PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for July 21, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Media Outreach

Vietnam’s leading international F&B exhibition – 30 years of partnering with businesses to create sustainable value

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Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) Held Alongside the Conference

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Source: New Zealand First

Introduction

Thank you for being here this afternoon.

Mr. President, Members of the New Zealand First Party Board, Ministers and Members of Parliament, delegates of New Zealand First nationwide, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Over the past two days we have held our thirty-third annual convention, and it was this exact weekend, in July 1993, when the New Zealand First Party began. 

To all those members who began our political party thirty-three years ago, under a First Past the Post electoral system, a genuine sentiment of gratitude to you all.

Over the decades your dedication has remained steadfast, and we have grown to become the most successful new political party in modern New Zealand history.

We salute you here today as the next generation, together with a former one, taking this party forward to new levels of success.

Serious Times Require Experience & Prudent Judgement

The world is in a troubled state, the worst we can remember. And yet, having returned last week from Singapore and Japan, we are hopeful, because our discussions were gripped by how our friends, like us, see opportunity amidst so much turmoil.

We haven’t needed lectures from others to act; no, we’ve been seizing chances to advance New Zealand’s economic and security relationships with energy ever since this term began. Our 80 plus overseas trips have not been to collect passport stamps, but to enhance existing agreements, or create new ones, whether in our region, the Pacific, or in Asia, South America, Europe and the Nordics.

In country after country, we have learned first-hand that they want to do more with us, they too see opportunity, and our job is to make the most of them.

That said, do not underestimate just how disruptive the geo-strategic environment is. It’s a hugely complex and challenging period we are facing. This places an enormous premium on experience, and through experience, good judgements that protect New Zealand’s vital interests.

We take the world as it is, not as some cloistered varsity lecturer or woke leftie wants it to be. The record shows that we have exercised sound judgement when it has mattered most. 

With experience comes prudence, and with diplomacy comes opportunity, and that is why we are guardedly optimistic that New Zealand will emerge from the serious global disruptions in a strong position to exploit every opportunity that we create or that comes our way.               

And The Time is Now

New Zealand First has always been the greatest challenge to blind ideology, to social elitism, and to the status quo.

We, from the very beginning, have been for one country, one people, one law, one flag, regardless of gender, race, or religion.

We have been for protecting our nation’s sovereignty and national interest, protecting our unique role in the world, protecting our nation’s pride in who we are, where we have come from, and our traditional Kiwi values.

We fight for the hardworking blue-collar Kiwi battler, who just wants the chance to help build a country they are proud of.

We have always been, and always will be, for common sense.

Thirty-three years ago we created this party with a vision. A vision of hope and a heart to fight for the belief of every New Zealander for the chance of a better future for our children and grandchildren. 

Our country is not just a place, it is who we are as people. 

It is a set of values, stitched together across time. It is never complete – it grows. 

It grows into what we, as a New Zealanders, together, chose it to be. 

And the question is, ‘what do we want our country to be?’

We can no longer continue to accept the status quo who represent the establishment, who want nothing more than to protect the power they think they have, and maintain the separation of the ordinary kiwi and the elite. 

In this election, we have a rare chance to change the shape of parliament for the better, and in doing so, to reshape our country the way you want it.

We can choose to continue down the path we have been on for over forty years, continuing to watch the swing of the pendulum where blue or red just wait long enough and then yell “it’s our turn now’. 

Only to then proceed to change very little, apart from continuing to manage the decline.

Or, we can make a choice with our future generations in mind, take back control from the Wellington 

Bluesky bubble, take back control from the ‘way it’s always been’, take back control from those who choose to be a CV politician, where they are here one day, run out of gas, and are gone the next – taking with them a rolodex of international job opportunities, speaking circuits, or book tours, looking back over their shoulder at New Zealand’s decline. 

New Zealand First, from our launch thirty-three years ago, has been battling that elitist status quo. 

No one can deny that. When others wouldn’t raise a finger, we have raised the roof.

We will never give up that fight against the elitest status quo, and this election is where we can turn it on its head.

In November we have the real chance to show the power of MMP. We can move away from what our system used to be and make a real change to how our country is governed and who is representing you in government.

What we are asking you to do, is to give us the tools so we can finish the job. 

We cannot fly a microlight to the moon, but if you give us an Artimus, we will reach the stars.

We have a real chance to change the path we are on as a country, give hope a chance, and make 

New Zealand great again, like it once was when we were the number one democracy in the world.

The time is now.

We Are Breaking the Shackles of the Status Quo

New Zealand First has achieved a lot over the four governments that we have been a part of, punching well above our electoral weight.

We are the Party that raised the minimum wage for workers, not once, but three times in 2005, 2017, and again in this current government.

We are the Party that increased our frontline police numbers, not once, but three times, in 2005 by 1000, in 2017 by 1800, and again in this government we will have shortly completed our coalition agreement to increase our frontline police numbers by 500.

We are the Party who demanded in our coalition agreement to introduce Coward Punch laws and tougher penalties for those who assault our First Responders.

