Over 120 business leaders gathered at the summit under the theme “Empowering Growth Through Capital Convergence and Digital Innovation”
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – The Citi Commercial Bank Hong Kong Executive Summit 2026 concluded on June 16 under the theme “Empowering Growth Through Capital Convergence and Digital Innovation”, bringing together over 120 company founders and C-suite leaders to examine the future of business amid a rapidly evolving global landscape.
The annual flagship forum featured a series of discussions centered on how companies can strategically leverage Hong Kong’s unique strengths to achieve sustainable growth and international expansion.
Gunjan Kalra, Head of Citi Commercial Bank for Japan, Asia North and Australia, and Asia South, said, “Companies today are going global at an unprecedented pace. We are also witnessing the rising global prominence of Asian companies, which are making rapid advances and emerging as industry leaders in areas including AI, technology and innovation, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and clean energy.”
Citi Commercial Bank provides global banking solutions to mid-sized companies that are looking to grow rapidly and expand internationally. “Citi is uniquely positioned to support their growth ambitions, offering integrated treasury and capital solutions in over 90 countries through our integrated global platform, as well as advisory and financing capabilities from our investment banking franchise,” she continued.
According to InvestHK, more than 310 companies had established or expanded operations in Hong Kong as of May 2026, with mainland firms accounting for over half of the total.
Joy Cheng, Head of Citi Commercial Bank for Hong Kong,said, “Hong Kong serves a critical dual role as both the launchpad for Chinese companies pursuing international expansion and a strategic gateway for multinationals deepening their presence in mainland China and the region. We are committed to being the banking partner of choice for fast-growing companies as they scale and grow across borders. Our value proposition lies in our ability to simplify complexity and connect visionary companies to opportunities worldwide through our unparalleled global network.”
Key themes explored at the Hong Kong Executive Summit 2026 included:
Investing for future growth
Leveraging Hong Kong’ssuper-connector role for outbound success
Bridging Hong Kong’s AI and tech landscape with global market opportunities
The summit featured a distinguished line-up of speakers, including:
Clara Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited
Evan Chen, Managing Director, FountainVest
Shang Chuang, Chief Financial Officer, Klook
CY Guan, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MOZA Racing
Jerry Hu,Managing Director, Full Vision Capital
Wesley Ng, CEO and Co-Founder, CASETiFY
Jonathan Song, Chief Commercial Officer, Plaza Premium Group
Andy Wong, Head of Innovation & Technology and Life & Health Sciences, Invest Hong Kong
Dennis Wong, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Master Concept
Queenie Wong, Managing Director, EQT Asia Growth
Danny Yeung, CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder, Prenetics
Ethan Yuan,Vice President, International Business, Regional General Manager, APAC North, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group
Citi Commercial Bank offers a comprehensive suite of products and solutions, including trade and working capital, treasury and liquidity management, global markets capabilities, capital markets solutions, and advisory services. Citi Commercial Bank serves clients in 12 markets in Asia including Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Hashtag: #Citi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul formally launched Thailand FastPass at Government House, mobilizing over USD 21 billion (approximately 700 billion baht) in strategic high-tech investment. The program integrates eight government agencies to cut regulatory approval timelines by up to 50 percent, accelerating approved investments from license to operating factory.
FastPass targets high-value sectors including advanced electronics, aerospace technology, precision machinery and automation systems, and recycled plastics.
By coordinating eight key government agencies—including Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), the Department of Industrial Works, the Customs Department, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, and the Provincial Electricity Authority—the initiative removes historical friction in permitting, environmental approvals, and infrastructure connectivity.
At the ceremony, the eight agencies formalized their coordination by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to reduce approval and licensing timelines by 20 to 50 percent across key investment milestones, including factory permits, free-zone processing, environmental impact assessments, and power grid connections.
The ceremony drew more than 300 attendees, including foreign diplomats, international chambers of commerce, and multinational executives.
