Reeracoen Group x Rakuten Insight survey shows Singapore businesses are investing in AI and targeted hiring to build future-ready workforces

SINGAPORE, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Singaporean businesses are strengthening workforce capability through targeted hiring and increased investment in AI and technology, according to The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026, published by Reeracoen Group in partnership with Rakuten Insight.

Among the subset of Singapore businesses reporting improving revenue, 52% continue to hire selectively while 23% are expanding headcount, suggesting organisations are prioritising critical capabilities and long-term productivity as they prepare for future growth. Singapore also recorded the highest proportion of businesses identifying AI and technology as a growth opportunity among the six ASEAN markets surveyed.

Striking a Balance: Businesses Combine Selective Hiring with Investment in AI, Technology and Operational Capabilities

With Singaporean businesses adopting a more strategic approach to growth and workforce planning, selective hiring remains the dominant hiring stance at 32%, as employers focus on building the capabilities needed for future growth.

“Today’s hiring environment is no longer about filling vacancies quickly. Employers are becoming more deliberate in identifying the capabilities they need to support long-term business priorities. Organisations that clearly define critical roles and invest in workforce capability will be better positioned to attract and retain the right talent,” said Shoichi Sunaga, Branch Manager, Reeracoen Singapore.

Singapore leads the six markets surveyed in AI and technology investment intent, with 33% of businesses citing AI and technology as a top growth opportunity. Operational efficiency (40%) and supply chain diversification (26%) are also key priorities, reflecting how technology, workforce and business strategies are increasingly shaped by digitalisation.

“What stands out in Singapore is how businesses are balancing a measured outlook with continued investment in future capabilities. The strong focus on AI, technology and operational efficiency suggests that businesses are not simply responding to uncertainty, but actively positioning themselves for longer-term growth,” said Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight.

Strategic Pragmatists: A Selective Labour Market That Values Stability

Just 13% of Singapore-based workers surveyed indicated that they are interested in a career change, the lowest in the ASEAN region. This figure suggests a workforce that values stability and is selective when it comes to job hunting. Of the comparatively small proportion of Singapore-based respondents considering a career change, 32% cite AI and automation as their primary motivator — the second-highest proportion among the six markets surveyed, behind Vietnam (39%).

As a nation of strategic pragmatists, consumers surveyed in Singapore are prioritising financial resilience, with saving emerging as the top financial response (59%).

For the full six-market findings, including country-by-country profiles and a Leadership Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional expansion, download The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026.

Download the report at:
https://www.reeracoen.sg/en/events/client-the-great-restructuring-ASEAN-consumer-business-pulse-survey-2026?utm_source=sg_pr&utm_medium=cta&utm_id=asean-whitepaper-2026

About Reeracoen Group

Reeracoen is a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, connecting talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep local market expertise with cross-border recruitment capabilities to support sustainable business growth.

Beyond recruitment, Reeracoen provides market intelligence, workforce insights, salary research, and employer advisory services, helping organisations make informed talent and business decisions in an evolving regional economy.

Reeracoen’s commitment to service excellence has been recognised through multiple industry awards, including Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2025, 2026), Client Service Excellence Award (2026), Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2024), and Best Executive Recruitment Agency (2024).

For more information, visit www.reeracoen.sg.

About Rakuten Insight

Rakuten Insight, Inc. is a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo.

Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets and the United States, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions.

With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.

SYDNEY, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Avalara, Inc., the agentic AI leader in global tax and compliance, today announced that after a thorough evaluation of its strategies and capabilities, the company has been positioned in the Leaders Category in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide E-Invoicing Compliance Solutions 2026 Vendor Assessment (doc #EUR154882626, September 2026).

According to the IDC MarketScape, “Avalara’s harmonized UBL model and single global API let customers integrate once and activate countries via configuration.” The report also noted, “Avalara supports a wide mandate footprint with an ambitious expansion road map, and customers expressed confidence in its depth of compliance expertise.”

