Ant International Becomes Official Sponsor of The Argentine National Football Team

Global fintech leader Ant International has teamed up with football powerhouse Argentina national football team as its Official Sponsor for the Asia region. The partnership connects the passion of world-class football with the power of digital finance, bringing fans and businesses closer through technology and sport. ⚽💳

As the reigning champions of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina’s national team continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Through this collaboration with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Ant International will launch activations across its fintech brands such as Alipay+, Antom, Bettr, and WorldFirst to create more engaging football experiences across Asia.

Leandro Petersen (left), Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of AFA and Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International during a signing ceremony of the partnership.

Ant International Pushes AI Strategy with AI Platform for Fintechs

Ant International, a leading global digital payment, and financial technology provider, today unveils its AI strategy with the launch of Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, an AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) platform that empowers fintech companies and super apps to build AI-agentic and ultimately AI-native financial services with enhanced efficiency, security, and flexibility.

Ant International Pushes AI Strategy with AI Platform for Fintechs

AI is reshaping the future of finance—and Ant International is leading the charge. With the launch of the Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, the fintech giant introduces an AI-as-a-Service platform that empowers financial institutions and super apps to build intelligent, secure, and fully agentic digital services. From fraud detection to automated workflows, discover how this next-gen AI toolbox is redefining what’s possible in financial tech.

Ant International appoints Chief Innovation Officer to Spearhead AI-Driven Digitalisation Strategy with new Product, Technology and Innovation Framework

Ant International today announced the appointment of Jiang-Ming Yang as Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), effective immediately.

Booking.com and Antom Partner to Expand Local Payment Options Across Asia

Booking.com, one of the world’s leading travel companies, and Antom, a leading merchant payment and digitisation services provider under Ant International, announced a strategic partnership which will enhance the payment experience for Booking.com customers by integrating diverse payment options across key markets in Asia.

Alipay+ mobile payment partner users can now scan and pay with interoperable NEPALPAY QR while visiting Nepal

NCHL and Ant International make it easier for Travelers to Pay in Nepal using their own Mobile Wallets

Alipay+ connects 2 million merchants in Japan as global tourists travel to the country for cherry blossom season

Gcash, one of the most popular e-wallets in Japan, strengthened its partnership with  Alipay+ — Ant International's cross-border mobile payment solution which has connected two million merchants across Japan for a seamless payment experience with their home country e-wallets.

Alipay+ and Partner E-Wallets Drive Sustainable Travel in Year-End Global Campaign

Alipay+, a cross-border mobile payment digital platform under Ant International, today announced a year-end campaign to promote sustainable cross-border travel with a series of incentives offered by global partners to users of five leading e-wallets in Asia, including Alipay (the Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Touch ’n Go eWallet by TNG Digital (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), and TrueMoney (Thailand).

The campaign, which will last till December 31, will first be launched for the destinations of Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Travelers will enjoy a wide array of special offers curated in collaboration with global industry leaders, including ComfortDelGro Taxi, Daimaru Matsuzakaya, Galaxy Macau, King Power, and Lotte Duty Free, as well as local small and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs), including Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore, creating a diverse and inclusive selection for travelers.

Supporting Responsible Travel

Ant International is committed to promoting sustainable and responsible tourism across its Alipay+ markets, with an ESG program closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The campaign features special offers from Alipay+ and partners to encourage sustainable travel behavior, such as free overseas mobile data packages, in-app discounts across Alipay+’s extensive merchant network, and opportunities to win 100% rebates at partner stores. Travelers are also rewarded for using more digital payments instead of cash, choosing public transportations over cars, travelling with own toothbrushes instead of using disposable ones, as well as visiting more diverse local destinations to support communities’ economies and preserving local cultures.

Dr Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant International said, “Our year-end campaign is not just about travel; it’s about making a positive impact. By collaborating with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we are offering travelers the chance to explore the world responsibly.”

Digital payment increases international tourism revenue to local SMEs. In 2023, while Alipay expanded cooperation with major international card organizations to facilitate foreign cardholders visiting China, Alipay+ brought 10 Asian e-wallets and banking apps into the Chinese mainland to serve their travelling users, a landmark in international expansion of these leading payment methods. As a result, in 2023, over three million merchants in China, including mom-and-pop shops, closed their first international transactions on Alipay+.

With travel booming between the southern part of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, a total of 220 leading merchants in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province also joined the year-end promotion campaign to attract AlipayHK and mPay users with discount packages worth as much as HK$14,000 (about 1,793 US dollar).

To monitor the ESG impact of the campaign, Alipay+ will collaborate with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and an advisory group consisting of experts from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University, University of Geneva University and the Northwestern University to measure travelers’ carbon footprint reduction, the impact on local businesses, culture and communities, as well as the impact on business best practices in the ecosystem.

Bruce Zhang, CEO of IJOOZ, a juice vending machine provider in Singapore said, “Every year, IJOOZ generates huge amounts of orange pulps and peels. We recycle orange waste, turning them into valuable resources for making new products. We are happy to join hands with Alipay+ to promote sustainable travel among global tourists visiting Singapore.”

Alipay+ in 2023: A Year of Expanded Growth and Partnerships

Since its launch in 2020, Alipay+, a suite of cross-border payment and marketing solutions, has expanded to connect over 88 million merchants in 57 markets to 1.5 billion payment accounts of over 25 digital wallets, banking apps and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) apps.

In the second half of 2023, Alipay+ recorded an estimated 30% increase in total payment volume (TPV) compared to the first six months, and over 70% increase in daily average transactions (DAT). Excluding Alipay, the TPV and DAT of cross-border payments of the rest of Alipay+ partner wallets increased by some 280% and 230% respectively in the second half of 2023.

