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Partnered with CB Insights to unveil Hong Kong leads Asia and ranks fifth globally for high-potential start-ups, orchestrating the next era of global tech innovation

Key Takeaways:

  • HKSTP’s 25th Anniversary Prelude theme, “Innovation. Next by Nature.”, brings together great minds and bold ideas to inspire what comes next for Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem.
  • The CB Insights-HKSTP white paper ranks Hong Kong first in Asia and fifth globally, with a Mosaic score of 370 — a key indicator of high-potential ventures and future unicorns.
  • The research highlights Chinese Mainland’s lead in Asia’s physical AI wave, as the region powers global growth in robotics and AI funding.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today officially kicked off its year-long 25th anniversary celebration with a landmark event “Together to NEXT”, bringing together Innovation and Technology Partners, Park Companies, industry leaders, academia and startups to mark a quarter-century of transforming bold ideas into global impact.

HKSTP's 25th Anniversary Prelude theme, "Innovation. Next by Nature.", brings together great minds and bold ideas to inspire what comes next for Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem. Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP (6th from left), Mr Terry Wong, CEO at HKSTP (6th from right), Mr Aldous Mak, Chief Financial Officer of HKSTP (5th from left), Ms Hilda Chan, Chief Marketing Officer, HKSTP (5th from right), Ms Filla Mak, Chief Property and Asset Officer, HKSTP (4th from left), Mr Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer, HKSTP (4th from right), Ms Fanny Wong, Chief Talent Officer, HKSTP (3rd from right), Mr Oscar Wong, Acting Chief Business Development Officer, HKSTP (2nd from right) and members from the management team officiate the event.
HKSTP’s 25th Anniversary Prelude theme, “Innovation. Next by Nature.”, brings together great minds and bold ideas to inspire what comes next for Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem. Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP (6th from left), Mr Terry Wong, CEO at HKSTP (6th from right), Mr Aldous Mak, Chief Financial Officer of HKSTP (5th from left), Ms Hilda Chan, Chief Marketing Officer, HKSTP (5th from right), Ms Filla Mak, Chief Property and Asset Officer, HKSTP (4th from left), Mr Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer, HKSTP (4th from right), Ms Fanny Wong, Chief Talent Officer, HKSTP (3rd from right), Mr Oscar Wong, Acting Chief Business Development Officer, HKSTP (2nd from right) and members from the management team officiate the event.

To commemorate this milestone, HKSTP unveiled its anniversary theme, “Innovation. Next by Nature.”, a vision that signals its evolution from ecosystem enabler to orchestrator of the next era of global innovation. HKSTP also announced the findings of a landmark study, “Inside Asia’s Fast-Track to Global Tech Scale,” conducted in partnership with the leading technology market intelligence firm CB Insights, revealing Hong Kong ranks first in Asia and fifth globally, with a Mosaic score of 370. Mosaic score is CB Insight’s proprietary and industry-recognised indicator of high-potential ventures and future unicorns, evaluating momentum, financing, market opportunity and leadership quality. Hong Kong’s top ranking among Asian markets reflects a concentrated pool of scale-ready ventures and highly-investable innovation.

Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP, said: “For 25 years, HKSTP has driven I&T as Hong Kong’s economic engine. Across our 240-hectare infrastructure and service ecosystem—comprising Science Park, InnoCentre, three InnoParks, and our Shenzhen Park—we turn research into real-world impact. Looking ahead, our ‘What’s Next’ vision is built on four dimensions, ‘Broad and Deep, Far Yet Near’: Broad means building a diverse talent ecosystem where human minds leverage technology; Deep involves advancing tech-industry convergence; Far entails expanding our global footprint; and Near focuses on drawing the future nearer with immediate action. Our community is our heartbeat. Together, we must strengthen, enhance, and collaborate, harnessing Hong Kong’s unique advantages to shape a better future for all.”

To kick off this next era, HKSTP has partnered with CB Insights to launch a white paper titled “Inside Asia‘s Fast-Track to Global Tech Scale.“ The report shows how Asia is reshaping the global innovation playbook with a network of specialist clusters, each optimised for a different stage of the innovation journey and built for today’s multipolar market landscape. CB Insights is a global tech intelligence leader and predictive data platform trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

Mr Terry Wong, CEO at HKSTP, said: “Asia’s rising innovation power is rewriting the global innovation map. While Silicon Valley grew as a single, all-in-one hub, Asia, with the Chinese Mainland as a key technology engine, is evolving an accelerated and more specialised network for global innovation. Hong Kong’s role as a super connector and value-adder has never been more important as Asia sets a new benchmark for start-up ecosystems. As HKSTP steps up as an ecosystem orchestrator, we are connecting innovators with capital, talent, deep Mainland China links and trusted pathways to global markets.”

Other Key Report Findings:

  • Chinese Mainland drives physical AI takeover
    Asia’s AI investment exploding as physical AI leads the way with robotics raising US$26.1B and AI infrastructure hit US$21.4 billion in 2025, outpacing generative AI and fintech. China dominates region with close to 100% of deals in emerging segments: robot/industrial humanoid robot foundation models, vision language and autonomous driving models.
  • Asia‘s specialist hubs as accelerators of growth across innovation lifecycle
  • Asia vies for global R&D lead to complement established manufacturing and consumer power
    The region’s global R&D expenditure surge from 24% in 2007 to 45% in 2024, according to WIPO, while already the dominant region for global manufacturing as well as driving global consumption with growing purchasing power with Asia’s GDP reaching 48.6 percent in 2025, according to Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).


HKSTP: Global
I&T Ecosystem Orchestrator and Innovation Accelerator

HKSTP’s 25th anniversary signals a renewed mission to make Hong Kong the global heartbeat of what’s next in innovation and technology (I&T). As HKSTP approaches its 25th anniversary, the new brand theme, “Innovation. Next by Nature.”, positions HKSTP as inherently built to lead the change. The year-long celebrative campaign “25 to NEXT” starts from August 2026 to July 2027 with 25 high-impact activations and cultural moments.

Anchored by three core goals — The Next Habitat (cultivating an innovation culture by connecting ecosystem stakeholders with signature events), The Next Horizon (broadening perspectives through industry-guiding insights, including the landmark study in partnership with CB Insights and 25 KOL collaborations), and The Next Pinnacle (developing overseas delegations and platforms across international markets). The campaign positions HKSTP as a more connected engine and forward-oriented convener of talent, capital, infrastructure and partnerships across sectors and borders.

Since its establishment, HKSTP has grown into Hong Kong’s largest I&T ecosystem, driving breakthroughs across Life and Health Technology, AI and Data Science, Microelectronics and Advanced Manufacturing, and GreenTech and New Energy. As the ecosystem orchestrator, HKSTP is committed to powering Hong Kong’s rise as the international I&T hub, underpinned by leading critical partnerships across Hong Kong and beyond, attracting talent, engaging stakeholders, and building a connected, forward-looking I&T community for the next era of global innovation.
Hashtag: #HongKongScienceandTechnologyParksCorporation #HKSTP

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

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 and has built a proven foundation as Hong Kong’s leading innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Established for 25 years, HKSTP is supporting 14 unicorns, has nurtured more than 17,000 research professionals and built a community of over 2,600 technology companies from 26 countries and regions across four strategic technology clusters: Life and Health Technology, AI and Data Science, Micro-electronics, and New Energy and Green Technology.

As an ecosystem orchestrator, HKSTP provides end-to-end support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate commercialisation and help technology ventures scale. Its innovation infrastructure spans over 240 hectares covering Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long, advancing Hong Kong’s vision for new industrialisation and smart manufacturing.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, strengthens cross-border collaboration by connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and global innovation networks and propels Chinese innovators onto the world stage, while also delivering comprehensive GBA landing support to accelerate cross-border success for local and international ventures.

As HKSTP enters its next chapter with strong foundations, it continues to deepen impact, elevate quality and create value for innovators. As an ecosystem built to lead change, HKSTP is empowering Hong Kong to define what comes next in innovation, growth and opportunity.

More information about HKSTP is available at .

By Nantoo Banerjee The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going great guns. The country’s national space agency plans to launch its own independent orbital outpost, named the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035. If it succeeds, India will be the only country after China to have an independent space station. Neither the US nor Russia […]

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US lawmakers renewed demands for President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran as the conflict passed its six-month mark, while the White House shifted emphasis towards economic pressure and Trump signalled no urgency to restart negotiations. Republican Representative Thomas Massie and senior Democrats used Friday’s milestone to challenge a war that began on February 28 with coordinated US and Israeli strikes. Massie said the conflict […]

OpenAI has appointed Meta’s India and Southeast Asia vice-president Sandhya Devanathan as its vice-president for Southeast Asia and Australia, strengthening the ChatGPT maker’s regional leadership as it expands consumer, enterprise and government engagement across Asia-Pacific.

Devanathan is due to take up the newly created role in October and will be based in Singapore, reporting to Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s managing director for Asia-Pacific. Her responsibilities will cover consumer growth, enterprise adoption and partnerships, regulatory engagement and operations across Southeast Asia and Australia.

The move gives OpenAI an experienced technology executive as competition intensifies among artificial intelligence companies for users, corporate customers, developers and public-sector partnerships. Devanathan has spent more than a decade at Meta and has held senior roles spanning ecommerce, gaming and country leadership across Asia-Pacific.

