Asia AI Ambitions Hampered by Infrastructure Gaps Research Finds
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres released a study of 600+ leaders across nine Asian markets showing that while 90% of organisations have launched AI initiatives, 71% are still stuck in the pilot “Builder” stage. Only 17% are deemed “future‑ready” with the scalable infrastructure, data governance and expertise needed for production‑grade AI. Singapore outperforms the region with 40% at the Integrator stage, yet merely 3% have achieved the “Leader” level. The report highlights that limited infrastructure headroom, skill shortages and low ESG priority are the main barriers to scaling AI workloads.
Citi and Endowus Expand Partnership with Credit Card Offering
Citi Hong Kong and digital wealth platform Endowus have launched a joint credit‑card promotion, offering eligible Endowus clients a HK$4,000 (≈ $512) cash reward when they obtain a new Citi Prestige Card. The initiative builds on Citi Ventures’ 2023 investment in...
Aspire Receives Hong Kong Securities and Asset Management Licences
Aspire’s subsidiary AFT HK Treasury Limited received Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission Type 1, 4 and 9 licences, authorising securities dealing, advisory and asset‑management activities. The approvals clear the path for launching Aspire Yield in Hong Kong, a cash‑optimization product that lets businesses earn...
VinUniversity Launches Global Faculty Recruitment Tour
VinUniversity announced a Global Academic Recruitment Tour 2026, visiting ten countries from April to August to attract top scholars. The tour introduces VinUniversity Assistant Professorships (VAP) that provide up to $1 million in research support, dedicated labs, and industry partnerships for...
VinoBuzz Launches AI Wine Marketplace in Hong Kong
VinoBuzz, Hong Kong's first AI‑driven wine marketplace, announced an angel round that values the startup at US$10 million. In just two weeks of beta, it attracted over 1,000 registered users and aggregated more than 4,000 unique wine SKUs. The platform leverages...
Adaptive ML Names CMO and CRO for Growth Phase
Adaptive ML announced the appointment of Marine Boulot as chief marketing officer and Sam Jones as chief revenue officer, marking a strategic shift from category creation to ownership. Both executives bring extensive experience in tech marketing and enterprise sales, having...
Plume Earns Most Loved Workplace Certification
Plume Design announced it has received the Most Loved Workplace® certification less than a year after launching a company‑wide culture transformation under CEO Dan Herscovici. The award, granted by the Most Loved Workplace and the Best Practice Institute using the...
Duck Creek Named Leader in Everest Underwriting Software Ranking
Duck Creek Technologies has been named a Leader in Everest Group’s 2025 Underwriting Orchestration for Property & Casualty PEAK Matrix assessment. The firm ranked among 24 global providers for market impact, vision and capability, highlighting its end‑to‑end workflow that spans...
Seminar Marks 40 Years of Doi Moi with Call for Private Sector Reform
A high‑level seminar in Hanoi marked 40 years of Vietnam’s doi moi reforms and previewed a new state‑led proposal to reshape the country’s development model around science, technology and digital transformation. Officials highlighted that the private sector now contributes roughly...
Hong Kong Gifts Fair to Unveil Market Trends in April 2026
From April 27‑30, 2026, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will host seven lifestyle and licensing exhibitions, anchored by the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair and Home InStyle at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fairs will spotlight...
MoH Urges Hospitals to Accelerate Electronic Medical Records
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) issued Document No.04/CT-BYT on April 7, ordering all hospitals to complete electronic medical record (EMR) implementation by Dec 31, 2026 and to cease paper records by 2027. The directive builds on existing laws and circulars and reflects...
MoIT to Ensure Power Supply Security for 2026
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) announced measures to secure power supply through 2026 amid an early heatwave that pushed northern demand to about 1 billion kWh by end‑March. The agency approved a 2026 supply plan assuming an 8.5% baseline load...
VIB Approves Dividend of Nearly 19 per Cent
Vietnam International Bank (VIB) announced a dividend of roughly 19% at its April 8 AGM, capping a decade of strong performance. From 2017‑2025 the bank posted 20‑30% compound annual growth, with 2025 assets reaching $21.38 bn (+13% YoY) and pre‑tax profit...
