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Event

Inaugural GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore converges global tech ecosystem to unlock SEA’s US$1 trillion digital economy potential

Southeast Asia’s (SEA) digital economy is thriving, rapidly growing year-on-year through accelerated digital adoption and government-backed investments. With the World Economic Forum’s US$1 trillion gross merchandise value (GMV) by 2030 projection becoming increasingly realistic, the inaugural GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore amplifies this potential, igniting a bold new era of regional digital progression.

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in affiliation with GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech show, the first-ever Asian edition takes place at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from April 23-25, 2025. 

As Asia’s largest inaugural tech, startup, and digital investments event, GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore rallies the international tech ecosystem, welcoming over 700 global tech enterprises and startups, with over 70% first-time exhibitors in Singapore, alongside 250-plus global investors from over 70 countries. Under the theme ‘Advancing Bold Partnerships in Asia’, stakeholders will explore collaborative opportunities, enter new markets, and access new capital – forging impactful alliances to co-create excellence and unlock vast SEA digital economy possibilities.  

Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, CEO of KAOUN International and organiser of GITEX globally, said: “GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore shall not be just another tech event; it shall reign as a vital collective barometer of the evolving global digital and AI economies, forging valuable international relationships and impactful new partnerships. Harnessing the region’s culture of innovation and spirit of digital adventure, we shall catalyse collaboration, establishing new marketplaces and diverse opportunities alongside a global tech leaders.”

Digital Economy Summit Featuring Asia’s Most International Speaker Line-Up 

GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore examines tech’s new frontiers across eight themes, and 180-plus hours of content. From AI, cybersecurity, cloud, connectivity, and quantum computing to healthcare, biotech, green tech, and smart cities, the GITEX ASIA Digital Economy Summit stages the most potent debates and thought-provoking perspectives surrounding global shifts and SEA’s evolving tech trajectory. 330-plus international expert speakers dive into the emerging AI complexities and use-cases, from AI-powered drug and GenAI era defence to 5G/6G telecom challenges, next-gen data centres, cyber resilience, fraud detection, and intelligent healthcare. 

Global Digital Nations & Tech Enterprises Enter SEA Ecosystem 

Rising digital nations showcasing their latest technological advancements, services, and solutions at GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore include the Netherlands, France, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, India, Pakistan, and the UAE, while Vietnam and Serbia – both debuting nations in Singapore – are supported by the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC) and Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

Asia’s most empowering cross-sector tech showcase simultaneously includes international tech giants driving innovation across Asia and global territories, from Ericsson, Kaspersky, Nebius, Fortinet, ManageEngine, and Oracle to Alibaba Cloud, China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Nvidia, and Lenovo. 

Vu Quoc Huy, Director General, Vietnam NIC, said: “As Vietnam deepens its regional tech landscape presence, NIC is eager to engage at GITEX ASIA. This inaugural event will be a catalyst for innovation, bringing together ecosystem stakeholders, visionary enterprises, disruptive startups, and forward-thinking investors. We look forward to forging partnerships and driving the next wave of technological breakthroughs in Asia and beyond.”

Pioneered in Partnership with Global Tech, Government & Business Leaders

Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, SGTech, and Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE), GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore is hosted in strategic partnership with international government entities, regulators and prominent digital agencies from SEA and wider Asia. 

Singapore’s JTC Corporation, UAE Cybersecurity Council, Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (Dubai DET), Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, India’s Mobile & Electronics Devices Export Promotion Council (MEDEPC), CyberSecurity Malaysia, Philippines’ Department of Information & Communications Technology (DICT) and Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) are among the high-profile event partners.

Zhihan Yeo, Senior Director, Chapters & Strategic Programmes, SGTech, added: “GITEX presents immense potential to connect diverse stakeholders from across the world to Singapore’s vibrant tech ecosystem. It’s an expansion that we believe will unlock new tech development opportunities and catalyse transformative digital growth regionally and beyond.”

An Influential Launchpad for Startups Driving Impactful AI & Tech Breakthroughs 

Alongside the evolving competitive tech developments, GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore features North Star Asia, the region’s largest and most global startup, accelerator, and investor event, featuring over 400 Series A+ tech startups and early-stage companies from 20-plus industry sectors, from AI, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and cybersecurity to green tech and telecom.

With Access Partnerships projecting AI could deliver US$ 835 billion in economic benefits to SEA businesses by 2030, several world-first AI innovations take centre-stage at the AI 100 programme powered by Nebius, featuring curated 100 award-winning AI startups from 30-plus countries. In another outstanding programme, Singapore 100, the top 100 most promising Singaporean ventures set for global success will showcase their breakthroughs, while the world’s fastest-rising startups face off in the Supernova Challenge pitch competition. 

Global investors with US$200bn in assets under management (AUM) also participate – including Cisco Investments (US), SGinnovate (Singapore), Lightrock (UK) and Rallycap (Tunisia). 

Convening the Global Cybersecurity & Defence Ecosystem in Singapore 

For the first time in the region, GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore also presents GITEX Cyber Valley Asia, a highly anticipated showcase and conference, gathering the world’s most influential cybersecurity companies, national security agencies, and over 200 global CISOs. 

With SEA’s cybersecurity market projected to cross US$ 7 billion by 2029 (Statista), this programme explores regional readiness amidst an increasingly complex threat landscape. Among the highlights is the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) – Crystal Ball, gathering key private-public decision makers to discuss the strategies to mitigate the impact of growing ransomware threats on individuals, organisations and critical infrastructure.

by Vivek Kumar

W7Worldwide proudly announces that Abdulrahman Inayat has been recognized as PR Leader of the Year at the prestigious Athar Festival 2025, in a category presented in association with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) — the global representative body for PR associations and consultancies. Representing the world’s leading PR consultancies and national associations across more than 80 countries, ICCO serves as the global voice of the public relations industry. This recognition underscores Inayat’s exceptional leadership and W7Worldwide’s continued contribution to advancing the communications landscape across Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and international markets. “This achievement is not only personal; it reflects the collective dedication of our W7Worldwide team and the transformation we are witnessing across the Saudi communication landscape,” said Abdulrahman Inayat . “We are proud to contribute to shaping a globally competitive PR industry that mirrors Vision 2030’s ambition and creativity.” This honor adds to a recent series of distinctions recognizing Abdulrahman Inayat’s leadership in the communications sector. He was previously elected Chairman of the Regional Board of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN) for the Middle East and North Africa. He also made history as the youngest board member of PRCA MENA and was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award, further underscoring his influence across the regional marketing and communications landscape. Meanwhile, W7Worldwide has received over 30 awards in recent years across local, regional, and global platforms, being recognized among the leading communications consultancies in the region. “Abdulrahman’s recognition as PR Leader of the Year exemplifies the excellence and ambition driving the Middle East’s creative marketing and communications community forward,” said Ian Fairservice, Chairman of Motivate Media Group and Festival Co-Founder. W7Worldwide has evolved into one of the region’s most respected homegrown communications consultancies, earning international acclaim for its strategic thinking, innovative storytelling, and deep cultural understanding. The agency continues to lead the way in positioning Saudi and MENA communications excellence on the global stage. About W7Worldwide W7Worldwide is a homegrown, award-winning communications consultancy known for its strategic insights, thought leadership, and culturally grounded storytelling. With a proven track record of partnering with more than 100 clients across diverse sectors, the firm has built deep expertise in reputation management and strategic communication, helping organizations strengthen trust and visibility. Operating across the MENA region and international markets, W7Worldwide continues to elevate Saudi communications leadership on the global stage.

by Vivek Kumar

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by Vivek Kumar

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