"The NAS industry is splitting into two paths: closed ecosystems that sell you subscriptions, or open platforms that let you own everything. We chose open. ZimaCube 2 ships with unlocked PCIe slots, community-driven software, and enough compute to run local AI, because the next decade of NAS is about what your hardware can do, not just what it can store," said Lauren Pan, CEO of IceWhale.

Powered by ZimaOS: Self-Hosting Without the Sysadmin Tax

ZimaCube 2 ships with ZimaOS pre-installed, a Docker-native OS refined through over 4 million downloads. Users get a visual app store with one-click deployment for Plex, Jellyfin, Immich, Nextcloud, Home Assistant, and 800+ more. ZimaOS also mounts existing NAS volumes, cloud drives, and USB disks into one unified file manager, so users can bring scattered data home without migrating everything at once. TrueNAS, Proxmox, Unraid, Ubuntu, and Windows are also supported on the same x86 hardware.

Open Expansion: Inside and Out

Where many NAS vendors lock down PCIe or solder in fixed accelerators, ZimaCube 2 leaves both slots open: 1x PCIe 4.0 (x16, 4-lane) and 1x PCIe 3.0 (x8, 2-lane) for a GPU, transcoder, 25GbE NIC, or NVMe expansion card. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports provide DAS-level direct-connect to a Mac or PC with zero network setup.

Who It's For

ZimaCube 2 is built for homelab enthusiasts consolidating single-purpose devices into one always-on system, creators who need 10 GbE and GPU-ready expansion, and privacy-conscious households who want data stored on hardware they own. No cloud account, no monthly fee.

Hardware Tuned for Storage and Self-Hosting

Intel 12th Gen Core processors pair Performance cores for burst compute with Efficiency cores for always-on background services. DDR5 provides the memory bandwidth multi-service workloads demand. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, The 6+4 hybrid storage architecture combines 4x M.2 NVMe slots and 6x 3.5" SATA bays in one chassis, over 212TB of raw capacity. Three tiers share this foundation:

ZimaCube 2 ($799) — Intel Core i3-1215U (6 cores, 4.4 GHz), 8 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 256 GB NVMe, dual 2.5 GbE. Ready to run a full self-hosting stack out of the box.

ZimaCube 2 Pro ($1,299) — Intel Core i5-1235U (10 cores, 12 threads, 4.4 GHz), 16 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 4x M.2 NVMe at 3,200 MB/s, onboard 10 GbE. The sweet spot for self-hosting at scale.

ZimaCube 2 Creator Pack ($2,499) — Same i5 platform maxed to 64 GB DDR5, 1 TB NVMe, plus NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 pre-installed. A complete local AI and media workstation, ready on first boot.

ZimaCube 2 is available now at shop.zimaspace.com.

https://shop.zimaspace.com/

Investors may access the conference call and accompanying presentation on the Company's website at www.webullcorp.com/investor-relations. For those unable to listen to the conference call, a recorded version will be made available for replay.

Details of the conference call are as follows:

URL: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=GOLJRG6O
Participant Dial-in (North America Toll Free): 1-844-744-1431
International Participant Dial-in: 1-412-564-6518

775 new companies established their regional presence in DIFC during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the Centre's prominence for finance, business, and innovation. This represents a 62 per cent increase on the same period in 2025, when 478 companies set up in the Centre. Performance was particularly strong in March 2026 with 258 companies establishing a presence, up from 162 in March 2025, reflecting 59 per cent year-on-year growth.

The continued influx of firms reflects a broader shift in global financial flows, as institutions and investors reaffirm their commitment to Dubai and DIFC despite ongoing global uncertainty. In this context, Dubai has emerged as a preferred global hub, reinforcing momentum towards its ambition to rank among the world's top four financial centres.

New companies establishing in DIFC include Arrowpoint Investment Partners (AIP Management), Braemar Securities, Blue Mountain Capacity, Janus Henderson Investors, Keystone Financial Solutions, National Bank of Canada, Photon Dance, Prospera Wealth Management, RV Capital Management and Ryan Specialty (DIFC) Limited.

HE Essa Kazim, Governor, DIFC said: "Dubai's standing as a globally top ten ranked financial centre, particularly during a period of global uncertainty, reflects the strength of the Emirate's vision and the central role DIFC continues to play in delivering it. DIFC's contribution to enhancing investor confidence, strengthening legal and regulatory transparency, and attracting global capital remains instrumental in reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading financial hub. This sustained progress supports the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), further cementing Dubai's role as a key pillar in the global economic landscape."

Reflecting sustained demand from regulated financial institutions, DIFC recorded a 21 per cent increase in financial services authorisations during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

158 foundations registered in DIFC during the first quarter of 2026, representing 108 per cent growth since the same period last year.

DIFC completed DIFC Square ahead of schedule, achieving full occupancy prior to handover. Progress on DIFC's landmark Zabeel District expansion continues as planned, creating a future-ready destination that blends commercial, residential, and lifestyle offerings.

"We do not view agents as the end state—they are a step along the path toward digital humans," said Grant Han, CEO of SentiPulse. "Agents provide the ability to execute tasks and take action, serving as the operational layer that enables digital humans to perform work. At the same time, we are developing capabilities for emotional awareness and expression in digital human systems."

In practical use, users no longer interact with a passive tool that waits for instructions. Instead, they engage with an always-available system designed for ongoing interaction over time. During conversations, the system can invoke underlying agent capabilities to execute multi-step tasks, including retrieving information, processing files, and completing automated workflows within a single interaction.

This design reflects a shift in the user-system relationship from single-session interactions to persistent engagement. According to SentiPulse, this transition affects not only user experience but also system performance. "If users only engage the system when a task arises, it becomes difficult for an agent to build meaningful context," said Grant Han. "The duration of interaction directly shapes execution quality."

From a technical standpoint, SentiPulse positions the AI persona as the interaction and presence layer, responsible for user-facing engagement and continuity, while agents provide the underlying execution and behavioral capabilities. Together, they enable the system to complete tasks while incrementally building a more detailed understanding of the user over time. In SentiPulse's framework, AI personas are early forms of digital humans, unifying personality, memory, and action.

In the agent space, as execution capabilities become more standardized, competition is shifting from "what the system can do" to "whether it is used continuously over time." SentiPulse frames this as a flywheel: longer engagement leads to richer context, improved system understanding, increased efficiency, stronger user reliance, and continued usage.

Grant Han noted that this approach is becoming viable due to the parallel maturation of several technologies, including large-scale models, long-term memory systems, and agent frameworks. SentiPulse has also built a foundation in the 3D digital human domain, with capabilities spanning character design, motion generation frameworks, interaction datasets, and dialogue decision models.

Within this context, the role of agents is also evolving. Rather than functioning as standalone applications, they are increasingly positioned as a foundational capability layer supporting more complex interactive systems. For SentiPulse, however, this layer is not the final destination. The ultimate goal is a digital human system capable of sustained interaction with users in a continuous operating context.

The research collaboration, being led by Professor Greeshma Gadikota at Columbia's Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and Columbia Climate School, is focused on developing potential processing pathways for the recovery, separation and metallization of rare earth elements and associated critical metals from carbonatite and bastnasite style mineral systems, including the mineralization style relevant to Locksley's El Campo REE project within its Mojave Project in the Mountain Pass region.

"The work completed to date has provided us with alternative processing routes aimed at simplifying downstream flowsheets that can be evaluated for our project," said Kerrie Matthews, Managing Director and CEO of Locksley. "The next phase of this partnership will use Locksley samples and assess the implications of these results for future consideration. Of key importance is that this work is being conducted in parallel with maiden exploration at El Campo, enabling us to better understand all the potential development pathways as the project advances."

Additional details on the project and work conducted to date can be found here: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-03083570-6A1322598&v=undefined.

This collaboration is one of several Locksley has in place. Earlier this month the company reported on its advancement toward production of high purity antimony concentrate and next-generation materials as a result of its sponsored research program with Rice University in Texas.

Locksley Resources Limited (https://www.locksleyresources.com.au) is focused on critical minerals in the US. The Company is actively advancing the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley is executing a mine-to-market strategy for antimony, aimed at reestablishing domestic supply chains for critical materials, underpinned by strategic downstream technology partnerships with leading U.S. research institutions and industry partners. This integrated approach combines resource development with innovative processing and separation technologies, positioning Locksley to play a key role in advancing U.S. critical minerals independence.

