Category: What’s News Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutRech Newswire – 21 September 2026 – United Expo, the Malaysia-based exhibition organiser, has acquired the International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS), with ICBS 2027 set to anchor the group’s calendar for the year. The acquisition marks United Expo’s most significant expansion beyond its original footprint, building on a legacy rooted in Malaysia’s jewellery, private collections, and healthcare exhibition sectors.

United Expo said ICBS’s strong track record, established client base, and growth potential made it a natural fit for the group. The move reflects United Expo’s focus on Malaysia’s lifestyle sectors, with the country’s food and beverage industry, including cafés, forecast to grow at a double-digit compound annual rate through the early 2030s, while the broader foodservice sector’s value is expected to roughly double over that period – a trend attributed in part to rising urban disposable income.

“ICBS has a strong foundation and a loyal community behind it. We see real potential to grow it further and bring even more value to its stakeholders and the wider trade ecosystem,” said Ms Connie Soh, Director of United Expo.

The acquisition builds on a legacy that traces back to United Expo’s founder’s earlier work organising the Malaysia International Jewellery Fair (MIJ), a number of by-invitation private jewellery shows, and a healthcare exhibition, Mysihat – each built on a reputation for quality over quantity. During the pandemic, organisers from across lifestyle, health, technology, and general trade industries independently approached the team to collaborate, drawn by that track record. That pattern shaped both the company’s multi-industry model and its name, United Expo, built to bring different industries and partners together under one roof. Today, that same partnership-driven approach drives the ICBS acquisition.

To spearhead the next chapter of ICBS, United Expo has appointed industry veteran Mr Alun Jones to drive the show’s strategic development and expansion. Mr Alun Jones brings deep experience in the café and beverage sector, having previously led ICBS during its earlier editions, and will work closely with United Expo’s team to elevate the event’s offerings, attract new international exhibitors, and strengthen its position as a must-attend event for the regional trade community.

“I’m thrilled to be leading ICBS under United Expo’s stewardship. The show has always been about bringing the community together, and with United Expo’s platform and resources, we can take it to the next level – delivering greater value for exhibitors, partners, and visitors alike,” said Mr Alun.

ICBS 2027 will take place in May 2027. The show comes as Malaysia’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry continues to expand, with the sector projected to draw more than 25 million visitors and generate RM76.8 billion in revenue, buoyed by Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and the country’s ASEAN chairmanship. The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau reported 194 business events and 341,182 delegates in the first half of 2026 alone, generating an estimated RM1.81 billion in economic impact.

For more information on United Expo and its events in Malaysia, please visit https://unitedexpo.my/
Hashtag: #UnitedExpo #ICBS

https://unitedexpo.my/

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

About International Café & Beverage Show (ICBS)

The International Café & Beverage Show (ICBS) is a dedicated trade exhibition focused on speciality coffee, café culture, services, and equipment. Positioned at international standards, ICBS serves a fast-growing segment of the lifestyle and food & beverage economy.

ICBS functions as a focused marketplace where café owners, operators, managers, and industry professionals connect to source premium products, discover solutions, and exchange industry knowledge. For suppliers, the show offers targeted branding, marketing, and sponsorship opportunities within a highly specialised and relevant business community.

Drivers aged 8–17 build real race experience through qualifying, attack, defense and overtaking

HONG KONG / GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 — For a young racing driver, there is far more to learn from a kart race than simply setting the fastest lap. Organised by China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC) with the support of IAME Series Asia and HKAA, the opening round of the HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 was recently completed at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit.

Over two days of practice, qualifying and competitive racing, young drivers from Hong Kong put their training into action, testing their speed, race craft and decision-making under genuine race conditions.

The championship features two categories — Cadet for drivers aged 8–12 using 60cc karts and Junior for drivers aged 12–17 using 125cc karts — competing on the approximately 1.2-kilometre, 14-corner circuit.

From lap time to real race craft

The weekend began with practice, allowing drivers to refine braking points, racing lines and corner-exit speed with support from coaches and mechanics.

Qualifying then challenged competitors to produce a competitive lap within a limited time on track to secure the best possible starting position.

However, once the racing began, outright speed was only part of the challenge.

