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Traffic Adjustments for Laos-Vietnam Friendship Concert

By
Thongsavanh Souvannasane
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Kaysone Phomvihane Road in Laos' Vientiane Capital. 17 April 2025. (Photo credit: Laophattana News)

Vientiane has announced traffic adjustments for 9 January to accommodate the “Grand Concert: Laos-Vietnam, The Great Friendship,” celebrating the conclusion of the 12th National Party Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), held from 6 to 8 January

The concert will honor this milestone and the enduring bilateral friendship between the two nations.

To support the event, special public transport services will operate throughout the day for participants.

According to the Vientiane Capital Department of Public Works and Transport, morning services from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM, will transport attendees from designated accommodations to the National Cultural Hall via Samsenthai Road. 

Afternoon and evening services, operating from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, will carry participants from That Luang ground to the National Stadium KM16 via Kaysone Phomvihane Road and National Road No. 13 South.

The public is advised to avoid several key routes during these periods. Motorists are urged to bypass Samsenthai Road between the Ministry of Technology and Communications and Sihom intersections, including surrounding alleys near the National Cultural Hall. 

Drivers entering the capital from National Road No. 13 South should avoid the National Stadium KM16 area by turning left at the KM21 traffic light onto 450-Year Road.

Travelers from Keun village in Vientiane Province heading into the capital via National Road No. 10, particularly through the Thangon village area, are encouraged to use alternative routes. 

Residents traveling southbound are advised to avoid Kaysone Phomvihane Road and National Road No. 13 South, especially around the Don Nuon roundabout, and instead use Route 11 or Road 450 Years.

Authorities request public cooperation to minimize congestion during this key national celebration.

Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong Launches Critical Illness Plan to Enhance Health and Financial Protection for Customers

By
Advertorial Desk
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Comprehensive coverage for every stage of the health journey,
plus a welcome offer supporting mental health

HONG KONG, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong today announced the launch of the Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM (the “Plan”), expanding its medical insurance portfolio with critical illness protection to deliver comprehensive health and financial protection for customers and their families across every stage of life.

Jonathan Spiers, CEO at Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong, said: “As healthcare costs rise and critical illnesses become increasingly common, protecting both health and financial well-being has never been more important. Our Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness Plan™ offers a lump-sum benefit designed to ease financial burdens in challenging times, so customers can focus on recovery with peace of mind. This Plan complements the suite of medical insurance products we offer to provide dual protection—medical and financial—and reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the health and vitality of those we serve.”

Providing Financial Protection When Health Challenges Arise

The Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM provides financial protection when life takes an unexpected turn. It offers a lump-sum benefit upon diagnosis of a covered illness, safeguarding the financial stability of customers during recovery.

While standard medical insurance covers hospitalization and surgical fees, it does not address financial burden or indirect costs of income loss during recovery. This Plan is designed to extend and provide protection with flexible options to meet diverse needs. The Plan can provide primary financial protection for individuals without medical insurance, serve as additional protection for those seeking greater security during key earning years, or as a complement to existing medical plans such as Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme for holistic coverage.

Key features[1] of the Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM include:

  • 5-Year Renewable Term: 5-year policy term with guaranteed renewal up to age 85.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Up to HK$4,000,000 sum insured, covering a total of 110 diseases and surgeries.
  • Critical Illness Benefit: 100% of the sum insured payout[2] upon diagnosis of any of the 58 covered critical illnesses.
  • Early-Stage Critical Illness Benefit: Advances 20% of the sum insured[2] for early-stage conditions, including carcinoma-in-situ (up to two claims occurring in two different organs), early-stage cancer, surgeries, and juvenile illnesses.
  • Worldwide Second Medical Opinion Service[3]: Complimentary access to independent global medical centres for a second opinion on diagnosis and treatment plans.

Welcome Offer for Complete Well-Being

Our latest Cigna Healthcare International Health Global Study reveals that 77% of Hong Kong people report experiencing stress, up from 69% in the previous edition. Mental and physical health are closely connected. Individuals facing critical illnesses often experience emotional challenges, while stress, anxiety or depression can increase the risk of long-term health conditions. This makes mental well-being an essential part of overall health.

