This milestone establishes a foundation for funding growth and capital allocation towards SeABank’s sustainability commitments.

SeABank’s Sustainable Finance Framework (SFF) aligns with six international principles and guidelines issued by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), Loan Market Association, Asia-Pacific Loan Market Association, Loan Syndications and Trading Association, and International Finance Corporation. It governs the full fund lifecycle through four pillars: use of proceeds, process for evaluation and selection, management of proceeds, and reporting.

Funding under this framework will support eligible projects across 14 green categories (40-45 per cent), seven blue categories (10-15 per cent), and five social objectives (40-45 per cent).

The initiative aims to address Vietnam’s environmental and social challenges, such as emissions, water security, waste management, and pollution, while improving underserved communities’ access to vital services, housing, and finance. SeABank also supports marine biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, pioneering the field of blue financing.

The framework sets quantitative criteria, such as a minimum 20 per cent performance improvement in energy savings, emission reduction, or water efficiency. All credit exposures are screened and assessed through SeABank’s Environmental and Social Management System. These criteria and reporting mechanisms aim to enhance accountability and integrate sustainable finance into operations.

Building on its 2025 Green and Blue Bond Framework, ICMA-aligned and rated “Medium Green” by S&P Global Ratings, the updated framework adds lending and social objectives, unifying green, blue, and social financing under one structure.

Through these moves, SeABank has mobilised nearly $1.1 billion from international institutions, including IFC, AIIB, Norfund, Proparco, FMO, and DFC.

As of September 2026, outstanding green credit exceeded VND4.1 trillion ($159 million), up over 150 per cent from end-2025. By 2030, SeABank targets green credit at 5 per cent of total outstanding loans alongside a 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions against its baseline year, while expanding financial access for vulnerable groups, women-owned businesses, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Guided by its sustainability vision, SeABank is integrating environmental, social, and governance criteria into its long-term strategy and operations. The SFF serves as an indispensable instrument for capital mobilisation and deployment, empowering clients’ green transition as Vietnam advances towards net-zero by 2050.

Vietnam seeks UK expertise in green finance and international capital mobilisation On the afternoon of May 22, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance, Minister Ngo Van Tuan received Iain Frew, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Vietnam.

SeABank raises charter capital to $1.32 billion SeABank has increased its charter capital to VND34.29 trillion ($1.32 billion), strengthening its financial position for future expansion.

Carbon market opens new avenues for green finance A domestic carbon market could help turn emissions reductions into a new source of finance for businesses, diversifying funding for the green transition and easing reliance on bank credit as the economy advances towards its net-zero target.

According to a statement on October 28, Asahi Life completed the regulatory process to amend MVI Life’s local insurance licence to reflect Asahi Life’s new ownership.

Asahi Life obtained necessary regulatory approvals from the supervisory authorities of both Japan and Vietnam, and completed the payment of approximately $170 million to MVI Life’s parent company, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company.

In addition, Asahi Life secured approval from the Vietnamese financial authorities to amend the local insurance licence on October 27, 2026, reflecting Asahi Life as the new sole investor. Under this new structure, operations have commenced.

Moving forward, Asahi Life is committed to contributing to the expansion and development of life insurance in Vietnam, as well as enhancing the healthy living and wellbeing of local customers.

On July 31, Asahi Life acquired 100 per cent of the equity interest in MVI Life held by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company for $170 million. As a result, MVI Life has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Life.

To drive its upcoming business expansion, the new company has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with LivWell, an organisation founded by professionals with deep experience in managing life insurance companies across Asia.

The new company will synergise the extensive product development expertise in medical and cancer insurance that Asahi Life has cultivated over many years in Japan, with LivWell’s advanced digital technology.

Looking ahead, Asahi Life aims to deepen its collaboration with LivWell, to swiftly deliver innovative insurance products and services that precisely capture the needs of the local market.

Founded in 2019 by, LivWell is a Singapore-based insurtech holding company. Since expanding its operations to Vietnam in 2020, LivWell has specialised in providing healthcentric insurance services and corporate wellness platforms.

Leveraging advanced technology, the company operates a healthcare mobile application and drives insurance distribution businesses, with a primary strategic focus on the Vietnamese market.

Manulife to sell MVI Life to Japan’s Asahi Mutual Life Manulife has agreed to sell its separate life insurance unit, MVI Life, to Japan’s Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Insurer FWD sees Vietnam as key market in Asian growth strategy On the afternoon of August 24 at the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Minister Le Tan Can held a meeting with a senior delegation from insurance group FWD, led by the group CEO Huynh Thanh Phong.

PVI Insurance and KBank sign MoU on cooperation PVI Insurance and Kasikornbank have signed an MoU in Thailand, paving the way for deeper cooperation between the two companies.

The event was attended by representatives from regulatory bodies, international organisations, technology associations, and telecommunications enterprises from the ASEAN region and partner countries. They exchanged experiences regarding 5G commercialisation, the development of applications, and preparations for the next generation of mobile networks.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said that following the initial phase of investment and network deployment, the greatest challenge for 5G lies in transforming connectivity capabilities into economic and social value. Network coverage and quality are essential conditions, but they are not sufficient on their own.

“The effectiveness of this technology should be demonstrated through its ability to boost productivity, improve service quality, and create new production and business models. The focus of 5G development needs to shift more decisively towards applications in industry, logistics, transportation, agriculture, and healthcare. This requires coordination among telecommunications companies, technology firms, and various economic sectors,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long. Photo: MST

Network operators should go beyond merely providing connectivity; they need to participate in developing specific solutions for their customers. Regulatory authorities, meanwhile, should create a favourable environment for experimentation and innovation.

In addition to leveraging 5G, the deputy minister suggested that the sector should prepare for 5G-Advanced–an enhanced version of 5G–as well as 6G networks. Key tasks include conducting technological research, developing human resources, carrying out trials, preparing spectrum, and participating in the establishment of international standards.

According to the deputy minister, ASEAN can strengthen cooperation in research, experience sharing, human resource training, and the connecting of businesses with universities and research institutes. Vietnam stands ready to collaborate with ASEAN member states, Japan, and other international partners for mutual benefit.

At the event, the MST’s Authority of Telecommunications said that Vietnam has moved from the 5G trial phase to large-scale deployment.

During 2027–2030, Vietnam will focus on generating added value from 5G through its application in industrial production, smart cities, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, and education.

The models mentioned include private 5G networks for factories, connectivity at ports and smart border crossings, as well as applications that support agricultural production.

Experience from Thailand also demonstrates that 5G development is aligned with specific needs of individual sectors. In Thailand, 5G coverage had reached 98 per cent of the population by June 2026.

The 7th ASEAN Conference on 5G in Quang Ninh province. Photo: MST

Thailand is implementing initiatives such as the Siriraj 5G Smart Hospital, which integrates AI, smart ambulances, and autonomous vehicles; at the same time, it is deploying technology across automation centres and utilising robotics within industrial estates.

Meanwhile, Cambodia is prioritising the deployment of 5G in its capital city, tourist cities, industrial zones, and economic gateways. The country aims to extend 5G coverage to 70–80 per cent of its population by 2030.

At the event, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan, shared strategic direction for the development of fibre optics, the expansion of 5G, optical technologies, and the distribution of data centres nationwide.

Japan is also developing non-terrestrial networks, including satellite communications, to support smart agriculture and disaster response. Given the rising data traffic in the age of AI, the country has proposed a "Digital Corridor Initiative," aimed at establishing a secure and reliable communications infrastructure.

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) suggested that ASEAN needs policies tailored to each individual market, rather than applying a single, uniform 5G model.

The GSMA recommended that countries make their spectrum roadmaps public, optimise licensing costs, simplify procedures for deploying base stations, and boost infrastructure sharing.

