PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 2, 2026 – Full Text

Whole-of-Government initiative empowers women exporters to secure international trade leads at the inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Demonstrating the global demand for Malaysian innovation, women-led enterprises achieved RM229 million in potential export sales during the pre-arranged business matching sessions and the 4-days exhibition held at the Women in Export (WiEX) Pavilion @ MIHAS 2026.

The targeted 215 B2B meetings connected local women entrepreneurs with international buyers and distributors from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Women-owned companies from Selangor, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Penang topped the sales with a combined value totaling RM129.84 million for confectionary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa and sportswear products.

The WiEX platform held in conjunction with MIHAS 2026 underscores a strategic Whole-of-Government (WoG) approach to scaling women-led businesses into high-value global supply chains. Led by MATRADE with the support of Pertubuhan Hal Ehwal Wanita dan Keluarga Malaysia (HAWA Malaysia), the initiative brought together key government Ministries and developmental Agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corp, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) and UDA Holdings Bhd. This inter-agency ecosystem ensures the inclusiveness of women entrepreneurs’ transition seamlessly from domestic capacity-building to international market placement.

Speaking at the WiEX Forum, MATRADE Chairman, Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican highlighted that:

“The contribution of women entrepreneurs is not a side story in our economy; it is central to it. DOSM’s Economic Census 2023 shows women own 20.1% of Malaysian businesses, generating RM136.9 billion in output and employing nearly a million people. Yet, there remains room to improve export readiness. That is why MATRADE continues the WiEX initiative alongside HAWA Malaysia, chaired by Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. I am delighted that WiEX is now incorporated as a key component under MIHAS 2026, delivering a complete ecosystem of capacity building, market access, and recognition under one roof to help women entrepreneurs seize global opportunities.”

“In the era of Industry 5.0, success is no longer defined by high-tech alone, but also by high touch. Businesses must go beyond profit and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their employees, communities and society. As women leaders and entrepreneurs, we must ensure that technological progress is balanced with values that are inclusive, ethical and anchored in integrity”, said Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, President of HAWA Malaysia during her opening speech.

Complementing the commercial outcomes at the WiEX Pavilion is the WiEX Forum 2026 brought together over 300 participants for actionable knowledge-sharing under the theme “Thriving through Uncertainty: Adapt, Compete, and Grow.”

The forum featured an array of industry leaders and founders sharing practical international expansion models:

• Ms. Low Ngai Yuen, Managing Director of AEON 360, detailed retail procurement standards and supply chain integration strategies for domestic and regional growth.
• Datin Eryca Baiduri (Madammu), Founder of NOIR, delivered a fireside chat on evolving a home-based digital business into a scalable global beauty and health brand.
• Founder-led Panel: Moderated by TV personality Ms. Azaria Tagaya, a dynamic panel consisting of Ms. Amnah Shari (Founder/CEO, Serunai Commerce), Tengku Norhanim Tengku Othman (Founder/CEO, NIMS Adeliciousz), Ms. Jesmine Tan (Co-Founder/COO, Applecrumby), and Ms. Amy Blair (Founder/CEO, Batik Boutique) provided tactical lessons on maintaining quality, navigating regulatory compliance, and managing supply chains across export markets.

Through the combined impact of trade facilitation, strategic cross-agency backing and industry mentorship, MATRADE will continue working alongside HAWA Malaysia, KKDW, MARA, SME Corp and NCER and international trade partners to elevate the ‘Made by Malaysia’ brand globally.

Hashtag: #MIHAS

MATRADE

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency. Established in March 1993, its primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia’s commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation’s trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

Source: KOF Swiss Economic Institute

Zurich, 09/30/2026

The Swiss economy performed significantly better than expected in the first half of 2026. Together with upward revisions to the national accounts, this has led the KOF Swiss Economic Institute to raise its growth forecast substantially: real GDP excluding major international sporting events is now expected to grow by 1.9% in 2026 (summer forecast: 0.8%) and by 1.7% in both 2027 and 2028. Uncertainty remains high.

Despite the pressures from US tariff policy and elevated energy prices, the global economy has so far proved resilient. The Swiss economy also performed better in the first half of 2026 than expected in the summer forecast. The second quarter in particular surprised on the upside. In addition, revisions to the national accounts paint a significantly more favourable picture of past economic developments.

