, Alipay+, Feagin said the platform has recorded substantial growth in Malaysia, driven by collaborations with local e-wallets and digital banks, and that transactions originating from the country are among the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia.
He said the growth was largely driven by strong travel flows, with Malaysians travelling frequently to destinations such as China, Japan and other parts of Southeast Asia, where Alipay+ is widely accepted.
Feagin also emphasised Malaysia’s importance to Ant International’s business, describing it as a key market for serving enterprise customers and expanding digital solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He said Malaysia will be among the first markets to roll out EPOS360, Ant International’s new SME digital solution.
“We see Malaysia as a country with SMEs that are digitally savvy and digitally inclined, and we expect to see strong growth in that segment,” he said.
Meanwhile, commenting on Ant International’s expansion in Malaysia, Feagin said the company’s latest global digital business centre at Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), which began operations in the first quarter of 2025, employs hundreds of people across areas including technology, artificial intelligence, marketing, and business operations.
“We are building a diverse and highly capable workforce in Malaysia, supported by continuous recruitment and global talent development, and we see it as a great choice for us that we hope to continue expanding,” he said.
-- BERNAMA