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Arjavi Indraneesh China’s carefully constructed Gulf strategy is facing one of its toughest tests as Iran’s confrontation with the United States disrupts energy flows, threatens Arab partners and exposes the limits of Beijing’s influence over Tehran. The immediate pressure point is the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic remains sharply below normal levels after months […]

The article Iran escalation puts China’s Gulf strategy under serious strain appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

At this year’s awards ceremony, Academician Zhang Boli of the Chinese Academy of Engineering received the Global Chinese Lifetime Achievement Award, while actress Sylvia Chang received the Global Chinese Special Tribute Award. Academician Pan Jianwei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lu Chaoyang, Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, picture-book illustrator Cai Gao, Chinese freestyle skier Xu Mengtao, Gao Du, professor at the Beijing Dance Academy, and actress Xin Zhilei received the Global Chinese Award.

In his speech, Xu Wei, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Phoenix TV, said: “Each generation of Chinese people has its own responsibilities. The older generation worked hard with their roots in their homeland, while the younger generation embraces innovation and the world, becoming connectors between different cultures.” Phoenix TV will continue to serve as an on-the-ground reporter of major global events, an international storyteller of Chinese culture, and a platform builder for international exchange, enabling audiences around the world to see more of the vibrant and diverse achievements of Chinese people.

The tribute section of the ceremony opened with an immersive children’s picture-book theatrical performance based on classic works including The Story of the Peach Blossom Spring and Bao’er. Both works were created by Cai Gao, who received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in April this year. During the ceremony, the host recalled the children’s song Cai sang at the Andersen Award ceremony, prompting her to smile and sing “The Cuckoo” once again.

Upon receiving the Global Chinese Award, Cai Gao said that the splendid and outstanding artistic heritage of China has been a source of inspiration for her work, and that she has a deep love for the culture of this land. Seeing so many Chinese people achieve remarkable accomplishments in different fields has also given her spiritual strength. Quoting the phrase, “As long as life goes on, the struggle continues,” she encouraged herself to keep creating with passion and curiosity. “Life and creation require dedication and perseverance. I am willing to devote myself to them, as I always have.”

Joining the ceremony via video link, Lu Chaoyang shared his joy and said that the honor belongs to all Chinese researchers who have climbed, generation after generation, along the long and steep road of quantum science. Looking to the future, he offered this message: “The quantum world is very small, so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye; but China’s dreams in science and technology are immense. Through fundamental innovation, we should illuminate a farther future for human civilization.”

In her acceptance speech, Xin Zhilei said she particularly liked the phrase “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD.” “Everyone is a unique ray of light in this world. Through our efforts and down-to-earth dedication, we each make our own small contribution to the beauty of the world. As an actress, what I can do is put my heart into every role and bring to the world a little bit of the unique color that belongs to me.” Lu Yang, director of Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield, also sent his congratulations via video, expressing hope for continued collaboration and for the creation of more outstanding Chinese-language stories.

“If the dance steps of a people disappear, that chapter of history will also lose its voice.” Over the past 50 years, Gao Du and his team have traveled across more than 20 provinces and autonomous regions throughout China, venturing deep into remote mountains and visiting people’s courtyards and fireside gatherings. They learned from local communities dances that had no names, no stages and sometimes not even an audience, devoting themselves to the creation of the Chenxiang series.

Gao Du said he would continue dancing, both in the classroom and on larger stages, bringing folk dance traditions rooted in the land to the world and fostering dialogue among different cultures, so that the world can see the beauty of the East.

Wu Qingcai, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China News Service, presented Xu Mengtao with the Global Chinese Award. Xu shared that August 13, 2026, marked exactly 24 years since she began competing in the aerials discipline of snow sports. She hopes everyone can create something extraordinary through perseverance and dedication. “In the future, I will once again stand on the starting platform and set off again. See you again at the summit.”

As one of the creators of the song Tomorrow Will Be Better, Sylvia Chang said that she and fellow Chinese-language singers hope to use music to build a bridge for peaceful communication. She expressed gratitude for being able to continue pursuing a career she loves and for having a wonderful family. “I hope to share this gratitude and these blessings with everyone.”