The Company's Mojave Project is located adjacent to MP Materials Mountain Pass Mine and mill, the only REE producing mine in the United States to date.

Now in its fourth consecutive edition, VIS 2026 has established itself as a reputable international event, bringing global buyers to meet directly with Vietnamese enterprises, while also combining field visits to raw material areas and manufacturing facilities.

Last year, the event drew strong interest, attracting 450 foreign business delegations from 60 countries and territories for supply chain connections.

Vietnam is a major sourcing hub for global buyers

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in the United States, in a recent meeting, representatives of Walmart confirmed they will send senior executives to attend and work at VIS 2026.

Vietnam is currently among the top five exporting countries supplying goods to Walmart’s global system.

Each year, Walmart places orders worth billions of dollars for Vietnam-made products to be sold across its retail network, with both order volume and value rising annually.

The group had participated in all three previous editions of VIS in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Over the past three editions, alongside Walmart, the event has attracted major names such as Uniqlo, Central Group, Coppel, Decathlon and LuLu Group International to Vietnam. These buyers have either secured new suppliers across a wide range of product categories or expanded orders with existing partners.

Do Ngoc Hung, trade counsellor and head of Vietnam Trade Office in the United States, said that through the three editions, the office has connected hundreds of US buyers with Vietnamese manufacturers.

“Many purchase contracts have been signed and established directly at the events,” he said.

As US companies increasingly view Vietnam as a more professional sourcing destination, this also implies significant room for export growth to the market of more than 350 million people. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam’s exports to the United States rose sharply by 24.3 per cent, reaching $39 billion.

Businesses from the 27-member European Union are focusing on product groups such as wood and furniture, electronics, textiles and garments, footwear, processed foods and agricultural products. The EU is Vietnam’s third-largest export market after the United States and China.

Last year alone, Vietnam exported $475 billion worth of goods to global markets, including major destinations such as the United States with more than $153 billion – up 28.1 per cent, the EU with $56.2 billion – up 8.6 per cent, ASEAN with $38.4 billion – up 3.8 per cent, and China with $70.4 billion – up 14.8 per cent on-year.

Through engagement with global buyers, Vietnamese businesses are gaining a better understanding of market-specific preferences, enabling them to upgrade production and meet new standards.

Tran Ngoc Quan, trade counsellor of Vietnam in Belgium and the EU, noted that global buyers are not only seeking competitively priced products, but also value long-term production capacity, flexibility, reliability, and transparency across the entire value chain.

“European consumers have strong demand for new products –recyclability in textiles and sustainability in coffee, for example. Therefore, EU buyers are no longer looking for simple exporters as before, but increasingly prioritise partners with sustainable production capabilities, transparency, and compliance with stringent environmental and traceability standards,” he said.

The growing return of international buyers to Vietnam not only reflects the country’s existing advantages, but also highlights substantial room for further expansion in production and exports.

Going forward, maintaining quality, raising standards and developing sustainable production will be key for Vietnam to remain a preferred destination in ever-shifting global supply chains.

Exhibition promoting direct interactions with global suppliers in the plastics and rubber industry With the keen interest of many individuals, organisations, and enterprises, Plastics & Rubber Vietnam 2022 - Vietnam’s leading event on plastic and rubber technology, raw materials and equipment, and machinery - will officially take place between July 6 and 8.

Sustaining growth in a volatile global environment Businesses are embracing various ways to sustain growth amid escalating global trade tensions due to reciprocal tariff measures between major economies.

Businesses shift to local supply chains and market diversification amid new US tariffs Vietnamese businesses are adapting to new US tariffs by investing in local supply chains, exploring new export markets, and innovating to maintain competitiveness in a challenging global landscape.

Amid rising inflation, interest rates, and liquidity pressures, Asia-Pacific Growth Corporates (mid-sized firms with annual revenues between $50 million and $1 billion) increasingly view efficient cash flow management as essential, with working capital becoming a more strategic tool for driving growth and resilience. Yet, nearly half of the region's Growth Corporates are not utilising any working capital solutions, even as companies need more flexible access to cash.

Visa has identified three key themes from the WCI report that are relevant to businesses in Asia-Pacific.

Misalignment between financial products and operational needs

Mid-sized businesses across Asia-Pacific face shifting working capital realities, including longer cash cycles, more structural payment delays and growing pressure to free up cross-border liquidity faster. However, most financial solutions have not kept up, with many remaining too rigid or generic for Asia-Pacific's diverse industries and fast-moving markets.

This growing disconnect between traditional financial product design and the real-world needs of businesses is driving CFOs to call for faster, more flexible and fully digital tools that align with real cash cycles and deliver capital at the speed of business.

Notably, 47 per cent of Growth Corporates do not utilise working capital tools, often because existing solutions do not align with their operational models. At the same time, 41 per cent of firms want simplified digital tools for credit and account management, while 38 per cent seek on-demand financing aligned with cash flow cycles, signalling demand for more flexible financial solutions.

Financial institutions that create offerings around real business cycles, while rethinking underwriting, approval speed and flexibility, will be better positioned to support the evolving needs of Growth Corporates.

Working capital as a strategic growth lever

While many firms lack suitable tools, leading finance teams in Asia-Pacific are treating working capital as a strategic lever rather than a last resort, using early supplier payments, virtual cards and flexible funding to strengthen liquidity and respond more quickly to market opportunities. As a result, cards are evolving from transactional tools into working capital levers.

Accordingly, late customer payments can cost companies an average of $15.7 million annually, but those using card payments to speed up collections have reduced late-payment losses by around 10 per cent. Firms using working capital solutions can realise an average of $17.7 million in annual bottom-line benefits, equivalent to a 4.3 per cent revenue boost. 9 per cent of firms used working capital solutions to fund unplanned growth, up from 5.6 per cent in 2024-25.

By improving cash flow visibility and accelerating receivables, these finance leaders can unlock additional capital within their operating cycles, turning liquidity management into a competitive advantage with direct improvements to the bottom line.

Shifting demands on banks

Across regions, CFOs rank fast, on-demand access to capital and simplified digital credit management among their top priorities, but these needs are especially pronounced in Asia-Pacific, where companies operate in fast-moving and often volatile markets.

61 per cent of Asia-Pacific Growth Corporates now use AI or machine learning for working capital optimisation, including forecasting, risk scoring and automated approvals, as demand grows for embedded analytics and simpler digital credit management within banking platforms.

CFOs expect fast, on-demand access to liquidity through digital rails, including tools such as virtual cards, automated approvals and digital platforms that enable businesses to respond quickly to time-sensitive opportunities. Finance leaders prioritise industry-specific expertise from banking partners, seeking relationship managers who understand sector-specific business cycles, supplier relationships and capital expenditure needs.

These trends signal a shift in how CFOs expect to access and manage liquidity. As demand grows for faster, more flexible financing and digitally enabled finance management, banks and financial institutions will need to move beyond generic products by integrating AI-driven insights, streamlining approval processes and pairing digital capabilities with deeper industry expertise to better support the evolving expectations of Asia-Pacific CFOs.

"CFOs across Asia-Pacific want flexible, sector-specific tools that match their operational realities," said Chavi Jafa, head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, Asia-Pacific, Visa.

"Our data shows that agile, digital-first strategies and smarter forecasting are helping companies stay resilient and reinvest freed-up capital into growth. The Working Capital Index continues to spotlight how Growth Corporates are turning volatility into opportunity. At Visa, we are partnering across the ecosystem to deliver tailored, digital-first commercial solutions, like virtual cards integrated in ERP and digital enabler platforms, that help unlock working capital, accelerate approvals, and turn liquidity into a strategic growth lever."

Visa data highlights five key payment and travel trends in Vietnam for 2026 Visa, a global leader in digital payments, on January 13 released its outlook on the top five trends that will shape how Vietnamese people pay and travel in 2026.

Visa and Trip launch global virtual travel card programme Visa and Trip.com entered into a new global agreement designed to make booking and paying for travel more seamless for consumers and partners worldwide on March 17.

