El Salvador has signalled an ambitious push to fuse its Bitcoin experiment with a broader artificial intelligence drive by 2026, underscoring President Nayib Bukele’s intent to position the country as a technology-forward outlier in Latin America despite persistent scepticism from multilateral lenders and sections of the domestic business community. Government officials have framed the coming two years as a consolidation phase, building on the decision taken in […]
By K Raveendran As Indian corporates step into the new year buoyed by stronger growth momentum and easing inflationary pressures, a sense of anticipation is spreading across boardrooms and policy circles alike over a dispute that dwarfs most corporate battles seen in the country’s history. At the heart of this confrontation lies the Indian government’s […]
United Arab Emirates authorities said they would withdraw remaining military personnel from Yemen, citing operational considerations and safety concerns, a move that underlines shifting dynamics within the Saudi-led coalition as the conflict enters another uncertain phase. The announcement followed a flare-up in tensions with Saudi Arabia over the conduct and coordination of military operations in the war-torn country, according to officials familiar with the matter. The UAE […]
Saudi Arabian Mining Company, widely known as Saudi Arabian Mining Company, has outlined plans to establish a joint venture with Midana Exploration Pay Ltd to advance minerals exploration, development and mining across licensed areas of the kingdom, in a move that underscores the country’s push to expand its non-oil resource base.
Under the proposed structure, the joint venture will be capitalised initially at $5 million, with Maaden holding a controlling 50.1% stake and Hancock owning the remaining 49.9%. The vehicle is expected to focus on early-stage exploration as well as the development and eventual sale of mineral resources identified within approved concession blocks, subject to regulatory clearances.
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to map and commercialise its estimated multi-trillion-dollar mineral endowment, a pillar of the Vision 2030 strategy aimed at diversifying fiscal revenues and building domestic industrial supply chains. Officials and industry executives have repeatedly highlighted underexplored deposits of gold, copper, zinc, phosphate, bauxite and rare earth elements as areas of strategic interest.
Maaden, majority owned by the Public Investment Fund, has over the past decade evolved from a single-commodity operator into a diversified mining champion spanning gold, aluminium, phosphate fertilisers and industrial minerals. The proposed partnership with Hancock signals a renewed emphasis on upstream exploration, an area that demands specialised geological expertise, patient capital and risk-sharing arrangements.
Hancock, through its local exploration arm, has built a portfolio of prospecting licences and geological data across several regions of the kingdom. Industry observers say its familiarity with Saudi Arabia’s licensing framework and field operations complements Maaden’s balance sheet strength, project development experience and access to downstream markets.
According to people familiar with the matter, the joint venture is designed to move swiftly from desktop studies to on-ground surveys, including geophysical mapping and targeted drilling. Any commercial discoveries would then be evaluated for standalone development or integration into Maaden’s existing asset base, depending on scale, mineral type and infrastructure considerations.
The modest initial capital reflects the early-stage nature of the venture, with provisions allowing for additional funding rounds as projects advance. Mining analysts note that exploration budgets often expand sharply once priority targets are identified, particularly for metals linked to energy transition technologies such as copper and battery minerals.
Saudi Arabia has spent heavily on geological surveying over the past few years, releasing high-resolution data to attract private and foreign investors. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has also reformed the mining law to streamline licensing, strengthen environmental oversight and provide longer concession terms, measures that have been welcomed by global miners.
Within this policy backdrop, Maaden’s majority stake ensures strategic alignment with national priorities while allowing its partner operational flexibility. The 50.1-49.9 split also gives Maaden consolidation rights over any successful projects, a factor likely to reassure lenders and potential offtake partners at later stages.
Market participants see the joint venture as part of a broader trend of collaborative exploration models in the kingdom, where state-backed entities pair with specialised firms to spread risk and accelerate discovery timelines. Similar structures have been adopted in other resource-rich jurisdictions seeking to build domestic mining ecosystems without shouldering all the geological risk alone.
Environmental and social governance considerations are expected to feature prominently as projects move forward. Saudi regulators have tightened requirements around land rehabilitation, water use and community engagement, and Maaden has publicly committed to aligning new developments with international sustainability benchmarks.
By Ashis Biswas Within the South Asian context, a noticeable coarsening of diplomatic discourse among four countries has occurred, following the violent regime change in Bangladesh, a brief encounter involving India and Pakistan and sporadic skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A new political alignment, whose contours will be clearer after the Bangladesh general elections, is […]
Abu Dhabi Global Market, the international financial centre of the capital, has crossed a defining threshold as it enters its second decade, announcing the onboarding of 11 major global financial institutions that together manage more than $9 trillion in assets. The expansion has lifted total assets under management on its platform to about $746 billion, up sharply from $635 billion a year earlier and roughly $450 billion […]
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 December 2025 – According to leading experts, when ESG++ urban developments account for less than 1% of global supply, every project that meets the standard becomes a true collectible asset. Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio, Vietnam is emerging one step ahead in a period of strong market consolidation, opening a 25-30% appreciation range for investors who want to ride the green transformation wave.