We are the Party who fought for the SuperGold Card for our seniors in 2005, repealed the pernicious surtax, raised super to 66% of median wage, and now making the SuperGold Card a form of physical ID.

We are the Party who brought in free healthcare for children under the age of 14.

We are the Party who brought in pay parity for primary school teachers.

We are the Party who have invested billions into our struggling regions with the Provincial Growth

Fund in 2017, and again this term with the Regional Infrastructure Fund.

We are the Party that has rebuilt our regional rail network after 2017, and again this term with much needed investment into the once neglected system.

We are the Party that has increased funding to our great St John Ambulance service.

We are the Party that has a bill to let the local ratepayers decide about fluoride in their water, instead of central government ramming it down your throat. 

We demanded a second Covid Inquiry, but sadly other parties watered that purpose down. Why?

Because they are all implicated. 

We are the only Party that has called for a new select committee inquiry into those who were injured by the vaccine – and being compensated for it. We are not going to let the matter be swept under the carpet by incompetent ministers.

We stopped all work on He Puapua, we stopped the WHO imposing International Health Regulations without New Zealand’s consent.

We repealed the Natural Health Products legislation.

We have taken men out of women’s sports.

We stopped the use of puberty blockers in children.

We are making English an official language, that will stop the nonsense that led to the CRL renaming the Britomart Station “Waitamata” and the Mt Eden Station “Mangawhau” without seeking a mandate, we are fighting against that woke ideology that has pervaded our country over the past ten years.

The list goes on and on.

The width and breadth of our accomplishments is vast and has influenced and positively affected every sector, every region, every part of New Zealanders lives.

But it’s not just the policies that our party has accomplished. It is about the common sense, experience, and the values that we bring to government.

Currently, we are fighting against the Gene Tech Bill. 

We are fighting against the use of Digital ID.

And the ban on social media for under sixteen-year-olds.

But if we as a country want to truly achieve more, to see more of those great policies, to see those values and principles of nationalism, patriotism, conservatism in the true leadership of our great country, then New Zealand First needs you – to give us the tools we need to get the job done.

We need to break the shackles of the status quo, we need to stop accepting the swing of the managed decline.

Pepsi or Coke Pendulum Swing

We need to take this unique chance in November, to stop the monotonous “Pepsi or Coke pendulum swing”, and give our country the chance to be truly great again. 

We are asking you to Party Vote New Zealand First.

One local example, Labour made all the promises to build the Mill Road four-lane corridor, then did nothing about it.

National’s MP based in Papakura then said “We have a city, the size of Napier, being built at Drury and still, this Labour government thinks a cycle way will be sufficient.”

Then, National has just continued to delay this project once again.

Pepsi and Coke have promised and done nothing.

New Zealand First, the party of the Provincial Growth Fund, and Regional Infrastructure Fund, the rebuilder of the Rail Network across the country, is committing, as an election promise, to get the Mill Road corridor built as a priority.

The Problems with the FTA

New Zealand First is against the Indian Free Trade Agreement, for good reason. It is not the ‘great deal’ that has been portrayed by other political parties.

We aren’t against free trade agreements. 

It is written in the New Zealand First coalition agreement to specifically prioritise an FTA with India. 

But, what we are against are bad Free Trade Agreements that are not in New Zealand’s best interests.

If you talk about the good parts of the Indian FTA, you have to talk about the bad parts – which other political parties are conveniently ignoring, brushing off, or passing the buck. 

New Zealand First has highlighted from day one the reasons this deal is bad.

We stated from day one that this deal has unprecedented immigration settings including uncapped student numbers with working rights and 5000 visa holders entering New Zealand able to bring in families with them. This is in addition to other uncapped immigration work visa pathways within the agreement. 

The ultimate question and problem we have is why has migration been made one of centrepieces of what is meant to be a free trade deal? Why has this become a free migration deal?

There are also two clauses that are included in the FTA that no one can give an explanation as to why. 

The UN co-governance framework UNDRIP, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of

Indigenous People, is in the agreement. This is the provision that created He Puapua.

The Paris Agreement clause is also in the FTA. The agreement that will see us send up to $22 billion overseas in a pointless and futile attempt to reduce our 0.17% CO2 emissions in the face of just four countries China, US, Russia and India producing 60% of the worlds emissions – and who produce more CO2 in a day than we do in a year.

If it is in the coalition agreement that UNDRIP is not recognised, and the Act Party is supposedly against UNDRIP and Paris Accord, why are these clauses in the FTA that both National and Act have supported?

What is more, New Zealand must promote $33 billion of investment into India over just the next 15 years, otherwise India can claw back the agreement. Billions of our dollars into a foreign country when we are desperate for investment here in New Zealand. 

We heard last weekend, when Prime Minister Modi himself said, not just once, but twice, that this was a “commitment to invest”, yet we were told by National that it was just “an aspiration”.

Do you remember John Key when he told us all not to worry because UNDRIP was “just aspirational”?