Strong first half shapes growth in 2026

Goods exports rose sharply in the second quarter, driven predominantly by pharmaceutical exports. Private consumption as well as construction and equipment investment also made positive contributions to growth. The expansion in industry was broad-based in the first half of the year: alongside the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, the other areas of manufacturing also recorded substantial gains.

Annual growth in 2026 is therefore largely determined by the strong first half of the year. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute expects a temporary pause in growth in the third quarter before the economy returns to moderate expansion in the fourth quarter. The output gap is likely to be almost closed at present. Over the remainder of the forecast horizon, aggregate output is also expected to remain broadly in line with its potential.

Investment picks up, consumption remains supportive

The new data paint a considerably more favourable picture of investment in particular. Both construction and equipment investment were revised sharply upwards for 2025. The recovery in construction investment continued in the first half of 2026, and the outlook for the coming quarters remains positive. Further growth is expected in both residential construction and construction for industry, trade and services.

Equipment investment, by contrast, was more subdued in the first half of the year. However, important leading indicators have recently improved: order backlogs and capacity utilisation in industry have increased, while firms’ earnings situation has also improved. Overall, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute expects gross fixed capital formation to grow by 1.3% in 2026 and 2.7% in 2027.

Private consumption also supports domestic demand. Following a weak start to the year, it picked up again in the second quarter. Consumer sentiment has improved, retail sales have recovered and there are also signs of easing conditions in the hospitality sector. In addition, according to the new data, households’ disposable income is significantly higher than previously assumed, providing additional scope for consumer spending.

Improved outlook in Europe supports foreign trade

The global economy remained robust in the second quarter despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty and higher energy prices. The euro area in particular performed better than expected. Sentiment indicators have also improved recently across many countries and sectors. The growth outlook for Germany has been revised substantially upwards. Over the remainder of the forecast horizon, the global economy is expected to expand at a moderate pace.

Following the pronounced fluctuations of recent quarters, Swiss foreign trade is also expected to normalise gradually. The improved outlook in important European export markets and signs of stabilisation in parts of the export-oriented manufacturing sector are underpinning this development. The machinery and electrical engineering industry in particular appears somewhat more resilient, while the pharmaceutical industry continues to provide important growth impulses. However, the burden from US tariffs and weak demand in some export markets remains.

Employment rises, unemployment remains elevated

Revised employment data and the unexpectedly strong second quarter paint a more favourable picture of labour market developments. Full-time equivalent employment is expected to increase by 1.5% in 2026, compared with just 0.5% in the summer forecast. However, the strong annual increase is largely attributable to data revisions and the robust first half of the year. Given mixed signals from labour market indicators, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute expects only limited job creation in the second half of the year.

At the same time, unemployment remains elevated. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute assumes that part of the recent rise in unemployment is structural and will therefore not be reversed by a cyclical recovery alone. The unemployment rate according to SECO is expected to average 3.1% in both 2026 and 2027 before edging down to 3.0% in 2028.

Inflation remains low – SNB expected to raise policy rate

Nominal wage growth is expected to weaken further through 2027. Given persistently low inflation, however, this should still result in modest real wage gains. Higher energy prices are temporarily adding to price pressures, but there have so far been only limited signs of second-round effects. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute expects inflation of 0.6% in 2026, 0.6% in 2027 and 0.5% in 2028.

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) left its policy rate unchanged at 0% in September. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute expects the SNB to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points at its next monetary policy assessment. The policy rate is then expected to remain unchanged over the remainder of the forecast horizon.

Uncertainty remains high

The forecast remains subject to considerable uncertainty. A further escalation of conflicts in the Middle East could disrupt energy supplies more severely and prolong the energy price shock. Renewed US tariff increases or weaker growth in important export markets could also weigh on the Swiss export economy. In addition, concerns about the sustainability of public finances in highly indebted economies could lead to higher risk premia and tighter financing conditions, thereby weighing on the global economy.

Upside risks could arise from an easing of geopolitical and trade tensions. If European investment programmes are implemented more quickly or utilised more fully than assumed, they could provide additional support to demand. A faster diffusion of artificial intelligence could also trigger additional investment and allow productivity gains to materialise earlier than assumed in the forecast.

