Latest news with #SMEs
Bloomberg
3 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sheinbaum Pitches Growth Plan to Bankers Amid Lending Pledge
In her first in-person address to Mexico's financial elite as president, Claudia Sheinbaum pointed to the country's economic resilience and signed a pledge for more lending to small and medium companies. 'We should all be satisfied with our economy's solid position and at the same time feel optimistic, because, despite the international scenario we have faced in recent months, the economy and financial sector have reacted in an extraordinary way,' Sheinbaum said at the country's most important financial event of the year, the annual banking convention.
Arabian Business
8 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi, Tokyo join forces to promote bilateral economic development
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs have signed a new strategic agreement to support enterprises expanding beyond their domestic markets. The partnership will focus on accelerating trade, sharing export strategies and unlocking new market opportunities for SMEs in both countries. By combining Tokyo's industrial expertise with Abu Dhabi's global connectivity, the initiative aims to give growth-stage companies a competitive edge internationally. Under the agreement, ADIO and Tokyo's Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs will lead efforts to connect entrepreneurs, exchange industry data and insights, and coordinate on policies that are critical to export success. Designated teams in both Abu Dhabi and Tokyo will work closely to deliver joint activities over the next 12 months, including trade missions, policy dialogues, targeted workshops and business matching programmes. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said the partnership reflects a shared vision that economic resilience begins with entrepreneurs who want to expand globally. 'Abu Dhabi's long-term growth strategy centres on building partnerships that empower innovation, enable exports and open new global pathways,' he said. Tanaka Shinichi, Director General, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said Abu Dhabi offers an ideal platform for Tokyo-based SMEs aiming to expand their reach into the Middle East and beyond. 'This strategic partnership with ADIO will create tangible opportunities for export growth, knowledge exchange and deeper commercial ties. It's a timely and strategic step forward that strengthens both economies,' Shinichi said. In the months ahead, ADIO and the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs will begin implementing the first phase of the agreement, prioritising practical support for exporters, strategic dialogues and the joint promotion of opportunities aligned with the long-term economic agendas of both governments.
11 hours ago
- Business
Talabat Egypt launches the third edition of 't-academy' to support the growth of local shops' partners
Training provided for 50 from local shops partners to enhance service quality talabat Egypt continues to support SMEs to boost their competitiveness Cairo – talabat Egypt, the leading technology platform for online ordering across the MENA, has announced the launch of the third edition of its training program 't-Academy' for local shops' partners, in collaboration with the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This reflects the platform's ongoing commitment to its strategy of supporting the sustainable growth of small and medium-sized enterprises by equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance their competitiveness in the e-commerce sector. The program aims to train 50 of talabat's local shops' partners through a series of interactive workshops, mentoring sessions, and the exchange of best practices. These efforts are designed to improve their service quality and strengthen their market position. The German-Arab Chamber is contributing to the initiative with expert marketing professionals to deliver practical training content that supports the professional development of the partners and drives sustainable economic growth. The program serves as a comprehensive educational platform that empowers partners to grow their businesses, enhance customer engagement, and achieve tangible results through effective tools that align with market dynamics and evolving consumer behavior. Commenting on the launch, Hadeer Shalaby, Vice President and Managing Director of talabat Egypt, said:'We are proud to launch the third edition of t-Academy, a strategic initiative that extends our efforts to support our local shops' partners and enable them to scale their businesses within the e-commerce ecosystem. We believe in the vital role SMEs play in driving economic growth, and we are committed to providing everything they need to succeed and sustain that success.' She added:'Our main goal is to create a more efficient and sustainable e- commerce environment by investing in the training and development of our local shops' partners. This ensures them to offer the best possible customer experience and enhance their competitiveness in the market.' Niveen El-Far, Director of Grocery & Retail at talabat Egypt, stated:'We always strive to be present on the ground with our local shop partners, listen to their challenges, and work on providing practical, tailored tools that help improve their daily operations, increase their sales, and strengthen their customer engagement.' She continued: 'At talabat Egypt, our constant aim is to achieve high growth rates for our partners by empowering them with the best possible training resources. That's why t-Academy is a vital platform for knowledge exchange and mentorship opportunities, supporting their long-term business success.' The third edition of t-Academy reflects talabat's ongoing commitment to delivering a premium experience to app users in line with their expectations and the platform's organizational goals. The academy is designed to help partners deliver top-tier services that drive growth and excellence. This training marks an important step toward boosting the capabilities of our local partners and enabling them to thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape, ultimately raising the standard of services delivered to customers and contributing to sustainable economic development. About talabat Egypt: talabat is a leading technology platform for online ordering, either food ordering, delivery, and convenience retail marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa. talabat operates in operates in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Iraq. The company aims to support local businesses and provide a seamless shopping experience for customers, ensuring efficiency and convivence in the orders while offering multiple secure payment methods. talabat mart also provides a quick and easy online grocery shopping experience, with home delivery available in over 26 cities.