Luxon said Modi was wrong, and Hipkins washed his hands of all responsibility for this mess of different interpretations.

Surely the New Zealand people need an explanation. 

If, since 2012 New Zealand has only invested $4.2 Billion into China through that FTA, then how are we going to find $33 Billion over the next 15 years for India? Riddle me that.

To get to this point where there is such a difference in interpretation, after this deal has been signed, is a real worry. 

What is worse, is when Hipkins clearly understood that there was a very serious potential for this different interpretation of the deal to badly effect New Zealand businesses, he warned those businesses that there are “risks” with what was in the FTA. This is after Hipkins supported it.

Hipkins is now putting all that responsibility and risk that he has allowed to occur by supporting this FTA, onto New Zealand businesses. 

Why wasn’t the interpretation clear before the FTA was signed by National and before Act and Labour supported it?

National brushes it off saying ‘India is wrong’ and Labour is washing their hands of all the risk they have both created. 

This is a recipe for disaster.

Astonishingly, Luxon told media that the good news is he spoke to a New Zealand manufacturing business who told him that they are already planning to put manufacturing facilities into India.

Since when was it a good thing that New Zealand companies are moving employment and production overseas? 

Do you see how backward this has all become?

Are you seeing now why New Zealand First has opposed this FTA from the time we saw the real detail?

The Left Must Not Win

We must not forget what we inherited just three short years ago from an economically destructive and morally bereft Labour government, that left this country in a precarious and impossible position.

We inherited a broken economy, a fractured society, and a country on a road to social disaster. That road was paved with the unbelievable incompetence from the last Labour government. 

New Zealand’s debt skyrocketed, there were multiple fiscal policies with no allocated funding, racist co-governance and woke ideology had spread into legislation and throughout the public sector, universities, government departments, and schools. 

The left had simply run roughshod over our country.

Labour left us:

• A crumbling, underfunded, overwhelmed Health System.

An education system that had seen:

• a record number of children failing basic standards and truancy rate,
• an unmanageable number of schools without adequate classrooms, and
• many in the teaching force under enormous strain.

A Defence Force that had lost more than a third of its personnel over the three years.

An undermanned Police Force:

• haemorrhaging officers to Australia,
• massive shortages in recruitment,
• massive increases in crime, and
• youth ramraids and violence that was simply out of control.

Gang numbers that ballooned over the three years.

A cost-of-living crisis.

A housing crisis with skyrocketing prices and unprecedented numbers living in emergency hotels. 

Remember the Labour promise 100,000 new Kiwi-Build houses in ten years?

They left us a rate of child poverty even higher than when in 2021 Jacinda Ardern made herself the ‘Minister of Child Poverty’.

A mental health system that had seen more and more young people suffering with no help.

Crumbling infrastructure around the country with no plan, no funding, and no idea.

An unprecedented, uncontrollable level of immigration – over 133,000 entering in 2023 alone.

And during Covid, Labour left large numbers of people ostracised, demonised, shutdown and shutout, ignored and cancelled – all because those people fought for their right to say ‘no, we disagree.’

And they are hoping we have all forgotten about all of that. 

They are now actively banking on working with the wacky Greens and racist mess of the Māori Party. 

Labour care more about the seats that will give them a road to power, rather than the danger of who it is that will fill those seats. 

The Labour Party of just twenty years ago would never entertain working with the likes of those in the current Greens or Māori Party. Those two parties are self-confessed Marxists and separatists, who have unworkable dangerous policies, and care more about globalist woke ideology and geopolitical wars happening ten thousand miles away than understanding the real world here in New Zealand.

A Labour, Greens, Māori Party government would be an unmitigated disaster for our country. 

The reality is, Labour long ago deserted the traditional blue-collar workers of New Zealand.

The movement of the party to the far left has caused longtime Labour voters to feel abandoned by a party that once stood for the ‘ordinary hard-working kiwi’. 

Instead, Labour now cares more about ‘social justice’ issues, socialist economics, and cultural separatism. 

That is why we ruled out working with Labour before the last election and why we are again ruling out working with the Labour Party in 2026.

New Zealand Needs Bold Policies

New Zealand First has already announced a number of election policies that we believe are needed to affect real change in the direction of the country, drive down the cost of living, and to secure a future for kiwis.

We have announced policies to break up the power companies, split the supermarket duopoly, re-establish a competitive state owned bank, return mining royalties created in the regions back to the regions, we announced our KiwiSaver policy of making it compulsory with automatic sign-up at birth $1000 kickstart – which by the way we announced a month before National decided to steal it and announce it as its own.

We announced a policy to establish a $100 billion Future Fund that will invest in thirty-year infrastructure plan for our country – a fund that is separate from the influence of politicians and run similar to the highly successful Temasek model in Singapore.

We have also announced that we will pull out of the Paris Agreement that is senselessly hamstringing our economy.

And we have most recently announced a policy to ensure that only citizens are allowed to vote in our country. 

