The Bhutanese government’s chief executive said the Himalayan country is looking into ways to mine and use natural cryptocurrencies to improve its economy and create jobs to decrease brain drain. Instead of using fossil fuels, natural cryptocurrencies are digital currencies mined using renewable energy sources like wind, liquid, or renewable.Continue Reading
Two of the most powerful governments in modern history chose flee over registration at a time when the world was searching for solid hands and shared direction.
The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union was the first, an action that was seen as usurping independence but widely accepted as a mistake in judgment. Britain relinquished its seat at the table, trading effect for isolation, rather than working from within to create the changing rules of international cooperation.
Donald Trump’s followers proclaimed his return to the White House as” Liberation Day.” The United States turned inward, reviving tariffs under the symbol of professional protection, instead of re-engaging the world with a new goal.
In a protectionist move intended to safeguard American work, sweeping new jobs were imposed on all imports this month. True power does not come from financial barricades, especially when those barricades isolate a country from the growing standards governing tomorrow’s trade and legitimacy.
The price is not just economic ( higher prices and stalled alliances ), but also spiritual: a lessening speech in shaping the shared potential.
These weren’t really social choices. The retreat of a once-shared responsibility to help navigate the world through clashing environment, injustice, and validity was the object of these abdications.
The pump they left behind is being filled, not with sound but with criteria, as frequently happens in past. A new style of international authority is emerging in Brussels ‘ calm corridors. Despite its flaws, the European Union has started transforming conservation into architecture.
Through initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ( CSRD), the Green Taxonomy, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Europe is institutionalizing what some people still view as aspirational. It is encoding sustainability rather than just defending it.
The EU is doing something dramatic: demanding evidence in a time when misleading is rife and Sustainable results are exceedingly mistrustworthy.
Over 50, 000 businesses operating in the region are required to give audited statements under CSRD, including non-European ones that cover everything from management and supply chains to pollution and human rights.
Not generosity, this is. It has provisional validity. You must demonstrate your support for a really, green future if you want to access one of the largest markets in the world.
What sets Europe apart is not its size, but rather its capacity to lead with principles. While people sabotage deal, Europe is using it to bolster confidence. Some increase walls, but it also erects systems. And perhaps most important, it transforms responsibilities into access.
However, Europe is not moving by itself. Japan has taken strong but understated actions to improve conservation. Its Sustainability Standards Board ( SSBJ) established the nation’s first IFRS-aligned sustainability disclosure standards, which cover both general and climate-related disclosures, in 2025. These regulations protect companies listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange from misinformation regarding climate risks, management, and pollution.
One of the most optimistic renewables goals among the G7 countries is Japan’s commitment to a 73 % decline in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, in addition to its 2013 commitment. Although its approach may be silent, it is meticulous, thorough, and functionally revolutionary.
China is also changing its approach to sustainability on its words. It laid the groundwork for a federal ESG monitoring program that was compliant with international standards in the release of the Basic Standards for Corporate Sustainability Disclosure in late 2024.
This action strengthens its ability to guide green finance and trade policies and complements its SDG-aligned alternative classification. The Global Development Initiative is a reflection of China’s efforts to incorporate environmental and social indicators into its system diplomacy on a political degree.
Although its path is different from that of Europe, the message is undeniable: conservation is no longer a peripheral issue; it is becoming fundamental. This is more than just a European tale. Additionally, it isn’t just about adherence. It’s about consistency, really.
The effects are immediate and true for the nations in the Global South. Exporting never more revolves solely around cost. It’s about providing resistant. Manufacturers are being asked to demonstrate that their products have both price and principles, from cocoa producers in Ghana to Bangladeshi garment manufacturers.
This is not neocolonialist at all. It is a reflection. And it raises the following: Is we create a global market where access is earned through contributions rather than coercion? Where does validity derive from behaviour rather than from branding?
The solution, in our opinion, is yes. However, only if the systems being constructed are really diverse. The World South must not only abide by these standards, but also form them. Conservation may turn into another type of gatekeeping. It must develop into a common foundation, one that respects celestial boundaries while upholding development rights.
However, this developing architecture is brittle. Concerns about the recent delays in CSRD and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ( CSDDD ) have been legitimate. The spectators are certainly concerned with the timeframes. They represent it, exactly. Beliefs can deteriorate because of fear. Standard lines may be blurry. And faith is wane.
Conservation as the foundation of international legitimacy is the new motto of Europe’s flag. The world may delay if it slows over. The world does prevent believing, however, if it reverses. And once lost, perception is much harder to regain than establishes.
Certainly the subject of the most popular speaker. It is about who holds regular when it’s most appealing to loosen. Leadership then rests on regularity, persistence, and staying put when difficulty hits.