ESR Secures US 850 Mln for Long Term Growth
ESR, an Asia‑Pacific focused real‑asset owner, secured an additional $850 million of equity from existing shareholders, bolstering its balance sheet for accelerated growth. The funding will be deployed to expand its logistics real‑estate and data‑centre platforms, building on a $9 billion development...
La Mirabelle Sells HK 4 6 Bln in Two Weeks
La Mirabelle, the final waterfront phase of LOHAS Park in Tseung Kwan O, generated roughly HK$4.6 billion (about $590 million) in sales within its first two weeks, moving 522 units as of April 7. The sales mix was 80% end‑users and 20% investors,...
JTEKT Commissions 2 500 MWh Solar Carport in Kagawa
JTEKT Corporation, a Toyota Group member, commissioned a 2 MW‑peak solar carport at its Kagawa plant, delivering roughly 2,500 MWh of electricity per year under a 20‑year power purchase agreement with Peak Energy. The structure spans 640 parking spaces and was built...
Discovery Documentary on Global One Debuts 10 April in Southeast Asia
Discovery’s new documentary "Building Icons: The Global One" will debut in Southeast Asia on April 10, 2026, on the Discovery Channel, with a follow‑up airing on Discovery Asia on April 12. The film chronicles the construction of Taiwan’s Global One...
AXA Finds Family Support Key to Expat Assignment Success
AXA Global Healthcare surveyed 689 HR leaders and 641 expatriates across ten markets, identifying family wellbeing, cultural adaptation and social isolation as the three strongest predictors of early assignment termination. The average cost of an international assignment has risen more...
SC Rebrands with Three Engine Growth Strategy
SC Asset Corp announced its first rebrand in two decades, adopting the "Beyond Residential" identity and a three‑engine growth strategy called "Reform to Perform." The plan targets THB 25.5 bn (≈$765 m) revenue in 2026, a 21% year‑on‑year increase, and aims for...
ACES Institute Research Examines True Cost of Doing Right in Business
The ACES Institute released a new research report titled “Doing Things Right, Doing the Right Things,” which examines the clash between operational efficiency and ethical conviction in modern corporations. It introduces the 4Cs leadership framework—Creativity, Conscientiousness, Constancy, Collaboration—to embed ethical...
SPEED Wins Three Awards for Procurement Technology
Malaysia’s digital procurement platform SPEED, operated by CDC International, secured three industry awards in April 2026, including Excellence in Computer Software and Initiative in Digital Transformation Consulting at the Malaysia National Business Awards, and Enterprise Software for Government Organisations at...
MyRepublic Launches Email Guard for Singapore SME Protection
MyRepublic has launched Email Guard, a managed email security service tailored for Singapore’s small and medium‑sized enterprises. The solution, built on Check Point’s threat‑prevention technology, safeguards against phishing, malware, and business‑email compromise across Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. It offers...
Huatai Securities Reports 2025 Growth Declares RMB 5 5 Dividend
Huatai Securities reported 2025 revenue of RMB 47.22 billion (≈ $6.6 billion) and net profit of RMB 16.38 billion (≈ $2.3 billion), with total assets rising 32.3% to RMB 1.08 trillion (≈ $151 billion). The firm paid a total cash dividend of RMB 4.965 billion (≈ $695 million), equivalent to RMB 5.50 per ten shares. It underwrote...
DHL Express Names New Asia Pacific Commercial Leader
On April 1, 2026 DHL Express appointed Herbert Vongpusanachai as Senior Vice President, Commercial for the Asia Pacific region, relocating him to Singapore. Vongpusanachai, who has led DHL’s Thailand & Indochina operations for more than two decades and previously oversaw...
Green SM Secures IDR 600 Billion Loan From BCA
Green SM Indonesia secured a five‑year investment loan of IDR 600 billion (approximately $40 million) from Bank Central Asia (BCA). The financing is intended to fund operational readiness, service continuity, and fleet expansion of its all‑electric taxi services across major Indonesian cities....
