CGTN: JIANGSU PLAYS KEY ROLE IN STABILISING CHINA’S ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Economically strong provinces must maintain solid foundations and strong resilience against external shocks to help stabilise the overall national economy, as emphasised by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN).

While taking part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, Xi called on the province to further strengthen its economic resilience, noting that Jiangsu’s economic performance reflects both scale and quality.

In a statement, CGTN reported that Jiangsu has maintained strong momentum with manufacturing as a central pillar.

The province’s manufacturing high-quality development index has ranked first nationwide for five consecutive years, reflecting strong industrial capability and innovation. From advanced equipment and integrated circuits to new energy and biomedicine, Jiangsu’s industrial ecosystem has enabled the province to remain competitive amid global supply chain adjustments.

Domestic demand has also shown strong vitality. A provincial football league has attracted more than 2.43 million spectators in 2025, demonstrating how sports, culture and tourism can stimulate consumption and unlock the potential of the domestic market.

President Xi also stressed that Chinese modernisation is defined by common prosperity for all, highlighting the importance of policies aimed at improving livelihoods.

Among the priorities is employment, with the government expanding work-for-relief programmes to support those facing difficulties in securing jobs. Flexible workers and those in emerging forms of employment will also gain broader access to social security programmes.

China will also implement an income growth plan for urban and rural residents aimed at increasing earnings for lower-income groups, expanding property income channels, and improving remuneration and social security systems.

Meanwhile, the draft government work report outlines measures to strengthen public services and social protection, including raising minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents, introducing elderly care service vouchers, expanding maternity insurance coverage, and accelerating the development of childcare services.

-- BERNAMA

Cygnet.One emerges as a globally accredited e-Invoicing Platform & trusted across 14+ countries, aligned with IMDA, Singapore Compliance Mandates

 

SINGAPORE, March 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cygnet.One, a global provider of tax and digital compliance solutions across 40+ countries, recently announced its strengthened alignment with Singapore’s structured e-Invoicing framework under IMDA, reinforcing its capability to support enterprises preparing for evolving Singapore e-Invoicing mandates. Backed by country-specific accreditations and regulatory enablement, the platform enables enterprises to manage e-Invoicing compliance globally through one unified, enterprise-grade solution.

As regions such as APAC, Europe, MENA, and the UK accelerate the adoption of structured invoicing and digital tax reporting, enterprises face challenges related to fragmented frameworks, variations in schemas & validation rules, invoice lifecycle statuses, and evolving authority requirements further complicate compliance, limiting global visibility and governance. Cygnet.One addresses this complexity by offering a single global platform that supports all major e-Invoicing models, including PEPPOL and non-PEPPOL frameworks, Continuous Transaction Controls and real-time clearance as well as post-issuance reporting models, eliminating the need to deploy and manage separate solutions & providers across countries.

Cygnet.One is an Open PEPPOL-certified Access Point (AP) and Service Metadata Publisher (SMP). The platform is also accredited by major tax authorities such as IMDA (Singapore), BOSA (Belgium), GSTN (India – IRP), ZATCA (KSA), MOF (UAE), LHDN & MDEC (Malaysia), ZRA (Zambia) & others as an Application Service Provider (ASP) for e-Invoicing & VAT/GST compliance.

The platform manages the full e-Invoice lifecycle for Singapore based enterprises, including e2e ERP integration to fetch documents or manually generate documents from an intuitive product interface. It also validates data, sends or receives e-Invoices and archive e-Invoices across B2B, and B2G domestic transactions. For large, multi-entity enterprises & mid-size businesses, it enables analytics in one single dashboard. CygNova – Our AI-driven finance intelligence enables leaders to understand Accounting Payable and Accounts Receivable (AP & AR) health through natural-language insights for faster, data-backed decisions.

Cygnet.One is IMDA-accredited for Singapore e-Invoicing enabling generation, validation and transmission submission of e-Invoices to IRAS in SG PINT XML Format. The platform supports B2B & B2G e-invoices, generation of debit and credit notes, order exchanges, & other documents across sales and purchase transactions. As mandates expand beyond invoices to include orders, compliance shifts upstream, making ERP data accuracy, procurement and supply chain processes tax-sensitive from transaction & document type creation.

Trusted by 1,000+ enterprises globally, Cygnet.One is built on an API-first architecture also supporting other ERP integration mechanisms including file-based, and configurable pre-built connectors. This enables seamless e-Invoice compliance for both sales and purchase workflows without disrupting finance or procurement workflows. Flexible hosting options (on-premises, private SaaS, and On cloud) ensure scalability, data residency alignment, and reliability during peak compliance cycles.

