PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 8, 2026 – Full Text

The event was supported by AWS Hong Kong as Event Partner and BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited as Strategic Partner, with Hong Kong Institute of Circular Economy and Cantabrigian Consulting Limited serving as Supporting Organisations.

The event featured a distinguished line-up of senior leaders and experts from the financial, technology, GreenTech, business and social impact sectors to exchange perspectives on the future of sustainable transformation., including:

• Mr. Ronald Young, Head of Sustainable Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
• Dr. William Yu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, World Green Organisation
• Mr. Chris So, Managing Director, AWS Hong Kong
• Mr. Terry Yung, Chief Investment Officer, BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited
• Ms. Vivienne Chiu, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited
• Mr. Eugene Li, Head of Outsourcing, GBA NATC Director, IBM
• Mr. Ronald Cheung, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifewood Data Technology Ltd.
• Ms. Annie Cheung, Executive Director and CEO, Peoplebank Hong Kong Limited
• Mr. Peter Wong, Deputy CEO, Dialogue-in-the-Dark HK Foundation
• Mr. Angus Chan, Senior Manager, GreenTech, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
• Mr. Arthur Lam, Co-founder and CEO, Negawatt Utility Limited
• Mr. Terence Chow, Senior Generative AI Go-To-Market Specialist, AWS
• Mr. Eric Chau, Enterprise Partner Success Strategist, AWS

From Sustainable Finance to Climate and Technology Innovation

The forum explored how capital, technology, innovation and people can work together to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economy. Speakers shared practical experience and forward-looking perspectives across sustainable finance, GreenTech, artificial intelligence, ESG innovation, talent development, accessibility and social impact.

A keynote presentation by Mr. Ronald Young, Head of Sustainable Banking Development at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, highlighted key initiatives advancing sustainable finance in Hong Kong. Mr. Terry Yung, Chief Investment Officer of BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited, shared an investment perspective on sustainable transformation, while Ms. Vivienne Chiu, Chief Brand and Communications Officer of BOC Life, highlighted the role of corporate engagement, strategic partnerships and innovation support in advancing ESG solutions and creating wider societal value.

The discussions reinforced Hong Kong’s role in international finance, technology and innovation, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in turning ESG strategies into measurable business, climate and societal value.

AI as an Enabler of Sustainable Transformation

Artificial intelligence emerged as a key theme throughout the event, with speakers examining how AI and data technologies can support ESG decision-making, improve operational efficiency, strengthen climate and sustainability intelligence, and accelerate innovation across industries.

At the same time, discussions also highlighted the importance of responsible AI adoption, workforce reskilling, accessibility and social inclusion, ensuring that technological advancement creates broader opportunities for businesses and society.

Turning ESG Strategy into Real-World Impact

Speaking at the event, Dr. William Yu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organisation, highlighted that sustainable transformation requires the collective participation of finance, technology, business and society.

The future of ESG transformation will increasingly depend on how effectively organisations combine finance, technology, AI, human capability and cross-sector collaboration to create measurable business, climate and societal value.

WGO will continue to develop the ESG XCHANGE series as a platform to connect different sectors, promote practical partnerships and translate ESG strategies into business value, climate impact and societal value.

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About World Green Organisation

The World Green Organisation (WGO) is an independent non-governmental organisation concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. It provides a holistic approach to a fully integrated three-pronged solution that combines social, environmental and economic dimensions for a paradigm shift towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

US$10 Billion in Venture Capital Convenes to Meet Hong Kong Start-ups; Government, Business and Young Professionals Explore Opportunities in the New Economy

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 October 2026 – The Global Youth Powerhouse Summit 2026, organised by Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy, was held on 5 October at the Conrad Hong Kong. Now in its third edition, the Summit coincides with the release of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026–2030) and the latest Policy Address, which together set a clear blueprint for the city’s future. Anchored on these core themes and conducted entirely in English, the full-day programme focused on artificial intelligence, geopolitics, Hong Kong as an education hub, capital markets, life and health technology, and start-up financing. Government and business leaders, corporate representatives and young professionals were invited to examine Hong Kong’s strategic opportunities in the new economic landscape.

The Summit aims to connect young professionals with international resources, enabling participants to engage directly with industry leaders, grasp developments at the frontier of industry, and look ahead to the opportunities and challenges arising from artificial intelligence and Greater Bay Area integration. Previous editions have drawn a strong response. Across three editions, the Summit has attracted more than thousands of in-person participants and about 17,000 online participants from over 30 countries and regions, with social media reach exceeding 50 million.

This year’s Summit was the largest yet, bringing together more than 600 young professionals, government and business leaders and corporate representatives. Participants from over 60 countries and regions joined online. More than 30 distinguished speakers and moderators were invited, including officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and representatives of leading local and international organisations such as Huawei, the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Bullish and Endowus. In addition, consular representatives from up to 20 countries attended the Summit.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr John Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM, delivered a pre-recorded video speech, encouraging young professionals to seize the opportunities of the times and inject fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality development. He said: “For our young people, I firmly believe that your opportunities ahead outweigh the difficulties. The HKSAR Government will join hands with all sectors to build platforms for you to thrive in Hong Kong, in our country, and in the global arena.”

The Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, delivered an opening keynote entitled “Opportunities for the Professional Development of Young People”, and stressed: “As the saying goes, ‘Change is the only constant’—or as our Cantopop classic famously put it, ‘變幻原是永恆’. Today, we no longer measure change in years or decades, but in months and days. For our young professionals, this fast-paced era unlocks unprecedented career horizons. By accelerating Greater Bay Area integration through our new GBA Task Force and empowering you to act as the ultimate ‘super-connectors’ and ‘super value-adders’ helping Mainland enterprises go global, we are turning rapid change into your greatest professional advantage.”

Dr Kevin Lau, MH, Founding Convenor of Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy, said: “This is more than a high-level forum. It marks a milestone in the maturing of our network of young professionals. This afternoon, venture funds managing an estimated US$10 billion in assets gathered in the room — and what they are looking at is Hong Kong’s next generation. In life and health technology, our core belief is clear: artificial intelligence can assist imaging and diagnosis, but a physician’s care, and the warmth of a human hand, can never be replaced by technology.”

Other distinguished guests included Mr Kevin Choi, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; and Mr James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals. Mr Bryan Che, Chief Strategy Officer of Huawei, and Ms Cindy Chow, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, also attended in person to exchange views with young professionals.

Panel discussions

Artificial intelligence: from first-time users to advanced users
The opening session began with remarks by Mr Kevin Choi, JP, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and was moderated by Ms Stephaine Chan, Director of the Office of the Vice Chairman of Esquel Group. Panellists included Ms Ilaria Chan, Chair of the Tech For Good Institute; Mr Bryan Che, Chief Strategy Officer of Huawei; and Ms Cindy Chow, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund. The discussion focused on whether small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organisations and schools can genuinely put artificial intelligence to use, and on the talent, trust and practical-application issues Hong Kong faces in driving “AI for all”.

Mr Kevin Choi, JP mentioned: “Every major technology shift brings uncertainty. Our theme today from entry-level shock to AI-powered users building the next talent leader.”

Ms Stephaine Chan said: “Every AI conversation ends in the same place, right? More investment, better people, better models and stronger policy.”

Ms Ilaria Chan said: “These days, Al is so powerful that they can scan the Internet and social media and find vulnerable young people or old people. They can find it instantly and have a very sophisticated way to trick them and fraud them from scamming.”

Mr Bryan Che: “One of the opportunities of Al is because the interface is much more natural for most people to interact with. On one sense, it’s a lot easier for everyone to get started.”

Ms Cindy Chow said: “So I guess some of the most damaging thing is not allowing people to use or not, you know, really have the attitude to embrace all this new technology, what this new technology has to bring to you.”

Geopolitics: the super-connector
This session was moderated by Mr James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals. Speakers included Ms Ilaria Chan, Chair of the Tech For Good Institute; Ms Ellana Lee, Senior Vice President, Managing Editor, Asia Pacific, and Global Head of Productions at CNN; and Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Mr James Chau said: “Against this backdrop, we often hear Hong Kong described as a super connector, typically framed in terms of trade volumes, capital markets and logistics but I think that these connections that we’re speaking of really only become very valuable and we understand and recognize the human bonds that pin these together.”

Professor Frederick Ma , GBS, JP said: “We are part of China. And yet we are under one country 2 systems connected to the rest of the world. That is the power of Hong Kong.”

Ms Ellana Lee said: “We made a very strategic decision when the times were tough to stay and remain in Hong Kong. I think that has and you know, we make these decisions not just out of a whim, but we are very calculative on why we need to stay. I have 8 cities across Asia Pacific. Hong Kong happens to be the hub for Asia Pacific. And there’s it boils down to four major reasons.”

Ms IIaria Chan: “Simple of how tech is helping people, there is an organization, WHO care for children that was founded 20 years ago that helps orphans in developing China back then Vietnam, Thailand now in Africa, Middle East to find loving permanent homes. But their bottleneck is how they train social workers and governments on how to take care of orphan welfare. Now this year we’ve actually been launching an online product that is able to scale these bottlenecks, especially in areas that are underfunded. This is a great example of Al tech.”

Education: Hong Kong as Asia’s education hub
This session was co-moderated by Mrs Jennifer Yu Cheng, JP, Founder of the Future Leaders Foundation, and Ms Jennifer Ma, Founder of JM Edu Consulting. Speakers included Ms Maggie Chau, School Partnership Advisor at the Academy for Educational Development and Innovation of The Education University of Hong Kong; Mr Dion CHEN, MH, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council; and Professor Charles Ng Wang-Wai, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Mrs Jennifer Yu Cheng, JP said: “An education hub is more than a place with excellent institutions. It is a place that students and families choose, where young people flourish, and connects education with research, innovation, careers and a wider community.”

Professor Charles Ng said: “With our national policy. And I think we should do better to support this great initiatives and thinking back actually 2023 and home government already in in the government policy in October, if I remember correctly to start to increase the local student quota from 20% to 40%.”

Ms Jennifer Ma said: “As a consultant we need demand to meet supply and we are definitely seeing the demand for Hong Kong education at K12 level…….The advocacy for Hong Kong to be the gateway for China Resources and talents to leave China and go into international arenas. But at the same time, we also see a lot of international people interested in what’s happening in mainland, and therefore Hong Kong is a great gateway. So, with that global education, global education philosophy, that means they really appreciate Hong Kong trilingual education by cultural mindset.”

