Da Nang named Vietnam's Smart City of 2025
The central city earning top scores in three categories: smart governance, innovation and start-up attractiveness, and green environment.
Central Da Nang city was named Vietnam’s Smart City of 2025 at a ceremony held on December 23 by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), marking the sixth consecutive year the city has received the prestigious title.
Sri Lanka gets US$50 Mn World Bank push for digital government
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$50 million project to support Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
The project will promote innovation and investment in Sri Lanka’s digital sector, modernise government services, and make them easier to access and more responsive to the needs of people and businesses, the World Bank Group said in a statement.
JO: King Hussein Business Park signs agreement with SmartServe to launch AI chatbot service
Now available through the official website
King Hussein Business Park (KHBP) has announced the launch of an AI chatbot service, as part of its ongoing digital transformation and smart city strategy. Now available through the official website, the service was developed in partnership with SmartServe, following the signing of an agreement between the two parties.
The AI chatbot serves as an upgrade that complements the AI Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service launched earlier this year with SmartServe’s support. Together, these solutions reflect KHBP’s commitment to enhancing its communication channels and improving the overall service experience. This initiative enables businesses and investors to access information and services more efficiently, providing immediate, accurate, and smart responses around the clock, while supporting higher operational efficiency and quality.
Madagascar launches several tenders to advance PRODIGY digital government project
Madagascar has launched a number of tenders for the supply of different items and services within the framework of the Digital Governance and Identification Management System Project (PRODIGY) which the government has been implementing.
According to a listing from the Digital Governance Unit which is the government body overseeing the country’s digital transformation project, at least five tenders are currently open. One of them calls for supplies needed for biometric enrollment operations. The deadline for submission of bids for the tender is January 15, 2026. Details of the bidding requirements for all five tenders can be consulted here.
The role of AI and 5G in powering Malaysia's autonomous buses
As autonomous vehicles (AVs) pick up steam overseas with players like Waymo, Uber and Baidu deploying their fleets on public roads, Malaysians have already had the chance to ride aboard driverless electric buses being tested back home.
Some might even describe Malaysia as being ahead of the curve, due in part to local start-up eMooVit Technology – the autonomous driving company behind last year’s public AV bus trials in Putrajaya.