Having processed 200+ million e-Invoices and 5 billion transactions, Cygnet.One combines scale with intelligence. Its architecture is engineered to support high-volumes, ensuring operational continuity as new mandates emerge across Europe and beyond. The platform is built with enterprise-grade security, encrypted data transmission, and compliance-aligned archiving.

Beyond technology, Cygnet.One actively collaborates with partners and industry leaders from CFOs to IT leaders to drive global e-Invoicing adoption and advance digital tax transformation.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Niraj Hutheesing, Founder & MD, Cygnet.One, said,
“Global e-Invoicing is becoming the backbone of digital tax transformation worldwide. What we are witnessing is not just a compliance shift, but a structural transformation toward real-time Tax Assurance. Our mission is to enable global tax transformation by embedding VAT intelligence directly into every transaction ensuring invoices are validated, audit-ready, and regulator-aligned at source. We want enterprises to move from reactive reporting to continuous, data-driven tax governance.”

Name: Niraj Hutheesing -

Number: +91-9824032919

Email: niraj@cygnetinfotech.com

Designation: Founder and MD

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/35c78798-de2b-4e88-a25c-80016bd37ad7 

SOURCE: Cygnet Infotech Private Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

PTPTN and CIMB Islamic launch RM500,000 incentive pool to encourage responsible loan repayment among Malaysian youth

(From left) Haniz Nazlan, Chief Executive Officer of Group Consumer Banking, CIMB, Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic along with Mastura Mohd Khalid, Chief Operating Officer of PTPTN and Wan Zawiah Wan Abu Bakar, Senior General Manager, Corporate Communication & Marketing Department, PTPTN at the launch of “Setel PTPTN dengan CIMB”.
 

Bridges debt management and financial literacy through CIMB’s DURIAN-i account

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) – CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Bank”) has formalised a Collaboration Agreement with Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (“PTPTN”) to promote positive financial wellbeing among PTPTN borrowers. This initiative integrates a RM500,000 cash prize pool into CIMB’s Shariah-compliant Daily Unrestricted Investment Account-i (“DURIAN-i”) ecosystem, leveraging the respective strengths of both organisations to encourage responsible financial behaviour and consistent repayment habits.

The partnership bridges the gap between debt obligations and wealth accumulation by incentivising PTPTN borrowers to utilise the DURIAN-i account. By linking loan repayments with a growthoriented investment account that offers exciting rewards, the initiative supports young Malaysians in balancing repayment obligations while taking early steps toward wealth accumulation and a more sustainable financial future.

This strategic collaboration is a vital step in ensuring PTPTN’s fund remains sustainable for the next generation. To date, PTPTN has assisted over 4.27 million borrowers in pursuing higher education, with total loan disbursements exceeding RM77.63 billion. By introducing the “Setel PTPTN dengan CIMB” Campaign from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026, PTPTN aims to demonstrate that fulfilling one’s duty to the fund can be both rewarding and a catalyst for personal financial growth.

Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic said, “We are pleased to partner with PTPTN as we work to empower Malaysians with the right tools to build a more secure financial future, in line with our purpose of advancing customers and society. Education financing is often the first major financial commitment for many Malaysians, and through this collaboration, we aim to go beyond banking products by supporting PTPTN borrowers with practical solutions and knowledge that encourage disciplined savings, responsible repayment as well as long term wealth creation. By integrating flexible offerings such as our DURIAN-i account, we seek to make the journey toward financial independence more accessible, meaningful and rewarding.”

Mastura Mohd Khalid, Chief Operating Officer of PTPTN said, “This campaign is one of the best platforms to encourage more borrowers to carry out their responsibilities so that PTPTN loans can be continued for future generations. In addition, through this campaign, PTPTN borrowers who win cash prizes are also given additional financial support and indirectly help them repay their loans or make savings.” 

The collaboration represents a natural progression of CIMB’s long-standing commitment to financial inclusion by embedding financial discipline and literacy directly into a product proposition that aligns incentives, savings and responsible repayment behaviour within a single ecosystem. Through CIMB Foundation, the Bank has continued to advance financial literacy initiatives for both university students and working adults via programmes such as Be$mart and JagaDuit, which PTPTN borrowers will be able to access as part of this agreement. 