Visa launches contactless payment system across Hanoi metro network A fully interoperable open-loop payment system has been launched across Hanoi's metro network, enabling Visa cardholders to tap and go on all metro lines in Vietnam.

The survey fieldwork, conducted between March 3-19, coincided with the outbreak of the conflict in the region, which will have been a major factor weighing on respondents’ sentiment.

“As an export-oriented economy deeply integrated into global supply chains, Vietnam faces particular vulnerabilities from the forces identified in this survey. Brent crude prices rose by nearly 70 per cent following the outbreak of hostilities, threatening to drive up the costs of production and transportation of goods, directly affecting the competitiveness of Vietnamese exports,” the report said.

“The surge in fertiliser prices, driven by disrupted supply from the Middle East, further heightens pressure on Vietnam’s vital agricultural sector. Currency depreciation pressures on emerging economies add another layer of challenge for Vietnamese businesses and financial planners.”

Across Asia-Pacific, 33 per cent of respondents ranked geopolitical instability as their top risk priority in Q1, well above the global average of 25 per cent. Cybersecurity ranked second globally at 17 per cent, a growing concern as Vietnam’s digital economy expands.

Globally, 74 per cent of surveyed finance professionals now expect inflation to rise over the next three months, and 35 per cent expect interest rates to increase. Encouragingly, the Global New Orders Index registered a solid recovery and the Global Employment Index also improved, reflecting the underlying resilience of the global economy before the conflict escalated.

Accountatnts' top risk priorities over past year

Ren Varma, head of Mainland Southeast Asia at ACCA asserted that the Q1 GECS findings were a powerful reminder that global geopolitical instability was not a distant concern, but had direct and immediate implications for businesses and finance professionals in Vietnam.

“Rising operating costs, mounting inflationary pressures and the convergence of geopolitical, technological and economic risks demand faster adaptation than ever before. This is precisely when the integrity, professional expertise and strategic thinking of accountants matter most. The ACCA is committed to ensuring our members and future members in Vietnam are equipped to lead through this uncertainty,” Varma said.

The survey showed a sharp decline in confidence among accountants and finance professionals in the early months of this year. Sentiment is close to the series lows recorded at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, as firms grapple with the fourth major shock to hit the global economy already this decade. Confidence also fell very sharply among chief financial officers taking part in the survey.

“While the April two-week ceasefire brought hope to markets of some recovery from the biggest global oil shock since at least the 1970s, the enormous uncertainty clouding the global economy remains. Even if a more durable resolution is found energy and other commodity prices look set to remain elevated,” the report said.

While geopolitical instability unsurprisingly ranked as the top risk priority for accountants in Q1, it is only the second time since the global risks survey was added to the GECS in Q2 2023 that economic risks have not been the top concern. They were in third place after cyber risks, which were second.

Rachael Johnson, head of Risk Management and Corporate Governance at ACCA said that this shift did not suggest a reduction in economic worries, but a growing recognition of how converging forces shape the macro landscape.

“Respondents point to AI and cyber threats amplifying other risks, and emphasise how eroding trust in institutions, information and leadership, is becoming a defining feature of operating in today’s world,” she said.

Rising cost pressures were evident at businesses in Q1, with the percentage of respondents reporting increased operating costs at its highest rate since Q3 2022 in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Given the recent spike in the price of energy and other important commodities and increasing stresses in supply chains, the risk is that cost pressures facing firms will mount over coming months.

Some of the survey results were a bit more encouraging, likely owing to the resilience of the global economy ahead of the onset of the conflict in the Middle East. The Global New Orders Index registered a solid increase and is now at its historical average level. The Global Employment Index, which captures the hiring and firing decisions of firms, also improved somewhat, while remaining below its historical average.

“The global economy entered 2026 in decent shape, but enormous uncertainty currently clouds the outlook. Inflation is already beginning to rise sharply, and downside risks to growth will mount the longer energy and other commodity prices remain elevated,” said Alain Mulder, senior director, Europe Operations & Global Special Projects at IMA.

GECS global indicators

Jonathan Ashworth, chief economist at ACCA noted that major supply shocks created very tricky situations for policymakers.

“After years of above target inflation, central bankers need to tread cautiously so as to not let the inflation genie out of the bottle. Very high government debt levels also constrain the room for major fiscal support in many countries, even in advanced economies,” said Ashworth. “Developments in the Middle East over coming weeks and months will be absolutely key for global economic prospects over the remainder of this year.”

Global business confidence remains fragile despite Q2 uptick Global business confidence among professional accountants is showing tentative signs of a recovery, according to new data from an international survey.

ACCA builds new generation of financial leaders in Vietnam The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) celebrated its New Member Ceremony on October 13 and 14 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, highlighting the theme “Legacy of Leadership”.

ACCA urges firms not to delay sustainability reporting over data gaps As sustainability reporting requirements continue to evolve, new guidance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants stresses that organisations should not be deterred by a lack of hard data, as reasonable estimates can still generate useful information.

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The TANK Pad Ultra is now available on 8849tech.com. Stay tuned for more updates.

That was the central message from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants’ (ACCA) annual Sustainability Conference, held on Earth Day on April 22, a virtual event attended by finance professionals from over 100 countries.

The argument put forward was not a moral one, but a financial one: organisations that fail to embed sustainability into their core strategy are accumulating risk, and in many cases, that risk is already materialising.

Sharon Machado, head of Sustainable Business at ACCA emphasised that sustainability strategy was not something that sits on the side, it's integrated within the business, and it's about risk management.

“When businesses think about geopolitical disruption, supply chain fragility, commodity availability or the impact of extreme weather on operations, they are, whether they recognise it or not, thinking about sustainability. The language of risk management and the language of sustainable business describe the same terrain,” she said.

Sharon Machado, head of Sustainable Business at the ACCA

Meanwhile, Andrea Amaize, risk, finance and sustainability leader said, “Though the business case for sustainability remains strong today, organisations that have toned down or deprioritised their sustainability commitments are trying to balance long-term sustainability objectives against pressures for near-term results.”

“However, immediate impacts of sustainability are being felt. Climate change is already affecting the availability and cost of insurance, purchasing decisions increasingly include questions about decarbonisation strategies, access to lower cost capital is becoming tied to sustainability performance and talent follows purpose.”

A core argument of the session was that sustainability, properly understood, is not only a cost driver but also a profitability generator, unlocking new revenue streams, reducing operating costs, improving resilience, strengthening brand value and creating competitive advantage.

Amaize also noted that, in today’s environment, it was important for organisations to clearly demonstrate how sustainability drives measurable financial outcomes, an area where finance professionals can play a pivotal role in evidencing this link.

Developing suitable talent for greener financial ambitions Vietnam’s ambition to develop international financial centres is sharpening the focus on talent capable of navigating sustainable finance and evolving standards. To Quoc Hung, country manager of ACCA Vietnam, spoke with VIR’s Khanh Linh about how the country can strengthen its green finance talent pipeline.

Small business ESG strategies unlocked A true sustainability ecosystem requires global endorsement, genuine green financing, and technology solutions to lower the cost of implementation for businesses.

ACCA rolls out career workshops for Vietnamese students and teachers The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has held a workshop in Hanoi to help operationalise career guidance at school level following new regulatory direction.

Organised by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and RE+ Events, the summit is positioned as a leading platform to advance wind energy deployment, with a strong focus on offshore, floating, and onshore wind, alongside emerging segments such as green hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions.

The event will convene policymakers, investors, developers, and technology providers to address key issues including regulatory frameworks, market expansion, and innovation pathways shaping the region’s energy transition. According to the organisers, the programme will feature high-level policy dialogues, technical sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities designed to foster cross-border collaboration.

The 2026 edition is expected to scale up significantly, with more than 1,500 attendees anticipated, of which over 40 per cent will be senior decision-makers such as CEOs, executives, and policymakers. This reflects increasing momentum in the Asia-Pacific wind sector, as countries accelerate their clean energy commitments and seek to strengthen energy security.

A key highlight of the summit will be its expanded exhibition space, showcasing technologies and solutions across the wind energy value chain, from turbine manufacturing and grid integration to energy storage and hydrogen production. The exhibition is designed to facilitate business development, partnership formation, and knowledge exchange among industry stakeholders.