Beyond bright ESG brochures, the world is changing. It is approaching the age of effect. the point when systems no longer only execute but must deliver. Europe’s position in that earth is crucial, but it is insufficient. The Global South’s legitimate demands, China’s reforming, and Japan’s solid hand had all come together.
The loudest, richest, or fastest can’t predict the future. It must be created by the most trustworthy people. Additionally, conservation is then given a new title.
Europe began to build filtering out of respect in a world where walls are built out of fear. However, protectors are necessary for frames as well. If Europe is currently sluggish, path is the only thing that stops. It’s not just rules. And course is everything in this fractious situation.
Setyo Budiantoro is a member of the Fair Finance Asia Advisory Committee, a MIT Sloan Fellow 2024, and a Nexus Strategist at The Prakarsa.
As the world is still yet out of the tariff woods, leading financial institutions across Asia Pacific (Apac) continue to navigate the uncertain tides and have made waves in the uncertain time. In the meantime, It was another challenging year for institutions in Asia as the global economy continues to recover after the Covid-19 pandemic, with sluggish economic growth.
It is worth pausing to celebrate people, teams and organisations that have withstood the test of another challenging, if not difficult, year. Not only does geopolitcal complexity persist, each market is on their unique mission towards recovery, sustainability, digitalisation, restructuring, or innovation.
The FinanceAsia team invited banks, brokers, ratings agencies and other financial institutions, to showcase their capabilities when supporting their clients. Our awards process celebrates those institutions that showed determination to deliver desirable outcomes, through the display of commercial and technical acumen.
This year marks the 29th iteration of our FinanceAsia awards and celebrates activity that took place during the 12 months of 2024.
Read on for details of the winners and finalists (entrants whose submissions were ((Highly commended by our jury) for North Asia. Full write-ups explaining the rationale behind winner selection will be published the Awards edition of FinanceAsia, with subsequent syndication online.
Congratulations to all of our winners in the Southeast Asian (SEA) markets:
BRUNEI DOMESTIC
BEST BANK
Baiduri Bank
INDONESIA DOMESTIC
BEST BANK
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Highly commended – Bank BRI
BEST BANK FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Bank BRI
BEST BROKER
PT CGS International Sekuritas Indonesia
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
Bank BRI
BEST CORPORATE BANK – LARGE CORP & MNCS
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
BEST CUSTODIAN BANK
Bank BRI
Highly commended – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
BEST DCM HOUSE
PT Indo Premier Sekuritas
BEST ESG CONSULTANT
UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions
BEST LAW FIRM
UMBRA – Strategic Legal Solutions
BEST PRIVATE BANK
Bank BRI
BEST RETAIL BANK
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
BEST STRATEGIC INITIATIVE – BANKS
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Highly commended – PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Tbk
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – BANKS
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
MOST DEI PROGRESSIVE – BANKS
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Highly commended – Bank Saqu
INDONESIA INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
BNP Paribas
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
OCBC
BEST DCM HOUSE
DBS Bank
BEST ECM HOUSE
UBS
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
Deutsche Bank
Highly commended – UBS
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
DBS Bank
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF)
MALAYSIA DOMESTIC
BEST BROKER
CGS International Securities Malaysia
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
Alliance Bank Malaysia
BEST CORPORATE BANK – LARGE CORP & MNCS
Maybank
BEST DCM HOUSE
CIMB
Highly commended – Maybank Investment Bank
BEST ECM HOUSE
CIMB
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
CIMB
BEST M&A HOUSE
CIMB
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
Maybank Investment Bank
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
AmInvest
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad
MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
UOB Malaysia
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
OCBC
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
UOB Malaysia
MYANMAR DOMESTIC
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
KBZ Bank
PHILIPPINES DOMESTIC
BEST BANK
BDO Unibank
Highly commended – Bank of the Philippine Islands
BEST BANK FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION
BPI Foundation, Inc.
BEST BROKER
First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
Security Bank Corporation
BEST CORPORATE BANK – LARGE CORP & MNCS
Bank of the Philippine Islands
BEST DCM HOUSE
First Metro Investment Corporation
BEST ECM HOUSE
BPI Capital Corporation
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
BPI Capital Corporation
Highly commended – Security Bank Capital Investment Corporation
BEST RETAIL BANK
Bank of the Philippine Islands
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
Bank of the Philippine Islands
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – BANKS
Bank of the Philippine Islands
PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
HSBC
BEST BANK FOR PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS
Citibank N.A
.
BEST CORPORATE BANK – LARGE CORP & MNCS
Citibank N.A.
BEST CORRESPONDENT BANK
Citibank N.A.
