PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 1, 2026 – Full Text

Proposed an interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share

Highlights:

• Revenue increased to approximately HK$1,450.9 million.
• Gross profit increased to approximately HK$518.8 million.
• Profit attributable to owners of the Company amounted to approximately HK$116.2 million.
• As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 190 chain retail stores
• Basic earnings per share was approximately HK11.6 cents. The Board recommended the payment of interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share.

Financial Highlights:

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited (“Best Mart 360” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 2360.HK), a leading leisure food retailer in Hong Kong, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“the Period under Review”). During the Period under Review, the revenue recorded by the Group amounted to approximately HK$1,450,897,000, representing an increase of approximately 1.0% as compared to approximately HK$1,436,576,000 for the six months ended 30 June 2025 (the “Corresponding Period Last Year”).

During the Period under Review, profit attributable to owners of the Company amounted to approximately HK$116,221,000.

For the six months ended 30 June 2026, gross profit of the Group was approximately HK$518,758,000, representing an increase of approximately 0.1%, as compared to gross profit of approximately HK$518,177,000. Gross profit margin during the period was approximately 35.8%. During the Period under Review, basic earnings per share of the Group was approximately HK11.6 cents. The Board recommended the payment of interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share.

BUSINESS REVIEW

CHAIN RETAIL STORES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 190 chain retail stores, including 184 chain retail stores in Hong Kong and 6 chain retail stores in Macau, respectively. During the Period under Review, the Group continued to implement its store network optimization strategy to fully showcase its diverse product portfolio, further enhance its overall brand image and provide customers with a more comfortable shopping environment.

Since 2021, the Group has launched its brand of global wine and food stores “FoodVille”, which provides mid-to-high-end, premium food products from around the globe. These include fine wines, premium chocolates, health foods, cheese, Western sauces and ingredients from around the world, aming to cater to the market’s pursuit of a quality of life and expanding the Group’s customer base. As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 8 retail stores under the brand.

During the Period under Review, the rental expenses (on a cash basis) of the Group’s retail stores accounted for approximately 9.7% of its sales revenue.

THE PRODUCTS

During the Period under Review, the Group adhered to its global procurement strategy, sourcing high-quality products from around the world to provide customers with a diversified range of choices. During the Period under Review, the Group sold over 1,045 brands and more than 3,054 stock keeping units (“SKUs“) of products in total. The Group continuously optimised its product portfolio and actively introduced a variety of new products and flavours to meet customers’ ever-changing needs.

To enrich its product mix and maintain effective control over product quality, supply stability and profit margins, the Group continued to actively develop its private label products. During the Period under Review, sales derived from private label products amounted to approximately HK$277,194,000 (six months ended 30 June 2025: approximately HK$251,203,000), which accounted for approximately 19.1% of the Group’s total revenue for the Period under Review. The Group had a total of 12 private labels covering approximately 272 SKUs of products, including masks, canned Chinese delicacies, cereals, milk, honey, nuts and dried fruits as well as a wide range of leisure food products.

MEMBERSHIP SCHEME AND MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group had a cumulative total of approximately 2,469,754 registered fans and members (30 June 2025: approximately 2,243,198). As at 30 June 2026, the number of mobile app members reached approximately 1,374,462 (30 June 2025: approximately 1,238,775).

During the Period under Review, the Group continued to carry out a variety of marketing activities, including “Best Price”, “Instant Redemption upon Purchase” and other promotional campaigns, which provided customers with a series of special offers on selected quality products as a way to show its appreciation for their support and effectively enhance customer loyalty. The Group also launched a new brand promotion campaign, namely “Best Mart, Always a Friendly Buy”, in 2026. By integrating online and offline promotional channels, the Group further strengthened its brand image and enhanced its interaction and connection with customers.

The Group also utilised a variety of outdoor media, such as large-scale advertisements at MTR stations and truck wraps, together with marketing strategies on digital media and social platforms, to further increase its brand exposure and market penetration, thereby attracting more new customers to shop at its stores.

In addition, the Group actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibility by partnering with the charitable foundation under China Merchants Group to launch the “Care 360˚” Neighborhood Support Programme, which aids families in need, continuously promotes community care and inclusion and actively puts into practice the core principles of corporate sustainability.

EMPLOYEES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group employed a total of 1,257 full-time and part-time employees (31 December 2025: 1,227). The increase in the total number of employees was primarily due to the Group’s recruitment of additional staff for its newly opened stores. To retain talent and provide its employees with appropriate incentives to enhance their sense of belonging and loyalty, the Group regularly reviews and updates its employee remuneration packages and benefit plans, taking into account labour market supply and remuneration trends as well as individual employee performance. During the Period under Review, the staff costs of the Group (excluding emoluments of the Directors) accounted for approximately 9.6% of its total revenue (six months ended 30 June 2025: approximately 9.7%).

