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Focus on Data Governance to Help Hong Kong Enterprises Build Trusted AI Decision-Making Capabilities

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – FanRuan Software, a leading business intelligence (BI) software brand in the Asia-Pacific region, today held the “FANRUAN DATA & AI SUMMIT 2026” at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. Themed “Data Shapes AI, AI Redefines Decisions,” the summit brought together enterprise representatives and technology experts from industries including finance, construction, retail, and manufacturing to explore practical pathways for enterprise data governance, BI applications, and intelligent decision-making in the AI era.

FANRUAN DATA & AI SUMMIT 2026 Data Shapes Al, Al Redefines Decisions
FANRUAN DATA & AI SUMMIT 2026 Data Shapes Al, Al Redefines Decisions

At the event, FanRuan highlighted that as generative AI and intelligent analytics tools accelerate their entry into enterprise scenarios, the focus of Hong Kong businesses has shifted from “whether to adopt AI” to “whether AI can truly support business judgment and management decisions.” In an environment characterized by multiple coexisting systems, complex cross-departmental collaboration, and heightened compliance and access control requirements, enterprises lacking a consistent, accurate, and traceable data foundation will find it difficult for AI to produce analytical results trusted by management.

Therefore, FanRuan proposed an enterprise AI implementation pathway of “Governance First, Intelligence Second,” emphasizing that AI’s value stems not only from model capabilities but also depends on whether enterprises possess a governable, verifiable, and sustainably usable data foundation.

AI Applications Enter Deep Waters: Data Governance Becomes a Critical Prerequisite

In recent years, Hong Kong enterprises have actively explored AI applications in operational management, financial analysis, procurement decisions, customer engagement, and risk control. However, in actual implementation, many companies still face challenges such as data fragmentation, inconsistent metrics, system silos, and complex access controls.

For enterprises, the true value of AI lies not merely in generating answers, but in its ability to help managers faster understand business changes, diagnose problems, and take action based on trusted data. If underlying data sources are untraceable, metric definitions are inconsistent, or different departments maintain separate versions of data for the same business issues, even advanced AI tools will struggle to form analytical bases credible to decision-makers.

FanRuan believes that enterprise AI applications are moving from tool experimentation into the deep waters of business operations. In the future, the key to successful AI adoption within enterprises hinges on whether they can first establish a clear, stable, and manageable data governance foundation.

From Standardization to Intelligent Analytics: FanRuan Presents an Enterprise AI Implementation Pathway

Addressing enterprise needs to progress from data governance to intelligent decision-making, FanRuan showcased its “Governance First, Intelligence Second” implementation approach at the summit, helping enterprises sequentially build comprehensive capabilities from data standardization and BI applications to AI analytics.

First, at the data standardization level, FanRuan provides standardized analytics templates across multiple industries through Fine Gallery (App Marketplace), assisting enterprises in rapidly establishing consistent metric definitions and analytical frameworks. For companies whose data architectures still require refinement, standardized analytics scenarios serve as a starting point for building a Single Source of Truth (SSOT), reducing cross-departmental communication costs and enhancing the reusability of data applications.

Second, at the BI application level, FanRuan helps enterprises transform data scattered across ERP, finance, procurement, project management, CRM, and other systems into reports, dashboards, and analytical charts usable by both management and business teams. Through consistent data presentation and access control management, enterprises can more effectively grasp operational conditions, transforming data from backend records into daily management tools.

Building on this foundation, FanRuan further demonstrated Dora Data Agent, an AI-powered data analytics assistant designed for enterprise management and business analysis scenarios. Based on governed enterprise business data, Dora assists users in conducting multi-dimensional root-cause analysis, anomaly interpretation, and issue diagnosis. When enterprises face performance fluctuations, cost variations, procurement anomalies, or deviations in operational metrics, Dora helps managers shorten the time from “problem discovery” to “cause diagnosis,” making AI analytics more aligned with actual business objectives and decision-making contexts.

