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Envision Partners with Kazakhstan Samruk-Kazyna Invest to Expand Energy Storage and Renewable Growth in Central Asia

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, announced a Joint Development Agreement with Samruk-Kazyna Invest (SKI), the investment arm of Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, for the localized production of BESS at Envision Global Tech Day 2026 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). The signing was witnessed by Edward Hou, Senior Vice President and President of Asia-Pacific Region at Envision Energy, and Saken Muratuly, Representative of Samruk-Kazyna JSC Chaiman, aiming to advance energy storage localization, technology transfer, project deployment, and regional market expansion in Kazakhstan.


Kazakhstan, a leading energy player in Central Asia, is at a critical stage of its energy transition. Rapidly expanding wind and solar projects are driving growing demand for grid flexibility and energy storage. Envision and SKI will collaborate to establish local BESS assembly and manufacturing capabilities, supporting a stable supply chain, reducing reliance on imported equipment, and improving delivery efficiency and cost competitiveness.

“Kazakhstan is emerging as a green energy hub in Central Asia, leading the region in renewable installed capacity and project scale. Its wind and solar projects have repeatedly set new regional records, positioning the country as a benchmark for energy transition across Central Asia.” said Saken Muratuly. “Energy storage is a critical infrastructure for large-scale renewable integration. Localizing BESS will enhance Kazakhstan’s renewable energy integration, grid resilience, and ensure grid stability and energy security. This partnership marks an important starting point for deepened collaboration between SKI and Envision, stimulating local industries, creating high-quality jobs, and accelerating industrial upgrading. We look forward to advancing projects across multiple energy scenarios and establishing nationally recognized demonstration initiatives.”

“This partnership marks a major institutional and industrial milestone in clean energy collaboration, strengthening long-term trust and synergy across the green energy value chain.” added Edward Hou, “Envision will further deepen mutual trust and coordination across the green energy value chain, and leverage our strengths in large-scale BESS project delivery, digital energy management, and system safety to accelerate the country’s energy transition and sustainability goals. Building on this foundation, we will support Kazakhstan’s energy structure transformation and the achievement of its medium- to long-term emission-reduction targets, supporting green energy transition and sustainable development across Central Asia.”

Clapp Finance Launches Flexible Savings: Up to 5.2% APY With Instant Access

PRAGUE, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Clapp Finance, an all-in-one crypto management platform, has introduced Flexible Savings. This high-yield product lets users earn competitive interest on crypto, stablecoins and euros without locking funds away, providing a secure, liquid way to grow wealth within the app.

 

The launch meets surging demand for passive income on digital assets. It offers up to 5.2% APY on assets like EUR, BTC, ETH, and stablecoins, with daily compounding and instant access.

“People want their money to grow without being tied up,” said Ilya Stadnik, CEO of Clapp Finance. “Banks offer low rates; many crypto products require lockups. Flexible Savings changes that — it lets you earn a high yield while keeping full access to your funds. This is the start of our hub for diversified earnings, with Fixed Savings coming soon, to give you total control over your wealth.”

Key Features of Clapp Flexible Savings

  • High yield, no lockups: Earn up to 5.2% APY. Withdraw any amount, anytime.
  • Daily compounding: Interest is added every 24 hours.
  • Multi-asset support: Earn on EUR, USDC, USDT, BTC, and ETH.
  • Secure & regulated: Assets are safeguarded by Fireblocks; Clapp is a registered EU VASP.
  • Fully integrated: Manage savings seamlessly within your Clapp Wallet, alongside trading, credit lines, and portfolios. 

Redefining Savings with Unprecedented Flexibility

Your savings are part of your financial strategy in Clapp. Earn yield, then instantly move funds to trade, manage credit, or invest — all without fees or delays. This seamless liquidity is ideal for an emergency fund, goals, or idle capital. 

Current APY Rates

  • EUR, USDC, USDT: 5.2% APY
  • Ethereum (ETH): 4.2% APY
  • Bitcoin (BTC): 3.2% APY

The launch responds to the explosive, 13x growth of the yield-bearing stablecoin sector in under two years, highlighting a major shift as investors seek reliable passive income beyond traditional finance. 

