29-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AI ignites Southeast Asia's tech boom as Gitex Asia debuts in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, is on the cusp of a major technological and innovation boom, driven by the rapid expansion of its startup ecosystem and accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to global consultancy Kearney, AI alone is expected to contribute an additional US$1 trillion to the region's GDP by 2030, positioning it as a critical driver of long-term economic growth.
As AI integration across industries intensifies, global investors are increasingly directing capital toward Southeast Asian markets—signalling confidence in the region's digital future.
A pivotal platform supporting this momentum is Gitex Asia, the newly launched Asian edition of the globally recognised Gitex (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) brand, which originated in Dubai.
The inaugural edition was held in Singapore from April 23 to 25, 2025, at Marina Bay Sands, attracting over 700 tech companies and venture capital firms from more than 70 countries.
The event marks Gitex's strategic expansion into Southeast Asia, aiming to tap into one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies. It serves as a key enabler of innovation, fostering cross-border collaborations, investment flows, and public-private partnerships essential for scaling tech solutions regionally and globally.
Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president at Dubai World Trade Centre and chief executive officer of KAOUN International, emphasised the importance of strategic alliances in AI development.
"AI cannot be developed or utilised in isolation. It requires public-private partnerships, but even more so, it demands cross-border, cross-continental, and cross-industry collaboration," she said at the launch of Gitex Asia x AI Everything Singapore here on Wednesday.
She further noted that events like Gitex Asia are instrumental in helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups scale globally, contributing to a more inclusive global tech ecosystem.
"Our commitment is to continue expanding the global ecosystem, providing more opportunities for SMEs and startups to grow," she said.
As Southeast Asia's largest platform for startups, accelerators, and investors, Gitex Asia enabled high-level discussions around strategic growth, including mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and cross-sector collaborations.
The event also spotlighted cutting-edge developments in key sectors such as cybersecurity, fintech, smart cities, green technology, healthtech, biotechnology, 5G and telecommunications - underscoring the breadth of innovation reshaping the regional economy.
LohMirmand concluded that Gitex Asia is not merely a technology showcase - it is a strategic platform for fostering regional leadership and driving meaningful transformation across the global digital economy.