Devanathan announced her departure from Meta on Friday, describing the decision as “bittersweet” and saying she would take a short break before beginning her next chapter. OpenAI subsequently confirmed that she would join the company in the regional position.

Her departure also reshapes Meta’s reporting structure in one of its largest markets. Arun Srinivas, Meta’s managing director and country head for India, will report directly to Benjamin Joe, the company’s vice-president for Asia-Pacific. Srinivas had been reporting to Devanathan.

Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 and helped build its businesses and teams in Singapore and Vietnam, as well as ecommerce initiatives across Southeast Asia. She moved in 2020 to lead Meta’s gaming business in Asia-Pacific before being appointed vice-president and head of India, taking up that position in January 2023. Her remit was later expanded to include Southeast Asia.

At Meta, her work covered the company’s business and revenue priorities, relationships with major brands, advertisers, creators and partners, and the expansion of digital commerce and messaging services. She has more than 25 years of experience across banking, payments and technology.

OpenAI’s appointment places Devanathan in charge of markets where governments and companies are accelerating investment in generative artificial intelligence while also debating rules on safety, data, copyright and the use of advanced models. Her remit includes regulatory engagement, making her role important to OpenAI’s efforts to navigate differing policy regimes across Southeast Asia and Australia.

The company has been expanding its physical and management presence across Asia-Pacific, with offices in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Delhi. It has also strengthened its leadership in India, where it appointed former Uber executive Prabhjeet Singh as managing director earlier this year.

OpenAI has made India a significant part of its regional growth strategy as demand for generative AI tools rises among consumers, developers and businesses. In February, the company launched OpenAI for India, an initiative focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure, enterprise adoption, skills development and education partnerships.

Devanathan’s appointment extends that regional build-out beyond India, giving OpenAI a senior executive responsible for Southeast Asia and Australia from Singapore. The role combines commercial expansion with policy and operational responsibilities rather than focusing solely on sales or partnerships.

For Meta, the leadership change comes as the company continues to manage its advertising, messaging and social-media businesses across the region while increasing investment in artificial intelligence. Devanathan’s departure removes an executive who had overseen both India and Southeast Asia and had been part of Meta’s Asia-Pacific leadership structure.

When Meta appointed Devanathan to lead its India operations in 2022, the company said she would bring together its business and revenue priorities and strengthen relationships with brands, creators, advertisers and partners. She moved back to India for the role after earlier assignments in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

In her departure message, Devanathan highlighted work involving government citizen services delivered through WhatsApp in India and small businesses using Meta’s applications as digital storefronts in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. She also referred to her experience helping technology companies and creators grow across the region.

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Strengthening Competitiveness via Online-to-Offline Integration and Supply Chain Agility

Results Highlights

  • Revenue reached US$301.51 million, representing a strong increase of 23.2%.
  • Gross profit grew by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding to 31.2%.
  • Operating profit increased by 30.1% to US$24.29 million.
  • Net profit surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, with net profit margin improving to 6.1%.
  • Business-to-consumer (B2C) platform YesStyle recorded revenue of US$215.07 million, up 30.5%, accounting for 71.3% of the Group’s total revenue. Offline expansion was enhanced with the opening of its first physical concept store in the US.
  • Business-to-business (B2B) platform AsianBeautyWholesale (ABW) recorded revenue of US$82.75 million, up 6.2%, accounting for 27.4% of the Group’s total revenue.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – YesAsia Holdings Limited (“YesAsia Holdings”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (2209.HK), a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in curating Asian beauty and lifestyle products, announced today its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”).

The Group continued to capture strong global demand for Korean Beauty (“K-Beauty”) products, driving revenue up by 23.2% year-on-year to US$301.51 million. Gross profit increased by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding by 1.2 percentage points to 31.2%. Operating profit grew by 30.1% to US$24.29 million. Benefiting from forward-looking investments in localized and tech-driven logistics infrastructure, which successfully mitigated geopolitical and freight cost pressures, profit for the period surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, after recognition of an one-off expense of approximately US$1.24 million in termination benefits arising from the organizational streamlining. Net profit margin improved to 6.1%. Basic earnings per share were US4.39 cents (1H 2025: US3.43 cents).

Navigating Uncertainties through Market Diversification and Logistics Agility

A global market footprint remains pivotal in mitigating geopolitical risks. The US, the Group’s largest market, has absorbed the tariff shock and delivered progressive improvement during the Reporting Period, with revenue exceeding 2H 2025 even outside the typical holiday peak season. Among non-core markets (excluding the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia), robust demand across Europe and Latin America, unlocked new growth momentum, with revenue from Europe and associated countries and Latin America growing by 22.1% and 178.4%, respectively. In the Middle East, the Group navigated the regional tensions to achieve steady revenue growth of 33.4%.

Complementing market diversification, strategic investments in logistics infrastructure spanning Hong Kong, South Korea, the US, and Europe, alongside the adoption of automation technologies like AMRs, have built a highly resilient and scalable supply chain. These capabilities enabled the Group to maintain a stable baseline for business costs and absorb freight and fuel price spikes stemming from Middle East conflicts during the Reporting Period. Consequently, the increase in operating costs remained well below revenue growth, with freight cost as a percentage of revenue dropping to 19.0%, demonstrating the Group’s robust cost control and operational agility.

Integrating O2O Experiences to Drive B2C-B2B Dual-Engine Synergy

Social media marketing remained one of the Group’s core strengths during the Reporting Period, supported by an ecosystem of over 557,000 unique influencers that generated US$85.70 million and contributed nearly 40% of YesStyle‘s revenue. To amplify this online impact, the Group strategically expanded its global offline presence to seamlessly bridge online and offline customer experiences. YesStyle debuted a 1,500 sq. ft. concept store in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the same time, the Group staged high-profile activations, including a Madrid café pop-up that generated over 2 million impressions and brand events at Seoul’s Yesful Land that accumulated over 3 million impressions. Together, these physical and digital touchpoints successfully converted customer engagement into sustained loyalty.

This heightened brand exposure across end-consumer markets directly catalyzed overseas B2B purchasing demand. During the Reporting Period, ABW consolidated its newly built partnerships with retailers in the US and Latin America. Notably, ABW Online’s average order size surged 38.6% year-on-year to US$3,590.60. This uptick reflects substantially stronger purchasing appetite and inventory confidence for K-Beauty products among retailers, underscoring the powerful synergy of the Group’s B2C-B2B dual-engine model.

Mr. Joshua Lau, Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of YesAsia Holdings, said: “K-Beauty remains on an upward trajectory as it becomes a mainstream player in the global beauty business. Looking ahead, we believe that there is ample room for growth for YesAsia Holdings in both the retail and wholesale spheres worldwide. Amid geopolitical and supply chain uncertainties, we are continuously reinforcing our competitive moat and market leadership through AI-empowered customer services, a highly agile supply chain, and a strategy that seamlessly converts online traffic into immersive physical experiences, thereby driving long-term value for our shareholders in a fast-evolving market landscape.”

Hashtag: #YesAsia

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

About YesAsia Holdings Limited (02209.HK)

Established in 1997, YesAsia Holdings is a leading e‑commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in identifying and procuring quality Asian beauty products. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group delivers products promptly and efficiently to a global audience through its strong ties with over 400 leading Asian beauty brand and supplier partners. The Group operates two major channels: YesStyle, a B2C e‑commerce platform serving the growing demand for Asian beauty, fashion and lifestyle products, particularly Korean beauty products; and AsianBeautyWholesale, a B2B‑oriented business for Asian beauty products via online and offline channels. YesAsia Holdings is a constituent of the MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index.

For more information, please visit the Group’s official website:

China has formally removed Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the state Central Military Commission, deepening an extraordinary leadership purge that has dismantled much of President Xi Jinping’s senior military command. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress approved the removal on Friday, seven months after authorities placed both officers under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang had served as the […]

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Cyberport’s flagship annual event, the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 (DELF 2026), opened today at Cyberport. The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Mr Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport.

Under the theme “The Dreamatic Circus”, DELF 2026 explores how artificial intelligence (AI), immersive technologies, and other innovations are transforming the cultural and creative industries while creating new opportunities for digital entertainment and smart living. Running for three days, the event features four themed experience zones: Digital Entertainment, Culture and Arts, Smart Living and Business, and Robotics and Drones, showcasing more than 35 technology exhibits and interactive experiences.

Highlights include the immersive art exhibition of Hong Kong animation IP Another World, AI-powered fashion innovations, combat robots, drone performances, screenings, workshops, and competitions, offering visitors first-hand experience of emerging technologies.

DELF 2026 brings together more than 60 industry leaders, creators, academics, experts, and investors from Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas. The programme includes keynote speeches and panel discussions on AI collaboration, intellectual property development, the creative economy, smart living, film, gaming, animation, and immersive technologies.

On the first day, Cyberport signed memoranda of understanding respectively with Alibaba Cloud, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Hong Kong Shue Yan University. The partnerships will promote AI innovation, art-tech development, entrepreneurship, skills training, and talent cultivation, further strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, and research sectors.

Over the next two days, DELF 2026 will continue with eVTOL flight demonstrations, esports experiences, AI creative learning programmes, and showcases of AI-assisted animation and film projects. A special “Play to Earn” campaign will also allow visitors to complete missions, collect rewards, and win exclusive Another World merchandise.