At the ceremony, the host recounted the eight-character motto that Academician Zhang Boli has followed throughout his life: “Uphold virtue to broaden its influence; use medical skills to serve humanity.” Now approaching 80, Zhang Boli continues to see patients at a clinic every week. When patients have difficulty walking, he takes the initiative to go downstairs and see them in their cars.

Zhang Boli said that the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine—including health preservation, wellness and preventive treatment—represent one of the best practices of “proactive health management.” Looking to the future with the compassion of a physician, he said: “Let traditional Chinese medicine benefit Chinese people around the world, and let traditional Chinese medicine benefit people everywhere. The world will be healthier because of traditional Chinese medicine.”

It is reported that the “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD — Global Chinese Awards” was initiated by Phoenix Media Group in collaboration with China News Service and numerous Chinese-language media organizations in China and overseas. Together, they select and honor outstanding Chinese people who have achieved excellence and made a global impact in different fields, helping to amplify the achievements of exceptional Chinese individuals and inspire more generations to come.

Hashtag: #PhoenixTV

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

China Foreign Trade Industry Annual Mega-Event “XTransfer Summit 26” Concludes Successfully

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – XTransfer, the World’s Leading B2B Cross-border Trade Payment Platform, successfully hosted China’s premier annual foreign trade event, XTransfer Summit 26, in Shenzhen. The summit gathered over 4,500 foreign trade enterprises, more than 50 top-tier banks and financial institutions, and numerous industry experts for in-depth discussions on global trade opportunities, business growth strategies, and digital intelligence in cross-border finance.

The summit explored how SME foreign traders can navigate global uncertainties. According to an XTransfer client survey, SME export performance remains optimistic this year. Despite geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions, SMEs are reporting healthier payment collections and stronger bargaining power in international markets.

Serving Over 1 Million Enterprise Clients: Protecting Every Foreign Trader’s Global Dream with Fintech

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “SMEs are stabilisers of globalisation. Facing de-globalisation, geopolitical risks, and logistics volatility, they continue to show remarkable resilience. SMEs are more agile in adjusting market strategies while steadily improving pricing power and operational quality.”

Deng emphasised, “SMEs are the most capable force in global trade, and every foreign trader’s global dream deserves to be protected.” He added, “Through years of dedicated focus on SME cross-border payment pain points, XTransfer delivers secure, compliant, and efficient solutions to help more businesses go global. Since our founding, we have served over 1 million enterprise clients and continue to expand our local collection and settlement capabilities globally, optimising collection experiences and working capital efficiency.”

XTransfer’s pioneering Local Account service now covers nearly 60 countries and regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, enabling buyers to pay sellers in local currencies and significantly boosting capital turnover.

AI and Global Risk Control Enhance Compliance Efficiency: TradePilot Drives Audit Automation

To address SMEs’ core needs for security, compliance, efficiency, and cost optimisation, XTransfer has ramped up fintech investments, scaling AI applications in risk control and business processes.

XTransfer has also built a unified global B2B cross-border trade settlement and risk management system to safeguard SME transactions. According to CIC, TradePilot is the world’s first and most advanced AI model for B2B cross-border trade payments. With 72 AI agents embedded in TradePilot’s review workflow, covering KYC onboarding, transaction authenticity verification, and ongoing AML monitoring, TradePilot delivers industry-leading performance in risk control accuracy and user experience.

Hashtag: #XTransfer #XTransferSummit #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn
https://www.instagram.com/xtransfer.global

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

XTransfer

XTransfer is the world’s largest B2B cross-border trade payment platform with over US$60 billion TPV in 2025, according to CIC. Founded in 2017 as one of the first payment platforms worldwide dedicated to B2B cross-border trade, we serve the largest customer base of over 1,000,000 registered SMEs globally.

