financefintech· 5 Jul 2026
Labuan IBFC climbs to 55th in GFCI, second in ASEAN fintech
Labuan International Business and Financial Centre, established in 1990 off Sabah, has risen to 55th in the Global Financial Centres Index and now ranks second in ASEAN for fintech after Singapore. Industry assets reached US$94 billion in 2025, with nearly 5,000 operating companies from 100+ countries, growing captive insurance, Islamic digital finance, and cross-border wealth structuring under a single regulator, Labuan FSA.
Why it matters
Labuan IBFC's climb up the Global Financial Centres Index - to 55th globally and 2nd in ASEAN for fintech - matters because credibility, not just tax efficiency, is now the currency of cross-border finance. Malaysia's FATF 'regular follo…
Source: South China Morning PostRead story → Investment· 28 Jun 2026
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Source: Singapore MDDIRead story → MalaysiaInvestment· 15 Jun 2026 Malaysia approved RM92.8 billion of investment in Q1 2026
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Source: TNGlobalRead story → 
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Source: VietnamPlusRead story → 
IndonesiaData CentresDigital Economy· 15 Jun 2026Chinese investor proposed a USD5 billion AI data centre in Batam
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Source: e.vnexpress.netRead story → IndonesiaTrade· 14 Jun 2026 Indonesia plans state export body for key commodities
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Source: ReutersRead story → IndonesiaTrade· 14 Jun 2026 Indonesia vows transparency as it starts transition to centralised commodity exports
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Source: Business TimesRead story → ThailandTrade· 14 Jun 2026 Thailand pushes EU free trade deal to reduce US reliance
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Source: Business TimesRead story → 