Mr Dion CHEN, MH mentioned: “In 2026, a lot of DSS schools will work very hard to try to welcome and also promote welcome to Hong Kong and also promote Hong Kong’s education to the students in different countries.”

Ms Maggie Chau said: “Maggie: I can see that all the universities are actually implementing AI in their curriculum. Talking about teacher education, the programs we offer, I mean, not just The Education University of Hong Kong, the programs we offer in all universities implement Al in the curriculum in a way that we draw attention to the use of Al is it has to be ethical.”

Capital markets: AI listings, asset tokenisation and the new economy
This session was moderated by Ms Emily CHAN Tan, a former CNBC anchor. Speakers included Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP; Ms Clara CHAN Ka Chai, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; Mr Michael Lau, Senior Vice President and Head of Group Business Development at Bullish and Chairman of Consensus; and Mr Samuel RHEE, Co-founder, Chairman and Group Chief Investment Officer of Endowus.

Ms Clara CHAN Ka Chai said: “We always say that from zero to 1 is the most challenging part. So, the patients in terms of having staying power is the core, but it has to go in hand with other qualities like being proactive, being professional.”

Mr Michael Lau said: “I think it’s an interesting proposition to consider that these types of companies that are so capital. I would start looking beyond the current horizon of where we are to see where it could go next. And so I do think that there is a demand looking to that future where this idea of a tokenized capital market could be quite interesting.”

Mr Samuel RHEE mentioned: “First of all, maybe we just take a step back and just try to understand all of the capital markets, not just equities.”

Ms Bonnie Y Chan, JP said: “I want to point out one thing. I mean, we are operating a stock exchange and I think capital markets at the end of the day, the basic function is to match capital with opportunity. So what I’m very focused on is that I’m not just focused on technology or AI.”

Ms Emily CHAN Tan said: “We are not just witnessing a cyclical recovery, but also some would call this the threshold of a capital markets renaissance.”

Life and health technology: building a health-industry hub
This session was moderated by Professor Lo Yuk-lam, BBS, Founding President of the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organisation. Speakers included Professor LI King-Chuen, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Dr Sarah SALVILLA, Director of Health and Strategic Partnerships at FWD Group; and Professor Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, GBS, JP, former Chairman of the Hospital Authority and Non-executive Chairman of Trinity Medical Group. The discussion focused on how AI in healthcare can strengthen the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s health industry.

Professor Lo Yuk-lam, BBS said: “Building HK’s holistic wellness hub, this year marks a defining moment for HK. With the release of our first ever five year plan and their chief executive policy address just a few weeks ago, our city’s road map for healthcare and biotechnology knowledge has never been clearer or more ambitious.”

Professor Anthony Wu Ting-yuk, GBS, JP said: “Every country every city is trying to recruit more talent and I think Hong Kong is an ideal position to attract talents.”

Professor LI King-Chuen said: “Our education system will be individualized. And we will do the factual knowledge transfer through mostly self-directed learning. So we guide them, we build an AI system with prescribed information.”

Dr Sarah SALVILLA said: “Prevention for sure in terms of how do we educate people to be much more proactive in their everyday lives, yes you know, kind of the lifestyle things.”

Start-up pitching: connecting with capital
The closing session was moderated by business journalist Ms Elaine Yu, with Mr LU Chin Yung, Senior Vice President (Start-ups) of the Sector Specialist Group at Invest Hong Kong. Representatives of 11 venture funds were present, including the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Clee Capital, Click Ventures, GT Healthcare Capital Partners, Gobi Partners GBA, HKSTP Ventures, MindWorks Capital, Ryoden Medical Holdings, Seveno Capital, Verge HealthTech Fund and W2 Venture Partners. Together, the funds manage an estimated US$10 billion, have invested in more than 600 start-ups across more than 30 economies, and have backed at least nine unicorns, including Airwallex, Animoca Brands, Prenetics and GoGoX. Start-ups taking part in the pitching session included CELLmeric, Entoptica, PointFit, Syngular, Kodifly, AilsynBio, EveryBaby, A-grade, Orimmune Biotech, Nordia Biotech, Oncolmmu Nostics Limited, The Harbour School (THS), VisionBridge, Eden’s Garden, and CARE CONNECT.

Ms Elaine Yu said: “We have 15 startups and I think a group of students as well, very precocious students WHO are already thinking of ideas, real businesses with commercial viability at the cutting edge of science, research, healthcare and so forth. So, this should be a fun dynamic session.”

Mr LU Chin Yung pointed out: “Hong Kong is great in a lot of rankings in the world and this is not given, this is hard earned by your parents, by some of you sitting here. But as a young founder in Hong Kong, if you come to Hong Kong, you get to enjoy all this very safe environment. You have efficiency and then you also have a very clean government. This one I can say for sure. Yeah. And and all this, it helps the the founders to focus on your business, focus on grow, growing instead of you have to deal with many, many things.”

The Summit closed amid lively exchange. Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy said it will continue to build the Summit into a platform for dialogue between young professionals and leading figures in government and business, helping Hong Kong’s young talent seize the opportunities of the new economy.

