“Whereas the previous phase of digital transformation in the banking sector focused primarily on digitising processes and moving services into the digital environment, the next phase must focus on leveraging data, applying artificial intelligence and developing intelligent operating models,” said Dung. “Competitive advantage no longer lies in which bank adopts more technology, but in the ability to turn data into value and technology into productivity and operational efficiency, while strengthening customer trust.”

Dung highlighted several key messages.

The first is that AI must deliver tangible value rather than merely create a technological impression. Technology only has real meaning when it helps customers receive better service, enables banks to operate more efficiently and allows risks to be identified earlier.

“AI must therefore be embedded in an organisation’s overall development strategy and integrated with its data, business processes, human resources and governance model. AI is not solely the responsibility of the technology department; it is also a strategic issue involving business models and the governance responsibilities of each bank,” Dung said. “Alongside the national AI development strategy, the SBV has issued a circular stipulating safety and risk management requirements for AI applications in the banking sector. I urge credit institutions to study it carefully and implement it rigorously.”

Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam. Photo: IEC Group

The second message, Dung stressed, is that the more digitalised banking becomes, the more important trust is as an asset of the banking system.

“The SBV requires credit institutions to provide features that enable customers to proactively configure account protection measures, including a mechanism to set a waiting period for first-time fund transfers, which can be as long as 24 hours before the recipient receives the money,” he said. “At some banks, more than 95 per cent of transactions are now conducted through digital channels. Given the enormous scale and value of these transactions, customer trust is the most important asset the banking system must continue to preserve and strengthen.”

The third message Dung put forward is that resilience must become a core capability of every bank.

“Cybersecurity risks are no longer an issue solely for information technology departments; they directly affect business operations, reputation, customer trust and the stability of the banking system,” he added. “AI is opening up a new phase of development for the banking sector, but to turn technological potential into tangible value, banks must address data challenges, customer trust and system security simultaneously.”

Le Anh Dung, deputy director general of the SBV’s Payment Department, said the banking sector was moving from digitising individual services to digitalising the entire customer journey. The next phase will involve integrating banking services into intelligent digital ecosystems, with AI acting as an orchestrator built on clean data, reliable identity verification, and trusted payment and credit infrastructure.

“This process requires the banking sector to meet three objectives simultaneously: innovate to create value, build trust to encourage the use of services, and maintain resilience to protect the value created. Innovation must go hand in hand with institutional improvements, infrastructure development and better data; trust must be reinforced through identification, authentication, early warnings and improved financial literacy among users; and resilience depends on ensuring business continuity, security and safety, as well as the responsible deployment of AI,” said Anh Dung.

“Progress in digital payments and data is laying the groundwork for this transition. According to figures presented at the plenary session, mobile-channel payments grew strongly year on year in the first eight months. Payment infrastructure can process up to 40 million transactions a day, while the national credit information database now contains information on more than 57 million customers,” he added.

However, infrastructure and data can only deliver their full value when customers trust the services and use them. The SBV has implemented various measures to clean up data, strengthen biometric authentication and develop its SIMO early-warning system. According to Dung, the system has helped approximately two million customer instances suspend or cancel transactions after receiving warnings, involving a total value of $3.04 billion.

Overview of the Smart Banking 2026 conference. Photo: IEC Group

From the perspective of a commercial bank, Nguyen Hung, CEO of TPBank, emphasised that AI must be applied in practical ways that benefit customers or improve operational efficiency, rather than serving merely as a public relations or promotional tool.

“Looking back at the banking sector’s development, digital transformation has helped credit institutions reduce their reliance on paperwork, digitise processes and expand their ability to serve customers around the clock, 24/7. For TPBank, a digital platform is essential to scaling up operations and strengthening competitiveness. AI is expanding these capabilities further, from customer support and protecting the flow of funds to knowledge management, document processing and resource optimisation,” Hung said.

Harmon Wang, CEO of StreamCube Technology, stressed that financial fraud is becoming increasingly organised, globalised and sophisticated.

“Fraudsters can divide their operations into multiple stages, from approaching victims and carrying out scams to receiving, transferring and dissipating the proceeds. Therefore, examining individual transactions in isolation may not be sufficient to identify the entire fraud network,” Wang said.

“Anti-fraud efforts need to be organised as an ecosystem, with coordination among banks, telecommunications operators, police authorities, technology companies and other relevant organisations. Information on suspicious accounts, fraudulent websites, phone numbers and unusual activity patterns needs to be shared and analysed to enable timely warnings and countermeasures.”

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Manh Tung, deputy director of A05 under the Ministry of Public Security, warned that the threat of attacks on the information systems of financial institutions and banks was becoming increasingly real. According to Tung, cyberattacks are becoming more professional, tightly organised and transnational in nature.

Drawing on experience in handling cases, Tung said cybersecurity could not be the sole responsibility of specialised teams.

“Banks need to establish procedures for monitoring unusual transactions with the involvement of relevant departments, while preparing incident response plans and strengthening coordination to trace and block the flow of funds. Investment in cybersecurity should also be commensurate with investment in digital infrastructure development,” Tung said. “These warnings show that customer protection must extend beyond transaction authentication to become an end-to-end risk management capability.”

Insurtech reshapes Vietnam’s insurance sector Insurtech is emerging as a key pillar of Vietnam’s digital insurance sector as demand for digital financial services continues to accelerate.

Vietnam pushes digital finance into tangible gains On September 24 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Finance, together with other agencies, organised Vietnam Digital Finance 2026 under the theme “Powering an intelligent, secure, connected, and sustainable digital financial ecosystem."

Photo: Carlsberg

The official Return Banquet hosted by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam was held at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, one of Copenhagen’s cultural landmarks. Founded by brewer Carl Jacobsen, son of Carlsberg founder J.C. Jacobsen, the museum opened in 1897 following his donation of its original art collection to the public.

With its roots in the Carlsberg family’s tradition of philanthropy and contribution to society, the Glyptotek provided a fitting setting for an occasion celebrating the strong ties between Vietnam and Denmark.

The Vietnamese government delegation attending the dinner at the Carlsberg Museum. Photo: Carlsberg

At the CEO Roundtable with Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, Aarup-Andersen spoke of Vietnam’s importance as a key growth market for Carlsberg and the group’s long-term confidence in the country’s potential.

As part of the visit, João Abecasis, executive vice president of Carlsberg Asia, also participated in the Denmark–Vietnam Business Forum, contributing to discussions on Vietnam’s growing role as a manufacturing and investment hub and the opportunities to strengthen industrial competitiveness.

Reflecting this long-term confidence, Carlsberg presented its investment and development intentions for Central Vietnam, where the group has established deep roots over more than three decades. These include approximately $65 million in intended investment at Phu Bai Brewery in Hue during 2026–2031, alongside plans to strengthen its business operations and support sustainable development in Danang. Both cities play an important role in Carlsberg’s long-term growth strategy in Vietnam.

Photo: Carlsberg

Jacob Aarup-Andersen, Group CEO of Carlsberg, said, “Vietnam is one of Carlsberg’s key growth markets, and our confidence in its long-term potential is firmly grounded in more than three decades of experience and investment in the country. The expansion of Phu Bai Brewery is a clear demonstration of our commitment, and we see further opportunities to build on this foundation. Our ambition is to combine Carlsberg’s global capabilities with our strong local roots to drive the next phase of growth, while continuing to invest in more efficient, innovative, and sustainable operations that create lasting value for Vietnam.”

During the visit, Aarup-Andersen presented Letters of Intent to chairmen of Hue and Danang People’s Committees, setting out Carlsberg’s investment and development intentions for the two cities during 2026–2031.

