AGP Executive Report

AI & Digital Growth: Maxeemize launched an AI Search Visibility Audit to help brands show up in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews and other answer engines, while a new AI/digital bootcamp backs firms turning tech into real products. Fintech & SME Funding: GoTyme says its performance-linked SME working-capital loans have delivered R17bn to 90,000 businesses in a year, and RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged fintechs to treat user data as a fiduciary duty, not a monetizable asset. Energy & Infrastructure Skills: Malaysia’s power transition push is shifting from headcount to capability-building at Tenaga Nasional, as ASEAN hyperscale and AI compute investment increasingly targets Malaysia’s connectivity and semiconductor depth. Business Climate & Safety: Seattle CEOs demanded a public safety action plan from Mayor Katie Wilson, while local shop owners say costs are squeezing them to the brink. Global Trade & Geopolitics: BRICS leaders meet in New Delhi as wars and US-China tensions strain unity, with India also weighing tougher economic realities in balancing ties with Russia and China. Corporate Moves: Iveco Group reorganized leadership after its sustainability chief exits, and Rocket Lab carried out its 16th Electron launch of the year.

Leadership & Finance Appointments: Greenskies Clean Energy named Darryl Tishler as CFO as it scales its renewable power platform. Digital Investment Facilitation: Bangladesh created Invest Bangladesh’s first Member for Technology & Innovation, appointing Muntasir Hossain to build investor-facing digital platforms. AI for Operations: Samsara rolled out AI-powered Connected Maintenance aimed at cutting hidden maintenance admin work and operational “efficiency leaks” for fleets. Cyber/Enterprise Security: SASE OpsLab appointed Franck Burtin as CRO to expand global SASE automation and orchestration. Dealmaking & Markets: Stanbic IBTC backed the Dangote Refinery IPO as joint lead issuing house and receiving bank. Fraud & Enforcement: U.S. prosecutors allege a Twin Cities check-theft scheme involving stolen business checks and fraudulent accounts. Tourism Policy Shock: England’s proposed overnight visitor levy drew warnings from travel groups that it could hurt competitiveness. Global Business Diplomacy: Algeria and Uzbekistan agreed to set up a joint business council and draft a preferential trade framework ahead of BRICS-linked engagement.

BRICS Pivot: Philippines President Marcos will attend the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi next week, signaling Manila’s push to engage major emerging economies as BRICS expands beyond its original five. Work-From-Home Rules: Victoria’s pro-business amendments keep a right to work from home two days a week, but tighten eligibility, costs, and timing—while Victoria’s laws face a possible High Court challenge. Business Cost Pressure: UK industry leaders urge Chancellor Healey to cut employer costs ahead of the Budget, including calls to revisit the triple-lock pension. Singapore-US Expansion: EnterpriseSG opens a Boston office to deepen US East Coast ties, with a Massachusetts partnership targeting life sciences, robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing. Real-World Cancer Data: Flatiron Health renews its NCCN collaboration through 2028, expanding access to research tools for cancer centers. Maritime Competitiveness: Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy back a joint front to boost European shipping influence and tackle decarbonisation. Local Relief Fight: Madison, Wisconsin businesses say recovery is slow after the council rejected $75,000 in stabilization support. Corporate Deal Timing: XCF Global and DevvStream postpone special meetings tied to a proposed business combination. Innovation for Aboriginal Businesses: NSW unveils a strategy to reduce barriers and grow Aboriginal business participation, including new advisory support via Service NSW. Kava Trademark Clash: Pacific leaders back a Kava Declaration to protect cultural and economic value, even as a US trademark claim raises new trade pressure.

Small-Business Resilience: A Southwestern Vermont Chamber survey finds most local firms still thriving and looking to grow, even as rising costs, workforce shortages, and weaker regional confidence bite. Climate Finance Push: Azerbaijan’s climate officials urged banks to make climate finance a core business, arguing private capital and “green corridors” like the Trans-Caspian route can boost competitiveness. AI Adoption Reality Check: A commentary warns Africa’s biggest bottleneck isn’t ideas—it’s turning pilots into durable companies through ecosystem building. Enterprise Learning Upgrade: Coursera previews Project Helix, an AI-native skills platform aimed at verified capability, not just course completions. Health Data & Lawsuits: Robbins LLP reminded investors of key deadlines in the Hims & Hers securities class action over alleged sharing of protected health data with ad platforms. Energy Switching Pressure: Northern Ireland SMEs report volatile bills, with more firms considering switching providers mainly for price, while barriers like time and fees still hold them back. Business Events Growth: Marriott launched “Destination Convention Malaysia” to package multi-destination business events across Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, and Sabah.