In addition to expanding its network, the organisation noted the need to build digital trust. According to a survey cited by the GSMA at the conference, 96 per cent of users polled across six ASEAN markets expressed concern about online fraud.

The GSMA recommended strengthening coordination among governments, mobile operators, and banks to leverage mobile data-based verification tools, thereby protecting consumers as they use digital services.

The discussion came weeks after the first tranche of Vietnam’s inclusion in the FTSE Global Equity Index Series took effect on September 18, lifting the country to Secondary Emerging Market status. About $20 trillion of assets worldwide are benchmarked to FTSE Russell indices.

In a keynote earlier, Wanming Du, director of index policy for Asia-Pacific at FTSE Russell, warned that investors do not allocate capital on market classification alone.

“Index inclusion creates the opportunity for capital to flow. It does not guarantee that capital will stay,” Du said. “The upgrade has given Vietnam greater visibility. The next phase is about competitiveness.”

She called for simpler account opening, more efficient trading, settlement, and foreign exchange arrangements, stronger governance, and a bigger base of domestic institutional investors.

Gary Harron, head of securities services at HSBC, said the most significant change was the quality of dialogue between officials and the brokers and custodians that execute trades for overseas clients. About a year and a half ago, he recalled, international participants were asking what would happen next, and communication largely ran one way.

“The forum has since evolved into a constructive, practical, two-way discussion,” Harron said. “When we can raise an issue with the State Securities Commission and the State Bank of Vietnam and see guidelines come out just a few weeks later, that is a really powerful message to the international community.”

He added that the State Securities Commission should keep briefing investors on policy changes and listening to their feedback, so the market stays in front of decision makers.

For asset managers, however, access is only the starting point. Nguyen Quoc Dung, CEO of Eastspring Investments, said the market had moved from intention to implementation, but he urged caution about how quickly money would follow the headlines.

“I would like to distinguish between attention, confidence, and actual asset allocation. The change is gradual, it is not immediate,” Dung said.

“What investors continue to look at are fundamentals, liquidity, transparency, corporate governance, and whether we have enough sizeable listed companies of high quality to invest in at scale. If we continue the momentum, we will attract the growth.”

Dung described the FTSE upgrade as a milestone rather than a destination, and said the country is now aiming for MSCI recognition. He argued that the economy cannot depend only on bank lending and needs a deeper capital market to draw patient, long-term funders.

On whether Vietnam lacks money or lacks places to put it, Dung was clear. He said demand for the growth story is strong, but supply of suitable assets is the constraint.

“What we need to do is create more investable assets for financial investors. We need more equities, and more sensible, quality listings across sectors, not concentrated in just a few,” Dung said.

“With clear and investable structures, especially for infrastructure, I believe Vietnam is not short of capital. The key is how we connect capital with those opportunities to attract long-term financial investors.”

Experts discussed the capital market. Photo: VIR

Market upgrade is just the beginning: Vietnamese companies face tougher test to attract capital Vietnam's market upgrade by FTSE Russell opens new opportunities to attract international capital. However, unlocking these opportunities will require companies to strengthen corporate governance, enhance transparency, and demonstrate their ability to generate cash flows.

VIFC-HCMC membership offers access to Vietnam's capital market Membership of Vietnam's International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City will open up significant opportunities for international financial institutions to access Vietnam's capital market, particularly in infrastructure and technology.

Experts outline ways to sustain interest rate cuts As banks cut interest rates amid mounting capital demand, developing domestic capital markets and tapping international funding prove crucial to easing liquidity pressures and sustaining lower borrowing costs.

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

A global brand campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the new name "LANDCROS" among stakeholders worldwide, and to deepen their understanding of, and their expectations for, what LANDCROS is striving to achieve, and the value it brings. From November 2, we are unveiling four key graphics expressing "Solutions Beyond Machinery," and will gradually roll them out worldwide.

This global brand campaign is being implemented as a global initiative, aimed at countries and regions across the world where we operate, including South East Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.

"Solutions Beyond Machinery" - The Message of the New Global Brand Campaign

Since launching a mechanical excavator in 1950, Hitachi Construction Machinery has been one of the industry leader as a construction and mining machinery manufacturer for over 75 years, and has built a reputation for "Reliable Solutions."

"Solutions Beyond Machinery" is the message that expresses what LANDCROS is, the new corporate brand that will keep evolving into the future and its' aims to be and the value it delivers. This expresses our determination to go beyond simply supplying hardware such as construction machinery and mining machinery, but to provide solutions that solve the real issues confronting customers with construction sites, and society, through open collaboration with partners.

In this global brand campaign, LANDCROS is portrayed as the response to customer challenges through Reliability, built on the Japanese manufacturing excellence and global service network we have inherited; Openness, through collaboration with partners both inside and outside the company; and professionalism, grounded in deep expertise and understanding of worksites.

In addition to developing next-generation construction machinery combining AI, robotics, sensing, and communication technologies, LANDCROS aims to provide integrated support that includes services and digital solutions. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to stable machine operation and improved safety and productivity at worksites, while creating new value beyond the boundaries of the industry.

Hitachi Construction Machinery will continue to develop LANDCROS, its new corporate brand, as a brand that consistently delivers innovative solutions beyond the traditional boundaries of a construction machinery manufacturer.

Comment from Masafumi Senzaki, President and COO, Hitachi Construction Machinery

For more than 75 years, we have worked closely with customers at worksites around the world, continuously strengthening our Japanese manufacturing capabilities and our global sales and service capabilities. The unwavering trust we have built along the way will remain at the heart of who we are, even as we become LANDCROS.

At the same time, as the challenges facing our customers and their worksites become increasingly diverse and complex, the role expected of us is also changing significantly. That is why we will continue to evolve the strengths we have built over the years, demonstrating Professionalism through our deep understanding of worksites, listening closely to our customers, and embracing Openness by connecting and collaborating with a wide range of partners.

"Solutions Beyond Machinery" embodies our determination to go beyond the boundaries of machinery, create new value together with our customers, and shape the future of worksites. Through this global brand campaign, we will share this ambition with people around the world.

Trademark Notes
LANDCROS is a registered trademark of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

Related Information
- October 28, 2025 News Release "Hitachi Construction Machinery Changes Trade Name to LANDCROS Corporation"
- LANDCROS Special Site

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

• Instant appointment booking, making it easier to access medical services when needed.
• Instant pre-authorisation, providing earlier confirmation of eligible coverage before treatment.
• Cashless settlement of approved medical expenses, reducing the need to pay upfront and submit claims for reimbursement afterwards.

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

Visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.

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

RIV-CARE will enrol approximately 100 patients with suspected or confirmed hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) and bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (CRABC). RIV-CARE aims to compare BV100 plus low-dose polymyxin B in combination with different background antibiotics (ceftazidime/avibactam or Cefiderocol) versus best available therapy across multiple geographies, to provide real-world evidence of clinical practice in settings with very high levels of drug resistance.

Dr. Glenn E Dale, Chief Development Officer of BioVersys: "CRABC remains amongst the most difficult to treat bacterial pathogens in hospitalized patients, with mortality reaching up to 50% globally due to very limited treatment options. Our RIV-CARE study allows us to bring a promising and novel treatment option, BV100, to patients who need it most. Importantly, RIV-CARE allows us to generate evidence exactly in settings with the highest resistance and greatest need."

Professor David Paterson, Director of ADVANCE-ID, said: "Half of people with serious CRAB infections will die. Doctors desperately need new antibiotic options for treating these infections so we can lower the death rate. We hope that the RIV-CARE trial will help determine if BV100 plus low-dose polymyxin B is a safe and effective option for these infections."

