OpenAI has announced the expansion of its affordable ChatGPT Go plan to 16 new countries across Asia, marking another major step in its mission to make artificial intelligence tools accessible to a broader global audience.

The rollout extends availability to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.

According to OpenAI, users in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan can now pay for their subscriptions using local currencies, while others will pay roughly $5 USD per month, subject to local tax adjustments.

Expanding Access to AI in Emerging Markets

The ChatGPT Go plan is designed to bring powerful AI capabilities to users who may not be able to afford premium tiers. The plan includes upgrades such as:

• Higher daily message limits

• Enhanced image generation and file upload features

• Twice the memory of the free version for more personalized interactions

By offering an affordable entry point, OpenAI aims to bridge the accessibility gap and foster AI adoption across emerging economies in Asia.

How ChatGPT Go Began

OpenAI first introduced ChatGPT Go in August 2025, debuting in India at a subscription price of ₹399 per month—its most affordable plan to date. The choice of India as the launch market reflected the country’s rapid embrace of AI technologies and its mature mobile payment ecosystem.

The plan’s success was immediate, with a surge in subscriptions driven by users in education, small businesses, and content creation. Encouraged by this momentum, OpenAI expanded the plan to Indonesia in September 2025, citing the nation’s fast-growing digital economy and increasing reliance on AI tools.

In both India and Indonesia, ChatGPT Go provided users with extended message limits, image generation tools, and greater memory capacity, previously reserved for higher-tier subscribers.

Southeast Asia’s User Base Quadruples

OpenAI revealed that its user base in Southeast Asia has grown fourfold over the past few months. The company attributes this surge to higher smartphone penetration, improved internet access, and growing digital literacy across developing Asian nations.

According to OpenAI, weekly active users in the region now make up one of the platform’s fastest-growing demographics globally. The company also hinted at future expansions to other emerging markets as it scales infrastructure and payment support.

Competing in the Global AI Subscription Market

OpenAI’s expansion comes amid intensifying competition in the global AI landscape. Tech rival Google recently launched its Google AI Plus subscription in Indonesia, expanding it to over 40 countries since September.

Google’s plan grants subscribers access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company’s most advanced AI model, along with creative tools for image and video generation, including Flow (for design), Whisk (for image remixing), and Veo 3 Fast (for video creation). It also offers 200GB of cloud storage, appealing to creators and professionals who seek integrated AI productivity tools.

OpenAI’s Growing Ecosystem and Developer Base

Despite competition, OpenAI continues to expand its influence. CEO Sam Altman recently disclosed that ChatGPT now serves over 800 million weekly active users, up from 700 million in August.

The company also boasts a community of over 4 million developers building on its API, with more than 6 billion tokens processed per minute through the platform. This growth underscores ChatGPT’s increasing importance across industries, from education and design to enterprise productivity and software development.

Challenges Behind the Growth

While OpenAI’s global footprint continues to grow, the company faces the financial strain of scaling its AI infrastructure. Reports indicate that OpenAI recorded a $7.8 billion operating loss in the first half of 2025 as it ramped up investment in computing capacity and AI model training.

Nonetheless, the company remains focused on its long-term goal of profitability through subscription plans, API usage, and enterprise partnerships.

What This Means for AI Access in Asia

The rollout of ChatGPT Go across 16 new Asian countries is more than just a pricing strategy — it’s a signal of OpenAI’s intent to democratize access to advanced AI tools.

By localizing payment options and offering affordable entry tiers, OpenAI is positioning itself as a key driver of AI inclusion in regions that have historically been underserved by global tech innovations.

For millions of students, entrepreneurs, and professionals across Asia, ChatGPT Go could become their first step into the world of generative AI — enabling creativity, productivity, and innovation at a fraction of traditional costs.

As OpenAI continues to expand its presence, the AI adoption curve across emerging markets is set to accelerate — reshaping how technology, education, and business evolve across the continent.

The Nigerian Exchange continued its bullish momentum on October 9, 2025, as the All-Share Index (ASI) climbed 485.2 points to close at 146,204.3. This marks a 0.33% gain from the previous session’s 145,719.1 and solidifies an impressive year-to-date return of 42.05%. Despite a slowdown in overall market activity, investor sentiment remained positive, driven largely by heavyweight stocks, particularly Dangote Cement.

Market capitalization mirrored the index’s rise, closing at approximately ₦92.79 trillion across 24,691 deals. The achievement reaffirms the market’s resilience and continued investor confidence, especially in large-cap equities that have underpinned the rally through most of the year.