For more information, visit: https://delf.cyberport.hk/tc/index

Please click here to download high-resolution press photos.

Photo 1: Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 opens today.
Photo 2: Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivers remarks at the opening ceremony.
Photo 3: Mr Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, delivers welcome remarks.
Photo 4: Cyberport and Alibaba Cloud sign an MoU.
Photo 5: Cyberport and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts sign an MoU.
Photo 6: Cyberport and Hong Kong Shue Yan University sign an MoU
Photo 7 to 10: Prof Sun Dong visits the various innovative solutions in the DELF 2026 experience zone.

Hashtag: #DELF

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

Empowering SMEs and Working Professionals to Embrace AI and Foster Widespread AI Adoption in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today held the Launching Ceremony of the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the “AI+” initiative, and supporting the HKSAR Government’s policies of “industries for AI, AI for industries” and “AI for All”. Coordinated by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB), the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme aims to promote the widespread adoption of AI across society. As one of the programme implementation partners, HKPC will lead the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” sub-programme, focusing on practical business applications, talent development, and inclusive technology adoption. The initiative will provide targeted support to SMEs, professionals, labour groups, and underprivileged communities through a range of training courses, hands-on application programmes, and industry-academia-research collaboration, promoting AI literacy and the practical deployment of AI technologies.

Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, officiated at the ceremony, joined by Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, and Mr Mohamed Butt, MH, Executive Director of HKPC. The event also brought together representatives from leading international and Chinese Mainland technology enterprises, chambers of commerce, and industry leaders, who shared successful case studies and practical insights, fostering collaboration across sectors to advance Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem.

Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said: “AI has become a key factor in global industrial upgrading and driving the development of the digital economy. Helping SMEs to achieve digital transformation and enhance competitiveness through AI is one of the focal points of the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme. This time, HKPC as the third implementing organisation for the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme, leverages its years of experience serving businesses to provide targeted and professional support to SMEs, helping them seize opportunities in the AI era. I hope that through the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme, AI will not only serve as an empowering tool to enhance corporate value and competitiveness but also transform into a super dividend that benefits SMEs and the general public. Let ‘AI for All’ become Hong Kong’s vision for ‘Upgrading for All’ and ‘Opportunities for All’.”

Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, said: “AI should not be a privilege reserved for large enterprises. It should become a productivity tool that every business, every employee, and people from all walks of life can leverage. HKPC has long been committed to helping enterprises, particularly SMEs, enhance productivity, drive digital transformation, and convert innovative technologies into tangible business value. We focus on integrating AI technologies across different industries by providing practical, scalable and replicable solutions that support smart transformation. As one of the implementation organisations of the ‘AI for All’ Inclusive Programme, HKPC will centre its efforts on ‘AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment’, connecting Government, industry, academia, technology partners and social service organisations to help enterprises, SMEs, professionals and underprivileged communities acquire AI capabilities and transform AI into real productivity and business value, thereby advancing Hong Kong’s high-quality development and digital inclusion.”

“AI for All” Officially Launches with “Business Empowerment” Series to Drive Widespread AI Adoption

To advance the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, HKPC has launched the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” training series, centred on practical business applications. Through a two-year training and promotion programme, HKPC will work with technology companies, chambers of commerce, labour groups and community partners to help SMEs, professionals, working individuals, labour organisations, underprivileged groups and the general public acquire AI knowledge and application skills. The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of AI and support digital and smart transformation across industries, sectors and communities through three key focus areas:

1. Business and Industry Upgrading: Through AI-focused programmes such as “AI+ Industry Boost Training” and “SME AI Connect”, enterprises can rapidly adopt AI technologies to enhance productivity and competitiveness. Key training topics include:

  • Practical Applications of Generative AI: Learning how to use generative AI tools for content creation, data analysis, and workflow optimisation.
  • AI Applications Across Industries: Exploring how AI enhances efficiency, optimises operations and drives innovation in sectors including education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and logistics.
  • AI Project Workshops: Providing hands-on experience in AI application development and implementation, enabling participants to integrate AI solutions into real business scenarios.

2. Human Resources and Leadership: HKPC will continue conducting the “Hong Kong Enterprise AI Application Trends Survey” and share insights through “AI Talent Winning Tips”, helping organisations understand AI talent management and application trends while preparing for future workforce needs. Key topics include:

  • AI and Career Development: Examining the impact of AI on the future workplace and helping professionals understand emerging skills requirements.
  • AI Talent Management and Application Strategies: Sharing successful corporate experiences and practical strategies for AI transformation and talent development.

3. AI for ALL: Through the free online learning platform “AI BiteClass”, HKPC will provide convenient AI learning resources for SMEs, professionals, senior citizens and underprivileged communities, enabling people from all backgrounds to access AI fundamentals and the latest application trends anytime, anywhere. Key topics include:

  • Introduction to AI Fundamentals: Covering basic AI concepts, operating principles, common use cases and future trends.
  • Getting Started with Generative AI: Introducing generative AI tools and their everyday applications.
  • AI Ethics and Responsible Use: Building awareness of responsible AI adoption, including issues relating to data privacy, bias and transparency.


“AI BiteClass” Debuts at Launch Ceremony, Bringing Global Technology Expertise to Hong Kong

As part of the launch event, HKPC presented a live edition of the “AI BiteClass”, featuring experts from HKPC and leading global technology companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Huawei Cloud, Lenovo, Samsung, Tencent Cloud and Microsoft. The sessions shared practical AI techniques and real-world application cases tailored for SMEs. Through concise yet insightful presentations, the guest speakers highlighted the best practices and implementation strategies for AI, demonstrating how businesses can leverage AI to drive growth and enhance operational efficiency.

Looking ahead, the “AI BiteClass” will introduce a range of free online courses covering popular topics such as generative AI, AI agents, workflow automation, data analytics and enterprise transformation. Members of the public will be able to access practical AI learning resources at any time through the online platform or via iAM Smart.

HKPC has long positioned itself as a “technology adopter and enabler”, committed to helping enterprises transform innovation into tangible business value. Since 2024, HKPC has organised more than 600 AI training sessions, serving over 32,000 participants, including SMEs, large enterprises, HR professionals, industry leaders, students, educators and members of the public. These efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering a more competitive AI application ecosystem in Hong Kong.

A series of “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” activities will be rolled out progressively. Enterprises and members of the public are welcome to register via iAM Smart and stay updated on the latest programmes. Through collaboration with global technology enterprises, industry organisations and community partners, HKPC aims to bring AI into businesses, workplaces and communities, advancing the vision of “AI for All” while empowering enterprises and co-building Hong Kong’s intelligent future. For details, please visit: https://www.hkpcacademy.org/en/aiforall/

Please download the high-res photos HERE.

Photo Captions:

  1. Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, delivers a speech at the ceremony, sharing the Government’s vision for advancing the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, accelerating AI adoption and fostering innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.
  2. Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (middle), Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC (left), and Mr Mohamed Butt, MH, Executive Director of HKPC (right) officiate the HKPC Launching Ceremony of the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, jointly promoting AI literacy and application.
  3. Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, says HKPC will help enterprises and talent master AI technologies through the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” series, supporting the transition from AI awareness to practical application.
  4. The “AI for All” Inclusive Programme attracts representatives from the business and innovation and technology sectors to explore the latest AI developments and application opportunities.
  5. HKPC hosts an “AI BiteClass” sharing session on the day of the Launching Ceremony, inviting technology companies and industry experts to present practical AI experiences and success stories, helping enterprises enhance productivity and competitiveness through AI.

Hashtag: #HKPC

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

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: .

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 August 2026 – In an era when enterprise software valuations are being fundamentally repriced by the rise of agentic AI, Deepexi Technology Co., Ltd. (1384.HK) has emerged as a rare counterexample: a pure-play enterprise AI platform that is delivering both technology leadership and bottom-line profitability. According to the company’s first interim results following its public listing, Deepexi recorded a 115% year-over-year surge in revenue for the first half of the year, powered by a 209% leap in core AI revenue and a decisive turnaround to quarterly GAAP profitability in the second quarter of 2026. This performance has earned the company “Buy” and “Overweight” ratings from multiple brokerages within its first year of listing.

Quarterly Profitability: A Rare Milestone in Hong Kong’s AI Sector

In capital markets, ambitious visions must ultimately be backed by real financial performance—and Deepexi’s interim results provide clear proof of execution.

For the first half of 2026, the company generated RMB 284.0 million in total revenue, marking a 115.0% year-over-year increase. Its AI business served as the primary growth engine, contributing RMB 226.0 million—an impressive 209.2% year-over-year surge—bringing AI revenue to 79.6% of total corporate turnover.

Even more noteworthy is the marked improvement in profitability. First-half gross profit reached RMB 160.0 million, up 120.5% year-over-year, with gross profit margin expanding to 56.5%. Crucially, during the second quarter of 2026, Deepexi posted a standalone quarterly net profit of approximately RMB 30.1 million, officially crossing the breakeven threshold.

In Hong Kong’s technology sector, pure-play enterprise AI companies capable of achieving quarterly net profitability while sustaining high R&D investment remain exceptionally rare. This milestone underscores Deepexi’s operational efficiency, scalable software delivery, and self-sustaining monetization engine.

