19-4-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Ant International, a leading digital payment and financial technology provider affiliated with Ant Group, has announced plans to establish a new Digital Business Centre in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The state-of-the-art facility, slated to open its doors at the iconic Exchange 106 in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) by 2025, is poised to create a wave of employment opportunities, with more than 500 new job prospects expected to be unlocked in the first year alone. This figure is anticipated to swell further in the subsequent years leading up to 2028, as Ant International doubles down on its commitment to Malaysia.
According to the fintech heavyweight, the majority of roles will be tech-focused, aligning seamlessly with the company’s vision of harnessing technology and innovation to accelerate global commerce and foster greater inclusivity. The largest contingent will comprise the Technology and Development department, encompassing a diverse array of software development engineers, closely followed by the Product & Design team and the Data Science and Risk Control team.
Underscoring its dedication to nurturing local talent, Ant International has pledged to commit substantial resources to the development and mentorship of these tech professionals, offering comprehensive training programs and exposure to its global operations.
The announcement has been met with resounding enthusiasm from Malaysian authorities, with Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), lauding the initiative as a pivotal step in propelling the nation’s tech talents to the forefront of the digital industry.
“The opening of the new Digital Business Centre in Malaysia by Ant International is truly commended as such an initiative plays an important role for the local tech talents to thrive in its global businesses in the digital industry,” Aziz remarked. “This will create more jobs and investment opportunities, thus positioning Malaysia as the digital hub of ASEAN. This is a testament to their commitment to choosing Malaysia as a preferred country in the mission to propel the digital economy.”
Ant International’s ties with Malaysia date back to 2014, and the company has since forged collaborative partnerships with local entities to nurture a vibrant fintech ecosystem. Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, expressed his excitement at embarking on this new chapter, stating, “We’re excited to begin the next chapter of our journey in Malaysia, having contributed to the local fintech industry over the last 10 years, and now look towards the future, one that is more global, more connected, more inclusive and with more exciting ways of doing business.”
Feagin further emphasized the pivotal role of technology and innovation within Ant International’s operations, asserting that the company’s strategic alignment with the Malaysian government’s push for tech skills development and positioning the nation as an innovation hub bodes well for harnessing local talent to accelerate the impact of their businesses, both domestically and globally.
In a bid to further bolster the development of tech talent in Malaysia, Ant International has committed to collaborating with local partners through a range of initiatives, including the ’10×1000′ program – an open and global learning community designed to nurture and inspire tech talents and digital leaders. To date, with the support of partners like MDEC, TNG Digital, and the Fintech Association of Malaysia, over 120 fintech leaders have completed the program, with more than one-third being women.
“Those who join our team will have a front-row seat to global fintech innovation and collaborations, and play a part in our mission to shape the future of fintech and commerce, where every person and every business can thrive,” Feagin enthused. “With a focus on supporting the development and growth opportunities of our employees, we not only strengthen our teams but also contribute to the growth and advancement of the fintech industry in Malaysia.”
Tracing its roots back to Alipay since 2004, Ant International is one of the world’s leading open internet platforms. Its flagship offering, Alipay+, is a cross-border mobile payment platform that connects over 88 million merchants to 1.5 billion consumer accounts across more than 25 eWallets and banking apps in 57 countries and regions. Alipay+ is seamlessly integrated with Malaysia’s national QR, DuitNow QR, enabling Touch ‘n Go eWallet users to make cross-border QR payments worldwide, including in mainland China and Japan.
The fintech juggernaut has also recently forged a strategic partnership with Capital A across its entire business ecosystem, encompassing AirAsia, AirAsia Move, and BigPay. This collaboration aims to promote inclusive and sustainable impact, addressing global challenges such as advancing digital inclusion, cultivating digital talent, and promoting sustainable travel programs. Notably, AirAsia Move will work with Ant International to integrate Alipay+ eWallets as a payment option within Move’s payment flows, while BigPay will become the latest payment partner of Alipay+.
Since its integration with PayNet’s DuitNow QR, Ant International claims to have brought more customers to local merchants, helping them capitalize on the resurgence of tourism. The company shared that transaction volume and spending by users of Alipay+ payment partner apps at DuitNow QR merchants surged 2.5 times during the Chinese New Year 2024 period.
Beyond its mobile payment solutions, Ant International’s portfolio encompasses a diverse array of offerings, including Antom Merchant Payment Services, which aids global merchants in engaging digitally with consumers across Asia and beyond. Additionally, WorldFirst, a digital payment and financial service tailored for cross-border trade SMEs, has already served over 1 million SMEs in their international growth endeavors through its World Account, with plans to extend its services to Malaysian SMEs by 2024.