We connect top-tier financial institutions directly to SMEs, the backbone of global trade, giving businesses of every size access to the same secure, compliant and seamless payment infrastructure once reserved for multinationals. As of March 31, 2026, we provide payment services across more than 200 countries and regions through partnerships with financial institutions, including some of the most established international banks around the world.

XTransfer has obtained required licenses in major hubs, including the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada.

For more information, please visit: https://www.xtransfer.com

As a leading overseas payment service provider (PSP), PayerMax has integrated Rakuten Pay to enable international merchants to adopt this payment method in Japan. This integration marks a significant milestone in the technical collaboration, successfully supporting merchants in leveraging Rakuten Pay for their local operations.

The milestone not only enhances the localized payment experience for Last War players in Japan, but also demonstrates how international game publishers can leverage trusted local payment partnerships to accelerate market entry, strengthen localization and better engage Japanese consumers.

Connecting with Japanese Players Starts with Local Payments

As more global game publishers expand into Japan, localized payment experiences have become an increasingly important part of player acquisition, monetization and long-term growth.

As one of the flagship payment services within the Rakuten Ecosystem, Rakuten Pay plays a central role in Japan’s digital commerce landscape. The Rakuten Ecosystem connects more than 100 million registered members across e-commerce, financial services, travel, mobile and offline retail, and Rakuten Pay has become one of Japan’s most widely adopted local payment methods.

For international game publishers, integrating Rakuten Pay is about more than offering another payment option. It provides access to one of Japan’s most established consumer ecosystems, allowing games to deliver payment experiences aligned with local player preferences while building stronger engagement in one of the world’s most competitive gaming markets.

Supporting Last War Highlights PayerMax’s Local Payment Expertise in Japan

As one of the fastest-growing strategy games worldwide, Last War continues to expand its global footprint, with Japan representing one of its key strategic markets. As expectations for localized payment experiences continue to rise, enabling familiar and trusted local payment methods has become an important part of enhancing player experience and supporting sustainable growth.

With support from PayerMax, Last War successfully integrated Rakuten Pay, becoming a leading overseas game to support the payment method and offering Japanese players a more localized and seamless payment experience.

Designed to support international businesses entering Japan, PayerMax provides a unified payment solution that bridges the gap between global merchants and the local ecosystem. By leveraging PayerMax’s integration with Rakuten Pay, PayerMax serves as a gateway for international businesses to establish a strong presence in the Japanese market.

Faster Market Entry

Through PayerMax’s system integration with Rakuten Payment, eligible merchants benefit from a standardized integration pathway that shortens implementation timelines and accelerates go-to-market execution in Japan.

Reliable Compliance and Fund Management Enablement

Leveraging the established business relationships between PayerMax and Rakuten Pay, merchants are empowered to integrate Rakuten Pay through a streamlined, standardized pathway which is aligned with Japan’s local regulatory and operational requirements, thereby delivering a payment experience that resonates with the everyday spending habits of Japanese players. Furthermore, within this collaborative framework, PayerMax and Rakuten Pay facilitate the unified orchestration of critical processes including KYC, anti‑money laundering (AML) and fund management, effectively alleviating the operational complexities and associated costs of local payment execution. This enables merchants to refocus their resources on sustainable business growth and enriched player engagement.

Access to Japan’s Consumer Ecosystem

Through PayerMax, businesses can better engage local consumers, strengthen brand presence and build sustainable long-term growth in Japan.

The successful integration for Last War not only demonstrates the commercial value of the partnership between PayerMax and Rakuten Payment, but also provides a proven reference for more global game publishers and digital content companies expanding into Japan.

Executive Quotes

Hiroki Sogawa, Executive Officer, Rakuten Payment, said:

“We are pleased to partner with PayerMax and to see Last War, a leading title, successfully integrate Rakuten Pay as a payment option. Through this collaboration, we look forward to supporting more international businesses and digital content providers in delivering trusted, localized payment experiences for Japanese consumers.”

Will, APAC General Manager of PayerMax, said:

“Integrating with Rakuten Pay marks an important milestone in PayerMax’s expansion of local payment capabilities in Japan. The successful launch of Last War reflects the strength of our partnership and demonstrates our ability to help global game publishers and international businesses localize faster through trusted local payment infrastructure. Looking ahead, we will continue working with leading local payment partners worldwide to deliver secure, compliant and scalable payment solutions for global merchants.”

