The move was made following the government's issuance of Directive No.17/CT-TTg on organising free regular health check-ups or screenings.

Photo: The MoH

The goal is for every citizen to receive at least one health check-up per year according to a suitable schedule, thereby enabling early detection of diseases, reducing the burden of healthcare costs, and building a nationwide health management database.

For children under six years old, the content of regular health check-ups follows rules issued the previous week.

For individuals aged 18 and older, the MoH requires a complete clinical examination and basic tests. The list of tests includes a complete blood count; blood biochemistry tests including blood glucose, urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes; a urine test to check for sugar and protein; and a chest X-ray.

In addition to the basic categories, localities may add more tests depending on their financial capacity or the voluntary willingness of individuals and businesses to pay.

The MoH also specifically notes that during the process of taking medical history, clinical examination, or diagnostic imaging, if suspicious signs of pulmonary tuberculosis, lung tumours, or other diseases are detected, medical facilities should order additional specialised tests for early diagnosis, timely treatment, or appropriate referral.

For females, the list of gynaecological and obstetric examinations will be carried out according to MoH regulations.

In addition to general health check-ups for the general population, the MoH continues to require regular check-ups according to specific regulations for particular groups such as officials, students, airline staff, railway operators, sailors, and personnel under the management of the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security.

The MoH requests that localities and health units proactively categorise priority groups and arrange appropriate examination schedules to avoid overcrowding and facilitate access for the public. The health check-up process must ensure accurate assessment of health status, early detection of disease risks, and timely advice on disease prevention, treatment, or referral to higher-level facilities as prescribed.

In the case of any professional difficulties or obstacles arising during the implementation process, units are required to report to the MoH’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management for guidance.

Regular health check-ups prevent potential disease While a growing Vietnamese economy is rapidly improving the quality of modern life, new risks of diseases continue emerging, threatening our health. Regular health check-ups are recommended by experts to help identify potential diseases and health issues at an early stage.

Government launches regular health checks alongside food safety crackdown The government is gradually implementing regular health check-ups for the population while strengthening inspections and strictly handling food safety violations, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang has said.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and provide practical, science-based solutions to optimise height development for children aged 6–12, contributing to a healthier future generation of Vietnamese youth. It is structured around two main pillars: helping parents accurately understand their children’s height development status and guiding families to build scientifically-backed daily habits.

The launch was held in Hanoi. Photo: D-MAXX Marie

Vietnam still ranks among the countries with the lowest average height in the world. According to the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, the average height of 19-year-old Vietnamese ranks 154^th (males) and 146^th (females) out of 201 countries and territories.

Dr. Truong Hong Son, director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, emphasised that genetics only accounts for approximately one-quarter of a child’s height potential, while the rest is influenced by nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and living environment.

He shared that children's height is largely influenced by four factors: genetics contributing 23 per cent, with nutrition accounting for 32 per cent, alongside physical activity and sleep or environment. “This means that over 75 per cent of a child's height potential is in the hands of parents, who can actively influence it through a healthy lifestyle,” Son explained.

The ages of 6–12 are considered the golden years for height development. This is the foundational period where nutrition, physical activity, and sleep play a crucial role in shaping future stature. A balanced diet, combined with proper exercise and scientific rest, will help children achieve optimal physical development, especially in terms of height.

Dr. Truong Hong Son, director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine. Photo: D-MAXX Marie

Key activities of the campaign include launching a guidebook developed in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, providing essential knowledge on height development for children aged 6–12; introducing the MAXD Exercise Programme, specially designed by physical education experts; and organising the nationwide MAXD Dance Challenge in schools and on social media with attractive prizes.

Vietnam's health sector tightens control over GMP standardisation The healthcare sector is tightening standardisation for health supplements, with a new evaluation checklist of nearly 170 criteria covering everything from raw materials to finished products.

AWS chief medical officer on how tech can lower rare disease therapy barriers Modern technology could help lower the barriers to developing therapies for rare diseases. Dr. Rowland Illing, chief medical officer of AWS and director of Global Healthcare and Nonprofits, examines how more efficient access to advanced capabilities could drive progress in this area.

DKSH and STADA Pymepharco establish health products partnership DKSH has expanded its collaboration with STADA Pymepharco aiming to enhance healthcare quality for Vietnamese consumers through European‑standard products.

According to the Foreign Market Development Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the UAE-based retail conglomerate, which operates the LuLu Hypermarket chain, is increasing purchases of Vietnamese products at a time when many international businesses remain cautious due to concerns over regional instability.

The second charter flight carrying 98 tonnes of Vietnamese agricultural products, organised by MAY Exports Vietnam, departed from Tan Son Nhat Airport for the UAE on May 12.

The MoIT said that LuLu Group International’s continued expansion of procurement activities and its operation of charter flights for Vietnamese goods reflect growing confidence in Vietnamese enterprises across the Middle East market. The move is also expected to create further opportunities to boost production and exports to the region, which is considered highly promising for Vietnamese businesses.

Beyond its commercial significance, the charter flights also reinforce Vietnam’s increasingly important role in the global agricultural supply chain. Maintaining stable cargo flows amid a complex geopolitical environment demonstrates the flexibility and effective coordination between Vietnamese exporters and major international distribution groups.

The successful deployment of the second charter flight has also raised expectations for the establishment of regular cargo routes between Vietnam and the Middle East in the future.

