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    <title>Outbound Investment</title>
    <description>Outbound Investment</description>
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    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 16:05:42 +0700</lastBuildDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/kn-holdings-kicks-off-infrastructure-construction-of-knic-nam-long-thanh-project-153229.html</guid>
			<title>KN Holdings kicks off infrastructure construction of KNIC Nam Long Thanh project</title>
			<description>Bau Can Tan Hiep Industrial Park also known as KNIC Nam Long Thanh held a general contractor kick off ceremony for the first phase of its infrastructure works in Dong Nai marking the official start of on site construction on May 21</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">KN Industrial City (KNIC) is developed by KN Holdings, a private economic group established in 1978. KNIC comprises three industrial parks: KNIC Nam Long Thanh, KNIC Dong Long Thanh, and Long Duc 3.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">With a total planned area of more than 2,300 ha, KNIC is positioned to become one of Vietnam's leading high-tech industrial hubs. The project aims to develop a next-generation industrial ecosystem aligned with international standards.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The opening ceremony was attended by senior executives of KN Holdings, representatives from Nippon Koei as the project's design consultant, construction contractors Delta Vietnam and Thanh Nguyen Phat, supervision consultant TTAD, more than 100 domestic and international investment promotion partners, and engineers and workers directly involved in the venture.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/09/in_article/kn120260522093128.jpg?rt=20260522093135" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title=""></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td>Representatives from the developer, contractors, and partners mark the start of KNIC Nam Long Thanh Industrial Park phase one construction</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The project has now completed all of its key legal procedures, including investment policy approval, 1/2000-scale zoning plan approval, environmental impact assessment, land lease decision, and approval of the feasibility study report.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Immediately following the ceremony, major infrastructure components such as land levelling, transportation systems, water supply and drainage systems, power infrastructure, and the management office building will be simultaneously deployed.</p>    <p>According to the schedule, the core infrastructure is expected to be completed and ready for handover to secondary investors for factory construction by the fourth quarter. Between June 2026 and 2027, the project is also expected to commence and put into operation its Intelligent Operations Centre, worker accommodation areas, and various on-site amenities.</p>    <p>Nguyen Tuan Anh, deputy CEO of KN Holdings, explained that the objective is to attract manufacturers to build factories and to create a sustainable industrial ecosystem that meets the most stringent international standards, where businesses can confidently pursue long-term growth.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“KNIC Nam Long Thanh Industrial Park is being developed on the foundation of synchronised infrastructure, with the ambition of capturing both domestic and international investment flows, particularly in industries requiring high operational standards and a stable business environment,” Anh said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Located within Vietnam’s southern key economic region, KNIC Nam Long Thanh also benefits from strong logistics advantages, enabling businesses to optimise costs and integrate more effectively into global supply chains.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">KNIC Nam Long Thanh Industrial Park benefits from strong multimodal connectivity, located around 5km from Long Thanh International Airport, it boasts access to key transportation corridors across Vietnam’s southern economic region. This strategic location facilitates the movement of experts, business executives, and high-value goods.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">In terms of road connectivity, the industrial park is linked to major transport arteries including expressways of Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay; Bien Hoa – Vung Tau; Ben Luc – Long Thanh; National Highway 51; Bau Can Road, DT25B, and DT25C connecting directly to Long Thanh Airport.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, ongoing and planned infrastructure projects such as the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, DT770B, Ring Road 4, Road 769E, DT773, and National Highway 51C are expected to further strengthen connectivity between Dong Nai and neighbouring economic hubs including Ho Chi Minh City, former Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Regarding waterway connectivity, the development will have access to Phuoc An Port, the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port Complex, and Cat Lai Port, creating additional advantages for import-export businesses seeking to optimise logistics costs and integrate more effectively into global supply chains.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/09/in_article/kn220260522093205.jpg?rt=20260522093257" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title=""></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td><em>A rendering of KNIC Nam Long Thanh Industrial Park</em></td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Beyond its location advantages, KNIC Nam Long Thanh is being developed with a strong emphasis on modern and sustainable infrastructure. The internal road network features widths ranging from 28 to 60 metres, designed to accommodate heavy trucks and container transportation efficiently.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The industrial park is also planned with a power supply system comprising three 110kV substations with a combined capacity of 378MW, alongside plans to develop 600MW of rooftop solar power and an approximately 60MW battery energy storage system.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Regarding water infrastructure, the park will include two independent water supply plants with a total capacity of 60,000 cu.m per day, as well as two wastewater treatment plants applying SBR technology with a combined treatment capacity of 50,000 cu.m per day.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The project is targeting a water reuse ratio of approximately 25 per cent, aligning with green operation requirements and environmental, social, and governance standards increasingly adopted by international manufacturing companies.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">With this infrastructure foundation, KNIC Nam Long Thanh Industrial Park aims to attract high value-added foreign-invested projects in sectors such as electronics, aerospace supporting industries, chips and semiconductors, data centres, precision engineering, automation, smart logistics, and other environmentally friendly industries.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Together with KNIC Dong Long Thanh, KNIC Nam Long Thanh forms part of the industrial infrastructure ecosystem being developed by KN Holdings in Dong Nai, contributing to the expansion of large-scale industrial land supply and creating a stronger foundation to entice next-generation inflows of overseas investment to the province.</p>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/corporations-contribute-to-building-modern-industrial-country-115007.html"><img alt="Corporations contribute to building modern industrial country" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/29/12/thumbnail/big-corporations-contributing-to-building-a-modern-industrial-country-20240929125230.jpg?rt=20240929125233" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/corporations-contribute-to-building-modern-industrial-country-115007.html" title="Corporations contribute to building modern industrial country">Corporations contribute to building modern industrial country</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">The biggest corporations in the country raised practical suggestions at a meeting with the prime minister on solutions of the country's socioeconomic development on September 21.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/kn-holdings-signs-clean-energy-pact-with-samsung-ct-134799.html"><img alt="KN Holdings signs clean energy pact with Samsung C&amp;T" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/082025/20/09/thumbnail/kn-holdings-signs-clean-energy-pact-with-samsung-ct-pr-20250820092636.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/kn-holdings-signs-clean-energy-pact-with-samsung-ct-134799.html" title="KN Holdings signs clean energy pact with Samsung C&amp;T">KN Holdings signs clean energy pact with Samsung C&amp;T</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Vietnamese conglomerate KN Holdings has signed an MoU with Samsung C&amp;T to develop three floating solar power projects totalling 864MW, marking a major step in Vietnam–Korea energy cooperation and the country's green transition ambitions.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/kocham-and-kn-holdings-strengthen-cooperation-on-eco-industrial-parks-145202.html"><img alt="KoCham and KN Holdings strengthen cooperation on eco-industrial parks" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/012026/21/14/thumbnail/kocham-and-kn-holdings-strengthen-cooperation-on-eco-industrial-parks-in-vietnam-pr-20260121144403.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/kocham-and-kn-holdings-strengthen-cooperation-on-eco-industrial-parks-145202.html" title="KoCham and KN Holdings strengthen cooperation on eco-industrial parks">KoCham and KN Holdings strengthen cooperation on eco-industrial parks</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">The Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KoCham) and KN Holdings Group on January 16 signed an MoU on cooperation in industrial park investment and development in Dong Nai province.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/kn-holdings-kicks-off-infrastructure-construction-of-knic-nam-long-thanh-project-153229.html</link>
			<author>Bich Ngoc</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 15:22:43 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/expereo-earns-ecovadis-silver-rating-ranking-in-top-15-of-its-industry-153144.html</guid>
			<title>Expereo earns EcoVadis Silver rating ranking in top 15 of its industry</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Managed Network as a Service provider Expereo has been awarded an EcoVadis Silver rating placing in the 92nd percentile and among the top 15 of companies in its industry category for sustainable supply chain performance span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - Expereo, the world-leading Managed Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) provider, announced it has been awarded an EcoVadis Silver Rating ranking in the 92nd percentile and placing among the top 15% of its industry category this year. This reflects a 10-point improvement from its previous Bronze rating, strengthening the company's position in sustainable supply chain performance, ESG governance and responsible business practices.<br />  <br />  The company recorded gains across all four EcoVadis assessment pillars: Environment, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The strongest improvements came in Environment, up 10 points, and Labour and Human Rights, which rose 19 points year-on-year, with the latter independently validated by Expereo's Great Place to Work UAE Certification for 2026 and Singapore Employee Experience of the Year win at the Asian Experience Awards 2025.<br />  <br />  Commenting on the recognition, Ben Elms CEO Expereo, said, "We are incredibly proud of this achievement. Moving from a Bronze to a Silver rating in just a year reflects the progress our teams have made in embedding sustainability across our operations, procurement, and people practices.<br />  <br />  We have reduced material consumption, minimised waste, and rolled out initiatives such as the Cisco Refurbish Project, while strengthening risk assessments and introducing bi‑annual supplier sustainability evaluations. These efforts give our customers confidence that they are working with a company aligned with their values and ethical business standards. This milestone is a testament to our collective commitment to driving meaningful and lasting impact, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead."<br />  <br />  Looking ahead, Expereo plans to expand the use of refurbished equipment, further align cloud hosting and supplier selection with lower-carbon criteria, and deepen transparency across its value chain.<br />  <br />  This builds on its FY25 sustainability strategy anchored around three core pillars:<br />  <br />  Environment: building a rigorous CO₂ inventory and embedding circular economy practices across its operations,<br />  <br />  People: investing in employee health, wellbeing and a more inclusive workplace culture across its global teams,<br />  <br />  Green procurement policy: implementing strong sustainability criteria for Data Centre partnership focused on clean energy, prioritizing the procurement of recycled customer equipment and extending CPE lifecycle in a safe manner.<br />  <br />  These initiatives are designed to support customer and partner expectations for more resilient, transparent and sustainable digital infrastructure. By combining supplier governance, circular economy practices and improved carbon accounting, Expereo is building a more data-driven foundation for future ESG performance and reporting.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">For more information, visit: https://www.expereo.com/<br />  <br />  <br />  <img alt="" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466160/9995" /></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/expereo-earns-ecovadis-silver-rating-ranking-in-top-15-of-its-industry-153144.html</link>
			<author>Expereo</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:43:34 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/tecsun-science-technology-partners-with-qingcloud-to-build-ai-livelihood-services-platform-153227.html</guid>
			<title>Tecsun Science Technology partners with QingCloud to build AI livelihood services platform</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Tecsun Science Technology has entered a partnership with QingCloud Technologies to develop AI powered services targeting public livelihood needs positioning the alliance as a new growth driver in China s smart services sector span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 May 2026 - According to a WeChat official account release by TECSUN SCIENCE &amp; TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD. （stock code: 002908）on May 21, the company has recently officially reached an ecological cooperation with QingCloud Technologies Corp. (stock code: 688316). Driven by the dual engines of "Artificial Intelligence Plus" and the market-oriented reform of data factors, the two sides will jointly explore a new paradigm of livelihood services featuring "AI + Cloud + Computing Power Collaboration". This cooperation will focus on livelihood sectors including healthcare, employment and government services, connecting the full chain from computing infrastructure to scenario implementation, and unlocking room for large-scale growth.</p>    <p><img alt="近日，德生科技与青云科技集团股份有限公司（简称“青云科技”，股票代码688316)正式达成生态?002e006apeg" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/14/68831620260522143854.jpeg" style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0px;" width="100%" /></p>  As a full-stack self-developed provider of enterprise-grade AI infrastructure (AI Infra) and solutions, QingCloud Technologies Corp. deeply understands enterprise demands and implementation scenarios, and has built end-to-end digital and intelligent solutions. With deep roots in livelihood services, TECSUN SCIENCE &amp; TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD. boasts integrated capabilities of "Data + Algorithms + Scenarios", self-developed innovations such as government affairs large models and AI-powered employment services, as well as profound industry customer resources and operational experience. Oriented by solution collaboration, the two parties will combine TECSUN's scenario-based intelligent applications with QingCloud's private cloud, information technology application innovation cloud, intelligent computing platform and MaaS services to form solid technological synergy.<br />  <br />  Focusing on core sectors including employment, healthcare and government services, the two sides will promote the integrated deployment of employment Agent and intelligent computing platform to achieve precise job matching and intelligent recommendation; advance the implementation of a fusion architecture of contactless medical payment systems and edge AI inference cloud; and accelerate the joint optimization of government affairs large models and intelligent guidance systems in the information technology application innovation cloud environment.<br />  <br />  In terms of delivery, the two parties will jointly conduct compatibility tests and performance verification to ensure the compatibility and stability of the joint solutions, and jointly deliver secure, controllable and ready-to-use intelligent livelihood solutions. Meanwhile, they will actively explore the co-construction of regional intelligent computing centers in mature areas to consolidate the computing infrastructure for "AI + Livelihood Services".<br />  <br />  Looking ahead, the two sides will take joint solutions as the anchor, jointly explore the closed-loop operation model of "Urban Livelihood AI Operation Base", connect the full chain from computing supply, model iteration to service delivery, help elevate the intelligence of urban governance, and jointly build a new engine for livelihood services.  <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466433/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/tecsun-science-technology-partners-with-qingcloud-to-build-ai-livelihood-services-platform-153227.html</link>
			<author>Tecsun Science and Technology</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:40:56 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/state-street-opens-new-manila-office-to-expand-global-operations-153143.html</guid>
			<title>State Street opens new Manila office to expand global operations</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Financial services giant State Street Corporation has established a new office in Manila broadening its institutional services footprint in Southeast Asia as part of a wider global operating model expansion span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[MANILA, PHILLIPINES - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, today announced the establishment of a new office in Manila, the Philippines.<br />  <br />  The new Manila office, scheduled to open in the second half of 2026, will further strengthen State Street's global operating model and expand its processing capabilities, complementing the firm's existing operations across the Asia Pacific region.<br />  <br />  "The Asia Pacific region is critical to our longterm growth strategy," said Ann Fogarty, chief operating officer for Investment Services, State Street. "The expansion into Manila is an important step in the continued evolution of our global operating model as we continue to support significant client growth in the region."<br />  <br />  Manila offers access to a young, diverse and highly educated workforce, drawing talent from the city's wellestablished University Belt and its strong pipeline of graduates with financial services and operations expertise.<br />  <br />  With USD54.5 trillion<sup>1</sup> in assets under custody and/or administration, State Street services more than 12% of the world's assets<sup>2</sup>. The firm operates in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 51,000 people worldwide. State Street established its presence in Asia Pacific more than 40 years ago and today operates 16 offices across the region.<br />  <br />  <i><sup>1</sup> </i><i>As of </i><i>March</i><i> 31, 202</i><i>6</i><br />  <br />  <i><sup>2</sup> </i><i>Represents State Street AUC/A of USD$54.5T as of March 31, 2026, divided by Global Financial Assets, including Global Equity, Global Debt Securities and Global Broad Money (M3), as of December 31, 2024. Sources: SIFMA Markets Factbook, 2025; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation (OECD), World Bank.</i><br />  <br />  https://www.statestreet.com  <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466097/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/state-street-opens-new-manila-office-to-expand-global-operations-153143.html</link>