KOF Economic Forecasts: official forecast page.

Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia

The Commonwealth Bank has responded to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate increase.

30 September 2026

Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to increase the official cash rate by 0.25% per annum (p.a.), CBA will increase rates by 0.25% p.a. on eligible variable-rate business loans.

The rate change will apply to CBA Business Bank’s Variable Base Rate, Commercial Variable Base Rate, Residential Equity Rate, Commercial Residential Equity Rate, Overdraft Reference Rate, and Commercial Overdraft Reference Rate, flowing through to eligible variable-rate business lending products including BetterBusiness Loans and Business Overdrafts.

These changes will be effective 9 October 2026.

CBA Group Executive Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle, said the Bank remained focused on supporting customers as they navigate an uncertain operating environment.

“As inflationary pressures persist, many Australian businesses continue to face higher operating costs and tighter margins.

“We’re working closely with our customers to understand how these conditions are affecting them and where we can offer support. We encourage any business experiencing pressure to reach out early so we can work through the support options available, including assistance from our Business Financial Assistance team.”

Support for business customers

CBA offers a wide range of tools and programs to support business customers at every stage of their business journey. This includes:

• Free comprehensive cash flow tracking capabilities via a Business Cash Flow tool in the CommBank app.
• Bill Sense to help customers predict future bills.
• CommBank Business Masterclass modules help upskill businesses in the areas of AI and cashflow.
• Eligible business customers can also benefit from discounts and special offers available via CommBank Yello for Business, the bank’s customer rewards and recognition program.
• A range of support options are available for business customers experiencing financial difficulty, including deferred business loan repayments or debt restructuring.

More information is available on our website and businesses seeking support can speak to their Relationship Manager or call CBA’s dedicated Business Financial Assistance team, available 24/7, on 13 26 07.

Things you should know

Media releases are prepared without considering an individual reader’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Readers should consider the appropriateness to their circumstances. Visit Important Information to access Product Disclosure Statements or Terms and Conditions which are currently available electronically for products of the Commonwealth Bank Group, along with the relevant Financial Services Guide. Target Market Determinations are available here. Loan applications are subject to credit approval. Interest rates are correct at the time they are published and are subject to change. Fees and charges may apply.

CBA Newsroom

Source: Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub

BRISBANE, 30th September — Queensland manufacturers can apply from today for up to $250,000 worth of artificial intelligence work, built and delivered by Brisbane-based AI & Robotics for Manufacturing experts ARM Hub.

The Queensland Manufacturing AI Uplift Trial Program, open today, provides support directly from the Queensland Government for Flagship Projects. Delivery of the program will be through Brisbane’s ARM Hub, with multiple Flagship Projects anticipated for funding.

The Queensland government will cover 80 per cent of each project’s total value, with up to $250,000 available for each project. ARM Hub engineers work directly with each business to identify the right AI use case, then build and deliver it.

“The best AI projects begin with the people doing the work and a problem worth solving. The AI Adopt Uplift program will bring their expertise together combined with business data, AI infrastructure and responsible AI to improve how things are made,” said ARM Hub CEO Professor Cori Stewart.

“The goal is to help Queensland manufacturers become more productive, meet their compliance obligations and compete more effectively.”

The program is open to Queensland manufacturers with between five and 500 full-time equivalent staff. At least half those staff must work in Queensland, and the business must have operated in the state for at least two years.

Launching the program, Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last said: “We’re backing manufacturers that are ready to adopt AI to improve productivity, boost competitiveness and grow their businesses.”

At least one of the Flagship Projects will go to a business in regional Queensland, defined as anywhere outside Greater Brisbane.

How to apply

Applications will stay open for four weeks, with expressions of interest closing at the end of October. Businesses should outline their operation and where they think AI could help on the information page.

ARM Hub will work with shortlisted companies to build a roadmap scoping what an AI project would deliver, at no cost to the business.

A joint panel of ARM Hub and Queensland Government representatives assesses the roadmaps and selects the Flagship Companies, with winners expected to be announced in early 2027.

ARM Hub delivers and administers the program on behalf of the Queensland Government, through the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development. ARM Hub is the National AI Centre’s AI adoption delivery mechanism for Australian manufacturing.