However, trading momentum moderated compared to the previous session. Total volume traded stood at 346.9 million shares, declining from 525.6 million. While lower turnover may signal cautious repositioning by investors, value-driven trades remained substantial, with institutional interest heavily concentrated in a few blue-chip stocks.

Dangote Cement Dominates in Value

Dangote Cement emerged as the most influential stock of the session, not only contributing to market stability but also leading the value chart with transactions worth ₦11 billion. The company’s stock appreciated by 1.89%, reinforcing its status as a bellwether equity. Dangote Cement’s strong participation was instrumental in lifting the broader market, particularly the industrial goods sector, which has been pivotal to recent index gains.

Other high-value tickers, including Nestlé Nigeria and MTN Nigeria, followed with ₦5.09 billion and ₦4.93 billion respectively in trade value. Aradel Holdings recorded ₦1 billion, while Fidelity Bank closed the top value list with ₦861.5 million.

Top Gainers and Losers

The session produced notable price movements, with significant advances among mid-cap stocks. EUNISELL and Caverton topped the gainers’ chart, each hitting the maximum allowable daily increase of 10%. EUNISELL closed at ₦44.00, while Caverton ended at ₦6.93. Other strong performers included SUNU Assurance (+9.90% to ₦5.77), International Medical Group (IMG) (+9.10% to ₦35.95), and Mecure Industries (+8.81% to ₦28.40).

On the losing end, FTN Cocoa Processors declined by 6.67% to ₦5.60, emerging as the day’s highest laggard. Tantalizer fell 3.35% to ₦2.31, followed by Fidelity Bank (-2.38% to ₦20.50), PZ Cussons (-2.18% to ₦38.15), and Veritas Kapital (-1.90% to ₦2.06). The downward pressure on these stocks underscored pockets of profit-taking, even as the broader market advanced.

Most Active Stocks by Volume

Fidelity Bank led activity by volume, exchanging 42 million shares. It was followed closely by Dangote Cement with 20.9 million shares, reflecting strong institutional interest. Sterling Financial Holdings moved 19.8 million shares, while Jaiz Bank and Chams Holdings completed the top five with 19.4 million and 17.6 million shares respectively.

The presence of both banking and industrial giants on the activity charts illustrated the mixed-sector participation driving current market performance.

Performance of SWOOTs and Tier-One Banks

Stocks Worth Over One Trillion Naira (SWOOTs)—major blue-chip companies with substantial market capitalization—had a mixed outing. International Breweries gained 2.19%, continuing its recent turnaround. Dangote Cement added 1.89%, Nigerian Breweries rose 1.10%, Stanbic IBTC advanced 0.93%, Lafarge Africa climbed 0.70%, and MTN Nigeria managed a marginal increase of 0.02%. In contrast, BUA Cement slipped 0.63%, lagging behind its sector peers.

In the banking sector, tier-one lenders, commonly referred to as FUGAZ (Fidelity, UBA, GTCO, AccessCorp, Zenith), showed mostly positive sentiment. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) advanced 1.06%, First Bank Holding Company (FirstHoldCo) gained 0.32%, and Zenith Bank added 0.29%. Access Holdings (AccessCorp) declined 0.76%, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) dipped 0.35%. The mixed performance reflects selective buying within the sector, influenced by dividend positioning and expectations for upcoming earnings releases.

Market Outlook

The Nigerian All-Share Index has firmly re-established its bullish trajectory, surpassing the 145,000 and 146,000 thresholds in quick succession. Sentiment remains buoyed by strong performances in high-cap stocks, ongoing corporate earnings releases, and sustained macroeconomic optimism.

Analysts suggest that the resilience of industrials and consumer goods, alongside renewed interest in the banking sector, could further support the rally. However, the decline in trading volume signals that investors may be adopting a more strategic approach, anticipating periods of consolidation after consecutive gains.

In the near term, attention will be focused on upcoming third-quarter financial reports, central bank policy cues, and global commodity price trends—all key variables with potential influence on market direction.

Institutional investors are expected to remain active, particularly in fundamentally strong equities. Retail participation may continue to fluctuate, influenced by short-term price swings and profit-taking opportunities.

Conclusion

October 9, 2025’s trading session reinforced the Nigerian market’s upward momentum, with gains led by major industrials such as Dangote Cement. The index’s 42.05% year-to-date growth highlights growing investor confidence and renewed capital market vibrancy. While moderate trading volumes indicate caution, strong value trades suggest that long-term investors remain engaged.

