Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Vice President JD Vance has rejected describing the United States’ confrontation with Iran as a war, arguing that major combat operations ended weeks ago despite a sharp renewal of strikes across the Gulf. “I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance told reporters at a White House briefing on Thursday. “Right now, there is no active shooting.” He acknowledged that fighting had flared in […]
Several leading artificial intelligence services, including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Gemini, experienced access problems for some users on Thursday, with confirmed incidents affecting multiple platforms during overlapping periods. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and xAI’s Grok all showed signs of disruption during the day, while users also reported difficulties with Google’s Gemini. The scale and precise cause of the simultaneous problems were not immediately clear, and official status […]
Nvidia has agreed to acquire artificial intelligence developer platform Hugging Face in a transaction valued at $12.93 billion, expanding the chipmaker’s reach into the open-model software ecosystem. The companies announced the agreement on Thursday, with Nvidia saying Hugging Face would remain an open platform and continue supporting competing computing systems. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and […]
French health insurance start-up Alan has acquired Dakar-based digital health company Tanel, giving the Paris-based group its first foothold in Africa and adding operations in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The transaction, announced on September 2, brings Tanel’s approximately 70,000 covered lives and more than 400 corporate customers into Alan’s international network. Financial terms were not disclosed. Alan said Tanel’s existing team would remain in place while the […]
HDFC Bank’s weighting in the benchmark has fallen to about 9.81 per cent, compared with 9.34 per cent for ICICI Bank, leaving a gap that exceeded four percentage points at the start of 2026. Reliance Industries remains third, with a weighting slightly above 8 per cent. Separate index research based on August 31 levels also showed the HDFC-ICICI gap at its narrowest since at least January 2010.
The convergence reflects sharply different share performances. HDFC Bank has fallen about 29 per cent this year, putting the stock on course for its weakest annual performance since 2008, while ICICI Bank has gained roughly 6 per cent. The sell-off has erased more than $65 billion from HDFC Bank’s value since its peak last year, reducing its market capitalisation to about $114.5 billion. ICICI Bank is valued at nearly $109 billion.
Pressure on HDFC Bank intensified after Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sashidhar Jagdishan said he would not seek another term and would leave when his current tenure ends on October 26. The bank has begun a succession process at a time when investors are already assessing the implications of an unusually unsettled period at board and senior-management level.
Jagdishan’s departure follows the March resignation of part-time chairman and independent director Atanu Chakraborty, who said certain happenings and practices he had observed over two years were not consistent with his personal values and ethics. The resignation prompted questions about governance, although the Reserve Bank of India said at the time that its periodic assessments had found no material concerns regarding the bank’s conduct or governance and described its financial position as satisfactory.
HDFC Bank subsequently commissioned external law firms to examine the implications of Chakraborty’s letter. The bank said in June that the review, based on records and witness interviews, did not substantiate the implications arising from the former chairman’s resignation. That finding provided an important institutional counterweight to the concerns raised by the abrupt exit, but it did not prevent governance and succession issues from remaining central to investor debate.
The market impact has become increasingly visible in index composition. At the end of December 2025, HDFC Bank accounted for about 12.7 per cent of the Nifty, against 8.05 per cent for ICICI Bank. By August 31, research from Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research put the weights at 9.85 per cent and 9.45 per cent respectively. Reliance Industries, whose shares have also weakened this year, had fallen to about 7.8 per cent from 8.9 per cent.
Index weight matters because passive funds and exchange-traded products tracking the Nifty allocate capital according to constituent weights. A change at the top would therefore alter the relative influence of the two banks on benchmark movements, although it would not by itself change their underlying businesses. HDFC Bank remains larger by market value, while Reliance Industries remains larger than either lender.
Operationally, HDFC Bank continues to report profit growth despite the market concerns. Standalone net profit for the June quarter rose 5 per cent from a year earlier to ₹19,060 crore, while net interest income increased 6.7 per cent to ₹33,535 crore. Gross advances rose 15.4 per cent year on year and total deposits increased 14.7 per cent. Its net interest margin, however, narrowed to 3.26 per cent, while gross non-performing assets edged up to 1.17 per cent.
