AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 27, 2026 – Full Text

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – Leading homegrown financial services company Singlife hosted the inaugural New Life Youth Forum, “Untrashing Nature: How Can It Be Done?”, on Saturday, 24 October 2026, bringing nearly 100 students and young adults together at Central Library, to discuss the impact of everyday choices on the environment. Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment delivered the keynote address.

In his speech, Dr Janil said the waste challenge is, at its core, a question of how people value the resources nature provides. “As Bordalo’s works remind us, what we discard still has value. The challenge is how we can better recover that value, rather than allowing useful resources to go to waste,” he said.

The latest larger-than-life sculpture by Portuguese artist Bordalo II depicts an orangutan mother-and-baby pair created using waste material collected from across Singapore. Presented by Singlife as part of its multi-year stewardship initiative called New Life – A Better Way to Protect Tomorrow, the seven-metre-tall artpiece was unveiled on Thursday, 22 October at Gardens by the Bay in the presence of Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, as Guest-of-Honour, as well as His Excellency Carlos Pires, Ambassador of Portugal to Singapore. It stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of overconsumption and the need to make lifestyle choices today to protect the world we’re leaving for future generations.

Speaking on Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan, a multi-pronged plan launched in 2019 to support our transition towards a circular economy, Dr Janil said Singapore has seen daily domestic waste per person fall by about 21 per cent over the past decade, and that 78 per cent of households now report that they recycle, up from 72 per cent in 2023. The review of the Masterplan, which Dr Janil announced earlier this year, will identify new opportunities to reduce waste, strengthen resource recovery and extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill, Singapore’s only landfill, built to hold incineration ash and waste that cannot be incinerated.

Dr Janil also shared early results from the Return Right Beverage Container Return Scheme, which entered full implementation this month. He said: “During the six-month transition period, more than 48 million beverage containers had been returned through the scheme, diverting over 800 tonnes of material from incineration for recycling.” The reality, however, is that Singapore’s overall recycling rate stands at 52 per cent, down from 59 per cent in 2019.

Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, said that initiatives such as New Life can make a difference. “By transforming discarded materials into works of art, Bordalo challenges us to see value in what we might otherwise throw away. His works remind us that changing our relationship with waste begins with changing how we view waste. Art has a unique ability to spark these important conversations, inspire new perspectives, and encourage more sustainable choices in our everyday lives.”

At the panel discussion, Chia Ko Wen (Head of Sustainability, Singlife), Dr Dee Chia (Deputy Director, Audience Development, National Gallery Singapore), Jayasri Narayanan (Assistant Director, Conservation and Science, WWF-Singapore), and Joline Tang (Founder, The Sustainability Project) offered perspectives of consumers, businesses, conservation groups and cultural institutions on the main sources of waste, what individuals and organisations can do about them, and the potential of art to turn empathy into action. The discussion was moderated by sustainability advocate Chan Kah Mun.

Chia Ko Wen, Head of Sustainability, Singlife, said: “Singlife helps people protect their tomorrow, and sustainability is part of that responsibility, because the choices we make today affect the world we leave behind for future generations. Our research shows that people are more likely to act when they believe their personal choices can make a difference. Through our New Life initiative and public forums like these, we hope to help young people take ownership of their personal choices and turn what they know into practical action.”

From awareness to action
At the forum, Singlife also announced the launch of the New Life Pledge, inviting the public to take up one or more of eight simple daily actions to contribute to a more sustainable future. These actions range from taking public transport and choosing reusables, to repairing or repurposing before buying new and considering the environmental and social impact of their investments.

The eight actions were drawn from 25 everyday actions studied in the Singlife-SGFIN Sustainable Future Index (SFI) 2026, a national survey of 1,500 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents by Singlife and the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), first released in February 2026. Its follow-up white paper, “Closing the Sustainability Action Gap”, published last month, noted that while awareness has grown significantly among Singaporeans in recent years, they show a modest uptake of sustainability action. The white paper revealed that “ownership” is the strongest driver of sustainable behaviour: people are more likely to act when sustainability feels personally relevant and they believe their choices make a difference. The New Life Pledge is designed to put this insight into practice: by inviting people to incorporate small, lasting habits into their daily lives, it gives them a personal, concrete first step to convert awareness to action. The public can take the New Life Pledge at newlifesg.com/pledge.

Following the first iteration of the New Life Youth Forum, several more similar events have been lined up in the coming year to bring young people together for more conversations around stewardship and sustainability, along with voices from government, conservation groups, businesses and the arts. The New Life initiative will also see in the coming months the launch of a limited-edition children’s book and sustainability-themed art contests to engage the public. These efforts aim to inspire Singaporeans to turn what they already know about the environmental challenges facing our planet into everyday action.

New Life by Bordalo II is now on display at SG50 Lattice at Bayfront Pavilion, Gardens by the Bay. For more information, visit newlifesg.com.

https://singlife.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/singlife
https://www.facebook.com/SinglifeSG
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Hashtag: #Singlife #NewLife #NewLifebyBordaloII #NewLifeYouthForum #NewLifePledge

Singlife

The Maritime Union of New Zealand has welcomed support from Labour, the Greens and the Alliance for its election policy proposals to rebuild coastal shipping and protect the pay and conditions of New Zealand port workers and seafarers.

MUNZ asked each political party for its response to five proposals:

• underwriting New Zealand-flagged, New Zealand-crewed ships to build a domestic fleet

• developing a National Ports Strategy built on public ownership

• funding transport projects on the benefits they deliver, regardless of mode

• extending New Zealand labour law and wages to seafarers on international ships in New Zealand waters

• requiring international shipping lines to be transparent about crew pay and conditions

Labour, the Greens and the Alliance provided supportive responses.

The other parties did not respond.

MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says New Zealand needs a Government that backs the maritime sector.

“New Zealand is a trading nation, but we are overly dependent on international shipping lines to move our exports and trucks to move cargo domestically. Coastal shipping gives New Zealand resilience, cuts our dependence on expensive imported fuel, and provides good, well-paying jobs to Kiwis. It’s encouraging to see these parties backing our seafarers and port workers,” he says.

“We encourage our members to take these responses into account when they vote.”

Mr Findlay says MUNZ looks forward to working with these parties to turn their commitments into action.

Authorized by Carl Findlay, Maritime Union of New Zealand, 220 Willis Street, Wellington.

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – Tsinghua University has released two major evaluation reports examining the development of city hotline services in China and around the world, highlighting an emerging global trend in which hotlines are evolving from public service portals into important hubs for urban governance. The reports were unveiled Monday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints, underscoring the growing role of hotlines in improving public services, strengthening government coordination and enhancing urban governance.