JustMarkets Emphasizes Gold Trading Technology Leadership
JustMarkets announced a strategic push to overhaul gold trading through a high‑speed, low‑spread technology ecosystem. The platform promises instant order execution, ultra‑low spreads, one‑touch mobile liquidity, and automated risk controls. By targeting the 2026 gold market’s heightened volatility, JustMarkets positions...
Cambridge Global Advisors Wins Australian Grant for Pacific Cybersecurity
Cambridge Global Advisors has secured an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade grant to launch the Pacific Women in Cyber (PWiC) program, an 18‑month initiative delivering cybersecurity training and internships to women in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. Funded under...
Marriott Bonvoy Renews Hong Kong Sevens Partnership
Marriott Bonvoy has renewed its partnership with Hong Kong China Rugby to serve as an Official Partner of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2026, marking the brand's return after a 2019 exit. The tournament, celebrating its 50th anniversary, will run...
U Power Advances in Thailand Heavy Truck Battery Swap Market
U POWER Limited secured an order for 1,000 battery‑swapping heavy‑duty trucks in Thailand and completed its first production batch, while its Hong Kong taxi battery‑swap project is set to launch stations and begin operations in Q2 2026. The company, the world’s...
Elwood Technologies Appoints Michael Abib as CEO
Elwood Technologies announced Michael Abib as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Chris Lawn. Abib, who joined in 2023 as chief product officer after the Coremont digital‑asset acquisition, has overseen the integration of a full SaaS suite covering execution, portfolio,...
Earendil Labs Begins Phase 2a Trial of Ulcerative Colitis Therapy
Earendil Labs has dosed the first patient in a Phase IIa, randomized, placebo‑controlled trial of its half‑life‑extended anti‑TL1A antibody HXN‑1001 for ulcerative colitis. The company also completed enrollment for the Phase I study in healthy volunteers in Australia, where single doses up...
How Siemens Supports the Green and Digital Transitions
Siemens sees the EU‑Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative as catalysts for expanding its footprint in Vietnam. The company is focusing on green and digital projects, including renewable‑energy grid upgrades, high‑speed rail with VinSpeed, and digital...
Phuket Targets UK Families as Secure Residential Destination
Phuket is evolving from a seasonal holiday spot into a permanent international residential hub, driven by a surge in long‑haul arrivals and stronger links to the United Kingdom and Europe. In 2025 the island recorded over 35 million visitors, with long‑haul...
ARTĒ Madrid Launches SIERRA Collection with X Pay Partnership
ARTĒ Madrid has launched its new SIERRA jewelry collection in Hong Kong and announced a partnership with X Pay, the region’s leading Buy‑Now‑Pay‑Later platform. The collaboration lets shoppers split purchases into three interest‑free installments and offers a welcome discount of...
PolyU Develops Multi Energy Diamond Cutting Technology
Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have unveiled a new ultra‑precision machining method that combines laser and magnetic fields during diamond cutting, termed in‑situ laser‑magnetic dual‑field assisted diamond cutting (LMDFDC). The dual‑field approach delivers smoother surfaces, less subsurface damage,...
Hongkong Land Foundation Launches AI for Good Hackathon
The Hongkong Land Foundation launched an "AI for Good" hackathon in partnership with the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation at PolyU, bringing together NGOs, students, and volunteers to prototype community solutions over two days. Participants used AI‑enabled design...
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Concludes with AI Sustainability Projects
Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” competition concluded in Hong Kong, drawing over 250 teams from 100 primary, secondary and tertiary schools. The contest focused on AI‑driven environmental sustainability and AI‑enabled sports/social change, with finalists presenting projects such as AquaPulse, an AI...
Seed Medical Launches Psychiatric Services as HK Mental Health Rises
Hong Kong's mental health indicators have reached a critical red‑light level, with depression and anxiety scores climbing to 7.27 and 5.9, the highest since 2012. A recent survey shows 55 % of residents hesitate to seek professional help, while AI assistants...
