We are living through a decisive moment. The COVID-19 pandemic’s devasting impact is reaching every corner of the world. As we look back at this period, we will see history divided into a pre-COVID and a post-COVID world. And a defining feature of the post-COVID world will be the digital transformation that has permeated every aspect of our lives.

Cities are home to most of the world’s population and where problems and solutions meet. They are centres of economic growth and innovation. However, the high concentration of people and economic activities in cities make them most vulnerable to various disasters, epidemics and pandemics.  In several countries, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in cities and spread to rural areas via peri-urban and transport corridors.

It is probably premature to offer an assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic’s possible consequences, not least because there may well be many more twists and turns to come. And once we defeat the coronavirus, some of the pandemic-induced changes to our lives might turn out to have been temporary.

Even as the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gathers more momentum, Malaysia should not neglect its smaller SMEs (i.e., more than five but less than 25 employees) and micro-businesses (i.e., five or less employees). With the reimposition of the movement control order (MCO) 2.0 in the ASEAN member state, assistance for smaller businesses and micros by now should include more help to digitalise, specifically to adopt e-payment or cashless payment met

There’s been much hype and agitation and, by extension, circulation of kopitiam (coffee shop) talk about reports of Malaysia falling behind its regional counterparts and peers in terms of foreign direction investment (FDI) which include losing out on key strategic investments so that the country now (yet again) is supposed to be down on that path towards becoming a failed state (which we’ve heard many times before). Such a grim outlook could be justified on the basis that according t

Financial technology or fintech is not only the new kid on the block, but a pivotal game-changer for the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Quoting from professional services network firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), fintech is simply the evolving dynamic intersection and strategic overlap between financial services and technology. Presently, SMEs are having to grapple with cash flow problems – with growing unsettled and accumulating liabilities in their bal

Cyclones, earthquakes, economic crises, and epidemics are business risks companies have been facing for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit global supply chains at an unprecedent scale and speed.

The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted major industries, small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs), and local businesses.

Today’s unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has prompted billions of people to work, socialise, and consume digitally. This shift creates a historic opportunity to unlock the potential of digitalisation to finance more inclusive, sustainable development. Digitalisation is transforming every aspect of finance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected businesses and the economy in general. Millions around the world have lost their jobs amid the crisis. Great debts and financial constraints have left many desperate for help.