Japan, Malaysia Reaffirm Strategic Industrial Alliance at High-Level Cooperation Seminar
日本與馬來西亞在高階合作研討會上重申戰略產業聯盟
The Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Malaysian Investment Development Authority MIDA) jointly hosted the “New Japan-Malaysia Industrial Cooperation Seminar: Strengthening Industrial Partnership for a Shared Future,” underscoring both nations’ commitment to expanding bilateral industrial collaboration and driving sustainable, high-quality investments. Supported by organizations including Japan External Trade Organization JETRO, Japan Bank for International Cooperation JBIC, MAJECA, JAMECA and JACTIM, the hybrid seminar brought together senior government leaders, industry executives and academic experts from Japan and Malaysia. Key speakers highlighted strong alignment between Malaysia’s industrial roadmap and Japan’s growth strategy, particularly in semiconductors, green transformation, AI, economic security and supply-chain resilience. Officials stressed that the evolving global environment, including geopolitical tensions and economic volatility, has accelerated the shift from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” supply chains, making trusted partnerships between the two countries increasingly vital.
The seminar’s three panel sessions focused on economic security and supply chains, resource and energy security with green transformation, and AI-semiconductors collaboration, with discussions centering on diversification, secure access to strategic materials, decarbonisation initiatives such as CCS and ammonia cooperation, and opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Speakers emphasized Malaysia’s growing role as a trusted LNG supplier and a strategic anchor for Japan’s long-term business resilience in the Indo-Pacific. The event also spotlighted Malaysia’s record RM426.7 billion in approved investments in 2025, an 11% year-on-year increase, with Japan ranking as the fourth-largest foreign investor, contributing RM7.6 billion. As both nations look ahead to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the seminar reaffirmed a shared vision for a resilient, innovation-driven and sustainable economic partnership across strategic industries.
編按：在「新日馬產業合作研討會」上，日本和馬來西亞重申了深化產業合作的承諾。研討會聚焦於半導體、綠色轉型、人工智慧和供應鏈韌性等領域。這項活動凸顯了馬來西亞作為值得信賴的能源供應國和投資中心，其角色日益重要 ; 日本是馬來西亞第四大外國直接投資的來源國。兩國即將迎來建交70週年紀念。
Selangor Launches Token-X to Accelerate Malaysia’s Web3 and Digital Asset Growth
雪蘭莪州推出 Token-X，加速馬來西亞 Web3 和數位資產成長
The Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) has launched Token-X, a new accelerator programme aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s position in digital assets, blockchain innovation and the emerging Web3 economy. Introduced under Sidec’s broader Triple-X Accelerator framework, the initiative is designed to help high-potential startups and scale-ups build, validate and scale solutions in digital finance and tokenisation. According to Sidec, Token-X will focus on five major verticals: real-world asset tokenisation, commodities and carbon credits, digital securities and token offerings, blockchain infrastructure and regtech solutions, and digital intellectual property and NFT innovation, creating a structured pathway for founders to move from concept to market-ready deployment.
Sidec said the programme will provide innovators with a structured accelerator environment that combines technology, business strategy and regulatory readiness, ensuring that solutions are not only cutting-edge but also commercially viable and compliant. Chief executive Yong Kai Ping said the initiative reflects Selangor’s ambition to build a future-ready digital economy by enabling founders to transition beyond experimentation into real-world use cases. He noted that as digital assets and tokenisation continue to reshape industries globally, Token-X aims to support the development of scalable and impactful solutions that can position Malaysia at the forefront of the next wave of financial and technological transformation.
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/799613
編者按：Sidec 推出了 Token-X，這是其 Triple-X 框架下的一個全新加速器項目，旨在驅動馬來西亞在數位資產、區塊鏈創新和 Web3 領域的領先地位。該項目將幫助新創公司在五個垂直領域（從資產代幣化到 NFT）擴展解決方案，確保商業可行性、符合監管要求，使馬來西亞在數位轉型中處於領先地位。
Sarawak Advances AI Integration in Public Services Under Digital Economy Blueprint
砂拉越在數位經濟藍圖下推動公共服務中的人工智慧融合
Two years after launching the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030, Sarawak has begun embedding artificial intelligence into its public sector through citizen-facing digital services and the establishment of the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC). A key initiative includes the rollout of Dayang, a virtual AI assistant designed to help users access government services such as welfare support and utility information via the state’s official portal. Early efforts focused on small-scale experimentation—such as integrating analytics into service platforms—which improved efficiency and policymaking insights. This has since evolved into a broader policy push, with the 2026 state budget prioritising digital transformation in tourism and agriculture, supported by RM213 million in funding, while also addressing demographic challenges like an ageing population and declining fertility rates through AI-driven automation and welfare solutions.