			<author>State Street Corporation</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:36:51 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/hkpc-relaunches-ai-showcase-series-to-drive-industrial-upgrading-and-broad-adoption-153170.html</guid>
			<title>HKPC relaunches AI showcase series to drive industrial upgrading and broad adoption</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Hong Kong Productivity Council has relaunched its AI with HKPC showcase series targeting smart manufacturing public services and workforce training as part of efforts aligned with China s 15th Five Year Plan AI initiative span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - The national 15th Five-Year Plan advocates deepening the "AI+" initiative, promoting the extensive integration of AI across all sectors of the economy and society. The HKSAR Government has clearly positioned AI as a core industry and is accelerating the establishment of the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy to fast-track AI adoption across sectors. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural showcase held in February this year, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today once again presents the "AI with HKPC" Smart Solutions Showcase Series. Featuring nearly 50 innovative AI solutions, the showcase focuses on three major themes: AI forManufacturing, InnovatingPublic Services, and AI Training for All. The event actively responds to the Government's call to empower industries through AI and promote the transition from pilot projects to large-scale deployment. The event has received an enthusiastic response, attracting around 3,000 registrants from the Government, industry, academia and research sectors, reflecting strong market demand for AI solutions. The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr. Kevin CHOI, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, and Mr. Mohamed BUTT, MH, Executive Director of HKPC.<br />  <br />  Kevin CHOI, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, said: "This year's Budget Announcement continues the Government's overall industry‑oriented development approach, with innovation and technology as a key driver and financial empowerment as a central theme. It also puts forward a series of measures to promote the AI development. Over the past few years, the Government has enhanced the strategic layout for AI development, laying a solid foundation for both the industrialisation of AI and the integration of AI across industries. These efforts include establishing an AI Supercomputing Centre, launching a $3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme, and advancing AI research and development through InnoHK. Nevertheless, the most important priority remains "AI for All", ensuring the comprehensive advancement of "AI+" across the whole community. HKPC is a key partner of the Government. At the same time, close collaboration among stakeholders in innovation and technology, industry, commerce and education is essential to fully harness the potential of AI. Talent and enterprises are welcome to explore development opportunities in Hong Kong, whether by establishing a presence or expanding their operations here."<br />  <br />  Mohamed BUTT, MH, Executive Director of HKPC, stated: " Continuously advancing the 'AI Plus' initiative is one of the key national work priorities for this year. In a guideline to implement the 'AI Plus'initiative, the State Council has also clearly specified key performance indicators for the short-term (2027), medium-term (2030) and long-term (2035) phases, with the ultimate goal of fully building an intelligent economy and an intelligent society across the country. The HKSAR Government's clear positioning of AI as a core industry has greatly encouraged the innovation and technology sector. HKPC actively aligns with the national plan and supports the HKSAR Government's initiatives, making AI a key development priority, spanning technology integration and innovation, AI governance and cyber security, as well as talent development. Through this one-stop approach, we aim to support enterprises in leveraging AI to upgrade and transform industries, while also promoting broader public awareness and adoption of AI."<br />  <br />  BUTT added that he was delighted to see the successful return of the AI Solutions Showcase with wider industry participation. The exhibition aims to bring AI from "visibility" to "affordability, accuracy and security", enabling wider adoption across industries and increasing AI penetration. HKPC will continue working with all sectors to advance the popularisation, industrialisation and application of AI, supporting Hong Kong 's development as a leading hub for AI innovation and application.<br />  <br />  The themed programme, "AI for Manufacturing: Redefining Productivity in the AI Era​", showcases a wide range of innovative applications, demonstrating how AI reshapes manufacturing sector, comprehensively enhances productivity, product quality and operational efficiency. Key solutions include:</p>    <ul>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Magnetic Crawling Robot for corrosion inspection of pipeline: Developed by HKPC in collaboration with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), it leverages AI-assisted visual inspection to detect internal and external pipe corrosion, enabling predictive maintenance.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector: The system was jointly developed by HKPC, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), and Hyder-Meinhardt Joint Venture, integrated with AI, robotics, and millimetre-level positioning in GPS-denied environments for quality inspection and maintenance in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">StationInspector: Co-developed by HKPC and MTR Corporation, it features AI-enhanced 3D visual scanning, advanced sensors and deep learning to accurately identify risks, navigate autonomously, generate reports and provide predictive maintenance recommendations, efficiently detecting safety hazards in stations.</li>  </ul>    <p style="text-align: justify;">In addition, HKPC's self-developed open AI platform "HKPC Picasso" integrates a variety of standardised core AI modules. Enterprises can quickly deploy vision inspection, large language model (LLM) and other capabilities without building infrastructure from scratch, achieving efficient and internationally compliant intelligent transformation. This helps enterprises overcome integration challenges, cost concerns, and security risks in AI adoption.<br />  <br />  The "Innovating Public Services, Driving the AI Transformation" stream focuses on AI applications in Government processes, medical diagnostics and data analysis to enhance public service efficiency and risk management capabilities. The event invites speakers from the Digital Policy Office, Hong Kong Generative AI Research &amp; Development Centre and Cyberport to explore how AI infrastructure empowers public services. Industry leaders including Alibaba Cloud, Huawei, Intertek and Shadow Bot also join HKPC experts to share insights on smart governance, data governance and automated approval. Key solutions cover AI-enabled digital public service platforms, AI healthcare applications, and smart systems for data security and leakage prevention, demonstrating how AI improves the quality and security of public services.<br />  <br />  The "FutureSkills: AI Training for ALL" stream aims to cultivate AI talent and prepare the workforce for future challenges. In recent years, the HKSAR Government has actively promoted territory-wide AI training and enhanced AI literacy. In response, HKPC Academy has launched the "Future Skills with AI" Framework to support the "AI for All" initiative. Through professional training programmes and certification covering AI knowledge, technology applications, business management and growth mindset, the framework comprehensively enhances the future workplace competitiveness of working professionals, technology practitioners, business leaders, educators and families.The themed forum, "Enabling the Human + AI Workforce", explores in depth the evolving workplace ecosystem driven by human-AI collaboration, as well as strategies for organisational transformation and leadership action. A series of AI training workshops and expert sharing sessions further cover topics such as Vibe Coding for workplace empowerment, the new era of precision administration, human-machine collaboration, and AI-driven education.<br />  <br />  Furthermore, HKPC signed Memoranda of Understanding with numerous schools and educational organisations, including the Subsidized Primary Schools Council, The Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle Schools, Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council, Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Association for Computer Education, and Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers TechEd Centre , to jointly promote AI education. The AI education programmes are expected to reach over 500 primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong, fostering future digital talent and strengthening the translation of industry-academia outcomes into real-world impact.</p>    <ol>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Kevin CHOI, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, attends the opening ceremony of the "AI with HKPC" Smart Solutions Showcase Series, supporting the integration of AI into industries and the "AI for All" programme.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Mohamed BUTT, MH, Executive Director of the HKPC, encourages enterprises to actively adopt AI to enhance productivity, product quality and operational efficiency at the opening ceremony.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Officiating guests and industry representatives take a group photo to witness the success of the "AI with HKPC" Smart Solutions Showcase Series Returns.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">The showcase features nearly 50 AI solutions and on-site demonstrations, presenting the practical application of AI across various industries and offering actionable transformation pathways for enterprises and organisations.</li>  </ol>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.<br />  <br />  For more information, please visit HKPC's website: www.hkpc.org/en.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466363/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" /></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/hkpc-relaunches-ai-showcase-series-to-drive-industrial-upgrading-and-broad-adoption-153170.html</link>
			<author>Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:31:49 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/synology-launches-pas7700-its-first-all-flash-nvme-active-active-storage-system-153152.html</guid>
			<title>Synology launches PAS7700 its first all flash NVMe active active storage system</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Synology has announced general availability of the PAS7700 its first active active all flash NVMe storage system designed for high intensity data environments demanding continuous availability and fast throughput span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 – Synology today announced the general availability of PAS7700, the company's first active-active, all flash NVMe storage system. Built for mission-critical workloads, PAS7700 delivers enterprise-grade performance, uninterrupted resilience, and optimized operational efficiency.<br />     <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center"><img alt="Synology PAS7700 delivers ultra-high performance, active-active availability and sub-millisecond latency for mission-critical workloads." src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/12/766460-pas7700-png-1600x90020260522121119.jpeg" style="width: 100%;margin: 0px" width="1600" />  <figcaption style="text-align: left;font-size: 16px;line-height: 24px;display: block;margin: 0px;width: 100%"><i>Synology PAS7700 delivers ultra-high performance, active-active availability and sub-millisecond latency for mission-critical workloads.</i></figcaption>  </figure>  <br />  As AI, data analytics, and virtualization platforms continue to reshape how Singapore enterprises operate their IT infrastructure, storage is no longer merely a place to keep data. It has become the foundation behind core operational applications. As a result, organizations are placing greater demands on access speed, service continuity, and long-term operational stability. This is also why enterprises are increasingly seeking high-performance storage platforms that can maintain reliable operations over time.<br />  <br />  "PAS7700 reflects Synology's 25+ years of experience in storage and our close collaboration with enterprise customers to address evolving requirements for high availability, performance, and scalability," said Bie-i Chu, Executive Vice President of the Synology NAS Group. "After a year of extensive real-world validation through our enterprise proof-of-concept program, PAS7700 is field-proven to deliver high reliability and performance, while helping customers lower total cost of ownership (TCO)."<br />  <br />  <b>A Storage Platform for Mission-Critical Systems</b><br />  PAS7700 is equipped with dual controllers and 48 NVMe SSD bays in a 4U chassis, and can scale up to 1.65 PB of raw storage capacity with up to seven expansion units. The system supports both file and block storage and offers broad protocol support, including NVMe-oF, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, SMB, and NFS.<br />  <br />  With up to 2,048 GB of memory* and 100GbE networking, PAS7700 delivers up to 2 million IOPS, latency of under 1 millisecond and sequential throughput of up to 30 GB/s.<br />  <br />  PAS7700 is designed for environments that require real-time data processing, such as virtualization, databases and large-scale data processing environments. It also targets performance-intensive and always-on workloads such as VDI, EDA and AI.<br />  <br />  In addition, the solution is well suited for organizations operating data-intensive infrastructure in sectors such as data centers, manufacturing, semiconductor design, game development, and healthcare. These environments typically process large volumes of data concurrently and require systems that can sustain consistent performance and continuous service availability.<br />  <br />  <b>Designed to Minimize System Disruption</b><br />  One of PAS7700's most notable strengths is its active-active architecture, which enables both controllers to operate simultaneously rather than relying on a traditional active-standby model. If one controller or a network component fails, the system can continue delivering services, significantly reducing the risk of business disruption.<br />  <br />  The system is built with multiple protection layers to ensure high availability, including triple-parity RAID, mirrored write cache protection, IP failover, and automatic failover mechanisms.<br />  <br />  PAS7700 also includes Continuous Availability Manager that enables enterprise IT teams to visually monitor the health status of each system component and detect and address issues quickly before they affect services.<br />  <br />  <b>Multi-Layer Data Protection for Enterprises</b><br />  Synology places strong emphasis on enterprise data protection. PAS7700 supports Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs), providing hardware-level protection without compromising system performance.<br />  <br />  The system also supports WORM folders and immutable snapshots, allowing snapshots to remain protected from unauthorized modification or deletion after creation, thereby reducing the risk of tampering and unauthorized data interference.<br />  <br />  In addition, PAS7700 features Snapshot Replication and Hyper Backup that enable enterprises to build multiple layers of backup and recovery between production environments and secondary systems. This helps strengthen cyber resilience and improve data recoverability in the event of incidents or cyberattacks.<br />  <br />  <b>Lower Cost, Greater Efficiency</b><br />  Beyond performance, Synology also addresses the challenge of optimizing long-term storage investment for enterprises. As many businesses in Singapore continue expanding their data infrastructure, virtual machines and internal AI workloads, the cost of high-speed storage is exerting increasing pressure on IT environments.<br />  <br />  PAS7700 supports both inline and offline deduplication technologies to help reduce unnecessary data usage and extend SSD lifespan. This mechanism can significantly improve storage efficiency in large-scale data environments.<br />  <br />  In the near future, the system will also support Synology Tiering, which automatically moves infrequently accessed data to high-capacity storage systems. This helps free up high-speed NVMe resources for active applications and hot data.<br />  <br />  The entire platform runs on DSM Enterprise, Synology's operating system developed specifically for enterprise storage, and is designed for environments that require high performance while maintaining intuitive management and operational simplicity.<br />  <br />  PAS7700 is now available globally through Synology's network of partners and distributors.<br />  <br />  For more product information, please visit: www.synology.com/products/PAS7700.<br />  <br />  <i>*Memory module is upgradable to 1,024GB per node; 2,048GB for the whole PAS7700 system.</i>    <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.<br />  <br />  Website: https://www.synology.com/en-sg <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466237/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" /></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/synology-launches-pas7700-its-first-all-flash-nvme-active-active-storage-system-153152.html</link>
			<author>Synology</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 12:24:24 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/eden-at-botanica-ct-to-open-penangs-first-integrated-senior-living-resort-in-2027-153153.html</guid>
			<title>Eden at Botanica CT to open Penang s first integrated senior living resort in 2027</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Eden at Botanica CT set to open in Balik Pulau Penang in 2027 aims to redefine retirement in Malaysia with a community driven resort model catering to the country s growing demand for independent and active senior living span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">PENANG, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - Eden at Botanica CT, the first integrated senior living resort in Penang, is set to open in 2027 in Balik Pulau. Developed by Eden at Botanica CT Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Botanica Hills Sdn Bhd and Eden-On-The-Park Sdn Bhd, the project brings together retirement living, wellness and healthcare, lifestyle and community in one purpose-built ecosystem offering older adults a purposeful and independent way of life.<br />  <br />  Founded by Dato' Seri Kenny Ong, Director of Eden at Botanica CT and Chairman of MTT Group, together with Victor Fong, Director of Eden at Botanica CT, the development comprises 350 purpose-built residential units within a thoughtfully designed environment that supports comfortable, secure and independent living. The residence is intended primarily for individuals aged 60 and above, while also welcoming secondary residents, including adult children below the age of 60, fostering a supportive multigenerational community.<br />  <br />  Nestled in a self-contained, self-sustaining township in Penang's Balik Pulau known for its agricultural tourism - with durian, nutmeg, and clove products as its attractions - Eden at Botanica CT, with its low-density surroundings exudes a perfect retreat-like home setting within easy reach of the city.<br />  <br />  Residents enjoy access to a range of integrated amenities, including a dedicated care centre and lifestyle and recreational facilities. These are complemented by services such as licensed nursing care at the care residence, medical record management, 24-hour carers on standby for emergencies, wellness and activity programmes, as well as optional on-demand services including housekeeping, dining and home nursing assistance at an additional fee.<br />  <br />  Further enhancing the development's comprehensive care ecosystem, a medical centre located within the wider Botanica.CT township is just minutes away, providing residents with convenient access to additional healthcare services whenever needed.<br />  <br />  Designed with retirement living in mind, the residences incorporate practical features such as wider layouts and lower switch points to enhance accessibility and ease of movement. Beyond the homes, shared spaces and recreational facilities are curated to encourage social interaction and active living, while a robust security system provides added peace of mind. Together, these elements create a balanced environment where residents can enjoy rest and rejuvenation, while remaining socially connected and supported in their day-to-day lives.<br />  <br />  While Malaysia is steadily transitioning towards being an 'aged nation', a term referring to a country where 14% or more of its population is aged 65 and above, the demographic change is accompanied by a growing demand for active living by senior citizens - especially those in urban areas.<br />  <br />  "Many now are looking to remain independent and continue contributing to society," says MTT Group of Companies' Group Property and Asset Director, Mr Leonard Theng, adding that the company developed Eden at Botanica CT to honour retirement as a new phase of life that connects rather than isolates, and promotes independent living rather than restriction. "It is our vision to provide discerning seniors with a home that could bring about the desired sense of peace, purpose, connection, and continued growth."<br />  <br />  Currently, most senior living facilities offer paid stays as opposed to actually owning one's home. "Our holistic concept to housing is ideal for multigenerational families as the adult children can rest assured that their parents are well taken cared off while the latter will not feel they are burdening their offspring," continues Theng.<br />  <br />  While most senior citizens may want their mornings to be unhurried and free from deadlines and duties, they still expect their days to be purposeful. They want to feel connected - through family, friendship, or shared routines. This simple yet profound desire to feel the vibrancy of life is achievable at Eden at Botanica CT where distinguished seniors have the space to do what truly matters to them.<br />  <br />  The property is a shared vision by two experienced companies, Eden-On-The-Park Sdn Bhd, an award-winning fully accredited aged care provider in Malaysia and Botanica Hills Sdn Bhd. Together, they envisage an integrated senior living concept that embraces a holistic environment where residents can enjoy a quality retirement lifestyle.<br />  <br />  When independence is respected and a sense of belonging is cultivated, one can create communities where people do not simply reside - they thrive, contribute, and most importantly, continue to evolve right from their home.<br />  <br />  Eden at Botanica CT (EABC) is scheduled to be completed in July 2027. Visit our sales gallery for viewing of our show homes. For enquiries and registration, please visit https://www.edenatbotanicact.com.my/</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.<img alt="" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466181/9995" /></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/eden-at-botanica-ct-to-open-penangs-first-integrated-senior-living-resort-in-2027-153153.html</link>