A “One-of-a-Kind” Branded Asset on the Global Map
Speaking at the seminar “Advancing to the Sea with ESG++ Mega-Cities: A Strategy for Sustainable Investment,” Dr. Le Xuan Sang, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics and World Economy, emphasized that for investors, a “branded real estate asset” must meet four criteria: An unmatched location, elevated development standards, limited supply, and a compelling story recognized by global markets. “Vinhomes Green Paradise meets all four,” Sang shared.
He highlighted the integrated ecosystem of the Vinhomes Green Paradise urban development, where affluent residents can enjoy a full spectrum of experiences within one cohesive environment, from work, leisure, wellness, and recreation to business trips and retirement living. When every component reaches a premium standard, the project’s merits speak for themselves.
In Southeast Asia, he noted, it is exceptionally difficult to find a coastal megacity of comparable scale that not only aligns with ESG++ benchmarks but is also connected to high-speed infrastructure and backed by a powerhouse metropolis like Ho Chi Minh City.
“It is entirely justified to call this a rare, hard-to-find branded real estate asset,” he said.
Supporting this viewpoint, Associate Professor Dr. Architect Hoang Manh Nguyen, Chairman of the Institute for Green Urban Science & Technology, highlighted Can Gio’s unparalleled ecological advantage, “backed by forest, facing the sea”, a combination almost impossible to replicate globally and one that carries immense economic value.
He further underscored the “expensive” and “highly complex” nature of ESG++ coastal reclamation cities. Vinhomes Green Paradise being recognized by New7Wonders as the first official participant for the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” title is, in his view, strong evidence that it represents a new global benchmark in urban innovation.
“This places Vinhomes Green Paradise among the world’s truly ‘singular’ real estate assets, naturally becoming a prime target for elite residents and discerning investors,” he stated.
From a legal and institutional perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the University Council and Head of the Faculty of Economic Law at Hanoi Law University, noted that the distinction of “branded real estate” lies in clear legal frameworks, stable planning, and professional operations, attributes that can withstand the test of time and policy shifts. These are precisely the strengths of Vinhomes Green Paradise, further reinforced by the credibility of the Vingroup brand.
ESG++ Assets: A Long-Term “Safe Harbor” with 25–30% Appreciation Potential
Discussing the issue in greater depth, Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Manh Nguyen asserted that urban livability is the key determinant of real estate value. Locations with cleaner air, lower noise levels, better mobility, richer landscapes, and more refined amenities will always command higher prices and more sustainable appreciation. ESG++ urban models elevate quality of life to a new tier, not only “green” in terms of vegetation and water bodies but green in energy, operations, and lifestyle.
“With these advantages, Vinhomes Green Paradise is not only a pioneer in the development of green coastal cities but also has tremendous potential to preserve and grow value over time,” he noted.
Vinhomes Green Paradise has been described as a “precious gem”, a unique asset on the global real estate map.
Aligning with this view, Dr. Le Xuan Sang added that globally, capital is shifting clearly toward asset classes that deliver growth, sustainability, and climate resilience. Beyond ESG++, the added layers of regeneration and climate adaptation make qualifying assets exceedingly rare.
The demand for ESG++ coastal cities will grow strongly, while supply will remain extremely limited, representing less than 1% of global inventory over the next 10-20 years. This scarcity ensures enduring value and makes speculative fears, such as panic buying or price collapse, highly unlikely.
“When supply is extraordinarily low while demand from the global middle and upper class continues to surge, ESG assets naturally become a ‘blue-chip’ category, scarce, highly valued, and exceptionally defensive across economic cycles,” he explained.
“Today, this elite and exceptionally scarce asset may appear expensive relative to average incomes. But securing a property like the one in Can Gio will be an extraordinary challenge in five to ten years, as the economy expands and incomes rise,” Nguyen Quang Tuyen said.
He added that in OECD countries, urban areas meeting ESG standards are often the focus of state investment in core infrastructure, public services, and high-quality social amenities, creating a robust value foundation. Once this foundation stabilizes, real estate values in these areas tend to rise steadily, often outpacing comparable non-ESG locations.
Multiple international reports show that ESG cities typically achieve 25-30% appreciation, sometimes at a rate 1.5-2 times faster than neighboring districts. Consequently, securing a position in Vinhomes Green Paradise at this stage offers investors a primary-market advantage, akin to sourcing raw value directly from the origin before it reaches the broader retail market. Hashtag: #Vinhomes
Venezuela has begun shutting oil wells in its prolific Orinoco Belt after storage filled up and inventories swelled, a move that underscores the operational strain facing the state producer as financial pressure from Washington tightens. The cutbacks, which started on 28 December, are set to lower heavy crude output by at least a quarter in the belt that holds the world’s largest known oil deposits, according to people familiar with internal operations.
Petroleos de Venezuela SA, known as PDVSA, is aiming to bring Orinoco production down to about 500,000 barrels a day, the people said. That reduction equates to roughly 15% of the country’s total output of around 1.1 million barrels a day. The wells were idled as tanks reached capacity and export bottlenecks left little room to keep pumping.
The Orinoco Belt, stretching across eastern Venezuela, has been the backbone of the nation’s oil recovery over the past two years as PDVSA revived projects, leaned on foreign partners and relied on intermediaries to place barrels abroad. Heavy crude from the belt requires blending and specialised handling, making storage constraints particularly acute when exports slow or logistics falter.
