PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 3, 2026 – Full Text

PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited secured 12 awards across international, industry and consumer sectors in 2026, reflecting broad recognition of its vision to link business growth with opportunity, quality of life and a sustainable future for all stakeholders.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), the retail and lifestyle arm of Thailand’s PTT Group, has received 12 awards in 2026 spanning three sectors of recognition: international capital markets, domestic industry and consumers. These include six awards from the 16th Asian Excellence Awards organised by Hong Kong-based financial magazine Corporate Governance Asia, the Thailand Top CEO of the Year 2026 by BUSINESS+ magazine and the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University, and five brand awards from Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2026, each affirming a different dimension of the company’s vision: “Empowering All Toward Inclusive Growth.”

At the heart of OR’s vision is a commitment to ensure that business growth creates tangible value beyond financial returns, expanding opportunity, raising quality of life and building a sustainable future for investors, communities, partners and consumers alike. This vision is executed through four core missions: Seamless Mobility, All Lifestyles, Global Market and OR Innovation, each underpinned by three sustainability pillars: Economic Prosperity, Living Community and Healthy Environment. Also, OR’s Sustainability concept “OR Term Okad Dee Dee Dee” empowering opportunity for three Good Dimension, Good Community, Good Environment and Good Growth.

Under the leadership of M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer, OR has expanded its operations across 10 countries, delivered 2025 EBITDA of 20,357 million baht (approximately USD 623 million), up 15.2% year-on-year, with net profit rising 47.8% to 11,304 million baht (approximately USD 346 million), and grown blueplus+, its lifestyle and membership application, to 9.3 million registered members. These results underpinned both the Thailand Top CEO of the Year 2026 in the retail and wholesale category and Asia’s Best CEO at the Asian Excellence Awards.

The remaining five Asian Excellence Awards reflect the financial and social dimensions of OR’s vision. Asia’s Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Company and Best Investor Relations Professional recognise OR’s structured stakeholder communication, including quarterly analyst meetings, non-deal roadshows and bilingual disclosure for domestic and international investors. The Sustainable Asia Award and Asia’s Best CSR reflect OR’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than one third against a 2022 baseline by 2030, progressing towards Net Zero by 2050, alongside programmes such as Thaidet, which supports over 500 local entrepreneurs through OR’s retail network, and Café Amazon for Chance, which creates employment for people with disabilities, senior workers including underprivileged people. OR is also a constituent of the Dow Jones Sustainability Best in Class Indices in the Emerging Markets category for 2026.

At the consumer level, five brands — PTT Station, EV Station PluZ, Café Amazon, PTT LPG and PTT Lubricants — claimed top positions at the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2026, affirming the All Lifestyles mission through a network serving 3.9 million users daily, EV charging infrastructure covering all 77 provinces, and a Café Amazon footprint of 4,830 domestic outlets and 256 international locations.

“These awards reflect recognition from the people and institutions that matter most to OR — our investors, our industry peers and our customers,” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited. “Each one affirms that our vision of building an integrated ecosystem, one that creates opportunity, improves quality of life and drives sustainable growth, is delivering results across every dimension of our business.”

Across all 12 awards, each recognition maps to OR’s four missions in action: Seamless Mobility and Global Market through network expansion and digital platform growth; All Lifestyles through consumer brand leadership across energy, food and beverage, and services; and OR Innovation through the digital infrastructure connecting it all. Together, they confirm that OR’s “Empowering All Toward Inclusive Growth” vision is producing measurable, multi-dimensional results across every stakeholder group the company serves.

Hashtag: #OR

Power demand drives investment in generation and grids

According to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), electricity generation and imports across the national system reached 171.54 billion kWh in the first six months of 2026, up 9.85% year on year, while peak system load hit a record high of 57,537 MW. This growth is adding pressure on the pace of investment in generation and grids.

Industry and construction remain the largest electricity consumers, meaning that a stable power supply has a direct bearing on production and on the competitiveness of the economy.

By 2030, the revised National Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) targets commercial electricity output of around 500.4–557.8 billion kWh and total generating capacity of 183,291–236,363 MW. Over the same period, investment needs are estimated at around US$118.2 billion for power generation and around US$18.1 billion for the transmission grid. This scale of investment is increasing demand for equipment and engineering services across design, installation, operation and maintenance.

The revised PDP8 also targets 10,000–16,300 MW of battery storage by 2030, several times the 300 MW target set in the original PDP8. This comes with a requirement for utility-scale solar plants to incorporate battery storage equivalent to at least 10% of their capacity, with two hours of storage duration. The change is already driving demand for power conversion systems, energy management, control, safety and integration services.

On the grid side, the revised PDP8 also sets out new construction of 12,944 km of 500 kV lines and 15,307 km of 220 kV lines over the 2025–2030 period. This leaves considerable room for growth in the market for substation equipment, protection and control systems, engineering design, construction, digitalised operation and maintenance.

