Top 10 Southeast Asia Business News (Last 24 Hours) February 4, 2026

1. Vietnam's first domestic chip plant advances toward 2027 trial production  

Viettel-led semiconductor fab in Hanoi Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park continues construction after January groundbreaking, targeting trial runs by end-2027 to foster self-reliant chip manufacturing in Vietnam. Key step from assembly to full design and fab capabilities.  

2. Micron breaks ground on 24bn Singapore wafer fab for AI NAND  

US chipmaker Micron starts construction of double-storey NAND-focused facility in Singapore, 24bn investment over decade, production slated for H2 2028 amid surging AI memory demand. Bolsters Singapore's role in Southeast Asia advanced manufacturing.  

3. Malaysia's data center capacity set to double by end-2026  

AI and cloud demand fuels rapid data center buildout in Malaysia, capacity expected to double by end-2026, positioning country as major Southeast Asia hub for tech manufacturing, cloud, and startup ecosystem.  

4. Quick commerce evolving as key growth driver for Southeast Asia food delivery platforms  

Platforms like Grab shift quick commerce from top-ups to planned large grocery buys, improving unit economics and rider utilization outside peak hours — emerging as major driver in regional ecommerce and instant delivery tech.  

5. Southeast Asia AI startups prioritize profitability over rapid scaling  

Founders focus on sustainable models amid VC slowdown and bubble concerns, fostering healthier long-term tech entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.  

6. ASEAN e-commerce projected 16 percent growth in 2025, driven by AI and video  

AI recommendations and video promotions fuel 16 percent growth despite headwinds, boosting ecommerce tech startups across Southeast Asia.  

7. Grab acquires Chinese AI robotics firm Infermove  

Grab completes acquisition of Beijing-based Infermove to deploy AI delivery robots in Southeast Asia, addressing rising labor costs and boosting instant logistics tech edge.  

8. Vietnam draws over 7 billion in AI data center investments  

Pre-2026 AI conformity rules drive massive inflows, reshaping infrastructure and fueling tech startups and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.  

9. Southeast Asia tech startups gear up for 2026 IPOs  

Ecommerce, digital, and AI startups clean books and strengthen governance, with analysts forecasting market rebound in 2026.  

10. Asia's factory activity expands on solid global demand  

Asia manufacturing PMI rises in January with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia seeing multi-year pace growth from export orders, particularly Southeast Asia, signaling positive momentum for regional manufacturing and tech supply chains.