Strengthening Local Payment Infrastructure for Global Growth

The partnership with Rakuten Payment represents another important milestone in PayerMax’s strategy to strengthen local payment infrastructure across key global markets and further expand its local payment capabilities in Japan.

Today, PayerMax supports businesses across more than 150 markets and offers access to over 600 payment methods worldwide, backed by an extensive network of local payment partners spanning Japan, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other high-growth regions.

Rather than simply aggregating payment methods, PayerMax focuses on connecting businesses with the local payment ecosystems that shape consumer behavior in each market. By combining enterprise-grade payment technology with trusted local partnerships, PayerMax enables international businesses to localize faster, operate more efficiently and achieve sustainable global growth.

Hashtag: #PayerMax #RakutenPay

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

By K Raveendran Spontaneous student protests across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh are exposing a vulnerability conventional politics has been slow to recognise. Their importance lies not merely in the numbers gathering on streets or outside examination centres and government offices, but in the absence of the organisational structure that usually accompanies political mobilisation. […]

The article Leaderless Student Protests Pose New Challenge To National Politics appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

2Q26 Business and Financial Highlights

• Bora delivered historically record-high quarterly revenues of NT$5,889 million in 2Q26, up 47.2% quarter-over-quarter driven by broad-based operational momentum, with basic EPS of NT$4.36.
• CDMO revenue growth and increased site utilization rates, along with strong growth in the rare disease business and a return to growth for generics business of the Pharma Sales operations lifted group profitability, with gross margin expanding to 41.3% from 36.0% and operating margin reaching 16.8% from 10.2% in 1Q26. Excluding one-time costs related to the Weider Global Nutrition transaction, operating margin was approximately 18%.
• CDMO’s strong backlog of US$317 million as of end of 2Q26, another historical high following a strong quarter, signals that Bora’s core business continued to perform with higher demand.
• Pharma Sales’ rare disease franchise continues to show double digit sequential growth and the increased demand from government channels during the quarter with stabilized pricing in DLS has lifted the generics business back to normal.
• Reflecting Bora’s recent increase in investment in Sunway Biotech, from 35.97% to 42.27% and subsequent acquisitions of Weider Global Nutrition’s, the Company has introduced “Consumer Healthcare (CHC)” as a new segment in its revenue mix disclosure beginning this quarter. In 2Q26, revenues from CHC were NT$824.76 million in 2Q26, a 354.4% increase QoQ and 234.3% YoY, and contributed to 14% of the Bora Groups consolidated revenues, an all-time high.
• Cash-on-hand reached an all-time high of NT$8,431 million as the Company was preparing for MacroGenics Inc.’s Rockville facility acquisition.
• The Company has kicked off a group-wide AI in Manufacturing, BORA AIM, program aimed at improving process efficiency across sites, spanning engineering, quality and production. Bora has also signed a partnership with Insilico Medicine for AI drug discovery. The first 6 months will focus on beta version testing of the Bora AIM agents and AI champions to drive process consolidation.
• Share capital increased 0.3% during the quarter from employee stock option exercise.

Mr. Bobby Sheng, Chairman of Bora Group, stated, “We are pleased to announce Bora Group’s return to strong operating profits and double to triple-digit growth on all key margins sequentially, as well as demonstrate that our soft 1Q26 performance was anomalous rather than structural. Our impressive sequential improvement was driven entirely by strong demand from both our CDMO and Pharma Sales businesses, with 2Q26 manufactured batches reaching 0.38 billion doses, led by increased commercial production in Maple Grove and Zhunan sites and a full quarter of operations in the Maryland injectable facility, while our flagship products DLS and VIGAFYDE® in Pharma Sales continues to secure leading market share.