			<author>Eden at Botanica CT</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:46:46 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/china-and-asean-launch-joint-trade-information-platform-in-nanning-153174.html</guid>
			<title>China and ASEAN launch joint trade information platform in Nanning</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt The China ASEAN Business and Trade Information Platform was officially launched in Nanning Guangxi on May 20 providing a dedicated digital channel to support cross border commerce between China and Southeast Asian economies span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>NANNING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - The China-ASEAN Business and Trade Information Platform was officially launched in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday.</p>    <p><img alt="A sub-forum themed international exchange and mutual learning of cyber civilization at the 2026 China Internet Civilization Conference is held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 19, 2026. (Photo: China News Service/Li Taiyuan)" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/11/20250521-china-asean-launch-imag20260522113925.jpg" style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0px;" width="100%" /></p>    <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center">  <figcaption style="text-align: left;font-size: 16px;line-height: 24px;display: block;margin: 0px;width: 100%"><span style="font-size:14px;"><i>A sub-forum themed international exchange and mutual learning of cyber civilization at the 2026 China Internet Civilization Conference is held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 19, 2026. (Photo: China News Service/Li Taiyuan) </i></span></figcaption>  </figure>  <br />  The platform offers comprehensive information services and an international communication platform to support economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.<br />  <br />  Built and operated by China News Network, the official website of China News Service, the platform serves as ASEAN trade agencies, industry associations, overseas Chinese communities, and cross-border enterprises, providing one-stop trade information services.<br />  <br />  China News Service will leverage its strengths to build the China-ASEAN Business and Trade Information Platform into an influential and dynamic communication channel that promotes information sharing and provides services, to facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges between China and ASEAN countries.<br />  <br />  Currently, a trade information network between China and ASEAN countries has been built, with key content covering policy explanations, market conditions, investment promotion, business cooperation, and industry analysis, to comprehensively support cross-border trade activities.<br />  <br />  Prior to the platform's launch, representatives from government departments, media outlets, research institutes, and universities in China and multiple ASEAN countries participated in discussions on economic and trade information exchange between China and ASEAN countries, as well as the development of the platform.<br />  <br />  Consular officials from ASEAN member states including Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, stationed in Nanning expressed their hopes for enhancing China-ASEAN economic and trade connectivity as well as people-to-people ties through information sharing.<br />  <br />  Against the backdrop of the signing of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, the platform serves as an information bridge for expanding cooperation, promoting trade, enhancing industrial upgrade, and achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, they said.<br />  <br />  They hope that the platform will play a greater role in trade facilitation and logistics services, empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and investment policies and regulatory measures, while helping share cooperation stories between China and ASEAN countries.  <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466405/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/china-and-asean-launch-joint-trade-information-platform-in-nanning-153174.html</link>
			<author>China News Network</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:40:45 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/andamanda-phuket-unveils-premium-experiences-at-its-100000-square-metre-water-park-153171.html</guid>
			<title>Andamanda Phuket unveils premium experiences at its 100 000 square metre water park</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Andamanda Phuket the island s largest water park at over 100 000 square metres has announced new premium guest offerings building on its recognition as a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice and Global Top 100 Family Friendly Attraction in 2025 span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PHUKET, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - Andamanda Phuket, the island's largest water park, spanning over 100,000 square meters, is inspired by Thai mythology and the Andaman Sea. A proud recipient of the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2025 and ranked among the Trip Best Global Top 100 Family- Friendly Attractions, Andamanda delivers a world-class tropical experience for thrill-seeker families and leisure travellers alike.</p>    <p><img alt="Andamanda Phuket- where thrills, culture, flavours, and family memories come together for a world-class experience unlike anything back home." src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/11/indian20260522113532.png" style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0px;" width="100%" /></p>    <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center">  <figcaption style="text-align: left;font-size: 16px;line-height: 24px;display: block;margin: 0px;width: 100%"><i>Andamanda Phuket- where thrills, culture, flavours, and family memories come together for a world-class experience unlike anything back home.</i></figcaption>  </figure>  <br />  <b><i>25 Attractions. 36 Slides. Zero Dull Moments. </i></b><br />  Spread across five iconic zones inspired by Thai mythology, Andamanda offers something for every kind of visitor:  <ul>  	<li dir="ltr">36 slide lanes, from heart-pounding drops to family-friendly twists, the most in Phuket.</li>  	<li dir="ltr">Southeast Asia's longest lazy river- 550 metres of pure relaxation winding through tropical scenery.</li>  	<li dir="ltr">A 10,000m² wave pool- generating waves up to 3 metres high. Prepare to get knocked off your feet.</li>  	<li dir="ltr">Private cabanas &amp; water villas- with air conditioning and restrooms, for those who like their downtime in style.</li>  	<li dir="ltr">Dedicated kids' zones- with lifeguards and age-appropriate splash areas, so the little ones have their own adventure.</li>  </ul>  <b><i> More Than Slides - A Living Cultural Experience</i></b><br />  Andamanda brings Thai heritage to life every single day. Daily live entertainment includes a Muay Thai showcase and<i> "</i><i>The Story of Andamanda</i><i>"</i><i>-</i>a breathtaking live performance of music, dance, and Thai folklore that you will not find in any other water park in the world. The park's mythological sculptures, traditional architecture, and five legend-themed zones make every corner worth exploring and photographing.<br />  <br />  <b><i>Food for Every Taste </i></b><br />  Andamanda's dining options are built with all guests in mind. You will find authentic Thai classics alongside international favourites, plus vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free options. Indian favourites are also well-represented: chicken and vegetable samosas, butter chicken, and fragrant biryani keep the whole family happy and energised. With multiple restaurants spread across the park, a great meal is always close by.<br />  <br />  <b><i>Tickets and Visitor Information</i></b><br />  Tickets are available online via the official website at andamanda.com.<br />  Advance booking is recommended to ensure availability and access to the best available rates. A full day here never feels long enough. Andamanda keeps the energy high from morning until closing.<br />  <br />  https://www.andamandaphuket.com  <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/464753/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/andamanda-phuket-unveils-premium-experiences-at-its-100000-square-metre-water-park-153171.html</link>
			<author>Andamanda Phuket</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:36:46 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/god-reimagines-hawthorn-as-hong-kong-style-dark-chocolate-sticks-153168.html</guid>
			<title>G O D reimagines hawthorn as Hong Kong style dark chocolate sticks</title>
			<description>Hong Kong lifestyle brand G O D has launched hawthorn dark chocolate sticks a locally inspired take on the globally trending dark chocolate orange stick format blending nostalgic flavour with contemporary confectionery appeal</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - Dark chocolate orange sticks have taken the world by storm—now reimagined in Hong Kong style ahead of G.O.D's 30th anniversary, with an exclusive, never-before-created flavour.</p>    <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center"><img alt="GOD Hawthorn Dark Chocolate Sticks" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/11/766509-hawthorn-dark-chocolate-s20260522112649.jpeg" style="width: 100%;margin: 0px" width="1600" /></figure>  <br />  G.O.D. presents Hawthorn Dark Chocolate Sticks, a uniquely local reinterpretation of the beloved dark chocolate orange stick and the cherished childhood favourite: Haw Flakes.<br />  <br />  Made in Hong Kong by a well-established chocolate manufacturer — renowned for producing for some of the world's highest-quality brands — each stick combines smooth dark chocolate with sweet and tangy hawthorn, delivering a distinctive balance of indulgence and nostalgia.<br />  <br />  Each box contains 110g of hawthorn-filled dark chocolate sticks, individually wrapped for convenience and freshness. The charming gift box (7.5cm diameter x 7.2cm height) pays homage to the iconic design of traditional Haw Flakes.<br />  <br />  Availability &amp; Details<br />  The Hawthorn Dark Chocolate Sticks are available exclusively at G.O.D. retail stores and the official e-shop, while stocks last. Each box is priced at HK$198, making it an ideal gift or a personal indulgence.<br />  <br />  https://god.com.hk/  <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/god-reimagines-hawthorn-as-hong-kong-style-dark-chocolate-sticks-153168.html</link>
			<author>G.O.D. - Goods Of Desire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:26:50 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/citi-panel-highlights-vietnams-growth-and-market-upgrade-momentum-153232.html</guid>
			<title>Citi panel highlights Vietnam s growth and market upgrade momentum</title>
			<description>Citi hosted a high level panel discussion on Vietnam s growth outlook and market upgrade momentum at its Pan Asia Conference in Singapore</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">The session took place on May 18-19 against the backdrop of Vietnam's long-awaited elevation by FTSE Russell from frontier market to secondary emerging market status. FTSE Russell has announced that Vietnam will be reclassified effective September 2026, subject to an interim review.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">The panel was moderated by Minh Ngo, Citi's country officer and banking head for Vietnam, and featured Helmi Arman, Citi's economist for Vietnam and Indonesia; Thuan Nguyen, executive chairman of FiinGroup and FiinRatings; and Binh Nguyen, CEO of REE Corp.</p>    <table align="center" class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width:80%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/10/citi-hosts-vietnam-upgrade-panel-in-singapore-20260522102710.jpg?rt=20260522102712" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title="Citi hosts Vietnam Upgrade Panel in Singapore"></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td><span style="color:#696969;">Minh Ngo, country officer and banking head for Vietnam, Citi</span></td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Vietnam's upgrade story is about index classification and the deeper transformation of the economy, the capital markets, and the investment environment," said Minh Ngo, Citi's country officer and banking head for Vietnam.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"The upgrade is an important recognition of progress, but the bigger opportunity is how Vietnam continues to strengthen transparency, market infrastructure, corporate governance, and execution capacity to sustain long-term growth," she noted.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">Helmi Arman provided a regional and macroeconomic perspective, framing Vietnam’s growth story within broader ASEAN trends, global supply-chain shifts, currency dynamics, and investor sentiment.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">Other speakers explored the evolution of capital markets and credit transparency, as well as the role of infrastructure, energy, and private-sector investment in Vietnam’s next phase of growth.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“As international investors have a closer look, Vietnam will need to continue demonstrating consistency, transparency and reform momentum. Citi is committed to supporting clients as they navigate this transition and connect Vietnam more deeply with regional and global capital flows,” said Minh Ngo.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">Vietnam has become one of Asia’s most closely watched markets, supported by manufacturing growth, supply-chain diversification, rising domestic consumption and ongoing capital-market reform.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">As one of the world’s most global financial institutions, Citi plays an active role in connecting Vietnam with international investors, multinational corporates and cross-border capital flows.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">Citi’s Vietnam franchise supports clients across banking, markets, services, helping international companies invest in Vietnam and Vietnamese companies expand across global corridors.</p>    <p class="normalPara" style="text-align: justify;">The Vietnam panel at Citi’s Pan Asia Conference underscored the country’s growing strategic importance in the region and the increasing focus of global investors on its next stage of development.</p>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-investor-day-outlines-clear-path-for-next-growth-phase-152220.html"><img alt="Citi Investor Day outlines clear path for next growth phase" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/08/13/thumbnail/citi-investor-day-outlines-clear-path-for-further-growth-20260508132153.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-investor-day-outlines-clear-path-for-next-growth-phase-152220.html" title="Citi Investor Day outlines clear path for next growth phase">Citi Investor Day outlines clear path for next growth phase</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">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.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-entering-next-phase-of-ai-integration-152555.html"><img alt="Citi entering next phase of AI integration" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/13/12/thumbnail/citi-hcmc20260513121159.jpg?rt=20260513121200" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-entering-next-phase-of-ai-integration-152555.html" title="Citi entering next phase of AI integration">Citi entering next phase of AI integration</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Arc, Citi’s AI agent platform, allows developers to build and scale AI agents that will be used across the firm responsibly.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-celebrates-asian-heritage-month-153037.html"><img alt="Citi celebrates Asian Heritage Month" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/20/09/thumbnail/citi-celebrates-asian-heritage-month-20260520092715.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/citi-celebrates-asian-heritage-month-153037.html" title="Citi celebrates Asian Heritage Month">Citi celebrates Asian Heritage Month</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Citi is celebrating Asian Heritage Month by recognising the rich histories, cultures, innovation, and contributions of Asian colleagues, communities, and allies across its global network.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/citi-panel-highlights-vietnams-growth-and-market-upgrade-momentum-153232.html</link>
			<author>Huong Thuy</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:22:39 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/future-skills-investment-a-strategic-priority-for-vietnam-businesses-153230.html</guid>
			<title>Future skills investment a strategic priority for Vietnam businesses</title>
