"Technology alone doesn't drive safety outcomes, preparation does," said Alain Samaha, CEO of Teletrac Navman. "Monitoring technology is most successful when it balances fleet goals and driver needs, and that starts with strong onboarding. Organizations that prioritize the people element see the real payoff: safer drivers, fewer claims, and a workforce that sticks around."

Concern over privacy

Unclear data-use policies make surveillance the top concern for almost half (45%) of drivers surveyed. Almost a third (30%) said that clear evidence demonstrating that technology is used to protect them, not just watch them, would actively encourage them to stay with their current employer. This mistrust persists after rollout when rules remain vague, leaving drivers supportive of safety improvements but fearful of unfair enforcement.

"If an operator finds itself in a difficult position with its drivers, providing visibility of personal data is essential to rebuilding trust," continued Samaha. "Drivers are not anti-technology, but they will be skeptical without transparency around data processing and management, and how it will affect them."

Driver confidence improves significantly when they have clear data visibility: 47% state that the ability to view their own data easily would build their trust, while 43% emphasize the importance of fair and consistent use of data across all drivers. Driver apps are a highly practical access route for this, with 60% of drivers highlighting apps as their preferred option. Always-on visibility reassures drivers about what is being captured, while clear rules of engagement explain why data points matter and how they will inform constructive conversations with managers.

Rewarding good driving

According to the report findings, recognition remains a primary retention motivator, with 37% citing it as a factor for staying with an employer. However, a significant gap exists. While 99% of drivers receive feedback, only 51% report getting positive recognition, while 32% experience disciplinary action.

Proactive feedback, such as scorecards and performance breakdowns, improves driving quality and workplace pride for 52% of drivers, more than double the impact of financial bonuses (21%). Over half of drivers (56%) who receive real-time in-cab coaching rarely experience a near miss, compared with 47% of those without real-time alerts in place. That difference – almost 1 in 5 are less likely to experience a near-miss – highlights the benefit of not just reviewing video clips days after an event but helping drivers correct risky behaviors in the moment before they escalate, supporting a reduction in claims.

Accidents take a personal toll

Accidents and collisions can affect a driver's confidence as well as a business's bottom line. More than a third (38%) of drivers suffer increased stress or anxiety after a negative event, and 17% report a reduction in confidence. This is particularly important given that 25% of respondents were concerned a negative event could lead to the loss of their license, while 20% feared formal disciplinary action, and 17% were concerned about financial penalties.

"Drivers returning to the cab with eroded confidence, or second-guessing decisions due to feeling more anxious, may face a higher risk of future incidents," added Samaha. "Choosing the right safety system with real-time capabilities, and building trust in it, is therefore imperative for driver wellbeing as well as operational performance."

For more information visit www.teletracnavman.com.

Beyond developing AI independently for individual use cases, Yiren Digital has built a common enterprise AI framework that standardizes models, agents, workflows and governance. This approach fosters modularity, resource sharing and model reusability, shortening development cycles and creating a scalable operating model capable of supporting long-term expansion into additional AI-enabled verticals. As a result, AI capabilities developed for one business function can be adapted to additional businesses without rebuilding core models, workflows or governance, reducing implementation time while improving consistency across the organization.

Deploying technology into production across the Company's credit and insurance businesses has enabled Yiren Digital to develop, validate and standardize enterprise AI capabilities before expanding them across the broader organization. These deployments demonstrate how AI can evolve from solving isolated business problems to becoming an integrated enterprise capability.

"Our architecture prioritizes module and model reusability – every fraud detection model, validation framework, and decision layer is built as a composable component. This means our partners aren't adopting a rigid black box; they are gaining access to modular intelligence they can integrate, adapt and combine with their own systems," said Mr. Ning Tang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yiren Digital. "As the AI agent ecosystem matures, our fraud detection capabilities can be seamlessly integrated into autonomous workflows. Ultimately, we are building the technology for autonomous financial system."

Recent production deployments across customer operations, capital operations, marketing, risk management and asset recovery demonstrate that AI capabilities developed within one function can be successfully standardized and deployed across additional enterprise workflows. These deployments provide real-world validation of the Company's shared enterprise AI operating model.

Yiren Digital's enterprise AI architecture combines proprietary large language models, multi-agent infrastructure, workflow execution and centralized governance into a shared enterprise framework supporting customer operations, marketing, capital operations, risk management, compliance and research and development.

Key components include the Zhiyu and Yizhi large language models, the MagiCube 2.0 multi-agent platform, the XuanJi workflow execution engine and the ZhiNao orchestration layer. Together, these technologies provide standardized AI capabilities that can be deployed consistently across multiple business functions while maintaining governance and operational control.

Credit and insurance have served as Yiren Digital's initial production environments for developing enterprise AI capabilities. As these capabilities become standardized, the Company expects future AI deployments to require less incremental development while benefiting from shared governance, workflows and operating knowledge.

Yiren Digital plans to continue expanding enterprise AI across its existing businesses while selectively extending standardized capabilities into additional AI application-layer opportunities. By establishing a repeatable enterprise AI operating model, the Company is creating a scalable foundation that supports faster innovation, stronger operating leverage and long-term multi-industry growth.

PlySight is included for all EagleAi customers at no additional cost. OSHIMA will demonstrate it at Preview in SEOUL 2026 (COEX Seoul, August 19 to 21, Booth A-313).

EagleAi is OSHIMA's AI fabric inspection machine. During inspection it automatically detects, classifies and records every defect.

EagleAi creates a digital defect twin of every roll it inspects: a roll-level record of each defect's type, dimensions and physical position. PlySight places those defects on the correct layer of a planned lay, shows splice points and layer coverage, warns when the selected rolls cannot complete the lay, and lets planners test another roll plan before committing fabric.

Each twin stays with its roll on the Smart Factory Platform as a documented quality history.

Four steps: upload the marker file, set lay length and ply count, select and sequence inspected rolls, and preview every layer and its affected pieces.

The result: fewer rejected pieces, less re-cutting and re-spreading, less replacement fabric, and cleanest rolls reserved for demanding styles. Less replacement fabric also means less water, energy and chemical use, and less textile waste.

OSHIMA builds the inspection machine, the platform, and its spreading, cutting, projection and labeling equipment in-house. EagleAi creates the roll-level intelligence. PlySight turns it into production planning. OSHIMA cutting-room equipment carries it into execution.

Know what a defect will affect before fabric is spread.

"An inspection report tells a factory where a defect exists. PlySight shows how that defect may affect the actual production plan," said Florian Finke, CEO of OSHIMA. "Manufacturers can act before fabric is spread, cut or unnecessarily replaced."

More information: https://www.oshima.com.tw.

Speaking at the meeting as the President of the IAACA, Mr Woo said, "With the common mission of standing united against corruption, the IAACA and the ASEAN-PAC have grown together, learnt together, and stood together on the front line against corruption." He anticipated the powerful regional cluster built by the IAACA and the ASEAN-PAC would add a robust driving force in the region to tackle corruption challenges that were increasingly cross-border, digital, complex and secretive in nature.

