Security Bank joins DTI, regional partners to strengthen cross-border startup collaboration

Image Courtesy: Insider PH. Palida Artispong, acting managing director, Krungsri Finnovate Co. Ltd.; John Cary L. Ong, EVP and wholesale banking segment head, Security Bank; Hirofumi Umeno, board director, EVP and alliance segment head, Security Bank; 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.
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“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.