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SINGAPORE: Anchanto, the leading e-commerce and logistics technology company, has appointed Ajay Veeraraghavan as Senior Director, Product & Solutions. With over 20 years of experience in digital transformation across retail, grocery, consumer goods and high-tech, Ajay is poised to lead Anchanto’s product innovation and global growth. Ajay’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Anchanto scales its operations worldwide. Leveraging his extensive expertise in multi and omni-channel e-commerce solutions, Ajay will drive the products and solutions verticals at Anchanto to help businesses enhance business outcomes through innovative solutions in supply chain planning, order management, warehouse management, inventory optimization, e-commerce analytics and more.   Driving global expansion and innovation Anchanto has consistently demonstrated remarkable growth, with a 40% year-over-year increase over the past four years and $36 million in funding. Ajay will be instrumental in executing Anchanto’s vision to become the leading e-commerce and logistics backend technology provider. This involves strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions to expand geographically and enhance the product suite, ultimately solidifying Anchanto’s market position globally.   Leveraging his extensive experience, Ajay will help customers harness AI-driven market opportunities through solutions like Anchanto Digital Shelf, enhancing competitive advantage, market share, and customer engagement.   In addition, Ajay will address market challenges such as helping brands protect themselves from grey sellers, and developing robust security strategies to protect consumers and businesses. He will also manage innovative solutions to monitor the grey market, which poses significant risks to consumers and legitimate businesses. Effective monitoring will ensure brand integrity, pricing consistency, and overall market confidence.   “Ajay’s appointment represents a significant addition to our leadership team,” said Vaibhav Dabhade, CEO of Anchanto. “His deep understanding of digital transformation will drive innovation and customer success across our product and solutions portfolio globally.”   “I am thrilled to join Anchanto and contribute to its mission of driving digital transformation and delivering value to customers,” said Ajay Veeraraghavan. “I look forward to working with the team to continue innovating and delivering best-in-class solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients

KUALA LUMPUR: The property sector has demonstrated commendable mid-year performance, signalling a promising trajectory for the industry fuelled by strategic developments and growing investor interest, says Knight Frank Malaysia. Group managing director Keith Ooi cited the robust economic growth, significant investments and adaptive market trends as key catalysts supporting the growth. “Malaysia continues to show promising prospects, bolstered by strategic investments, infrastructure improvements and evolving market dynamics,” he said. The global property consultant released its analysis entitled Real estate highlights first half of 2024 yesterday, revealing a dynamic and resilient market across residential, office, retail, hospitality, and industrial sectors. During the presentation, Amy Wong, executive director of Research and Consultancy, said the high-end high-rise residential segment in the Klang Valley and Johor had seen increased growth in transactions and values. In the first quarter of 2024, a total of 3,413 residential units were sold for RM2.8bil – a 19.2% increase in volume and a 19.3% rise in value. Three high-end condominium projects were completed during the quarter, adding 1,846 units to the market.“Future completions in the second half of 2024 (2H24) will add some 5,866 units,” she said. In Johor, growth in transaction volumes and values were recorded in both the condominium, apartment and serviced apartment categories. “Several high-rise residential projects were launched, reflecting a vibrant market driven by strategic developments such as the upcoming Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link,” she noted. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: UOB Kay Hian Research (UOBKH) Research believes the aggressive setting up of data centres in Malaysia and the country’s net-zero ambition offer ample opportunities for power players to expand their businesses. “In essence, the potential power crunch arising from the data-centre boom implies the government may rethink its power supply plans, which we believe may lead to new power plants in Peninsular Malaysia,” the research house said. The research house expects five gigawatts (GW) of new plants by 2030 and another 10GW-15GW by 2040. “Key beneficiaries are engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contractors with experience in building power plants,” UOBKH Research said. The research house added that other beneficiaries include Tenaga Nasional Bhd Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) and Malakoff Corp Bhd, as well as renewable-energy players. UOBKH Research maintained a “market weight” call on the utilities sector with Malakoff and Pekat Group Bhd as its top picks. “We highlight potential beneficiaries on three fronts: large to mid-cap EPCCs with experience in building power plants working alongside technology partners such as Alstom, General Electric; generating entities and independent power producers such as TNB Genco, Malakoff and unlisted Edra; and solar players such as Pekat, Solarvest Bhd, Samaiden Group Bhd and Sunview Group Bhd,” the research house said. It added that, as Malaysia champions green initiatives, there will be opportunities for meaningful investments in large-scale solar as well as other biomass/biogas/waste-to-energy plants. The National Energy Transition Roadmap has set an ambitious target for Malaysia to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan is comprehensive and outlines a gradual increase in renewable-energy share, targeting 31% by 2025, 40% by 2035, and an impressive 70% by 2050. “In the next one to two years, we expect 3GW of solar projects to be awarded through the Corporate Green Power Programme and fifth phase of the Large-Scale Solar scheme. Assuming a construction cost of RM2mil-RM2.5mil per megawatt, EPCC works are estimated at RM6bil-RM7bil over one to two years. “This will boost the replenishment of the order books of existing renewable-energy players within the EPCC segment. Additionally, partial ownership of the solar farms will help lift recurring income for the EPCC players,” the research outfit added.–The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will ensure that the green investment strategy will boost the national economy, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. “At the same time, we will ensure that we ‘meet the targets’ that are in the National Energy Transition Plan and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030),” he told reporters in conjunction with the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation sharing forum here today. He was replying to media questions regarding matters discussed during the monthly meeting of the National Investment Council (NIC) chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today. Tengku Zafrul said the focus of the green investment strategy is to make Malaysia the first green investment destination in the region. “One of the things discussed during the NIC meeting is that we will continue the green investment strategy for our country. “We will focus on some sector which have great potentials,” he added. — BERNAMA