With multiple karts fighting for position at the very first corner, drivers had to assess the traffic around them, choose attacking or defensive lines and decide when to overtake or hold position.

Over the two days of racing, the young drivers chased each other through various corners, with moments of side-by-side cornering, defending positions, and looking for overtaking opportunities. For young drivers, managing traffic on the track, race pressure, and split-second decision-making are experiences that are difficult to fully simulate in routine solo practice.

These situations help young drivers develop genuine race craft, which is an important step for a driver to learn, progress and grow in motorsports.

One Make Karting unifies kart and engine specification, putting the focus on the driver

The championship adopts a One Make Karting / Arrive & Drive format, with race karts and competition equipment arranged to a unified specification, together with designated practice and race tyres.

By reducing equipment differences, the format places greater emphasis on driving technique, consistency, decision-making and race strategy.

It also gives young racers stepping into competitive racing for the first time the opportunity to experience a complete race weekend, from practice and qualifying to race starts, on-track battles and post-session analysis.

The value of the first race is not measured by podium positions

In youth motorsport, results are important, but racing experience often has to be built up race by race.

A position gained or lost at the start, choosing the right moment to overtake, or learning how to recover after a mistake can become valuable lessons for the next race.

CHKMC Head Coach Chester Lam said, “Training can teach a driver racing lines, braking points and kart control, but a real race involves other drivers, starts, attack and defense, and pressure. It is a completely different situation.”

“Young drivers need real racing to gradually learn how to read a race. Every time they complete a race, they should be equipped with more experience than they had before.”

Karting has long been one of the first forms of competitive motorsport experienced by many professional racing drivers. CHKMC hopes to create more opportunities for young people in Hong Kong to develop from fundamental training to track driving and, ultimately, real racing.

From Hong Kong to a wider Asian racing stage

The aim of the HK Youth Karting Championship is not for every participant to become a front-running racer immediately, but to provide a platform where young drivers can compete, make mistakes, learn and gradually build their racing experience.

From lining up on the starting grid to attempting an overtake, defending a position or understanding tyres and changing track conditions, every race adds another layer to a young driver’s development.

The championship also connects young racers with the wider Asian karting scene.

Strong performers in the Cadet and Junior categories may have the opportunity to progress towards the IAME Asia Final 2026 in Macau, competing alongside drivers from across the region.

Round 1 complete, attention turns to the next challenge

Following the opening round, drivers and coaching teams started reviewing lap times, racing lines and overall performance as they prepare for the next race.

The HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 will continue with its next round at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit on 10 – 11 October 2026, giving young racers another opportunity to apply what they learned and continue building valuable race experience.

For a young driver, the chequered flag at the end of one race is not the end of the journey.

It is preparation for the next one.

About HK Youth Karting Championship 2026

Categories:
Cadet — Ages 8–12 / 60cc
Junior — Ages 12–17 / 125cc

Circuit: Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit
Organiser: China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC)
Supported by: IAME Series Asia

Enquiries
China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC)
Tel: +852 6288 6268
Website: www.chkmc.com.hk

Hashtag: #CHKMC #廣州從化國際賽車場 #中國香港賽車運動中心 #青少年賽車 #青少年車手 #青年車手

https://www.chkmc.com.hk

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

Drivers aged 8–17 build real race experience through qualifying, attack, defense and overtaking

HONG KONG / GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 — For a young racing driver, there is far more to learn from a kart race than simply setting the fastest lap. Organised by China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC) with the support of IAME Series Asia and HKAA, the opening round of the HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 was recently completed at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit.

Over two days of practice, qualifying and competitive racing, young drivers from Hong Kong put their training into action, testing their speed, race craft and decision-making under genuine race conditions.

The championship features two categories — Cadet for drivers aged 8–12 using 60cc karts and Junior for drivers aged 12–17 using 125cc karts — competing on the approximately 1.2-kilometre, 14-corner circuit.

From lap time to real race craft

The weekend began with practice, allowing drivers to refine braking points, racing lines and corner-exit speed with support from coaches and mechanics.

Qualifying then challenged competitors to produce a competitive lap within a limited time on track to secure the best possible starting position.