Following the meeting, Mr Woo also attended the seminar on integrity in major-infrastructure projects co-hosted by the ICAC, the ASEAN-PAC, the IAACA and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "Infrastructure is like the backbone of a country, carrying roads, power, water and public services. Corruption in major infrastructure projects not only brings financial loss, but also undermines institutional credibility and public confidence. This seminar helps prevent corruption in infrastructure projects by enhancing experience sharing and fostering closer partnerships with anti-corruption agencies worldwide," Mr Woo noted.

During the seminar, Assistant Director of Operations Department Mr Wong Wai-kit shed light on the corruption risks in major-infrastructure projects and expounded on the experience and investigative approaches of the ICAC. Senior Government Counsel from the Department of Justice of Hong Kong, Mr Jeff Chan Ka-hin, took the opportunity to share the significance of mutual legal assistance and informal co-operation in fighting cross-border corruption crimes and in asset recovery initiatives.

The meeting and seminar received an overwhelming response, with participation from over 100 graft fighters, law enforcers, government officials and academics from 11 ASEAN member states – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam – as well as representatives of international organisations.

During the stay in Malaysia, the ICAC delegation held respective meetings with the Chief Commissioner of the MACC, Dato' Sri Abd Halim Bin Aman, and senior officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Brunei Darussalam, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Timor-Leste, to exchange views on anti-graft issues of mutual interest. The delegation also called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia, Mr Ouyang Yujing, to share the latest anti-corruption work of the ICAC.

World Gym has grown from the golden era of bodybuilding at Muscle Beach into one of the world's most recognized fitness names, today operating nearly 300 clubs across six continents and serving more than one million members worldwide. From an early training ground for icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno in the 1970s, World Gym is today publicly listed in Taiwan (2762.TWSE) where it operates 140+ locations, making it the company's largest market. For Thailand's rapidly growing fitness sector, the brand's arrival brings an established international operator and a 50-year brand legacy to local members for the first time.

World Gym enters Thailand with a clear promise: premium, world-class fitness made genuinely accessible. Its first Thai club combines internationally benchmarked facilities and equipment from partners including Matrix and Abs Company with advanced technology such as AI Posture Diagnostics, a three-minute assessment providing personalized insights into posture, balance and flexibility, and the MYZONE Switch wearable for effort-based training. This members-first approach is designed to make high-quality fitness part of everyday life.

The brand will further expand its international training offering in Thailand through its partnership with HYROX. Already HYROX's largest partner in the Asia-Pacific region, with the collaboration spanning the brand's locations in Taiwan, World Gym plans to also extend the partnership to Thailand later this year.

"Thailand is a strategic next step for World Gym. This market has the energy, ambition and rising fitness culture our brand was built on. Our promise here is simple: we're not just opening a gym, we're making world-class fitness part of everyday life. And we're bringing our 50 years of legacy and the technology that defines the next generation of fitness here to achieve this," says John Caraccio, Chairman, President, World Gym Corporation.

Building on the launch momentum, founding-member registrations are now open, forming the founding World Gym community in Thailand. For more information, visit https://www.worldgym.co.th/en-us/landing-page/samrong.

Highlights:

• High-grade silver continuity confirmed up-dip at Brimstone, moving the system closer to surface with H26D-6169 intersecting 82.7 meters at 87.52 g/t silver and 0.77 g/t gold, including 19.4 meters at 108.19 g/t silver and 2.10g/t gold and an interval of 0.7 meters at 14.35 g/t gold
• Vortex high-grade silver system extended approximately 150 meters to the west, with H26D-6088 intersecting 12.5 meters at 375.41 g/t silver, including 4.2 meters of 748.02 g/t silver
• Potential feeder target below Brimstone advanced by newly confirmed stockwork veining across a wider zone, as follow-up drilling on last year's geophysics survey continues
• These exciting results confirm the continued growth of Brimstone and Vortex and support the Company's strategy of expanding both systems to define the best path for development, including the potential for a high-grade underground silver mine
• Since commencing the Drill Program in August 2025, the Company has completed approximately 15,585 meters of core drilling of an approximately 26,000-meter core drill program

Diane Garrett, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: "Our drilling continues to confirm the size, continuity, and growth potential of the high-grade silver systems at Brimstone and Vortex. At Brimstone, we're expanding high-grade silver mineralization closer to surface while increasing confidence in the potential for a feeder system at depth. At Vortex, we've extended the high-grade zone an additional 150 meters to the west. Together, these results reinforce the case for a high-grade underground mine. With a strong, debt-free balance sheet, our operational focus this year is to determine the optimal path forward for the mine and drive shareholder value."

Brimstone Results

The current dimensions of Brimstone are approximately 300m wide (north to south) and approximately 500m long (east to west down-dip). The system remains open in all directions and at depth. In addition to step-out drilling for expanding the mineralization, the exploration program is also drilling a geophysics anomaly identified in 2025 which indicated a potential feeder system below the known mineralization.

Holes H26D-6085, H26D-6086, H26D-6087, H26D-6169, and H26D-6170 continued to expand the up-dip portion of the Brimstone high-grade system. In particular, hole H26D-6169 confirmed continuity of the high-grade system through the widest section. This hole returned an impressive intercept of 82.7 meters at 87.52 g/t silver and 0.77 g/t gold, including 19.4 meters at 108.19 g/t silver and 2.10 g/t gold and an interval of 0.7 meters grading 14.35 g/t gold. Grades of this nature can potentially be supportive of both an open pit and an underground context providing attractive optionality for mining operations.

Drilling continued below the main high-grade system to test the potential feeder identified by the geophysics survey completed in 2025. Holes H26D-6089 and H26D-6089X stepped out approximately 90 meters down-dip from the initial holes tested in late 2025 and returned alteration and geochemistry consistent with the Brimstone fluid pathway. Hole H26D-6089X intersected an 18-meter zone of stockwork veining, including 1.5 meters at 120.00 g/t silver. These results support the interpretation of a potential feeder system at depth. The signatures are consistent with that interpretation, but drilling remains high in the system and will continue to advance toward the target.

For the remainder of the Program, the Company will drill approximately 7,200 meters of core at Brimstone.

Vortex Results

The strike length at Vortex is currently over a kilometer and is more than 500 meters wide at its widest point. Like Brimstone, Vortex remains open in all directions and at depth. Recent drilling is returning higher grades to the west, southwest and to the north.

Hole H26D-6088 extended high-grade silver mineralization at Vortex approximately 150 meters to the west, returning 12.5 meters at 375.41 g/t silver, including 4.2 meters at 748.02 g/t silver. This hole was an offset to hole H25D-6072 and continues to expand the high-grade silver system consistent with the Company's structural targeting strategy at Vortex.

