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CGS International Successfully Concludes ASEAN Investment Challenge 2024 with Malaysian Winner

ASEAN Investment Challenge (AIC) 2024 brings together more than 5,000 higher education students for an insightful journey into responsible investing

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International Islamic University Malaysia’s Azre Nazerul Rahman clinched first place at CGS International Securities (CGS International)’s annual AIC 2024. The competition brought together top teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand – collectively known as M.I.S.T – who faced off in a high-stakes finale held at Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on 13 February.

Finalists of AIC 2024 at Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur
Finalists of AIC 2024 at Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur

Contestants presented their investment strategies before a panel of judges comprising professionals from each country’s stock exchange. After a rigorous assessment, the champion walked away with a grand prize of over S$20,000.

Mr Kevin Lee, Group Head of Sustainability of CGS International, said: “AIC 2024 has once again highlighted the potential of our future leaders in finance. We hope their 8-month journey with AIC has provided them with a solid foundation in lifelong financial management skills, including the incorporation of ESG in their investment practices. Through initiatives such as AIC, CGS International is dedicated to empower the communities for a more sustainable tomorrow.”

The final placings for AIC 2024 are as follows:

  1. Malaysia: Azre Nazerul Rahman, International Islamic University Malaysia
  2. Indonesia: Ali Alexander, Universitas Gadjah Mada
  3. Singapore: Team Scoop, Republic Polytechnic
  4. Thailand: Naradith Aparprasith, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang

Carol Fong, Group CEO of CGS International, said: “Looking at the talent here today, I am reminded of the significance of AIC as a beacon to build the next generation of finance leaders.

My heartiest congratulations to our four teams who made it to the finals. They stood out from over 5,000 participants with their thoughtful, innovative investment strategies – showing not just a sound grasp of market principles, but also a good knowledge of sustainable and responsible investing. In the end, Azre Nazerul from Malaysia excelled with his holistic investment strategy and impressive presentation.”

This year’s challenge saw the participation of over 5,000 students from 500 institutions of higher learning in M.I.S.T. Notably, AIC is the only investment challenge backed by all four local stock exchanges: Bursa Malaysia, Indonesia Stock Exchange, Singapore Exchange, and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

A key highlight of AIC 2024 was the introduction of a new judging element, which evaluated participants’ portfolio performance against benchmark returns, offering a fresh perspective on investment success.

CGS International aims to encourage sustainable investing amongst the new generation. The Challenge imparts investment fundamentals, including ESG investing and risk management. The participants receive practical training in addition to theory lessons from CGS International’s investment experts. Winners are also offered internships with the Group to put their new skills to practice, making it a truly holistic learning experience.

Azre Nazerul, International Islamic University Malaysia and AIC 2024 winner, said: “Like so many of my peers, I have wanted to start investing for a while but lacked the know-how. Hence, when AIC came to our school, many of us took the chance to learn. Throughout the challenge, CGS International provided us with many tools and resources to hone our investment skills. I really appreciated the opportunity to try our hand at investing without having to take on any actual risks. With the benchmark returns as part of the judging criteria this year, we could also tell how well our portfolios performed against industry benchmarks. This was immensely useful in our own performance evaluation.”  

The next AIC will be launched on 8 April 2025 at the ASEAN Investment Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

About the ASEAN Investment Challenge

The ASEAN Investment Challenge (AIC) is CGS International’s flagship youth programme to empower students with knowledge in sustainable investing and contribute to the building of strong capital markets in the future. CGS International’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) framework and global and national agendas. The AIC, in particular, embodies Goal 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.    

CGS International is committed to becoming a catalyst for positive change, and empowering students to become conscientious contributors to sustainable investment practices. The AIC stands as a beacon for the future of finance, cultivating the next generation of responsible and knowledgeable investors.

About CGS International Securities

CGS International Securities Pte. Ltd. (CGS International) is an award-winning and market leading integrated financial services provider, ranked among the top securities houses in Asia.

CGS International taps on our wealth of global and ASEAN insights to offer equities trading, leveraged products, wealth management, investment banking, equities research, Shariah-compliant financing, fixed income, currency and commodities, structured products and prime brokerage services in over 15 countries and regions.

Find out more at www.cgsi.com.  