Unbelievably, right now someone who has been in New Zealand for just twelve months can vote on who is in government, who is in local council, and vote on referendum issues that change the social fabric of our country. Over voting rules are the most lax in the world. 

New Zealand First will fix this.

These polices will change the status quo, reform our country, and put New Zealand back on a pathway of prosperity. 

They are bold policies. But bold policies are needed to create a fair playing field in the power, food, and banking systems so we can make real change to kiwis’ lives, drive down the cost of living, give kiwis a fair go, and take back control of our country.

Election 2026 Campaign Policy Announcement

We are announcing another bold campaign policy today.

One of the most concerning issues we are currently facing as a nation is the existential threat to fuel security and fuel supply.
We have seen the immediate effects of being isolated and totally dependent on international supply lines of oil and gas, and the dramatic and costly effects it has on New Zealand’s sustainability, planning, and future certainty.
We are totally susceptible to the geopolitical choices made by other nations in the cost, supply, and certainty we need as a country to survive, today and into the future.
This needs to change.
Other parties want to ‘tinker around the edges’ with solar panel plans – which does next to nothing to address fuel and gas insecurity; we say New Zealand has one of the greatest potentials in the world to have ownership of our own supply of oil and natural gas.New Zealand potentially holds Norway-scale energy prospects in our offshore basins and that potential has never been accurately surveyed or characterised with modern tools.
If we identify those reserves in our basins, we will have the ability to utilise the natural resources we have to make our country secure, prosperous, and to build real resilience.
Analysis shows that the odds of New Zealand having a major commercial discovery in our basins is well above ninety percent. And most likely, we hold something that would be transformational for our country, and potentially the equivalent of Norway in scale.
We can no longer ignore this potential we have in our deep sea basins.
This is about future-proofing New Zealand in a world of uncertainty.
This is about making the investment now to build fuel security and fuel resilience for New Zealand’s future. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
New Zealand First will be campaigning on an initial investment of $1 billion over the term of government, into a ‘National Subsurface Development Survey’ – to identify and create one national dataset across energy, geothermal and CO₂ storage sites, and create the framework for New Zealand to develop those sites, extract those resources, and build our country’s resilience and prosperous economic future.
New Zealand has ten prospective basins with world-class potential, the Great South Basin has had eight wells drilled in its entire history and the deeper horizons are untested. The existing seismic data is two technology generations old, covering only a fraction of our subsurface inheritance.
Namibia has made the discoveries that can now transform its country and economy after a focused data acquisition campaign which began in 2022.
In under a decade, Guyana went from first discovery to South America’s third-largest producer.

We have that potential here in New Zealand.
Since the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, capital is now moving into politically stable basins elsewhere in the world, and for it to move it needs modern data. The reality is, survey costs right now sit at structural lows.
The policy is a game changer.
Under this plan we would expect to see first results within twelve months and convert that potential into knowledge that global capital can bid against. This is at a time when we are in the midst of the largest basin-capital movement in a generation.
Within the first twenty-four months the highest-ranked basins will have surveying completed with wells identified, and the first physical proof that reserves exist.
Potentially within just six years, we will have a pathway forward for our country to own and control our own supply of energy that we can use domestically and export around the world.
New Zealand First would utilise these resources to transform our economy and our future.
We would set fair terms while explorers carry the risk of proving the fields — and over time place a royalty well above 50% on all extractions as production matures.
We would use these finds to end the gas shortfalls that have sent power prices through the roof, and to drive fuel costs down locally, export oil and gas, and establish a Norwegian-model sovereign fund.
We will transform any discovery into permanent national wealth and invest in regional industry.
New Zealand has natural resources that are there, ready to be utilised to transform our country.
This is about New Zealand’s economic sovereignty and security, we cannot wait and continue to be beholden to international interests and decision making.
We will find those energy reserves, we will extract them, and what we find, we will use to make our country prosperous again.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, we are all here because we love our country, and we are proud of it.

True democracy is a rare flower in the history of humanity.

We have inherited a free country that our forebears fought and died for, and it’s our job to preserve it.

But only if we are proud of what we have inherited can we come together and move forward to shape the vision of our country’s future.

We live in a country that, at its core, traditional New Zealand values once saw us amongst the world’s leaders – hard work, fair pay, valuing our citizenship, building a sense of community, and knowing who we are as kiwis.

We must remember, New Zealand is the beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law. And the advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people – and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division.

We must take hold of new opportunities and embrace hope for a new direction. Because the past is now over, the future is coming, and New Zealand needs to be ready.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the world and at home, but we must keep hope alive that, with hard work and perseverance, tomorrow will be better.

New Zealand First is nationalist, patriotic, and socially conservative.

We are proud to not only stand for those values, but to fight for them. 

Times are tough. But we are fighting for you. And we will never give up.

We must not lose sight of how far we have come on this long road to recovery.

And, if you give us the tools, we will finish the job.

It hasn’t been easy – but things in life worth doing – are never easy.  

It is what will build the character of our country.

We must never forget that challenge.