However, once the racing began, outright speed was only part of the challenge.

With multiple karts fighting for position at the very first corner, drivers had to assess the traffic around them, choose attacking or defensive lines and decide when to overtake or hold position.

Over the two days of racing, the young drivers chased each other through various corners, with moments of side-by-side cornering, defending positions, and looking for overtaking opportunities. For young drivers, managing traffic on the track, race pressure, and split-second decision-making are experiences that are difficult to fully simulate in routine solo practice.

These situations help young drivers develop genuine race craft, which is an important step for a driver to learn, progress and grow in motorsports.

One Make Karting unifies kart and engine specification, putting the focus on the driver

The championship adopts a One Make Karting / Arrive & Drive format, with race karts and competition equipment arranged to a unified specification, together with designated practice and race tyres.

By reducing equipment differences, the format places greater emphasis on driving technique, consistency, decision-making and race strategy.

It also gives young racers stepping into competitive racing for the first time the opportunity to experience a complete race weekend, from practice and qualifying to race starts, on-track battles and post-session analysis.

The value of the first race is not measured by podium positions

In youth motorsport, results are important, but racing experience often has to be built up race by race.

A position gained or lost at the start, choosing the right moment to overtake, or learning how to recover after a mistake can become valuable lessons for the next race.

CHKMC Head Coach Chester Lam said, “Training can teach a driver racing lines, braking points and kart control, but a real race involves other drivers, starts, attack and defense, and pressure. It is a completely different situation.”

“Young drivers need real racing to gradually learn how to read a race. Every time they complete a race, they should be equipped with more experience than they had before.”

Karting has long been one of the first forms of competitive motorsport experienced by many professional racing drivers. CHKMC hopes to create more opportunities for young people in Hong Kong to develop from fundamental training to track driving and, ultimately, real racing.

From Hong Kong to a wider Asian racing stage

The aim of the HK Youth Karting Championship is not for every participant to become a front-running racer immediately, but to provide a platform where young drivers can compete, make mistakes, learn and gradually build their racing experience.

From lining up on the starting grid to attempting an overtake, defending a position or understanding tyres and changing track conditions, every race adds another layer to a young driver’s development.

The championship also connects young racers with the wider Asian karting scene.

Strong performers in the Cadet and Junior categories may have the opportunity to progress towards the IAME Asia Final 2026 in Macau, competing alongside drivers from across the region.

Round 1 complete, attention turns to the next challenge

Following the opening round, drivers and coaching teams started reviewing lap times, racing lines and overall performance as they prepare for the next race.

The HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 will continue with its next round at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit on 10 – 11 October 2026, giving young racers another opportunity to apply what they learned and continue building valuable race experience.

For a young driver, the chequered flag at the end of one race is not the end of the journey.

It is preparation for the next one.

About HK Youth Karting Championship 2026

Categories:
Cadet — Ages 8–12 / 60cc
Junior — Ages 12–17 / 125cc

Circuit: Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit
Organiser: China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC)
Supported by: IAME Series Asia

Enquiries
China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC)
Tel: +852 6288 6268
Website: www.chkmc.com.hk

Hashtag: #CHKMC #廣州從化國際賽車場 #中國香港賽車運動中心 #青少年賽車 #青少年車手 #青年車手

https://www.chkmc.com.hk

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

NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid showcased a range of innovations designed to support energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. These included the DaWatt – Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, highlighting expanding opportunities for cooperation in digitalization, intelligent technologies and green energy.

The Lao-language LLM has been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it can automatically analyze thousands of inspection images within a short period of time. After its algorithms were optimized for Laos’ mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying more than 3,600 equipment defects.

Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., said the company has been building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. Drawing on the capabilities of the DaWatt foundation model, the company is developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world power industry applications.

Talent development is another focus of the cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is exploring an industry-university training model with a strong emphasis on practical experience. So far, two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled.

Cooperation is also evolving from one-way training toward joint innovation. Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while the company has also launched peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos on improving power supply reliability.

To address language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese.

At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system supported one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology.

To support regular international exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has also established an international talent pool covering management, technical and skilled personnel. It has developed 24 hours of courses on international affairs as well as 20 short-form video courses.