Photos and video: Selected materials can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XowvT4PLTkLo-Vx6k8UJ_YyuM0O0wSlQ?usp=sharing .
Official hashtag: #GYPS2026

Annex 2: Attending guests (in no particular order)

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Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ says National’s Small Business Plan contains a number of practical measures aimed at addressing the day-to-day compliance, regulatory and administrative pressures that businesses say make it harder to grow, invest and employ.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said one of the most exciting aspects of the package was National’s proposed Next 200 programme, which would provide intensive support for 200 high-potential small and medium-sized businesses that are ready to begin exporting or expand significantly into international markets. Under the proposal, participating firms would receive dedicated NZTE relationship management, tailored market intelligence, overseas introductions and assistance navigating regulatory and customs requirements.

“The Next 200 programme recognises that New Zealand needs more firms to make the leap from successful domestic businesses to substantial international exporters.

“Those businesses create skilled jobs, attract investment, lift productivity and strengthen local economies. Helping more firms make that transition is one of the most effective ways to improve New Zealand’s long-term economic performance.

“What stands out about this package is that it is a thoughtful document. It shows National has spent time listening to businesses and carefully considering the practical obstacles that make it harder for firms to grow, invest and employ.

“Small businesses rarely identify a single issue that determines whether they succeed or struggle. More often, it is the cumulative effect of compliance requirements, employment processes, regulatory obligations, reporting requirements and administrative costs. That means small changes matter, and a series of practical improvements can together make a meaningful difference to the ease of doing business.”

Ms Rich also welcomed the fact that support for small business had become a major focus across the election campaign.

“This is becoming the small-business election. We’ve now seen substantial small-business-focused policies announced by National, Labour and New Zealand First, whether that’s Labour’s proposal to raise the GST registration threshold, New Zealand First’s proposal for a lower SME tax rate, or National’s focus on reducing compliance and regulatory costs.

“That’s encouraging because small businesses remain the backbone of the New Zealand economy and their success matters to every community and region.”

BusinessNZ’s recently released Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey provides a useful benchmark against which to assess such proposals.

The survey found that 47.1 per cent of respondents believed regulatory changes had increased the cost of doing business, while 37.6 per cent reported increasing tax compliance costs over the past three years. Economic performance was overwhelmingly identified as the most important issue for achieving sustained growth, while more than half of respondents reported difficulties dealing with unsatisfactory employee performance.

“While our survey sample this year was weighted more heavily towards larger businesses than is normally the case, many of the frustrations identified are familiar to small business owners as well.

“In fact, compliance pressures are often felt more acutely by smaller firms because they don’t have dedicated HR, legal, compliance or finance teams. The owner is frequently the manager, accountant, HR adviser and frontline salesperson all at once.”

One area where National’s package aligns closely with both BusinessNZ’s election priorities and business concerns is employment relations.

“Our survey found that 57.4 per cent of respondents had experienced difficulty terminating an unsatisfactory employee. That’s not a call for weaker workplace protections. It is a sign that many businesses find existing processes difficult, costly and time-consuming.”

“Proposals to establish a faster Employment Relations Authority process for straightforward matters and to introduce greater standards and accountability for employment advocates are designed to improve certainty and reduce unnecessary cost for both employers and employees.”

The review of the GST registration threshold is another example of a policy change that could have a practical impact for smaller operators.

“Thresholds matter because they influence behaviour. Small business owners regularly tell us that compliance obligations can affect decisions about taking on additional work, expanding turnover or hiring staff.

“That’s why BusinessNZ has called for a systematic review of material thresholds across the regulatory and tax system, including the GST threshold.”

National’s proposal to rewrite health and safety guidance in plain English also addresses a long-standing concern raised by many smaller businesses.

“Most business owners want to comply with health and safety requirements. The challenge is often understanding exactly what is expected in practice.

“Clearer guidance, practical examples and proportionate regulation can improve compliance outcomes while reducing confusion and administrative cost, particularly for smaller businesses without specialist advisers.”

Technology and productivity are another area where the package responds to emerging business needs.

The Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey found that 58.5 per cent of businesses expect artificial intelligence and automation to significantly affect the size or composition of their workforce over the next decade.

Ms Rich welcomed National’s continued focus on helping businesses adopt artificial intelligence and productivity-enhancing technology.

“One of the clearest messages from our survey is that businesses can see AI is going to change the way they operate. More than half expect AI and automation to have a significant impact on their workforce over the next five to 10 years.

“For many small firms, the challenge isn’t enthusiasm. It’s finding the time, expertise and confidence to understand where these tools can genuinely improve productivity.

“We welcome National’s commitment to expanding AI support, including the AI Advisory Pilot, and its recognition that smaller firms need practical help if they are to capture the benefits these technologies can provide.”

BusinessNZ also noted strong alignment between National’s package and a number of priorities advanced through its Election Priorities programme, particularly reviewing the GST registration threshold, progressing alcohol licensing reform, improving market access for exporters, removing non-tariff barriers to trade and continuing planning and resource management reform.

It was encouraging that so many of these ideas were now being picked up, Ms Rich said.

“The consistent message we hear from businesses is that they want a simpler, more predictable operating environment that makes it easier to invest, hire, innovate and grow.

“The question voters and business owners should ask of every party’s proposals is straightforward: will these policies reduce costs, improve certainty and lift productivity? That is ultimately the test that matters.”

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

ESG Symposium 2026 is organized as a regional collaboration platform by SCG together with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and partners from all sectors. It connects leaders and experts from government, business, finance, international, organization and academia
to exchange knowledge and practices. It also brings them together to shape responses to ASEAN’s key challenges, namely energy security, adaptation to climate change, and the creation of a green economy and green jobs that distribute opportunities and strengthen the region’s resilience.