We must never stop believing in New Zealand.

That is our vision and that is our mission.

To protect, to save, and to restore New Zealand’s place at the top of the world.

By putting New Zealand and New Zealanders first.

We are asking you to join us – and Party Vote New Zealand First.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/winston-peters-hope-and-a-better-tomorrow/

Source: Media Outreach

The newswire guarantees online postings on USA Today and increases its guaranteed distribution on high-domain-rating local US news sites to empower AI visibility

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Source: Media Outreach

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) opened in Shanghai on July 17 and runs through July 20 under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future,” covering three major exhibition areas: the Expo area, Zhangjiang area, and West Bund area. Matrix Robotics, a technology company focused on general-purpose humanoid robots and Physical AI, presented four third-generation general-purpose humanoid robots, MATRIX-3, at the event. The company showcased the core capabilities of its self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, its full-stack technology system and multi-scenario deployment achievements, demonstrating the general-purpose capabilities and scalable commercial potential of China-developed Physical AI and humanoid robotics.

During WAIC 2026, Matrix Robotics moved beyond conventional static displays by creating four live demonstration zones. The four hardware-identical MATRIX-3 units, supported by a unified general-purpose Physical AI foundation, flexibly switched between diverse and complex tasks, directly demonstrating the core commercial value of general-purpose Physical AI: low cost, high adaptability and rapid transferability. The company delivered continuous multidimensional live robot demonstrations, announced the latest technical upgrade to the WAVE model, shared updates on its RAAS ecosystem partner program, and officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program for regional market expansion, presenting its progress in technology iteration, commercialization and global ecosystem development.

WAVE Physical World Foundation Model Lays the Core AI Foundation for General-Purpose Humanoid Robots

Unlike large language models trained primarily on internet text, Matrix Robotics’ self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model is purpose-built for physical robots operating in real-world environments. It serves as the core “brain” that enables MATRIX-3 to perform intelligent tasks and human-like interactions. Trained on large-scale real-world and simulated interaction data, the model has learned patterns of physical dynamics, allowing it to adapt precisely to complex real-world task scenarios and move beyond traditional robots’ reliance on fixed scripts and single-scenario constraints.

Architecturally, WAVE uses a proprietary “brain–cerebellum” collaborative architecture: the WAVE model, as the “brain,” is responsible for global scene understanding, logical reasoning, task planning and generalized operations; the general-purpose motion control model, as the “cerebellum,” generates natural and smooth full-body motion. Together, they enable the robot to “think clearly and move naturally,” delivering human-like intelligent performance.

Relying on training infrastructure and an end-to-end data toolchain that it has fully developed and built in-house, Matrix Robotics can independently manage the full end-to-end process, from model iteration and data acquisition to data annotation and governance. Through large-scale real-robot deployment and continuous feedback of real-world scenario data, the company is building a technical flywheel in which “more data leads to stronger models and broader scenario adaptability,” continuously improving cross-scenario generalization and providing core intelligent support for multi-scenario robot deployment.

Full-Scenario Live Demonstrations Validate Commercialization Readiness of General-Purpose AI

Empowered by the WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, MATRIX-3 completed multiple standardized live task demonstrations at the event, covering four core scenarios: commercial service, empathetic human-robot interaction, fine manipulation and humanoid motion. The demonstrations validated the deployment value of general-purpose Physical AI in commercial services, daily-life assistance, cultural tourism and science education, public services and other fields.

1. Live Consumer Service Demonstration: End-to-End Autonomous AI Barista Operations

The exhibition featured a live coffee service experience area, where MATRIX-3 served as an AI barista. With multimodal perception and precise force-control capabilities, the robot autonomously operated coffee machine buttons, picked up cups and collected prepared beverages. The stable and coherent workflow recreated a commercial reception service scenario and validated its deployment feasibility in retail service, exhibition reception and commercial service settings.

2. Empathetic Human-Robot Interaction: Creating Warm, Human-Like Intelligent Experiences

Matrix Robotics also demonstrated flexible, human-like interaction capabilities. Supported by visual recognition and advanced speech and semantic understanding, MATRIX-3 can move beyond fixed scripts for natural interaction and perform a range of interactions such as musical finger dances, rock-paper-scissors games with audiences, biomimetic handshakes and all-day voice Q&A. With differentiated emotional response capabilities, it enables warmer human-robot collaboration and is suited to science education exhibitions, public services and cultural tourism interactions.

3. Fine Manipulation for Everyday Tasks: Generalized Handling Capabilities for Diverse Objects

In the everyday fine manipulation demonstration, MATRIX-3 showcased its ability to handle objects across different categories and forms, autonomously completing compound tasks such as grasping fruit and bottled water and delivering items. The robot can adapt to objects of different sizes, weights and materials, reflecting the generalized operation capabilities of general-purpose Physical AI and broad applicability across household assistance, retail sorting, warehouse support and other use cases.