“In today’s global economy, speed is the ultimate competitive differentiator,” said Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand. “The Thai government is shifting from regulator to active business facilitator. By removing regulatory hurdles, increasing speed, and ensuring policy transparency, we are driving physical investments that will generate next-generation employment and secure Thailand’s long-term regional competitiveness.”
The push to turn approved projects into physical factories follows a historic surge in investment applications. BOI received a record USD 54.5 billion (approximately 1.8 trillion baht) in investment applications in 2025. Momentum has carried into 2026, with first-quarter applications already exceeding USD 30.3 billion (approximately 1 trillion baht).
The USD 21 billion total spans two FastPass cohorts. In the first phase, FastPass resolved regulatory bottlenecks for 76 previously approved projects valued at over USD 14.4 billion (approximately 474 billion baht). Today’s ceremony launched the second cohort: 25 projects from 23 companies worth USD 6.7 billion (approximately 223 billion baht), each receiving a formal Thailand FastPass certificate.
“We are focusing heavily on ‘realized investment’ entering the actual economy,” said Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. “The FastPass mechanism is designed to deliver immediate, concrete economic results in the short term, while laying down long-term structural benefits that will distribute wealth across our broader economy. These 25 pilot projects from 23 companies are projected to generate over 13,000 high-skilled jobs. Combined with the 76 projects cleared under FastPass in the preceding phase, total investment mobilized by the program exceeds 700 billion baht.”
This mechanism converts corporate capital into domestic benefits across five key dimensions: driving investment-led GDP growth, generating high-skilled careers, transferring technical know-how, integrating local SMEs, and creating localized economic multipliers within regional communities.
“The FastPass program fundamentally changes how Thailand works with global investors,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the BOI. “We put eight agencies into one pipeline. Permit timelines that once stretched for months can now be cut by up to half. That gets factories built, creates high-skilled jobs, and pulls Thai suppliers into global supply chains.”
Global corporations participating in the FastPass program cited Thailand’s strategic location, modern infrastructure, robust supply chains, skilled workforce, and favorable investment policies as the key drivers for their expansion.
“Thailand possesses the talent, infrastructure, and policy support necessary for next-generation industries,” said Mr. Simon Gwozdz, CEO of Equatorial Space (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a developer of low-Earth orbit space launch vehicles. “The BOI’s one-stop coordination significantly reduces regulatory complexity.”
“The availability of raw materials, infrastructure, and proactive government support were critical in our decision to anchor our regional operations here,” said Mr. Donald Carpenter, CFO of U.S.-based PureCycle Technologies, Inc. “The FastPass mechanism directly improves our operational efficiency.”
“The speed of obtaining factory licenses under the scheme has accelerated our operational readiness, creating a smoother path to scale,” said Mr. Larry Foo of SAM Precision (Thailand), a Malaysia-based manufacturer of precision components for the semiconductor industry.
“The depth of Thailand’s electronics supply chain and supportive state policies were critical to our investment decision,” said Mr. Kris Leetavorn, Director of Advanced Connection Technology, a high-density printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer. “The FastPass program drastically simplifies state coordination, allowing us to hit aggressive deployment timelines.”
To demonstrate Thailand’s readiness for advanced industries, the government showcased technologies currently being deployed or manufactured in Thailand, including humanoid robotics, LiDAR sensor systems, aerospace technology, and advanced electronics.
“Thailand FastPass proves what is possible when all agencies move in the same direction—approved investments actually get built,” Mr. Narit concluded. “The world is reshuffling supply chains. Investors need clarity and speed. Thailand is ready to deliver both. We will keep expanding FastPass to cover more permits and more strategic industries, creating quality jobs, strengthening supply chains, and raising Thailand’s long-term competitiveness.”
USD conversion based on a reference exchange rate of approximately 33 baht per USD (Bank of Thailand, June 2026).
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Thailand Board of Investment
Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has continuously played an essential role for over 60 years in promoting value-adding investment for the country, from both foreign and Thai investors, to enhance national competitiveness and drive sustained economic growth and long-term national competitiveness.