The curtailment comes amid a renewed effort by the Donald Trump administration to financially squeeze Caracas. Measures have focused on limiting cash flows and tightening scrutiny of trade channels that had allowed Venezuelan oil to reach global markets. While PDVSA has navigated sanctions for years through complex trading arrangements, the latest actions have reduced the room for manoeuvre.
Operationally, the impact is immediate. Engineers have prioritised shutting wells with higher water cut or maintenance needs, while keeping strategic upgraders running to preserve reservoir integrity. Restarting heavy-oil wells can be costly and time-consuming, raising the risk that some output may not return quickly even if conditions improve.
For the government in Caracas, the setback dents a fragile rebound that had lifted production from historic lows. Oil remains the main source of hard currency, funding imports and social spending. Lower volumes threaten fiscal plans at a time when inflation has moderated but public finances remain stretched.
Internationally, the cuts add a layer of uncertainty to heavy crude markets. Refineries in Asia and the United States Gulf Coast have relied on Venezuelan grades as substitutes for similar barrels from elsewhere. Traders said tighter availability could widen discounts and prompt buyers to seek alternatives from Canada or the Middle East.
PDVSA’s partners in the Orinoco Belt, including joint ventures with foreign companies, are also affected. Output reductions translate into lower liftings for partners and could complicate investment decisions. Several projects had been ramping up after maintenance and drilling campaigns, betting on stable export routes.
The government has framed the situation as a temporary adjustment driven by logistics rather than geology. Officials argue that reserves remain intact and that production can rebound once storage is freed and exports normalise. Behind the scenes, PDVSA has been exploring options to lease additional floating storage and accelerate shipments to Asia, though payment and insurance hurdles persist.
Analysts note that the episode highlights structural weaknesses. Venezuela’s oil infrastructure has suffered years of underinvestment, leaving little buffer when trade flows are disrupted. Power outages, pipeline leaks and equipment shortages have repeatedly constrained operations, forcing stop-start cycles that erode efficiency.
In the broader geopolitical context, the pressure campaign reflects Washington’s leverage over energy finance and shipping. Even when licences allow limited trade, banks, insurers and carriers often tread cautiously, amplifying the impact on producers like PDVSA. The result is a stopgap approach that prioritises managing bottlenecks over long-term optimisation.
An SUV that delivers both sophistication and an industry-leading peace-of-mind ownership experience.
DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 December 2025 – Middle Eastern buyers have long gravitated toward vehicles that project elegance, presence, and purpose. As electric mobility accelerates across the region, design continues to be a major factor in purchase decisions. VinFast responds to this expectation with the VF 8, an electric SUV whose aesthetic is rooted in European sophistication yet thoughtfully shaped to resonate with Middle Eastern roads, lifestyles, and sensibilities.
The VF 8’s exterior was developed around a design philosophy VinFast calls “Dynamic Balance”. Rather than relying on overt aggressiveness, the VF 8 uses tension between smooth surfaces and crisp lines, balancing gentle curves with sharper transitions to create a silhouette that feels modern without chasing trends, a consideration particularly relevant in the Middle East.
Its LED lighting signature, highlighted by a full-width tail lamp and the recognizable V-shaped graphic, establishes a strong visual identity from a distance. Confident proportions and a purposeful stance allow the vehicle to project stability on wide highways and in dense city environments.
Inside the VF 8, VinFast has created a cabin that blends practicality with an understated, premium feel. A panoramic sunroof brightens the interior and creates a sense of openness that local buyers often value. Premium vegan leather, color-selectable ambient lighting, and a streamlined dashboard contribute to a cabin that feels calm and contemporary. At the center of this environment is a 15.6-inch floating infotainment display that anchors the cockpit while reducing physical clutter. The seats, spacious in both rows, are designed with long-distance comfort in mind, and ventilation and heating functions in the Plus variant provide flexibility across seasonal shifts in the region.
Design and engineering intersect to elevate everyday usability. The VF 8’s aerodynamic profile supports range efficiency and improves ride stability. Wide outward visibility, paired with intelligent LED lighting, enhances confidence during night driving and intercity travel. The vehicle’s smart functionalities, including update capability and advanced driver-support technologies, are built into the design in a way that maintains the cabin’s clean, minimal aesthetic without overwhelming the driver.
The VF 8’s design narrative is strengthened by an ownership experience that has become one of VinFast’s defining attributes. Its long-term warranty coverage extends for ten years or 200,000 km on the vehicle, alongside a ten-year battery warranty with unlimited mileage, delivering assurance that resonates strongly with Middle Eastern buyers who prioritize durability and long-term value. This is reinforced by a comprehensive aftersales framework that includes five years of free scheduled service up to 100,000 km, 24/7 roadside assistance with mobile service support, guaranteed access to replacement parts around the clock, and the inclusion of home charging solutions with access to DC fast-charging networks. Together, these policies align with the SUV’s design intention: a vehicle created not only to be admired, but to be lived with confidently for years.