4. Humanoid Gait and Intelligent Interaction: Recreating Natural Human-Like Motion

The on-site gait demonstration area showcased MATRIX-3’s humanoid motion capabilities. The robot walked with coordinated, natural and stable movements, autonomously identified visitors in the exhibition crowd, proactively paused, and delivered standardized brand and product introductions, fully demonstrating its whole-body motion control performance and real-time human-robot interaction capabilities.

MATRIX-3 Hardware Advantages Strengthen the Foundation for Commercial Deployment

As Matrix Robotics’ third-generation general-purpose humanoid robot designed for real-world commercial scenarios, MATRIX-3 was developed around the three core concepts of “safety, dexterity and generality.” Its hardware platform is designed to fit human living and working environments and serves as the core carrier for the deployment of general-purpose Physical AI. The robot is 1.70 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms, matching adult human proportions and enabling seamless adaptation to spaces and workstations designed for people.

In terms of core performance, MATRIX-3 is equipped with a 27-DOF tendon-driven dexterous hand that replicates human hand anatomy and offers lightweight, high-speed and high-precision characteristics, enabling it to use standard human tools, operate precision components and handle flexible fabrics. It is also equipped with 3D-knitted biomimetic safety skin and whole-body distributed tactile sensing, with fingertip sensing precision as low as 0.1 Newton, enabling safe close-proximity human-robot coexistence. Through Matrix Robotics’ self-developed integrated linear joint control algorithm and general-purpose motion control model, the robot achieves near-human natural gait and whole-body coordinated movement. It also supports 4 hours of continuous stable operation in a single session, fully matching the rhythm of real-world commercial operations.

In terms of commercial accessibility, MATRIX-3 is priced from RMB 580,000 per unit. Leveraging its scaled smart manufacturing system, the company continues to reduce production costs and is driving humanoid robots from high-end demonstration scenarios toward broader industry and household applications.

Vertically Integrated Full-Stack System Drives Scalable Industrial Deployment and Ecosystem Collaboration

Matrix Robotics is one of the industry’s most vertically integrated companies, with all nine layers of its technology stack, from data to deployment, independently developed and built in-house. This creates a hard-to-replicate technological and industrial compounding effect and provides strong support for scaled product deployment. The company has built its own full-chain data engine and toolchain, model training infrastructure, core components and end-to-end smart manufacturing system, creating a closed loop from technology R&D to mass production.

On the industrialization front, Matrix Robotics’ Zhangjiang MFH Smart Manufacturing Base in Shanghai has established independent end-to-end production capabilities, with a planned annual capacity of 5,000 units in 2026 and a target annual capacity of 10,000 units in 2027. To date, the company has accumulated approximately 1,000 robot orders across diverse scenarios, including chain restaurant services, hotel services, research, culture and entertainment. In mid-2026, Matrix Robotics launched initial partner pilot deployments, laying the foundation for the product’s transition from demonstration verification to scaled application. The company is also continuing to advance its RAAS (Robot-as-a-Service) ecosystem partner program, opening interfaces to the industry ecosystem and working with partners to build an embodied intelligence ecosystem.

Continuous Technology Iteration Broadens Applications for China-Developed Humanoid Robots

The multidimensional live demonstrations at WAIC 2026 provide a focused validation of Matrix Robotics’ general-purpose Physical AI technologies and industrialization capabilities. Guided by real-world scenario needs, the company continues to iterate core technologies such as WAVE model intelligence, fine robotic manipulation, stable long-duration operation and human-like interaction, broadening applications for humanoid robots. Its technology solutions can be widely adapted to summit receptions, commercial retail, household assistance, exhibitions and cultural tourism, smart warehousing and other scenarios.

Looking ahead, Matrix Robotics will continue to focus on Physical AI, iterate and upgrade its full-stack technology system and MATRIX-3 product capabilities, and deliver standardized, replicable integrated humanoid robot solutions. The company aims to accelerate the accessible, large-scale deployment of China-developed general-purpose humanoid robots, empowering intelligent upgrades across real-economy industries through advanced Physical AI technologies.

MATRIX Global Partner Program Launched to Recruit Regional Partners in China and Overseas

As its technology, product capabilities and production capacity continue to mature, Matrix Robotics has officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program, openly recruiting regional partners in China and overseas markets to jointly expand the global commercial footprint of humanoid robots.

The program focuses on recruiting enterprises and institutions with regional customer networks, government, enterprise and industry resources, scenario development capabilities, and local sales, delivery and after-sales service capabilities. Partners will participate in local customer expansion, project implementation, scenario operations and service system development for MATRIX, helping accelerate the application of humanoid robots in commercial services, cultural tourism and exhibitions, public services, industrial manufacturing and other key sectors.

Matrix Robotics will open key regional cooperation opportunities and provide systematic support across products, technology, branding, marketing, training and delivery. Together with its partners, the company aims to create regional benchmark projects and develop, refine and replicate mature industry solutions.

As the program moves forward, Matrix Robotics will accelerate the construction of a global commercial and service network, driving MATRIX from exhibition stands into real-world scenarios and from single-point demonstrations toward scaled applications.

