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Implications for Businesses in APEC and Thailand

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Implications for Businesses in APEC and Thailand

Indonesia aims to expand QRIS interoperability across APEC, boosting cross-border digital payments, regional commerce, with rapid adoption domestically and in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Key Points

  • Expansion of QRIS across APEC: Indonesia is pushing its Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to be interoperable across Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations. The goal is to strengthen cross-border digital payments and regional trade.
  • Economic significance: APEC economies account for about 70% of Indonesia’s exports, including major partners like China, Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.
  • Domestic adoption: Since its launch in 2019, QRIS has grown rapidly. By mid‑2025, it was used by around 39.3 million merchants and 57 million users, showing strong acceptance in retail and consumer payments.

Indonesia Expands QRIS Interoperability in APEC

Indonesia is advancing its QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) initiative to foster interoperability across Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations. This move aims to bolster cross-border digital payments and enhance regional trade, aligning with Indonesia’s economic ties to APEC economies, which comprise around 70% of its exports, including China, Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.

Key Opportunities for Thai Businesses

  • Tourism & Retail: With QRIS already interoperable in Thailand, merchants can seamlessly accept payments from Indonesian visitors. This reduces reliance on cash and foreign card networks, boosting convenience and sales.
  • Cross‑border Trade: Thai exporters and SMEs gain easier payment settlement with Indonesian partners, lowering transaction costs and speeding up cash flow.
  • Regional Integration: As QRIS expands across APEC, Thai firms positioned early can benefit from smoother transactions with other economies like Malaysia and Singapore, strengthening regional competitiveness.

Rapid Growth of QRIS in Indonesia

Since its launch by Bank Indonesia in 2019, QRIS has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading QR-based payment systems. By mid-2025, it supported roughly 39.3 million merchants and around 57 million users, reflecting its widespread acceptance in the country’s retail sector. The system’s expansion indicates significant adoption of mobile payments across Indonesian businesses and consumers.

Increasing Cross-Border Payment Activity

Transaction volumes mirror the system’s growing popularity, with Bank Indonesia reporting 6.05 billion QRIS transactions valued at IDR 579 trillion (US$37 billion) in the first half of 2025. Early cross-border activity is promising, with Indonesia’s neighboring countries—Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand—recording transactions worth approximately IDR 1.66 trillion (US$105 million), demonstrating regional integration of QR payments.



Read the original article : Indonesia’s QRIS Expansion Across APEC and What It Means for Businesses

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Three women removed from Frontier flight, arrested over refusal to pay extra bag fee

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Three women are facing criminal charges after authorities said they refused to pay an extra carry-on bag fee, triggering a confrontation that delayed a Frontier Airlines flight at Miami International Airport.

Nafisa Dockery, 30, Dionjana Cochran, 21, and Davana Cochran, 26, were each charged with trespassing after warning and resisting an officer without violence, according to arrest reports. Dockery also faces an additional battery charge.

The incident delayed a Philadelphia-bound flight by about one hour, authorities said.

According to an arrest report, the women were waiting to board a Frontier Airlines flight when an employee asked them to pay for an additional carry-on bag. A verbal confrontation followed, and the women were warned they could be removed from the flight if they did not comply.

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The report states Dockery told the other two women to ignore the employee, and they proceeded onto the plane through a restricted area.

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, and a Frontier manager requested the women be removed after their boarding passes were canceled. Deputies told the women to leave the aircraft, but they refused and were given multiple warnings, the report said.

Authorities cleared the plane of passengers before the women began to exit. Dockery allegedly spat on another person during the incident, according to the report.

Deputies then instructed the women to put their hands behind their backs, but they refused, and a struggle ensued.

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All three women were taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center following the incident, authorities said. Bond was set at $4,000 for Dockery and Dionjana Cochran, and $2,000 for Davana Cochran, according to jail records.