BEST CUSTODIAN BANK
HSBC
BEST DCM HOUSE
UBS
BEST ECM HOUSE
UBS
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
UBS
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST STRATEGIC INITIATIVE – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FinVolution Group
SINGAPORE DOMESTIC
BEST BANK
United Overseas Bank
BEST BROKER
Maybank Securities Singapore (MSSG)
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
OCBC
BEST DCM HOUSE
United Overseas Bank Limited
BEST ECM HOUSE
DBS Bank
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
DBS Bank
BEST LAW FIRM
Allen & Gledhill
BEST M&A HOUSE
United Overseas Bank Limited
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
DBS Bank
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
OCBC
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
UOB Asset Management
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
Citi Singapore
BEST DCM HOUSE
UBS
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
Citi Singapore
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
ANZ
MOST DEI PROGRESSIVE – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Aberdeen Investments
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
CIMB Singapore
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Aberdeen Investments
Highly commended – Marex Solutions
THAILAND DOMESTIC
BEST BROKER
CGS International Securities Thailand
BEST DCM HOUSE
KASIKORNBANK PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
BEST ECM HOUSE
Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Public Company Limited
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Public Company Limited
BEST LAW FIRM
Weerawong, Chinnavat and Partners
BEST M&A HOUSE
Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Public Company Limited
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
Bangkok Bank PCL
THAILAND INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
HSBC Thailand
BEST ECM HOUSE
UBS
Highly commended – Maybank Investment Bank
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
UBS
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
UOB Thailand
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – BANKS
UOB Thailand
VIETNAM DOMESTIC
BEST BANK
Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank)
Highly commended – Asia Commercial Bank
BEST BANK FOR PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS
Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB)
BEST BROKER
SSI Securities Corporation
BEST DCM HOUSE
SSI Securities Corporation
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
SSI Securities Corporation
BEST LAW FIRM
YKVN LLC
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank)
Highly commended – OCB
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Techcom Securities Joint Stock Company
VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL
BEST BANK
HSBC
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK – SMES
Citi Vietnam
BEST CORPORATE BANK – LARGE CORP & MNCS
Citi Vietnam
BEST DCM HOUSE
HSBC
BEST ECM HOUSE
HSBC
Highly commended – UBS
BEST INVESTMENT BANK
UBS
BEST M&A HOUSE
UBS
BEST SUSTAINABLE BANK
Citi Vietnam
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – BANKS
HSBC
BIGGEST SUSTAINABLE IMPACT – NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)
MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY – BANKS
HSBC
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
The United States and China’s economic ties no longer pose a hazard in the future. It is formalized, moving, and deeply disruptive around. Understanding this novel time is crucial for investors because it is not recommended.
More than just a business skirmish, the broad tariffs on Chinese imports have now been passed into law. They represent a traditional shift in the world’s supply chains, scientific ecosystems, and capital flows.
It’s not just about economy here. Control and financial power are both at play here. Investors may then adjust to a world where the fundamental principles of international commerce are being restored quickly and under pressure.
President Trump signed a broad common 10 % tax on all imports on April 2, which would increase to an extraordinary 60 % on Chinese products. These new taxes are atop an already formidable 85 % tax roof, which results in total costs of 145 % on Chinese exports to the US.
Beijing launched the initial volleys of retaliation, including banning the trade of crucial minerals that are vital to the American tech and aerospace sectors, as soon as supply chains started to splinter, and cost pressures raged across industries.
The two largest economy of the world are currently at odds with one another structurally, not in terms of strategy. Although the term” Cold War” is frequently overused, it is becoming more difficult to ignore the parallels. Realizing this is the end of the long-held notion that economic integration would act as a buffer against political issue.
What do a full-fledged economic divorce entail?
First, cash flows will become more and more polarized. Will more and more restrictions and attention been placed on dealings between American and Chinese entities, which were once thought to be routine. Actions with a dollar denomination may be restrained. US pension finances, university endowments, and index-linked ETFs could confront direct restrictions or growing political pressure to sell from Chinese goods.
This could lead to a flood of delistings from US exchanges, more stringent CFIUS reviews, and more inbound investment controls aimed at specific industries. Trump’s officials are now sending out clear warnings that the US government should not be “funding China’s fall.”
Next, the technological gap may grow and grow bigger. Firms like Huawei, ZTE, and DJI were put under a lot of stress in the past. Focus is now turning more and more toward AI, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy platforms, and the next-generation industries. Washington is moving to wall away full innovation ecosystems, not just to limit exports.
Hope tighter registration standards, more stringent investment restrictions, and more drastic sanctions against Chinese businesses as well as those of allies that have close ties with Beijing. This is about granting China access to fundamental capabilities while imposing technical dominance.
Third, the very foundation of international funding is being challenged. The dollar-based method has been the natural arbitrator of global commerce for decades. That independence is diminishing.
China is aggressively promoting the yuan internationalization in anticipation of limits on its currency’s exposure. Its Cross-Border Interbank Payment System ( CIPS) is being touted as a SWIFT alternative, aiming to make a competing financial system less reliant on Western sanctions.
