logo
Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur to support Malaysia's 2040 Smart Nation agenda

Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur to support Malaysia's 2040 Smart Nation agenda

The Sun3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25), the first Southeast Asian edition of the globally renowned Smart City Expo from Barcelona set to take place this September, aligns with Malaysia's aspiration to become a Smart Nation by 2040, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
He said SCEKL25 underscored Malaysia's leading role in advancing smart city development anchored by four strategic pillars, namely AI Cities, Sustainable and Resilient Cities, Digital Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and Community Empowerment through Digital Solutions.
'SCEKL25 represents a bold step forward in Malaysia's ambition to become a leading regional digital hub. It sets the stage for transformative conversations about the future of urban innovation,' he said in a statement.
Earlier today, Gobind officially launched the 100-day countdown to the expo, which takes place from Sept 17 to 19.
Themed 'AI Cities: Shaping Our Digital Future,' the expo highlights Malaysia's vision for smart, inclusive and sustainable cities.
Commenting further, Gobind said that with ASEAN's digital economy on the cusp of exponential growth, the expo offered a unique platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies and foster meaningful dialogue on how AI and digital transformation would shape the cities of tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in the same statement, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) chief executive officer (CEO) Anuar Fariz Fadzil echoed the sentiment, calling SCEKL25 a catalyst for the smart city revolution in Southeast Asia.
He said the initiative reflected the nation's commitment to leading the region in building intelligent, inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities powered by AI, where technology empowers people and drives the next wave of urban transformation
The expo, co-organised by the MDEC and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) for the Ministry of Digital, will bring together global leaders, investors, tech innovators and policymakers to explore how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping urban life across ASEAN.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Vingroup and Gulf States Pursue Sustainability-Led Growth as Legacy Powerhouses Reinvent
Vingroup and Gulf States Pursue Sustainability-Led Growth as Legacy Powerhouses Reinvent

The Sun

time18 hours ago

  • The Sun

Vingroup and Gulf States Pursue Sustainability-Led Growth as Legacy Powerhouses Reinvent

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 June 2025 - Vietnam's Vingroup and Gulf nations share parallel journeys of strategic reinvention, as the old playbooks that delivered decades of growth are showing their limits. While Gulf countries built wealth on fossil fuel, Vingroup created enormous value through real estate and hospitality. Both are now shifting beyond their legacy sectors: Vingroup focuses on digital innovation and sustainability, and the Gulf nations seeks to diversify beyond hydrocarbons. For them, strategic reinvention becomes the logical response. Not disruption for disruption's sake, but calculated transformation grounded in self-preservation and innovation. Their experiences offer valuable lessons on how legacy powerhouses can adapt to structural transformation. A new growth engine that's not oil The UAE and Qatar demonstrate how national strategy can drive transformation. The UAE's Net Zero by 2050 initiative links energy policy with investment decisions and foreign relations. Qatar's National Vision 2030 embeds environmental stewardship into economic planning. More than just being aspirational, these documents translate into concrete investments. For example, the UAE committed over $54 billion to clean energy infrastructure, while Qatar doubled its solar capacity to 1.675 GW by 2025[1], cutting CO₂ emissions significantly. Sovereign wealth funds play crucial roles. Mubadala and QIA direct capital into clean technology as diversification hedges, treating green investments as strategic portfolio moves that reduce long-term risk while capturing growth opportunities. A Southeast Asian reinvention Turning to Southeast Asia, the story Vingroup mirrors many of the same themes of strategic reinvention seen in the Gulf. Originally a property development powerhouse, the conglomerate diversified into other fields such as electric vehicle production, smart technology, and green manufacturing. VinFast, its automotive arm, delivered over 97,000 electric cars in 2024 and targets 200,000 deliveries in 2025. In the context of Vietnam aiming to become a high-income country in its 'era of national rise', Vingroup functions as a national champion, building the country's first global EV brand while creating jobs and technological capabilities. The company's manufacturing complex in Hai Phong utilizes green practices and scales to serve both domestic and export markets. The broader ecosystem reflects systematic thinking. VinBus provides electric public transport in major cities. Smart homes in Vinhomes developments showcase energy efficiency. AI and IoT technologies optimize resource use across business lines. Each initiative reinforces the others. When green visions align Shared motivations drive collaboration. Both regions face climate urgency, pursue economic resilience, and seek global relevance. Complementary strengths make partnership logical. For example, the UAE's Masdar built Indonesia's largest floating solar plant[2]. Vingroup's EV arm, VinFast, opened regional showrooms and has signed several MOUs with regional reputable companies. Vietnam and the UAE signed their first trade pact, focusing on technology exchange. These ties leverage unique strengths: the Gulf states brings capital, energy expertise, and execution; Southeast Asia offers manufacturing, markets, and innovation capacity. In their collaboration, the Gulf states and Vingroup prove legacy players can align vision and capital for systemic change. Sustainability, when policy-led, becomes a growth pathway. Strategic reinvention turns challenges into advantages.