“To us, being recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide E-Invoicing Compliance Solutions reflects the trust our customers place in us to navigate one of the most complex and fast-moving compliance landscapes in the world,” said Jayme Fishman, Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Avalara. “As governments continue to accelerate e-invoicing mandates across every region, we’re committed to making it faster and easier for businesses to stay compliant everywhere, without the burden of managing country-by-country solutions.”

With Avalara E-Invoicing and Live Reporting (ELR), businesses integrate once and activate individual country mandates through configuration rather than repeated reimplementation. Built on a single global API and a harmonized data model, Avalara ELR supports clearance/CTC, post-audit, and hybrid e-reporting architectures through pre-built, country-specific workflows. The Avalara solution integrates with leading ERP and accounting platforms, as well as ecommerce and billing systems.

AI is also embedded within Avalara ELR, including error interpretation through Avi Insights, natural-language document search, and intelligent document processing, with further agentic capabilities planned.

“The global e-invoicing mandate landscape is expanding at a pace that challenges even the most well-resourced finance and IT teams,” said Kevin Permenter, Research Director, Financial Applications, IDC. “Avalara’s ability to offer a single global API with country-specific activation through configuration addresses one of the core pain points we see across midmarket and enterprise buyers. Combined with predictable, transaction-based pricing and a proven compliance track record, Avalara demonstrates the hallmarks of a vendor well-positioned to scale alongside the mandates its customers face.”

About Avalara
Avalara is the agentic AI platform for global tax and compliance. For more than two decades, Avalara has built one of the most expansive libraries of tax content and integrations in the industry, processing more than 54 billion transactions annually and supporting millions of businesses worldwide. The company’s purpose-built AI agents automate end-to-end compliance with greater precision, from tax calculations and return filings to exemption certificate management and beyond. For more information, visit Avalara.com.

About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.

• The Fund adopts a single management fee structure with annual ongoing charges fixed at 0.49%¹, the lowest among Hong Kong peers.
• Tracking 200 recognised Korean companies, including global tech leaders at the heart of the AI supply chain.

HONG KONG, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mirae Asset Global Investments (Hong Kong) Limited (“Mirae Asset (Hong Kong)”), through its Global X ETFs brand, is pleased to announce the launch of the Global X KOSPI 200 ETF (the “Fund”, Stock Codes: 3408/9408). The Fund will list on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on 15 September with an initial listing price of KRW1,500 per share and a board lot size of 100 shares.

Korea occupies a strategically important position in the global technology ecosystem, particularly across semiconductors, AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, batteries and automobiles. The Fund tracks the performance of the KOSPI 200 Index, a widely recognised benchmark for the Korean equity market comprising 200 leading companies listed in Korea.

With annual ongoing charges fixed at 0.49%¹, the Fund offers Hong Kong investors a cost-efficient way to gain broad exposure to Korea’s leading companies and long-term economic development. 

Dennis Fok, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, ETF, Mirae Asset Global Investments (Hong Kong) Limited, said:

“We are committed to helping Hong Kong investors access compelling opportunities across global markets through our expanding range of Global X ETFs. The KOSPI 200 index offers diversified exposure to Korea’s leading companies, including global technology leaders playing a pivotal role in the AI ecosystem. The Global X KOSPI 200 ETF provides investors with a cost-efficient way to participate in the long-term growth potential of the Korean market.”

About Mirae Asset Financial Group

Mirae Asset Global Investments (“Mirae Asset”) manages more than US$439 billion in assets.^[2]

The firm offers a broad range of investment products, including mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), and alternative investments. Mirae Asset operates in 25 offices worldwide and employs more than 1,000 professionals, including over 265 investment specialists.²

Mirae Asset’s global ETF platform comprises more than 768 ETFs², providing investors with high-quality, cost-effective investment solutions across emerging themes and disruptive technologies. The firm manages approximately US$275 billion in ETF assets ², with ETF listings across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Europe, and the United States. ²

About Global X ETFs

Founded in 2008, Global X ETFs has, for more than a decade, been committed to providing investors with innovative and thoughtful investment solutions. The firm offers a lineup of 499 ETF strategies² with over US$169.6 billion in assets under management.²

Global X is widely recognized for its thematic growth, income, and international market ETFs and is a member of the Mirae Asset Financial Group. 