For the remainder of the Program, the Company is expanding drilling across the breadth of the deposit, targeting the northern, southern and eastern extensions in addition to the western zone, with approximately 3,000 meters of core planned.

www.hycroftmining.com

The proceedings stemmed from a March 2024 patent infringement lawsuit filed by Maxeon concerning three patents related to TOPCon solar cell technology. In Final Written Decisions issued in January 2026, the PTAB ruled in Canadian Solar's favor, finding all Maxeon patent claims asserted against the Company in the federal court litigation invalid. Canadian Solar welcomes the dismissal of the lawsuit and the final resolution of these patent claims. The ruling provides important clarity and reinforces Canadian Solar's claims of non-infringement.

Colin Parkin, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc., said, "We are very pleased with the resolution of these proceedings, which affirms Canadian Solar's continued ability to compete through technology and manufacturing leadership. As one of the world's largest renewable energy companies, Canadian Solar has built a global manufacturing platform and a deep intellectual property portfolio by advancing high-performance solar and energy storage solutions for our global customer base. We respect intellectual property rights and will continue to defend our technology, support our customers, and bring leading innovations to market."

For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com.

As green innovation reshapes the industrial sector, production assets have become the ultimate test of operational compliance, environmental responsibility, and long-term competitiveness.

Resolution No.10-NQ/TW, issued in June, marks a shift in thinking. Vietnam will no longer pursue foreign investment by sheer volume; capital must now carry core technology, contribute to innovation-led growth, and be governed across its full lifecycle. For enterprises, this recalibration is felt most directly in licensing, financing, and supply chain audits.

Equipment that is poorly documented or energy-intensive may deliver short-term output, yet it equally invites operational issues, regulatory rejection, and diminished trust among lenders and global buyers. Enterprises are required to demonstrate not merely the age of their machinery, but its integrity, safety, and efficiency.

Within this broader policy framework, Decision No.29/2023/QD-TTg sets out the dossier, sequence, and procedures for determining whether an investment project uses outdated technology, poses potential environmental pollution risks, or consumes resources inefficiently.

In practice, enterprises seeking project adjustment, extension, or regulatory confirmation must prepare reliable technical evidence to demonstrate the actual status of their machinery and technological lines, rather than relying on self-declaration.

General Secretary and President To Lam directed Congress to fully implement Resolution No.10-NQ/TW. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

Administrative facilitation, however, is not to be mistaken for a compromise on quality. Earlier this year, Vietnam has cut expert review timelines for used machinery imports from 10 working days to five.

From Vinacontrol's perspective as an independent conformity assessment body, this shift establishes a more exacting regulatory balance. Legitimate production moves faster, yet the burden of proof has grown correspondingly heavier, requiring precise and defensible technical evidence to be in place from the very outset.

Amid this tightening regulatory landscape, not every organisation is positioned to guide enterprises through it. Consider a manufacturer in the textile industry, operating in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, that approached Vinacontrol as its project neared the deadline for an extension licence, with no documented proof on hand that its production line still met current technology standards.

Vinacontrol's engineers set to work reconstructing that proof from the ground up. They pored over the enterprise's technical dossier, equipment manuals, engineering drawings, operating parameters, and maintenance logs, before heading to the factory floor to see for themselves how the machinery had actually held up: its wear and depreciation, its year of manufacture, how much energy it consumed, and whether its emissions still sat within environmental limits.

That fieldwork fed directly into a technical assessment plan and a round of formal measurement, and once the findings were weighed against Vietnam's technology classification criteria, they were distilled into an official inspection certificate in the prescribed format, a process that, depending on how large and complex the project is, generally unfolds over 15-30 working days.

Vinacontrol experts conducting on-site inspection. Photo: Vinacontrol

The enterprise, racing against its own deadline, came away with exactly the evidence it needed and secured approval for its project extension.

Had that certification arrived too late, the consequences would have reached well beyond a paperwork delay: production would have been forced to a halt, shipments to international buyers already committed under signed contracts would have slipped, and the enterprise would have been left exposed to cancellation claims and damages.

By its own estimate, timely certification spared the company losses in the region of $1.4 million, a figure that says as much about the stakes of technology assessment as any regulation could.

Vinacontrol says that enterprises with the best odds of winning a licence extension are the ones that start looking inward long before they start filling out forms. That means taking an honest look at the technological line, machinery, and equipment already in operation and measuring it against the criteria for outdated, energy-intensive, or polluting technology.

Where that review turns up equipment carrying real risk, the smart move is to plan its replacement or upgrade well ahead of submission, not scramble to justify it afterwards, the group added.

Vietnam tightens FDI approvals with inspection regulations on outdated technology From 2025, outdated technology is no longer be tolerated in investment projects, compelling foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam to meet higher standards in environmental and technological compliance.

Resolution 10 marks new chapter in Vietnam’s foreign investment strategy Vietnam is overhauling its approach to foreign investment, prioritising quality, innovation and supply-chain integration as the country seeks to strengthen long-term economic growth and competitiveness.

Vietnam must build talent and innovation to attract quality investment Vietnam is seeking to reposition itself as a destination for higher-quality foreign investment. Joel Hassan, lecturer for International Business at RMIT University Vietnam, told VIR that success will depend on building a stronger talent pipeline and improving innovation capacity.

Resolution 10 sets ambitious targets to increase localisation Resolution 10-NQ/TW sets ambitious targets to increase the localisation rate and strengthen domestic supply chains. Prof. Dr Andreas Stoffers, FOM University of Applied Sciences analyses the biggest barriers preventing Vietnam from achieving higher localisation compared to other ASEAN countries.

Finalized on August 18, 2026, the acquisition marks a major step forward in PPL's long-range plan to expand its presence in the biologics sector. With the finalization of this deal, PPL will fully embed the subsidiary's advanced large molecule capabilities into its integrated service offering, enabling the Company to offer customers broader services in the space and expanding its ability to develop and scale complex biologic therapies with greater efficiency. The subsidiary will continue to operate within the structure of Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), the CDMO arm of PPL.

Yapan Bio also directly supports ADCelerate™ — PPS's fixed-price, integrated platform that streamlines Phase I ADC development from R&D to GMP in as little as 12 months. This acquisition further enhances ADCelerate™ and reinforces PPL's ability to deliver life-saving ADCs to market with speed and consistency.

Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal Global Pharma

"This strategic investment doesn't just fuel our long-term growth; it also puts Patient Centricity into action," said Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal Global Pharma. "By integrating Yapan Bio's specialized expertise into our global network, we're empowering our partners to meet a rising global demand for complex biologics and helping patients worldwide secure continued access to the therapies they need."

The new Cloud Region in Malaysia will join Tencent Cloud International's global infrastructure network, which currently spans 66 Availability Zones across 23 regions.

"Malaysia remains a key market in Tencent Cloud's growth strategy across Asia," said Bluefin Jiannan Zhao, Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Managing Director of Tencent Cloud International for Asia Pacific. "The new Cloud Region in Malaysia will serve as a critical node within our global infrastructure, enabling enterprises to scale locally, expand regionally, and accelerate their AI-driven innovation. Through this investment, we aim to deepen our support for Malaysia's digital transformation journey and contribute to the continued growth of its AI ecosystem."

The announcement was made at Tencent Cloud C-Suite Dialogue 2026, where Tencent Cloud convened top business and technology leaders to discuss the development and deployment of AI Agent solutions for enterprise use cases.