The reports, titled the Evaluation Report on China’s 12345 Hotline Services and Governance Effectiveness (2026) and the Evaluation Report on Worldwide City Hotline Services and Governance Effectiveness (2026), respectively, examine how city hotlines can drive improvements in urban public service capacity as they evolve from channels for receiving public complaints into platforms that connect public needs with government responses, strengthen interdepartmental coordination and support more effective urban governance.

Led by Tsinghua University, the two reports were jointly compiled with the University of Cambridge and Peking University, respectively. An international team of more than 100 experts and scholars from 27 universities and research institutions across six countries, including China, the United Kingdom and the United States, conducted systematic research into hotline services and governance effectiveness.

The evaluations adopted the Hotline 4G Evaluation Indicator System (hereafter, the “4G System”), covering four first-level indicators: Process-Based Governance, Collaborative Governance, Digital Governance and Responsive Governance. The research drew on multiple data sources, including interviews with hotline agencies, public surveys, standardized test calls and big data analysis.

GLOBAL HOTLINES TAKE DIVERSE PATHS
The global report evaluated 20 cities across five continents, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Singapore and Rio de Janeiro. The assessment incorporated 9,300 valid public survey responses, large-scale data collection and detailed case studies.

The findings show that city hotlines worldwide are following diverse development paths shaped by local institutional environments, governance needs and technological capabilities. Based on their governance performance, the report groups the 20 cities into four development types: Comprehensive Innovation, Digital & Intelligent-Driven, Multi-Collaborative and Responsiveness-Oriented.

According to the report, Beijing, Dubai, New York, Shenzhen and Seoul demonstrate balanced development across multiple dimensions, reflecting a comprehensive innovation approach. San Francisco, Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore place greater emphasis on digital technology. Buenos Aires, Chengdu, Toronto, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro and Rome highlight multi-stakeholder collaboration, while Amman, Paris, Madrid and Wuhan place greater emphasis on responsiveness and public experience.

Compared with the findings of the first global evaluation conducted in 2024, the governance performance of city hotlines worldwide has improved significantly, while a broader governance ecosystem built around city hotlines is rapidly taking shape across the globe, according to the report.

EVOLUTION OF CHINA’S 12345 HOTLINES
The report on China’s 12345 hotlines covered 100 sample cities, collected 8,550 valid public survey responses and conducted more than 3,000 valid test calls to 12345 hotlines and related service channels.

The report finds that the institutional foundations for China’s 12345 hotline services are largely in place, with service capabilities across cities becoming broadly similar. Differences in development are increasingly reflected in governance effectiveness.

The key factors determining hotline performance go beyond a city’s size and level of development and increasingly depend on how effectively organizational coordination, lines of responsibility and operational mechanisms are aligned, according to the report.

Cities have developed distinctive governance approaches suited to their individual circumstances while pursuing the shared goal of serving the public and resolving problems. This creates opportunities for cities nationwide to learn from one another’s innovations, the report says.

Meanwhile, the digital and intelligent development of hotlines is shifting from the wider adoption of technology toward the development of integrated governance ecosystems. The report notes that the key question for the future development of city hotlines is no longer simply whether technology is available, but whether it is effectively embedded in governance processes, whether data can support decision-making and whether intelligent applications can improve the handling of public concerns.

HOTLINES DRIVE URBAN GOVERNANCE
International comparisons illustrate different approaches to using hotline data for urban governance. New York’s NYC311 service uses service data to inform urban governance, while Rio de Janeiro’s Portal Rio 1746 helps monitor urban conditions through hotline data. China’s 12345 hotlines use data analysis and assessment to support a shift from reactive responses toward more proactive governance.

Despite their different approaches, cities share a common goal: making it easier for public demands to enter the governance system, ensuring that they are accurately identified, effectively addressed and ultimately resolved, according to the report.

In China, Beijing’s Reform of Swift Response to Public Complaints has leveraged public demands to drive innovation in the governance of a megacity. Beyond integrating hotline service resources, the reform has embedded complaint handling throughout urban governance processes and helped integrate the broader governance system, demonstrating strong performance across process-based governance, collaborative governance, digital governance and responsive governance, the report says.

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST
Looking ahead, the reports identify four priorities for hotline development in the digital intelligence era: adhering to a people-centered principle and making public value a shared benchmark for assessing the integration of technology into governance; empowering cities through new technologies while ensuring that intelligent applications operate within institutional frameworks that are manageable, traceable and correctable; developing inclusive governance ecosystems to ensure that no citizen is left behind in digital transformation; and enabling cities around the world to learn from one another and advance together.

Experts participating in discussions on the reports said that as the basic service capabilities of city hotlines mature, their development should be evaluated not merely by how quickly calls are answered or whether service requests are processed, but more importantly by whether public concerns are genuinely resolved and whether governance outcomes are tangible and perceptible to the public.

Meng Tianguang, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences and deputy director of its Institute for Digital Government and Governance, said city hotlines need to accelerate their transition from public service platforms into hubs of urban governance.

Their development should focus not only on responding quickly to complaints, handling cases effectively and strengthening technological capabilities, but also on promoting coordination, resolving difficult problems and improving governance effectiveness, Meng said.

Helen Bao, a professor of Urban Economics and Public Policy in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge and director of its Lab for Interdisciplinary Spatial Analysis, said city hotlines should look beyond the operational efficiency of platforms and assess whether government responses translate into tangible governance outcomes that citizens can perceive.

Aligning improvements in institutional efficiency with the public’s actual experience has become an important challenge for cities seeking to improve governance effectiveness worldwide, Bao said.

Both experts noted that Beijing’s reform offers a representative example of China’s approach to urban governance amid the global shift toward new governance models.

The 2026 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints, themed “Digital Intelligence Era and People’s City,” was held in Beijing from Oct. 12 to 13. The forum was jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Media Group, the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Beijing Municipal People’s Government.

Hashtag: #TsinghuaUniversity #INSTITUTEFORDIGITALGOVERNMENT&GOVERNANCE

Two-Day Event to be Held on 4-5 November
Bringing Together Global Investors and Entrepreneurs to Explore New Frontiers in Agentic AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), and Hong Kong’s Role as an International Innovation, Funding, and Technology Hub

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – As the global venture capital market evolves amid economic shifts, investment flows are increasingly concentrated, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), which continues to drive significant momentum. The annual flagship event, Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum (CVCF), will take place on 4-5 November 2026at Cyberport. Themed “Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle“, this year’s CVCF will unite influential global investors and entrepreneurs to explore key themes including Enterprise and Agentic AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), frontier technologies, and spotlight Hong Kong’s unique position as a strategic gateway connecting Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, the Middle East, global innovation and funding networks. The forum aims to empower start-ups and investors to break through financing and market expansion barriers, seizing new market opportunities.

Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport, said, “As global innovation and capital markets undergo accelerated reshaping, AI, data technology, and emerging industries have become crucial engines driving economic growth. CVCF is dedicated to building a bridge between innovation and capital. This year’s forum focuses on new trends such as AI, digital assets, and One-Person Companies (OPCs), exploring emerging market opportunities and global expansion strategies. It decodes how enterprises can drive scalable growth with speed and resilience in a rapidly changing market. Through our investor matching activities, we aim to facilitate the commercialisation of innovations and cross-regional collaboration. Cyberport will continue to leverage its role as Hong Kong’s digital tech flagship and AI accelerator to foster a thriving I&T ecosystem and inject new momentum into building Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub.”

Cyberport Community Raised HK$74.5 Billion in Funding, with AI and Agentic Economy as Market Focus

Cyberport’s start-ups have demonstrated robust fundraising performance over the past year. With 481 companies joining the community during this period, Cyberport start-ups have raised over HK$74.5 billion in funding. During the year, 19 Cyberport companies successfully listed, alongside the addition of 2 new unicorns. Recent high-value fundraising rounds include Finloop, Qupital, Premialab, and Buy&Ship, many of which leverage AI, blockchain, and digital assets – reflecting sustained market confidence in these emerging technologies and underscoring Cyberport’s success in fostering their development.

Hendrick Sin, Chairman of Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) Steering Group; Co-Founder of CMGE Technology Group Limited; Chairman of China Prosperity Capital,said, “Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) has come to its 9th anniversary this year, and our network of over 240 global investors has successfully facilitated more than HK$6 billion across over 133 project matchings, representing an increase of over 19 projects compared to last year. Simultaneously, the Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF), alongside co-investments, has directed HK$2.7 billion into high-potential ventures, with a co-investment ratio of 1:9:3., reflecting strong investor confidence in Cyberport companies. Through dedicated initiatives and our targeted investor matching sessions, CVCF continues to bridge high-growth ventures with institutional co-investment partners, public-private funds and foster collaboration across government, industry, academia, research, investment, and users, propelling enterprise scale across regional corridors.”

As Hong Kong’s digital tech hub, AI accelerator and key incubator, Cyberport leverages the Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) to attract influential investment units from around the world to connect with high-potential Cyberport enterprises to accelerate their development. Since its inception in 2017, the total investments facilitated by CIN have reached over HK$6 billion across a cumulative total of 133 project matchings. CIN’s investment units have surpassed 240, with 15% from the Greater Bay Area and 14% from the Asia-Pacific region, alongside continuous expansion into the Middle East and ASEAN, successfully aggregating global venture capital.

Another key financing channel, Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF), continues to invest in high-potential start-ups while enhancing their fundraising capabilities. As of September 2026, CMF has invested in 30 start-up projects, with the total investment, including co-investments, exceeding HK$2.7 billion, with a co-investment ratio of 1:9.3 — meaning every HK$1 invested by Cyberport attracts an additional HK$9.3 in co-investment. Further augmenting ecosystem liquidity, Cyberport, BOCHK Asset Management, and BOC Group Investment have formed a strategic partnership in May 2026 around a completed venture capital fund to back promising Hong Kong I&T start-ups. This demonstrates Cyberport’s sustained ability to attract and secure capital in a challenging environment.

Driving Innovation Financing and Supporting Enterprise Growth

Cyberport companies have recently achieved remarkable success across venture capital fundraising, advanced technology commercialisation, and international market expansion. Among them, leading Cyberport community members, including global Web5 wealth technology platform Finloop, independent fintech and data analytics platform Premialab, and cross-border fintech platform Qupital, shared their insights on navigating capital cycles, deploying next-generation financial architectures, and scaling from Hong Kong into regional and global markets.

Zhao Yang, Deputy CEO of Finloop, said, “While originating from an established corporate background, we strategically chose Cyberport as the ideal launchpad to spin off our project and scale our vision. Cyberport has been an indispensable catalyst for Finloop’s growth as we develop our AI-driven, one-stop Web5 wealth technology and RWA issuance platform, delivering AI-native liquidity solutions to institutions and SMEs. Beyond providing a vibrant community of innovators, Cyberport’s dynamic ecosystem provides an invaluable springboard for us with leading commercial banks, brokerages, and External Asset Managers (EAMs) across Hong Kong and Singapore, accelerating our mission to build compliant and institutional-grade infrastructure that unlocks new liquidity and value flows across the region.”

Pierre Trecourt, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Premialab, emphasized the growing importance of advanced data analytics in multi-asset investing, “In an increasingly complex and volatile market environment, institutional investors need greater transparency and sophisticated analytics to construct resilient portfolios, benchmark systematic investment strategies, and manage risk. Hong Kong’s unique position as a global financial hub, combined with its exceptional talent pool and Cyberport’s extensive ecosystem, provides an ideal environment for fintech companies to innovate, expand internationally, and scale their businesses.”

Winston Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Qupital, discussed their milestone achievements in digital economy lending and underscored Cyberport’s long-standing backing throughout their journey, “Cyberport has played an integral role throughout Qupital’s journey from a homegrown startup to a profitable Series C fintech company. Under the support of Cyberport’s investor networks and platforms, we are proud to have become the first platform in Asia to securitise e-commerce merchant loans while sustaining industry-leading credit performance and profitability. Our journey truly reflects how Cyberport empowers homegrown fintech pioneers to scale sustainable cross-border supply chain financing across the Greater Bay Area and global markets.”

Connecting Investors and Start-ups, Showcasing Cutting-Edge Innovations

Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 will feature opening remarks by Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and bring together venture capital leaders, including representatives from Taara, Gobi Partners, Alumni Ventures, Rasmal Ventures, Primavera Capital, Draper Dragon, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Plug & Play and more to discuss the latest technology and market focus:

• Mega Trends & AI Frontiers: Decoding compressed innovation cycles and global capital shifts in the age of AI, with sessions exploring how enterprises turn AI into a foundational capability, from agentic workflows to advanced computing infrastructure, to build defensible moats and scale in the next competitive cycle.
• Regional Market Focus & Global Corridors: Analysing the way to unlock high-growth cross-border expansion across the Middle East, ASEAN, and Central Asia, and leverage the integrated Hong Kong-GBA launchpad as a strategic financial and innovation gateway to scale seamlessly across Pan-Asia through panel discussions.
• Market Focus & Strategic Capital Dynamics: Highlighting the navigation of venture capital realignments and valuation scrutiny to separate market hype from sustainable enterprise value, while mobilising strategic co-investment across public-private joint funds, Corporate Venture Capital (CVC), and corporate liquidity management to de-risk growth-stage ventures.