Mr. Joe Phelan, Executive Director – Asia Pacific, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said: “The sustainability transition is linked to competitiveness, security and investment, which presents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity for ASEAN. The key lies in connecting policy, investment, technology and people through collaboration among government, business, the financial sector and communities, in order to drive ASEAN toward sustainable growth over the long term.”

In Thailand, the business sector will play an important role in turning global direction into collective action, particularly by helping SMEs and entrepreneurs in the supply chain adapt and grow alongside the green economy. Dr. Phacharaphot Nuntramas, Krungthai Chief Economist & JSCCIB Economist, noted: “Thailand must use the Green Transition as an opportunity to enhance its competitiveness and attract future investment. The key is end-to-end implementation, creating an inclusive transition in which large businesses help upgrade SMEs in their supply chains so that they can adapt and grow together. In addition, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is ready to carry the proposals from this forum forward through the Reinvent Thailand platform, together with the business sector and other stakeholders.”

Three Key Agendas: From Progress to the Challenges Ahead This year’s discussions build on the proposals from last year, with each agenda reflecting both the progress made and the new challenges that must be advanced jointly. The aim is to develop approaches suited to Thailand’s context and to apply the lessons to other areas and contexts.

1) Energy Transition: Building energy security alongside competitive costs and decarbonization
Last year’s proposals aimed to unlock access to renewable electricity through Third Party Access (TPA), Direct PPA and the reduction of regulatory constraints, so that the private sector could genuinely drive the transition. This year, the discussion moves toward raising the “readiness of the energy system,” including enhancing the capacity and flexibility of the power grid, grid-forming technology, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (PDP) to align with future energy demand. It also looks further ahead to new technologies and energy sources such as Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and biofuels, as well as ASEAN-level cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid. Dr. Areeporn Asawinpongphan, Research Fellow in Energy Policy at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), proposed establishing an energy system that balances security, competitive costs and decarbonization targets. She recommended accelerating the development of resilient infrastructure and energy systems, increasing the role of solar and bioenergy, upgrading grid infrastructure, developing energy sources, and liberalizing the energy market. This would enable businesses to access clean energy, ensure uninterrupted power transmission and distribution, and support future demand.

2) Just Transition: Enabling SMEs, workers and communities to grow together Last year, SMEs were supported through knowledge and tools such as NZAP and Go Together. This year, additional approaches include Funding Connect and SME Green Transition Plus for industrial SMEs, to help entrepreneurs gain greater access to knowledge, technology, funding and business opportunities.
Mr. Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and Chairman of Small and Medium Industry Institute and Chairman of Thai-Chinese Economic and Investment Institute, proposed that support for entrepreneurs be tailored to their capacity to adapt, so that assistance is designed to match their needs. He suggested starting with a selected pilot group to create a comprehensive prototype, covering support in knowledge, technology, skills, standards, market access and funding sources through Funding Connect, before distilling lessons and scaling up. The goal is for entrepreneurs, workers and communities to access opportunities from the green economy and grow together.

3) Climate Adaptation: From post-disaster response to advance preparedness Building on last year’s discussion of Water Resilience, this year the focus extends to an AI Simulation Platform for assessing flood risk and infrastructure vulnerability. There are plans to make the platform publicly accessible, and to look further toward ASEAN-level Risk Mapping and Simulation to help prepare for risks from floods, storms and other disasters. Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Suttinon, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, proposed shifting from addressing problems after impacts occur to forecasting and reducing risks in advance. He suggested developing a One Water Data Center to integrate water data, forecasting systems and early warning systems together with local communities. This would go alongside investment in dual-use infrastructure that serves both normal and crisis conditions. He also proposed extending water management toward a Water Economy, in order to reduce losses, sustain business continuity, and create economic and social value in local areas.

Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCG, said: “From the proposals and actions of the past year, we now see clear progress across all three agendas: Energy Transition, Just Transition and Climate Adaptation. The key challenge today is to take what we have learned and done over many years and scale it up more broadly. We have seen that Public–Private–People Partnership, or 4P, can deliver real results: the public sector creates conditions conducive to action, the private sector brings technology and capital to experiment, and the people’s sector participates in defining the needs of each area, which is the Area-Based Approach. Drawing on lessons from Saraburi Province, we should take this 4P model and scale it to other areas, starting by studying the needs and problems of each area while identifying suitable partners, so that lessons can be turned into real action and cooperation can be extended with other countries.

If we can expand this kind of collaboration in a concrete way, it will accelerate change and build a competitive economy while effectively addressing climate change. Most importantly, it will open the way for every sector to grow together.”

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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government welcomed the latest report, noting that, among the five areas of assessment, the city continued to be ranked first globally in “Freedom to trade internationally” and second in “Regulation”.

“The Fraser Institute’s report once again affirms Hong Kong’s strengths as a free-market economy and its open, efficient and fair business environment,” a spokesman for the HKSAR Government said. “Amid increasing global economic uncertainties and rising trade protectionism, Hong Kong remains firmly committed to maintaining its free port status, zero-tariff policy, and simple and low tax regime, providing a secure, stable, fair, predictable and internationalised business and investment environment for investors and entrepreneurs from around the world.”