Despite growing momentum, AI adoption across both public and private sectors remains at an early stage, with many organisations relying on basic, off-the-shelf tools. Experts highlight challenges including data fragmentation, talent shortages, high implementation costs and limited private sector participation, which risk slowing progress. Industry voices are calling for stronger collaboration, local data infrastructure and a shift towards integrated digital ecosystems, including a “government-as-a-platform” model to enable seamless data sharing and innovation. While partnerships with global players and initiatives like SarawakPass aim to strengthen digital foundations, analysts stress that inclusive, talent-driven and interoperable AI deployment will be critical for Sarawak to achieve its 2030 goals and build a resilient, knowledge-based economy.
https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/799399
編按：砂拉越正透過將人工智慧融入公共服務、成立砂拉越人工智慧中心以及推出虛擬助理Dayang方便公民獲取政府服務，來推動其「2030年數位經濟藍圖」。儘管大量預算撥款到位，發展動能強勁，但數據資料零落分散、人才短缺和私營部門參與程度有限等挑戰，凸顯了在實現其2030年目標的進程中，加強合作和構建一體化生態系統的必要性。
Microsoft to Invest Over US$1 Billion in Thailand for Cloud and AI Expansion
微軟將在泰國投資超過10億美元於雲端運算和人工智慧擴張
Microsoft will invest more than US$1 billion in Thailand over the next two years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, as demand for AI computing continues to surge across Southeast Asia. The investment, announced after a meeting between Microsoft vice chair Brad Smith and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, will be used to enlarge the company’s data-centre footprint in the country while also strengthening local talent through upskilling initiatives. Microsoft said the move will further support cybersecurity and sovereign technology capabilities, helping improve national resilience while accelerating AI adoption across Thailand’s workforce and broader economy.
The investment forms part of Microsoft’s broader regional expansion strategy, as the company ramps up cloud services to meet rising AI demand across Asia. Executives said the initiative aims to narrow the gap in AI diffusion between advanced and developing economies, positioning Thailand as a stronger digital hub in the region. The announcement follows Microsoft’s recent multibillion-dollar commitments in Indonesia, Malaysia and India, as well as its plan to double global data-centre capacity over the next two years despite ongoing hardware supply constraints affecting AI infrastructure worldwide.
編按：微軟宣佈在泰國投資超過10億美元，用於擴展其雲端和人工智慧基礎設施，為其東南亞的擴張邁出了重要一步。與泰國政府諮詢後，計劃的重點在於擴大資料中心容量、提升網路安全以及培養本地人才。微軟希望透過增強國家數位化韌性並加速技術應用，將泰國打造成為區域數位中心。此舉與微軟在印尼和馬來西亞等更廣泛區域的承諾一致，致力於填補全球人工智慧差距並滿足不斷增長的需求。
Thailand Draft Policy Targets Faster Growth Through AI, Regulatory Reform and SME Support
泰國改革政策草案旨在透過人工智慧、監管改革和扶持中小企業來加快成長
Thailand is preparing a broad package of economic and administrative reforms aimed at accelerating growth, reducing business costs and modernising public services through technology, according to a draft policy statement set to be delivered by the prime minister later this week. The draft outlines plans to support small and medium-sized enterprises, improve access to financing and channel investments into artificial intelligence, semiconductors and clean energy. A major feature is the fast-tracking of an omnibus law within the year to remove outdated regulations that have slowed business activity, alongside the rollout of a “super license” within 180 days to digitise state services and significantly reduce bureaucracy.
The proposed reforms also include using big data and AI in agriculture to better align supply and demand, boost farmer incomes and strengthen food exports, while education reforms will focus on online learning, workforce skills and AI-era training. Additional measures cover healthcare upgrades, social security improvements and expanded support for Thailand’s ageing population. On tourism, the government plans to introduce more flexible visa policies to encourage longer visitor stays after arrivals fell 2.3% year-on-year to 9.17 million between January and March 29. Business leaders now expect about 32 million foreign arrivals in 2026, still below the pre-pandemic peak of nearly 40 million, while the country’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 has been revised down to 1.2%–1.6%, compared with 2.4% growth last year, highlighting the urgency behind the reform agenda.