Ready to Start Earning?

Users can activate Clapp Flexible Savings in seconds within the app, starting with just €10 or $10 equivalent. 

About Clapp Finance

Clapp is an EU-based fintech founded in 2025, offering an all-in-one crypto platform. Its integrated wallet, exchange, savings, portfolios, and credit lines bridge CeFi and DeFi with user-friendly tools for over 130 countries.

Follow Clapp’s journey on X and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Alicia Ktorides
PR & Communications Manager
aktorides@clapp.finance 
https://clapp.finance/

DP WORLD SURVEY: TRADE LEADERS UPBEAT ON 2026 DESPITE RISING BARRIERS

Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook: 94% expect 2026 growth to match or exceed 2025 despite tariffs, costs and policy uncertainty

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global trade outlook looks fragile. Business confidence does not. That’s the core finding of DP World’s new Global Trade Observatory (GTO) Annual Outlook Report 2026, showing 94% of respondents expect 2026 trade growth to match or exceed the pace of 2025, despite rising frictions and volatility.

BUSINESSES FACE HIGH LEVELS OF POLICY UNCERTAINTY
BUSINESSES FACE HIGH LEVELS OF POLICY UNCERTAINTY

The findings are based on a survey of 3,500 senior supply chain and logistics executives across eight industries and 19 countries, conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.

In total, 54% expect trade growth to be faster than 2025 and 40% expect it to be equal. This is despite 53% anticipating high or very high policy uncertainty, 90% expecting trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged. Only 25% expect a negative impact on their business, with 49% expecting no effect and 26% even seeing a positive impact.

This frontline sentiment contrasts with some macro projections, with the IMF forecasting trade growth (by volume) could slow to 2.3% in 2026, down from an estimated 3.6% in 2025.

Asked where trade growth potential is greatest in 2026, executives most frequently pointed to Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Global trade is becoming increasingly complex, not less so. Our role is clear: to keep trade moving by understanding where friction exists, anticipating where it may emerge next, and investing in the infrastructure, capabilities and partnerships that help our customers operate more efficiently and reliably.”

The GTO Annual Outlook was developed with Geneva-based insights agency, Horizon Group. Margareta Drzeniek, Managing Partner, Horizon Group, said: “What we’re seeing is confidence with contingency plans. Executives are embedding resilience into strategy by diversifying suppliers, reassessing routes and adding options, because volatility is now the baseline. Those best positioned will be the ones who can turn those resilience plans into measurable performance.”

What companies are doing differently in 2026

The survey indicates companies are responding to volatility by actively redesigning supply chains and trade routes. This includes:

  • Resilience as strategy: Supplier diversification (51%), higher inventories (44%), and friend-shoring (36%) are cited among the most common strategic shifts planned for 2026.
  • Route agility increases: 26% intend to use new routes, while 23% are evaluating them. Decisions are driven by cost savings (38%), improved connectivity/inland infrastructure (36%), and faster customs procedures/clearance times (35%).
  • Border friction remains a choke point: 60% cite customs clearance as a leading cause of delays and disruption. Executives also prioritise investment in warehousing and logistics hubs (39%), road networks (36%), and border/customs processing infrastructure (36%).

The DP World Global Trade Observatory (GTO) is a data- and insights-led platform designed to provide decision-makers with actionable intelligence on the forces reshaping global trade, grounded in research including a proprietary survey of 3,500 supply chain and logistics executives across eight industries and 19 countries. Research was conducted in November 2025 with Geneva-based insights agency Horizon Group.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Adal Mirza
Group Vice President
Adal.mirza@dpworld.com
+971 50 628 7856  

Hakam Kherallah
Group Senior Manager
Hakam.Kherallah@dpworld.com
+971 50 552 2610

Follow DP World on:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DP_World
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dp-world

About DP World

DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 125,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW

EXECUTIVES EXPECT FASTER TRADE GROWTH IN 2026
EXECUTIVES EXPECT FASTER TRADE GROWTH IN 2026

 

DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at Davos
DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at Davos

 

GENEIII Sets the Global Benchmark for Ergothioneine with Pharmaceutical-Grade Purity and Human Clinical Validation

SINGAPORE, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 9th, GENEIII reaffirmed its global leadership in ergothioneine production and scientific validation at the “Research Without Borders • Tracing the Source with GENEIII” Global Evidence-Based Journey.

