• Optical frames
• Sunglasses
• Optical and related inventory

Interested parties are invited to obtain detailed inventory listings and tender documentation and submit offers in accordance with the tender sale process.

This opportunity may be of interest to companies seeking to expand their product offerings, replenish inventory, or secure eyewear stock for regional and international markets.

For enquiries, inventory listings, and tender documents, please contact:

Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6333 5668
WhatsApp: +65 8223 0954 ; WeChatID: RobertKhanCo
Email: tender@robertkhanco.com ; Website: robertkhanco.com

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

• rapid growth of the Company's principal businesses;
• a substantial improvement in sales expenses as a percentage of revenue compared with the same period last year, resulting in a healthier cost structure; and
• a sharp year-on-year increase in net other income and gains, mainly due to an increase in the fair value of the Company's investment projects.

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

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

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

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

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

Whereas steel structures were once regarded primarily as a technical solution during construction, they have now evolved into a key element of the overall design process, influencing spatial planning, structural systems, and project execution strategies from the earliest stages.

In response to this trend, BMB Steel – a global steel structure contractor serving industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects – goes beyond providing steel structure solutions by working alongside project owners and design consultants from the outset of a project.

Na Duong II Thermal Power Plant Project

Early coordination among architectural, structural, and construction teams helps optimise space utilisation, shorten project schedules, and reduce design changes during construction.

Drawing on extensive experience delivering large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects, BMB Steel provides effective structural solutions that meet the demands of faster project delivery, future expansion, and long-term operational performance.

Several projects undertaken by BMB Steel, particularly in the heavy industrial sector, reflect the evolving approach to collaboration among project stakeholders.

At the Na Duong II Thermal Power Plant in northern mountainous province of Lang Son, BMB Steel delivered approximately 3,800 tonnes of structural steel for the turbine building, coal storage facility, and auxiliary structures across a 7.4-hectare site.

The project required close coordination between design, fabrication, and construction to ensure seamless execution and overall schedule alignment. As a large-scale industrial facility, it required a high level of precision, as even minor deviations during design or construction could affect the entire project's progress.

Building on its involvement in large-scale energy projects, BMB Steel also delivered approximately 5,000 tonnes of structural steel for the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant in Quang Binh province.

The project involved a substantial structural steel scope and required rigorous quality control throughout every stage, from fabrication to erection, while ensuring the timely delivery of one of Vietnam's key national energy infrastructure projects.

Alongside its project delivery capabilities, BMB Steel has developed an integrated approach that combines design, fabrication, and construction.

Steel components are fabricated at the company's manufacturing facilities under a standardised quality control process before being delivered to the construction site.

This approach helps minimise discrepancies between design and on-site execution while improving schedule control for large-scale projects.

BMB Steel’s steel structure fabrication plant with integrated quality control

The demanding schedules of today's industrial and infrastructure developments are also raising expectations for steel structure contractors.

Their role now extends beyond construction alone, with companies such as BMB Steel becoming increasingly involved in optimising technical solutions from the earliest stages of a project, particularly for complex developments where efficient coordination and technical expertise are essential to successful project delivery.

Overall, the evolving approach to industrial and infrastructure development is increasingly blurring the boundaries between design and construction.

In this context, structural steel is no longer viewed solely as a technical solution during the construction phase but has become an integral part of project planning from the earliest stages of development.

Practical experience gained from projects such as the Na Duong II Thermal Power Plant and the Quang Trach I Thermal Power Plant highlights BMB Steel's increasingly important role in the modern construction value chain, particularly in delivering large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects.

Minh Cuong mct JSC A steel structure and construction pioneer that builds in trust As a pioneer in Vietnamese pre-engineered steel building and industrial construction for 25 years, Minh Cuong Mechanics-Construction-Trading JSC is a prestigious high-tech provider of steel structure solutions for both foreign and local partners at home and abroad.

THACO raises the bar for steel industry THACO Industries has significantly intensified its investment in steel structures and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems, aiming to become the top general contractor in Vietnam.

ATAD Steel Structure Corporation honoured at Manufacturing Asia Awards ATAD Steel Structure Corporation was named the winner of the Vietnam Excellence Award – Steel at the Manufacturing Asia Awards 2025 on November 18 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

Notably, manufacturing remained the primary recipient of foreign investment, accounting for nearly 63 per cent of total newly registered FDI, the report said. The sector also generates the strongest demand for industrial land and integrated logistics infrastructure.

Similarly, analysis by VNDirect Securities noted that the outlook for Vietnam’s industrial real estate sector is becoming increasingly positive as foreign investors resume medium- and long-term supply chain restructuring plans.

It said that the country’s continued investment in transport, logistics, and energy infrastructure, together with ongoing institutional reforms to remove regulatory impediments, will provide a solid foundation for attracting high-quality FDI.

“As Vietnam’s industrial real estate market enters a new growth cycle, the ability to develop eco-IPs that meet environmental standards, alongside infrastructure quality and the capacity to attract high-tech manufacturing projects, will become the key factors determining each developer’s competitive advantage. These trends are also expected to drive an increasingly clear differentiation among developers in the years ahead,” the VNDirect report stated.

The ongoing restructuring of global supply chains is creating significant opportunities for developers with large industrial land banks. In particular, those capable of developing green, smart IPs that comply with environmental, social, and governance standards are expected to gain a decisive competitive edge.

According to CBRE Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City’s industrial market is also witnessing a shift in the composition of FDI inflows. Investment is gradually moving away from traditional labour-intensive manufacturing towards core technology sectors, particularly AI and digital infrastructure.

CBRE data for the first half reveals continued demand recovery within the industrial real estate sector. Total industrial land net absorption reached 124 hectares, representing a robust 125 per cent on-year increase. The southern tier-1 hubs of former Binh Duong province and Dong Nai city captured 83 per cent of this total absorbed area, with demand primarily fuelled by the electronics and logistics sectors.

Beyond absorption growth, the market also recorded a strategic pivot in FDI inflows into Ho Chi Minh City, characterised by a reallocation of capital from traditional manufacturing towards core technologies. The rising investment commitment to AI and digital infrastructure is distinctly evidenced by two landmark data centre projects in Saigon High-Tech Park worth over $500 million and $480 million respectively, both from Singapore. These investments reinforce the ongoing supply chain restructuring towards high-value-added industries in the southern region.

In the ready-built warehouse and ready-built factory segment, southern tier-1 markets recorded approximately 470,000sq.m of net leasable area in new supply during the first half. This met with healthy net absorption of over 370,000sq.m.

Demand for ready-built warehouses continued to be driven by logistics and e-commerce companies, while electronics manufacturers remained the key tenant group for ready-built factories.

A notable transaction in the second quarter of 2026 involved the development of an automated sorting centre of more than 60,000sq.m at Nam Thuan IP from an international logistics and e-commerce company.

Although the project is not included in the total absorption figures for the traditional ready-built warehouse and factory segment, it highlights how the built-to-suit model is becoming an increasingly appealing option for large-scale logistics facilities due to its ability to meet specialised technical requirements.

Thanh Pham, research and consulting director in Ho Chi Minh City at CBRE Vietnam, commented that there is a high volume of new industrial real estate supply, particularly in the ready-built factory segment.

“This is driven by its capacity to offer flexibility in leasable areas and lease terms, whilst optimising capital expenditure and shortening the time-to-market for tenants,” Pham said. “This trend also reflects the strategy of in IP developers to diversify their product portfolios, thereby enhancing their appeal to a broader tenant base. Against the backdrop of mounting supply, warehousing/factory asking rents are projected to experience modest growth of 2-3 per cent per annum as a result of competitive pricing pressures.”

She added that long-term strategic growth catalysts will be led by the progress of key transport infrastructure projects and the planned establishment of free trade zones.

“These flagship infrastructure initiatives are anticipated to reshape the industrial landscape across emerging key clusters, most notably the vicinity of Long Thanh International Airport and the economic corridors along ring roads 3 and 4,” she added.

Pham Binh An, deputy director Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies

Following the administrative merger last year involving Ho Chi Minh City, the number of operational industrial complexes has risen to nearly 60, and this could exceed 100, covering a combined area of around 50,000 hectares. The city’s development priority is no longer expanding industrial land or increasing occupancy rates but enhancing value-added production and accelerating the green transition.