The Foreign Market Development Department noted that, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue, many international maritime shipping routes are facing risks of disruption, rising logistics costs, and unstable delivery schedules. In this context, maintaining dedicated charter flights for Vietnamese agricultural exports carries particular significance.

The flights not only provide a timely logistics solution to ensure stable supplies for distribution systems in the UAE, but also highlight the adaptability of Vietnamese businesses in responding swiftly to fluctuations in global trade.

For fresh agricultural products in particular, delivery time is crucial to maintaining quality and freshness upon arrival to consumers. Consecutive charter flights help significantly shorten transportation times, reduce risks during transit, and maintain supply chain stability between Vietnam and the Middle East, where demand for high-quality tropical produce is rising steadily.

The ministry added that the expanded procurement activities by a major partner such as LuLu Group International will not only strengthen the position of Vietnamese goods within one of the region’s leading retail systems, but also generate positive spillover effects for exports to the wider Middle Eastern market, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

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Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan appreciates the tax sector’s contributions to society

Minister Tuan highlighted four major achievements of the tax sector in recent years.

First, the sector has consistently fulfilled state budget revenue collection targets, not only meeting but often significantly exceeding estimates. This reflects strong efforts to identify and expand revenue sources, particularly from online business activities.

Second, digital transformation has been implemented rapidly and decisively. The rollout of new technology applications, including AI-powered features on the eTax Mobile platform to support tax declarations, demonstrates the sector’s commitment to accelerating digitalisation.

Third, the sector has stepped up administrative reform by simplifying procedures and enhancing support for taxpayers, especially business households and small and micro-sized enterprises.

Fourth, organisational restructuring and streamlining efforts have been carried out intensively and effectively, gradually building a leaner, stronger, and more efficient tax administration system.

At an earlier session, Pham Quang Toan, head of the Technology, Digital Transformation and Automation Division under the Tax Department, introduced two newly deployed technology solutions aimed at supporting tax administration and assisting taxpayers through the eTax Mobile application.

“The system is continuously upgraded and improved with new features to make it more convenient for taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations, while also helping tax officials effectively exploit and utilise IT applications,” Toan said.

Delegates attend the working session between Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan and the Tax Department

The AI-powered tax declaration application for business households is designed to enable comprehensive digitalisation and allow tax filing using natural language without requiring specialised knowledge. At the same time, it enhances user experience as data has already been pre-filled by tax authorities, requiring taxpayers only to confirm the information, while ensuring maximum data security.

Regarding the biometric authentication feature, the system verifies enterprises’ legal representatives through the national population database, using a mechanism similar to banking authentication systems.

According to Toan, the eTax Mobile application records up to around 10 million visits per day. Under the plan, the two new utilities will be deployed nationwide from May 15.

Assigning tasks to the tax sector, Minister Tuan emphasised the target of maintaining state budget revenue mobilisation at a minimum of 20 per cent of GDP during 2026-2030, of which revenues from taxes and fees are expected to account for at least 17 per cent of GDP to ensure a sustainable budget structure.

During 2021-2025, state budget revenues continued to grow and maintained their role as the backbone of national resource mobilisation, with the state budget revenue mobilisation ratio reaching 18.8 per cent of GDP, surpassing the set target of no less than 16 per cent of GDP.

“Tax policies must meet the requirements of efficiency, simplicity in implementation, ease of application, ease of inspection and ease of supervision. At the same time, administrative and compliance costs for taxpayers must be minimised. The tax sector also needs to fully capture new revenue sources, especially those arising from the digital business environment, digital assets, virtual currencies and digital currencies,” the minister said.

At the meeting, director general of the Tax Department Mai Xuan Thanh stated the tax sector’s commitment to continue carrying out comprehensive and in-depth reforms in taxpayer interaction, while strengthening anti-corruption efforts and enhancing professionalism.

According to Thanh, during 2026-2030, the tax sector shall prioritise improving its capacity for state budget revenue administration in a proactive, flexible and practical manner aligned with socioeconomic development.

“Alongside this, the sector will continue improving institutions and expanding the tax base for emerging areas such as the digital economy, e-commerce, cross-border transactions, digital assets and new business models. At the same time, modernising tax administration has been identified as a strategic breakthrough, with the aim of building an intelligent tax management system based on big data, AI, risk management and real-time supervision,” he said.

The sector will also strengthen connectivity and data-sharing with ministries, agencies, local authorities and the national population database; accelerate the provision of fully online public services; and minimise processing time, compliance costs and documentation requirements for citizens and businesses.

Tax revenue in five months hits almost 21.73 billion USD The tax sector’s state budget revenue was estimated at nearly 500 trillion VND (21.73 billion USD) in the first five months of this year, equal to 97.6 percent of the figure of the same period last year.

Tax sector pushes digital transformation in administration overhaul The tax sector is restructuring administrative processes to build a modern, transparent system, leveraging digital technology and data to improve compliance, efficiency, and risk management.

Tax sector wraps up 2025 and sets priorities for next year The tax authorities closed 2025 with record revenue collections and digital adoption while outlining key priorities for 2026, including expanding the tax base, preventing revenue losses, and improving taxpayer services.

On April 30, Citi introduced Arc, a new platform that will allow the bank to build and scale AI agents across the firm, using the same rigour and discipline Citi applies to all its technology capabilities and within its risk framework.