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State govt offers nickel industry support to spur mine restarts

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State govt offers nickel industry support to spur mine restarts

The state government is allocating a total pool of $15 million in interest-free loans to WA’s beleaguered nickel miners in a bid to spur the restart of a spate of mothballed mines.

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WHOOP raises $575m at $10.1bn valuation to expand AI health platform

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WHOOP raises $575m at $10.1bn valuation to expand AI health platform

WHOOP has raised $575 million in fresh funding at a $10.1 billion valuation, as it accelerates its ambition to build a global platform for personalised, preventative healthcare powered by artificial intelligence and biometric data.

The Series G round was led by Collaborative Fund and drew participation from a broad mix of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and healthcare leaders, including Qatar Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company. Strategic backing also came from Abbott and Mayo Clinic, highlighting growing convergence between technology and traditional healthcare systems.

The round also attracted high-profile individual investors from the worlds of sport and entertainment, including Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Rory McIlroy, reflecting WHOOP’s strong association with elite performance and wellness.

The investment comes at a time when healthcare systems globally are under increasing strain from rising rates of chronic disease and ageing populations. WHOOP is positioning itself at the forefront of a shift from reactive treatment to preventative, data-driven health management.

Founder and chief executive Will Ahmed said the company is building a platform designed to help individuals monitor, understand and improve their health continuously.

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“We are creating a personal health system that enables people to improve both their performance and long-term wellbeing,” he said.

At the core of the platform is continuous biometric monitoring, combined with AI models trained on more than 24 billion hours of physiological data. This allows WHOOP to deliver personalised insights into sleep, recovery, stress and physical performance, as well as early indicators of potential health risks.

WHOOP has experienced strong growth in recent years, with more than 2.5 million members globally and bookings rising 103 per cent in 2025 to reach a $1.1 billion run rate. The company also reported positive operating cash flow during the year, underlining its financial momentum.

The new funding will support further expansion across key international markets, including Europe, the Gulf region, Latin America and Asia, as well as continued growth in the United States.

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To support this expansion, WHOOP plans to hire more than 600 additional employees globally, focusing on research, development and product innovation.

The involvement of established healthcare organisations such as Abbott signals a broader shift towards integrating consumer technology with clinical expertise.

By combining wearable technology with advanced analytics, WHOOP aims to provide a more holistic view of health, enabling users to make informed decisions about their lifestyle and potentially prevent serious conditions before they develop.

The platform’s high engagement levels, with users opening the app multiple times per day, highlight the growing demand for real-time health insights that go beyond traditional fitness tracking.

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While WHOOP initially gained traction among athletes and high-performance individuals, the company is now targeting a broader audience, including executives, professionals and consumers seeking to optimise both health and productivity.

The focus is increasingly on “healthspan”, the length of time individuals remain healthy and active, rather than simply lifespan.

Cristiano Ronaldo, an investor and ambassador, described the platform as a key tool in managing his own health, reflecting its positioning at the intersection of performance and wellbeing.

The latest funding round reinforces WHOOP’s position as one of the most valuable players in the rapidly expanding digital health sector.

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As advances in AI and data analytics continue to reshape healthcare, companies that can combine technology, user engagement and clinical relevance are expected to play a central role in the future of the industry.

For WHOOP, the challenge now is to scale its platform globally while maintaining accuracy, trust and regulatory compliance, transforming wearable data into meaningful, actionable health outcomes at scale.


Jamie Young

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

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Japan business mood, inflation expectations rise but Iran war clouds outlook

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Japan business mood, inflation expectations rise but Iran war clouds outlook


Japan business mood, inflation expectations rise but Iran war clouds outlook

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IRS says more than 4 million children have enrolled in Trump Accounts

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More than four million children have been enrolled in newly created Trump Accounts, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said Tuesday, marking a major rollout of the administration’s savings initiative.

Additionally, the IRS said more than one million children are covered by elections for the $1,000 Trump Accounts pilot program contribution.

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Trump Accounts were created under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year, and contributions can begin July 4, 2026.