This has become increasingly urgent as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism came into effect for carbon-intensive sectors in January, requiring businesses to reduce emissions or face additional carbon costs.

Ho Chi Minh City is pursuing IP transformation at both the national and local levels. Hiep Phuoc IP is one of five pilot eco-IPs under the national programme, while the city is piloting the transformation of five out of its 17 existing areas into high-tech, circular, and green zones. Models such as Phu My 3 Specialised IP and an eco-IP in Binh Duong have already demonstrated encouraging results.

On the policy front, the city now places greater emphasis on supporting high-tech industries and the green transition. However, given fiscal constraints, support is being provided selectively, primarily through preferential financing and interest rate subsidies. Financial assistance is capped at around $7.6 million per project, which remains modest relative to the investment required for technological upgrading and green transformation.

Hardy Diec, COO, KCN Vietnam

From our experience working with manufacturing investors, sustainability has become an increasingly important consideration in site selection and investment decisions. Green development is rapidly becoming a key competitive advantage for both IPs and manufacturers.

As environmental, social, and governance and carbon reduction requirements become more deeply embedded in global supply chains, locating operations in eco-IPs or choosing green certified factories, warehouses enables companies to meet international customer expectations more effectively and operate more efficiently.

In addition, our ready-built projects at DEEP C Haiphong and Nhon Trach 6D, which have achieved LEED Gold certification, the company’s upcoming projects are being designed and constructed in line with green building standards to optimise energy and resource efficiency throughout their operational lifecycle.

At the same time, our roadmap includes integrating renewable energy solutions, such as solar panel, or installing electric vehicle charging facilities, and provide additional services that will help tenants achieve their objectives.

However, developing green industrial spaces is a long-term undertaking that requires collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Beyond developers’ efforts, wider adoption of clean energy, integrated infrastructure, circular economy initiatives, and supportive policy frameworks will all be essential.

According to Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, the draft law introduces a ban on trading nitrous oxide for human inhalation.

“Outside medical purposes, it also replaces the List of Conditional Business Lines under the 2025 Law on Investment, building on the list set out in Government Resolution No.6617 dated May 15, which removes 56 conditional business lines and revises the scope of 14 others compared with the 2025 Law on Investment,” Minister Tuan said.

The government is ramping up efforts to support business development

Based on proposals from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the revised list further eliminates two conditional business lines: ‘the trading of goods and activities directly related to the trading of goods by foreign service providers in Vietnam’ and ‘petroleum activities.’

Presenting the verification body's assessment, Chairman of the National Assembly's (NA) Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs Phan Van Mai noted that although the bill was drafted under the expedited legislative procedure, its amendments would have a broad impact on citizens, businesses and the investment and business environment.

“The draft law should include policy impact assessments commensurate with the proposed reforms, fully compile and explain comments from affected stakeholders, and undergo a thorough review to ensure consistency across the legal system,” he said. “It is essential to ensure that the reduction of business conditions is genuine, while avoiding any weakening of necessary regulatory safeguards or creating new risks that would be difficult to address in practice.”

Providing further clarification after comments from the NA Standing Committee, Minister Tuan revealed that conditional business requirements should be concentrated only in sectors affecting national security, defence, public health, ethics and the environment. Where sector-specific laws already establish sufficient technical standards and operational requirements, there is no need to impose additional business conditions, he noted.

“For example, in the clean water sector, the Ministry of Construction should issue technical standards defining what constitutes clean water so that projects meet the requirements for operation and commissioning without posing risks to public health,” Minister Tuan said.

Also drafted by the Ministry of Finance, the proposed amendments to the Law on Customs received strong support from the NA Standing Committee.

According to the government's submission, the amendments focus on reducing and simplifying administrative procedures while advancing digital customs.

They replace the requirement for ‘electronic documents’ in customs dossiers with ‘electronic data messages’ to facilitate the operation of digital customs.

The draft law also abolishes licensing requirements for customs brokerage agents and customs brokerage employees.

In addition, the draft reduces reporting obligations for businesses while expanding the application of IT in customs administration.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man said the amendments to the Law on Customs should go beyond revising procedures and instead transform the management mindset.

“This amendment is not simply about changing procedures. It must shift customs management from pre-clearance inspection to risk management, from document management to data management, and from administrative control to facilitating development,” he said. “With taxation and customs today, encouraging voluntary compliance is the single most important priority.”

Minister Tuan added that the drafting process had been built on a data-driven approach, with risk management serving as the core management method, while establishing the legal foundation for applying advanced technologies such as AI, big data and other emerging technologies throughout customs administration.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh said after incorporating the comments of the NA Standing Committee the draft law was ready to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the NA’s first extraordinary session to be held in early August.

Business support packages in the frame for maximum impact With many businesses becoming gradually exhausted and in critical need of state support, many National Assembly members have asked the government to apply feasible solutions to lift them out of woes. What will the government do to continue assisting them in the time to come?

Hanoi vows to deliver efficient business support Chu Ngoc Anh, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee has promised support for businesses at a recent meeting hosted by Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA) along with relevant sectors and departments to support businesses to steer through COVID-19.

Legal streamlining required for business support package While businesses are thirsty for capital, removing legal obstacles is now essential to enable the confidence of businesses, commercial banks, and local authorities to unlock resources for growth and production.

No year-end easing of focus on business support and stability Vietnam’s year-end direction is focused on maintaining stability in both interest rates and exchange rates while implementing capital support measures for businesses.

VIB Up: a subscription-based model

VIB Up is a financial upgrade solution built on a subscription-based model, enabling customers to select benefit packages that best fit their financial goals, from savings and lending to card spending. For deposits, VIB Up is designed with three packages, namely Plus, Pro, and Elite, corresponding to three different asset levels and three different needs.

Each VIB Up deposit package boasts an exclusive preferential interest rate for the one-month i-1Depo deposit product, along with a corresponding preferential limit based on each membership level.

The Plus package is suitable for customers with an average payment account balance of at least VND100 million ($3,846). It offers additional i-1Depo deposit interest rate of up to 1.1 per cent per annum, applicable to a maximum balance of VND500 million. Customers are in the stable accumulation phase, so they want to optimise the short-term deposits rather than letting money sit idle at the prevailing interest rate.

The Pro package is tailored to customers with an average payment account balance of at least VND200 million. It provides an i-1Depo preferential limit of up to VND1 billion, together with an additional interest rate of up to 1.5 per cent per annum. Customers are typically small business owners or individuals with regular cash flows. They are keen on priority experience as part of added value, not just the interest rate.

The Elite package caters to customers with an average payment account balance of at least VND300 million. It offers the highest i-1Depo preferential limit of up to VND1.5 billion, plus an additional interest rate of 2 per cent per annum. Customers are those who have a large amount of idle funds while waiting for investment decisions or simply yet to find suitable investment channels in the short time.

These individuals have a significant amount of temporarily idle funds while awaiting decisions or simply haven't found a suitable short-term investment channel. For this group, priority privileges and airport lounge access are not merely conveniences, but part of the value that matches the scale of their assets.

Membership privileges

Besides preferential interest rates, each VIB Up deposit package also comes with practical benefits for daily financial life. Customers of the Pro and Elite packages can enjoy trial priority membership privileges, including access to airport lounges four times.

All three packages offer discounts on selected account opening fees, with discounts progressively increasing with each package level, from VND10 million for the Plus package to VND30 million for the Elite package. Also, customers can receive cashback of the Max Card membership fee for up to 3 months, corresponding to the membership tier of each Max Card credit card package.

These benefits set VIB Up apart from simply depositing money and earning returns. The total value delivered by each package far exceeds the membership fees paid by customers.

With its subscription-based model, VIB Up provides an optimal way to manage idle funds that are not immediately needed: customers no longer have to choose between liquidity and interest rates but can upgrade their financial status according to their needs. The three packages, Plus, Pro, and Elite, allow customers to choose the right level of benefits to suit their asset size and financial goals.

Learn more and register for the suitable VIB Up package here.

VIB targets $444 million profit and completion of Basel III approach Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank announced its 2026 AGM materials, setting a profit target of $444.2 million, proposing a dividend of nearly 19 per cent, and completing Basel III under the standardised approach.

VIB launches subscription-based Max Card On March 30, Vietnam International Bank (VIB) launched Max Card on the Max app.

