“
Financial inclusion is not charity. It is the largest commercial opportunity in Southeast Asia. Two hundred million people with smartphones and no bank account — that is a market.
“
Every government in the region told us no at some point. We did not fight governments — we partnered with them. That is the only way to build in this region.
“
Uber said no. That was the best thing that ever happened to Grab. We had to build it ourselves, which meant we built it right for Southeast Asia.
“
Southeast Asia is not one market. It is eight different markets that speak fifty languages and have ten different regulatory environments. The company that figures this out wins everything.