KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ (Good), the long-term issuer credit rating of “bbb” (Good) and the Philippines National Scale Rating of aa+.PH (Superior) of National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re), with a stable outlook.
In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) reflected Nat Re’s strong balance sheet, adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
Nat Re’s balance sheet strength is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level at the end of 2024 based on Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, as well as its good financial flexibility. The company’s investment portfolio carries a moderate level of risk, with most assets placed in fixed-income securities issued by the Philippine government.
Although its retrocession programme partially mitigates the exposure, Nat Re's balance sheet remains vulnerable to major natural catastrophe events.
On operating performance, Nat Re recorded a five-year average return on equity of 4.8 per cent between 2020 and 2024, supported by an improved expense ratio arising from lower net acquisition costs and management expenses relative to earned premiums.
However, the company’s loss ratio in 2024 was affected by higher experience refunds to cedents and unfavourable prior-year claims development from its life portfolio. Investment income, mainly from interest and dividend earnings, continued to support Nat Re’s overall operating results.
Going forward, AM Best expects Nat Re’s underwriting performance to benefit from portfolio remediation in its non-life reinsurance business and growth in its profitable life reinsurance and speciality segments.
As the country’s sole domestic reinsurer, Nat Re maintains strong relationships with local cedants and benefits from access to business through mandatory local cessions, the credit rating agency said.
The rating agency added that Nat Re is well-positioned to capture opportunities from government initiatives and new service offerings, including the development of underwriting facilities in the Philippine market, allowing it to expand beyond mandatory cession levels.
-- BERNAMA
Friday, October 10, 2025
AM BEST AFFIRMS PHILIPPINES NAT RE'S CREDIT RATINGS WITH STABLE OUTLOOK
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
SINGAPORE'S MS FIRST CAPITAL INSURANCE CREDIT RATINGS UPGRADED BY AM BEST
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- AM Best has upgraded Singapore’s MS First Capital Insurance Ltd (MSFC) financial strength rating to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating to “aa-” (Superior) from “a+” (Excellent).
In a statement, the global credit rating agency said the outlook for both credit ratings (ratings) has been revised to stable from positive, while the ratings reflect MSFC’s robust balance sheet strength, strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
The ratings also incorporate rating enhancement from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd, whose ultimate parent is MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc (MS&AD).
The upgrade reflects improvements in MSFC’s balance sheet strength fundamentals, supported by a prudent capital management strategy.
The company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, remained at the strongest level at year-end 2024 and is expected to stay at that level over the medium term.
MSFC’s strong internal capital generation has driven considerable growth in capital size over the past decade, with shareholders’ equity rising to SG$1.4 billion at year-end 2024, from SG$501.1 million in 2014. (SG$1 = RM3.25)
The company maintains a conservative investment portfolio that consists mainly of cash, term deposits, and high-quality bonds, while its reliance on reinsurance for large-risk underwriting is mitigated by the good credit quality of its reinsurance panel.
AM Best also described MSFC’s operating performance as strong, supported by consistent operating results. In 2024, the company recorded a 14.2 per cent return on equity, driven by solid underwriting and investment results.
MSFC, a leading non-life insurer in Singapore, continues to benefit from its strong brand presence, diversified portfolio across Asia, and long-standing relationships with brokers, reinsurers, and affiliates within MS&AD.
-- BERNAMA
Sunday, October 5, 2025
MWX partners with SMESCO and Ministry of SMEs to provide Indonesian SMEs with ready to use AI solutions
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| MWX has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SMESCO Indonesia under the supervision of The Ministry of SME of Indonesia. Through this partnership, MWX and SMESCO reaffirm their commitment to supporting the growth of Indonesia’s SMEs by providing access to ready-to-use AI solutions that can enhance efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in the digital era. In its first phase, this collaboration aims to onboard 100,000 SMEs with a MWX free trial. This initiative is expected to accelerate digital transformation at scale, reduce the technological divide across regions, and support the government’s target of advancing digital inclusion and strengthening the people’s economy. |
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- In a landmark move for Indonesia’s digital economy, MediaWave, a pioneer in data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) with over 15 years of experience, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SMESCO Indonesia to provide Indonesian SMEs with ready to use AI solutions by MWX, the world’s first AI marketplace platform designed specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251001726615/en/
The agreement underscores a shared mission: empowering Indonesia’s 64 million SMEs to overcome technological barriers and compete globally.