Full program guidelines and eligibility criteria are available here.

About ARM Hub

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub is one of Australia’s four government-backed AI Adopt Centres. Based in Brisbane, ARM Hub partners with manufacturers, SMEs, researchers, and technology companies to drive innovation and productivity through advanced automation and AI solutions.

Strong industrial growth bolsters FDI momentum

According to Hung Yen Provincial Statistics, the province’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 15.78% year on year in the first eight months of 2026, with manufacturing and processing industries remaining the main engine of growth, expanding 16.45% over the same period.

Several industrial sectors posted particularly strong growth. Repair, maintenance and installation of machinery and equipment surged 90.49%, while pharmaceutical, pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and medicinal materials rose 40.56%. Paper and paper products grew 31.62%, apparel manufacturing increased 28.50%, and the production of electronic, computer and optical products rose 21.85%.

Strong growth was also recorded across a range of key industrial products. Output of integrated electronic circuits increased 47.62%, insulated copper wire 42.52%, motorcycles and motorbikes with engine capacities below 50cc 32.32%, plastic bags and sacks 27.56%, flat-rolled non-alloy steel products in coils 21.51%, and garments 19.45%.

FDI inflows also remained strong. By the end of August 2026, Hung Yen had attracted 40 newly registered FDI projects with total registered capital of $645.67 million. The province had a cumulative 1,006 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of $20.23 billion.

Investors from Northeast Asia account for a particularly significant share of Hung Yen’s FDI. Japan ranks first, with 204 projects and more than $8.19 billion in registered capital, representing 40.49% of the province’s total FDI. China follows with 389 projects and more than $4.64 billion, or 22.94%, while South Korea has 217 projects with more than $2.33 billion, accounting for 11.53%.

Combined, Japan, China and South Korea account for roughly 75% of total registered FDI capital in Hung Yen. The figures underscore the province’s strong appeal to Northeast Asian investors and reflect a broader trend of businesses seeking locations with well-developed industrial infrastructure, strong connectivity and room for long-term expansion.

Expanding industrial space to attract new investment

To create additional space for new investment, Hung Yen is accelerating the development of industrial parks and clusters. To mark the 81st anniversary of National Day, the province simultaneously broke ground on or inaugurated 10 industrial parks and clusters, including six projects launched on September 12.

The projects represent a combined investment of VND18.222 trillion and $288 million. They are expected to serve as key drivers of industrial development by creating new production space and expanding the province’s capacity to attract both domestic and foreign investment.

Among them, Tho Hoang Industrial Park covers 250 hectares, while Lac Dao Industrial Cluster spans approximately 42.5 hectares, with combined investment of nearly VND6 trillion. The two projects are expected to attract a further VND10 trillion in domestic investment in supporting industries and logistics.

Hung Yen has also broken ground on Industrial Park No. 10 in An Thi Commune, covering 199.62 hectares with investment of nearly VND3 trillion; Industrial Park No. 15 in Nguyen Trai Commune, spanning 199 hectares with investment of more than VND2.8 trillion; and Van Giang Industrial Park in Nghia Tru Commune, covering 203.55 hectares with investment of VND3.32 trillion.

Notably, Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park (Green iP-3) in Thai Ninh Commune covers 234 hectares and has total investment of VND2.4 trillion. Meanwhile, Nitto Vietnam’s project at Thang Long II Industrial Park has been inaugurated with an investment of $160 million, further highlighting Hung Yen’s appeal to Japanese and other Northeast Asian investors.

According to the Hung Yen Provincial People’s Committee, the new industrial parks and clusters will focus on attracting light industry, diversified industrial projects and environmentally friendly investments, as well as businesses operating in fields such as cybersecurity, big data, cloud computing and AI applications.

Laying the groundwork for double-digit growth

FDI is not the only driver of Hung Yen’s economic momentum. The province’s domestic business sector is also expanding rapidly. Since the beginning of the year, 3,775 new businesses have been registered, with total registered capital of VND41.535 trillion, while 610 businesses have resumed operations.

Real estate accounted for the largest share of newly registered capital, at VND19.872 trillion or 47.84%, followed by manufacturing and processing at 19.40% and wholesale and retail at 14.72%. New investment is generating greater synergies across industrial development, infrastructure, logistics, trade and supporting services.