Arabian Post
11 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Prudential Singapore partners with IMDA to drive SMEs' adoption of Generative AI
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 May 2025 –Prudential Singapore ('Prudential') has launched, a new programme in partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to accelerate the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unveiled by, at ATxEnterprise – an Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) event held today – the programme is in support of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint and aims to equip SMEs with practical knowledge and real-world use cases to strengthen AI adoption. As part of the programme, SMEs will gain access to a series of up to 10 bite-sized explainer videos and up to four hands-on workshops co-created and hosted by Prudential and its Talent Engagement Ecosystem (TEE-Up)1 partner, Republic Polytechnic. The first two videos on GenAI-enabled Customer Engagement Chatbots and GenAI-enabled Sales & Marketing Content Creation will be available on IMDA's CTO-as-a-Service platform for SMEs, and the remaining videos will be rolled out progressively in the second half of 2025. The complementary workshops offered as part of the programme are conducted by Prudential's GenAI domain experts and Republic Polytechnic lecturers. Prudential has been a long-standing supporter of SMEs through its SME Skills Accelerator Programme2, which equips SMEs with the skills and resources to grow and innovate by upskilling and reskilling their employees. In 2022, the insurer had worked with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and ST Engineering to produce a digital commerce playbook to help SMEs kickstart their digital journey in a safe and secure manner3. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Ben Tan, Chief Distribution Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: 'Having been a long-time supporter of SMEs, who are a key pillar of Singapore's economy, we are proud to deepen our commitment by enabling them to gain access to the latest technologies such as GenAI to fuel business growth. Through practical explainer videos and hands-on workshops conducted by us and Republic Polytechnic, one of our Talent Engagement Ecosystem partners, we aim to equip SMEs with the knowledge and skills to apply GenAI meaningfully in their businesses. These efforts are part of the GenAI XPonential programme, delivered in partnership with IMDA, to help SMEs innovate, grow, and stay competitive in today's digital economy.' Mr Johnson Poh, Assistant Chief Executive, Sectoral Transformation Group, IMDA, added: 'In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, it is vital to equip our SMEs with the tools and knowledge to harness GenAI effectively. IMDA welcomes the collaboration with Prudential Singapore to ensure that our SMEs can navigate the complexities of this emerging technology, gain the confidence to use GenAI to boost productivity, and remain competitive in an AI-driven economy.' Collaboration with students to bring GenAI to the fore Students from Republic Polytechnic's Year 2 and 3 cohorts were engaged to develop the GenAI XPonential tech explainer videos. Guided by experts from IMDA and Prudential, these students explored real-world GenAI applications while honing their videography and editing skills. These students were engaged for their digital fluency and to encourage knowledge sharing. Singapore's youth are among the most active users of GenAI, with 80 per cent4 using the technology at least once a week for tasks such as homework or school-related tasks. Ms Wong Wai Ling, Director, School of Infocomm, Republic Polytechnic, said: 'This collaboration exemplifies how industry and education can come together to empower both students and SMEs in the GenAI space. Our students had a unique opportunity to translate classroom learning into practical outcomes, co-creating resources that will help local businesses harness the potential of emerging technologies. We are proud to support Singapore's digital future by equipping youth with real-world skills while contributing to the nation's broader upskilling efforts.' Mr Ben Tan added: 'By involving youth in the creation of educational content for SMEs, the broader initiative nurtures the next generation of AI creators who are confident in using new technologies and eager to drive change. It also encourages intergenerational learning, where students support SMEs in the digital economy, building a future-ready ecosystem grounded in knowledge sharing and innovation.' ADVERTISEMENT This collaboration, supported by the National Youth Council, deepened students' understanding of emerging technologies, served as a platform for them to apply their skills in a real-world setting, and is part of youth outreach initiatives aimed at helping SMEs upskill. 1 For more information, please visit: 2 For more information, please visit For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit 3 For more information, please visit: For more information, please visit: 4 Source: Source: Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore #IMDA #GenAIXPonential The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore) Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country's citizens for 94 years. The company has an AA- Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, with S$57.7 billion funds under management as at 31 December 2024. It delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of more than 5,400 financial representatives. About Infocomm Media Development Authority The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore's Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. For more news and information, visit or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg) Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).
12 hours ago
- Business
Japan to provide US$15bil tariff help to SMEs
Japan's economy contracted by 0.2% in Q1 2025. (EPA Images pic) TOKYO : Japan announced a bundle of measures today worth more than US$15 billion aimed at shielding small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from the impact of US tariffs. The key Washington ally is subject to the same 10% baseline tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on most nations, plus steeper levies on cars, steel and aluminium. 'The ¥2.2 trillion (US$15.5 billion) package will include help with corporate financing and easing of loan conditions at a government-backed lending institution,' said chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. 'We will provide full support for small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the US tariffs,' Hayashi told a news conference. Trump also announced 24% 'reciprocal' tariffs on Japan in early April, but later paused them along with similar measures on other countries until early July. Japan wants all Trump's levies on its exports to the US lifted, with the government's tariffs envoy expected to return to Washington this week for a fourth round of talks. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has suggested that he aims to hammer out an agreement with the US president when they meet at a Group of Seven gathering in Canada next month. Trump's 25% auto tariffs are particularly painful for Tokyo, with roughly 8% of all Japanese jobs tied to the sector. The world's fourth-largest economy contracted 0.2% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, adding to pressure on the unpopular Ishiba ahead of upper house elections expected in July. The government also said today that it will spend ¥288 billion to help families deal with surging electricity and gas prices in the three months to September, when air conditioning demand will surge to fight sweltering heat. The planned assistance should mean utility bills will be cut by ¥3,000 per family over the quarter, Hayashi said, adding that it was also part of efforts to deal with the US tariffs and inflation. The government also plans to increase funds for special grants so that entities such as hospitals and small businesses can deal with energy costs that may fall outside the existing assistance programmes.