OUTLOOK

Global geopolitical tensions remain high, and uncertainty persists regarding the pace of the external economic recovery. Meanwhile, the active expansion of mainland Chinese e-commerce platforms into Hong Kong has driven the popularity of cross-border online shopping, further intensifying competition in the local retail market. Amid complex and increasingly competitive market conditions, the overall business environment for the retail sector is expected to remain under pressure in the second half of 2026. However, as Hong Kong hosts a series of major international events and exhibitions as well as cultural and sports activities, the number of visitors to Hong Kong and their willingness to spend are steadily recovering. At the same time, consumption of daily necessities has demonstrated strong resilience. Market demand for value-for-money globally sourced food products and healthy snacks continues to grow, presenting the Group with solid development opportunities. Looking ahead, the Group remains cautiously optimistic about its business prospects. To address intense market competition, we are committed to refining operational management, optimizing business processes, and maintaining strict cost controls.

To further strengthen its connection with consumers, the Group officially launched a rebranding campaign in June 2026, adopting “Best Mart, Always a Friendly Buy” as its new core brand value and striving to build a more welcoming, youthful, vibrant and creative brand image. Regarding its store network management, the Group will balance strategic expansion with operational optimization. On one hand, the Group will capitalise on appropriate market opportunities and continue to expand its footprint through a “dual-brand” strategy featuring “Best Mart 360˚” and “FoodVille”, aiming to precisely meet the demand for high-quality food across different customer segments. On the other hand, the Group will adhere to strict capital-return discipline by actively negotiating with landlords for more flexible and reasonable lease terms, while regularly reviewing the operational efficiency of existing stores. Through these efforts, the Group aims to comprehensively enhance the overall profitability of its network and deepen its presence in the mass retail market.

Faced with a complex, ever-changing and highly competitive market environment, the Group is comprehensively exploring and researching the application of artificial intelligence in its business processes, aiming to enhance operational efficiency through innovative technology. The Group will further deepen its online-offline integration strategy, fully leverage the advantages provided by the extensive member database of its mobile app and implement targeted marketing through big data analysis to effectively increase member engagement and overall repeat purchase rates.

In terms of online channels, the Group will strengthen its collaboration with the foodpanda mall platform to ensure a seamless shopping experience. The Group will also remain agile in our operational strategies to optimize overall sales performance.

Guided by its core brand philosophy of “Best Quality” and “Best Price”, the Group will make every effort to expand its upstream supplier network while ramping up the development of its private label products. These initiatives will solidify our competitive pricing advantage while effectively meeting the market demand for daily necessities. The Board is confident that, through prudent yet flexible strategic planning, strong brand appeal and an optimised product portfolio, the Group will successfully enhance customer loyalty. This will steadily drive the business toward sustainable growth, thus creating long-term and robust returns for shareholders.

Hashtag: #BestMart360

Nearly 8 in 10 professionals see AI as a career opportunity, not a threat

• 96% of professionals in Taiwan are already using AI at work, above the Asia average of 93%; 79% believe AI will have a positive impact on their future career opportunities, compared with 75% across Asia.
• 73% of Taiwan professionals are confident in their ability to keep their skills up to date as roles evolve, the highest level among the 10 Asian markets surveyed.
• Predictive analytics and decision support (62%) is the most common AI use case among professionals in Taiwan, suggesting AI adoption is moving beyond content generation into analysis and decision-making.
• 76% of Taiwan employers identify critical thinking and fact-checking as a key capability in an AI-driven workplace, compared with 64% across Asia.
• The top AI concerns among Taiwan professionals are data misuse and confidentiality (54%) and accountability for AI-driven decisions (51%) — both the highest levels recorded across the 10 markets.
• 53% of Taiwan employers expect at least a quarter of their workforce to require reskilling or upskilling over the next five years, highlighting the scale of workforce transformation ahead.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – AI has quickly become part of everyday working life across Asia. According to The Jobs of Tomorrow: How AI is Reshaping Work Across Asia, the latest research from Robert Walters, the world’s most trusted talent solutions business, 93% of professionals across 10 Asian markets are actively using AI at work, while 58% of employers have formally introduced AI into the workplace.