Grid investment is also accelerating. In the first seven months of this year, EVN and its units started construction on 98 projects and energised 100 grid projects at voltages from 110 kV to 500 kV. The ability to meet technical standards, delivery schedules and operational requirements has therefore become a key criterion for suppliers.

At the same time, domestic energy security remains closely exposed to volatility in international supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that around 27% of Asia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports depend on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint carrying significant geopolitical risk. Proactively diversifying supply, scaling up renewables, expanding storage and upgrading the grid are therefore central to strengthening the resilience of Vietnam’s energy system.

In addition, the target of establishing two inter-regional renewable energy industry and service centres by 2030 requires the combined effort of the entire ecosystem. Investors’ need to identify the right technologies and reliable supply partners is therefore more pressing than ever.

At the strategic level, Politburo Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW identifies ensuring national energy security as a key foundation for the country’s development and underlines the need to step up international cooperation and energy connectivity within ASEAN. This direction gives Vietnam further grounds to expand domestic supply capacity while progressively strengthening its role in the regional energy ecosystem.

GEEC 2027: Where investment demand meets the global supply chain

To connect domestic investment capital with global supply chains, Global Energy Exhibition & Congress Vietnam (GEEC) has been launched as a landmark meeting point. The event is organised by Vietnam Exhibition Fair Centre Joint Stock Company (VEFAC, the operator of VEC) in partnership with dmg events (Dubai), a member of the UK-based Daily Mail & General Trust group, and is scheduled to take place at VEC from 24 to 26 February 2027.

The foundations for the event were laid in November 2025, when VEC and dmg events signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s most influential energy events. GEEC is the first initiative under the partnership and is also seen as the starting point of a long-term strategy to integrate Vietnam more deeply into the international energy network.

ADIPEC is regarded as the meeting place for the entire global energy ecosystem: its 2025 edition drew more than 239,000 attendees from 172 countries, 2,250 companies and over 1,800 speakers. Bringing that experience to Vietnam, GEEC aims to become the gateway for the international energy community to access the Vietnamese market, and an essential destination for investors and technology and equipment providers seeking to take part in the country’s new energy investment cycle.

With a target footprint of up to 80,000 m², GEEC 2027 is expected to bring together more than 800 exhibitors and attract over 30,000 visitors, more than 450 speakers and 1,000 senior delegates from Vietnam and abroad.

Unlike conventional trade shows, GEEC covers the full energy value chain, from traditional energy sources to renewables, new technologies and energy transition solutions. It also combines the exhibition with conferences, business matchmaking and technical exchange. Investors can explore technologies and assess suppliers, while exhibitors can meet partners with investment, procurement or project delivery needs.

A defining feature of GEEC 2027 is its ability to bring together Vietnam’s entire energy ecosystem. The event is expected to feature the country’s leading energy groups and corporations, alongside major companies in power, oil and gas, LNG, coal and minerals, renewables, transmission, energy logistics and technology. The simultaneous presence of the core enterprises responsible for safeguarding national energy security will provide a comprehensive picture of Vietnam’s energy ecosystem in a single venue.

Internationally, through dmg events’ portfolio of more than 115 events, GEEC not only connects the domestic market but also opens opportunities for Vietnamese companies to engage directly with leading energy corporations, project developers, investment funds and technology providers from the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia.

Timing also makes GEEC 2027 an opportunity not to be missed. The 2026–2030 period is when many LNG-to-power, transmission, renewable energy, energy storage and related infrastructure projects move into implementation at the same time.

At a working session on 28 July 2026, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc highlighted the significance of the event and welcomed the partnership between VEFAC and dmg events in organising international exhibitions and conferences in Vietnam. The Standing Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the partnership offers an opportunity for Vietnam to connect with a network of leading global businesses, corporations and investors, while helping to promote trade and investment and expand international cooperation in the energy sector.

A day earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung received Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events – a group with more than 20 years of experience in organising international events and exhibitions, particularly in the energy and construction sectors – at the ministry’s headquarters. The two consecutive high-level meetings indicate that Government leaders’ interest extends beyond a single exhibition to the long-term presence of an international events network in Vietnam.

The meetings also signalled that energy is now directly linked to Vietnam’s high-growth targets. Electricity demand is rising not only from manufacturing and business activity but also from the growth of data centres, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. The drive to build a diversified, modern and sustainable energy system is therefore widening the scope for capital, advanced technologies and international cooperation models.

Notably, Government leaders affirmed their readiness to help present Vietnam’s energy sector development plans, and priority projects seeking investment, to international partners. The Standing Deputy PM directed ministries and agencies to step up information sharing and encourage Vietnamese companies to take part in events organised by dmg events, find partners and expand cooperation. Measures to facilitate administrative procedures, entry and exit, visas for experts and investors, and customs clearance for exhibition goods will also be studied in accordance with regulations.