Annex A: List of Judges of ASEAN Investment Challenge 2024

Country

Name

Title and Organisation

Singapore

Mr James Mckeone

APAC Regional Head

Nasdaq

Ms Emelia Tan Wan Yi

Head of SGX Academy (Financial Literacy)

Singapore Exchange

Ms Carol Fong

GCEO

CGS International Securities 

Mr Kevin Lee

Group Head, Sustainability

CGS International Securities

Malaysia

Ms Law Mei Chi

Vice President / Head, Research and Marketing, Investor Strategy and Development

Bursa Malaysia

Ms Azizah Mohd Yatim

CEO

CGS International Securities Malaysia

Indonesia

Mr Rony Suniyanto Djojomartono

Head of Index and ESG Business Development Unit

Indonesia Stock Exchange

Thailand

Ms Nareerat Santhayati

Head, Sustainable Investment Department

The Stock Exchange of Thailand

 

Ampace & TDK to Showcase Cutting-Edge Energy Solutions at Tokyo Smart Energy Week 2025

TOKYO, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The global energy sector is gearing up for one of the most anticipated events of the year. From February 19 to 21, 2025, Ampace and TDK will jointly exhibit at Tokyo Big Sight (Booth E62-18, East Hall 6) during Smart Energy Week, the largest energy exhibition in Asia.

This time, Ampace will showcase its full-stack energy storage solutions, including market-leading home energy storage, intelligent UPS for data centers, award-winning portable power supplies, and commercial and industrial energy storage solutions. These products aim to drive growth in the new energy sector.

Strategic Alliance for Technological Advancement

Ampace, specializes in medium-sized lithium-ion battery solutions for new energy applications with exceptional safety, reliability, and longevity. TDK, a global leader in electronic materials and components, offers strong localized support in Japan.

Since 2022, Ampace and TDK have been working closely to introduce industry-leading ESS solutions for residential, commercial, and smart grid applications. As of 2024, their combined expertise has secured the No.1 market share in Japan’s home ESS sector, with Ampace’s high-performance products and TDK’s expert team at the TDK’s facility (Nagano Pref.) providing full-lifecycle technical and after-sales support.

Commitment to Sustainability

Ampace has established a comprehensive ESG framework spanning the entire supply chain. Through the “Triple-Ring Governance” model—Environmental Compliance (ISO 14001), Social Responsibility (ISO 45001), and Governance (ISO 27001 & 100% Integrity Agreement Rate)—the company is leading its supply chain towards a green and fair transition. Under this system, Ampace has earned the 2024 EcoVadis Bronze Medal, established a low-carbon park, and achieved 26.29MWp rooftop solar generation for self-consumption.

In Japan, this ESG commitment translates into tangible action: TDK’s nationwide waste management certification enables efficient and reliable battery recycling supply chain optimization. This synergy between environmental impact and commercial success has been key to dominating Japan’s home ESS market.

With TDK’s localized after-sales support system, customers can receive full lifecycle local technical and after-sales support, said the Technical Director of Ampace Japan. This combination of technical strength and service excellence reflects Ampace and TDK’s commitment and determination to deeply cultivate the Japanese market.

Ampace & TDK invite global partners to Booth E62-18 at Tokyo Big Sight to explore the future of zero-carbon energy solutions.

Mazda Motor Corp. to Invest 5 Billion Baht to Make Thailand its Electrified Compact SUV Manufacturing Hub

BANGKOK, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — During a meeting with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in Bangkok today, Mr. Masahiro Moro, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the company will invest an additional 5 billion baht (ca US$150 million) in the country to establish Thailand as the manufacturing hub of its electrified compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) product line, for sales in the domestic as well as export markets, a move that reaffirms Mazda’s commitment and strong relationship with Thailand. 

Mazda Motor Corporation is investing ฿5 billion (US$150M) to make Thailand a manufacturing hub for its electrified compact SUVs. The investment will enhance production lines, support hybrid and EV technology, with a production capacity of 100,000 units annually, aimed at both domestic and international markets.
Mazda Motor Corporation is investing ฿5 billion (US$150M) to make Thailand a manufacturing hub for its electrified compact SUVs. The investment will enhance production lines, support hybrid and EV technology, with a production capacity of 100,000 units annually, aimed at both domestic and international markets.