			<description>As Vietnam s economy undergoes rapid digital and structural transformation businesses are rethinking their role beyond traditional operations Simon Liu CEO of Omoda   Jaecoo Vietnam explains why investments in education workforce readiness and youth development are central to long term business resilience and growth em em</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>How do you see the broader role of businesses evolving in shaping long-term social and economic outcomes, particularly for future generations?</strong></p>    <p>Corporate activity inevitably interacts with the social and economic environment in which it operates. Employment practices influence the wellbeing of families, supply chains shape livelihoods across local economies, and technological ecosystems affect how younger generations access education, information and employment opportunities.</p>    <p>These dynamics mean that the long-term strength of an economy, and the sustainability of businesses operating within it, depends in part on the development of future talent. Companies that adopt a long-term strategic perspective therefore tend to view investments in education, skills and youth development as closely aligned with broader economic resilience.</p>    <p><strong>Many of these impacts are not immediately visible in day-to-day business performance. Why is it important for companies to recognise and address them early?</strong></p>    <p>From a business leadership point of view, many risks do not appear suddenly; they build gradually through everyday operational decisions.</p>    <p>When companies look carefully at their value chain, they can see how workplace conditions affect employees and their families, how supply-chain practices influence communities, and how technology shapes the way younger generations access education and opportunities.</p>    <p>As a CEO, I believe responsible management requires paying attention to these signals early. Addressing potential risks before they escalate allows companies to maintain trust with partners, employees and society. In the long term, this approach contributes to more resilient operations and a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/10/why-investing-in-future-skills-is-becoming-a-strategic-priority-for-businesses-in-vietnam-20260522100722.jpg?rt=20260522100724" class="__img_mastercms" alt="Why investing in future skills is becoming a strategic priority for businesses in Vietnam" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title="Why investing in future skills is becoming a strategic priority for businesses in Vietnam"></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td><span style="color:#696969;"><i>Strengthening the connection between education systems and labour markets contributes to employment opportunities for young people. Photo credit: UNICEF </i>Vietnam</span></td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p><strong>How does this long-term perspective translate into the way Omoda &amp; Jaecoo approaches its presence and engagement in Vietnam?</strong></p>    <p>Our approach to social engagement is closely aligned with our long-term business strategy.</p>    <p>Omoda &amp; Jaecoo is building a long-term presence in Vietnam through investments in manufacturing, technology and distribution networks. Alongside these investments, we also consider how businesses can contribute to the development of human capital.</p>    <p>Education and workforce readiness are particularly relevant in this context. A capable and adaptable workforce supports innovation, productivity and sustainable economic growth.</p>    <p>Initiatives that strengthen future skills therefore align naturally with the long-term interests of companies operating in a fast-changing economy. That’s why Omoda &amp; Jaecoo, as part of Chery Group, has partnered with UNICEF Vietnam in a three-year partnership.</p>    <p>Through this collaboration, Omoda &amp; Jaecoo’s contribution will enable UNICEF Vietnam to respond to persistent education challenges, including the digital divide, skills mismatches between education and the labour market needs, and growing concerns around adolescent mental health and wellbeing. </p>    <p><strong>What considerations led Omoda &amp; Jaecoo to partner with UNICEF?</strong></p>    <p>The partnership builds on the broader global partnership between CHERY Group and UNICEF focused on education and youth development.</p>    <p>In Vietnam, we saw an opportunity to contribute to programmes addressing challenges related to digital capability, school-to-work transition and youth wellbeing. These issues are becoming relevant as economies undergo rapid technological change.</p>    <p>UNICEF has in-depth experience working with governments and education systems, as well as a strong understanding of how programmes can reach children and adolescents across different communities. From a corporate standpoint, partnering with an organisation that has this level of expertise helps ensure that contributions are connected to long-term development priorities.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/10/why-investing-in-future-skills-is-becoming-a-strategic-priority-for-businesses-in-vietnam-20260522100820.jpg?rt=20260522100826" class="__img_mastercms" alt="Why investing in future skills is becoming a strategic priority for businesses in Vietnam" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title="Why investing in future skills is becoming a strategic priority for businesses in Vietnam"></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td><span style="color:#696969;"><i>Omoda &amp; Jaecoo partners with UNICEF Vietnam to equip children and youth with future-ready skills through inclusive education. Photo credit: UNICEF </i>Vietnam</span></td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p><strong>The partnership places a strong focus on future skills and youth development. Why are these areas becoming relevant for businesses today?</strong></p>    <p>Global labour markets are evolving quickly due to technological innovation, digitalisation and the transition towards greener industries.</p>    <p>These changes are reshaping the skills required in many sectors. Digital literacy, problem-solving, adaptability and cross-disciplinary capabilities are increasingly valued by employers.</p>    <p>Many companies also observe gaps between educational outcomes and workforce needs. Strengthening the connection between education systems and labour markets therefore contributes to economic competitiveness as well as employment opportunities for young people.</p>    <p>Through our partnership with UNICEF Vietnam, we support initiatives that expand access to digital, green and transferable skills, helping young people prepare for the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.</p>    <p><strong>As a company driven by smart technologies and innovation, what role can Omoda &amp; Jaecoo play in strengthening the connection between education and workforce readiness?</strong></p>    <p>Innovation-driven companies can contribute valuable perspectives on emerging technologies and workforce requirements.</p>    <p>Industries that operate at the frontier of technological development have insights into the skills that will be required in future sectors. Sharing these insights with education systems can help strengthen the alignment between training initiatives and labour-market needs.</p>    <p>Technology can also expand access to learning resources and support new models of education. Collaboration with organisations such as UNICEF provides an opportunity to apply technological capabilities within programmes designed to strengthen skills development and future employability.</p>    <p><strong>How does this focus on human capital development align with Omoda &amp; Jaecoo’s long-term strategy in Vietnam?</strong></p>    <p>Vietnam represents a crucial market within our regional development strategy. Our approach, summarised by the principle ‘In Vietnam, For Vietnam’, reflects our intention to build a sustainable presence in the country through manufacturing investment, technology development and collaboration with local partners.</p>    <p>Human capital development is closely linked to this long-term perspective. A skilled workforce supports innovation capacity and economic dynamism. Engagement in initiatives that strengthen education and future skills therefore contributes to the broader environment in which businesses operate and grow.</p>    <p><strong>Looking ahead, how do you see the role of businesses evolving in addressing broader challenges such as workforce readiness, digital inclusion and sustainable growth?</strong></p>    <p>The role of business in society continues to evolve as expectations around responsible governance increase. Companies today contribute capabilities that include technological innovation, operational expertise and global networks. These capabilities can support collaborative initiatives addressing complex challenges such as workforce readiness, digital inclusion and sustainable growth.</p>    <p>Partnerships between businesses, governments and international organisations create opportunities to scale programmes that support education, skills development and economic inclusion.</p>    <p>From a long-term perspective, investment in young people contributes to stronger labour markets, resilient communities and sustainable economic development. These outcomes ultimately support a stable and productive environment for business.</p>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/vietnam-prioritises-women-shaping-the-future-of-science-technology-and-innovation-official-123932.html"><img alt="Vietnam prioritises women shaping the future of science, technology, and innovation: Official" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/032025/05/08/thumbnail/vietnam-prioritises-women-shaping-the-future-of-science-technology-and-innovation-official-20250305084848.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/vietnam-prioritises-women-shaping-the-future-of-science-technology-and-innovation-official-123932.html" title="Vietnam prioritises women shaping the future of science, technology, and innovation: Official">Vietnam prioritises women shaping the future of science, technology, and innovation: Official</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh reaffirmed that Vietnam remains firmly committed to promoting gender equality and empowering women at a meeting in Hanoi on March 4 with Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam, and Michaela Bauer, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Vietnam.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/embassy-of-japan-iom-and-unicef-visit-typhoon-hit-communities-in-cao-bang-126185.html"><img alt="Embassy of Japan, IOM and UNICEF visit typhoon-hit communities in Cao Bang" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/042025/10/17/thumbnail/84591e73ff91b656dba3e610581ce1f3.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/embassy-of-japan-iom-and-unicef-visit-typhoon-hit-communities-in-cao-bang-126185.html" title="Embassy of Japan, IOM and UNICEF visit typhoon-hit communities in Cao Bang">Embassy of Japan, IOM and UNICEF visit typhoon-hit communities in Cao Bang</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, and representatives from the Embassy of Japan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have concluded a visit to Cao Bang province highlighting the achievements and progress of relief efforts funded by the government of Japan.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/kimberly-clark-and-unicef-strengthen-child-and-maternal-healthcare-140860.html"><img alt="Kimberly-Clark and UNICEF strengthen child and maternal healthcare" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/112025/17/17/thumbnail/unicef-uni887865-vu-le-hoang-chuong-trinh-hop-tac-gop-phan-cai-thien-cham-soc-suc-khoe-ba-me-va-tre-em-tai-cac-khu-vuc-kho-khan-va-cac-tinh-mien-nui20251117171536.jpg?rt=20251117171540" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/kimberly-clark-and-unicef-strengthen-child-and-maternal-healthcare-140860.html" title="Kimberly-Clark and UNICEF strengthen child and maternal healthcare">Kimberly-Clark and UNICEF strengthen child and maternal healthcare</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Kimberly-Clark Vietnam and UNICEF renew partnership with a $2.05 million commitment to expand essential care for mothers, newborns, and girls nationwide.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/future-skills-investment-a-strategic-priority-for-vietnam-businesses-153230.html</link>
			<author>Huyen Thuy</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:17:10 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/investhk-concludes-africa-mission-to-strengthen-global-south-investment-ties-153166.html</guid>
			<title>InvestHK concludes Africa mission to strengthen Global South investment ties</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt InvestHK Associate Director General Loretta Lee concluded a strategic visit to South Africa and Rwanda on May 18 reinforcing Hong Kong s role as a gateway for businesses from the Global South seeking access to Asian markets span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2026 - Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region.</p>    <p><img alt="Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (fourth left) and the Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu (fourth right), with other guests at a luncheon event in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 11 (Johannesburg time)." src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/11/764990-p2026051800354-photo-132820260522110637.jpeg" style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0px;" width="1600" /></p>    <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center">  <figcaption style="text-align: left;font-size: 16px;line-height: 24px;display: block;margin: 0px;width: 100%"><span style="font-size:14px;"><i>Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (fourth left) and the Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu (fourth right), with other guests at a luncheon event in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 11 (Johannesburg time).</i></span></figcaption>  </figure>    <p style="text-align: justify;">During her visit to Johannesburg (May 10 to13) (Johannesburg time), Ms Lee engaged with a diverse range of leading enterprises and industry bodies. Discussions focused on how Hong Kong's robust business environment can empower African enterprises to effectively manage and scale their expanding Asian operations.<br />  <br />  Ms Lee also met with local chambers of commerce and government investment agencies to explore new avenues for collaboration. She highlighted that Africa is one of the InvestHK's key markets, as many African enterprises are now looking to diversify their funding sources and simplify cross-border transactions through Hong Kong's deep capital markets and unique connectivity with Chinese Mainland.<br />  <br />  Ms Lee said, "Africa has emerged as a vital engine of growth within the Global South. Our journey of thousands of miles to Africa begins with a meaningful step. For African corporates looking for a trusted and strategic partner to expand into the Chinese Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region, the interest, relationships, and momentum are building up. Hong Kong has vast potential to play a unique role linking capital, talent, and innovation between Africa and our part of the world, while InvestHK will continue to be a driver of this interconnectivity, facilitating two-way investment through strategic market insights, extensive global access, targeted promotion, and policy facilitation. "<br />  <br />  The Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu, said, "The synergy between South Africa and Hong Kong in the economic and trade fields is both complementary and strategically significant. Under the framework of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's status as a global offshore Renminbi hub and an international asset management centre provides a professional one-stop platform for enterprises to go global. We encourage South African and Chinese Mainland enterprises in South Africa to leverage Hong Kong's unique professional advantages to optimise their supply chain layouts and achieve high-quality, mutually beneficial development."<br />  <br />  The President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), Mtho Xulu, said, "We want to see the relationship beyond our borders, where we take companies from South Africa into Hong Kong, using the city as a platform to scale into the bigger markets. Whether it's for innovation, manufacturing, or industrialisation, we want to look at how we can collaborate further and bring the two places closer together. This ecosystem is exactly what our members need to unlock high-value opportunities on the Chinese Mainland and across Asia."<br />  <br />  The visit culminated in Kigali, Rwanda, where Ms Lee represented InvestHK at the Africa CEO Forum, engaging in high-level discussions with C-suite executives from the continent's leading multinationals on May 14 and 15 (Kigali time).<br />  <br />  Continuing the momentum of two-way economic ties, InvestHK will host an Africa Day Reception in Hong Kong on May 26, assembling local African business communities to explore new avenues for cross-border collaboration.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/465565/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/investhk-concludes-africa-mission-to-strengthen-global-south-investment-ties-153166.html</link>
			<author>InvestHK</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:10:49 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/vietnam-financial-hub-launches-maritime-ecosystem-to-recapture-offshore-billions-153172.html</guid>
			<title>Vietnam financial hub launches maritime ecosystem to recapture offshore billions</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt VIFC HCMC Gemadept Corporation and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies jointly hosted a high level forum on May 21 to launch a maritime financial ecosystem aimed at retaining capital currently flowing offshore span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 May 2026 - Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC), in collaboration with Gemadept Corporation and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, today hosted a high-level forum to officially launch the International Maritime Financial Ecosystem (IMFE) — one of the four strategic pillars of VIFC-HCMC.</p>    <figure align="center" data-image-height="0" data-image-width="0" style="display: block;width: 100%;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;text-align: center"><img alt="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan (left), Vice Chairman of VIFC-HCMC, and Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, General Director of Gemadept Corporation, at the official launch ceremony of the International Maritime Financial Ecosystem (IMFE) in Ho Chi Minh City." src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/22/11/766775-photo-6-jpg-1600x106620260522110310.jpeg" style="width: 100%;margin: 0px" width="1600" />  <figcaption style="text-align: left;font-size: 16px;line-height: 24px;display: block;margin: 0px;width: 100%"><i>Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan (left), Vice Chairman of VIFC-HCMC, and Nguyen Thanh Binh, General Director of Gemadept Corporation, at the official launch ceremony of the International Maritime Financial Ecosystem (IMFE) in Ho Chi Minh City. </i></figcaption>  </figure>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The forum, themed "Developing the International Maritime Financial Ecosystem within the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City," took place at the VIFC-HCMC Building, 08 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, and drew more than 100 senior delegates. Attendees included leaders from central ministries and agencies, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, representatives from coastal provinces (Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang), domestic and international financial institutions, port and logistics enterprises, and international organisations.<br />  <br />  The day's agenda focused on three headline moments: a strategic industry report by Roland Berger, titled "Vietnam Maritime Industry: A Strategic Opportunity for Breakthrough Growth," which benchmarked leading global maritime financial hubs and mapped a roadmap to raise Vietnam's domestic value retention from the current 4–5% to 15% by 2035; the official launch ceremony of the IMFE initiative within VIFC-HCMC; and a memorandum of understanding signed between VIFC-HCMC and Gemadept Corporation, owner and operator of Gemalink International Port in Cai Mep – Thi Vai, formalising Gemadept's role as a founding lead of the initiative. The forum also saw the introduction of the first maritime financial products and initiatives to be developed within the VIFC-HCMC framework.<br />  <br />  A seaport system of growing global weight<br />  <br />  The ambition behind IMFE is grounded in the rapid rise of southern Vietnam's port infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh City is home to Cat Lai Port — ranked among the world's top 21, handling approximately 7.5 million TEUs annually — and Gemalink International Port in Cai Mep – Thi Vai, capable of receiving ultra-large container vessels. These existing assets are set to be joined by the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, a 571-hectare project with a projected capacity of 17 million TEUs per year, further deepening the city's integration into global logistics and trade networks.<br />  <br />  In 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City port system handled over 24 million TEUs, ranking 8th globally according to Lloyd's List, and was associated with approximately USD 200 billion in import-export turnover, accounting for around 20% of Vietnam's total trade value. Surrounding this physical infrastructure, a broad ecosystem of supporting services has expanded significantly, spanning cargo handling, warehousing, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and supply chain management. The total annual trade transaction value flowing through the region — encompassing goods, logistics services, and related financial demand - is estimated at over USD 1 trillion.