Malaysia Launches Full-Scale Startup ASEAN Platform To Drive Regional Growth
PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - Malaysia today launched the Startup ASEAN platform, marking the full-scale rollout of a bold, unified digital gateway to connect and empower startups across ASEAN. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and executed by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), the platform's regional launch underscores Malaysia's commitment under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship to fostering inclusive innovation and economic dynamism across the region.
Unlike the earlier pre-launch phase, this official launch represents a fully operational rollout, equipped with critical capabilities to serve the ASEAN innovation ecosystem. The Startup ASEAN platform is designed as a comprehensive one-stop hub, offering startups direct access to regional market opportunities, funding, investor networks, talent development and ecosystem insights.
YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of MOSTI, said 'Malaysia is honored to chair ASEAN in 2025 and take the lead in building a truly integrated and empowered regional startup ecosystem. The Startup ASEAN platform is more than a digital gateway, it is a strategic enabler designed through collaboration with all ASEAN Member States to address fragmented access to market, funding, talent and data.
This launch marks the first major deliverable under the ASEAN Startup Technology Ignite 2025, and I would like to commend Cradle for its focal role in driving this initiative with all other ASEAN Member States. Through this platform, we are not only unlocking new opportunities for collaboration across region but also creating greater access for Malaysian startups to expand, scale and thrive in ASEAN and beyond,' continued YB Chang.
'Today we witness the official launch of Startup ASEAN-a transformative initiative designed to serve as the centralised hub for all startups across our region. By seamlessly connecting entrepreneurs, investors, government institutions, and ecosystem builders across our Member States, this platform embodies ASEAN's unwavering commitment to deepening regional integration while unlocking unprecedented opportunities through technology and innovation,' said H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle, emphasised 'Cradle is proud to lead this effort and contribute to ASEAN's growth through innovation. The platform is beyond technology itself. It is about creating opportunities within the startup ecosystem, strengthening partnerships and unlocking the potential of our ASEAN startups.
In addition to the regional database, the platform will host regional programmes aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration among all ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners such as South Korea and China,' continued Norman.
The ASEAN Startup Initiative, approved in 2023, appointed Cradle under MOSTI's mandate to lead its implementation. The initiative focuses on developing startup friendly policies, enhancing ecosystem readiness and driving impactful regional programmes and partnerships.
As ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia's leadership under the ASEAN Technology Startup Ignite programme signals a strategic move to position the country as a regional innovation hub. The multi-phased implementation includes:
Phase 1, 2024: Development and pre-launch of the Startup ASEAN platform,
Phase 2, 2025: Launch of Startup ASEAN platform, ASEAN startup programmes, capacity-building efforts and Startup ASEAN Summit
Phase 3, 2026 onwards: Establishment of the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for early-stage startups.
The hybrid launch event featured an immersive Startup ASEAN video tour, highlighting unique startup success stories and cultural diversity from all member states. Coinciding with the launch, Cradle hosted the regional market access session, ASEAN CrossConnect, matching 10 successful global mentors from ASEAN countries with startups from all over the region.