Mirae Asset Global Investments Hong Kong (English website): https://www.am.miraeasset.com.hk/

Global X ETFs Hong Kong website: https://www.globalxetfs.com.hk/

Investors should not base investment decisions on this website alone. Please refer to the Prospectus for details including the product features and the risk factors. Investment involves risks. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. There is no guarantee of the repayment of the principal. Investors should note:

The investment objective of the Global X KOSPI 200 ETF (the “Fund”) is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the KOSPI 200 Index.

The Fund is exposed to concentration risk by tracking a specific region or country (South Korea). The value of the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political, policy, foreign exchange, liquidity, tax, legal or regulatory events affecting the South Korean market.

The Korean market is subject to high volatility as a result of high retail trading participation, as well as sudden regulatory shifts and shifts in market sentiment. Trading in the Korean market is also subject to circuit breakers and daily price limits.

The underlying index of the Fund is heavily concentrated in its top two constituents (i.e. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc., which may account for more than 50% of this product’s Net Asset Value) which are of the same sector (i.e. the electronics and technology hardware industry, focusing on the semiconductor business), making the Fund potentially more volatile than a fund with a diversified portfolio.

The constituents of the Index include large- or mega-capitalisation companies, which may be subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion and may struggle with flexibility to respond quickly to disruptions and changes in trends.

The base currency of the Fund is KRW but the trading currency of the Fund is in HKD and USD. The NAV of the Fund and its performance may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rates between these currencies and the base currency and by changes in exchange rate controls.

The trading price of the Fund’s unit on the SEHK is driven by secondary market trading factors, which may lead to a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value.

The Manager may at its discretion pay dividends out of the capital of the Fund. Distributions paid out of capital, represent a return of an investor’s original investment or its gains and may potentially reduce the Fund’s Net Asset Value per Share as well as the capital available for future investment.

The Fund may suffer from losses or delays when recovering the securities lent out. This may potentially affect its ability to meet payment and redemption obligations. Collateral shortfalls due to inaccurate pricing or change of value of securities lent, may cause significant losses to the Fund.

Copyright © 2026 Mirae Asset Global Investments. All rights reserved. COM-27.Aug.2026–3416-Media / Website-Others

Recognition Reflects Corero’s Channel-First Strategy and Growing Partner Ecosystem

LONDON, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Corero Network Security (AIM: CNS) (OTCQX: DDOSF), the distributed denial of service (“DDoS”) protection specialists and champion of adaptive, real-time service availability, today announced it has been named Best in Channel-First Cybersecurity Distribution at the CybersecAsia Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.

The recognition comes after Corero secured the highest number of reader votes in the category, underscoring its channel-first strategy and leadership in cybersecurity distribution.

“This recognition means a great deal, because it comes directly from the customers and partners we work to serve every day,” said Carl Herberger, CEO at Corero Network Security. “Being named a channel-first leader validates a strategy we’ve invested in deliberately, one built to help organizations across the region stay resilient and secure.”

“These results speak directly to the relationships we’ve built with our channel partners across the region,” said Michelle Ragusa-McBain, Global Vice President of Channels, Alliances, and Partner Marketing at Corero Network Security. “Our approach is built around making it easier for partners to deliver enterprise-grade DDoS protection to their customers, and this recognition is a testament to that ecosystem.”

The recognition also reflects the strength of Corero’s growing footprint internationally.