The last patient enrolled is anticipated towards end of 2027. RIV-CARE is conducted by the ADVANCE-ID clinical trial network, thanks to the generous contribution of Wellcome with SGD 22 million (c. USD 17m or CHF 14m). The non-dilutive funding from Wellcome offsets approximately 2/3 of the trial cost.

Dr. Florian von Groote-Bidlingmaier, Head of Clinical Research, Infectious Disease at Wellcome, said: "Antimicrobial resistance remains an urgent global health threat, and accelerating the development of new antibiotics into clinical use is a high priority. Partnerships like the one for this trial, that bring together industry, academia, clinical expertise and philanthropy, are vital for accelerating antibiotic R&D. The enrolment of the first patient in RIV-CARE is an important milestone, and it is exciting a potential new treatment is being evaluated in settings and communities already bearing a high burden of drug resistance."

In September 2026, BV100 was granted Fast Track Designation by the US FDA, under the Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) Designation received in 2019. These designations make BV100 eligible for priority FDA review, increased communication on clinical trial design and data requirements, and a five-year extension of market exclusivity in the US.

BV100 is currently being studied in two clinical trials: the pivotal Phase 3 global registration trial, RIV-TARGET, which announced first patient first visit in April 2026, and the open-label Phase 2b differentiation trial, RIV-CARE. First submissions for regulatory approval are anticipated by mid-2028.

Dr. Marc Gitzinger, Chief Executive Officer of BioVersys, said: "We are pleased to report first patient first visit in RIV-CARE, our Phase 2b differentiation trial which is now recruiting in parallel with our RIV-TARGET Phase 3 trial. Together, RIV-TARGET and RIV-CARE represent a focused dual-trial strategy intended to support both regulatory approval and future commercial uptake of BV100. RIV-Target will deliver the pivotal data for registration, while RIV-CARE is designed to help answer the questions physicians will ask at the bed side, providing evidence on how BV100 performs in comparison with best available therapies in multiple geographies. The interim analysis of RIV-CARE, anticipated for H1 2027, will provide an important early read-out."

RIV-CARE Phase 2b study design

RIV-CARE aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BV100 in combination with low dose polymyxin B plus ceftazidime/avibactam or cefiderocol in patients with suspected or confirmed CRABC nosocomial pneumonia (VABP and HABP) and BSI of non-urinary tract origin. This is an open-label study, and therefore, no blinding will be done.

The study is divided into two parts (Part A and Part B), recruiting in parallel. Approximately 90 patients will be recruited in Part A, and approximately 10 subjects will be recruited in Part B, with enrolment ending once Part A enrolment is complete.

In Part A, patients will be randomized 1:1:1, to one of the three treatment groups until the CRABC m-MITT population includes 30 evaluable subjects per group:

• Group 1: 300 mg BV100 in combination with 500,000 IU (50 mg) polymyxin B infused over 2 hours every 12 hours (q12h), plus 2 g/0.5 g ceftazidime/avibactam, infused over 2 hours every 8 hours (q8h).
• Group 2: 300 mg BV100 in combination with 500,000 IU (50 mg) polymyxin B infused over 2 hours every 12 hours (q12h), plus 2 g cefiderocol infused over 3 hours every 8 hours (q8h).
• Group 3: Best Available Therapy, which is determined by the site for each individual patient according to local epidemiology and the patient's antibiotic history.

Part B is a prospective multicentre, open label, non-randomized, additional single cohort to evaluate the PK, safety, and efficacy BV100 in combination with both low dose polymyxin B and cefiderocol in patients with CRABC ventriculitis or meningitis. After 14 days of treatment with BV100 and low dose polymyxin B, the BV100 therapy must be stopped, but patients may continue therapy with cefiderocol and best available additional therapy at the discretion of the investigator and as needed.

This study follows the successful completion of a Phase II study that showed that BV100 plus polymyxin B halved all-cause mortality compared with best available therapy, meaning 28-day mortality of 25% compared to 28-day mortality of 60% in best available therapy. In vitro, the combination of BV100 with low-dose polymyxin B and cefiderocol showed synergy and a reduction in the emergence of resistance, suggesting improved treatment outcomes in patients.

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"The Netherlands is one of Europe's most vibrant digital economies, and our first region here is a direct response to the strong demand we see from local businesses building and scaling with AI. By bringing our advanced AI and cloud capabilities to Amsterdam, we are giving customers the in-region infrastructure, performance and data residency they need to innovate faster, scale securely and operate with greater efficiency in the AI era," said Dr. Feifei Li, Chief Technology Officer and President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

The launch reflects surging customer demand as European businesses scale cloud-native operations and integrate AI at scale. By establishing infrastructure locally, Alibaba Cloud can deliver more resilient, low-latency services, strengthen disaster recovery, and support customers who require their data to be processed and stored locally in Netherlands and within Europe.

The new region offers a comprehensive suite of cloud computing products—spanning elastic computing, storage, container, networking, big data, security, database and cloud-native services. To meet the growing demand for enterprise agents across Europe, Alibaba Cloud also plans to bring a suite of agentic AI services to the region.

These products include ACS Agent Sandbox, which provides hardware-level security isolation while reducing the operational cost of AI agents; Agent Security Center, an integrated defense platform for AI agents; AI Security Guardrails 2.0, an upgraded security solution with end-to-end risk detection capabilities; Agentic SOC, an enterprise-grade, AI agent-driven security operations platform; and STAROps, a comprehensive intelligent operations platform. Together, these products are designed to streamline the building and running of enterprise-scale agents in a secure environment, giving enterprises full-cycle management of agent engineering.

During the conference, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled the latest generation of Apsara Stack, a flexible hybrid cloud solution built on public cloud architecture for public sector and enterprise AI workloads. The new solution delivers more than 80 cloud and AI products and provides round-the-clock service to customers worldwide. Powered by AI-driven operations and maintenance, it has improved operational accuracy to 92.5% and increased automation rates to 70%.

Apsara Stack offers a seamless hybrid cloud experience by bringing full-stack capabilities on premises. The platform combines flexible deployment and licensing with robust disaster recovery and enhanced security. This enables finance, telecom and public sector organizations to maintain controlled asset ownership and compliance while benefiting from agile cloud scalability.

Building a Robust Ecosystem with Customers and Partners to Thrive in the AI-powered Digital Era

As AI and cloud adoption accelerate, the new Netherlands region enhances Alibaba Cloud's ability to deliver AI-ready infrastructure to European businesses—improving resilience, reducing latency, strengthening data localisation and supporting broader digital transformation goals. A growing ecosystem of Netherlands-based innovators is already building on Alibaba Cloud's advanced and secure cloud and AI technologies.

• JetBrains, a software development company is working with Alibaba Cloud to explore the integration of Qwen models to power Junie, JetBrains AI coding assistant, across both cloud and local scenarios. The collaboration gives JetBrains and its developers strong cost-to-performance, early access to frontier Qwen models, and the flexibility to choose where models run — from in-region cloud to fully local, on-device setups.

• "AI development is moving quickly, and developers need the freedom to choose the tools and models that work best for them. Working with Alibaba Cloud gives us an opportunity to combine JetBrains' expertise in software development and AI with Alibaba Cloud's infrastructure and AI capabilities, giving developers more choice while keeping them in control of how they build with AI," said Kirill Skrygan, CEO of JetBrains.

• Netherlands-based LLM platform orq.ai has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to integrate Qwen models into its hosted model garden, served natively from Alibaba Cloud's AI development platform Model Studio. This integration allows orq.ai's customers to access diversified cutting-edge generative AI while maintaining strict EU data localisation.