Investment Services Center, PR Section, The Office of the Board of Investment (BOI)
Singapore health AI company introduces a contactless wellness tool that lets MCP-compatible AI assistants sense a person’s everyday vital signs from a single 10-second face scan.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – Nervotec, a Singapore-based health AI company, today announced the launch of NervoScan MCP, a contactless biosensing tool that lets MCP-compatible AI assistants read a person’s everyday vital signs from a 10-second face scan using any laptop, phone, or webcam camera.
AI assistants are quickly gaining the ability to act in the real world. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has become a common standard for connecting them to outside tools and data: documents, calendars, databases, and software. What they have not been able to do is sense the physical state of the person in front of them. NervoScan MCP adds that missing layer. Every health tool in the MCP ecosystem so far has been a passive reader of data a device already captured. NervoScan MCP is an active sensor that takes a fresh reading on demand.
The timing reflects two trends converging. Millions of people now track their health through wearables and apps, while a fast-growing group of power users are wiring agentic AI assistants into their daily tools and routines. NervoScan MCP sits where those meet, giving a personal AI assistant a direct, on-demand read of the user’s physiology, the one input it has never had.
How it works
With NervoScan MCP, an assistant calls a single tool, scan_vitals, and the user looks at a camera for about 10 seconds. The assistant receives estimates of six everyday vital signs: heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and a stress score. The reading runs on remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), which detects minute colour changes in facial video from a standard camera, with no wearable and no extra hardware. NervoScan MCP is model-agnostic, working with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Cursor, and any MCP-enabled client, and it never carries the assistant’s language-model cost. Users connect once through the standard MCP authorization flow, and new users start with 20 free scans.
“NervoScan MCP allows AI to go beyond its ability to reason. Now it can sense,” said Jonathan Lau, Founder and CEO of Nervotec. “For the first time, an AI assistant can access a real-world physiological signal through a simple camera interaction, giving it a layer of context beyond text, documents, and software tools.”
NervoScan MCP is built for users of agentic AI: the people running assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, hermes agent, biohackers, and self-trackers who want their AI to factor in how their body is actually doing. Connect it once, and a 10-second face scan hands the assistant real-time vital signs to reason over, on a camera the user already owns.
“We’re building the world’s first health-sensing layer for AI,” said Lau. “Assistants can already read your emails, book flights, and plan your day. Now they can sense how you’re actually doing, and that makes them more useful almost everywhere, from health and training to the everyday decisions people make.”
Built on research
NervoScan’s technology was developed through research conducted with Singapore General Hospital, with peer-reviewed results published in JMIR Formative Research (2025).
“Putting our work through peer review mattered to us,” said Lau. “It means the method was examined by independent experts, not simply asserted by the company that built it. That foundation is what we’re building on as we bring health sensing to AI.”
Private by design
As AI systems gain access to more personal information, privacy and data governance are central to how NervoScan is designed.
“NervoScan does not store scan results. The scan happens, you see it. When you leave, it’s gone,” said Lau.
NervoScan is built as a biosensing system, not an identification system: its purpose is to extract physiological signals from facial video, not to identify a person from their face. Every scan requires the user’s consent, and NervoScan retains only a timestamp of when a scan took place, never the readings themselves. As Lau puts it: “We don’t sell your data, because there is nothing to sell.”
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Nervotec
Nervotec is a Singapore-based health AI company focused on contactless biosensing. Its technology uses camera-based sensing and artificial intelligence to make wellness information more accessible through the devices people already use, letting AI systems, digital platforms, and organisations access physiological context through a simple camera interaction. Nervotec powers health monitoring in Pulse by Prudential across Asia and Africa, and its technology was developed through research with Singapore General Hospital and the National University Health System (NUHS), peer-reviewed in JMIR Formative Research (2025).