“This award is a strong signal of the momentum we’re building across international markets,” said Adrian Crawley, Vice President of International Sales at Corero Network Security. “Our partners are on the front lines with customers every day, and this recognition reflects the trust they’ve placed in us as we continue to expand our presence in the region.”

The CybersecAsia Readers’ Choice Awards recognize organizations voted on directly by the publication’s readership, spotlighting vendors and channel partners making a measurable impact across the cybersecurity industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

About Corero Network Security

Corero Network Security is a leading provider of DDoS protection solutions, specializing in automatic detection and protection solutions with network visibility, analytics, and reporting tools. Corero’s technology protects against external and internal DDoS threats in complex edge and subscriber environments, ensuring internet service availability. With operational centers in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, and Edinburgh, UK, Corero is headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market (ticker: CNS) and the US OTCQX Market (OTCQX: DDOSF).

TAIPEI, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QBit Semiconductor (TWO: 7913), a Taiwan-based fabless IC design leader in high-end image processing and motion control, unveiled its robotics and drone chipset roadmap at SEMICON Taiwan 2026, targeting Physical AI control opportunities.

To address space and power constraints in Dexterous Robotic Hands with over 20 degrees of freedom, QBit introduced the highly integrated QB88XX series. The SoC consolidates multi-joint control onto a single chip, reducing system costs and energy consumption. Built on a Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC) architecture, it combines quad-core Arm Cortex-A78 processors and an NPU to execute brain commands, in addition, the Arm Cortex-M7, TGEN, and secondary NPU for motor servo control. Supporting up to 32 motors and AI servo tuning, it integrates PCIe, USB, CAN Bus, and camera interfaces for robotic arms and industrial automation.

For Drones, QBit is executing a two-phase strategy:

• Phase 1 (2026–2028): Penetrating entry-level markets with the QB77XX, supporting up to 32GB LPDDR5/5X, PCIe, USB 3.2, and GbE. Powered by TGEN and Cortex-M33 for real-time flight control, it reduces board counts across mission computers and flight controllers.
• Phase 2 (2029 Onward): Launching a drone-dedicated QB88XX SoC unifying flight control and mission computing into a single chip with optical flow control and target tracking.

QBit also demonstrated its QB77XX single-object tracking solution, maintaining locks during visual occlusions (tested at relative speeds up to 60 km/h with 10–15 minute flight times). Multi-object tracking will be showcased in Q4 2026.

For cybersecurity, QBit’s QB7 series passed U.S. NIST CAVP validation for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) ML-DSA algorithms in 2025. The drone solutions incorporate PQC-secured boot for device authentication and firmware defense.

About QBit Semiconductor:
Headquartered in Taiwan, QBit Semiconductor (TWO: 7913) is a fabless IC design company specializing in high-end image processing, precision motion control, Edge AI, and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) SoCs, delivering one-stop ASIC design and system integration for robotics, drones, and secure terminals.

Media Contact: media@qbitsemi.com

HANNOVER, Germany, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GAC Commercial Vehicle debuted at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 under the theme “Delivering the Future Together”, showcasing products, technologies and open-ecosystem achievements across its new-energy heavy and light commercial vehicle businesses.

GAC Commercial Vehicle partners with Pony.ai and Aulton to showcase L4 autonomous driving and efficient battery-swapping solutions based on GAC’s T9 truck. The company’s new light commercial vehicle brand MONTX made its overseas debut with its P10 and V10 concept vehicles, All-Domain Adaptive Architecture (ADAA) and MONTX Makers, its global user product co-creation initiative. The production SMILODON Pro pickup was also displayed.

“Our debut at IAA TRANSPORTATION, one of the world’s most important stages for the commercial vehicle industry, is a key milestone in GAC Commercial Vehicle’s globalization journey. Taking products global is only the starting point; taking our ecosystem global represents a new stage of value co-creation. Leveraging GAC Group’s global resources and working with partners worldwide, we will bring both our vehicle technologies and collaborative ecosystem to global markets, jointly advancing the new-energy commercial vehicle industry toward a more efficient, intelligent and sustainable future,” said Jimmy Du, COO of GAC Commercial Vehicle.