GENEIII joined forces with core partners to visit the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory. The event facilitated a deep international dialogue centering on the transformation of ergothioneine from basic research to industrial application, and showcased the complete scientific value chain GENEIII has constructed with NUS and Temasek. This collaboration is achieving a dual track of “Global Layout of Frontier Research” and “Official National Certification for a Leading Brand,” demonstrating the new heights in synthetic biology to the global market.


Furthermore, the company showcased its breakthroughs in pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing and registered human clinical research, establishing a new international standard for ergothioneine as a functional bioactive ingredient.

GENEIII is currently the sole internationally leading manufacturer of ergothioneine raw materials, achieving excellence in quality, production capacity, and cost efficiency. Through advanced synthetic biology and precision fermentation, GENEIII produces ergothioneine with 99.99% purity, exceptional molecular stability, and is odorless, overcoming long-standing challenges associated with this compound.

Production is carried out using 30-tonne industrial fermenters in accordance with cGMP pharmaceutical standards, ensuring consistent quality, full traceability, and reliable large-scale supply. This industrial capability fundamentally reshapes the global ergothioneine supply chain, enabling downstream applications in nutrition, health, and medical research to be built on a stable, pharmaceutical-grade foundation.

Beyond manufacturing leadership, GENEIII has taken a decisive step in advancing ergothioneine from laboratory research to human clinical validation. The company has conducted a series of human clinical trials officially registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and publicly disclosed on the National Health Commission of China’s official platform.


These studies were carried out across tertiary hospitals, ensuring independent oversight, standardized clinical protocols, and high scientific credibility.
(Chinese Clinical Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2400093739)

This clinical program represents the first systematically registered, hospital-based human validation of ergothioneine in the industry, setting a new benchmark for transparency and evidence-based development. By directly linking high-purity raw materials with measurable human outcomes, GENEIII has established a strong scientific foundation for the safe and effective application of ergothioneine.

GENEIII’s integrated model—combining pharmaceutical-grade purity, industrial-scale manufacturing, and registered human clinical research—positions the company at the forefront of global ergothioneine innovation. As the industry moves toward higher regulatory standards and evidence-driven products, GENEIII continues to define what clinically validated, world-class ergothioneine truly means.

About GeneIII

At GeneIII, we are a biotechnology company at our core. Our patented bioengineering process redefines L-Ergothioneine production, delivering 99.99% purity, full transparency, and clinically backed results that set a new industry benchmark.

We are the first in the industry to achieve human clinical verification. Our work is supported by an expert advisory panel of eight leading professionals, led by the world-renowned anti-aging authority, Professor Barry Halliwell. Learn more at geneiii.com.

ZTO Express Holds 2026 National Network Conference

SHANGHAI, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 20, 2026, ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) (“ZTO” or the “Company”), a leading and fast-growing express delivery enterprise in China, convened its National Network Conference at its headquarters in Shanghai. The conference conveyed and studied the guiding principles from the State Post Bureau’s 2026 National Postal Work Conference and the strategic direction for the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, during which the Company reviewed its performance in 2025, analyzed the current landscape, and deliberated on and arranged the key priorities for 2026.

The Company’s chairman, Meisong Lai, emphasized in his keynote speech entitled “Striving Together, Advancing Steadily for the Long-run,” that in 2025, guided by government policies advocating for orderly competition and anti-involution, industry pricing gradually stabilized and recovered, and the competitive landscape continued to improve. ZTO remained committed to prioritizing service quality as its core priority, consistently implementing its balanced development strategy, and continually refining its service system, expanding its service coverage, and promoting industrial synergy. The Company achieved a full-year parcel volume of 38.52 billion parcels, representing a year-over-year increase of 13.3%, and maintained its leading position in the industry in terms of business scale for the tenth consecutive year. Furthermore, the Company’s platform reverse logistics business registered doubled growth, earning greater trust from more platform clients and consumers.

