Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has appointed a syndicate of international and regional banks to lead its first sovereign bond sale of 2026, launching a dual-tranche, dollar-denominated benchmark with initial price thoughts set at 50 basis points over US Treasuries for five years and 55 basis points for 10 years. The transaction marks the emirate’s opening return to global capital markets this year and is structured […]
UAE and Czech Republic have stepped up efforts to widen economic cooperation across advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital industries, with ministers from both countries reviewing a slate of joint projects targeted for rollout in 2026. Talks between UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela focused on expanding collaboration in sectors described as central to the […]
The theme of the 2026-27 Budget, the fourth Budget of the current-term Government, is “Driving High-quality, Inclusive Growth with Innovation and Finance”.
“Over the past year, as a result of the booming economy and capital market, our tax revenue has increased. Coupled with the reinforced fiscal consolidation programme gradually bearing fruit, our public finances have improved sooner than expected,” Mr Chan said.
The Financial Secretary revealed that Hong Kong’s Consolidated Account was expected to register a surplus of $2.9 billion in the current fiscal year, instead of a deficit of about $67 billion as originally estimated. The Operating Account for 2025-26, which was originally estimated to record a deficit of about $3 billion, will register a surplus of $51.3 billion, he said.
It was also confirmed that Hong Kong’s economy expanded by 3.5% in 2025, with growth forecast to be between 2.5% and 3.5% for 2026.
Mr Chan noted that this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and he stressed the need for Hong Kong to actively align with the Plan.
“Our country’s sustained high-standard two-way opening-up, coupled with scientific and technological innovation, have presented us with new opportunities,” he said. “We must embrace the 15th Five-Year Plan with an innovative mindset, fostering new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.”
Mr Chan set out a series of measures to drive I&T development, including establishing the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy; taking forward the Sandy Ridge data facility cluster project; promoting AI training; and accelerating digital intelligence transformation of the Government.
“We are pressing ahead with the industrialisation of AI and deepening its integration across various industries, while encouraging wider AI application, thereby achieving the target of adoption and utilisation by all,” he said.
The International Clinical Trial Academy will, he said, also be established to help enable the Chinese Mainland’s biomedicine technology to go global, attract foreign investment, and help develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
To facilitate the development of new industrialisation, the Budget has earmarked resources for establishing in Hong Kong the first national manufacturing innovation centre outside the Mainland, and the New Industrialisation Elite Enterprises Nurturing Scheme will be launched.
The Government will promote the full integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation through key infrastructure, including the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, and the San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis.
To support financial services, Hong Kong will proactively align with national development strategies, advance the internationalisation of the Renminbi, and continuously reform the securities market.
The Government will legislate this year to enhance tax regimes for family offices and funds, as well as establish licensing regimes for digital asset dealing and custodian service providers.
“Despite the complex and ever-changing external environment, Hong Kong’s financial market has performed strongly and our financial system remains robust,” Mr Chan said. “We will continue to consolidate our existing strengths, tap into emerging fields, strengthen market systems and risk control and deepen financial co-operation in the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area).”
Noting that Hong Kong saw a year-on-year 12 per cent increase in visitor arrivals last year, which had created business and job opportunities for related sectors, the Budget will allocate $1.66 billion (US$212 million) to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
“The HKTB will scale up its flagship events and promotion, introducing new elements and extending event duration, and organise more signature festive events to highlight Hong Kong’s East-meets-West uniqueness,” Mr Chan said.
The Budget also earmarks an additional funding of $1 billion (US$128 million) for the Built Heritage Conservation Fund to enrich city culture. Elsewhere, the Government will launch the Northern Metropolis Urban-rural Integration Fund as a pilot scheme to support rural tourism projects.
To further promote sports development in Hong Kong, the Financial Secretary will inject $1.2 billion (US$154 million) to the sports portion of the Arts and Sports Development Fund.
Mr Chan said that the global environment has remained volatile over the past year, and Hong Kong has continued to undergo economic transformation.
“Technological innovation, in particular the development of AI, has brought us a mix of opportunities and challenges. Yet, Hong Kong has always thrived amid changes and progressed through innovation. We must make full use of our strengths and leverage the resolute support of our country to speed up and scale up our economic development sustainably for creating better development opportunities for the people and enhancing their quality of life,” Mr Chan said.