This scarcity value is equally evident in the company’s revenue composition and vertical reach. Industrial manufacturing accounted for more than 50% of total revenue, while retail and consumer goods contributed 30%, alongside expanding footholds in healthcare and smart transportation. In manufacturing, for example, equipment troubleshooting and predictive maintenance involve dense engineering schematics, real-time IoT sensor telemetry, and extensive historical maintenance logs—all of which Deepexi translates into structured logic that AI models can readily interpret. This deep vertical expertise and proprietary data accumulation create a formidable competitive barrier that general-purpose AI vendors cannot easily match.

Beyond the “SaaSpocalypse”: Deepexi’s AI-Native Platform Defies the Software Valuation Reset

The first quarter of 2026 witnessed what market observers have dubbed the “SaaSpocalypse”—a tectonic shift in which approximately $2 trillion in market capitalization was erased from B2B software equities, driven by a fundamental fear that agentic AI would cannibalize the traditional per-seat licensing model. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) plunged nearly 21% year-to-date, and enterprise software multiples (EV/Sales) cratered from a 5.6x average at the end of 2025 to 4.2x by mid-March.

Investors have pivoted decisively toward AI-native infrastructure—companies that manage the data and underlying plumbing of autonomous systems—while penalizing traditional application-layer SaaS vendors reliant on human-centric interfaces. As a recent Windsor Drake analysis notes, “AI-native agentic platforms clear 14x to 22x revenue, with private rounds at 20x to 30x,” while legacy standalone RPA trades at just 2.5x to 5x. The market is now rewarding AI-native architecture and measurable workflow ownership.

Deepexi sits squarely on the winning side of this divergence. Unlike traditional SaaS vendors whose revenues are tied to human seat counts—and thus vulnerable to agentic displacement—Deepexi’s token-based, consumption-driven model aligns directly with the agentic AI future. The company’s DeepWorks enterprise Agent platform does not sell per-seat licenses; it sells AI productivity, enabling enterprises to deploy autonomous agents that replace repetitive administrative work, not software seats. As the market shifts from “AI as a feature” to “AI as a replacement,” Deepexi’s business model is structurally insulated from the seat-compression forces that have punished legacy software vendors.

Focus on Enterprise AI Applications and Proprietary Domain Data

To ensure AI truly meets real-world enterprise demands, generic foundational models are insufficient on their own. Deepexi’s core competitive edge lies in its specialized “Data + AI” dual-engine architecture, anchored by the FastData enterprise data intelligence platform, the FastAGI agentic AI suite, and the Deepexi Enterprise Large Model Platform, supported by its proprietary Deepology ontology dataset containing over 2,000 vertical industry skills.

At the foundational layer, the FastData platform—powered by the FastData Foil fusion engine—acts as an intelligent lakehouse that tokenizes structured, semi-structured, and complex unstructured enterprise data into standardized formats ready for large model training and inference. Building upon this data foundation, the FastAGI platform and DeepWorks Enterprise Agent Platform provide organizations with a flexible, modular AI operating system.

Featuring a pluggable architecture, the platform connects seamlessly to leading open-source foundation models such as DeepSeek and Zhipu AI, giving enterprise clients complete autonomy while eliminating vendor lock-in. This “model-agnostic” approach is a key differentiator in an environment where enterprises increasingly demand flexibility to choose the best model for each use case, rather than being locked into a single provider.

Through native Model Context Protocol (MCP) frameworks and specialized agents—ranging from operational decision-making agents to productivity and autonomous workflow execution agents—Deepexi embeds intelligence directly into core business operations. DeepWorks is fully integrated with mainstream workplace collaboration suites such as DingTalk, Feishu, and Tencent Meeting, allowing employees to summon AI copilots directly for automated weekly reporting, data synthesis, and cross-departmental coordination—effectively turning AI into an indispensable daily productivity tool.

In an enterprise AI market where 42% of organizations already have AI agents in production and 72% are deploying across production and pilots combined, Deepexi’s proven, governed agentic workflows are no longer an experiment—they are core infrastructure.

Strategic Partnership with Huawei Cloud: Tackling Compute and Data Bottlenecks

In the commercialization of enterprise AI, computing costs and access to high-quality domain data represent two of the industry’s most critical bottlenecks. On August 12, Deepexi announced a strategic alliance with Huawei Cloud to jointly launch enterprise data intelligence solutions, providing strong operational backing for the company’s long-term expansion.

The partnership combines the complementary strengths of both technology leaders. Huawei Cloud provides underlying Ascend AI computing clusters and distributed cloud infrastructure, while Deepexi brings its deep expertise in enterprise data governance, data tokenization, and vertical AI agent deployments. By integrating with Huawei’s domestic Ascend compute clusters, Deepexi not only secures stable, long-term computing power but also significantly drives down token processing costs. This cost efficiency establishes ideal conditions for exploring usage-based, token-metered commercial billing models—precisely the kind of consumption-based pricing that aligns with the agentic AI future.

Crucially, falling AI costs are widely expected to accelerate enterprise adoption of autonomous agents. Deepexi’s partnership with Huawei Cloud positions the company to capture this demand wave with a cost structure that improves as token volumes scale—a powerful margin-expansion dynamic that stands in stark contrast to the fixed-cost burden of traditional SaaS.

Strong Institutional Backing Highlights Long-Term Investment Value

Reflecting strong capital market confidence, Deepexi announced on August 17 the successful placement of 14,286,000 new H-shares at HK$35.00 per share, raising net proceeds of approximately HK$488.0 million. Successfully closing a sizeable placement amid broader market volatility demonstrates strong institutional recognition of Deepexi’s proven business model, robust unit economics, and profitability trajectory.

The company’s strategic shareholder structure provides a solid foundation for long-term growth. It is supported by prominent independent investors, including Hillhouse, 5Y Capital, and BAI, as well as industry-focused investors such as Shanghai AI. These partnerships enhance Deepexi’s industry reputation, drive technological innovation, and strengthen its market competitiveness.

The newly raised funds are earmarked primarily for continuous R&D in next-generation enterprise agent systems and token productivity platforms—positioning the company to capture the $206.5 billion AI agent software market projected for 2026, which Gartner expects to grow to $376.3 billion in 2027.

Investment Thesis: Why Deepexi Stands Apart

1. AI-Native Architecture in an Agentic World. Unlike legacy SaaS vendors facing seat compression, Deepexi’s token-based model is structurally aligned with the agentic AI future. The company doesn’t sell software seats—it sells AI productivity.

2. Rare Profitability in Enterprise AI. Quarterly GAAP profitability at a 56.5% gross margin, with projected revenue CAGR of 95.5% through 2027, places Deepexi among the most financially disciplined enterprise AI companies globally.

3. Model-Agnostic, Vendor-Neutral Platform. In an environment where enterprises demand flexibility, Deepexi’s pluggable architecture—supporting DeepSeek, Zhipu, and other open-source models—eliminates lock-in and captures value regardless of which foundation model wins.

4. Proprietary Data Moat. With over 2,000 vertical industry skills and deep expertise in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and transportation, Deepexi’s domain-specific data capabilities create barriers that general-purpose AI vendors cannot replicate.

5. Strategic Compute Partnership with Huawei Cloud. Long-term, cost-effective compute access, combined with token-metered pricing models, positions Deepexi for sustained margin expansion as token volumes scale.

6. Institutional Validation. Backing from top-tier investors and a successful HK$488 million placement amid market volatility signal strong institutional confidence in Deepexi’s business model and growth trajectory.

The enterprise AI market has decisively shifted from early conceptual exploration into a new era of commercial execution and tangible financial delivery. Backed by mature product suites across FastData and FastAGI, proprietary vertical ontologies, strategic cloud partnerships, and an official transition to net profitability, Deepexi Technology has proven that enterprise AI can deliver both transformative technology and sustainable profits.

Hashtag: #DeepexiTechnology

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

About Deepexi Technology

Deepexi Technology is China’s leading provider of enterprise large model AI application solutions. Through its FastData enterprise data intelligence solution and FastAGI enterprise AI solution, it empowers enterprises to integrate their data, decisions and operations efficiently at scale. Deepexi ranked fifth in China’s enterprise large model AI application solution market in terms of revenue in 2024. Its solutions have achieved large-scale commercialization across multiple verticals, including consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare and transportation. As of June 30, 2025, Deepexi Technology served a cumulative total of 283 enterprise customers across various industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom as Kyiv intensifies efforts to secure broader access to SpaceX’s Starlink network for military operations against Russia. The honour, announced by presidential decree on Wednesday, recognises Musk for his contribution to protecting human life and freedom and for strengthening relations between Ukraine and the United States. Musk, the head of SpaceX and Tesla, has emerged […]

HONG KONG SAR– Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2026 – The Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) hosted the Hong Kong Design Summit cum BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony Gala Dinner at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, bringing together an elite audience of 180 leading professional designers, creative industry pioneers, and corporate executives, this year’s flagship event serves as an authoritative platform celebrating excellence in design application, cross-sector matching, and strategic design-tech partnerships.

HKDA image

The Summit was honored to have Miss Yvonne Ip, Acting Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, as the Guest of Honour. In her address, Miss Ip highlighted the power of design to drive business growth and emphasized that the Hong Kong Design Summit, now in its third year, has become a key platform for industry exchange and collaboration, bringing design talent and enterprises together through flagship initiatives like DesignMatch, to turn creative ideas into commercial results. The Hong Kong Designers Association has been a pioneering force in the local design ecosystem for half a century, and CCIDA is proud to partner with HKDA to nurture design professionals, accelerate industrialization, and help local enterprises expand into international markets — advancing Hong Kong’s creative economy together.

