PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 20, 2026 – Full Text

Deepening professional resources and product‑technology expertise Optimising channels and accelerating brand globalisation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – 361 Degrees International Limited (“361°” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; HKSE stock code: 1361), a leading sportswear brand enterprise in China, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“the period under review”).

Financial performance

• Revenue increased by 8.0 % year on year to RMB6,159.8 million
• Gross profit increased by 8.7% year on year to RMB2,572.9 million; Gross profit margin increased by 0.3 percentage points to 41.8%
• Profit attributable to equity holders increased by 8.0% year on year to RMB925.9 million
• Net cash (including bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents) amounted to RMB4,728.8 million

Operationalhighlights

• 361° Super Premium Store (超品店) format continued to expand. A total of 187 stores launched nationwide, comprising 152 stores for core brand and 35 stores for kids. With an additional store in Cambodia, the total store count reached 188.
• The forerunner of “1+6” new retail omnichannel operating model. 361° entered into a strategic partnership with “JD Instant Delivery” (京東秒送), marking the full implementation of its instant retail strategy, under which offline physical store simultaneously operates across six online channels.
• The e-commerce business remained committed to a differentiated exclusive-product strategy. Capitalising on emerging consumer trends in sports such as tennis, badminton, and pickleball, it achieved simultaneous growth in both revenue and operational profitability.
• As the official partner of the Asian Games for five consecutive editions, 361° unveiled the official sportswear for the torchbearers of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. The “Flying Flame 5” (飛燃5) Tokyo-exclusive coloured edition running shoes made their debut at the Tokyo Marathon Expo, where running brand ambassador GUAN Yousheng (管油勝) achieved outstanding results; and the Company served as the Honorary Partner of the Qingdao Marathon for the third consecutive year.
• 361° partnered with its global brand ambassador Nikola JOKIĆ to launch the second-generation signature basketball shoes, the “JOKER2 GT”, and launched the flagship guard shoes, “BIG3 7.0 PRO”.
• 361° Kids continuously expanded its product portfolio and event resource deployment. By aligning its efforts closely with the development characteristics of adolescents, the demands of sport-specific training, and the needs of campus physical fitness tests, the brand launched technology-driven products, including the “Flying Dagger-axe” (飛戈), the “Swift Leaping” (靈躍), the “Wind Hunter” (獵風), and the “Feiyan” (飛燕).

Financial Highlights

Financial Analysis
During the period under review, the Group’s total revenue increased by 8.0% to RMB6,159.8 million. Sales of the Group’s two core products, namely footwears and apparels, grew by 7.0% year on year to RMB3,517.4 million and 10.0% year on year to RMB2,336.6 million, respectively. The sales of footwear products accounted for 57.1% of the Group’s total revenue while apparel sales accounted for 37.9%. Revenue from 361° Kids remained a steady growth, with footwear and apparel revenue rising 11.7% and 0.5% year on year, accounting for 12.9% and 8.5% of the Group’s total revenue, respectively. In addition, revenue from the sales of web-exclusive products at the e-commerce business increased by 9.5% year on year to RMB1,989.0 million, accounting for 32.3% of the Group’s total revenue.

The gross profit during the period under review was RMB2,572.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.7%. Gross profit margin increased by 0.3 percentage points year on year to 41.8%. Profit attributable to equity holders increased by 8.0% year on year to RMB925.9 million, equivalent to earnings per share of RMB44.4 cents.

As at 30 June 2026, net cash (including bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents) amounted to RMB4,728.8 million (31 December 2025: RMB3,804.0 million). Trade and bills receivable turnover days maintained at 149 days. Inventory turnover days dropped from 117 days as at the end of 2025 to 102 days.

In recognition of the shareholders’ trust and support for the Group, the Board has resolved to declare an interim dividend of HK22.2 cents per ordinary share for the period under review, representing a dividend payout ratio of 45%.

Operation review
Omnichannel Upgrading and Deeper Global Expansion
361° advances its omnichannel integration throughout its online and offline platforms. Through initiatives such as retail scenario innovation and global market expansion, the Group continues to enhance its market share and retail operational efficiency.

As of 30 June 2026, the Group had a total of 5,076 361° branded stores in the Chinese mainland. During the period under review, the Group continued to optimise its store channel structure, resulting in robust growth in retail sales. In addition, Super Premium Store format continued to expand. A total of 187 stores launched nationwide, comprising 152 stores for core brand and 35 stores for kids. With an additional store in Cambodia, the total store count reached 188.

In terms of retail scenario innovation, as the forerunner of “1+6” new retail omnichannel operating model, 361° is one of the earliest sports brands to conduct full systematic integration of multi-platform omnichannel operations. In February 2026, 361° entered into a strategic partnership with “JD Instant Delivery”, marking the full implementation of its instant retail strategy, under which a single offline physical store simultaneously operates across six online channels.

In terms of international business, as at 30 June 2026, the Group had 1,167 offline points-of-sales (POSs) in the overseas market (excluding the Chinese mainland), covering regions such as the Americas, Europe, and regions alongside the Belt and Road Initiative, while actively expanding into global markets through cross-border e-commerce platforms and standalone sites. Overseas retail sales achieved a year-on-year increase of over 80% and overseas cross-border e-commerce sales marked a year-on-year increase of over 140%, demonstrating significant effectiveness of the Group’s internationalisation efforts.

In terms of e-commerce business, the Group remained committed to a differentiated exclusive-product strategy. Capitalising on emerging consumer trends in sports such as tennis, badminton, and pickleball, it achieved simultaneous growth in both revenue and operational profitability. In addition, ONEWAY, a Finnish professional outdoor brand, achieved a breakthrough in the Greater China market, with multiple outdoor products receiving positive market feedback.

