(From left) Palida Artispong, Acting Managing Director,
Krungsri Finnovate Co., Ltd.; John Cary L. Ong, Executive Vice President and
Wholesale Banking Segment Head, Security Bank Corporation; Hirofumi Umeno, Board Director, Executive
Vice President and Alliance Segment Head, Security Bank Corporation; Nylah
Rizza Bautista, Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head, Department of Trade
and Industry-Competitiveness and Innovation Group; Bunsei Okubo, First Executive
Vice President and Japanese Corporate Banking Head, Bank of Ayudhya Public Co.,
Ltd.; Masami Yoshitake, Managing Director and Country Head – Philippines, MUFG
Bank Ltd.; and Atsushi Ishihara, Deputy CEO, MUFG Innovation Partners Co., Ltd.,
at the MOU signing held at Security Bank Centre in Makati City
Security Bank Corporation, together with Bank of Ayudhya Public
Company Limited (Krungsri), MUFG Bank Ltd., MUFG Innovation Partners Co., Ltd.
(MUIP), Krungsri Finnovate Company Limited (KFIN), and the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to
strengthen inbound and outbound startup collaboration and advance innovation
across the region.
“At Security Bank, this commitment reflects our BetterBanking promise—to create value, deliver meaningful experiences, and open doors for businesses to thrive,” said Hirofumi Umeno, Director, Executive Vice President and Alliance Segment Head. “Our shared goal is to turn collaboration into real outcomes that strengthen industries and fuel long-term growth across the Asia and globally.”
The partnership brings together each
organization’s strengths—Security Bank’s deep ties with Philippine corporates,
MUFG’s extensive corporate network in Japan, the Philippines and across the
region, Krungsri’s presence
in Thailand, experience in regional business‑matching
platforms, MUIP and KFIN’s reach across regional and global startup ecosystems,
and DTI’s mandate to promote Philippine startup growth and international
participation.
“This collaboration advances Startup
Pilipinas, the Innovative Startup Act, and the Tatak Pinoy Strategy as we build
an innovation‑driven economy that empowers MSMEs and boosts global
competitiveness,” said Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista. “We will
support market access, startup exchanges, accelerator programs, and business
matching while strengthening our AI and Startup Center as a regional innovation
hub.”
Driving cross-border business matching
Under the MOU, the partners will
collaborate to promote startups internationally, support exchange programs and
trade missions, and participate in DTI-led innovation events. Philippine
corporates and startups will also be invited to join Krungsri’s annual Japan-ASEAN
Startup Business Matching Fair in Bangkok in June—an established regional
platform focused on driving synergy between startups and large corporates.
"Krungsri Bank has been playing an
important role on encouraging ASEAN regional expansion. We have launched
‘Krungsri ASEAN LINK’, a business advisory service that facilitates our
customer’s expansion into ASEAN markets," said Bunsei Okubo, First
Executive Vice President and Head of Japanese Corporate Banking, Bank of
Ayudhya PCL. "We will be hosting the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business
Matching Fair again for the 4th year. The event will create opportunities for
Filipino Startups to connect with leading corporates from over 10
countries."
“Backed by MUFG’s ASEAN network and
USD20 billion investment commitment, this collaboration advances
innovation and strengthens the Philippines’ role in the regional startup
ecosystem. We remain optimistic about the long-term potential of the Philippines
and Thailand as we continue connecting both to global capital, talent, and
technology,” said Masami Yoshitake, Managing Director, Country Head-Philippines
at MUFG Bank.
“This MOU with DTI and our partners marks a
key step in our regional strategy, advancing investment readiness, two‑way
market expansion, and deep‑tier knowledge exchange to accelerate the growth of
Philippine and regional startups,” said Palida Artispong, Acting Managing Director at Krungsri Finnovate.
The collaboration will also help map
Philippine startup activity, identify opportunities for partnership with corporates,
and support innovation in high-growth sectors.
“With the Philippines’ young,
digital-native population, English as an official language, and strong global
connections, this market is well-positioned to contribute significantly to
digital transformation in the region. We believe these strengths will enable
startups here to scale internationally and create impactful solutions for the
future,” said Atsushi Ishihara, Deputy CEO of MUFG Innovation Partners.
“This partnership creates real value by
connecting startups with corporates for pilots, partnerships, and
investments—helping ideas scale and businesses stay competitive,” John Cary
Ong, Executive Vice President and Wholesale Banking Segment Head at Security
Bank added. “The MOU provides a practical framework for cross‑border exposure, trade missions, and structured business matching,
while upholding good governance and institutional independence.”
Learn more about Security Bank’s BetterBanking promise by visiting www.securitybank.com or following Security Bank on its official social media channels.
About Security Bank
Established in 1951, Security Bank is one of the
Philippines' leading universal banks and is publicly listed with the Philippine
Stock Exchange (PSE:SECB) in 1995. The Bank's core businesses are retail,
corporate, commercial, and business (MSME) banking, offering a wide range of
services including lending, leasing, foreign exchange, stock brokerage,
investment banking, and asset management.
Security Bank differentiates itself from other
banks as a strong, domestic, independent bank that delivers a superior customer
experience in line with its brand promise of BetterBanking. This is based on a
deep understanding of customer needs, providing solutions in a professional,
hassle-free, personalized, and timely manner. The Bank's strategic alliance
with MUFG Bank, Ltd., Japan’s largest bank, provides its customers with access
to a broad global network.
The Bank has been recognized by international and
local organizations for its constant product innovation, market leadership, and
best-in-class management practices.
Security Corporation is regulated by the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas www.bsp.gov.ph
For more information,
visit www.securitybank.com.
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