ICICI Bank reported faster growth in the same quarter. Profit after tax increased 15.9 per cent to ₹14,805 crore, net interest income rose 12.7 per cent to ₹24,384 crore and its total loan portfolio expanded 19.6 per cent. The bank reported a 4.36 per cent net interest margin and a net non-performing asset ratio of 0.35 per cent at the end of June.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE’s non-oil private sector expanded at its fastest pace since December 2024 in August, as stronger demand and output lifted business conditions despite continued caution over hiring. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.3 from 52.7 in July, moving further above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction. The reading marked a second successive monthly acceleration […]
Anthropic has made Claude Fable 5.1 generally available while restricting the closely related Claude Mythos 5.1 to vetted partners, pairing stronger coding and research capabilities with new safeguards for cybersecurity, biology and enterprise data. The two models share the same underlying system, but Anthropic has separated access according to risk. Fable 5.1 carries tighter protections intended for broad commercial use, while Mythos 5.1 offers more permissive settings […]
Workshop: “Eyes from Space: Solving Everyday Problems with Satellite Data”
After live quizzes on satellites, Yasuo Shirai, Vice President of Engineering, showed how optical, thermal-infrared and radar satellites observe water, farmland, forests and disasters — including Tenchijin’s own KnoWaterleak. In a hands-on challenge, students acting as a city mayor decided where to build a new hospital by combining satellite and ground data. His closing message: satellite data becomes truly powerful only when paired with local knowledge and human ideas.
Yasuo Shirai – VP of Engineering, Tenchijin Inc | Japan
“The energy of the 400 students in that hall was extraordinary. Their questions on water, agriculture and the environment are exactly the problems we tackle with satellite data every day. Co-hosting with MYSA showed that the distance between an Asian classroom and space technology is far shorter than students imagine, and I hope some of them will one day build this industry with us.”
Hashtag: #Tenchijin #KnoWaterLeak #ScienceCastle #leaveanest
https://tenchijin.co.jp/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tenchijin/
https://x.com/tenchijin_pr
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Tenchijin Inc. is a space technology company developing satellite-data solutions for infrastructure management. Its flagship product, Tenchijin COMPASS KnoWaterleak, combines satellite data and AI to detect and prevent water leaks, achieving up to 65% cost reduction and 85% time savings in field tests, and received the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Prize at the 7th Infrastructure Maintenance Grand Prize.
https://knowaterleak.space/
A distinguished leader who served as the 8th Governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) of the Malaysian state of Penang, Tun Fuzi will advise IMA on its regional growth strategy, strategic partnerships, and institutional engagement as the Publisher accelerates the expansion of its leading business magazine title, The SmartInvestor (TSI) across ASEAN.
“Onboarding Tun Fuzi is a milestone not only for IMA, but Malaysia’s media publication industry. Undoubtedly a seasoned leader fortified by his long diplomatic career experience, we are confident that his strategic insights will pave the way for TSI’s stronger regional voice,” said CT Cheah, IMA’s Managing Director and TSI’s Managing Editor.
Currently, TSI has established its presence in Hong Kong in addition to Malaysia via its magazine content and dedicated website platforms. The publication also recently relaunched https://smartinvestor.com.my and https://smartinvestor.hk and is also in progress to rolling out its China website by the first half of 2027.
Beyond expansion plans, Tun Fuzi also shares a common vision with IMA in empowering communities through financial literacy as the partnership will kickstart initiatives to promote practical grassroots financial education, strengthen awareness on governance and regulatory compliance as well as encourage informed financial-decision making among communities, business and future generations.
“A well-informed society is fundamental to sustainable economic growth. I believe the media has an important role in promoting financial awareness, encouraging good governance, and connecting businesses and communities across borders. Working with IMA, I am committed to supporting its nation-building initiative of advancing financial literacy and responsible investment knowledge across ASEAN,” stated Tun Fuzi.
With its expansion strategy in place and leveraging on the new appointment, IMA is exploring new opportunities for regional collaboration to broaden its reach and relevance across Asia. At the heart of this ambition is a commitment of combining credible journalism with education, contributing to a more informed, resilient and inclusive society.
Hashtag: #InovatifMediaAsia #TheSmartInvestor #TunFuzi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Founded in 2002, IMA has built a reputation for producing high-quality business and lifestyle publications. Apart from its leading business magazine The SmartInvestor, the Publisher also owns titles including Calibre, FENG, The G.Mag and The Real Time.