“This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries,” said Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd.

Looking ahead, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. plans to further advance a development model featuring “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN.” The company will continue expanding its multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a “Token Goes Global” model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. The effort is aimed at creating new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and supporting the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.

Hashtag: #GuangxiPowerGridCo.,Ltd. #ChinaSouthernPowerGrid #ChinaASEAN #EnergyCooperation

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

NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid showcased a range of innovations designed to support energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. These included the DaWatt – Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, highlighting expanding opportunities for cooperation in digitalization, intelligent technologies and green energy.

The Lao-language LLM has been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it can automatically analyze thousands of inspection images within a short period of time. After its algorithms were optimized for Laos’ mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying more than 3,600 equipment defects.

Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., said the company has been building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. Drawing on the capabilities of the DaWatt foundation model, the company is developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world power industry applications.

Talent development is another focus of the cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is exploring an industry-university training model with a strong emphasis on practical experience. So far, two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled.

Cooperation is also evolving from one-way training toward joint innovation. Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while the company has also launched peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos on improving power supply reliability.

To address language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese.

At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system supported one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology.

To support regular international exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has also established an international talent pool covering management, technical and skilled personnel. It has developed 24 hours of courses on international affairs as well as 20 short-form video courses.

“This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries,” said Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd.

Looking ahead, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. plans to further advance a development model featuring “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN.” The company will continue expanding its multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a “Token Goes Global” model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. The effort is aimed at creating new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and supporting the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.

Hashtag: #GuangxiPowerGridCo.,Ltd. #ChinaSouthernPowerGrid #ChinaASEAN #EnergyCooperation

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

BAZHONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – The 24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival will run from October 1 to November 18 at the Guangwu Mountain Tourism Area in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.

Located in southwest China, Guangwu Mountain boasts a forest coverage rate of 97%, earning its reputation as a “natural oxygen bar.” Each autumn, 680 square kilometers of mountain forests burst into a dazzling palette. Over 40 tree species, including Fagus pashanica, maples and lindens, weave the mountains into a stunning autumn landscape.

Known as “Asia’s longest natural red carpet,” the Mountain has become a top autumn destination for backpackers, photographers and travelers seeking immersive cultural and nature experiences, and is widely recognized as one of western China’s signature autumn attractions.

The tourism area caters to international visitors who prefer slower-paced, in-depth, off-the-beaten-path travel. The new Yanziling Loop Boardwalk, launched in May 2026, winds along mountain cliffs, with a sea of clouds rolling beneath visitors’ feet and brilliant foliage unfolding alongside the trail, creating the feeling of “stepping into a painting.”

Guangwu Mountain offers a wealth of outdoor attractions. Highlights include the 1,888-meter Red Leaf Coaster and a glass water slide certified by Guinness World Record, combining thrilling experiences with stunning natural scenery.

The large-scale immersive production “New Dream of Guangwu Mountain” integrates cutting-edge light and visual technology with Bashan folklore and traditions, transforming the forest into an atmospheric nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy welcome performances and interactive robot activities, which offer more ways to discover the mountain’s late-autumn charm.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the newly completed Micang Avenue. Stretching 85 kilometers, the route connects seven core scenic spots, including Guangwu Mountain, Micang Mountain, and Nuoshui River, reducing a four-hour drive to just one hour. Lined with continuous stretches of colorful forest and layered peaks, the avenue brings brand-new travel experiences for autumn foliage enthusiasts.

The festival will also feature cultural, sports and international exchange activities, including the third season of the “Sending You a Red Leaf” campaign, the China Micang Avenue International Road Cycling Race, and the “World Red Leaf Landmark” global collection campaign.

In addition, 31 scenic attractions and 18 museums and cultural venues across Bazhong will provide special ticket offers and visitor benefits during the festival.

Across mountains and seas, Guangwu Mountain invites visitors from around the world to witness one of China’s most vibrant red-and-gold autumn displays.

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

BAZHONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – The 24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival will run from October 1 to November 18 at the Guangwu Mountain Tourism Area in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.

