KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) and Ant International have on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore cutting-edge innovations in cross-border payments and liquidity management solutions.

This partnership spans a wide range of financial services from cash management and capital markets to sustainability-related initiatives, according to a statement on the signing. 

A core component of the MOU is the joint development of the digital framework designed to modernise treasury and liquidity operations. 

The collaboration integrates CIMB’s wholesale banking capabilities with Ant International’s key digital platforms, including Alipay+, Antom and Bettr Treasury, the statement read.

By utilising Ant’s next-generation blockchain-based management solutions, the partnership aims to enhance capital efficiency and transparency across the regional financial ecosystem.

The initiative aligns with CIMB’s Forward30 strategy, which prioritises embedding innovation into the bank’s core operations to maintain a competitive edge in Asean.

“The partnership marks a milestone in our Forward30 strategy, where innovation is embedded into the core of how we operate and compete,” said Novan Amirudin, group chief executive officer of CIMB.

“Our collaboration with Ant International enables us to accelerate the institutional adoption of distributed ledger technology within the treasury ecosystem,” he added. 

This partnership also focuses on the institutional adoption of tokenisation, a technology viewed as a pillar for the next generation of financial services. This effort builds upon CIMB’s existing involvement in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Digital Assets Innovation Hub.

Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International, emphasised the shared vision of using technology to create a more inclusive financial system for Malaysian businesses.

“By combining our strengths, we will scale the institutional adoption of tokenisation, a key pillar of next-generation financial infrastructure, to create a more efficient and inclusive financial ecosystem," Feagin said.

Both parties have committed to ensuring the new framework remains scalable and practical, meeting the evolving needs of institutional treasury departments across the region, the statement added.