Taiwan stands above the Asia average not only in AI adoption, but also in career optimism and confidence in adapting to changing skill requirements. 96% of Taiwan professionals already use AI at work, while 79% believe it will positively impact their future career opportunities. Most notably, 73% are confident they can keep their skills relevant as roles evolve — the highest level across all 10 markets surveyed.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in workflows, Taiwan’s workplace is moving beyond the question of whether to use AI towards how to use it effectively and responsibly — from applying AI to analysis and decision-making, to validating outputs and establishing clearer accountability. Robert Walters Taiwan notes that the most immediate impact is not widespread job elimination, but a reconfiguration of work: routine execution is increasingly supported by technology, while human contribution moves towards judgement, oversight and accountability for outcomes.

Taiwan professionals show Asia’s highest confidence in keeping skills up to date

While AI usage is consistently high across Asia, professionals differ significantly in how confident they feel about adapting their skills as work evolves.

For Taiwan professionals, continuous skills development is becoming increasingly important as AI reshapes job requirements. 53% of Taiwan employers expect at least a quarter of their workforce to require reskilling or upskilling within the next five years, while 18% expect this to apply to more than half of employees.

At the same time, 73% of Taiwan professionals are confident in their ability to continue learning and keeping their skills up to date, compared with 51–59% across the other Asian markets surveyed. This suggests that while the scale of skills transformation will be significant, Taiwan professionals are relatively confident in their ability to adapt.

John Winter, Country Manager of Robert Walters Taiwan, said: “As AI continues to reshape the way we work, knowing how to use AI is quickly becoming a baseline capability. What will differentiate professionals in the future is their ability to continuously evolve their skills and turn technology into meaningful business outcomes.”.

Beyond content generation: 62% of Taiwan professionals use AI for predictive analytics and decision support

Across Asia, the most common applications of AI at work are content creation (47%), data analysis and insights (40%) and research (38%), reflecting AI’s growing role as a first layer for drafting, information gathering, data processing and baseline analysis.

Taiwan appears to be more focused on analytical and decision-support activities. Predictive analytics and decision support (62%) is the most common application of AI among Taiwan professionals, followed by content creation (58%) and data analysis and insights (40%).

The findings suggest that Taiwan’s workplace AI adoption is not only above the Asia average in scale, but is also moving beyond productivity support into analysis, insight generation and decision-making.

Commenting on the shift, John Winter said: “As AI moves from content generation into analysis and decision support, the value professionals bring will also change. The real differentiator is not how quickly someone can get an answer from AI, but whether they can validate the information, apply business context and turn those insights into better decisions and outcomes.”

Taiwan professionals are less concerned about job loss — and more focused on data, trust and accountability

The impact of AI on jobs remains a major topic of discussion. In Taiwan, employers identify Administration & Business Support (45%), Accounting & Finance (28%), and IT & Digital Transformation (22%) as the functions most exposed to change as AI becomes more integrated into the workplace.

Even as AI reshapes roles, Taiwan professionals remain broadly optimistic about its impact on their careers. 79% believe AI will have a positive impact on their career opportunities. While one in five professionals in neighbouring Hong Kong believe AI will negatively affect their career opportunities, concerns in Taiwan are less focused on whether AI will replace jobs and more on whether it can be used safely and responsibly. 54% of Taiwan professionals are concerned about data misuse and confidentiality, while 51% are concerned about accountability for AI-driven decisions. Both are the highest levels recorded across the 10 Asian markets surveyed.

In parallel, employers are placing greater emphasis on the human capabilities needed to work effectively alongside AI. 76% of Taiwan employers identify critical thinking and fact-checking as one of the most important skills in an AI-driven workplace, highlighting the growing importance of human judgement. As AI becomes faster at providing information and answers, professional value is increasingly shifting from simply finding information to validating it, applying the right context and knowing when to challenge an AI-generated response.

AI is reshaping today’s workplace as the “jobs of tomorrow” begin to take shape

As AI adoption deepens, demand is growing for professionals who can combine technology understanding, data capabilities and commercial judgement. Robert Walters identifies three key areas of growth:

• AI-adjacent and hybrid roles that bridge technical teams and business needs, such as AI Product Managers and AI Business Analysts.
• Data, insights and transformation roles that turn AI-generated insights into measurable business outcomes, such as Data Analysts and Business Intelligence professionals.
• Governance, ethics and trust-related roles that support responsible AI adoption, including AI Governance or Risk Managers, Responsible AI Leads and Data Privacy Officers.

Together, these roles reflect a broader shift in talent demand, moving beyond pure AI engineering expertise towards professionals who can combine technology, data, commercial judgement and governance capabilities.