The development of parallel financial systems will alter the flow of capital, restructure trade agreements, and add new layers of complexity to currency markets.
This transition may bring volatility but even opportunity for investors.
On the one hand, nations that are close to the United States will be a source of corporate capital. As businesses expand their manufacturing operations away from China, there are already important outflows from India, Vietnam, Mexico, and some parts of Eastern Europe.
Reshoring and friendshoring, once considered commercial words, have evolved into obvious government policy, supported by strong economic bonuses and political will. On the other hand, China is repositioning rather than retreating.
President Xi Jinping’s effective romance of the Global South highlights Beijing’s plan to strengthen relationships with developing countries that are under pressure from American isolationism.
Through partnerships in 5G, AI, clean energy, and superior production, Xi’s new visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, which are nations that are directly impacted by Trump’s tariffs, highlight Beijing’s effort to integrate these nations into its sphere of influence.
Buyers must be aware that this is no longer about military tariff fights or headline-driven ruckus.
It’s about a fundamental restructuring that will affect every aspect of index content, foreign exchange approach, ESG frameworks, and capital allocation. The outdated notion that industrialization was a push invincible is being broken down in front of us.
The speed behind the economic divorce suggests it is about to become inevitable, even though it is not yet final. And like with any sloppy isolation, fortunes will be made not by those who react physically, but by those who anticipate where assets, impact, and opportunities may flow when the ancient household is split.
The discerning investment will be guided by a mastery of the fresh rather than a return to the old.
The JCI Inspire Fest 2025, which was jointly hosted by Radiant and JCI Entrepreneur Metropolitan (JCI E-Metro ), was held at DSpace, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Through a three-day display of inspiring individuals, thought-provoking ideas, and cooperative community initiatives, this youth-focused festival highlights the power of management, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
The event, which has the style” Young Hands, Leading Change, Building Tomorrow,” aims to raise awareness of Junior Chamber International (JCI), its vision, and the victory reports of its award-winning fresh officials. The event highlighted the goods, services, and activities spearheaded by renowned JCI consumers like the Ten Excellent Young Malaysians, Creative Young Entrepreneur Award, Ten Excellent Young People of the World, and Sustainable Development Award.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia announced in a press release that Inspire Youth Day will be held at Sunway Velocity Mall on April 19, 2025. Her appearance highlights the significance of enhancing the voices of young people and nurturing the next generation of Malay changemakers.
The JCI Inspire Fest is more than just a festival; it’s a system for exchange, support, and meaningful activity. We want every Malaysian to hear the faces, tales, and accomplishments of our country’s brightest young talents, according to Friday Chua, the organising president of JCI Inspire Fest and a seasoned event expert.
The event features three themed time: 18 to 20 April 2025; it runs from April 18 to April 20.
Every morning features people forums, solution showcases, ESG Power Talks, and networking opportunities for the consumer. All of these activities are intended to persuade, educate, and mobilize young people in the areas of leadership, innovation, and social impact.
Environmental, Social, and Governance ( ESG) will be a key area of the program this year in addition to youth leadership. The organizers have cited efforts from important ESG-aligned lovers, such as:
These organizations “exercise the mission.” Their contribution to advancing ESG, education, health, and social responsibility is a crucial component of what this festival is all about, Chua continued.
For years, the earth moved along a distinct trail of creation laid down by the United States.
As the political anchor and designer of the post– World War II international order, America not just offered protection and investment—it also sold a powerful narrative of what improvement meant. Progressive politics, free markets, eternal growth—these were packaged as the only legitimate way to the prospect.
But slowly, we began to realize the value. Natural loss. Social injustice. A deepening issue of interpretation. The problem today is no longer whether this concept works but why we still cling to it even as its fissures grow louder and wider.
As American hegemony falters—marked by rising protectionism, trade war and declining world trust—many will mourn the pump of global leadership.
But apparently in that very pump lies a long-overdue offer: a time to wait, turn around and question again—what sort of enhancement do we truly need? Not only development that creates work or hydrocarbons GDP, but one that sustains career, heals the earth and restores human integrity in our relation with each other and the Earth.
The growth model that America designed and spread—through organizations like the IMF, World Bank and WTO—quietly imposed a hierarchy of principles. A state was deemed “advanced” if its business grew rapidly, its markets opened wide and its rules conformed to international standards set by a privileged few.
But today, we live in a world fractured by climate crisis, ecological exhaustion and extreme inequality. In such a world, development can no longer mean expansion, it must become consolidation. Not scaling up extraction but rebalancing power and rethinking how we relate to nature, capital and each other.
This reckoning reached a turning point in 2025, when Donald Trump returned to the presidency and declared what he called” Liberation Day” on April 2.