Changhong and Grundig Form Strategic Partnership
Changhong, a leading Chinese home‑appliance maker, has secured a strategic partnership with Germany’s Grundy brand, obtaining a license to sell Grundig products across Europe (excluding Turkey), the Asia‑Pacific region, the CIS and China. The deal gives Changhong control of the...
Wildberries Reports Rising Demand for Asian Products
Wildberries, the leading Eurasian e‑commerce platform, reported a 40% jump in food sales sourced from Asian countries in 2025, with continued acceleration into 2026. Products such as Chinese soy‑based meat, Indian basmati rice, and Thai coconut milk saw multi‑fold growth,...
Meeting Vietnam S Energy Moment GE Vernova CEO
GE Vernova CEO highlighted the company's diversified technology portfolio—gas turbines, wind turbines, grid solutions and small modular reactors—to help Vietnam meet soaring electricity demand while decarbonizing. Vietnam targets expanding its installed capacity from 90 GW today to over 200 GW by 2030,...
Vietnam S Green Push Requires Further Hurdles to Clear
At the UK‑Vietnam Green Investment Forum, industry leaders agreed that Vietnam’s renewable energy sector has the technology and capital but lacks a mature regulatory framework to turn projects into bankable investments. PwC Vietnam highlighted a shift from traditional corporate lending...
Boao and Qionghai Where Global Dialogue Meets Free Trade
From March 24‑27, Boao’s Dongyu Island Cultural Park hosted the “Boao: Where the World Meets, Qionghai: Where Free Trade Thrives” city exhibition, the first showcase since Hainan Free Trade Port’s island‑wide customs launch. The event highlighted Qionghai’s role as a...
XTransfer Executive Participates in Rwanda Roundtable
XTransfer’s Chief Strategy Officer Neil Ni joined the Remittances Roundtable at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Kigali, discussing how policy, interoperability and corridor liquidity can accelerate cross‑border flows for African SMEs. The panel highlighted the Kenya‑Rwanda cross‑border payment access initiative,...
5G Deployment Drives Rural Development in Guangxi China
China Mobile and Huawei have rolled out a 5G information superhighway across Chongzuo, Guangxi, giving 94% of its natural villages 5G coverage. In Buhua Village, the upgrade has lifted collective annual income to roughly $69,000 and raised per‑capita earnings by...
Innomotics Leads Turbine Replacement Technology Market
Innomotics, a global leader in electric motor and drive systems, announced a series of turbine‑replacement contracts across Europe, Asia and India, with total order values in the higher double‑digit million‑euro range (approximately $30‑$40 million). The projects replace gas and steam turbines...
Ping An Digital Bank Launches New Strategic Phase
Ping An Digital Bank unveiled a new brand identity that highlights its deep ties to Ping An Group and its integrated insurance DNA. The Hong Kong‑based digital bank now offers a single mobile‑first account that combines deposits, foreign exchange, wealth...
WRISE Partners with ChinaAMC on Hong Kong Bond Fund Debut
WRISE Prestige has struck a strategic partnership with China Asset Management (Hong Kong) to become the exclusive launch partner for the ChinaAMC Select Asia Bond Fund’s Income share class in Hong Kong. The fund, which follows a flexible, benchmark‑unconstrained approach...
Vietnam Airlines Seeks to Lease 12 Widebody Jets for 2028 Delivery
Vietnam Airlines announced a request for proposals to dry‑lease 12 widebody aircraft, targeting Airbus A350‑900XWB and Boeing 787‑9/10 models, with deliveries slated for 2028‑2030. The carrier plans an eight‑year lease term to reinforce its long‑haul capacity and expand its international...
Mannings Launches Wellness Pop up in West Kowloon This April
Mannings, Hong Kong’s leading health‑and‑beauty retailer, is launching a two‑day wellness pop‑up called BoostUP Fiesta on 25‑26 April at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Partnering with local wellness advocate Charlz Ng, the event will feature more than 40 interactive experiences across...