“One country, two systems” advantages

The HKSAR Government highlighted that, under the “one country, two systems” framework, Hong Kong enjoys the strong support of the Chinese Mainland and maintains close connections with the rest of the world.

“While offering convenient access to both the Chinese Mainland and international markets, Hong Kong continues to practise common law in both Chinese and English,” the spokesman said. “It also offers financial, shipping, trading and professional services that align seamlessly with international best standards, supported by an efficient government structure and a clean and professional civil service.”

These strengths enable Hong Kong to fully leverage its roles and functions as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’, making it the best gateway for Mainland enterprises to enter international markets and for overseas enterprises to enter the Mainland.

Attracting investment and talent

So far this year, Hong Kong has continued to scale new heights in various international competitiveness rankings covering finance, innovation and technology (I&T), education and talent, reflecting wide recognition by the international community of Hong Kong’s core strengths and the HKSAR Government’s efforts to promote high-quality social and economic development.

Indeed, Hong Kong’s favourable business and living environment, coupled with the proactive and concerted efforts of the HKSAR Government and all sectors of the community, continues to attract enterprises and talent from around the world.

Last year, the number of companies in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas or in the Mainland exceeded 11,000, an increase of 11 per cent over 2024 and a record high.

The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), established by the HKSAR Government in 2022, has successfully attracted over 120 strategic enterprises to date, including many global industry leaders with a market capitalisation or valuation exceeding $100 billion and possessing cutting-edge technologies.

On talent attraction, from end-2022 to August this year, over 670,000 applications were received and over 470,000 were approved under various talent admission schemes, with more than 310,000 individuals having arrived in Hong Kong.

Over the past year, Hong Kong recorded considerable growth in funds raised through initial public offerings, bank deposits and assets under management in the asset and wealth management business, reflecting international investors’ confidence in and recognition of Hong Kong.

Looking ahead

Last month, the HKSAR’s Chief Executive, John Lee, announced the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the 2026 Policy Address.

Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan states that Hong Kong will remain committed to a free and open economic system and the free flow of capital, goods, people and information, all of which are Hong Kong’s core strengths under the “one country, two systems” framework.

“These efforts will inject stronger impetus into social and economic development, open up broader development prospects for local enterprises and the public, and provide greater opportunities for enterprises, investors and talent worldwide,” the spokesman said.

https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
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Hashtag: #HongKong #Freest #Economy #Investment #Talent

Source: Global Sustainable Transition Alliance, WRAP and Wageningen University & Research

• The Global Sustainable Transition Alliance (GSTA) is creating an international GHG product footprinting standard for the global food and beverage sector.
• WRAP and WUR call on businesses to join the alliance and help build a stronger and more consistent GHG footprinting standard with GSTA.
• New international standard aims to move sector beyond confusion over product footprints and towards reducing negative environmental impacts.

The Global Sustainable Transition Alliance (GSTA) convened by WRAP and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is an international alliance of businesses, NGOs, consultants, and product footprinting tool providers launched in March 2026. GSTA – is calling on all food and beverage businesses worldwide to support it in creating a single, scientifically robust rulebook for calculating product level environmental footprints for the food and beverage sector.

The alliance now wants to engage with more businesses to expand its reach and ensure alignment across its founding members, including Ahold Delhaize, the companies of Schwarz Group, Mars, Incorporated, Mondra, Mondra Coalition, Global Changer, Inoqo, European Sustainable Food Coalition, Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), Systain Coalition (coalition members are also Rewe Group and EDEKA), HowGood and Foodsteps.

Initially focusing on GHG emissions, GSTA will align and conform with major frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, SBTi, PACT, ISO and PEF – adding a high level of specificity and detail, to enable genuinely comparable product footprints, regardless of who is calculating them.

The development of a single footprinting global standard will save the food and beverage sector time, money and deliver consistent data reporting. Its development is supported by international NGOs including Consumers International and also the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), which is an initiative hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Sofie Schop, Executive Director, EU & Global Partnerships Director at WRAP, said:

“It has been hugely exciting to partner with Wageningen University & Research to establish this alliance for the food and beverage sector. By joining GSTA and our leading founding members, your business will be part of the first global industry-wide alliance to develop a single global footprinting standard. We want this standard to benefit businesses of all sizes and capabilities, providing consistency and efficiency for the industry across the globe. Together, we want to create a shared foundation for comparable data to create faster, more informed decisions that drive measurable emissions reductions across the food and beverage industry.”

Koen Boone, Coordinator Sustainable Value Chains at WUR said:

“Companies need consistent data from their worldwide suppliers to calculate reliable numbers of the impact of their full supply chain (scope 3). Currently suppliers use many different methods and databases which leads to inconsistent totals for the full supply chain. GSTA is going to address this.”

Naama Avni-Kadosh, Director, Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT) at WBCSD said:

“PACT is proud to be a founding member of GSTA. Global supply chains inherently cross industry boundaries, so credible carbon data has to as well. Sector initiatives like GSTA add the specificity that food and beverage companies need, while PACT provides the common data infrastructure that keeps those efforts interoperable. Harmonization across initiatives isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s what lets a footprint calculated once be trusted and reused everywhere, from farm to retail shelf.”