CVCF 2026 will continue to feature the popular “Investor Matching” session, offering face-to-face and online interactions to pair investors with start-ups based on their technological focus and investment preferences, enhancing collaboration efficiency. Additional highlights include over 80 physical showcase booths, funder power pitches, start-up clinic & workshop, providing attendees with practical insights and strategic advice. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremonies between Cyberport and international partners including Gobi Partners and Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) will also be held on the day.

The Agentic Economy Summit, a key highlight of the forum, will feature a keynote speech from Mr Joseph CHAN, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, bringing together AI pioneers, regulators, and financial giants to examine how digital identity, institutional tokenisation, HKD stablecoin issuance, programmable payments and machine-to-machine commerce are building the financial rails of the future. Featured speakers will also include representatives from HashKey, Cobo, Unlimit, Anchorpoint, UBS, Monk’s Hill Ventures, and more. The summit will also be exploring the emerging phenomenon of One-Person Companies (OPCs), highlighting how AI agents enable lean entrepreneurial ventures to achieve unprecedented operational scale.

As Cyberport’s flagship venture capital event, CVCF connects investors and entrepreneurs in the global digital technology. In 2025, the hybrid event attracted over 2,700 participants, achieved more than 180,000 views and facilitated more than 500 deal flows, fostering partnerships and investment opportunities. For more details, please visit the website: http://cvcf.cyberport.hk/.

Hashtag: #Cyberport

About Hong Kong Cyberport

The inaugural TXA Awards 2026 celebrates all the contributions of the transport industry’s leaders, innovators and visionaries!

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – Transport Expo Asia – hosted by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia and organised by Alpine Integrated Solution – is the only event of its kind in the world to feature all sectors of Land, Rail, Aviation, Maritime, and Logistics participating under one umbrella. 410 participating companies from 23 nations will be part of the 2026 edition.

The inaugural edition of the Transport Expo Asia (TXA) Awards 2026 took place this 22 October 2026, at Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at Midtown.

Across nine Award categories, the Adjudication Panel has chosen 28 finalists from out of 5,000 plus transport industry players; vying to be the best in their respective category. Finalists are given in alphabetical order. The categories are:

1. BEST LOGISTICS OPERATOR: These companies have demonstrated their capabilities in navigating logistical challenges and ensuring cargo arrive and depart on time.

• Infinity Logistics & Transport Sdn Bhd: Moving from assetless in 2003 to asset-heavy from 2019 onwards, the company has been growing from strength to strength. Covering almost every link in the supply chain through its own network of warehouses and services without relying on subcontractors, Infinity’s core strength is the breadth of its integrated network.

• Swift Haulage Berhad: Swift Haulage Berhad is Malaysia’s largest container haulier by fleet size and one of the country’s most integrated logistics groups. With more than 1,600 prime movers, 1.8 million sq ft of warehousing and around 4,000 staff across Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, Swift moves cargo end to end, from container haulage and freight forwarding to warehousing, cold chain and express distribution, supported by its own digital transport management platform. The Group is also leading the shift to cleaner freight, having deployed electric prime movers since 2023. In 2026, it expanded its cold chain offering with 10,000 pallet positions in Shah Alam, strengthening temperature-controlled capacity in the Klang Valley. Its selection as a finalist for Best Logistics Operator at the TXA Awards 2026 recognises reliable, compliant service delivered at national scale.

• Syarikat Continent Lorry Transport Sdn Bhd (SCLT): By implementing a Closed-Loop Multi-Country Container Logistics (LMCCL) approach, SCLT has successfully increased its delivery productivity, simultaneously improving its fuel efficiency. Trial technology is also employed to discover and improve on areas of interest, whether it be for hauling, or for keeping their workers safe on the road.

2. BEST PORT OPERATOR: These companies have showcased their capabilities of managing massive ships, liners and their cargo effectively and efficiently.

• EPIC Berhad: The company is an integrated oil and gas solutions provider, but does also have port management, marine engineering and services, renewable energy and more as part of its core businesses. It operates Kemaman Port, a key industrial and cargo gateway serving Malaysia’s East Coast. Among its notable achievements is its ability to increase cargo throughput by optimising existing operational resources and enhancing productivity, demonstrating its commitment to operational efficiency and sustainable growth.

• Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP): The busiest transshipment port in Malaysia began operations in 2000, as well as being the 11th top busiest ports in the world, under the Ports of Johor banner. It has had many crowning achievements, one of its most significant being designated as the Gemini Cooperation’s Asia hub.

• Westports Holdings: Since commencing operations in 1994 under Malaysia’s port privatisation programme, Westports has grown into one of the region’s leading container terminal operators, playing a pivotal role in positioning Port Klang among the world’s top 10 container ports. This achievement has been driven by sustained investment in port infrastructure, operational efficiency, productivity and global shipping connectivity. In 2025, Westports handled a record 11.3 million TEUs, demonstrating its resilience and continued growth amid evolving global trade dynamics.

3. BEST SHIPPING OPERATOR: These companies have demonstrated their capabilities in efficiently managing their vessels and their cargo as they travel from port to port.

• Jaya Coastal Shipping Sdn Bhd: With its Planned Maintenance System, Jaya Coastal is able to maintain its fleet effectively, increasing efficiency of its fleet by reducing the chances of breakdowns. It also matches vessels to the requirement of individual jobs, ensuring effective utilisation of fuel and necessary resources to execute jobs with minimal downtime.

• MTT Shipping and Logistics (MTTSL) Berhad: MTT holds the distinction of securing 46% of container volume between Peninsular Malaysia, East Malaysia and Brunei in 2025. It also has the distinction of having the largest, and youngest, fleet among Malaysian-flagged container operators. Its efficiency and capability has likewise seen it record profits annually since it was established in 2010.

• Orkim Berhad: Starting out as a shipbroking business, Orkim has since grown to become an owner and operator of oil, chemical and gas tankers. It specialises in transporting essential energy products. It boasts 92% utilisation of its fleet, thoroughly showing its capabilities in operational efficiency with regards to moving a large volume of cargo.

4. BEST LAND OPERATOR: These companies have showcased their ability to go above and beyond for commuters by providing excellent service and accessibility.

• Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL): The operator of the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services maintains a strong track record of 99.7% service punctuality and reliability, with a total of 216 scheduled train trips operating daily. The convenience of cashless transactions and strategic partnerships enhances the overall travel experience, providing passengers with a seamless and efficient journey from trip planning through to their final destination.

• Handal Indah Sdn Bhd: Handal Indah Sdn Bhd, operating under the Causeway Link brand, is a Malaysian bus operator providing cross-border services between Malaysia and Singapore, with an expanding presence across Peninsular Malaysia. Through journey planning, cashless ticketing and real-time bus arrival information, the company makes bus travel more convenient, accessible and seamless for passengers.