With a new management onboard in 2023, IMA is slated to expand its regional presence for publications, business dialogues and cross-border collaborations.
Websites:
1.https://smartinvestor.com.my
2.https://smartinvestor.hk
By TN Ashok The Haldwani controversy is larger than a quarrel between two political families. It has reopened one of independent India’s most uncomfortable questions: has caste-based untouchability really disappeared, or has it merely changed its vocabulary and rituals? India’s political battlefield has acquired an unusually old-fashioned weapon: holy water, a havan and the idea that […]
The article Haldwani purification row: Caste back on political centre-stage appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The launch ceremony was officiated by key guests including Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP; Mr Kelvin Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr Lyu Feng, Deputy Director-General of the Economic and Financial Department II of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; and Mr Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP. They were joined by representatives and scholars from local and overseas universities, international research organizations, R&D centres, and industry partners to witness the launch of SEAM@InnoHK and explore its R&D roadmap and industrial application prospects.
Building a Flourishing Ecosystem to Empower R&D Commercialisation
As the largest I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong, HKSTP provides comprehensive professional support and resources to the R&D centres under SEAM@InnoHK. This encompasses world-class R&D infrastructure, seamless connections with academic institutions, talent pools, and investor networks, as well as matchmaking with funding and industry partners—empowering teams to transform breakthrough research into scalable, high-impact commercial solutions.
Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP, said: “InnoHK has been with the Science Park for 5 years and this is the start of the second 5-year period. What we can see is that InnoHK has demonstrated the power of collaboration amongst world eminent scholars, researchers, and global partners. The first two clusters, Health@InnoHK and AIR@InnoHK have delivered world-class achievements. We commit to provide all the support we can to the InnoHK teams, as your success will add to the heartbeat of the ecosystem—not only for HKSTP, but for Hong Kong’s entire innovation landscape.”
Gathering Global Scientific Excellence to Drive Breakthroughs
The eight R&D centres under SEAM@InnoHK have brought together over 30 top global universities and research institutions, including the University of Cambridge, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Nagoya University, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, and Peking University.
Notably, three R&D centres feature collaborations with Nobel Laureates: Professor Ben L. Feringa from the University of Groningen (2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), who participates in the research at the InnoHK Centre of Functional Materials for Energy and Sustainability (CFMES); Sir Konstantin Novoselov, renowned as the “Father of Graphene” from the National University of Singapore (2010 Nobel Laureate in Physics), who serves as principle investigator for the Inno Centre for Heterogeneous Integration and Production (CHIP); and Professor Hiroshi Amano from Nagoya University (2014 Nobel Laureate in Physics), who participates in research at InnoHK Power Semiconductors and Applications Center (PowerSAC). This stellar international scientific lineup highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages in assembling world-class research talent, fostering cross-border collaboration, and driving technological innovation, further consolidating its status as a global hub for research cooperation.
InnoHK is a flagship I&T initiative of the HKSAR Government aimed at developing Hong Kong into a global hub for scientific research cooperation. It encourages world-leading universities and research institutes to conduct collaborative research with local institutions by establishing R&D centres in Hong Kong. Together with “Health@InnoHK”, focusing on healthcare technologies and “AIR@InnoHK”, focusing on AI and robotics technologies, the three InnoHK research clusters will further enrich Hong Kong’s world-class scientific landscape, accelerating technology transfer, startup incubation, and the growth of the I&T industry.
Introduction to the Eight SEAM@InnoHK R&D Centres (For details, please refer to the Appendix):
Hashtag: #HKSTP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 and has built a proven foundation as Hong Kong’s leading innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Established for 25 years, HKSTP is supporting 14 unicorns, has nurtured more than 17,000 research professionals and built a community of over 2,400 technology companies from 26 countries and regions across four strategic technology clusters: Life and Health Technology, AI and Data Science, Micro-electronics, and New Energy and Green Technology.
As an ecosystem orchestrator, HKSTP provides end-to-end support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate commercialisation and help technology ventures scale. Its innovation infrastructure spans over 240 hectares covering Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long, advancing Hong Kong’s vision for new industrialisation and smart manufacturing.
Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, strengthens cross-border collaboration by connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and global innovation networks and propels Chinese innovators onto the world stage, while also delivering comprehensive GBA landing support to accelerate cross-border success for local and international ventures.
As HKSTP enters its next chapter with strong foundations, it continues to deepen impact, elevate quality and create value for innovators. As an ecosystem built to lead change, HKSTP is empowering Hong Kong to define what comes next in innovation, growth and opportunity.
More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.
Russia’s new federal framework regulating cryptocurrency circulation took effect on Tuesday across the country’s financial sector, establishing a supervised domestic market for digital assets while retaining a ban on cryptocurrency payments inside the country. Federal Law No. 282-FZ entered into force on September 1 after President Vladimir Putin signed it on August 4. The State Duma approved the legislation on July 21 and the Federation Council endorsed […]
Adobe has expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and state-backed AI company HUMAIN, offering more than 27 million eligible citizens and residents a year of free access to its AI-powered creative tools. The US software company said the programme, announced at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh on Monday, is valued at more than $4 billion and will provide eligible people aged 13 […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Ingdan, Inc. (“Ingdan” or the “Company”; Stock Code: 400.HK, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), an ecosystem services platform anchored in artificial intelligence (“AI”) chips and principally engaged in the businesses of “Comtech” and “Ingdan” today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (the “First Half of 2026” or the “Period”).
Financial Highlights for the First Half of 2026
During the Period, benefiting from sustained strong chip demand across the AIDC, storage and robotics sectors, the Group recorded revenue of approximately RMB13,249.2 million, representing an increase of approximately 98.4% from approximately RMB6,676.5 million for the corresponding period in 2025.
The Group’s gross profit amounted to approximately RMB799.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 36.5%. Operating profit was approximately RMB517.2 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 87.7%. Net profit after tax amounted to approximately RMB373.0 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 96.3%.
Business Review
Strategic Upgrade Milestone: Token Factory Order Formally Secured, Opening Up a Second Growth Curve
During the First Half of 2026, the Group achieved a landmark breakthrough in its AI-driven strategic upgrade. The previously disclosed intent service orders exceeding US$1 billion have now been formalized into services contracts. Delivery is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the contracts expected to generate aggregate service revenue of more than US$1 billion over the next five years. This milestone signifies a fundamental evolution in the Group’s growth model—from “selling chips” to “selling computing power”—and its formal upgrade into an “Token computing power operator”, presenting a compelling new value proposition to the capital markets.
Three Growth Drivers for Rapid Expansion
The Group’s performance growth is supported by three core drivers:
Full-Chain Technology Services Platform
As a technology services platform based on AI chips, the Group connects upstream AI chip technologies with the needs of downstream innovative enterprises. Leveraging the resources of leading global chip manufacturers, including NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and SanDisk, the Group has established a comprehensive product portfolio covering GPUs, CPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, memory chips and software ecosystems. With chip distribution serving as its entry point, the Group provides customers with integrated, full-chain services encompassing technology solutions, supply chain management, technical training, and after-sales operation and maintenance. Its services cover a broad range of application scenarios, including cloud-based intelligent computing centers, edge AI, robotics, drones and enterprise-level computing power services.
Global Computing Power Network Deployment
To support the large-scale delivery of its Token factory business, the Group is accelerating the development of a global computing power network. In the near term, it plans to expand its computing centers footprint into multiple Asian countries, with total planned computing capacity exceeding 100 megawatts. Through its proprietary Token computing power scheduling platform, the Group provides one-stop services encompassing computing power scheduling, cluster operation and maintenance, and Token computing power services. Its customers include leading internet cloud service providers and market-leading enterprises in vertical robotics segments, demonstrating the commercial viability of the Group’s business model.
Outlook
Mr. Jeffrey Kang, Chairmanand CEO of Ingdan, Inc., commented: “As demand across AIDC, storage, robotics and AI Token services continue to grow, the Group’s strategic positioning as a ‘Token computing power operator’ has been further strengthened. We expect robust customer demand in the second half of the year, while the AI Token factory business is expected to become the Group’s second growth curve. This will further enhance the capital market’s recognition of the visibility of the Company’s growth and its long-term development potential.”