Grant V. Sprick, P.E. VP Climate & Environment at Ahold Delhaize said:

“One of the most important things companies can do is use their influence across the value chain to drive positive change. Better farming practices, improved livestock management, and more efficient processing are just a few examples of where collaboration make a significant positive difference. Equally important is aligning on how impact is estimated and quantified. A common standard for product footprinting helps ensure consistency and keeps efforts focused on the areas where action can deliver the greatest impact. We are excited to help shape a solution that can deliver value for businesses, suppliers and consumers alike.”

Michael Löscher, Climate Strategy Lead, Schwarz Corporate Affairs said:

“Turning climate targets into impact requires clear, measurable progress. Together with our partners at GSTA, we are establishing harmonized standards for transparent product emissions.”

WRAP and WUR are calling on businesses around the world to join GSTA and be part of the progression of this groundbreaking new alliance for the food and beverage industry.

Contact: gsta@wrap.ngo and visit www.wrap.ngo/gsta for more information.

Notes to editor

WRAP is a global environmental action NGO catalysing policy makers, businesses and individuals to transform the systems that create our food, textiles and manufactured products. Together these account for nearly 50% of global greenhouse emissions. Our goal is to enable the world to transition from the old take-make-dispose model of production to more sustainable approaches that will radically reduce waste and carbon emissions from everyday products. To do so we examine sustainability challenges through the lens of people’s day-to-day lives and create solutions that can transform entire systems to benefit the planet, nature and people.

WRAP has a legacy of GHG work internationally, driving major GHG reduction initiatives by targeting resource efficiency, waste prevention, and circular economy transitions in critical sectors like food and textiles. WRAP’s global work includes the Food Pact Network which convenes locally led, cross-border national food pacts (in Australia, South Africa and Mexico among others) to share tested solutions and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,700 employees (7,000 fte), 2,500 PhD and EngD candidates, 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has a long history of developing international sustainability measurement standards, through initiatives like Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and Eco Food Choice (EFC). WUR works intensively with the global food industry to improve sustainability of food supply chains.

The programme is available to eligible users of SkyroCredit, Skyro’s reusable digital credit line within the Skyro app.

Each month, customers can select four out of seven cashback categories and earn rewards of up to 30% on eligible purchases. Categories may include groceries, dining, pharmacy, online shopping, fuel and household bills, and customers can change their selections from one month to the next as their spending priorities change.

Customers who prefer not to choose individual categories can instead earn 0.5% cashback on all eligible transactions.

“At Skyro, we want customers to have greater control over their finances. That principle led us to develop a cashback model that allows people to decide where they earn rewards rather than having those categories chosen for them. It is the first programme of its kind in the Philippine market and is designed to reward customers for everyday purchases they already make, not to encourage additional spending,” said Arsen Liametov, co-founder and co-CEO of Skyro.

The programme has no minimum spend requirement to qualify for cashback, meaning customers do not need to increase their monthly spending simply to reach a rewards threshold. Cashback is credited directly in Philippine pesos rather than virtual points: every PHP 1 earned in cashback equals PHP 1 that can be applied to a future SkyroCredit purchase.

Customers who prefer not to choose individual categories can instead earn 0.5% cashback on all eligible transactions.

The new programme builds on the flexibility of SkyroCredit, which eligible customers can use wherever QR Ph payments are accepted. Customers simply scan or upload a merchant’s QR Ph code in the Skyro Philippines app and pay using their available SkyroCredit limit, whether in-store or online. The QR-based model may also be adaptable in other emerging markets where QR payments are widely used.

Hashtag: #Skyro

About Skyro

Congress takes place in late October with stellar line-up of speakers and panellists

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 October 2026 – The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) will host the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) World and Asia-Pacific Region Congress from 28^th to 30^th October. The Congress will bring together landscape architects, planners and policymakers from more than 80 countries and is the first time the city has hosted the IFLA World Congress.

The theme of the Congress is “Liminal Landscapes: Shifting Boundaries of Watersheds & Coastlines” and will examine how cities can plan and design for coastlines and river systems that never stay still and increasingly in recent years, as live-showcases of the effects of climate change. The three-day Congress will combine keynote lectures, scientific panels, workshops and awards ceremonies, drawing on Hong Kong’s own experience as a city built at the edge of land and sea to guide a conversation with global relevance.

Mr. Paul Chan, IFLA Asia-Pacific Region President and Immediate Past President of HKILA, said the Congress marks a turning point for the profession in the region. “For years, landscape architects have argued that the space between land and water needs proper design attention, not just engineering,” he said. “This Congress puts that argument on a world stage, in a city that lives with the consequences of that boundary every day. We want delegates to leave Hong Kong with practical tools and partnerships they can take back to their own cities, and we want the wider public and business community to understand why landscape architects now sit at the centre of how Asia adapts to a changing climate.”

The theme reflects a challenge every coastal city in Asia now faces. Hong Kong sits at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, a position the Congress organisers describe as fundamentally liminal: neither fully land nor fully water, and shaped by tides, storms and human development in equal measure. The Congress will explore how landscape architects can work with, rather than against, these shifting boundaries, covering watershed management, coastal resilience, sponge cities, nature-based solutions and the cultural landscapes that form where water and settlement intersect.

Sessions across the three days include dedicated tracks on climate action, disaster risk reduction, indigenous knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting how far the discipline has moved beyond garden design and into the frontline of climate adaptation planning.