Deepening Presence in Hong Kong Market to Drive AI Data Analytics Adoption

FanRuan stated that for AI applications to deliver long-term value within enterprises, reliance on single tools is insufficient; supporting data governance methodologies, talent training, and localized service support are equally essential. For the Hong Kong market, FanRuan will continue to advance its digital talent certification system, helping enterprises reduce dependence on individual technical staff experience, enabling more business and management personnel to acquire data analytics capabilities, and gradually fostering an organizational culture where “everyone can understand data and use data for decision-making.”

As Hong Kong enterprises accelerate their digital transformation, the key to successful AI adoption will be how to transform data scattered across different systems, departments, and processes into decision-making assets trusted by management and routinely used by frontline business operations. Moving forward, FanRuan will continue to center on the “Governance First, Intelligence Second” core pathway, helping Hong Kong enterprises lay a solid data foundation for the AI era and establish more robust decision-making advantages.
Hashtag: #FanRuan #DataGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessIntelligence #DoraDataAgent #DigitalTransformation #HongKongTech #TrustedAI #DataAnalytics


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

About FanRuan Software

As the leading all-in-one Data Analytics & BI platform, FanRuan empowers enterprises worldwide to bridge the gap between raw data and strategic action. Founded in 2006, FanRuan serves over 43,000 clients globally through 50 strategic branches, combining international leadership with localized expertise to help organizations transform information into lasting business value. With over 5 million daily users across industries including finance, construction, manufacturing and retail, FanRuan provides the future-ready foundation for sustainable growth. For more information, please visit

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Nvidia has signed a wide set of artificial intelligence and data centre agreements with major South Korean companies, placing the country at the centre of its next phase of AI infrastructure expansion across Asia.

The agreements involve SK Telecom, SK Hynix, Naver, Doosan Group, LG Group, Hyundai Motor Group and continued discussions with Samsung Electronics, linking Nvidia’s graphics processors, AI factory architecture and robotics platforms with South Korea’s strengths in memory chips, telecoms, manufacturing, cloud services and industrial automation.

The deals were unveiled during Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang’s Seoul visit, which has underlined how South Korea is moving from being a supplier of critical memory chips to a broader AI infrastructure hub. The push comes as governments and large companies seek sovereign computing capacity, tighter control over data, and dedicated facilities capable of training and running advanced AI models.

SK Telecom plans to build a gigawatt-scale AI cloud in South Korea using Nvidia’s DSX platform, with the first AI factory expected to come online in 2027. The infrastructure is designed to support enterprise AI, robotics, industrial automation and agentic AI services, using SK Telecom’s network, data centre and corporate technology base.

Naver, one of South Korea’s leading internet and cloud companies, is expanding its sovereign AI infrastructure with Nvidia, starting with 55 megawatts of capacity and a plan to move towards gigawatt scale. The collaboration is aimed at serving businesses, public-sector users and industries seeking locally controlled AI platforms.

SK Hynix, already a key supplier of high-bandwidth memory for Nvidia’s AI accelerators, has entered a multi-year technology partnership to develop next-generation memory for global AI data centres. The agreement strengthens the role of high-bandwidth memory as one of the most important bottlenecks in the AI hardware supply chain, with demand rising sharply as large models require faster data movement between processors and memory.

Samsung Electronics remains part of the wider conversation around next-generation foundry and memory cooperation. Its semiconductor leadership held talks with Nvidia on advanced chip manufacturing and future high-bandwidth memory, including technologies beyond the current HBM4 generation. Samsung is also involved in manufacturing AI accelerator chips for other customers, keeping it central to Nvidia’s broader supply chain calculations even as SK Hynix maintains a strong position in premium memory.

Doosan Group’s cooperation with Nvidia extends the agreements beyond data centres into physical AI. Doosan Robotics is working with Nvidia’s simulation, robotics and on-device AI platforms to develop an agentic robot operating system, while Doosan Enerbility is expected to support power infrastructure for AI factories. Doosan Corporation’s electronics materials unit is also positioned to support next-generation data centre hardware through advanced materials used in AI accelerators.