<br />  <br />  The financial gap: billions flowing through offshore centers<br />  <br />  However, the scale of this physical activity stands in sharp contrast to the financial value Vietnam currently retains. Despite enormous cargo volumes, most high-value maritime financial services generating the largest profit margin including trade finance, ship financing, marine insurance and reinsurance, international payments, and logistics risk management continue to flow through developed offshore maritime financial centers. Vietnam currently captures only around 4–5% of these financial transaction values domestically, leaving an estimated USD 6–8 billion in potential value accessible but unrealised. To complete the maritime value chain and retain these economic benefits onshore, Vietnam must evolve beyond purely physical cargo transshipment. The gradual development of a comprehensive maritime financial ecosystem is an essential and inevitable strategic step.<br />  <br />  IMFE: from vision to institutional launch<br />  <br />  Against this backdrop, the IMFE initiative took shape as a core component of VIFC-HCMC, with Gemadept Corporation serving as a founding lead. The initiative was first introduced on September 12, 2025, during the symposium "Ho Chi Minh City – A Modern, High-End, High-Value Service Hub," where Gemadept presented a strategic vision of integrating Vietnam's deep-sea port infrastructure with a dedicated maritime financial ecosystem. To materialise that vision, the corporation cooperates with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, leading to its official designation as a Strategic Member of VIFC-HCMC on February 11, 2026, at the Center's Launching Ceremony. Today, as the operator of Gemalink — a major deep-sea gateway at Cai Mep – Thi Vai — Gemadept is focused on channeling high-value capital flows and advanced financial services directly into Ho Chi Minh City's real maritime economy.<br />  <br />  With this foundation in place, today's forum pursues three concrete objectives: to officially launch the IMFE as a strategic platform designed to localise maritime financial capital and services, laying the groundwork for Ho Chi Minh City to emerge as one of the region's leading maritime hubs; to connect financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, shipping lines, logistics enterprises, and international organisations within an integrated ecosystem, bringing the port-to-finance model to life in Vietnam; and to introduce the first maritime financial products and initiatives, creating mechanisms for Vietnamese enterprises to access financing, insurance, and risk management tools domestically rather than through foreign intermediaries.<br />  <br />  "Ports such as Can Gio and Cai Mep-Thi Vai are transshipment hubs for cargo flows — VIFC-HCMC must become the transshipment hub for capital flows serving Vietnam's maritime economy," said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, Vice Chairman of VIFC-HCMC.</p>    <p>The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.</p>  <img alt="" height="1" src="//track.media-outreach.com/index.php/WebView/466384/9995" style="width:1px;height:1px;" width="1" />]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/vietnam-financial-hub-launches-maritime-ecosystem-to-recapture-offshore-billions-153172.html</link>
			<author>VIFC (Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City)</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:03:10 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/formosa-pharmaceuticals-to-present-novel-adc-drug-tsy-310-at-asco-2026-153222.html</guid>
			<title>Formosa Pharmaceuticals to present novel ADC drug TSY 310 at ASCO 2026</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Formosa Pharmaceuticals will present preclinical efficacy data on TSY 310 its bispecific antibody drug conjugate at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting highlighting the compound s differentiated binding profile in oncology research span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">TAIPEI, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Formosa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announces that its abstract highlighting the differentiated binding profile and preclinical efficacy of TSY-310, a novel bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), has been selected for presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, to be held May 29 – June 2, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. TSY-310 simultaneously targets EGFR and ROR1, two receptors frequently co-expressed in prevalent solid tumors. By leveraging a unique bispecific modality, TSY-310 optimizes target engagement and intracellular delivery, facilitating a potent bystander effect to address the challenges of tumor heterogeneity.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Details</p>    <ul type="disc">  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Title: TSY-310, A Novel Bispecific EGFR x ROR1 ADC, Exhibits Potent Antitumor Activity in Heterogeneous Breast Tumors Through Enhanced Internalization and Bystander Cytotoxicity</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Session: Developmental Therapeutics: Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Date &amp; Time: May 30, 2026, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm CT</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Abstract Number: 3086</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Poster Number: 223</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Presenter: Dr. Kuo-Ming Yu, Ph.D., Director, CMC and Production</li>  </ul>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Highlights</p>    <ul type="disc">  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Superior Selectivity: Bispecific binding, enhancing internalization specifically in tumor cells co-expressing EGFR and ROR1.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Enhanced Payload Delivery: Evidence of efficient lysosomal trafficking and the subsequent release of the cytotoxic payload.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Bystander Efficacy: Eradication of neighboring antigen-negative tumor cells, a critical factor in treating complex, heterogeneous tumor environments.</li>  </ul>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Our participation at ASCO is an acknowledgement of the program's potential as a worthy contributor to the future oncology treatment landscape," said Erick Co, President &amp; CEO of Formosa Pharmaceuticals. "We are eager to place TSY-310 in the toolbox of oncologists and patients who face the evolving challenges with traditional single-target therapies."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Full abstract and presentation details will be available through ASCO and corporate websites in accordance with the meeting's policies.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">For more details about Formosa Pharmaceuticals, visit www.formosapharma.com.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/formosa-pharmaceuticals-to-present-novel-adc-drug-tsy-310-at-asco-2026-153222.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:58:20 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/china-launches-qinglan-program-to-address-growing-elderly-care-gap-153214.html</guid>
			<title>China launches Qinglan Program to address growing elderly care gap</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt CASWSS Fudan Institute on Ageing and Neutech Group jointly launched the Qinglan Program in Beijing on May 18 targeting the development of professional caregivers for China s rapidly ageing population span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HONG KONG, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of May 18, 2026, the press conference of the Youth Directors Growth Accompaniment Program (referred to as the "Qinglan Program") was successfully held at the National Convention Center in Beijing. The event was jointly initiated by the China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service (CASWSS) and Fudan Institute on Ageing, with special support from Neutech Group.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Chaired by Xu Jianzhong, executive president of CASWSS, the event was attended by distinguished guests including Wu Yushao, president of CASWSS and vice dean of Fudan Institute on Ageing; Wen Tao, executive director, CEO and president of Neutech Group; Han Hua and Chen Dongsheng, vice presidents of CASWSS; Deng Tianwu, director of the Ageing General Division of Ningbo Civil Affairs Bureau; Zhao Hailin, president of Liaoning Elderly Care Service Industry Federation; Huang Yanbing, executive vice president of Guangzhou Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, and other guests. An expert committee appointment ceremony was held during the meeting. A total of nine senior industry experts including Liu Zeyang, Wang Xinghui, Yuan Zhi, Wang Guoquan, Zhuo Yongyue, Feng Sheng, Cao Sujuan, Zhou Sujuan and Liu Xiaobing were officially appointed, who will be responsible for curriculum design, mentor selection, quality evaluation and other related work. Yang Lijun, director of the Training Center of Fudan Institute on Ageing, elaborated on the curriculum arrangement, while Li Jing, deputy secretary-general of CASWSS, gave a detailed interpretation of the registration system.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">At present, China's elderly care service industry is in a critical period of shifting from basic availability to high-quality development, and from quantity expansion to quality improvement. There are 406,000 elderly care institutions and facilities nationwide, including approximately 39,000 registered elderly care homes, with hundreds of thousands of practitioners in management positions. Directors serve as the "core anchors" for institutional operation and hold primary responsibility for service quality. Nevertheless, the industry faces an increasingly severe structural talent shortage. Apart from frontline caregivers, there is an even greater lack of high-caliber professionals equipped with solid management expertise, professional competencies and innovative thinking. To address this challenge, the CASWSS, together with the Fudan Institute on Ageing, has jointly launched the "Qinglan Program", dubbed the "Project Hope" for China's elderly care sector. Derived from the ancient saying "Blue comes from the indigo plant yet excels it", the program signifies that young directors will inherit experience from seniors and strive for self-transcendence. As the special supporter of the inaugural "Qinglan Program • Neutech Cohort", Neutech provides resources, technological empowerment and financial backing for the initiative.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">President Wu Yushao pointed out that since 2024, the "First Year of the Silver Economy", the state has issued a series of targeted policies and made specific arrangements for the development of talent teams in the elderly care service sector. The core model of the "Qinglan Program" is "modular systematic training plus one-on-one mentorship throughout the whole process". He elaborated six major features of the program. First, it adheres to public welfare orientation, offering free training and full-cycle growth mentoring services, with priority given to participants from western regions and private elderly care enterprises. Second, it focuses on systematic training. Curricula are formulated in accordance with the Training Outline for Nursing Home Directors (Trial) issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, following the three-stage progressive philosophy: Consolidate Basics, Clarify Principles and Reach Distant Goals. Third, it highlights whole-process companionship by assigning an experienced senior director as personal mentor to every trainee. Fourth, it emphasizes intergenerational inheritance to foster a sustainable industry culture of passing down experience and wisdom. Fifth, it integrates resources from all sectors to ensure high-standard program implementation. Sixth, it maintains full openness and transparency in all procedures. President Wu encouraged young directors to cherish this precious opportunity, cultivate professional dedication, and play an exemplary leading role in the industry. He also called on more senior veteran directors to join the mentor team.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Wen Tao, CEO and president of Neutech Group, stated that the group will fully support the "Qinglan Program". This initiative is not merely a talent training scheme, but also a future-oriented fundamental project for talent development. He introduced that Neutech has long been deeply engaged in digital talent education services and boasts abundant resources in the general health industry. In 2024, the group officially launched the strategic transformation focusing on education, healthcare and wellness. It integrates years of accumulated experience into elderly care service scenarios to build a smart elderly care and health service system.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Wen Tao shared Neutech Group's philosophy on elderly care: "Elderly care starts with aging prevention; education fuels aging prevention; technology empowers elderly care." As the special supporter of the inaugural "Qinglan Program • Neutech Cohort", Neutech Group will open up four categories of resources. First, it will make its self-operated physical institutions available as on-site practical training bases for participants, including Wecare Family Nursing Home, Ruikang Cardiovascular Hospital, Ruikang Stomatology Hospital and Neucare Phoenix Academy. Second, it will provide access accounts for the "integrated medical, wellness and elderly care smart senior care system", enabling trainees to master data-driven management approaches. Third, the group will offer practical training equipment for smart elderly care IoT applications and online courses to help participants steadily upgrade their professional competencies. Fourth, it will share ecological resources and operational scenarios of city-level smart elderly care platforms, assisting trainees in connecting supply and demand sides, gaining traffic support and marketing empowerment, and realizing ecological coordination among institutional, community-based and home-based elderly care services. "Cultivating talents is neither a hasty task nor something we can afford to delay," Wen Tao remarked. "The first cohort consists of only 100 participants, a modest number, yet they are vital pioneers in the industry. Neutech Group is ready to share its resources and capabilities, and work hand in hand with the association and research institute to steadily push forward this initiative in the long run."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">It is reported that the courses of the "Qinglan Program" are formulated in accordance with the Training Outline for Nursing Home Directors (Trial) issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Covering more than 20 courses, they fall into four major modules: policies and industry development trends, practical service operations, practical management practices and competency building. The training lasts for three years, featuring one centralized offline training session of no less than four days each year, supplemented by online tutoring, case discussions and field visits. The curriculum follows the three-stage progressive training philosophy: Consolidate Basics, Clarify Principles and Reach Distant Goals. Applications for the first cohort are now open nationwide. Eligibility for participants: Aged under 40, holding a college diploma or above, with over three years of working experience in the elderly care industry, serving as director or deputy director of legally registered elderly care institutions, possessing solid management experience and being passionate and responsible for the industry. Eligibility for mentors: Aged between 40 and 60 in principle, with more than five years of experience in the elderly care sector, currently working as director of legally registered elderly care institutions and equipped with extensive management experience and certain teaching experience.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The official launch of the "Qinglan Program" marks an important step forward in building the talent workforce for China's elderly care service industry. As a special supporting organization, Neutech firmly believes that the long-term development of an industry hinges on whether it has a group of truly professional backbone talents. Supporting the growth of young directors is not one-way resource delivery, but two-way empowerment between Neutech Group and the whole industry. The practical demands raised by young frontline directors will drive the continuous iteration of Neutech's integrated education, healthcare and elderly care ecosystem, keeping the company's capabilities fully aligned with industry requirements.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Looking ahead, Neutech Group will continue to uphold long-termism, open up its core capabilities and resources, and join hands with the association, research institute and more ecological partners to jointly build an open and inclusive capability foundation. It will enable all young directors and elderly care institutions to enhance their management competence and service characteristics, and jointly drive the high-quality development of China's elderly care service industry.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/china-launches-qinglan-program-to-address-growing-elderly-care-gap-153214.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:53:08 +0700</pubDate>
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			<title>Lunit presents AI powered cancer biomarker research at ASCO 2026</title>