This positioning comes as VinFast closes out one of the most consequential years in its history. The company has inaugurated its Subang manufacturing plant in Indonesia, marking a major expansion of its global production footprint, while momentum in Vietnam continues to accelerate. With record monthly deliveries and multiple models leading their respective segments, VinFast is on track to finish the year as the best-selling automotive brand in its domestic market, underscoring the speed and scale of its transition from an emerging EV player to an established market leader.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About VinFast
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone.
VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe and Asia.
Mirae Asset is holding advanced discussions to acquire Korbit, one of South Korea’s earliest cryptocurrency exchanges, in a transaction valued between 100 billion and 140 billion won, according to people familiar with the matter. The talks underline a renewed push by established financial groups to position themselves for a potential rebound in digital asset trading and related services after a prolonged market downturn. The negotiations, which remain […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 December 2025– Tanoto Foundation convened government leaders, international organisations, researchers, and civil society at the 2025 International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED), in Jakarta under the theme “ECED Ecosystem Synergy in Promoting the Best Start in Life.”
The symposium comes at a critical moment, as shared challenges across health, nutrition, education, and caregiving continue to shape early childhood development outcomes in Indonesia and globally, where many young children continue to face barriers to healthy development, from gaps in nutrition and care to limited access to quality early learning.
These challenges highlight the need for closer coordination across health, education, parenting, and social protection to ensure children receive holistic and equitable support from the earliest years.
Without strong cross-sector collaboration, Indonesia risks losing momentum in building its human capital and realising its demographic dividend towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
In partnership with key government ministries and cross-sector organisations, Tanoto Foundation convened the symposium as a platform to align policy, practice, and evidence across sectors, bringing together representatives from central and local government, international organisations, academia, civil society, and philanthropy.
The symposium featured two main discussion tracks focused on health and education, and parenting in early childhood.
The morning segment, “Synergising Health and Education for ECED”, focused on integrating health, nutrition, and early learning services, highlighting innovations in growth and development monitoring, nutrition interventions, and early stimulation within primary service systems.
The afternoon session, “Parenting and Early Learning”, placed families and caregivers at the centre of the ECED ecosystem, exploring responsive caregiving, interaction-based learning, and policy support to strengthen parents’ capacity to nurture children’s development.
Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin officially opened the symposium, emphasising the decisive importance of early childhood for national development.
“The age of 0 to 5 years is a highly decisive phase in determining whether a person will grow into a healthy, intelligent adult who can contribute to the nation, including to increase per capita income,” the Minister said.
“If we do not act quickly, we risk missing Indonesia’s demographic dividend. This is our responsibility to our children.”
The Government of Indonesia has reaffirmed early childhood development as a national priority through the Long-Term National Development Plan 2025 to 2045 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2025 to 2029, with Holistic and Integrated Early Childhood Development (PAUD-HI) designated as a key performance indicator.
Opening the afternoon session, Indonesian Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, highlighted the symposium’s contribution to policy strengthening.
“This forum brings together strategic cross sector perspectives. We encourage the resulting recommendations to be used to strengthen policies, regulations, and service innovations for early childhood development,” she said.
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Stella Christie, underscored the importance of science-based parenting and high-quality interaction.
“Caregiving with optimal interaction between children and caregivers has the greatest potential to maximise child development,” she said. “No technology, including artificial intelligence, can replace the power of human interaction.”
She added that children learn through curiosity, imitation, and everyday experiences, making responsive and evidence-based parenting critical for brain development and lifelong learning.
CEO of Tanoto Foundation Benny Lee reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-term commitment to early childhood development as a cornerstone of human potential.
“The early years are when the foundations of brain development, health, and character are formed,” Benny said.
“This is not the work of one institution. It requires a truly supportive ecosystem built through collaboration among government, civil society, academia, and philanthropy.”
He emphasised that Tanoto Foundation, founded by Sukanto Tanoto, Founder and Chairman of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), views early childhood development as a primary investment, where collective action can deliver lasting and sustainable impact. “This symposium is about ensuring that every child receives the strongest possible start in life, every parent receives the support they need, and every sector moves forward together,” he said.
The symposium brought together up to 200 participants, with speakers from government, development organisations, academia, research institutions, and philanthropy. Hashtag: #RGE #TanotoFoundation #Philanthropy #Indonesia #ECED #EarlyChildhood #Healthcare
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Tanoto Foundation
At Tanoto Foundation, we unlock human potential, help communities thrive, and create lasting impact. Founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, we are an independent family foundation that believes in providing every person with the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. To do so, we catalyse systems change in education and healthcare. Our approach is impact-first, collaborative, and evidence-based. We invest for the long term and strive to develop leaders who can drive sustained, positive outcomes.