Banking & Growth Push: Nigeria’s President Tinubu told bankers to shift from balance-sheet growth to funding productive businesses that create jobs, as reforms aim to translate stability into living-cost relief. Supply Chains & Trade Risk: APEC rolled out an updated Supply Chain Resilience Toolkit for small firms, offering a resilience score and practical steps like supplier diversification and trade compliance. SME Support via Tech: Singapore’s BizSG portal will use AI to route companies to the right grants and services, starting Sept 30. Energy & Critical Tech Capital: The U.S. DOE and SBA launched the SBIC-E initiative to channel private money into energy and critical-technology small businesses. Innovation Funding: Nigeria’s NASENI handed ₦162.5m in grants to top public-servant innovators, while Malaysia’s higher-education leaders urged deeper entrepreneurship training beyond first-job prep. Business Climate & Costs: A Vermont survey found strong local confidence but rising costs and workforce shortages are still blocking growth. Local Business Pressure: Downtown Columbia leaders say city inaction on urban camping is hurting safety and business footfall. Corporate Moves: Delta Electronics is relocating its Scottish engineering hub to a new Glasgow facility, and Alibaba merged 1688 and Alibaba.com wholesale into “Global Wholesale” to better integrate domestic and cross-border trade.

Trade & Exports: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif met industrialists to push export-led growth, seeking business input on measures to remove barriers and citing Rs800bn recovered through enforcement. Investment Climate: Cebu is pitching a better business environment to attract investors, stressing faster, clearer processes and stronger public-private partnerships. Malaysia Trade Momentum: MATRADE said Malaysia’s trade hit RM2.16tn in the first seven months of 2026, with exports up 29.2% and a surplus of RM170.5bn, led by electrical and electronics. Energy + Industry Tech: ABB Malaysia urged manufacturers to boost productivity, cut energy use, improve reliability and accelerate sustainability as costs and AI adoption rise. AI in Utilities: Bidgely will demo AI smart-meter analytics at Enlit Asia 2026 to reduce bill shock, non-technical losses and improve grid planning. Startup Funding: Sorry Sugar raised $1m seed to expand zero-sugar beverages across North India via D2C, quick commerce and retail. Corporate + Legal: Investor deadlines continue in multiple securities class actions, including Pentair (Oct 2, 2026) and Capricor (Sept 28, 2026). Identity Fraud: Shufti’s 2026 report warns organized fraud rings are using deepfakes, synthetic identities and recycled documents to bypass KYC.

Automation Push in Malaysia: Malaysia’s trade and industry minister urged firms of all sizes to speed up automation as foreign-worker supply is unlikely to return to past levels, framing it as a way to keep local jobs fair and valuable. AI Partnerships for Innovation: India and Sweden are teaming up to use AI and emerging tech to boost enterprise adoption and growth, with a focus on responsible AI ecosystems. UK Manufacturing at Risk: A Make UK/Bishop Fleming report warns family-owned manufacturers face tax pressure, high electricity prices, and succession worries, threatening domestic capability. Trade War Pressure on Small Business (Canada): Canada’s new dollar-for-dollar tariffs on $28bn of U.S. imports begin, with small firms warning they’re being treated as “cannon fodder.” Agentic AI in Africa: Binance says agentic AI could help Africa leapfrog into the next wave of enterprise tech—if businesses define clear tasks for agents. EPR Reshapes South Africa Appliances: South Africa’s extended producer responsibility rules shift end-of-life costs and logistics onto producers, importers, and brand owners. EU Innovation Integrity Scrutiny: A Financial Times probe flags integrity and spending concerns across EU-funded innovation groups, as regulators review future funding.

Energy Infrastructure Deal: Gas Malaysia and Petronas Gas have signed a joint study and collaboration agreement to assess an onshore lateral pipeline linking the RGT Yan regasification terminal to the Peninsular Gas Utilisation system, with PGB leading feasibility work on technical, land and commercial viability. Data Centres & Power Systems: Pekat Group secured RM57.18m in subcontracts for earthing and lightning protection work for a hyperscale data centre in Johor Bahru, with completion targets stretching into 2027. Climate-Driven Operations: A Barclays Business Prosperity Index survey finds 60% of businesses are boosting or considering investment to adapt to extreme heat, led by cooling upgrades and energy efficiency, while some firms report productivity hits. Digital Transformation (UK): A UK-focused piece argues SAP is increasingly chosen to cut manual work and unify data as companies scale. Regional Growth Capital (UK): The British Business Bank is pushing a proposed £150m Northern scale-up fund for high-growth firms, including York, with investments of £5m–£15m. AI Governance in Hospitality: Fondazione ENIA appointed Gianni Buonsante to coordinate an “AI & Hospitality” R&D commission aimed at responsible AI adoption, risk management and training. Aviation & Business Travel: La Compagnie plans a new nonstop New York–Düsseldorf business-class route launching in spring 2027.