Chairman’s Welcome: Driving Real Impact Through Strategic Focus

Opening the evening gala, Ms. Mui Kinoshita, Chairman of HKDA, delivered a heartfelt welcoming address reflecting on the Association’s post-pandemic transformation and strategic vision.

Reflecting on the Association’s post-pandemic vision, Ms. Kinoshita highlighted HKDA’s core strategy—”Two Awards, One Summit, One Platform“—designed to deliver tangible benefits by recognising individual design excellence, honoring corporate design investment, and driving commercial partnerships through DesignMatch. She celebrated HKDA’s expansion from 900 to over 1,300 members, calling it a testament to industry trust. Honoring the Association’s 50-year legacy, she paid tribute to founding pioneers whose dedication laid the foundation for Hong Kong’s creative sector. She concluded with a passionate call for open dialogue and unified collaboration to build a stronger, more caring design industry for the next generation.

Star-Studded Gathering of Design Icons and Industry Leaders

The Gala Dinner was anchored by an extraordinary gathering of creative heavyweights, founding pioneers, and distinguished guests across the design, creative sectors, and corporate leaders. Joining Guest of Honour Miss Yvonne Ip and Officiating Guests, including Dr. Kan Tai-Keung, SBS, BBS, Former Chairman of HKDA (Tenure: 1986, 1987, 1988), ⁠Mr. Steve Leung, BBS, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre, ⁠Mr. Alan Cheung, MH, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Council, Federation of Hong Kong Industries, ⁠Mr. Kevin Yeung, Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, were celebrated global design icons and industry leaders who attended in strong support of the Summit, including Ms. Vivienne Tam, Designer and Founder, Vivienne Tam Fashion House, Mr. Tino Kwan, Founder and Principal Consultant of the Tino Kwan Lighting Consultants Limited, and Mr. Gu Wei, Head of AIGC Design Business, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group. The evening was further graced by prominent design masters, industry executives, and organisational representatives. Their presence, alongside premier corporate partners and judging leaders, underscored the unified strength and collective vision of Hong Kong’s creative community.

The annual event unfolds in two key segments: the Hong Kong Design Summit, featuring the Kick-off Ceremony, DesignMatch business matching, and a landmark MOU signing; followed by the BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony.

Hong Kong Design Summit 2026

The opening segment convenes industry leaders and creative professionals to foster commercial growth and educational innovation:

1. DesignMatch Business Matching Sessions: An exclusive, high-impact B2B networking initiative designed to bridge corporations and design professionals, driving immediate business opportunities and accelerating the translation of creative capital into commercial success.

2. Award-Winning Brands Showcase: A curated, high-visibility showcase where outstanding design firms and corporate awardees demonstrate successful project outcomes and share strategic market insights.

3. Strategic Tripartite MOU Signing: A milestone collaboration between School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Alibaba International Design, and Hong Kong Designers Association. The parties intend to explore opportunities for collaborative initiatives in design and AI-related education in the creative industry, as well as strategic collaboration for industry development across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Key potential areas of collaboration include:
A) Joint development and delivery of academic and professional training courses (with AI courses as the initial program collaboration);
B) Industry–academia partnerships to foster design-tech innovation and applied research;
C) Co-organisation of training courses, flagship events, forums, and summits to promote design excellence and cross-sector collaboration.

BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony

The second part of the event highlights design leadership and commercial results through an elite evening program, the BDA Brand Award 2026 Presentation Ceremony. An elite gathering celebrating outstanding brand design applications and recognizing excellence across diverse industries. This year’s competition attracted 150 brand entries from diverse industries, further solidifying BDA’s authoritative position as one of Hong Kong’s top brand awards. The BDA Brand Award invites nominations from professional designers or organizations, with submissions evaluated by a panel of experts based on three aspects: brand story, development, and achievements. Additionally, five assessment criteria are considered: 1) Environmental & Social Impact, 2) Cultural Impact, 3) Innovation & Technology, 4) Brand Image, Identity & User Experience and 5) Market Performance & Value.

The awards celebrated winners across multiple categories, including 1) Best Branding Image Award, 2) Best Cultural & Heritage Award, 3) Best ESG Award, 4) Best Innovation & Technology Award, 5) Best Media & Communication Award, as well as Best Award, Grand Award, and the prestigious Best of the Best Award.

A professional jury panel comprised of esteemed first-round judges—Prof Anthony Kong (Assistant Professor, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Mr. Kirin Leung (Founder, Kirin+lab), Mr. Joe Wong (Founder, Joe Wong Design), Mr. Kenny Li (Founder, FM+ Concepts & FAVEbyKennyLi), and Mr. Jay Leung (Founder, Starz Group) as well as final-round judges—Ms. Mui Kinoshita (Chairman, HKDA), Prof. Viveca Chan (Founder and Chairman, WE Marketing Group), Ms. Hilda Chan (Chief Marketing Officer, HKSTP), Mr. Bosco Leung (Social Responsibility Lead, MTR Corporation Limited), and Mr. Jimmy Li (Head of Brand Partnership, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong). The judges meticulously assessed submissions through a rigorous process, including an initial online evaluation and live presentations.

From a pool of 150 exceptional brand entries, the jury evaluated each brand’s overall excellence, market impact, and alignment with the selection criteria in their respective fields. It is with great pleasure that we announce Sino Group「GoCircular」as the winner of the Best of the Best Award and fwah! as the winner of the Best of the Best Award (Startups). These brands have demonstrated unparalleled excellence, and their selection as winners is a testament to their outstanding achievements.

Additionally, 14 outstanding brands have been recognized with the Grand Award, including (in alphabetical order)

1. a²CIRCLE x TENKA TAIHEI

2. Bone Studio骨子裡

3. BrainX

4. Cohere Design柏納遨天

5. DCH Living 大昌行生活

6. Gridword Communications Ltd

7. HKUST International Summer Campus

8. ISABELLE.C 伊裳

9. Leo Paper Group 利奧紙品集團

10. LOUDER

11. Mini Greeny Heroes

12. Jumbo Kingdom – Tai Pak Floating Restaurant 珍寶王國 – 太白海鮮舫

13. The Living Art

14. Tiger Circle

The full winner list of BDA Brand Award 2026 is listed on Appendix A.

Fostering Strategic Synergies and Future Growth

The 2026 Summit reinforces HKDA’s commitment to elevating design as a core commercial driver while empowering the next generation of designers through AI-driven education and regional integration. Through structured business matching, strategic academia-industry partnerships, and award recognition, the event continues to solidify Hong Kong’s position as a premier global hub for commercial design innovation.

For more details on the event and program updates, please visit the official website at https://www.hkda.hk/

Appendix A – BDA Brand Award 2026 Winners (*in Alphabetical order)

Corporate – Best of the Best

1. Sino Group「GoCircular」

Corporate – Grand Award of the Year

1. a²CIRCLE x TENKA TAIHEI 2. 骨子裡 Bone Studio
3. BrainX 4. Cohere Design 柏納遨天
5. Gridword Communications Ltd 6. HKUST International Summer Campus
7. Jumbo Kingdom – Tai Pak Floating Restaurant 8. Leo Paper Group
9. LOUDER 10. Mini Greeny Heroes
11. Tiger Circle

Corporate – Best Award

1. Broken Fingers+ 2. Dance Nefertiti
3. LYYH Studio 4. Medium.Asia
5. Valta Pro

Corporate – Best Innovation & Technology Award

1. Mercury Technology Solution

Corporate – Best ESG Award

1. Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited 上海實業控股有限公司 2. Surplus Pork Belly Upcycling by Tam Jai Int’l

Corporate – Best Media & Communication Award

1. Gridword Communications Ltd

Corporate – Best Cultural & Heritage Award

1. Artrio

Corporate – Best Branding Image Award

1. CAMEL 駱駝牌 2. 广州白云站

Startups – Best of the Best

1. Fwah!

Startups – Grand Award of the Year

1. DCH Living大昌行生活 2. 伊裳ISABELLE.C
3. The Living Art

Startups – Best Award

1. ALPHA WORKS 2. EAMUS
3. JLE Creative Limited 4. PARTYDAY
5. Queenie’s Studio by Queenie Jia 6. 睿合思盛文化傳媒有限公司
7. Seehow Design

Startups – Best Innovation & Technology Award

1. ALPHA WORKS 2. Dr. Onycure 灰甲博士
3. ESG VISA – The Global Passport for Sustainable Business 4. PARTYDAY
5. Silver Innovation 6. Starry Learning
7. Xinera by FoodTrack

Startups – Best ESG Award

1. ESG Visa

Startups – Best Cultural & Heritage Award

1. Tu by Tu

Startups – Best Branding Image Award

1. Excelsior interior design limited 2. EyeComfi
3. LegalOne Global Limited 4. 非遺美食 INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOOD
5. Renovation Guide Consultant Limited 6. Ripple & Co.


Hashtag: #HKDA #BDABrandAward #BDA品牌大獎

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

About Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA)

Established in 1972, the Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) was the first of its kind in Hong Kong and is a founding member of the Hong Kong Design Centre. Its core mission is to promote design’s public interest, cultivate young designers, and elevate the professional status of practising designers across sectors.