Supporting practical enterprise AI adoption

Today, with over 50% of Malaysia enterprises adopting AI[1], considerable opportunities remain to deepen and broaden its use across industries. During the event, Tencent Cloud showcased its latest AI-powered solutions, demonstrating how enterprises can move from AI experimentation to production-ready deployment.

These include Tencent WorkBuddy, an agentic AI workspace solution that turns a single prompt into a ready-to-use deliverable, handling market research, data analysis, project planning, document creation, and more by drawing on over 100 built-in skills.

Also showcased were Tencent Cloud's Agent Development Platform (ADP), which enables enterprises to design, test, and scale custom AI agents for industry-specific use cases with multi-agent collaboration and enterprise-grade security, and TokenHub, a Model-as-a-Service platform that lets enterprises access, manage, and integrate multiple large language models via a single API for greater cost and performance optimization.

Earlier this month, Tencent announced the global availability of Tencent Hy3 (Tencent Hy, formerly known as Tencent Hunyuan), its latest large model which delivers performance comparable to flagship models two to five times its size, while maintaining a practical and cost-efficient profile. Hy3 is available free worldwide through Tencent WorkBuddy until 31 August 2026 (Pacific Time), and can also be accessed via Tencent Cloud TokenHub and Tencent Design Miora, with further integrations planned across Tencent Cloud's AI-native product portfolio.

New collaborations were also announced with Boost and Genting Plantations Group to explore the integration of AI agent solutions with their workflows and service offerings.

This builds on Tencent Cloud's existing partnerships across Malaysia's financial services, telecom, payments, and enterprise sectors. For example, Ryt Bank uses Tencent Cloud Chat to power AI-driven conversational banking for over 1.5 million users, while Aye Solutions and YTL Communications use Tencent Cloud's eKYC solutions for customer verification workflows. Tencent Cloud has also brought its palm-based biometric technology to Malaysia through partners including OpenSys Technologies and SOCOE, and continues to extend its AI capabilities to more enterprises through local ecosystem partners such as Webby Group and Ramssol Group.

"As Malaysian enterprises accelerate their digital transformation, they increasingly want to deploy AI to address real business needs and create measurable value," said Nucky Fang, General Manager of Tencent Cloud International & Tencent Cloud Malaysia. "By combining local cloud infrastructure with Tencent Cloud's AI capabilities and industry expertise, we will be able to work more closely with customers and partners to develop secure, reliable and scalable solutions tailored to their evolving needs."

Developing Malaysia's digital and AI talent pipeline

Tencent Cloud also announced a collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to support AI and cloud talent development, industry certification and innovation programmes aimed at training more than 1,000 digital and AI talents in Malaysia. These include an AI and Cloud Innovation Hackathon, a Train-the-Trainer AI and Cloud Programme and the Tencent Cloud Certification Programme to provide students and educators with practical experience using industry-relevant AI technologies, to prepare them for an increasingly AI-enabled workplace.

"Malaysia's continued progress in AI will depend on our ability to connect academic learning with the skills and tools used by industry," said Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry bin Mohd Rahim, Vice-Chancellor of UTM. "Through this collaboration, we look forward to giving students and educators more opportunities to build practical capabilities in cloud and AI, while contributing to a stronger national talent pipeline."

The collaboration goes beyond introducing students and educators to AI tools. It aims to equip them with the skills to use Tencent's AI Agent solutions, including WorkBuddy and Tencent Design Miora, to create AI-enabled applications and services that address real-world needs and locally relevant scenarios in Malaysia.

Together, the new Malaysia Cloud Region and Tencent Cloud's collaboration with UTM reflect its broader commitment to supporting Malaysia's AI development, from providing the infrastructure enterprises need to deploy AI securely and at scale to developing the talent required to sustain long-term innovation. Tencent Cloud will continue working with customers, partners and academic institutions to translate advances in cloud and AI into practical value for enterprises and communities across Malaysia.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

As a powerhouse of the GBA's innovation economy, Shenzhen offered participants an unfiltered ground-level view of how AI and next-generation technologies are reshaping client expectations and redefining the wealth management industry. Building on the success of last year's inaugural trip, the 2026 program deepens Citi's commitment to investing in young talent at every stage of their careers, broadening perspectives and cultivating the forward-looking mindset required to steer the future of the wealth industry.

During the trip, Citigold Summer Analysts and Citigold Wealth Analysts had the opportunity to connect with senior leaders from Ping An OneConnect, Tencent Cloud andfounders of fintech startups. Moving beyond observation, the Citigold Summer Analysts were integral to the program's dialogue. They moderated a startup panel discussion with fintech founders, exploring themes of entrepreneurship and AI-driven innovation. The day also featured a two-way exchange session with Tencent Cloud interns, where Citigold Summer Analysts shared reflections from their Citi internship experience and discussed practical AI use cases being explored.

Following the visit, the Citigold Summer Analysts gathered for an engaging debrief session to share key takeaways, highlighting the potential of advanced AI capabilities and digital tools to automate workflows and elevate client experiences in their current roles. Reflecting on the trip's highlights, they noted the inspiring real-world impact of technology far beyond finance, extending into healthcare, the arts, and the broader community. Others drew valuable inspiration from the startup panel, which sparked ideas on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and illustrated successful collaboration between agile startups and major financial institutions to accelerate innovation. The debrief concluded with the cohort reflecting on the importance of these learnings in shaping their future careers as they navigate the rapidly evolving wealth management landscape.

Vicky Kong, Head of Wealth for Asia North and Australia, Citi, said, "At Citi, we believe one of the most crucial investments is in the talent who will shape the future of wealth management. Our Citigold Summer Analysts are at the start of their professional journeys, and an experience like this can have a lasting impact. As client expectations continue to evolve, future wealth professionals need to understand how innovation and technology are transforming the way we engage with and serve clients. It was inspiring to see them engage with industry leaders, explore new ideas and consider how technology is reshaping financial services. By fostering this forward-looking mindset, we are ensuring that Citi remains at the forefront of wealth management and continues to deliver unparalleled value to our clients."

Michele Fung, Board Member of the FinTech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK), said, "The Greater Bay Area continues to cement its status as a premier global hub for financial innovation. Cross-border talent cultivation initiatives like Citigold's field trip are absolutely vital to bridging Hong Kong's deep wealth management expertise with Shenzhen's cutting-edge fintech engine. By immersing the next generation of wealth professionals directly in the GBA ecosystem—where real-world applications of agentic AI, digital transformation, and advanced investment tools are rapidly scaling—we are actively building a highly adaptable, future-ready workforce. The FinTech Association of Hong Kong remains deeply committed to strengthening these cross-border industry ties, ensuring our talent is uniquely equipped to spearhead the future of AI-driven wealth management in the region."

The Shenzhen immersion is a flagship component of the broader Citigold Summer Analyst Program. Now in its second consecutive year, the initiative continues to provide curated exposure to market-leading technologies and developments across the Greater Bay Area, preparing the next generation of wealth professionals for an increasingly complex and digitally-driven future.