• "For us at orq.ai, the value of local infrastructure is what businesses can build on it. We welcome Alibaba's investment in the Netherlands and look forward to working together to help more organisations put AI into everyday use in a reliable and scalable way," said Anthony Diaz, Co-Founder and CPTO, orq.ai.

• Monks, a global digital-first marketing and technology services company headquartered in Amsterdam is integrating Alibaba's latest generative AI models into Monks.Flow, its proprietary end-to-end AI marketing platform through Alibaba Cloud Model Studio platform. By leveraging Alibaba Cloud's advanced AI capabilities, Monks can deliver highly ambitious creative assets faster, providing global brands with greater speed-to-market and flexible token optionality. The companies plan to expand the use of these models beyond content creation into wider marketing workflows, with Monks adopting Alibaba latest AI models in the future.

• "AI moves fast. Our job is to turn that progress into a creative and commercial advantage for our clients, and to provide flexibility and optionality in their token usage. Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud will give our teams access to its latest image, video and language models for use in Monks.Flow, helping us bring more ambitious ideas to life and get great work into market faster," said Wesley ter Haar, Co-Founder of Monks and Chief AI Officer.

• Magnific, the world's leading AI platform for creatives serving more than one million subscribers and thousands of enterprise clients worldwide, has integrated Alibaba's advanced AI models into its platform to help content creators generate, enhance, and refine content more efficiently, while unlocking new levels of creativity and productivity.

• "We are pleased to partner with Alibaba and integrate its advanced AI models into Magnific. This collaboration strengthens our platform and gives creators more powerful tools to accelerate their work and expand their creative possibilities," said Jose Florido, CGO from Magnific.

• Idea.ai, an Amsterdam-based digital design marketplace, has leveraged Alibaba's advanced AI models to power its next generation of generative media inside idea.ai, delivering high-quality, cost-competitive creative tools to its tens of millions of registered users. The two companies plan to deepen their collaboration across the full creative spectrum.

• "We are committed to making great creative tools accessible to everyone, and Alibaba Cloud's advanced AI models help us deliver that at scale cost-effectively. This is just the start; we're excited to deepen the collaboration across the whole creative industry," said Roemie Hillenaar, CEO and Co-founder, Idea.ai.

Alibaba Cloud's Growing Presence Across Europe

As part of Alibaba's previously announced US$53 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, the new Netherlands region expands Alibaba Cloud's global infrastructure to 109 availability zones across 32 regions worldwide, providing secure, scalable and robust cloud and AI infrastructure to support customers everywhere on their digital innovation journeys.

Joining Alibaba Cloud's existing European regions in Germany (Frankfurt), the UK (London) and France (Paris), the Netherlands becomes the company's fourth region in Europe, giving businesses more in-region options for data residency and keeping their data and AI workloads within Europe.

In addition, Alibaba Cloud is also planning to establish its first cloud regions in Finland, while expanding its data center footprints in Germany and France over the next 12 months. The expansion will further increase Alibaba Cloud's global computing capacity and strengthen its ability to provide localized cloud and AI services to customers across key European markets.

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

Under the collaboration, JCB transit is scheduled to launch in early 2027, enabling JCB card members to use their JCB contactless cards or compatible devices to tap directly at metro fare gates, providing a fast, convenient and seamless travel experience.

The introduction of JCB transit in Hanoi marks an important step in JCB’s efforts to expand contactless payment solutions for public transportation and support the development of cashless payment in Vietnam.

The service is expected to provide greater convenience for international visitors, including travellers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan (China), and other markets, allowing them to use their familiar JCB payment when travelling on Hanoi’s metro network without the need to purchase a separate transit ticket or carry cash.

Takumi Takahashi, executive vice president of JCB International Co., Ltd., said, “JCB International is delighted to collaborate with Hanoi Metro to introduce JCB transit in Hanoi. We hope this service will provide greater convenience to JCB card members and contribute to the development of a modern and cashless public transportation ecosystem in Vietnam.”

JCB International and Hanoi Metro will continue to work closely together to complete the necessary preparations, with JCB transit targeted for launch in early 2027.

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. Its acceptance network includes about 72 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 181 million card members.

Hanoi approves route plan for 40km Metro Line No.5 Hanoi has green lit the route plan for Metro Line No.5, a 40km undertaking intended to bolster western connectivity and ease traffic bottlenecks.

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

JCB, Shopee unveil Southeast Asia collaboration E-commerce platform Shopee has announced a tie-up with JCB International Company Ltd (JCBI) that will offer online merchants and shoppers enhanced payment options.

The International Business Awards (IBA) is one of the prestigious award programmes under the Stevie Awards system. The 2026 edition, marking the programme’s 23^rd year, attracted more than 3,800 participating organisations. Entries were evaluated by over 210 international experts. The list of nominees included major corporations such as IBM, Cisco, and Cathay Financial Holdings.

The IBA 2026 awards ceremony was held in France on October 28. With 31 awards, Viettel has been named the world's most awarded organisation at IBA 2026.

Viettel also takes the lead in the number of gold awards, with 19 gold, eight silver, and three bronze awards, along with one People’s Choice Award. Compared to the previous year, the number of gold awards won by Viettel increased from 8 to 19, nearly double the tally of the runner-up.

Photo: Viettel Global

Viettel Global received a Gold award in the Growth Achievement category, reflecting its sustained business performance and continuous expansion of growth opportunities horizontally and vertically.

The company's revenue rose from $1.19 billion in 2023 to $1.87 billion in 2025. This momentum continues in 2026. In the first nine months, Viettel Global posted a cumulative revenue of $1.62 billion, up 19.4 per cent on-year. The company’s after-tax profit also saw a strong increase of 32 per cent. Its total assets are nearing the mark of $4.26 billion.

These figures demonstrate that the international markets play an increasingly important role in Viettel’s growth. This is reflected in both revenue and the ability to generate cash flow and achieve return on investment. In just two years, from 2024 to 2025, cash flows transferred from overseas markets to Vietnam totalled $854 million, while six markets had reached the break-even point.

Photo: Viettel Global

In 2026, Viettel celebrates 20 years of global business operations, marking its journey into international markets and affirming the position of a Vietnamese enterprise in the telecommunications and digital technology sectors.

Dominica becomes Viettel’s third market in the Americas

Viettel has established Viettel Dominicana in the Dominican Republic, making the Caribbean nation its 11^th market. Viettel’s entry into the new market is expected to create additional competitive momentum for the local telecommunications industry.

Guido Gómez Mazara, chairman of INDOTEL, said, “The regulatory body aims to provide people with high-quality telecommunications services, enhance competition, and optimise costs.”

Tao Duc Thang, CEO of Viettel Group, said, “Winning the tender in the Dominican Republic marked a new milestone in Viettel's international expansion strategy. With more than 20 years of international business operations, the group is pursuing a long-term investment model focused on developing modern infrastructure, introducing new technologies to local markets, and creating sustainable value for residents, businesses, and host economies.”

Photo: Viettel Global

Viettel Global currently has invested in telecommunications and technology in 11 countries across three continents – Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The group holding the top market share position in seven of these markets.

Viettel's international business capabilities have earned recognition not only in global markets but also from the Vietnamese government and the governments of its host countries. To date, Viettel Global and its overseas subsidiaries have received more than 70 honours from foreign governments and 220 prestigious international awards.

In 2026, Viettel Global and Viettel Cambodia achieved a double milestone. Both enterprises received the title of 'Labour Hero' from the Vietnamese government for their outstanding achievements in global expansion, thereby advancing telecommunications infrastructure and technology across international markets.

Viettel Global sets new profit record with sustained overseas growth Viettel Global has reported another quarter of robust growth, continuing its streak of strong performance across overseas markets.

Woori Bank and Viettel Global deepen financial cooperation Woori Bank signed an MoU with Viettel Global on April 22, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership.