Empowering the Event Ecosystem, Strengthening the Brand’s Professional Competitiveness
361° adheres to a two-way synergy between top-tier international event partnerships and proprietary event operations, building a professional, normalised, and internationalised brand event ecosystem. Event partnership has become a core resource in the Group’s international brand strategy. As the official partner of the Asian Games for five consecutive editions, the Group unveiled the official sportswear for the torchbearers of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya during the period under review. The “Flying Flame 5” (飛燃5) Tokyo-exclusive coloured edition running shoes made their debut at the Tokyo Marathon Expo, and the Company served as the Honorary Partner of the Qingdao Marathon for the third consecutive year. 361° continues to enrich its brand sports‑event portfolio. Coupled with the on-court endorsement and empowerment from its international ambassador lineup, these initiatives have collectively demonstrated the technological strength and professional pursuit embodied in its products.

In terms of proprietary event operations, the Group continues to iterate and upgrade its mass-participation event system, regularly operating its own events such as the “3# Track” (三號賽道), “Light Up” (觸地即燃), “Women’s Fitness Gym” (女子健身局), and the “SWING AS ONE” (一拍即合) Badminton City Tournament, broadening the brand’s reach in the mass sports arena.

Dual-Track Synergy to Build a Differentiated Product Portfolio
Guided by the development strategy of “technology-driven, brand-first”, the Group continues to strengthen its foothold in core segments such as running and basketball, while positioning itself in emerging segments including trail running, women’s sports, and racquet sports, seizing growth opportunities through agile deployment.

As to running category, 361° continues to solidify the international positioning of its running products. At the Tokyo Marathon, the Group’s running brand ambassador GUAN Yousheng (管油勝) secured second place among all Chinese male participants, fully validating its product iteration capabilities in professional racing footwear. In the trail running segment, the “Peak Pierce V1” (淩刺V1) and “Peak Pierce V2” (淩刺V2) were launched, receiving widespread recognition from professional runners. Additionally, the “Titan 4CQT” (泰坦4CQT) running shoes were specifically designed for HYROX comprehensive fitness training, bridging the product gap between road running and comprehensive training. As to basketball category, 361° partnered with its global brand ambassador Nikola JOKIĆ to launch the second-generation signature basketball shoes, the “JOKER2 GT”. The flagship guard shoes, “BIG3 7.0 PRO”, made their debut at the Drew League in the United States, completing overseas on-court validation.

The Group is also expanding into emerging segments, launching the “Wenqing” (穩擎) all-round hard-court tennis shoes, the “Match Point” (賽點) professional pickleball shoes, and the “Victory PRO V2” (制勝PRO V2) professional badminton shoes tailored for the professional needs of different sports scenarios. In women’s sports, the Group continued to operate the “Women’s Fitness Gym” (女子健身局) community and launched the “I Am Colourful” (我自多彩) thematic campaign, building a women’s sports ecosystem from products to experiences through integrated online-offline marketing. The deployment in emerging segments not only drives business growth in the short term but also builds differentiated competitive advantages for the long term.

Strengthening Professional Resources and Product Technology to Consolidatethe “Youth Sports Expert“ Positioning
During the period under review, 361° Kids continued to consolidate its first-mover advantage in the kids’ sportswear market, maintaining steady growth. As of 30 June 2026, the number of 361° Kids POSs reached 2,202 in the Chinese mainland, anchored by fifth-generation stores and Super Premium Stores, forming a modern, multi-dimensional terminal channel system.

Professional event resource deployment continued to break new ground. 361° Kids is a strategic partner of the International Jump Rope Union, the exclusive title sponsor of the 2026 Asian Rope Skipping Championship and the 2027 World Jump Rope Championships, and has served as the official partner of the China National Rope Skipping Team for a long time. At the same time, the brand deepened its footprint in football and basketball by partnering with “Beijing Guoan Junior Training” (北京國安少訓) and the “China Football Development Foundation” (中國足球發展基金會), and signed three young basketball players as brand ambassadors. During the period under review, the fifth “National Rope Skipping Competition” (第五屆全國跳繩大賽), the “Light Up-Junior Basketball Game” (觸地即燃少年賽), the “361° Football Champions Cup” (361°足球冠軍杯), and a series of other events were regularly held across multiple cities nationwide, contributing to the steady expansion of the 361° Kids’ business. In terms of product research and development, 361° aligned its efforts closely with the development characteristics of adolescents, the demands of sport-specific training, and the needs of campus physical fitness tests. It launched technology-driven products, including the “Flying Dagger-axe” (飛戈), the “Swift Leaping” (靈躍), the “Wind Hunter” (獵風), and the “Feiyan” (飛燕), continuously broadening its target audience and application scenarios.

Prospect
Looking ahead to the second half of this year, the 361° Group will reinforce its brand positioning as “professional, youthful, and internationalised”, focus on technological innovation and brand building, accelerate penetration into segmented scenarios, and build a high-value, multicategory sports product ecosystem. The Group will steadily advance the execution of its strategic initiatives, continue to cultivate high-potential emerging markets globally, create long-term value for shareholders, and contribute to the high-quality development of China’s sports industry.

http://www.361sport.com

Hashtag: #361Degrees #361Sportswear #InterimResults

About 361 Degrees International Limited

Source: SAP Concur

August 2026

At the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention 2026, SAP Concur launched its latest expansion of AI-powered capabilities across the travel and expense (T&E) ecosystem, designed to help travel managers, finance teams, delegates, and travellers achieve more with less effort. These new capabilities combine intelligent automation, policy-aware decision support, connected workflows, and insights from T&E data. As a result, organisations can reduce manual work, improve visibility, strengthen compliance, and make faster, more informed decisions across every leg of the travel journey.