This year, Citi Hong Kong welcomed a highly competitive cohort of Summer Analysts across its various business lines, attracting top talent from leading universities around the world. The comprehensive 10-week program provides Summer Analysts with hands-on experience, global exposure, deep insights into Citi's overall business and strategy, and the opportunity to be offered a Full-time Analyst role after successful completion of the internship.

Later this month, Citi Hong Kong will host an Open Day for students from global universities, providing a chance to hear from senior business leaders and connect with Citi Analysts while gaining insights into the future of banking and Citi's 2027 Summer Analyst Program.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Photo: Amata

Topping Quang Ninh project focuses on manufacturing and assembly of precision metal components, plastic parts for multifunctional printers and automated teller machines, as well as electronic components for office printers.

Photo: Amata

According to the Investment Registration Certificate, the factory will span over 2.1 hectares with a total investment exceeding $14 million. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to reach an annual capacity surpassing 45 million products, creating jobs for nearly 450 local workers.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nguyen Van Nhan, general director of Amata City Halong, expressed his pleasure and honour that Topping Industrial has trusted and chosen Amata City Halong as its next investment destination in Vietnam.

“Amata will continue to accompany and support Topping Industrial through remaining procedures to ensure the factory quickly comes into stable operation,” he said.

Photo: Amata

This latest project underscores Amata City Halong’s strong appeal to international investors. To date, the industrial park (IP) has secured 25 foreign-invested projects, with a total registered investment exceeding $3.3 billion, focusing on high-tech and environmentally friendly sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, and precision engineering.

This marks a major step forward, reinforcing its position as a modern and sustainable next-generation IP.

Leveraging its strategic location and synchronised infrastructure, Amata City Halong continues to solidify its role as an appealing investment destination in Quang Ninh province, generating thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to propelling local socioeconomic development.

Japanese sensor maker Tamagawa opens factory in Quang Ninh Tamagawa Vietnam, under Japanese sensor manufacturer Tamagawa Seiki, held the grand opening of its $35-million factory in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 21.

Amata to develop $185 million Amata City Phu Tho Amata VN PCL was granted approval for the Amata City Phu Tho venture in Phu Tho province on December 23.

Amata City Ha Long welcomes $15 million undertaking On April 15, Amata City Ha Long and Vietnam Mingfang Automobile Parts Industry signed a sublease agreement at Song Khoai Industrial Park, reinforcing investment momentum in Quang Ninh province in the north of the country.

Amata City Ha Long lands $8 million investment from TianJian Vietnam Amata City Halong, also known as Song Khoai Industrial Park, has signed a land lease agreement with TianJian Vietnam for a new factory manufacturing speaker enclosures, plastic components, and moulds.

Speaking at the opening, Le Hoang Tai, deputy director general of Vietrade, said the United States is one of Vietnam’s most important export markets, with a large consumer base, strong purchasing power, diverse distribution networks and broad demand.

The market is highly competitive and imposes strict requirements on product quality, traceability, labelling, environmental standards, labour practices and intellectual property protection.

Vietnamese companies need to increase the value added of their products, diversify their offerings and expand imports of machinery, technology, materials, products and services from the US, Tai said. “Compliance must be considered a core element of competitiveness,” he said.

Do Ngoc Hung, trade counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said two-way trade reached approximately $132.4 billion in the first six months of 2026, making Vietnam the US’ fifth-largest trading partner and its largest source of trade surplus.

However, trade remains heavily concentrated in the foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs). During the first seven months of 2026, FIEs accounted for more than 80 per cent of Vietnam’s total exports and recorded a trade surplus of nearly $8 billion.

Domestic businesses accounted for about 19.9 per cent of exports and posted a trade deficit of approximately $28.5 billion.

The figures highlight the need to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic companies, increase localisation and value added, and improve their ability to participate in supply chains, Hung said. These measures are also important in addressing risks related to transhipment and origin fraud.

The US has more than 330 million consumers, with personal consumption expenditure estimated at $12.1 trillion, equivalent to roughly 68 per cent of GDP. The country is expected to import about $3.4 trillion worth of goods in 2026.

Significant differences among US states mean Vietnamese companies need to identify specific consumer segments and market niches before entering the market, Hung said.

Photo: Nguyen Huong

According to Hung, opportunities in the US market can translate into sustainable advantages only when businesses can manage regulatory and operational risks.

Vietnamese companies need to closely monitor US trade regulations, including Most-Favoured-Nation treatment, measures under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, Section 232 and the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act.

From July 24, the additional 10 per cent tariff under Section 301 related to forced-labour concerns was removed and replaced by a 12.5 per cent tariff on Vietnamese goods, except for products covered by exemption lists, he said.

For imported inputs, businesses need to maintain documentation and data demonstrating substantive manufacturing processes in Vietnam and comply with product-specific rules of origin.

The Vietnam Trade Office in the US recommended that companies professionalise their English-language documentation, clearly specifying HS codes, certificates, sources of materials, factories, production capacity, minimum order quantities, delivery times and quality-control procedures.

Dinh Dieu Linh, a representative of STSB CPA tax advisory firm, highlighted several challenges facing Vietnamese exporters, including 60-120-day collection cycles, banking and SWIFT costs, USD/VND exchange rate fluctuations, limited US credit histories, state-level sales taxes and differences between Vietnam’s Accounting Standards (VAS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Incorrect or incomplete filing of Form W-8BEN-E could result in US partners withholding 30 per cent of gross payments for remittance to the US Internal Revenue Service, she said.

Companies also face a starting penalty of $25,000 for each late or incomplete Form 5472 filing, with an additional $25,000 imposed every 90 days if the issue is not resolved.

“US tax and accounting should not be treated as year-end administrative procedures. They are part of a company’s risk-management strategy,” Linh said.

She recommended measures including export factoring and purchase-order financing, which can provide advances equivalent to 80-90 per cent of invoice value, as well as foreign-exchange hedging, payment optimisation and appropriate legal-entity and transfer-pricing structures.

Tran Lich, director of VISIA. Photo: Trong Nghia

Tran Lich, director of VISIA and general coordinator of Ready2US – Ready for the US Market, said approximately 85 per cent of surveyed businesses are not yet fully prepared to enter the US market.

The five key challenges identified by the survey were understanding the US market and consumers, cited by 77.3 per cent of respondents; a lack of marketing strategies and sales channels, 76 per cent; legal and compliance requirements, 58.7 per cent; working capital and cash-flow management, 56 per cent; and developing appropriate branding, design and research and development (R&D), 53.3 per cent.

“A good product alone is not enough to enter the US market,” Lich said.

Businesses need a comprehensive roadmap covering market research, legal compliance, go-to-market strategy, R&D, financing, logistics and sales channels.

Early preparation for requirements from agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission and US Department of Agriculture, along with intellectual property protection, can shorten negotiations by three to 12 months and help protect cash flow, he said.

VISIA and Ready2US have developed a 2026 US Market Readiness Checklist to help businesses assess their preparedness before making investments.