In addition, national pavilions will provide a platform for countries and organisations to utilise market opportunities, policy priorities, and investment pipelines, enhancing regional cooperation and visibility. The presence of high-level delegations and initiatives such as the Global Offshore Wind Alliance is expected to strengthen policy dialogue and international coordination.

With Asia-Pacific emerging as one of the fastest-growing wind energy markets globally, the summit is set to play a pivotal role in connecting stakeholders and unlocking new investment flows. By bringing together the full value-chain under one roof, the event aims to support the scaling up of wind power and contribute to the region’s decarbonisation goals.

In early April, Travelife, a training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies, announced the partnership with Vietnamese sustainability consulting firm Green Transition as its national representative for tour operators in Vietnam.

The move marks an important step in strengthening tourism practices in the country. Through this partnership, the two sides aim to support Vietnamese tour operators in adopting internationally recognised standards and improving their environmental and social impact.

Travelife provides an international technical standard framework accessible for all. Meanwhile, Green Transition plays the role of internal companion to coach and help in the local language. With Travelife, businesses can access a set of more than 200 criteria to assess their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, benchmark themselves within the industry, and get support from a coach.

Bao Nguyen, country manager of Travelife in Vietnam said, "Vietnam is moving away from chasing raw arrival numbers towards attracting high-value travellers. This focus on quality reduces the strain on Vietnam’s natural assets while ensuring long-term economic viability. In addition, businesses are increasingly adopting rigorous reporting frameworks to track carbon footprints and community impact, meeting the demands of modern travellers and investors.”

He added that sustainability is now systemic across the sector, with more tour operators moving beyond surface-level changes to implement closed-loop waste systems, local sourcing, and climate-resilience planning.

“One of the most obvious examples in Vietnam is the ‘local sourcing’ which brings not only the local social and environmental aspect but also the cultural aspect of it. The ‘farm to table’ logistics has an impact on local economic growth, ethnics and local community integration while reducing carbon footprint to keep within the 20km logistics distance,” he said.

Other examples in terms of circularity include the conversion of organic food waste into compost for gardening. At a larger scale, resorts can adopt nature-based water management infrastructure solutions to collect stormwater or reduce biodiversity loss impacts.

Daniel Patrao, multi-property general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River said, “Sustainability investment can take many forms, from integrating environmentally friendly solutions during construction to continuously improving operations in existing hotels.”

At Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River, sustainability was considered from the development stage, with investment in lower embodied carbon materials, as well as systems designed to save energy and water. This approach helped the hotel achieve EDGE Certification. The certification confirms 34 per cent energy savings, 33 per cent water savings, and 24 per cent less embodied carbon in materials, helping reduce 328.82 tonnes of CO_² in operational emissions each year.

Beyond certification, the hotel continues to strengthen its environmental commitment through daily operations. The hotel has now fully installed water purification systems across all guestrooms and public areas, providing guests with convenient access to safe, high-quality drinking water while eliminating the need for bottled water.

“The initiative reflects a significant step towards reducing plastic and glass waste, reinforcing the hotel’s long-term goals,” Patrao said. “International certifications help increase recognition and build trust among travellers who increasingly choose responsible tourism options. More importantly, this reflects a growing trend in Vietnam, where investors are becoming more focused on sustainability as part of long-term tourism development.”

According to a report by Travel and Tour World in mid-April, Vietnam has joined the ranks of countries like New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, Denmark, and Costa Rica, which have made sustainability a core part of their tourism strategies.

The report highlighted that Vietnam is enhancing its tourism industry through sustainable development, with initiatives ranging from eco-friendly policies to community-driven tourism. The Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an example of Vietnam's commitment to preserve its unique ecosystems. In destinations like Sapa and Phong Nha, community-based tourism is on the rise, where locals benefit directly from tourism, providing authentic cultural experiences for visitors.

The government is making a strategic push for high-value, low-impact tourism in Vietnam. Tourism System Master Plan for 2021–2030 is targeting fully plastic-free tourist zones, electric vehicle zones, and protected biodiversity parks.

In addition, the conscious market is also reshaping travel behaviour and demand. Findings from Agoda’s 2026 Sustainable Travel Survey in mid-March revealed that more than 80 per cent of Vietnamese travellers consider the topic important when making travel decisions, with 43 per cent expect it to become more important over the next three years.

Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River achieves 5-star certification Courtyard by Marriott Danang Han River has achieved 5-star hotel certification, affirming its leading position in hospitality and meetings in Danang just over two months after opening its doors.

Vietnamese tourists embracing sustainable tourism Sustainable travel is gaining traction as 96 per cent of Vietnamese travellers confirm that sustainable travel is important to them, according to the Sustainable Travel Report 2024 by Booking.com.

Sustainable tourism fit for the future Travel agencies, localities, and other entities are placing more focus on schemes to ensure tourism goes green.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), on April 28, sent a document to three corporations, namely Petrovietnam, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), and Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (TKV), which are investors and operators of 32 thermal power plants across the country, requesting an urgent review of their emission systems to avoid disrupting electricity supply during the 2026 dry season.

The list of units receiving the document includes many thermal power plants in Quang Ninh, Haiphong, Thai Nguyen, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, the South Central region, and the Southern region, which are important power generation sources in the national power grid.

According to the MAE’s direction, the units must conduct a comprehensive review of the current status of equipment and the operational efficiency of waste treatment facilities. The focus should be on the exhaust gas treatment system to prevent environmental incidents and avoid exceeding technical emissions standards.

These plants must ensure the stable operation of the exhaust gas collection and treatment system and the automatic, continuous monitoring of exhaust gas. Maintenance, servicing, and replacement of materials and equipment should be carried out periodically, prioritising completion before the dry season or during periods of low load.

Based on the overall inspection, the units must promptly rectify any damage and develop proactive maintenance plans. Technical and operational management solutions must be implemented based on the principle of early prevention, minimising disruptions to the operation of power generation units.

In cases where repairs or equipment upgrades are needed that may affect power generation, the unit must develop a specific plan and coordinate with the power system dispatching unit to arrange a suitable timeframe in accordance with the dry season electricity supply plan.

The MAE also requires businesses and factories to strictly control the quality of input fuels, especially indicators such as sulphur content, ash content, and moisture content in coal. Based on this, factories must forecast the emission concentrations of major pollutants such as SO₂, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and total dust to adjust the fuel blending ratio accordingly, and not accept coal that does not meet technological requirements.

Exhaust gas treatment systems also need to be closely monitored for operational efficiency. Businesses establish internal warning thresholds for pollution parameters to adjust operating modes and reduce the risk of exceeding emission standards.

For high-cost renovation and upgrade projects such as electrostatic precipitators, SO₂ removal systems, and NOx treatment systems, units must develop specific implementation plans to ensure that electricity generation is not affected during the dry season and subsequent years.

The MAE requires that as of December 31, 2031, thermal power plants in operation or those that had completed environmental procedures before July 1, 2025, will continue to apply QCVN 22:2009/BTNMT and local regulations. From 2032, these facilities must meet the new industrial emission standards according to QCVN 19:2024/BTNMT.

The ministry requested that relevant units urgently develop plans for technological transformation and upgrading of waste treatment systems to meet the new requirements.

EVN awards EPC contract for Quang Trach II LNG project Vietnam Electricity and a consortium signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the first component (power plant) of Quang Trach II LNG Thermal Power Plant on February 9.

Nghe An establishes task force to help implement LNG thermal power plant Nghe An People’s Committee has created a task force to direct and supervise the $2.3 billion Quynh Lap Liquefied Natural Gas thermal power project.

Quang Trach I nears completion as Unit 1 prepares for grid connection The Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant is approaching completion, with overall progress reaching nearly 98 per cent as of end-March.

$2.3 billion Quynh Lap LNG plant to kick off in May The $2.3 billion Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant, invested by a consortium of Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation, Nghe An Sugar Co., Ltd, and SK Innovation, will commence construction mid-May.

The dialogue brought together senior officials from finance ministries and central banks across ASEAN+3, comprising the 10 ASEAN member states alongside China, Japan, and South Korea, to review macroeconomic developments and assess the spillover effects of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The session also served as a preparatory platform ahead of the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting scheduled for May 3.