Expanding AI with data and workflow context across T&E

Managing travel for others often means juggling multiple travellers, competing priorities, and a constant stream of requests, approvals, and expense tasks across multiple systems.

The new AI-assisted delegates dashboard brings approval requests, travel bookings, and expense reports into a single, intelligent workspace. Instead of switching between tools, emails, and profiles, delegates can manage multiple travellers from one place while AI surfaces priorities, recommends next steps, and helps keep workflows moving. The result is less time spent coordinating administrative tasks and more time proactively supporting travellers and executives. Using this dashboard means delegates can expect up to a 25 per cent reduction in hours spent resolving issues. The AI-assisted delegates dashboard is available today for early adopter customers, with general availability planned for Q3 2026.

SAP Concur is also introducing several new AI-powered capabilities that combine intelligent automation and policy-driven controls designed to help approvers, administrators, and finance teams work more efficiently while supporting compliance and focusing on higher-value work.

• AI-assisted approval manager transforms the task of reviewing expense reports by highlighting high-risk submissions with clear AI reasoning and surfacing AI-generated risk insights, spending trends, and approval history all in one place. Approvers can make faster, more informed decisions while improving compliance, reducing manual review time, and strengthening financial oversight. AI-assisted approval manager is available now for early adopter customers, with general availability planned for Q4 2026.
• Enhanced admin control helps travel managers improve compliance with new AI-powered benchmarking and policy configuration capabilities. Administrators can compare program performance against similar organisations, identify improvement opportunities, and receive recommended actions. They can also upload policy documents, and AI will identify gaps between documented policies and system configurations, helping them keep programs optimised and compliant. Enhanced admin control is available now for early adopter customers, with general availability planned for Q1 2027.
• AI-assisted corporate card management simplifies how virtual payment card programs are created and managed. Administrators can generate virtual card programs directly from policy documents, use natural language prompts to create approval rules, and align virtual cards to spending limits and merchant category controls from the start. Employees can request and update virtual cards via text message, improving convenience and helping organisations reduce administrative effort while strengthening spend controls and compliance. AI-assisted corporate card management will soon be available for early adopter customers and is planned to become generally available in Q4 2026 to Concur Expense customers using virtual cards with participating issuers on the Mastercard network.

Together, these innovations reflect the SAP Concur vision for a more intelligent, connected T&E experience that brings planning, spending, approvals, compliance, and traveller support into one unified workflow.

Planning and managing meetings with AI

Planning a corporate meeting has traditionally meant juggling multiple systems and disconnected processes to coordinate attendees, compare destinations, and manage hotel room blocks across separate tools.

The newly enhanced Meeting Planning Agent streamlines that process. Through a simple conversation with SAP’s AI solution Joule, the agent provides recommendations for meetings of any size based on an organisation’s needs. It also helps organisers avoid price spikes and availability issues before they become a problem by flagging major events in the selected location on the selected dates before organisers finalise a destination. Additionally, the agent can now bring Groupize hotel room block proposals directly into SAP Concur solutions, eliminating the need to track group accommodations in a separate system. As a result, organisers can move from idea to execution faster while improving visibility into meeting-related travel spend.

Meeting Planning Agent will be available for early adopter customers in September, with general availability planned for Q4 2026.

New innovations from SAP Concur and Amex GBT strategic alliance

When SAP Concur and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) announced their strategic alliance in 2025, the vision was to create a more connected travel experience by bringing together travel, expense, servicing, and marketplace capabilities.

At GBTA Convention 2026, the two companies introduced a new set of innovations for Complete by SAP Concur and Amex GBT that builds on that vision, helping travellers navigate disruptions more easily, giving travel managers greater visibility into program performance, and making it easier for organisations to capture more value from their travel investments.

• Leakage reporting gives travel managers a more comprehensive view of bookings and spend by combining data from Concur Travel and Amex GBT, including offline bookings. The solution provides visibility into total travel spend, including bookings made outside the managed travel program, with breakdowns by line of business, travel category, vendor, and traveller. Because off-channel bookings can reduce visibility into traveller safety, compliance, and supplier management, these insights help organisations strengthen duty of care, improve policy compliance and cost control, gain a clearer view of travel volumes to support supplier negotiations, and make more informed decisions about their travel programs.
• Perks, which includes supplier offers and loyalty benefits displayed at point of sale, helps organisations increase the value of their travel programs and the benefits delivered to travellers. Special TMC content, extras, corporate contract benefits, and traveller loyalty status entitlements will be directly visible to travellers in the booking experience, removing manual effort and the burden of comparing sites. These enhancements will improve the traveller experience and provide access to special rewards and amenities while increasing in-channel adoption and reducing out-of-program spend.
• Travel disruption management is brought into a single in-app experience, with notifications, guidance, support, and self-service trip changes accessible in one place. Travellers can quickly understand what’s happening, adjust plans, and access live chat when they need it. By centralising disruption management within Complete, organisations can help travellers stay informed, productive, and focused when plans change.

Leakage reporting on the travel manager homepage and travel disruption management are available now for early adopter customers, with general availability planned by Q1 2027. This month, supplier offers in Perks are generally available, as are benefits in Perks for early adopters. General availability planned for Q4 2026.