The conference further clarified the overall working philosophy and key tasks for 2026. It emphasized the comprehensive implementation of the State Post Bureau’s directives, balancing quality and development, with a focus on operational safety, service enhancement, network optimization, efficiency improvement, fostering equity, uniting the workforce, strengthening execution, and tapping into potential as the guiding principles for the entire network. The aim is to promote development through quality and stimulate vitality through optimization, thereby solidly ensuring the achievement of all operational objectives.

Chairman Meisong Lai expressed his gratitude to ZTO’s network partners and all employees for their trust and support over the past year. He emphasized that the express delivery industry remains a promising sunrise sector with robust growth prospects. The industry is currently in a critical phase of transition, shifting from high quantity to a combination of quantity plus quality, and from pure express delivery towards integrated logistics. On the path of high-quality development, ZTO must act as a visionary thinker, industry trailblazer and pragmatic executor. The entire network must recognize prevailing industry trends, gain a clear understanding of its own positioning, reject involution, and pursue win-win cooperation and competition. Only by committing to concrete actions, pragmatic efforts, and solid results can ZTO ensure a path forward that is sound, stable, and sustainable for the long run.

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK:2057) (“ZTO” or the “Company”) is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and other similar expressions. ZTO may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKEX”), in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of the HKEX, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about ZTO’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: risks relating to the development of the e-commerce and express delivery industries in China; its significant reliance on certain third-party e-commerce platforms; risks associated with its network partners and their employees and personnel; intense competition which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and market share; any service disruption of the Company’s sorting hubs or the outlets operated by its network partners or its technology system; ZTO’s ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in ZTO’s filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and ZTO does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor inquiries, please contact:
Investor Relations
Tel: (86) 21 5980 4508
Email: ir@zto.com

Bybit Explores 2026 Macro Volatility and Always-On Market Access

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, hosted a Bybit Learn livestream titled “Kick off 2026 with Bybit Alpha & Bybit xStocks,” focusing on how macroeconomic developments, corporate earnings and geopolitical events may influence markets in the year ahead, while outlining how users can access tokenized representations of selected global stocks and gold through Bybit Alpha and Bybit xStocks.

The session was moderated by Sheikh Bilal, Head of Learn at Bybit. He was joined by Ann Zhang, Spot Product Marketing Manager at Bybit, and Han Tan, Chief Market Analyst at Bybit Learn.

Bilal opened the discussion by framing 2026 as a year likely to be shaped by major economic data releases, policy decisions and geopolitical developments, noting that these events often set the tone for broader market sentiment across asset classes.

Tan highlighted how recent global developments have underscored the importance of market responsiveness. “2026 has already kicked off with some geopolitical shockers,” Tan said. “With Bybit Alpha offering 24/7 access to key asset classes, this allows traders to express their market views and respond swiftly to major macro developments.”

Tan also outlined several macro factors that traders commonly monitor, including U.S. inflation and employment data, central bank communications and quarterly earnings reports. He noted that these drivers can influence equities, commodities such as gold, and currency markets, sometimes resulting in sharp price movements.

Using large-cap technology companies as examples, Tan discussed how investor expectations around artificial intelligence have shaped recent market trends. He referenced Nvidia as a prominent case, saying its performance has reflected optimism around AI-related demand, while upcoming earnings reports are expected to draw attention to questions around longer-term monetization of AI services across the technology sector.

Ann Zhang then demonstrated how users can navigate Bybit Alpha to access Bybit xStocks, which are tokenized products designed to track the price movements of selected publicly traded equities and indices, as well as tokenized gold products. She said users can trade fractional amounts, with a minimum trade size of $10, and do not need to open a traditional brokerage account to access these tokenized products within Bybit’s unified trading account.

Ann Zhang also introduced onchain liquidity pools available through Bybit Alpha’s farm section. She explained that users can select a pool, define a price range and deposit supported tokens to participate, with potential rewards derived from onchain trading fees. She added that minimum deposit amounts apply and that positions can be withdrawn in full or in part, subject to product conditions.

