Vingroup, Vietnam's largest private conglomerate, has announced plans to develop the country's first general-purpose humanoid robot. The initiative is a key pillar of the group's 2025 technology and industrial strategy, which also encompasses its fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) and artificial intelligence (AI) operations

Amid geopolitical tensions, tariff adjustments, and regulatory pressures from the US, battery supply chain players state that Southeast Asian customers are reducing their reliance on Chinese-made batteries. Instead, they are seeking alternatives from South Korea, Taiwan, and other regions, fueling a new wave of business opportunities for companies like Samsung SDI and Formosa Smart Energy

With the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) rapidly emerging as a beneficiary of the AI data center boom, the region's supply chain is experiencing both new opportunities and formidable challenges. Among the early trailblazers is Wiwynn, a leading Taiwanese AI server integrator, whose strategic expansion into Johor, Malaysia, has set a benchmark for the industry

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, held a phone call with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on April 25, 2025 to address the critical issue of Singapore's access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips and semiconductors, as the United States implements new tariffs and tightens export controls

FIC Global, Inc. (FICG), a leading optical communication module provider, is accelerating its Southeast Asia expansion as momentum builds around the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The company has announced plans to establish a new production base in Johor, Malaysia, to meet customer demands for diversified manufacturing locations and capitalize on the zone's first-mover benefits

Synopsys country manager for Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, Adrian Ng, shared insights with DIGITIMES on the development of the IC design industry in Singapore and Malaysia

Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI), Ayala Corporation's electronics arm, is poised to withstand potential US tariffs, leveraging its global footprint across Asia, Europe, and North America. Ayala chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala emphasized IMI's strategic resilience, supported by diversified supply chains and robust regional operations, ensuring stability amid trade uncertainties

Pegatron Corporation has officially launched its new smart factory in Batam, Indonesia. This facility marks a key step in Pegatron's advanced manufacturing strategy and will serve as a flagship location for its 5G business

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), jointly established through contracts signed by Malaysia's Johor state and Singapore, has recently become a focal point for the entire Southeast Asian supply chain. This week, the JS-SEZ Business and Investment Forum was held in Johor Bahru, where stakeholders exchanged views on the future development of the economic zone

Tan Aik-Hoon, Avnet's South Asia & Korea President, highlighted the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone's potential to boost regional economic development through complementary resources and expertise. Success may prompt Singapore to replicate this model across ASEAN, strengthening economic ties and global supply chain roles. This strategy leverages Singapore's tech innovation and Johor's manufacturing capacity to attract investments and enhance regional competitiveness

Taiwanese software and IT service providers are expanding across Southeast Asia as manufacturers relocate operations from China, creating new regional opportunities in the shifting global supply chain landscape

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast is shifting gears toward Asia, accelerating its expansion in the region with new manufacturing plants in India and Indonesia as its US ambitions stall amid rising tariffs and logistical costs

Pegatron unveiled its new manufacturing facility on Indonesia's Batam Island yesterday, featuring a dedicated 5G private network spanning the entire plant. The facility, developed in partnership with Indonesian telecom operator Telkomsel, positions itself as the world's largest 5G-enabled smart factory

CloudMile Group, a Taiwanese startup specializing in AI-driven cloud services, is extending its reach into Southeast Asia, eyeing rapid growth in AI adoption across the region. In an interview with DIGITIMES Asia, Jeremy Heng, managing director of CloudMile Southeast Asia, shared insights on how different ASEAN nations are shaping their AI ecosystems—with Singapore emerging as a standout leader

Singapore is investing SGD150 million (US$114.2 million) in a government-led "Enterprise Compute Initiative" to boost enterprise computing capacity and accelerate advanced AI development. This strategic investment reinforces Singapore's position as a hub for AI deployment, especially when compared to Taiwan's hardware-heavy ecosystem, which focuses on GPU production and AI server manufacturing