PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 15, 2026 – Full Text

Under the theme “Borderless Trade in Services, Connecting the Global Markets: Professional Services Empowering Chinese Enterprises’ Going Global”, the forum brought together business leaders, professional services representatives and industry experts for discussion.

The forum deepened and expanded the collaboration launched at CIFTIS 2025 between CPA Australia and ten leading accounting firms to support Chinese enterprises in their global expansion and talent development. It examined the changing landscape and emerging needs of businesses expanding overseas, while drawing on the collective expertise of the professional services sector to help Chinese enterprises pursue high-quality global expansion and sustainable growth.

Dr Josh Heniro FCPA (Aust.), Head of International Growth, Global Member Experience at CPA Australia, said in his opening address: “Chinese enterprises have entered a new stage of global expansion, where success is no longer measured only by profits, but also by their ability to build and sustain long-term trust in international markets. Professional services are key to building this trust in areas such as cross-border compliance, tax governance and sustainability disclosure. This reflects the growing role of trade in services in global value chains.”

“As Chinese companies continue to expand globally, demand is rising for professional capabilities in international standards and global operations.

“As a leading professional accounting body, CPA Australia is committed to developing accounting and finance professionals with a global outlook, strong technical expertise and business acumen. Through our global network and professional resources, we also support businesses to strengthen governance and enhance their international competitiveness.

“CPA Australia hopes this forum will bring together cross-sector expertise and explore new ways for professional services to support businesses in their global growth.”

CPA Australia and UIBE’s Business School signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the forum, marking a new step in strengthening collaboration in education and professional development.

The partnership will focus on brand building, local engagement, teaching and research collaboration, and ecosystem development. Both parties will promote the exchange of global industry expertise through regular engagement and resource sharing.

The collaboration aims to build an ecosystem that supports the development of future-ready accounting and finance talent with strong professional expertise and a global outlook. It will also strengthen local capabilities to support the high-level opening-up of trade in services.

The roundtable was moderated by Professor Hongtao Zheng CPA (Aust.), doctoral supervisor and director of the Centre for Sustainability and Accounting Research at the Beijing National Accounting Institute (BNAI). Representatives from leading accounting firms, including EY China, KPMG China, BDO, Deloitte China, Baker Tilly and Grant Thornton, shared insights on the theme “Industry consensus, practical challenges and recommendations for sustainability disclosure and assurance”.

The discussion built on a roundtable hosted by CPA Australia in July on the same topic. Drawing on that meeting, the Consensus Initiative on Sustainability Disclosure and Assurance highlighted that the focus on sustainability disclosure and assurance is shifting from institutional development to capability building.

Stronger requirements alone will not improve information quality. Businesses also need robust corporate governance, data infrastructure, internal controls and professional capabilities. Reliable, accurate and complete information is essential to credible sustainability disclosures.

With 140 years of professional excellence, CPA Australia places people and professional expertise at the centre of its work and is committed to cultivating business leaders with global vision and professional insight.

Looking ahead, CPA Australia will continue to strengthen the capabilities of accounting and finance professionals by leveraging its global network, connecting the profession and deepening collaboration between the profession and academia. Through these efforts, CPA Australia will support the high-level opening-up of trade in services and help Chinese companies pursue sustainable global growth.

https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia #CIFTIS #ProfessionalServices

About CPA Australia

Accounting body supports mutually beneficial China-Australia development

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – As an important prelude to a series of economic and trade exchanges associated with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026, CPA Australia participated in the China (Shenzhen) – Australia Economic and Trade Exchange Conference G’Day GBA held in Qianhai, Shenzhen.

The event was jointly organised by the Qianhai Authority, the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), with CPA Australia serving as a supporting organisation.

Strengthening Engagement in the Greater Bay Area and Promoting International Talent Exchange through Qianhai

“Openness, Innovation and Collaboration” have been identified as three priorities for APEC 2026 in China and represent key drivers of economic development across the Asia-Pacific region.