SEZ & Trade Tech: FedEx says AI and remote monitoring are being rolled into cross-border logistics ahead of the Johor-Singapore SEZ integration, aiming for 24/7 customer self-service and tighter cargo security. AI & Cybersecurity: KPMG warns AI is both a defender and an attacker tool, while quantum risks and “non-human identities” are forcing CISOs to rethink resilience. Semiconductors Investment: Onto Innovation is buying a 27% stake in Rigaku for about $720M as chipmaking demand for more complex architectures keeps backlog climbing. Green Finance Policy: Hong Kong’s HKMA launches consultation on Phase 2B of its sustainable finance taxonomy to curb greenwashing and guide capital flows. SME Innovation Push: APEC ministers back innovation and tech adoption to help SMEs compete, with calls for aligned standards, lower transaction costs, and better testing/certification access. Business Funding Case: New Zealand’s BusinessNZ argues medicines funding should rise to OECD average, projecting $1.93 economic return per extra dollar. Local Governance & Costs: In Worcestershire, Reform councillor Nik Price urges legal challenge over plans to split the county into two unitary councils. Skills & Entrepreneurship: Dorset’s Local Skills Improvement Plan targets real employer needs, while Arts University Bournemouth appoints fintech/AI entrepreneur Dan Ware to boost graduate entrepreneurship.

Auto Jobs Shock: UK Business Secretary says there will be no bailout for Jaguar Land Rover as a voluntary redundancy plan is set to cut about 4,000 jobs over two years. AI Payoff Gap: New analysis argues enterprise AI spending is rising but results lag because companies buy tools before fixing how procurement and other workflows actually operate. Responsible AI Rules: Microsoft-backed commentary says governance is racing to catch up with fast AI adoption, with EU transparency rules now kicking in. Food Security Push: Nigeria’s plant breeders group calls for more funding for agricultural research and plant breeding ahead of a major 2026 conference in Abuja. Fraud Crackdown: Delhi police busted a fake Tata Motors recruitment racket using stolen candidate data and staged joining letters, QR codes and devices. Business Leadership & Growth: Mentoring Worcestershire opens applications for its 7th year to help local firms scale with six months of tailored support. Travel & Hospitality: A new Saudi luxury hotel opens in Riyadh’s KAFD, adding 214 rooms and positioning the district for higher-end business travel. SME Pressure: UK small retailers report rising costs and weak demand, with many absorbing higher bills rather than passing them on.

UK Business Relief: The UK business secretary says paperwork for companies will be simplified, with some SMEs exempt from certain reporting steps—aiming to cut costs across the economy. Auto Industry Shake-up: Jaguar Land Rover is expected to announce a voluntary redundancy programme, after a cyberattack disrupted production and as the government prepares to meet company leadership. EV Momentum: BYD says Australia has hit its EV “tipping point,” with battery-electric cars outselling petrol models for the first time in new sales. Local Transport Fight: Oxfordshire’s parking restriction plans face pushback from the Wantage Chamber of Commerce, arguing the rules could hurt town-centre access. Small-Firm Support: Worcestershire’s Mentoring Worcestershire programme is expanding personalised support for entrepreneurs, pairing them with experienced business owners. Agriculture Pressure: Farmers in Herefordshire warn that rising input costs, falling grain prices and extreme weather are squeezing margins, making diversification more urgent. Water Risk at Board Level: A South Africa-focused piece argues water security has become a strategic business risk, demanding board oversight and planning. Energy Policy Watch: Malaysia is laying groundwork for possible civil nuclear applications, weighing who would drive the project and when. Leadership Change: Peckham Industries appoints John R. Peckham as interim CEO to provide continuity during a transition.

Leadership & Governance: Peckham Industries appoints John R. Peckham as interim CEO, promising continuity as it transitions from Damian J. Murphy. Finance & Markets: Hims & Hers Health faces a U.S. securities fraud class action; investors have until Nov. 2, 2026 to seek lead-plaintiff status. AI & Manufacturing: Foxconn expects third-quarter results to beat estimates as AI server demand lifts revenue, with cloud/networking now driving more than half of sales. Trade & Industry: Canada’s Via Rail gets a $4.7B push to shift passenger car production to domestic facilities, aiming to reduce reliance amid U.S. trade tensions. Cybersecurity: A SANS report flags SOCs’ biggest bottleneck as staffing, while AI use remains uneven inside workflows. Local Business Impact: Flooding on Hertel Avenue left multiple businesses facing damage and costly insurance gaps. EV Expansion Watch: BYD says it will announce its next Malaysia expansion approach within a week, weighing local partnerships versus its own manufacturing.