Cautionary Statement
The information contained in this document has not been independently verified. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives makes any express or implied representation, undertaking or warranty as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or opinions presented or contained herein. No person should rely on this document as a basis for any decision.
The information contained in this document should be considered in the context of the circumstances prevailing at the relevant time and is subject to change without notice. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained herein to reflect any developments occurring after the date of this document. This document is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon as providing, a complete or comprehensive analysis of the Company or its financial or operating condition or prospects. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives shall have any obligation or accept any liability, whether in negligence or otherwise, for any loss arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this document.
This document may contain statements reflecting the Company’s current intentions, beliefs and expectations regarding the future as of the relevant dates indicated herein. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance. They are based on certain assumptions concerning the Company’s operations and on factors beyond the Company’s control, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives has any obligation or undertakes to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or unforeseen circumstances arising after the relevant date.
Hashtag: #Comtech #Ingdan #AI #AIDC #TokenFactory #IC #Chips #humanoid #Intel #AMD #Sandisk #NVIDIA #Tech #RevenueGrowth #TechGrowth #AIInvestment #ProprietaryProducts #KeplerLab #Comtech #IngdanTechnology #IngdanAcademy #AIAcceleration #TechTransformation
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ingdan, Inc. (Stock Code: 400.HK) is an ecosystem services platform anchored in artificial intelligence (“AI”) chips. The Group captures the rapidly growing demand across numerous industries, from AI computing centers to AI-powered intelligent terminals, by converting AI chip resources into a broad range of rapidly deployable application solutions that provide the core driving force for customers’ intelligent upgrade. Through its proprietary AI technologies, large models and specialized industry knowledge bases, the Group provides customers with advanced chip application technology solutions and efficient supply chain management services.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, the Group operates offices and branches across major cities in China, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou , Suzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu, as well as operations in Singapore and Japan. The Group’s core businesses are Comtech — a technology services platform for the chip industry; and Ingdan — a platform providing Artificial Intelligence of Things (“AIoT”) technology and services.
For further information, please refer to the Company’s website at www.ingdangroup.com
Matein Khalid Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein is set to list in Hong Kong on September 1 at a valuation of up to $27 billion. That is less than half the $64 billion valuation at which Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala invested in 2023. It is a brutal comedown for a retailer once expected to be worth $100 billion. My knowledge of sartorial retailing is admittedly less than encyclopaedic. Yet I […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US and Iranian forces exchanged direct attacks on Sunday for the first time in about a month, with Washington striking two Iranian launchers on Larak Island and Tehran answering with missile attacks aimed at US military sites in Jordan. Jordan’s armed forces said on Monday that its air defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace at dawn. The military said […]
European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel has called for central bank money to become a native programmable asset on distributed-ledger platforms, arguing that smart contracts could make monetary policy operations faster and more flexible as finance becomes tokenised. Speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium on August 28, Schnabel said central banks need to extend their operational reach into tokenised markets rather than leave […]
US authorities have warned that a China-linked hacking group built a distributed ecosystem of scanning, exploitation and proxy tools to target government networks and critical infrastructure, while court-authorised action has disabled two central platforms. The FBI, National Security Agency and US Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force said QTFY, also known as QT and QTCYBER, developed purpose-built systems that allowed hackers to identify vulnerable devices at scale, […]
US lawmakers renewed demands for President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran as the conflict passed its six-month mark, while the White House shifted emphasis towards economic pressure and Trump signalled no urgency to restart negotiations. Republican Representative Thomas Massie and senior Democrats used Friday’s milestone to challenge a war that began on February 28 with coordinated US and Israeli strikes. Massie said the conflict […]
Russia’s largest lender Sberbank is preparing to expand corporate lending secured by cryptocurrencies, with plans to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether’s USDT as collateral once the country’s new digital-asset rules take full effect and regulators permit the assets’ public circulation. Anatoly Popov, deputy chairman of Sberbank’s management board, said the bank intends to continue developing loans backed by digital assets and broaden the collateral it accepts beyond […]