VIB approves dividend of nearly 19 per cent On April 8, VIB held its AGM in Ho Chi Minh City, approving a dividend of nearly 19 per cent, including cash dividends and bonus shares, along with a pre-tax profit target of VND11.55 trillion ($444.23 million) for 2026.

Under the agreement, Sun PhuQuoc Airways will deploy the SmartKargo platform as the foundation of its cargo management operations, enabling the airline to build a modern, scalable, and fully digitised cargo business.

The partnership reflects Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ strategic intent to establish cargo as a key pillar of its commercial growth, backed by technology that is purpose-built for the demands of the modern air freight industry. SmartKargo’s platform will equip the airline with end-to-end cargo capabilities, delivered through a single, unified cloud architecture.

As Sun PhuQuoc Airways continues to expand its international network and strengthen Phu Quoc's role as a new aviation gateway in the region, cargo will become an increasingly important contributor to network efficiency, commercial growth and long-term operational competitiveness.

The airline's introduction of Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft from September 2026 will significantly increase cargo capacity across its international routes – making the deployment of a robust, scalable cargo management platform a strategic priority at this stage of growth. The deployment of SmartKargo also represents another milestone in the airline's broader digital transformation journey, supporting its ambition to become a 5-star international airline.

Vietnam’s air cargo sector is experiencing accelerating growth, underpinned by the country’s booming export economy, rapid e-commerce adoption, and its emergence as a strategic manufacturing and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. By anchoring its cargo operations on the SmartKargo platform from inception, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is positioning itself to capture this momentum with the agility, operational precision, and commercial intelligence that the market demands.

Truong Ngo Quoc, chief information officer of Sun PhuQuoc Airways, said, “We are building Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ cargo business with a clear mandate: to be technology-led, commercially agile, and ready to scale. After a rigorous evaluation, SmartKargo stood out as the partner that could not only meet our requirements today but grow with us as our network and ambitions expand. Their platform gives us the digital infrastructure to compete on a regional and global stage, and we look forward to bringing a new standard of cargo excellence to Vietnam’s aviation market.”

Olivier Houri, chief revenue officer of SmartKargo, said, “Southeast Asia represents one of the most dynamic and high-potential air cargo markets in the world, and Vietnam sits at the very heart of that opportunity. We are proud to partner with Sun PhuQuoc Airways as they chart an ambitious course for their cargo business."

"This agreement is a testament to our shared belief that technology is the most powerful lever for building a cargo operation that is both commercially competitive and operationally excellent. We are committed to being the platform that powers their success.”

Sun PhuQuoc Airways secures AJW Group support for fleet operations Sun PhuQuoc Airways has secured a long-term maintenance and spare parts support agreement with AJW Group to support fleet operations and expansion plans.

Airlines take defensive stance as fuel and FX risks loom Despite robust growth in passenger demand, local airlines are entering the second half of 2026 with cautious business plans, prioritising financial resilience as fuel costs, exchange rate risks and intensifying competition continue to squeeze profitability.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways announces deal for Boeing 787 Dreamliners Sun PhuQuoc Airways has ordered up to 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, positioning the widebody jets as the backbone of its long-haul fleet.

This major tactical realignment sweeps through the global auto industry as BEV growth cools. In its 2026 outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights this shift, noting that manufacturers are actively prioritizing hybrids. In response, a massive surge in hybrid demand is redefining key regions: in the United States, hybrids neared 20% of new vehicle sales volume by late 2025 according to CNBC, while in Europe, they captured a 24% market share based on International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) data. Concurrently, the Asia-Pacific region asserted its market dominance, capturing 51.67% of the global hybrid vehicle market value across all segments, including mild, full, and plug-in hybrids. The multi-regional momentum is propelling the global hybrid vehicle market from USD 335.21 billion in 2026 to USD 570.78 billion by 2034.

This market shift has profoundly altered battery requirements. Next-generation hybrids demand an unprecedented synergy of sustained energy and explosive power—a profile Molicel delivers by breaking the traditional trade-off between power and density. With a 900W peak power duration of 5 seconds, the INR-21700-P70X enables immediate current delivery during sudden overtaking maneuvers and instant power absorption during heavy regenerative braking. Furthermore, the cell achieves an unprecedented power switching time of under 200 microseconds when ramping up to high-power output. This response speed effectively mirrors a supercapacitor, allowing the vehicle to seamlessly handle high-frequency power pulses without power fading.

"The global automotive landscape is undergoing a profound diversification, where the demand for immediate, high-frequency burst power has become paramount," said Casey Shiue, President of Molicel. "Our next-generation PX series isn't just an evolutionary upgrade; by blending supercapacitor-like responsiveness with the high energy density of lithium-ion, we are redefining what hybrid powertrains can achieve in terms of raw power, safety, and lifespan."

By passing the ultra-stringent UL9540A thermal runaway evaluation—the definitive international safety benchmark for energy storage systems and critical power infrastructure—Molicel sets a new safety benchmark. Through advanced single-crystal technology, the cell slashes exothermal heat release by nearly 50% compared to conventional poly-crystal materials. Crucially, during brutal abuse testing, instead of triggering a simultaneous, catastrophic blowout, Molicel's cells merely smoke, significantly delaying and isolating thermal spread. This tactical containment delivers a premier level of defense valued not only by mission-critical data center BBUs, but now serving as an unprecedented safety guarantee for automakers designing next-generation HEVs.

Furthermore, unlike BEVs that undergo deep daily cycles, hybrids subject batteries to hundreds of thousands of rapid, shallow fluctuations. In testing mimicking this environment under a supercapacitor profile, Molicel's PX series retained an astonishing 96% capacity after 1,000,000 cycles(+10C for 10s / -2C for 110s, cut-off temp. 83°C). This extreme durability ensures the battery powertrain outlives the vehicle itself, eliminating automaker warranty anxieties.

By combining conventional lithium-ion energy density with the microsecond responsiveness, low heat, and million-cycle life of a supercapacitor under high-rate pulse conditions, Molicel stands as the premier technology enabler for the global hybrid transition.

The addition makes FLIN what it calls Indonesia's first credit wellness platform, a single company that can support a borrower through every stage of a debt problem. To date, it has helped more than 800 Indonesians become debt-free.

What Is a Credit Wellness Platform?

FLIN describes credit wellness as covering every part of a debt problem, from the first sign of trouble to a full resolution, all in one place. Rather than approaching one party to arrange a loan and another to handle their debt, a borrower can rely on FLIN to arrange both in one place and escape the debt treadmill.

Understanding Indonesia's Growing Debt Burden

The need for end-to-end debt support is becoming increasingly urgent as household debt in Indonesia continues to rise. Outstanding peer-to-peer (P2P) lending reached Rp 100.69 trillion by February 2026, up 25.75% year-on-year, while Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) balances tracked by Pefindo Biro Kredit surged 86.7% over the same period to Rp 56.3 trillion, according to OJK data reported by Detik Finance.

Behind these figures is a broader economic shift. INDEF Senior Economist Tauhid Ahmad has observed that much of this borrowing is increasingly used to cover everyday living expenses. Among lower-income households, many are taking on new loans instead of relying on savings, creating a cycle where debt becomes a means of meeting daily needs rather than building long-term financial stability.

For many borrowers, this marks the beginning of a debt treadmill. New loans are taken to repay existing ones, monthly obligations continue to grow, and persistent calls from debt collectors add further financial and emotional pressure. At that stage, another loan alone is often no longer enough. Borrowers need structured solutions such as debt consolidation, debt mediation, and financial guidance to regain control of their finances.

FLIN's Solution: Credit Wellness, Not Just Credit

This is the world FLIN steps into: a place where borrowers address the full arc of their debt problem, from diagnosis, to consolidation, to mediation, rather than simply take on another loan. It is built for salaried people already deep in a debt trap who still want a way out.

Through OJK-licensed lending partners, FLIN helps borrowers combine existing debts (pinjol, credit cards, paylater, KTA) into one fixed monthly payment, either unsecured or secured via Dana Talangan program. Under the secured option, a pledged asset opens access to a lower rate, longer tenor, or larger amount. Through Mediasi Utang, for debt too large to consolidate, FLIN negotiates directly with creditors to ease the borrower's burden.