LG Group is working with Nvidia on an AI factory focused on physical AI, mobility and data centre technologies. The partnership is expected to support LG’s work in robotics, autonomous driving, smart manufacturing and GPU cloud services, giving the conglomerate a platform for applying AI across consumer electronics, industrial systems and vehicle technologies.

Hyundai Motor Group’s cooperation with Nvidia is centred on mobility, manufacturing and robotics, including support for Hyundai’s AI Valley project in Saemangeum. The group’s ownership of Boston Dynamics gives it a strong position in humanoid and industrial robotics, while Nvidia’s platforms can support simulation, model training and factory deployment.

South Korea’s national AI strategy gives the corporate agreements wider significance. The country had already announced plans to secure more than 260,000 Nvidia GPUs, with more than 50,000 intended for public AI infrastructure and the rest allocated to major companies including Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and Naver. The latest agreements suggest that those commitments are moving into more defined industrial projects.

The expansion also reflects a shift in Nvidia’s business model. The company is no longer selling chips only as components; it is promoting full-stack AI factories that combine processors, networking, software, reference architecture and operations. That approach gives Nvidia deeper influence over how data centres are designed and operated, while offering partners faster deployment at a time when AI capacity remains constrained.

South Korea’s Science and ICT Ministry is also seeking priority access to Nvidia’s Vera Rubin GPUs, amid expectations that next-generation chip supply could face delays. The effort shows how advanced AI processors have become strategic assets for countries competing in model development, cloud infrastructure and industrial automation.

The agreements carry risks as well as opportunity. AI factories require vast power supplies, expensive cooling systems and long-term commitments from corporate customers. Heavy dependence on one US chip supplier may also raise questions over supply security and bargaining power, even for a country with world-class semiconductor companies.

For Nvidia, the South Korean partnerships strengthen memory access, broaden its AI factory customer base and create new demand in robotics, cloud services and industrial AI. For South Korean companies, the deals offer a faster route into high-value AI infrastructure at a time when global competition is shifting from model development to the computing systems needed to run them at scale.

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Access to finance for industrial startups is becoming a sharper policy test for the UAE as high-growth manufacturing ventures confront longer revenue cycles, heavier capital needs and risk profiles that often sit outside conventional lending models. Shaker Zainal, head of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, has placed the financing gap for industrial startups within a wider challenge of alignment between founders, banks, government-backed platforms and ecosystem […]

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New Delhi has tightened import controls on key silver categories, making prior authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade mandatory for specified products under Chapter 71 of the ITC 2022 schedule.

The amended rules, issued through Notification No. 19/2026-27 dated 2 June 2026, apply with immediate effect to silver powder, silver grains, silver of 99.9% purity or more, and other unwrought silver. The change adds a fresh approval layer to a trade channel that was already limited to nominated agencies, banks and qualified jewellers using authorised routes.

The affected ITC codes include 71061000 for silver powder, 71069110 for silver grains, 71069120 for silver containing 99.9% or more by weight of silver, and 71069190 for other unwrought silver. These categories fall within the broader heading for silver, including silver plated with gold or platinum, in unwrought, semi-manufactured or powder form.

Until the amendment, eligible imports could be routed through banks notified by the Reserve Bank of India, agencies notified by the DGFT, and qualified jewellers notified by the International Financial Services Centres Authority for imports through the India International Bullion Exchange. The new framework keeps those channels in place but requires a valid DGFT Import Authorisation before shipments can proceed.

The order marks a sharper shift in bullion management after curbs were placed in May on silver bars of 99.9% purity and other semi-manufactured forms. Together, the steps move a large portion of silver inflows away from a relatively open framework towards a case-by-case approval regime. The policy direction points to closer official monitoring of volumes, end-use and trade routing at a time when precious-metal purchases have added pressure to the external account.

Silver imports have climbed sharply, with the country’s import bill for the metal touching a record $12 billion in the financial year ended March 2026, compared with $4.8 billion a year earlier. April shipments rose 157% year on year to $411 million, underlining the scale of demand before the latest controls took effect.