Standing at the White House, he announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports, framing them as an act of economic emancipation—an attempt to free the United States from what he called the shackles of unfair global trade.
But beyond its protectionist aims, Liberation Day marked something far more symbolic: the world’s leading superpower formally retreating from the very global order it had built and championed for decades.
Suddenly, the stage lacked an anchor. And in that moment of rupture, a door opened—not just for trade realignments but for deeper reflection. Has global development ever truly been designed for all? Or has it long functioned as a mechanism to prolong dominance beneath the language of universality?
We often associate sustainability with clean energy, green tech, and ESG investing. But true sustainability demands more than surface solutions: It requires structural change. The world cannot achieve ecological balance while its economic logic still rewards fossil fuel dependency, large-scale mining and supply chains that externalize harm.
There will be no climate justice as long as financial systems continue to incentivize extractive growth. And there can be no real sustainability if it remains a corporate slogan rather than a core principle of global governance.
America’s dominance normalized inequality. Countries deep in debt were pressured to cut social protections to meet loan conditions. Environmental regulations were weakened in the name of competitiveness.
Even the energy transition was calculated through the lens of profit, not collective survival. What the world needs now is not just redistribution of resources but a redistribution of direction. A reorientation of what development is meant to serve and whom.
Still, a world without a dominant power carries its own risks. Multipolarity without ethics can easily descend into new forms of chaos. Those stepping into the void may replicate the very logic they seek to replace: seeking influence, expanding control and chasing growth.
The question, then, is not who leads—but how we redefine leadership itself. Leadership not as domination but as collective responsibility. Leadership that serves life, not leverage.
We need global institutions that are no longer beholden to geopolitical monopolies. The United Nations must be reformed to be more democratic and responsive. The IMF and World Bank must abandon their outdated logic of austerity and begin centering justice. Global trade must internalize ecological and social costs into its core pricing structures.
This is not a technical reform. This is a transformation of values. Because no system can fix the crisis it was designed to protect unless it first changes what it believes to be valuable.
At this juncture, we must find the courage to admit: sustainable development is not about balancing growth with the environment—it’s about choosing the values that guide our lives together.
Will we continue to measure progress through GDP? Or will we begin to ask deeper questions—about community resilience, ecological limits and our shared capacity to live with dignity?
If American dominance handed us one model that dismissed these questions, then a post-American world must become the space where they are answered—honestly, urgently and together.
Perhaps for the first time in modern history humanity stands at the threshold of redesigning the global order—not from the ruins of war, but from a consciousness quietly rising from within the wreckage of illusion.
A consciousness that knows the planet cannot endure another century of extractive ambition. That the climate crisis is not just technical, it is moral. And that true sustainability cannot be owned by any single country, system or ideology.
If we can see America’s retreat not as a void but as an opening—for co-creation, co-responsibility, and collective redesign—then we are entering a new era of development.
One not obsessed with speed but rooted in depth. One not built on control, but on shared stewardship. One that refuses to be dictated by markets alone and begins instead with meaning.
From here, a quieter kind of hope can emerge. Not loud or triumphant, but grounded and enduring. A hope that does not seduce us with promises, but one that invites us back to what matters. The chance to build a world that no longer serves empire but serves life.
Setyo Budiantoro is Nexus Strategist at The Prakarsa, MIT Sloan IDEAS Fellow 2024,
and member of the Advisory Committee of Fair Finance Asia
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For a 25th year, FinanceAsia publishes its highly regarded benchmark of Asia’s best companies.
Based on nomination by Asia’s active community of influential investors and financial analysts, the poll evaluates the corporate behaviour and performance of Asian peers over the past 12 months.
The FA team is delighted to announce the 2025 winners below for the market categories.The industry winners can be found here.
Once again, following positive market participation, we have decided to award up to three medals per category to reflect corporate achievements. Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists are detailed where applicable.
Congratulations to all the winners. Read on for the winning companies in the following markets:
BEST MANAGED COMPANY
China
Gold – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – China Telecom
Bronze – China Mobile
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Silver – Link REIT
Silver – Sino Land
Bronze – MTR Corporation Limited
India
Gold – Tata Motors
Silver – Axis Capital
Bronze – Bajaj Finance
Indonesia
Gold – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Astra International
Silver – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Malaysia
Gold – Maybank
Silver – CIMB Bank Berhad
Bronze – AmFunds Investment Management Berhad
Bronze – YTL Corporation Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Ayala Corporation
Silver – Bank of the Philippine Islands
Silver – Megawide Construction Corporation
Bronze – Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation
Singapore
Gold – DBS Bank
Silver – Singapore Airlines
Bronze – CapitaLand
South Korea
Gold – SK Hynix
Silver – Samsung Electronics
Bronze – Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
Taiwan
Gold – Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Silver – CTBC Financial Holding
Silver – MediaTek Inc.