These agents enhance human judgment by taking on tasks such as research, synthesis, preparation, and execution, reducing manual effort and accelerating how teams operate day to day.

Today, a banker might spend many hours preparing for a client meeting, gathering portfolio data, analysing market trends and modelling scenarios. In the future, a team of AI agents will be able to complete this work proactively and deliver the information exactly when it is needed.

By eliminating hours of manual effort, the banker will be able to spend more of their time building deeper relationships with clients and delivering more personalised, timely service. The role of the banker, therefore, evolves more decisively from coordinator to architect and advisor.

The goal is to remove friction, so the bank employees can apply more of ingenuity and energy to where it matters. That means focusing AI on the repetitive and the manual, while deepening judgment, sector expertise and client insights.

Over the past two years, Citi built a strong foundation. More than 80 per cent of the 180,000 colleagues with access to Citi AI tools use them regularly, and most have completed prompt training to help them get the most out of these tools. Citi has also modernised infrastructure and strengthened data to enhance its AI capabilities.

Arc builds on that foundation. Every agent will be monitored, auditable and governed. Arc will initially be used by Citi’s developers to build agents for specific, well-defined use cases to support businesses and functions. Over time, access to Arc will expand to support specific needs across the firm.

The rollout of Arc keeps Citi at the forefront of AI. The bank’s goal remains to make Citi the most AI-empowered financial institution in the world.

Citi deploys $100m in social trade finance to support Vietnam MSMEs On April 28, Citi successfully executed a series of first social trade advance transactions for financial institution clients in Vietnam.

Citi Vietnam named Best Commercial Bank 2026 by The Asset Triple A Citi Vietnam on May 7 announced that Citi Vietnam has been awarded "Best Commercial Bank 2026" at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Finance Awards.

Citi Investor Day outlines clear path for next growth phase Citi has outlined a clear path for its next phase of growth, supported by stronger returns, disciplined execution, client-led growth, and the strength of its global network.

The global streaming service brings together popular entertainment brands, including HBO, Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Max Originals, and iconic Hollywood movies.

In 2026, subscribers can look forward to streaming new and returning HBO and Max Original series, including the third season of House of the Dragon, premiering June 22 (local time), DC Studios’ Lanterns, premiering in August and the highly anticipated first season of the new Harry Potter series, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, debuting at Christmas.

James Gibbons, president of APAC at Warner Bros. Discovery said, “The launch of HBO Max in Vietnam marks the successful completion of our direct-to-consumer rollout across key Southeast Asian markets, and widens the reach of our unparalleled content offering to even more fans in the region.”

At launch, local subscribers can enjoy Oscar-winning movies, such as Sinners and One Battle After Another, culture-defining HBO and Max Originals like The Last of Us, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Game of Thrones and The Pitt, and the entire movie collections of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Fan favourites, such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory, will also be available, alongside family entertainment, including We Bare Bears and Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake.

South Korean entertainment fans in the region can also enjoy access to exclusive dramas on HBO Max, from Yumi’s Cells Season three with Kim Go-eun, Filing for Love with Shin Hae-sun and The Legend of Kitchen Soldier with Park Ji-hoon, to the popular series Dear X starring Kim You-jung.

HBO Max offers an elevated streaming experience on multiple devices with an easy to navigate interface, including the option to sign-up with a mobile number, seamless search, genre rails, brand hubs and personalisation, allowing subscribers to create up to five unique profiles, each customisable with favourite characters as avatars and receive content picks based on viewing habits. Subscribers can also save their preferred content and pick up where they left off with Continue Watching or download to watch on the go. Families can also customise profiles for children, curated with age-appropriate content and parental controls.

According to Research and Markets, Vietnam's over-the-top video and streaming platforms is poised for significant transformation, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. The expansion of 5G networks will enhance streaming quality and accessibility, while the integration of AI in content recommendations will personalise user experiences. Additionally, the increasing demand for interactive and niche content will encourage platforms to diversify their offerings, fostering a more competitive landscape that prioritises user engagement and satisfaction.

Netflix may open a Vietnam office by late 2023 Netflix is mulling over establishing an office in Vietnam after conducting a risk evaluation following years of negotiations with authorities, making the streaming giant the first US-headquartered tech behemoth to maintain an official presence in the country.

Vietnamese movie to premiere on August 30 Vietnamese movie Lam Giau Voi Ma, translated as Betting with the Ghost, will premiere on August 30 in theatres nationwide and be made available in other countries afterwards.

Telling travel stories through movies Promoting tourism through film is not only a powerful way to showcase the natural, cultural, and historical treasures of Vietnam, but is also seen as a sustainable strategy for driving long-term growth in the country’s tourism industry.

She said that Vietnam valued ​​the traditional friendship with Russia, with cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals being a key area.

The meeting in Hanoi. Photo: The MoH

“Vietnam encourages international pharmaceutical companies with research, development, and production capabilities to invest, transfer technology, and produce high-quality medicines in the country,” she said.

The minister said she appreciated Promomed Group's interest in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market and its desire to promote long-term cooperation with Vietnamese businesses.

She also noted the signing of an MoU between Vietnam Pharmaceutical Corporation and Promomed in September 2025, witnessed by the Vietnamese and Russian health ministers.

The minister welcomed Promomed’s focus on innovative and generic drugs, biosimilars, R&D, and expanding access to high-quality, affordable medicines.

