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Allianz Risk Barometer 2025: Business interruption top business risk in Asia

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  • Companies identify Business interruption as their top business concern for the year ahead (37% of overall responses)
  • Cyber ranks #2 (31%), with data breaches identified as the cyber exposure companies fear most
  • Natural catastrophes retain #3 rank (27%) in Asia, which is heating up faster than the global average

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Business interruption is the biggest worry for Asian companies in 2025, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer. Cyber incidents such as data breaches or ransomware attacks, and IT disruptions, such as the CrowdStrike incident, are also a main concern for companies of all sizes, ranking #2. After another heavy year of Natural catastrophes activity in 2024 this peril remains #3.

The top three risks globally – Cyber incidents (#1), Business interruption (#2), and Natural catastrophes (#3) – retained their positions in this year’s Allianz Risk Barometer, which is based on the insights of more than 3,700 risk management professionals from over 100 countries.

Allianz Commercial Chief Underwriting Officer Vanessa Maxwell comments: “2024 was an extraordinary year in terms of risk management and the results of our annual Allianz Risk Barometer reflect the uncertainty many companies around the globe are facing right now. What stands out this year is the interconnectivity of the top risks. Climate change, emerging technology, regulation and geopolitical risks are increasingly intertwined, resulting in a complex network of cause and effect. Businesses need to adopt a holistic approach to risk management and consistently strive to enhance their resilience in order to address these fast-evolving risks.”

Christian Sandric, Regional Managing Director of Allianz Commercial Asia, says, “Business interruption is the most significant risk for companies in the region and this is no surprise as Asian economies are increasingly participating in trade globally and regionally. This is also often due to events like cyber incidents or natural catastrophes, which are part of the top risks in the region. Against this backdrop of an increasingly volatile risk landscape, businesses should ensure they are sufficiently protected and their response measures robust. This includes adopting measures such as loss prevention, developing multiple suppliers, alternative risk transfer, and multinational insurance policies.”

Business interruption strongly interlinked with other risks
Business interruption (BI) is the top risk in Asia; it ranks in the top three risks in all countries and territories, and is the top risk in China and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. Its persistence at the top reflects severe supply chain disruption during and after the pandemic.

Such disruptions are of particular concern as Asian economies are increasingly participating in trade. Asia is now the world’s second-most integrated trade region, driven by the rapid growth of manufacturing supply chains across borders. In addition, due to rising US-China tensions, bilateral trade between geopolitically aligned countries has risen. Global trade flows are becoming more intricate and this shift has opened doors for nations like India and Malaysia to step up as next-generation trade hubs, according to Allianz Trade.

Globally, BI has ranked either #1 or #2 in every Allianz Risk Barometer for the past decade and retains its position at #2 in 2025 with 31% of responses. BI is typically a consequence of events like a natural disaster, a cyber-attack or outage, insolvency or political risks like conflict or civil unrest, which can all affect the ability of a business to operate normally. Several examples from 2024 highlight why companies still see BI as a major threat to their business model. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea led to supply chain disruptions due to rerouting of container ships, while incidents such as the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore also directly impacted global and local supply chains. Supply chain disruptions with global effects occur approximately every 1.4 years, and the trend is rising, according to analysis from Circular Republic, in collaboration with Allianz and others. Those disruptions cause major economic damages, ranging up to 5% to 10% of product costs and additional downtime impacts.

Cyber risks continue to increase with rapid development of technology
Cyber incidents rank #2 in Asia; it is the top risk in India for the eighth consecutive year, and the second most significant risk in Japan and Singapore. The Asia Pacific region saw a 23% increase in weekly cyberattacks per organization in Q2 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Some of the cyber incidents around the region include the attack on India’s biggest crypto exchange WazirX, the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Japan Airlines, and cyberattack on Singapore law firm Shook Lin & Bok.

Globally, Cyber incidents (38% of overall responses) rank as the most important risk for the fourth year in a row – and by a higher margin than ever (7% points). It is the top peril in 20 countries, including Argentina, France, Germany, India, South Africa, the UK and the US. More than 60% of respondents identified data breaches as the cyber exposure companies fear most, followed by attacks on critical infrastructure and physical assets with 57%.