Commercial activity has also maintained strong growth. Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue in the first eight months of the year were estimated at VND197.106 trillion, up 17.57% year on year. State budget revenue was estimated at VND50.374 trillion, while realized investment capital from locally managed state budget funds reached VND24.098 trillion, up 15.88%.

Chairman of the Hung Yen Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen said the province benefits from well-developed infrastructure, major modern industrial hubs and a young, dynamic workforce. These advantages provide a strong foundation for rapid industrial development, contributing significantly to socioeconomic growth and strengthening Hung Yen’s position as it enters a new era.

The province is currently reviewing and updating its 2021–2030 Master Plan, with a vision to 2050, with a focus on expanding its development space. In the industrial sector alone, Hung Yen has planned 66 industrial parks covering more than 23,000 hectares, along with 126 industrial clusters spanning nearly 8,000 hectares.

With industrial infrastructure continuing to improve, development space expanding and the investment climate becoming increasingly attractive, Hung Yen is well positioned to attract more high-quality foreign investment, particularly from Northeast Asia. These inflows will provide an important source of momentum for the province’s industrialization, raise the value of industrial production and help sustain double-digit economic growth in the years ahead./.

Hashtag: #HungYen

• 7,000 Humanoids emerge as new market
• 117,000 Transport and logistics’ robots lead as top application

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 30 September 2026 – Global shipments of professional service robots increased by 24% to almost 250,000 units in 2025, highlighting a successful shift tocommercial automation. These findings are presented in the World Robotics 2026 Service Robots report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

“Service robots are expanding into everyday operations,” says Jane Heffner, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “Sales went up across all three segments with double-digit growth rates: professional service robots gained 24%, medical robots grew 19%, and consumer service robots surged by an impressive 37%.”

Top applications for professional service robots

Transportation and logistics stays in the lead as top application, with 117,500 units sold in 2025. This was up 21%, and represents a market share of 47%. These robots are primarily used for transportation as well as for the automation of material flows and delivery processes.. Although traditional sales remained the main monetization channel, RaaS business models continued to grow in popularity. In the US, this already is the dominant business model.

Hospitality robots rank in second place. Machines for mobile guidance, information points in public environments, and telepresence account for the majority of these robots. The market for professional cleaning robots follows in third place, with floor cleaning as the main application in this segment.

Humanoid Robots

Humanoid robots, which are designed to resemble humans and operate in human-centric environments, are gaining massive attention for their potential flexibility. While recent advances in AI, sensors and control systems have enabled impressive pilot projects, most current applications remain specialized and often require human teleoperation. In 2025, about 7,000 units of full-size humanoids (above 140 cm) were sold globally. These robots are intended for commercial and professional applications beyond R&D and entertainment.

Key challenges such as safety standards, high training and maintenance costs, and the lack of a strong business case, particularly in industrial settings, continue to limit widespread adoption. For humanoid robots to become practical everyday tools, further progress in intuitive programming, robust manipulation, economic scaling, and standardized safety is essential.

“In a special chapter of the World Robotics 2026 report, we provide a comprehensive overview about humanoids as the robotics newest market,” says Dr. Werner Kraus, Chair of the IFR Service Robot Committee.

Robots for consumer use

Consumer service robots have primarily consisted of domestic robots aimed at the mass market. Overall sales of consumer robots increased by 37% to almost 34.2 million units in 2025. Key trends include automating household tasks, integrating artificial intelligence and connecting to smart home systems.

Medical robotics

With 8,400 units sold and a growth rate of 57 % surgical robots are the main driver of growth in the medical robotics market, reflecting their increasing adoption in clinical practice. The transition from technological development to commercial deployment has gained significant momentum over the past decade. This is driven by advances in robotics, improved clinical outcomes, and growing acceptance among healthcare professionals.