“Mazda’s investment in an electrified compact SUV marks a significant step forward, and the start of a gradual transition to xEV production. With an additional investment of over 5 billion baht, Mazda aims to establish Thailand as the manufacturing hub for its electrified compact SUV products,” Mr. Moro said. “The vehicles to be produced will be high performance compact SUVs that meet international standards, both in terms of environmental friendliness and hybrid technology. This large-scale comprehensive production investment is to support domestic sales and exports to Japan and other countries, such as ASEAN countries, targeting a production of 100,000 units per year.”

“The announcement by Mazda Motor Corporation is a significant investment in the continued development of Thailand as a manufacturing hub for all segments of the automotive industry, and a great endorsement of our policies to support electrification in the sector, including all types of hybrid technology,” Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) who is also the secretary of the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board), said after the meeting. “Mazda’s commitment to Thailand, and its confidence in the country’s capabilities, comes just ahead of the roadshow the BOI will conduct in Japan next week and clearly demonstrates the potential for more Japanese investment in Thailand in the auto as well as other tech sectors.”

Mazda, which has had a presence in Thailand’s car market for over 70 years, has two manufacturing plants in the country, namely AutoAlliance (AAT), established in 1995 to produce passenger cars and commercial vehicles for both domestic and export sales, and Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand (MPMT), established in 2015 to produce engines and automatic transmission systems.

The additional investment announced today will focus on the key areas in both the AAT and MPMT plants, enhancing the vehicle production and assembly line to support future electrified products, and the production of engines, automatic transmissions, and powertrains, as well as the key components of electrified vehicles, including batteries. In addition, Mazda will continue to develop its local supplier network to enhance production capabilities and support future technologies which are significantly contributing to the development of Thailand’s automotive industry, and economy.

“The investment marks a significant beginning for Thailand as a manufacturing hub for producing Mazda’s electrified vehicles according to our “Multi-Solution Approach” and a crucial step towards sustainability, in line with Mazda’s mission to bring about a sustainable earth, society, and people,” Mr. Moro said.

The BOI announced last month that applications for investment promotion in 2024 soared 35% in value to 1.14 trillion baht (ca. USD 33 billion), the highest level since 2014, led by large foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in data centers, cloud services, as well as semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing. The automotive and parts sector ranked third in terms of the value of applications with 309 projects, worth a combined 102.4 billion baht.

Thailand has long been a hub in the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) auto industry, ranking 10th in the world and number one in Southeast Asia as a manufacturer in 2023. Since it started promoting investment in the sector’s electrification, with government policies offering subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to manufacturers and consumers, the country has attracted significant investments in the production of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrids.

For more information, please contact:
Thailand Board of Investment
Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111
Website: www.boi.go.th
YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

Year of the Snake Celebrations Bring Lively Festivities to Cangzhou

CANGZHOU, China, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from xinhuanet:

 

The Year of the Snake ushers in an energetic Spring Festival in Cangzhou, Hebei Province. Locals and tourists alike are reveling in the festivities, with a selection of activities that captivate the spirit of the season. From welcoming the God of Wealth to enjoying acrobatic shows, exploring folk traditions at bustling temple fairs and strolling through illuminated night streets, there’s no shortage of cultural enrichment. This year’s celebrations feature new highlights, including a mesmerizing lantern festival and cutting-edge drone light shows, which light up the night sky with spectacular displays. Traditional performances like the ‘iron flower’ spectacle — a centuries-old art of casting molten iron into fiery sparks — add a unique touch to the energetic celebrations, creating a festive and harmonious atmosphere that marks a joyful start to the new lunar year.

Lao Responsible Business Awards 2025 Honor Sustainability, Community Engagement

On 10 February, the Lao Responsible Business Awards 2025 celebrated businesses in Laos, demonstrating a strong commitment to social and environmental good practice.  The award seeks to show that responsible business practices are not only ethical but also key to business success and encourages more companies to adopt similar approaches.

Gupshup Accelerates AI Adoption For Businesses with Pre-Built, Industry-Trained, Multimodal AI Agents

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Gupshup, the world’s leading Conversational AI platform today announced the launch of its AI Agent Library, a groundbreaking suite of 15 pre-built and customizable AI Agents with deep industry knowhow to help businesses dramatically accelerate time-to-market. This Agent library enables enterprises to deploy advanced AI-powered interactions rapidly, enabling early adopters to substantially accelerate revenue growth, and improve customer experience and operational efficiency. The launch of these AI Agents reflects Gupshup’s mission of enabling businesses to thrive in the era of Conversational AI.