At the meeting, Petr Bely outlined Promomed’s operations, strategic cooperation with Vinapharm, and potential collaboration with Central Pharmaceutical JSC CPC1 to distribute products in Vietnam, including molecular drugs, innovative medicines, and monoclonal antibodies. He also expressed the group’s interest in working with relevant Ministry of Health units to develop a strategic framework for Promomed’s operations in Vietnam.

Minister Lan said that the Vietnamese Ministry of Health (MoH) had reviewed institutional issues related to the development of the pharmaceutical sector.

Alongside the submission and adoption of the Law on Pharmaceuticals by the National Assembly, the ministry has accelerated the development and implementation of strategic priorities for the pharmaceutical industry. Efforts to remove bottlenecks in administrative procedures and business conditions in the sector have also been actively advanced.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan. Photo: the MoH

She added that, in the pharmaceutical sector, annual dialogues are held with businesses investing in, operating, manufacturing, trading, and distributing in the Vietnamese market. Through these dialogues, the aim is to listen to feedback, address difficulties, and hear proposals from businesses to develop.

The minister stated that the MoH is actively working to strengthen cooperation in production, technology transfer, and attracting investment in Vietnam in the biomedical sector. This is one of the strategic tasks assigned by the government to the ministry for implementation in the coming period, with clear priority policies.

The MoH always supports businesses in the pharmaceutical sector. In terms of foundation, mechanisms, and institutions, the ministry, as the state management agency, has created better conditions for businesses.

She said that to realise these conditions and opportunities, Promomed Group should continue discussions with companies to clearly exchange views on the objectives of each party, leading to a long-term and effective cooperation agreement.

The leader of the MoH instructed the Drug Administration of Vietnam to support Promomed Group and businesses with procedures and methods for completing legal documents, and to provide solutions for accessing and finalising cooperation programmes.

“We very much hope to see another step on the map of attracting investment in medical and pharmaceutical technology from the group in Vietnam,” she said.

Vietnam's health sector tightens control over GMP standardisation The healthcare sector is tightening standardisation for health supplements, with a new evaluation checklist of nearly 170 criteria covering everything from raw materials to finished products.

MoH urges hospitals to accelerate electronic medical records Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has requested medical facilities nationwide accelerate the rollout of electronic medical records and phase out paper records.

DKSH and STADA Pymepharco establish health products partnership DKSH has expanded its collaboration with STADA Pymepharco aiming to enhance healthcare quality for Vietnamese consumers through European‑standard products.

Vietnam Medi-pharm 2026 taking place in Hanoi More than 300 industry participants from more than 15 countries and territories are showing advanced products and technologies at Vietnam Medi-pharm 2026 in Hanoi.

In the latest draft decree, the drafting agency continues to propose raising the foreign ownership cap in Vietnamese airlines from 34 per cent to a maximum of 49 per cent, while also seeking opinions from government members on the proposal.

According to the MoC, under bilateral and multilateral aviation agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory, the criterion ‘substantial ownership’ for the designation or approval of designated airlines means that foreign investors may hold no more than 49 per cent of charter capital in foreign-invested aviation enterprises.

With nearly 100 million population and strong growth momentum, local aviation market is increasingly attractive to foreign investors

The drafting agency said that increasing the foreign ownership limit would enable airlines to access additional international capital sources, thereby improving financial capacity, especially as many businesses continue to face prolonged impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Adjusting the foreign ownership ratio would help airlines attract investment capital, improve financial efficiency, and gain access to modern technologies, management expertise and operational experience from foreign partners,” the MoC stated.

According to the agency’s review, many countries currently allow foreign investors to own up to 49 per cent of airline equity, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Australia, Turkey, Brazil and China.

The MoC also noted that under trade agreements to which Vietnam is a party, particularly the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and EVFTA, Vietnam has the right to determine and announce the foreign ownership ratio in the air transport sector in accordance with domestic laws and regulations.

At present, Decree No.89/2019/ND-CP stipulates that foreign ownership in air transport enterprises must not exceed 34 per cent of charter capital. The MoC then argues that increasing the cap to 49 per cent would be appropriate and would not violate Vietnam’s international commitments.

During the consultation process, the carriers Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet reportedly proposed maintaining the current foreign ownership ceiling of 34 per cent. The Ministry of Justice also recommended considering retention of the existing cap to ensure prudence in the aviation sector.

However, based on an overall assessment, the drafting agency argued that domestic airlines have not yet fully utilised the current 34 per cent foreign ownership ‘room’, and therefore there is insufficient basis to conclude that the current threshold is optimal.

In addition, the MoC believes that the current 34 per cent cap does not fully reflect capital mobilisation needs in the aviation industry, which is highly capital-intensive and subject to significant volatility.

According to the drafting agency, raising the cap to 49 per cent would still ensure that domestic investors retain effective controlling rights, in line with international practices, and would not alter the nature of Vietnamese enterprises operating in the aviation sector.

Notably, the MoC noted that increasing the ownership ratio to 49 per cent would not be mandatory, but would simply provide enterprises with greater flexibility and additional options when capital mobilisation needs arise in practice.

“Risks related to financial dependence, conflicts of interest, or national defence and security can fundamentally be managed through business conditions, corporate governance regulations and supervisory mechanisms of state management agencies, rather than by maintaining a low administrative ownership cap,” the drafting agency stated.