Recent geopolitical developments have intensified concerns over global energy security and supply disruptions. According to assessments by international organisations, the primary transmission channels to Asian economies include surging energy prices, disruptions to logistics and supply chains, and tightening global financial conditions.

Analysis by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office identifies a four-stage impact chain: rising energy costs, followed by increases in intermediate industrial inputs, downstream production pressures, and ultimately higher prices for services and food. These combined effects are expected to weigh on growth while fuelling inflationary pressures.

Global forecasts reflect these risks. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development projects global growth to slow to 2.9 per cent in 2026, while inflation across G20 economies could reach 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank warns that in a scenario where oil prices exceed $155 per barrel, ASEAN+3 growth could decline by as much as 1.3 per cent, with inflation rising by 3.2 per cent, with Southeast Asia among the most vulnerable.

Financial markets have also reacted sharply. Heightened risk aversion has triggered capital outflows and tighter financial conditions across the region. In the early weeks of the conflict, Asian equity markets declined by more than 4 per cent, government bond yields rose by over 20 basis points, and approximately $17 billion in investment capital flowed out of the region, accompanied by widespread currency depreciation against the US dollar.

Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong

Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong underscored the importance of coordinated regional responses. He commended the co-chairs for their timely initiative, noting that “the organisation of this policy dialogue reflects proactive and effective coordination in reviewing and shaping regional cooperation to mitigate the impacts of Middle East tensions.”

He also reiterated Vietnam’s concerns regarding escalating risks to economic and financial stability, stating that “prolonged geopolitical tensions continue to pose significant threats to growth prospects and macroeconomic stability across the region.”

For Vietnam, ensuring energy security remains central to safeguarding macroeconomic stability. The government has deployed a range of flexible policy tools to manage external shocks and ease cost pressures. These include extending tax and fee reductions on fuel products to zero until the end of June 2026, as well as accelerating preparations for a national crude oil reserve project in Nghi Son.

“These measures aim to stabilise domestic prices, control inflation, and reduce input costs for businesses, thereby enhancing overall economic resilience,” he said.

Looking ahead, Vietnam has set an ambitious target of achieving GDP growth of 10 per cent or higher in 2026, while maintaining macroeconomic stability and advancing structural reforms. According to the deputy minister, “with a double-digit growth target, the need for a stable, flexible, and sustainable energy system has become increasingly urgent.”

In parallel, Vietnam is refining its legal and institutional framework to support the development of international financial centres and free trade zones, while seeking to attract global green capital to finance renewable energy projects and develop carbon markets. These efforts are aligned with the country’s broader commitments to net-zero emissions and long-term economic resilience.

At the regional level, Vietnam called for strengthened financial cooperation among ASEAN+3 members, including the enhancement of regional financial safety nets such as rapid financing facilities. The country also emphasised the need for each economy to maintain adequate policy space to respond effectively to external shocks.

In addition, Vietnam highlighted the critical role of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), urging the institution to expand financial support, scale up technical assistance, and streamline procedures to improve access to funding. Such efforts, he noted, would not only reinforce ADB’s role as a key development partner but also contribute to the region’s long-term sustainable growth.

A golden time to shine within ASEAN

ASEAN countries exposed by Middle East oil dependence

ASEAN+3 economies address energy shock from strength position

Vietnam second fastest growing automotive market in ASEAN‑6

Can Gio International Transshipment Port is estimated to require a total investment of nearly VND128.87 trillion (approximately $4.95 billion). The project will span around 570 hectares, with a total main berth length of about 7.5 km.

Designed capacity is expected to reach approximately 4.8 million TEUs by 2030, rising to around 16.9 million TEUs by 2047. By 2050, the project is slated to develop about 13 berths, capable of accommodating vessels of up to 250,000 DWT or larger, subject to conditions.

The investors plan to contribute about $222.6 million by 2030 and an additional $521 million) in line with the implementation schedule, with completion targeted within 20 years from the date of land and water area handover. The project will have an operating term of 50 years and is eligible for investment incentives in accordance with prevailing regulations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Le Chon Tam, general director of Saigon Port JSC, described the approval as a milestone event, marking the culmination of months of persistence.

“This decision is not merely a legal document, but a historic mission and a vote of confidence entrusted by the State and the city to maritime enterprises, empowering us to unlock marine potential and pursue global ambitions,” Tam said.

According to Tam, the Can Gio Port project holds a strategic position along international shipping routes, with a designed capacity of nearly 17 million TEUs, serving as a critical gateway for Vietnam to integrate more deeply into global logistics ecosystems and supply chains.

“We fully recognise the role of state-owned enterprises in leading and shaping national value creation,” he noted, adding that the venture represents a combination of domestic capabilities and international expertise.

VIMC and Saigon Port are among Vietnam’s leading operators in port exploitation and maritime transport. Meanwhile, MSC Group stands as a particularly important strategic partner. As the world’s largest shipping line, MSC brings strong financial capacity and an extensive global network, helping to place Vietnam firmly on the global maritime map.

“If Vietnam is likened to a vessel heading out to the open sea, then Ho Chi Minh City is its most dynamic economic engine. Can Gio Port will serve as a pioneering vessel, enabling the country to sail further and more steadily on its international journey,” Tam said.

Can Gio emerges as Ho Chi Minh City's next growth frontier The coastal district is poised for major development, becoming a new focal point for investment and sustainable urban expansion.

Consortium to invest in Can Gio transshipment port A consortium of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), Saigon Port, and Terminal Investment Limited Holding has been selected to invest in Can Gio International Transshipment Port.

VIMC sets $887m revenue target for 2026, invests in Can Gio Port Vietnam Maritime Corporation has set a revenue target of VND22.18 trillion ($887.2 million) for 2026, an increase of 8 per cent on-year, while maintaining profit at near last year's level.

Breaking ground ceremony of the Central Square and New Administrative Centre and the Metro Line 2 project

The Central Square and New Administrative Centre is expected to play a pivotal role in urban spatial organisation, shaping a new city centre, enhancing governance efficiency, and improving public services.

Meanwhile, the renovation and upgrading of Ho Chi Minh Museum – Ho Chi Minh City Branch will not only preserve a special historical site but also enrich the city’s cultural depth and urban identity.

Metro Line 2, connecting Ben Thanh and Thu Thiem, is a critical infrastructure initiative aimed at linking key growth poles with Long Thanh International Airport, contributing to the goal of completing 187km of metro lines by 2030, a key mandate set by the Party and State leadership.

Can Gio International Transshipment Port reflects the city’s ambition to expand its maritime reach and position itself as a global gateway.

In parallel, the International University Urban Area represents a concrete step in developing a knowledge-based urban ecosystem, laying the foundation for innovation and enhancing the quality of personnel.

The breaking ground ceremony of renovation and upgrading the Ho Chi Minh Museum – Ho Chi Minh City Branch

These projects are not standalone developments, but part of a broader pipeline of infrastructure and urban initiatives being accelerated following the 11^th Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term.

They underscore the city’s determination to translate ambition into tangible outcomes, in line with its tradition of dynamism and innovation, and its role as a leading megacity in which the Party, the government, and people place strong confidence.

Ho Chi Minh City announces 2026-2030 investment projects Investment opportunities are now opening wider for investors as Ho Chi Minh City has announced the list of projects in 2026-2030.

$1.23 billion boost for high-tech investment in Ho Chi Minh City On April 25, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee awarded investment registration certificates to four projects in the city's high-tech park, with a combined investment of $1.23 billion.

The $2.27 billion International University Urban Area was started construction on April 29 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo: Le Toan

The venture has a total investment of approximately VND59 trillion (equivalent to nearly $2.27 billion).

Located in Xuan Thoi Son commune, the site is naturally bounded by An Ha Canal, Tay Ninh Boundary Canal, Canal No.8, and Thay Cai Canal. Under the master plan, the development will follow an integrated urban model combining education, research, and innovation, with the ambition of becoming a major regional education hub.

The project benefits from strong connectivity, linking directly to the southern key economic region via National Highway No.22, Ring Road 3, and Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai Expressway.

