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- Ant International is developing around 1,500 talents in Kuala Lumpur, with more than half in tech-related roles, supporting the company’s global innovations and business growth
- Spending by Alipay+ partners via the DuitNow national QR increased more than 60%, driving travel-led economic impact as the country celebrates Visit Malaysia 2026
- Since launching in January 2026 with TNG Digital, Ant International’s EPOS360 AI-as-a-Service platform now supports more than 14,000 Malaysian SMEs
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Ant International today officially opened its Global Development Centre (GDC) in Kuala Lumpur, deepening its long-term commitment to Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and strengthening the country’s role as a strategic hub for global innovation, digital talent, and next-generation financial technology. The unveiling ceremony was officiated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
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Ant International’s GDC is located at The Exchange 106, within TRX, Malaysia’s dedicated international financial centre.
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Cyril Han, CEO of Ant Group
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said, “With a visionary leadership and a vibrant business and tech community, Malaysia is on the way to becoming a leading regional and global hub for digital and AI innovation. In the next 6 to 12 months, the agentic AI revolution will be in full swing, bringing about a revolution in commerce that we need to prepare for now, to ensure it drives both business growth and social development. Ant has many deep and long-term partnerships in Malaysia and the region, and with the unveiling of the Ant International Global Development Centre in Kuala Lumpur, we stand ready to support the AI Nation 2030 vision and digitalisation of Malaysia.”
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Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International
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said, “Ant International’s development evolves around the ‘6T’ sustainable development strategy: facilitating global travel, empowering global trade, promoting robust growth, driving innovation through technology, nurturing digital talent, and building a trustworthy digital ecosystem. This aligns perfectly with Malaysia’s national agenda of promoting digital transformation and stimulating the vitality of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. We are committed to long-term investments into growing world-calibre innovators as well as AI commerce solutions from Malaysia. ”
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Developing Next-Gen Innovators, Building from Malaysia
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The GDC represents another milestone in Ant International’s journey in Malaysia. It reflects the company’s belief that world-class innovation can be developed in Malaysia for global markets, by creating high-value employment opportunities, nurturing local talent and collaborating with public and private sector partners.
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Ant International has created around 1,500 fintech roles in Malaysia, with more than 50 percent serving in technology roles, contributing to Ant International’s global businesses in AI, payments, SME digitalisation and financial technology.
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Today, around half of its tech team are recent graduates, from across more than 30 universities in Malaysia, as the company collaborates with local partners like the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), to develop the next generation of innovators.
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Ant International will also deepen its collaboration with the Malaysian government and local universities, including with the Ministry of Higher Education to explore strategic partnerships, to co-develop more FinAI talents through hackathons, trainings, and curated curricula that strengthen educational pathways and power Malaysia’s digital economy development and growth.
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Deepening Partnerships to Drive Malaysia’s Digital Economy and AI Developments
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The GDC builds on Ant International’s longstanding partnerships with leading Malaysian organisations that have helped advance digital transformation, financial inclusion and cross-border connectivity.
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Together with CIMB and TNG Digital, Ant International has supported the development of Touch ‘n Go eWallet since 2017, which today serves over 26 million consumers and businesses and underpinning Malaysia’s vibrant digital ecosystem. Through Ant International’s AI suite, including its GenAI Cockpit and AI travel agent, TNG Digital makes AI-powered everyday services accessible to its users.
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Through Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway, and its partnership with PayNet, Malaysia’s national payment network, international travellers can use their home e-wallets and bank apps to pay seamlessly at millions of merchants across Malaysia. As Malaysia celebrates Visit Malaysia 2026, the partnership is delivering tangible economic impact: in the first half of 2026, more than 600,000 merchants, primarily SMEs, received payment from an Alipay+ partner — up more than 70% year-on-year. Total traveller spending via DuitNow rose more than 60%, with Alipay+ being the largest contributor to inbound QR transactions in Malaysia. In the next step of the partnership, Malaysian payment apps supported by PayNet will be able to making payments at over 150 million merchants in more than 220 markets connected to Alipay+.
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Ant International’s merchant solutions — Antom and 2C2P — are helping Malaysian businesses reach global customers and enabling Malaysian consumers connect to international brands, growing its digital merchant base by nearly 60% and processing more than 50% more transactions year-on-year.
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