Looking ahead

As AI reshapes business travel and expense management, SAP Concur continues to build on three decades of AI innovation, trusted T&E data, an understanding of complex workflow context, and its ecosystem of partners to deliver the next generation of T&E management. SAP ranked #1 for Worldwide Travel and Expense Management Software, with 48.1 per cent market share in 2025.¹

These announcements represent an important milestone in the SAP Concur vision for autonomous, intelligent travel and expense management, where routine work is automated, decisions are supported by data-driven insights, and organisations gain greater visibility and control over every dollar spent and every trip taken.

Explore the latest T&E innovations at concur.com.

¹ IDC, Market Share: Worldwide Travel and Expense Management Software Shares, 2025: Cloud Migration and Policy Automation Reshape T&E Vendor Positioning, doc #US53451526, July 2026.

Leading Park Companies to Forge New Partnership Across ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) recently led a delegation of 11 Park companies to “Think Business, Think Hong Kong”in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reinforcing its role as an orchestrator of Asian innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and fostering tech ventures to go global and seize the emerging opportunities across ASEAN. Four park companies presented AI, robotics and green technologies at the HKSTP Pavilion, while the delegation engaged with government leaders, businesses and investors to forge new partnerships and accelerate regional market expansion. The event was officiated by Mr Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, and YB Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport, Malaysia.

Malaysia is emerging as a strategic gateway for I&T companies seeking growth in ASEAN. As one of the region’s top three destinations for regional operations, it is well positioned to capture rising demand from Greater Bay Area enterprises, with 98% planning to scale their operations within ASEAN and 80% looking to establish a local presence. Supported by national initiatives including the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), Malaysia offers significant opportunities in digital transformation and sustainable innovation.

Capturing these opportunities is central to HKSTP’s role as ASEAN’s trusted I&T partner. Through its ecosystem, HKSTP equips startups and technology ventures with funding, research infrastructure, business networks, mentorship and commercialisation services, enabling them to scale from an idea to global expansion, creating impact in the world. HKSTP has already built strong regional momentum, with more than 100 Park companies expanding into Southeast Asia in 2025, generating over HK$25 million in confirmed deals and more than HK$20 million in potential contracts. Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTP joined the delegation led by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and visited Malaysia last year. During the visit, he met with Mr Chang Lih Kang, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia. He also visited the University of Malaya, and several local I&T institutions to explore the feasibility of strengthening cooperation. HKSTP also established Strategic partnership with Singapore’s TechX, a private subsidiary by the HTX – Home Team Science and Technology Agency of Singapore, further strengthen HKSTP’s ability to connect innovators with governments, enterprises and investors across the region.

Some park companies also have footprint in Malaysia. Neufast is a VC-backed award-winning tech venture that provides an enterprise SaaS platformleveraging proprietary, bias-mitigated AI to conduct multilingual video interviews for talent assessments. It supports numerous international insurance companies and MNCs in their hiring processes, successfully improving candidate screening efficiency and elevating job applicants’ interview experience with Neufast’s AI Recruiter. InnoBlock Technology Limited delivers AI-and blockchain-powered sustainability solutions that help a Malaysian enterprise strengthen its carbon ecosystem through trusted digital verification, intelligent carbon management, and data-driven innovation.

Mr. Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer of HKSTP, said, “Malaysia has emerged as one of ASEAN’s most dynamic innovation markets, offering significant opportunities for technology companies seeking regional growth. Through our end-to-end innovation ecosystem and strong regional partnerships, we help innovators turn ideas into commercial success and connect them with customers, investors and collaborators across Southeast Asia.As Hong Kong’s largest I&T ecosystem, we look forward to deepening collaboration with Malaysia and supporting more companies in expanding across ASEAN.”

Beyond the exhibition, HKSTP hosted the “HKSTP Global Mixer: KL Chapter”, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to showcase Hong Kong’s thriving I&T ecosystem while fostering new cross-boundary collaborations. During the delegation’s visit, HKSTP and participating Park companies also took part in business seminars, networking sessions and business matching meetings with government agencies, chambers of commerce, investors and industry stakeholders. These engagements reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector and technology springboard, creating new opportunities for companies to expand across Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.

Appendix: HKSTP Park Companies Participating in Think Business, Think Hong Kong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. Aerovision Technology Limited
2. Bcnetcom Limited*
3. Cogniser Infotech Ltd
4. Comba Telecom Systems Limited
5. InnoBlock Technology Limited*
6. Insight Robotics Limited*
7. Locolla Limited
8. Neufast Limited*
9. Reunite Limited
10. TAXIECO NEW WORLD LIMITED
11. Waste & Environmental Technologies Ltd.

Remarks: In alphabetical order

*Park companies presented their cutting-edge technologies at the HKSTP Pavilion.

Hashtag: #HKSTP

Over the three-day event, more than 60 distinguished leaders and professionals from the technology, entertainment and creative sectors in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and around the world will discuss how AI, immersive technologies and cutting-edge innovations are reshaping content creation and entertainment experiences. As AI continues to lower the barriers to creation, the content industry is rapidly evolving from content production toward the development of the IP economy. This year’s forum will focus on how AI empowers creators and enterprises to build globally competitive original intellectual properties (IPs), while examining how Cyberport’s AI infrastructure, innovation ecosystem and international network can help transform innovative ideas into commercialised products, brands and globally recognised IPs, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a leading digital entertainment and IP innovation hub in Asia.