This provides an important foundation for GEEC 2027 to move beyond the scope of an exhibition and become a convergence point for the entire Vietnamese and international energy ecosystem – where policy direction, investment projects, capital, technology, supply chains and strategic partners meet. From that meeting point, Vietnam will have a stronger basis to raise its profile as a destination for global energy events and progressively realise its ambition to become a new hub for energy connectivity in Southeast Asia.

Combining VEC’s modern infrastructure with dmg events’ global partner network, GEEC 2027 is set to give Vietnamese companies a strong boost: faster access to leading-edge technologies, a shorter search for partners and a prime opportunity in the US$136.3 billion energy investment wave. Vietnam is entering its largest energy investment cycle to date, and GEEC 2027 will be an entry point for companies to take part in shaping the region’s energy future.

Find out more and register to attend or exhibit at:

https://www.globalenergyvietnam.com/ or call +84 969 599 900

Hashtag: #VEC

The event will bring together industry participants from digital assets, fintech, payments, Web3 infrastructure, institutional services, and cross-border finance. It aims to provide a face-to-face networking platform for institutions, project teams, infrastructure providers, investors, and professionals. Discussions will focus on digital asset infrastructure, compliant payments, stablecoin use cases, wallet and card services, and how digital assets can enter real-world payment scenarios.

Event Details

Event Name: Token2049 Networking Event with BitGo, HashKey & UstarPay
Date & Time: Wednesday, 7 October, 18:00–21:00 GMT+8
Event Partners: BitGo, HashKey Cloud, UstarPay
Registration: Submit an application through the official Luma event page
Registration Link: https://luma.com/qjgwthvg
Entry: Approved participants may enter with a valid QR code

Please note that this event requires registration approval. All participants must submit an application through the official Luma event page. The hosts will review applications based on applicant background, industry relevance, and event capacity. Once approved, participants will receive an event QR code. Only approved participants with a valid QR code will be admitted to the event. An invitation or shared event information does not constitute official admission credentials.

Stablecoins Enter the Next Stage: From On-Chain Assets to Real-World Payments

In recent years, stablecoins have evolved from a funding tool primarily used in crypto trading into a payment and settlement medium within the global digital economy. As cross-border work, global freelancing, online subscriptions, e-commerce, and international trade continue to grow, the market demand for faster, more flexible, and geographically accessible payment methods has continued to increase.

However, for digital assets to truly enter everyday life, one core question remains: how can the speed of on-chain transactions be connected with the trust, compliance, and settlement systems required by the real world?

In traditional financial and payment networks, every movement of funds must address fundamental questions: who the user is, where the funds come from, whether the transaction is compliant, whether risk can be identified, and whether the settlement trail can be audited. For digital asset payments, these questions do not disappear simply because technology becomes faster. Instead, they become essential conditions for digital assets to move toward broader, scalable adoption.

UstarPay’s role is to build the infrastructure that connects on-chain assets with real-world payment scenarios during this transition.

About UstarPay’s Role in Real-World Digital Asset Use

UstarPay is a PayFi-focused infrastructure platform connecting supported digital assets with real-world spending and transaction use cases. Its core vision is to help digital assets move beyond trading, holding, or investment and become more practical for everyday and commercial use, subject to applicable requirements.

By connecting wallet, card, and related technology infrastructure, UstarPay helps eligible individuals and businesses access card and transaction solutions using supported digital assets. In applicable markets, and subject to supported assets, product settings, and relevant requirements, users may explore stablecoins and other supported digital assets for online shopping, travel and hotel spending, subscription services, cross-border purchases, in-store purchases, and, where applicable, ATM withdrawals.

For enterprises, UstarPay explores modular technology support connected to card applications, risk management, and settlement workflows. Relevant use cases may be considered for eligible platforms and businesses, subject to applicable laws, partner requirements, product scope, and case-by-case assessment.

UstarPay believes the future of digital asset use is not only about whether a transaction can be completed, but also whether relevant activity can be verified, monitored, risk-assessed, reviewed, and settled. Based on this view, UstarPay is exploring “Proof-of-Spend” as part of its digital asset application narrative. By connecting identity verification, AML processes, asset custody, on-chain risk assessment, transaction records, and settlement workflows, UstarPay is exploring how digital asset applications can be supported by more verifiable, monitorable, and traceable process foundations.

From a risk management and traceability perspective, UstarPay considers identity verification, on-chain transaction monitoring, asset custody, and settlement records as relevant components where applicable. The company may work with relevant technical service providers in these areas. This registration does not mean that all products, services, or markets are authorized or available. Relevant services remain subject to applicable laws and regulations, user eligibility, supported assets, product settings, partner requirements, and jurisdictional restrictions.