Bridging the Digital Divide for SMEs
SMEs form the backbone of Indonesia’s economy, contributing over 60% to GDP and employing the majority of the workforce. Yet, they continue to face persistent hurdles from limited digital literacy and resource constraints to the high cost of technology adoption.
AI has been proven to deliver results that are 2–5 times faster and more cost-effective, but adoption among SMEs remains strikingly low. MWX aims to change this equation by democratizing access to AI through a single, integrated platform that is as simple to use as it is powerful.
MWX: AI Made Practical and Accessible
MWX is designed as a business-ready AI marketplace that connects SMEs to solutions that directly address their pain points. These include:
· Digital marketing & sales automation to attract and convert customers
· Human resource management for recruitment and workforce optimization
· Automated financial reporting to streamline compliance and decision-making
· Business data analytics to uncover growth opportunities
Unlike abstract AI frameworks, MWX emphasizes plug-and-play usability and integrates seamlessly with existing workflows. The platform also supports familiar payment methods QRIS, bank transfers, and e-wallets ensuring accessibility for businesses across Indonesia’s diverse regions.
National Impact and Economic Ambitions
In its first phase, the collaboration targets onboarding 100,000 SMEs with a free trial of MWX, a move expected to accelerate digital transformation at scale and reduce the technology gap between urban and rural businesses.
The initiative aligns with the government’s digital inclusion agenda, which seeks to digitize 30 million SMEs by 2024 and strengthen Indonesia’s economic resilience in the global marketplace.
Leaders Speak
MWX CEO, Yose Rizal stated:
“We believe technology should be accessible to everyone, especially SMEs — the backbone of Indonesia’s economy. Through MWX and this strategic partnership with SMESCO, our goal is to deliver AI solutions that are simple, practical, and impactful, enabling SMEs to scale up and compete globally.”
President Director of SMESCO, Doddy Akhamadsyah Matondang added:
“This collaboration is a tangible step in supporting the national agenda to digitize 30 million SMEs. With MWX, SMEs across Indonesia — whether in major cities or remote regions — can access the same technology to strengthen competitiveness and expand their markets.”
M. Riza Damanik, Ph. D., IPU . Deputy Minister for Micro Business from the Ministry of SME echoed the sentiment:
“Digital transformation for SMEs is the key to Indonesia’s future economy. The launch of MWX, developed by local innovators, marks an important milestone in helping SMEs scale up and thrive.”
About the Partners
MediaWave was Founded in 2010, MediaWave pioneered social media listening in Indonesia. With over a decade of expertise in analytics, digital marketing, and big data, MediaWave has evolved into a leader in AI innovation, culminating in the launch of MWX.
SMESCO Indonesia is an institution under the Ministry of SMEs Republic of Indonesia, SMESCO is dedicated to advancing Indonesian SMEs through digital transformation, market promotion, and capacity building to improve competitiveness.
Why This Matters
The MWX-SMESCO partnership signals Indonesia’s rising ambition to transform its SME ecosystem into a digitally empowered growth engine. By placing world-class AI within reach of every entrepreneur, this initiative could reshape the competitive landscape, not just locally, but across Southeast Asia.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251001726615/en/
Contact
Media Contact
PIC: Utami@mwxplatform.ai
MediaWave – Corporate Communication
Jl. Abdul Majid Raya No.36, Cipete Selatan, Jakarta Selatan
Tel: +62 817-0963-030
MWX Global Pte.Ltd 160 Robinson Road, #24-09, Singapore Business Federation Center, Singapore 068914
email: comms@mwxplatform.ai tel: +62 817-0963-030
website: www.mwxplatform.ai
Source : MWX Global Pte Ltd
--BERNAMA
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Poppulo Becomes First Employee Comms and Digital Signage Company to Achieve Benchmark ISO Certification for Responsible AI
ISO 42001 AI Certification validates Poppulo’s reputation for governance, data security, and enterprise scalability
From the start, Poppulo has made governance, data security, and scalability the pillars of its platform. The certification provides customers with further assurance that, as they adopt agentic AI at speed and scale, they can do so with confidence, knowing Poppulo’s platforms are built on the strongest possible foundation of responsible practices and resilient systems.
This third-party validation, effective immediately, underscores Poppulo’s commitment to responsible, trustworthy, and transparent AI development and deployment. The certification followed a rigorous audit conducted by an accredited certification body, verifying that Poppulo’s governance, risk management, and accountability practices meet the strictest international benchmarks.
