Microfinance is a service where financial institutions back small start-ups and would-be entrepreneurs with small loans, often times referred to as microloans. Such initiatives are most popular in the poorest parts of the world. By distributing small loans and accepting small savings amounts, microfinancing empowers those below the poverty line to improve their livelihoods.

Project Ubin named after an island located northeast of the Singapore mainland is a multi-phased initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to explore the usage of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) commonly known as blockchain technology for the clearing and settlement of payments and securities.The latest phase of the project saw an announcement by MAS and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) last August for a collaboration to develop Delivery versus Payment (DvP) capabilities for the

Unlike other sectors which can be completely disrupted by automation or technology, the healthcare industry is a space where technology can complement rather than threaten. The healthcare industry in the region is at an important juncture of its history. Demand for healthcare in the region has never been greater and is expected to rise even further in the future. Among the factors for this is the aging population of the region.

Technology is evolving faster than ever, and as it continuously changes, the world changes along with it. As we enter the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is important for people to come together to ensure that such technologies are used to benefit mankind.The emerging technologies do not come without their risks. One of the major concerns for many is privacy. Controversies against Facebook in the past reveal that our data may not be so secure after all.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has seen many sweeping changes in the way we interact with one another. This interaction is not limited to human-to-human relationships but is extended to the way we deal with finances; with the idea of digitalising purchases and transactions now a reality. Mobile wallets are part of this reality, with users able to carry out purchases through cashless means, and as the term suggests, with the use of a smartphone.

The Singapore government has hailed small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as being the driving force behind its economy, saying they make up 99 percent of all enterprises in the country and employ 65 percent of the country’s workforce.

As an economic bloc, ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world. However, this is not reflected in the adoption of digital transformation.

Brunei Vision 2035 (Wawasan Brunei 2035) is a developmental framework that was first formulated in 2004 by the country’s monarch, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. This project aims to propel the country to greater heights on many fronts. When measured by the highest international standards, Brunei Vision 2035 looks to build a citizenry that is not only well-educated but highly-skilled.

The war against mosquito-borne diseases has found a new ally in artificial intelligence (AI). An ambitious project by Google’s sister company, Verily, plans to literally “debug” the problem. Its Debug project aims to reduce Aedes aegypti mosquito populations drastically and thereby the incidence of diseases like dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya.Most of these diseases have no effective treatments or vaccines.

Although everyone in Southeast Asia can fly these days due to the proliferation of low-cost airlines, the experience is not necessarily pleasant with long queues and constantly having to present travel documents to different parties. Airports are struggling to cope with growing passenger numbers who are also becoming more demanding. This makes them good testbeds for smart technology.In Southeast Asia, Singapore’s Changi Airport is leading the charge in innovation.