5. EXCELLENCE IN ROAD SAFETY SOLUTIONS: These companies have been instrumental in implementing initiatives or technology that help make roads safer for commuters.

• Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO): The statutory body under the Ministry of Human Resources provides injury, invalidity and death protection to Malaysian workers. Its Ops Cegah initiative is the crux of its case for the Awards, as it engages employers to address and reduce commuting related hazards experienced by employees.

• TCSens Sdn Bhd: Established in 2012, the company has worked tirelessly to implement new technologies in order to keep roads safe. By strategically installing cameras at high-risk locations, it is looking to instil safer driving habits, working alongside enforcement authorities to ensure all Malaysians are able to go home safe.

• Vertex Mission Sdn Bhd: As a container haulier and logistics company, it employs measures to manage risks its drivers may face as they move cargo. As such, the company conducts regular screening and utilises high-tech equipment with technology in order to effectively monitor its staff so as to prevent as many accidents as possible.

6. ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORT: These companies have demonstrably proven their capability to deliver complex or technically demanding projects.

• GreenFinder Sdn Bhd: The company specialises in maritime technology, including Aids to Navigation (AtoN), AIS tracking, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), coastal surveillance and environmental monitoring, and is an Industrial Member of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). Its locally developed Automatic Remote Monitoring System (ARMS) replaces manual inspection of lighthouses, beacons and buoys with continuous remote monitoring from a single central platform. Since 2017, ARMS has expanded to cover more than 500 locations across Malaysia, giving early warning of faults while remaining reliable in harsh marine conditions.

• Jaya Coastal Shipping Sdn Bhd: The homegrown Malaysian company has taken on a challenge to manage its ageing fleet. Through its Engineering Operational Excellence Programme, it has successfully reduced vessel downtime, increased fleet availability, completed more maintenance, resolved more technical issues and even improved fuel efficiency.

• Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL): The company oversees the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL). The project links Malaysia’s east coast to the Klang Valley in the west. Its construction involves crossing some of the most challenging terrain, from flood plains to forested ridges. The project has since earned MRL recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for its engineering feats.

• Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp): The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is considered its most demanding project to date. The project had to be delivered under COVID-19 conditions, in addition to its construction environment over an operating KTM railway, urban infrastructure, live utilities and down to even managing environmental conditions like the tides.

• RC Asia Engineering Sdn Bhd: The company’s work for Perlis Inland Port has garnered it the finalist shortlisting for this category. It consists of constructing and completing the trackworks for the port’s container yard, running three lines, and constructed in layers utilising specialist material sourced from multiple countries, laying the groundwork to give the port’s rail freight terminal room to expand further.

7. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR: These companies are those who have introduced initiatives that demonstrably reduce emissions aligned with Malaysia’s sustainability goals and/or relevant international ESG standards.

• AeroDarat Services Sdn Bhd: As MAG’s ground handling arm, AeroDarat is advancing more sustainable ground operations through the adoption of fully electric towing machinery and the use of biodiesel. These initiatives help reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs while maintaining operational efficiency.

• Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL): Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), the project owner of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), oversees its construction with a focus on sustainable design and the development of fully electrified passenger and freight services to support lower-emission transport. Through its subsidiary, MRL Energy Sdn Bhd, MRL aims to further reduce operational emissions by targeting at least 30% renewable electricity in the ECRL’s energy supply, supported by solar installations at stations, traction power sites and ancillary buildings. These efforts are complemented by sustainable design and construction measures, including alignment optimisation to minimise forest loss and land disturbance, the use of lower-carbon concrete, and the reuse of construction materials and water.

• Railway Assets Corporation (RAC): As a statutory body under the Ministry of Transport, RAC enables private partners to develop and operate solar installations on underutilised railway land, supporting Malaysia’s renewable energy goals without upfront capital expenditure.

• SMH Rail: As Malaysia’s largest privately owned rolling stock manufacturer and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider, SMH Rail is advancing sustainable railway engineering on both the Malaysian and global stage through innovative locomotive remanufacturing solutions. Through its subsidiary, Berapit Mobility Sdn Bhd, the Group upgrades locomotives from Tier 0 engines to engines compliant with US Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 emission standards, reducing environmental impact while enhancing efficiency, reliability and asset longevity. Embracing circular economy principles, this initiative demonstrates SMH Rail’s commitment to resource optimisation, technological innovation and a cleaner, more sustainable rail transportation ecosystem.

8. TRANSPORT INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR: These companies are those who have introduced changes or systems that have greatly improved operations, becoming case studies themselves with regards to the practical applications of their innovations.

• ANSA Digital: The Kuala Lumpur-based systems integrator and technology company has been developing innovative digital platforms for government agencies and businesses. Its work spans two key initiatives: a streamlined digital insurance renewal journey under Cermat MADANI, and a telematics solution for commercial vehicles designed to enhance driver safety and road operations. Following successful testing, the telematics system has progressed to real-world deployment, with the technology now installed and operating on commercial vehicles on Malaysian roads.

• GKN Engine Systems Component Repair Sdn Bhd: The Johor-based, Malaysian subsidiary of GKN Aerospace, specialises in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft engine components. Thanks to technology, automation, robotics and digitalisation, the company has successfully increased their productivity and significantly reduced downtime in their maintenance pipeline, which in turn enables key industry equipment to return to service sooner. By implementing a “repair first, replace when necessary” mindset, it allows the company to be smarter and more sustainable with in their operations.

• Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB): KTMB’s innovation is one of digitalisation via KITS Style. Build on a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) model, KTMB calls it Malaysia’s first digital lifestyle app from a rail operator, giving commuters a one-stop access to ticketing, trip bookings, bill payments and even to partner businesses to purchase products directly through a single app.

• Penang Port Commission (PPC): Penang’s port authority, regulator and landowner has put forth three main innovations, namely, the Digital Port Pass (DPP), the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), and e-PDCFZ. The DPP reduces the time to get a port pass from six to eight hours to under one hour, its introduction also making PPC the first to implement facial recognition in Asia at its ports. VTMS and e-PDCFZ are newer but still highly effective systems. The former provides stronger navigational safety while the latter enables faster systemic approvals for port processes.

• Railway Assets Corporation (RAC): As a statutory body under the Ministry of Transport, RAC has undertaken initiatives towards long-term optimisation of existing railway assets. Its Rolling Stock Strategy involves leasing back locomotives in order to reduce large upfront purchases for fixed, long-term payments while still maintaining fleet availability. The same concept is applied to railway land, turning underutilised land into commercial and community spaces.