Federal vehicle safety regulators have opened a probe into the emergency door release mechanism on the Tesla Model 3 following complaints that occupants may struggle to exit the vehicle during power failures or after crashes, raising concerns about passenger safety in critical moments. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its Office of Defects Investigation has begun a preliminary evaluation after receiving reports that the manual door […]
Dubai’s metro and tram network will operate around the clock over the New Year period as authorities move to manage heavy holiday demand and ensure safe, continuous mobility across the city during one of its busiest travel windows. Services on the Red and Green Metro lines will begin at 5.00 a. m. on December 31 and continue without interruption until 11.59 p. m. on Thursday, January 1, […]
Bitcoin could set a fresh all-time high in the first half of 2026, according to forward-looking projections outlined by digital asset manager Grayscale, which argues that a maturing market structure, institutional demand and macroeconomic tailwinds are aligning for another leg higher after the current cycle plays out. The outlook, published as part of Grayscale’s industry expectations for 2026, places Bitcoin’s next peak within the opening six […]
A magnetic levitation test run in China has pushed rail engineering into uncharted territory, with a prototype train reaching 700 kilometres an hour in roughly two seconds during a controlled acceleration trial. The demonstration, carried out on a short test track designed for extreme propulsion experiments, underscores Beijing’s drive to redefine high-speed ground transport and narrow the gap between rail and short-haul aviation. Engineers involved in the […]
After decades of quiet, Can Gio is awakening on Vietnam’s southern coast, as fresh investment and grand designs breathe new life into the once-remote district of Saigon.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 December 2024 – Six months after the groundbreaking of a 2,870-hectare coastal urban project backed by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, Can Gio, once seen as a forgotten corner of Ho Chi Minh City, is now emerging as a new growth engine for Vietnam’s southern metropolis.
Vinhomes Green Paradise: A Hidden Gem Poised to Shine in Vietnam’s Real Estate Market.
Breaking Isolation
For years, Can Gio was often left out of the city’s rapid development. Surrounded by dense forests and accessible mainly by ferry, it remained a world apart. Now, that is beginning to change.
Six months ago, the large-scale land reclamation project officially started construction. Locals call it a “game changer” that awakened a land long left behind. Along the coast that once lay quiet, a vast construction site has emerged, with heavy machinery working day and night. “I was very surprised by the speed,” said Prof. Pham Van Song, president of the Mien Dong University of Technology, noting that hundreds of hectares have already been filled and stabilized within months.
The project, developed by Vingroup through its real estate arm Vinhomes, represents one of the group’s most ambitious coastal developments, part of a long-term vision to extend Ho Chi Minh City’s urban footprint toward the sea. With billions of U.S. dollars in investment, it combines housing, tourism, and modern infrastructure within a single master plan that anchors Can Gio’s transformation.
Complementing this project, a series of major infrastructure works are also reshaping the district. By the end of 2025, the Phu My Hung–Can Gio high-speed railway, designed to reach 350 kilometers per hour, is expected to begin construction, linking the area to the city’s southern urban core. In 2026, the long-awaited Can Gio Bridge will break ground, cutting the journey to the city center to around 45 to 60 minutes.
At the same time, the Rung Sac interchange, with an investment of 3,000 billion VND (about 120 million U.S. dollars), will connect Can Gio directly with the Ben Luc–Long Thanh Expressway. Expected to be completed in 2028, it will link Can Gio with both the Southwest and Southeast regions, including Long Thanh International Airport.
In addition, a sea-crossing expressway between Can Gio and Vung Tau, 50 meters wide and proposed by Vingroup, would stretch across the sea for more than 10 kilometers. The plan envisions a wide eight-lane road that could reduce travel between Can Gio and Vung Tau to under 15 minutes, creating a strategic connection between the two coastal economies.
These efforts fit within a broader regional plan that combines road, rail, water, and sea transport. Another key project is the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, covering 571 hectares with an investment of 50,000 billion VND. The port is designed to become a new symbol of Vietnam’s maritime economy, with its first phase scheduled to begin operations in 2027 and full completion before 2045.
“A Single Project Ignites the South”
According to Prof. Pham Van Song, the rise of Can Gio is a natural development, especially with the involvement of Vingroup through its Vinhomes Green Paradise project. He believes that Can Gio is moving from an ecological area on the fringe of development to a new center of growth. “All modes of transportation will be available in Can Gio,” he said. “The district’s GRDP will grow rapidly in line with ongoing construction and investment. Both the number of residents and visitors will surge. Local people will be the first to directly benefit from these projects, and their lives will become increasingly prosperous.”
The changes are already drawing attention from investors. Dinh Minh Tuan, southern regional director of Batdongsan.com.vn, said the number of searches related to Can Gio has tripled since the beginning of the year. After the Vinhomes Green Paradise project broke ground, property interest in the district doubled again. “Just one single project has heated up the entire southern market,” he said.
Experts say this follows a familiar pattern. In the 1990s, Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard helped turn southern Ho Chi Minh City into a thriving area and drew nearly two million residents. In the 2010s, the completion of the Thu Thiem Tunnel and Bridge attracted more than one million people to the city’s east. “Investors who followed the infrastructure development wave then saw huge gains,” Tuan noted. “Can Gio now stands at a similar starting point, but with a stronger push.”
With a population of about 80,000, Can Gio has long faced a single challenge: lack of connectivity. But, “with the series of large-scale investments now under way, Can Gio is expected to grow faster than many of the city’s earlier new urban areas,” said Tuan. Hashtag: #Vinhomes
Toyota Motor has begun informing key parts suppliers that it expects global vehicle production to exceed 10 million units in 2026, reflecting confidence that demand for its petrol-electric hybrids will remain strong, particularly in the United States, while battery-electric sales grow at a steadier pace. The guidance, shared during routine planning discussions with suppliers, signals that the world’s largest automaker is preparing for volumes that would place […]
Labour demand across the United Arab Emirates is on course to rise by more than one million roles by the end of the decade, with technology positions accounting for a growing share of new hiring as digital transformation accelerates across government and the private sector. The outlook, drawn from labour market modelling and workforce data cited in a new ServiceNow study, points to sustained growth driven by artificial intelligence adoption, cloud migration, cybersecurity needs and large-scale public investment programmes.