Viettel Global posted 30 per cent revenue growth in Q1 On May 4, Viettel Global released its consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2026, reporting after-tax profit of VND2.33 trillion ($89.62 million), up nearly six times on-year.

From October 27 to 29, a high-level Vietnamese Customs delegation led by Nguyen Van Tho, director general of the Customs Department, attended the Vietnam-Cambodia Customs Directors General Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The conference was chaired by Kun Nhem, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and director general of Cambodia's General Department of Customs and Excise.

At the conference, the two countries' customs leaders discussed developments, modernisation efforts, and key priorities for the coming period. They also reviewed the results of bilateral cooperation and agreed on coordinated activities for 2027-2028.

Both sides commended the efforts of their customs units in providing mutual administrative assistance, facilitating cross-border trade, coordinating anti-smuggling operations, and supporting each other at international customs forums.

Cooperation in investigations and the fight against smuggling remains a key component of bilateral relations. Information exchange, investigative assistance, and verification activities are conducted under the MoU between Vietnam's Ministry of Finance and Cambodia's Ministry of Economy and Finance on customs cooperation and mutual assistance.

Information is exchanged to support investigations into the illicit cross-border transportation of goods, trade fraud, and intellectual property rights infringements. The two sides also cooperate in combating drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, and the illegal trade in animals, plants, and products covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

In areas along their shared border, customs authorities maintain information exchanges on border-gate operations, policies and procedures governing imported and exported goods and baggage, and vehicles entering and leaving each country.

Both sides agreed to maintain border-gate operating hours from 6 am to 6 pm, including public holidays and weekends, to address operational difficulties promptly and minimise congestion and backlogs involving goods and transport vehicles.

Photo: Customs Department

For the 2027–2028 period, Vietnam Customs and Cambodia's customs authorities agreed to continue implementing the cooperation memorandum between their respective finance ministries and maintain contact points at all levels to ensure regular and effective information exchange.

The two sides will prioritise coordinated management and trade facilitation for cross-border and transit goods. They will also strengthen information sharing to support risk assessments for exported, imported, and transit goods, as well as vehicles carrying transit cargo.

In addition, both customs authorities will continue coordinating efforts to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and the illicit cross-border transportation of drugs and other goods.

Under the agreed plan, the two countries' customs leaders tasked relevant units with implementing the cooperation measures in a coordinated and effective manner, with a view to advancing the objectives of relevant regional cooperation initiatives.

Stronger coordination in customs management and information exchange is expected to enhance border control while supporting legitimate import and export activities between the two countries.

Cambodia-Vietnam Customs Border Meeting agrees to strengthen cooperation The seventh Cambodia-Vietnam Customs Border Meeting reached agreement on a range of measures to improve professional coordination, information sharing, and efforts to combat smuggling.

Vietnam and Laos customs authorities hold 2026 conference A Vietnamese Customs delegation led by Nguyen Van Tho, director general of the Customs Department, visited Laos to attend the 2026 Vietnam-Laos Customs Directors General Conference.

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The YS200 combines toe-and-arch kneading rollers, instep air compression, heel scraping, and heel vibration in a single device. Its integrated heel-vibration system complements sole massage, extending the massage experience beyond the soles of the feet.

Key Features of the SKG YS200

• Multi-Zone Massage System: Combines sole rollers, instep air compression, heel scraping, and heel vibration in one device.
• Adjustable Air Compression: Offers three compression intensity levels, allowing users to customize their massage experience.
• Three Adjustable Warming Settings: Offers three selectable temperature settings—107.6°F (42°C), 116.6°F (47°C), and 125.6°F (52°C)—for adjustable warmth across the top and sole of the foot.
• User-Friendly Design: Includes a magnetically attached remote control, an intuitive touch control panel, 15- and 30-minute automatic shutoff timers, and removable, washable foot liners. The device accommodates feet up to US men's size 13 and women's size 14.5 and operates at less than 60 dB under specified test conditions.

Pricing and Availability

The SKG YS200 is available beginning October 28, 2026, at an early bird price of $149.99 (MSRP $199.99) through SKG's official website, Amazon US (use $50 OFF promo code: SKGCODE), and select retail partners.

The event represents a strategic partnership among Bank Indonesia, the Ministry of Trade, the Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC), and other stakeholders. Through its Indonesian Sharia Creative Industry (IKRA) program, Bank Indonesia supports the development of the upstream sector, while the Ministry of Trade leverages its overseas trade representatives to facilitate international business matching and expand buyer networks.

A key highlight is the showcasing of Wastra Nusantara (Indonesia's traditional textiles). The diversity of artisan crafts, including batik, silk screen, hand woven, songket, tie dye, and others, served as the sustainable identity of Indonesian modest fashion. These were featured by local designers and brands, including IKRA members.

At the event, renowned designers and IKRA Board members such Ali Charisma, Itang Yunasz, and Wignyo presented their latest collections alongside guest designers from 10 countries, expanding international market partnerships.

To advance Indonesia's position as a global trendsetter in modest fashion, the event featured the Indonesian Modest Fashion Trend Forecasting 2027/2028 seminar. The Ministry of Creative Economy supported this initiative to showcase Indonesian traditional textiles (wastra) and strengthen intellectual property protection for Indonesian designers. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism highlighted the event's potential to attract international tourists through shopping tourism.

As part of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2026, IN2MOTIONFEST X JMFW presented 20 fashion shows featuring 215 national and international designers and 1,785 creations. It also strengthened B2B infrastructure through Trade Shows, Masterclasses, Industry Forums, and a Buyer program designed for global wholesale and retail access, recording 112 deals in Wastra Business Matching.

As per October 17th, ISEF recorded 93,252 visitors (a 4% year-over-year increase). Retail sales reached Rp13.85 billion, growing by 44.09%, while business matching values hit Rp3.16 trillion.

Through continuous innovation, the event solidifies Indonesia's global competitiveness in the modest fashion industry.

Relates to further information:

Designer Press Releases: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1IRco38RQ4Dj4uWA8bhnJNVdu-B31kcwi

Event Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u0rzq70sLN1aOn2Rw6iHq_ONxgqQ31TL

Located in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, Nandagang Wetland is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China. In recent years, more than 300 hectares of wetland have been restored. Migratory bird numbers rose from about 20,000 in 2019 to more than 150,000 in 2025, while recorded bird species increased from 268 in 2021 to 274, according to the Cangzhou Natural Resources and Planning Bureau.

Under the theme "Together for Wetlands," the contest welcomes photographs and videos about wetland landscapes, migratory birds, local communities and conservation. It is open to photographers, videographers, nature observers and young creators worldwide.

Reflecting on the inaugural edition, Ma Chaode, Assistant Resident Representative at UNDP in China, said: "Wetlands, one of the three major ecosystems, are known as the 'Kidneys of the Earth.' They have functions like provision, support, regulation and culture, and are the foundation for the sustainable development of human society. The numerous wetland ecological images collected in the event vividly show the real - life beautiful scenery of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. It's not only a vivid microcosm of "Beautiful China", but also a typical case for promoting global ecological civilization."

"For me, photography is a way to connect people with nature and inspire its conservation," said Mario Suárez Porras, president of AFONAS and a judge for this year's contest. "I'm excited to see creative works for this year's theme."

The contest is organized by Cangzhou International Communication Center, hosted by Xinhuanet North America, with media support from Xinhuanet Hebei Channel.