Gupshup's AI Agents are set to transform everyday customer experience
Gupshup’s AI Agents are set to transform everyday customer experience

These industry-tuned AI Agents are specifically designed for B2C engagement across the business lifecycle of marketing, selling, and support. They leverage LLMs for rich customer interactions, seamlessly integrate with backend systems and are rapidly deployable in omnichannel environments, i.e. across messaging channels including WhatsApp, SMS, RCS, Voice, Web, and Mobile 

“Conversational AI Agents are fundamentally transforming how businesses connect with their customers. As a tech-first organization that has consistently been the leader at every stage of the evolution of the conversational messaging industry, Gupshup is uniquely positioned to bring these next-gen AI Agents”, said Beerud Sheth, Founder & CEO, Gupshup.

The initial release includes several specialized AI Agents designed to deliver immediate business results across multiple industries and key B2C engagement scenarios. Industries include Retail & e-Commerce, Fintech, Travel & Hospitality, Real Estate and CPG/FMCG.

For example- the Lead Generation AI Agent autonomously collects, qualifies, and nurtures leads while orchestrating targeted drip campaigns, tasks that traditionally require significant manual intervention. The Product Discovery AI Agent accelerates sales by providing consultative product discovery and intelligent recommendations.

As a rapidly evolving AI-native organization, Gupshup has integrated artificial intelligence across its entire product suite and internal operations from employee onboarding to finance, engineering and customer success.

About Gupshup

Gupshup is the leading platform for building and deploying industry-trained Conversational AI Agents for every business across marketing, commerce, and support use cases. Gupshup Conversation Cloud powers multimodal interactions with industry-trained AI agents so that businesses can go live faster across channels including Voice, WhatsApp, RCS, Web, Mobile Apps and more.

Trusted by 45,000+ customers in 60+ countries across industries, Gupshup handles 120B+ conversational messages annually. Gupshup works with many of the top brands across industries including eCommerce, retail, payments, fintech, payments, media, travel, automotive, and banking to deliver transformative conversational experiences that accelerate growth and optimize costs.

Media Contact: Vandana V; vandana.v@gupshup.io 

 

Consistently Serving MSMEs, BRI Records a Profit of IDR 60.64 Trillion

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (IDX: BBRI) continues to demonstrate resilience amid economic challenges, recording a consolidated net profit of IDR 60.64 trillion in 2024. BRI President Director Sunarso shared this achievement during the 2024 Financial Performance Press Conference in Jakarta (12/2).

BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia) executives posing together during BRI Financial Performance Presentation 2024 event
BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia) executives posing together during BRI Financial Performance Presentation 2024 event

“As of the end of 2024, BRI successfully posted a net profit of IDR 60.64 trillion. This achievement reflects BRI’s resilience and ability to consistently create value for shareholders, stakeholders, and the wider community while maintaining its support for MSMEs,” Sunarso said.

By December 2024, BRI’s total assets grew 1.42% year-on-year (yoy) to IDR 1,992.98 trillion, driven by selective and quality loan disbursement, primarily in the MSME segment, which accounted for 81.97% of total loans (IDR 1,110.37 trillion). Loan disbursement reached IDR 1,354.64 trillion, up 6.97% yoy, while the Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio improved from 2.95% to 2.78%. BRI also maintained strong reserves with an NPL Coverage ratio of 215.01%.

Driving the People’s Economy Through MSME Services and Empowerment

As an agent of development, BRI remains committed to government initiatives by supporting MSME growth through various programs:

  1. Ultra Micro Holding (UMi) – A collaboration with Pegadaian and PNM to provide financial services for ultra-micro businesses, currently serving over 180 million savings customers and 36.9 million loan customers.
  2. People’s Business Credit (KUR) – A government-backed financing program for MSMEs, with BRI disbursing IDR 184.98 trillion in 2024, the highest among national banks, benefiting over 4 million MSMEs.
  3. AgenBRILink – A network of 1.06 million banking agents facilitating transactions worth IDR 1,583 trillion, covering 80% of Indonesia’s villages.
  4. Desa BRILian – A rural economic development program supporting 4,327 villages through tourism, handicrafts, and agriculture.
  5. PARI (Indonesian People’s Market) – A digital platform connecting 85,000 MSME users based on commodity ecosystems.
  6. Klasterku Hidupku – A cluster-based business support program with 38,574 MSME clusters nationwide.
  7. LinkUMKM – A digital platform tracking MSME progress, used by 8.9 million entrepreneurs.
  8. Rumah BUMN – A collaborative space for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to train and mentor 433,000 MSMEs across 54 locations.