Dr Rocky Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport, said: “Artificial intelligence is reshaping the cultural and creative industries, opening up unprecedented opportunities for creators, businesses and society. DELF 2026 brings together technology, creativity and business to foster cross-sector collaboration, advance original content creation, support IP incubation and accelerate commercial applications. Leveraging its AI infrastructure, industry ecosystem and global partnership network, Cyberport will continue to support innovative enterprises and original IP creators in seizing the opportunities of the AI era and expanding into international markets.”

Today, Cyberport also hosted a special panel discussion titled “From AI Creation to Global IP: New Opportunities for the Entertainment Industry,” bringing together industry experts to explore emerging opportunities in content creation, IP incubation and commercialisation in the age of AI. Moderated by Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, the discussion featured Mr Frankie Tam, Creative Director of Ultra Instinct Limited; Ms Polly Yeung, Chief Executive Officer of Gudo Inc.; and Ms Louie Cheng, Director of AI Education and OPC Entrepreneurship Incubation at FizzDragon. Panellists agreed that AI is not only significantly enhancing content creation efficiency but is also accelerating the transition of the content industry into the era of the IP economy, creating broader commercial and international development opportunities for Hong Kong’s original IPs.

Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, said: “AI is unlocking unprecedented creative possibilities and injecting fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries. As the industry enters a new phase of transformation, our focus should go beyond encouraging the creation of original content. We must also help promising IP develop long-term value, progressing from creative ideas to practical applications, and from individual works to recognised brands. Cyberport will continue to advance its public mission by connecting technology, creativity, talent and industry resources, empowering more local creators and enterprises to harness AI and turn Hong Kong’s creativity into market-ready outcomes with international potential.”

Over the three days, the forum will feature discussions on a wide range of topics, including AI collaboration, IP ecosystem development, the cultural and creative economy, smart cities, and future living. Speakers and representatives from organisations such as the University of Southern California (USC), The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, TVB Plus, GGWP, Mei Ah Entertainment, and Xi’an XR Film Industry Base will share insights on how AI is driving innovation, commercialisation and globalisation across the creative industries.

In addition, the interactive experience zone will feature four themed areas and more than 35 experiential activities, showcasing diverse digital entertainment and smart living scenarios powered by AI, immersive technologies and other advanced innovations.

The four themed zones include:

• Arts & Culture – featuring the immersive interactive art exhibition Another World: RADIANCE, Cyberport’s original immersive cultural exhibition The Reveries of Ancient Egypt, Hong Kong’s first XR 6D experience Harbour Dreams: Hong Kong XR Adventure, and the complete VR experience Versailles: The Lost Gardens of the Sun King VR experience.
• Digital Entertainment – showcasing innovative projects including Nikopicto’s interactive skateboard experience SkateAway Circus, TVB Music Money Monster System, and the FizzDragon AI Short Drama Creation Platform.
• Smart Living & Business – featuring products such as Genesis One’s 3D & AI Smart Fashion Platform, allowing visitors to experience how technology is transforming everyday life.
• Robotics & Drones – presenting consumer robotics innovations such as combat robots and AI interactive smart vehicles developed by Jin Technology, alongside the “Charting the Future: eVTOL Inaugural Test Flight,” highlighting the latest developments in interactive technology, the low-altitude economy and smart mobility.

To encourage visitors to explore the diverse digital entertainment experiences, DELF 2026 will launch a special “Play-to-Earn” campaign that combines gamification and rewards. Participants can collect stamps by completing designated tasks across the four themed zones and redeem gifts, while those who complete all challenges will have a chance to receive limited-edition merchandise from the Hong Kong original animation IP Another Worlds.

The event will also feature AI interactive workshops under the Cyberport Academy: DELF 2026 – AI Cultural & Creative Micro-Academy, where participants can learn creative skills such as concept art design and video production. In addition, the event will feature a special movie screening programme showcasing a Mars-themed AIGC sci-fi short drama from Singapore, selected works from the 3rd AI-assisted animation production support scheme, and 2nd HKUST AI Film Festival. Complemented by a live performance from popular K-pop band XODIAC and an indoor drone cirque, the programme will deliver an immersive experience that brings together artificial intelligence, digital entertainment and creative technology.

For more information about DELF 2026 and the speaker lineup, please visit: https://delf.cyberport.hk.

Please click HERE to download the high-resolution press photos.

Hashtag: #DELF #Cyberport

About Hong Kong Cyberport

New executive experience center helps business and technology leaders explore secure, connected AI workflows built around real business priorities.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – tridorian today announced the launch of its Gemini Enterprise Experience Center in Singapore, a new physical space designed to help enterprise leaders explore how AI can support measurable business outcomes across functions such as operations, customer service, sales, finance, and internal knowledge work.

Located in tridorian’s Singapore office, the Gemini Enterprise Experience Center is intended to move the conversation beyond one-off AI experiments and feature-led demos. Instead, the center is designed around the practical questions that many organizations are now asking: which business problems should we solve first, how can AI fit securely into our existing systems and data, and what would an enterprise-ready path from idea to implementation look like.

Powered by Gemini Enterprise, including the Gemini Enterprise App and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, the center showcases how enterprises can securely connect business data, support multi-step workflows, and apply governance and oversight as AI use matures across the organization. Google Cloud describes Gemini Enterprise as an end-to-end system that combines secure connectors, workflow automation, governance, and identity controls, while the Agent Platform provides the foundation to build, scale, govern, and optimize enterprise-grade agents grounded in enterprise data.

Visitors to the center are guided through business-outcome narratives tailored to their role and priorities. A customer service leader might explore how AI can help reduce handling time while improving consistency. An operations leader might examine how multi-step workflows can reduce manual overhead. A CIO or risk leader might focus on governance, visibility, data controls, and the appropriate level of human involvement required for a production setting.

