Advertisement

In their first full year of partnership in 2024, Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) and Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology provider, have created new economic opportunities for Malaysian SMEs.

Alipay+ accounted for over 80% of cross-border inbound QR payments via DuitNow, significantly boosting transaction volumes.

During the peak travel season in December 2024, Malaysian merchants saw a sixfold increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2023.

The partnership began in October 2023 when Alipay+, a unified wallet gateway under Ant International, was integrated into DuitNow QR. This enabled Malaysian SMEs to accept QR payments from international travellers.

Since then, the number of Alipay+ payment partners has more than doubled to 15 international apps, further expanding customer reach for Malaysian businesses.

Travellers from 10 countries and regions can now use their home payment apps at over 2.5 million DuitNow QR touchpoints across Malaysia. The Alipay+ partners enabled for use in Malaysia include:

  • China: Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), MPay (Macao SAR)
  • Thailand: TrueMoney, KBank
  • Singapore: Changi Pay, BigPay
  • Mongolia: Hipay
  • The Philippines: HelloMoney, GCash
  • Italy: Tinaba
  • Kazakhstan: Kaspi
  • South Korea: Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Toss

“As Malaysia’s national payments network, PayNet is committed to building an open and seamless payment ecosystem that enables businesses to thrive,” said Gary Yeoh, Chief Marketing Officer of PayNet.

“Our partnership with Ant International has significantly enhanced cross-border payment acceptance for local merchants, helping them tap into a growing wave of global travellers. With Alipay+ as a key driver, DuitNow QR is empowering SMEs to compete on an international scale, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a premier travel and shopping destination.”

Driving Growth for Malaysian SMEs

In 2024, Alipay+ transactions via DuitNow QR grew by an average of 50% quarter-on-quarter, making it the largest contributor to cross-border inbound QR payments. This growth allows Malaysian merchants to benefit from the increasing number of international visitors.

“We have always believed in the power of travel as a driver of connectivity, cultural exchange, and economic growth,” said Edward Yue, General Manager for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand at Ant International.

“With Alipay+, we offer local businesses a gateway to global customers, driving inclusive growth in local communities. PayNet has built the infrastructure and partnerships to enable this, and we’re proud to collaborate and bring international users into this ecosystem.

“We’re just getting started, and in the years ahead, we can make an even greater impact together, positioning Malaysia as a global tourism hub and generating more growth for Malaysian businesses.”

According to Tourism Malaysia, the country welcomed over 25 million visitors in 2024, with a goal of attracting 35.6 million by 2026 as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

With DuitNow’s extensive merchant coverage, international travellers can enjoy a seamless payment experience using their preferred payment apps. The number of visitors using an Alipay+-enabled payment app increased fivefold year-on-year in Q4 2024. The most visited cities include Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Penang, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, PayNet and Ant International plan to further strengthen their collaboration through enhanced merchant connectivity, marketing initiatives, and educational campaigns.

These efforts aim to drive even greater adoption of DuitNow QR among international visitors, further benefiting Malaysian SMEs and supporting the country’s vision of becoming a global tourism hub.

Source: https://sme.asia/paynet-and-ant-international-drive-malaysian-sme-growth-with-alipay-on-duitnow-qr/