Kossan Holdings' strategic investor role to fuel CARE Latex growth as a reputable M'sian condom brand
Kossan Holdings' strategic investor role to fuel CARE Latex growth as a reputable M'sian condom brand

Focus Malaysia

time19 hours ago

  • Focus Malaysia

Kossan Holdings' strategic investor role to fuel CARE Latex growth as a reputable M'sian condom brand

CARE Latex Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's leading condom brand, has unveiled a strategic partnership with Kossan Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, the investment arm of Malaysia's Big Four glove maker Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd. With Kossan Holdings emerging as CARE Latex's third-largest investor, the partnership will strengthen the brand's strategic foundation and supporting its long-term growth ambitions in the global sexual wellness market. CARE Latex's impressive growth trajectory – highlighted by a 1,399% increase in revenue and a 1,615% surge in unit sales from 2018 to 2024 – underscores strong consumer trust and positions the brand as a regional frontrunner and emerging global player. More broadly, the strategic partnership with Kossan Holdings marks a pivotal milestone in CARE Latex's pre-IPO (initial public offering) journey. It is poised to enhance CARE Latex's ecosystem by accelerating product innovation, improving inventory management, expanding research & development (R&D) capabilities and broadening market reach through new distribution channels. Beyond market expansion, the collaboration also aligns with CARE Latex's commitment to public health, particularly in addressing the urgent issue of HIV prevention among Southeast Asian youth. According to UNAIDS 2023, one in four new HIV cases in the region involves individuals aged 15 to 24 with 93% linked to unprotected sex. In Malaysia, the Health Ministry's Global AIDS Monitoring Report 2024 pointed to 32% of new HIV infections occurring in this age group yet condom usage remains below 40%. 'Kossan Holdings' emergence as strategic investor enhances our capacity to scale production, drive innovation and deliver our mission,' projected CARE Latex's founder Bonn Lam Chee Fong (main image, left). Together, we're building a globally respected Malaysian brand that stands for quality, innovation and social responsibility.' Reflecting its humble origin, Lam recounted how CARE Latex's journey started with a simple yet powerful insight – if the world's leading condom brands source their latex from Malaysia, why not build a world-class brand here at home? 'With Malaysia ranking as the sixth-largest producer of natural latex, we're leveraging local strengths to accelerate our R&D pipeline to launch Malaysia's first microbial barrier condom which is designed with anti-microbial and antioxidant properties for enhanced protection.' CARE Latex is currently the only Malaysian condom brand with a retail presence in both Singapore and South Korea with distribution made through major convenience store chains such as Olive Young and GS25 which has over 17,300 outlets globally. Its future expansion markets include Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand and the US. The company's growth strategy remains anchored in broadening retail reach, advancing product innovation and exploring acquisitions of local brands. Multiple new product lines in development to support this continued growth include clinical and personal lubricants, pregnancy and HIV test kits, pleasure devices, and wellness supplements. – May 28, 2025

Vietnam trade surplus with US surges, clouding tariff talks
Vietnam trade surplus with US surges, clouding tariff talks

The Sun

time20 hours ago

  • The Sun

Vietnam trade surplus with US surges, clouding tariff talks

HANOI: Vietnam's trade surplus with the US expanded sharply in May as exports swelled and its imports from China also jumped, exacerbating sore points with Washington that could hurt Hanoi's efforts to avoid crippling tariffs. Separate trade data from the US also showed Vietnam's surplus overtook Mexico's in April, lagging only China and the European Union. US President Donald Trump has vowed to bring down the US trade deficit and the Southeast Asian country faces one of his highest 'reciprocal' tariffs at 46% if a deal cannot be negotiated before a pause on the levies ends in early July. Despite Hanoi's efforts and pledges to meet Washington's demands, the surplus keeps growing, particularly as exporters rush to get their goods to the US before the tariffs go into effect. The new figures 'may put some clouds in the sky of these negotiations and put pressure on Vietnam to make additional concessions to reach an agreement,' said Leif Schneider, vice-chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam's legal sector committee. The surplus with the US surged to US$12.2 billion (RM52 billion) in May, up nearly 42% from a year earlier and 17% higher than April, Vietnamese government data showed yesterday. Exports to the US also climbed roughly 42% from a year earlier to a post-pandemic high of US$13.8 billion. That stands in contrast to signs that other countries are reining in their exports to the US with the US trade deficit narrowing sharply in April. Schneider noted that while Vietnam's spike in exports was largely due to front-loading ahead of possible tariffs, and represents a short-term inflation of the surplus, Vietnam is in a particularly hard spot because of its limited imports from the US. In the first five months of the year, the surplus hit nearly US$50 billion, up 28.5% and putting Vietnam on track to exceed last year's record surplus. The country's imports from China also posted a post-pandemic record of US$16.2 billion in May, up 21% from a year earlier. Vietnam is home to large manufacturing operations of US multinationals such as Apple, Intel and Nike , and it also hosts numerous Chinese companies, often suppliers to US firms. US officials have repeatedly accused Vietnam of being used as a waypoint for Chinese goods destined for the US. They allege that some goods have 'Made in Vietnam' labels despite having received no or insufficient added value in the country – allowing Chinese exporters to avoid high US duties on their goods. The US has sent a 'long' list of 'tough' requests to Vietnam in its tariff negotiations including demands that could force the country to cut its reliance on Chinese industrial goods imports, two people briefed about the matter have said. Under US pressure, Hanoi has launched a crackdown on illegal transshipments of goods, mostly from China. It has also repeatedly shown its willingness to reduce non-tariff barriers and to import more US goods including US planes, farm products and energy, although no purchase contracts have been announced yet. Vietnam's overall trade figures with the world showed exports in May rose 17% from a year earlier to US$39.6 billion, while imports were up 14% at US$39 billion. Separate government data also out yesterday showed industrial production in May shot up 9.4% from a year earlier, while consumer prices rose 3.24% and retail sales were up 10.2%. Foreign investment inflows for January-May climbed 7.9% to US$8.9 billion. Foreign investment pledges over the period soared 51.2% to US$18.4 billion. – Reuters

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store