John Winter added: “AI is already widely embedded in the way professionals in Taiwan work, and people are confident in their ability to keep learning as skills evolve. For organisations, the next step is not simply to introduce more AI tools, but to rethink job design, workforce capabilities and how AI is used responsibly. AI can improve efficiency, but sound judgement and the ability to turn technology into real business value remain fundamentally human.”

Note to editor:

About The Jobs of Tomorrow: How AI is Reshaping Work Across Asia

Robert Walters surveyed close to 5,000 professionals and companies across 10 Asian markets — Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam — during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The research examines how AI is reshaping job content, skills requirements and career pathways across Asia, as well as the capabilities organisations and professionals will need to remain competitive as AI adoption accelerates.

To access the full report, please visit: https://reurl.cc/be9MDo

https://www.robertwalters.com.tw/

Hashtag: #RobertWaltersTaiwan

About Robert Walters

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Ingdan, Inc. (“Ingdan” or the “Company”; Stock Code: 400.HK, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), an ecosystem services platform anchored in artificial intelligence (“AI”) chips and principally engaged in the businesses of “Comtech” and “Ingdan” today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (the “First Half of 2026” or the “Period”).

Financial Highlights for the First Half of 2026

During the Period, benefiting from sustained strong chip demand across the AIDC, storage and robotics sectors, the Group recorded revenue of approximately RMB13,249.2 million, representing an increase of approximately 98.4% from approximately RMB6,676.5 million for the corresponding period in 2025.

The Group’s gross profit amounted to approximately RMB799.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 36.5%. Operating profit was approximately RMB517.2 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 87.7%. Net profit after tax amounted to approximately RMB373.0 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 96.3%.

Business Review

Strategic Upgrade Milestone: Token Factory Order Formally Secured, Opening Up a Second Growth Curve

During the First Half of 2026, the Group achieved a landmark breakthrough in its AI-driven strategic upgrade. The previously disclosed intent service orders exceeding US$1 billion have now been formalized into services contracts. Delivery is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the contracts expected to generate aggregate service revenue of more than US$1 billion over the next five years. This milestone signifies a fundamental evolution in the Group’s growth model—from “selling chips” to “selling computing power”—and its formal upgrade into an “Token computing power operator”, presenting a compelling new value proposition to the capital markets.

Three Growth Drivers for Rapid Expansion

The Group’s performance growth is supported by three core drivers:

• AI computing power: The accelerating development of global data centers continues to drive strong demand for GPUs and CPUs. The Group provides full-stack computing power support, from chips to application solutions, and is deeply involved in the development of cloud-based intelligent computing centers;
• Storage cycle: Surging demand for AI foundation model training and inference is driving expansion in the memory chip market. Leveraging the resources of leading global suppliers, the Group ensures a reliable supply of memory chips and complementary solutions; and
• Embodied intelligence and robotics: As humanoid robots enter the mass-production stage, the Group is strengthening its full-stack deployment, from edge AI computing solutions built around platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson to enterprise-level computing clusters.

Full-Chain Technology Services Platform

As a technology services platform based on AI chips, the Group connects upstream AI chip technologies with the needs of downstream innovative enterprises. Leveraging the resources of leading global chip manufacturers, including NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and SanDisk, the Group has established a comprehensive product portfolio covering GPUs, CPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, memory chips and software ecosystems. With chip distribution serving as its entry point, the Group provides customers with integrated, full-chain services encompassing technology solutions, supply chain management, technical training, and after-sales operation and maintenance. Its services cover a broad range of application scenarios, including cloud-based intelligent computing centers, edge AI, robotics, drones and enterprise-level computing power services.

Global Computing Power Network Deployment

To support the large-scale delivery of its Token factory business, the Group is accelerating the development of a global computing power network. In the near term, it plans to expand its computing centers footprint into multiple Asian countries, with total planned computing capacity exceeding 100 megawatts. Through its proprietary Token computing power scheduling platform, the Group provides one-stop services encompassing computing power scheduling, cluster operation and maintenance, and Token computing power services. Its customers include leading internet cloud service providers and market-leading enterprises in vertical robotics segments, demonstrating the commercial viability of the Group’s business model.

Outlook

Mr. Jeffrey Kang, Chairmanand CEO of Ingdan, Inc., commented: “As demand across AIDC, storage, robotics and AI Token services continue to grow, the Group’s strategic positioning as a ‘Token computing power operator’ has been further strengthened. We expect robust customer demand in the second half of the year, while the AI Token factory business is expected to become the Group’s second growth curve. This will further enhance the capital market’s recognition of the visibility of the Company’s growth and its long-term development potential.”

Cautionary Statement

The information contained in this document has not been independently verified. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives makes any express or implied representation, undertaking or warranty as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or opinions presented or contained herein. No person should rely on this document as a basis for any decision.