As organizations increasingly operate on a global stage, including in regions with some of the world’s strictest AI regulations such as the EU, this certification ensures consistent and responsible AI governance, giving enterprises confidence in engaging employees and customers.
Commenting on the announcement, Poppulo CEO Ruth Fornell said: “As enterprises grow more discerning about their technology partners, they’re asking tough questions: How do you manage AI risk? What’s your governance framework? Can you prove it?”.
“This certification allows us to answer those questions with authority, and more importantly, it reinforces Poppulo’s role in helping IT, HR, and communications and marketing teams, to engage and mobilize people—both employees and customers—while delivering consistent, trustworthy messaging across communications platforms,” said Fornell.
In parallel with its ISO 42001 certification, Poppulo is accelerating the rollout of a new suite of agentic AI tools designed to transform how organizations create and deliver communications across employee channels and digital signage networks. These agents include Analyze, which delivers hyper-personalized insights and recommendations, and Create, a tool that enables teams to rapidly generate high-quality, on-brand content at scale. By combining these agents—and others soon to join the agentic suite—Poppulo empowers enterprise teams to move faster, communicate smarter, and engage audiences more effectively across every touchpoint.
Building on this momentum, Poppulo has also introduced powerful new capabilities within its employee communications platform, including AI-powered email translation and a personal AI assistant that provides instant access to performance metrics, campaign strategies, and best practices. These innovations enable communications teams to make faster, data-informed decisions, streamline workflows, and deliver more relevant, impactful messaging across global audiences.
“This certification sets a new standard for responsible AI in employee communications and digital signage,” said Chris Payne, Poppulo’s Chief Information Security Officer. “For our customers, it provides a clear, global benchmark for evaluating AI readiness across our platforms. Maintaining compliance requires continuous improvement, regular audits, and vigilance as new governance challenges emerge, ensuring organizations can engage and activate their workforce and deliver trusted messaging across all channels responsibly and effectively.”
By achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification, Poppulo has established itself as a trusted leader in delivering safe, ethical, and enterprise-ready AI for employee communications and digital signage. This recognition helps organizations engage and activate their employees and customer audiences while ensuring consistent, impactful messaging across every channel.
About Poppulo
Poppulo is a global leader in employee communications and enterprise digital signage, helping organizations connect with their workforce and customers through impactful, real-time messaging across channels. Trusted by over 10,000 organizations—including more than 40 of the Fortune 100—Poppulo’s employee communications solutions reach more than 50 million people worldwide. Its digital signage network spans over 600,000 screens globally. By combining data-driven communication strategies with scalable signage technology, Poppulo enables enterprises to boost employee engagement, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiency. Learn more at www.poppulo.com.
Contact:
Tim Vaughan
tvaughan@poppulo.com
SOURCE: Poppulo
--BERNAMA
Friday, October 3, 2025
HBKU Conference Sparks Urgent Global Dialogue On Inclusive AI Ethics Frameworks
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)’s conference on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics has concluded with a call for a unified and culturally inclusive framework for AI.
Held in Qatar, the two-day event titled “AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions” brought together international academics, policymakers, industry experts and ethicists, among others, according to a statement.
The conference underscored the importance of aligning AI with diverse moral traditions through collaborative solutions, while also fostering new cross-sector partnerships to shape the future of AI innovation.
Six thematic areas were discussed, namely healthcare, urban design, security, education, finance and the future of the workplace, with participants stressing the need to embed ethical considerations in AI adoption across all sectors.
Among the debates, the use of AI in armed conflict drew strong attention, with panellists examining the legal, ethical and policy implications of decision-support systems under International Humanitarian Law.
Discussions also addressed AI’s impact on human values in areas such as doctor-patient relationships, underscoring the challenges of safeguarding trust, autonomy and human dignity in the digital age.
The conference concluded with recommendations for developing a global AI framework that reflects cultural and moral diversity beyond Western perspectives.
It further called for the integration of AI technologies across key sectors to prepare future generations, and for international policy alignment to maximise benefits while mitigating risks.
The conference reaffirmed the role of educational institutions as knowledge hubs and conveners of dialogue, contributing to research-backed solutions to global challenges.
By convening stakeholders from diverse traditions and disciplines, HBKU aims to ensure that the conversation on AI ethics is not only advanced but also inclusive, reflecting the shared values of all societies.