Hashtag: #MatrixRobotics

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

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: Media Outreach

Milestone reflects Malaysians’ growing demand for quality grab-and-go food and coffee, with KLIA café bringing greater convenience to millions of travellers

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is acting to maintain New Zealand’s ongoing domestic cement manufacturing capacity and ensure our economy remains resilient to global supply chain shocks.

“We have agreed to grant Golden Bay Cement (GBC) up to $60m to continue cement manufacturing at its Whangarei plant, maintain domestic clinker manufacturing capability, and undertake at least $150m in investments needed to support cost-effective domestic cement production through to at least 2040.”

“Ministers were advised that due to rising costs Fletcher Building Limited was considering closure of the GBC clinker facility in Whangarei, in favour of switching to a cheaper import-only model. 

“The Golden Bay factory is New Zealand’s only fully integrated cement manufacturing plant and plays a vital role in our economic supply-chain. 

“In May Cabinet carefully considered the case for targeted, time-limited financial support to secure its ongoing operation.   

“Ultimately the Government determined that losing domestic cement production would leave us massively exposed to potential global supply disruptions. Cement has no practical substitutes. It is needed for the building of homes, hospitals, schools, roads, and other nationally significant infrastructure.  Any reductions in its availability could bring essential construction and infrastructure development, and the economic activity they support, to a standstill.

“Cabinet therefore agreed to enter negotiations to keep the GBC plant operating, with a limited envelope of funds set aside for this purpose and strict conditions for support. The agreement we are announcing today meets those conditions within the funding envelope determined by Cabinet.   

“Our Government did not take this decision lightly. Before entering negotiations we undertook a rigorous supply chain assessment of the role domestically produced cement plays in the economy, analysed the underlying financial factors at-play, and gave careful consideration to potential precedent risks. Ultimately, we concluded that this is an exceptional case, which meets the very high bar needed to justify taxpayer support.  

“As part of our deliberations, we commissioned an independent open-book financial assessment of the GBC operation.  This concluded that there were binding constraints on the financial viability of domestic cement production, primarily due to emissions costs. 

“While we considered alternative forms of regulatory relief, we were concerned to take a lowest-cost approach that did not undermine the effective operation of the Emissions Trading Scheme.  The agreed approach strikes the right balance, preserving a strategically significant domestic capability without creating a precedent for wider support, or undermining the integrity of the ETS.

“Under the terms of the deal, GBC must maintain domestic manufacture of cement until at least 31 December 2040, commit at least $150m of its own investment, maintain jobs, and submit to additional reporting and auditing requirements, with the Government able to claw back funds if obligations are not met.

“In an uncertain world, the Government has acted to secure New Zealand’s national economic resilience.” 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/20/domestic-cement-production-secured/

Source: Media Outreach

• Deep dive into the DNA of Thailand’s wellness giants—BDMS Wellness Clinic and Chiva-Som—and their strategic blueprints to transform the kingdom into the ultimate global wellness destination.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – In the modern era, “good health” has redefined the meaning of true wealth. Consumers worldwide are now heavily investing in innovations that promote longevity and extend healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. Even amid economic uncertainty, health and well-being remain top priorities for consumers. This behavioral shift helping drive the global wellness economy to a reached USD 6.8 trillion in 2024, representing a 7.9% growth from the previous year. Furthermore, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) projects the market to surge to USD 9.8 trillion by 2029, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 7.6%. Driven by this exponential growth, nations worldwide, including Thailand, are aggressively developing wellness services and innovations to serve as a “New Growth Engine” and a key indicator of long-term national competitiveness.

Where Does Thailand Stand in the Global Health & Wellness Industry?

When evaluating Thailand’s potential, Thailand ranks among the world’s leading healthcare destinations. According to the Numbeo Health Care Index 2026, Thailand’s healthcare system is ranked 8th globally, making it the sole ASEAN nation to secure a spot in the Top 10. Focusing specifically on the health and wellness sector, Thailand achieved the highest growth rate globally in 2023, with the market value soaring past USD 40 billion—a remarkable 28.4% increase. The “Wellness Tourism” segment alone skyrocketed by 36.4%, outperforming the global average by threefold.

These figures reflect much more than financial profits; they underscore Thailand’s robust readiness and distinct advantages. The country boasts world-class medical infrastructure, accredited hospitals, highly skilled medical professionals, reasonable treatment costs, and an established reputation as a top wellness destination. Additionally, Thailand possesses unique cultural assets—such as traditional Thai herbs, Thai massage, healthy cuisine, and medical tourism—that can be strategically leveraged into a high-value economy.

Driving a High-Income Economy with Deep Tech in the Wellness Market

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), announced a strategic vision to transform Thailand’s wellness industry from traditional services into a high-value, globally competitive innovation sector. The strategy aims to unlock the potential of Thai culture, local wisdom, and rich biodiversity by implementing modern science and technology to establish evidence-based efficacy. Furthermore, cutting-edge innovations such as Health Tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) will be deployed to analyze deep health data. Equipping the sector with Deep Tech will significantly elevate international credibility.