In Hue, Carlsberg envisages investing approximately $65 million at Phu Bai Brewery during this period to further modernise its manufacturing operations, accelerate digital and green transformation, strengthen supply chain capabilities, and enhance product quality and food safety.

The intended investment builds on the nearly $90 million expansion inaugurated in August 2025, which increased Phu Bai Brewery’s annual production capacity by more than half, making it Carlsberg’s largest beer production site in Asia. The next phase would focus on advanced production technologies, smarter operations, resource efficiency, and renewable energy, further strengthening Hue’s role in Carlsberg’s regional production network.

In Danang, Carlsberg aims to expand its business presence and strengthen local capabilities through commercial development, digital transformation, operational modernisation, and more efficient, sustainable logistics. Alongside these business priorities, the group intends to continue investing in environmental protection and community initiatives, working with local partners to support Danang’s ambition to become a greener, smarter, and more livable city.

Together, these priorities reflect Carlsberg’s long-term approach to sustainable growth in Vietnam, strengthening its business and operational capabilities while contributing to local economic development, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing.

Beyond continued investment in its brewing operations, Carlsberg is pursuing new opportunities to strengthen its position in Vietnam’s evolving beer market. Most recently, the group entered into an agreement with Sapporo Breweries to form a major strategic joint venture across six markets in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, including Vietnam, alongside a partnership in the UK.

The addition of Sapporo Premium Beer, characterised by its premium brand positioning and distinctive Japanese provenance, complements Carlsberg’s strong brand portfolio. In Vietnam, the partnership brings together Sapporo’s premium brand with Carlsberg’s established operational footprint, creating a strong platform to build the brand and support future growth.

Together, Carlsberg’s continued investment in manufacturing, focus on commercial capabilities, and strategic partnership with Sapporo reflect its ambition to build a stronger, more competitive, and sustainable business in Vietnam. As the country enters a new chapter of growth, Carlsberg remains committed to investing in its future, strengthening local partnerships, and creating lasting value for the economy and communities it serves, guided by its purpose of brewing for a better today and tomorrow.

Carlsberg Vietnam launches ESG programme at first Supplier Day Carlsberg Vietnam has launched its updated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme, Brewing Tomorrow, at its first-ever Supplier Day, reinforcing its belief that long-term sustainability requires stronger partnerships across the value chain.

Carlsberg Asia partners with RedNote for regional digital marketing campaign Beverage brand Carlsberg Asia partnered with social platform RedNote on 20 August 2026, launching its regional "Cheers from the Origin" digital marketing campaign featuring actor Shawn Dou.

Carlsberg Vietnam shows how resource efficiency can shape green industrial growth At the Green Industries Summit 2026, Carlsberg Vietnam shared how investments in efficient production, renewable energy and circular resource use are translating its Brewing Tomorrow ambitions into measurable progress, while highlighting the collaboration required to accelerate Vietnam’s green transition.

Vitaceuticals combines NEM with MagZorb magnesium glycinate in MagZorb Joint Ease with NEM, available nationally in major supermarkets and pharmacies, and on Amazon. For more information, visit Vitaceuticals' MagZorb Joint Ease page.

Natural eggshell membrane (NEM®) contains collagen, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, compounds found in healthy cartilage. It has been tested in human clinical trials for more than 15 years.

The most striking result came from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Clinical Rheumatology. ^[1,2] Adults with knee osteoarthritis took 500 mg of NEM daily. After just 10 days they reported 15.9% less joint pain than the placebo group, and the improvement held at two months. A 2018 placebo-controlled trial found post-menopausal women had less joint stiffness after exercise within a week.

"What stood out to me in the research was how early the change was measured: at day 10," said Sally Tadros, pharmacist and co-founder of Vitaceuticals. "That's a timeframe people can relate to."

The research lands as Australians rethink what's in their medicine cabinet. Current RACGP osteoarthritis guidelines suggest GPs don't offer long-time favourites like glucosamine and fish oil. Meanwhile, 4.1 million Australians live with arthritis, a number projected to hit 5.4 million by 2040. Women are hardest hit, with osteoarthritis about 80% more common in women than men.

"Most people have never heard of eggshell membrane, but it's one of the most interesting ingredients in joint health research right now," said Ms Tadros. "It's been hiding in plain sight in every kitchen, and most of us have been throwing it out with the shells."

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

References

About Vitaceuticals: vitaceuticals.com.au

"We are thrilled to welcome Fatima Goss Graves's perspective and expertise to the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees," said Ursula Burns, Chair of the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees. "Fatima's track record speaks for itself, her strategic vision, fearless advocacy, and proven ability to drive meaningful organizational and systemic change make her an invaluable addition to our Board of Trustees."

Goss Graves is a nationally recognized expert on gender justice, law, policy, and culture change. As an attorney, she has spent her career fighting to advance opportunities for women and girls, including income security and COVID relief, equal pay, health and reproductive rights, education access, workplace justice and ending sexual harassment and violence – with a focus on women and girls of color.

"Fatima Goss Graves possesses a sharp legal intellect, exceptional sector insight, and a steadfast dedication to justice," said Heather Gerken, president of the Ford Foundation. "I could not be more excited to welcome her to the Board of Trustees. Across Fatima's career, her strategic vision and formidable advocacy have broadened pathways for communities everywhere, particularly women and girls of color. Her presence and insights will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of the Ford Foundation."

"I am deeply honored to join the Board of Trustees and work alongside the Ford Foundation's extraordinary leadership," said Fatima Goss Graves. "I have dedicated my career to ensuring that all people can live with safety, dignity, and full agency over their lives and that women and their families have what they need to flourish. I am eager to bring that same commitment to Ford's vital mission in the years ahead."

Goss Graves has testified on complex policy matters at the state and federal levels of government in the United States and has been legal and social commentator on CBS, MSNBC, BBC, CNN, PBS, and NPR, and numerous outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

In addition to the Ford Foundation, Ms. Goss Graves serves on a number of boards in advisory and governance capacities. Based in Washington D.C., she is a graduate of UCLA and Yale Law School.

Ford Foundation trustees are elected by the board and serve six-year terms. Trustees set broad policies relating to grantmaking, geographic focus, investments, governance, and professional standards, and they oversee independent audits. The foundation's trustees come from around the world and have extensive experience in higher education, business and finance, technology, law, government, civil society, and the nonprofit sector.

Learn more at www.fordfoundation.org.

"We are pleased to welcome Marcello Boldrini as SI Group's next CEO," said Daryl Roberts, member of the SI Group Board of Directors. "Marcello brings significant experience in the global specialty chemicals industry and a strong track record of leading growth, transformation and operational improvement. His experience and perspective will serve SI Group well as we continue to strengthen our performance, serve our customers and execute our priorities."

Marcello Boldrini brings more than three decades of leadership experience in the specialty chemicals and materials industry, with a career spanning Europe, Asia and the Americas. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Kraton Corporation, a Houston-based global specialty chemicals company. During his tenure at Kraton, Boldrini led growth and transformation initiatives, including the creation of a Transformation Office that generated more than $100 million in annual EBITDA improvements. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at Houghton International, Momentive/Hexion and Ashland.

Boldrini resides in the Houston area and will be based at SI Group's headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas.

"I am honored to join SI Group as CEO and look forward to working with our employees, customers and partners," said Marcello Boldrini. "My initial focus will be on listening and learning, spending time with our teams and customers, and collaborating with the leadership team to build on SI Group's strengths and set clear priorities for the business. Safe and reliable operations, disciplined execution and delivering value for our customers will remain at the center of our work."

SI Group's leadership team will work closely with Boldrini to maintain a strong focus on safety, operational performance and customer commitments. Customers, suppliers and other business partners should continue to work through their existing SI Group contacts.

"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank David Bradley for his leadership and many contributions to SI Group," said Shawn Abrams, member of SI Group's Board of Directors. "David led SI Group through significant change and some of the most challenging conditions our industry has faced. During his tenure, the company successfully completed its 2025 recapitalization, strengthening SI Group's financial position and providing greater flexibility for the future. We are grateful for David's commitment to SI Group and its people, and we wish him continued success."

Customers, suppliers and other business partners should continue to work through their existing SI Group contacts.

Learn more at www.siigroup.com

Hypertension remains one of the leading modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, yet many people remain undiagnosed until they experience serious health problems. By combining Helfie's technology with Health Innovation South West's expertise in implementation and evaluation, the partnership will explore how smartphone-enabled screening can be integrated into healthcare pathways and assessed in real-world settings, with a particular focus on improving access for underserved and hard-to-reach populations. Insights generated through the programme will contribute to the evidence base for innovative approaches to prevention and population health.

Rania Awad, Chief Strategy Officer, Helfie AI, said: "Prevention only works if it reaches people where they are. Our mission is early detection, proactive prevention and optimised wellbeing for all eight billion-plus humans, and that has to include the person who cannot easily get to a clinic."

Christelle Kelley, Population Health Lead, Helfie AI, said: "Population health is about understanding the needs of communities and shaping prevention around the people and places we serve. Digital innovation brings opportunities to reach beyond traditional healthcare settings and support place-based care. I'm excited to explore not only how we can identify and support more people at risk of hypertension, but how we translate that opportunity into meaningful, equitable improvements in cardiovascular health."

More details: www.helfie.ai

Helfie AI has part-funded this project, including elements of the work to evaluate the impact of incorporating the platform within cardiovascular disease prevention pathways. The outputs and findings arising from this partnership should not be interpreted as an endorsement, recommendation, or procurement guidance from Health Innovation South West in relation to any specific product, technology, or manufacturer.

Cell Innovation for Module Design

YINGFA's TOPCon 3.0 solar cells deliver a measured cell efficiency of 27.3% and are available in full-cell, half-cut, third-cut and quarter-cut formats to accommodate different module designs. Visitors can view physical samples and discuss cell selection, product configurations and manufacturing compatibility with the YINGFA team.

YINGFA's XBC 2.0 solar cells deliver efficiencies of up to 28.4%, combining a pure black appearance with a front surface free of metal gridlines. These characteristics make them suitable for module designs where both performance and aesthetics matter.

Both efficiency figures apply to individual solar cells. Actual finished-module performance will vary depending on module design, materials and manufacturing processes.

Global Manufacturing, Local Support

With manufacturing operations in China and Indonesia, including PT. Bintan Cellular Indonesia (BCI), YINGFA combines international production capacity with dedicated customer support in India.

Its India-based team provides customers with access to sales, technical and customer service specialists, helping address product requirements, quality considerations and after-sales needs. By combining manufacturing capabilities across Asia with local market expertise, YINGFA aims to strengthen long-term partnerships with Indian module manufacturers.

At REI 2026, YINGFA invites customers and industry partners to visit Hall 14, Booth C33 to learn more about its solar cell portfolio, discuss next-generation module designs and explore potential areas of collaboration.

As floor-cleaning appliances become increasingly sophisticated, more features do not necessarily mean a better fit for every household. Everyday cleaning still comes down to familiar needs: dealing with spills, removing dust and hair, and reaching areas that are often overlooked. The FloorShine 470 addresses these tasks through a balanced combination of cleaning performance and ease of use, with a recommended retail price of €279.

With up to 17,000 Pa of suction, the FloorShine 470 combines vacuuming and washing to handle dry debris and liquid spills in a single cleaning routine. Whether collecting crumbs after a meal or removing dirt brought in from outdoors, the appliance is designed to support regular floor care. Its integrated anti-tangle mechanism also helps reduce hair wrapping around the brush roller.

Reaching difficult areas is another consideration in everyday cleaning. The 180-degree lie-flat design allows the FloorShine 470 to clean beneath sofas, beds and other low-clearance furniture. An internal water duct helps prevent wastewater backflow when the appliance is reclined, while the edge-cleaning brush reaches close to walls and skirting boards.

Maintenance has also been considered in the design. After cleaning, an automated self-cleaning and hot-air drying system helps remove residue and moisture from the brush roller, reducing the need for manual upkeep. A redesigned water-tank configuration supports comfortable maneuvering, while separate clean- and dirty-water tanks simplify routine use.

Rather than relying on increasingly complex features, the FloorShine 470 brings together essential cleaning and maintenance functions in an accessible, all-round wet-and-dry cleaner.

Pricing and Availability

The Eureka FloorShine 470 is now available in France through the official Eureka website, with a recommended retail price of €279. Prices and promotional offers may vary, and the model can also be found by searching for "Eureka FloorShine 470" on Amazon.

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

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

The session took place on October 21, marking the final preparation phase ahead of race day on November 8 and reaffirming the appeal of a model that combines sport, teamwork, and business networking through an international experience.

Introduced during the launch of the 2026 version of Standard Chartered-sponsored Heritage Race in July, the Enterprise Cup was designed as a platform for businesses seeking to promote healthy lifestyles, strengthen internal engagement, and foster a shared spirit of striving towards ambitious goals through sport.

Each company may register up to two teams, with five members per team competing in the 10km race on 8 November. Participants will start alongside other runners in the 10km category, with team rankings determined by the aggregate finishing times of all five team members.

A distinctive feature of the Enterprise Cup is the international connection opportunity for participating businesses. The winning team will receive a four-day, three-night trip to Shanghai to take part in the Standard Chartered Shanghai 10KM Run, one of the races within the global Standard Chartered Marathon series. The Standard Chartered Marathon series features events across multiple cities and regions worldwide, offering runners a unique cross-border experience.

Through the Enterprise Cup, Vietnamese companies compete in a test of endurance and speed while also having the opportunity to become part of the global running community, experience world-class races, and expand their networks beyond national borders.

Speaking at the technical briefing session, Trinh Nhu Quynh, head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Vietnam, said, “The Enterprise Cup aims to build meaningful connections that create opportunities for sustainable growth. We would like to provide the Vietnamese business community with a platform that promotes teamwork and active lifestyles and connects participants with the global running community through Standard Chartered’s worldwide race ecosystem.”

Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race. Photo: DHA Vietnam

Organised annually since 2018 by DHA Vietnam, the Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race is the official marathon of Hanoi. The race is recognised by the Vietnam Athletics Federation and is a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

The event features an AIMS-certified course that takes runners through many of Hanoi's iconic heritage landmarks and cultural attractions, including Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the city's historic Old Quarter.

The Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race 2026, part of a globally recognised series, features four adult race distances, Full Marathon (~42.2km), Half Marathon (~21.1km), 10km, and 5km, alongside the Kid Dash (2.1km) designed specifically for children.

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.

Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon - Heritage Race 2026 launches The launch ceremony of the Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon – Heritage Race 2026 was held in Hanoi on July 22, marking the start of the journey towards this year's event.

Announced on October 20, Techcombank's total operating income (TOI) reached VND45.2 trillion ($1.72 billion) in the period, up 17.1 per cent on-year. In the third quarter alone, pre-tax profit climbed 25.8 per cent to VND10.4 trillion ($392.5 million), the highest quarterly profit in the bank's history

Return on equity over the trailing 12 months increased to 16.3 per cent, from 14.4 per cent in the same period last year, while return on assets stood at 2.5 per cent.

Net interest income rose 16.9 per cent in the first nine months to VND32 trillion ($1.21 billion), including a 17.9 per cent increase to VND11.7 trillion ($441.5 million) in Q3. The quarterly net interest margin (NIM) continued to recover, improving to 3.5 per cent from 3.4 per cent in Q2 2026. Interest rate adjustments and optimisation of the loan portfolio towards higher-yielding assets helped offset pressure from funding costs.

Photo: Techcombank

Notably, Techcombank’s net fee and commission income (NFI) reached VND11.8 trillion ($445.3 million) in the first nine months, up 40 per cent on-year. In Q3 alone, the figure rose 44.6 per cent to VND4.2 trillion ($158.5 million).

NFI accounted for 26.2 per cent of TOI in the first nine months, compared with 21.9 per cent a year earlier. This growing contribution has helped diversify the bank’s income structure amid continued pressure on NIM.

Letters of credit (LCs), cash management, and payment services made the largest contribution, generating VND4.9 trillion ($184.9 million) in fees, up 136.6 per cent, supported by the continued expansion of LC solutions.

Insurance-related fees, including bancassurance and insurance services provided by the bank’s subsidiary, remained a key pillar of non-interest income, reaching VND1.7 trillion ($64.2 million), up 106.1 per cent. Revenue from these services amounted to VND705.5 billion ($26.6 million) in Q3.

Card service fees rose 29 per cent to VND1.5 trillion ($56.6 million). Fees from foreign exchange and derivatives services increased 27.1 per cent to VND1.1 trillion ($41.5 million) over the nine-month period, including a 37.7 per cent on-year increase to VND430 billion ($16.2 million) in Q3, reflecting stronger demand for foreign exchange risk hedging.

By contrast, investment banking (IB) service fees declined 17.5 per cent to VND2.8 trillion ($105.7 million). Distribution activity remained positive, although margins were affected by higher prevailing interest rates.

Net income from other activities, excluding recoveries of previously written-off debts, fell 48.2 per cent to VND872.7 billion ($32.9 million) amid less favourable market conditions, although the bank returned to profit from these activities in Q3.

Techcombank’s operating expenses totalled VND13.8 trillion ($520.8 million) in the first nine months, up 18.7 per cent on-year. In Q3, expenses reached VND5.3 trillion ($200 million), up 14.6 per cent on-quarter, and 17.9 per cent on-year, as the bank expanded its workforce, stepped up marketing activities, and increased technology investment.

The cost-to-income ratio stood at 31.9 per cent in Q3, remaining within management’s target range.

Meanwhile, provisioning expenses declined 30.5 per cent on-year to VND2.5 trillion ($94.3 million) in the first nine months. The trailing 12-month cost of credit fell to 0.4 per cent, or 0.3 per cent when recoveries of previously written-off debts were included.

As of September 30, Techcombank’s total assets reached VND1.3 quadrillion ($49.1 billion), up 16.7 per cent on-year.

Credit growth accelerated in Q3, supported by financing for key national projects. Including loans to projects excluded from the State Bank of Vietnam’s credit growth quota, the bank-only loan book expanded 16.3 per cent from the end of 2025. Growth within the quota set by the State Bank of Vietnam stood at 10.7 per cent.

Corporate lending reached VND542.4 trillion ($20.47 billion), up 20 per cent from the end of 2025, and 17.1 per cent on-year, primarily driven by disbursements for large-scale national infrastructure projects. The share of real estate loans declined to 29.9 per cent of total outstanding loans, following a temporary increase in Q2.

Lending to individual customers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) totalled VND419 trillion ($15.81 billion), up 12.7 per cent from the end of 2025, and 22.6 per cent on-year.

Unsecured lending continued to expand, mainly in the household business segment through the ShopCash product. SME lending recorded positive growth, while the outstanding mortgage portfolio remained stable.

Customer deposits reached VND692.1 trillion ($26.12 billion), up 8.4 per cent on-year, and 4 per cent from the end of 2025. Current account and savings account balances, including the bank’s automatic interest-earning feature, stood at VND245.9 trillion ($9.28 billion), accounting for 35.5 per cent of total customer deposits.

In Q3, Techcombank continued to diversify its funding structure, securing significant funding from international financial institutions.

As a result, its loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 77.7 per cent from 80.1 per cent, while the ratio of short-term funding used for medium- and long-term lending stood at 27.9 per cent.

The Tier 1 capital ratio under Basel II increased to 14.1 per cent, while the capital adequacy ratio remained at 15 per cent, placing the bank among the industry's best-capitalised lenders.

Regarding asset quality, the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio, including the impact associated with the National Credit Information Centre (CIC), stood at 1.36 per cent, compared with 1.15 per cent in the previous quarter. The increase was mainly attributable to several individual loans outside the bank’s core lending segments.

Excluding the CIC-related impact, the NPL ratio was 1.26 per cent. The loan loss reserve coverage ratio remained above 100 per cent, at 107 per cent.

Techcom Securities JSC (TCBS) recorded pre-tax profit of VND2.15 trillion ($81.1 million) in Q3, its highest quarterly result to date. Nine-month pre-tax profit reached VND5.71 trillion ($215.5 million), up 13 per cent on-year, and equivalent to 76 per cent of its full-year target.

TCBS maintained its leading position in corporate bond issuance advisory, with approximately 46 per cent market share.

Meanwhile, Techcom Life Insurance JSC generated approximately VND652 billion ($24.6 million) in new business premiums in Q3 and increased its charter capital to VND4.3 trillion ($162.3 million).

At the end of the first nine months, Techcombank served 19.1 million customers. Of the 1.8 million new individual customers acquired during the period, 65.3 per cent came through digital channels.

Techcombank helps foreign investors unlock growth opportunities in Vietnam Amid rising foreign investment, Techcombank is advancing its support for foreign-invested companies in Vietnam with tailored banking solutions.

Techcombank launches CNY transactions as Vietnam-China trade booms Import-export activities through border gates are expanding and modernising, driving a growing need for foreign currency payments and cash flow management among businesses.

Techcombank CEO: AI no longer a tool but a new operating foundation Attending AWS Cloud and AI Day Hanoi 2026 on September 29, Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, shared his vision for building an AI-First Bank model, emphasising the role of AI in shaping the future of the financial services industry.

The collaboration brings AIMS into one of Indonesia's most established esports communities, connecting the global Forex and CFD broker with MLBB fans through community engagement, education, digital initiatives and selected offline activations throughout Season 18.

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

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

CDC was invited as an industry speaker and panellist at the 11th Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network (APPeN) Conference in Thimphu, Bhutan, where it shared practical insights into integrating AI into next-generation e-GP platforms.

Held on Oct 5 and 6, the conference, organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, brought together more than 70 participants from 28 countries, including public procurement officials and technology industry representatives.

CDC Executive Director Putri Nurul Ida Yahya said AI could help public institutions interpret complex information, automate routine tasks and generate insights to support procurement decision-making.

"The priority is to select applications that address real challenges and deliver measurable improvements. For example, a three-month conversational AI pilot project in Malaysia's government procurement system successfully reduced call centre workload by 15 to 18 per cent," she said in a statement. Putri Nurul Ida said the successful pilot demonstrated how AI could facilitate users' access to information, allowing support teams to focus on more complex enquiries.

Beyond operational efficiency, CDC also highlighted that the responsible use of AI required ethical practices, strict protection and confidentiality of government data, appropriate security and access controls, transparency, and continuous human oversight. During the workshops and networking sessions throughout the conference, delegates engaged with CDC on key topics, including technology implementation strategies, change management, system deployment and approaches to sustaining user adoption.

The discussions provided an opportunity for CDC to share lessons from Malaysia's e-GP experience with regional institutions exploring the use of AI in public procurement. The exchange also highlighted how Malaysia's experience in developing and operating e-GP systems could contribute to regional efforts to adopt AI in public procurement in a practical and responsible manner._BERNAMA

https://www.commercedc.com.my/

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

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

The Summit brought together oceanographer Sylvia Earle; filmmaker and deep-sea explorer James Cameron; Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO of the National Geographic Society; Takashi Kudo of international art collective teamLab; Benoît Dageville, Co-Founder and President of Products at Snowflake; Rizza Sacra-Dejucos, Asia Regional Coordinator of the High Seas Alliance; Professor Peter Ng of NUS; and conservation leaders Titouan Bernicot of Coral Gardeners and Rili Joani-Mohamed of the Coral Triangle Centre. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong opened the Summit, with Minister for Education Desmond Lee later addressing the role of ocean exploration in student learning.

A clear message emerged: ocean knowledge has its greatest value when it can be shared, understood and used. Discussions on artificial intelligence highlighted both its potential to connect fragmented datasets and its dependence on high-quality information from regions that remain underrepresented. Sessions on finance and marine protected areas explored how public policy, private-sector expertise and philanthropic support can work together, with the needs of coastal communities in view.

"The Summit brought the ocean into the room in a way people could experience. Immersive education can turn curiosity into a personal connection, and help students see how their skills can contribute to ocean science and its future. We need to open those experiences and career pathways to more young people," said Mark Dalio.

Science that can inform action The programme connected scientific discovery with the international effort to conserve marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. The Into the Deep: Monsoon Rise expedition, jointly led by OceanX and NUS, mapped more than 8,300 square kilometres of seafloor in the eastern Indian Ocean. Scientists from Southeast Asia and the Pacific worked alongside Singapore researchers, with approximately 2,000 specimens now contributing to continuing biodiversity research.

The Summit also explored the wider challenge of making ocean data useful across disciplines and regions, as countries implement the BBNJ Agreement. OceanX has committed a significant share of its 2027 expedition time to high seas research.

"The Summit made clear that there is a need to collect much more ocean data which is necessary to make informed decisions around ocean stewardship. We need to connect information across disciplines, close gaps in what is known, and make evidence accessible to people working on decision making. Science must work in collaboration with all stakeholders to move together if knowledge is to support lasting ocean protection," said Vincent Pieribone.

Education and storytelling bring the ocean closer Singapore's partnership with OceanX through the Ministry of Education and Science Centre Board has enabled more than 570 students and educators to visit OceanXplorer since 2024, while hundreds more have joined ship-to-shore expedition livestreams. At the Summit, Desmond Lee spoke about how experiences like these help students connect classroom learning to real research and see how skills in engineering, data science and communications contribute to scientific discovery.

The Summit also featured more than 20 immersive installations developed by OceanX Education and its Changemaker community. These experiences put audiences inside ocean stories and research, demonstrating how art, media and technology can build understanding and invite people into the work.

A discussion between Mark Dalio and Anderson Tanoto of Tanoto Foundation highlighted education pathways across Southeast Asia. Nine Tanoto Foundation scholars have participated in OceanX's Young Explorers programme, while the partnership continues to develop opportunities through fellowships, hackathons and other immersive learning experiences.

Local leadership turns ambition into practice Speakers from across the conservation community showed how ocean protection is already being advanced by local leaders. Coral Gardeners founder Titouan Bernicot described an island-led movement that has grown to 97 full-time employees and planted more than 250,000 corals across French Polynesia, Fiji and Thailand. Other changemakers presented projects using AI for reef monitoring and immersive media to connect audiences with marine ecosystems.

These examples brought the Summit's discussions back to people and places: local knowledge must shape conservation, and communities need a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their ocean. The Summit convened more than 750+ participants, including 223 students and educators, around the relationships and ideas that can carry this work forward.

Watch OceanX Summit 2026 highlights.

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

For more information, visit www.oceanx.org

The investment underscores KUKA Vietnam's long-term commitment to enhancing service quality, strengthening its presence in the local market, and addressing the increasingly diverse needs of customers in industrial automation.

The new headquarters comes into operation as KUKA Vietnam enters its next phase of development, driven by the need to expand business operations, strengthen technological capabilities, and enhance customer support resources.

Spanning four floors with a total area of approximately 720 square metres, the new facility is designed to integrate office spaces, technology demonstration areas, testing and proof-of-concept facilities, application development areas, a technical service centre, and operational warehousing under one roof.

This integrated model enables closer collaboration among sales, engineering, and service teams, while providing customers with opportunities to experience technologies firsthand, test applications, and work alongside KUKA to develop solutions tailored to their operational needs.

Inside KUKA Vietnam’s new headquarters in Hanoi. Photo: KUKA Vietnam

The new headquarters also supports KUKA’s objective of enhancing the customer experience and strengthening its connections with the industrial ecosystem, including existing and prospective customers across northern Vietnam. These priorities are central to the vision behind the project.

The investment in the new headquarters comes as KUKA transitions from a provider of industrial robots and automation hardware towards becoming a comprehensive automation solutions partner in Vietnam.

A key highlight demonstrating this strategic direction is the technology demonstration area, featuring a scaled-down production line that simulates an integrated manufacturing process.

Here, robots work in coordination to perform the entire workflow, from pick-and-place operations and product handling to transportation and distribution. This demonstration provides a tangible illustration of Automation 1.0, an approach in which hardware and individual automated processes play a central role.

KUKA is now advancing towards Automation 2.0 through the development of the KUKA Automation Management Platform, a universal operating system designed for automation solutions and positioned as the world’s first of its kind.

This evolution reflects KUKA’s ambition to move beyond individual automation components towards a more integrated, flexible, and comprehensive approach to industrial automation.

The technology demonstration area at KUKA Vietnam’s new headquarters. Photo: KUKA Vietnam

The inauguration of the new headquarters reaffirms KUKA Vietnam’s long-term commitment to investing in the local market. Beyond an investment in physical infrastructure, the project represents a strategic investment in customer service capabilities, technology development, technical services, and the broader local automation ecosystem.

KUKA Vietnam officially inaugurates its new Hanoi headquarters. Photo: KUKA Vietnam

At the launching ceremony, Huynh Phong Phu, CEO of KUKA Vietnam, noted that 2026 marks a strategically significant period of development for KUKA Vietnam, highlighted by three major milestones across the country's three regions.

"From the inauguration of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Centre in Danang under a strategic cooperation programme with the Danang University of Science and Technology, and the establishment of the Automation 2.0 Technology Centre at the High-Tech Park Training Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, to the official opening of its new head office in Hanoi, KUKA Vietnam is progressively building an integrated ecosystem that connects technology, human resources, and the practical needs of businesses," he said.

Phu believes these milestones demonstrate KUKA's long-term investment commitment to Vietnam and reaffirm its strategic direction of bringing robotics, AI, and next-generation automation solutions closer to customers, partners, and the country's technical education and training network.

"As this pivotal year draws to a close, the new head office in Hanoi marks the beginning of the next phase of growth while further strengthening KUKA's role as a comprehensive automation partner, supporting the modernisation of Vietnam's manufacturing industry in the era of Automation 2.0," he said.

With a customer-centric approach and a strong focus on technological innovation and sustainable development, KUKA Vietnam expects the new headquarters to serve as a key driver of its next phase of growth while contributing positively to the advancement of the automation industry in Vietnam.

Ericsson expands Vietnamese presence with new Hanoi office Ericsson on September 12 announced the inauguration of its new office in Hanoi, marking another milestone in its 32-year journey in Vietnam.

Major projects to be inaugurated nationwide Several major projects nationwide are set to be either inaugurated or launched to mark the upcoming 14th National Congress.

Japanese firm inaugurates polysilicon facility in Ho Chi Minh City Tokuyama Vietnam on August 13 held an inauguration ceremony for its polysilicon manufacturing plant at Phu My 3 Specialised Industrial Park (Phu My 3 SIP) in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi to break ground and inaugurate 16 infrastructure projects ahead of National Day Hanoi People’s Committee sets a plan to break ground and inaugurate 16 works and projects, including 11 projects open to traffic and five to start on September 2.

According to a statement on October 12, the plant is operated under the Oji Liquid Pak (OLP) name. Covering 57,000 square metres at Long Thanh High-tech Industrial Park, the plant positions Vietnam as a strategic production and supply base within the group's Southeast Asia growth strategy. Scheduled to commence operations in 2028, it will supply aseptic carton packaging for beverages and liquid food products.

The facility will produce up to eight billion packs per year and create more than 200 new jobs. It aligns with Vietnam's evolving extended producer responsibility framework and the transition towards a circular economy.

Terauchi Mikito, corporate officer, OJI Holdings Corporation, said, "Vietnam is an important market and an increasingly strategic manufacturing base within Southeast Asia. By establishing Oji Liquid Pak and investing in local production, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers in Vietnam and across the Asia-Pacific region."

Oji Liquid Pak draws on OJI Group's integrated experience across forest resources, paper, packaging, and recycling. In Southeast Asia, OJI Group is also working to advance collection and recycling initiatives for aseptic carton packaging.

Kestutis Sliuzas, CEO of Oji Liquid Pak, said, "The packaging industry is moving towards a new standard in which performance, food safety, operational flexibility, and circularity need to work together. At Oji Liquid Pak, our ambition is not simply to supply packaging materials, but to help customers navigate this transition with solutions that are ready for the market today and adaptable to the requirements of tomorrow."

Oji Liquid Pak's aseptic packaging materials can be integrated with roll-fed filling machines available in the market, allowing manufacturers to leverage existing filling infrastructure while optimising operations. Customers can choose between materials only and a full system combining packaging materials, filling technology, and technical services, all through one partner.

The new Oji Liquid Pak facility builds on more than 150 years of OJI Group's heritage and more than 40 years of aseptic packaging technology experience from Italian specialist IPI, bringing the Group's international expertise to local production.

Oji Liquid Pak and IPI now operate as sister companies within OJI Holdings, sharing the same vision, mission, values, and strategic direction as one integrated team providing aseptic carton packaging solutions, including materials, equipment, and services.

UNIVACCO strengthens Asia expansion with Vietnam facility UNIVACCO Technology is strengthening its regional manufacturing footprint by selecting Vietnam as a strategic production base, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s industrial ecosystem.

Vietnam’s printing and packaging industry set to upgrade supply chain International and domestic enterprises are converging at VietnamPrintPack 2026 to showcase advanced technologies and explore new opportunities to upgrade the printing and packaging supply chain.

The 2026 export equation: optimising profits in the processing and packaging industry ProPak Hanoi 2026 – the convergence centre of the most advanced processing and packaging technology solutions, is opening from October 13 to 15 at VEC, Dong Anh, Hanoi.

The showcase comes nearly a year after Comviva and Aduna announced their strategic partnership in November 2025 to accelerate enterprise adoption and monetisation of Network APIs through Comviva's NGAGE platform. Through the platform, enterprises can access communication and network APIs through a single interface, while Aduna brings together standardised network capabilities from its global operator ecosystem. NGAGE platform already operates at significant commercial scale, supporting 7,000+ enterprises, 40+ deployments, 100+ industry use cases, 130+ Communication APIs, and 25+ Network APIs, while processing 250+ billion messages annually. NGAGE is deployed across industries.

For banks and fintechs, network-level intelligence can provide an additional layer of information for customer verification and risk assessment. Capabilities such as number verification and SIM-swap detection can help identify potential fraud, strengthen authentication and support faster, lower-friction onboarding and KYC journeys.

The focus on financial services builds on Comviva's established presence in the sector and its experience supporting digital financial services ecosystems globally. The collaboration brings this expertise together with network intelligence to address practical challenges across identity, fraud prevention and customer onboarding.

Rajesh Chandiramani, Chief Executive Officer, Comviva, said, "Over the past year, NGAGE has evolved as a unified and scalable access point for enterprises looking to bring network intelligence into their digital journeys. Financial services is a natural priority because the impact can be measured directly through outcomes such as faster onboarding, stronger fraud controls and reduced dependence on OTPs and other verification steps. Our collaboration with Aduna, combined with Tech Mahindra's BFSI reach, enables us to take these capabilities to financial institutions across markets and help address these challenges at scale."

Peter Arbitter, Chief Commercial Officer, Aduna Global, said, "Standardisation is essential to scaling the use of network APIs across financial services. Aduna brings together CAMARA-standardised APIs from leading mobile operators, simplifying access to trusted network intelligence across operators and markets. Working with Comviva and Tech Mahindra makes it easier for banks and fintechs to embed these capabilities into customer verification, fraud prevention and onboarding processes, helping them strengthen security while reducing friction for their customers."

The collaboration will continue to focus on expanding the use of Network APIs across financial services markets and exploring applications beyond identity and fraud, including lending risk, payments intelligence and other areas where real-time network information can support secure and seamless digital experiences.

Comviva will showcase its NGAGE, a new-age Communication Platform as a Service that draws its power and performance from robust AI engines at Money20/20 USA alongside its parent company Tech Mahindra at MC-7. Together, the companies will demonstrate how AI, advanced analytics, network APIs and digital platforms are helping financial institutions accelerate innovation, strengthen fraud prevention and identity verification, and deliver more seamless customer experiences.

Zhu Yong noted that the Canton Fair Global Cooperative Partners Program advances Premier Li Qiang's vision of "following the trend of economic globalization and answering the call of the international community for joint development." This round of signings, she said, marks a deeper partner network, more complete and effective matchmaking services and higher, more substantive levels of cooperation.

Eugene Seroka described the agreement with the Canton Fair as a new beginning built on mutual trust, one that drives business growth and promotes shared progress.

Strengthening Global Partnerships for Shared Growth

The Canton Fair signed memoranda with eight organizations, including six new partners: Benelux Chamber of Commerce in China, Joinco, Palestinian Businessmen Association, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI), Polish-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles Harbor Department, and renewed ties with two existing partners, Lebanese Chinese Business Association and China Information & Culture Centre (Kenya).

The new partners span key nodes, from a major North American port gateway to established European markets and cover a diverse mix of shipping and logistics firms, business associations and leading procurement enterprises.

As of the 140th session, the Canton Fair has partnered with 240 organizations across 112 countries and regions.

In his congratulatory letter to the 140th Canton Fair, President Xi Jinping noted that China stands ready to join hands with countries around the world to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system and expand the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation. Guided by this spirit, the Canton Fair will extend cooperation beyond goods trading to joint brand-building, shared market development and shared services.

For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:

https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

Verkada is the first cloud-managed physical security platform in Australia to complete an IRAP assessment at this classification level. The assessment was conducted by ASD-endorsed assessors from Neon Cloud, Verkada's independent assessment partner, in accordance with the Australian Signals Directorate's Cloud Assessment and Authorisation framework. It follows Verkada's FedRAMP Moderate Authorization earlier this year, extending the company's government-grade security posture across international markets.

"Completing the IRAP assessment demonstrates the seriousness of our investment in Australia and our commitment to building a durable business that can support government organisations over the long term," said Steve Bray, Vice President, Australia and New Zealand at Verkada. "Government agencies should not have to choose between rigorous cyber security and physical security technology that is simple to deploy, manage and scale."

Government and critical infrastructure organizations can deploy Verkada's supported product lines, including:

• Video Security for centrally managing cameras and accessing live and historical footage
• Access Control for managing doors, users, buildings and permissions
• Alarms for detecting threats, verifying events and coordinating response
• Intercom for communicating with and verifying visitors at entrances
• Air Quality Sensors for monitoring indoor environmental conditions
• Verkada Guest for visitor management

Verkada's platform is built on Zero Trust principles, with safeguards including single sign-on and multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, encryption in transit and at rest, audit logs, and time-bound customer authorization for support access. Verkada also maintains SOC 2 Type 2 compliance and ISO 27001, 27017, 27018 and 27701 certifications, and offers Australian data storage and processing for Verkada Command to support regional governance requirements.

Eligible organizations can request Verkada's IRAP assessment report through the Verkada Trust Center. To learn more about Verkada's solutions for government organizations.

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

Co-hosted by the Indonesian Internet Domain Name Registry (PANDI), with support from Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the Bali Provincial Government, ICANN87 marks the first ICANN public meeting in Indonesia. The meeting brings together government representatives, businesses, technical experts, and civil society to address issues affecting the Internet's security, stability, and global interoperability.

The Welcome Ceremony on 19 October featured remarks from Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs; Isnawan Aslam, President of PANDI; Tripti Sinha, ICANN Board Chair; and Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO.

"As we look toward the next decade, our responsibility is not simply to accommodate the Internet's continued expansion, but to preserve the trust that makes it meaningful. Connectivity enables participation. Growth creates opportunities. And protection builds the trust necessary to sustain both. For Indonesia, the objective is therefore not simply to bring more people online. It is to ensure that they can participate in a digital environment that is accessible, secure, and relevant to their needs," said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.

"Hosting ICANN87 marks an important milestone for Indonesia and reflects PANDI's commitment to the global Internet community. For us, managing .id goes beyond technical responsibilities; it is a commitment to safeguarding our nation's digital identity. We believe trust is earned through a proven track record, consistent performance, and responsible governance. Building on our experience and continuously strengthening our capabilities, PANDI remains committed to strengthening Indonesia's digital identity and ensuring that .id is secure, stable, trusted, and ready for the future of the Internet," said Isnawan Aslam, President of PANDI.

ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha highlighted the multistakeholder model of governance and the need to sustain public trust. "The tenth anniversary of the IANA stewardship transition demonstrates how this governance model has endured technological and geopolitical change. We continue to earn trust through transparent governance, sound decisions, and effective implementation," Sinha said.

"We need to strengthen the connection between strategy, prioritization, budgeting, and implementation, making the process clearer and more transparent," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "The ICANN community develops solutions and the ICANN org must turn those solutions into effective action."

ICANN Recognizes Hartmut Glaser for Capacity Building
During the welcome ceremony, ICANN awarded Hartmut Glaser the 2026 Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building. The ICANN Board recognized his contributions to Internet governance capacity building at local, regional, and global levels, including founding and leading the Brazilian School on Internet Governance and helping establish the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC). Sinha presented the award to Glaser, who joined remotely.

The award honors the late Dr. Tarek Kamel, an Internet pioneer, and recognizes members of the ICANN community who advance capacity-development programs related to ICANN's mission.

Advancing a Secure, Stable, and Inclusive Internet
ICANN87 features more than 200 working sessions on Internet policy and technical priorities, including DNS Abuse mitigation, strengthening the security, stability, and reliability of the Domain Name System (DNS), and expanding domain name options through the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program.

The six-day meeting advances ICANN's multistakeholder model, which brings diverse groups together to develop policies and coordinate the Internet's unique identifiers. Participants will also take part in capacity-building and leadership development discussions, while new members of the ICANN Board of Directors take their seats.

To learn more and join the conversation, visit www.ICANN.org and the ICANN87 website.

Minister Ngo Van Tuan and Paschal Donohoe, WBG's managing director and chief knowledge officer. Photo: MoF

At the meeting, Minister Tuan expressed his sincere appreciation for the valuable support and close partnership the WBG had provided to Vietnam over several decades.

He said that the WBG’s concessional financing, technical assistance programmes, and in-depth policy advice had played a particularly important role in supporting Vietnam’s economic reforms, infrastructure modernisation, and social welfare development.

With Vietnam preparing to host APEC 2027, the minister underscored the government’s determination to ensure comprehensive and thorough preparations for the major international event.

He called on WBG to continue its role as a leading development partner and work closely with Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) to develop and refine the priorities and substantive agenda for APEC 2027’s finance track. These efforts should remain aligned with the core objectives of the Incheon Action Plan and the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, he said.

Discussing sustainable growth, Minister Tuan highlighted the pivotal role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are important contributors to employment and economic activity. To unlock the sector’s potential, Vietnam has been implementing a range of support policies and measures to streamline administrative procedures.

The minister added that Vietnam’s National Assembly was discussing a draft Law on the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises during its ongoing session.

The draft proposes a range of policies to address barriers to land access and financing, simplify administrative procedures, standardise enterprise classification criteria, and create more better conditions for small and medium-sized businesses.

Minister Tuan stressed that Vietnam’s MoF stood ready to work closely with the WBG to research and assess international initiatives and effective solutions, with a view to incorporating suitable approaches into the country’s national development policy framework.

Donohoe congratulated Vietnam on a significant recent achievement: the upgrading of its sovereign credit rating by international rating agencies.

He praised Vietnam’s efforts and notable achievements in managing and using state budget resources efficiently, maintaining macroeconomic stability, and strengthening its fiscal foundations. These achievements provide an important basis for Vietnam to realise its ambition of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045.

Donohoe emphasised that fully addressing MSMEs’ access to finance would be critical to creating a stronger foundation for double-digit economic growth.

He proposed that Vietnam consider making MSME financing a central priority under the APEC 2027 agenda, in alignment with the WBG’s recently announced global MSME strategy.

Beyond multilateral cooperation under APEC, the two sides held extensive discussions on progress in developing the Vietnam-WBG Country Partnership Framework for 2027-2032.

Minister Tuan called on the WBG to continue exploring flexible concessional financing packages, improve disbursement, and work closely with Vietnamese agencies to simplify administration. These measures will help ensure that programmes and projects are implemented more promptly.

Donohoe reaffirmed the WBG’s commitment to providing the knowledge, policy advice, and technical resources needed to help ensure the success of APEC 2027 and support Vietnam’s long-term development goals.

Minister Tuan formally invited the WBG’s leadership to visit Vietnam and attend key conferences held as part of APEC 2027. Donohoe warmly accepted the invitation and confirmed that he would personally lead a WBG delegation to Vietnam to participate in these important events.

Vietnam strengthens public debt management with World Bank and IMF Vietnam is strengthening cooperation with international partners to improve public debt and risk management as part of broader fiscal reform efforts.

Vietnam and WB strengthen cooperation Water security is expected to become part of a long-term cooperation framework between Vietnam and the World Bank, contributing to the realisation of sustainable development goals and enhancing resilience to climate change.

World Bank raises Vietnam's 2026 GDP growth forecast to 7.4 per cent The World Bank has raised its forecast for Vietnam's economic growth in 2026 by 1.1 percentage points to 7.4 per cent, the largest upward revision among Asia-Pacific economies.

MARSHIQUE officially launched on Ulta.com on October 18, followed by an in-store launch at 500+ Ulta Beauty locations nationwide beginning November 1. The debut will give MARSHIQUE a strong retail presence in the U.S. and expand the brand's reach among American beauty consumers.

With more than 1,500 stores nationwide, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, offering a broad portfolio of global beauty brands across skincare, makeup, haircare, and other categories.

From Wrinkles to Lifting: MARSHIQUE's Targeted Patch Collection Arrives in the U.S.

A key highlight of MARSHIQUE's Ulta Beauty launch is the introduction of its complete range of targeted patches.

MARSHIQUE has developed a specialized patch collection designed to address specific areas and concerns, including patches targeting the appearance of wrinkles around the frown lines, smile lines, forehead, and eye area, as well as the neck, along with lifting patches designed for the appearance of facial contours.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach to facial care, MARSHIQUE offers a more targeted routine: apply the patch directly to the area of concern for focused, targeted care. This approach has helped the brand establish a distinctive position in the patch-care category.

Beginning with its frown line patch, MARSHIQUE has continued to expand its assortment to address a wider range of specific areas—including the smile lines, forehead, eye area, and neck—as well as lifting and contouring. Through this continued expansion, the brand has positioned patches as a distinct beauty-care category in their own right.

From Targeted Patches to Eyelash Serum: MARSHIQUE's Signature Beauty Solutions

The Ulta Beauty launch will feature MARSHIQUE's complete patch collection, and its signature eyelash serum, another key product category for the brand.

MARSHIQUE has continued to develop easy-to-use at-home beauty solutions built around specific consumer needs. Its product portfolio is designed to make targeted beauty care simple and convenient enough to incorporate into everyday routines.

The brand's eyelash serum has become one of MARSHIQUE's core product categories alongside its patch collection in the Korean market. With its U.S. launch, the brand will introduce consumers to a broader range of targeted beauty solutions beyond its signature patches.

Beyond K-Beauty: Introducing "K-Patch" to the Global Beauty Market

MARSHIQUE sees its Ulta Beauty launch as more than an expansion of its international distribution network. The launch marks an important opportunity to bring "K-Patch"—a targeted beauty-care concept developed in the Korean market— to the mainstream U.S. beauty market.

While K-Beauty has built a strong global presence through categories such as skincare and makeup, MARSHIQUE is looking to expand that conversation by introducing K-Patch, a category centered on targeted patches for specific concerns such as wrinkles, lifting, and facial contouring.

A MARSHIQUE representative said, "Our Ulta Beauty launch is particularly meaningful because we are introducing not just a single product, but our full range of patches, which has built a strong presence in the Korean market, together with our signature eyelash serum."

"From targeted concerns around the frown lines, smile lines, forehead, eye area, and neck to lifting and facial contouring, our goal is to offer U.S. consumers a new and convenient approach to their at-home beauty routines," the representative added.

The representative continued, "Just as K-Beauty has grown into a major force in the global beauty industry, our goal is to establish K-Patch as a distinct beauty category that consumers around the world can discover, embrace, and incorporate into their routines."

Following its Ulta Beauty launch, MARSHIQUE plans to continue expanding its brand awareness and consumer reach across the United States while developing differentiated products centered around its targeted patch collection. The brand also plans to further expand its presence in global markets by continuing to build on its expertise in targeted, at-home beauty care.

MARSHIQUE became available to shop on Ulta.com on October 18 and will be available in 504 Ulta Beauty stores nationwide on November 1 with the assortment ranging from $16 to $25.

Vietnam recorded $122.2 billion in cryptoasset activity over the past year, ranking second in Southeast Asia, according to the Geography of Cryptocurrency Report 2026 released on October 16 by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

“The scale of cryptoasset activity is equivalent to nearly 24 per cent of Vietnam’s 2025 GDP. On average, the market records approximately $335 million in daily trading value, an amount nearly one-third of the average daily stock trading value on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange over the previous year,” Chainalysis noted.

These figures cover multiple asset classes, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and other tokens, traded via centralised exchanges, decentralised exchanges, and peer-to-peer platforms, as well as cross-border transfers and platforms serving institutional investors.

In terms of the value of digital assets received by user addresses through centralised exchanges, Vietnam recorded approximately $70 billion between July 2025 and June 2026. Within the Central and Southern Asia and Oceania region, Vietnam ranked behind India ($88.4 billion), Singapore ($82.3 billion), and Australia ($79.3 billion), according to Chainalysis.

Despite the market’s substantial scale, prospective exchanges must still overcome significant hurdles involving capital, technology, and risk management before they can begin operations.

To Tran Hoa, standing deputy head of the Digital Asset Trading Market Management Board under the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, stated that to obtain a pilot licence for operating a cryptoasset trading market in Vietnam, enterprises must possess a minimum charter capital of VND10 trillion (approximately $386 million) and meet the requirements set out in Resolution No.05/2025/NQ-CP.

The Ministry of Finance has collaborated with the Ministry of Public Security and the State Bank of Vietnam to evaluate the applications of organisations registering for the pilot programme. The five organisations selected for the initial phase include Sacom Cryptoasset Exchange, VIX Cryptoasset Exchange, Vietnam Thinh Vuong Cryptoasset Exchange, Techcom Cryptoasset Exchange, and Vietnam Digital Assets.

However, initial selection does not mean that the organisations have been granted licences to operate. They must still meet regulatory requirements, including those relating to capital, IT systems, and operational standards.

"The pace at which these exchanges meet capital requirements, build IT systems, and comply with regulatory standards will determine when Vietnam sees a pilot exchange go live," Hoa said.

According to Hoa, Resolution 05 grants organisations one year from the date of receiving their initial-stage certificate to complete the remaining requirements.

International experience shows that launching a cryptoasset exchange can take years, spanning everything from establishing the legal framework to finalising systems and operational conditions. In Indonesia, the process from creating the legal framework to the launch of a national cryptoasset exchange took approximately four years. In Hong Kong, the process took up to five years.

Alongside the progress of establishing the trading platform, there is keen interest in whether investors will be able to continue trading Bitcoin on domestic centralised exchanges. According to Hoa, regulators encourage exchanges to select cryptoassets that possess high liquidity and are widely traded globally.

However, the actual launch timeline remains contingent on the progress individual organisations make in meeting requirements and the regulatory review process, Hoa said.

Tran Huyen Dinh, chair of the Fintech Application Committee under the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association, noted that enterprises are currently adjusting their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing tools while developing cryptoasset custody models that align with both Vietnamese regulations and international standards.

“Building the system is not merely about meeting licensing requirements; it must also ensure the capacity to handle high trading volumes, maintain continuous operations, and safeguard client assets. These factors directly influence the exchange's credibility once it becomes operational,” Dinh said.

According to a survey conducted by three entities operating in Vietnam's cryptoasset sector, Kyros Ventures, Coin68, and BingX, over 70 per cent of respondents prioritise safety and security when selecting an exchange. Criteria such as the existence of an insurance fund, incident compensation mechanisms, and high liquidity were also cited by more than 69 per cent of participants.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, vice chairman of the Vietnam's International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that attracting investors depends on more than just the ability to provide domestic trading services. Exchanges must also demonstrate their capacity to safeguard assets, handle incidents, and maintain trading conditions attractive enough to compete with existing platforms.

Ensuring liquidity is challenging for exchanges operating in isolation. Globally, exchanges often employ mechanisms to interconnect and link with one another to enhance liquidity.

"To achieve this, exchanges require compatible technology systems and must meet specific connectivity standards. Regulators also need to closely monitor market developments and make timely adjustments to policies and mechanisms to resolve obstacles, thereby fostering a safer market," Huan added.

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MEXC highlights AI-driven trading and broader market access at TOKEN2049