Among Vietnam’s seven airlines currently operating scheduled commercial air transport services, Vietnam Airlines is currently the only carrier with a foreign airline as a shareholder.

After investing more than VND2.4 trillion ($96 million) to acquire more than 8.7 per cent stake in Vietnam Airlines in 2016, All Nippon Airways’ ownership in the national flag carrier has now declined to around 5.62 per cent.

Meanwhile, Vietjet also has indirect foreign investor participation through investment funds and financial institutions, although foreign ownership remains capped at 34 per cent under Government Decree No.89/2019/ND-CP, issued in November 2019, which amended and supplemented provisions of Decree No.92/2016/ND-CP and Decree No.30/2013/ND-CP governing air transport business and general aviation activities.

Bank stocks widen the gate for foreign capital Foreign capital is pouring into Vietnamese bank stocks, fuelled by regulatory tailwinds and expanding foreign ownership limits across a sector poised for deeper global integration.

Masan Consumer lifts foreign ownership limit to 100 per cent On March 18, the State Securities Commission announced that it had received Masan Consumer Corporation’s application to double its foreign ownership limit to 100 per cent.

Vietnam stock market gathers pace as upgrade window opens Vietnam’s recent market correction appears tactical rather than structural, as strong growth momentum and FTSE upgrade prospects anchor a compelling medium-term outlook.

In addition to investments made through the Daiwa-SSIAM Vietnam Growth Fund IV, the new cooperation mechanism will expand to include diversified capital solutions from CCI CrossBorder, encompassing credit and mezzanine financing.

Furthermore, the partners will facilitate connections and expand networks between Vietnamese enterprises and relevant stakeholders, while sharing information and insights on market trends, industry developments, and the regulatory environment.

This cooperation marks a step forward in the collaboration between Japanese financial institutions and leading investment platforms in Vietnam to provide capital to the economy, specifically the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

During the signing ceremony, SSIAM’s CEO Nguyen Ngoc Anh highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“Vietnam today stands at an important turning point. Our stock market was recently announced for an upgrade from frontier to emerging market by FTSE, combined strong growth, solid economic fundamentals, a dynamic private sector, and increasing integration into global supply chains, Vietnam continues to attract growing interest from Japanese investors and the international investment community,” Anh said.

Chairman and CEO of Daiwa Corporate Investment Shinichi Seto also emphasised their long-term dedication, noting, “Because we have stayed committed to Vietnam for more than 15 years, we can say with confidence that now is the time for Japanese financial institutions to invest and provide financing more actively in Vietnam. We highly value SSIAM’s deep local knowledge, strong network, and long partnership with us.”

Going forward, the three parties will continue to boost exchanges and implement cooperative activities to deepen this financial model, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s market.

CCI CrossBorder is a member of CCI Group (formerly Hokkoku Financial Holdings), one of the leading Japanese regional banking groups, operating at a global scale, offering a full range of services including banking, leasing, consulting, and digital services.

Daiwa Corporate Investment is the investment arm of Daiwa Securities Group, Japan’s leading financial and investment group. Daiwa focuses on supporting startups and growing enterprises through private equity investments. The firm has co-managed the Daiwa–SSIAM Vietnam Growth Fund series with SSIAM since 2009.

SSI and foreign funds direct $21 million in bonds into Hai An Transport & Stevedoring Hai An Transport & Stevedoring JSC announced a landmark investment collaboration with prominent foreign investment funds led by SSI Asset Management Co., Ltd. (SSIAM) on February 28.

Stock market holds investment potential from now until year end The stock market holds potential for investment this year in the context of the macroeconomic recovery and a rebound in manufacturing and business activities across most sectors.

SSIAM and DBJ launch Japan Vietnam Capital Fund SSI Asset Management Company and the Development Bank of Japan on February 3 launched the Japan Vietnam Capital Fund at an event celebrating 20 years of cooperation between them.

The purpose of the plan is to organise the synchronised and effective implementation of the tasks assigned in Decision No.2692/QD-TTg dated December 11, 2025, of the prime minister approving the application of IoT in smart transportation. It also specifies the work content, deadlines, and responsibilities of relevant agencies and units in implementation of the initiative.

Photo: The MoC

The specific goals for the 2026-2028 are to complete the national institutional framework and technical standards for IoT applications in smart transportation. Accordingly, at least two cities will be selected to pilot the implementation of a smart operation centre integrating IoT transportation data; all the East cluster of the North-South Expressway will have a complete electronic toll collection system and all the electronic toll collection data will be integrated into a common smart transportation data sharing system.

Also, 90 per cent of national legal documents, standards, and technical regulations on IoT in transportation will be developed, promulgated, or submitted for promulgation.

In the 2029-2035 period, the country will see the expansion of IoT applications in smart transportation. Accordingly, at least five cities and 10 provinces will deploy and operate smart operation centres integrating IoT transportation data; 100 per cent of IoT transportation data will be standardised and ready for interconnection and sharing between the MoC, the Ministry of Public Security, and local authorities; and at least 50 per cent of major transportation routes (expressways, ring roads) will have IoT sensor infrastructure installed for the management, monitoring, and maintenance of road infrastructure.

The plan also outlines the tasks and solutions for implementation, including research, propose, and refine the legal framework (system of legal documents, system of technical standards) for applying IoT in the field of smart transportation; build IoT infrastructure in smart transportation; deploy IoT applications in smart transportation.