The center currently includes a live demo environment, which serves as a working example of how complex orchestration can be presented as a business workflow rather than a standalone chatbot interaction. In Google’s current product language, that shift reflects a broader move from isolated AI tasks towards governed systems that can support complex, multi-step work processes.

Jimmy Jigmo, CEO of tridorian said, “Most AI demos look impressive. Very few connect to the work that actually matters. The Experience Center exists because enterprise leaders don’t need more features. They need clarity on where AI fits, what governance looks like, and how to move from experiment to outcome.”

The center also offers structured workshops that guide teams from mapping business priorities and exploring role-based use cases to planning next steps like a pilot or MVP. This practical format aligns with Google Cloud’s Singapore agenda, focusing on immediate, real-world business results.

“Organizations today are moving beyond the initial excitement of AI and are now seeking solutions that are secure, governed, and fundamentally aligned with their operational realities,” said Giri Babu Madathala, Head of SMB Partnerships, JAPAC, Google Cloud. “Security and governance are no longer optional; they are the foundation upon which effective AI must be built. tridorian’s Gemini Enterprise Experience Center addresses this by providing customers with a sophisticated, hands-on environment to move from high-level experimentation to tangible results. It allows them to experience firsthand exactly how Gemini Enterprise can be integrated into their specific, real-world business workflows to drive meaningful operational efficiency”

For Singapore enterprises, this matters because AI adoption is increasingly judged not by novelty alone but by whether it can support productivity, decision quality, operational efficiency, and governance simultaneously. Singapore’s own responsible AI guidance stresses explainability, transparency, fairness, and appropriate human oversight, while enterprise examples such as DBS show that measurable value comes from disciplined implementation rather than hype.

Evan Febrianto, CTO, tridorian added “This is a place for leadership teams to explore where AI can make a difference in their business, what the right controls look like, and how to move from experimentation to enterprise implementation with greater clarity.”
https://tridorian.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tridorian/

Hashtag: #tridorian #technology #business #google #AI #cloud

About tridorian

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• Forecast for financial year 2026/2027 confirmed

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 19 August 2026 – Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has started financial year 2026/2027 by systematically continuing its transition to a more broadly based technology company. HEIDELBERG is setting the course for future growth with a number of strategic initiatives. Besides expanding its core business by taking over manroland sheetfed lifecycle business and POLAR production operations, the company is also tapping into additional potential by taking advantage of new market opportunities arising from energy storage systems and the European defense sector.

Integration of the manroland sheetfed Group’s lifecycle business and global sales and service companies, together with full acquisition of POLAR postpress systems, has further enhanced the strategic position of HEIDELBERG as a systems integrator in its core business. As part of the manroland sheetfed transaction, HEIDELBERG has also secured the intellectual property rights for the Roland 900 / Cartonmaster in the large-format sheetfed offset segment. The first press of this model has already been sold, and HEIDELBERG is currently looking into further production and development options for this system at a low-cost location. In this way, the company is reinforcing its leading position in the printing and packaging sector.

Live Hub opened to demonstrate integrated drone defense

At the recent international aerospace trade show ILA Berlin, ONBERG signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a further joint venture – with the Ukrainian drone developer Skyeton. The Skyeton portfolio includes high-tech, combat-proven surveillance drones, which are being combined with the HEIDELBERG unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to create an autonomous system of systems. The unmanned air-ground systems that are currently being developed in rapid innovation cycles in Ukraine are increasingly regarded as a future defense solution. In July, ONBERG opened a Live Hub to demonstrate integrated counter-UAS capabilities at its Brandenburg site, where decision-makers from public authorities, operators of critical infrastructure, the armed forces, and industry can see exactly how integrated protection from enemy drones works in practice.

The move by HD Advanced Technologies into the production of sodium-ion battery storage systems is also opening up new potential. The company has teamed up with Swiss business PHENOGY to collaborate on a technology and industry platform in this sector. As an initial step, HD Advanced Technologies will start handling the industrial manufacturing of complete energy storage systems for PHENOGY – from procurement and production through to rollout, installation, service, and maintenance. The two companies are also laying the groundwork for a joint venture focusing on the development and industrial manufacturing of sodium-ion battery cells based on PHENOGY’s cell chemistry and a specific printing process from HEIDELBERG.

“This financial year at HEIDELBERG is all about investments in line with our strategic agenda. We are looking to further strengthen the company’s market position and tap into new potential. This will create the basis for profitable growth and sustainable value enhancement in the coming years,” says Jürgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG.

Solid start to FY 2026/2027

During the first quarter of financial year 2026/2027 (April 1 to June 30, 2026), underlying conditions continued to be challenging for HEIDELBERG. Despite this, the incoming orders figure of € 537 million was only slightly down on the equivalent quarter of the previous year (€ 559 million) and therefore laid a solid foundation for further business development. The phasing-out of a state-subsidized investment program in Italy had a massive impact in the first quarter, reducing incoming orders there by over € 60 million compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The positive developments in China and the rest of Asia only partly compensated for this.

Sales totaled € 404 million and, as expected, were therefore below the figure for the equivalent period of the previous year (€ 466 million). Sales were significantly higher in China, the UK, and Brazil, but lower elsewhere, especially in the EMEA region. Adjusted for special items, the EBITDA margin for the first quarter of financial year 2026/2027 was 0.2 percent (corresponding quarter of previous year: 4.4 percent), primarily due to the lower volume of sales. As is normally the case at this point in the financial year, the free cash flow after the first three months was negative, at € -77 million (equivalent period of previous year: € -68 million). The net result after taxes for the first quarter amounted to € -32 million (corresponding period of previous year: € -11 million).