The collaboration also promotes smarter financial management among PTPTN borrowers through CIMB’s DURIAN-i account under the “Setel PTPTN dengan CIMB” Campaign. Borrowers can manage repayments digitally while earning reward points through eligible transactions, increasing their chances of settling PTPTN loans of up to RM25,000. Eligible participants may also stand a chance to win gold bars to kick-start their investment journey when they deposit their savings into the DURIAN-i account. To participate, borrowers may open DURIAN-i account online or at any CIMB branch and make consistent PTPTN loan repayment through the account.

Beyond the campaign, PTPTN will be able to leverage CIMB’s extensive network and comprehensive financial solutions to roll out structured financial literacy programmes, empowering borrowers with practical knowledge in money management, savings, and investments to support long-term financial sustainability.

DURIAN-i is CIMB Islamic’s award-winning sustainability-linked investment account, recognised by The Banker as the Most Innovative Islamic Savings Product in 2024. Under this structure, funds are strategically invested into the Bank’s sustainable assets, offering a unique Shariah-compliant option that aligns personal financial growth with broader sustainable development goals. 

For more information on the campaign, please visit www.cimb.com.my/ptptn. 

About CIMB 

CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM89.0 billion as at 31 December 2025. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 576 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 31 December 2025. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its award-winning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 91.45% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.83% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand. 

About PTPTN 

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) was established under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation Act 1997 (Act 566) which came into effect on 1 July 1997. PTPTN commenced operations on 1 November 1997 and is responsible to managing loans for higher education purposes and collecting loan repayments; providing savings schemes and managing deposits for higher education purposes as well as performing any other functions entrusted to PTPTN by any written law.

The National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) is a savings scheme or instrument created specifically by PTPTN for higher education purposes. Under Simpan SSPN, there are two products, namely Simpan SSPN Prime and Simpan SSPN Plus. 

​SOURCE: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com

–BERNAMA

XSOLLA LAUNCHES UNIFIED CROSS-PLATFORM SDK TO STREAMLINE GAME MONETISATION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, has announced the availability of Xsolla SDK, a unified, cross-platform software development kit that consolidates the company’s personal computer (PC), mobile and web monetisation tools into a single download.

Launched at the GDC Festival of Games 2026, the Xsolla SDK introduces built-in Payments, Login, Catalog and Offerwall integration, allowing developers to configure pricing and inventory once and deploy across all supported platforms without reconfiguration.

Xsolla President, Chris Hewish said game developers require tools that can operate seamlessly across platforms without adding technical burden.

“Game developers can trust the Xsolla SDK because it is built on a proven infrastructure already scaling with some of the world’s biggest games. No matter where developers are building, they now have access to the same powerful monetisation tools that streamline revenue and simplify payment integration,” he said in a statement.

The Xsolla SDK is powered by two decades of building payment and monetisation tools exclusively for game developers, with the company having processed more than US$10 billion in total payments and supported thousands of titles across different platforms, regions and regulatory environments. (US$1=RM3.93)

Through a single integration, developers can deploy their commerce capabilities to iOS, Android, PC and the web, including support for out-of-store distribution. The SDK also enables developers to activate Offerwall to generate incremental revenue from non-paying users through advertiser-funded rewarded tasks, without upfront costs.

In addition, developers can manage a single catalogue and shared inventory across in-app purchases, bundles, subscriptions, Offerwall and web shops, eliminating the need to reconfigure products and offers between different sales channels.

The development kit also allows developers to retain full ownership and operational control, including setting prices, managing offers and maintaining direct relationships with players. It further supports unified player identity and inventory across devices to help reduce churn caused by fragmented cross-platform experiences.

To support global expansion, the Xsolla SDK offers access to more than 1,000 payment methods across over 200 regions and 130 currencies. Xsolla operates as a merchant of record and manages tax, fraud prevention and regulatory compliance on behalf of developers.

-- BERNAMA

BHSI Appoints Marcus Portbury As Regional President For Asia Middle East

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Marcus Portbury as Regional President, Asia Middle East (AME), and, subject to regulatory approval, as Chief Executive of its Hong Kong Branch.

In a statement, BHSI said Portbury succeeds Marc Breuil, who is retiring from the company and the insurance industry.

“Marcus has played a pivotal role in growing our business across Asia and the Middle East since our launch in the region, bringing BHSI’s underwriting discipline, financial strength and commitment to excellent service to customers regionwide,” said BHSI President and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Eastwood.

He also thanked Breuil for establishing a strong portfolio and building a stellar team in the region.

Portbury joined BHSI in 2014 and most recently served as Regional Head of Third-Party Lines, Asia. He has more than three decades of insurance industry experience, including over 20 years in senior leadership roles across Asia.