HKDA’s flagship programmes include the Global Design Award (GDA) (formerly known as Asia Design Awards), which has been celebrating outstanding global designs biennially since 1975; the Hong Kong International Poster Triennial (HKIPT), which has been documented the development of local and international poster design through competition, exhibition and symposium since 2000; the Sponsorship for International Design Awards (SIDA), a distinguished funding scheme for local designers and design-applying enterprises who are winners of international design awards, which has been running since 2011; Design X Technology (DXT), a progressive programme that integrates design and technology as core components in business strategy to drive innovation and competitive advantage since 2020; and BDA Brand Award (BDA) (formerly known as BDA Brand Design Awards), this award evaluates outstanding brand performance through a professional design lens, honoring long-term strategic commitment to design excellence, and was debuted in 2023, also other strategic initiatives including the Hong Kong Design Summit and the DesignMatch business matching programme connect design professionals directly with market demand across government, commercial, and industrial sectors.

With over 1,300 individuals and corporations in its diverse membership base, HKDA offers a wide range of membership options for professionals, associates, affiliates, students, and corporations that cover six design disciplines: Graphics, Spatial, Product, Digital, Fashion, and Education. Prioritising design excellence, education, technology integration, sustainability, business support, diversity, and inclusivity, HKDA has established itself as a vital platform for its members, as well as designers, businesses, and organisations throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Through its commitment to advancing these key areas, HKDA provides valuable resources, networking opportunities, and expert guidance to its members while also serving as a hub for innovation and collaboration in the design industry.

HKDA is committed to raising public awareness of the value and importance of design in society. It partners and collaborates with other design organisations and institutions worldwide, such as the World Design Organization (WDO) and International Council of Design (ico-D), to promote global design excellence, cultural diversity, and international design exchanges. By working with other design organisations on a global scale, HKDA aims to contribute to the development and advancement of the design industry, both locally and internationally.

Iran is preparing for a sharp escalation in US economic pressure as President Masoud Pezeshkian says the country is fighting an “all-out economic, military and security war” and Washington readies another sanctions package. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to outline the measures on Monday, with the Trump administration signalling that the campaign will seek to isolate Tehran from international trade and financial networks. The measures […]

Autonomous AI Attack-and-Defence Demonstrates Next-Generation Cybersecurity Talent and Advance Regional Digital Security Talent Development

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2026 – The AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, and China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, and co-organised by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Venustech Group Inc., and Hong Kong Cloud Peak Technology Co., Limited, held the Finals today.

Following a 12-hour online qualifying round, a total of 40 teams advanced to the Final Competition, including 20 teams from the Chinese Mainland, 18 from Hong Kong, and two from overseas regions. The Challenge adopts an innovative AI-Driven Dual (AID) competition format, in which artificial intelligence (AI) executes the competition and enables autonomous defence by AI agents. Teams of up to three members showcase their capabilities in leveraging AI technologies for automated vulnerability discovery and exploitation, competing for total prize money of HK$180,000.

The event brings together representatives from Government, industry, academia and research organisations to witness the latest developments in AI-powered cybersecurity innovation. Officiating guests at the Opening Ceremony included Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr LI Shuguang, Director-General of the General Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr WANG Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, Mr Daniel CHEUNG, JP, Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr WANG Minwei, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province, Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, and Ms SHI Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that AI is reshaping every aspect of people’s life at a breathtaking speed. He noted that although innovation may at times bring new threats, these same technologies can also spur defensive capabilities. As such, the Government champions an “AI versus AI” strategy, leveraging AI to forge the strongest shields to effectively manage risks associated with the use of AI.

Professor Sun added that the Government is continuously strengthening related policies, guidelines and ethical frameworks, as well as conducting regular cyber-attack-and-defence drills to better prepare for cybersecurity readiness. Through multi-pronged efforts, the Government hopes to guide society to apply AI responsibly, foster a healthy ecosystem, and strengthen city-wide resilience in face of cyber attacks.

Addressing AI-Era Cybersecurity Challenges Through Talent Development

The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping the global cybersecurity landscape. AI has evolved from a supporting tool for security analysis and threat monitoring into a technology capable of autonomously constructing attack chains and bypassing existing defence mechanisms. This has significantly lowered the technical barriers to cyberattacks, making sophisticated attack techniques more automated and accessible. Threat actors can leverage AI for intelligent vulnerability discovery, automated penetration testing, and even the creation of highly convincing deepfake content, enabling stealthier and more persistent cyberattacks.

As emerging threats such as model security risks, data poisoning, model theft, phishing attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities and automated exploitation continue to evolve, the demand for interdisciplinary talent with expertise in both AI and cybersecurity is becoming increasingly urgent. In response, the organisers aim to promote the practical application of AI technologies through this hands-on competition while cultivating a new generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped with cross-disciplinary expertise.

AI-Driven Attack-and-Defence Competition Platform

Unlike traditional Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, this year’s Challenge adopts an innovative AI-Driven (AID) competition format. Participating teams leverage AI-powered automated systems to analyse the competition environment provided by the organisers, identify vulnerabilities and exploit them. The automated capabilities of the AI agents include information gathering, vulnerability discovery and flag submission. The competition environment incorporates both vulnerabilities found in real-world scenarios and simulated zero-day vulnerabilities that may exist in software systems.

The challenge design draws on concepts from international cybersecurity competitions and incorporates practical operating scenarios as well as simulated zero-day attack-and-defence environments, testing participants’ ability to apply AI technologies to real-world cybersecurity challenges. The Challenge aims to enhance participants’ practical attack-and-defence experience and innovation capabilities, promote the research and application of AI security technologies, and nurture a new generation of cybersecurity talent equipped with both strategic vision and practical expertise. Through these efforts, the competition seeks to strengthen capabilities in addressing AI-driven cyber threats.

Government, Industry, Academia and Research Communities Join Forces to Advance AI Security

This year’s Challenge brings together stakeholders from government, industry and research institutions to drive innovation in AI security technologies, strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and cultivate future talent.

Mr Wang Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, said, “AI technologies are reshaping the global cyber attack-and-defence landscape. While they lower the barriers to cyberattacks, they also drive the evolution of security protection from reactive response to proactive and intelligent defence. In this technological contest, using technology to counter technology has become an inevitable trend. By focusing on practical AI attack-and-defence capabilities, this competition aims to identify emerging talent and contribute to building a more trustworthy and intelligent cyberspace.”

Ms Shi Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, said, “As one of the organisers of this competition, China Mobile Hong Kong has devoted substantial resources to building an innovative AI attack-and-defence competition platform. Through continuous technology investment and ecosystem development, we actively fulfil our corporate social responsibility while showcasing Hong Kong’s innovation and leadership in AI cybersecurity to the world.”

Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, concluded, “AI-driven cyberattacks and agentic AI-related risks have emerged as some of the most significant cybersecurity threats today. Against this backdrop, cultivating interdisciplinary talent with expertise in AI system design, development and practical attack-and-defence capabilities has become an important pillar in strengthening Hong Kong’s overall cyber resilience.”

The Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held in late September 2026 during the China Cybersecurity Week to recognise teams that have demonstrated outstanding performance in the competition. The organisers encourage enterprises and organisations to continuously strengthen their cybersecurity governance, regularly review information system risks, enhance data protection measures and improve cyber incident response capabilities. Young talents are also encouraged to pursue opportunities in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, developing their expertise through training, professional certifications and hands-on competitions. Members of the public and organisations may also make use of the cybersecurity information, training programmes and support services provided by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and other relevant organisations, helping to foster a safer, more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

Please download the high-res photos HERE.

Photo Captions:

1. The Finals of the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge.
2. Officiating guests, including Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association,Mr Daniel CHEUNG, JP, Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr LI Shuguang, Director-General of the General Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Wang Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, Mr WANG Minwei, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province and Ms Shi Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (from left to right) preside over the launch ceremony of the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, marking the official commencement of the competition.

3. Officiating guests and representatives of the organisers and co-organisers, including Hong Kong Productivity Council, pose for a group photo at the Opening Ceremony, demonstrating their shared commitment to advancing innovation in AI and cybersecurity and nurturing regional AI security talent.

4. Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivers a speech at the Opening Ceremony, pointing out that AI is reshaping every aspect of people’s life at a breathtaking speed. He noted that although innovation may at times bring new threats, these same technologies can also spur defensive capabilities. As such, the Government champions an “AI versus AI” strategy, leveraging AI to forge the strongest shields to effectively manage risks associated with the use of AI.

5. The 40 finalist teams showcase innovative AI-driven cybersecurity technologies by independently designing and deploying autonomous AI agents to compete in a simulated attack-and-defence environment.

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

About Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre

Managed by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) is the centre for coordination of computer security incident response for local enterprises and Internet Users. Its missions are to facilitate information disseminating, provide advices on preventive measures against security threats and to promote information security awareness.

HKCERT collaborates with local bodies to collect and disseminate information, and coordinate response actions. HKCERT is also a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) and the Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT). We exchange information with other CERTs and act as a point of contact on cross-border security incidents.

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: .