Our focus right now is execution. CAPEX investments in our mature sites, including facilities in Taiwan and in Canada, continue to deliver operational leverage driven by gross margin expansion, and our recently acquired oral solid dose facility in Maple Grove continues to show stellar and impactful demand as we sign more projects. Our 12-month rolling backlog is at historic high in almost all our sites, despite projected manufacturing delays at our Maryland injectable facility as we diligently respond to FDA audit observations from a recent audit. Bora Group’s commitment to the fast-growing Biologics manufacturing industry took another big step as we look to integrate 12,000 liters of capacity, and 3 commercial products from our Rockville facility, as well as see revenue recognition from this acquisition starting Q3. As Bora’s CDMO footprint expands in the US, we continue to capture durable, high-value demand as customers increasingly prioritize supply security and onshore capacity.

In addition, we are seeing sustained growth and improved gross margins in the Vigabatrin franchise, our most important, rare disease franchise, thanks to renegotiations with our partner vendors. Accelerated state and government orders for generics products increased 2Q26 revenues and 6 new generics launches have also supported a more diversified generics portfolio. Together, the advancement in rare disease franchise and generics business has positioned Bora’s Pharma Sales business, operating under the name Upsher-Smith, in a far stronger state than it was just a quarter ago.

As announced in July, we are excited to be developing a group-wide AI in Manufacturing program, BORA AIM, aimed at improving process efficiency across sites, spanning engineering, quality and production. We also announced a partnership with Insilico Medicine to enhance our understanding of AI drug discovery and create more customized AI manufacturing platforms for AIDD small molecules. In the next 12 months, Bora Group will be ready to showcase some exciting AI-enabled CDMO platforms that will truly add value to our partners and sharpen the overall competitive advantages of Bora Group.

As our momentum carries Bora into the second half of the year, we expect margins of our flagship products in Pharma Sales and CHC businesses to hold steady on continuous revenue growth, and improved efficiencies in the CDMO business in addition to consolidation of new revenues from the Rockville facility.”

2Q26 Operational Achievements & 2026 Outlook

Global CDMO Operations

Revenues increased 30.3% year-over-year and 29.0% quarter-over-quarter including internal orders, and 33.0% and 40.2% external orders only, or NT$2,116.4 million. The growth was primarily driven by a strong rebound in injectables following the semi-annual maintenance in 1Q26 and same period last year, and demand acceleration overall as we continue to meet the increasing backlog.

CDMO business also signed a record high US$378.2 million in total external wins. Highlighted by a 10+2-year, multi product commercial contract in our Maple Grove facility with a new top-20 pharma company, and 14 new molecules from pre-commercial programs from multiple new customers. Bora is confident in its mid- to long-term growth trajectory as pharma and biotech companies continue to look for US based CDMOs as a part of their efforts to onshore US production and improve supply chain resilience.

During the quarter, 0.38 billion doses, or 109 molecules, were developed and manufactured. Contribution from the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies stood at roughly 30% and should increase drastically in the next 8 quarters.

Looking at 3Q26, the Company is highly optimistic, with our backlog having climbed to an unprecedented level even after a strong quarter of manufacturing output. We do anticipate some timing shifts in revenue recognition related to scheduled semi-annual maintenance at our Maryland injectable site, alongside targeted quality-enhancement activities in connection with observations on passive RABS (Restricted Access Barrier System) line received from an FDA audit that took place 2Q26. However, there has been no reduction in total commercial batch productions in 2026 as we speak and several existing clients have initiated transfers to the FlexPro isolator filling lines. RFP activity has risen, with the first GMP PPQ campaign starting in August. On the newest, isolator-based AST lines, factory acceptance testing (FAT) is planned for Q326, with qualification to follow in 2027, expanding our ability to onboard small-scale isolator programs, including tech transfers.

On biologics, Rockville facility revenue recognition started in the first month of 3Q26 and the site has confirmed that it is on track to deliver batch production volumes ahead of last year’s run rate of around 13 batches for the remainder of 2026. We anticipate one-time transaction costs from this acquisition of approximately 3% of the purchase price including legal and FA fee and transition related expenses as stated in the Transition Service Agreement. The Rockville acquisition expands biologics capacity and brings integrated drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) capabilities under one roof, strengthening our end-to-end service offering and attracting more inbound opportunities and higher value conversion with cross selling opportunities for our injectable business.