Disclaimer
NervoScan is a general wellness tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition, and its estimates are not a substitute for a medical device or a professional clinical assessment.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), Thailand’s leading energy and lifestyle retail operator, has announced its OR 2030 Goals – a comprehensive sustainability framework across three dimensions: Economic Prosperity, Living Community, and Healthy Environment – as the global energy industry undergoes accelerating transition, navigates geopolitical uncertainty, and responds to climate imperatives.
The announcement comes as OR marks its third consecutive year as the No. 1 ranked company in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026 in the retail industry category, placing it among the top 1% of more than 9,200 companies assessed globally. OR has also been selected as a member of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (DJBICI) for the third straight year, reflecting the company’s consistent performance across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions.
“At OR, we believe that growth and responsibility are not trade-offs – they are the same pursuit. Our 2030 Goals reflect our commitment to ensuring that as OR grows, so do the people, communities, and environments we operate within. Inclusive growth is not a vision statement. It is how we run our business,” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer, PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR).
OR’s 2030 Goals are built on the 3Ps framework – People, Planet, and Performance, with three concrete targets: driving inclusive growth with more than one million partners, entrepreneurs, employees, and community stakeholders; improving quality of life across more than 17,000 communities, reaching over 12 million people; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than one-third against the 2022 baseline, with a long-term commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
Across all three dimensions of its sustainability framework (Economic Prosperity, Living Community, and Healthy Environment), OR’s commitments are grounded in existing operations and measurable outcomes.
On the Economic Prosperity front, OR’s PTT Station network in Thailand – spanning over 2,400 stations nationwide, serving 4 million customers daily alongside 681 partner brands – provides small entrepreneurs and investors with direct access to one of Thailand’s largest retail ecosystems. OR also opens sales channels within Café Amazon stores for community bakery entrepreneurs.
On the Living Community front, the Café Amazon for Chance program has opened more than 500 branches, each employing at least one hire from vulnerable groups – elderly, disabled, or otherwise disadvantaged individuals – creating over 400 jobs through an accessible franchise model. The Thaidet program, which promotes local SME products through OR’s retail network, has expanded to 487 outlets nationwide, creating a direct sales channel for community entrepreneurs. The Sustainable Coffee Project develops farmers across the full supply chain from cultivation to processing, providing stable income to agricultural communities while reducing the carbon footprint of production.
On the Healthy Environment front, OR’s EV Station PluZ network has expanded to more than 1,300 locations across all 77 provinces, with 2,931 DC charge connectors including Ultra-Fast Charge technology delivering up to 480 kW – capable of serving six vehicles simultaneously. OR also supplies Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to leading airlines at Suvarnabhumi Airport, contributing to the decarbonization of Thailand’s aviation sector. Solar installations – spanning Solar Rooftop, Solar Floating, and Solar Farm formats – are being scaled across PTT Station sites and beyond under 15–25-year Private Power Purchase Agreements. The company has also invested in Thai Pipeline Network, operator of Thailand’s oil pipeline infrastructure, strengthening energy supply security while reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
As the energy transition reshapes markets across Asia, OR’s 2030 Goals chart a clear path toward inclusive and sustainable growth, with a long-term commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
Hashtag: #OR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
One of the first cybersecurity vendors selected as OpenAI expands Daybreak from internal testing to a curated group of trusted defenders
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – TrendAI™, the enterprise AI security leader from Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), today announced it has joined the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program – gaining access to OpenAI’s frontier AI capabilities purpose-built for cybersecurity. TrendAI™ is among the first cybersecurity vendors selected as OpenAI expands Daybreak from internal testing to a curated group of trusted defenders, reflecting TrendAI™’s three-decade track record at the forefront of global threat intelligence.
TrendAI™ managed security teams are already deploying agentic triage capabilities powered by OpenAI’s frontier AI models integrated directly into TrendAI Vision One™. Security operations triage agents autonomously surface AI-assisted insights within the SIEM platforms, XDR consoles, and threat intelligence portals analysts already work in – delivering contextual triage decisions at machine speed and measurably reducing mean time to triage. Analysts shift from reactive alert handling to the escalation and validation decisions that require human judgment.
