Ant International Launches Sustainability Framework in First Independent Report

Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments and financial technology solutions, has released its first independent Sustainability Report, marking a major milestone in the company’s evolution following its reorganisation from Ant Group.

The report debuts a new Sustainability Framework that aligns with Ant International’s renewed mission: to make it easy to do business anywhere by bringing small and beautiful changes to the world. The company’s vision is to become the most innovative and trusted digital partner, advancing inclusive growth for all.

2024: A Year of Transformation

Now headquartered in Singapore, Ant International operates across more than 30 global offices. Its services connect over 100 million merchants to global consumers via four core business units:

• Alipay+: Global e-wallet gateway
• Antom: Merchant payment services
• WorldFirst: Cross-border business account solutions
• Bettr: Embedded finance offerings, including credit and treasury tools

As global economic uncertainty, fragmentation, and digital inequality intensify, Ant International’s leadership called on the broader tech community to take concrete action.

“Innovation must work for the many, not the few,” said Eric Jing, Chairman of Ant International, in the report’s opening message. “This is a pivotal moment for technology companies to deepen—not dilute—their social commitment.”

6T Sustainability Framework: Connecting Business and Social Value

At the core of Ant International’s new strategy is its 6T Sustainability Framework, designed to integrate purpose and performance across six strategic areas:

• Travel: Enabling seamless global payments for international travellers
• Trade: Empowering small businesses in global commerce
• Thrive: Supporting underserved communities with inclusive financial tools
• Technology: Using innovation to scale impact
• Talent: Developing digital skills in emerging markets
• Trust: Building a resilient, transparent digital ecosystem

Travel & Trade: Global Payments Driving SME Growth

Alipay+ now connects over 1.7 billion user accounts through 36 e-wallet partners and six national QR code schemes. Over 90% of participating merchants are SMEs, reflecting the platform’s deep commitment to local economies.

Meanwhile, WorldFirst enabled 1.2 million SMEs to sell into more than 200 global markets, processing $100 billion in transactions across 100+ currencies in 2024 alone.

In digital commerce, AI-powered tools like Antom Copilot reduced payment integration time by 90%, streamlining access to global payment infrastructure for small businesses.

Beyond Payments: Tech for SME Resilience and Financial Inclusion

Ant International’s Wallet Tech has accelerated digital economies for 31 partners across 23 markets. Its AI-driven tools are now central to scaling secure, sustainable growth in the embedded finance space.

Highlights include:

• Falcon, a Time-Series Transformer (TST) FX model, with 90%+ hourly prediction accuracy for cross-border liquidity needs
• ANEXT Bank and Ant Bank (Hong Kong), which provided inclusive lending and financial services to over 15 million users in emerging markets—mostly small business owners

Trust and Talent: Foundations for Sustainable Scale

Ant International is advancing a secure and inclusive digital future by collaborating with over 1,000 financial institutions, global regulators, and international organisations.

Its Trust initiatives include:

• A comprehensive compliance framework
• Deployment of AI-security capabilities such as anti-deepfake solutions
• Community knowledge sharing to combat digital risks

The company also invests heavily in digital literacy. Through the 10×1000 Tech for Inclusion Programme, now in its seventh year, more than 7,100 professionals across 110 countries have received training in fintech and digital innovation.

Global Endorsement and Collaboration

The soft launch of the Sustainability Report was held at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich in May 2025, where Ant International received broad support from global regulators and development experts.

• Mr. Sing Chiong Leong, Deputy Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), delivered opening remarks
• Ms. Nan Li Collins, Chair of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, praised Ant International’s SME-driven model as key to closing the infrastructure and inclusion gap in developing markets

“Sustainability must be inclusive to be effective,” said Chen Leiming, Chief Sustainability Officer. “By integrating sustainability into how we innovate, operate, and grow, we ensure that every business outcome is also a step toward long-term societal progress.”

A New Chapter of Sustainable, Inclusive Growth

Through its 6T Framework and global partnerships, Ant International is redefining what it means to be a tech-enabled sustainability leader. Its first report signals not only transparency, but also a deep commitment to turning fintech into a vehicle for meaningful change—especially for the world’s most underserved small businesses.

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