Once metro lines 2 and 3 are connected to the project and become operational, the International University Urban Area is expected to gain significant momentum, emerging as a convergence point for economic and knowledge flows, contributing to broader regional growth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tran Van Bay, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said that the project carries profound political and socioeconomic significance, demonstrating the city’s development aspirations.

“Ho Chi Minh City has identified sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation as new growth drivers. In implementing Resolution No.57-NQ/TW, the city aims for the digital economy to account for around 30 per cent of GRDP by 2026, with science and technology contributing 18 per cent,” he said.

In the northwestern area, the city has approved the 1/2,000-scale zoning plan for the International University Urban Area oriented towards urban development integrated with education and research.

The project is expected to accommodate a population and student body of nearly 200,000 people. Of the total land area, approximately 117 hectares are allocated for green space and water surfaces, while 436 ha are designated for residential use.

“Notably, more than 183 ha are earmarked for education, training, and research facilities, underscoring the project’s core orientation as a world-class knowledge and technology urban area,” Bay added.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, the city’s vice chairman reaffirmed that relevant authorities would continue to work closely with the developer to promptly address any obstructions, ensuring uninterrupted implementation.

“The city also called on the investor to mobilise maximum resources, organise construction efficiently, ensure timely progress, and strictly comply with environmental protection regulations,” he said.

Representing the developer, Le Khac Hiep, vice chairman of Vingroup, stated that the International University Urban Area is envisioned as a new landmark of Vingroup and its real estate arm of Vinhomes in northwest Ho Chi Minh City, where large-scale ecological spaces are harmoniously integrated with a global knowledge ecosystem.

“Through this project, we aim to contribute to advancing science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, in line with Resolution 57 of the Party, thereby creating a leading knowledge-based urban area in the region and a sustainable long-term growth driver,” Hiep said.

$2.56 billion International University Urban Area ready for construction Following nearly 15 years of stagnation, Berjaya Vietnam International University Town LLC plans to start the construction of its International University Urban Area project in the Hoc Mon district of Ho Chi Minh City in the first quarter of 2024.

According to the report proposing the renewal of the environmental permit sent to Bac Ninh People’s Committee in mid-April, Goertek Vina, a Chinese manufacturing group and supplier to Apple, is expanding its "factory for manufacturing electronic equipment, network devices and multimedia audio products" project in the province. The reason for the adjustment is to meet market demand and customer orders.

Accordingly, the company is increasing its investment capital by VND527.14 billion ($21.85 million), raising the total investment of the venture to $539.2 million. In addition, the undertaking expands by nearly 19,000 square metre of land and increases camera production capacity by an additional 20 million products per year.

After adjustments, the production capacity of the main product group in the project increased by 0.67 per cent, from 2.99 billion products per year to 3.01 billion products per year.

The project's product group includes electronic products, plastic resin and metal products; products and accessories made from plastic film, foam, and fabric, and machinery and equipment manufactured and assembled at the facility.

A notable change is that Goertek Vina added wireless transceivers and headphone charging bases to its headphone and headphone charging case production targets, increasing production by 168,000 units per year.

In addition, camera production capacity increased by 20 million units per year. The number of camera production lines increased by 13 lines to 21.

After adding 20 million cameras per year, Goertek Vina's camera production capacity could reach 32.5 million units per year. The document does not specify the timeframe for implementing these changes.

Besides cameras and headphone accessories, the document also mentions a group of unmanned aerial vehicles with an annual scale of 60,000 products, as stated in the 18^th investment certificate.

Of which, the existing production capacity and the proposed licence this time is 45,000 products per year, with the remaining 15,000 products per year recorded as part of the planned production investment.

According to the revised content, the project will see an increase from eight to nine locations. The total land use area of ​​the venture increases by nearly 19,000 sq.m to 452,891 sq.m. The additional area is concentrated in Zone B, where factory B1 was added at lot L-7, bringing the total number of factories in this zone to 4.

Regarding environmental infrastructure, the project adds a separate wastewater collection and drainage system from the rainwater drainage system, and includes septic tanks, grease traps, and a domestic wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 200 cu.m per day.

In addition, Goertek Vina adds 130 on-site treatment devices installed synchronously across 13 U08 camera production lines, and also adds one industrial waste storage facility and one hazardous waste storage facility at Lot L-7.

By the end of 2025, the group invested approximately $1.3 billion in Vietnam through four legal entities. With this adjustment, the initiative continues to demonstrate the expansion trend of major electronics suppliers in Bac Ninh, especially in the camera and consumer electronics product groups.

Apple actions highlight diversification Apple partner Goertek’s recruitment of tens of thousands of labourers is being seen as a testament to the United States-based tech giant’s plan of shifting business to Vietnam despite prolonged silence on the matter.

Goertek Vina factory in Bac Ninh ceases operations Goertek Vina has wound up its long-running manufacturing plant in Bac Ninh, marking the closure of its multimedia and audio products operations in the northern province.

Goertek announces major investment boost for Bac Ninh Jiang Bin, chairman of Goertek Group, revealed plans for the company to significantly increase its investment in Bac Ninh at a meeting on October 24, potentially tripling or even quadrupling the firm's current financial commitment in the northern province.

Goertek to invest another $280 million in Vietnamese consumer electronics subsidiary AirPods maker GoerTek has plans in place to invest an additional $280 million in the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary in Vietnam to manufacture consumer electronics products.

Hon Hai scoops up 25 per cent stake in Goertek Electronics Vietnam Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., through its subsidiary New Wing Interconnect Technology (Bac Giang) Co., Ltd., announced on February 21 that it has acquired a 25 per cent equity stake in Goertek Electronics Vietnam Co. Ltd for $50 million.

Partnerships drive sustainable finance The partnership between Standard Chartered and Goertek demonstrates how environmental, social, and governance principles can be embedded into the fabric of everyday financial transactions. In an exclusive interview with VIR’s Vy Vy, Nguyen Thuy Hanh, CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam, and Eric Zhang, deputy general director and CFO of Goertek Vietnam, share why leadership is defined by the courage to act.

"We are deeply honored by the recognition and support from a group of leading investors", commented Dr. Liu Yarong, Founder and CEO of Vivacta,"Vivacta is committed to advancing innovative in vivo CAR-T cell therapies. Our core product, GT801, has demonstrated promising safety and efficacy profiles in early clinical studies across hematological malignancies and autoimmune disease patients, potentially offering these patient populations a transformative treatment option to deliver innovative therapies to more patients in need."

The proceeds from this financing round will be used to advance clinical trials for GT801, support GT801 regulatory submission and approval, expand research team and build out our platform, and accelerate Vivacta's global expansion in the in vivo CAR-T field. Initial human data of GT801, Vivacta's core project, was recently reported via an oral report at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition 2025 (ASH 2025) in December 2025. Upon closing of Series A+ financing, Mr. Xie Ronggang from Loyal Valley Capital and a partner from DC Global Ventures joined the board of directors of Vivacta.

For more information, please visit www.orbimed.com.

Duck Creek Agentic Product Configurator is the first AI-native approach to take insurance products from requirements to deployed configuration in a single, governed workflow, enabling insurers to move from fragmented, manual processes to a unified lifecycle that spans requirements generation, product configuration, validation, and deployment. The offering delivers measurable business impact, including significantly faster time to market, reduced implementation effort, and improved consistency across product launches. Early results show up to a 50% reduction in requirement and manuscript generation effort by leveraging product filings and in-force policy documents such as declarations and schedules, with timelines compressed from months to weeks.

"Product Configurator represents a fundamental shift in how insurers approach system implementation," said Jose Lazares, Chief Product Officer at Duck Creek. "By applying AI across the entire lifecycle, we are helping insurers move from manual, resource-intensive processes to a more automated, predictable, and scalable model, reducing requirement and configuration effort by up to 50% and compressing timelines from months to weeks. This allows our customers to reduce risk, accelerate time to value, and focus more of their efforts on innovation rather than implementation."

Insurance product configuration and core system implementation have historically been slow, resource-intensive, and difficult to scale. Product launches often take months and require significant coordination across teams and specialized resources. Duck Creek Agentic Product Configurator addresses these challenges by embedding AI across the full lifecycle, enabling a more automated, repeatable delivery model that reduces translation effort and improves consistency. Built-in validation, governance, and human-in-the-loop workflows ensure outputs remain accurate, explainable, and compliant.