-- BERNAMA
Gradiant's ForeverGone Slashes PFAS Cleanup Costs, Destroys 'Forever Chemicals' On Site
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Gradiant, a global force in water and wastewater innovation, has unveiled major advancements to its ForeverGone platform, positioning it as one of the world’s most cost-effective, on-site per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) destruction systems.
Gradiant Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Anurag Bajpayee said ForeverGone is a game-changer, as it removes PFAS at the source, eliminating the financial and environmental burden of disposal.
Unlike granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange resin (IX or IER) and other “capture and dispose” approaches, ForeverGone eliminates PFAS completely and removes the need for costly disposal and environmental handling risks.
According to Gradiant in a statement, the platform integrates micro-foam fractionation and electrooxidation to destroy 99 to 99.9 per cent of PFAS, including elusive short-chain variants.
With operating costs between US$0.10 and US$0.20 per cubic metre—far below the US$0.50 to US$2.00 of older methods—ForeverGone is setting a new affordability benchmark. Energy-efficient and fully mobile, the platform’s low-footprint design makes it ideal for both permanent and temporary industrial use. (US$1=RM4.21)
A recent deployment at Munich International Airport underscores its real-world impact, treating PFAS contamination from legacy firefighting foam. The latest systems are now active on-site, showcasing resilience in demanding operational settings.
Global demand is surging as regulations tighten—particularly in Asia, Europe, and the US (United States), where EPA guidance on leachate and industrial discharge is expected to unlock one of the largest PFAS remediation markets yet.
Gradiant is also eyeing the next frontier, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a compound tied to pharmaceutical waste. European Union (EU) regulation looms in 2026, opening a new battleground in emerging contaminant cleanup.
Catch Gradiant and its ForeverGone demonstrations at WEFTEC Chicago, through Oct 2.
-- BERNAMA
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Hai Robotics Appoints Thomas Gwee to Lead ANZ Region Amid Growing Demand for Automation Solutions
Sydney, Australia, Oct. 1, 2025/ AgilityPR - AsiaNet /--
With over two decades of experience in material handling and warehouse logistics, Gwee brings a wealth of technical and strategic expertise to further expand Hai Robotics' footprint in the region.
Previously serving as the Project Implementation Director at Hai Robotics in SEA (Singapore), Gwee successfully led his team in deploying over 200 HaiPick robotic units, consistently surpassing project goals and ensuring high customer satisfaction.
His technical background, combined with over a decade of leadership experience, makes him the ideal candidate to lead operations, drive growth, and deliver high-impact automation solutions in the ANZ market.
Thomas‘ diverse career experience includes key roles at Crown Equipments and SSI Schaefer, where he honed his expertise in automated storage, order fulfillment, and end-of-line system integration.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of the rapidly transforming logistics ecosystem in ANZ. I’m thrilled to embark this journey with the team and bring cutting-edge automation technology to shape the future of intelligent warehousing across this region,” said Thomas Gwee, Regional Head – ANZ, Hai Robotics.
“Thomas has consistently delivered high-performance results in some of our most complex deployments in Southeast Asia. His leadership, customer-focused mindset, and deep technical understanding make him uniquely qualified to scale our operations in ANZ,” said Nathan Zeng, President of SEA, ANZ, and South Korea, Hai Robotics.
With rising demand for automated solutions across Australia and New Zealand, Hai Robotics continues its commitment to bring world-leading technologies and local expertise to empower businesses across retail, logistics and manufacturing verticals.
About Hai Robotics
Hai Robotics is a leading global provider of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), delivering unparalleled system flexibility and maximizing operational efficiency for facilities of all sizes and conditions.
Hai developed a modular approach to automation called HaiPick Systems. By integrating advanced robotic equipment and software with nearly any industry-standard racking and storage materials, Hai Robotics delivers tailored automation solutions that can be easily modified even after implementation.
HaiPick Systems reduce warehouse storage footprints by up to 75% while increasing storage density and vertical capacity to over 39 feet (12 meters). They achieve 99%+ order pick accuracy, provide a 4x boost in efficiency, 3x daily throughput, and eliminate the need for human travel in order picking.
With 1,300+ projects implemented across 40+ countries, supported by 8 global offices and 60+ partners, Hai Robotics ensures reliable local support worldwide.
Contact details:
Mandy Bai
mandy.bai@hairobotics.com
Source: Hai Robotics
--BERNAMA