The report estimates that the UAE currently supports about 8.5 million jobs across its economy, of which roughly 169,000 are technology-focused roles. While this represents only a small fraction of total employment, the pace of change is expected to intensify as organisations automate processes, modernise legacy systems and respond to new regulatory and security requirements. Analysts tracking the Gulf labour market say the country’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for digital services, advanced manufacturing and knowledge industries is translating into long-term workforce demand rather than short hiring cycles.
Economic planners have prioritised sectors that combine high productivity with export potential, including financial technology, health technology, clean energy systems, logistics platforms and smart infrastructure. Programmes aligned with national digital strategies are encouraging public bodies and state-linked firms to move services online, adopt AI-enabled decision tools and integrate data across departments. Each of these shifts creates secondary demand for software developers, data engineers, cloud architects and IT service managers, while also reshaping non-technical roles that require digital fluency.
ServiceNow’s analysis suggests that technology roles are expanding faster than overall employment growth, even as traditional sectors such as retail, hospitality and construction continue to add jobs. Employers surveyed for the study reported difficulty filling specialised digital roles, particularly in cybersecurity operations, enterprise platform management and AI workflow design. These shortages are contributing to wage premiums for experienced professionals and increased investment in training pipelines.
Education providers and corporate academies have responded by scaling certification programmes, apprenticeships and mid-career conversion schemes. Universities in the UAE have expanded computer science and engineering intakes, while partnerships with global technology firms aim to align curricula with enterprise needs. Industry observers note that demand is not limited to coders; roles in product management, digital compliance, IT service delivery and change management are growing as organisations seek to embed technology into core operations.
Demographics and migration policy also shape the employment outlook. The UAE’s ability to attract skilled expatriates remains a central factor in meeting talent requirements, particularly for niche technical expertise that takes years to develop. Long-term residency options and sector-specific visas have helped stabilise the workforce, reducing turnover in high-demand roles. At the same time, localisation initiatives encourage employers to invest in training citizens for private-sector technology careers, broadening the domestic talent base.
Beyond pure technology positions, the report highlights a rise in hybrid jobs that combine domain knowledge with digital skills. In banking, compliance specialists increasingly work alongside data analytics teams; in healthcare, clinicians are expected to engage with digital records and AI-assisted diagnostics; in energy and utilities, engineers manage sensor-driven systems and predictive maintenance platforms. This blending of skills expands the effective footprint of the tech workforce beyond headline job titles.
Regional competition for talent is intensifying as neighbouring economies pursue similar diversification strategies. Salaries, quality of life and career progression prospects are key differentiators, according to recruitment firms operating in the Gulf. The UAE’s mature infrastructure, regulatory clarity and concentration of multinational headquarters continue to attract professionals, though employers face pressure to offer flexible working arrangements and clear upskilling pathways.
By Dr Arun Mitra The new nuclear bill, titled Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI), passed by Parliament, has received the assent of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. With this, it has become an Act governing various aspects of nuclear energy in the country. There is a strong push […]
The UAE has rolled out a broad overhaul of its residency and visa framework, introducing new visit-visa categories and tightening eligibility criteria as part of a wider effort to reinforce its standing as a global destination for talent, business activity and long-term investment. The reforms, approved by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, standardise durations and sponsorship rules across multiple permit types while […]
BinDawood Holding Company has agreed to acquire a controlling 51% stake in UAE-based Wonder Bakery in a deal valued at 96.9 million dirhams, marking a significant step in the Saudi retailer’s regional expansion strategy and its push into food manufacturing. The Riyadh-listed group said the share purchase agreement will be funded through internal resources alongside existing financing facilities, underlining a balance-sheet-led expansion rather than reliance on new […]
CAN GIO, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 December 2025 – In 2024, when Hines released its seminal report Why Asia Now, the message was simple yet profound: The world’s most compelling growth story was shifting eastward. At that time, global markets were turbulent but still predictable.
Vinhomes Green Paradise: A Hidden Gem Poised to Shine in Vietnam’s Real Estate Market.
A year later, the landscape has morphed into something far more complex, rippling with tariff shocks, persistent inflation, rising bond yields, and growth downgrades across traditional economic powerhouses. The world feels as if it is moving through a narrow channel, buffeted by waves from every direction. And yet, amid all the noise, Asia has not only held its ground but stepped forward with a clarity and confidence that few regions can match.
Why Asia Now: A New Era of Resilience, Growth, and Opportunity
The forces shaping Asia’s rise have been gathering momentum for decades. What we are witnessing now is their convergence. Asia is not simply adapting to global volatility, it is redefining the foundations of resilience and growth. Its economies are becoming wealthier, stronger, and more self-reliant, and its real estate markets are revealing layers of opportunity that long-term investors have waited years to see.
The near-term picture, though challenged, underscores this resilience. Tariffs have uneven effects, and countries with strong domestic engines such as Australia are absorbing shocks with surprising ease.