Natural catastrophes remain a major concern
Natural catastrophes retain its #3 spot in Asia. The region is heating up faster than the global average, with increased casualties and economic losses from floods, storms, and more severe heatwaves. It is the top risk in Japan, which faced a M7.5 earthquake in the Noto Peninsula that resulted in insured losses of US$3bn, with economic losses reaching US$12bn, as well as in Hong Kong, which experienced its heaviest rain in November 2024 since records began 140 years ago due to Typhoon Haikui.

Globally, Natural catastrophes remain at #3 with 29%, although more respondents also picked this as a top risk year-on-year. For the fifth time in a row in 2024, insured losses surpassed US$100bn. 2024 is expected to have been the hottest year on record. It was also a year of terrible natural catastrophes with extreme hurricanes and storms in North America, devastating floods in Europe and Asia and drought in Africa and South America.

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Hashtag: #Allianz


, and network of the world’s #1 insurance brand, , we work together to help our customers prepare for what’s ahead: They trust us to provide a wide range of traditional and risk transfer solutions, outstanding and services, as well as seamless handling. The trade name Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2023, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated more than €18 billion gross premium globally.

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Backbase and Synpulse partner to accelerate banking transformation across APAC

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Combining Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform with Synpulse’s regional expertise to deliver customer-centric solutions

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2025 – Backbase, the leader in engagement banking, today announced a strategic partnership with Synpulse, a premier financial services consulting firm, to accelerate digital transformation for banks across Asia-Pacific.

A unified approach to digital transformation

The partnership provides banks with a comprehensive transformation approach that includes strategy consulting, tailored platform solutions, and localized implementation services. By combining Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform with Synpulse’s deep regional expertise, financial institutions can confidently pivot toward customer-centricity while addressing specific market needs.

“This partnership strengthens our ecosystem and ensures banks have both the architecture and specialized expertise needed to accelerate their digital transformation,” said Riddhi Dutta, Vice President, ASEAN & South Asia at Backbase. “Synpulse’s proven financial services expertise and understanding of regional markets make them an ideal partner to help banks deliver exceptional customer experiences across all touchpoints.”

“Our combined strengths will enable banks to unlock new growth opportunities and achieve digital transformation goals more effectively,” said Yash Shah, Partner at Synpulse. “Together, we provide financial institutions with the guidance and implementation capabilities needed to execute large-scale transformations with confidence.”

A partnership for banking growth in Asia

The partnership aims to deliver three key advantages for financial institutions in APAC:

  • Enhanced business outcomes: Comprehensive consulting and platform integration services to improve customer acquisition, increase share of wallet, and reduce operational costs
  • Localized expertise: On-ground teams delivering market-specific insights, cultural fluency and technical implementation
  • Full-spectrum banking: Addressing a wide range of banking needs spanning retail, SME, and wealth management

Backbase’s platform, already powering over 150 financial institutions globally, including APAC leaders such as BDO Unibank (Philippines), HDFC Bank (India), and Techcombank (Vietnam), enables banks to unify business lines and modernize around customer needs without vendor lock-in. The company plans to expand its regional footprint to Hong Kong this year.

Hashtag: #Backbase #digitalbanking #engagementbanking #retailbanking #omnichannelbanking #businessbanking #smebanking #corporatebanking


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Synpulse

Synpulse is a global professional services company and a valued partner of leading players in the financial services and related industries. We leverage the proximity to our clients and deep domain expertise to create sustainable value using technology as a business driver. Leveraging our strong network of over 100 ecosystem partners, we accompany our clients throughout their transformation journey – from strategy and development to implementation and management.

With our tech powerhouse, Synpulse8, we collaborate with our clients to co-create digital experiences with innovative technologies and proprietary methods. Synpulse is powered by the passion and commitment of its more than 1000 employees from 21 offices who come from over 30 countries.

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Technology driving positive outlook for Malaysian small businesses

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  • Malaysia’s small businesses lead the region in innovation
  • Younger entrepreneurs dominate small business landscape
  • AI investment on the rise
  • High demand for funding signals continued expansion
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2025 – Increased technology adoption is fuelling strong expansion among Malaysia’s small businesses, with 71 per cent reporting growth in 2024 – the highest in more than a decade – according to CPA Australia’s annual Asia Pacific Small Business Survey.