9. MINISTER’S LAUREATE FOR NATIONAL TRANSPORT LEADERSHIP: The grandest honour of the night will be awarded to an organisation with significant long-term contributions that have advanced Malaysia’s transport ecosystem at the national, and international level.

• CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd. (CRRC ZELC): The China-based rail transport equipment manufacturer has long-standing operations in Malaysia. It first entered Malaysia in 2010, supplying 38 six-car electric trains to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), and has since established three local subsidiaries in CRRC Rolling Stock Center (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, CRRC Kuala Lumpur Maintenance Sdn Bhd and CKM Landas MRO Sdn Bhd. These subsidiaries have shown the company’s commitment to develop Malaysia’s rail industry for the long-term.

• Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is a leading aviation and travel services group with a diverse portfolio spanning passenger airlines, air cargo, aircraft engineering, ground handling, inflight catering and travel solutions. As the parent group of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Amal, MAG plays a pivotal role in connecting Malaysia to the world, facilitating trade and tourism, and contributing to the nation’s economic growth. Guided by its ambition to become Asia’s Leading Travel and Aviation Services Group, MAG is committed to strengthening Malaysia’s global connectivity and delivering sustainable, long-term value for the nation.

• Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn Bhd: The ECRL is its hallmark project, itself being one of the largest infrastructure projects Malaysia has undertaken. It manages and supervises the construction of the 665-kilometre electrified railway that will carry both passengers and freight. It will be linking Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast to the west via Klang Valley, cutting a journey of seven hours by road to four on rail, simultaneously reducing road traffic once the project is complete.

• Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp): The company has been instrumental in increasing mobility for Malaysians in recent years. Greater Klang Valley’s rail landscape has been vastly changed with the completion of the MRT Kajang and MRT Putrajaya lines, providing accessibility across the city to hundreds and thousands of commuters. The company has also constructed the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, which will soon make crossing the Causeway even more convenient than ever.

• Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd: At the heart of Mutiara Perlis’s vision is the Perlis Inland Port (PIP), a strategic dry port poised to become a central logistics hub—not only for Malaysia, but also for the wider Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), ASEAN and increasingly for markets as far afield as Central Asia and the European Union. As global supply chains face growing pressure from disruption and volatility, PIP offers a timely answer: stronger connectivity, greater diversification, and more resilient trade routes. Complemented by the upcoming Sanglang Sea Port, it will enable Perlis to fully leverage its strategic position at the northern gateway to the Straits of Melaka—turning location into a lasting competitive advantage for the region.

• Railway Assets Corporation (RAC): As a statutory body under the Ministry of Transport, RAC is the custodian of Malaysia’s rail infrastructure, rolling stock and land in Peninsular Malaysia, including signalling, communication and information technology systems. RAC also develops and manages railway land, with proceeds invested back into the rail network, ensuring continuous and sustainable rail network development.

• SMH Rail: SMH Rail stands as a leading Malaysian and global player in the railway engineering industry, with comprehensive capabilities spanning rolling stock design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, commissioning, maintenance and leasing. As Malaysia’s largest privately owned rolling stock manufacturer and service provider, the Group has made significant contributions to the nation’s landmark MRT Kajang and Putrajaya Line projects, supporting the advancement of modern urban rail infrastructure. Through engineering excellence, technological innovation and the development of local capabilities, SMH Rail continues to strengthen Malaysia’s railway industry, enhance national transportation infrastructure and expand its presence in the global railway market.

The TXA Awards is Malaysia’s national transport recognition programme, highlighting organisations who have contributed towards the advancement of the country’s transport ecosystem. After months of nominations and deliberations, the finalists have been selected, and the winners will be announced at an Oscar-style affair during the gala dinner night on the 22nd of October.

The finalists and winners were overseen by an Adjudication Panel consisting of esteemed industry veterans including Tan Sri Dr. Ismail Haji Bakar, former Chief Secretary to the Malaysian Government and former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, Prof. ChLT. Ts. Dr. Muhammad Zaly Shah, FCILT, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Malaysia, Norhasliza Mohd Mokthar, Senior Director of Climate Action Group, Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fathi Abu @ Yaziz, Director of the Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS), Sim Ooi Kok, Country Managing Director of Alstom Malaysia, Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah, Executive Director under the President’s Office of Sunway Berhad, Shaun Tan Poh Chye, former Head of International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Asia-Pacific, and Sharon Kindleysides, FCIHT, FCILT, FIET, Treasurer of European Logistics Association (ELA).

For more information on the TXA Awards, you can visit the official page here. For information about Transport Expo Asia itself, you can check out the website here.

Hashtag: #TransportExpoAsiaAwards

Transport Expo Asia Awards

2026 is the inaugural edition of the Transport Expo Asia (TXA) Awards. In an effort to further catalyse innovation and excellence in the transport and logistics industry, the Awards was established to recognise the contributions of its leaders and pioneers, both domestically and globally.

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders

On 24 October, at around 6 pm, a Russian drone struck civilian infrastructure in Synelnykove, Dnipropetrovsk region, some 80 kilometres from the frontline. The strike occurred in an area with homes, cafés and shops, less than one kilometre from a hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Four people were killed and more than 13 injured in the attack according to the Ukrainian authorities. The hospital responded to a mass-casualty incident.

“We heard the sound of a drone, and moments later there was a loud explosion. Patients began arriving one after another with blast injuries to their limbs, abdomen, chest and head. Some also had burns. Several patients had severe bleeding and needed emergency surgery. One patient told me he had just stepped out for a coffee, but ended up in hospital with serious injuries,” says Karina Ivanova, an MSF anaesthetist.

Local medical staff, working alongside an MSF anaesthetist and paramedics, treated 15 people, including four with severe injuries. An MSF ambulance transferred two patients — a 50-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman — to a hospital in Dnipro for specialised surgery.

Some patients, including 11-year-old child, experienced acute stress reactions and received mental health support from local psychologists.

Repeated attacks by Russian forces are killing and wounding civilians in the capital Kyiv, in regions next to the frontlines, and even in towns and cities hundreds of kilometres away in central and western Ukraine. MSF condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure. This is a war against people — against civilians trying to live their everyday lives.

Photos: Attack on Synelnykove, Dnipropetrovsk region

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender.

For more information, visit MSF Australia.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – Bangkok has pledged to make WorldPride 2030 a platform for advancing LGBTQIA+ visibility and solidarity across Asia – ensuring the event’s first arrival in the region strengthens communities beyond the host city. As the official applicant and host, Bangkok Pride’s bid commits to giving activists and organizations from across Asia a meaningful role in WorldPride while fostering connections with global partners to build support that continues beyond the occasion.