But it is the longer horizon that illuminates Asia’s true arc. The region’s working-age population and middle class have expanded at a breathtaking pace, setting the stage for decades of consumption-led dynamism. Education levels are rising, service sectors are flourishing, and manufacturing capabilities are climbing the value chain.
Meanwhile, intra-Asia trade has quietly become the backbone of global commerce, with Asia-to-Asia routes now forming the largest share of world trade. As the region turns inward, not in isolation, but in self-reinforcing collaboration, Asia ex-China is projected to contribute more to global growth than the United States and Europe combined.
Real estate, often seen as a mirror for economic sentiment, is telling a similar story. Transaction volumes across Asia have been less volatile than those in Western markets, and pricing has remained more stable, offering a predictable return profile. Supply constraints, elevated construction costs, and a decade-low pricing position relative to long-term trends are creating what can only be described as an extraordinary entry window.
Why Capital is Flowing into Vietnam
If Asia’s trajectory could be captured in a single idea, it would be the beginning of a Value Uprising, a structural rise in long-term asset worth, powered by demographics, policy, and economic integration, rather than speculation.
From this continental narrative emerges Vietnam, a nation whose ascent is increasingly impossible to ignore. Over the past decade, Vietnam has transformed from a rising star into a gravitational force for global investors. Supply chain diversification has accelerated its role as a manufacturing and logistics nexus. Even with global tariffs shifting, Vietnam’s logistics sector continues to expand in sophistication, efficiency, and international relevance. Its demographic profile, marked by a median age years younger than China, offers a demographic dividend that many Asian economies have already spent. And as Southeast Asia’s digital backbone grows, Vietnam is stepping into the spotlight as one of the region’s next major data-center markets, a signifier of future industrial depth.
Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, has entered a new chapter. Its standing among Asia-Pacific cities for investment and development has climbed steadily, reflecting not only macroeconomic resilience but the confidence of global capital. It has become a symbolic frontier, an emerging metropolis where the contours of modern Asia are being redrawn.
At the heart of Vietnam’s momentum lies another extraordinary phenomenon: The consistent and rising flow of remittances. Vietnam ranks among the world’s top recipients, and Ho Chi Minh City alone welcomed over USD 9.46 billion in 2023, USD 9.6 billion in 2024, and more than USD 5.3 billion in the second quarter of 2025.
A remarkable portion of these funds, around one-fifth, finds its way into real estate. But this is not passive investment. It is a gesture of return, of building a future homeland, of preparing for business, family, and retirement. It is long-term capital with long-term intent.
Vinhomes Green Paradise: A Hidden Gem Poised to Shine in Vietnam’s Real Estate Market
Regulatory reform is reinforcing this trust. The revised Land Law and Real Estate Business Law offer stronger protections and broader rights for Vietnamese citizens, including those living abroad. In a period where global currencies fluctuate and deposit rates decline, investors are increasingly confronting a hard truth: Holding cash is, in many cases, a slow erosion of value. As economist Can Van Luc notes, the VND has lost 3.4 percent of its value in two years, even as the USD depreciated. Real estate, therefore, is not merely an alternative, it has become one of the few asset classes capable of preserving and multiplying value in real terms.
Against this backdrop, regions entering new cycles of infrastructure development are drawing accelerated capital inflows. And among them, one name rises above all others: Can Gio.
For decades, Can Gio stood quietly at the edge of Ho Chi Minh City, an ecological jewel, admired but distant. Today, it has become the most powerful symbol of Vietnam’s coastal urban future. Massive infrastructure investment is reshaping its accessibility, and yet its real estate prices remain a fraction of central districts. Compared to Phu My Hung, Can Gio’s price base is nearly half; compared to Districts 1 and 3, just one-fifth. The gap is not a discount, it is untapped potential waiting to be realized.
The emergence of Vinhomes Green Paradise has pushed this transformation into global consciousness. As the first official participant in the New7Wonders “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign, the project is channeling the same catalytic energy once witnessed in iconic developments. Internationally, such recognitions do not merely elevate prestige, they accelerate valuation cycles, attract global capital, and redefine a city’s future skyline.
With its one-of-a-kind geographic formation and proximity to Can Gio’s million-year-old biosphere reserve, Vinhomes Green Paradise stands as a once-in-a-century asset. It embodies scarcity in its purest form, an asset class that cannot be replicated, reshaped, or reborn elsewhere.
And that is where the narrative converges. Asia’s rise, Vietnam’s momentum, Ho Chi Minh City’s evolution, and Can Gio’s emergence are not isolated stories. Together, they form a new investment epoch characterized by structural uplift, demographic acceleration, and a rapidly expanding middle class. It is the era of the Value Uprising, a phase in which the forces of economics, policy, population, and global capital align to propel real estate into a new price horizon.
In moments like this, markets rarely wait. History shows that investors who move early define the benchmark for everyone who follows. The question is no longer whether Asia will rise, or whether Vietnam will lead, or whether Can Gio will transform. The question, now, is whether investors will seize a moment that may not return for another generation.