How FLIN's Model Works in Practice

Every borrower begins with a structured financial health assessment, one-on-one financial consultation, and cash-flow analysis. This allows FLIN to recommend the most appropriate solution, whether debt consolidation or debt mediation, based on the borrower's financial capacity.

For Dana Talangan programs, FLIN works with OJK-licensed lending partners. These partners transfer the funds directly to creditors rather than to borrowers, so every rupiah goes toward settling the debt it was intended for. The entire process takes place within a regulated financial ecosystem.

"Many Indonesians don't need another loan. They need a realistic way to recover from debt," said Aniruddha Newaskar, Credit Manager and Founding Member at FLIN. "Credit wellness means understanding a borrower's complete financial situation before recommending consolidation, mediation, or another recovery path. Our goal is to help people regain financial stability, not simply postpone the problem."

Future Inclusivity for Credit Wellness in Indonesia

FLIN believes Indonesia's growing debt challenge requires more than financial products alone. Financial education, responsible lending, and accessible debt recovery solutions all matter for long-term financial wellbeing. Through its credit wellness platform, FLIN aims to contribute to a healthier ecosystem.

More at www.flin.co.id.

GXS Group was recognised for its achievement of building and launching new digital banks for two markets in just two years. In giving the Group the accolade, Euromoney noted the impact it has made in the areas of financial inclusion and customer experience with GXS Bank in Singapore and GXBank in Malaysia.

In addition to its digital banks in Singapore and Malaysia, GXS Group also has a strategic minority stake in Superbank, a digital bank in Indonesia.

For its innovations in seamlessly integrating banking and financing within the digital touchpoints of its partnership ecosystem, which includes Grab and Singtel, GXS Bank was also awarded Singapore's Best Digital Bank by Euromoney. More than five million consumers and micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) in Singapore today use Grab and Singtel for their daily personal and business needs.

With the launch of GXS Bank and GXBank, Grab customers with an account in either digital banks became among the first in Singapore and Malaysia to make banking transactions while on a third-party app. From checking their bank statements to making payments for their rides and food delivery through their GXS Bank and GXBank accounts, these customers enjoy a seamless experience within their Grab app.

GXS Group also created proprietary AI-driven credit assessment models that take into account ecosystem data signals. By layering these models over traditional credit assessment models used by incumbent banks, the Group is able to extend credit to a wider set of customers. This includes platform workers and entrepreneurs who may not be able to qualify for a traditional bank loan as they do not meet their credit requirements, such as a fixed monthly salary. More importantly, ecosystem data enables its digital banks to deliver personalised and relevant support at moments that might matter most to the customer. For example, GXS Bank proactively offers pre-qualified loans to food and beverage businesses within its ecosystem during seasonal periods, when these businesses may need to increase their produce orders or manpower.

As a result of the Group's embedded financing strategy, more than 80 per cent of its retail and business banking customers come from the Grab and Singtel ecosystem.

GXS Group's recognitions at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence in 2026 brings its recent wins to eight awards in just the past month, underscoring the Bank Group's leadership in digital banking.

At the Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards held in July 2026, GXS Bank was awarded Digital Business Banking Initiative of the Year and Ecosystem Initiative of the Year for its business banking services. Its subsidiary GXBank was recognised as Virtual Bank of the Year. GXBank received an additional three awards in the areas of AI & Machine Learning, Data Governance, and Internal Governance.

Pei-Si Lai, Group CEO, GXS Bank said, "We are honored by the recognitions from Euromoney and Asian Banking & Finance. These awards are an encouragement to our team and the relentless focus we have to meet our day-one commitment towards our customers. From the start, our mission has been to show that banking can be simple, secure, and deeply rewarding for everyday consumers and small businesses.

We will continue to enhance our retail and business banking suite with delightful, customer-oriented solutions that address their banking pain points. We thank our customers for their confidence in us, and to my colleagues who come in every day ready to own the mission and build with bravery and curiosity."

Annex - List of Awards won by GXS Group in July 2026

1. Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026

• ASEAN's Best Digital Bank for Consumers
• Singapore's Best Digital Bank

2. Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards 2026

• Digital Business Banking Initiative of the Year – Singapore
• Ecosystem Initiative of the Year – Singapore
• Virtual Bank of the Year – Malaysia
• AI & Machine Learning Initiative of the Year – Malaysia
• Data Governance Initiative of the Year – Malaysia
• Internal Governance Initiative of the Year – Malaysia

SM Investments Corp. (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM Group, received eight awards, including the Sustainable Asia Award, Asia's Best CSR, Best Corporate Communications, and Best Investor Relations.

SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio was named Asia's Best CEO (Investor Relations), while Executive Vice Presidents Erwin G. Pato and Franklin C. Gomez were recognized as co-awardees for Asia's Best CFO (Investor Relations). Timothy Daniels, consultant and head of investor relations and sustainability, was also cited as Best Investor Relations Professional.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from Corporate Governance Asia. Governance and sustainability remain embedded in how we operate, helping strengthen resilience, support disciplined decision-making, and enable long-term value creation for our various stakeholders," Mr. DyBuncio said.

The awards come as companies across the region navigate heightened economic volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing climate-related risks.

BDO Unibank received nine awards while SM Prime Holdings Inc. received seven awards.

The recognitions were conferred during the 16th Asian Excellence Awards, which carried the theme "Reshaping Asian Leadership in a Changing Global Economic Landscape and Climate Change."

Corporate Governance Asia is a regional publication focused on corporate governance, sustainability, investor relations, and boardroom leadership across Asia.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

Photo: Huy Tuan

Policymakers, regulators, bankers, property developers, and financial experts gathered in Hanoi on July 22 for the 'Unlocking Capital for a Sustainable Real Estate Market' conference to explore expanding funding sources, restoring market confidence, and supporting the sector's long-term development.

According to Dao Van Ha, deputy director-general of the Forecasting and Statistics Department at the the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the market is entering a new development cycle as legal frameworks continue to be revised and urbanisation maintains strong housing demand.

Nevertheless, he noted that several structural problems remain unresolved. Affordable housing continues to face severe shortages, while lengthy legal procedures for project approvals have delayed bank appraisals and disbursement processes. At the same time, fragmented market data and the limited financial capacity of some developers have created additional risks for the sector.

Ha said the underdevelopment of long-term financing channels, particularly the corporate bond and equity markets, had left the property sector overly dependent on bank credit.

"The issue today is not simply to unlock capital for real estate, but to ensure that funding is channelled into projects creating real economic value, enabling businesses to grow sustainably while giving more people access to affordable housing and limiting speculation," he said.

The SBV, he added, has maintained stable policy interest rates while requiring commercial banks to publish lending rates on their websites to improve transparency for borrowers.

To encourage lending to priority segments, the central bank has also assigned lower risk weights to social housing loans than to conventional commercial property lending. Looking ahead, overall credit growth is targeted at around 15 per cent in 2026, although additional lending to social housing and industrial park projects will not count towards banks' credit growth limits under new regulations introduced this year.

Ha added that the SBV had proposed that the Ministry of Construction establish a Housing Development Fund and develop a state-managed property transaction platform, alongside comprehensive housing and land databases, to improve property valuation and curb speculative lending.

Ha Quang Hung, deputy director-general of the Housing and Real Estate Market Management Agency under the Ministry of Construction, said Vietnam had established a relatively comprehensive legal framework to support social housing development through land incentives, tax reductions and preferential credit policies.

He noted that more than 103,000 social housing units were completed in 2025, exceeding the annual target, while 270 projects comprising more than 269,000 units are currently under construction during the first half of 2026.

According to Hung, projects completed, launched or approved have now reached 77 per cent of the target set under the government's one-million social housing programme.

Despite this progress, he acknowledged that supply-demand imbalances persisted, with an oversupply of high-end housing and an insufficient number of affordable homes. Housing prices remain significantly above the purchasing power of average-income households, while incentives for long-term rental housing are still inadequate.

"We have created a relatively complete and open legal framework that supports and encourages businesses to participate," Hung said.

The Ministry of Construction is currently preparing amendments to the Housing Law and the Law on Real Estate Business, which are expected to be submitted to the National Assembly later this year. The revised framework will prioritise affordable rental housing and introduce stronger incentives on land, taxation, finance and credit to attract long-term private investment.

Entering its third edition, the race continues to connect Vietnam's running community with the global marathon community while encouraging healthy lifestyles, inclusivity, sustainability, and pride in Hanoi's cultural heritage.

The Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon - Heritage Race 2026 will take place from November 6–8, with the main race day on November 8, featuring five race categories: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km, and the 2.1km Kid Dash for children.

The event will be at Thong Nhat Park, a centrally located venue that provides runners with convenient access to Hanoi's culturally and historically significant race routes.

One of the key new features of the 2026 edition is the introduction of the Enterprise Cup, a competition exclusively designed for the business community. The winning team will receive a trip to Shanghai to participate in the Standard Chartered Shanghai 10KM Run and connect with the international running community.

In addition, activities including the Race Expo, Leaders Run, and a series of networking programmes organised throughout race week will provide valuable opportunities for businesses, organisations and communities to connect.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Tri Man, director of Strategy and Market Development, said, “Sport, and running in particular, represents a healthy way of life. Through the Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon - Heritage Race, we strive not only to deliver a safe, successful race that enables runners to achieve their personal bests, but also to use this event as a platform to encourage positive values such as civility, solidarity and environmental responsibility."

The Organising Committee also unveiled the official 2026 Race Shirt, manufactured using recycled materials. This initiative contributes to reducing plastic waste, encourages responsible consumption, and supports Vietnam's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.

The 2026 edition will continue to implement a wide range of community initiatives. The "Shoes of Hope" programme encourages runners to donate pre-loved running shoes, which will be cleaned and distributed to children and disadvantaged communities in remote areas across Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the "Light up the way" initiative will continue to support visually impaired runners by connecting them with volunteer guides and providing appropriate assistance throughout the event. These initiatives reflect the race's commitment to promoting inclusivity, community engagement, and equal access to sport for all.

Trinh Nhu Quynh, member of the organising committee and head of corporate affairs, brand and marketing, Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) Limited, said, "As the Title Sponsor of the event, we aim to encourage people to improve their health, endurance, discipline, and determination to push beyond their personal limits – qualities that are essential for building a prosperous and sustainable community."

"Beyond the race experience itself, the event provides an opportunity for people to connect, inspire one another, and promote an active and positive lifestyle. Through our accompanying initiatives and community programmes, Standard Chartered continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating positive impact and fostering a more connected and inclusive community through sport.”

Another highlight of the 2026 edition is the selection of Long Bien Bridge as the official heritage icon of the Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon - Heritage Race 2026. More than a historic landmark, the bridge symbolises Hanoi's rich cultural heritage and urban memory while representing connection – between the past and the present, between sport, culture and tourism, and between the Vietnamese community and friends from around the world.

As a member race of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group Ranking System, results achieved at the Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon - Heritage Race are officially recognised as qualifying performances for entry consideration into any of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, including the prestigious Boston Marathon, alongside the Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon, and the newly added Sydney Marathon.

Standard Chartered Vietnam launches innovative Sustainable Deposit On May 5, Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) launched its Sustainable Deposit solution in Vietnam.

Standard Chartered sets out latest growth plan On May 19, Standard Chartered announced plans to invest ahead of long-term trends to maintain strong growth, boost productivity, further improve the quality of earnings, and maximise its competitive advantages.

Standard Chartered assess Vietnam's performance in first six months of 2026 Vietnam's GDP growth is estimated at 6.5 per cent in the first half of the year, with the economy entering a phase of normalisation amid global challenges, according to a Standard Chartered report.

Through its global network and integrated banking platform, Citi provides multinational corporations, leading Vietnamese enterprises and financial institutions with financing, transaction banking, markets, and advisory solutions.

Citi was honoured by executing a series of complex cross-border financing transactions in Vietnam, including a $521.5 million, 14-year export credit agency-backed financing, demonstrating the bank’s ability to mobilise long-term international capital for strategically important projects.

The Vietnam award forms part of Citi’s strong performance at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026.

Globally, Citi received 47 global, regional and local-market awards, including World’s Best Bank for Large Corporates and World’s Best Bank for Securities Services.

Citi was also recognised as Asia’s Best Investment Bank for Financing Solutions, Asia’s Best Investment Bank for M&A and Asia’s Best Investment Bank for Sovereigns, Supranationally and Agencies.

Viswas “Vis” Raghavan, head of Banking and executive vice chair at Citi, said, “Citi's Banking franchise serves multinational clients with increasingly complex cross-border needs, and acts as the relationship anchor for the firm. This success across our team underlines the gains we are making across banking as more clients lean into Citi for key strategic advice.”

The Euromoney Awards for Excellence recognise the best in banking across key areas that are most important to a bank’s key stakeholders, clients, board and executive management teams. The period of consideration for the awards was the 2025 calendar year.

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

Citi Vietnam named Best Sustainable Bank by FinanceAsia Citi Vietnam has been named Best Sustainable Bank in Vietnam at the FinanceAsia Awards 2026, reinforcing the bank’s role in supporting clients and the country’s long-term sustainable development agenda. The award ceremony took place in Hong Kong on June 25.

Citi Vietnam marks Global Community Day 2026 in Phu Tho and Lam Dong Citi Vietnam marked Global Community Day 2026 with two meaningful community initiatives aimed at supporting local schools and creating better learning environments for children in Phu Tho and Lam Dong provinces.

11:11 Managed SASE is a fully managed secure connectivity solution leveraging Cato Networks AI-native network security platform. This solution brings together intelligent SD-WAN, cloud-delivered security and global connectivity into a single offering. It enables organisations to simplify and secure access across branch offices, data centres, users and cloud environments, reducing complexity without sacrificing performance or control.

Built on the Cato Networks cloud-native SASE platform, 11:11 Managed SASE combines zero trust network access (ZTNA), firewall as a service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), advanced threat protection and centralised visibility into a unified managed experience. 11:11 also delivers 24x7x365 monitoring and support, incident management integration and operational accountability to help customers limit vendor sprawl, increase agility and free internal teams to focus on higher-value priorities.

The offering is backed by 11:11's broader networking, cloud and cyber resilience capabilities. Through its global backbone, carrier-agnostic connectivity options and integrated portfolio spanning cloud, backup, disaster recovery and security services, 11:11 gives customers a practical path to modernise network and security architecture while strengthening resilience across the business.

"Enterprises are under pressure to support users, applications and locations that are more distributed than ever, while limiting complexity and improving security," said Justin Giardina, CTO, 11:11 Systems. "Our Managed SASE solution provides customers with a unified approach to modernising networking and security, along with the visibility, support and flexibility they need to thrive in a rapidly changing environment."

According to Karl Soderlund, global channel chief, Cato Networks, "As enterprises move beyond fragmented legacy networking and security stacks, they need a simpler way to gain visibility, context and control across hybrid work environments and reduce the operational burden on IT. Through our partnership, we can address these challenges head on and deliver end-to-end visibility and protection in a single service built for the reality of modern work."

The joint offering is well suited for distributed enterprises, multi-site organisations, hybrid workforce initiatives, SD-WAN refreshes, security modernisation efforts and businesses with limited IT resources. 11:11 meets customers where they are by supporting existing environments, simplifying multi-vendor operations and serving as a single provider accountable for network, security, cloud and data integration.

This partnership expands 11:11's Network as a Service portfolio and follows Forrester's inclusion of 11:11 Systems in its report, "The Secure Access Service Edge Services Landscape, Q1 2026."

The report, "Agents of Change: How the Race to Deploy AI Agents is Outrunning Financial Governance," surveyed CFOs and senior finance leaders across Australia who have deployed, piloted, or actively evaluated AI agents in financial processes during the past year.

Key findings
Pressure to show value is mounting.

• 88%¹ of respondents feel moderate or significant career pressure to demonstrate that AI agent investments are delivering ROI, with half calling that pressure significant.
• 90% say their AI agent initiatives are delivering at least some measurable ROI to date.
• 59%² say the pressure to deploy agents is focused primarily on deployment speed.

Governance is falling behind the agentic AI rush.

• Only 12%³ say their organisation prioritises governance over speed.
• 23% say the top proof they expect from vendors when evaluating AI-powered solutions is ROI, vs. 17% for governance and control documentation and 18% for auditability and explainability evidence.
• 59% are only somewhat confident they could explain an AI agent's actions to an auditor or regulator.

The findings reveal a finance function caught between executive pressure to accelerate AI agent adoption and the operational reality that those AI agents need to be managed with care, particularly in tax and compliance, where decisions must withstand regulatory scrutiny.