Guided by “Real Crypto, Real Life,” UstarPay’s long-term direction is to help supported digital assets move from on-chain holdings toward card and transaction applications that can be used in everyday and commercial contexts, subject to product configuration, applicable requirements, supported assets, and regional availability.

Event Significance: Connecting PayFi, Stablecoin Payments, and Institutional Infrastructure

The co-hosts of this event span digital asset custody, institutional infrastructure, PayFi, stablecoin payments, and on-chain yield. This reflects the digital asset industry’s ongoing evolution from single-purpose trading scenarios toward more mature financial and payment infrastructure.

As stablecoins continue to become an important tool for value movement in the global digital economy, the market demand for compliant payment access, secure asset custody, risk control infrastructure, and cross-border settlement capabilities continues to grow. Through this event, UstarPay hopes to engage with more industry participants to discuss how digital assets can enter the real world in a safer, more compliant, and more practical way.

Hashtag: #UstarPay

Initiative combines housing support with fire insurance protection to provide greater financial security for Orang Asli families

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (“MSIG Malaysia”), the country’s third largest fire insurer, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to strengthening community resilience through its continued collaboration with EPIC Homes. The initiative reflects the joint effort of MSIG Malaysia and EPIC Homes to support Orang Asli families through housing initiatives and fire insurance protection.

As part of this long-standing collaboration, MSIG Malaysia continues to provide fire insurance protection for homes built by EPIC Homes for the Orang Asli families. This insurance coverage helps families manage the financial impact of unforeseen incidents while reinforcing the long-term resilience of the Orang Asli community, reflecting the company’s continued efforts to protecting communities beyond traditional insurance solutions.

This year, MSIG Malaysia supported Orang Asli families in Simpang Pulai with the completion of two new homes. In July, 31 employees, including Chief Executive Officer Ms. Ang Yien Chia, worked alongside EPIC Homes volunteers over three days to complete the first home. In September, another 25 employees came together for the second build. Through these efforts, MSIG Malaysia helped provide beneficiary families with improved living conditions and a stronger sense of stability.

Chief Executive Officer of MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd, Ms. Ang Yien Chia, said:

“We aim to give Orang Asli homeowners greater confidence that they have financial support, should unforeseen events occur. The value of this protection has already been demonstrated, such as in 2025, a home covered under the programme was damaged during a storm, and the insurance claim helped fund the necessary repairs.”

“This reinforces the important role insurance can play in helping families recover more quickly and protecting the homes they have worked so hard to build. Through our continued collaboration with EPIC Homes, we remain committed to strengthening the resilience of underserved communities.”

As of August 2026, MSIG Malaysia has contributed towards the protection of over 300 homessince partnering with EPIC Homes in 2018. The collaboration supports Orang Asli families by pairing sustainable housing initiatives with fire insurance protection, reinforcing the long-term resilience of these communities.

Mr. John-Son Oei, Founder and CEO of EPIC Homes, said:

“We are grateful to continue our partnership with MSIG Malaysia, whose unwavering commitment has helped transform the lives of families through safe and dignified housing. Building a home is about much more than constructing walls and a roof—it creates the foundation for families to live with security, stability and hope for the future.

What makes this collaboration especially meaningful is MSIG Malaysia’s commitment to extending insurance protection beyond the build itself through its fire insurance coverage. This thoughtful addition provides beneficiary families with greater financial security while highlighting the importance of long-term resilience and financial preparedness. Together, we are creating sustainable impact that will benefit not only individual families but the wider community.”

The continued collaboration with EPIC Homes translates MSIG Malaysia’s commitment to championing inclusive and community-empowering initiatives into meaningful action through funding, employee volunteerism and insurance protection for the Orang Asli communities.

Hashtag: #MSIG

About MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd

About EPIC Homes

Houston-based Alpha Energy forms Alpha Energy International to acquire and modernise mature oil fields; Tennor provides $500 million funding facility

HOUSTON, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – Alpha Energy, the Houston-based oil and gas upstream company, has formed Alpha Energy International to lead its expansion outside the United States and has sold a 65% stake in the new company to Tennor Global LLC.

Tennor has agreed to arrange Alpha Energy International with a $500 million funding facility, allowing the venture to move quickly on acquisitions in selected countries, including Venezuela. Alpha Energy International will be responsible for all of Alpha Energy’s future activities and investments outside the USA.

The new company will initially target mature producing fields and difficult-to-recover reserves. Alpha’s leadership team will develop the assets and run operations, while Tennor, as majority shareholder, will support the venture through its network of relationships in the target countries.