The information contained in this document should be considered in the context of the circumstances prevailing at the relevant time and is subject to change without notice. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained herein to reflect any developments occurring after the date of this document. This document is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon as providing, a complete or comprehensive analysis of the Company or its financial or operating condition or prospects. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives shall have any obligation or accept any liability, whether in negligence or otherwise, for any loss arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this document.

This document may contain statements reflecting the Company’s current intentions, beliefs and expectations regarding the future as of the relevant dates indicated herein. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance. They are based on certain assumptions concerning the Company’s operations and on factors beyond the Company’s control, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisers or representatives has any obligation or undertakes to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or unforeseen circumstances arising after the relevant date.

https://ingdangroup.com/

Hashtag: #Comtech #Ingdan #AI #AIDC #TokenFactory #IC #Chips #humanoid #Intel #AMD #Sandisk #NVIDIA #Tech #RevenueGrowth #TechGrowth #AIInvestment #ProprietaryProducts #KeplerLab #Comtech #IngdanTechnology #IngdanAcademy #AIAcceleration #TechTransformation

Ingdan, Inc.

Source: Billo

A study of nearly 168,000 Meta video ads, tracked from July 2025 through June 2026, finds that only five out of 13 categories peak their profitability in the fourth quarter. The others get the highest ROAS in other months.

August 31, 2026. The fourth quarter isn’t the most profitable for every brand, according to new data from marketing platform Billo. Data showed that across 13 product categories, the best-performing month landed in seven different months of the year.

Home & Garden brands earned the most per ad dollar in July 2025, Baby & Toddler peaked in January 2026, and Electronics didn’t peak until May 2026, all outside the fourth quarter most brands plan around.

The company analyzed nearly 168,000 Meta video ads placed over the last twelve months, from July 2025 through June 2026, measuring ROAS, or return on ad spend: purchase value divided by ad spend.

“You can watch thousands of campaigns and see the same mistake every year,” said Donatas Smailys, co-founder and CEO of Billo. “Gift categories made Q4 look like the answer for everyone, so brands whose real peak is July or May just borrowed the same calendar without checking their own numbers. Every campaign we’ve analyzed tells a different story about timing. A brand pouring its best creative into November when its category actually peaks in July is burning its strongest work on one of its weakest months.”

Every category has its own peak month

No single month works for every category. Home & Garden, for example, earned its best return in July 2025, a full quarter before most brands start ramping up holiday budgets. Apparel & Accessories and Software also peaked in that same month.

Each figure below is that category’s ROAS, meaning the dollars in purchase value earned per dollar of ad spend, in its single best month:

• Summer peak (July 2025). Home & Garden ($5.33 per ad dollar), Apparel & Accessories ($4.77), Software ($2.06)
• Early autumn peak (September 2025). Sporting Goods ($4.76), Services ($2.88)
• Q4 gifting peak (November-December 2025). Animals & Pet Supplies ($2.08), Business & Industrial ($2.69), Health & Beauty ($2.44), Food & Beverages ($3.07), Toys & Games ($2.90)
• Winter peak (January-February 2026). Baby & Toddler ($5.83), Arts & Entertainment ($5.67)
• Spring peak (May 2026). Electronics ($5.01)

Only five of these categories, the Q4 gifting cluster, actually peak in the fourth quarter. The highest return in the entire window belongs to Baby & Toddler, which earned $5.83 per ad dollar in January, not November or December. That figure, along with Arts & Entertainment’s February peak and Electronics’ May peak, comes from the first half of 2026, the more recent of Billo’s two half-year reports, so Billo considers each of these three the strongest month so far, not a confirmed annual pattern.

“The Q4 rules work for gift categories, since that’s where it was built,” said Donatas Smailys. “The mistake is applying it everywhere else, as if every category shops like a holiday shopper. The same blind spot shows up with clicks: a brand chasing whatever month gets the most clicks falls into the same trap as a brand chasing Q4. Both are optimizing for a signal that isn’t the one that actually pays.”

What brands should do

Check when your own category has performed best over the past year before setting a second-half budget. Billo’s benchmark reports break ROAS down by category and month, so brands can compare their results against that baseline.

Not every category has a clear seasonal pattern to check against. Services, Business & Industrial, and Baby & Toddler show no repeatable peak in Billo’s data. Brands in these categories should spread their spend evenly across the year rather than concentrating it in a single month.

“Every brand we work with already has the answer to when their season is, it’s in their own ad data,” said Smailys. “The mistake is looking at the calendar instead of looking at your own numbers. Once you build creative around your actual peak month, you’re feeding the algorithm exactly when it’s most likely to convert.”