Downloads

Graphs and press releases for download by IFR at: https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/global-sales-of-professional-service-robots-surge-24-percent

Please note: World Robotics Service Robots report is sample data. Data is NOT projected to the whole industry. Sample composition varies each year. All numbers at the World Robotics Service Robots 2026 report are based on a sample of 238 service robot suppliers. Compiling or comparing data from different World Robotics Reports is strongly discouraged.

https://www.ifr.org
https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-federation-of-robotics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIdKFuqg5XxIPf_k2j4ZRfA

Hashtag: #IFR #InternationalFederationofRobotics

About IFR

Source: BusinessNZ

Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) confirms that New Zealand is on a pathway back to an operating surplus. But it also reinforces the central message of BusinessNZ’s Election Priorities 2026: New Zealand needs stronger productivity growth, competitive tax settings, investment in infrastructure and skills, and a credible long-term approach to fiscal sustainability.

While the headline fiscal position improves over the forecast period, Treasury’s projections show that significant structural pressures remain beneath the surface, including bracket creep. Treasury estimates that fiscal drag from unchanged personal income tax thresholds will add $3.2 billion to tax revenue by 2030/31.

That improves the Government’s fiscal position, but it also means workers pay higher effective tax rates simply because wages and inflation rise over time.

BusinessNZ’s Election Priorities 2026 calls for personal income tax thresholds to be indexed to inflation or wage growth so that changes in the tax burden are transparent and deliberate, rather than occurring automatically through inflation.

Treasury’s forecasts also reinforce BusinessNZ’s call for a long-term plan to address the fiscal consequences of population ageing. The cost of New Zealand Superannuation is projected to be $8.2 billion higher in 2030/31 than in 2025/26, while superannuation and debt-servicing costs consume an increasing share of GDP.

BusinessNZ’s Election Priorities 2026 recommends progressively increasing the age of eligibility for NZ Superannuation in line with rising life expectancy to improve the sustainability of the retirement income system. Treasury’s projections show why this issue can no longer be deferred indefinitely.

With the election on November 7, BusinessNZ encourages every party to cost its promises against these forecasts and to show how new spending fits within them.

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.

Century-old Sauce Brand Continues Drive Toward Sustainable Packaging

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 September 2026 – Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the century-old sauce brand, has been honoured with the Gold Award in the inaugural Packaging Reduction Charter by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Recognised for outstanding performance in driving packaging reduction and sustainable development, Lee Kum Kee was among the first signatories to the Charter and is one of the first cohort of food manufacturers to receive the award. The honour reflects its role as a responsible corporate citizen committed to advancing sustainable packaging.

Launched by the EPD on 31 March 2025, the Packaging Reduction Charter encourages businesses to reassess and reduce packaging usage, foster a waste-reduction culture in the commercial sector, and support Hong Kong’s long-term goal of carbon neutrality. To date, over 140 companies across sectors including retail, logistics, electronics, and food & beverage have joined, with Lee Kum Kee being one of the first. Participating companies undergo an annual professional assessment for packaging reduction, recyclability, reuse/recycling, sustainability, and promotion of packaging reduction. Lee Kum Kee demonstrated multiple packaging optimisation achievements during the assessment process, ultimately earning the Gold Award.

Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs at Lee Kum Kee Sauce, said, “This award is a significant recognition of Lee Kum Kee’s long-standing commitment to sustainable packaging transformation. Guided by our value of ‘Si Li Ji Ren’ (Considering Others’ Interests), we are committed to integrating sustainable development into every aspect of our business operations. Through innovative thinking, we continuously optimise packaging design for greater efficiency and recyclability, delivering high quality, delicious and environmentally responsible products to consumers. Moving forward, we remain dedicated to collaborating with the industry to support Hong Kong’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality.”

Lee Kum Kee continuously refines its packaging with reference to the Practical Guides on Packaging Reduction and Management published by EPD and the Golden Design Rules developed by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), driving packaging weight reduction while enhancing recyclability and circular value. Since 2002, Lee Kum Kee has consistently reduced the weight of its glass bottles; for example, in 2025, it cut the weight of its 32-ounce oyster sauce bottles from 410 to 390 grams, saving 10 tonnes of glass throughout the year. Additionally, the company has saved more than 200 tonnes of carton material annually through improved carton designs. Over 95% of packaging materials, by weight, are recyclable.

Lee Kum Kee’s sustainable packaging was featured in the 2026 Golden Design Rules Case Study Booklet during the CGF China Day in early September, confirming that its initiatives align with both local policy directions and international best practices.