Located in southwest China, Guangwu Mountain boasts a forest coverage rate of 97%, earning its reputation as a “natural oxygen bar.” Each autumn, 680 square kilometers of mountain forests burst into a dazzling palette. Over 40 tree species, including Fagus pashanica, maples and lindens, weave the mountains into a stunning autumn landscape.

Known as “Asia’s longest natural red carpet,” the Mountain has become a top autumn destination for backpackers, photographers and travelers seeking immersive cultural and nature experiences, and is widely recognized as one of western China’s signature autumn attractions.

The tourism area caters to international visitors who prefer slower-paced, in-depth, off-the-beaten-path travel. The new Yanziling Loop Boardwalk, launched in May 2026, winds along mountain cliffs, with a sea of clouds rolling beneath visitors’ feet and brilliant foliage unfolding alongside the trail, creating the feeling of “stepping into a painting.”

Guangwu Mountain offers a wealth of outdoor attractions. Highlights include the 1,888-meter Red Leaf Coaster and a glass water slide certified by Guinness World Record, combining thrilling experiences with stunning natural scenery.

The large-scale immersive production “New Dream of Guangwu Mountain” integrates cutting-edge light and visual technology with Bashan folklore and traditions, transforming the forest into an atmospheric nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy welcome performances and interactive robot activities, which offer more ways to discover the mountain’s late-autumn charm.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the newly completed Micang Avenue. Stretching 85 kilometers, the route connects seven core scenic spots, including Guangwu Mountain, Micang Mountain, and Nuoshui River, reducing a four-hour drive to just one hour. Lined with continuous stretches of colorful forest and layered peaks, the avenue brings brand-new travel experiences for autumn foliage enthusiasts.

The festival will also feature cultural, sports and international exchange activities, including the third season of the “Sending You a Red Leaf” campaign, the China Micang Avenue International Road Cycling Race, and the “World Red Leaf Landmark” global collection campaign.

In addition, 31 scenic attractions and 18 museums and cultural venues across Bazhong will provide special ticket offers and visitor benefits during the festival.

Across mountains and seas, Guangwu Mountain invites visitors from around the world to witness one of China’s most vibrant red-and-gold autumn displays.

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for tourism and major sports and cultural events was a strong focus of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee last week (September 16).

Mr Lee unveiled measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism which will help develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. These included enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, while bolstering infrastructure and ancillary facilities as well as deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and around the world.

“Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences,” Mr Lee said. “We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong.”

To support Hong Kong’s film industry and promote “Film + Tourism”, the Support Unit for Non‑local Film Productions will be set up to provide one‑stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.

Mr Lee noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park has substantially expanded Hong Kong’s capacity to host international mega events, with more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events having been held there so far, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all‑weather, multi‑purpose venue for holding larger‑scale and higher‑level sports events, as well as performance activities.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Ms Law said that Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11 per cent.

“The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026,” Ms Law said.

The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Chinese Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.

It will take forward “+ Tourism” joint initiatives, integrating various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value‑adding momentum. Such joint initiatives would integrate tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance and industrial brands.

On developing the yacht economy, Mr Lee said that a variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City “SKYTOPIA”.

“In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration,” Mr Lee said. “The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross‑boundary leisure consumption.”

To further enhance the city’s appeal as a Muslim‑friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim‑friendly food options.






Hashtag: #HongKong #PolicyAddress #First5YearPlan #Tourism #Sports #Culture

https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-hong-kong/
https://x.com/Brand_HK/
https://www.facebook.com/brandhk.isd
https://www.instagram.com/brandhongkong

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for tourism and major sports and cultural events was a strong focus of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee last week (September 16).

Mr Lee unveiled measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism which will help develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. These included enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, while bolstering infrastructure and ancillary facilities as well as deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and around the world.

“Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences,” Mr Lee said. “We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong.”

To support Hong Kong’s film industry and promote “Film + Tourism”, the Support Unit for Non‑local Film Productions will be set up to provide one‑stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.

Mr Lee noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park has substantially expanded Hong Kong’s capacity to host international mega events, with more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events having been held there so far, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all‑weather, multi‑purpose venue for holding larger‑scale and higher‑level sports events, as well as performance activities.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Ms Law said that Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11 per cent.