Methodology

Billo publishes these benchmarks twice a year, covering ROAS, CTR, and hook rate across 13 categories, drawn from tens of thousands of Meta video ads. The current window runs from July 2025 through June 2026, presented across two half-year reports rather than a single calendar year: 88,329 ads and $122 million in ad spend in the first half of 2026, and 80,069 ads and $105 million in spend in the second half of 2025, for a combined $418 million in tracked purchase value. ROAS is calculated as purchase value divided by ad spend. Full data for both reports, including the CTR and hook rate benchmarks referenced here, is available on Billo’s site.

About Billo

Billo is the leading UGC marketplace founded in 2019 that connects brands with creators to produce high-performing social video ads. It is based in Lithuania, built for US needs, and led by co-founder and CEO Donatas Smailys. The platform combines the power of UGC content with a streamlined production process, helping brands increase brand awareness, drive traffic, and boost conversions with authentic creator videos on TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and other platforms.

Participating in the CMA’s “Business-School Partnership Programme” and FHKI & HKSTP’s “Innopreneur Experience Journey”

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – This month, Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the century-old sauce brand, partnered with The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong’s (CMA) “Business-School Partnership Programme” and the “Innopreneur Experience Journey” — co-organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) – to provide a summer internship experience for four local senior secondary students. Hosted at Lee Kum Kee’s headquarters in Hong Kong, the programme was an opportunity to experience the company’s heritage and day-to-day operations first-hand, with guidance from employee mentors. The students gained insights into such aspects of the business as sauce manufacturing, research, quality assurance, brand promotion and sustainability, while also exploring future career possibilities.

The internship focused on three major experiences. First, students stepped into the Sauce Archives to assist with the restoration and preservation of historical documents, gaining a close appreciation of the brand’s history. Then, in the Testing Laboratory and Quality Assurance Laboratory, they undertook field observations and simulated testing under the supervision of technicians to understand how Lee Kum Kee maintains quality control at every stage from raw materials to finished products. During their innovation and technology experience session, students learned about the operation of Lee Kum Kee’s Oyster Sauce Smart Production Line and robotic arm, and tried their hand at 3D model sketching. Through these hands-on activities, they discovered how innovation and technology bring momentum and enhanced operational efficiency to traditional manufacturing.

Reflecting on the experience, the students expressed that seeing smart manufacturing and innovation applications in the sauce industry first-hand gave them a fresh perspective on Hong Kong’s manufacturing industry. Their most memorable moment was when they participated in actual operations in the company’s laboratories and archives. The students were grateful for the guidance given by Lee Kum Kee staff, which helped them to understand why every single role and working step is crucial, as how the brand’s heritage has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to quality.

Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs at Lee Kum Kee Sauce, stated: “Lee Kum Kee’s value of ‘Si Li Ji Ren’ (Considering Others’ Interests) means that we have always been committed to creating diverse learning and growth opportunities for youth. We are active in industry-academic collaboration, and hope that the internship experience will help students broaden their horizons and discover their own interests and future aspirations. As Hong Kong advances new industrialisation and innovation-driven development, the integration of traditional manufacturing and innovation has become a general trend, and we hope programmes like this can help nurture future talent for Hong Kong.”

Hashtag: #LeeKumKee

About Lee Kum Kee Sauce

About The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong’s Business-School Partnership Programme

About “Innopreneur Experience Journey” Co-organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Source: World Vision New Zealand

World Vision New Zealand welcomes the Education and Workforce Select Committee’s report on the Modern Slavery Bill and urges Parliament to pass the legislation before the election with strong cross-party support.

More than 340 groups and individuals submitted on the draft Bill, with significant support from businesses, advocacy organisations, and more than 900 handwritten submissions from children who attended World Vision Youth Conferences.

World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says the strong showing of support sends a clear message.

“New Zealanders want this law. Businesses, investors, charities, children and communities have all said it is time for stronger measures to combat modern slavery, for greater accountability in our supply chains, and for stronger protection for people, especially children, who are harmed by exploitation.

“We are pleased the Select Committee has made some important improvements to the Bill and, crucially, that it’s retained a clear pathway for the Bill to become stronger over time.

“Now we need our politicians to heed the voices of New Zealanders and pass this Bill with support from across the house before the election,” she says.

World Vision welcomes several important features of the bill that have been retained, including:

• The public reporting framework
• The creation of a modern slavery register
• A three-year review that keeps further reform including an Anti-slavery Commissioner and enhanced victim-survivor provisions on the table

The organisation also welcomes stronger transparency requirements, including for businesses to report on due diligence actions to identify, address, prevent, mitigate and remediate modern slavery risks, as well as statutory functions requiring guidance to support implementation.