For our strategic investment in Tanvex Biopharma, the main Bora Biologics platform company, although the business still operates at a loss, Tanvex has built a strong presence in international conferences, especially Bio International in the US in June. We have seen a positive uptick in pipeline from leading biotechs and heavy weight biopharmas, and stable demand for early-stage PD programs in Zhubei. The Rockville acquisition is expected to orchestrate and accelerate opportunities for Tanvex in the coming quarters.

Pharma Sales Operations

Revenues decreased 2.7% year-over-year and increased 30.4% quarter-over-quarter, arriving at NT$2,934.04 million in 2Q26. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a product rationalization program in 2025 that lead to the withdrawal of a basket of legacy generics products.

During the quarter, specialty and brand came in strongly, up 58.8% for the quarter QoQ and displayed almost 50% growth against 2025 run rate. The rare-disease Vigabatrin franchise demand is robust, and our continuous investment in the segment has resulted in much broader patient access compared to when we acquired Upsher-Smith 28 months ago. On coverage, we are on track to achieve year-end formulary goal of >50%, supported by more regional plans and strong physician adoption as they gain experience with VIGAFYDE®. The Company has also renegotiated contracts with suppliers, leading to improved gross margins for the franchise during the quarter and expects full economic contribution starting 3Q26. Simultaneously, the Company out-licensed its non-core assets, Stiripentol generics and 505(b)(2), during the quarter, fully capturing the economic value of these drug assets to enable fueled and renewed focus on core specialty and brand business.

The generics business returned to stability as Upsher-Smith successfully defended flagship product DLS. High value generics advanced 20.6% sequentially from downstream restocking, narrowing the year-to-date YoY decline against 2025 run rate to high teens.

Having executed our way through specialty and brand business growth and generics portfolio optimization, we have returned to the 2023–2024 peaks of Pharma Sales performance but with healthier and more resilient operating profits. As of now, Upsher-Smith sees 6 ANDA pending approval.

CHC Operations

Bora Group has increased holdings of Sunway Biotech to 42.27% through a private placement at $NT 596 million. Subsequently, Sunway completed the acquisition of Weider Global Nutrition (WGN), a global nutritional supplements company with offices in the US, Spain, and Germany and products sold in over 60 countries. Benefitting from the consolidation of WGN that started in May, Consumer Health business totaled NT$824.76 million in 2Q26, a 354.4% increase QoQ and 234.3% YoY. Focusing on longevity and sports nutrition, WGN’s distribution strength is expected to meaningfully contribute to the CHC business in 2026 and beyond and shall deliver vertical-integration synergies to Sunway’s existing ingredients’ manufacturing operations. Together, the WGN acquisition is expected to catapult Sunway Biotech into a leading global nutritional supplements company and substantially accelerate top and bottom-line improvements in the future.

Recent Investor Conference

Bora will host English online earnings call at 8:00 a.m. Taiwan time on Aug. 14^th, 2026. The event will cover the Company’s 2Q26 financial and business results and 2H26 outlook.

English Online Earnings Presentation Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/225504163505748?p=UyyncWl1CnOzjBCNKD

Bora will participate in Goldman Sachs 2026 CDMO day in Singapore in Sept. For 1:1 meetings with management, please contact your GS representative.

Bora 2026 Earnings Schedule

Q3 2026: Expected in the 2^nd week of Nov 2026
Q4 2026: Expected in the 2^nd week of Mar 2027

Hashtag: #BoraGroup

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

About Bora

Founded in 2007, Bora Pharmaceuticals (“Bora” or “the Company”, 6472.TW and BORAY.OTCQX) is a leading pharmaceutical services company with a vision and goal of “Contributing to Better Health All Over the World”. Operating under a “Dual Engine” model that integrates CDMO and commercial expertise, we empower pharmaceutical and biotech partners to optimize product development, accelerate launches, and scale supply to meet global patient needs. At the same time, we actively broaden R&D and sales infrastructure, focusing on niche and rare disease markets to improve patients’ quality of life.