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 August 2026 – On August 20, 2026, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, shone even brighter as it celebrated its renowned music festival. The youthful Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, hailing from Wuxi, China’s first UNESCO “City of Music,” stepped into the heartland of classical music for the very first time under the leadership of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Lin Daye. Inside a packed Gallus Hall at Cankarjev Dom, a profound and heartfelt musical dialogue unfolded between East and West.

Wuxi Symphony Orchestra Debuts at Ljubljana Festival: Sounds of the East Illuminate the Historic Central European City

As Slovenia’s largest international summer music festival, its stage saw the name of Wuxi, China, etched upon it for the very first time this summer. As the conductor’s baton cut through the silence, this ancient Central European city warmly welcomed the debut of this Eastern orchestra with thunderous, prolonged applause.

The concert opened to the magnificent sounds of the Overture to Verdi’s I vespri siciliani, with Lin Daye delivering the passion of Italian opera through his deeply expressive conducting. The orchestra then presented the festival debut of Fly To The Sky, an original symphonic suite by Li Shaosheng, whose embedded Eastern worldview resonated profoundly with the audience. Suona virtuoso Zhang Qianyuan’s performance in Questioning the Heavens was high-pitched and evocative, while tenor Xue Haoyin sang with heroic majesty in Heaven’s Movement is Strength, driving the atmosphere to a climax.

In the second half, the orchestra performed Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor. On a stage that has witnessed countless iconic performances of German-Austrian classics, the orchestra paid tribute to heritage through a precise yet impassioned interpretation. As the grand theme of the finale—symbolizing “through darkness into light”—echoed through the hall, the entire audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation, expressing high acclaim for the orchestra’s flawless execution. Darko Brlek, Artistic Director of the Ljubljana Festival, noted that this was the very first standing ovation given to a Chinese orchestra in the festival’s history of over 70 editions.

As the opening stop of their 2026 European tour, the Ljubljana performance marked a striking debut and strong statement of cultural confidence. Showcasing Jiangnan’s Wuxi to the world, these musical ambassadors from Lake Taihu foster cross‑cultural understanding through music, letting the world hear and understand China.

Click the link to watch the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra’s performance in Slovenia: https://youtu.be/Ghk3aIYcHXc?si=PzVdV99ZikOqiMA7

Hashtag: #WuxiSymphonyOrchestra

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

Collaboration could extend Singapore-developed AI training to ICAI’s members and students, alongside greater recognition of relevant professional learning

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) are deepening their longstanding collaboration through two initiatives focussed on strengthening AI capabilities among accounting professionals and enhancing professional qualification recognition.

ISCA today signed a Letter of Cooperation setting out a framework for proposed Global AI Fluency Initiative centred on ISCA’s AI Fluency Programme. The proposed cooperation will explore how ISCA and ICAI can work together to extend practical and responsible AI learning to ICAI members and students, subject to relevant approvals and mutually agreed implementation arrangements.

ISCA also announced its approval of a proposed Module Exemption Agreement (MEA) with ICAI relating to their professional qualification pathways.

Extending Singapore-developed AI capability internationally

The proposed AI collaboration builds on the early momentum of ISCA’s AI Fluency Programme. Through the proposed collaboration, ISCA and ICAI will explore opportunities to extend access of the programme to ICAI’s professional community of more than 1.5 million members and students, broadening the international reach of Singapore-developed AI capability building for the accountancy profession.

The approximately 30-hour programme comprises 180 hands-on cases based on workplace applications, structured around three areas:

  • AI Fluency Foundations: Building essential AI confidence for everyday professional work;
  • AI for Accounting Specialisations: Applying AI across accounting, audit, finance, tax and related professional functions; and
  • AI Leadership & Governance: Developing the capability to lead AI adoption responsibly, with appropriate governance and oversight.

The practical approach is designed to help learners identify where AI can add value while continuing to exercise professional judgement, appropriate oversight and responsibility for their work.

The proposed collaboration will explore:

  • Programme promotion: Supporting the promotion of respective AI programmes to each institute’s members through mutually agreed arrangements;
  • Member outreach and promotion: Promoting the AI Fluency Programme to ICAI members in India and, where appropriate, across ICAI’s global network through mutually agreed communications;
  • Professional application: Exchanging views and use cases on the application of AI in accounting, audit, finance, tax and related professional work;
  • AI leadership and responsible adoption: Sharing perspectives on appropriate governance, oversight and responsible adoption of AI within the profession; and
  • Knowledge exchange: Exploring further opportunities for thought leadership, professional learning and capability development relating to AI.


Strengthening professional recognition

ISCA has approved a proposed Module Exemption Agreement (MEA) with ICAI. The proposed arrangement would provide specified exemptions under the respective qualification pathways for eligible ICAI and ISCA members, supporting greater recognition of professional qualifications.

While the MEA has yet to be formally executed, ISCA will implement the specified exemptions from the SCAQ for eligible ICAI members with effect from 21 August 2026. Eligible candidates must continue to meet the applicable entry, assessment and remaining qualification requirements. ¹

The AI initiative and proposed module exemption arrangement collaborations are built on the longstanding relationship between ISCA and ICAI and their shared commitment to developing a future-ready, internationally connected accountancy profession.

Mr Lee Boon Teck, President of ISCA, said: “AI is reshaping the accountancy profession and building AI fluency alongside strong professional expertise will be critical to enabling the profession to adapt and create greater value. Through the proposed Global AI Fluency initiative, we hope to share Singapore’s experience in practical and responsible AI capability development with a wider professional community and contribute to responsible AI adoption across the global accountancy profession. Our longstanding relationship with ICAI also provides opportunities to strengthen the recognition of relevant professional learning and reduce extent of duplication for qualified professionals. Together, these initiatives contribute to a future-ready and internationally connected accountancy profession.”

Mr Prasanna Kumar D, President of ICAI, said: “The exchange of letters between ICAI and ISCA on 21st August marks a defining step in our shared journey and a clear statement of intent to work towards strengthening recognition between our professional qualifications. For our members, this opens up the potential for greater opportunities and professional recognition. At the same time, our discussions on Artificial Intelligence capability building reflect our shared commitment to strengthening AI capabilities across the profession. We look forward to working closely with ISCA to explore mutually beneficial opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building and preparing a future ready profession.”

¹ The formal execution of the MEA remains subject to the necessary approvals in India and completion of the remaining formalities.
Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy

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

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.

ISCA supports over 46,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.

ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.

For more information, visit .

Navigating Market Cycles with Operational Resilience, Core Business Stabilizes and Rebounds, Marking a Strategic Turnaround and New Growth Phase

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – ZJLD Group Inc. (“ZJLD” or the “Company”, together with the Company’s subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”) (SEHK stock code: 06979.HK), a flagship enterprise in China’s baijiu industry and the first baijiu company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is pleased to announce its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“FY 2026 1H” or the “Period”)

In the first half of 2026, the broader baijiu industry operated within a demanding macroeconomic environment characterized by structural adjustments and sluggish consumer demand. In response to cyclical headwinds during the Period, the Group proactively optimized its operational strategies, strengthened healthy channel management, and accelerated digital innovation, resulting in comprehensive stabilization and an operational rebound. The year 2026 marks a pivotal strategic inflection point for ZJLD, signaling the completion of a two-year industry-driven consolidation and the onset of a new high-quality growth cycle.

The key financial and business highlights are as follows:

FY 2026 1H

(for the six months ended June 30, 2026)

(RMB‘000)

FY 2025 1H

(for the six months ended June 30, 2025)

(RMB‘000)

Changed by
Revenue 2,546,069 2,497,106 +2.0%
Gross profit 1,520,856 1,474,284 +3.2%
Gross profit margin 59.7% 59.0% +0.7percentagepoints
Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company 580,717 574,771 +1.0%
Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities (234,035) (322,274) –27.4%
Adjusted net profit (non-IFRS measure) 626,064 613,202 +2.1%
Adjusted net profit margin (non-IFRS measure) 24.6% 24.6% —


Optimized Product Mix Drives Profitability; Multi-Brand Synergy Amplifies Resilience

  • During the Period, the Group recorded revenue of RMB 2,546.1 million, representing a 2.0% year-on-year increase. Gross profit increased by 3.2% to RMB 1,520.9 million, while Adjusted Net Profit reached RMB 626.1 million, up 2.1% year-on-year. Benefiting from an expanded revenue contribution of Sub-premium products and the Li Du brand, alongside streamlined production efficiencies, the Group’s gross margin expanded by 0.7 percentage points to 59.7%. Net cash operation cash outflow narrowed significantly by 27.4%, underscoring rigorous cash flow management and prudent risk control.
  • Zhenjiu (Flagship Brand): Generated RMB 1,342.4 million in revenue during the Period, accounting for 52.7% of total revenue. The Group exercised disciplined control over channel fulfilment ahead of the launch of the next-generation Zhen 15 to safeguard channel pricing integrity. Meanwhile, the strategic flagship product “Da Zhen” achieved strong growth and explosive nationwide expansion across 31 provinces and 280 cities, driving Zhenjiu’s gross margin up to 59.8%.
  • Li Du (Second Growth Engine): Accelerated its growth momentum, recording revenue of RMB 788.0 million, sharply up 28.9% year-on-year. Driven by the national expansion of its Sub-premium and Mid-tier product portfolio, such as Li Du Sorghum 1975 (李渡高粱 1975), Li Du Sorghum * Changyin Collection Series (李渡高粱酒 · 暢飲珍藏版), and the Li Du King Series (李渡王系列), Li Du demonstrated formidable, explosive market penetration and volume growth.
  • Xiangjiao & Kaikouxiao (Regional Powerhouse): Maintained solid market share within Hunan Province, generating RMB 282.8 million, up 2.0% year-on-year, and RMB 81.8 million, up 1.0% year-on-year, respectively in revenue, both delivering sustained market stabilization and modest growth.
  • Sub-Premium Baijiu Segment: Delivered exceptional performance, achieving revenue of RMB 1,366.1 million, up 39.1% year-on-year. The segment’s contribution to overall revenue surged from 39.3% to 53.7%, reflecting the Group’s agile realignment with evolving consumer shifts toward rational spending and banquet occasions (e.g., weddings and celebrations), successfully capturing growth opportunities in the sub-premium segment.
  • The Board of Directors does not recommend the declaration of an interim dividend for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (FY 2025 1H: nil).