"Australian finance leaders are right to move quickly to capitalize on agentic AI opportunities, but speed without accountability creates new forms of risk, and speed without rethinking workflows limits ROI," said Hugo Sarrazin, Chief Executive Officer at Avalara. "The organizations that realize the greatest value from AI won't simply deploy more agents. They'll leverage agents with trusted data, governed workflows, and clear controls that enable automation with confidence."

Pinpointing Accountability

The research highlights questions about who is responsible for significant AI agent errors. For example, nearly one in five (18%⁴) say accountability for a significant AI agent error would be unclear or sit with no one, while 18% believe the executive who approved the AI investment would ultimately be held personally accountable.

One of the challenges is a lack of available knowledge: 75%⁵ lack dedicated in-house expertise to understand how their AI agents work, relying on IT or vendors.

"Finance leaders are being asked to move quickly with AI, but governing agents requires a new combination of domain, AI, IT, and data governance expertise," said Frank Cirone, VP Commercial Strategy at Snowflake, a cloud data platform company. "As AI agents gain access to financial and compliance workflows, organisations need to know what those agents can see, what they can do, and when human approval is required. That kind of control has to be built into the architecture, not added after the fact."

Finance Leaders Prioritize Trust Alongside Speed

The survey makes clear that finance leaders aren't looking to slow AI adoption. They're looking to scale it responsibly. When asked what would most increase their confidence in expanding AI agents, respondents consistently prioritised capabilities that reinforce trust and accountability:

• AI agents operating within existing systems of record (32%)
• Outputs grounded in verified tax, compliance, and financial data (30%)
• Validation against known compliance requirements (25%)
• Vendor commitments around accuracy and accountability (20%)
• Audit trails documenting every AI action (31%)

The capability respondents identified as most valuable for financial operations was "audit-ready documentation for every AI-driven action," selected by 37% of respondents.

"AI agents are now moving into business processes that require trust, transparency, and governance by design," said Jim Lundy, Founder, CEO, and Lead Analyst at Aragon Research. "As enterprises scale agentic AI, the question becomes less about whether the technology can act and more about whether organizations can understand, control, and explain those actions. In finance, where workflows are auditable and outcomes carry real business consequences, governance and explainability will become essential requirements for adoption."

The full report, Agents of Change: How the Race to Deploy AI Agents is Outrunning Financial Governance, is available at: newsroom.avalara.com/image/Agents_of_Change.pdf

Methodology:

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 250 CFO or Senior Finance leaders (aged 30+) in Australia in companies with a revenue of approximately $14 million+ (US$10 million+). Respondents must have deployed, piloted, or actively evaluated AI agents in their organisation in the last 12 months and work in the following industries: Financial Services and Insurance / Healthcare /Manufacturing & Distribution / Professional Services (i.e., accounting firms legal, consulting) / Retail & E-commerce / Tech and SaaS. The data was collected between 15.06.2026 - 22.06.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. Censuswide adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

For more information, visit Avalara.com.

1. Combining answers "significant pressure" (32%) and "moderate pressure" (56%)
2. Combining answers "entirely on speed" (26%) and "mostly on speed" (33%)
3. Combining answers "mostly on governance" (12%) and "entirely on governance" (0%)
4. Combining answers "Accountability would be unclear" (12%) and "No one individual or team" (6%)
5. Combining answers "this is something we are actively trying to hire or develop for" (21%), "we rely on our IT or technology team for this" (16%), "we rely on the vendor who built or provides the agent" (24%) and "we have no one currently responsible for this" (14%)

The DLW is designed for a 4-inch wafer to enable quick prototyping and fabrication of metalens samples within weeks. It also supports small-volume production for pilot builds and customer demand evaluation, enabling partners to iterate faster and move from concept to product more efficiently. The deployment of the Company's DLW will allow prospective customers in the U.S. to physically witness the system in action for their metalens prototyping needs. It will also support collaborative research and evaluation by the University's researchers under the guidance of Dr. Krishna Muralidharan of the University of Arizona's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. MetaOptics expects the deployment to generate user feedback and user demonstration opportunities, providing further technical validation of its metalens equipment and products, and serve as a launchpad to scale commercial production and collaboration in the U.S. market.

The deployment of its DLW serves as a key milestone for MetaOptics' U.S. expansion strategy, prospective U.S. customer engagement, and commercialization roadmap. It also positions the Group to support emerging U.S. initiatives in silicon photonics, co-packaged optics, and integrated photonics, where its metalens technology is directly applicable. The DLW will anchor a "mini foundry" at the University for small-volume, quick turnaround prototyping. Beyond research, the installation serves a commercial purpose: a U.S. demonstration site where potential distributors, universities, and research institutions can physically witness the DLW in operation. It will also produce metalens samples for prospective customers' evaluation. With Arizona's fast-growing semiconductor ecosystem home to world-class manufacturers and suppliers, the Company aims to leverage its presence at the University and the wider ecosystem to deepen engagement with prospective industry partners and end customers.

MetaOptics Executive Chairman Thng Chong Kim commented: "By placing our Direct Laser Writer within a world-class semiconductor research environment in Arizona, we will be able to strengthen technical validation and gather valuable user feedback. It also supports our ongoing engagements with potential industry partners and end-customers while showcasing our metalens manufacturing equipment to prospective distributors and institutions across the United States. We believe this deployment reinforces our broader U.S. expansion efforts and deepens our engagement in Arizona's world-class semiconductor ecosystem."

Find out more at www.metaoptics.sg.

This milestone marks nearly three decades of innovation and collaboration with leading aerospace manufacturers. Gastops began developing MetalSCAN® technology in the early 1990s for integration into the Pratt & Whitney F119 engine powering the F-22 Raptor. Following the delivery of the first production unit in 1997, the technology has become a trusted condition monitoring solution across some of the world's most advanced aerospace platforms. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.

The 20,000th aerospace MetalSCAN® sensor was delivered in June 2026 for Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine program, which powers all variants of the F-35 Lightning II.

Over the past 35 years, MetalSCAN® has been selected for numerous military and commercial aerospace programs and is now an integral bill-of-material component on several leading propulsion platforms, including:

• Pratt & Whitney F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor
• Pratt & Whitney F135 engine and Lift Fan system for the F-35 Lightning II
• Eurojet EJ200 engine for the Eurofighter Typhoon
• Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine family

MetalSCAN® technology enables operators to detect and monitor metallic wear debris in lubricated systems, providing critical insight into equipment health and supporting condition-based maintenance strategies. MetalSCAN® helps maintenance teams make informed decisions that improve operational readiness, reduce unnecessary inspections, and optimize lifecycle costs.

For Gastops, supporting these world-class aerospace programs represents a significant achievement for a Canadian small-to-medium enterprise.

"For more than 35 years, our research and innovation, and collaboration with our partners have advanced our condition monitoring technologies that improve the safety, performance, and availability of critical aerospace assets," said Daniel Obedi, Vice President, Aerospace Platforms at Gastops. "While MetalSCAN remains a core solution in our portfolio, we have also advanced complementary technologies such as ChipCHECK®, expanding the capabilities available to both commercial and defence operators worldwide."

While MetalSCAN® is widely recognized for its aerospace applications, the technology is also deployed across marine, energy, and industrial markets. To date, Gastops has delivered more than 50,000 MetalSCAN® sensors worldwide across all industries.

As organizations deploy long-context, agentic, and retrieval-driven AI workloads at massive scale, infrastructure architectures built for traditional enterprise data workloads and early machine learning-era training are struggling to deliver the GPU utilization, token throughput, operational scale, and infrastructure efficiency required for modern inference economics.

The new WEKApod systems were purpose-built by WEKA to address these challenges and are poised to shatter existing rack-level data storage benchmark records and redefine every dimension of AI economics, establishing a new scorecard for inference-era infrastructure. A single WEKApod system can deliver 1.1 exabytes of effective capacity in a single rack, with NeuralMesh data reduction running on a hardware foundation of 441.5 PB raw capacity, making it the first single-rack system to break the exabyte barrier. Throughput reaches 10.2 TB/s per rack. IOPS reach 210 million per rack.