Call for Entries

• Theme: "Together for Wetlands"
• Who can enter: Photographers, videographers, nature observers and young creators worldwide
• Categories: Global Wetlands; Wetlands and Migratory Birds; People and Wetlands; Nandagang Wetland; Youth Imaging (under 28); Wetland Conservation Stories (video)
• Submission deadline: November 28, 2026
• Entry fee: Free
• How to enter: Submit at globalsouthernnews.com/ndg2026. Email submissions are available as a backup at cangzhouNDGphotoweek@gmail.com.
• Awards and recognition: A US$1,500 Grand Prize, additional cash prizes, special awards and honorable mentions. Entries will be reviewed by a ten-member international jury.

For complete eligibility requirements, submission instructions, technical specifications and copyright terms, visit globalsouthernnews.com/ndg2026

Organised by Informa Markets in collaboration with AsiaWorld-Expo, TFOC focuses on premium lifestyle, covering themes including superyachts, supercars, fine jewellery and watches, private aviation, premium travel and fine art. Under its "City-as-your-showroom" concept, TFOC breaks from the traditional indoor, single-hall format, connecting exhibition showcases with Victoria Harbour and waterfront experiences so that brands, buyers, connoisseurs and the wider public can take part in the festival in different ways.

High-end exhibitions such as TFOC will bring new business opportunities, attract high-spending business travellers and generate branding impact, fully benefiting Hong Kong's convention and exhibition sector and related industries, driving the sustainable development of the entire industry chain, delivering economic benefits for Hong Kong as a whole, and further consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international convention and exhibition hub.

Making its debut this year, TFOC will also stage three linked events from 1 to 8 November for the public to join. Informa Markets plans to further expand the exhibition's scale and enrich its content next year, bringing more new experiences for buyers, connoisseurs and the public.

Three linked events — how the public can join

TFOC Marina Fest – A Taste of Experience | 1 November 2026
Sunday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Central Pier No. 10
Members of the public may board THE FLOAT free of charge for a Victoria Harbour cruise (about 1 hour per sailing, including around 45 minutes of cruising). Non-alcoholic drinks and guided commentary are provided on board. Capacity is limited to about 50 passengers per trip; confirmation emails will be issued by 30 October, and only confirmed guests may board.
Register: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ZtVnJUxgikCKYFXQ3J2da_hw6OU3cdZLlrDUFXdzFI5UOUQyM0pIQ01KVEJCV1lXUEUxUUlUMFhGMy4u&route=shorturl

The Festival of Connoisseurs | 4–6 November 2026
AsiaWorld-Expo, Halls 3 & 6
Opening hours: 4 Nov 10:00–18:00; 5 Nov 11:00–18:00; 6 Nov 11:00–17:00
The main exhibition is structured around nine thematic worlds and is aimed primarily at industry, collectors and connoisseurs. Main-show admission requires advance registration and is ticketed. An outdoor designated zone, Marina Showcase, is open to the public free of charge upon advance registration, offering close-up access to superyacht and marine lifestyle displays.
Marina Showcase registration: www.tfochk.com/marina-showcase
Programme and updates: www.tfochk.com
The opening ceremony on 4 November will be attended by senior government officials, Mrs Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, JP, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, and Mr Patrick Martell, Group Chief Operating Officer and Informa Markets Chief Executive, among others. Programme highlights include Carson Chan on watch collecting, Michael Ellis on the Michelin Guide, and Derek Li on the craft of hospitality. Media are invited to the opening ceremony and the subsequent media / VIP tour (Further details will be announced in due course).

The Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show 2026 – Festa Nautica | 6–8 November 2026
Daily 10:00am–6:00pm | Lantau Yacht Club, Discovery Bay
Public event — free admission upon advance registration. Yacht displays, marine technology and lifestyle experiences, bringing yachting closer to the community.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/lantau-yacht-club-boat-show-2026-tickets-1998475884167

For more information, visit www.tfochk.com.

As Indonesia's digital economy evolves, businesses increasingly need solutions combining cloud infrastructure, AI, enterprise software and local services. Connecting these complementary capabilities can help providers and partners better address customer needs.

The event featured partner matching, collaborative solution discussions and executive roundtables, offering opportunities to explore technology integration, joint solutions, channel development and local service delivery.

Coremail exchanged perspectives with participants on enterprise communications, data security and digitalisation in Indonesia, exploring opportunities to address evolving business requirements with local partners.

Regan Deng, Vice President of Coremail, emphasised the importance of understanding local markets and customer needs. He noted that combining complementary strengths in technology, products, infrastructure and local services can help businesses develop solutions suited to their operational requirements.

Top, Coremail's Thailand Project Manager, introduced the company's product portfolio, global footprint and partnership opportunities, highlighting its enterprise email communications and security expertise.

Founded in 1999, Coremail's portfolio includes the Coremail AI-Native Secure Email System, CACTER AI-Native Secure Email Gateway, Email Archive System, Email Delivery System and Secure Email Relay. Flexible deployment and integration capabilities help organisations address differing data security, IT infrastructure and business requirements, supporting secure and reliable enterprise communications.

Coremail has established cooperation with Indonesian cloud service provider CBN Cloud to jointly develop a cloud email service platform, combining Coremail's email technology with local service capabilities to support Indonesian businesses.

The roundtable offered opportunities to strengthen local connections and explore further collaboration in enterprise email, email security and integrated digital solutions. Coremail will seek to deepen its Southeast Asian presence and work with local partners to address evolving customer needs through secure enterprise email, email security and AI-enabled solutions.

For more information, please visit: www.coremail.co.th

In the Sleep episode of Bupa's global video series Health or Hype, fitness advocate Joe Wicks took part in a challenge by reducing his sleep to approximately five hours per night over three consecutive days. Observed by sleep specialist Dr Sophie Bostock, the episode documents physiological and behavioural changes during this period, including a marked increase in daily screen time (surpassing 13.5 hours), increased emotional irritability, and pronounced cravings for refined carbohydrates. While individual responses vary, these observations help illustrate the importance of sleep for overall health and daily performance. Drawing on these observations, Bupa Hong Kong explores practical, evidence-informed perspectives to encourage sustainable rest and holistic wellbeing in high-pressure urban environments.

The Domino Effect: Screen Fatigue and Metabolic Disruptions

During the observed challenge, Joe experienced an increased inclination toward refined snacks and extended mobile phone usage throughout the late evening. This may closely reflect the daily experiences of busy urban professionals who habitually go to bed late or have irregular sleep schedules.

From a clinical perspective, Dr Lau Yue Young Geoffrey, Specialist in Family Medicine, explains that several physiological mechanisms are typically at play, "Deep restorative sleep plays an indispensable role in metabolic equilibrium. When sleep is curtailed, appetite-regulating hormones shift—leptin, which signals satiety, declines, while ghrelin, the hunger signal, increases. This hormonal imbalance predisposes individuals to seek quick-energy foods and refined carbohydrates to compensate for low daytime alertness."

"At the same time, sleep deprivation places a significant drain on executive cognitive endurance," Dr Lau adds. "As self-regulation reserves steadily decline across an intense workday, individuals become far more susceptible to late-night passive screen scrolling as an effortless, low-friction form of decompression."

Reframing Rest: An Active Multiplier for Physical and Cognitive Performance

A key perspective highlighted by sleep specialist Dr Bostock is the role of sleep as an active enabler of human performance, rather than simply a passive reset back to baseline. During deep sleep, the brain actively consolidates memories and information to clear learning bandwidth for the following day, while the body carries out cellular and muscular repair.

To help urban professionals build sustainable evening recovery without rigid or unmanageable regimens, Bupa highlights several manageable lifestyle considerations:

• Morning Light Exposure: Spending 10 to 15 minutes outdoors in natural daylight during the morning commute helps calibrate the circadian clock, anchoring daytime alertness and promoting timely evening melatonin onset.
• Offloading Late-Night Thoughts: Working late keeps the mind active. Spending just a few minutes writing down tomorrow's to-do list on paper allows the brain to commit thoughts to the page and release them before turning off the lights.
• Physiological Wind-Down: Gentle physical routines, such as stretching to relieve postural desk tension, slow breathing exercise, or traditional wellness rituals like acupressure at the "Peaceful Sleep" pressure point (located in the soft hollow directly behind each earlobe) can assist the body in transitioning toward nighttime relaxation.