G’Day GBA provides a timely platform for deepening China-Australia economic cooperation while strengthening the GBA’s connections with global professional networks.

During the opening ceremony, witnessed by Ms Maree Ringland, Consul-General of Australia in Guangzhou, and Mr Dominic Trindade, General Manager of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan / Minister (Commercial), Australian Trade and Investment Commission / Australian Embassy Commercial Section, CPA Australia and the Qianhai International Cooperation Center formalised their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).

The partnership will focus on enhancing the accounting and finance profession, supporting digital transformation, and promoting alignment with international standards. It will also support Qianhai’s development as a hub for professional services in the GBA.

CPA Australia’s President and Chairman of the Board, Professor Dale Pinto FCPA (Aust.) said: “Qianhai is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening international business connections and supporting innovation across the Greater Bay Area. Through our cooperation with the Qianhai International Cooperation Centre, CPA Australia looks forward to advancing the profession, promoting knowledge sharing and talent exchange, and fostering closer ties between Australia and China.”

Supporting Chinese Enterprises Going Global and Expanding Opportunities for Economic and Trade Cooperation

At the Invest in Australia Seminar, Professor Pinto delivered a keynote address on the international expansion trends of Chinese enterprises and emerging opportunities for China-Australia cooperation.

He highlighted the strong foundations of the Australia-China economic relationship and the growing opportunities in services, the digital economy and knowledge-based industries.

Professor Pinto referenced findings from CPA Australia’s joint research Chinese Enterprises Going Global: Navigating the Next Phase of Global Growth, which showed that 70 per cent of surveyed Chinese businesses have already expanded overseas, with 28 per cent generating more than 20 per cent of their revenue from international markets. Looking ahead, 67 per cent are planning to enter new markets or deepen their presence in existing overseas markets over the next one to three years.

He emphasised the important role the accounting profession plays in facilitating international trade and investment, particularly in helping businesses navigate increasingly complex cross-border tax, regulatory and compliance requirements. As Chinese enterprises accelerate their globalisation efforts, demand for high-quality accounting, taxation, compliance and advisory services continues to grow.

Professor Pinto also highlighted the opportunities that emerging technologies present for collaboration between small businesses in the two countries.

“CPA Australia’s Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey shows that small businesses in the Chinese mainland lead many surveyed markets in digital transformation, e-commerce adoption and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Australia is home to more than 2.7 million small businesses, yet their level of digital adoption remains behind other markets. Greater collaboration between businesses in Australia and China can help improve the productivity and competitiveness of Australian small businesses.”

Building Bridges for Sustainable Bilateral Cooperation

During the event, Professor Pinto also joined H E Mr Scott Dewar, Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and other representatives at the opening ceremony of the G’Day GBA Australian Marketplace, engaging with businesses and members of the public to further promote people-to-people, cultural and economic exchanges between Australia and China.

Open cooperation has long been a defining feature of the Australia-China economic and trade relationship.

Professor Pinto said: “CPA Australia is committed to embracing the opportunities presented by APEC 2026 in China. Through ‘openness’, we can deepen connectivity; through ‘innovation’, we can drive industry advancement; and through ‘collaboration’, we can achieve mutual success.

As one of the world’s leading professional accounting bodies, CPA Australia remains committed to supporting Australia-China economic engagement through professional excellence.”

https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia

About CPA Australia

As AI cuts production costs and multiplies the output of small agency teams, a new model is emerging in Singapore: revenue-sharing, where the agency earns only when the client sells.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – For decades, the marketing agency business model has rested on one assumption: producing campaigns is expensive, so clients must pay fixed monthly retainers regardless of results. Artificial intelligence is dismantling that assumption from two directions at once — cutting what it costs an agency to operate, while multiplying what a small team can produce.