Bronze – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Sercomm Corporation
Thailand
Gold – B. Grimm Power PCL
Silver – Global Power Synergy PCL
Silver – Thai Oil Public Company Limited
Bronze – Central Pattana
Bronze – Gulf Energy Development PCL
MOST COMMITTED TO ESG
China
Gold – Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – China Telecom
Bronze – China Mobile
Bronze – Trip.com
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Silver – Link REIT
Bronze – Hengan International Group Company, Ltd.
India
Gold – Axis Capital
Silver – Bajaj Finance
Bronze – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Malaysia
Gold – Yinson Holdings Berhad
Silver – Maybank
Bronze – AmFunds Investment Management Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Ayala Corporation
Silver – Megawide Construction Corporation
Bronze – SM Investments Corporation
Singapore
Gold – OCBC Bank
Silver – City Developments Limited
Bronze – Seatrium
South Korea
Gold – Samsung Electronics
Silver – Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
Bronze – Hanwha Ocean
Taiwan
Gold – Wistron NeWeb Corporation
Silver – CTBC Financial Holding
Bronze – Sercomm Corporation
Thailand
Gold – Global Power Synergy PCL
Silver – B. Grimm Power PCL
Bronze – Gulf Energy Development PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup
Silver – Masan Group
Bronze – THACO Group
BEST INVESTOR RELATIONS
China
Gold – China Telecom
Silver – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Bronze – China Mobile
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Silver – Link REIT
Silver – MTR Corporation Limited
Bronze – Midea International Corp Co Ltd
India
Gold – ICICI Bank Ltd
Silver – HDFC Bank Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Bronze – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Malaysia
Gold – CIMB Bank Berhad
Silver – Maybank
Bronze – Yinson Holdings Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Silver – Ayala Corporation
Silver – SM Investments Corporation
Bronze – Meralco
Singapore
Gold – CapitaLand
Silver – SATS Ltd
Bronze – Mapletree Investments
South Korea
Gold – Hanwha Ocean
Silver – LG Electronics
Bronze – SK Hynix
Taiwan
Gold – Wistron NeWeb Corporation
Silver – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Sercomm Corporation
Thailand
Gold – PTT Public Company Limited
Silver – B. Grimm Power PCL
Bronze – Global Power Synergy PCL
Bronze – Gulf Energy Development PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup
Silver – Masan Group
Bronze – Mobile World Investment Corporation
BEST LARGE CAP COMPANY
China
Gold – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – China Telecom
Bronze – China Mobile
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Link REIT
Silver – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Bronze – CLP Holdings Ltd
India
Gold – Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd
Silver – HDFC Bank Ltd
Bronze – Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd
Bronze – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Astra International
Malaysia
Gold – Maybank
Philippines
Gold – SM Investments Corporation
Silver – International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Bronze – SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
South Korea
Gold – Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
Silver – Hanwha Ocean
Silver – POSCO
Bronze – Samsung Biologics
Taiwan
Gold – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Silver – MediaTek Inc.
Bronze – EVA Airways Corporation
Bronze – Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd
Thailand
Gold – Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL
Silver – PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP)
Bronze – Advanced Info Service PCL
BEST MID CAP COMPANY
China
Gold – AsiaInfo Technologies Limited
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – CIMC Enric Holdings Ltd
Silver – Fortune REIT
India
Gold – Prestige Estates Projects Ltd
Silver – ICICI Securities Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Malaysia
Gold – Sunway Berhad
Silver – YTL Corporation Berhad
Bronze – Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Manila Water Company, Inc.
Silver – Jollibee Foods Corporation
Bronze – Aboitiz Power
South Korea
Gold – LG Electronics
Silver – KIWOOM Securities
Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Silver – Arcadyan Technology Corporation
Bronze – Elite Material Co Ltd
Thailand
Gold – Minor International PCL
Silver – Global Power Synergy PCL
Bronze – WHA Corporation PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup
Silver – Masan Group
Bronze – Mobile World Investment Corporation
BEST SMALL CAP COMPANY
China
Gold – Digital China Holdings
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Far East Consortium International Limited
Silver – Vitasoy International Holdings Limited
Bronze – SF REIT
India
Gold – Aavas Financiers
Silver – Indian Energy Exchange Ltd
Malaysia
Gold – Yinson Holdings Berhad
Silver – Top Glove Corporation Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation
Silver – Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Silver – Megawide Construction Corporation
Bronze – D&L Industries Inc.