Funding for the plan will come from the state budget, public-private partnerships, official development assistance, and other legitimate sources. Funding from domestic and foreign businesses, organisations, and individuals is encouraged; integrated funding from other approved programmes and projects, as well as other legitimate sources, will be used to carry out the tasks.

Domestic technology enterprises are being encouraged to develop IoT equipment and platforms, with a view towards gradually mastering core technologies and cutting reliance on imported components.

There are incentives and support mechanisms for research and development for businesses, research institutes, and universities in the fields of IoT, AI, big data, and cybersecurity.

Thai Nguyen looks to develop smart transport, opportunities for businesses Digital transformation and smart transport development will be key tasks for the northern province of Thai Nguyen in the next decade, creating new opportunities for business.

Singapore, France ink deal on smart transport, digital and green issues Singapore and France have signed a digital and green partnership (DGP) which aims to strengthen cooperation in these fast-growing sectors.

Opening up opportunities for cooperation and investment in smart mobility The Smart Mobility Industry Networking Seminar took place in Hanoi on November 1, bringing the industry together to discuss solutions and technologies related to the smart mobility sector in Vietnam.

• Financial Technology Innovation Conference – focusing on AI, data architecture, digital assets and next-generation banking models
• Transaction Finance Re-Invented Conference – covering trade, supply chain finance, liquidity, real-time payments and transaction banking transformation.
• Beyond Borders – examining cross-border financial connectivity, payments innovation and regional growth across ASEAN, North Asia, the Middle East and Africa

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

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

• Endovision offers an intestinal endoscopic imaging system that leverages AI and real-time imaging to assist physicians in conducting more precise examinations. The solution has already obtained EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification.
• Mirror Caring presents SyncKnee, a smart wearable solution integrating flexible sensors, embedded systems and AI analytics to deliver real-time monitoring of knee joint health and data-driven insights.
• Voice Empowerment Technology features a customised "AI Voice Reconstruction Tool" designed to enhance the efficiency of speech therapy services, offering breakthrough communication support for patients with aphasia and speech disorders.

• Agilis Robotics: The world's first robotic-assisted "En Bloc Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour", achieving precise tumour resection margins and offering a minimally invasive surgical option with faster recovery for early-stage cancer patients.
• GenEditBio: The world's first in vivo genome editing therapy (often referred to as "DNA surgery") targeting corneal dystrophy, with Phase I clinical trials expected to commence this year, aiming to improve patients' quality of life.
• Meta Pharmaceuticals: The world's first oral inhibitor for treating autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis, enhancing medication convenience and delivering safer, more effective anti-inflammatory therapy.

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

More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

• Adrian Lee, Head of Sales, Google Customer Solutions, Hong Kong & Macau, Google
• AI Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Dataworks Group
• Alan Teo, Chief Executive Officer, Hoiana Resort & Golf
• Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director, Macao Government Tourism Office
• Gregory Hawkins, President and Chief Operating Officer, Solaire
• Joseph Bufalino, Executive Director of Responsible Gambling, Marina Bay Sands
• Kenneth Feng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, MGM China Holdings Limited
• Walt Power, Chief Executive Officer, The Grand Ho Tram
• And more.

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

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

• AI Upscaling Pro: uses AI to analyse and enhance low-resolution content in real time, delivering greater detail, depth and contrast, while Colour Booster Pro analyses and categorises scenes to provide more vivid, lifelike colour.
• AI Football Mode Pro: Automatically analyses match scenes in real time to optimise picture and sound for smoother ball movement, vivid colour and more immersive stadium audio.
• AI Sound Controller Pro: analyses dialogue, background music and sound effects in real time, letting users adjust elements such as commentary and crowd noise for a more immersive experience.

• Hi-Resolution Audio and Dolby Atmos®: more detailed and immersive sound playback, while its super tweeter extends frequency response up to 35kHz for enhanced musical detail.
• Expanded Q-Symphony: lets users connect up to five compatible sound devices[8] with a Samsung TV to build a more immersive audio-visual experience at home.
• Built to pair naturally with big-screen TVs: two Music Studio 7 units placed on either side of a larger display can create a more balanced interior look while widening the stereo soundstage.

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

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

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

For more, please visit:
https://www.bora-corp.com
https://www.boracdmo.com

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

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Leveraging the RNAi mechanism, siRNA drugs are able to achieve precise silencing of pathogenic genes. With core advantages of extremely broad target spectrum, digital design capability, short development cycles, and high patient compliance due to ultra-long duration, siRNA drugs have spearheaded the "third wave of modern pharmaceuticals". Deep integration with AI technology will further enhance the efficiency and success rate of siRNA drug development, facilitating breakthroughs in "undruggable" targets that remain intractable via conventional approaches, thereby bringing novel therapeutic solutions to patients.

Ribo is integrating AI technology into its siRNA drug development system, and has established an algorithm-driven intelligent siRNA sequence design platform and a high-efficiency ligand screening platform, enabling rapid identification, iteration, and optimization of high-quality candidate molecules. During the clinical development phase, AI technology has been utilized to predict and evaluate the efficacy and safety of targets in patient populations, significantly enhancing the efficiency and success rate of clinical development. Previously, Ribo and Insilico Medicine had reached a collaboration in the field of intelligent autonomous high-throughput screening. This upgraded strategic collaboration leverages Ribo's profound industrial expertise and leading development capabilities in siRNA technology and drug R&D, together with Insilico Medicine's end-to-end AI-powered drug discovery platform. It delivers full complementary strengths and in-depth synergy, accelerating the development of innovative siRNA drugs to address unmet clinical needs and benefit patients worldwide at an earlier stage.