The partnership also strengthens TrendAI™’s vulnerability intelligence programs. With OpenAI’s frontier cyber capabilities embedded in TrendAI Vision One™ as part of a managed service workflow, this gives threat researchers greater speed and precision in identifying, prioritizing, and disclosing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.Intelligence feeds directly into virtual patching and pre-disclosure capabilities, so customers receive protection at the point of discovery, often before a CVE is published or a vendor patch is available.
Insights developed through Daybreak will feed directly into TrendAI™’s global threat intelligence programs and Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) – the industry’s longest-running vendor-agnostic bug bounty program – extending the reach and impact of coordinated disclosure across the broader software ecosystem.
“Integrating OpenAI’s frontier cyber capabilities directly into TrendAI Vision One™ is a meaningful step forward for enterprise security teams. Our customers benefit from faster, more precise threat analysis and vulnerability research – without ever interacting with the model directly. This is AI working as infrastructure: built into the products and services security teams already rely on, raising the bar for every organization that depends on them.” Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI™.
As a Trusted Partner, TrendAI™ joins a select community of organizations working alongside OpenAI to advance the responsible use of frontier AI for security. The Daybreak program reflects a shared conviction that the most powerful application of advanced AI is fundamentally proactive – giving defenders the speed, precision, and scale to stay ahead of threats before they materialize.Hashtag: #trendai #trendaivisionone #visionone #trendmicro #OpenAI
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About TrendAI™
TrendAI™, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. Trusted by the largest enterprises and governments across 185 countries, TrendAI™ secures the entire organization, from identities to infrastructure to data. Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI™ to cut risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by world-leading threat and attack intelligence. Through deep ecosystem partnerships with market leaders like NVIDIA, Anthropic, AWS, Google, and Microsoft, TrendAI™ empowers your organization to securely drive forward at the speed of AI. AI Fearlessly. Learn more at trendaisecurity.com.
作为本港资深的补习及升学顾问机构，慧理教育（For You Education）第二季度市场趋势观察指出，高才通家长对子女的教育规划多倾向选择国际学校或直资学校的”双轨制”路径，导致 IB、IGCSE、A-Level 等国际考试的咨询量与报考人数爆发式增长。慧理教育剖析三大深层原因：第一，家长视留学为建立全球化世界观、增长见识的关键路径；第二，国际课程学术研究精深，鼓励学生将精力集中在擅长领域，实现更高的学业成就；第三，国际考试安排灵活，允许重考，备考自主性更高。
Get every print issue delivered to your door — fill in your details below to subscribe or renew.
Terms & Conditions and Notice
Terms & Conditions:
No refund policy: all sales are final, please review your order before confirming. We do not offer refunds or exchanges for any products sold through Inovatif Media Asia (IMA), the publisher of The SmartInvestor magazine.
Price subjected to change at Management's discretion.
IMA is not responsible for delays or delivery failures.
Print subscription for overseas readers are subjected to additional delivery charges.
Additional charges apply for courier services.
NOTICE:
IMA has not appointed any sales representatives; all purchases must be made directly by emailing my-circulation@inovatif.com.my. We are not responsible for any transactions made through unauthorised channels.
Please also check with us on the retail price of our magazines if you have not received our renewal/subscription form, before making any payments.
http://www.citigroup.com | X: 
@Citi | LinkedIn: 
www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: 
www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: 
www.facebook.com/citi 
www.citigroup.com
@Citi
www.linkedin.com/company/citi
www.youtube.com/citi
www.facebook.com/citi
https://www.boi.go.th
https://nervotec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nervotec/
https://www.instagram.com/nervotec/
https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/for-you-education-limited/
https://www.facebook.com/ForYouEducationHK
https://www.instagram.com/foryoueduhk/
https://www.foryouedu.com.hk
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/
www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/