The bullion market is likely to feel the immediate impact through slower approvals, tighter availability and wider domestic premiums if import authorisations do not keep pace with demand. Dealers have already been adjusting to a compliance-heavy environment, including the April publication of the list of banks authorised to import gold and silver until March 2029 after delays had held up consignments at customs.

The policy also comes after duties on gold and silver were raised to 15% from 6%, a move aimed at discouraging discretionary imports of precious metals. Higher tariffs and tighter licensing conditions together indicate a broader attempt to contain import demand, protect foreign exchange reserves and reduce pressure on the rupee at a time when oil and other commodity bills remain sensitive to global price swings.

Industrial users will be watching the authorisation process closely because silver is not only a bullion and jewellery metal. It is used in electronics, solar cells, conductive pastes, precision engineering, industrial chemicals and electrical components. Silver powder and grains are important inputs for manufacturers as well as refiners and jewellers, making clarity on approval timelines essential for supply planning.

Investment demand has become a larger part of the market’s momentum. Silver bars, coins and exchange-traded products have attracted interest from investors looking for exposure to precious metals, particularly when global uncertainty and currency volatility lift demand for hard assets. That trend has complicated policy choices because the same metal feeds both household savings and industrial supply chains.

The India International Bullion Exchange remains central to the formalisation of bullion trade through GIFT City, especially for qualified jewellers using the exchange route. By requiring DGFT authorisation even for eligible jewellers importing through IIBX, the amendment signals that institutional routing alone will no longer be treated as sufficient compliance for specified silver categories.

Silver dore imports by refineries continue under the existing licence framework with actual-user conditions where applicable, leaving the refining route distinct from the broader authorisation requirement for covered products. This distinction matters for refiners that process raw material into marketable silver, though they too are operating in a tighter policy environment.

Major supply sources for the country include the UAE, Britain and China, making the rule change relevant for global bullion flows as well as domestic trade. Suppliers may face slower shipment planning, while banks and nominated agencies will need to factor DGFT approvals into import schedules.

The immediate test for the new system will be administrative efficiency. A transparent and predictable authorisation process could help the government track sensitive inflows without disrupting legitimate industrial consumption. Delays, however, could push up local premiums, affect manufacturers dependent on imported feedstock and encourage buyers to shift procurement strategies.

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Paytm plans to add about 4,000 employees over the next nine months as the digital payments company pushes deeper into artificial intelligence, product development and merchant services, even as it cuts a smaller number of roles after its performance review cycle.

The hiring programme would expand the workforce of One 97 Communications, Paytm’s parent, by about 10 per cent from a base of roughly 40,000 employees. The company is also expected to reduce about 1 per cent of its staff, or nearly 400 employees, as it removes overlapping functions and redirects resources towards areas tied to revenue growth, automation and financial services distribution.

The planned additions will run through March 2027 and cover product, technology, artificial intelligence and senior leadership roles. Paytm has already added more than 800 employees over the past two months and is in the process of recruiting the next tranche as it widens its merchant network and builds AI-led tools across its platform.

The move reflects a broader recalibration inside the Noida-based fintech company after two years of regulatory pressure, cost discipline and business restructuring. Paytm is seeking to convert its large base of users and merchants into higher-value customers for loans, investments, insurance and other financial products, while keeping a tight watch on employee costs and operating expenses.

Chief Executive Officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma has been working to rebuild confidence after the Reserve Bank of India imposed severe restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank in 2024 and later cancelled the licence of the independently held affiliate in April 2026. One 97 Communications holds 49 per cent in the payments bank, while Sharma owns the remaining 51 per cent.

The banking affiliate’s closure has continued to shape staffing decisions. Most of Paytm Payments Bank’s employees have already exited over the past two years, with some absorbed into other parts of the fintech group. The remaining few hundred employees at the bank are expected to leave as the winding-down process advances.

Paytm’s latest hiring plan comes after a year in which the company sharply reduced headcount. Average on-roll employees fell from 43,960 in FY24 to 39,368 in FY25, a decline of about 4,600 people. A large portion of the workforce remains tied to sales, underlining the importance of merchant acquisition and field distribution in Paytm’s model.