Researchers have mapped and classified about 1.8 million individual trees across New York City, creating a citywide database designed to improve decisions on urban cooling, air quality, flooding and public health. The project combines high-resolution satellite imagery, airborne laser measurements and ground-level tree records to identify trees across streets, parks, private property and natural areas. About 1.4 million of the trees had not previously been covered by […]
Ripple is moving ahead with a four-phase programme to prepare the XRP Ledger for post-quantum cryptography, targeting a transition to quantum-resistant signatures by 2028 while testing security mechanisms before a large-scale quantum threat becomes practical. The roadmap, set out by Ripple in April and detailed by its engineering team, is designed to protect accounts and transactions if powerful quantum computers eventually become capable of breaking the elliptic-curve […]
Twitter. now is betting that artificial intelligence can help users screen misinformation, but research on automated fact-checking suggests the technology becomes substantially less dependable when claims are politically contested, context-heavy or difficult to verify. The social network, developed by Virginia-based Operation Bluebird, has placed a system called VERA at the centre of its effort to distinguish itself from X. The proposed “veracity engine” analyses posts, attaches trust […]
The clarification sets out the eligibility framework for companies considering operations in Pulau 1 of Forest City, where qualifying fintech businesses, Financial Global Business Services operations and foreign-owned payment system operators can apply for the special rate. The incentive runs for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for another 10 years if the company continues to meet the stipulated conditions.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, or MDEC, is the government agency appointed to process applications, while approvals are subject to the national investment assessment framework. Eligibility does not arise simply from locating a technology business within Forest City.
Qualifying activities must incorporate at least one designated technology enabler. These include artificial intelligence or big data analytics, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, blockchain, creative media technology, robotics or automation, and advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
The framework therefore covers AI where the technology supports an eligible financial or business-service activity. A general AI developer or technology company does not automatically qualify for the Forest City incentive merely because it uses artificial intelligence.
Applicants must be companies incorporated under Malaysia’s Companies Act and resident in the country, with minimum paid-up capital of RM50,000. The qualifying business must be conducted in Pulau 1, Forest City. Companies must also comply with requirements covering employment, knowledge workers, operating expenditure, economic substance, environmental, social and governance commitments and any regulatory approvals applicable to their activities.
The Forest City incentive is separate from Malaysia Digital Status and the Malaysia Digital tax incentive administered by MDEC. Companies do not need Malaysia Digital Status to apply for the Forest City programme, and an applicant generally cannot receive another tax incentive for the same qualifying activity.
That distinction has become important because the national Malaysia Digital scheme includes figures of up to 100%, potentially creating confusion over whether technology and AI businesses can obtain complete corporate tax exemption in Forest City.
Under the Malaysia Digital tax incentive, companies making new investments can apply for a zero per cent reduced tax rate on qualifying intellectual-property income, subject to the applicable intellectual-property nexus rules. Qualifying non-IP income may receive a 5% or 10% reduced rate for up to 10 years, depending on whether the relevant conditions are met.
Alternatively, eligible new investments can choose an investment tax allowance of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure, which can be set against up to 100% of statutory income for a period of up to five years. The 100% figure refers to the investment tax allowance and does not constitute a general declaration that all income earned by an eligible company is tax-free.
Companies undertaking qualifying expansion investments face a different structure. The national digital programme provides a 15% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP and non-IP income for up to five years, or an investment tax allowance of 30% or 60% of qualifying capital expenditure, subject to the conditions attached to the scheme.
Applications for the Malaysia Digital tax incentive remain open until December 31, 2027. Applicants for that programme must first secure Malaysia Digital Status. Forest City’s programme has a longer application window, running to December 31, 2034 under the existing guidelines.
Forest City’s financial-zone incentives were formally unveiled by the government in September 2024 as part of an effort to establish Johor as a competitive financial and services hub close to Singapore. The package also includes separate arrangements for single family offices and knowledge workers.
Qualifying single family office vehicles operating under the Forest City framework can obtain a zero per cent tax rate on chargeable income from approved holding and investment activities, subject to Securities Commission Malaysia requirements. That concession is distinct from the 5% regime covering fintech, Financial Global Business Services and foreign payment system operators.
Forest City also sits within the wider Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, strengthening its role in Malaysia’s strategy to attract cross-border investment, advanced financial services and digital businesses. Johor has emerged as a major destination for digital infrastructure and technology investment, supported by its proximity to Singapore, expanding data-centre capacity and improving regional connectivity.