Lars Windhorst, Founder of Tennor Global, said: “Alpha’s team has a rare track record of turning around mature fields at scale, and we believe that expertise is exactly what many producing countries need today. Tennor’s role is to open doors and provide the capital to move quickly. Together, we intend to build an international oil company focused on getting more from existing fields, working in partnership with host governments and national oil companies.”

Thomas Reed, CEO of Alpha Energy International and founder of Alpha Energy, said: “The combination of Alpha’s technical and operating expertise with Tennor’s financial support and deep knowledge of key international markets provides the basis for a new type of international oil company.

“Our strategy is simple. More oil remains in existing conventional fields than has ever been produced, and since the late 1980s, improvements in technology and engineering have added more recoverable barrels from existing fields than the industry’s total greenfield exploration success. Alpha is on a mission to acquire and modernise these legacy fields. Better recovery of the world’s existing oil and gas resources is Alpha’s fundamental value proposition, and with Tennor we have the reach and resources to act.”

A team built on the Yukos turnaround

Alpha Energy has a thirty-year history of conventional reservoir development and operations across more than sixty fields, primarily on the US Gulf Coast and the shallow-water shelf of the Gulf of America. Its principals have also operated at scale internationally. The company’s COO spent more than a decade in Venezuela, including operatorship of a producing joint venture on Lake Maracaibo at over 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

Mr Reed, who will run Alpha Energy International from Houston, has 35 years of oil and gas experience with Yukos, RusPetro, JKX and Texas Petroleum Investment Company. The COO has 35 years of operations experience with Yukos and Gazprom, among others, most recently with the Venezuelan joint venture. Chris Hopkinson, CTO, has 38 years in the upstream business, including senior positions at Shell, Yukos, BG Group and KazMunayGas.

All three built Alpha’s proprietary Alpha Technical Center on their experience at Yukos, where the same performance engineering techniques added nearly one million barrels per day of production in four years with a net reduction in the total well count. The Technical Center covers subsurface evaluation, reservoir engineering, well design and facilities design.

Alpha Energy International will recover production by optimising asset performance from the wells up, using a value-driven technical limit approach and current technologies. The company works alongside national oil companies, training and handing over to local engineers as it goes.

Hashtag: #AlphaEnergy

About Alpha Energy

Alpha Energy is a Houston, Texas based oil and gas upstream company specialising in conventional reservoir development and operations. Over thirty years it has operated in more than sixty fields, primarily on the US Gulf Coast and the shallow-water shelf of the Gulf of America. Alpha Energy International, its majority-owned international arm, is responsible for all of the company’s activities and investments outside the USA.

About Tennor Global

Tennor Global is a holding and private equity company focused on energy, energy technology and artificial intelligence. It takes majority and minority stakes in public and private companies and invests in public and private debt, targeting special situations where its entrepreneurial approach and sector expertise can create value quickly. Its diversified portfolio also spans technology, industrials, natural resources, media, entertainment and sports, retail and real estate.

Vinhomes Green Paradise, the first Official Participant in New7Wonders’ “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign, advances to the global vote as the developer takes its township model into five overseas markets

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – For decades, the world has known Vietnam by what it ships: rice, coffee, cashews, black pepper, apparel and footwear. VinFast then proved that a Vietnamese company could export advanced technology. Now Vinhomes is preparing a different kind of export: its all-in-one integrated mega-city model. The company’s flagship, Vinhomes Green Paradise in Can Gio, was the first project New7Wonders recognized as an Official Participant in its “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign and has since advanced to the global vote.

As Vietnam’s leading real estate developer, Vinhomes has brought 32 projects and urban developments into operation, serving hundreds of thousands of residents nationwide. That strategy is now reaching beyond Vietnam’s borders, with projects and development plans in Congo, India, Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The model is built to meet a defining challenge of rapid urbanization: delivering homes together with commercial, educational, healthcare, transportation and public infrastructure, rather than years later.

An All-in-One Model Built for a Rapidly Urbanizing World

Vinhomes’ integrated townships, typically larger than 300 hectares in strategic locations, are designed to function as economies in miniature. U.S. market data shows master-planned communities outselling standalone developments and attracting households with markedly higher incomes than their surrounding areas.

The world is in the midst of a historic wave of urbanization. According to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025, cities are now home to 45% of the world’s 8.2 billion people, more than double their 20% share in 1950. Cities are also projected to absorb two-thirds of global population growth between now and 2050.

The real challenge is not how many homes get built, but whether infrastructure can keep pace with the people who move into them. In many fast-growing cities, housing comes first while schools, hospitals, parks and transit arrive years later, leaving residents with long commutes, scattered services and a steadily eroding quality of life.

Vinhomes’ model tackles that problem at the source. The company focuses on internationally benchmarked integrated townships, typically larger than 300 hectares in strategic locations, where homes are delivered alongside commercial, educational, healthcare, transportation and public facilities. Built this way, a township ceases to be merely a real estate product and begins to function as an economy in miniature, generating its own jobs, services and investment as residents move in.