編按：泰國改革政策草案旨在透過支持中小企業、投資人工智慧、半導體和清潔能源，以及透過綜合性法律和數位化「超級執照」的審批來精簡官僚機構，加速經濟成長。其他針對農業、教育、醫療保健、觀光旅遊和社會安全的措施，反映出在GDP成長放緩以及外國遊客人數仍低於疫情前水準的情況下，全面改革的迫切性。
Thailand’s Fuel Crisis Puts EV Transition in Spotlight as Policy Gaps Emerge
泰國燃油危機凸顯電動車轉型的重要性，政策缺口也隨之浮現
When Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived at Government House in a BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV for three consecutive days during Thailand’s 2026 fuel crisis, the move was widely seen as a deliberate political message on the country’s electric vehicle future. With oil prices nearing US$100 per barrel, petrol costs jumping 6 baht per litre overnight, and panic buying pushing national fuel use above 80 million litres a day, the prime minister’s highly visible switch from his Rolls-Royce to a Chinese-made EV underscored the government’s commitment to the 30@30 EV policy and framed electric mobility as a response to energy insecurity. The symbolism comes amid rapid momentum in Thailand’s EV market, where battery electric vehicle registrations surged 80% in 2025 to 120,301 units, supported by more than 137 billion baht in supply-chain investments and strong backing from manufacturers such as BYD, whose Rayong plant is now producing locally.
However, the moment also exposed deeper structural concerns over affordability, industrial dependency and public trust. Critics noted that a 1.3 million baht premium EV is far beyond the reach of ordinary Thais still reliant on diesel pickups and petrol vehicles for work, highlighting the widening gap between policy ambition and social reality. Analysts warn that while rising fuel prices have made EV ownership costs far more attractive, the same inflation shock is eroding household purchasing power. At the same time, Chinese brands now command more than 70% of Thailand’s BEV market, intensifying concerns over reliance on Chinese capital and supply chains while traditional Japanese automakers scale back local production. With risks ranging from worker displacement and weak after-sales standards to Thailand’s still 85% fossil-fuel-based power grid, experts say the next phase of policy must focus on affordable EVs, local content rules, clean electricity and workforce transition support if Thailand is to sustain public confidence and secure its ambition of becoming ASEAN’s leading EV hub.
https://www.mcg-asia.com/featured-insights/thailand-ev-policy-2026
編按：泰國的燃油危機凸顯了該國轉型為電動車的重要性。在油價飆升和恐慌性搶購潮下，總理象徵性地採用比亞迪電動休旅車，彰顯了泰國政府的政策承諾。儘管電動車的普及率正在上升，但人們對價格的接受度、對中國品牌的依賴以及石化燃料主導的能源網絡的擔憂，凸顯了優先發展平價車型、清潔能源和支持勞工轉型等政策，在贏得公眾持續信任的必要性。
AI Could Transform Thailand’s Investment Landscape, Says Liberator Securities CEO
Liberator Securities執行長表示，人工智慧或將改變泰國的投資樣貌
Watanya Bunnag says artificial intelligence is emerging as a new layer of financial infrastructure in Thailand, with the potential to reduce investment inequality and open the market to far more retail investors. Speaking at the AI Revolution Shift 2026: Shaking the Global Economy seminar, the Liberator Securities co-chief executive noted that while roughly 80% of Thais hold savings accounts, representing around 55–60 million accounts, fewer than 4 million investment accounts exist—just 6% of the population. She said this stark gap highlights how many Thais still rely on traditional savings rather than wealth-building investments, often because investing feels complex and inaccessible, while the sheer volume of unfiltered information makes decision-making overwhelming.
To address this, Liberator is developing AI-powered tools for retail investors, including portfolio-specific news screening, timing signals for trades and automated portfolio monitoring with rebalancing functions, all expected to launch this year. Watanya said capabilities once reserved for institutional and high-net-worth investors can now become widely available to ordinary people, helping them build confidence and make better-informed decisions rather than replacing human judgment. She added that broader AI adoption in finance will require clearer regulatory frameworks, stronger public education and anti-fraud safeguards, particularly against threats such as deepfake voices and images. If paired with improved financial literacy, she said AI could play a critical role in narrowing inequality and strengthening long-term financial security in Thailand.