To accomplish this, WEKA designed the system with a PCIe Gen 6 internal fabric, a cable-based, backplane-free drive interconnect, NVIDIA® ConnectX® SuperNIC™ networking enabling Spectrum-X Ethernet data plane connectivity, and a software-managed thermal architecture. The systems have multiple patents pending for their innovative chassis design, underlying drive-interconnect, thermal-management, and serviceability technologies.

"AI infrastructure built for traditional workloads cannot power the inference era. The constraints are different: rack space, energy, supply chain, and operational density now determine whether AI deployments produce margin or destroy it," said Liran Zvibel, co-founder and CEO at WEKA. "We built WEKApod to operate inside those constraints rather than against them, on hardware WEKA designed and engineered specifically for inference-era computing, with a supply chain we control. It delivers upfront economics that compound with the best total cost of ownership across the full gamut of AI infrastructure requirements, establishing a new scorecard that we believe every customer running production AI at scale will soon evaluate their infrastructure decisions against."

"As AI workloads scale and datacenter utilization continues to grow, modern systems need to deliver more performance, more capacity and more efficiency without demanding more floor space or power," said Jason Hardy, VP of Storage Technology at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking gives WEKApod 3 the high-bandwidth, low-latency fabric needed to keep the storage-to-GPU data path clear at scale, helping customers get more out of every GPU they deploy."

Why Agentic AI Requires a New Approach

The constraints driving AI infrastructure decisions today are both physical and procurement-related. US datacenter construction declined in 2025 for the first time since 2020. Grid connection queues in major markets stretch 4 to 7 years. Morgan Stanley projects a 49-gigawatt power shortfall in the US through 2028. At the same time, NAND markets remain constrained and OEM-channel lead times have stretched well beyond what infrastructure planning cycles can absorb. Storage that consumes rack space and power inefficiently is directly competing with GPUs for the same constrained physical resources. Storage built on hardware the vendor does not control inherits supply chain risk on top of that.

WEKApod is WEKA's answer to those fundamental issues: a system built to reduce the datacenter footprint, reclaim critical rack space, and improve tokens per watt, without sacrificing token throughput or workload performance. Per rack unit, WEKApod leads every publicly available alternative in capacity and throughput density, by 267% in effective capacity and 114% in throughput, over the next-best system in each category. On the procurement side, WEKA controls component sourcing directly rather than inheriting OEM channel dependencies, giving AI cloud providers and enterprises the pricing stability and lead-time predictability that infrastructure planning at scale actually requires.

For sovereign AI cloud providers and hyperscalers, that means more GPUs and more tenants per rack. For AI builders and enterprise teams, it means more inference capacity within their existing datacenter footprint.

"Inference at production scale is a fundamentally different infrastructure problem than training. The metrics that matter most are tokens per rack, tokens per watt, cost per inference at sustained load. Most vendors in this category have optimized for legacy benchmarks while the workloads have moved on," said Steve McDowell, Chief Analyst, NAND Research. "WEKApod is engineered to support the metrics that customers need most now, with a unified hardware and software approach that reflects that. Anyone planning to build out AI infrastructure in today's constrained datacenter and memory market should be evaluating every vendor against this new scorecard, regardless of which vendor they ultimately choose."

WEKApod Nitro: Maximum Performance. Optimized for Inference Workloads.

WEKApod Nitro was built and configured for the most performance-critical AI workloads, where storage bandwidth determines whether GPUs run at full saturation or stall waiting on data. A two-rack-unit, four-node chassis offers four fully independent failure domains and 56 TLC drives, paired with dual-port NVIDIA ConnectX networking, delivering 800 Gb/s throughput.

WEKApod Prime and WEKApod Prime Max: Massive Capacity. Minimal Footprint.

• WEKApod Prime delivers balanced capacity and performance from an AlloyFlash TLC and QLC mix in a four-node, two-rack-unit chassis with 56 total drives.
• WEKApod Prime Max was built and configured to deliver maximum capacity in the smallest possible footprint. A two-rack-unit, two-node chassis packs 70 NVMe drives. NeuralMesh's high-performance object storage and always-on data reduction, combined with Micron's 245.76 TB 6600 ION drives, enable WEKApod Prime Max to deliver 1.1 exabytes of effective capacity in a single 56U rack — density no competitor can match.

"Agentic AI and inference are raising the bar for data center efficiency, requiring density, power and performance to scale together," said Jeremy Werner, senior vice president and general manager of Micron's Core Data Center Business Unit. "With the new WEKApod architecture and Micron 245TB SSDs, customers can deliver 15.8 petabytes in a 2U footprint, maximizing storage capacity while preserving power and space for additional compute."

Key WEKApod Features and Benefits

• Custom-Engineered 2U Chassis: Delivers the highest performance and capacity density available on the market today in the smallest possible footprint. The same enclosure supports both four-node and two-node configurations.
• Built on PCIe Gen 6 Internal Fabric: Delivers bandwidth headroom for every drive to run at full utilization simultaneously.
• Micro Failure-Domain Design for High-Density Drives: A backplane-free environment creates fully independent failure domains and contains incidents to a single drive, preventing the need for cluster-level interventions.
• Thermal Architecture Engineered for 35°C Ambient Operation: Software-managed NVMe power throttling under thermal stress means the system degrades gracefully rather than triggering shutdown. At production AI scale, this is the difference between a performance event and an SLA breach.
• Built-In Serviceability: Hot-pluggable boot drives delivered via a custom interposer with GUI-guided replacement. Mirrored NIC port layout keeps drive bays accessible during maintenance. A drive replacement is a 10-minute self-service operation, not a 2-hour maintenance window.
• Headless Deployment: Cloud-driven rack-scale installations via NeuralMesh Home.
• Configurable Appliances From Sub-1PB to 100PB and Beyond: The third-generation WEKApod Nitro, WEKApod Prime, and WEKApod Prime Max are the first WEKApod products sold as configurable SKUs. Chassis type, memory, drive capacity, and drive count are customer-selectable. Every configuration offers the same operational simplicity.

Availability
WEKApod Nitro, WEKApod Prime, and WEKApod Prime Max are available to order today through WEKA's worldwide distributor and VAR network for delivery beginning in Fall 2026. NeuralMesh 6 will ship with the first systems.

For more information about the new WEKApod appliances, visit: https://www.weka.io/product/wekapod/.

WEKA NeuralMesh x WEKApod: Built to Run In Perfect Symmetry Together

WEKA also debuted the sixth generation of its flagship NeuralMesh software platform today, with new enterprise-grade features, including native multi-tenancy, a unified file-and-object protocol stack, intelligent metadata-first data resiliency, always-on data efficiency with contractual performance guarantees, Kubernetes-native operations, and unified observability. See today's NeuralMesh 6 announcement to learn more: https://www.weka.io/news/neuralmesh-6-enterprise-agentic-ai.

Inference Costs Now Decide Which AI Companies Scale

The release arrives as the AI industry increasingly shifts decisively from training to production inference. Long-context reasoning, agentic workflows, and retrieval-driven AI workloads place sustained pressure on memory, metadata, and storage in ways traditional infrastructure architectures were not designed to handle. NeuralMesh 6 was built to deliver breakthrough inference economics at production scale for AI clouds, frontier model providers, government agencies, and large enterprises at the forefront of AI innovation.

Inference Economics Proven in Production on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

NeuralMesh powers hyperscale AI inference in production today on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Leveraging WEKA's Augmented Memory Grid capability, which extends GPU memory by accelerating persistent KV cache access to NeuralMesh-managed NVMe storage, benchmarks on OCI H100 infrastructure have demonstrated 10x higher token throughput, 10x more concurrent users served, and 7x more tokens per GPU in production deployments.

"As agentic AI workloads push context windows and GPU utilization to new limits, WEKA and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure are helping customers scale inference more efficiently without simply adding more GPUs," Pablo Selem, senior director, software development, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. "WEKA's NeuralMesh platform with Augmented Memory Grid on OCI helps remove memory bottlenecks, delivering substantially more throughput and concurrent users from the same GPU footprint. For customers, that means higher ROI on infrastructure investments and a clearer path to cost-efficient AI at scale."

Inside NeuralMesh 6
NeuralMesh 6 builds on this production foundation. Key features and capabilities include:

Native Multi-Tenancy at Hyperscale
NeuralMesh 6 delivers the industry's only multi-tenancy architecture that combines physical hardware isolation with logical network isolation on a single platform.

• Composable Clusters provide complete hardware-level isolation, dedicated CPU, memory, and storage drives per tenant for anchor tenants that require guaranteed resources, workload separation, and predictable performance under load.
• Virtual Multi-Tenancy provides VPC-like network isolation through WEKA's Virtualized RDMA Data Fabric (VRDF), supporting private VLANs, overlapping IP address spaces, per-tenant quality of service (QoS), per-tenant encryption with independent KMS, and independent LDAP/AD authentication. Virtual MT scales to more than 1,000 isolated logical tenants per cluster, with new tenant provisioning in under 30 minutes.

The two tiers compose. A single WEKA hardware cluster running 50 Composable Clusters can support up to 50,000 logically isolated tenants on the same physical infrastructure — a path from dozens of tenants to tens of thousands without re-architecting.

Full S3 Protocol Stack on NVMe
NeuralMesh 6 delivers a fully-featured, native S3 implementation in which the same physical data blocks are addressable via S3 and POSIX simultaneously — not a gateway that translates between protocols, but a single unified namespace. A file written via NFS or POSIX is immediately readable via S3, and vice versa, eliminating the multiple full-dataset copies that a conventional AI pipeline carries between the training, fine-tuning, and inference stages. The implementation is built for AI workload patterns: 2,000 to 5,000 concurrent S3 connections per node, roughly five times the concurrency of conventional S3 architectures. S3 over RDMA enables zero-copy data transfer directly to GPU memory. Object storage is no longer a secondary tier — it is a high-performance protocol native to the same platform that serves POSIX file workloads.

Intelligent Replication for AI Workloads
GPU infrastructure is increasingly distributed across sites, clouds, and regions. Traditional replication architectures force organizations to wait for complete data copies before workloads can begin — a model that breaks down when GPU availability shifts in hours rather than weeks. NeuralMesh 6's intelligent replication changes the model. The same foundation supports AI data mobility, cloudbursting, and multi-site collaboration. Metadata-first replication makes destination environments immediately browsable. Data hydrates on demand, only when accessed, reducing WAN traffic and eliminating unnecessary full-dataset copies. Organizations can place workloads where GPU capacity exists today rather than where data was originally written. In this first step towards complete federation and a global namespace, NeuralMesh 6 unlocks async replication and instantaneous remote caching functionality.

Always-On Data Reduction with Performance Guarantees
NeuralMesh 6 introduces always-on data reduction, specifically designed for AI workloads, with fingerprinting, similarity hashing, deduplication, and compression. It delivers less than 5% write overhead, up to 6x capacity savings on AI training data, and a contractual guarantee of both the data reduction ratio and the performance impact. The performance tax that has historically forced operators to choose between efficiency and speed is gone: data reduction is on by default, every deployment, every workload. Customer-specific pre-sales analysis can project workload-based reduction outcomes before deployment.

AlloyFlash Automated TLC + QLC Flash Tiering
AlloyFlash enables combining TLC and QLC NVMe flash within a single cluster, transparently routing latency-sensitive operations to TLC while leveraging QLC at roughly 30-40% lower cost per terabyte for bulk-capacity workloads. AlloyFlash makes the highest-density WEKApod configurations production-viable, not just capacity-on-paper.
Automatic, transparent, no customer configuration required.

NeuralMesh Kubernetes Operator
NeuralMesh Kubernetes Operator automates cluster deployment and lifecycle management in Kubernetes environments. For neo-clouds and AI research labs running Kubernetes as their operational standard, Kubernetes Operator reduces deployment time from weeks to hours and brings NeuralMesh into the same declarative operational model their compute infrastructure already uses.

NeuralMesh Observe
NeuralMesh Observe is SaaS-based observability built for high-performance AI storage. Unified multi-cluster dashboards, client-level diagnostics, intelligent alerting with configurable thresholds, and routing to Slack, PagerDuty, or email with direct links to relevant dashboards. Included with every NeuralMesh deployment at no additional cost.

"WhiteFiber is building a distributed GPU platform across multiple data centers connected by high-speed dark fiber. At our scale, data mobility isn't a nice-to-have; it's foundational," said Sam Tabar, CEO at WhiteFiber. "NeuralMesh's intelligent replication makes data mobility real at scale: we can make datasets visible across sites and pull exactly the data each job needs to the next GPU allocation as it becomes available. That shifts replication from a back-end protection function to a core part of how our distributed AI infrastructure needs to operate, improving workload mobility, capacity efficiency, and the resiliency our customers depend on. WEKA's data and memory infrastructure provides the foundation to scale our footprint without compromise. We're excited to keep building on that together."

"The infrastructure operators running production AI today have been forced to assemble platforms from vendors that were never designed to work together. Separate stacks for file and object, manual data movement between them, multi-tenancy bolted on after the fact. NeuralMesh 6 delivers what they've actually needed all along: a single platform that handles the high-performance file layer and the high-capacity object layer on the same blocks, with native multi-tenancy, intelligent data mobility, and always-on data efficiency built in from the start. This is what production inference infrastructure looks like when it's designed for the workload, not retrofitted for it," said Ajay Singh, Chief Product Officer at WEKA.

Availability
NeuralMesh 6 will be generally available in the second half of 2026. Existing WEKA customers can upgrade to NeuralMesh 6 at no additional cost through standard upgrade channels and should contact their Customer Success representative for more details.

For more information about WEKA's NeuralMesh 6 software release and features, visit: https://www.weka.io/product/neuralmesh/.

NeuralMesh x WEKApod: Built to Run In Perfect Symmetry Together
WEKA also announced the third generation of WEKApod Nitro, WEKApod Prime, and WEKApod Prime Max, the first AI storage appliances built on WEKA-designed and engineered hardware to optimize its NeuralMesh software platform. The systems deliver 1.1 exabytes of effective capacity per rack with multiple patents pending. See today's WEKApod announcement to learn more: https://www.weka.io/news/wekapod-3-densest-ai-storage-memory-system.

The parties will focus on global AI data center development, optimized allocation of power resources, and innovation in energy management, exploring new models of synergistic development among energy, technology, and capital to deliver efficient, reliable, and sustainable global AI computing infrastructure solutions, providing long-term support for the continued growth of the global AI industry.

Dr. Huang Chenhong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SuperX, commented: "This long-term strategic partnership with Mercuria represents a significant milestone in SuperX's global expansion. The core long-term challenge for the AI computing power industry lies in electricity costs and low-carbon compliance pressures. Mercuria's global energy network, asset management expertise, and structured energy solutions precisely address our key gaps. Our collaboration will accelerate the implementation of overseas projects in Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and other regions, while establishing differentiated advantages in green computing power and continuously enhancing the company's long-term profitability and investment value. Building on this partnership, we will deliver more cost-competitive and sustainable AI factory solutions to customers worldwide."

Jin Han, Board Member of Mercuria Group and Chief Executive Officer of Mercuria Asia, stated: "AI infrastructure is becoming a vital conduit for the integrated development of the global energy system and the digital economy. As AI advances rapidly, global computing power demand continues to surge, placing higher demands on stable, low-cost, and sustainable energy supplies while creating new opportunities in energy management, power trading, and infrastructure investment.

Mercuria has long focused on infrastructure investments that enhance global energy efficiency and resource allocation. Investing in AI infrastructure is both an important practice in advancing Mercuria's energy strategy and a key direction in positioning for the future energy ecosystem. Our focus extends beyond computing power itself to the long-term industrial value created by the deep integration of energy and AI."

SuperX holds leading advantages in full-stack AI data center technology, global deployment, and operations. Mercuria possesses a worldwide energy network, capabilities in power optimization and price risk management, structured financing expertise, and extensive experience in energy asset investment and operations. The complementary strengths of both parties establish a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.

Looking ahead, the two parties will deepen cooperation in energy security, AI data center development, and global computing infrastructure, driving the integration of energy and computing power to build an efficient, reliable, and sustainable global AI infrastructure platform that supports the long-term growth of the global AI industry.

Mercuria is committed to creating value across the global energy and commodities value chain. The company continuously invests in innovative companies and technologies, strengthens long-term energy security, and optimizes resource allocation through its global network to meet growing energy demand. This partnership with SuperX marks an important step in extending Mercuria's global energy capabilities into the AI era, and reflects its continued commitment to future infrastructure and long-term growth industries.

For more information, please visit www.superx.sg.