“The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026,” Ms Law said.

The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Chinese Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.

It will take forward “+ Tourism” joint initiatives, integrating various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value‑adding momentum. Such joint initiatives would integrate tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance and industrial brands.

On developing the yacht economy, Mr Lee said that a variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City “SKYTOPIA”.

“In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration,” Mr Lee said. “The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross‑boundary leisure consumption.”

To further enhance the city’s appeal as a Muslim‑friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim‑friendly food options.






Hashtag: #HongKong #PolicyAddress #First5YearPlan #Tourism #Sports #Culture

https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-hong-kong/
https://x.com/Brand_HK/
https://www.facebook.com/brandhk.isd
https://www.instagram.com/brandhongkong

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

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Aolani, a Singapore-founded AI Cloud powering AI growth, today announced the signing of a strategic compute collaboration with NVIDIA.

A first of its scale for a Southeast Asian-founded company, the collaboration marks a major milestone that will significantly boost Southeast Asia’s profile in the global AI ecosystem. By combining Aolani’s capabilities and NVIDIA’s technology, the strategic collaboration will unlock financing that will further accelerate and democratise access to AI compute in Asia for global AI natives, sovereigns, and local enterprises and SMEs.

This collaboration brings Aolani’s total AI factory capacity to more than 100 megawatts (MW). 22,000 GPUs are expected to be deployed across two AI factories in Malaysia and the Philippines in early 2027. This will bring Aolani’s total deployment to over 48,000 GPUs.

An NVIDIA Cloud Partner since 2023, Aolani will be deploying NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, a leading AI system designed to help organisations build and scale advanced AI workloads today.

Aolani will deliver NVIDIA-powered cloud services to AI-native companies, enterprises, startups, developers and institutions across Southeast Asia. A revenue-sharing and credit-support model will align infrastructure deployment with customer demand, helping broaden access to large-scale accelerated computing while giving Aolani a capital-efficient path to scale its AI factories across the region.

Driving Southeast Asia as a leading global powerhouse for AI innovation

Southeast Asia is one of the most robust AI markets in the world, with AI adoption rates among companies demonstrating stronger momentum than global average^[1]. With more than US$50 billion invested by global hyperscalers in AI-ready data centres and cloud infrastructure^[2], the region’s growth is driven by its emerging position as a global arena for cloud and AI innovation.

While Malaysia has established itself as one of Asia’s premier AI factory hubs, the Philippines represents a high-potential emerging market for AI infrastructure. Aolani’s deployment in the Philippines is expected to be among the first large-scale AI infrastructure platforms in the country, broadening access to advanced AI compute and supporting the buildout of essential AI infrastructure in Asia.

Nicholas Chia, Chief Executive Officer at Aolani said: “This collaboration with NVIDIA marks a defining moment in Aolani’s mission to deliver world-class AI compute at the speed that matches the pace of AI development, and on infrastructure that is compliant, accountable, and trusted to perform. Southeast Asia is rapidly emerging as a key global node for the next wave of global AI buildout, and we are well-positioned to lead this. We are excited to work with new partners and customers to build the Southeast Asian AI ecosystem and cement the region’s central role in the global AI landscape.”

Media Contact

H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani
pr@aolani.com

Sources:

[1] McKinsey & Company, “AI in Southeast Asia: An Era of Opportunity,” 2024, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/ai-in-southeast-asia-an-era-of-opportunity

[2] Singapore Economic Development Board, “AI in Southeast Asia: An Era of Opportunity,” https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/business-insights/market-and-industry-reports/ai-in-southeast-asia-an-era-of-opportunity.html

https://www.aolani.com
https://sg.linkedin.com/company/aolani-cloud

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

About Aolani

Where AI gets built in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore and founded in 2023, Aolani is backed by compliant and purpose-built infrastructure to deliver the performance capabilities for next-generation AI. Aolani’s AI factories enable organisations to build with confidence, scale ambitiously, and move at hyper-speed in the world’s fastest-growing AI market.

For more information, visit www.aolani.com and follow @AolaniCloud on LinkedIn.