Across Asia, LGBTQIA+ communities operate under widely differing conditions. Bangkok’s bid aims to provide a platform where communities can raise their voices, contribute to international discussions and strengthen cross-border cooperation.

“Bringing WorldPride to Asia for the first time would be more than a celebration. It would be a powerful moment for LGBTQ+ Asians to see ourselves represented on a global stage – and for the world to hear the diverse voices, stories and struggles of our communities,” said Raymond Phang, co-founder of ShanghaiPRIDE. “From Shanghai to Bangkok, from grassroots organizers to a new generation of LGBTQ+ Asians, our movement has always been about creating space for people to live openly, safely and with dignity. I hope Bangkok 2030 can be a WorldPride that celebrates how far Asia has come, while reminding us of the work still ahead for equality, acceptance and human rights.”

The bid includes practical measures to widen participation. The proposed Bangkok WorldPride Activist Fellowship would provide at least 150 fully funded places for frontline activists, with at least 70 percent allocated to participants from the Global South to reduce barriers in accommodation and accreditation.

Regional perspectives would also help shape a week-long Human Rights Forum, which would anchor Bangkok Action 2030 – a proposed framework for cooperation on legal and family recognition, bodily autonomy, protection for human-rights defenders, health equity and digital rights.

Furthermore, Bangkok WorldPride 2030 would establish a Pride City Network Asia community hub, building upon Thailand’s existing network of local organizers and authorities to create creating opportunities for Pride organizations across the region.

Building a legacy beyond 2030

Bangkok’s bid builds on Thailand’s continuing journey towards equality. Marriage equality took effect in January 2025, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex marriage. By 2030, the country will mark five years since the law took effect – with the global landscape having since shifted.

​Ann Chumaporn, Core Team Lead of WorldPride 2030, Bangkok Candidate City, added: “At a time when gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights are facing severe pushback across the globe, holding our ground is no longer enough, and we must move forward with courage and solidarity. Thailand’s journey to marriage equality proved that transformative change is possible when community leadership remains at the core. Bringing WorldPride 2030 to Bangkok is about opening a vital gateway for Asia – a sanctuary where frontline activists can breathe, connect, and reclaim their narratives. This bid is our collective promise that Asia will not be silenced, but will rise as a powerful force of hope, resilience, and enduring progress for human rights worldwide.”

The bid proposes a legacy that extends beyond the event itself. A share of operational surpluses would establish a permanent Pride City Network Fund, providing micro-grants, capacity-building resources and emergency relocation support for human-rights defenders across Asia. It also proposes a Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Museum and Archive to preserve and increase the visibility of Asian queer histories.

Bangkok’s ambition is for communities across Asia to leave WorldPride 2030 with stronger partnerships, greater access to international support and resources for advancing equality in the years ahead.

https://www.businesseventsthailand.com/
https://www.facebook.com/miceinthailand

Hashtag: #LGBTQIA+ #Pride #CandidateCityBangkokWorldPride2030 #WorldPride2030 #UntilAllOfUsAreFree #Bangkok #Thailand

About Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

New Merck Hong Kong Centre to Connect Global Expertise with Local Innovators and Accelerate R&D Commercialisation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Merck, a leading science and technology company in life science, healthcare and electronics, signed a collaboration agreement today to establish their strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Merck will establish the “Merck Hong Kong Centre” at Hong Kong Science Park, dedicated to bringing in advanced scientific products, showcasing live technological demonstrations, and providing expert consultation services. Through technical training and clinical advisory sessions, an innovation scouting programme, and the co-hosting of an annual flagship event, the partnership will connect HKSTP’s I&T ecosystem with Merck’s domain expertise and global networks, supporting local startups and I&T talent, accelerating the translation of R&D outcomes into real-world applications, and jointly capturing opportunities across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and international markets.

The HKSAR Government’s recently announced First Five-Year Plan places a strong focus on strategic industries, including life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and new industrialisation, while the latest Policy Address sets out Hong Kong’s ambition to accelerate its development into an international health and medical innovation hub, progressively expanding access to the GBA, international markets, and capital markets. Arriving at a pivotal moment as Hong Kong I&T development enters a new phase, the partnership will bring together top-tier global scientific resources and inject fresh momentum into the city’s I&T sector.

Witnessed by Dr. Annika Bolten-Drutschmann, Consul General of Germany, Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTPand Mr. Peter Yan, Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr. Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, and Mr. Rogier Janssens, President of Merck China, signed the partnership agreement. The signing was followed by the “Merck x HKSTP Groundbreaking Ceremony”, marking the official commencement of the Merck Hong Kong Centre and turning the partnership to a new chapter.

Mr. Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, said, “We are delighted to welcome Merck, a leading science and technology company, in establishing a strategic partnership with HKSTP and Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem. As Hong Kong enters an exciting new phase of I&T development, collaboration with global leaders like Merck is crucial to foster the growth of the life and health tech sector. Our shared vision goes beyond offering physical space: we are bringing Merck’s advanced technologies, scientific expertise and global networks closer to our startups and researchers, helping them turn discoveries into practical solutions and explore opportunities for pilot projects, commercial partnerships and investment. Powered by the city’s unique positioning as the super connector between the Chinese Mainland and global markets, this partnership will catalyse collaboration between Merck’s global excellence in life sciences and HKSTP’s thriving ecosystem — taking the discovery and commercialisation of R&D results in the life and health sector to the next level, creating global impact and benefiting humankind.”

Mr. Rogier Janssens, President of Merck China, said, “Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan places innovation and technology at the heart of the city’s future, giving science and technology companies like Merck a clear direction for lasting engagement. For 358 years, Merck has advanced science and technology with a patient, generational outlook, and we are now deepening our presence in the Greater Bay Area’s innovation landscape. Merck Hong Kong Centre is the first step of that commitment in Hong Kong. Located next to HKSTP’s shared biomedical laboratory, it places our products and experts alongside the scientists and startups driving the research. We can help them build reliable, reproducible workflows from early experimentation to scale-up, and we can understand earlier what their science needs. Together with HKSTP, we aim to prove this approach in Hong Kong and replicate it elsewhere in China and beyond.”

Under the agreement, the collaboration will focus on four key initiatives:

• Merck Hong Kong Centre: The dedicated physical facility at Hong Kong Science Park will provide Park startups and researchers with advanced scientific product supply, live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies and expert consultation services. The Centre will serve as a physical hub connecting local innovators with Merck’s technology resources.
• Training and Consultation Initiative: Connecting Merck’s industry experts with HKSTP’s startups and researchers through technical training, clinical advisory and professional consultation services to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen research and application capabilities.
• Innovation Scouting Program: Establishing a structured mechanism to identify, evaluate and connect high-potential startups directly with Merck’s global innovation network, exploring collaboration opportunities including commercial partnerships, proof-of-concept pilot projects and strategic venture investment opportunities.
• Merck Innovation Day: An annual flagship event held at Hong Kong Science Park focusing on life science, healthcare and electronics, bringing together startups, academia and industry leaders to showcase innovations and foster cross-sector exchange and co-development.