			<description>South Korean AI health firm Lunit will showcase precision patient stratification tools and AI driven HER2 IHC biomarker quantification at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting advancing data led oncology research</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="legendSpanClass">SEOUL, South Korea</span>, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit, a leading provider of AI for cancer diagnostics and precision oncology, today announces that five studies featuring its AI biomarker platforms are being presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29–June 2 in Chicago, IL.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">This year's presentations reflect Lunit's expanding biomarker research beyond conventional immune profiling toward integrated AI-powered HER2/IHC biomarker quantification and spatial tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis. Using AI to characterize HER2 expression, immune phenotypes, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and endothelial cells, the studies highlight the potential of integrated biomarker analysis to improve precision patient stratification across multiple cancer types.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The five presentations include studies across biliary tract cancer (BTC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), microsatellite-stable (MSS), metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced gastric cancer (AGC).</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">One of the featured studies, led by researchers at Yonsei University College of Medicine, evaluates a first-line quadruplet regimen consisting of trastuzumab, nivolumab, gemcitabine, and cisplatin in HER2-positive advanced BTC. The study is selected as a Rapid Oral Presentation at ASCO 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Using AI-powered whole-slide image (WSI) analysis, researchers analyze HER2 expression and immune phenotypes within tumor tissue. Among 40 patients enrolled in the multi-center phase Ib/II trial, the combination of therapy demonstrates an objective response rate (ORR) of 55%, disease control rate (DCR) of 95%, and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.6 months. Patients with HER2 IHC 3+ tumor cell proportions ≥10%, as identified by AI analysis, achieve substantially higher response rates compared to those below the threshold (80% vs. 36.4%). The study demonstrates how integrated AI-powered HER2 and spatial tumor microenvironment analysis may help identify patients more likely to benefit from HER2-targeted combination therapies.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Another study characterizes the tumor microenvironment landscape of HER2-overexpressing NSCLC using AI-powered spatial analysis. Across more than 2,000 NSCLC whole-slide images, HER2-overexpressing tumors demonstrate significantly reduced tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density and lower proportions of inflamed immune phenotype compared to non-overexpressing tumors. The immune-cold phenotype becomes more pronounced in tumors with higher proportions of HER2 3+ cells. The study provides additional insight into the biological relationship between HER2 overexpression and tumor immune status, while highlighting the broader potential of combining AI-powered HER2 analysis with spatial tumor microenvironment characterization in biomarker research.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Another featured study, conducted with Seoul National University Hospital, explores AI-powered spatial tumor microenvironment analysis in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer with limited treatment options. Researchers identify a subgroup of ACC patients with high endothelial cell and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) densities who demonstrate significantly prolonged progression-free survival following axitinib treatment (19.6 months vs. 11.1 months). The findings suggest that AI-based spatial profiling may help distinguish responder populations that are difficult to stratify using conventional biomarkers alone.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Researchers at Asan Medical Center investigate AI-powered tumor microenvironment analysis in MSS metastatic colorectal cancer, which is generally considered resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Researchers find that patients with larger tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) regions identified by AI demonstrate improved progression-free survival and overall survival following immunotherapy. The findings highlight the potential of AI-powered spatial analysis to identify MSS colorectal cancer patients more likely to benefit from immunotherapy.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"These studies demonstrate how AI-powered biomarker analysis is evolving beyond conventional immune profiling toward integrated HER2/IHC quantification and spatial tumor microenvironment analysis," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "We believe integrated biomarker analysis will play an increasingly important role in precision oncology research, patient stratification, and treatment-response assessment."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Lunit will be exhibiting at ASCO 2026, where attendees can learn more about the company's AI biomarker platforms and research collaborations.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lunit's featured AI biomarker studies at ASCO 2026 include:</b></p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">[Rapid Oral #4016] A phase Ib/II trial of First-line Trastuzumab, Nivolumab, Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in HER2-positive biliary tract cancer (HERBOT): a multi-institutional study from the Korean Cancer Study Group</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">[Poster #8545/335] AI-powered characterization of the tumor microenvironment landscape in HER2-overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">[Poster #6122/579] Artificial Intelligence-Powered Spatial Analysis of Endothelial Cells and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Predicts Response to Axitinib in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">[Poster #2532/322] AI-powered spatial tumor microenvironment analysis in metastatic microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer receiving immunotherapy</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">[Poster #2612/402] Potential effects of TGF-β inhibition on immune resistance by targeting immunosuppressive microenvironment in advanced gastric cancer (AGC): Multi-omics post-hoc analysis of the K-Umbrella-06 Trial</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Learn more at lunit.io.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/lunit-presents-ai-powered-cancer-biomarker-research-at-asco-2026-153219.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:46:15 +0700</pubDate>
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			<title>Rendeavour named AfCFTA s first implementation partner for African industrialisation</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt The AfCFTA Secretariat has selected Rendeavour as its inaugural implementation partner tasking Africa s largest urban developer with advancing infrastructure led industrialisation and integrated economic zones across the continent span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>LOMÉ, Togo, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has partnered with Rendeavour, Africa's new city builder, to support the implementation of the AfCFTA through infrastructure-led industrialisation, integrated economic zones and trade-enabling urban development across the continent.</p>    <p>The partnership was signed at Biashara Afrika 2026, the AfCFTA Secretariat's flagship private sector platform convening heads of state, ministers, regulators, investors and business leaders to advance intra-African trade and industrialisation.</p>    <p>Through the partnership, Rendeavour will support the AfCFTA Secretariat in advancing the role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as drivers of industrialisation, mobilising private capital for trade-enabling infrastructure and supporting the development of trade and industrial corridors linked to integrated industrial and urban ecosystems.</p>    <p>With a combined GDP of more than USD 3.4 trillion, AfCFTA is projected to unlock an additional USD 450 billion in income across the continent by 2035. Yet intra-African trade still accounts for only 14% of Africa's total trade, highlighting the need for infrastructure that enables manufacturing, logistics and cross-border commerce at scale.</p>    <p>"Africa is not only the fastest growing region in the world; with time it will also become one of the safest and most reliable destinations for investment," said Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour. "As the first private sector implementation partner of AfCFTA, Rendeavour's cities are recognised for their infrastructure and operating environments where investment, manufacturing and trade can thrive."</p>    <p>H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said: "The implementation of the AfCFTA requires strategic partnerships that can translate the opportunities of the Agreement into commercially viable industrial and trade ecosystems. This partnership reflects the growing confidence of the private sector in Africa's single market and industrial future."</p>    <p>Backed by American, Norwegian, New Zealand and British investors, Rendeavour's cities in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the continent's largest urban development projects, serving as hubs for businesses, homes, education and recreation within infrastructure-ready economic zones. Current development across Rendeavour's ecosystem is valued at more than USD 5 billion and includes 250 businesses, schools educating more than 6,000 students and 10,000 mixed-income homes.</p>    <p>Rendeavour's portfolio includes Tatu City in Kenya; Alaro City and Jigna City in Nigeria; Appolonia City and King City in Ghana; Roma Park in Zambia; and Kiswishi City in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/rendeavour-named-afcftas-first-implementation-partner-for-african-industrialisation-153216.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:40:34 +0700</pubDate>
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			<title>Coffee Bean Tea Leaf launches Mixers beverage platform in Singapore</title>
			<description>The Coffee Bean Tea Leaf has introduced its new Mixers beverage platform to the Singapore market offering a range of layered customisable drinks designed for sharing and social consumption</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">SINGAPORE, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cafés today are no longer just coffee stops. They are where people catch up, recharge, create content and stay a little longer than planned. Tapping into this new social café culture, The Coffee Bean &amp; Tea Leaf Singapore is turning up the vibes with the launch of Mixers — a playful new beverage platform made for expressive, experience-driven moments.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Refreshing, visually layered and designed to evolve with every stir and sip, Mixers brings together refreshing flavors, sparkling textures and vibrant colors in drinks that feel just as good as they look. Whether it is a mid-day pick-me-up, post-work hangout or spontaneous café catch-up, Mixers is crafted to fit naturally into today's social lifestyle moments.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">More notably, Mixers arrives as younger consumers increasingly embrace "sober curious" lifestyles — seeking social beverages that feel elevated, exciting and experience-led without centering around alcohol. Mixers is designed to deliver layered flavors, mood-driven experiences and a sense of occasion that fits naturally into modern social rituals.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Today's café culture is about connection, mood and experience as much as it is about the beverage itself," said Chien Chien, Lin, Managing Director &amp; VP Finance (APAC), The Coffee Bean &amp; Tea Leaf Singapore. "Consumers today are looking for moments that feel personal, expressive and shareable, and Mixers was created for exactly that - refreshing drinks that fit naturally into the social and lifestyle moments shaping urban culture today."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Served in tall translucent cups that showcase bold gradients and layered colors, the drinks are designed to stand out both in cafés and on social feeds.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The new Mixers lineup features two distinct creations, each bringing its own personality to the experience:</p>    <ol type="1">  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Mango Mint Cold Brew Tea with Jelly</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Strawberry Swedish Berries Cold Brew Tea with Strawberry Jelly</li>  </ol>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Mixers is now available at all participating The Coffee Bean &amp; Tea Leaf® outlets across Singapore, while stocks last. For more information, visit The Coffee Bean &amp; Tea Leaf Singapore.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/coffee-bean-tea-leaf-launches-mixers-beverage-platform-in-singapore-153207.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:29:44 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/manulife-hong-kong-and-macau-appoints-wilton-kee-as-ceo-153223.html</guid>
			<title>Manulife Hong Kong and Macau appoints Wilton Kee as CEO</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Manulife Hong Kong and Macau has named Wilton Kee as its new Chief Executive Officer succeeding Patrick Graham in a leadership transition at one of the region s major insurers span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HONG KONG, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife Hong Kong and Macau today announced strategic changes to its senior leadership team with Wilton Kee appointed to succeed Patrick Graham as Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, subject to regulatory approval. His appointment reflects Manulife's strong commitment to talent development, continuity of strategy, and long-term growth in Hong Kong and Macau, and forms part of the Company's succession planning to deliver on its refreshed enterprise strategy.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Wilton's appointment underscores our continued focus on disciplined execution, a diversified business model, and our long-term commitment to customers in one of our largest markets in Asia," said Steve Finch, President and CEO of Manulife Asia. "He brings deep and diversified expertise and strategic vision that will help to shape our continued success. Most recently in his dual role as Deputy CEO and CFO, Wilton has reinforced our market position, driven enterprise integration, strengthened management oversight, and advanced alignment on strategic and operational priorities. This appointment represents our confidence that he will continue to execute against our long-term growth priorities as CEO."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Kee joined Manulife in 2013 and has held a number of senior leadership roles across pricing, product, health and finance in Hong Kong and Macau. He previously served as Chief Product Officer and later assumed the additional role of Head of Health. In 2022, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer, and in March 2026, took on additional responsibilities as Deputy CEO, contributing significantly to the company's strategic development and market leadership in both markets.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Wilton will succeed Patrick effective as of July 1, 2026.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/manulife-hong-kong-and-macau-appoints-wilton-kee-as-ceo-153223.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:14:41 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/axion-semiconductor-acquires-global-equipment-marketplace-moov-technologies-153215.html</guid>
			<title>Axion Semiconductor acquires global equipment marketplace Moov Technologies</title>
			<description>Axion Semiconductor led by industry veterans Austin Gill John Getchell and Jeff Robbins has acquired Moov Technologies a global semiconductor equipment marketplace expanding its footprint in the sector</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="prntac" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="legendSpanClass">GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.</span>, <span class="legendSpanClass">May 22, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- Axion Semiconductor, a semiconductor platform company focused on supply chain operations and services, announced it has acquired Moov Technologies, an Austin, Texas-based semiconductor equipment marketplace and asset management platform serving customers in more than 55 countries. The acquisition expands Axion Semiconductor's operating platform and strengthens its position across the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.</p>    <p class="prntac" style="text-align: justify;">Moov Technologies has established itself as a leading platform for the buying, selling and management of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and parts. Moov developed the world's first interactive equipment marketplace and asset management platform, built on a modern technology stack designed to support global semiconductor manufacturing operations. Many of the world's largest semiconductor companies rely on Moov's platform to manage manufacturing assets, streamline transactions and improve visibility across equipment lifecycles.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Moov's platform supports the sourcing and sale of semiconductor fabrication, packaging, test, EMS and SMT equipment, as well as surplus, idle and scrap tools. In addition to marketplace services, the company provides logistics, de-installation, rigging, crating, refurbishment, installation and live shipment tracking capabilities for customers operating in multiple regions. Moov's platform combines digital marketplace functionality with operational services that support complex semiconductor equipment transactions from initial listing through delivery and installation.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Based in Colorado, Axion acquires and integrates semiconductor businesses into a unified operating platform designed to support the evolving infrastructure needs of the semiconductor supply chain. The company was established by semiconductor industry veterans Austin Gill, John Getchell, and Jeffrey Robbins. Together, the leadership team has over 60 years' experience founding, owning, and operating industry segment leaders and has managed billions of dollars in semiconductor equipment assets, services, and transactions across global markets.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Moov has built an exceptional platform and business with a strong reputation across the semiconductor industry," said Austin Gill, CEO of Axion Semiconductor. "The company's technology, customer relationships and operational capabilities have established it as a trusted partner for many of the world's leading manufacturers. By bringing together Moov's platform with Axion's leadership team and long-term strategy, we believe the company is well positioned to accelerate growth and expand its role within the global semiconductor ecosystem."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"One of the strengths of the Moov platform is its ability to connect equipment owners, buyers and service providers through a more efficient and transparent process," said Jeff Robbins, COO of Axion Semiconductor. "The semiconductor industry continues to face increasing complexity around equipment sourcing, asset utilization and lifecycle management. Combining Moov's platform capabilities with Axion's operational infrastructure positions us to better support customers across the global semiconductor supply chain."</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Jim O'Reilly will serve as CEO of Moov Technologies, while Jeff Kielty will continue in his role as managing director. The combined leadership team brings decades of experience across semiconductor manufacturing, equipment operations, supply chain management and technology services.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Moov Technologies will continue operating from its hubs in Austin, Texas, and New York, New York, while supporting customers across North America, Asia and Europe. The company also maintains operations in Tempe, Arizona and Taipei, Taiwan as part of Axion Semiconductor's broader platform. The acquisition will allow Moov to scale its platform and services while continuing to support the operational requirements of semiconductor manufacturers and equipment suppliers worldwide.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">For more information on Axion Semiconductor, please visit www.axionsemi.co/. To learn more about Moov Technologies, please visit https://moov.co/.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/axion-semiconductor-acquires-global-equipment-marketplace-moov-technologies-153215.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:09:52 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/electrolux-launches-fully-underwritten-rights-issue-of-sek-9-billion-153217.html</guid>
			<title>Electrolux launches fully underwritten rights issue of SEK 9 billion</title>