Experts at the seminar agreed that Vietnamese companies need to move beyond the mindset of simply having products available for export and focus on building sustainable competitive capabilities.

Long-term success in the US market requires companies to conduct proactive market research, manage finances, demonstrate product origin, control supply chains and comply with US regulations.

The seminar’s policy discussions and business-to-business connections highlighted the importance of greater preparedness, transparency and professionalism as Vietnamese companies seek to expand exports and strengthen their position in the US market.

US retail giant Target eyes Vietnamese suppliers Target, one of the US’ largest retail groups, will make its first appearance at Vietnam International Sourcing 2026, as it looks to expand its network of Vietnamese suppliers across a range of consumer product categories.

US businesses remain committed to Vietnam with measured outlook While business confidence has become more measured compared with the optimistic outlook at the beginning of the year, US companies remain committed to Vietnam.

US introduces new 10 and 12.5 per cent tariffs, replacing temporary 10 per cent levy The United States has introduced new import tariffs of 10 and 12.5 per cent, replacing the temporary 10 per cent tariff that expired at the same time.

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Following the PM’s directive, banks have moved to cut lending rates. Agribank, for example, has launched a $2.8 billion credit package, with lending rates under the programme reduced by 1-2 per cent, per year from the average lending rates for loans of the same maturity.

The programme is available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as businesses and individual businesses operating in priority sectors.

Current deposit rates remains relatively high as banks compete for funding. Photo: baodautu.vn

Vietcombank has launched a $2 billion credit package offering preferential lending rates at least 1 per cent, per year below the average lending rates for loans of the same maturity.

The package is aimed at businesses and individuals engaged in production and business activities in priority areas, including agriculture, rural development, supporting industries, high technology, exports, the digital economy, AI, the semiconductor industry, among others.

VietinBank has rolled out a $2 billion credit package with lending rates 1 per cent, per year below its regular lending rates, focusing on SMEs and businesses and individuals operating in priority sectors such as agriculture, rural development, supporting industries, high technology, exports and the digital economy.

Nguyen Minh Tuan, CEO of AFA Capital, said demand for capital was currently very high as the country seeks to achieve an 11.9 per cent growth target in the final two quarters of the year.

“Reducing lending rates will then provide positive support for business activities. However, there is a gap between the interest rate reduction orientation and its actual implementation. Banks are applying various screening criteria and credit conditions in a bid to offer softer lending rates,” he said.

According to Tuan, for banks, reducing lending rates in the current period is challenging, given significant pressure from funding costs and rising bad debt threats.

In terms of funding costs, as of the end of July, credit growth had reached nearly 9 per cent, while deposit growth stood at only 5.75 per cent, significantly increasing liquidity pressures across the banking system.

This has forced banks to maintain relatively high deposit rates to attract funds. As a result, if lending rates are reduced, banks’ net interest margins (NIMs) will inevitably come under pressure.

Meanwhile, total bad debts across the banking system currently stand at around $12 billion, up 17 per cent from the end of 2025, pushing the sector-wide average bad-debt ratio above 2 per cent. Non-performing loans are also trending upwards, requiring banks to make higher provisions and strengthen their capital buffers to guard against risks.

Dr Chau Dinh Linh, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, said the requirement to reduce lending rates is an urgent step as the economy needs additional momentum to achieve its growth target.

“Nevertheless, under current conditions, the task of achieving ‘substantive reductions in lending rates’ is facing considerable obstacles from banks’ input costs,” Linh said.

Higher funding costs, combined with increasingly narrow NIMs at banks, are creating significant financial pressure. If deposit rates remain high while lending rates are low, banks could incur an imbalance in their financial position.

In addition, applying a uniform lending-rate reduction target across the entire banking system is not feasible. Medium-sized and smaller banks face liquidity pressures while also incurring higher funding costs than the market average. Having them to make deep cuts in lending rates could undermine their financial health.

According to Linh, state-owned banks and large banks often have advantages in terms of lower funding costs thanks to high proportions of current account savings account deposits, while their stronger management capabilities help reduce operating costs.

These banks can accept a narrowing of their NIMs within a safe range, taking the lead in implementing the policy of reducing lending rates and creating a guiding effect for the broader market.

On the other hand, rather than cutting lending rates across the board, some experts believe that preferential credit should be channelled towards the core growth drivers in line with the government’s directives.

Preferential credit packages should be reserved for sectors such as production and exports, high-tech agriculture, supporting industries, social housing and key infrastructure projects.

At the same time, close inspection and supervision of credit institutions’ asset quality should be maintained to ensure that low-cost capital reaches the right recipients and prevent it from being pivoted to potentially high-risk sectors.

Banks poised for stronger H2 performance on back of credit growth Vietnam's banking sector is expected to sustain earnings growth through the second half of 2026 as stronger credit expansion, supportive policies and improving asset quality offset rising risks in some borrower segments.

SBV credit policy shift puts banks and developers in spotlight The State Bank of Vietnam's easing of capital rules and special credit treatment for strategic projects is expected to expand lending capacity, with banks, property developers and infrastructure companies emerging as the biggest beneficiaries.

Banks face growing bad debt risks amid rising funding costs Banks are facing rising bad debt risks as non-performing and special-mention loans increase, while thinner provisioning buffers and higher funding costs threaten to put pressure on asset quality.

The 2025 edition covered all 34 provinces and cities, building on methodological experience from its inaugural year. By the end of 2025, 4,066 companies nationwide had participated in the survey. Respondents had engaged in goods exports and/or imports during 2023-2024 and operated in sectors ranging from agriculture and fisheries to mining, manufacturing, wholesale and retail.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan delivers the opening remarks. Photo: MoIT

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said the index had been improved in its assessment methodology, survey coverage, and data quality.

“The development of this year’s index continues to put businesses at the centre, while expanding the collection of opinions and strengthening data verification and standardisation,” Tan said. “This provides a fuller picture of businesses’ perceptions of FTA implementation quality in each locality.”

The results indicate continued improvements in local implementation, while encouraging provincial authorities to pay greater attention to international economic integration and helping businesses capture more benefits from trade agreements.

Haiphong led the 2025 ranking with 35.62 points, followed by Tuyen Quang with 33.61, Thanh Hoa with 30.93, Vinh Long with 29.33, and Ca Mau with 29.1.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc said international economic integration must now move beyond simply opening markets. It should become a catalyst for institutional reform, innovation, productivity improvements, and a new growth model.

FTA commitments, he noted, must be translated into measurable and substantive outcomes for individual industries, regions, and localities, thereby strengthening both corporate competitiveness and Vietnam’s national position.

DPM Tuc called on local authorities to treat FTA implementation as an integral component of socioeconomic development strategies and an important indicator of their governance and integration capacity.

Localities should develop action programmes following publication of the index, identify major impediments, and link FTA implementation with selective investment attraction, digitalisation, green transition, high-quality workers, and stronger small- and medium-sized enterprises.