“The IRS has been working closely with the Treasury Department to make the election process as simple and easy as possible by permitting taxpayers to fill out a one-page form when they file their tax return,” IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement. “Families with eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 just need to check the box on a form to stake their claim for the $1,000 contribution. It’s that simple.”

IRS UNVEILS PROPOSED REGULATIONS FOR NEW TRUMP ACCOUNTS SAVINGS PROGRAM

A screenshot of the Trump Account's homepage.

A screenshot of the Trump Accounts’ homepage. (White House)

The new data is based on how many Form 4547, “Trump Account Election(s),” have been submitted with individual tax returns to date, according to the IRS.

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To create a Trump Account and enroll in the pilot program with their 2025 tax return, parents can fill out IRS Form 4547.

The accounts will be available to every American child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, and will include a $1,000 seed contribution invested in an index fund. They can be created for anyone who has not turned 18 before the end of the calendar year in which the election is made and has a valid Social Security number.

Each account is in the child’s name and is controlled by parents until the child reaches age 18.

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President Donald Trump speaks on stage at Verst Logistics on March 11, 2026 in Hebron, Kentucky. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images / Getty Images)

While no contributions are required, up to $5,000 can be deposited into the accounts per year.

The U.S. Treasury previously estimated that Trump accounts could accumulate significant savings if families maximize contributions and allow the funds to grow.

For example, a fully funded account could reach as much as $1.9 million by age 28, according to the Treasury’s Office of Tax Analysis. At the lower end of projected returns, the account could still yield nearly $600,000 over the same period.

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President Donald Trump speaks during the Trump Accounts Launch Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Without additional contributions beyond the federal government’s initial $1,000 deposit, it is estimated that the account could grow to between $3,000 and $13,800 over 18 years.

Children can receive contributions from parents, relatives, friends, employers, state governments and philanthropic organizations, according to the IRS.

Since the Trump Accounts were first unveiled, numerous major companies have expressed support for the initiative and announced plans to match the government’s $1,000 contribution for eligible employees’ children.

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Scott Bessent speaks at a podium during a formal summit event.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during the Trump Accounts Launch Summit in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 28. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

More information about Trump Accounts can be found at trumpaccounts.gov.

FOX Business has reached out to the White House for comment.

FOX Business’ Amanda Macias and Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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YouTube ranked world’s most influential brand as tech firms dominate global rankings

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YouTube ranked world’s most influential brand as tech firms dominate global rankings

YouTube has been ranked the world’s most influential brand, as technology companies continue to dominate global media and public discourse, according to a new report.

The 2026 Brand Influence Rank from Onclusive found that digital-first platforms occupy every position in the global top 10, reflecting their unrivalled ability to shape narratives across both traditional and social media.

Joining YouTube at the top of the rankings are Google, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok and ChatGPT, underscoring the structural advantage these businesses hold in driving attention at scale.

The report measures influence not by size alone, but by a brand’s ability to generate sustained media coverage, spark conversation and shape public perception globally.

Digital platforms, with their always-on engagement and vast user bases, are uniquely positioned to dominate this landscape. Their central role in communication, content distribution and increasingly artificial intelligence gives them a powerful edge over traditional brands.

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Jennifer Roberts, chief marketing officer at Onclusive, said the findings reflect a fundamental shift in how influence is defined.

“Influence is no longer just about reputation, it’s about the ability to generate continuous attention across multiple channels,” she said, noting that the rise of AI-driven search and content is accelerating this trend.

One of the most notable developments in the rankings is the entry of ChatGPT into the global top 10 for the first time, highlighting the rapid ascent of AI-focused brands.

Alongside Microsoft, AI platforms are generating disproportionate levels of media coverage, driven by innovation, competition and ongoing debate around regulation, ethics and the future of work.

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However, this visibility comes with a trade-off. The report identifies a “sentiment ceiling” affecting many leading tech brands, where high levels of scrutiny limit positive perception despite strong influence.