			<description>Swedish appliance giant Electrolux has set out terms for a SEK 9 062 million rights issue fully underwritten signalling a significant capital raising move as the company navigates a challenging operating environment</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>STOCKHOLM, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 23, 2026, the Board of Directors of AB Electrolux ("Electrolux Group" or the "Group") resolved, subject to approval by the Extraordinary General Meeting (the "EGM") to be held on May 27, 2026, on a rights issue of Class A and Class B shares of approximately SEK 9 billion before transaction costs (the "Rights Issue"). The Rights Issue, supported by AB Electrolux largest shareholder, Investor AB, is intended to finance and accelerate Electrolux Group's profitable growth initiatives and expedite the achievement of its financial targets, as well as strengthen the Group's balance sheet. Today, Electrolux Group announces the terms for the Rights Issue.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The Rights Issue terms in brief</p>    <ul type="disc">  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Each existing share in AB Electrolux held on the record date entitles to two (2) subscription rights. One (1) subscription right entitles to subscription for one (1) new share, whereby subscription rights of Class A entitle to subscription of shares of Class A and subscription rights of Class B entitle to subscription of shares of Class B.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">The subscription price has been set to SEK 16.75 per Class A and Class B share, respectively.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Following completion of the Rights Issue, Electrolux Group will raise gross proceeds of approximately SEK 9,062 million through the Rights Issue, before deduction of transaction costs.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">The record date for participation in the Rights Issue is May 29, 2026.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">The subscription period in the Rights Issue will last from and including June 2, 2026 to June 16, 2026.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Investor AB, holding 17.94 percent of the shares and 30.43 percent of the votes in AB Electrolux (18.78 and 31.54 percent, respectively, excluding treasury shares held by AB Electrolux), has undertaken to subscribe for its pro rata share of the Rights Issue. In addition, Investor AB has undertaken to guarantee subscription of 18.78 percent of the Rights Issue. In total, Investor AB's undertaking encompasses 37.56 percent of the Rights Issue.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">Morgan Stanley and SEB (the "Joint Global Coordinators") and Deutsche Bank (the "Co-Bookrunner", together with the Joint Global Coordinators, the "Underwriters") have entered into an underwriting commitment with AB Electrolux, subject to customary conditions, covering the remaining portion of the Rights Issue. The Rights Issue is thus fully underwritten.</li>  </ul>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Background and rationale and use of proceeds of the Rights Issue</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">On April 23, 2026, Electrolux Group announced that it had entered into agreements with Midea Group to establish a highly complementary long-term strategic partnership in North America and a plan to improve efficiency across its organization including a focused optimization of the Group's global manufacturing footprint to further increase agility across the organization. Against the background of the strategic initiatives announced on April 23, 2026, the Board of Directors of AB Electrolux resolved on the Rights Issue. Following completion of the Rights Issue, Electrolux Group will raise gross proceeds of SEK 9,062 million, before deduction of transaction costs.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The gross proceeds will be used to finance Electrolux Group's profitable growth initiatives and strengthen the Group's balance sheet. The Group intends to allocate the gross proceeds as follows:</p>    <ul type="disc">  	<li style="text-align: justify;">SEK 1.0-1.5 billion to support the Group's long-term strategic partnership with Midea Group in Food Preservation (refrigeration) manufacturing and sales, and Fabric Care (laundry) in North America.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">SEK 2.0-2.5 billion to support the Group's plans to improve efficiency across its organization over the next two years, including targeted optimization of the global manufacturing footprint to improve capacity utilization and drive cost efficiencies in addition to staff reductions globally, across functions, in line with Electrolux Group's strategy to strengthen competitiveness and financial resilience.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">SEK 1.0 billion to support other long-term profitable growth initiatives, including product category and market expansion and increasing lifetime value offerings.</li>  	<li style="text-align: justify;">SEK 4.0-5.0 billion to strengthen the Group's balance sheet to provide the Group with the financial flexibility and resilience needed in today's competitive and challenging market environment, while executing on the strategic initiatives and maintaining a solid investment-grade credit rating.</li>  </ul>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Please refer to Electrolux Group's press releases dated April 23, 2026 (Partnership announcement, and Global organization and footprint optimization, and Rights Issue announcement), for more information on the background and rationale for the Right Issue and further details on the use of proceeds.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Terms and conditions of the Rights Issue</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Each existing share in AB Electrolux held on the record date, May 29, 2026, entitles to two (2) subscription rights. One (1) subscription right entitles to subscription for one (1) new share, whereby subscription rights of Class A entitle to subscription of shares of Class A and subscription rights of Class B entitle to subscription of shares of Class B. Shares not subscribed for with primary preferential right shall be offered to all shareholders for subscription (subsidiary preferential right). Upon the transfer of subscription rights (representing the primary preferential right), the subsidiary preferential right will also be transferred to the new holder of the subscription right. If not all new shares are subscribed for with subscription rights (primary preferential right), new Class A and Class B shares will be allotted by the Board, up to the maximum amount of the Rights Issue, in the following order (except for such shareholders who reside in certain unauthorized jurisdictions):</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, allotment shall be made to those who have subscribed for new shares with subscription rights (subsidiary preferential right), irrespective of share class subscribed for and regardless of whether they were shareholders on the record date or not. In case of oversubscription, allocation shall be made pro rata in relation to the number of subscription rights each one has exercised for subscription of shares and, if that is not possible, by drawing of lots.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Secondly, allotment shall be made to others who have applied for subscription of shares without subscription rights (the general public in Sweden and "qualified investors"). In case of oversubscription, allocation shall be made pro rata in relation to their applied interest and, if that is not possible, by drawing of lots.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Thirdly, allotment shall be made to Investor AB and the Underwriters in accordance with their respective guarantee undertakings.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The Rights Issue is expected to increase AB Electrolux share capital by a maximum of SEK 2,951,906,720, from the current SEK 1,544,601,540 to not more than SEK 4,496,508,260 through an issuance of not more than 540,992,636 new shares, of which a maximum of 16,383,608 new Class A shares and a maximum of 524,609,028 new Class B shares. After the Rights Issue, the number of shares in AB Electrolux is expected to amount to not more than 824,070,029 shares, of which not more than 24,575,412 Class A shares and 799,494,617 Class B shares.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The new shares are issued at a subscription price of SEK 16.75 per Class A and Class B share, respectively. No commission will be charged.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The record date for participation in the Rights Issue is expected to be on May 29, 2026. The subscription period is expected to run from and including June 2, 2026, up to and including June 16, 2026, or a later date as resolved by the Board of Directors.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Trading in subscription rights is expected to take place on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period from and including June 2, 2026, up to and including June 11, 2026. Trading in BTAs (Sw. betalda tecknade aktier) is expected to take place on Nasdaq Stockholm during the period from and including June 2, 2026, up to and including June 29, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Shareholders who do not participate in the Rights Issue will have their holdings diluted by up to 65.65% percent (66.67% percent excluding treasury shares held by AB Electrolux) and voting rights diluted by up to 65.86% percent, but have the possibility to compensate themselves financially for the dilution by selling their subscription rights no later than June 11, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The Rights Issue is subject to approval by the EGM to be held on May 27, 2026. The resolution on the Rights Issue will also require that the EGM resolves to amend the limits for the share capital and the number of shares in the company's articles of association.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The full terms and conditions of the Rights Issue as well as further information about Electrolux Group will be presented in the prospectus that is expected to be published on Electrolux Group's website on May 28, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Subscription and underwriting commitments</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Investor AB, holding 17.94 percent of the shares and 30.43 percent of the votes in AB Electrolux (18.78 and 31.54 percent, respectively, excluding treasury shares held by AB Electrolux), has undertaken to subscribe for its pro rata share of the Rights Issue. In addition, Investor AB has undertaken to guarantee subscription of 18.78 percent of the Rights Issue. In total, Investor AB's undertaking encompasses 37.56 percent of the Rights Issue. The Swedish Securities Council (Sw. Aktiemarknadsnämnden) has - in relation to Investor AB's undertaking to subscribe for its pro rata share of the Rights Issue - granted Investor AB an exemption from the mandatory takeover bid requirement that would otherwise arise. Investor AB has also been granted such an exemption in relation to its undertaking to underwrite the Rights Issue, subject to (i) the shareholders of AB Electrolux being informed ahead of the EGM about the maximum ownership level that Investor AB may reach upon utilization of its underwriting undertaking; and (ii) the EGM's resolution to approve the Rights Issue being supported by shareholders representing at least two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the EGM, whereby shares held and represented by Investor AB must be disregarded. Investor AB's guarantee undertaking is conditional upon said majority being received at the EGM. Morgan Stanley, SEB and Deutsche Bank have entered into a underwriting commitment with AB Electrolux, subject to customary conditions, covering the remaining portion of the Rights Issue, including shares subject to Investor AB's guarantee undertaking in the event the above-mentioned majority is not received at the EGM. The Rights Issue is thus fully underwritten.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Based on the subscription price of SEK 16.75 per share of Class A and Class B, respectively, and assuming that the Rights Issue is subscribed only to the extent covered by subscription and underwriting commitments from Investor AB and the Underwriters, Investor AB would hold approximately 30.81% percent of the shares and approximately 41.58% percent of the votes in AB Electrolux following the Rights Issue.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Lock-up undertakings</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The Board members of Electrolux have undertaken not to, without the prior written consent from the Joint Global Coordinators, and with customary exceptions, sell their respective holdings of shares in AB Electrolux or otherwise enter into transactions with similar effect for a period of 180 days, starting on the date falling immediately after the last day of the subscription period in the Rights Issue (June 16, 2026).</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Furthermore, Investor AB has similarly undertaken not to, without the prior written consent from the Joint Global Coordinators, and with customary exceptions, sell its holding of shares in AB Electrolux or otherwise enter into transactions with similar effect for a period ending on the date falling 180 days after announcement of the final outcome of the Rights Issue, expected on or around June 22, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">In addition, the Company has undertaken not to, without the prior written consent from the Joint Global Coordinators, and with customary exceptions, issue or contract to issue shares or other securities, or directly or indirectly sell, transfer, pledge, lien, charge, grant security or an option over, or enter into any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect for a period ending on the date falling 180 days after announcement of the final outcome of the Rights Issue, expected on or around June 22, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Prospectus</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Comprehensive information regarding the Rights Issue will be included in the prospectus which is expected to be published on or around May 28, 2026.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Indicative timetable for the Rights Issue</p>    <p>The timetable below is preliminary and may be subject to change.</p>    <table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10" style="width:90%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">May 27, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">EGM to approve the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">May 27, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Last day of trading in shares including right to participate in the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">May 28, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">First day of trading in shares excluding right to participate in the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">May 28, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Estimated date for publication of the prospectus</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">May 29, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Record date for participation in the Rights Issue, i.e. holders of shares who<br />  			are registered in the share register on this day will receive subscription rights<br />  			for participation in the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">June 2, 2026 -<br />  			June 11, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Trading in subscription rights on Nasdaq Stockholm</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">June 2, 2026 -<br />  			June 16, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Subscription period</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">June 2, 2026 -<br />  			June 29, 2026 </span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Trading in paid subscribed shares (Sw: <i>betalda</i> <i>tecknade</i> <i>aktier)</i> ("BTAs") </span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">On or around<br />  			June 17, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Estimated date of announcement of preliminary outcome of the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">On or around<br />  			June 22, 2026</span></p>  			</td>  			<td class="prngen2" colspan="1" nowrap="nowrap" rowspan="1">  			<p class="prnml4"><span class="prnews_span">Estimated date of announcement of final outcome of the Rights Issue</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/electrolux-launches-fully-underwritten-rights-issue-of-sek-9-billion-153217.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 10:04:21 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/melia-and-tanzanite-expand-ho-tram-resort-with-new-indochine-project-152954.html</guid>
			<title>Meliá and Tanzanite expand Ho Tram resort with new Indochine project</title>
			<description>Meliá Hotels International and Tanzanite International on May 18 signed a management agreement for The Indochine at Meliá Ho Tram marking a major expansion of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort in southern Vietnam</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/19/12/in_article/melia-ho-tram-120260519124621.jpg?rt=20260519124624" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title=""></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td>The Indochine at Meliá Ho Tram is marking a major expansion of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort in southern Vietnam</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p>Building on the resort’s growing international recognition, including its inclusion in the 2026 Travel+Leisure Top 500 list, the expansion is expected to strengthen Ho Tram’s positioning as one of Vietnam’s leading upscale coastal destinations.</p>    <p>Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2028, the development within the Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort complex will introduce an additional 191 hotel suites and rooms alongside expanded wellness, fitness and dining facilities.</p>    <p>The project will also feature five new swimming pools spanning 2,500 square metres, including a signature rooftop pool, as the resort continues to expand its premium leisure and wellness offerings in response to growing demand for high-end travel experiences in southern Vietnam.</p>    <p>As part of the expansion, the initiative will introduce The Indochine Residences at Meliá Ho Tram, an exclusive collection of two- and three-bedroom residences, duplexes and penthouses developed as fully serviced, hotel-managed properties under Meliá’s hospitality standards.</p>    <p>The residences are expected to provide investors with access to Meliá’s hospitality services and rental programme, combining private ownership with professionally managed resort operations.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/19/12/melia-ho-tram-220260519124619.jpg?rt=20260519124825" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title=""></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td>The Indochine Residences at Meliá Ho Tram features an exclusive collection of two- and three-bedroom residences, duplexes and penthouses</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p>André P. Gerondeau, COO of Meliá Hotels International, said Vietnam continued to represent one of the group’s most strategic growth markets in Asia-Pacific, while Ho Tram is rapidly emerging as a premier leisure and lifestyle destination within the region.</p>    <p>“This expansion reflects our long-term confidence in both the destination and our partnership with Tanzanite International,” Gerondeau said.</p>    <p>“Together, we are evolving Meliá Ho Tram beyond a traditional beachfront resort into a more holistic destination experience. The expansion will strengthen the resort’s positioning across premium leisure, wellness, gastronomy, and exceptional hospitality.”</p>    <p>According to the company, the expansion forms part of Meliá Ho Tram’s broader strategy to diversify its hospitality and wellness experiences for families, couples and multigenerational travellers.</p>    <p>The resort is continuing to enhance its family-oriented offerings through an upgraded Kids Club featuring a signature tree house and expanded indoor and outdoor activities, alongside a new football pitch expected to open in June 2026 and a dedicated outdoor recreation area for teenagers currently under development.</p>    <p>Meliá Ho Tram is also expanding its wellness-focused services through the introduction of an onsen experience and a wellness-inclusive package designed around mindfulness, rest and active living.</p>    <p>The wellness programme will include yoga, meditation, stretching sessions and nature-based experiences, alongside spa treatments, aromatherapy amenities, wellness workshops inspired by local ingredients and access to sauna and steam bath facilities.</p>    <p>Rooted in Meliá’s Mediterranean-inspired approach to hospitality, the resort aims to create stronger connections between guests, local culture and the natural surroundings of Ho Tram through integrated leisure and wellness experiences.</p>    <p>Nguyen Nam Son, chairman of Tanzanite International, said the continued partnership with Meliá Hotels International reflects the developer’s long-term commitment to Ho Tram’s tourism and hospitality market.</p>    <p>“This next chapter of development reflects our shared vision to create a world-class coastal destination that contributes meaningfully to the local economy and strengthens Ho Tram’s appeal among both domestic and international travellers,” Son said.</p>    <p>According to Son, the venture is expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 500 operational roles once fully operational.</p>    <p>The timing of the expansion aligns with Ho Tram’s accelerating emergence on the international stage amid major infrastructure upgrades across southern Vietnam.</p>    <p>The upcoming Long Thanh International Airport, located around 66km from the resort, together with improving regional transport connectivity, is expected to strengthen Ho Tram’s accessibility for both domestic and international travellers seeking premium coastal experiences within convenient reach of the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/melia-and-tanzanite-expand-ho-tram-resort-with-new-indochine-project-152954.html</link>
			<author>Phuong Linh</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 09:59:35 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/tongcheng-travel-posts-5-billion-revenue-as-users-hit-254-million-in-q1-153208.html</guid>
			<title>Tongcheng Travel posts 5 billion revenue as users hit 254 million in Q1</title>