Taiwan
Gold – Sercomm Corporation
Silver – Fositek Corporation
Bronze – Merida Industry Co., Ltd
Thailand
Gold – Ratch Group PCL
Silver – Bangkok Chain Hospital PCL
Bronze – Central Plaza Hotel PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Vinh Hoan Corporation
Silver – CMC Corporation
Silver – International Dairy Products JSC
Bronze – GELEX Group
BEST CEO
China
Gold – Zhongyue Chen – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – Jie Yang – China Mobile
Bronze – Xiaowei Luan – China Communications Services
Bronze – Biao He – China Mobile
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Raymond Kwok – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Silver – George Hongchoy – Link REIT
Bronze – Shixian Lai – ANTA Sports Products Ltd
India
Gold – Deepak C. Mehta – Deepak Nitrite Ltd
Silver – T.V. Narendran – Tata Steel
Indonesia
Gold – Sunarso – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Darmawan Junaidi – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Royke Tumilaar – PT BNI (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Ali Rukmijah – Bank Sahabat Sampoerna
Malaysia
Gold – Khairussaleh Ramli – Maybank
Silver – Tony Fernandes – Capital A Berhad
Bronze – Novan, Amirudin – CIMB Bank Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Edgar B. Saavedra – Megawide Construction Corporation
Silver – Teresita Sy-Coson – BDO Unibank
Silver – Oliver Y. Tan – Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation
Bronze – Jeffrey Lim – SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Singapore
Gold – Piyush Gupta – DBS Bank
Silver – Loh Boon Chye – Singapore Exchange
South Korea
Gold – Chey Tae-won – SK Group
Silver – Han Jong-hee – Samsung Electronics
Bronze – Kim Seung-youn – Hanwha Group
Taiwan
Gold – C. C. Wei – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Silver – Suming, Chen – Universal Microwave Technology, Inc.
Bronze – Vivian Ling – Caliway Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd
Bronze – Chee Ching – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd
Thailand
Gold – Dr. Harald Link – B. Grimm Power PCL
Silver – Niwat Adirek – BCPG PCL
Silver – Sarath Ratanavadi – Gulf Energy Development PCL
Bronze – Dr. Chalerm Harnphanich – Bangkok Chain Hospital PCL
Bronze – Dr. Poramaporn Prasarttong-osoth – Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Danny Le – Masan Group
BEST CFO
China
Gold – Yuzhuo Li – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – Ronghua Li – China Mobile
Bronze – Aqiang Shen – China Communications Services
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Toby Xu – Alibaba Group (HK)
Silver – Alexandre Jean Keisser – CLP Holdings Ltd
India
Gold – Samir Seksaria – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – Sigit Prastowo – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Viviana Dyah Ayu Retno Kumalasari – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Henky Suryaputra – Bank Sahabat Sampoerna
Malaysia
Gold – Malique Firdauz Ahmad Sidique – Maybank
Silver – Joyce Tan – Sunway Berhad
Bronze – Chek Wu Kong – Duopharma Biotech Berhad
Bronze – Guillaume François Jest – Yinson Holdings Berhad
Philippines
Gold – John Nai Peng Ong – SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Silver – Jez G. dela Cruz – Megawide Construction Corporation
Bronze – Estella Tuason-Occeña – Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Bronze – Richard Shin – Jollibee Foods Corporation
Singapore
Gold – Yuen Kuan Moon – Singtel
Silver – Koo Chung Chang – AIA Group
Bronze – Lim Hock Chye – Keppel Corporation
Taiwan
Gold – Henry Hao Jen Wang – Fubon Bank
Silver – Wendell Huang – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Bronze – David (Chien Cheng) Wang – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Thailand
Gold – Chanamas Sasnanand – PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP)
Silver – Yupapin Wangviwat – Gulf Energy Development PCL
Bronze – Siriwong Borvornboonrutai – B. Grimm Power PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Max Sunarcia – THACO Group
Silver – Do Thi Quynh Trang – Masan Group
BEST COO
China
Gold – Jian Qin – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – Zhanwei Cui – China Communications Services
Malaysia
Gold – Ariff Azahar – Maybank
Philippines
Gold – Carlos Cruz – International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
South Korea
Bronze – Nam Seok-Woo – Samsung Electronics
Taiwan
Gold – Tungyi Wu – Universal Microwave Technology, Inc.
Silver – Ben Lin – Sercomm Corporation
Bronze – Jeffrey Gau – Wistron NeWeb Corporation
Thailand
Bronze – Nopadej Karnasuta – B. Grimm Power PCL
Vietnam
Silver – Metha Pingsuthiwong – Tisco Group
BEST CTO
China
Gold – Jun Zhi, Wang – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Taiwan
Gold – Jyh-Shing Roger Jang – E-Sun
Thailand
Bronze – Woottichai Jarernpol – Krungthai Card PCL
Indonesia
Gold – Arga M. Nugraha – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Thailand
Gold – Dennis Thorsten Trawnitschek – SCB X PCL
Taiwan
Silver – Chris Lin – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Thailand
Silver – Sutthikan Rungsrithong – TMBThanachart Bank Plc.