Initially delivered by Duck Creek Professional Services, they apply AI to convert carrier documentation such as underwriting manuals, rating guides, and forms into structured requirements and implementation-ready manuscript configurations. The solution uses multi-agent orchestration to extract knowledge from carrier documents, generate structured requirements, and produce validated configuration artifacts aligned to Duck Creek Policy, creating a seamless path from business intent to system execution.

"Services play a critical role in turning innovation into measurable outcomes for our customers," said Chris McCloskey, Chief Operating Officer at Duck Creek. "With Agentic Product Configurator, our Professional Services team can help insurers move from documentation to deployed products much faster, reducing implementation timelines and accelerating time to value in a way that was not previously possible."

Duck Creek Product Configurator supports a wide range of use cases across both new implementations and ongoing product evolution, including:

• New product launches – Generate a first draft of product configuration directly from business documentation, reducing setup time from months to weeks
• Multi-state expansion – Rapidly create product variants by reusing patterns and applying state-specific changes
• Product transformation and migration – Extract and operationalize existing product requirements into modern configurations
• Ongoing product updates – Continuously evolve rating, rules, and forms without reintroducing manual processes

Best known for its leading video model Vidu, ShengShu Technology and its advancements in generative video for robotics earmarks an industry first. Generative video has laid the foundation for simulating robots in real-world environments at scale. Motubrain builds on this by turning those simulations into action, by enabling robots to learn from diverse, large-scale pre-training data while reducing reliance on traditional physical data collection.

"A true world model must be able to build a unified representation of the real world and predict how it evolves," said Jun Zhu, Founder of ShengShu Technology. "Video is a critical foundation of that intelligence because it naturally captures time, space, motion, causality, and physical dynamics at scale. We believe general world models should not be built as stitched-together modules, but as a unified architecture that brings together perception, reasoning, prediction, generation, and action in a single system. That is what can ultimately bridge the digital world and the physical world."

Global Rankings: Among the Top Performers in Embodied AI

Motubrain has delivered top-tier performance on leading embodied AI benchmarks. Ranked among the industry's best models for robotic perception, anticipation, and planning in the physical world, Motubrain achieved a 63.77 EWM Score on WorldArena. It has also been recognized as one of the strongest performers on RoboTwin 2.0, scoring an average of 96.0 across 50 predetermined tasks, and remains the only model to exceed 95.0 in randomized environments.

The Architecture Behind the Breakthrough

Motubrain's core breakthrough is unifying the "seen world" and the "actions to take" within a single model, and it is built on four core principles that together redefine what an embodied AI model for training robots can be:

• One Brain, Many Skills: A unified model that can handle a wide range of tasks and gets smarter and stronger as task variety increases. Training each skill one by one is no longer required, and unlike conventional models, the wider the range of complex tasks it handles at once, Motubrain's success rate and reliability with multi-tasking increases.
• One Brain, Universal Across Robots: Motubrain isn't built for a single robot model. It's designed to be a universal brain that can power many kinds of robots. This breaks the old "one robot, one model" pattern. And as more robot types, real‑world scenarios, and data join the ecosystem, Motubrain keeps getting smarter, which in turn helps every robot in the network perform better.
• One Brain, End-to-End: Motubrain learns entire task sequences directly. It can handle complex, multi‑step tasks involving up to 10 atomic actions, also known as the smallest unit of movement in robotics, far beyond the typical 2–3 atomic actions. So the robot no longer sees isolated actions; it sees a complete, meaningful task from start to finish.
• One Brain, Able to Anticipate: Predicts the world while driving action. Environmental change, task progression, and execution are processed together inside one model, not assembled from separate subsystems.

To deliver this, Motubrain is built on a Unified Multimodal Model that treats video and action as two continuous modalities to be learned together. A single training run gives it five capabilities at once: vision-language-action control (VLA), world modelling, video generation, inverse dynamics modelling (IDM), and joint video-action prediction. A three-stream Mixture-of-Transformers (MoT) then brings video, action, and language together by drawing on the strengths of existing pretrained models, enabling Motubrain to understand environments, follow language instructions, predict what happens next, and generate actions all at the same time. Unlike systems that chain together separate perception, planning, and control modules, Motbrain processes the full loop.

Motbrain learns from a far broader range of data than conventional AI models that train robots, including unlabelled video, task recordings without language annotations, and data from different robot embodiments. A proprietary latent action framework extracts physical motion directly from large-scale video, including human footage, simulation data, and multi-robot task trajectories, without requiring the data to be labelled or tagged to indicate specific actions. This broader learning paradigm translates into strong scaling behavior. In task-scaling evaluations, Motubrain's average success rate continued to rise as the number of training tasks increased, reaching approximately 92% at 50 tasks, while Pi-0.5 declined to roughly 68% over the same range. In data-scaling evaluations, Motubrain also maintained a clear advantage as the number of training episodes increased, achieving about 92% average success at 27,500 episodes, compared with roughly 85% for Motus and 68% for Pi-0.5. A three-stage pipeline built on a six-layer data pyramid lets Motubrain generalise skills across environments and robot types while remaining precise enough for fine-grained deployment scenarios.

Motubrain understands what is happening around it, anticipates what may happen next, and responds in real time. In real-world tests, robots trained with Motubrain have carried out complete, multi-step tasks with a level of adaptability beyond most conventional robotic systems. For example, they can insert flowers into a vase under changing conditions and use both arms independently for different goals. Most notably, Motubrain-trained robots demonstrate a remarkable ability to understand and predict outcomes during execution: when a ladle comes up empty while scooping, they can recognise that nothing has been collected and automatically attempt the scooping action again, despite never being trained on retry data. This marks the shift from robots that merely execute tasks to robots that truly complete them.

Training the Next Generation of Robots

Motubrain is not a research model awaiting commercialisation; it is operational. Several leading robotics companies are already using MotuBrain in active robot training programs, deploying its cross-embodiment, multi-skill capabilities on real hardware across industrial, commercial, and home environments.

To further enhance real-world performance, ShengShu has partnered with Astribot, SimpleAI, and Anyverse Dynamics to advance a general-purpose embodied AI brain, focusing on foundation model evolution, multimodal data integration, robust data infrastructure, and full-stack hardware–software optimisation.

Connecting the Dots: Alibaba's Investment and Motubrain

Motubrain is ShengShu's next strategic pillar, alongside Vidu, the company's flagship generative video platform, which its recent Vidu Q3 ranked No.1 in the first global Reference-to-Video leaderboard released by SuperCLUE. The two products are distinct in application but continuous at the foundation: the same world model technology that makes Vidu one of the world's leading video generation systems gives Motubrain its capacity to predict and act in the physical world. Where Vidu generates the world, Motubrain acts in it.

Backed by a $293 million Series B led by Alibaba Cloud and with investors including the China Internet Investment Fund, TAL Education Group, Baidu Ventures, and Luminous Ventures, ShengShu enters the Physical AI era as a leader, achieving successful live deployments and boasting the highest benchmarks for its unique ability to both deeply understand and effectively act upon its tasks.

To learn more about Motubrain, visit the official website: https://www.shengshu.com/en/motubrain

Building on this momentum, Accio Work is expanding to serve B2B sellers on Alibaba.com. Launching in late April, this new capability allows sellers to manage their entire Alibaba.com store directly through Accio Work — from tracking performance and updating product listings to optimizing daily operations, all via simple natural language commands.

In addition to these operational upgrades, Accio Work is extending the reach of its agentic business teams beyond digital retail with the launch of "Accio Launchpad". This specialized program is designed specifically for non-product-focused enterprises such as cultural institutions, content creators and tech start-ups who want to create branded merchandise but lack manufacturing expertise. Managed by an autonomous agent team, it guides users from abstract concepts to tangible production by managing material specifications, supplier matching and quality control.