The savings start in places clients never see. Administrative work that once consumed billable hours — invoicing and quotations, client reporting, campaign documentation, scheduling and follow-ups — can now run largely on AI systems, stripping overhead out of every account an agency manages.

The bigger shift is in production itself. In video, AI now handles the foundation of the edit — assembling rough cuts, syncing footage, generating captions and preparing ad-ready variations — before a human editor applies the judgment, pacing and finishing that machines can’t. What once took an editor days takes hours. The same applies to design and ad creatives. The result: a small team’s production capacity multiplies while its cost per campaign falls.

That double effect — lower cost, higher capacity — changes what an agency can afford to offer. When servicing an account no longer carries heavy fixed costs, those economics can be passed on to the customer: instead of a large retainer that pays for activity, the agency can charge a minimal base fee and earn its real income as a share of the sales its campaigns generate.

Singapore agency touchmkt has built its business on this model, charging SME clients a low base retainer that roughly covers production, then earning 5–9% of the revenue attributed to its campaigns — tracked through conversion tools that tie each sale back to the ads that produced it.

“The economics simply didn’t work before,” said Charlie Tan, founder of touchmkt. “If every account carries thousands of dollars in production and admin costs, you have to charge for it whether the campaigns perform or not. When AI takes out the cost and multiplies the output, you can afford to be paid on outcomes. For the first time, the agency’s goals and the client’s goals are actually aligned — we only do well when they sell.”

The model does demand discipline: rigorous attribution, and the agency absorbing the risk of campaigns that underperform. But for small businesses long wary of paying retainers for activity rather than results, the direction is clear — AI hasn’t just changed how marketing is made; it’s beginning to change how it’s paid for.

https://www.touchmkt.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/touchmktai/61589325994905/#
https://www.instagram.com/touchmkt.sg/

Hashtag: #touchmkt #MarketingAgency #AI #Singapore #SME #DigitalMarketing

Reinforcing 50 Years of Commitment to District Transformation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – Hang Lung Properties Limited (SEHK Stock Code: 00101) (the “Company” or “Hang Lung”) held an opening ceremony today to celebrate the launch of the Amoy Footbridge, a landmark community infrastructure project supporting the continued development of Kowloon Bay. Fully funded, constructed and operated by Hang Lung, the footbridge provides a seamless, covered and barrier-free pedestrian link with round-the-clock access between Amoy Plaza, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre and Kowloon Bay MTR Station, significantly enhancing pedestrian accessibility, convenience, and integration within the Kowloon Bay district.

Hashtag: #HangLung

About Hang Lung Properties

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ is calling on all political parties to commit to a smarter approach to health spending, warning that New Zealand cannot meet the challenges of an ageing population simply by pouring more money into hospitals while underinvesting in medicines, prevention, workforce planning and rehabilitation.

Launching Health Priorities 2026, BusinessNZ says New Zealand’s health system must be viewed not only as a social service, but as a key driver of economic productivity, workforce participation, and long-term fiscal sustainability.

The document is informed by members of the BusinessNZ Health Forum; its members reach across the health system, including medicines and vaccines, medical technology and devices, testing and diagnostics, private surgical hospitals, rehabilitation, aged care and community services.

It follows BusinessNZ’s Election Priorities report released last week and sets out a detailed programme of reforms aimed at improving health outcomes while helping more New Zealanders remain active in the workforce for longer.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said good health policy was inseparable from good economic policy.

“Health spending should not be viewed simply as a cost. When people stay healthy, they are able to work, care for their families, participate in their communities, and contribute to economic growth.”

“The challenge facing New Zealand is not only how much we spend on health, but whether we are spending in the right places to achieve the greatest return for patients, taxpayers and the wider economy.”

BusinessNZ says demographic change makes reform increasingly urgent. The number of New Zealanders aged 65 and over is projected to grow by around 55 percent over the next 25 years, while those aged 75 and over are expected to increase by around 75 percent. At the same time, workforce shortages are expected to intensify, making it essential that more people remain healthy and economically active for longer.