The company’s restructuring has coincided with an improvement in profitability. Paytm posted four consecutive profitable quarters and reported its first full-year profit since listing, with FY26 net profit of about ₹552 crore compared with a loss of ₹663 crore in FY25. Revenue for FY26 rose to about ₹9,291 crore from ₹7,625 crore a year earlier.

For the March 2026 quarter, One 97 Communications reported a consolidated net profit of about ₹184 crore, compared with a loss of about ₹540 crore in the year-earlier period. Revenue from operations rose 18.4 per cent year-on-year to ₹2,264 crore, supported by payments services and financial services distribution.

The improved performance has given Paytm more room to invest in growth areas, but the company is still balancing expansion with caution. Its shares have gained around 7 per cent over the past year, though they remain more than 50 per cent below the 2021 initial public offering price, a reminder of investor concerns over profitability, regulation and the durability of its business model.

Artificial intelligence has become central to Paytm’s operating strategy. The company has used automation to reduce repetitive work in customer support, risk management, merchant servicing and internal processes. The next phase appears focused less on replacing headcount across the board and more on redeploying resources towards AI-enabled products, data-driven lending, fraud control and personalised financial offerings.

That shift mirrors a wider trend in the technology and fintech sectors, where companies are cutting roles in legacy or routine functions while hiring for engineering, machine learning, product design, compliance technology and platform operations. For Paytm, the challenge is sharper because its business relies on both software capability and a large physical merchant network.

The company began in 2010 as a mobile recharge platform before expanding into wallets, QR-code payments, Soundbox devices, payment gateways and financial services. Its growth accelerated after the 2016 currency note withdrawal pushed millions of merchants and consumers towards digital payments.

The competition drew over 40 global submissions to decarbonise beef and dairy supply chains, with winning solution set to scale across one of Asia’s leading retail networks

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – DFI Retail Group (DFI or the Group), a leading Asian retailer, and The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, named Number 8 Bio as the winner of the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026. This announcement follows the Final Pitching event, which was held on 5 June, World Environment Day. The Australia-based innovator was recognised for BetterFeed™, a range of proprietary feed additives that cut enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep while improving the productivity of every animal that uses it. The team takes home a HK$120,000 grant and the opportunity to partner with DFI to scale its solution across the Group’s regional beef and dairy supply chains.

Representatives of DFI Retail Group, The Mills Fabrica, and the judging panel jointly presented the award to Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio, who was named the winner of the Challenge.
Representatives of DFI Retail Group, The Mills Fabrica, and the judging panel jointly presented the award to Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio, who was named the winner of the Challenge.

Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group said: “Tackling Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across the value chain, and we are pleased that the Challenge has created opportunities for innovators to test and scale practical solutions within real operating environments. We look forward to seeing how they support our progress towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.”

Meet the Winner: From Pitch to Pilot Across Asia’s Supply Chains

Number 8 Bio has built a feed additive that does two jobs at once. BetterFeed™, a family of proprietary organic small molecules, free of bromoform, reduces enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep, which is responsible for both the majority of livestock emissions and a 12% loss of nutritional energy from every pasture. By stopping that methane from forming, BetterFeed™ redirects the recovered energy straight back into animal growth and production, a genuine win for farmers’ bottom lines as much as for the climate. Winning the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge opens a pilot pathway across DFI’s beef and dairy supply chains, including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio said, “We are grateful for the exposure to such a high-calibre ecosystem, from fellow innovators addressing the same problem from different angles to the investors and industry players. The conversations alone have accelerated our thinking in ways that months of independent work could not.”

A Global Search Anchored in Asia: Addressing the Region’s Beef and Dairy Decarbonisation Challenge

Across Asia, rising incomes and urbanisation continue to drive demand for meat and dairy products. Supporting the transition to lower-emission production will be key to ensuring the long-term resilience of food systems while meeting evolving consumer expectations.

Launched in December 2025, the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge was designed to bridge innovation and implementation by connecting global innovators directly with DFI’s extensive supply-chain network.