Sunarso emphasized BRI is committed to supporting the people’s economy, particularly through inclusive and sustainable financing, as well as various empowerment initiatives to help MSMEs become a key pillar of Indonesia’s economic growth.

For more information about BANK BRI, visit www.bri.co.id.

VinFast launches VF 3, offers free charging for its EV in Indonesia


JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2025 At the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2025, VinFast officially opened for sales for its mini-SUV VF 3. The company also announced a special policy providing free charging for all VinFast electric vehicles at VinFast charging stations operated by V-GREEN across Indonesia, reaffirming its commitment to delivering smart, accessible, and sustainable mobility solutions.

VinFast announces the launch of VF 3 and a free charging policy for its electric vehicles in Indonesia.
VinFast announces the launch of VF 3 and a free charging policy for its electric vehicles in Indonesia.

At IIMS 2025, VinFast announced listed price for VF 3 as 227,650,000 IDR, applied for battery purchase only. In particular, VinFast also applies an attractive incentive program of 7,850,000 IDR in cash for the first 1,000 VF 3 cars. Deliveries are expected to begin in April 2025.

Notably, together with V-GREEN, VinFast also help lower the total cost of ownership by eliminating charging expenses by introducing a free charging policy at VinFast charging portals operated by V-GREEN across Indonesia, applicable for VF 3 users until March 1, 2028, and for VF e34 and VF 5 users until December 31, 2027. Additionally, V-GREEN is unveiling its plan to develop 30,000 VinFast charging portals across the country by the end of 2025. This will enhance convenience for users, make electric mobility more accessible and cost-effective and further accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation in Indonesia.

Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, said: “With the launch of the right-hand drive VF 3, VinFast is thrilled to offer Indonesian consumers more exciting and smart green mobility options. The VF 3 will unlock endless possibilities for urban commuting, making electric transportation more accessible. For Indonesia’s tech-savvy younger generation seeking practicality and personalization, we believe the VF 3 will be the ideal companion in the global green mobility revolution.”

VinFast's booth attracts a large number of visitors.
VinFast’s booth attracts a large number of visitors.

As a mini-SUV, the VinFast VF 3 is meticulously designed to meet the urban commuting needs of consumers with its compact dimensions of 3,190 x 1,679 x 1,652 mm. Equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels and a ground clearance of 175 mm, the VF 3 offers exceptional maneuverability across various terrains. In addition to the four standard exterior colors – Jet Black (exclusive to the Indonesian market), Infinity Blanc, Crimson Red, and Zenith Grey – VinFast will also offer four premium two-tone options: Summer Yellow, Urban Mint, Sky Blue, and Rose Pink, all featuring a white roof.

With a range of 215 km on a full charge and a rapid charging capability from 10% to 70% in just 36 minutes, this vehicle offers impressive performance. It accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 100 km/h.

Despite being in the mini-SUV segment, the VF 3 boasts a large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, similar to luxury cars, providing a comfortable and impressive user experience.

Similar to other VinFast electric vehicles, the VF 3 comes with a comprehensive warranty of up to 7 years or 160,000 km for the vehicle (whichever comes first) and an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty for the battery.

On February 15, at IIMS 2025, Indonesian customers can take the VF 3 for a test drive and experience firsthand the most accessible model in VinFast’s smart and modern product range.

Within just one year of its presence in the market, VinFast has successfully broken ground for its new EV assembly plant, delivered two models – the VF e34 and VF 5, and continuously expanded its sales and service network. VinFast is actively contributing to the green transition in Indonesia through pioneering sales policies and building the “For a Green Future” ecosystem with partners such as Xanh SM and V-GREEN.
Hashtag: #vinfast

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About VinFast

VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe and Asia. Learn more at: