Construction of Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem recommenced on October 23. Photo: Phat Dat

Located in the functional sub-area 2A, Thu Thiem New Urban Area, the new financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, the approximately 7.45 hectare site will be built with a large-scale, mixed-use urban complex integrating Grade A office towers and podiums for commercial, retail, service, accommodation, residential, and public spaces within a coordinated ecosystem, developed and operated in accordance with international urban planning and development standards.

Its projected investment of VND60 trillion ($2.31 billion) is nearly VND40 trillion ($1.54 billion) higher than the previously announced figure of more than VND20.1 trillion ($773 million).

According to Bui Quang Anh Vu, CEO of Phat Dat, for Phat Dat, what matters more than the project’s scale is responsibility to deliver a development worthy of its location.

Vu said that as a Vietnamese enterprise, Phat Dat brings to the project its understanding of the local market, project development experience, and execution capabilities.

“At the same time, we are proud to partner with Lotte, a group with strong investment resources, international experience, and extensive capabilities in urban development. We believe that combining international expertise with Vietnamese capabilities will provide a strong foundation for achieving our shared goal: making Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem one of the landmark urban developments of Thu Thiem and Ho Chi Minh City,” said Vu.

“However, an iconic development cannot be defined by its scale or architecture alone. It must prove its worth through quality, timely delivery, functionality, the urban experience it offers, sustainability, and the lasting value it creates for the community. This is precisely what Phat Dat is committed to delivering through its participation in this project,” he added.

Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said that the city had consistently pursued its goal of becoming a civilised and modern metropolis, maintaining its role as a leading growth engine for the region and the country, and strengthening its position as an economic, financial and service hub for Southeast Asia.

“Under this strategic vision, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area has been identified as one of the city’s foremost new spaces for modern development. It is planned to become a centre for finance, commerce, services, culture and innovation, serving as a core driver of high-quality economic growth in the new development phase,” Vinh said.

The project is expected to create a smart, modern, and environmentally friendly urban complex that enhances the architectural landscape of the city centre, improves residents' quality of life, and makes Ho Chi Minh City more attractive to global investors.

“The city government highly values Lotte Group’s long-term commitment to investing in Ho Chi Minh City in a serious and responsible manner. The presence and success of South Korean businesses over the years have made positive contributions to the city’s socioeconomic development, while deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and South Korea and opening up broader opportunities for cooperation across various sectors. Ho Chi Minh City regards the South Korean business community as one of its key partners,” he said.

Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem comprises six adjoining land plots planned as a mixed-use complex featuring office buildings, retail and service facilities, accommodation and residential units. The site is close to the central square and Thu Thiem Central Lake, with connections to the existing city centre via the Thu Thiem Tunnel and Ba Son Bridge.

The project is being developed by Lotte Properties HCMC Co., Ltd., with the participation of three Lotte Group subsidiaries consisting of Lotte Shopping, Hotel Lotte and Lotte Engineering & Construction, alongside Phat Dat Real Estate Development Corporation.

The project site is adjacent to Thu Thiem Central Square and Central Lake, with direct access to the Thu Thiem Tunnel and views across the Saigon River towards the city’s existing central business district.

In the capital contribution structure, Phat Dat holds 35 per cent equity interest in Lotte Properties Ho Chi Minh City, pursuant to Decision No.4102/QD-UBND, issued by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Phat Dat will co-develop three plots of the residential component with Lotte.

For the commercial and service component with office space on plots 2-1 and 2-3, Phat Dat is solely responsible for developing both high-rise towers, together with a podium comprising four floors of commercial and service space and basement levels, with a total gross floor area of approximately 220,000 square metres.

For the commercial component on plots 2-5, Lotte is solely responsible for developing the high-rise portions, together with a podium comprising four floors of commercial and service space and basement levels.

Lotte Eco Smart City was first studied in 1997, with an investment contract signed in 2017. The project held a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2022 but failed to proceed as planned due to legal hurdles, ownership structure issues among group subsidiaries and outstanding land-related financial obligations.

Ho Chi Minh City approved the project's land valuation at more than VND16.19 trillion ($622.7 million) in mid-2025, and Lotte and Phat Dat signed an investment cooperation agreement for co-developing the project in June.

Artist’s impression of the Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem. Photo: Phat Dat

PDR sells projects to mobilise $400 million stake in Lotte Properties HCMC On June 11, Phat Dat Real Estate Development Corp. announced plans to seek shareholder approval via written consultation for several proposals, including a plan to acquire an equity stake in Lotte Properties HCMC with an estimated transaction value of VND10.4 trillion.

Lotte Group, Phat Dat sign agreement for Thu Thiem Eco Smart City Lotte Group and Phat Dat Real Estate have signed an investment cooperation agreement for the Lotte Eco Smart City Thu Thiem project.

Announced on October 23, the project in Quy Nhon, Gia Lai, marks the first France-Vietnam collaboration in quantum computing and will lead to the deployment of Vietnam's first quantum computer, with the support of Nam A Bank.

The long-term partnership, developed with Quanova, Quandela's strategic local partner in Vietnam, will provide Quang Trung University with a comprehensive platform for education, research, and innovation. Nam A Bank is supporting the initiative as part of its commitment to advanced technologies.

Vo Hoang Hai, deputy CEO of Nam A Bank, said, “Nam A Bank invests in core technologies, including quantum technology, to help build high-tech capabilities in Vietnam through strong and effective cooperation with French organisations.”

Marine Xech-Gaspa, director of Institutional Affairs and Public Policy at Quandela, said, “Quandela is very proud to see its strategic partnership with Quanova already materialise in the first France-Vietnam quantum computing project and the deployment of Vietnam’s first quantum computer. We sincerely thank Quang Trung University and Nam A Bank for their trust. Together, we are laying the foundations for a lasting quantum ecosystem that will support education, research, and innovation in Vietnam.”

The partnership and the deployment project were announced in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21, in the presence of representatives of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Welcoming the announcement, Étienne Ranaivoson, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, said, “As part of the first French delegation dedicated to quantum technologies in Vietnam, I welcome Quandela’s commitment, which is enabling Vietnam to acquire its first quantum computer–a symbol of the trust uniting our two countries in the technologies of the future.”

The event highlighted the shared commitment of French and Vietnamese partners to develop sovereign capabilities in quantum technologies, education, and research.

Beyond the installation of MosaiQ, the partnership is designed to build lasting local expertise. The Quantum Innovator Residency Programme will bring together students, researchers, educators, and technology innovators around practical uses of quantum computing, while faculty training, dedicated curricula, and access to Quandela’s software environment will support the emergence of a new generation of quantum talent in Vietnam.

Rossy Nguyen Hoang Hong, CEO of Quanova, said, “To co-create new technologies, we must first build trusted partnerships and train the next generation. That is why we are developing the Quantum Innovator Residency Programme with Quandela, Quang Trung University, and Nam A Bank.”

Quantum technology targeted for long-term advantage Vietnam is developing quantum technology to participate in the global quantum value chain and gain a competitive edge for future sustainable development.

Quantum hackathon opens in Gia Lai to tackle social challenges Quantum technology is moving beyond fundamental research into practical applications across AI, cybersecurity, finance, logistics, energy, and healthcare, emerging as one of the world's most strategically competitive fields.

Summit launched to connect Asia’s quantum tech hubs On August 14, the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Finance launched the Vietnam-Asia Quantum Summit 2026, marking the start of a programme with a main event scheduled for November.

The first session of the 2026 BPC Roundtable Conference discussed how international cooperation could address different obstacles facing startups and SMEs. Photo: VIR team

Lars Anke, chief representative of the Hamburg Liaison Office in China, identified the transition from startup to scale-up as a particular difficulty, even in established innovation ecosystems such as Germany and Europe.

“There are many people with good ideas who start their own startups, but it is really hard to scale up to a level of development where the company becomes economically sustainable without public funding or external funding. The underlying challenge was securing access to markets, rather than simply encouraging more businesses to launch,” Anke said.

According to Anke, Hamburg has sought to address this through an industry cluster approach, using established networks as platforms and incubators to help smaller companies develop commercial relationships and expand their operations.

“I think BPC and the BPC network can play an important role at a global level,” he said. “Such an approach could help emerging businesses navigate unfamiliar markets, including Vietnam, China, and Europe, by connecting them with relevant partners and resources.”

Drawing on the Philippines’ experience, Katrina Elaine C. Aguila, representing the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted Startup Week as an initiative designed to connect entrepreneurs with capacity-building organisations, rather than focusing exclusively on potential investors.

“This matches not necessarily investors, but capacity-building entities from government and the private or public sector, at the crucial stage of developing innovations, including the early, inception, and idea stages of technology,” she said.

The distinction reflects the different forms of assistance businesses require during their development. Early-stage entrepreneurs may need institutional guidance, specialist expertise, and access to relevant stakeholders before they are ready to seek commercial financing or enter overseas markets.

Aguila also pointed to cooperation between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, where the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry provides a direct channel for private-sector participants seeking connections with regional governments and potential project partners.

For Ho Chi Minh City, developing these connections is part of a broader ambition to establish an innovation ecosystem capable of drawing on both domestic and international resources. The city’s proposed approach involves supporting enterprises throughout their development, from idea formation, incubation, and technology testing to commercialisation and market expansion.

Tran Trong Tuyen, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, said the city needed to prepare its policy framework and human resources while creating suitable conditions for overseas partners to participate in local innovation activities.

“Ho Chi Minh City’s ecosystem needs the international community to help build the ecosystem together. There are opportunities for international organisations to work with Vietnamese universities, particularly in high-tech industries, while supporting the development of markets in Ho Chi Minh City and the wider region,” he added.

However, reaching new markets also requires SMEs to understand the standards imposed by prospective customers, particularly when joining international supply chains.

Shirley Ng, general manager of the International Competitiveness Division at Australian Industry Group, noted that smaller suppliers were increasingly expected to demonstrate compliance with sustainability requirements covering decarbonisation and the circular economy.

“SMEs need to understand and meet the compliance requirements set by larger companies to remain part of their supply chains,” Ng said.

Drawing on the organisation’s experience of serving 60,000 businesses annually, Ng highlighted the importance of helping smaller firms build the knowledge needed to respond to these expectations.

She suggested that BPC members could use organisational coordination, government involvement, and digital tools to share sustainability expertise across participating markets.

The implications are particularly relevant to Vietnamese enterprises seeking to become suppliers to overseas businesses, including Australian companies, as meeting international requirements forms part of maintaining access to those commercial relationships.

“It does not have to be done alone. At the BPC level, organisational coordination and government involvement can make us strong partners,” Shirley noted.

Established by Osaka City Government in 1988, the BPC network promotes economic cooperation, business exchanges, and international expansion opportunities for SMEs. It comprises Osaka and 14 partner cities across Asia-Pacific and beyond, with Hamburg becoming its newest member in 2019.

Held annually since 1990, the BPC Roundtable Conference brings together local authorities, trade promotion organisations, and businesses to exchange policies, experiences, and cooperation opportunities. The 2026 gathering marks its 35^th edition and Ho Chi Minh City's third time hosting the event, following 2002 and 2016. The city joined the network in May 1997.

The network is coordinated by the Osaka BPC Council, with the Osaka International Business Promotion Centre serving as its secretariat.

BPC Roundtable Conference 2026 to open in Ho Chi Minh City The 2026 Business Partner Cities (BPC) Roundtable Conference will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23.

The approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) covers Citigroup Securities (China) Co., Ltd., (CSCCL) allowing it to offer equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research, and principal trading services to domestic and foreign clients. Citi will complete all statutory and regulatory procedures required to establish the company and prepare for the commencement of operations, according to an announcement on October 23.

Headquartered in Shanghai, CSCCL represents Citi's latest commitment to deepening its onshore presence in China. The company will offer a comprehensive suite of onshore capital markets services to both domestic and foreign clients – including underwriting capital markets deals, equities brokerage providing direct access to China stock exchanges and other financial products, securities research and investment advisory, and trading of onshore listed shares, bonds, funds, and other financial instruments.

Jane Fraser, Citi chair and CEO, said, "Citi has been serving clients in China for nearly 125 years, and we appreciate the support from regulators to expand our offering in this important market. By adding onshore capabilities to our global platform, we will be able to do more for clients in China’s domestic capital markets, including helping them raise capital, access investors, and trade locally, while connecting them to opportunities around the world."

Citi has a long and distinguished history in China, having been among the first international banks to establish a local entity in the country, dating back to 1902. For well over a century, Citi has served as a trusted partner to Chinese clients pursuing growth opportunities and foreign multinationals seeking to access and navigate the Chinese market.

Citi serves 70 per cent of Fortune 500 companies operating in China, works with several hundred large local corporate and public sector clients through its Corporate & Investment Bank, and supports many more medium-sized enterprises through its Commercial Bank – underscoring the breadth and depth of its client franchise. CSCCL will support the onshore securities and trading activities of Citi’s sizeable corporate and institutional client base looking to access the Chinese capital markets.

As a top-tier global investment bank, Citi brings world-class capabilities in debt and equity underwriting, as well as cross-border mergers and acquisitions advisory. Citi has helped Chinese clients raise more than $40 billion year-to-date in global capital markets, reflecting its unmatched ability to connect Chinese issuers with investors around the world. The securities licence will allow Citi to deepen its service offering by underwriting capital markets deals onshore, complementing its existing offshore capabilities.

Wenjie Zhang, Citi China country officer and banking head, said, “We are honoured to receive this approval. The securities company will be an important part of Citi’s strategy in China. It will enrich and enhance our capabilities to serve clients. We will be focusing on building a high-calibre local team and leveraging our global network to support domestic capital market development.”

Citi and HDBank sign MoU to expand banking cooperation Citi and HDBank have signed an MoU to expand cooperation across a broad range of banking and financial services.

Citi honours 13 banks with 2025 STP Awards Citi Vietnam hosted its Financial Institutions Conference and STP Award in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13 and Hanoi on October 14, bringing together leaders and industry professionals from across Vietnam's financial sector to discuss developments in payments, liquidity management, trade finance, AI, data, and financial crime risk.

Citi set for record year across ASEAN Investment Banking A rise in artificial intelligence-related financings and an uptick in mergers and acquisitions across ASEAN has pushed deal volumes for Citi steeply higher across 2026.

The expanded collaboration builds on a longstanding relationship between DKSH and GNT in other markets, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Leveraging DKSH’s extensive regional presence, deep industry expertise, strong customer network, and regulatory capabilities, GNT aims to strengthen its reach among food and beverage manufacturers in Vietnam and unlock new growth opportunities.

Photo: DKSH

Exberry is a registered trademark of GNT, which is a leading provider of plant-based colouring ingredients marketed under its globally recognised Exberry brand. The company provides natural colour solutions derived from non-GMO fruits, vegetables, and edible plants, enabling food and beverage manufacturers to create visually appealing products while meeting increasing consumer demand for clean-label, naturally sourced ingredients.

GNT’s natural colour portfolio is suitable for applications in beverages, bakery, confectionery, dairy, cereals, snacks, sauces, savoury, plant-based meat, seafood, and dairy, and helps manufacturers develop products that align with evolving market trends towards transparency, sustainability, and natural ingredients. The solutions are used across multiple categories, providing versatility, stability, ease-of-use, and strong sustainability credentials, allowing brands to achieve vibrant colours while maintaining a natural positioning.

Andreas Thiede, general manager at GNT Singapore Pte. Ltd., said, “Exberry colours allow manufacturers to deliver the natural and eye-catching products consumers want to see. DKSH is perfectly placed to help us meet the growing demand for natural ingredients in Vietnam thanks to its strong market presence and consistent track record. Together, we can deliver enhanced value for food and beverage brands throughout the country.”

Cesar Saez, vice president, Global Food and Beverage Ingredients, Performance Materials, DKSH, added, “We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with GNT and support the growth of its Exberry natural colour solutions in Vietnam. As consumer demand for natural and clean-label products continues to increase, DKSH’s local market knowledge, regulatory expertise, sales excellence, innovation and formulation capabilities, and collaborative mindset will help bring innovative colouring solutions to food and beverage manufacturers across the market.”

Founded in 1978, GNT is a family-owned company pioneering plant-based, sustainable ingredients. Headquartered in Mierlo, the Netherlands, with offices across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, its family ownership provides stability and long-term commitment, enabling strategic decisions to future-proof supplies.

These include ambitious sustainability commitments to ensure the quality and availability of raw materials over the long term. Customer service is a key focus, with full support throughout every stage of product development, including concept innovation, colour selection and matching, stability testing, upscaling, regulatory matters, and quality documentation.

For more than 160 years, DKSH has been delivering growth for companies across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America through its business units in Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials, and Technology. As a market expansion services provider, DKSH offers sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, e-commerce, distribution and logistics, and after-sales services.

A participant in the United Nations Global Compact, DKSH is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and operates in 35 markets with 26,840 specialists. Its Business Unit Performance Materials distributes specialty chemicals and ingredients for food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial applications, supported by 55 innovation centres worldwide that create formulations compliant with local regulations.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), on October 18, announced the results of the selection of the unit to submit an application for a mining licence for iron ore at the Thach Khe mine.

Previously, on September 17, VinMetal Ha Tinh JSC submitted the application to the Department for Receiving and Returning Results of Administrative Procedures under the MoIT.

Based on the assessment results of the Department of Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources, the ministry selected this business as the organisation to submit the application for a mining licence for iron ore at the mine

Located in the former Thach Ha district, now covering Thach Khe, Dong Tien and Thach Lac communes, the Thach Khe mine is considered Vietnam's largest iron ore deposit and one of the largest in Southeast Asia, with estimated reserves of about 544 million tonnes.

The mining and ore processing project was launched in 2008 under Thach Khe Iron JSC with a total investment of approximately VND14.5 trillion ($580 million).

Between 2008 and 2011, the company conducted technology trials and removed overburden at the site. However, in 2011, the project had to be temporarily suspended due to numerous obstacles related to technology, geological conditions, ore transportation methods, economic efficiency, and concerns about environmental impact. In early May 2026, the government requested that the project’s pending obstacles be resolved definitively this year.

Regarding VinMetal Ha Tinh Industrial JSC, it was established in May. Upon its establishment, VinMetal Production and Trading JSC, a Vingroup ecosystem enterprise, contributed $190 million, equivalent to 95 per cent of the charter capital. The remaining two shareholders are Nguyen Minh Hong and Dang Nhat Minh, each contributing VND125 billion, equivalent to 2.5 per cent of the charter capital.

In July, the company increased its charter capital to $360 million.

VinMetal Ha Tinh is a link in Vingroup's strategy to expand into the metallurgical sector. Previously, in October 2025, the group established VinMetal Production and Trading JSC with an initial charter capital of $400 million, and then increased it to $600 million.

This enterprise is currently developing a steel complex in Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ha Tinh province, with a total investment of approximately $3.2 billion. The project has a designed capacity of about six million tonnes of steel per year in the first phase, with a planned expansion to 20 million tonnes per year in the second phase.

Vingroup sets up $380 million steel company Vingroup announced the establishment of VinMetal JSC for Manufacturing and Trading on October 6, entering the metallurgy industry and expanding its existing industrial and technology pillar.

VinMetal partners with Primetals Technologies on large-scale steel complex VinMetal and the UK's Primetals Technologies signed an MoU on a strategic partnership to facilitate VinMetal's large-scale integrated steel complex in Ha Tinh province on May 7.

VinMetal plans to import one million tonnes of steel to serve production VinMetal plans to import nearly one million tonnes of scrap steel every year to supply its $3.2 billion steel complex in the central province of Ha Tinh.

Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, at the BPC Roundtable Conference 2026. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee

This was the third time Ho Chi Minh City had hosted the BPC Roundtable Conference, following previous editions in 2002 and 2016.

The event brought together representatives of local governments, trade promotion organisations and businesses from Osaka (Japan), Melbourne (Australia), Manila (the Philippines), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Hamburg (Germany), as well as the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), one of Australia’s largest industry associations.

Ha said that rapid technological advances, supply chain restructuring and increasingly stringent green development standards had reshaped the global landscape over the past decade.

“Cities now face the dual challenge of sustaining economic growth and optimising resources while leading digital and green transitions, cutting emissions and reshaping urban spaces to improve residents’ overall quality of life,” Ha said.

Ha stressed that the 2026 BPC Roundtable Conference should go beyond simply sharing experiences. It should move from exchanging experiences to identifying practical approaches, from discussing ideas to mobilising resources, and from connecting resources to developing cooperation programmes that can be implemented after the conference.

“Innovation and sustainable development are two complementary pillars, he said. Innovation drives green growth, while sustainability requirements provide practical challenges that push innovation to deliver deeper, more meaningful results,” he added.

Regarding the city’s strategic direction, Ha said its expanding urban boundaries and increasingly diversified economic structure were creating opportunities to better integrate financial services and science and technology with major growth centres in large-scale industry, clean energy and international seaport logistics.

The city is turning its potential into new growth drivers through smart governance models, green development and efforts to enhance its overall competitiveness.

Providing an update on the local economy, Ha said Ho Chi Minh City’s regional GDP grew by 9.06 per cent in the first nine months, while its industrial production index rose by 10.9 per cent. The city has also been implementing greenhouse gas inventories, transitioning to green buses and participating in the carbon market.

Since the 2025 BPC Conference, Ho Chi Minh City has conducted greenhouse gas inventories at 360 facilities, of which 240 have developed emissions reduction plans for 2026–2030. Around 68 per cent of the city’s buses now run on electricity or other green energy, with the city targeting 100 per cent by early 2027. Rooftop solar power capacity has reached 1,865.7 MWp.

The city also highlighted the challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises (small- and medium-sized enterprises), including transition costs, limited capacity to measure and report emissions, difficulties accessing green finance, and compliance with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism requirements for exports.

Ho Chi Minh City to unveil new projects worth $13.5 billion at AEF 2026 Ho Chi Minh City is expected to announce at least 12 investment projects with a combined value of more than $13.5 billion at the Autumn Economic Forum 2026.

BPC Roundtable Conference 2026 to open in Ho Chi Minh City The 2026 Business Partner Cities (BPC) Roundtable Conference will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23.

Ho Chi Minh City offers interest rate support to businesses Ho Chi Minh City has introduced practical interest rate support programmes to help businesses address funding challenges as they modernise production and pursue sustainable development.

Designed with multi-generational families and modern leisure seekers in mind, this beachfront resort will combine premium design accommodation, all-inclusive dining, extensive leisure and wellness facilities, and dedicated pet-friendly stays. Conveniently situated just 10 minutes from Cam Ranh International Airport, the resort will feature 802 contemporary rooms, suites, pool villas, and pavilions, with 265 accommodations opening in its initial phase.

The opening marks the latest step in Meliá Hotels International’s continued expansion in Vietnam, as the group grows its presence across both established and emerging leisure destinations.

Manuel Ferriol, general manager of Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort, said, “Cam Ranh is emerging as one of the region’s most exciting beachfront destinations, and we see a real opportunity to introduce a resort experience where family holds a truly special importance. Meliá was born in Spain, and our Mediterranean heritage has always been about a smiley welcome, a warm attentive service, areas and experiences that bring people together, and allow them to enjoy every moment of their stay.

“With an all-inclusive approach at the heart of the resort, we want to make holidays feel easier, effortless, and deeply connected. However, we also recognise that relaxation looks different for everyone. That is why the resort balances this family-first philosophy with dedicated areas and sophisticated accommodations designed for other travellers, such as couples and adult companions seeking a quieter, more customised coastal escape at their own pace”.

Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort has been specially designed to cater families and larger multi-generational groups, as well as couples.

Parents, children, and their extended families can stay together in a collection of different accommodation. Young and modern families can enjoy beautifully designed beachside Pavilions, featuring open-plan living areas that invite relaxation and connection. For larger groups, three-, four-, or five-bedroom Pool Villas will offer private pools and family entertainment including PlayStations, board games, karaoke, and pool volleyball, alongside tailored in-villa experiences such as family barbecues.

Across the resort’s three ocean-themed towers – Mare, Vela, and Navi – a choice of large, light-filled rooms and suites provide state-of-the-art amenities, floor-to-ceiling windows, and balconies with views of the mountains or ocean.

Families will also have access to the resort’s swimming pools – some of the largest in Cam Ranh – including a 1,194 square metres lagoon-style family pool and a 990 sq.m crescent-shaped infinity pool directly on the beach.

Children and teenagers (up to 17 years old) will have dedicated spaces at KIDSDOM and a TEENS CLUB including access to a boat-themed Watersplash Pool, plus a programme of activities designed for play, creativity, and shared family experiences.

Guests of all ages will also be able to take part in dedicated activities throughout their stay, such as yoga, cardio boxing, and pétanque by day, and outdoor cinema, live music, and DJ chill sessions after dark.

Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort also offers very comprehensive services to guests travelling with dogs and cats. Under the Pet-Friendly by Meliá concept, pet-friendly stays include a welcome pack, pet beds, feeding bowls, treats, and toys, as well as access to a dedicated beachfront pet area.

Couples and adult guests can also retreat to a world of relaxation designed entirely for them. From design-led one-bedroom Pavilions with private pools to exclusive spaces dedicated to wellbeing and quiet moments, guests can unwind at The Level adults-only pool, stay active at the state-of-the-art fitness centre, or retreat to YHI Spa, where private treatment cabins and rejuvenating rituals invite them to recharge and slow-down.

Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort’s All-Inclusive Dining experience will give guests greater flexibility throughout their stay, with dining and selected beverages available across all restaurants and bars, alongside welcome minibar refreshments and discounts on selected seasonal promotions.

Eight dining and drinking venues will open as part of the resort’s first phase, spanning local, Asian, and international cuisines.

Mosaico, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, will serve Vietnamese, Asian, and Western dishes, while Cape Nao will bring Spanish and Mediterranean flavours to Cam Ranh. Canalla will offer a lively take on Mexican cuisine with tacos and tequila, while Breeza will focus on flame-grilled meats and seafood in a relaxed beachside setting.

Guests will also be able to visit Elyxr for coffee and pastries, Gaia for poolside drinks, Dolcelato for home-made ice cream, and rooftop venue Hanryu for Korean-inspired food and cocktails.

Photo: Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort

Wellness seekers can achieve complete renewal at Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort.

YHI Spa is a haven of tranquillity where all generations can enjoy a range of treatments and rituals that harness traditional wisdom and advanced technology. By combining chronotherapy, aromatherapy, and olfactory treatments, the resort strives to enhance wellbeing at an emotional level.

For active travellers, facilities include full-size tennis and pickleball courts, and a fitness centre. Guests will also be able to take part in water sports or enjoy the resort’s beachfront setting at a slower pace.

For guests seeking an exclusive sanctuary, The Level offers privacy and personalised comfort, with bespoke services and breathtaking ocean vistas.

Those staying in the resort’s premium accommodation will enjoy dedicated check-in and check-out, access to The Level Lounge with complimentary refreshments and afternoon cocktails, and the opportunity to unwind at The Level Pool – an oasis of relaxation.

All-inclusive rates start from $270 per night for two adults, with taxes and service charges included.

Sol by Melia Phu Quoc partners with Cocoon Vietnam for 'Endless Summer' campaign This summer 2025, Sol by Melia Phu Quoc is delighted to partner with Cocoon Vietnam, a leading Vietnamese vegan skincare brand, to launch the “Endless Summer” campaign – a special gift experience for resort guests during the upcoming holiday season.

Meliá and Tanzanite expand Ho Tram resort with new Indochine project Meliá Hotels International and Tanzanite International on May 18 signed a management agreement for The Indochine at Meliá Ho Tram, marking a major expansion of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort in southern Vietnam.

Meliá Hotels International expands in Vietnam with first Meliá Collection hotel Following the signing of Ocaria Retreat Mui Ne, Member of Meliá Collection, Ignacio Martin, area managing director for Asia Pacific at Meliá Hotels International, spoke with VIR's Thanh Van about the group's expansion strategy in Vietnam.

Photo: congthuong.vn

Le Hoang Tai, deputy director general of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), highlighted the growing convergence of traditional distribution networks and digital commerce platforms. The expansion of cross-border e-commerce and social media is reshaping shopping habits, requiring businesses to innovate flexibly to maintain and strengthen their competitiveness.

“Relying on a single sales channel is no longer appropriate. Businesses need to connect physical stores with online shops, expand customer touchpoints, and improve operational efficiency to ensure stable outlets for their products,” he said.

However, many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), continue to face difficulties in building integrated technology systems, managing customer data, organising logistics, and developing effective sales strategies.

Alongside businesses’ own efforts to innovate, Tai said, coordination among state management agencies, industry associations, and digital platforms was needed to provide market information, strengthen technology adoption, and facilitate both online and offline business connections.

Assessing the impact of digital transformation on business operations, Bui Quang Tuan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Economic Association, said businesses should view digitalisation as a driver of competitiveness rather than focus solely on increasing online sales.

Diversifying sales channels is important for risk management, enabling businesses to reduce their dependence on any single market or platform.

“When one channel is disrupted, others can help maintain production and business operations. Expanding a digital presence is therefore effective only when accompanied by the ability to balance revenue streams, control costs, and ensure profitability,” he said.

Citing a survey of 1,300 businesses presented at the workshop, Tuan identified several major barriers to digital transformation. Around 60 per cent of respondents reported high technology investment costs, while 45 per cent struggled with a lack of in-house personnel and 38 per cent cited limited leadership commitment or understanding.

Other challenges included inadequate infrastructure, limited access to technology information, and difficulties in changing established business practices and corporate culture.

“These findings show that investing in technology does not automatically translate into improved business performance. A company may open multiple online shops without reaching additional customers, reduce its reliance on traditional intermediaries only to become dependent on a single digital platform, or increase revenue while management costs remain excessively high,” Tuan said.

To address these challenges, he called on businesses to strengthen their internal digital transformation capabilities, train digital commerce personnel, and integrate data systems. They should also develop integrated distribution channels, digital branding, digital logistics, and cross-border e-commerce.

Building a shared-service ecosystem and strengthening cooperation among the government, industry associations, research institutes, universities, and businesses would also be important to supporting this transition.

Nguyen Ngoc Tam, deputy chief of office of the Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development under the MoIT, cautioned that presence across multiple distribution channels did not necessarily guarantee sustainable sales.

“A high-quality agricultural product with attractive packaging, a traceability code, and exposure at trade fairs, supermarkets, or e-commerce platforms may still struggle to maintain its market presence if supply is inconsistent, inventory is not updated, transport costs are high, and repeat orders are lacking,” she said.

According to Tam, distribution should be viewed as an integrated network connecting traditional markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, agents, digital platforms, and delivery services. The priority should not simply be to increase the number of sales outlets, but to improve market access, control distribution costs, ensure timely replenishment, and retain customers.

She also emphasised the need to move beyond short-term business-matching activities towards long-term supply relationships. The effectiveness of business connections should be monitored after 30, 60, and 90 days, based on orders generated, the ability to meet required standards, and progress in resolving issues related to pricing, packaging, transport, and payment.

For small-scale producers and products under the One Commune, One Product programme, shared services for collection, storage, and transportation could help reduce market access costs while enabling suppliers to better meet requirements for product specifications and delivery schedules.

Bui Ba Nghiem, senior expert at the MoIT’s Agency of Foreign Trade, said Vietnam's merchandise exports reached approximately $434 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 24.5 per cent on-year.

However, foreign-invested enterprises continued to account for around 80 per cent of total export turnover, while domestic enterprises contributed approximately $83.89 billion.

“This highlights the need to strengthen the export capabilities of domestic businesses while deepening their links with foreign-invested enterprise supply chains to expand opportunities to participate in international markets,” he said.

Amid geopolitical volatility and rising transportation costs affecting global trade, diversifying export markets and distribution channels would also help businesses improve their resilience and adaptability, Nghiem added.

Central Group plans additional $1.5 billion investment in Vietnam

SCG opens first SCG Home retail destination in Hanoi

AEON accelerates Vietnam expansion with four malls in 2026

Vietnamese retailers make strong debut in Asia's Top 100 ranking

According to an announcement on October 20, the two companies signed an MoU on a strategic partnership in October 2025, and through this investment they will establish a capital relationship and further strengthen their collaboration.

The plant-based beverage market is expected to expand worldwide, driven by growing health and environmental awareness. Southeast Asia in particular is expected to see strong market growth in the coming years, and competitiveness there depends on access to raw material production areas, product development capabilities, and manufacturing systems that can respond to consumer needs in each country.

ECONUTI’s strengths lie in its location, which offers easy access to Vietnam’s abundant agricultural resources such as cashew nuts and coconuts, and in its ODM capabilities, covering everything from product development tailored to customer needs through to manufacturing.

The company is also expanding its sales channels in Europe, North America, and Asia, and has steadily strengthened its earnings base, achieving higher revenue and profit again in 2024. OC Global decided to make this investment in recognition of ECONUTI’s competitive advantages and future growth potential.

Through this investment, OC Global aims to combine the expertise it has built up in agricultural development with ECONUTI’s manufacturing and product development capabilities to create a new business model that covers the entire chain from agricultural production to processing, product development, and sales.

Going forward, the two companies will pursue the expansion of the ODM business, the development of an in-house plant-based beverage brand, the production and processing of high-value-added agricultural products in collaboration with Japanese companies, and the development of overseas sales channels, with the aim of increasing the earnings and corporate value of both companies.

OC Global will contribute to the development of sustainable industries in the region and to a stable food supply for Japan through its agricultural business.

Beanstalk AgTech launches Monsoon Ventures for Southeast Asian agtech push Beanstalk AgTech has launched Monsoon Ventures, a new venture studio targeting Vietnam and five other Southeast Asian markets to commercialise agtech solutions.

Beacon Fund invests in Vipep to strengthen Vietnam's agricultural value chain Beacon Fund on September 15 announced an investment in Viet Pepper JSC, a Vietnamese producer and processor of natural and organic spices.

Australia and Vietnam deepen economic cooperation Australia and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen cooperation across education, trade and innovation, to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

To prepare for the opening of three new stores in October and November 2026, AEON Vietnam organised mass recruitment events in Haiphong on July 18, Thanh Hoa on August 1, and Quang Ninh on August 22, attracting thousands of candidates. The openings require staff across multiple functions and levels, from frontline retail positions to management roles, including team leaders, shift leaders and supervisors.

Mass Recruitment Days for AEON Hai Duong, AEON Thanh Hoa and AEON Halong attracted thousands of candidates. Photo: AEON

Recruitment for part-time positions will continue through the end of the year to meet staffing needs during the peak shopping season leading up to Lunar New Year.

The expansion is expected to create more employment opportunities in northern Vietnam, enabling local workers to pursue career progression without having to relocate to major cities. The company is also seeking to develop employees’ skills and provide clearer pathways for advancement within the organisation.

AEON Vietnam’s people development strategy is built around three pillars: sustainable career development, working environment, and business. Employees can choose between two career paths. The general path allows them to gain experience across different functions through internal mobility and job rotation, while the professional path focuses on developing deeper expertise in a specific area.

The company has also established a succession management framework that brings together human resources business partners, practical capability development teams and the AEON Academy training system.

AEON Vietnam builds a stable workplace where employees can grow their careers with confidence. Photo: AEON

Its training programmes are tailored to different career levels, ranging from specialised retail training to management development courses organised by AEON Group, including the Junior Management Programme (JMP), Basic Management Programme, and New Management Programme. The framework is designed to help employees progress from entry-level store positions to direct management and senior leadership roles.

Alongside career development, AEON Vietnam provides healthcare and employee wellbeing initiatives, lifestyle support and flexible working arrangements tailored to different functions and business units. The company also promotes two-way communication through regular updates on business strategies and channels for employee feedback.

Its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives aim to support an inclusive working environment in which employees can develop their capabilities and pursue long-term careers.

AEON Vietnam has been recognised at the HR Asia Awards for seven consecutive years, according to the company, and has received recognition in the DEI category for two consecutive years. It also ranks among the “Best Companies to Work for in Vietnam - Retail/Wholesale/Trading.”

More than 200 employees have worked for the company for over 10 years, reflecting its focus on employee retention and long-term career development.

AEON exits Thailand’s supermarket business, focuses on Vietnam

AEON accelerates expansion with 10th shopping centre in Vietnam

AEON continues Vietnam expansion with two new malls

AEON accelerates Vietnam expansion with four malls in 2026

AEON Ekiden marks five years of connection

AEON to open 13th general merchandise store in Vietnam

Greenfeed’s representative received the Inspirational Brand award for Aquagreen at APEA 2026. Photo: Greenfeed

In aquaculture, Greenfeed has progressively expanded its operations from feed production and seed supply to commercial farming, processing and exporting frozen seafood and value-added products.

Its aquafeed portfolio includes brands such as Aquagreen, Superwhite, Panafeed and more. The company also develops animal health management solutions and manufactures aquaculture medicines through its DonaVet facility.

Greenfeed aims to connect different stages of the aquaculture value chain, from production inputs to products for domestic consumption and export. This integrated approach enables the company to strengthen quality control while helping farmers access solutions tailored to their production models.

Since 2014, the company has continuously obtained Best Aquaculture Practices certification, a widely applied standard for responsible aquaculture practices.

Maintaining this certification demonstrates its ability to meet customer requirements for production processes and product quality in both domestic and international markets.

Production inside a Greenfeed’s animal feed. Photo: Greenfeed

Beyond supplying feed and animal health products, Greenfeed provides farm design solutions for both pond-based and land-based aquaculture systems.

Its aquatic animal health management solutions focus on disease prevention, improving survival rates, encouraging responsible antibiotic use and supporting efficient animal growth.

For export operations, the company places emphasis on traceability, environmental protection, social responsibility and transparency throughout the supply chain. In 2025, Greenfeed’s facility in Tay Ninh obtained certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, an international certification system for responsible aquaculture.

In aquaculture breeding, Greenfeed develops fingerlings of basa fish, tilapia and red tilapia. The company also raises commercial eels and frogs and trials various farming models for basa fish, tilapia and marine fish.

Its operations extend to the processing and export of basa fish, tilapia, frogs, eels and marine fish, catering to diverse market demands.

For frog farming, Greenfeed applies an integrated nutrition solution combining three feed brands: Aquagreen, Superwhite and Panafeed. The products support frogs throughout their development, from the seed stage to commercial size.

They are developed to meet nutritional requirements and food safety expectations while complying with current regulations on prohibited substances in animal feed.

Alongside aquafeed supply, the company combines animal health management solutions with offtake commitments under farming models designed to meet export standards.

By connecting these elements, Greenfeed aims to help frog farmers improve productivity, manage production risks and secure more stable market access.

At the processing stage, products such as frozen frog legs undergo quality control from raw materials to finished goods, with traceability maintained throughout the process. Export markets include Europe, South America, Oceania and Asia, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.

For tilapia, Greenfeed is developing a dedicated value chain that connects nutrition, farming practices and market access to improve farmers’ economic returns and expand export opportunities. Its feed products are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of fish at different growth stages.

Specifically, Panafeed is used for tilapia from the fingerling stage, when fish weigh less than five grams, through to commercial sizes exceeding 100–200 grams. The feed is suitable for both conventional pond farming and cage culture, giving farmers more nutritional options based on their production conditions.

Greenfeed’s tilapia farming protocols are designed to optimise operating costs, strengthen biosecurity and improve productivity and product quality. The resulting products are intended to meet export standards in markets with stringent requirements.

Developing segment-specific solutions, supported by production capabilities and stronger integration across the value chain, is one of Greenfeed’s approaches to improving aquaculture performance.

Through these efforts, the company aims to help farmers pursue responsible production while strengthening its ability to meet increasingly demanding requirements in domestic and international markets.

Greenfeed secures hat-trick of sustainability awards Greenfeed has strengthened its sustainability credentials with recognition from three prestigious domestic and international awards in June.

Greenfeed retains spot among best companies to work for in Asia On July 9, Greenfeed was named among ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia’ at the HR Asia Awards 2026 for the second consecutive year.

Greenfeed Vietnam named among Best Workplaces in Asia 2026 Greenfeed is the first and only Vietnamese agriculture-food company to be recognised among the Best Workplaces in Asia 2026 in the large enterprise category by Great Place to Work.

Greenfeed rolls out early-life nutrition solution for piglets Greenfeed has introduced G.Nutri Premium supplemental milk, an early-life nutrition solution for piglets designed to support more uniform herd development and reduce weaning challenges.

Hyundai Mobis' mid-to-long-term GHG reduction plan aligns with strengthened sustainability policies in Korea and various countries worldwide. By satisfying this essential condition supporting global orders, the company can now expect favorable effects in terms of mobility competitiveness.

Hyundai Mobis announced on 24 that its GHG reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

SBTi is a global organization jointly established by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the UN Global Compact (UNGC), and others. It scientifically verifies corporate GHG reduction targets based on the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hyundai Mobis received approval for its GHG reduction targets through 2030, an intermediate step toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. The company's reduction plans for both domestic and international business sites, as well as the supply chain, simultaneously passed the review. Consequently, Hyundai Mobis' GHG reduction over the next five years is projected to be 46% lower than the 2019 baseline, nearly halving emissions.

Through this verification, Hyundai Mobis secured approval for its near-term goal to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from its operations by 46% by 2030. For Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services, the company aims to achieve a 55% reduction per million KRW of value added within the same timeframe.

This SBTi approval is also expected to positively impact the company's global order competition. With SBTi verification now included in the UK's electric vehicle grant requirements, global automakers are increasingly favoring automotive suppliers with SBTi approval.

■ Hyundai Mobis on track to achieve its 2040 RE100 goal for domestic and international facilities...also increasing efforts to support partners in systematizing GHG management

Hyundai Mobis has established a concrete carbon neutrality strategy, setting a target to increase the proportion of renewable energy used at its domestic and international facilities to 65% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. To achieve this, the company is implementing RE100 by establishing separate timelines for each country and facility.

In Korea, the company is installing solar power generation facilities at its key sites like the Daegu and Ulsan plants and the Yeongnam Logistics Center, rapidly advancing the shift to low-carbon energy. Overseas, it is expanding the installation of solar facilities at its sites in India and elsewhere.

Additionally, Hyundai Mobis is increasing its renewable energy share through various methods, including signing renewable energy purchase agreements and purchasing certificates. The company's facilities in Slovakia, Brazil, and Turkey have already completed their transition to 100% renewable energy.

To reduce GHG emissions in its supply chain, Hyundai Mobis is supporting its partners in systematizing their GHG management and expanding the purchase of low-carbon raw materials. Last year, the company expanded its supply chain scope to include overseas partners when conducting third-party verification of GHG emissions from both domestic and international partners and disclosing the results. Building on this, the company plans to establish GHG management strategies tailored to emission characteristics to drive effective reductions.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Mobis has declared carbon neutrality based on its 'Green Transformation to 2045 Net-Zero' vision, establishing a roadmap to practice environmental management. The company regularly reports its renewable energy transition targets and performance to its Sustainability Management Committee and is strengthening its practical implementation efforts.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.mobis.com.

Rack-scale infrastructure for agentic AI

As agentic AI moves from experimentation to production, enterprises require infrastructure capable of supporting continuous perception, reasoning, and multi-step execution at scale. The ASUS Enterprise Agentic AI Solution integrates three core layers: ASUS AI HUB for fleet-wide agent registration, governance, and monitoring; NVIDIA AI Enterprise and the ASUS AI Software Stack for seamless orchestration and workflow integration; and ASUS AI servers and infrastructure — such as the full-stack ASUS AI factory platform powered by NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72, which is co-designed to deliver 30X-higher throughput per megawatt and 45X-lower token cost for agentic AI.

Together, these layers deliver a secure, reliable, and scalable foundation while simplifying infrastructure planning and enterprise integration. Through a streamlined configuration process based on model scale, performance targets, and operational requirements, ASUS helps customers in finance, healthcare, manufacturing, the public sector, and other regulated industries identify and deploy the ideal platform for their specific needs.

Enterprise-ready infrastructure for agentic AI

At the enterprise level, ASUS showcases a lineup of high-performance, scalable NVIDIA MGX servers built for agentic AI workloads, including the XA P2N-E2, a 2U AI server powered by NVIDIA Vera CPUs for next-generation agentic AI systems and the XA P8A-E14AXL, a high-density 6U system supporting eight liquid-cooled NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs. The ASUS ESC8000 series extends support for demanding AI and accelerated computing workloads: the ESC8000-E12P supports NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs for AI, data processing, and visual computing, while the ESC8000A-E13X combines NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs with NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNICs for high-speed GPU-to-GPU connectivity.

Extending agentic AI from data center to physical world

ASUS showcases practical physical AI workflows spanning simulation, validation and real-world deployment at the edge. The PE3000N, powered by NVIDIA Jetson T5000 module build on NVIDIA Jetson Thor, delivers up to 2,070 FP4 TFLOPS of AI performance and 128GB of memory in a compact, deployment-ready form factor, while the PE6000G serves as a workstation-grade AI and simulation platform for industrial environments. Together, they enable advanced perception, reasoning and action across applications including robotics, autonomous machines and intelligent video analytics, connecting development and validation with reliable edge execution across NVIDIA's robotics ecosystem.

Agent computers extend AI from development to the edge

Beyond the data center, ASUS delivers NVIDIA-powered AI infrastructure across the edge, workstation, and PC, giving organizations a flexible foundation to build, deploy, and scale production-ready agentic AI.

The ASUS ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 brings data center-level performance to the desk, built on the NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip with 748GB of coherent memory and the full NVIDIA AI software stack. It enables businesses to securely develop, train, and deploy large language models and generative AI on-premises while maintaining full control over their data.

Making agentic AI more accessible on the desktop, the ASUS Ascent GX10 is based on the NVIDIA DGX Spark platform and powered by the full NVIDIA AI software stack. Now available with both 64GB and 128GB of unified memory, the Ascent GX10 gives AI developers greater flexibility across a wide range of local AI workloads. The desktop AI supercomputer supports models ranging from approximately 30-35 billion parameters to models of up to 200 billion parameters, enabling advanced AI development, prototyping, fine-tuning, and inference. As workloads grow, up to four systems can be easily clustered using NVIDIA Sync Cluster Assistant.

The ProArt P16 and P14 laptops, powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark and delivering up to 1 petaflop of AI performance with up to 128GB of unified memory, combine high-performance AI computing with ASUS Lumina Pro OLED displays featuring up to 1,600 nits peak brightness. At 12.9mm and 1.77kg, ProArt P16 is the thinnest 16-inch ProArt laptop to date. ProArt P14 measures 13.9mm and weighs 1.48kg, making it the lightest ProArt laptop currently available. High-capacity batteries — up to 99.9Wh for P16 and 90Wh for P14 — support extended mobile creative workflows. ASUS has also partnered with Hermes Agent and ComfyUI to bring industry-validated workflow and agent-connected creative tools directly to users' PCs, enabling local-first, cloud-flexible experiences for generative AI creation and AI-assisted development, with the flexibility to integrate cloud services when needed.

For always-on AI at the desktop, the ProArt GR1X mini PC packs NVIDIA RTX performance into a compact 150x150x51mm chassis. It features a 218-blade dual-fan cooling system and seven-level fan control, engineered to support sustained 24/7 operation with low acoustic levels. With support for dual M.2 SSD storage, 10GbE, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and up to four 4K displays, ProArt GR1X enables autonomous agents to handle complex 3D rendering and creative workflows in the background overnight.

Experience ASUS at NVIDIA GTC Berlin 2026

ASUS welcomes visitors to Booth #3039 at Station Berlin throughout GTC Berlin 2026 to explore its latest AI solutions across infrastructure, edge computing, and professional applications. For a deeper look at the ASUS Edge-to-Cloud AI portfolio — including edge AI systems and NVIDIA HGX- and RTX PRO-based enterprise infrastructure — visitors can also experience the ASUS VIP Room at the W3 Hub, open October 20-22. More information is available here.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS server products are available worldwide. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

The new presence builds on Advent's long-standing relationships across the Middle East, giving Advent a local base from which to deepen its engagement with investors and support the firm's existing portfolio companies and explore potential investment opportunities.

James Brocklebank, Managing Partner and Co-Chair of Advent's Global Executive Committee, said, "Abu Dhabi is a natural addition to Advent's global network, alongside our recent openings in Sydney and Tokyo. As a global business, having colleagues based locally enables us to be closer to the institutions and long-term partners that support our work. It also gives us a strong base from which to deepen our engagement over time."

The office will be headed by Mehdi Iraqi, Managing Director, Limited Partner Services. Mehdi joined Advent in January 2026 and brings almost two decades of experience covering institutional investors across the region, including prior roles at AMG and Carlyle. Commenting on the office opening, he remarked, "The Middle East is home to some of Advent's most valued long-term partners, and this office reflects our commitment to being close to them. Having spent much of my career working with institutional investors across the region, I'm looking forward to building on those relationships from Abu Dhabi."

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, said, "Advent's decision to establish an office in ADGM reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi's proposition as a leading destination for global investment firms. ADGM's dynamic ecosystem brings together international investors, financial institutions, professional services firms and a deep pool of talent within a robust, internationally recognised regulatory and legal framework. We welcome Advent to our community and look forward to supporting its growth and deeper engagement with partners and opportunities across the region."

The Abu Dhabi office follows a series of recent openings: Advent launched its Sydney office in July 2024, extending the firm's footprint into Australia and New Zealand, and its new Tokyo office in January 2026, growing its presence in Japan. Earlier this year, Advent also strengthened its long-standing presence in Hong Kong as the firm's regional base for Asia Pacific investor engagement, building on more than three decades of investing in the region. Together, these moves underscore Advent's commitment to operating in the world's most dynamic markets. Advent now has 18 offices across 15 countries.

Coveo's AI-Relevance technology brings together shopper intent, context, behavioral signals and product data to present each customer with the results and recommendations most relevant to them. For a large, constantly changing grocery range, that means a more intuitive experience for shoppers.

"We're always looking for ways to make shopping with Coles easier for our customers, and search is an important part of the online experience," said Ben Levinson, general manager of digital product at Coles. "Coveo demonstrated that its technology will make it easier for customers to find the products they are looking for, and we look forward to continuing to improve the Coles online shopping experience."

"Helping Australians find their everyday grocery products faster and easier is a great opportunity for Coveo" said Alexander Mahr, managing director, APAC, at Coveo. "We're proud to support Coles as it creates a smarter, more intuitive online grocery experience for customers across Australia."

Coveo brings superior AI-Relevance to every point-of-experience, transforming how enterprises connect with their customers and employees to maximize business outcomes.

Relevance is about moving from persona to person, the degree to which the enterprise-wide content, products, recommendations, and advice presented to a person online aligns easily with their context, needs, preferences, behavior and intent, setting the competitive experience gold standard. Every person's journey is unique, and only AI can solve the complexity of tailoring experiences across massive, diverse audiences and large volumes and variety of content and products.

Stay up to date on the latest Coveo news and content by subscribing to the Coveo blog, and following Coveo on LinkedIn and YouTube.

The award-winning AI-powered Next Best Action (NBA) engine transformed healthcare professional (HCP) engagement for a top-20 global pharmaceutical company, replacing static, quarterly call plans with continuous, AI-driven recommendations. The solution generated more than $180 million in incremental revenue across two geographies within 18 months, achieved over 80% field adoption of AI-generated recommendations, and improved rollout efficiency to new affiliates by 20%.

"AI creates value when it moves beyond experimentation to deliver measurable business outcomes. Our Next Best Action solution demonstrates how AI can transform pharmaceutical commercial engagement, helping field teams make more informed decisions and respond continuously to changing customer needs. By combining predictive intelligence with AI-driven insights and orchestration, we are helping clients translate innovation into measurable business impact at scale," said Manish Mittal, Managing Principal and Country Head, Axtria.

The solution combines predictive machine learning, an AI agent that extracts actionable insights from unstructured data, and intelligent orchestration to recommend the right customer, action, channel, timing and content. A champion-challenger framework enables continuous testing and optimization, while its modular architecture supports expansion across products and geographies.

Axtria's approach to AI extends beyond developing solutions to putting them into practice. Its Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) work alongside clients to integrate and operationalize AI within their environments, translating business needs into real-world applications. Building on this approach, Axtria announced on August 12, 2026, its ambition to build a global community of 1,000 FDEs by December 2026. At Cypher 2026, which brought together approximately 5,000 attendees at KTPO, Bengaluru, Axtria reinforced this commitment with its message: "We're Scaling. 1,000 FDEs. Build. Deploy. Transform."

Axtria also participated in leadership discussions and technical presentations. Manish Mittal joined the panel "The Agent Economy: Who Owns the Customer When the Agent Is the Interface?" on October 9.

Explore opportunities to join Axtria's Forward Deployed Engineering team: Visit the FDE Careers Page.

The Minsky Awards for Excellence in AI are presented at Cypher, AIM's flagship AI conference, and recognize organizations for excellence in applying artificial intelligence. Cypher 2026 took place from October 7 to 9 at KTPO, Bengaluru.

For more information, visit www.axtria.com.

Rather than building isolated software for single-purpose hardware, YYForce is architecting Workforce OS as a standardized, hardware-agnostic platform spanning computer vision, high-precision SLAM navigation, multi-axis manipulation, natural language interaction, and multi-agent fleet orchestration.

High-Performance Physical AI Architecture Powered by NVIDIA
To establish a resilient foundation for real-time edge autonomy and scalable model training, Workforce OS integrates full-stack NVIDIA robotics and AI platforms:

Edge and Acceleration Hardware: Real-time onboard perception, sensor fusion, and low-latency motor control will be driven by NVIDIA Jetson edge AI modules deployed on robotic bodies, backed by high-performance NVIDIA RTX GPUs for accelerated inference and local edge processing.

Embodied AI & Humanoid Foundations: YYForce is adopting the NVIDIA Project GR00T foundation model framework alongside NVIDIA Isaac Sim—powered by Omniverse—to execute rapid simulation-to-real (Sim-to-Real) training, synthetic data generation, and digital-twin task validation before physical rollout.

Operational Acceleration: By utilizing NVIDIA Isaac ROS for hardware-accelerated VSLAM and navigation, as well as NVIDIA TensorRT for deep learning inference optimization, the platform is designed to maximizes computational efficiency across both stationary manipulators and Unitree bipedal humanoid platforms.

Pragmatic Execution: Phased Roadmaps from Structured Operations to Full Humanoid Integration
To minimize the prolonged research cycles typical of unstructured automation tasks (such as autonomous wet-facility cleaning), YYForce is executing a phased commercialization roadmap that is designed to validate real-world stability across controlled enterprise hospitality environments:

• Phase 1 (Months 0–2): Foundation & Intelligent Concierge — Establishing real-time navigation, guest-facing conversational workflows, and front-desk integration using Jetson edge modules and Isaac ROS.
• Phase 2 (Months 2–4): Mobile Manipulation & Beverage Service — Deploying stationary and wheeled robotic arms equipped with fine-motor grasping, dynamic load balancing, and handover mechanics for banquet and food & beverage environments.
• Phase 3 (Months 4–6): Banquet & Hospitality Event MVP — Orchestrating multi-robot collaborative operations—combining mobile bases, arm manipulation, and pilot-stage Unitree humanoid robots for live hotel banquet and event operations.
• Long-Term Target: Autonomous IFM & Humanoid Field Operations — Transitioning mature Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, learned humanoid locomotion, and system orchestration layers into complex, unstructured physical tasks, including automated facility maintenance and industrial cleaning.

Expanding Core Engineering Strength
"Our strategic objective is to own the software intelligence layer that makes diverse commercial robots truly useful in live business environments," said Mike Fu, Chief Executive Officer of YYForce. "By combining NVIDIA's industry-defining physical AI computing stack with versatile hardware like Unitree humanoid platforms, we aim to bridge the gap between simulation and real-world execution. Our existing footprint across hotels and enterprise facilities can provide a valuable real-world testbed and data-flywheel engine, turning bleeding-edge robotics into practical human workforce augmentation."

To spearhead this technical roadmap, the Company is deploying a specialized core engineering task force comprising domain leads across Autonomous Navigation, Perception & Multimodal Interaction, Motion & Manipulation Control, Embodied VLA Models, and Distributed Systems Architecture. We expect that this focused engineering structure will prioritize continuous fleet orchestration, dynamic labor allocation, and deep interoperability with YYForce's operational network.

About YYFORCE
YYForce Inc. (Nasdaq: YFOR) is an AI-enabled workforce management and integrated facility management provider headquartered in Singapore and operating across Asia and beyond. Through its workforce technology and IFM businesses, YYForce provides workforce deployment, management and facility services solutions across multiple service industries.

The Company's workforce platform, YY Circle, supports workforce deployment and management across sectors including hospitality, food and beverage, retail and other service industries. Within its IFM operations, YYForce combines frontline facility services with technology solutions designed to improve workforce productivity and operational efficiency.

YYForce's long-term strategy is centered on building an integrated future workforce ecosystem in which human workers, intelligent software, automation and robotics increasingly work together to deliver services more efficiently.

"AI-RAN is redefining networks for AI, turning mobile infrastructure into a shared foundation for connectivity, AI for RAN, AI on RAN, and broader distributed AI services," says Charles Liang, president and CEO, Supermicro. "Together with Nokia and NVIDIA, we are bringing accelerated computing to every layer of the network, enabling operators to maximize infrastructure efficiency, deploy new AI services, and prepare for AI-native 6G. Our DCBBS approach delivers the flexibility and performance to accelerate deployment and turn network infrastructure into a platform for innovation." For more information on the latest AI-RAN solutions, click here.

Embedding accelerated compute into the RAN enables operators to run network and AI workloads on the same infrastructure, improving spectral efficiency, automating network operations, and optimizing energy use while creating new opportunities for edge AI services. Combining Supermicro systems with Nokia's RAN technology and software, the NVIDIA Aerial RAN Computer platform provides modular, right-sized CPU and GPU configurations for deployment from cell sites to MSO and aggregation locations, with NVIDIA ConnectX technology providing high-speed, software-defined networking. Together, these capabilities give operators a flexible foundation for low-latency AI applications today and a software-driven evolution path towards 6G networks.

"AI-RAN represents an important step towards more intelligent and adaptable mobile networks," said Emma Falck, President of Mobile Infrastructure at Nokia. "By combining Nokia's leadership in radio networks with NVIDIA accelerated computing and Supermicro's flexible infrastructure, we are giving operators a practical way to bring RAN and AI workloads together across their networks. This will help operators improve network performance and automation today while creating a foundation for new edge AI services and AI-native 6G."

"AI-RAN brings together networking, accelerated computing, and intelligence to help operators make better use of their infrastructure while opening new opportunities for edge AI services," said Soma Velayutham, VP of Telecoms, NVIDIA. "Nokia and Supermicro are helping operators deploy NVIDIA Aerial RAN Computer solutions across diverse network environments, from distributed cell sites to centralized RAN locations, with the flexibility to scale intelligence capabilities as demand grows."

Supermicro's modular, right-sized systems for NVIDIA ARC span distributed cell sites, aggregation locations, and core hubs, enabling operators to precisely deploy AI capacity where it is needed.

• Distributed cell sites: The ARC MGX 2U Short-depth platform brings inference closer to radios, users, and applications. NVIDIA MGX is a modular reference architecture for accelerated computing, helping system builders design future-compatible systems faster, reducing costs, accelerating time to market, and improving ROI. Supermicro's dual-node ARC-Pro combines an NVIDIA Grace C1 CPU and NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server Edition GPU per node in a 429 mm chassis, delivering up to 1.6 PFLOPS of FP4 AI performance. For edge networking functions such as Service Management and Orchestration, the ARC-Compact delivers high efficiency compute performance in a 1U, short-depth form factor.
• Centralized MSO and aggregation sites: The ARC MGX 2U supports higher-throughput, coordinated inference. This system class comes with a choice between dual NVIDIA Vera CPUs or dual x86 processors and two NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs. These systems support multi-cell workloads, including coordinated scheduling and beamforming, as well as voice, vision, and physical AI.
• Core network hubs: The ARC MGX 4U provides high-density, air-cooled inference with up to eight NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs. Supermicro's 4U AI servers deliver dual x86 CPUs and up to 6 TB of DDR5 memory to support large-scale inference and model update workloads. This configuration comes with the option for an NVIDIA ConnectX-8 switchboard, providing PCIe Gen 6 for even faster GPU-GPU interconnectivity.

Supermicro's servers for NVIDIA ARC are generally available now. The ARC MGX 2U with dual Vera processor is on display on Supermicro's booth at NVIDIA GTC Berlin, October 20–22, 2026, and will be available later this year. The 2U ARC-Pro is planned for customer testing later this year, with general availability in the first half of 2027.

ICI therapy has transformed cancer care by harnessing the immune system to deliver durable antitumor responses. However, this same immune activation can trigger potentially severe irAEs, compromising treatment continuity and patient outcomes. Corticosteroids remain the standard initial treatment for clinically significant irAEs, often requiring interruption or discontinuation of ICI therapy. For patients who do not respond adequately, additional immunosuppressive treatments may be necessary, potentially further compromising antitumor immunity. These challenges underscore a critical unmet need for therapeutic approaches that effectively manage immune-related toxicities while preserving the benefits of cancer immunotherapy.

"The management of steroid-refractory irAEs remains a challenge since data on effectiveness of different drugs is scarce and immunosuppression can hinder antitumor response. The THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System, which is now approved for this indication in Europe, represents a significant advancement in treatment of steroid-refractory irAEs," said Prof. Dr. Lucie Heinzerling, MPH, Professor of Dermatology and Venereology, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University.

"At Therakos, we are committed to addressing the needs of patients who are impacted by immune-related complications of ICI therapy," said Sandra Thompson, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Therakos. "As the first and only therapy approved to treat these complications, the THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System gives European medical oncology teams an important new option for treating their patients."

ECP takes a different approach than traditional options. Rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, it is designed to help re-establish immune balance using the patient's own cells. The goal is to address the toxicity without broad immunosuppression. It is well established that immunosuppression can compromise the cancer therapy itself.

"Immune-related toxicity has long been treated as a systemic problem, but it's better understood as a tissue-specific one. ECP resolves inflammation at the site where it occurs, through the body's own anti-inflammatory signaling, rather than suppressing the immune system broadly. As immunotherapy reaches more patients and more combinations, managing its toxicity without compromising its benefit will define how far the field can go. This expanded indication in Europe puts a therapy that does exactly that in clinicians' hands," said Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Tumor Immunology at the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem-Cell Transplantation at the Medical Center University of Freiburg.

Clinicians can access the THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System for irAEs associated with ICI therapy in adults who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids through an existing network of over 190 centres in Europe as a result of this MDR approval.

About Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP)

ECP is an immunomodulatory therapy delivered at the bedside. A small volume of the patient's white blood cells is collected, treated with a photoactive agent and ultraviolet A light, and returned to the patient. Rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, ECP is designed to help re-establish immune balance using the patient's own cells.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ PHOTOPHERESIS SYSTEM

Indications

As certified in the EU, the THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System is indicated for patients older than 18 years of age for the administration of photopheresis in the following:

• Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)
• Solid Organ Transplant Rejection (SOT) (heart, lung)
• Treatment of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in patients with inadequate response to corticosteroids

The THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System is also indicated for use in EU MDR jurisdictions in patients older than 3 years of age for the management of:

• Acute and Chronic Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD, cGvHD)

Contraindications

The THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System is contraindicated in:

• Patients possessing a specific history of a light sensitive disease.
• Patients who cannot tolerate extracorporeal volume loss or who have white blood cell counts greater than 25,000 / mm³.
• Patients who have coagulation disorders or who have previously had a splenectomy.

Warnings and Precautions

THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System treatments should always be performed in locations where standard medical emergency equipment is available. Volume replacement fluids and/or volume expanders should be readily available throughout the procedure.

• Do not expose the device to a magnetic resonance (MR) environment. The device may present a risk of projectile injury, and thermal injury and burns may occur. The device may generate artifacts in the MR image, or may not function properly.
• Thromboembolic events, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, have been reported in the treatment of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD). Special attention to adequate anticoagulation is advised when treating patients with GvHD.
• When prescribing and administering THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System for patients receiving concomitant therapy, exercise caution when changing treatment schedules to avoid increased disease activity that may be caused by abrupt withdrawal of previous therapy.

Adverse Events

• Hypotension may occur during any treatment involving extracorporeal circulation. Closely monitor the patient during the entire treatment for hypotension.
• Transient pyretic reactions, 37.7–38.9°C (100–102°F), have been observed in some patients within six to eight hours of reinfusion of the photoactivated leukocyte-enriched blood. A temporary increase in erythroderma may accompany the pyretic reaction.
• Treatment frequency exceeding labelling recommendations may result in anaemia.
• Venous access carries a small risk of infection and pain.

Please refer to the THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System Operator's Manual for a complete list of warnings and precautions.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR METHOXSALEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ PHOTOPHERESIS SYSTEM

Consult the 8-methoxypsoralen (Methoxsalen (20 micrograms / mL)) professional leaflet or the oral 8-methoxypsoralen formulation package insert before prescribing or dispensing any medication.

Warnings and Precautions

• Patients exhibiting multiple basal cell carcinomas or having a history of basal cell carcinoma should be diligently observed and treated.
• Methoxsalen may cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. Women undergoing photopheresis should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
• Special care should be exercised in treating patients who are receiving concomitant therapy (either topically or systemically) with known photosensitizing agents.
• Oral administration of methoxsalen followed by cutaneous UVA exposure (PUVA therapy) is carcinogenic.
• Patients should be told emphatically to wear UVA absorbing, wrap-around sunglasses for twenty-four (24) hours after methoxsalen treatment. They should wear these glasses any time they are exposed to direct or indirect sunlight, whether they are outdoors or exposed through a window.

Refer to the package insert for methoxsalen sterile solution (20 micrograms / mL) or the oral 8-methoxypsoralen dosage formulation for a list of all warnings and precautions.

The THERAKOS^® CELLEX^® Photopheresis System is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in adults who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids.

Learn more at https://therakos.eu/

Holum has served as President and CEO of Hexagon Purus since March 2020, having joined Hexagon Composites as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2019. He previously held the positions of CEO and CFO of Saferoad Group, and has experience from Norske Skog, Norsk Hydro and American Airlines. Holum holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Psychology from Østfold University College and the University of Oslo, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"The Board is confident that Morten Holum is the right person to succeed Håkon Volldal as CEO of Nel. Morten brings the broad international experience, leadership and commercial mindset required at this stage of Nel's development. He is ready to build on the strong foundation already in place," said Arvid Moss, Chair of the Board. "Nel has recently won important orders with Collins Aerospace and a leading technology company in the US. Defence applications, evidenced by our recent Rheinmetall announcement, are also increasingly relevant as a potential growth area. With Morten's extensive experience working with industrial customers, he has the profile we were looking for to execute Nel's strategy together with the strong management team and excellent organization at Nel, both in Norway and in the US."

"Nel has long been a company I have admired. Having worked in hydrogen for many years, I have seen first-hand the important role the Company has played in developing the industry," says Morten Holum. "I am excited to join the team and build on what has already been achieved. Nel has a solid foundation, world-class technology and deep industrial expertise. I see significant opportunities to further strengthen the Company's position and create long-term value as hydrogen markets continue to develop."

Holum has been awarded, in addition to a fixed salary and participation in the Company's long-term incentive programme, with the first Performance Share Unit (PSU) grant expected in 2028, a long-term CEO incentive program valued at NOK 5 million. The package comprises NOK 2 million in cash and NOK 3 million in Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The cash component will be paid in two equal instalments 12 and 24 months after his starting day. The RSUs will vest in two equal tranches in January 2029 and November 2030. The number of RSUs will be determined upon commencement of employment. The cash instalments and RSU awards are conditional upon the CEO remaining employed by the Company until the applicable payment and vesting dates.The RSU awards are subject to a value cap of NOK 25 million.

The Board has agreed with Håkon Volldal that he will be relieved of his executive duties effective from the end of October 2026, and Morten Holum is expected to assume his role with Nel no later than May 1, 2027. In the interim period, Kjell Christian Bjørnsen, currently CFO of Nel since 2020 will serve as interim CEO. Torbjørn Berg, VP Finance, will serve as interim CFO.

"The Board has full confidence in Kjell Christian Bjørnsen to lead Nel during the interim period. Together with Nel's leadership team and the wider organisation, he will continue to execute Nel's strategy and work closely with customers and prospects to drive commercial progress and secure new orders," Arvid Moss says.

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Since launch, the campaign has attracted more than 5,800 backers worldwide, signaling strong early demand for the AURA 3 Series and its vision for next-generation home entertainment. Combining ultra-short-throw projection, advanced picture technology, and true 4K 120Hz support, the lineup brings cinema-scale viewing and immersive gaming into the modern living room.

"Reaching this milestone on Kickstarter in such a short time is a strong sign of the excitement around the AURA 3 Series," said Apollo Zhong, Founder and CEO of XGIMI. "We're grateful for the support from backers around the world and look forward to bringing the AURA 3 Series into more homes."

Building on the reception of its TITAN Noir Series, XGIMI is bringing its Dynamic Dual Iris technology to the ultra-short-throw category for the first time. Originally introduced in the TITAN Noir lineup, the technology dynamically adjusts light output to enhance contrast and deepen black levels, helping reveal greater depth and detail in dark scenes. Its introduction to the AURA 3 Series brings this approach to picture performance to a new form factor, offering home cinema enthusiasts another way to experience premium projection in their living spaces.

The AURA 3 Series also advances motion performance in ultra-short-throw projection through Texas Instruments' dual DLPC controller architecture, enabling true 4K 120Hz support. This combination delivers detailed 4K visuals and smoother motion, enhancing the viewing experience across movies, sports, and high-frame-rate gaming. With these advancements, XGIMI continues to push the boundaries of ultra-short-throw projection, bringing high-resolution imagery and fluid motion together for immersive big-screen entertainment.

The AURA 3 Series Kickstarter campaign runs through December 4, 2026, giving backers a limited-time opportunity to save on XGIMI's latest ultra-short-throw laser TVs. The AURA 3 Pro is available for $2,199 (MSRP $3,999), while the flagship AURA 3 Max starts at $2,399 (MSRP $4,999), offering savings of up to $2,600 on the projector alone. Backers can also choose exclusive bundles pairing the projectors with premium screens to create a complete big-screen entertainment setup.

Available bundles include:

• AURA 3 Max + 120" XGIMI Ascend UST: $4,999 (MSRP $8,998)
• AURA 3 Max + 100" XGIMI Ascend UST: $4,299 (MSRP $7,998)
• AURA 3 Max + 120" Fresnel ALR Screen: $3,699 (MSRP $6,998)
• AURA 3 Max + 120" Spectra Vantage ALR Screen*: $3,999 (MSRP $7,498)
• AURA 3 Max + 140"/150" Fresnel ALR Screen: $5,799 (MSRP $9,998)

* Previously listed as the 120" Black Grid ALR Screen. The name has been updated to 120" Spectra Vantage ALR Screen; pricing remains unchanged.

Additional screen options and a motorized cabinet for ultra-short-throw projectors are also available as add-ons, giving backers more flexibility to customize their setups.

Projector shipments are expected to begin in December 2026, followed by fixed ALR screens in January 2027 and XGIMI Ascend floor-rising screens in February 2027.

To learn more and explore the available bundles, visit the official XGIMI AURA 3 Series Kickstarter page.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly invest in expanding dedicated manufacturing facilities for ABF package substrates used in AI semiconductors. Leveraging the expanded production capacity, Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans to supply NVIDIA ABF package substrates beginning in 2026.

The partnership will enable NVIDIA to proactively secure stable supply of advanced package substrates essential for the mass production of its AI chipset, helping alleviate supply chain bottlenecks in the rapidly expanding global AI infrastructure market.

For Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the agreement represents a significant opportunity to accelerate its expansion into the high-value-added AI semiconductor package substrate market, where technological barriers to entry are exceptionally high, while further strengthening its competitive position in the global market.

Dedicated Production Facilities in Sejong and Busan to Support Multi-Year Supply of AI Processor and Networking Substrates

To ensure the timely delivery of ABF substrates, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will establish dedicated production lines at its key manufacturing sites in Sejong and Busan, South Korea.

The supply agreement covers advanced package substrates for NVIDIA's compute chipsets, as well as substrates for high-speed networking switches that enable ultra-fast chip-to-chip connectivity within data centers. Deliveries will start in 2026.

Over a multi-year period, starting in 2026, the volume of package substrates supplied by Samsung Electro-Mechanics to NVIDIA is expected to increase at a double-digit annual rate. By 2028, production allocated to NVIDIA is projected to account for a significant portion of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' total annual package substrate production capacity.

Advanced Packaging Technologies: Larger Substrates and Embedded Passive Components

As package substrates become larger and incorporate more technology like embedded devices, manufacturing complexity increases significantly. Ultra-fine circuit patterning is essential to minimizing signal loss, while advanced warpage control and substrate flatness technologies are critical to maintaining manufacturing yields and ensuring long-term reliability.

In particular, next-generation AI chips require sophisticated power management solutions to suppress electrical noise generated during ultra-high-speed computing and maximize power efficiency. To meet these demanding requirements, advanced packaging processes embed passive components, including multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and silicon capacitors, directly within the substrate structure.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics possesses advanced substrate microfabrication capabilities designed to meet the demanding specifications of current and next-generation semiconductor packages, supported by its world-class expertise in MLCC and silicon capacitor technologies. By integrating these core technologies, Samsung Electro-Mechanics aims to deliver high-performance, high-reliability package substrate solutions optimized for the evolving requirements of AI computing infrastructure.

Duck-Hyun Chang, President and CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, said, "It is a great honor to join NVIDIA, a global leader driving AI innovation, as a key infrastructure partner." "By combining our advanced FC-BGA manufacturing capabilities with our differentiated expertise in high-reliability MLCC technologies, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will fully leverage its strengths as a comprehensive solutions provider to ensure that NVIDIA's AI platforms are delivered to the market on time with the highest levels of performance and quality," Chang added.

Debora Shoquist, executive vice president, operations of NVIDIA, said, "The pace of the AI infrastructure buildout requires us to expand manufacturing capacity on a global scale. Our work with Samsung Electro-Mechanics broadens our network of substrate partners and adds manufacturing capacity to help us scale production and deliver the accelerated computing platforms our customers need."

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Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan said APEC economies had agreed to encourage flexible and sustainable monetary and fiscal policies to maintain regional financial stability amid global economic shocks and adverse external developments.

Vietnam also shared its socioeconomic performance in the first nine months of 2026, amid oil supply disruptions and rising prices. According to the minister, APEC members acknowledged Vietnam’s economic growth of 9.01 per cent, inflation of 4.52 per cent, and positive performance in attracting foreign investment.

International institutions have also given favourable assessments of Vietnam. Credit rating agency R&I upgraded the country’s sovereign rating to investment grade, while FTSE Russell reclassified Vietnam’s stock market from frontier to secondary emerging market status.

In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam attracted more than $50 billion in registered foreign investment, up over 76 per cent on-year, while disbursed investment exceeded $21 billion, an increase of 12.4 per cent. Export turnover rose by 26 per cent.

At the meeting, Vietnam formally took on the role of host of the 2027 APEC Finance Ministers’ Process, scheduled to take place in Halong. It also proposed four priority themes, which received broad support from participating economies.

The proposed priorities are strengthening capital markets to mobilise private capital for innovative businesses; developing databases to improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to financial services; diversifying funding sources for development investment across APEC economies; and attracting and training young talent in the finance sector.

According to Minister Tuan, APEC members expressed interest in bringing these themes into discussions at an early stage, with the aim of developing practical and effective solutions to support macroeconomic management and socioeconomic development across the region.

Vietnam has consulted APEC economies on the direction of the 2027 process, with members expressing strong support and a willingness to cooperate, share expertise, and exchange experience in finance.

Hosting the 2027 APEC Finance Ministers’ Process marks another important milestone in Vietnam’s proactive and deeper international integration.

Finance Minister outlines Vietnam's growth path at APEC meeting Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan delivered a keynote address at the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting, sharing the country’s macroeconomic performance and outlook, as well as its policy direction for maintaining macroeconomic stability and laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in 2027.

Vietnam and US discuss financial cooperation and preparations for APEC 2027 Vietnamese Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan has held bilateral talks with Erin Browne, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, to promote financial cooperation and discuss preparations for Vietnam's hosting of APEC 2027.

Vietnam and World Bank discuss priorities for APEC 2027 On the sidelines of the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Hong Kong, Vietnamese Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan held bilateral talks with a World Bank Group delegation led by Paschal Donohoe, managing director and chief knowledge officer of the World Bank Group, on October 20.