Among more than a dozen international speakers, three stand out for the breadth of their influence on the landscape architectural field. Kate Orff, founder of SCAPE and professor at Columbia University, will deliver the Congress’s opening keynote; a MacArthur Fellow and winner of the 2025 ASLA Firm Award, she has spent her career redesigning coastlines in New York and New Orleans to absorb storms rather than fight them. Stig L. Andersson, founder of the Danish studio SLA and a professor at Beijing Forestry University, brings three decades of nature-based design practice and a body of work honoured with some of Europe’s top architecture prizes, including the C.F. Hansen Medal. Jungyoon Kim, associate professor in practice at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and founder of PARKKIM, will speak on landscape practice that spans Rotterdam, Seoul and Boston, offering a distinctly cross-cultural view of how cities adapt public space to a changing climate. Their sessions, alongside Peking University’s Li Dihua, Amman-based designer Lara Zureikat, prominent Malaysian landscape architect Seksan Ng and more, mean the Congress will set a global agenda on climate adaptive design.

Mr. Chan said the Congress offers value well beyond the profession itself. “Anyone with a stake in how Hong Kong and the wider region grow, whether in government, business or the community, will find something,” he said. “Delegates will hear from people who have already solved problems that our cities are only beginning to face, from flood resilience to biodiversity loss. Landscape architecture touches property values, public health and investment decisions as much as it touches parks and gardens, and this Congress is where those conversations happen in the open.”

Hashtag: #HKILA #IFLA

About the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects

About the International Federation of Landscape Architects

Source: GlobalData

7 October 2026

Fixed communications service revenue in Asia-Pacific (APAC) is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% between 2026 and 2031. This growth will be supported by the increasing fixed broadband service adoption, particularly in the region’s emerging markets, and will be led by the fiber broadband segment, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

An analysis of GlobalData’s APAC Fixed Communications Forecast Pack (Q2 2026) reveals that APAC is a moderately developed region in terms of fixed broadband adoption, with fixed broadband account penetration of the population projected to reach 23.6% at year-end 2026. By 2031, fixed broadband penetration is set to reach 26.6% driven by the ongoing broadband network expansions and growing adoption in emerging markets like the Philippines, Malaysia and India, where governments are investing heavily in fixed broadband infrastructure development.

Developed APAC, on the other hand, already has relatively high broadband penetration due to the national broadband network (NBN) projects in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Kantipudi Pradeepthi, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Rising demand for high-speed internet services and competitively priced fiber broadband plans from operators with benefits like unlimited internet and access to major subscription video on demand (SVoD) platforms will drive the fiber broadband service adoption in the region. By 2031, fiber-optic access lines will account for a share of about 86% of the total fixed access lines in the developed APAC region, while their share in the total fixed lines in the emerging APAC markets will be slightly higher at 88%.”

Growth in fiber optic access lines in emerging APAC will be mainly driven by governments’ aggressive fiber rollout and upgrade plans. In Malaysia, for instance, the government’s Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) plan, which aims to expand broadband coverage and improve connectivity quality nationwide, has exceeded its deployment targets. Under the plan’s phased implementation, fibre-optic coverage reached 9.94 million premises as of May 2026, surpassing the nine million premises target set for Phase 2 by 2025 and highlighting continued progress in expanding the country’s fixed broadband infrastructure.

India is also expanding its fibre infrastructure to support growing demand for fixed broadband. Bharti Airtel reported deploying over 43,000 kilometres of fibre during FY2025-26, while expanding its fibre network to cover more than 45 million homes, supporting the growth of high-speed broadband services across the country..

According to GlobalData, China has about 99% of its broadband subscriptions on fiber optic lines as of 2026, making it one of the major fiber broadband markets in the region. The country’s ongoing efforts to accelerate next-generation broadband infrastructure, including gigabit broadband upgrades and 10G optical network deployments, are expected to further boost premium fiber broadband service adoption across both residential and enterprise segments. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported in May 2026 that the country already has over 32 million 10G PON ports capable of delivering 10-gigabit broadband services to homes.

Pradeepthi adds: “Operators such as Reliance Jio in India, Spark in New Zealand, and Telstra in Australia have increased the attractiveness of fiber plans by bundling them with value-added services such as SVoD and pay-TV. In India, for instance, Reliance Jio’s basic broadband plan starts at INR399($4.60)/month with unlimited data at 30 mbps speed, while its popular INR999 ($11.51)/month plan offers unlimited data at 150 mbps with access to 12 OTT platforms, including Amazon Prime Lite, JioHotStar, Zee5, and SonyLIV.”

Voice telephony penetration in APAC will remain stagnant at around 10% through the forecast period. While circuit switched telephony lines will decline at a CAGR of 0.6% over the forecast period, packet switched telephony lines will grow at a CAGR of 3.1%.

Pradeepthi concludes: “Despite an increase in the overall voice telephony access lines in the region, fixed voice revenue will continue to decline over the forecast period, as users increasingly shift toward mobile voice and OTT-based calling services.”

Notes:

• Quotes are provided by Kantipudi Pradeepthi, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData.
• Information is based on GlobalData’s latest report “APAC Fixed Communications Forecast Pack (Q2 2026).”
• Asia Pacific Fixed Communications model quantifies fixed voice and broadband services adoption and revenue trends, at the residential, corporate and total market level. The data is published quarterly.
• This report is written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what’s coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, delivering tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

Official release