For more details on the 2026-27 Budget, click here.
Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #Budget #Inclusive #Growth #Innovation #Finance
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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By Nitya Chakraborty Only a week has passed since the BNP supremo Tarique Rahman has taken over as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after the resounding victory of his party in the February 12 national elections. The 60 year old PM who is back to the country after an exile of 17 years in Britain, […]
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Matein Khalid I dedicate this post to my dear friend Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah who has Ferrari in his spirit, bloodstream as well as in his garages. I went gaga on the Ferrari IPO in 2015 as I viewed the world’s preeminent luxury car maker as unique since it restricted supply to an elite global community rather than peddled product to any joe who could afford a […]
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Producer prices in the Republic of Korea rose for a fifth straight month in January, driven by firmer semiconductor prices and higher agricultural costs, according to central bank data that point to lingering pipeline inflation pressures in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
Figures released by the Bank of Korea showed the producer price index increased on both a monthly and annual basis, extending a run of gains that began in early autumn. Officials attributed the latest rise largely to a rebound in memory chip prices and elevated food-related costs, reflecting supply constraints and weather-related disruptions.
Semiconductors, a cornerstone of the country’s export-led economy, played a decisive role. Prices for key memory products, including DRAM and NAND flash, strengthened as global demand for data centres and artificial intelligence applications continued to absorb inventories. After a prolonged downturn that weighed on manufacturing output through 2023, chipmakers have benefited from tighter supply and renewed investment in high-performance computing, pushing upstream prices higher.
Industry analysts say the upturn in chip prices has filtered through supply chains, lifting overall producer prices even as energy costs have remained comparatively stable. Manufacturing accounts for a substantial share of Korea’s producer basket, meaning swings in technology components can exert an outsized influence on headline figures.
Agricultural products also recorded notable gains. Unfavourable weather conditions and higher input costs contributed to increases in fruit, vegetable and livestock prices. Food-related producer costs are closely watched because they can pass through to consumer prices with a lag, particularly in a country where household spending on fresh produce forms a visible part of the inflation basket.
The latest data suggest cost pressures remain uneven across sectors. While energy prices have moderated from peaks seen after geopolitical disruptions in global oil and gas markets, certain industrial materials and processed foods have shown persistent firmness. Service-sector producer prices, including transport and logistics, have also edged higher, reflecting wage adjustments and operating expenses.
Economists note that sustained increases in producer prices can eventually feed into consumer inflation, although the transmission is neither automatic nor immediate. Consumer price growth has eased from multi-year highs reached in 2022, but remains sensitive to food and housing costs. The central bank has kept its benchmark interest rate at a restrictive level since early 2023 in a bid to anchor inflation expectations and support financial stability.
Policy deliberations in Seoul have balanced the need to contain price pressures against concerns over slowing domestic demand and household debt. Export performance has improved alongside the semiconductor recovery, yet construction activity and private consumption have shown mixed signals. A continued rise in producer prices may complicate the timing of any monetary easing, particularly if global commodity prices remain volatile.
The global context adds another layer of uncertainty. Demand for advanced chips linked to artificial intelligence has bolstered Korea’s trade outlook, but cyclical risks persist in other manufacturing segments, including petrochemicals and steel. At the same time, agricultural markets remain exposed to climate variability, which can amplify price swings and affect food security.
Market participants are closely monitoring whether the current producer price trend represents a stabilisation after last year’s weakness or the beginning of a more entrenched cost cycle. Some analysts argue that the semiconductor rebound is structural, underpinned by sustained capital expenditure in cloud infrastructure and next-generation devices. Others caution that technology demand can be volatile, and that inventory adjustments may re-emerge later in the year.
For policymakers, the composition of producer price growth is as important as the headline number. Increases concentrated in export-oriented sectors may bolster corporate earnings and investment, whereas broad-based gains across consumer-linked industries could signal renewed inflationary momentum. The central bank has indicated it will continue to assess data on prices, wages and growth before making any shift in its policy stance.