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan emphasized: “MHESI is fully prepared to act as a vital gear in mitigating R&D investment risks for the private sector through an end-to-end support system. We aim to accelerate the commercialization of Thai innovations by systematically connecting the innovation ecosystem. This includes matchmaking entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, and universities, alongside injecting comprehensive financial and resource support. Our assistance spans R&D grants, advanced laboratory access, clinical trials, global production standard upgrades, and intellectual property protection. Collectively, these mechanisms will propel wellness into a New Growth Engine, boosting national competitiveness and establishing Thailand as a true global wellness hub.”

NIA’s Four Strategic Pillars to Propel the Thai Wellness Economy Globally

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), stated that driving the wellness industry sustainably cannot be achieved by the private sector alone. It requires cross-sector collaboration to foster an innovation ecosystem conducive to research, technological development, standard testing, and global market expansion. The NIA has continuously supported entrepreneurs in health, wellness, and medical technology through capacity-building initiatives like the Wellness Academy, startup incubation, university network integration, and innovation competitions to translate ideas into market-ready businesses.

The NIA prioritizes data, research, and scientific evidence to build trust and add value to Thai wellness products and services. Simultaneously, the agency connects entrepreneurs to vital resources and innovation networks to stimulate the healthcare economy, creating jobs and new revenue streams through four key strategies:

1. Connecting Innovative Businesses: Fostering synergies across the ecosystem.
2. Upgrading Wellness Establishments and Labor Skills: Elevating service standards and workforce capabilities to international levels.
3. Driving Progress via Thailand Innovation Hubs: Utilizing regional hubs to stimulate localized innovation.
4. Scaling Up and Building International Recognition: Enhancing global awareness of Thai wellness as credible, safe, verifiable, and uniquely high-value.

The NIA’s ultimate goal is not merely to create new innovative businesses, but to build a sustainable ecosystem that empowers Thai entrepreneurs to grow robustly and integrate seamlessly into the global health and wellness supply chain.

BDMS Champions “Healthspan” and Preventive Medicine to Secure a Competitive Edge

As longevity becomes a primary aspiration for the global population, BDMS Wellness Clinic—a premier wellness leader in Thailand—is accelerating the preventive healthcare industry. By utilizing health science and personalized medicine, the clinic designs deep-level bodily care to firmly establish Thailand as a pioneer in modern health trends.

Dr. Tanupol Virunhagarun, Chief Executive Officer of BDMS Wellness Group, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), highlighted that transitioning from treating illnesses to preventing them is an undeniable global megatrend. This aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) data indicating that every 1 Baht invested in wellness yields up to a 35-fold return by reducing public healthcare expenditures and enhancing citizen quality of life. This expertise has positioned BDMS Wellness Clinic as a major private-sector anchor, attracting high-spending global consumers to Thailand through its concept of “Scientific Wellness.” This approach features evidence-based healthcare, ranging from advanced genetic testing and personalized nutrition and vitamin formulations to blending modern medical innovations with traditional Thai medicine for verifiable results. Upgrading these standards shifts Thailand’s image from a leisure destination to a highly credible, advanced medical hub, serving as a crucial mechanism in partnering with the government to promote the nation as “Wellness Hub Thailand, The Land of Life” and a top-of-mind Global Wellness Destination.

Chiva-Som Showcases the “Thai Spirit” to Redefine the Health Economy

Complementing advanced medical dimensions, Thailand possesses iconic brands in health tourism marketing, such as Chiva-Som—the country’s first wellness resort and a pioneer in Asia. Spanning over three decades, Chiva-Som evolved from a modest beachfront holiday home in Hua Hin into one of the world’s top wellness resorts, capturing the loyalty of high-net-worth consumers from the West. What sets Chiva-Som apart is not just its world-class international treatments, but the “Thai spirit of hospitality”—characterized by humility, gentleness, and sincerity—seamlessly integrated with a profound understanding of holistic wellness.

Drawing from this tangible success, Mr. Krod Rojanastien, Consultant to President of Chiva-Som International Health Resort Co., Ltd., shared a pivotal insight: In a digital era where people face chronic stress and burnout, wellness has become mainstream. Thailand holds a distinct competitive advantage through its innate service spirit, gentle culture, and centuries-old traditional Thai medical wisdom. Moving forward, the priority must be backing this traditional wisdom with scientific research to secure international trust. Thailand’s future marketing goal must transcend being a temporary vacation spot; it must elevate into a global “Sanctuary” where people intentionally travel to restore their body, mind, and overall quality of life.

When science, technology, innovation, and Thai wisdom are systematically woven together, the wellness economy will transform from a mere service sector into a powerful economic engine. It will lead Thailand toward becoming a definitive Global Wellness Destination, generating economic wealth and holistic well-being simultaneously.
Hashtag: #NIA #NationalInnovationAgency

https://www.nia.or.th/

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

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.