International market data underscores the value of integration. Zonda’s Master Plan Outlook found that U.S. master-planned communities averaged 2.3 home sales per month in the third quarter of 2025, compared with 2.1 for standalone communities; in the entry-level segment below $300,000, the gap widened to 51%. Research by Cushman & Wakefield found that median household incomes in the master-planned communities it studied were 38% higher than in surrounding areas, a profile that helps draw premium retail and services.

What sets Vinhomes apart is its ability to execute at rare scale and speed. After visiting the company’s project in Can Gio, New7Wonders Director Jean-Paul de la Fuente observed that few developers anywhere have the capacity to build at such scale and pace while still managing the complexity involved.

Vinhomes Green Paradise Showcases a Human-Centric City Built for Export

Spanning 2,870 hectares with a construction density of just 16%, Vinhomes Green Paradise is the flagship of the Vinhomes model. Having stood out across New7Wonders’ three pillars of Environment & Nature, Smart City and Human-Centric Development, the project has advanced to the global vote of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign.

If one project captures the global ambition of the Vinhomes model, it is Vinhomes Green Paradise. The 2,870-hectare development reserves most of its land for greenery and water, including a natural seawater lagoon of up to 800 hectares and 121 kilometers of shoreline. It sits beside the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO.

Vinhomes Green Paradise became the first project New7Wonders recognized as an Official Participant after the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign opened on Oct. 31, 2025. Under the organization’s evaluation framework, the Vietnamese entry stands out across three pillars: Environment & Nature, Smart City and Human-Centric Development. The project has since advanced to the campaign’s global vote.

The human-centric pillar comes to life in a new idea of the second home: the city by morning, the sea by evening. Once the planned Ben Thanh–Can Gio rail line, designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h, is complete, the trip from downtown Ho Chi Minh City to the coast is expected to take about 13 minutes. By road, with the Can Gio Bridge replacing the Binh Khanh ferry and Rung Sac Boulevard widened, the drive should take around 35 minutes. Families could leave work on Friday, have dinner by the sea and be back in the city Monday morning. Such travel times would bring a coastal home within daily commuting range of the city center.

The project is designed so that every generation finds its own joy in a shared place. Children can paddleboard and swim in the lagoon, cycle along seaside paths and explore the 122-hectare VinWonders, with 280 attractions and 30 shows a day, while Young Paradise Hub nurtures their talents in technology and the arts. Grandparents can stroll through 370 parks, unwind in thermal mineral waters at Retreat Hub, connect with friends at New Horizon Center and share their experience at the Wisdom Academy within Vin New Horizon. Shared moments can be simple: a sunset on the lagoon’s sandy shore, fireworks over the bay, an evening at the Song Xanh theater.

A city model becomes exportable not because of its size, but because it addresses a challenge shared by cities worldwide: creating places where people choose to live, work and return to each day. Having applied the model from Hanoi and Ha Long to Can Gio, Vinhomes is now taking it to international markets as a new kind of “Made in Vietnam.”

https://vinhomes.vn/en

Hashtag: #Vinhomes

Spotlighting the AI Wave and Exploring Paths Forward for Private Enterprises

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – The second “Jun’s Circle” Fireside Chat, initiated by Ge Jun, an Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and Chairman and CEO of TOJOY Shared Smart Enterprise Services Co., Ltd. (“TOJOY”), was recently held on the shores of Dianchi Lake in Kunming. The event was livestreamed simultaneously on Xinhuanet, TOJOY Boss Cloud and other platforms, drawing more than 3.1 million cumulative views online. Online and in-person audiences together took part in an in-depth exchange of ideas, creating an experience in which they were “surrounded by ideas.”

In 2025, the inaugural “Jun’s Circle” Fireside Chat debuted in Hangzhou. Its core proposition — “With vision, break the impasse and build a new landscape” — resonated widely across China’s private sector. On 22 September, the 2026 event came to Kunming, a frontier hub for China’s opening-up to South and Southeast Asia. It directly addressed the central concerns of private enterprises amid AI-driven technological change, the reconfiguration of the overseas expansion landscape and economic-cycle adjustments, helping entrepreneurs clarify their direction and strengthen confidence.

Blueprint for Private-Enterprise Transformation under AI Technological Disruption

Addressing business development amid the AI wave, Ge Jun systematically presented the “Five-Layer Tree Theory” for enterprise AI transformation. Covering the accumulation of data assets, upgrades in entrepreneurs’ cognitive capabilities, workforce-wide capability building, forward-looking strategic planning and symbiosis across industry ecosystems, it provides private enterprises with a comprehensive implementation framework for AI transformation.