The HEIDELBERG Technology segment’s incoming orders and sales after three months exceeded the level recorded in the equivalent period of the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA remained stable at € -4 million. A partly expected downturn in the EMEA region was a particular factor contributing to the Print & Packaging Equipment segment’s lower incoming orders and sales. In the Digital Solutions & Lifecycle segment, incoming orders after three months were around 5 percent up on the equivalent quarter of the previous year, while sales matched the previous year’s quarterly figure.

“In our core business, we are targeting our investments toward growth markets, which is also boosting our service, consumables, and spare parts business,” says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG. “At the same time, we can increase the proportion of repeat sales and better balance out new machine business, which tends to depend on economic trends,” he adds.

Forecast for financial year 2026/2027 confirmed

The forecast for financial year 2026/2027 remains unchanged. The company is expecting stable Group sales matching the previous year’s level in financial year 2026/2027 and a noticeable improvement in the adjusted EBITDA margin compared with the previous year. It is assumed that there will be no substantial changes in relevant exchange rates for business activities.

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Organized jointly by AsianNet and the B2B marketplace TradeAsia, AsianPLAS 2026 provides participating companies with extended international exposure while enabling buyers to discover products, review supplier information, and submit sourcing inquiries online. Through TradeAsia’s B2B platform and digital matchmaking resources, the exhibition facilitates connections between global buyers and plastics and rubber suppliers, creating additional opportunities for international sourcing and cross-border business cooperation.

Expanding International Sourcing Opportunities Through Global Industry Exposure

To increase global visibility and sourcing opportunities, AsianPLAS 2026 aligns its exhibition period with several major international plastics and rubber industry events, including Expo Plast Peru, Taipei International Plastics and Rubber Industry Show, West Africa Plastprintpack, Fakuma, PLAST IMAGEN MEXICO, and IPF Japan. By running alongside major international industry exhibitions, AsianPLAS 2026 provides additional opportunities for participating suppliers to reach international buyers and expand their exposure across global markets.

Through AsianPLAS 2026, buyers can review supplier information, browse product catalogs, and directly contact exhibitors for sourcing inquiries. The platform gives international buyers convenient access to plastics and rubber manufacturers and suppliers across a wide range of materials, machinery, products, and related industry applications, while helping participating companies strengthen their international visibility and explore new business opportunities.

Comprehensive Product Categories and Industry Suppliers Across the Plastics & Rubber Sector

The exhibition brings together suppliers and manufacturers from across Asia’s plastics and rubber industry. International buyers can explore products and sourcing opportunities presented by companies including ELASTIN INTERNATIONAL, YI CHI HSIUNG, SHANG-YUH MACHINE, LIO CHENG KUNG, UNILONGENTERPRISECO and KAIPHONE TECHNOLOGY.

These exhibitors represent a diverse range of products and applications across the plastics and rubber supply chain, including plastic and rubber materials, processing machinery, plastic and rubber products, packaging and containers, polymers and resins, adhesives and sealants, coatings, chemical additives, and related industrial equipment.

Supporting Global B2B Trade Through Digital Sourcing Solutions

Powered by TradeAsia’s B2B platform, AsianPLAS 2026 provides exhibitors with online product showcases, supplier profiles, and digital e-catalogs designed to increase international exposure and sourcing opportunities.

International buyers can browse products and communicate with suppliers online regardless of location or time zone, making it easier to compare products, review supplier capabilities, and submit inquiries efficiently. The exhibition’s extended online format also enables participating companies to maintain continuous visibility throughout the more than four-month exhibition period.

By integrating online sourcing, digital promotion, and buyer-supplier matchmaking services, AsianPLAS 2026 creates an efficient digital environment for global B2B trade and international procurement across the plastics and rubber industry.

Start Sourcing Now

Explore suppliers, discover products, and connect directly with exhibitors through the official AsianPLAS 2026 online exhibition platform:
https://www.etradeasia.com/online-show/47/Asian-Plastics-Rubber-Industry-Online-Exhibition-2026.html

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About TradeAsia

Against this backdrop, Chuangxin Industries delivered a marked improvement in earnings for the first six months of 2026. Revenue rose to RMB 11.53 billion, while profit attributable to the owners of the company increased to RMB 2.30 billion, reflecting stronger aluminium prices, lower production costs from greater renewable electricity usage and reduced finance costs following the optimisation of its funding structure.

Unlike many aluminium producers that rely heavily on external suppliers, Chuangxin has spent years building an integrated operating model covering power generation, alumina refining and electrolytic aluminium smelting. The company says its existing power generation and alumina capacity can fully meet its production requirements, helping reduce exposure to fluctuations in raw material and electricity prices while improving operational resilience.

Another key differentiator is the company’s energy strategy. In Inner Mongolia, Chuangxin has already commissioned 1,040MW of wind power and 110MW of solar capacity, with the broader renewable energy program expected to lift the proportion of green electricity used in aluminium production to more than 50% once fully completed. Besides lowering operating costs, the company believes greater use of renewable electricity will strengthen its ability to serve customers seeking lower-carbon materials, particularly in sectors such as electric vehicles, consumer electronics and renewable energy equipment.

The company’s growth is also extending beyond China. Construction of the company’s integrated aluminium project in Saudi Arabia is progressing after securing the necessary approvals, with site work now underway. The project is expected to become an important part of Chuangxin’s international production footprint while improving access to overseas markets and energy resources.