By investing in talent, infrastructure, and biologics expansion, Bora continues to transform operations and achieve sustainable growth. Committed to making success “certain,” Bora sets new standards in the pharmaceutical and CDMO industries.

For more, please visit:
https://www.bora-corp.com
https://www.boracdmo.com

Disclaimer:

This document and the accompanying information may contain forward-looking statements. All statements regarding the company’s future business operations, potential events, and prospects (including but not limited to forecasts, targets, estimates, and operational plans) are considered forward-looking statements unless they refer to factual occurrences. Forward-looking statements are subject to various factors and uncertainties that may cause significant differences from actual results, including but not limited to price fluctuations, actual demand, exchange rate variations, market share, competitive conditions, changes in the legal, financial, and regulatory framework, international economic and financial market conditions, political risks, cost estimates, and other risks and variables beyond the company’s control. These forward-looking statements are based on current predictions and assessments, and the company disclaims any responsibility for future updates.

Recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council, Global Forum on Human Settlements, GEO Foundation, and Asia’s Top 100 Golf Courses — and what that recognition proves about the full picture of Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ).

These include eight awards under the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA) series issued by the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), as well as a 2024 Certificate of Honor from GFHS; LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; GreenRE Gold ratings for Forest City Island and its international school; GEO Certified status for both golf courses from Scotland’s GEO Foundation; and a seven-year consecutive ranking for Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia. In 2026, the Classic Course was ranked No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia.

The awards and certifications documented here address a specific set of criteria: design quality, sustainability standards, and operational assessments by independent institutions. This release provides a transparent account of the institutions that have assessed Forest City, the areas reviewed, and the limits of what such recognition can reasonably prove.

Sustainability and Green-Building Recognition

LEED-CS Gold pre-certification has been secured from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for multiple buildings, demonstrating that environmental performance was embedded in project planning from the outset. LEED pre-certification represents verified design intent and a formal commitment to sustainable performance criteria, including energy modelling, water efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

This design-stage commitment is reflected across the master plan, which dedicates over 60% of the total land area to non-built space, equivalent to 2.86 million m² of green infrastructure. This includes two golf courses, public parks, landscaped residential zones, and mangrove corridors extending along the Johor coastline — green space that, as of 2026, supports more than 400 officially documented species.

At the national level, Forest City Island and its international school have received GreenRE Gold ratings under Malaysia’s green real-estate framework, reinforcing the project’s alignment with recognised sustainability benchmarks at both international and domestic levels. Beyond building-level certifications, Forest City has received eight awards under the SCAHSA, issued by the GFHS, an international non-profit organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The documented recognition spans planning and design, green-building industrial development, city-industry integration, green smart city development, coastal ecological protection, low-carbon city planning, and green and intelligent construction, with awards recorded from 2016 to 2023. In 2024, Forest City also received a Certificate of Honor at the 19th Global Forum on Human Settlements from GFHS for its contribution to promoting sustainable cities and human settlements for all.

Golf and Hospitality Recognition

Forest City’s leisure and hospitality assets have also received external recognition, led by the continued performance of Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course in regional rankings. The Classic Course has maintained its position among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia for seven consecutive years, ranking No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia in 2026, a rise of 14 places from the previous year. The ranking is assessed by an independent panel co-hosted since 2016 by the Chinese and Korean editions of Golf Travel magazine and was reported by The Star on 26 April 2026 following the awards ceremony at Hillview Golf Club on 14 April 2026.

The hospitality component of the resort has also received platform-based recognition. Forest City Golf Hotel earned the Agoda Gold Circle Award 2025 based on service ratings and operational performance on the booking platform. Forest City regards the award as an encouraging indicator of its commitment to guest experience and service consistency, while noting that it reflects day-to-day hospitality performance rather than a measure of the wider development.