Companies such as Google, Facebook, Apple and TikTok all recorded relatively modest positive sentiment scores, reflecting ongoing regulatory pressures, antitrust investigations and concerns over platform governance.

The report also highlights the growing role of corporate leaders in shaping brand narratives.

Elon Musk was ranked the world’s most influential CEO, with a media presence nearly ten times greater than his closest competitor. His influence is driven by his involvement across multiple high-profile companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and the social platform X, combined with a highly visible and often polarising public persona.

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Sam Altman ranked second, reflecting the central role of artificial intelligence in global discourse. His prominence has grown rapidly as AI has become a defining topic in business, politics and society.

Other influential leaders include Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook, each contributing to their companies’ visibility through strategic positioning in key technology sectors.

The report underscores a key tension in modern brand building: influence does not necessarily equate to positive sentiment.

While tech companies dominate attention and conversation, they also face intense scrutiny over issues ranging from data privacy and competition to the societal impact of their technologies.

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This dynamic creates a balancing act for brands, which must manage both visibility and trust in an increasingly complex media environment.

As digital platforms and AI continue to reshape how information is created, distributed and consumed, their dominance in global influence rankings is likely to persist.

However, with that influence comes heightened responsibility, and greater scrutiny.

For brands, the challenge is no longer simply to be seen, but to be trusted.

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Jamie Young

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

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Smash Kitchen puffs up snack portfolio

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Smash Kitchen puffs up snack portfolio

The company now offers microwave popcorn. 

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Mercedes-Benz to pour $4B into Alabama plant as Trump tariffs reshape US auto strategy

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German automaker Mercedes-Benz said on Tuesday it will invest $4 billion at its Alabama plant through 2030 to boost SUV production as it seeks to address significant U.S. auto tariffs.

In total, luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz said it plans to invest more than $7 billion in U.S. operations in the coming years. 

The company is moving up to 500 jobs from various locations across the country into a new, state-of-the-art research and development hub in Atlanta.

Automakers face steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on imported vehicles and parts.

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AS TRUMP EASES AUTO TARIFFS, MERCEDES WILL EXPAND AT ALABAMA PLANT

Mercedes-Benz said last year it would shift production of its GLC SUV from Germany to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

In February, Mercedes said group operating profit more than halved to 5.8 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in part due to 1 billion euros in tariff costs.

Mercedes said U.S. passenger car sales rose by 1% to 303,000 last year.

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MERCEDES-BENZ CEO SIGNALS POTENTIAL FOR MORE US INVESTMENT

Mercedes North America CEO Jason Hoff said in a recent interview with Reuters that the planned move of the GLC is in part because of tariffs.

Having localized production for the biggest volume products “just makes good business sense,” said Hoff, citing the influence of tariffs.

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Early last year, Mercedes-Benz said that lower tariffs – or even zero-zero tariffs – between the U.S. and European Union could allow the company to step up investment in the U.S. even further.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said in February 2025 that the company has “been operating in the United States for more than 120 years” and detailed the company’s American footprint.

“We have two large operations on the passenger car side, one in Alabama and one in South Carolina,” Källenius said. “Directly, we employ more than 11,000 people in the United States. If you would count in all the suppliers and the ones that kind of are dependent on those final assembly jobs, the usual calculation is roughly 1-to-10, so another 100,000 jobs are associated with those plants. Our dealer partners, strong private investors around the country, employ 28,000 people and then again, they have a residual effect. “

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“The several hundred thousand jobs, tax revenue, etc. is the Mercedes-Benz footprint in the U.S.,” he explained. “What’s the point I am making? The point is we’re also an American company. Yes, we have our headquarters in Germany and our European origins, but we feel American.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Magnetar Financial sells Wheeler REIT (WHLR) shares for $17,384

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Magnetar Financial sells Wheeler REIT (WHLR) shares for $17,384

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The Coca-Cola Co. continues to invest in Fairlife

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The Coca-Cola Co. continues to invest in Fairlife

Company is adding two production lines at Coopersville, Mich., facility.

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