In Asia and the Middle East, BHSI underwrites a full suite of commercial property and casualty insurance coverages as well as multinational and Accident & Health.

-- BERNAMA

CUKTECH LAUNCHES HIGH-CAPACITY POWER BANK IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- CUKTECH, an innovator in intelligent charging solutions, announced the launch of its CUKTECH 25SE Power Bank in the Malaysian market, positioning the new device as a high-capacity, fast-charging solution aimed at everyday mobile and laptop users.

Officially available from Feb 26, the CUKTECH 25SE delivers up to 120 watts (W) output and a 25,000 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery capacity and will be sold at a launch price of RM124, targeting the fast-growing high-capacity charging segment in Malaysia.

In a statement, the company said the product is designed to meet increasing demand for reliable portable power, with a single full charge capable of recharging a smartphone more than four times or supplying an additional full charge for thin-and-light laptops.

The power bank supports Adaptive Fast Charging technology and is compatible with multiple fast-charging standards, including Xiaomi's 120W HyperCharge, as well as PD 100W and PPS 100W, enabling use across smartphones, laptops and other high-power devices.

For added convenience, the CUKTECH 25SE features a built-in 6A cable supporting up to 120W output and 100W input, eliminating the need for separate high-capacity charging cables.

To mark the launch and the upcoming 3.3 Mega Sales campaign, the CUKTECH 25SE will be available through CUKTECH’s official stores on Shopee and Lazada in Malaysia.

CUKTECH said the new model reflects its strategy to expand access to high-performance charging technology while maintaining affordability for consumers in Malaysia.


-- BERNAMA

NMB Unveils High-Performance 300Wh/kg Sodium-Ion Battery Prototype

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB) has achieved a major milestone in Malaysia’s energy storage ambitions with the development of a Graphene-Enhanced Sodium-Ion Battery prototype delivering energy density exceeding 300Wh/kg, which is amongst the best in the world.

Developed under the NanoMalaysia Energy Storage Technology Initiative (NESTI), the sodium-ion battery utilises a NASICON-based sodium vanadium phosphate (NVP) cathode integrated with graphene nano-additives to enhance electrochemical performance, energy density, and structural stability for next-generation energy storage. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion technology leverages abundant and cost-efficient raw materials, namely sodium or natrium, reducing dependence on critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt. It also offers improved safety and thermal stability, key considerations for large-scale energy storage and mobility applications. This is in line with the emerging technological shift and market trend towards sodium-based battery chemistry, as demonstrated by CATL (China), Faradion (UK), Natron Energy (US) and Tiamat (France).

Developed by NMB's projects team in collaboration with International Battery Centre (IBC) Sdn. Bhd., the technology has reached the prototype validation stage, marking a key step towards further development and commercial readiness. This achievement places Malaysia in the global battery map, thus aligning with the 'Made In and By Malaysia' model for high technology products.

NMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad, said: “By surpassing 300Wh/kg at the prototype stage, we demonstrate that sodium-ion technology can deliver strong performance comparable to that of lithium-ion while addressing cost, safety, and material sustainability challenges. Through NESTI, we are advancing Malaysia’s energy storage ecosystem, driving technology development, scale-up, and commercialisation to strengthen our position in the regional battery value chain. The said technology represents an important shift away from lithium dependence and positions Malaysia as one of the leading technology giants in the battery market. Multiple partnerships with industrial off-takers are crucial in the next steps in climbing up the technology readiness level to ensure the interests of local and international private investors are secured”

The global sodium-ion battery market is projected to grow from USD 1.8 billion in 2025 to USD 12.5 billion by 2035, a nearly seven-fold expansion at a CAGR of approximately 21.4%. NASICON-type systems such as NVP/graphene batteries are gaining traction globally due to their structural robustness and suitability for high-cycle applications, positioning sodium-ion as a complementary alternative to lithium-based systems.

The sodium-ion prototype is strategically positioned for large-scale energy storage and mobility applications, primarily targeting grid-scale and utility energy storage, solar and wind load shifting, telecommunications backup systems, and low-speed electric mobility, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and short-range electric vehicles.
 
As Malaysia’s leading nanotechnology commercialisation agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), NMB continues to advance local capabilities across lithium-ion, sodium-ion, next-generation batteries, and energy storage systems, enabling industry partnerships, pilot manufacturing, and standards development to strengthen Malaysia’s role in the regional battery ecosystem.

SOURCE: NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Email: corporateaffairs@nanomalaysia.com.my 

--BERNAMA