He also urged ministries and local authorities to streamline administrative procedures and strengthen data sharing. A more integrated and accessible FTA information system should gradually incorporate AI to help companies search commitments and rules of origin, understand market standards, and identify potential risks.

Government agencies, he added, should move away from broad information dissemination towards services tailored to individual companies, sectors, and localities.

The DPM asked MoIT to continue negotiating new-generation FTAs with prospective partners, including South American economies and Mercosur, while developing the FTA Index into a stable, transparent, and comparable assessment framework.

“We should not regard this simply as an annual event,” he said, calling instead for a national digital FTA ecosystem with regularly updated data, mechanisms to replicate effective practices, and tools to identify and resolve persistent obstacles.

Businesses themselves must remain at the centre of FTA implementation, he said. While the state should create an enabling environment and remove institutional barriers, companies need to upgrade technology and management, strengthen branding, and meet increasingly demanding requirements on green standards, labour, and traceability.

The FTA Index is Vietnam’s first government-mandated indicator specifically designed to assess FTA implementation at the local level from the perspective of businesses. It measures both the quality of implementation of international economic integration commitments and the support companies receive from local authorities in tapping FTA opportunities.

After nearly four decades of doi moi and more than two decades of proactive international economic integration, Vietnam has built an extensive network of 17 FTAs. Together, their member economies account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP, opening wider markets while supporting investment attraction and institutional reform.

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Explaining the initiative, Linde Malaysia Managing Director, Ms. Hoo Peih Yoke, said, "This collaboration connects sustainability ambitions with practical industry action by bringing together technology, research and supportive policy frameworks. By leveraging the combined strengths of each partner, the conference sought to facilitate knowledge exchange and identify actionable pathways for sustainable growth within the nation's industrial sector. The focus is to ensure accessibility and usability within the industrial sector to drive real-world application and meaningful progress."

Anchored on the theme "Shaping Tomorrow's Energy", the conference brought together Linde Malaysia's expertise as a leading industrial gases and engineering solutions provider, Monash University Malaysia's strengths in sustainability research, innovation and talent development, and national policy priorities represented by key government agencies, including the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).

The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of clean energy solutions and green investments, foster dialogue between industry, academia and government, and showcase viable technologies that support zero-emission and low-carbon industrial transformation. These efforts align with Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which charts an energy transition pathway towards a low-carbon economy and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The conference featured distinguished special addresses from key government and industry leaders, underscoring the national importance of the energy transition agenda. Delivering an address on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, YAB Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof, was Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Secretary‑General (KSU), Dato' Sri Hj Mad Zaidi Bin Mohd Karli, who said:

"We welcome more collaborations that strengthen industrial capabilities, accelerate technology adoption and support the development of local expertise."

Dato' Sri Hj Mad Zaidi added, "These partnerships are instrumental in ensuring Malaysia remains an attractive destination for high‑value investments while advancing towards our energy transition goals."

The Linde-Monash University Sustainability Conference 2026 attracted approximately 400 participants, comprising government officials, more than 200 corporate representatives from key industrial sectors, academic leaders, researchers, and students. Held at the Monash University Malaysia auditorium, the conference served as a platform for cross-sector collaboration to advance sustainable industrial practices.

Monash University Malaysia Head of School, Professor Anthony Guo, said, "This conference represents a true tripartite strategic alliance between government policy, industrial deployment, and academic research. It reflects Monash's deep commitment to advancing sustainability through research excellence, preparing future‑ready talent to lead Malaysia's energy transition and building partnerships that help shape tomorrow's energy landscape."

A key highlight of the Linde-Monash University Sustainability Conference 2026 was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Linde Malaysia and Monash University Malaysia, officiated by Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Secretary‑General (KSU), Dato' Sri Hj Mad Zaidi Bin Mohd Karli.

The MoU marks a significant milestone in strengthening industry-academia collaboration to support Malaysia's sustainability and energy transition ambitions. The partnership establishes a framework for long-term collaboration in education, research, talent development, and sustainability initiatives, fostering knowledge exchange, practical learning opportunities, and the advancement of industrial decarbonisation efforts.

At its core, the collaboration pursues three clear objectives: accelerating corporate and industrial adoption of clean energy and green investments across Malaysia; establishing an open dialogue platform that connects industry players, academic researchers, and government stakeholders; and showcasing viable, highly technical solutions for zero-emission and low-carbon industrial setups. These efforts are squarely aligned with Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which charts the country's shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a low-carbon framework, with a net-zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) target as early as 2050.

The conference featured discussions on practical, commercially deployable technologies that can be integrated into existing industrial operations, including hydrogen solutions, electrolysers, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), biomethane and biomass LNG, Cryogenic Energy Recovery (CER), and cleaner combustion technologies.

Primary sectors poised to benefit include oil and gas, oleochemicals, chemicals, food and beverage, semiconductors, energy, steel and metallurgy, and glass manufacturing. These heavy and precision industries stand to achieve substantial carbon reductions alongside meaningful operational efficiencies by adopting these solutions.

Throughout the conference, Linde's panel of speakers shared international success stories and proven case studies from markets where these technologies are already in operation. Participants also gained insights into emerging green investment frameworks supported by MIDA, practical pathways for scaling up sustainable technologies, and Linde's portfolio of readily deployable solutions that help industries achieve their sustainability goals while supporting Malaysia's energy transition.

Looking ahead, the tripartite framework is aimed at fostering further collaboration between industry, academia and government through ongoing dialogue, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives that advance research, technical education and industrial innovation, supporting Malaysia's long-term energy transition and net-zero ambitions.

https://www.linde.com

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1. Aerovision Technology Limited
2. Bcnetcom Limited*
3. Cogniser Infotech Ltd
4. Comba Telecom Systems Limited
5. InnoBlock Technology Limited*
6. Insight Robotics Limited*
7. Locolla Limited
8. Neufast Limited*
9. Reunite Limited
10. TAXIECO NEW WORLD LIMITED
11. Waste & Environmental Technologies Ltd.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

• Revenue increased by 8.0 % year on year to RMB6,159.8 million
• Gross profit increased by 8.7% year on year to RMB2,572.9 million; Gross profit margin increased by 0.3 percentage points to 41.8%
• Profit attributable to equity holders increased by 8.0% year on year to RMB925.9 million
• Net cash (including bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents) amounted to RMB4,728.8 million

• 361° Super Premium Store (超品店) format continued to expand. A total of 187 stores launched nationwide, comprising 152 stores for core brand and 35 stores for kids. With an additional store in Cambodia, the total store count reached 188.
• The forerunner of "1+6" new retail omnichannel operating model. 361° entered into a strategic partnership with "JD Instant Delivery" (京東秒送), marking the full implementation of its instant retail strategy, under which offline physical store simultaneously operates across six online channels.
• The e-commerce business remained committed to a differentiated exclusive-product strategy. Capitalising on emerging consumer trends in sports such as tennis, badminton, and pickleball, it achieved simultaneous growth in both revenue and operational profitability.
• As the official partner of the Asian Games for five consecutive editions, 361° unveiled the official sportswear for the torchbearers of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. The "Flying Flame 5" (飛燃5) Tokyo-exclusive coloured edition running shoes made their debut at the Tokyo Marathon Expo, where running brand ambassador GUAN Yousheng (管油勝) achieved outstanding results; and the Company served as the Honorary Partner of the Qingdao Marathon for the third consecutive year.
• 361° partnered with its global brand ambassador Nikola JOKIĆ to launch the second-generation signature basketball shoes, the "JOKER2 GT", and launched the flagship guard shoes, "BIG3 7.0 PRO".
• 361° Kids continuously expanded its product portfolio and event resource deployment. By aligning its efforts closely with the development characteristics of adolescents, the demands of sport-specific training, and the needs of campus physical fitness tests, the brand launched technology-driven products, including the "Flying Dagger-axe" (飛戈), the "Swift Leaping" (靈躍), the "Wind Hunter" (獵風), and the "Feiyan" (飛燕).