Tan described the broader positioning of the platform within evolving market infrastructure. “Bybit Alpha employs avant-garde Web3 technology, bringing more TradFi assets on-chain, to offer another gateway for traders and investors to capitalize on market opportunities across equities and cryptos,” he said.

Throughout the livestream, the speakers highlighted that certain Bybit Alpha and xStocks products are presented as available for trading on a continuous basis, including outside traditional equity market hours. They also noted that some instruments on the platform follow conventional market schedules, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate product.

The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment addressing topics such as how liquidity pool rewards are generated, the distinction between tokenized products and traditional share ownership, and which users may find the offerings relevant, including crypto-native participants seeking exposure to stock and gold price movements within a unified account environment.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

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FITUR 2026 brings together global tourism with more than 160 countries and 10,000 companies

Mexico joins FITUR 2026 as Partner Country in an edition bringing together 967 main exhibitors and marking an 11% rise in international participation.

The Knowledge Hub, FITUR Experience and the first International Summit on Communication and Tourism introduce the main innovations of a 46th edition boosting FITUR’s position as the world’s leading tourism fair.

MADRID, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Madrid once again becomes the focal point of global tourism as it hosts the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), organised by IFEMA MADRID from 21–25 January 2026. In its 46th edition, FITUR strengthens its position as the sector’s leading platform, highlighting both its international reach and its commitment to knowledge as a driver of industry transformation.

From left to right: María Valcarce, Director of FITUR; Miguel Aguiñiga Rodríguez,Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism; Mariano de Paco,Community of Madrid; Sheika Alnuwais, Secretary‑General of UN Tourism; José Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman ofIFEMA MADRID; Rosario Sánchez,Ministry of Industry and Tourism; Marco Sansavini, Chair of the FITUR OC and President of Iberia; and Almudena Maíllo, Madrid City Council
From left to right: María Valcarce, Director of FITUR; Miguel Aguiñiga Rodríguez,Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism; Mariano de Paco,Community of Madrid; Sheika Alnuwais, Secretary‑General of UN Tourism; José Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman ofIFEMA MADRID; Rosario Sánchez,Ministry of Industry and Tourism; Marco Sansavini, Chair of the FITUR OC and President of Iberia; and Almudena Maíllo, Madrid City Council

The figures unveiled at the press conference underscore FITUR’s leadership: nine halls, more than 10,000 companies from 161 countries, 111 of them counting on official representation, (10% up on the 2025 edition) and 967 main exhibitors. Overall, FITUR has recorded an 11% rise in international participation.

FITUR also welcomes 18 new nations, largely from Africa and the Asia–Pacific, where participation has risen by 34% and 22% respectively. Standing out newcomers include Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Zanzibar, alongside regions from Germany and the United Kingdom.

FITUR 2026’s figures reflect the strong global momentum across the tourism industry. According to UN Tourism, between January and September 2025 the sector welcomed more than 1.1 billion international travellers, surpassing pre‑pandemic records set in 2019.

The Knowledge Hub and Fitur’s latest projects

In this context, FITUR 2026 strengthens its role as a key forum for industry debate with several major additions. The most relevant is the new Knowledge Hub, located in Hall 12 and open throughout the fair. Conceived as the strategic hub for tourism insight, it features eight auditoriums, ten conference programmes, more than 200 sessions and over 250 high‑level speakers.

The Knowledge Hub will also host further highlights, including FITUR Experience, focused on experiential tourism as one of the sector’s most dynamic drivers of change, and the first International Summit on Communication and Tourism, which analyses the challenges facing tourism communication alongside experts and representatives from both the public and private sectors. In addition, the Travel Technology Area has doubled in size and will bring together more than 190 leading innovation companies.

Economic impact and visitor outlook

Strong participation points to a significant turnout, with forecasts exceeding 150,000 professionals and close to 100,000 public visitors over the weekend. FITUR remains a major economic engine for Madrid, generating €487 million in its previous edition.