Energy diplomacy with teeth: The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce welcomed a T&T–Venezuela reset, urging the talks move from diplomacy to implementation on gas projects like Dragón, Loran-Manatee and Manakin-Cocuina. AI for enterprise operations: CauzzyAI partnered with Unilever Prestige to bring an enterprise AI platform into day-to-day business workflows. Payments go global via QR: PPMI and Alipay+ enabled Alipay+ on QR Ph, linking Filipino merchants to international consumers through the QR network. Retail strategy shift: Woolworths will expand homeware while reallocating space and capital toward its higher-return food ecosystem, including cafés and convenience formats. Local business pressure points: Cleethorpe Road traders in Grimsby plan a new campaign targeting two derelict “eyesore” buildings and pushing council policy changes. Grid modernization: Brookhaven Lab will lead an $11.5M DOE AI project to help utilities model up to 1B grid scenarios faster. SME momentum: Pakistan’s SECP registered 4,761 new companies in August as digital registrations keep business formalisation moving. Tech + robotics: Samsung SDS plans to unveil its robotics business vision, including robot orchestration tied to manufacturing systems. Environmental risk watch: Illinois found lead-contaminated soil near the former Haeger Potteries site, with more testing set to begin.

CEO Shake-Up at Adobe: Adobe named Anil Chakravarthy as its next CEO, doubling down on customer experience orchestration as AI rivals pressure its creative software business. Business Rights & Local Policy: Corona, New York promoted an updated Business Owner Bill of Rights, including physical delivery of the bill at inspections starting Oct. 1. Innovation in Insurance: InsurTech America opened its 2026 Innovation Challenge with $30,000 cash awards and a new mentorship track, with a winner advancing to the Startup World Cup. Manufacturing Push: Heven AeroTech opened a 56,000 sq ft hydrogen-powered drone production facility in Winchester, part of a broader U.S. rollout. Cross-Border Payments Milestone: EFICYENT surpassed $10B in total cross-border transaction value, positioning its infrastructure platform for global commerce. Trade-Tariff Support: Canada pledged $11.6M for Saskatoon businesses to help them respond to U.S. tariffs and diversify markets. Tech & Supply Chain AI: Tredence was named a Leader in ISG’s 2026 Provider Lens for supply chain analytics and AI services. Regulatory/Compliance Alerts: Boston Scientific faced an FDA recall alert tied to spinal cord stimulator lead kits, citing potential lead fractures. Local Economic Listening: Ulster County launched fall listening sessions so business owners can directly brief lawmakers on issues like a proposed income surtax.

AI in Education: New York City and Los Angeles Unified have moved to restrict AI use in schools, sparking debate over whether the bans protect students or hold back a transformative tool. Markets Watch: Asian stocks mostly rose after a Wall Street tech-led rally, with Nvidia jumping on its $13 billion Hugging Face deal. Corporate Shakeups: Volkswagen approved a major cost-cutting plan, including 50,000 job cuts and ending production at four German plants, as it faces China competition and tariffs. Tech & Leadership: Adobe named Anil Chakravarthy as CEO, while Lenovo pushed Hybrid AI for business with new devices and security features. Business Operations & Growth: GEA is expanding its mechanical separation Process Test Center in Germany to speed customer pilots and development. Local Economy: Kentucky is urging small firms to apply for a state tax credit, while a Yakima contracting forum aims to connect contractors with new work.

Energy & Infrastructure Finance: EIG led a €460m structured credit facility for Aukera, backing the battery storage and renewables platform’s next growth phase across five European markets. Central Banking: Bank Negara Malaysia held its Overnight Policy Rate at 2.75%, citing resilient growth but warning inflation risks remain elevated. AI & Jobs: A report says New York is surging in AI hiring, with AI job openings up sharply and rising interest in AI coding. Big Tech Antitrust: A federal judge ordered Google to change ad-tech practices but avoided a breakup, limiting structural fallout as the company pushes into AI-era advertising. Corporate Appointments: Estée Lauder named new brand leaders as Sandra Main prepares to retire, reshuffling leadership across La Mer and luxury beauty. Workforce & Inclusion: An AP report highlights the extra hurdles people face finding jobs after prison, even with skills and credentials. Compliance & Consumer Trust: UK regulators named 658 firms for minimum-wage underpayments, including B&Q and Five Guys. Defense Training Tech: By Light said TrueShot AI Stinger training cleared government acceptance testing, moving toward fielding at major training centers.