Strategic Agility: Pioneering Channel Innovation & Digital Synergy as Dual-Engine

The Group’s proprietary “Premier Retailers Alliance” model and the Monthly Profit-sharing Model (“月月分利模式”) designed for the 5th Generation Zhen 15 have effectively resolved long-standing industry pain points, such as price inversion and distributor margin compression. By establishing competitive monthly margins, automating online ordering, and offering a share-linked sales incentive plan with certain distributors, the Group successfully attracted and retained high-calibre distributors with strong group-selling capabilities and direct access to end consumers. As of 30 June 2026, the Group’s distributor network expanded to 8,993 partners, an increase of 710 from the end of 2025.

Complementing this channel evolution, the Group adopted an omnichannel marketing framework combining “Community Penetration + Digital Empowerment”. Chairman Wu Xiangdong’s executive video channel (“Wu Jindong – ZJLD, 吳金東-珍酒李渡“) and regional cultural livestreams topped the “Entrepreneur Video IP 100 List” (企業家視頻IP100榜單) for seven consecutive months, averaging over one million views per broadcast. This sparked widespread co-created content with members of the Premier Retailers Alliance (萬商聯盟), creating a powerful online-to-offline traffic funnel. Simultaneously, Zhenjiu’s brand value rose to RMB 34.685 billion, a 103% gain over five years, solidifying among China’s top three sauce-aroma baijiu brands.

Forward-Looking AI Integration and Enterprise Digitization
The Group anchors its digital transformation strategy on operational capability and sustainable value creation. During the Period, in partnership with China Unicom, the Group developed an “AI + Expert Blending” framework powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). This synthesis of traditional heritage and advanced AI enables intelligent blending, elevating consistency, efficiency and craft precision. Furthermore, the Group upgraded Da Zhen‘s digital coding system to a “Six-Code” integration architecture, incorporating NFC anti-counterfeiting and ceramic jar storage metrics, as well as an RFID smart case labelling system to track and ensure precise volumetric measurement and end-to-end lifecycle traceability for every Da Zhen product. Zhenjiu was also awarded the national Data Management Capability Maturity Model (DCMM) Level 3 (Robust) accreditation, further validating its AI deployment and digital leadership.

Deepening Operational Foundations to Drive the New High-Quality Growth Cycle
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026 and beyond, ZJLD will maintain strategic poise by extending proven operational frameworks, such as the “Premier Retailers Alliance” and “Monthly Profit-sharing Model” to Zhen 30 and other core product lines. This initiative will precisely activate high-end and mid-tier markets while strengthening portfolio synergies across all price ranges. Concurrently, the Group will deepen its operation-sales decoupling (營銷分離) mechanism, rigorously monitor channel pricing, protect distributor profitability, and prioritize storage facility construction across its five major production facilities, namely Zhen Jiu Mao Tai Shuang Long (茅台鎮雙龍), Zhen Jiu Bai Yan Gou (白岩溝), Zhen Jiu Zhao Jia Gou (趙家溝), Li Du Zheng Jia Shan (鄭家山) and Xiang Jiao Jiang Bei (江北) to reinforce its long-term competitive moat.

Mr. Wu Xiangdong, Founder and Chairman of ZJLD Group, remarked, “Baijiu is a business that demands patience and reverence—time speaks through quality, and authentic fragrance endures. Over two years of industry rebalancing, our distributor partners and we have navigated genuine challenges and hardships; yet this period offered an invaluable window for reflection, consolidation, and self-reinvention. The deeper the valley, the more vital it is to stay grounded and focus on disciplined execution. Our stabilization in the first half of 2026 is the natural reward of diligent work and marks the dawn of a new growth phase. There are no shortcuts in business—only an uncompromising pursuit of quality, continuous market exploration, and adaptability in the face of change. In times of adversity, we chose to brew finer liquor, preserve channel profitability, and deliver utmost sincerity to our consumers. The launch of the ‘Premier Retailers Alliance’ and ‘Monthly Profit-sharing Model’ models ensures that every partner who trusts ZJLD enjoys security, clarity, and equitable rewards amid challenging conditions.

Engaging directly with consumers and merchants through digital broadcasts has reinvigorated my entrepreneurial passion and joy, which I felt when I first entered the baijiu industry. The consumers’ appreciation for fine baijiu remains undiminished, and their yearning for a better life remains passionate. 2026 serves as ZJLD’s springboard for a renewed journey. We remain a dedicated team of idealistic distillers, honoring nature’s harvest, grateful for the passage of time, and optimistic about the industry’s future. ZJLD will move forward with resilience, innovation, and an open heart alongside all our companions—cheers to bright moments and the journey ahead.”

Hashtag: #ZJLDGroup

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

About ZJLD Group Inc.

Zhen Jiu was established in 1975 in Zunyi, Kweichow, China’s primary production area of sauce-aroma baijiu. In 1988, it was honored with the National Quality Award at the 5th National Wine Appreciation Conference. In the same year, it was announced by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Communication Department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, and the Great Hall of the People Management Bureau to become one of the two sauce-aroma baijiu served at state banquets. It is also known as one of the “Three Representative Baijiu Brands in Kweichow”.

ZJLD Group Inc. is a leading baijiu group in China devoted to offering premium baijiu products, including sauce-aroma, mixed-aroma, and strong-aroma varieties. According to Frost & Sullivan statistics, the flagship brand Zhenjiu has maintained its position for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) as the fourth-largest sauce-aroma baijiu brand in China and the third-largest in Guizhou Province, by revenue. The Company operates four baijiu brands in China, including two national baijiu brands, Zhen Jiu and Li Du, and two regional brands, Xiangjiao and Kaikouxiao. ZJLD prides itself on inheriting the time-honored baijiu-brewing techniques and reinvigorating them to develop iconic products. It strives to create a wide variety of aromatic and mellow baijiu products to meet consumers’ diverse preferences, seize broader market opportunities, and promote traditional Chinese baijiu culture.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Allianz Trade in Asia Pacific is pleased to announce Scott Munafò has been appointed China CEO with effect from 1 September 2026. He will be based in Shanghai.

Scott Munafò to lead next phase of growth in China.
Scott Munafò to lead next phase of growth in China.

Mr Munafò joined Allianz Trade in 2015 as part of the Multinationals team and has spent over a decade shaping the company’s commercial strategy across four regions. Rising through key account management roles spanning MMEA, APAC, and Northern Europe – including his appointment as Regional Account Director for Northern Europe in 2021 – he was named Group Head of Broker Management and Partnerships in 2025, where he was responsible for defining and executing Allianz Trade’s global commercial and distribution strategy and strengthening broker partnerships across multiple regions. Mr Munafò holds an MBA from POLIMI Graduate School of Management (Politecnico di Milano) and a degree in Law from Università Bocconi with a major in Public Sector and Law.

On this appointment, Rodrigo Jimenez, Regional CEO at Allianz Trade in Asia Pacific, says: “Over the past decade, Scott has built extensive experience across various regions, demonstrating a strong track record in growing commercial portfolios, building strategic partnerships, and maintaining exceptional customer retention. His international experience, commercial leadership, and deep understanding of our business make him exceptionally well positioned to lead our China operations. I am confident that, together with the local management team, Scott will successfully drive our growth ambitions and deliver continued success in this important and fast-growing market.”

Mr Munafò remarks: “Allianz Trade has been part of China’s trade story for nearly two decades – built on the strength of our team, our partners, and our customers who have trusted us through every cycle. I am honoured to be entrusted with what so many have built together. My commitment is simple: to keep listening, to keep creating lasting value and to ensure the next chapter sets a new standard.”
Hashtag: #allianztrade #tradecreditinsurance


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About Allianz Trade

Allianz Trade is the global leader in trade credit insurance and a recognized specialist in the areas of surety, collections, structured trade credit and political risk. Our proprietary intelligence network is based on instant access to data of 289 million corporates. We give companies the confidence to trade by securing their payments. We compensate your company in the event of a bad debt, but more importantly, we help you avoid bad debt in the first place. Whenever we provide trade credit insurance or other finance solutions, our priority is predictive protection. But, when the unexpected arrives, our AA credit rating means we have the resources, backed by Allianz to provide compensation to maintain your business. Headquartered in Paris, Allianz Trade is present in over 40 countries with 5,900 employees. In 2025, our consolidated turnover was EUR4 billion and insured global business transactions represented EUR1,400 billion in exposure. For more information, please visit .

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