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Vietjet expands into Europe as Prague joins growing network
Vietjet’s Prague opening marks its first European destination amid wider international and long-haul expansion; demand remains to be measured.
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Why SEA Connect
For teams reading Southeast Asia's innovation economy.
News, analysis and practical market-entry context for decision makers across the region.
Recent launches, partnerships, appointments and policy signals from Southeast Asia's innovation economy.
News
NEU Battery Materials raises US$7.6m to scale Singapore lithium-recycling plant
The newly commissioned plant has stated capacity for 1,300 tonnes of battery material a year, and the capital will support production ramp-up.
News
YYForce and Stevens hotels plan service-robot rollout across 772 rooms
The two Singapore hotels and YYForce will prepare lift access, routes and guest notifications for a first service-robot phase; humanoid work is separate and later.
News
VinFast offers dealer support for electric-motorcycle showrooms in Indonesia and the Philippines
Qualifying dealers can receive up to US$60,000 per new outlet, with the maximum tied to opening deadlines and multi-store conditions.
News
Salesforce and IMDA open AI workflow programme for up to 1,000 Singapore SMEs
The two-year Slack AI Launchpad offers a 60-day trial and workshops, with registration open on the SMEs Go Digital platform.
News
Singapore starts linking critical-infrastructure detection to upgraded cyber command centre
Singapore is progressively connecting selected critical-infrastructure detection to its upgraded national cyber command centre. What operators should know about the NC3 rollout.
News
WEX and Mastercard plan Asia-Pacific fleet payments network
The companies aim to bring fuel, maintenance, tolls and parking into one payment experience, but have not set a launch date or named Southeast Asian rollout markets.
Briefing
AirAsia MOVE links Malaysia’s secondary destinations to booking offers
Tourism Malaysia’s new campaign connects destination promotion with flights, hotels, packages, rides and attractions on MOVE.
Briefing
What Philippine island water financing will fund in Bohol, Siargao and Sulu
In a 9 October announcement, the finance department said it secured €212.7m for the July-approved AWSPSA’s first phase: planned bulk-water, sanitation and WASH work across three island areas.
Briefing
ASEAN business survey finds AI optimism amid power-cost concerns
Among six-market BT/Kantar survey respondents, 78% expected AI benefits to outweigh energy needs while 46% anticipated rising electricity or operating costs.
Market Entry
TAITRA's Singapore medtech showcase reveals one local distributor route
TAITRA's Taiwan Excellence showcase at Medical Fair Asia included Charder, which also showed equipment with its existing Singapore distributor, Yeap Medical Supplies. Their relationship gives buyers a specific local channel to examine as TAITRA plans further matchmaking across Southeast Asia.
Market Entry
ZUS Coffee's expansion separates menu tests from store rollout
The chain’s regional dates, a university visit and a vendor case study point to three distinct market-entry questions for retail operators.
Market Entry
Malaysia market access: choose the operating route before incorporation
The first Malaysia entry decision is what the business needs to do there. Is it testing demand from abroad, gathering market intelligence, signing local contracts, employing a delivery team, or operating a regulated service? Each answer creates a different set of questions, including which guidance
Country-by-country practical checks for buyer, partner and local-evidence readiness.
Country Guides
Indonesia Country Guide: choose the operating route before scaling the footprint
Indonesia is large enough that “entering the market” is not a single operating decision. A founder or operator needs to decide who
Country Guides
Vietnam Country Guide: establish the operating facts before market entry
Vietnam is often described through growth, manufacturing and digital-economy narratives. A first operating footprint needs a more practical starting point: what
Country Guides
Malaysia’s first 90 days: an operating checklist for market entry
This guide begins after the company has recorded a provisional operating route. It does not choose between cross-border delivery, an exploratory presence, foreign-company registration or local incorporation; use Malaysia entry: choose the operating route before the entity for that preceding decision
Insights
How AI answers about banks change with the question and service
A six-market banking study found different first-mentioned banks across tested AI routes and a wider field for business questions, suggesting that a single visibility score hides the customer need.
Insights
Vietnam and the Philippines need more local value from the chip boom
Both countries have entered the World Bank’s upper-middle-income group, but moving towards high-income status will depend on turning semiconductor exports into deeper design, supplier and skills capability.
Insights
Singapore's AI hub test is shifting from openings to local capability
More than 70 AI centres create critical mass. Research ownership, technical roles and products shipped from Singapore will show how deep the hub really is.
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