Through The Mills Fabrica’s global scouting network across 30 countries, including university research institutions, venture capital and startup-incubator networks, the Challenge attracted over 40 submissions from five continents. These solutions ranged from novel feed, feed additives and biomanufacturing to AI and SaaS data platforms, processing innovations and energy management systems. Nearly half were at commercial-ready maturity, reflecting a strong pipeline of scalable solutions rather than early-stage concepts.

Cintia Nunes, General Manager, Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica said, “The next phase of climate innovation is not just about discovering new technologies but helping them scale in ways that create tangible change. DFI is an industry leader willing to put real supply-chain access and pilot pathways behind climate-tech innovators. We are committed to deepening this partnership with DFI and to working with more forward-looking partners, so that the most promising innovators get the partnerships, capital and pilots they need to translate their work to commercial impact.”

The Finalists: A Global Cohort Tackling Beef and Dairy’s Hardest Climate Problems
The finalists represent leading approaches to reducing ruminant emissions, including novel feed additives, synthetic biology, AI-enabled monitoring, genetic optimisation, and waste-to-renewable resources:

  • Provectus Algae (Australia): Creator of Surf’N’Turf®, a scalable seaweed-based feed supplement designed to reduce ruminant livestock methane emissions. Powered by Provectus Algae’s proprietary Precision Photosynthesis® and AI-enabled biomanufacturing platform, Surf’N’Turf® has demonstrated enteric methane reductions of up to 98% while improving feed efficiency and supporting lower-emission livestock systems.
  • AbacusBio (New Zealand): A genetics consultancy working in over 30 countries. Its Methane Sire Selection Tool is an app that generates a selection index to help select breeding sires for genetic methane reduction, balancing total and intensity emissions cuts with on-farm profitability metrics.
  • eVerse.AI (India): Their dual-track platform is revolutionising dairy sustainability and productivity, leveraging cutting-edge innovation. GreenCow harnesses methane measurement tech and eco-friendly interventions to generate verified carbon credits, empowering farmers to monetise their sustainable practices. ConnectedCow, a SaaS platform, integrates biometric ID with AI-driven insights to optimise milk yield, fertility, and herd health, providing a unified dashboard for monitoring productivity, breeding, and methane.
  • Kinava (South Korea): G2E Company (Green Waste to Energy) applies Hybrid Hydrothermal Carbonization to convert organic waste — livestock manure, food waste, wood waste, and sewage sludge — into odorless biofertilizer, biocoal, biocokes, biochar, and biogas in under three hours, using 70% less energy than conventional drying. Kinava’s first commercial plant has processed 100T/d pig manure since 2024, with a cassava-to-biocoal pilot plant also installed in Thailand in 2025.
Finalists pitched to a panel of leading academics and industry experts in ruminant nutrition, environmental science, agri-food sustainability, and corporate decarbonisation strategy. The pitching day brought together the DFI Management Committee, leading regional beef and dairy suppliers, academic experts, and ecosystem partners, enabling direct engagement between solution innovators and industry stakeholders.
In addition to formal pitches, all finalists presented their solutions through a dedicated Product and Technology Showcase, facilitating deeper discussions on pilot and deployment opportunities.

Erica Chan, Group Chief Legal, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, DFI Retail Group added: “We are pleased that this partnership with The Mills Fabrica has identified technologies with real commercial potential. Their global network and deep expertise in sustainability innovation helped us connect with a very strong cohort of climate-tech innovators. What impressed us most was the commercial readiness of the solutions. These are practical technologies with the potential to reduce emissions, strengthen supply chain resilience, and support more sustainable food systems.”

DFI Retail Group and The Mills Fabrica will continue to provide ongoing mentorship, ecosystem connections, and access to its global network, both to the winner and to the wider finalist cohort.

Hashtag: #DFIretailGroup #TheMillsFabrica #Sustainability

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

DFI Retail Group

DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to “Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments”. At 31 December 2025, the Group and Maxim’s operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets. The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains. The Group operates a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants under Maxim’s.