The growth momentum is expected to continue, with 82 per cent of Malaysian small businesses anticipating growth this year, marking the sector’s highest level of optimism since 2012.

Confidence in Malaysia’s economy is equally strong, with 81 per cent of small businesses expecting the economy to grow in 2025, well above the Asia-Pacific average of 67 per cent.

“Malaysia’s small business sector is powered by dynamic and young entrepreneurs who are quick to embrace digital technologies,” said Yip Kit Weng FCPA, President of CPA Australia Malaysia Division.

E-commerce, new digital payment options and social media are widely embraced, with 92 per cent of Malaysian small business using social media in 2024, including as a key communication and marketing tool. On Malaysian entrepreneurs being ranked highest in innovation, Yip said the result was not surprising given 64 per cent of small business owners are younger than 40.
“Their ability to adapt quickly and invest in digital solutions is driving Malaysia’s competitiveness in the region,” Yip said.

Investment in digital tools by Malaysia’s small businesses continues to rise, with AI investment more than doubling from 11 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent in 2024. Digital and mobile payments have become the norm, with 78 per cent receiving more than 10 per cent of their sales through platforms such as GrabPay, Touch ‘n Go and Boost.

“It is encouraging to see more small businesses embracing AI, well ahead of the government’s five-year strategic roadmap to accelerate AI adoption,” Yip said.

“Regulatory measures to support ethical practices, along with tailored measures for target groups, will further fast-track AI adoption while enhancing public trust.”

Malaysia’s entrepreneurs are also setting their sights beyond local markets. Despite global economic uncertainty, 55 per cent of small businesses expect an increase in overseas revenue this year.

To support this expansion, demand for external financing was strong. In 2024, 70 per cent of Malaysian small businesses used such funds to support growth. This trend is expected to continue this year, with 85 per cent anticipating the need for external finance.

“Given Malaysia’s strong focus on innovation, technology and exports, this demand is unsurprising,” Yip said.

The biggest challenge for Malaysia’s small businesses remains rising costs, particularly in materials, utilities, rent and taxes. Many have focused on implementing cost-control measures to mitigate these pressures.

“The strong economic environment, coupled with government initiatives to increase competitiveness and investor confidence, is helping to create a positive business climate for small businesses,” Yip said.

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia #SmallBusinesses #SmallBusinessSurvey #APAC #MalaysiaSmallBusiness






The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

CPA Australia

CPA Australia is one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies, with more than 175,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 21,000 members in Southeast Asia. CPA Australia has been operating in Malaysia since 1956, establishing an office in 1994. We provide education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local and global issues affecting the accounting profession and the public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. Find out more at cpaaustralia.com.au

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1win Brings Colors to India with a Holi Celebration

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HYDERABAD, INDIA –
Holi with 1win is all about bright colors, happiness, and love!

Holi, a celebration of spring’s arrival and the triumph of good over evil, unites people, encouraging them to set aside their differences and share the joy of throwing bright powders up into the air. Guided by the festive spirit, 1win volunteers traveled across India, distributing gifts to the country’s most densely populated neighborhoods and communities, transforming bustling streets into colorful celebrations. The initiative also received enthusiastic support from Indian bloggers and media personalities, amplifying its reach.

Influencers Kanika Sharma and Dhirendra Chauhan Rajput, who participated in 1win’s charitable donations, shared their thoughts on the celebration, “Holi is not just about playing; it is about giving. This time, we thought, why not celebrate Holi with those around us who need a little color of happiness in their lives? Even a small effort can create a big joy. Because we care, we share.”

Through this initiative, 1win helped make Holi more inclusive, enabling thousands to take part in the celebration and share the festive spirit. As the Holi colors settle, the spirit of togetherness and generosity fostered by 1win will continue to inspire.

For more details about the project, visit www.1win.charity.
Hashtag: #1win #1winShares #WeCareWeShare #CSR #Charity



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About 1win Charity

is the philanthropic branch of 1win, committed to sustainability and community development. Guided by the motto ‘We Care. We Share’, it supports underserved communities around the world and focuses on humanitarian aid, recycling, and healthcare initiatives. Through strategic collaboration with key opinion leaders and NGOs, 1win.Charity drives meaningful change.

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