Armstrong says the Bill will help improve supply-chain visibility, encourage better governance, and give investors, consumers and the public detailed information about how organisations are responding to exploitation and slavery risks.

“Reporting and transparency can change business behaviour. They create expectations, improve internal systems, and make it much harder for modern slavery risks to remain invisible.

“Importantly, businesses will have to report not only on the modern slavery risks they face, but on the due diligence actions they are taking and whether those actions are effective.

“That creates much greater transparency about what businesses are actually doing to prevent modern slavery which matters, especially for children who remain highly vulnerable to exploitation and hazardous child labour in global supply chains,” Armstrong says

World Vision is pleased to see a statutory review within three years included in the legislation because it provides an opportunity to assess whether business behaviour and supply-chain practices are changing.

“Internationally, modern slavery laws are moving beyond disclosure and transparency alone towards mandatory due diligence, stronger enforcement, and clearer expectations for businesses to prevent harm. It’s important for New Zealand to keep in step with these developments.

“This Bill does not yet require mandatory due diligence, but this is an important and long-awaited step forward.

“New Zealand will finally have a dedicated framework requiring greater transparency about modern slavery risks and what businesses are doing about them,” Armstrong says.

HONG KONG SAR – EQS Newswire – 31 August 2026 – A national charging framework for surgical robots was formally established earlier this year, heralding imminent industry-wide volume growth. With payment rules clarified, billing barriers for hospitals procuring such equipment have been removed, opening a window for accelerated installation of domestic surgical robots.

On 28 August, TrueHealth Medical (02697.HK, the “Company”) released its maiden interim results. During the reporting period, the Company booked revenue of RMB 5.671 million, jumping nearly 32 times year-on-year. Gross profit reached RMB 4.363 million, soaring more than 36 times year-on-year, with an overall gross margin of 76.9%, representing an uplift of 9.8 percentage points against the prior-year period. Revenue from surgical robot products stood at RMB 5.16 million, accounting for 91.0% of total revenue, marking the commencement of revenue recognition.

Consumables business grew in tandem, delivering consumables sales of RMB 408,000 during the period, up 135.8% year-on-year. As device installations scale up, profitability from repeat orders has improved, with gross margin rising from 67.1% in the same period last year to 79.9%. Sales coverage has also expanded, shifting from a Beijing-only footprint last year to multiple regions including North and South China. North China emerged as the core delivery market in the period, contributing 57.7% of sales, while South China accounted for 35.8%. Driven by rising device installations, repeat purchases of consumables and geographic expansion, the Company’s overall business has entered a sustainable growth trajectory.

The Company stated in its announcement that the “device plus consumables” business model has been validated by its first batch of post-listing operational data. It will maintain its existing pace for pipeline advancement and ecosystem buildout in H2, retaining confidence in sustained commercial expansion.

TrueHealth Medical specializes in percutaneous puncture surgical robots and has completed the full commercialization cycle from technology development to market validation. All four models of its core products have obtained Class III medical device registration certificates from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), giving the Company the largest number of approved models among Chinese peers and a comprehensive product portfolio. Its installed base spans nearly 100 medical institutions across major regions, ranking among the industry leaders. The sales system built on distributor networks, benchmark hospitals and clinical training support is fully in place.

While the commercial foundation solidifies, the Company has ramped up R&D investment. R&D expenditure totaled RMB 26.931 million in the reporting period, rising 15.2% year-on-year. Investment focuses on two key areas: expansion of clinical indications and overseas registration.

On clinical indication expansion: R&D spending on core products increased from RMB 7.4 million in the prior-year period to RMB 10.7 million. The pulmonary indication of TH-X MW, the world’s first and only microwave ablation surgical robot integrating precision localization and microwave ablation, received NMPA approval within the reporting period. With this milestone, this globally-first percutaneous microwave ablation surgical robot now covers both liver and lung tumor treatment scenarios. The registration clinical trial for the flagship TH-S1 puncture surgical robot, expanded for retroperitoneal lesions, has enrolled 16 patients. The Company plans to file the registration application in Q4 2026, with NMPA approval anticipated in H2 2027. For overseas registration: CE certification applications for core products were submitted and accepted in January 2026, with certification expected in Q4 2026. Upon obtaining CE certification, the percutaneous puncture surgical robots will be able to enter the EU market, extending the Company’s footprint beyond China.