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

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.

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

This year, the forum is held alongside the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Autumn Economic Forum 2026, with partners sharing a commitment to sustainable, more closely connected regional growth.

In his welcome remarks, Denzel Eades, chairman of BritCham Vietnam, said that Vietnam's economic transformation presents one of the most compelling growth stories in Asia.

“British investors and businesses have been participating in that journey for decades and are committed to deepening their contribution in the years ahead. Through our expertise in finance, innovation, education and sustainable development, we look forward to working alongside government and industry partners to help realise Vietnam's vision of becoming a prosperous, high-value and globally connected economy by 2045,” Eades said.

Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam. Photo: BritCham

Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, noted that bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries currently stands at $14 billion, double the level recorded in 2020.

“The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and our shared membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are creating new opportunities for businesses on both sides, helping to reduce barriers, diversify supply chains, and deepen economic integration,” Frew said.

“These figures tell a story of growing trade flows as well as growing confidence. Confidence in Vietnam’s future, confidence in the UK’s expertise and innovative capabilities, and confidence in the value of a long-term partnership between our two countries,” he added.

He added that technological transformation was accelerating, while businesses were adapting to shifting supply chains.

“The transition to cleaner energy is creating entirely new industries. And geopolitical developments continue to remind us of the importance of resilience and trusted partnerships,” he added.

He said the UK stood ready to partner with Vietnam in areas such as developing international financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, advancing technology and innovation, and promoting green growth.

Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, highlighted four key areas of cooperation between the two sides.

These include attracting and maximising high-quality investment linked to technology transfer and stronger connections with domestic businesses, developing capital markets and the city's International Financial Centre, building green supply chains, and developing renewable energy, and nurturing talent and building a sustainable city by 2045.

According to Mariam J. Sherman, World Bank country director for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, Vietnam's GDP per person has increased sixfold since the launch of economic reforms in the 1980s, surpassing $5,000, while extreme poverty has been virtually eliminated.

“Despite continued global uncertainty, Vietnam's economy grew by more than 9 per cent in the first nine months, placing it among the world's fastest-growing economies,” she said.

However, Sherman noted that the model that had brought Vietnam to its current position would not be sufficient to propel the country into the high-income group. She identified three major challenges: the working-age population has peaked, productivity growth remains low, linkages between the foreign-invested and domestic businesses remain limited.

To address these challenges, Sherman proposed mutually reinforcing priorities including creating better-quality jobs, connecting markets, people, and regions, turning climate risks into growth opportunities, and strengthening institutional capacity. She said each priority represented an opportunity for cooperation with the UK.

“Vietnam stands at the threshold of its second great transformation. The first moved workers from the fields into factories. The second must move businesses up the value chain, workers into better jobs, and the state from a role of administration to one of enabling growth,” Sherman said.

In his speech, Kim Byoungho, chairman of the board of HDBank, explained that a deep and globally connected capital market was essential for Vietnam’s transition to a high-income economy.

“UK-Vietnam ties should expand beyond trade and investment to encompass financial and capital market connectivity, with London serving as a gateway for Vietnamese businesses to access international investors and standards. HDBank plans to issue $500 million in international bonds and list on the London Stock Exchange,” Byoungho said.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening links between London and the International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Wanming Du, Asia-Pacific head of index policy at FTSE Russell delivered a speech suggesting Vietnam’s inclusion in the FTSE Global Equity Index Series from September 18 would give the country access to a global investment ecosystem with approximately $20 trillion in assets benchmarked against FTSE Russell indices.

“Inclusion creates an opportunity for capital to flow in, but it does not guarantee that capital will stay. Reclassification has opened the door. The next decade will determine how far Vietnam walks through it,” Du said.

To realise this potential, Du outlined strategic priorities for the next phase, including simplifying market access procedures for international investors, improving trading, settlement, and foreign exchange efficiency, and deepening market liquidity. Strengthening corporate governance and information transparency, while developing the domestic institutional investor base, would also be critical.

Photo: BritCham

UK-Vietnam conference advances IFC roadmap Key issues for Vietnam's International Finance Centre – including the derivatives market, financial supervision, regulatory capacity, and the legal framework for global capital flows – were discussed at a UK-Vietnam conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

Expanding education partnerships to drive mutual growth Vietnam and the United Kingdom are cementing training and education cooperation. Jacqui Smith, the Right Honourable Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills at the UK Department for Education, is going to pay a visit to Vietnam to deepen educational cooperation and support national ambitions of making English a second language in schools by 2035.

Building on the inaugural summit in 2025, where resilience, multimodal transport, digitalisation, and supply chain diversification were central themes, this year’s discussion shifted towards the next stage: how businesses can use infrastructure, technology, data, and stronger regional networks to make their supply chains not only more resilient, but smarter.

Photo: HDS International

Vietnam’s logistics landscape is evolving

Vietnam’s importance in global manufacturing is well established, but the logistics ecosystem surrounding it is entering a new phase.

Strong economic growth, foreign investment, and deeper integration into international trade continue to drive logistics demand. At the same time, the country’s logistics map is becoming more diverse. Northern Vietnam is strengthening its role as an industrial hub, supported by electronics manufacturing and connectivity with China, while the south remains a major gateway for international cargo and transshipment.

Large-scale infrastructure development is adding further momentum. Investments in airports, highways, and seaports, including Long Thanh International Airport and the planned Can Gio International Transshipment Port, have the potential to improve connectivity and reshape how companies organise supply chains around Vietnam.

For German and European businesses, this makes Vietnam relevant not simply as an alternative production location, but as part of a broader regional strategy connecting suppliers, manufacturing sites, logistics corridors, and customer markets.

Pacovis-HDS collaboration

The link between logistics efficiency and sustainability came into focus through a best-practice case presented by Pacovis, a provider of food solutions and packaging, and logistics consultancy HDS International.

Andreas Meier, head of Purchasing Team of Pacovis Group, outlined the company’s activities and its completed project with HDS, examining how the partnership helped optimise logistics costs and processes while supporting a more sustainable supply chain.

The case highlighted a practical challenge for businesses: reducing logistics expenditure without compromising service quality. It also placed process improvements alongside cost savings, broadening the discussion beyond freight rates alone.

HDS’ methodology starts with an assessment of logistics structures, tariffs, and transport data to identify savings opportunities. Recommendations are then translated into operational changes, which can include process adjustments, negotiations with existing providers, and competitive tenders. Implementation is followed by a review of realised savings.

For companies navigating uncertain trade conditions, the broader lesson was that supply chain improvement need not begin with a wholesale transformation. A clearer understanding of costs, better-organized processes, and regular review of logistics arrangements can provide a practical starting point.

Photo: HDS International

What will differentiate supply chain leaders by 2030?

One of the highlights of the summit was the panel discussion “What Will Differentiate Supply Chain Leaders by 2030?”, which brought together business and logistics perspectives on how companies can remain competitive amid changing trade patterns, technological advances, and continued uncertainty.

The discussion featured Björn Koslowski, deputy chief representative of AHK Vietnam; Andreas Meier, head of Purchasing team of Pacovis Group; Oliver Ehlers, head of Consulting Sea & Air of HDS International; and Latina Tran, business development manager of HDS Services Vietnam.

At the heart of the discussion was a challenge facing companies across sectors: how to strengthen resilience without losing cost efficiency and competitiveness.