Mexico, FITUR 2026 Partner Country

Mexico will be the Partner Country of FITUR 2026, with a prominent presence at the Fair at a time when its tourism sector grew by 13.9% between January and September 2025, according to SECTUR, and with the aim of securing its position as the world’s fifth most visited destination.

Sustainability, accessibility and an open weekend

FITUR 2026 expects to connect the tourism industry with other sectors while addressing key challenges across its 11 specialised sections. (Full programme here):

FITUR will introduce a fast‑track entrance at the South‑East access to facilitate professional entry and is encouraging the use of public transport, supported by increased services on Metro Line 8.

Over the weekend, FITUR will open its doors to travellers with a full programme of activities, workshops and experiences, reinforcing its status as the sector’s major public celebration.

More information at https://www.ifema.es/en/fitur 

About FITUR

FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, is one of the leading global events in the tourism industry and has been held in Madrid since 1981. Each year, it brings together industry professionals, companies, destinations, and international organizations to showcase trends, innovations, and business opportunities. Organized by IFEMA MADRID, FITUR has established itself as a global benchmark for driving and promoting tourism.

Press contacts:

Alejandra Elorza
Press Chief FITUR
aelorza@ifema.es    

Elena Valera
evalera@ifema.es 

Lucas Farioli
lfarioli@ifema.es

 

 

 

Building the Run: Xtep Charts a New Community Ecosystem in Southeast Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global performance sportswear brand Xtep Group has inaugurated its 2026 Southeast Asia expansion with the debut of new, experience-driven hubs in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. More than mere retail openings, these launches represent the strategic activation of Xtep’s integrated running ecosystem in the region. This ecosystem is intentionally engineered as a self-reinforcing flywheel: leveraging digital platforms for inspiration and reach, converting that interest into tangible, community-focused retail experiences, and cultivating a dedicated culture that fuels ongoing engagement across all channels. It is this closed-loop model—seamlessly connecting online influence, offline immersion, and community belonging—that positions Xtep for sustainable growth as it builds the definitive running network in Southeast Asia. 

XTEP Brand Experience Centers were officially launched in Indonesia and Malaysia
XTEP Brand Experience Centers were officially launched in Indonesia and Malaysia

Xtep’s strategic expansion taps directly into Southeast Asia’s profound running boom, a shift powered by deepening health consciousness. Solidifying its status as the most popular sport in Indonesia, running is favored by 60.6% of the public, according to a 2025 survey by local researcher Kedai Kopi. The scale of engagement in the region is vividly captured in Malaysia, where the flagship Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon drew a record 42,000 participants in 2025. This powerful trend signals robust and sustained demand for professional running gear, creating a pivotal opportunity for Xtep to leverage its unmatched racing pedigree.

2026 Xiamen Marathon Running Shoe Brand Ranking (Date resources: Joyrun)
2026 Xiamen Marathon Running Shoe Brand Ranking (Date resources: Joyrun)

Positioned at the intersection of this community passion and professional performance, Xtep’s new retail destinations look toward a more diversified future as holistic running hubs. This commitment to serving every runner is validated on the world’s most elite stages. At the 2026 Xiamen Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label race, Xtep demonstrated its equipment leadership by being the shoe of choice for 60.1% of elite sub-three-hour finishers and 45.1% of all participants. The brand’s stores are engineered to translate this proven track performance into accessible expertise, offering runners a comprehensive range of professional gear for race day and beyond.

To make this translation complete, Xtep is executing its “Influencing the Masses through Professionalism” strategy via an integrated “Retail + Community” model. This approach moves beyond traditional sales by fusing elite performance credibility with accessible community experiences, positioning Xtep as the trusted partner that brings professional-grade engagement to every runner’s journey.

As a tangible step in fulfilling this partnership, Xtep’s 2026 Southeast Asia chapter will see its next key milestones: the grand opening of its first Indonesian flagship in Jakarta on January 22, followed by the formal launch of the Kuala Lumpur brand center in April. These openings will be marked by a series of community runs and engagement activities, with participation further amplified by a dedicated 10KM TIME TRIAL scheduled in Malaysia in April. Stay tuned as Xtep continues to deepen its ties with the running community.