The balance between profit-taking and accumulation will likely define upcoming sessions. If current sentiment endures, the ASI may soon test new historic levels, supported by blue-chip stability, sector rotation, and macroeconomic improvements.

As earnings season approaches, market participants are poised for further equity revaluation, particularly in companies demonstrating solid financial performance and sustainable dividend potential.

At the ongoing 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, the Coca-Cola System showcased its commitment to sustainable industrial practices by sponsoring an impactful session on circular economy solutions. The event, titled “Driving Industrialisation through Circular PET Packaging: Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy,” gathered leading policymakers, government officials, and industry experts to discuss the transformative potential of circular packaging in advancing Nigeria’s environmental and industrial goals.

The session, sponsored by Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Beverage Company (CCHBC), highlighted the critical role of circular economy principles in driving Nigeria’s green economy. Key speakers at the event included senior figures from government and industry, such as Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment; Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi, the Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in Kano State; and a panel of distinguished thought leaders.

Senator Enoh Applauds Coca-Cola’s Leadership in Recycling Initiatives

During the keynote address, Senator John Owan Enoh praised the Coca-Cola System’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices, particularly in the area of packaging recovery and recycling. He emphasized that initiatives like Coca-Cola’s nationwide recycling efforts were pivotal to advancing a circular economy in Nigeria. Enoh also commended the company’s role in creating new industrial opportunities while protecting the environment.

“In January of this year, I visited the Nigerian Bottling Company’s packaging waste collection hub in Apapa,” Senator Enoh remarked. “The efforts undertaken there, along with the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation, are concrete examples of how the private sector can align with government policies to foster both sustainability and industrial growth. Coca-Cola’s work is a shining example of what can be achieved when innovation meets responsibility.”

The Minister also noted that the government was working diligently to create an enabling environment for the recycling and green manufacturing sectors. He pointed out that the traditional “produce, consume, discard” industrial model was outdated and that circular economy solutions could turn what was once considered waste into valuable economic opportunities. This, he argued, would drive the creation of new industries and significantly contribute to Nigeria’s green economic transition.

Panel Discussion Explores Circular PET Packaging and Industrial Growth

Following the keynote address, the session moved into a fireside chat, where the Minister was joined by other experts in a panel discussion. Notable participants included Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi, Commissioner at the Ministry for Commerce & Investment, Kano State; Engr. (Dr.) Bahijjahtu Abubakar, Director of the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry of Environment; and several other senior officials.

The discussion focused on the growing role of sustainable packaging solutions in Nigeria’s industrialization process, with a special focus on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging. PET, often used in beverage containers, is recyclable and can be part of a circular economy model, where used materials are returned to the production cycle rather than being discarded. The panel also explored how circularity could create jobs, reduce environmental impact, and boost the local economy.

The Coca-Cola System’s role in the circular economy was particularly emphasized, with the company showcasing its network of collection hubs across Nigeria. Through these hubs, Coca-Cola is working to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can it sells, thus fostering a more sustainable production cycle.

Collaboration for Sustainable Growth

The Coca-Cola System’s commitment to advancing circularity in Nigeria is part of its broader global sustainability goals. The company continues to build partnerships with local communities, governmental bodies, and other industry stakeholders to promote recycling and circular economy initiatives across the country.

In her remarks, Amaka Onyemelukwe, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria, emphasized the company’s strategy to engage with communities at the grassroots level. Through various recycling programs, educational campaigns, and collaborations with environmental organizations, Coca-Cola is ensuring that sustainability is woven into the fabric of Nigerian society.

“The circular economy is about more than just environmental impact; it’s about creating a new, sustainable industrial ecosystem that benefits everyone. We believe that by working together with governments, industry, and communities, we can build a future where waste is minimized, and valuable resources are reused and recycled,” Onyemelukwe said.

Shaping the Future of Nigeria’s Green Economy

The session at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit exemplifies the growing interest in circular economy solutions as key drivers of sustainable industrial growth. With increasing emphasis on green manufacturing practices, Nigeria has the potential to become a regional leader in sustainable economic development. By adopting circularity in packaging, the country can create new jobs, reduce waste, and foster a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

In closing, NBC’s Soromidayo George, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between the public and private sectors. “Sustainability and industrial growth must go hand in hand. By integrating circular economy principles into our production and consumption systems, we can unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s green economy.”

The 31st Nigerian Economic Summit continues to serve as a critical platform for dialogue between key stakeholders working to transform Nigeria’s industrial and economic landscape for a greener, more sustainable future.