A key focus of the report is medicines funding.

It notes New Zealand allocates just 4.9 percent of public health expenditure to pharmaceuticals compared with 13.3 percent across comparable OECD countries, leaving many New Zealand patients waiting longer for medicines considered standard treatment in other developed countries.

The report builds on findings from the BERL analysis released on Monday, which concluded that increased investment in modern medicines would produce a net fiscal benefit for the Crown by supporting workforce participation, productivity and tax revenue while reducing pressure elsewhere in the health system. The BERL findings reflect growing consensus that medicines should be viewed as an investment rather than simply a cost.

BusinessNZ is calling for a substantial multi-year increase in Pharmac funding, alongside a long-term strategy to rebalance health spending toward medicines, prevention and early intervention.

The Health Priorities report is also urging governments to make greater use of private sector capacity to tackle growing elective surgery demand.

With demand for cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements expected to rise significantly as the population ages, BusinessNZ says public and private providers should be viewed as partners rather than competitors. It is calling for longer-term contracting arrangements that provide certainty for investment in additional surgical capacity and allow the private sector to shoulder more routine elective procedures, freeing public hospitals to focus on acute and complex care.

The report highlights medical technology as another underutilised tool for improving health outcomes and productivity.

BusinessNZ wants better procurement practices, faster adoption of innovative technologies, and a stronger focus on using hospitals as test beds for new health innovations that could ultimately be exported internationally. It also supports continued progress on the Medical Products Bill, warning against policy delays that could leave New Zealand further behind other countries in accessing medical advances and AI-enabled technologies.

Rehabilitation services are prominently featured in the report.

BusinessNZ argues faster access to rehabilitation following injury or surgery is one of the most effective ways of improving quality of life and reducing costs. It points to previous research identifying delays in rehabilitation services that have prolonged worker absence, increased suffering, and reduced productivity across the economy. The organisation is calling for a wider review of rehabilitation provision and a stronger focus on getting people back to health and work sooner.

The report also calls for:

• Better workforce planning, including more training capacity and improved recognition of overseas qualifications.
• Long-term government support and funding certainty for charitable and community health organisations that help reduce demand on hospitals and primary care services.
• More regular refreshment of medical technology procurement panels to encourage competition and innovation.
• A government strategy to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for clinical trials, bringing patients earlier access to new medicines and technologies while creating economic opportunities.

Katherine Rich said the central message of the report was straightforward.

“New Zealanders deserve access to the treatments that will give them healthier lives and better outcomes. At the same time, taxpayers deserve confidence that every health dollar is being invested where it delivers the greatest benefit.”

“An ageing population means health expenditure will inevitably increase, but we can contain costs and improve outcomes if we spend smarter. That means focusing more strongly on prevention, medicines, rehabilitation, technology, workforce capability and innovation, rather than relying solely on ever-expanding hospital services.”

“Health policy and economic policy are increasingly one and the same. If we want a healthier, more productive and more prosperous New Zealand, we need to start treating health investment as an investment in our future prosperity.”

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

A Year Built Around the CBD Schedule

Hao Yi Tou’s outlets, including Tang Plaza, were designed around a pattern the company observed among CBD professionals: many treat time away from their desks as a scheduling cost rather than genuine rest, and often delay or skip breaks altogether. Each reflexology seat at Tang Plaza includes a pull-out stand sized for a laptop or mobile device, along with an iPad and charging points, allowing customers to respond to messages or continue working without leaving the massage chair. A year on, Hao Yi Tou said the setup remains among the few in Singapore’s reflexology sector designed specifically around uninterrupted work sessions.

Hao Yi Tou does not require customers to purchase packages or memberships, a departure from common practice in Singapore’s massage industry. ‘Many customers walk in expecting to be sold a package before they even sit down,’ said Darren [Surname], Founder of Hao Yi Tou, reflecting on the outlet’s first year. ‘We built Tang Plaza around the opposite experience. Customers pay for the session they take, nothing more, and our therapists are trained to focus on the massage, not the upsell.’