Businesses, meanwhile, face decisions on whether to absorb higher input costs or pass them on to customers. Large technology firms may have greater pricing power in global markets, but small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in food processing and retail supply chains, operate on thinner margins.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in collaboration with Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will lead a delegation of 21 Hong Kong tech companies and institutions to showcase at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026—the world’s premier connectivity event, and debut at 4 Years From Now (4YFN) 2026—a global stage for start-ups, taking place concurrently 2-5 March in Barcelona, Spain.
Building on the momentum from MWC 2025—the Delegation will be featuring solutions beyond the Connectivity category, covering focus areas across Devices and Systems, Digital Transformation and support from Ecosystem Partners. The Pavilion duet ought to give a more comprehensive picture of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) capabilities in engaging global telecom leaders, enterprise decision-makers, industry partners, and investors, bridging cutting-edge research and development (R&D) into real-world applications and propelling Hong Kong’s I&T sector onto the international stage.
Derek Chim, Head of Startup Ecosystem and Development, HKSTP said, “MWC is a global bellwether for communications technology and tech companies at any stage, to connect with the industry and investors, to have a solid ground that validate solutions, catalyse pilot projects, accelerate commercialisation, and scale internationally.”
Iris Wong, Director, Merchandise Trade and Innovation / Director, External Relations, HKTDC, said, “The Hong Kong Tech Pavilion is an ideal platform for Hong Kong tech enterprises to present their latest R&D achievements at major international tech gatherings, support their journey to explore overseas markets, while highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths as an international innovation and technology hub.”
A series of dialogues and exchanges, spanning from networking reception and themed talks to pitching sessions, will take place throughout the events at the Pavilion to facilitate partnerships and investment opportunities for innovative solutions that are market-ready with high potential for market expansion, in particular, Asmote and Cresento under “Connectivity” make stellar examples of the notion:
HKSTP continues to join hands with HKTDC to support Hong Kong tech enterprises to “go global” by jointly organising the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion to build bridges linking tech companies with the world. This expedites the industry’s progress in internationalisation to meet the growing demand for I&T globally. This will attract talents, facilitate forward-looking investments and explore opportunities globally, realising the mission of entrepreneurs to reach out to the world and further consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T hub.
Mobile World Congress Barcelona (MWC) & 4 Years From Now (4YFN)
Date: 2-5 March 2026
Venue: Fira Gran Via, Av. Joan Carles I, 64, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Hong Kong Tech Pavilion:
MWC – Booth 6E44 at Hall 6
4YFN – Booth 8.1B31 at Hall 8.1
Please visit https://bit.ly/MWC2026HKTech for more information on Hong Kong Tech Pavilion and the exhibitors.
Appendix: Full list of 21 tech entities showcasing at Hong Kong Tech Pavilion during MWC and 4YFN 2026 (in alphabetical order)
| No. | Name of Tech Company / Institution | Category |
| MWC 2026 – Booth 6E44 at Hall 6 | ||
| 1 | Entoptica Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 2 | eSIX | Connectivity |
| 3 | Faraconix Technologies Co., Ltd. | Connectivity |
| 4 | FreightAmigo Services Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 5 | Glassdio Scientific Company Limited | Connectivity |
| 6 | Harvest Elite International Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 7 | HongKong Umedia Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 8 | iASPEC Services Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 9 | InvestHK | Ecosystem Partners |
| 10 | Robocore Technology Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 11 | Shannon & Turing Technology Limited | Connectivity |
| 12 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Ecosystem Partners |
| 13 | Xeroptix Technology | Devices & Systems |
| 4YFN 2026 – Booth 8.1B31 at Hall 8.1 | ||
| 14 | AIGM Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 15 | BWSea Technology (HK) Co., Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 16 | Cresento Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 17 | GoGoChart Technology Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 18 | HairCoSys Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 19 | KNQ Technology Limited | Digital Transformation |
| 20 | Solos Technology Limited | Devices & Systems |
| 21 | Vista Innotech Limited | Devices & Systems |
Hashtag: #HKSTP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org
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Advantest Corporation, a leading supplier of semiconductor testing equipment, has disclosed that a ransomware attack has disrupted parts of its internal network, prompting containment measures and raising concerns across the global chip supply chain. The Tokyo-listed company said it detected unauthorised access to its systems on 15 February Japan Standard Time and swiftly moved to isolate affected servers. Several internal systems were taken offline as a precaution […]
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