Additionally, both golf courses have earned GEO Certified status from Scotland’s GEO Foundation, which evaluates sustainable golf-course operations. GEO Certified is described by the GEO Foundation as “golf’s most comprehensive and widely recognised eco-label”, and is awarded following successful completion of the OnCourse programme and an independent audit. Collectively, these accolades attest to quality across golfing excellence, hospitality service, and environmental stewardship — recognition reflected in visitor engagement, with the resort welcoming more than 100,000 golfers in 2025.

Economic and Community Contribution

Forest City’s recognition record is supported by reported economic and social contribution figures. Internal records indicate that, as of November 2025, the development had contributed over RM790 million in taxes to the Malaysian government, alongside more than RM50 million in employee-related taxes.

More than RM53 million has been invested in charity and community programmes, including support for local schools and villages, and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created.

According to Forest City’s internal records as of November 2025, the development has engaged more than 190 local enterprises, attracted property owners from over 20 countries and territories, and contributed to attracting an estimated 300,000 international visitors to Malaysia.

The Significance Behind These Awards

In 2018, Forest City was profiled by Forbes as one of the “5 new cities that are set to shake up the future”. While the coverage is now nearly eight years old, it underscores the project’s long-standing visibility in global urban development conversations, rather than serving as an endorsement of present-day investment returns.

Green-building certifications relate primarily to design and operational standards; the SCAHSA recognitions focus on planning and sustainability; and golf-course rankings evaluate course quality and related criteria.

For prospective residents and investors, the awards should therefore be treated as evidence of build quality, institutional engagement and assessed sustainability credentials, to be considered alongside current data on occupancy, demand, connectivity and market liquidity. Questions relating to the Special Financial Zone framework and connectivity — including the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link scheduled to open for passenger service on 1 January 2027 — should be assessed through dedicated materials, current market data and, where relevant, Forest City’s investment overview.

The Broader Impact of Awards and Recognitions

The relevance of Forest City’s awards and certifications varies by audience. For ESG-minded investors and institutions, the most relevant credentials are Forest City’s LEED-CS Gold pre-certification, GreenRE Gold ratings, and GFHS recognition. These are issuer-named credentials aligned with green-investment screening and can be reviewed alongside Forest City’s broader investment framework. For enterprises operating within the SFZ, this integrated environment — where land and marine ecosystems are carefully preserved — enhances environmental performance and strengthens sustainability credentials.

For prospective residents and families, the GreenRE rating for the international school and the golf and hospitality recognition for the resort may be more directly relevant to daily living than city-planning awards. These credentials point to quality — but prospective residents should also assess schools, amenities, transport, community facilities, and the broader facts about Forest City on the ground.

For Malaysia-market watchers, Forest City’s SCAHSA record and reported RM790 million tax contribution mark the development as a recognised case study in green development and city-industry integration. This recognition is a data point on the development’s institutional standing, not a forecast of its commercial outcome.

Conclusion

What the awards record does establish is something more specific. Forest City reports nearly 40 awards and certifications across named institutions, including the U.S. Green Building Council, the Global Forum on Human Settlements, the GEO Foundation, and the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia panel. This is accompanied by reported contributions of more than RM790 million in taxes and the creation of more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. Prospective residents and investors should also consider Forest City’s position as the financial-services flagship within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone, along with its duty-free island and Malaysia Digital Status.

The strongest claim the awards support is also the most modest one: that Forest City has been built and planned to a standard that named international institutions have repeatedly chosen to certify — which is a starting point for due diligence, not a substitute for it.
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About Forest City Special Financial Zone

Located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) is Malaysia’s first designated special financial zone and a key financial-services component of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone. It is positioned to attract financial institutions, multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals and businesses operating in wealth management, financial technology and global business services.

Its incentive framework includes a 0% income tax rate for qualifying Single Family Office Vehicles for up to 20 years, a preferential 5% corporate tax rate for approved qualifying activities, and a special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers, subject to the applicable conditions, regulatory approvals and prevailing legislation. Forest City also holds duty-free island status, further strengthening its appeal as a regional investment, business and wealth-management destination near Singapore.