At the same time, Chuangxin continues to strengthen upstream resource security through acquisitions in alumina and mining assets while investing in automation, energy efficiency and digital manufacturing technologies designed to improve productivity and reduce energy consumption. The company has also established a board-level ESG committee and published its inaugural ESG report in April, setting medium- and long-term climate targets alongside broader sustainability initiatives.

As the aluminium industry adapts to tighter environmental standards and increasingly complex global supply chains, competitive advantage is increasingly being shaped by operational efficiency, secure resource access and low-carbon production. Companies able to combine integrated operations, renewable energy, disciplined cost management and international expansion may be better positioned to navigate the next phase of industry development. Chuangxin’s first-half performance offers an early indication that this strategy is gaining traction.

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Organized by Enterprise Asia, the ceremony was held on 7 August 2026 at Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai. This year’s recipients exemplified how strategic vision, innovation, and a commitment to positive impact can create lasting value for businesses, communities, and the wider economy.

Following a comprehensive evaluation by a distinguished panel of judges, over 150 nominees were assessed across ten AREA categories and five APEA categories. The AREA celebrated enterprises and leaders who have made significant contributions through responsible business practices and sustainability-driven initiatives. Meanwhile, the APEA recognized organizations and entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional performance, strategic agility, and forward-thinking leadership in shaping the future of business.

In his welcome address, Enterprise Asia President Richard Tsang highlighted the need for enterprises to embrace transformation and responsible growth, noting that resilience, strategic foresight, and purpose-driven leadership remain key to achieving long-term success in an increasingly dynamic global landscape.

Among the outstanding AREA award recipients, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. was recognized under the Green Leadership category for its Trusted Circular Materials system. By developing advanced recycling networks, digital traceability, and high-value recycled plastics, Chery has recovered over 10,000 tonnes of waste plastics, reduced approximately 9,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, and advanced sustainable automotive manufacturing.

Further advancing circular economy practices, SUS ENVIRONMENT won the Circular Economy Leadership award for its City-Benefiting Low-Carbon Solid Waste Management Model, demonstrated through the Xi’an Gaoling Project. By integrating waste-to-energy, district heating, AI-powered operations, and multi-source waste co-processing, the project has processed 5.34 million tonnes of waste, generated 2.24 billion kWh of green electricity, and achieved over 1.92 million tonnes of carbon reductions.

China Hongqiao Group Limited, a three-time consecutive AREA award recipient, has once again received the award under the Circular Economy Leadership category for advancing circular economy development through recycled aluminum. Its closed-loop circular economy model enables recycled aluminum to save approximately 95% of energy and reduce carbon emissions by over 85% compared with traditional electrolytic aluminum.

Honored with the AREA under the Corporate Governance category, E.SUN Bank (China) has embedded transparency and accountability throughout its operations. The bank implemented comprehensive Board meeting records three years ahead of regulatory requirements while strengthening stakeholder disclosure, maintaining a Moody’s Baa1 rating since 2022 and customer satisfaction above 97%.

Demonstrating the power of industry-wide collaboration, The Hong Kong Association of Banks received the AREA under the Social Empowerment category for its Anti-Fraud Education initiative. The initiative reached more than 11,000 people in 2025 and has contributed to strengthen its community outreach, with over 300 activities conducted across Hong Kong to date. According to figures released by the Hong Kong SAR Government, reported deception cases decreased by 2.9% in 2025 compared with 2024, marking the first decline after nine consecutive years of growth.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited was honored with three prestigious awards at the AREA — the Social Empowerment Award, Investment in People Award and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Award, recognizing its exceptional and impactful sustainability practices. The Bank exemplifies a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility through a diverse range of initiatives that promote social inclusion, nurture talent development, and continuously enhance ESG disclosure. These accomplishments highlight its leadership in advancing responsible business practices and establish a new benchmark for excellence within the financial sector.

Techtronic Industries (TTI), a world leader in cordless technology, was awarded two AREA accolades, receiving recognition under the Circular Economy Leadership and Social Empowerment categories. Through its award-winning initiatives, “Advancing Circularity Through Sustainable Product Innovation” and “Empowering Exceptional People and Strengthening Communities” , TTI is creating lasting social impact while accelerating the transition towards a more circular and sustainable future.

As the sole recipient of both the APEA and AREA in 2026, OrbusNeich Medical Group Holdings Limited was recognized under the Corporate Excellence and Health Promotion categories respectively. Operating in more than 70 countries and regions, the Group continues to drive innovation in interventional medical devices while advancing regional clinical capabilities through its cross-border medical education initiative, ultimately improving patient outcomes across Asia-Pacific.

In the APEA segment, Onewo Inc. was honoured under the Corporate Excellence category for redefining space services through technology-driven innovation. Powered by its proprietary “Link X” AI platform, the company manages over 5,300 residential and 3,400 property and facility management projects nationwide,driving the space service industry toward a smarter and more sustainable future.

The AREA and APEA 2025 China Chapter are co-organized by Enterprise Accelerator Co., Ltd. and proudly supported by Eruid (Shanghai) Inspection & Certification Co., Ltd., MayCham China in Shanghai, SingCham Shanghai, Strategic Public Relations Group (SPRG), The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, and Tang Cultural Media. PR Newswire is the official news release distribution partner, with Dailywire.asia as the official media partner and Osin Au Pty Ltd as the official beverage sponsor.

AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE AWARDS (AREA) 2026 CHINA

AWARD RECIPIENT LIST OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ENTERPRISE AWARDS (APEA) 2025 CHINA CHAPTER

About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)
The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership, Corporate Sustainability Reporting, and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.

About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards
Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region’s most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.
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