HKSTP is committed to building a vibrant I&T ecosystem and is currently home to around 400 life and health technology companies, supported by comprehensive R&D infrastructure and one-stop support services that help turn ideas into real-world applications. The partnership will further connect Park companies with Merck’s global resources, while providing Merck with a platform to access emerging technologies, research talent and high-potential companies in Hong Kong and the GBA, fostering two-way innovation exchange and opening up long-term collaboration opportunities.

Hashtag: #HKSTP

53 groups of treasured painted enamels from CUHK go on display in the UK for the first time, tracing East-West artistic innovation

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2026 – The Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge have unveiled the historic joint exhibition “An Enamel Revolution: China and the World”, running from 20 October 2026 to 21 February 2027 in the United Kingdom.

Supported by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, this landmark project marks the first collaborative exhibition between the two world-renowned university museums, featuring 53 groups of treasured painted enamels from CUHK on display in the UK for the first time.

Tracing East-West knowledge exchange and artistic innovation

This collaborative exhibition features 89 exceptional works and sets of works, including 53 treasured painted enamels from the CUHK Art Museum being shown in the UK for the first time and 36 from The Fitzwilliam Museum. It explores the development of painted enamel in China, a field that has attracted growing scholarly attention in recent years.

Beginning with the transfer of painted enamel technology from Europe to China in the late 17th century, the exhibition traces the emergence of hybrid artistic traditions that developed through interactions between China and the wider world. It offers new perspectives on Chinese painted enamel through the lenses of cross-cultural exchange, artistic innovation and global trade, revealing how Chinese craftsmen working in the imperial workshops of Beijing and the commercial workshops of Canton (today’s Guangzhou) adapted and transformed the painted enamel technique to decorate objects made of porcelain, glass, silver and copper.

Celebrating shared values and collegiate heritage
An opening ceremony was held at The Fitzwilliam Museum on 19 October 2026, officiated by Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President, and Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, alongside Professor Anthony Chan Tak-cheung, CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Alumni/Community Engagement and Institutional Advancement); Dr Luke Syson, Director of The Fitzwilliam Museum; Professor Josh Yiu Chun-chong, Director of the CUHK Art Museum; Dr Joyce Chou, Research Associate of the CUHK Art Museum; Professor Dame Jessica Rawson, former Warden of Merton College and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; and other distinguished international scholars.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Lo said: “As a Cantabrigian who graduated in the 1980s and as the current Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, I am delighted to witness and officiate this historic union between two institutions very dear to my heart. While CUHK has a much younger history than Cambridge, both universities share a commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence, collegiate education and public engagement. CUHK’s founding mission is to combine tradition with modernity and to bring together China and the West. I am glad to see that our two university museums are collaborating to promote art history through this exhibition involving a cross-disciplinary investigation across space and time. The exhibition, An Enamel Revolution: China and the World, traces a knowledge transfer from one part of the world to another. It is a history that tells us how art has transcended national borders and cultural divides to foster mutual respect and admiration. It holds truly important lessons for us in the world today, where global challenges need to be overcome by collective action, open exchange and mutual commitment.”

Prior to the opening ceremony, Dr Chou, the curator of this special exhibition, delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Trading Beauty: From Europe to China, from Canton to the World – Qing Dynasty Canton Enamels” at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge. The lecture was followed by a panel conversation with Dr James Lin, Senior Curator of Chinese Art at The Fitzwilliam Museum; Professor Henning von Mirbach, Assistant Professor of Early Modern Chinese Art in the Department of History of Art, University of Cambridge; and Professor Rawson, who moderated the discussion.

Cross-cultural mastery and early globalisation
Building upon the CUHK Art Museum’s acclaimed exhibition “Sparkle and Charm: Canton Enamels of the Qing Dynasty” from 2022 to 2023, which subsequently toured Shenzhen, Tianjin, Shanghai and Wuhan in the Chinese Mainland, the joint exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum curates a selection of these masterpieces from the CUHK Art Museum’s collection and brings them to an international audience alongside key selections from The Fitzwilliam.

The dazzling painted enamels seen in this exhibition illustrate how materials, technologies, artistic knowledge and ideas moved across geographical boundaries. They reveal how innovations travelled between East and West, how artistic traditions were adapted and transformed through cross-cultural encounters, and how new products were created, traded, and consumed within an increasingly interconnected world. The development of painted enamel in China was made possible by imperial patronage, the introduction of techniques by European missionaries and the exceptional skills of artisans working in Jingdezhen, Beijing and Canton. Together, they played vital roles in shaping one of the most remarkable examples of artistic exchange and early globalisation in the 18th century.

Structured into two sections, “The Making of Canton Enamel” and “Canton Enamel for the Global Market”, exhibition highlights include a Qing Qianlong period enamel jar with an ice-plum pattern, a covered bowl and saucer depicting Western mythological scenes in framed panels, an elephant-handled zun vase with flowers, fruits and insects, and a pair of drinking cups in the form of lotus flowers.

Exhibition details

https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/school/13045
https://x.com/cuhkofficial
https://www.facebook.com/CUHKofficial
https://www.instagram.com/thechineseuniversityofhongkong/
https://www.youtube.com/user/CUHKchannel

Hashtag: #CUHK #CUHKArtMuseum #FitzwilliamMuseum #UniversityOfCambridge #AnEnamelRevolution #ChinaAndTheWorld #PaintedEnamels #CantonEnamels #ChineseArt #ArtHistory #CulturalExchange #EastMeetsWest #ArtisticInnovation

About the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Established in 1971, the Art Museum of CUHK is a museum dedicated to education, research, and exhibitions. Through its collections, exhibitions, publications, outreach, and educational programmes, the Museum aims to enrich the cultural experiences of the community and help realise the goals of the University. With the inauguration of Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion in 2025, an extension of the Art Museum and a new landmark on campus, we will continue to enhance the integration of art-making, curating, and teaching, while diversifying and enriching the museum experience for a broader audience.

About The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

The Fitzwilliam Museum is home to one of the world’s most remarkable university art collections. We care for works of art and material culture primarily from Europe, North Africa and Asia that connect people across cultures and time. Since 1816 we’ve been a place for learning and discovery. Today, we use art, objects, spaces and experiences to inspire curiosity, reflection and creativity-—opening up the past to transform our futures. As an internationally recognised centre for research and conservation, we work with partners across the world to explore how collections can be better understood, cared for and shared.