Positioning Vietnam as Production-Export Hub to Global Markets, with SCGD Leading Decorative Surface Materials and Ceramic Tiles Market Ready to Drive Cement Business Expansion of Low-Carbon Products to Global Markets
HCMC, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 December 2025 – SCG continues its Regional Optimization strategy, positioning Vietnam as a Strategic Hub in the ASEAN region for manufacturing and exports to global markets. SCG Decor (SCGD) supports PRIME GROUP in expanding production capacity for high-quality tiles to meet growing demand. The cement and building materials business in Vietnam is accelerating development of low-carbon cement for both domestic sales and global exports under the Green Building policy to create sustainable growth while enhancing quality of life.
Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra, Country Director – Vietnam, SCG, stated: “Vietnam is a strategically important country for SCG, with total investments exceeding 7 billion US dollars across 28 companies, representing 28% of SCG’s total assets. This covers chemicals, cement, building materials, packaging, and logistics businesses to serve both domestic and export market demands, enhancing competitive capabilities and building comprehensive production and supply chain potential.
Under the Regional Optimization strategy, SCG combines the strengths of Thailand and Vietnam in digital technology, artificial intelligence and automation, safety standards, and plant management, as well as social, environmental, and governance practices following ESG principles. Vietnam is a high-growth potential market due to its economy, government infrastructure policies, and increasing Green Building trends. It also has consumers with purchasing power for high-quality products and a large consumer base of over 100 million people, plus export potential with efficient production costs, which strengthens sustainable business growth and elevates quality of life in the region.”
SCGD supports PRIME GROUP, Vietnam’s Number One Market Leader of Decor Surface
PRIME GROUP, the flagship business in which SCG acquired shares in 2012, is the market leader of decorative surface materials in Vietnam and will be a key force strengthening SCGD toward its goal of becoming ASEAN leader.
Mr. Numpol Malichai, The Chief Executive Officer and President of SCG Decor Public Company Limited, stated: “Vietnam’s economy is growing, the middle class is expanding, and the real estate market is recovering in mid-range to premium residential projects that favor Glazed Porcelain (GP) tiles, leading to continuously increasing demand for these products.
PRIME has sales revenue of approximately 5,500 million baht with total production capacity of around 80 million square meters. The company plans to invest in expanding GP tile production capacity from 19 million square meters in 2025 to 25.6 million square meters in 2026, targeting expansion to 45 million square meters by 2030 to align with increasing demand. PRIME can also manage and control production costs of GP tiles to be able to competitive with the products from world-class competitors. This cost advantage supports PRIME to become the strategic production and export base of SCGD, strengthening the Regional Optimization strategy for sustainable growth.
In response to market change and maintain competitive level, PRIME invested in Biomass Gasifier systems at the Pho Yen plant to replace fossil fuel with biomass, thereby reducing energy costs and greenhouse gases, supporting Vietnam to become the strategic export hub to ASEAN and other countries. Furthermore, PRIME’s products meet customers’ needs of all market segments with product offering that covers innovative design and health and safety functions that are well-recognized throughout the Asian region. This supports business growth along with environmental care enhancement. Additionally, SCGD grows bathroom business and strengthens COTTO brand in the ASEAN market with over 44 distributors appointed in Vietnam, as well as growing Complementary products such as adhesive and grout, and others.”
SCG Low-Carbon Cement Supports Vietnam’s Infrastructure and Green Cities, Advancing Its Role as a Global Export Hub
SCG Cement and Building Materials has operated in Vietnam for more than 20 years, with 11 companies across the cement, roofing, and building materials businesses. With production bases located in the central and southern regions, the company supports domestic market growth while also serving as a strategic manufacturing hub for exports to global markets.
Mr. Wichet Chuchaeu, Country Director – Vietnam, SCG Cement and Building Materials Business, stated: “Vietnam’s economy continued to expand in 2025, driven by growth in the industrial and construction sectors. Accelerated government infrastructure investment has supported a steady recovery in demand for building materials and cement—especially low-carbon cement, whose growth aligns with national policies such as the 2050 Net Zero Emission commitment and the Green City policy, which targets that by 2050 at least 50% of new urban areas and 10% of all cities nationwide must meet government-defined green city criteria.”
The cement business has an annual production capacity of 3 million tons of clinker and 4 million tons of cement. Vietnam is the best-managed production-cost base among SCG’s regional cement operations, positioning the country not only as a strong domestic supply base but also as a key hub for exports. SCG currently exports both low-carbon cement and clinker to America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Asia.
SCG Cement continues to enhance environmental performance through the use of alternative and recycled materials, reduced coal consumption via alternative fuels such as biomass and refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and the implementation of Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) systems that significantly reduce natural resources, lower energy consumption and reduce CO2 emission.
These initiatives have earned SCG recognition through international environmental standards, including Singapore Green Building Product certification and International Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) System certification—affirming sustainability from production through to finished products.
“Our investment strategy and production cost optimization under the Regional Optimization concept have strengthened SCG’s competitiveness. Vietnam is now positioned as a central hub for manufacturing and exporting quality products to global markets. This supports growing demand for high-quality surface materials and environmentally friendly building materials, contributing to green city development and sustainably enhancing the quality of life for people in Vietnam and the region.”, Mr. Kulachet concluded.
Hashtag: #SCGCement
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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