The panel explored the growing importance of end-to-end visibility, AI and digitalisation, diversified sourcing and transport strategies, and closer cooperation between suppliers, logistics providers, and customers.

The discussion reflected a broader shift in supply chain thinking. Rather than attempting to predict every possible disruption, companies increasingly need the visibility, flexibility, and partnerships required to recognise change early and respond quickly.

Moving from reaction to preparation

Translating those discussions into practical recommendations, HDS International highlighted three priorities for building smarter supply chains.

The first is robust transport and route planning. Alternative transport options should be assessed before disruption occurs, with companies considering different modes, contractual arrangements, and the potential costs of sudden changes.

The second is end-to-end transparency. Visibility needs to go beyond shipment tracking to give businesses a clearer understanding of suppliers, inventory, lead times, logistics costs, and transport performance.

The third is continuous review. Freight costs, transport routes, and service-provider performance need to be reassessed regularly as market conditions evolve.

Photo: HDS International

Together, these principles point towards a more strategic definition of resilience: not creating costly backup solutions for every scenario, but understanding where vulnerabilities lie and preparing realistic alternatives.

From resilience to intelligence

The evolution seen at this year’s summit also reflects how the role of logistics itself is changing. At the 2025 summit, participants already highlighted logistics’ transition from a back-office function towards a boardroom-level priority. Today, decisions about suppliers, transport routes, inventory, and logistics technology increasingly affect working capital, customer service, sustainability, and investment strategy.

For Vietnam, this creates an opportunity that extends beyond manufacturing. Its long-term competitiveness will increasingly depend on the infrastructure, logistics services, digital capabilities, and partnerships surrounding production.

For companies operating between Asia and Europe, meanwhile, uncertainty is unlikely to disappear. The real competitive advantage will lie in how effectively businesses can see change coming, understand its implications, and act.

The supply chain leaders of 2030 may not be those that avoid disruption, but those best prepared to respond when it arrives.

HDS Summit spotlights Vietnam’s rising role in regional supply chains Vietnam’s growing importance in regional logistics was highlighted at the inaugural Supply Chain & Logistics Summit, bringing together senior industry leaders from Asia and Europe.

EFTA–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement opens up opportunities to enhance supply chain The EFTA–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will open up opportunities for Vietnamese products, especially those with supply chains meeting increasingly stringent quality and sustainability requirements in new markets.

AHK Vietnam at 30: a remarkable journey of partnerships In 2024, the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) celebrates a significant milestone – 30 years of dedicated presence in Vietnam. This journey stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering robust trade cooperation between Vietnamese and German businesses. Throughout this three-decade expedition, AHK Vietnam has been a stalwart companion, witnessing and contributing to numerous milestones in Vietnam’s socioeconomic development.

Advanced technology supports complex procedures

With an investment of more than $3 million, the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system was introduced at FV in early 2026, paving the way for the official launch of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre in March 2026.

The centre offers robotic-assisted surgery across several specialities, including gastrointestinal, liver and pancreatic, urological, thoracic, and gynaecological surgery.

The da Vinci Xi system provides high-definition, three-dimensional images that enable surgeons to visualise anatomical structures clearly, even in deep and confined spaces. Its four robotic arms are equipped with wrist instruments that offer enhanced flexibility and a wide range of motion. Combined with hand tremor filtration and motion scaling, these features help surgeons perform delicate procedures with greater precision. Firefly fluorescence imaging can also help visualise certain vascular structures and assess tissue perfusion in selected cases.

A robotic-assisted procedure at the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre. Photo: FV Hospital

The application of robotic-assisted surgery at FV has delivered encouraging results. FV statistics show that blood loss was less than 10 ml in more than 35 per cent of robotic surgeries. Many patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery have shorter hospital stays, with some discharged as early as one day after surgery. The da Vinci Xi system has also enabled surgeons to perform complex major operations, extensive lymph node dissections, and tumour removals in anatomically challenging locations.

One notable case involved a 53-year-old Vietnamese man diagnosed with two synchronous primary cancers: oesophageal cancer and poorly differentiated gastric cancer. He also had a complex surgical history, including a previous Whipple procedure and several other major operations.. These procedures had resulted in extensive adhesions throughout the abdominal cavity, mesenteric retraction, displacement of the colon, and severe distortion of the normal abdominal anatomy.

After undergoing chemotherapy in Singapore, the patient returned to FV Hospital for surgical treatment. With the assistance of the da Vinci Xi system, the surgical team performed an oesophagectomy and total gastrectomy, removed lymph nodes, and reconstructed the upper digestive tract using a segment of the colon through colonic interposition. The procedure also involved multiple complex anastomoses within the abdominal cavity. The patient has since made a remarkable recovery and is gradually returning to his normal activities.

Another case involved a Cambodian woman with thyroid cancer and suspected metastatic lymph nodes deep within the mediastinum on both sides of the chest. Rather than undergoing two separate operations, the FV surgical team used the robotic system to address the suspected metastatic lymph nodes bilaterally in a single operation. The patient was discharged two days after surgery.

Investing in the surgical team

Alongside investment in advanced technology, FV focuses on developing its surgical team through specialised training and international professional exchange. The hospital organises continuing medical education programmes, giving doctors opportunities to update their knowledge of minimally invasive surgical techniques and the application of robotic-assisted surgery.

In May 2026, FV collaborated with the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City to host live broadcasts of da Vinci Xi robotic gastrectomy procedures as part of the 6th Ho Chi Minh City International Gastric Cancer Forum.

FV also provides opportunities for experienced doctors from other medical facilities to participate in training, pursue robotic surgery certification, and gain practical experience in a hospital setting.

Dr. Le Ngoc Diep, Specialist Level II, head of the Endoscopy Department at Tu Du Hospital and a physician collaborating with the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, prepares for a robotic-assisted procedure at FV. Photo: FV Hospital

International patients choose FV

Patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery at FV come from various countries, including Cambodia, the UK, the US, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

To support international patients throughout their treatment journey, FV provides assistance through a team of specialists and offers direct billing arrangements with more than 100 domestic and international insurance companies, including Allianz Worldwide Care and APRIL.

For Vietnamese patients, the availability of robotic-assisted surgery at FV expands access to advanced surgical techniques within the country, potentially reducing the need to travel abroad for treatment and the associated travel and accommodation expenses.

FV also offers several financial support options, including an FV insurance package with benefits of up to VND700 million ($26,900), a zero interest instalment programme through more than 30 banks, and partial subsidies for selected cancer treatment medications.

New surgical applications

Surpassing 100 robotic surgeries marks an important early milestone in the development of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre. FV continues to invest in the technology and expand its applications into new surgical fields, including breast cancer and head and neck cancer surgery.

Dr. Doan Ngoc Giao, head of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, said, “For us, the value of robotic surgery lies not simply in the use of advanced technology, but in its ability to help surgeons perform complex procedures with greater precision. This creates more treatment opportunities for patients. Technology only truly makes a difference when it is applied appropriately and delivers tangible benefits to patients.”

For more information about robotic-assisted surgery, please contact FV Hospital at 06 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, or call (028) 3511 3333.

Flying halfway around the world to Vietnam for treatment of spinal stenosis A Canadian woman who was nearly unable to walk due to spinal stenosis was successfully treated at FV Hospital and returned home to Canada one month after surgery.

Two Vietnamese midwives earn IBCLC certification in breastfeeding counselling Two midwives from the FV Thomson Maternity have earned an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), an international credential for breastfeeding and lactation consultants.

Breakthroughs in radiotherapy technology and new drugs for breast cancer treatment Instead of facing the prospect of having a breast completely removed or enduring prolonged treatment, breast cancer patients now have access to more precise radiotherapy techniques and advanced targeted therapies.