Building on Strength to Accelerate Global Expansion

Building on the mature systems developed through the long-standing GAC Hino joint venture, GAC Commercial Vehicle has nearly two decades of commercial vehicle expertise in R&D, manufacturing and quality management and benefits from the Group’s supply chain and global resources.

GAC Commercial Vehicle’s sales soared 205% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. It is accelerating its global expansion by taking both its products and ecosystem global, building on its domestic new-energy business and leveraging the GAC Group’s sales and service network across 110 countries and regions.

Advancing Through Intelligence to Create Operational Value

GAC’s heavy commercial vehicle business focuses on new-energy heavy-duty trucks. The T9 Robotruck combines Pony.ai’s 4th Generation Autonomous Driving Technology with GAC’s fully redundant drive-by-wire chassis. Its automotive-grade suite includes nine LiDARs, three radars and 13 cameras. Compared with the previous generation, hardware costs are 70% lower and autonomous-driving transportation cost per ton-kilometer is approximately 30% lower, improving efficiency in long-haul, dedicated-route and port transportation.

The T9 Battery Swap EV Tractor combines an electric drive axle with a 603 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, delivering up to 475 km of range with combined energy consumption as low as 1.2 kWh/km. Aulton’s system enables a full-vehicle battery swap in approximately three to five minutes, reducing downtime and improving vehicle utilization. Charging and battery swapping are complementary solutions for different scenarios, with swapping particularly valuable for fixed-route, high-frequency operations.

Together, GAC Commercial Vehicle, Pony.ai and Aulton have integrated vehicle + autonomous driving + energy capabilities to shorten technology deployment cycles and accelerate scaled application in real-world operations.

MONTX Opens New Growth Opportunities in Light Commercial Vehicles

MONTX expands GAC Commercial Vehicle into new light commercial vehicle categories, exploring new scenarios and user needs for global users. Its P10 and V10 concept vehicles embody All-Domain Aesthetics, All-Domain Adaptability and All-Domain Intelligence.

The MONTX P10 is positioned as the All-Domain Integrated Mobility Platform. It targets explorers and outdoor professionals and is tailor-made for extreme environments. Four distributed drive motors, AI Camp Mode and Intelligent Trailering Assist enhance adaptability across complex terrain for remote exploration, field research and off-road expeditions.

The MONTX V10, positioned as The All-Domain Mobile Station, addresses the needs of digital nomads, creators and travelers. Its modular interior, Dual-Drive Smart Cabin and off-grid self-sustaining capabilities enable seamless transitions between work, rest, socializing and exploration, extending the vehicle into a platform for mobile work and living.

MONTX also unveiled its All-Domain Adaptive Architecture (ADAA). Built with a Multi-Energy by Design, Body-on-Frame by Design and Adaptive Intelligence by Design philosophy, ADAA enables one architecture to accommodate multiple energy types, vehicle forms and applications, improving development efficiency and adaptability across diverse global markets.

MONTX also launched MONTX Makers, its global user co-creation initiative, under “Ideas In. Drive Out.” The program lets users help define future products by incorporating their needs early on in its product design and development process. MONTX Makers may receive MONTX Pioneer Co-Creator recognition, opportunities to attend global brand events and exclusive owner benefits.

The SMILODON Pro production model complements the MONTX concept cars, offering cargo capacity, ride comfort and multi-scenario adaptability for business and everyday life. Already available in Central and South America and the Middle East, it is planned to be available in around 30 countries by the end of 2026.

Delivering the Future Together

GAC Commercial Vehicle will continue strengthening its products through vehicle R&D and manufacturing while connecting global users and partners through its open ecosystem to create greater value and advance its international growth.

Official Website: https://www.gaccv.com/