The Track Record Behind the Concept

Therapists at both Hao Yi Tou outlets have between 10 and 40 years of experience, a contrast to an industry where staff turnover is common. Darren’s approach to service design draws in part from his other role as Managing Director of Peach Garden, a Singapore restaurant group, where he oversaw how hospitality staff manage customer flow and service pacing. He applied similar thinking to how sessions were structured when Tang Plaza opened, an approach the outlet has kept through its first year.

Hao Yi Tou operates a second outlet at Northpoint City in Yishun, which places a stronger focus on acupressure treatments for residents in the surrounding area. As Tang Plaza enters its second year, the company said the outlet will continue on the same basis it opened with: per-session pricing, no packages or memberships, and a setup built for customers who need to stay reachable during a session.
https://haoyitou.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/Haoyitou
https://www.instagram.com/haoyitou/

Hashtag: #Business #HaoYiTou #Entrepreneurship #Wellness #Health #Singapore

About Hao Yi Tou

Flagship Asia Pacific Family Office Executive Forum brings together more than 150 family office leaders, investors and industry experts

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – Citi Private Bank hosted its annual Asia Pacific Family Office Executive Forum in Hong Kong, bringing together more than 150 family office principals, next-generation leaders and influential investors from across the region for a day of strategic dialogue on the forces shaping the future of wealth, investment and legacy planning.

Held under the theme “The Intelligence Decade: AI, Capital and the New Asian Order,” the Forum explored how artificial intelligence, shifting capital flows and geopolitical developments are influencing investment decisions, family office strategies and long-term wealth planning. The program featured discussions with global business leaders, investors and industry experts on topics including AI, direct investing, family office governance, succession planning and philanthropy.

Returning to Hong Kong in its largest format to date, the Forum reflects the city’s growing importance as a leading international wealth management and family office hub. Family offices across Asia are becoming increasingly sophisticated and global in their outlook, expanding beyond wealth preservation into direct investing, philanthropy, family governance and next-generation engagement.

Featured speakers included Bruce Flatt, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield; Jean Eric Salata, Chair of EQT; Yoshihiko Kawamura, Chief Financial Officer of Kioxia; and Professor Li Cheng, Founding Director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at The University of Hong Kong, alongside senior Citi leaders and family office experts.

Dawn Nordberg, Head of Integrated Client Solutions and Global Family Office, Citi Wealth, said, “Artificial intelligence is reshaping capital allocation, business models and competitive dynamics globally. For family offices, the choices made over the next decade regarding investment, innovation and governance will help define the opportunities and legacies of future generations. Citi Wealth’s Family Office Forum provides a valuable opportunity for clients to share perspectives with one another and gain insights on the forces transforming the global landscape.”

Bernard Wai, Head of Asia for Integrated Client Solutions and Global Family Office, Citi Wealth, said, “Through Citi’s Global Family Office Group, which serves more than 1,900 family office clients worldwide, we continue to observe family offices taking a more institutional approach to investing and governance. Our core offerings are built on two key strengths – Globality and One Citi, underpinned by a client-first attitude. While AI creates new opportunities to enhance efficiency, long-term success continues to be defined by strong leadership, trusted relationships and preparing future generations to steward wealth responsibly.”

Horace Yip, Head of Hong Kong, Citi Private Bank, said, “Hong Kong continues to strengthen its position as one of Asia’s leading wealth management and family office hubs. Its status as home to Asia’s largest billionaire population underscores the city’s enduring attractiveness as a center for wealth creation and investment. As family offices become increasingly global in their outlook, we continue to see strong demand for global connectivity, sophisticated wealth solutions and specialist advice. Through Citi’s global network and local presence, we are well positioned to support family offices as they navigate an increasingly interconnected world.”