			<description>span style font size 14pt Chinese travel platform Tongcheng Travel reported strong first quarter 2026 results with revenue reaching 5 billion and its annual paying user base expanding to 254 million amid deepening AI integration span</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">HONG KONG, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited ("Tongcheng Travel" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries the "Group", stock code: 0780.HK), a leading comprehensive travel service platform in China, today announced its unaudited consolidated results for the three months ended 31 March 2026 (the "period under review" or "2026Q1").</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Ma Heping, Co-Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tongcheng Travel, said, "In the first quarter of 2026, China's travel market continued to demonstrate robust growth, driven by structural shifts in consumer travel demand and favorable holiday policies. As a leading travel platform in China, we remained highly attuned to market dynamics and implemented effective strategies to seize emerging growth opportunities while meeting evolving user needs. During the period under review, The Group continued to deliver solid results. We proactive approach to capture opportunities arising from structural market shift. Looking ahead, the Group will remain focused on our core OTA business, strengthening our foothold in the mass market while steadily growing our outbound travel services to enhance our global footprint."</p>    <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">  			<p style="text-align: justify;">2026Q1 Highlights with Year-on-year ("yoy") Comparison</p>  			</td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">  			<p style="text-align: justify;">Revenue and Adjusted Profit Continue Strong Growth Momentum from 2025</p>    			<ul type="disc">  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Revenue increased by 14.4% yoy to RMB5,005.8 million</li>  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Adjusted EBITDA increased by 19.8% yoy to RM1,389.0 million</li>  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Adjusted net profit amounted to RMB941.1 million. Adjusted net margin increased to 18.8%</li>  			</ul>    			<p style="text-align: justify;">Growing User Base Further Strengthened Its Position in China's Mass Market.</p>    			<ul type="disc">  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Annual Paying Users ("APUs") increased by 2.7% yoy to 253.9 million, reached a record high</li>  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Twelve-month Accumulated Number of Travelers Served increased by 4.5% yoy to 2,047.4 million, further expanded its presence in China's mass travel market</li>  			</ul>    			<p style="text-align: justify;">Core OTA Businesses Demonstrates Exceptional Growth and Resilience</p>    			<ul type="disc">  				<li style="text-align: justify;">Revenue of core OTA business increased by 17.3% yoy to RMB4,449.9 million  				<ul type="circle">  					<li>Revenue from transportation ticketing services increased by 6.2% yoy to RMB 2,124.0 million, the international air ticketing business achieved healthy growth in both volume and revenue</li>  					<li>Revenue from accommodation reservation services increased by 14.7% yoy to RMB1,364.5 million with room nights sold showing robust growth</li>  					<li>Revenue from other businesses increased by 59.6% yoy to RMB961.4 million</li>  				</ul>  				</li>  			</ul>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Continuously Deepening on the Mass Travel Market<br />  Steady Growth in User Base and Improving User Value</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Leveraging its exceptional operational capabilities, Tongcheng Travel has further strengthened its position in China's mass market. The Group's effective user acquisition and engagement initiatives enabled it to continuously expand its user base and improve user value. During the period under review, the Group's average MPUs amounted to 46.4 million. The APUs reached a record high of 253.9 million with 2.7% yoy growth while the twelve-month Accumulated Number of Travelers Served increased to 2,047.4 million with 4.5% yoy growth.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">During the period under review, Tongcheng Travel was committed to enhancing user engagement and optimizing operational efficiency across all traffic channels. Through the long-standing partnership with Tencent, the Weixin ecosystem continued to serve as a vital traffic source, enabling the Group to establish a broad user base across China. As of March 31, 2026, over 87% of the registered users resided in non-first tier cities in China. Meanwhile, the Group rolled out a series of innovative and targeted marketing campaigns that effectively boosted user engagement and loyalty, further reinforcing its positioning as an experience-driven travel platform.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Core OTA Business Sustained High-Quality Growth<br />  Hotel Management Business Became New Driver of Expansion</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">During the period under review, the Group's core OTA business experienced high-quality growth. The Group's transportation business continued to demonstrate resilience. The revenue from transportation ticketing services increased by 6.2% yoy to RMB2,124.0 million. The growth was mainly attributable to the expanding portfolio of value-added products and services which facilitate users' journeys. As for the international air ticketing business, the Group further solidified its brand recognition through competitive pricing strategies and high-quality services, achieving healthy growth in both volume and revenue. In terms of train ticketing business, the Group remained committed to prioritizing user experience and continued to optimize the algorithm-driven Huixing system, providing users with viable end-to-end travel solutions.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">In 2026Q1, the Group's revenue from the accommodation business increased by 14.7% yoy o RMB1,364.5 million with room nights sold showing robust growth. Driven by the increasing demand for higher-quality accommodation options, the proportion of higher-quality hotel room nights sold on the platform continued to increase yoy during the period under review. Meanwhile, the Group implemented targeted user segmentation and tiered engagement strategies to drive purchase frequency and enhance user loyalty. As for the international accommodation business, the Group continuously expanded cooperation with global suppliers and steadily enriched its global product offerings. The Group also leveraged its domestic user base to drive cross-sale initiatives and executed precise marketing campaigns targeting high-potential users. These efforts contributed to robust growth in the international room nights sold in 2026Q1.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">During the period under review, the Group's other businesses once again exhibited exceptional growth. The revenue from other businesses achieved RMB961.4 million with 59.6% yoy growth, driven by excellent performance of its hotel management business and the consolidation of Wanda Hotels and Resorts. Tongcheng Travel continuously expanded the hotel network by leveraging its comprehensive brand portfolio, competitive technological capabilities, and organizational agility. The Elong Hotel Technology platform shareholders focused on hotel brands with a proven track record of market recognition, while Wanda Hotels and Resorts accelerated its network expansion nationwide, capitalizing on strong brand equity, and end-to-end service capabilities ranging from design to operational management.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Deepening AI Technology Applications to Drive the Group's Sustainable Development</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">As an innovation-driven enterprise, Tongcheng Travel proactively embraces innovation to drive business transformation, viewing the AI era as a time of immense opportunity. During the period under review, the Group continued to enhance DeepTrip's capabilities and broaden its application scenarios. The Group extended DeepTrip's integration with additional transportation resources to deliver AI-driven, end-to-end travel solutions. The Group also integrated DeepTrip into its air ticketing service to address users' pre-booking inquiries and help them identify options with more competitive prices. On the other hand, the Group continued to pursue strategic collaboration with leading external AI agents to seize future growth opportunities. In customer service, the Group introduced real-time simultaneous interpretation across both online consultation and voice consultation channels, effectively eliminating language barriers and significantly enhancing the global user experience. Additionally, the Group has leveraged AI capabilities to empower the customer service team in better understanding user inquiries and delivering faster, and more accurate responses.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">As a socially responsible enterprise, Tongcheng Travel has integrated social responsibility into every aspect of the daily operations. In late February, the Group established an emergency response team promptly following the outbreak of conflicts in the Middle East, to safeguard user travel and support affected users. On top of that, the Group's outstanding performance in ESG has once again received international recognition, and the Group was awarded the "Industry Mover" by S&amp;P Global for the second consecutive year and was included in S&amp;P Global's sustainability yearbook (China) for the fourth consecutive year.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Looking ahead, Tongcheng Travel maintains a positive outlook for both the company's performance and the broader China travel industry. The Group will remain focused on its core OTA business. In the meantime, the Group will accelerate the growth of its hotel management segment, with a strong emphasis on expanding hotel network and enhancing execution efficiency. The Group is also proactively leveraging AI technological innovations to capture new growth opportunities and improve operational efficiency. Finally, the Group remain dedicated to advancing its ESG performance and delivering sustainable, long-term value for society and all its stakeholders.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit the Group's website at https://www.tongchengir.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/tongcheng-travel-posts-5-billion-revenue-as-users-hit-254-million-in-q1-153208.html</link>
			<author>PR Newswire</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 09:57:50 +0700</pubDate>
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			<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vir.com.vn/maritime-financial-centre-expects-to-attract-300-billion-annually-153071.html</guid>
			<title>Maritime Financial Centre expects to attract 300 billion annually</title>
			<description>A maritime financial ecosystem part of the a href https vir com vn search enginer html p search amp q IFC Vietnam International Financial Centre a is expected to attract around 30 per cent of maritime financial transactions currently conducted in Singapore and Hong Kong equivalent to approximately 300 billion annually</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">At the Finance Forum 2026 held on May 20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Huu Huan, deputy chairman of the executive board of the International Financial Centre Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) said the total value of goods flowing through the seaport system in Ho Chi Minh City was estimated to exceed $1 trillion annually.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">"Despite possessing major transshipment port clusters, around 80–90 per cent of financial transactions related to these cargo flows are still being conducted in Singapore and Hong Kong," he said.</p>    <p data-end="722" data-start="401">To address this market gap, a maritime financial ecosystem is set to be launched, including a maritime financial exchange operating under a “port-to-finance” model. Under this framework, all data related to cargo, shipping contracts, electronic bills of lading, and payment flows will be standardised into financial data.</p>    <p data-end="1040" data-start="726">Based on these data streams, Huan added, stable cash flows generated from cargo handling and warehousing services can then be structured into infrastructure bonds, investment funds, or securitised products to attract long-term international capital, while also enabling green port projects to access environmental, social, and governance financing more easily.</p>    <p data-end="1251" data-start="1044">"This strategic initiative aims to transform Ho Chi Minh City from a city that merely operates ports and collects cargo handling fees into a capital transshipment hub for Vietnam’s broader maritime economy. The ecosystem has already attracted participation from a number of major financial institutions and logistics corporations, including Gemadept, Saigon Port, HDBank, alongside various international enterprises," he said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The VIFC also established the Aviation Financial Centre in February this year and has so far mobilised around $6.1 billion in committed capital from Boeing, Airbus, and several financial institutions in Dubai.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">A fintech hub has also been launched with the participation of major corporations such as MoMo, NAPAS, Ant International, and Bank of China.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">One of the most notable mechanisms is the regulatory sandbox, a controlled testing framework for new financial models, prioritising areas such as cross-border payments and tokenisation.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">At the same time, the VIFC-HCMC is also moving towards establishing an international stock exchange and has signed cooperation agreements with Nasdaq and London Stock Exchange to develop trading systems and cross-listing mechanisms.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“Our goal is for Vietnamese enterprises to be able to raise international capital directly in Ho Chi Minh City, while domestic investors can also trade international stocks such as Google, Amazon, or Microsoft,” Huan said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">According to Dr. Can Van Luc, member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, the development of an IFC is a necessary step as Vietnam seeks additional resources to sustain high economic growth in the coming years.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">To achieve growth of around 10 per cent, Vietnam will need to mobilise approximately $280 billion in total social investment capital annually. Ho Chi Minh City alone is estimated to require around $50–60 billion each year. Meanwhile, bank credit currently still accounts for more than half of the economy’s total capital supply.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“The capital market, including equities, bonds, and investment funds, currently contributes only around 14–15 per cent. This ratio needs to double in the coming years to reduce pressure on the banking system,” Luc said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Notably, Luc highlighted tokenisation as a potential new capital mobilisation channel in the coming years.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“Under this model, large-value assets such as real estate worth VND10 billion ($384,000) could be divided into smaller ownership units, enabling multiple investors to participate,” Luc said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">However, alongside opportunities for capital mobilisation, the development of an IFC will also impose higher requirements on both businesses and the workforce.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“Working within the IFC ecosystem will require strong English proficiency, professional working standards, and a solid understanding of international legal frameworks. At the same time, enterprises will need to enhance governance capabilities and innovation capacity, particularly as the proportion of Vietnamese businesses investing in research and development for new products currently stands at only around 9 per cent, significantly lower than the global average of approximately 28 per cent,” Luc said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">According to Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association, supporting enterprises in capitalising on opportunities arising from the IFC is one of the organisation’s key priorities in the coming period.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">The IFC is also expected to support small- and medium-sized enterprises in raising capital, with a targeted mobilisation scale of around $769,000 per year. However, to participate businesses will need to meet stringent requirements relating to corporate governance, financial transparency, and operational capability.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">“Even if favourable mechanisms are put in place, enterprises that fail to adequately prepare or lack the capacity to participate could miss significant opportunities during the next development phase,” Hoa said.</p>    <p style="text-align: justify;">Studies by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank estimate that Vietnam currently requires around $15–17 billion annually for climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure development projects. However, the state budget can currently meet only around 30–35 per cent of, with the remainder needed from the private sector.</p>    <table class="MASTERCMS_TPL_TABLE" style="width: 100%;">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td><img  src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/20/22/in_article/ifc220260520221235.jpg?rt=20260520221240" class="__img_mastercms" alt="" style="max-width:100%; padding:0px; margin:0px;" title=""></td>  		</tr>  		<tr>  			<td>Saigon Marina International Financial Centre, a VIFC-HCMC project. Photo: Le Toan</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/ant-international-ifc-and-gcash-launch-sustainability-financing-scorecard-150907.html"><img alt="Ant International, IFC and GCash launch sustainability financing scorecard" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/042026/18/21/thumbnail/photo-1-programme-sirius20260418210321.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/ant-international-ifc-and-gcash-launch-sustainability-financing-scorecard-150907.html" title="Ant International, IFC and GCash launch sustainability financing scorecard">Ant International, IFC and GCash launch sustainability financing scorecard</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">The fintech company, World Bank institution and Philippine payment platform introduced metrics enabling small business access to green capital.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/vifc-in-ho-chi-minh-city-attracts-19-billion-in-commitments-150871.html"><img alt="VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City attracts $19 billion in commitments" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/042026/17/17/thumbnail/hcm220260417171400.jpg" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/vifc-in-ho-chi-minh-city-attracts-19-billion-in-commitments-150871.html" title="VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City attracts $19 billion in commitments">VIFC in Ho Chi Minh City attracts $19 billion in commitments</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">More than $19 billion in committed capital is awaiting regulatory approval to be disbursed into Ho Chi Minh City's International Financial Centre.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>    <table class="__mb_article_in_image __mb_article_in_image_large">  	<tbody>  		<tr>  			<td align="left" valign="top" width="115"><a class="__mb_article_in_image_large_box" href="https://vir.com.vn/saigon-marina-ifc-serves-as-lighthouse-amid-river-of-heritage-151867.html"><img alt="Saigon Marina IFC serves as lighthouse amid river of heritage" src="https://vir.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2026/052026/02/12/thumbnail/1a20260502124813.jpg?rt=20260502124836" width="115" /> </a></td>  			<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top;padding:10px;" valign="top"><a href="https://vir.com.vn/saigon-marina-ifc-serves-as-lighthouse-amid-river-of-heritage-151867.html" title="Saigon Marina IFC serves as lighthouse amid river of heritage">Saigon Marina IFC serves as lighthouse amid river of heritage</a>  			<p><span class="tpl_desc">Commemorating the anniversary of the liberation of the south and national reunification on April 30, the Saigon sky was illuminated by a spectacular fireworks display.</span></p>  			</td>  		</tr>  	</tbody>  </table>]]></content:encoded>
			<link>https://vir.com.vn/maritime-financial-centre-expects-to-attract-300-billion-annually-153071.html</link>
			<author>Bich Ngoc</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 09:49:11 +0700</pubDate>
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