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SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – As the morning sun bathed Sanya Bay in golden light, a group of international tour operators began their exploration of the city. From June 4 to 5, delegates participating in the Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2026 visited Sanya for an in-depth familiarization tour of its luxury resort hotels, coastal cultural and tourism destinations, and duty-free shopping complexes.

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From the spectacular underwater suites at Atlantis Sanya, to the colorful street-art alleys of Tianya Town, and the rooftop infinity pool at Sanya Conifer Resort, each stop gave the visitors a fresh impression of Hainan. Many visitors paused to capture the scenery, remarking with delight: “Sanya is full of surprises!”

Exploring Luxury Resorts and Applauding World-Class Service

At 10 a.m. on June 4, the tour operators arrived at Atlantis Sanya. Upon entering the lobby, they were immediately captivated by the resort’s massive aquarium, where sharks, rays, and other marine creatures glided gracefully through the water. The group was visibly amazed.

The group toured both the ocean-view suites and the resort’s signature underwater suites. In the latter, floor-to-ceiling windows offer direct views into the aquarium, allowing guests to lie in bed and watch marine life drift by as if they were beneath the sea.

“The underwater suite concept is truly unique. Very few hotels in the world can offer an experience like this,” said tour operator Vivian He from Hong Kong. “The dreamlike setting would make an outstanding feature for honeymoon packages and would appeal strongly to younger travelers. I’ve already taken plenty of photos and videos on my phone and plan to use them for promotion when I return.”

The group then traveled to Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay in Tianya District. Strolling through palm-lined gardens, they were greeted by breathtaking views where the infinity pool seemed to merge with the sea and sky beyond. Many guests stopped to take photos, fascinated by the striking visual effect, which made it look as though water flowed directly into the ocean.

“The design is incredibly clever. It gives you the urge to dive right in and swim toward the sea,” said Julia, a tour operator from Germany, while taking photos of the stunning view. Having worked in the European outbound travel market for many years, she was visiting Sanya for the first time. “In Europe, hotels with sea views like this often come with a very high price tag. Hainan offers excellent value for money. Combined with China’s visa-free policy for travelers from 86 countries, it has tremendous appeal for European visitors.”

The hotel’s representative introduced the group to the property’s all-ocean-view suites, children’s amusement facilities, and its distinctive pink-sand beach. Natthapat, a tour operator from Thailand, showed particular interest in these features. “The children’s facilities and the pink-sand beach are perfect for family travel products. When I return home, I’ll discuss with my team how we can incorporate this destination into our product offerings.”

The delegation then proceeded to Rosewood Sanya. The hotel’s sky lobby, located on the 14th floor, offers sweeping 270-degree ocean views. Equally impressive was the elevated infinity pool on the 13th floor. Suspended between sea and sky, the pool’s edge appears to merge with the horizon, creating a spectacular setting from every angle.

“This is one of the most visually stunning hotel pools I’ve ever seen,” said Amy, a tour operator from Australia, while admiring the view from the poolside. She noted that Australian travelers also have a strong preference for luxury resort experiences, and the design aesthetic and sense of privacy here align perfectly with the expectations of the high-end market.

Throughout the visit, many tour operators actively exchanged business cards with hotel sales representatives, inquiring about partnership opportunities, group rates, and capacity for group reception. A tour operator from Southeast Asia said that he hopes to bring a group of high-end family travelers to experience Sanya’s luxury resort offerings.

Tianya Town’s Artistic Transformation Resonates with Tour Operators

The delegation also visited Tianya Town, where they experienced the unique charm of this “seaside arts village.” From the colorful mural-covered walls at the entrance of Huanglong Street, to the pure-white architecture of Sanya Guanxia Seaview B&B, and the cave-inspired interiors of Malt Cave Seaview Café, every corner became a favorite photo stop.

“This is completely different from the fishing village I imagined,” said Eter, a tour operator from Georgia, pausing at the iconic “18° North Latitude” landmark to examine the coordinates displayed on the wall. She noted that the destination could be easily integrated with the coastal tourism resources of Sanya, Lingshui, and Wanning. “Visitors are drawn to places with distinct geographic markers, which give the destination a sense of occasion.”

