JULYASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMPETROAPP RIDES VISION 2030 WAVE TO POWER SAUDI'S TECH RISEAlibaba Cloud's Singapore anniversary celebrates nearly a decade of strategic expansion in Southeast Asia, marked by early investments like US$2 billion in Lazada and the launch of data centers in Indonesia (2018).This infrastructure-first strategy positioned Alibaba as a first mover in regional cloud computing, outpacing competitors like Amazon Web Services (AWS) in localization and logistics integration, including 7-Eleven Malaysia lockers and Vietnamese post offices. Now, Alibaba is leveraging that groundwork to spearhead AI transformation and green cloud computing.Its AI Global Competency Center aims to assist 5,000 businesses and 100,000 developers, addressing the global readiness gap--only 1% percent of firms consider themselves mature in AI deployment. As AI ROI reaches 3.7x and market value nears $240 billion, this initiative is timely.Alibaba is also tackling the sustainability challenge: data center energy demand is expected to grow 160 percent by 2030. The company's Energy Expert platform provides AI-driven ESG reporting, aligning with global trends where 36 percent of organizations now track cloud carbon footprints. Alibaba's research shows 84 percent of leaders prioritize green AI, but most remain early-stage in implementation.With plans to train 100K AI professionals annually and roll out AI agents for major industries, Alibaba Cloud is not only scaling tech innovation but also redefining sustainable digital infrastructure leadership in Southeast Asia and beyond. PetroApp's rapid ascent in the fleet management and digital payments space is emblematic of the broader transformation driven by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Launched in 2016, the initiative aims to diversify the national economy away from oil dependency, and it's working--non-oil sectors now contribute over 50 percent to Saudi Arabia's GDP.This transformation has created fertile ground for digital startups. Backed by over $5 trillion in project commitments, Saudi Arabia's digital economy now contributes SAR495 billion (15 percent) to the GDP. With 99 percent internet penetration, the Kingdom is one of the world's most digitally connected nations--making it ideal for innovations like PetroApp..Operating in four countries and serving 10,000+ corporate clients with over 500,000 vehicles, PetroApp showcases how local tech firms are scaling regionally. The company's platform has evolved from just payments to end-to-end fleet services, including car washes and vehicle maintenance--a reflection of growing demand for comprehensive vehicle management ecosystems.PetroApp's success is also tied to earlier infrastructure like SADAD, launched in 2007 to streamline bill payments, which laid the foundation for today's cashless economy. Now, modern digital fleet systems can reduce operational costs by up to 50 percent, offering immense value to businesses.This progress underscores Saudi Arabia's global rise in digital leadership, now ranked 6th in the UN E-Government Development Index, proving Vision 2030 is not just policy--it's execution. ALIBABA CLOUD MARKS SINGAPORE MILESTONE WITH AI, ESG PUSHKey Highlights· Alibaba Cloud's AI Center will train 100,000 developers and assist 5,000 enterprises.· Its Energy Expert platform tackles cloud sustainability with AI-driven ESG tools.· Early regional investment gives Alibaba a competitive edge in Southeast Asia.Key Highlights· PetroApp serves 10,000+ clients with 500,000+ vehicles across four countries.· Saudi Arabia's digital economy now contributes 15 percent to national GDP.· Vision 2030 and 99 percent internet penetration drive fintech and B2B growth.
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