In terms of transaction volume in 2023, AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Touch ’n Go eWallet and GCash are among the top 4 most popular Alipay+ partner wallets used by cross-border travelers, aside from Alipay itself. Touch ’n Go eWallet, mPay and TrueMoney are ranked top 3 based on month-on-month (MoM) increase of transaction volume in November 2023. As a result, merchants in the Chinese mainland, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea and Singapore benefited the most from the surge in cross-border mobile payment.

Alan Ni, CEO of TNG Digital, operator of Touch ’n Go eWallet, said: “Tourism is an important contributor to the local economy, and TNG Digital is committed to making a positive difference with our product and services, especially to encourage sustainable travel. Touch ’n Go eWallet cross-border payments in the Chinese mainland have grown by more than 100% month-on-month in 2023. With that, we are hopeful that with our small gesture, we can create a path for others to follow.”

Ant International Unveils Strategy to Drive Inclusive Global Commerce with Payment and Digitalization Technologies

Ant International, a digital payment and financial services leader dedicated to building an inclusive and sustainable global commerce ecosystem, unveils its strategy in digital payment and digital commerce for global merchants at its flagship Voyage Conference, from its headquarters in Singapore.

Yang Peng, President of Ant International, unveils its strategy for global merchants during its Voyage Conference in Singapore.

“Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, trends like evolving financial infrastructure, accelerating digitalization and swift advances on the tech frontier present unprecedented opportunities for merchants all around the world seeking to achieve new growth, especially for small businesses who aspire to overcome the digital divide,” said Yang Peng, President of Ant International. 

“Travel, trade, technology and talent are the cornerstones of global inclusion and prosperity," said Yang. “We will accelerate innovations in digital payment and digital commerce to link up these areas of global collaboration.”

Digital Payment and Digital Commerce Solutions across 4 Pillars

To realize the 4T vision and provide support to merchants, particularly in helping SMEs achieve their growth goals, Ant International has established a robust global compliance and service structure over the years. Additionally, it boasts an extensive coverage worldwide, especially in Asia, deep expertise in digitalization, and a continuously expanding repertoire of cutting-edge technologies.

The Company now focuses on 4 areas of innovations: 

1. Alipay+ Cross-Border Mobile Payment Service connects over 88 million merchants to 1.5 billion consumer accounts on over 25 e-wallets and banking apps in 57 countries and regions, allowing consumers to travel and pay worry-free across borders, and merchants to build out cross-border consumer engagement and digital marketing.

The service builds on Alipay+’s extensive regional partnerships, including those with national QR schemes such as Singapore’s SGQR, Malaysia’s PayNet, South Korea’s ZeroPay, and Sri Lanka's LankaPay.

“Alipay+ focuses on bridging various payment methods and promoting mobile interoperability across Asia and beyond. Its aim is to enable people to travel and live worry-free, while offering businesses, both large and small, new digital avenues for growth,” said Douglas L. Feagin, Senior Vice President of Ant Group and Head of Alipay+. “We are proud of how through Alipay+, tens of millions of even mom-and-pop stalls can reach and transact with international travelers on the same basis as much larger enterprises such as luxury stores.”

2. Antom Merchant Payment Services help global merchants to engage digitally with consumers in Asia and beyond. 

“With our AI-driven payment and digital marketing engine, we offer our merchants the broadest consumer reach in Asia and globally, and help them collect payments and grow revenue.” according to Gary Liu, Head of Merchant Payment Services at Ant International.

3. WorldFirst digital payment and financial services for cross-border trade SMEs has served over 1 million SMEs to grow internationally with its World Account, by connecting small traders to over 120 global marketplaces and conduct secure and fast payment transactions in over 40 currencies.

“Today's cross-border trade is led by young entrepreneurs who are digital natives with global ambitions,” said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst. “With World Account, we aim to help them acquire next-gen CFO capabilities to sell, manage and grow across marketplaces and regions.”

Building on its success in China and Singapore, Shi said, WorldFirst plans to expand its SME e-commerce digital finance solutions across Southeast Asia in 2023 and 2024. 

4. ANEXT Bank, a digital wholesale bank regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, focuses on enabling effortless and accessible financial services to SMEs. In staying true to its mission to serve the underserved financial needs of micro businesses and to help SMEs achieve their cross-border ambitions, the bank now counts 68% of its customers as micro-SMEs. The bank has also seen an average of 40% month-on-month increase in cross-border transactions and expects to see these numbers grow as it embarks on more embedded financing collaborations with industry partners.

Toh Su Mei, Chief Executive Officer of ANEXT Bank, said: "We recognize the diverse needs of SMEs and believe that the way to alleviate the various stress and spillover effect from the macro environment is to work very closely with industry partners who have a first-hand view of their customers' pain points."

Continued Investments in Cutting-Edge Digital Technology Solutions

Ant International began its journey by supporting the rapid rise of e-commerce and cross-border tourism in China. Over the years, Ant International has built up a repertoire of foundational technology capabilities to support long-term growth across its main business pillars.

• Wallet Tech offers full-stack architectural solutions and future-ready capabilities for payment apps;
• Payment Tech enables robust payment processing with improved conversion and user engagement;
• Credit Tech achieves an industry-leading low NPL ratio and configuration for scalability;
• Platform Tech comes with a series of proprietary blockchain and AI technologies; and
• Risk Tech is powered by world-leading graph computing and risk detection algorithms.

“Together with our partners, we will build enduring local commitments to bring the world more small and beautiful changes,” said Yang Peng.