Additionally, the Company’s forward-looking long-term pipeline, including the organ normothermic perfusion system, follows a clear timeline. The system recently won the bid for the research equipment procurement project of the Yunnan Key Laboratory of Gene-edited Miniature Pigs and Xenotransplantation at Yunnan Agricultural University. This milestone confirms completion of engineering finalization and prototype verification, laying the technical foundation to move from research settings to preclinical studies and eventual clinical adoption. It marks a pivotal transition of TrueHealth Medical’s organ normothermic perfusion system from R&D to industrialization. This cutting-edge technology aligns closely with the 15th Five-Year Plan strategic roadmap in China, which identifies organ manufacturing, life support devices and advanced biotechnologies as prioritized research areas.

Beyond scaling commercial sales, the Company continues to build strategic depth across channels, products and technologies. Three landmark initiatives were finalized in August: a strategic cooperation agreement with Genertec Liaoning Pharmaceuticals to systematically deliver minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment solutions to regional markets via this state-owned enterprise platform, unlocking large-scale hospital adoption; the organ normothermic perfusion system winning the Yunnan Agricultural University tender, bringing the second growth curve into market validation; and a collaboration with the Tianjin Embodied Intelligence Innovation Center to build technical capabilities for surgical robots to evolve from “execution tools” into “intelligent agents”, securing a leading edge for long-term technological advancement.

Policy tailwinds have materialized, and the Company’s commercial flywheel is now gaining traction. In August, TrueHealth Medical was included in the Hang Seng Composite Index, qualifying it for Stock Connect inclusion. Its maiden interim results validate the robustness of its “device plus consumables” business model, laying a solid foundation for sustained commercial scaling ahead. Several key dimensions merit close attention: robust expansion in new installations, consistent growth in recurring consumables revenue, timely roll‑out of clinical indication expansions for pipelines including TH‑S1, overseas market penetration following CE certification, and validation of follow‑on orders for emerging businesses such as organ perfusion systems.

Hashtag: #TrueHealthMedical

About TrueHealth Medical Technology Development Co., Limited

A nationally accredited “Little Giant” enterprise (Specialized, Sophisticated, Distinctive & Innovative), Guangdong TrueHealth Medical Technology Development Co., Limited leverages artificial intelligence and robotic control technologies to develop and commercialize intelligent robots for soft tissue puncture diagnosis and organ repair. Its core offerings cover percutaneous puncture navigation and microwave ablation guided systems. The ZhenYiDa® percutaneous puncture navigation and positioning system holds NMPA China-first certification, while the ZhenYiDa® navigation and positioning microwave ablation system is accredited as a world-first innovation by NMPA. The Company undertakes key projects under China’s 14th Five-Year National Key R&D Program, with its products featured in national flagship schemes including high-end medical device roll-out initiatives, AI medical device innovation program and the Catalog of Outstanding Domestic Medical Devices. TrueHealth Medical aims to deploy AI and surgical robotics to advance precision, minimally invasive therapeutic solutions for widespread clinical use.

Held at the grounds of Pon An Kiong Temple, the initiative provided residents with medical examinations and consultations for common health conditions, including acute respiratory infections, skin conditions and diarrhea. Residents also received cholesterol, uric acid and blood sugar tests to help monitor their health and identify potential risks at an earlier stage.

Apical Dumai Head of General Affairs M. Jaya Budi Arsa said the initiative was intended to make healthcare services more accessible to residents, particularly those living in communities around Apical’s operations.

“We want to provide support that delivers real benefits and responds to the community’s needs. Through this initiative, we hope residents can access basic health services more easily and address health concerns earlier,” Jaya said.

The initiative reflects Apical’s commitment to supporting communities through programmes that address key areas of wellbeing, including health, education and economic empowerment. These efforts are guided by Apical’s 5Cs philosophy — doing what is good for the community, country, climate and customers, and only then will it be good for the company — which underpins the company’s approach to supporting communities around its operations.

Dumai Health Agency Head Dr. Syaiful welcomed the initiative, noting that collaboration between the government, private sector and communities can help expand access to healthcare and encourage greater awareness of preventive health.

“Collaboration among the government, private sector and communities is important to expanding access to health services. We hope this initiative will benefit local residents while also raising awareness of the importance of regular health checkups,” Syaiful said.

The initiative also received positive responses from local residents. Idrus, representing residents of RT 015, said the free health screenings and medical services made it easier for residents to access healthcare, particularly as the activity was held close to their homes.

Through initiatives such as this, Apical, a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, continues to work with local government and communities to support practical programmes that respond to local needs.
https://www.apicalgroup.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/apical-group

Hashtag: #RGE #Apical #community #healthcare #Riau

About Apical