For details on Lee Kum Kee and sustainability, please refer to the Lee Kum Kee Global Sustainability Highlights 2025: https://corporate.lkk.com/en/csr

Hashtag: #LeeKumKee #LKK

About Lee Kum Kee Sauce

Source: Edith Cowan University

29 September 2026

The effectiveness of humanitarian aid delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been called into question by a new paper (https://academic.oup.com/jcsl/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jcsl/krag019/8832340), which noted that not only was the distribution of aid being offered inhumane, but could well be violating international law.

Images that have surfaced online since 2025 of hungry civilians forced to walk for miles to humanitarian aid stations amid mass displacement, ongoing conflict and devastating loss, is a haunting example of a failed and inhumane aid delivery model.

Authored by Associate Professor Shannon Bosch (https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/business-and-law/faculty/profiles/associate-professor/associate-professor-shannon-bosch), the paper has shone a spotlight on the failed humanitarian relief outsourced to private security contractors in Gaza.

The Associate Professor from Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) School of Business and Law said the GHF’s concentration of aid distribution through four large, heavily secured aid sites breached international law.

The radically different model for delivering food to Palestinians trapped in Gaza occurred over six months in 2025.

“My research into the GHF model shows why the delivery of humanitarian aid matters. Humanitarian assistance in occupied territory must comply with rules designed not merely to get food into civilian hands, but to protect the people receiving it,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

“The protection of civilians must be at the heart of delivering humanitarian aid.”

Where and how aid is delivered matters

Before the GHF began operating, humanitarian assistance had been distributed through more than 400 UN-coordinated sites across Gaza. The GHF replaced this network with four large distribution sites.

Safe Reach Solutions provided security logistics, while UG Solutions secured distribution sites and interacted directly with Palestinians.

Civilians south of Wadi Gaza could reach the aid distribution sites only using routes that took them through heavily armed Israeli military units and bases, while people in northern Gaza faced long journeys.

“Distribution was also unpredictable. At times, civilians received only minutes’ notice that a site was opening, and sites could remain open for very short periods.”

Associate Professor Bosch argues that the GHF is a model for how humanitarian aid should not be delivered.

“When uniformed and heavily armoured private security personnel are employed to handle the delivery of humanitarian aid – the international law warning bell should be ringing,” she said.

“We often see humanitarian workers with a military-like convoy to protect and guard them in occupied territory against criminal elements trying to hijack aid, but private security contractors are not trained to actually be the ones delivering aid.”

International law requirements

International humanitarian law and international human rights law places extensive obligations on an occupying power towards the civilian population.

Associate Professor Bosch said the GHF model is legally problematic. There are limits to the ways an occupying power can regulate humanitarian operations for legitimate security reasons.

“Calling something ‘humanitarian aid’ doesn’t make it so,” she said.

“Humanitarian relief must remain impartial and needs-based. Civilians must be treated humanely and without discrimination. Relief operations must also be sufficiently independent of political and military objectives to retain their humanitarian character.

“What the GHF model shows is that the delivery of humanitarian aid can be weaponised as a tool of control. It can be used to violate human rights and force people to relocate. How aid is distributed and who is doing it matters.”

Humanitarian aid should reduce civilian vulnerability

The GHF aid distribution points became sites of crowding, stampedes and shootings. Vulnerable civilians attempting to access aid included women, children, older people and people with disabilities. Thousands of Palestinians were reported killed or injured around GHF distribution sites and aid routes.

Associate Professor Bosch’s research argues that activities such as coercive crowd control, intelligence gathering, security screening and the use of force in civilian settings risks crossing the line between protecting humanitarian operations and performing military or government functions.

“A humanitarian system should reduce civilian vulnerability, not repeatedly expose hungry civilians to danger in order to obtain food,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power remains responsible for the treatment of protected civilians by those acting under its authority or control.

“As governments increasingly rely on private contractors to outsource functions once carried out by states or established humanitarian organisations, they ought to be reminded that this does not negate their legal responsibility to uphold international law.”

Humanitarian Aid, Private Security and the International Law Obligations on the Occupying Power: A Commentary on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (https://academic.oup.com/jcsl/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jcsl/krag019/8832340) is published in the Journal of Conflict & Security Law.