Drawing on Kunming’s geographic advantages, the dialogue explored a long-term approach to expansion into ASEAN markets. Ge Jun proposed an “In ASEAN, With ASEAN, For ASEAN” development philosophy, stressing that sustainable overseas growth can only be achieved by establishing deeply rooted local operations, building symbiotic partnerships with local industries and creating social value for local communities. Manuel C. Menendez III, founder and CEO of MCM Group Holdings Ltd. and an expert on international economic and trade issues, drew on frontline experience to stress that managing compliance risk is a fundamental prerequisite for survival for companies expanding overseas. He noted that resource-constrained small and medium-sized private enterprises can leverage professional platforms to pool resources when expanding overseas, advance localization step by step and avoid the risks of going it alone.

The Critical Role of Entrepreneurship and Long-Termism

Turning to the question of how to navigate economic cycles, the dialogue returned to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, exploring the underlying forces that enable businesses to weather volatility. Xue Jingxia, Chairwoman of the Henan-based investment and construction group, KONITA GROUP, and a deputy to the National People’s Congress for four consecutive terms, said, drawing on four decades of hands-on business experience, that there are no shortcuts to navigating cycles: it takes the creativity to build something from nothing and the resolve to hold firmly to one’s principles. Ge Jun added that entrepreneurs in the AI era need to strengthen their learning capabilities across four dimensions—questioning, command, staying power and transmission—to respond to a rapidly changing market environment, remain committed to doing what is difficult but right, and navigate cyclical ups and downs with a long-term mindset.

As one of the flagship programs in Ge Jun’s four-part thought-leadership series for empowering private enterprises, this year’s “Jun’s Circle” Fireside Chat used a systematic framework of ideas to address the widespread concerns of today’s private entrepreneurs.

Hashtag: #天九企服 #TOJOY

Source: Reader’s Digest

QUALITY SERVICE AWARDS 2027

Research behind the 2027 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards reveals that New Zealanders’ highest praise goes to brands that make life easy, with AA Roadside Assistance taking out the highest overall quality service score in the country

Friendly people and a hassle-free experience are what win Kiwis over, according to independent research behind the 2027 Quality Service Awards, announced today. More than 1,400 New Zealanders rated 185 brands they had personally used, across 32 industries.

When consumers give a brand a higher score, the same things come up again and again: the experience was easy, quick and hassle-free, and the people were helpful and friendly.

“Kiwis are telling us that great service isn’t complicated,” said Cameron Gentle, Director of Catalyst Research, which conducted the study. “The brands that scored highest make things easy, have people who are genuinely helpful, and sort things out when they need to. That is what earns loyalty, and it’s what this year’s winners do consistently.”

What great service looks like, in Kiwis’ own words

How brands are scored: survey respondents rated only the brands they had personally used, evaluating them across five key measures — personalisation, understanding, simplicity, satisfaction and consistency.

While these custom-designed evaluation pillars are tailored directly by Catalyst Research for our independent consumer surveys, their foundation draws upon earlier service quality studies from Harvard University.

Consistency — the most common reason Kiwis give a top score. “Always” and “never had a problem” run through the comments more than any other phrase. An Auckland Mitre 10 customer put it in four words: “Consistent quality and reliable support.” A Wellington Mercury customer: “Great power company that always does what it says it will do.”

Simplicity — being easy to deal with. A Gisborne AA Insurance customer: “Very good service and easy to deal with on phone and online.” An Auckland AMI customer: “Excellent customer service. Long history. Easy claims process.”

Satisfaction — delivering what was promised. An Auckland Specsavers customer: “Love their services, customer service is always amazing. Additionally their products are great and they have a wide variety.” An Auckland Apex customer: “Good price, quality cars and awesome customer service.”

Understanding — mentioned least often, remembered most. A Canterbury State Insurance customer: “When the lady answered the phone and I explained that I had been in an accident, the first thing she asked me was ‘are you alright?’” A Hawke’s Bay Chem-Dry customer: “They cleaned a chair for me under difficult circumstances and were very kind.”

Personalisation — service shaped around the individual. A Hawke’s Bay State Insurance customer: “Wonderful service, tailoring my policy to suit my contents.” A Waikato Specsavers customer: “The optician tailored eye tests and frame suggestions fully to my eyesight and lifestyle needs.” An Auckland Bridgestone customer: “They are really helpful and provide me with personalised service.”

“The strongest brands are not necessarily those that never make a mistake. They are the ones that respond well, communicate clearly and make customers feel that their business matters,” said Sheron White, GM of Publishing at Reader’s Digest.

This year’s standout winners

AA Roadservice achieved the highest Quality Service Score of any brand in the 2027 research, 83 out of 100, taking Gold in Roadside Assistance for the eleventh consecutive year. The AA was recognised in seven categories in all: Gold for AA Insurance in both Car Insurance and Home & Contents Insurance for the third year running, Gold for AA Health, and Silver for AA Life, AA Pet Insurance and AA Travel Insurance.