The Accio Launchpad program is now open to applications from eligible businesses seeking access to AI-powered tools, expert support and the resources to bring branded merchandise to market via: Accio.com/work/funding. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Mucha Foundation Art Museum in Prague (Czech Republic) recently demonstrated the power of this approach while developing a souvenir line honoring Art Nouveau legend Alphonse Mucha. Tasked with producing high-craftsmanship items like custom umbrellas and embossed magnets without an internal manufacturing team, the museum used Accio Work to transition from idea to production in record time. The Agentic Business Team executed thousands of steps, including selecting advanced 3D-embossing techniques and negotiating with specialized manufacturers. The result is a curated, limited-edition collection scheduled for launch this June, transforming artistic vision into reality without the need for fragmented tools or industry connections.

DJI Agriculture Drones Are Widely Used in Overseas Market

"Agricultural drones are no longer a novelty – they are essential farm equipment worldwide. In Brazil, DJI Drones are now widely applied on the country's major crops, including coffee, soybeans, corn, sugarcane, and forage grass." said from Yuan Zhang, Head of Global Sales at DJI Agriculture, "As the global adoption continues to grow, DJI Agriculture will continue to strengthen our support network for operators while offering training through our global network of over 7,000 certified instructors. These investments underscore the company's commitment to helping farmers improve efficiency and sustainably increase their yields through innovative drone technology."

Drone Seeding and Spraying Elevates Pasture Production and Sustainability in Brazil
The report presents several case studies on the use cases of agricultural drones for various crops in different countries. In Brazil, farmers have deployed DJI Agras T25P, T70P, and T100 agricultural drones to cover full-cycle precision operations in forage management, lifting forage renewal efficiency and pasture productivity. For example, using drones to more precisely spot-spray weed patches can reduce herbicide use by up to 35%. Simultaneously, full-process drone spraying and seeding also offer environmental protection benefits by eliminating soil compaction, reducing chemical drift near sensitive ecosystems, and lowering the carbon footprint of livestock farming.

Improved Field Trials and Academic Studies Driving More Compliant Field Operations
The report also documents several new field trials and academic studies offering credible, evidence-based validation of the advantages of agricultural spraying drones in precision application, operational efficiency, economic benefits, and sustainability. Simultaneously, organizations such as UAPASTF developed guidelines for the safe and effective application of pesticides, informed by updated drone field-drift studies. Better drift testing enables more precise, safer, and more compliant field operations, making it a key enabler of precision agriculture and environmentally responsible crop protection.

These studies have helped drive more evidence-based policies and market developments worldwide, which is further fueling the rapid global expansion of the agricultural drone industry. For example, ANAC (the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil) updated its drone regulations to establish "standard scenarios" for recurring agricultural operations. In Canada, Transport Canada's regulatory amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations have simplified operational rules for agricultural drones, directly supporting spraying, mapping, monitoring, and precision farming.

As the industry continues to mature worldwide, DJI Agriculture aims to provide farmers and policymakers with a clearer view of how agricultural drones deliver measurable environmental value and open new pathways for global agricultural modernization.

Ashley Mastronardi delivers the pre-market update on April 29th

• Stocks are little changed on Wednesday morning ahead of this afternoon's Fed decision, with traders expecting interest rates to hold steady.
• Four of the largest holdings by weight for the NYSX ETF – Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta – will report earnings following today's market close.
• Shares of Pershing Square (NYSE: PS) and Pershing Square USA (NYSE: PSUS) will begin trading on the NYSE today after raising $5 billion in the combined IPO.
• Gold Royalty (NYSE American: GROY) Chairman and CEO David Garofalo will join Taking Stock to reflect on the company's five-year listing anniversary.

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Pershing Square (NYSE: PS) and Pershing Square USA (NYSE: PSUS) celebrate their IPO.

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Gold Royalty (NYSE American: GROY) celebrates its five-year listing anniversary.

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Four international accreditations in 12 months

In Ho Chi Minh City's international education landscape, authorisation to deliver the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has long been considered a hallmark of academic excellence. However, attaining the status of a Full IB Continuum School–possessing the capacity to seamlessly implement all three core programmes from Primary Years, Middle Years, to the Diploma Programme–represents a far more rigorous echelon.

This is not merely a matter of adopting a curriculum; it is a profound systemic challenge where everything from educational philosophy and faculty proficiency to operational infrastructure must be harmonised.

Tesla Education has become the fifth institution in Ho Chi Minh City authorised to deliver the Full IB Continuum

The official award of the IB Diploma Programme certification in April 2026 marks the culmination of Tesla Education’s five-year standardisation journey. The milestone follows a rapid sequence of international accreditations secured within just 12 months: CIS (June 2025), Cambridge (July 2025), IB MYP (November 2025), and IB DP (April 2026).

This is no coincidence, but the result of a deliberate long-term strategy, underpinned by the consistent adoption and execution of the rigorous standards set by the International Baccalaureate Organisation and other leading global accreditation bodies.

Multi-tiered assurance

In an increasingly fluid world, students must combine a global outlook with the ability to adapt while remaining grounded in local values. Recognising that no single programme can fully deliver this, Tesla Education has developed a mutually reinforcing academic ecosystem, where leading international standards operate in tandem rather than isolation.

The IB Continuum serves as the backbone, shaping mindset and ensuring a coherent learning journey from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Alongside this, the Cambridge programme strengthens subject mastery, providing depth in core disciplines. While the IB is widely recognised for fostering critical thinking, independent inquiry, and global citizenship, Cambridge builds the academic rigour and subject-specific expertise sought by leading universities in the UK and the US.

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The Full IB Continuum pathway creates a learning environment where students are not only equipped with knowledge, but also develop intellectual confidence and adaptability

In particular, the integration of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) core curriculum within this ecosystem is by no means a "regulatory concession," but a deliberate, strategic choice. For Vietnamese families, the MoET framework is the anchor that keeps students connected to their mother tongue, history, and national culture. This parallel integration allows students to grow the wings of an international mindset, mastering future skills while retaining their local roots. They can flexibly transition their pathways, fully prepared to step out into the world yet entirely capable of contributing to their homeland.

Strategic location and pioneering financial approach

The introduction of a full IB Continuum at Tesla Education reshapes the decision landscape for parents in Ho Chi Minh City. With most IB Continuum schools clustered in the eastern and southern districts, areas such as Tan Binh, Phu Nhuan, and Binh Tan have lacked fully integrated international pathways. Tesla Education’s campus in Tan Binh helps close this gap, offering a more balanced distribution of access across the city.

Location plays a critical role in the long-term learning experience. Reducing daily travel in increasingly congested traffic can save students one to two hours a day, preserving energy and supporting both wellbeing and participation in extracurricular activities. For many families, this also removes a significant “hidden cost” associated with long commutes.

From “exclusive” to “accessible”: Tesla Education is expanding access to the International Baccalaureate pathway for Vietnamese families

This advantage is particularly valuable for expatriate communities surrounding Tan Son Nhat Airport. For the large population of South Korean and other expatriates, the demand for an accredited, familiar international curriculum is high. A localised IB Continuum school directly meets this elite demand, sparing families from exhausting cross-city logistics.

Beyond locational leverage, Tesla Education approaches the educational investment pragmatically. With overseas study costing $30,000 to $40,000 annually, a world-class domestic pathway is increasingly attractive. To commemorate the IB Continuum milestone, Tesla has launched a DP Scholarship Fund offering up to 90 per cent tuition coverage for outstanding Grade 10 students.

Reaching up to VND500 million ($19,000), this support makes an elite IB education remarkably accessible. This initiative democratises opportunities, signalling that international education is no longer an exclusive "luxury" but a strategic, long-term investment for modern families.

Ultimately, the synergy of a prime location, a standardised global academic framework, and agile financial policies positions Tesla Education as a masterstroke of strategy. Parents can now holistically optimise both educational quality and their children’s future investment journey.

New Zealand institutes strengthen educational exchange and cooperation with Vietnam A delegation of New Zealand Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics and Private Training Establishments made its first official visit to Vietnam from March 29 to April 5.

Vietnam and Queensland deepen education ties to power innovation On April 15, the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), hosted the Education for Innovation Showcase in Hanoi, bringing together around 80 representatives from government agencies, universities, research institutes and businesses across Vietnam and Australia.

ACCA rolls out career workshops for Vietnamese students and teachers The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has held a workshop in Hanoi to help operationalise career guidance at school level following new regulatory direction.