A local guide accompanying the group explained that in recent years, Tianya Town has undergone a series of small-scale renovations and refined upgrades. While retaining the original layout and character of a traditional fishing village, it has incorporated contemporary artistic elements, evolving into a popular photo-friendly destination. Today, Tianya Town is home to dozens of seaview guesthouses, cafés, and cultural and creative shops, making it especially popular among younger travelers.

“These small but beautifully designed destinations are exactly what many European travelers are looking for,” said Zhang Jing, a tour operator from Ireland. “Many European visitors are keen to experience local culture and everyday life when they travel. Tianya Town combines fishing village stories, artistic ambiance, and seaside accommodations. It has tremendous appeal.”

Inside one of the town’s cultural and creative stores, the visitors showed great interest in souvenir products featuring traditional Li ethnic totems. France, a tour operator from the United States, even inquired on the spot about purchasing the products in bulk as gifts for clients.

Meanwhile, Korean tour operator Lee Jae-hyun was particularly impressed by the town’s photogenic appeal. “Every corner is picture-perfect. Young people in Korea love destinations that look great in photos. If Tianya Town were included in independent travel packages, I’m sure it would be very popular.”

Duty-Free Shopping Drives Strong Interest and New Cooperation Opportunities

On the afternoon of June 4, the tour operators continued their familiarization tour with visits to Sanya Conifer Resort and Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa.

At Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa, the group was introduced to the hotel’s comprehensive conference facilities and family-oriented amenities. Guests were particularly intrigued by the hotel’s exclusive underground passageway, which provides direct access to Sanya Bay Beach.

Sanya Conifer Resort, meanwhile, impressed visitors with its iconic 70-meter-high rooftop infinity pool. Offering panoramic views of the Sanya Bay coastline, the elevated waterscape has become one of the hotel’s signature attractions. Its distinctive architectural design also earned high praise from the international tour operators.

Later that day, the delegation arrived at the final highlight of their Sanya tour—a self-guided visit to the CDF Sanya International Duty Free City. As the world’s largest single-building duty-free shopping destination, the complex brings together more than 800 international brands.

Aziz, a tour operator from Malaysia, found himself spoiled for choice in the cosmetics and fragrance section. “Malaysian travelers love duty-free shopping. The selection of brands here is impressive, and the pricing is highly competitive. If duty-free shopping can be combined with resort stays as part of a travel package, I believe it would be extremely well received by the market.”

Julia, a tour operator from Germany, was equally impressed by the scale and variety of the shopping complex. “European travelers enjoy purchasing luxury goods and cosmetics, and Sanya’s duty-free advantages are very clear. I believe Sanya has the potential to become a new favorite destination among European visitors.”

After several days of exploration across Hainan, tour operators from around the world expressed strong interest in developing partnerships in sectors ranging from sports tourism and wellness travel to cultural and leisure tourism. Shirley, a tour operator from Australia, paid particular attention to Hainan’s sports tourism resources. “Hainan has outstanding assets for sports tourism, especially golf and coastal outdoor activities. These resources are ideal for developing sports-focused holiday products. Australian consumers are passionate about sports travel, and I plan to introduce Hainan’s sports tourism offerings to the Australian market.”

According to officials from the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the city has launched several new international air routes since the beginning of this year, contributing to steady growth in inbound visitor arrivals. Looking ahead, Sanya will continue to improve its inbound tourism services and strengthen international market outreach, encouraging more global tour operators to include the city in their product portfolios.

Sunny Hainan, heart’s desire. Although the two-and-a-half-day familiarization tour was brief, it provided tour operators from around the world with a firsthand look at Sanya’s diverse tourism offerings and strong hospitality capacity. More importantly, it allowed visiting industry professionals to identify tangible opportunities for future cooperation. With the continued expansion of international flight connections and the ongoing optimization of inbound travel policies, Sanya is embracing the world with an increasingly open and welcoming outlook, ready to receive more visitors from across the globe.

Hashtag: #SanyaTourismBoard

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

VISHNU RAJA
RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
IKUYO KITA