Specsavers celebrated double Gold, winning both Optometrists — its eleventh consecutive year at the top of that category — and Hearing Services.

Resene Paints has now won 11 consecutive Golds in Paint & Decorating Stores. G.J. Gardner Homes won Gold in Home Design & Build Services for the third consecutive year.

New World took Gold again this year in Supermarkets, its ninth win in the awards and a mark of consistent service in one of the country’s largest and most competitive categories.

“What strikes me about this year’s winners is how many have been recognised year after year,” said Algy Pereira, CEO of Reader’s Digest. “Good service isn’t a campaign you run. It’s a standard you hold, through good years and hard ones, and Kiwis notice the brands that do.”

The full list of winners across all 32 categories is available at https://www.qualityserviceawards.co.nz/results. Winners will be celebrated at an awards event in Auckland on 22 October.

Notes to editors

• About the research: independent research firm Catalyst Research surveyed 1,417 New Zealanders aged 18+, using the Dynata research panel. In a first-stage survey, consumers named the brands they use, unprompted. Neither the organisers nor Catalyst choose which brands are included, and brands cannot pay to be nominated or to win.
• How brands are scored: respondents rated only brands they had personally used, on five measures: personalisation, understanding, simplicity, satisfaction and consistency. Each measure is scored 0–10 and combined into a Quality Service Score out of 100. Scores of 80 or more are rated Excellent, and 90 or more Sensational.
• Only customers can vote: at both stages, New Zealanders can only name and rate brands they have used themselves, so every score comes from real, first-hand experience. There are no expert panels, paid judges or algorithms, and no scraped online reviews.
• Research-led award integrity: the 2027 Quality Service Awards will recognise 70 Gold and Silver winners across 35 categories. Every winner is officially announced and published, with award results based solely on the research outcomes and not influenced by commercial participation.
• A fresh sample every year: the survey sample is refreshed annually, with previous participants excluded for three years, and categories are rotated so respondents are not fatigued.

About the Quality Service Awards

Now in their 13th year in New Zealand, the Quality Service Awards recognise the brands that deliver the best customer service, as rated by the New Zealanders who use them. The awards are commissioned by Reader’s Digest, with the research carried out independently by Catalyst Research.

More of this year’s winners

Additional winners are listed below for media wishing to cover a particular brand, category or region.

Mercury secured two Gold awards, for Electricity Providers and Internet Service Providers, alongside Silver for Gas Providers. Southern Cross received Gold for Life Insurance and Travel Insurance, as well as Silver for Health Insurance.

Several brands have now built remarkable records with New Zealand consumers. Harcourts has been recognised in Real Estate Agencies for 12 years. Bridgestone has taken Gold in Tyre Servicing Centres 11 times, Skinny has been recognised in Mobile Phone Service Providers for 10 years, BestStart in Early Childhood Centres and Princess Cruises in Cruise Operators for nine years each, Kings Plant Barn in Garden Centres for eight, and The Tile Depot has added a seventh Gold in Tiling Stores.

Summerset retained Gold in Retirement Villages and Flooring Xtra reclaimed the top position among Flooring Stores, while Chem-Dry won Gold for Home Maintenance. Other Gold winners included Milford (Specialist KiwiSaver Providers), NZ Seniors (Funeral Insurance), SPCA Pet Insurance (Pet Insurance) and Toyota Certified (Manufacturer Certified Car Sales).

Silver winners also delivered exceptional service, finishing as one of only two award-winning brands in their category. State Insurance took double Silver, in Car Insurance and Roadside Assistance, AMI was recognised in Home & Contents Insurance, Tony’s Tyre Service in Tyre Servicing Centres and Pulse Energy in Electricity Providers. Apex and Busy Bees were named for the first time, earning Silver in Car Rentals and Early Childhood Centres respectively.

With just one Gold and one Silver awarded in each category, both are a significant achievement. Together, the 2027 winners show the brands New Zealanders single out for outstanding service across a wide range of industries.

What New Zealanders told us in this year’s survey

“The audiologist was warm, friendly and very easy to talk to. We felt very comfortable and at ease.” — Canterbury, aged 70+, on their hearing service

“They anticipated my needs after the fire and it was less stressful knowing all the cleaning was being done.” — Southland, aged 50–59, on their home maintenance company

“They explain everything in lay people’s terms.” — Northland, aged 70+, on their electricity provider

“Whenever I’ve had to make a claim they’ve been relatively easy to deal with.” — Wellington, aged 40–49, on their home and contents insurer

“Lovely staff in the hospital ward.” — Auckland, aged 60–69, on their retirement village