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Growth momentum continued in July, bringing the province's industrial production index up 15.41 per cent on-year in the first seven months, with manufacturing and processing industries increasing 16.05 per cent.

Expanding industrial land supply

Alongside expanding production capacity, investment inflows into the province have continued to strengthen. According to the provincial People's Committee's socioeconomic development report for the first seven months, Hung Yen lured 197 newly registered investment projects and recorded 132 projects with additional capital.

Photo: HY

As of July 31, the province was home to 975 foreign-invested projects with total registered capital surpassing $18.8 billion. Local investors accounted for 3,230 projects, with total registered capital exceeding $33.2 billion.

The expansion of local business community has also continued. During the first seven months, the province issued new business registration certificates to 3,382 enterprises, up 6.19 per cent on-year, with total registered capital of $1.54 billion. Another 577 businesses resumed operations during the period.

The expansion of production and investment is translating into rising demand for industrial land. At the beginning of the year, Hung Yen set a target of establishing five to eight new industrial parks (IPs). By the end of July, the province had established three new IPs – Tan Dan, IP No. 08 and IP No. 10 – while establishing four new industrial clusters (ICs) and revising establishment decisions for 21 existing ICs.

Alongside expanding its industrial land bank, Hung Yen is accelerating the development of new IPs.

Construction of IP No. 02 – Hung Yen started on June 2, adding to the province's available industrial land supply.

The province is also preparing additional IPs, gradually completing land availability and supporting infrastructure to accommodate new investment projects in the coming years.

At the industrial-cluster level, Hung Yen currently has 115 planned ICs, covering approximately 7,319.76 ha.

During the first seven months, the province approved the establishment of four additional ICs – Hai Trieu, Viet Bac, Do Luong and Dong Do – bringing the total number of established ICs to 86, with a combined area of approximately 4,668 hectares.

Site preparation and land clearance are also being accelerated. To date, 80 of the 86 ICs have approved master plans; 19 have completed site clearance, 45 are under development, and 22 are completing procedures in preparation for site clearance.

The total area of ICs with technical infrastructure already developed has approximated 1,574 ha. Of the 86 established ICs, 16 have basically completed investment in technical infrastructure, while 48 are currently under construction.

In terms of environmental infrastructure, 16 ICs have completed centralised wastewater treatment systems, with six more systems under construction.

The existing industrial-cluster supply has already created space for secondary projects. To date, 49 ICs have attracted 548 projects, including 461 domestic-invested projects and 87 foreign-invested projects, with total registered capital of $1.99 billion and $1.55 billion, respectively.

Alongside expanding supply, Hung Yen is also focusing on improving the quality and restructuring the organisation of its industrial space.

At a recent meeting with the provincial Department of Industry and Trade on IC development, Chairman of Hung Yen People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen requested continued reviews of planning, faster infrastructure development and site clearance, and the attraction of high-quality secondary projects.

For operational ICs, the province requires strict compliance with approved planning, licensing requirements, environmental protection regulations, and fire prevention and firefighting standards.

For ICs under development, the focus is on resolving obstructions related to planning and investment procedures, accelerating site clearance and technical infrastructure development, thereby creating industrial premises for secondary investors at the earliest possible stage.

Creating more room for high-value projects

Hung Yen's investment landscape is expanding, with a stronger focus on sectors with high technology content and greater added value.

Photo: HY

On July 21, the provincial People's Committee reviewed and discussed proposals for the establishment of a High-Tech Park and the Hung Yen Free Economic Zone, opening up additional development space for high-tech projects, innovation-driven investment and supporting service industries.

The proposed High-Tech Park covers nearly 500 ha and comprises eight functional subdivisions, with estimated investment capital of $400 million.

Hung Yen is coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies to finalise the proposal dossier for submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

The Free Economic Zone proposal is also being finalised based on feedback from central ministries and agencies, gradually creating a new development space for the province.

To meet the requirements of industrial development, Hung Yen is gradually aligning its industrial land bank with transport infrastructure, logistics, housing, and human resources.

At a meeting with Hung Yen on its double-digit growth target on July 17, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang called on the province to develop logistics services and processing and manufacturing industries in industrial parks; complete key transport corridors and strengthen inter-regional connectivity with Hanoi and neighbouring localities; while placing greater emphasis on developing a high-quality workforce.

Alongside transport and logistics infrastructure, Hung Yen is accelerating social housing and rental housing projects for workers and employees, while stepping up efforts to engage, train and improve the quality of its workforce.

During the first seven months, Hung Yen continued investment promotion activities in Japan and South Korea and held working sessions with a number of domestic and international corporations, organisations and investors.

WHA, Lotus Invest Limited, Pacific Construction Group, the US Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Phu My Hung, YCH Singapore, as well as a number of domestic businesses and corporations, have thus far explored investment opportunities in the province.

From newly established and infrastructure-ready IPs and ICs to the proposed High-Tech Park and Free Economic Zone, the province is gradually diversifying both its investment space and priority sectors.

With a target of achieving GRDP growth of at least 11.5 per cent in 2026, Hung Yen is continuing to accelerate infrastructure development, prepare its industrial land bank and improve the supporting conditions for production.

These efforts are expected to strengthen the province's capacity to accommodate new investment projects, particularly in processing and manufacturing, supporting industries and high-tech sectors.

Infrastructure boom paves the way for Hung Yen’s transformation Major arterial roads being launched and upgraded are creating new space and momentum for Hung Yen province's rapid, sustainable development.

Hung Yen builds momentum for double-digit growth with strong H1 performance Strong industrial output, rising investment and robust trade propelled Hung Yen into Vietnam's top five fastest-growing localities in the first half of 2026, reinforcing confidence in the province's double-digit growth outlook.

Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen seek closer regional integration to attract investment in smart agriculture Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Hung Yen are stepping up efforts to develop a regional investment ecosystem for smart agriculture and the green economy, with officials calling for a shift from fragmented local development towards an integrated value chain capable of attracting high-quality investment and advanced technologies.

Hung Yen builds digital foundations to drive long-term growth From strengthening data infrastructure to developing AI platforms, Hung Yen province is enhancing governance capacity while laying the groundwork for the growth of its digital economy.