The Asia Pacific Family Office Executive Forum reflects Citi Private Bank’s longstanding commitment to supporting family offices globally. By connecting clients with global insights, industry expertise and a broad network of peers and thought leaders, Citi continues to help family offices navigate emerging opportunities and challenges while supporting their long-term ambitions across generations.

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Hashtag: #Citi

About Citi

Reinforcing Commitment to Africa’s SME Trade

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, reinforced its commitment to serving SMEs across Africa through its first participation in Seamless Africa 2026, held 8–9 September. The debut reflects XTransfer’s growing focus on enabling legitimate, secure cross-border trade that supports real-economy supply chains across the continent.

“Our debut at Seamless Africa reflects a clear focus: working more closely with African financial institutions to better serve SME trade,” said Ray Ren, UK CEO at XTransfer. “By joining XTransfer’s X-Net network, banks and payment partners can access services such as Pay to China, Pay to Global, and Local-Currency Collection, capabilities that help them support SME clients they were previously unable to serve effectively. Together, we can reduce cross-border payment friction, strengthen compliant trade flows, and enable more SMEs to participate confidently in Africa’s real-economy supply chains.”

XTransfer’s participation comes as it continues to expand its footprint across Africa, helping SMEs engaged in international trade access a more unified payment experience. In many markets, SMEs still face friction when making and receiving trade payments, including complex processes and delays that can strain cash flow and disrupt supply chains. Where reliable options are limited, some businesses may feel pressured to rely on informal channels, creating avoidable compliance and transparency risks for the wider ecosystem.

To address these challenges, XTransfer works with international and local banks and financial institutions to strengthen payment infrastructure and facilitate compliant trade payments. In Africa, XTransfer partners with Flutterwave, a leading payments technology company, to support importers in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa to pay for goods conveniently in local currency, while helping Asian exporters receive reliable settlement, supporting smoother trade flows across key Africa–Asia corridors.

XTransfer’s Seamless Africa debut also follows broader momentum across the Middle East and Africa. In September 2026, XTransfer announced it had secured in-principle approval for a Retail Payment Services Licence from the Central Bank of the UAE. Subject to completing pre-issuance conditions, the licence would enable XTransfer to expand regulated services in the UAE and support businesses engaged in international trade with compliant, secure, and efficient payment solutions, strengthening connectivity across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn

Hashtag: #XTransfer #SeamlessAfrica #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs #EmgergingMarkets

Reinsurance panel carries an average A+ financial strength rating from AM Best or S&P; treaty deepens security behind each financial guarantee Verdant Rock issues and unlocks capacity for future growth

HAMILTON, BERMUDA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – Verdant Rock Limited (“Verdant Rock”), a Bermuda‑based Class 3B insurer and financial guarantor focusing on emerging markets, has closed a 30% quota share reinsurance treaty with a panel of leading global reinsurers. The panel carries an average financial strength rating of A+ from either AM Best or S&P, marking a significant milestone for the company less than a year after receiving its Class 3B insurance license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

The treaty supports Verdant Rock’s portfolio of irrevocable, unconditional and on-demand financial guarantees on private corporate, structured and project finance exposures across emerging markets. By sharing 30% of risk with highly rated capacity providers, Verdant Rock further strengthens its balance sheet, diversifies its capital base and enhances scalability for future growth.

“Securing a reinsurance panel of this caliber, rated A+ on average, at this stage of our development is a strong validation of our underwriting framework and our approach to governance. Every guarantee Verdant Rock issues now carries an additional layer of security from counterparties that have spent time understanding and believing in what we are building. We are grateful to each panel member for their confidence in us.” — Tolga Uzuner, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Verdant Rock Limited

This announcement is (i) for information only; (ii) not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, insurance product, or financial guarantee; and (iii) not for distribution in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results, and Verdant Rock undertakes no obligation to update them. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security and may be subject to revision, suspension or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

Hashtag: #VerdantRock

ABOUT VERDANT ROCK