"We are very pleased to sign this strategic cooperation agreement with Ribo today. Insilico and Ribo have maintained close communication and mutual trust. Also, it is worth noting that Ribo is the first partner on high-throughput experimental services of our LifeStar 2 automated laboratory platform, demonstrating the industrial empowerment of our automated laboratory platform," said Feng Ren, PhD, Co-CEO and CSO of Insilico Medicine. "With the continuous innovation of AI algorithms, Insilico Medicine's Pharma.AI platform has recently introduced multiple major upgrades. Through in-depth discussions, both parties have reached consensus on cooperation opportunities, where we can leverage the Pharma.AI platform to empower multiple scenarios in oligonucleotide drug development. We will work together to enable end-to-end empowerment, further expand the boundaries of AI empowerment, and strive to meet unmet clinical needs."

"We are now in a new era of AI-guided clinical research and development. Insilico Medicine and Ribo are highly aligned in terms of innovation capabilities, as well as missions and visions in our respective fields, and we are very pleased to see our previous successful collaboration grow into this comprehensive strategic cooperation," said Li-Ming Gan, Co-CEO & Global R&D President of Ribo. "Through years of technological advancements and existing AI tools, Ribo has entered a track of rapid development with intensive output of drug candidates and efficient advancement of clinical trials. Now empowered by Insilico Medicine's globally leading Pharma.AI platform, we anticipate an even more powerful catalyst for our differentiated strategic development stage. We look forward to sparking innovation through close cooperation between both parties, further enhancing the efficiency and certainty of our drug development, and accelerating AI-driven oligonucleotide therapies to benefit all of humanity."

For more information, please visit www.insilico.com

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Avance Clinical excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align closely with biotech sponsor needs while executing with speed, precision, and scalability. \"Avance Clinical stands out for its ability to align deeply with the unique pressures of biotech development, combining scientific rigor, operational agility, and continuity across clinical phases to deliver measurable progress for sponsors,\" said Unmesh Lal, Vice President at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy centered on biotech specialization, global expansion, and operational integration, Avance Clinical leads the rapidly evolving clinical research environment. The company\'s strategic focus on early-phase development, combined with its GlobalReady model, enables seamless progression from Phase I through later-stage trials across regions, including the United States, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

Innovation is central to Avance Clinical\'s approach. Its comprehensive suite of clinical development services meets the evolving demands of biotechnology companies by offering speed to clinics, regulatory flexibility, and data-driven insights. By leveraging Australia\'s rapid study start-up timelines and cost efficiencies, alongside advanced analytics and AI-enabled data systems, the company enhances trial execution while improving visibility into program performance.

\"We are honored to receive Frost & Sullivan\'s 2026 Global Biotechnology CRO of the Year Recognition, reflecting the strength of our team and our commitment to advancing biotech innovation. This recognition highlights our ability to help our biotech clients accelerate timelines with our focus and strength in Australia, coupled with our global operations to power patient enrollment for later phase studies,\" said Mark Harvill, Chief Executive Officer at Avance Clinical.

Harvill continued, \"We continue to drive global growth while adapting to an evolving clinical landscape through digital transformation including AI adoption across our global operations, data-driven decision-making, and further strategic expansion. We remain focused on partnering with biotech innovators to accelerate development in Australia and globally as we bring new therapies to patients.\"

Avance Clinical\'s unwavering commitment to customer experience further strengthens its position in the market. By embedding senior leadership into project teams, maintaining continuity across studies, and tailoring delivery models to individual sponsor needs, the company operates as a true extension of its clients. Its emphasis on transparency, direct communication, and milestone alignment enables biotech sponsors to navigate funding pressures, regulatory complexity, and accelerated development timelines with greater confidence.

The company\'s investment in therapeutic expertise and regional expansion reinforces its competitive differentiation. Focused capability growth in oncology, central nervous system, and cardiometabolic research, along with the establishment of Centers of Excellence, enhances its ability to support complex, high-value programs. At the same time, its expansion across Asia Pacific and strengthened regulatory infrastructure position Avance Clinical as a key partner for multi-regional clinical trials.

Frost & Sullivan commends Avance Clinical for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and market responsiveness. The company\'s biotech-focused model, commitment to innovation, and ability to deliver continuity across the clinical development life cycle are shaping the future of the CRO industry and driving tangible outcomes for sponsors worldwide.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Company of the Year Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The recognition honors forward-thinking organizations that are redefining their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan\'s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
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Backed by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and organized by the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT), MOEA, with the Taipei Computer Association as the host, the Best AI Awards is a premier global competition. It recognizes projects that accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) across diverse industries, demonstrating exceptional commercial value and technical innovation.

The award-winning product, Eko Agentic: Data Analyst, is an enterprise-grade Agentic AI solution developed under Amity. The breakthrough technology powering the platform is driven by the Amity AI Research & Application Center (ARAC), which is headquartered in Singapore. ARAC serves as the core innovation backbone that synergizes advanced AI research across Amity's global portfolio.