Cradle will continue working closely with all ASEAN Member States to enhance the platform's value, ensuring it delivers meaningful impact through improved access to markets, investment opportunities and knowledge exchange.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
29 minutes ago
- The Star
Anwar leaves for Rome to begin week-long working trip in Italy, France and Brazil
SEPANG: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has left for Italy on the first leg of his week-long visit which includes Paris and Rio de Janeiro. The Italian visit, Anwar's first as Prime Minister, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with the European nation. The Prime Minister and his entourage left via the Bukit Raya Complex in Sepang in a chartered flight. Anwar is set to meet captains of industry from 36 Italian firms, including multinational companies such as Leonardo SpA, STMicroelectronics and Ferrero during his maiden working visit. Malaysian Ambassador to Italy Datuk Zahid Rastam said the meeting will take place during the Malaysia-Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable on July 2. 'In addition to the 36 Italian companies and several industry associations here, Malaysian companies accompanying the Prime Minister will also be in attendance,' he said in a virtual briefing ahead of the three-day working visit. Leonardo specialises in aerospace, defence and security, STMicroelectronics is a semiconductor company, while Ferrero is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies. All three MNCs have a significant presence in Malaysia. Italy is the third-largest national economy in the European Union (EU) and the world's eighth-largest by gross domestic product (GDP). Its economy accounts for about 12 per cent of the EU's GDP. Besides the business meeting, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, is also set to discuss bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, defence, agro-commodity and digital economy with his counterpart Giorgia Meloni. Anwar's visit is at the invitation of Meloni. They are also expected to touch on the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA). The Prime Minister will be accompanied by five Cabinet ministers - Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Also part of the delegation is Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
UMS to expand reach via Bursa secondary listing
An SGX sign at the Singapore Stock Exchange. — Reuters KUALA LUMPUR: Slated to be listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on Aug 1, high-precision engineering and manufacturing company UMS Integration Ltd – currently listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) – says it will continue to expand its role within the semiconductor and aerospace value chains. Chief executive officer Andy Luong said the Singapore-headquartered company's impending secondary listing will enhance the group's visibility across the South-East Asian region and boost its position as an integrated service provider for global chip companies. 'Within the semiconductor space, we see opportunities in manufacturing high-precision components used in advanced packaging solutions, which play a vital role in enabling next-generation artificial intelligence and high-performance computing applications,' he said at a press briefing here yesterday. Given current global trade tensions, Luong added that Malaysia and Singapore are well-positioned to benefit from various outsourcing opportunities. 'We have the resources to serve the people as well, ' he said. Executive director, group financial controller and senior vice-president of operations Stanley Loh Meng Chong said Malaysia is a suitable place for the company's secondary listing due to several factors, including its plant located in Penang. He said UMS had pursued a dual listing in South Korea in 2010, but the plan fell through after the stock exchange regulators clamped down on overseas secondary listings following a fraud case involving a Chinese company. Loh added that Malaysia 'is a better place to raise funds and grow the business.' He believes that UMS is better run compared to its Malaysian peers, with stronger profit margins and dividend yields. 'In Singapore, typically our valuations are lower. We hope that by coming to Malaysia, it will help us to be valued more fairly versus our peers,' Loh said. UMS yesterday issued its prospectus for the secondary listing, which will be undertaken by way of introduction and will not involve any issuance or offering of shares. UMS shares will be fully fungible, meaning shareholders can transfer their shares between the SGX Mainboard and Bursa Malaysia's Main Market for trading. TA Securities Holdings Bhd is the principal adviser, while CGS International Securities Malaysia is the financial adviser for the exercise. At last look, UMS's market capitalisation was approximately S$945mil (equivalent to about RM3.13bil). It recorded revenue of S$242.1mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, while profit after tax stood at S$40.6mil, translating into a margin of 16.8%.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Malaysia's manufacturing edges closer to stabilisation in 1H25 - S&P500
KUALA LUMPUR: Business conditions in the Malaysian manufacturing sector moved closer to stabilisation at the end of the first half of 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. In a note today, the firm said the latest S&P Global Malaysia manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) reading suggests that the modest growth seen in official gross domestic product (GDP) statistics in the first quarter of 2025 was sustained into the second quarter. "The data also suggests that the expansion in manufacturing production continued throughout the second quarter,' it said. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Malaysia manufacturing PMI rose to 49.3 in June, up from 48.8 in May. S&P Global economist Usamah Bhatti said June data indicated a gradual move towards stabilisation in the health of the Malaysian manufacturing sector, although operating conditions remained challenging. "Firms recorded sustained, albeit softer, moderations in demand and production - the softest in four months. Most encouragingly, firms raised their employment levels for the first time since last September. "That said, concerns were raised on the price front, with manufacturers recording the steepest increase in input prices for seven months. "In response, firms lifted their charges to the greatest extent in nearly a year in a bid to protect margins,' he said in a statement today. According to S&P Global, there was also a softer reduction in new export orders, while businesses signalled a renewed rise in employment during June. "Business confidence, meanwhile, was positive but remained well below the series average. "On the price front, input cost inflation gathered pace from May to reach the highest in seven months. In turn, firms signalled the strongest rise in output charges since August 2024,' it said. - Bernama
