This was a sidebar to a story about a then new way for domestic and overseas migrants to send money home using mobile phones. Explains how Myanmar migrants prefer the traditional means, although many have since gone digital.
* Eko chat app blends corporate email with mobile messaging—Digital News Asia
From 250 applications, Korawad’s team was the only one among the eight selected that comprised high school students. Each team received US$20,000, a mentor, and a crash course in pitching, fund-raising, term sheets, lean management, company visits and paintball combat.
* Grab Usage in Freefall in Singapore Since Uber Exit—The Star
Actual taxi and private-hire vehicle bookings by the app may be even fewer, if Grab customers make much use of the extra services like food delivery, payments, insurance and videos that Grab has added to its hailing services in its quest to interest South-East Asians in a super app.
* Thailand Beverage Brand Sappe Aims To Double Revenue By 2026—Forbes Asia
Sappe already exports to almost 100 countries: in Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. Its net profit climbed 59% to 653 million baht in 2022. More than three-quarters of revenue came from overseas.
* Out of Swatow (Shantou)
At a time when European banks would only loan to non-whites on crippling terms—if at all—Chin Sophonpanich was renowned for placing his trust in promising Chinese entrepreneurs throughout Southeast Asia. Among his protegés who rose to become dollar multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons were Malaysia’s Robert Kuok and Indonesia’s Liem Sioe Liong.
Susan J Cunningham 