Eko Agentic acts as a highly specialized retail data analyst that thinks and acts like an organization's most experienced store managers. To bridge the gap in analytical skills across different branches, the AI democratizes expert-level analysis through a rigorous 3-step training process: learning from best performing store managers, utilizing auto-refinement for specific store locations, and applying Multi-Turn Group Relative Policy Optimization (MT-GRPO) reinforcement learning.

Currently deployed across more than 1,000 stores, the agent is drastically transforming store operations. It empowers managers to shift their daily focus from tedious manual data crunching to pure execution. By delivering automated daily briefs that pinpoint root causes and recommend concrete actions, managers can quickly review and approve strategies to prevent critical issues like dead stock, empty shelves, and mistimed promotions.

Representing Amity's AI lab on the global stage, the winning presentation was delivered by Wachiravit Modecrua, Director of ARAC, Dr. Krittin Pachtrachai, Senior Research Engineer, and Miss Natchaya Temyingyong, Research Engineer. Their comprehensive live demonstration of Eko Agentic's multi-step reasoning capabilities, coupled with its proven commercial impact, ultimately secured the judging panel's top position among the international finalists.

Touchapon Kraisingkorn, Chairman of Amity AI Research & Application Center (ARAC), Executive Director and Co-Founder of Amity, said: "Taking home the Gold Award against hundreds of global tech companies is a tremendous validation of the work we do at ARAC." He added, "The industry is quickly realizing that giving businesses a generic chatbot isn't enough to drive real impact. You need vertical AI, systems that truly understand the specific, daily pain points of a retail store manager or a regional director. By focusing entirely on purpose-built Agentic AI that executes like a seasoned industry expert, we are solving deeply complex operational challenges."

The 2026 program attracted over 8,500 entries nationwide. Following a rigorous judging process, Swan's Professional Plumbing was selected as the national winner from a shortlist of 22 plumbers, standing out as the only Western Australian plumbing business recognised as a finalist in the category.

The winners were announced at a National Gala Presentation Evening at The Star Sydney on Friday, 1 May 2026. Owners Michael and Gemma Swan accepted the Champion trophy and certificate on behalf of the business.

"Winning this national title is an incredible honour for our entire team," said Michael Swan, Owner of Swan's Professional Plumbing. "This recognition belongs to everyone involved, every job completed properly, every set of boot protectors at the door, and every customer treated with care and respect has contributed to this achievement."

Originally founded in Mandurah in 2002 by Michael's father, Stephen Swan, the business has grown into a trusted service provider across Perth and the Peel region while remaining proudly family-run.

Steve Loe, Founder of the awards and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, praised the team's achievement:

"For 28 years, I've had the privilege of presenting a program that celebrates and rewards the hard-working, passionate Australians who grow their businesses from start-ups into industry leaders. Running a small business today demands unwavering commitment, strong leadership, sharp business acumen, creativity, people skills, vision, and social awareness, all qualities our independent judging panel identified as key reasons for selecting Swan's Professional Plumbing as the 2026 Champion of the Plumbing Services category."

For Swan's Professional Plumbing, this win reinforces its commitment to clear communication and ongoing team development as a leader in Western Australia's plumbing industry.

For more information, visit https://www.swansplumbing.com.au/

The joint venture marks Ispire's entry into the rapidly expanding oral nicotine category, broadening its portfolio beyond vaping hardware and positioning the Company in one of the fastest-growing segments of the global nicotine market. According to Grand View Research, the nicotine pouch market was approximately $7 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at nearly 25% annually through 2033, potentially exceeding $40 billion.

"This joint venture represents a meaningful strategic expansion for Ispire," said Michael Wang, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ispire. "Nicotine pouches are a major global growth category, and this partnership enables us to enter the market with immediate operational capability and pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing expertise. Combined with our global distribution and regulatory infrastructure, we believe this positions us to build a significant new revenue stream and further advance our broader nicotine platform strategy."

Under the terms of the agreement, Jincheng Pharma will contribute manufacturing equipment, technical expertise, and nicotine pouch materials, enabling a rapid operational ramp-up and supporting near-term production and commercialization. The joint venture is expected to leverage Ispire's strengths in precision dosing, regulatory compliance, and global distribution to differentiate its nicotine pouch offerings in an increasingly competitive market.

"Ispire's proven manufacturing excellence and global regulatory capabilities accelerate our path to commercialization," said Jiaquan Li, Chairman and President of Jincheng Pharma. "By combining our pharmaceutical expertise and customer relationships with Ispire's operational capabilities, we are well positioned to scale high-quality nicotine pouch production quickly and responsibly."

Jincheng Pharma is a diversified pharmaceutical company with approximately 3,800 employees and more than 30 affiliated companies worldwide. The company is engaged in the research, development, production, and commercialization of pharmaceutical intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), finished pharmaceutical products, and health-related products.

Jincheng selected Ispire as its partner based on Ispire's reputation for high-quality manufacturing, operational execution, and strong global regulatory compliance infrastructure.

The Company expects initial production to be supported by existing commercial relationships and intends to pursue additional business development opportunities within the oral nicotine segment as part of its broader international nicotine platform strategy.

This expansion builds on Ispire's ongoing efforts to diversify its product portfolio across multiple reduced-risk nicotine formats while leveraging its manufacturing scale, compliance capabilities, and global distribution network.