https://www.nationthailand.com/business/banking-finance/40064508
編按：Liberator Securities執行長Watanya Bunnag指稱人工智慧在泰國實現金融民主化的潛力，讓一般儲蓄者更容易接觸投資工具，從而填補數百萬儲蓄帳戶與少數投資帳戶之間的鴻溝。 Liberator Securities正在為散戶型零售投資人開發人工智慧解決方案，但要實現更廣泛應用的同時，還需要更強有力的監管、教育和保障措施，以確保金融普惠與安全。
True Corporation Bets on Three-Pillar AI Strategy to Boost Thailand’s Productivity and Growth
True Corporation押注人工智慧策略的三大支柱，提升泰國生產力和成長
True Corporation is intensifying its push to become an AI-native organisation, positioning artificial intelligence as a key driver of productivity, new revenue streams and Thailand’s broader digital competitiveness. Speaking at the AI Revolution Shift 2026: Shaking the Global Economy seminar, chief data and AI officer Joao Pedro Azevedo Oliviera said the company sees its role as extending beyond corporate growth to helping accelerate Thailand’s transition into the AI era. He described AI as evolving from an emerging technology into an economic “superpower,” with True’s transformation built around three strategic pillars: “AI for All”, “AI Powered Operations” and “AI Growth Engine.” The first pillar focuses on equipping employees, customers and the public with the skills, tools and safe-use knowledge needed to fully participate in the AI economy.
The second and third pillars centre on operational transformation and revenue creation. In telecom network management, True’s AI-powered “Genie” system now uses agentic AI capabilities to predict disruptions, reroute traffic in real time and self-heal network issues, significantly improving stability while lowering costs. On the growth side, the company is deepening investments in hyper-personalisation, customer analytics and generative AI-powered services, including its assistant “Mali,” which supports customers through chat and voice to resolve issues faster and improve satisfaction. Oliviera said AI is also transforming software engineering, coding and digital marketing by dramatically increasing productivity and enabling creative work at scale. He stressed that True’s long-term investment in data analytics, machine learning and talent development gives it a strong human-capital advantage, adding that continuous learning will be the decisive factor in the fast-arriving AI economy.
https://www.nationthailand.com/business/tech/40064507
編按：True Corporation 正在加速轉型為人工智慧原生企業，利用人工智慧提升生產力、創造新的收入來源並增強泰國的數位化競爭力。其人工智慧之三大策略支柱涵蓋 : 為全民提供人工智慧技能培訓、在電信營運中部署代理式人工智慧，以及投資高度個人化和生成式人工智慧服務；堅信公司的長期成功取決於持續學習和人才培養。
Thailand’s Banking 5.0 Push Gains Pace as AI Fraud Risks Trigger Tighter Oversight
人工智慧詐欺風險啟動更嚴格的監管，泰國銀行業5.0轉型步伐加快
Thailand’s financial sector is approaching a major inflection point as “Banking 5.0”—defined by hyper-personalised, AI-driven and human-centric services—converges with a sharp rise in sophisticated financial scams. According to SAS Institute Thailand, generative AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to becoming core banking infrastructure, enabling stronger automation, faster fraud detection, smarter credit decisions and end-to-end personalisation. At the same time, scam networks are becoming increasingly organised and industrialised, with an estimated 73% of Thais exposed to scam risks and 47% already experiencing fraud. SAS Thailand managing director Nutapone Apiluktoyanunt said regulators, including the Bank of Thailand, are accelerating AI-based supervision to improve anti-scam measures, consumer protection and market surveillance, shifting oversight from retrospective reporting to real-time, data-driven intervention.
The growing use of high-velocity payment rails, stablecoins and AI-powered authorised push payment scams is creating new blind spots, prompting authorities to tighten scrutiny as stablecoin trading volumes climb to around 2.8 billion baht daily. SAS executives say the next challenge is ensuring AI deployment remains safe, transparent and compliant under increasingly strict regulatory expectations, particularly around governance, cybersecurity, vendor management and consumer protection. Experts also highlighted rising threats from synthetic identity fraud, behavioural bot attacks and fragmented data-sharing systems, warning that siloed transaction data continues to weaken system-wide fraud prevention. As banks expand into automated lending, behavioural biometrics and real-time verification, analysts say the future of fraud defence in Thailand will depend on how effectively institutions combine AI innovation, cross-industry collaboration and regulatory alignment to transform data into their strongest line of defence.
編按：泰國金融業正邁入「銀行業5.0」時代，面對日益組織化和蔓延的詐騙活動，人工智慧將協助實現高度個人化服務、更快的詐欺偵測和更智慧的信貸決策。監管機構和銀行正在加強監管，增加跨產業合作的投入。未來防範詐騙的關鍵在於安全透明的人工智慧部署、更強大的資料共享以及即時保護措施。