MOST COMMITTED TO DEI
China
Gold – China Telecom
Silver – China Mobile
Bronze – China Communications Services
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd
Silver – Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd
Bronze – Link REIT
India
Gold – Travelogy India Pvt Ltd
Indonesia
Gold – PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Malaysia
Gold – CIMB Bank Berhad
Silver – Maybank
Bronze – Top Glove Corporation Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation
Silver – Ayala Corporation
Bronze – International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
South Korea
Gold – Hanwha Ocean
Silver – Samsung Electronics
Bronze – SK Hynix
Taiwan
Gold – Wistron NeWeb Corporation
Silver – CTBC Financial Holding
Bronze – Sercomm Corporation
Thailand
Gold – Gulf Energy Development PCL
Silver – Global Power Synergy PCL
Bronze – B. Grimm Power PCL
Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup
Silver – Mobile World Investment Corporation
Bronze – Masan Group
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
China
Gold – China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd
Silver – China Telecom
Bronze – China Mobile
Hong Kong SAR
Gold – CIMC Enric Holdings Ltd
Silver – Hongkong Land Holdings Limited
Bronze – Swire Properties
India
Gold – Dito Telecommunity Corporation
Silver – Sun Telecommunication
Indonesia
Gold – GoTo Gojek Tokopedia
Silver – PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Telkom
Malaysia
Gold – KPJ Healthcare Berhad
Silver – Yinson Holdings Berhad
Bronze – Uzma Berhad
Philippines
Gold – Bank of the Philippine Islands
Silver – Union Bank
Bronze – Globe Telecom, Inc.
South Korea
Gold – Samsung Biologics
Silver – Hanwha Ocean
Bronze – SK Hynix
Taiwan
Gold – Sercomm Corporation
Silver – MediaTek Inc.
Bronze – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
Thailand
Gold – SCB X PCL
Silver – Advanced Info Service PCL
Bronze – TMBThanachart Bank Plc.
Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup
Silver – Masan Group
Bronze – FPT Corporation
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, part of EdgePoint Infrastructure, a leading ASEAN-based independent telecommunications infrastructure company, has announced the appointment of Ravin Vickneswaran ( pic ) as Chief Operating Officer ( COO ) of EdgePoint Towers. Ravin has been with EdgePoint since 2021 and brings over 25 years of extensive experience in both the local and international communications industry.
As COO, Ravin may work closely with groups across the company to generate the company’s vision across several agencies, including Engineering &, Implementation, Property &, Permitting, and Operations &, Maintenance. He may even lead team towards enhancing service options, boosting client satisfaction, ensuring the successful implementation of ESG techniques, strengthening partnerships, and driving the adoption of new technologies. In contrast, Ravin will keep his past investment at EdgePoint, continuing to lead the Innovations group.
Speaking on his new position, Ravin shared,” As Malaysia accelerates its 5G implementation, EdgePoint Towers remains committed to delivering future-ready system that enables smooth communication. Cooperation with our customers is at the center of our approach, ensuring we provide modern and reliable options that support their growing needs”.
” Continuing to work alongside my talented colleagues, we aim to develop powerful partnerships, travel operating superiority, and play a vital role in advancing the nation’s online transformation”, he added.
Muniff Kamaruddin, CEO of EdgePoint Towers, said,” We are pleased to see Ravin advance in his career at EdgePoint. As we fast level in Malaysia, it is crucial that we expand our administration chair power, and Ravin’s experience will be important in this effort. His proven management, administrative skills, and powerful execution capabilities will be instrumental in ensuring the company’s ongoing success”.
” Ravin’s deep understanding of the industry and customer needs has enabled him to build high-performing teams who have delivered innovative solutions across various industries in Malaysia, even winning two international awards in the past three years. With his track record, we are confident that Ravin will drive our business forward and strengthen our position as a partner of choice for digital infrastructure solutions in Malaysia”, he added.
Ravin has served as Vice President of In-Building Coverage and Innovation at EdgePoint since 2021 and has been instrumental in growing the company’s IBC and small cells portfolio. Prior to joining EdgePoint, he held key senior positions in telecommunications companies in Malaysia and Myanmar, namely Head of 5G Enterprise Business at Celcom Axiata Berhad, Director of APAC Operations at Flexenclosure AB, and Manager at Maxis Communications Berhad.
Global digital infrastructure firm Equinix has issued S$500 million ($376 million) in green bonds in its inaugural offering in the Singaporean market. Equinix’s debut issuance marks the first US corporate to access the Singapore dollar market in over five years.
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
Prior to becoming the chief sustainability officer for global banking, Apac, Eric Tran was previously the head of sustainability for transaction banking Asia Pacific ( Apac ) at French bank BNP Paribas.
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