Media OutReach
Prudential Singapore partners with IMDA to drive SMEs’ adoption of Generative AI
As part of the programme, SMEs will gain access to a series of up to 10 bite-sized explainer videos and up to four hands-on workshops co-created and hosted by Prudential and its Talent Engagement Ecosystem (TEE-Up)1 partner, Republic Polytechnic. The first two videos on GenAI-enabled Customer Engagement Chatbots and GenAI-enabled Sales & Marketing Content Creation will be available on IMDA’s CTO-as-a-Service platform for SMEs, and the remaining videos will be rolled out progressively in the second half of 2025. The complementary workshops offered as part of the programme are conducted by Prudential’s GenAI domain experts and Republic Polytechnic lecturers.
Prudential has been a long-standing supporter of SMEs through its SME Skills Accelerator Programme2, which equips SMEs with the skills and resources to grow and innovate by upskilling and reskilling their employees. In 2022, the insurer had worked with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and ST Engineering to produce a digital commerce playbook to help SMEs kickstart their digital journey in a safe and secure manner3.
Mr Ben Tan, Chief Distribution Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “Having been a long-time supporter of SMEs, who are a key pillar of Singapore’s economy, we are proud to deepen our commitment by enabling them to gain access to the latest technologies such as GenAI to fuel business growth. Through practical explainer videos and hands-on workshops conducted by us and Republic Polytechnic, one of our Talent Engagement Ecosystem partners, we aim to equip SMEs with the knowledge and skills to apply GenAI meaningfully in their businesses. These efforts are part of the GenAI XPonential programme, delivered in partnership with IMDA, to help SMEs innovate, grow, and stay competitive in today’s digital economy.”
Mr Johnson Poh, Assistant Chief Executive, Sectoral Transformation Group, IMDA, added: “In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, it is vital to equip our SMEs with the tools and knowledge to harness GenAI effectively. IMDA welcomes the collaboration with Prudential Singapore to ensure that our SMEs can navigate the complexities of this emerging technology, gain the confidence to use GenAI to boost productivity, and remain competitive in an AI-driven economy.”
Collaboration with students to bring GenAI to the fore
Students from Republic Polytechnic’s Year 2 and 3 cohorts were engaged to develop the GenAI XPonential tech explainer videos. Guided by experts from IMDA and Prudential, these students explored real-world GenAI applications while honing their videography and editing skills. These students were engaged for their digital fluency and to encourage knowledge sharing. Singapore’s youth are among the most active users of GenAI, with 80 per cent4 using the technology at least once a week for tasks such as homework or school-related tasks.
Ms Wong Wai Ling, Director, School of Infocomm, Republic Polytechnic, said: “This collaboration exemplifies how industry and education can come together to empower both students and SMEs in the GenAI space. Our students had a unique opportunity to translate classroom learning into practical outcomes, co-creating resources that will help local businesses harness the potential of emerging technologies. We are proud to support Singapore’s digital future by equipping youth with real-world skills while contributing to the nation’s broader upskilling efforts.”
Mr Ben Tan added: “By involving youth in the creation of educational content for SMEs, the broader initiative nurtures the next generation of AI creators who are confident in using new technologies and eager to drive change. It also encourages intergenerational learning, where students support SMEs in the digital economy, building a future-ready ecosystem grounded in knowledge sharing and innovation.”
This collaboration, supported by the National Youth Council, deepened students’ understanding of emerging technologies, served as a platform for them to apply their skills in a real-world setting, and is part of youth outreach initiatives aimed at helping SMEs upskill.
2 For more information, please visit https://www.prudential.com.sg/others/sme-skills-accelerator-programme
Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore #IMDA #GenAIXPonential
https://www.prudential.com.sg/
www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg) Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).
GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.
Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.
The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.
Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”
The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.
Hashtag: #Paymentology
https://www.paymentology.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/paymentology/
https://x.com/Paymentology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia
Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.
Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.
Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.
Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.
Hashtag: #Discovery
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Discovery Channel
The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.
The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.
To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings
https://www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw/zh-tw/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