To support customers on their holistic health journey, Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM features the following welcome offers[4] for customers who purchase before 31 March 2026: 

Mental Wellness Service[5]

•  Up to four one-on-one coaching sessions with a counselling psychologist in the first policy year

•  24-hour mental health hotline for immediate emotional support

Premium Discount Offer

•  35% off for a single policy in the first year

•  An uplift to 50% off when enrolling 2–5 members together

•  Extra Offer: Lifetime 10% off on Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM when purchased together with designated medical plans from Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong

•  HK$200 Mannings Coupon for sum insured of HK$500,000 or above

 

For more information about the Cigna Healthcare VitalGuard Critical Illness PlanTM and the welcome offers, please visit Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong’s website at: https://www.cigna.com.hk/en/medical-insurance/vitalguard-critical-illness

Notes:

[1] The product information above is for general reference only and does not constitute the full terms and conditions of the policy. For detailed definitions of specified terms, specific coverage conditions, exclusions, and complete terms, please refer to the policy document.

[2] The application and actual amount of all lump-sum and advance payments above are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy and the claims procedures.

[3] Worldwide Second Medical Opinion Service is a value-added service provided by an independent third-party service provider and does not form part of the contractual benefit under the policy. Please refer to the product brochure for details.

[4] The above welcome offers are subject to terms and conditions.

[5] The Mental Wellness Service is a value-added service provided by an independent third-party service provider and does not form part of the contractual benefit under the policy. Please refer to the promotion leaflet for details.

Remarks:

The above product is intended for sale in Hong Kong only. The above information should not be regarded as any form of offer or recommendation to purchase insurance.

 

– Ends – 

About Cigna Healthcare Hong Kong

Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the health care system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality.

Founded in 1933, our Hong Kong business provides comprehensive health and wellness solutions to employers, employees and individual customers. Leveraging on our extensive global healthcare network, we offer global group medical benefits that provide comprehensive and tailored coverage for a wide range of organizations. For individual customers, we also offer a full suite of health insurance plans to cater for their diverse needs. For more details, please visit www.cigna.com.hk.

Invitation to Autoliv’s Q4, 2025 Earnings Call

By
Advertorial Desk
-

STOCKHOLM , Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autoliv Inc., plans to publish its Financial Report for the fourth quarter 2025 on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 12:00 Central European Time (CET).

The report will be available at www.autoliv.com
In addition, a teleconference will take place the same day.

Q4 2025 Earnings Call:

Date:

January 30, 2026

Time:

14:00 – 15:00 CET

Main speaker:

Mikael Bratt, President & CEO

To attend by webcast, please use the link on our web or the link below:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/e63pzqqy

To attend by phone, use the link below to register your participation and obtain your personal pin code and phone number:
https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI62c064606ec84abf9b6abb580ca74c4b

Audio replay will be available after the conference until January 30, 2027:
www.autoliv.com/investors/reports-presentations-transcripts

Transcript will be available on:
www.autoliv.com/investors/reports-presentations-transcripts

For more information about Autoliv, please visit www.autoliv.com

Best regards,
Anders Trapp
V.P. Investor Relations
Email: anders.trapp@autoliv.com
Phone: +46 709578171

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/autoliv/r/invitation-to-autoliv-s-q4–2025-earnings-call,c4289725

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/751/4289725/3866300.pdf

Invitation ALV Q4’25 Webcast Telco January 2026

 

ATFX Officially Partners with Argentine Football Association as Regional Sponsor

By
Advertorial Desk
-

Redefining the future of finance and sport through a shared commitment with AFA

Hong Kong, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a landmark move celebrating ambition, discipline, and collective triumph, ATFX, the leading global online trading CFDs broker, has officially partnered with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) as a regional sponsor. Anchored in ATFX’s theme “Road to Goals,” the partnership celebrates preparation, precision, and resilience through the fusion of sport and finance.

ATFX Officially Partners with Argentine Football Association as Regional Sponsor
ATFX Officially Partners with Argentine Football Association as Regional Sponsor

Strategic Alignment between ATFX and AFA

Professional football teams and successful traders share the same foundations, with both rooted in strategy, discipline, and informed decision-making. With the World Cup approaching, ATFX proudly stands alongside AFA in this shared pursuit of excellence. Backed by three World Cup titles and legends such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, alongside key players like Rodrigo de Paul and Enzo Fernández, AFA’s legacy aligns closely with ATFX’s mission to empower traders worldwide. Together, both organisations support long-term success.

Education at the Core

Education lies at the heart of ATFX’s mission. By linking football strategy with trading principles, the partnership makes financial education more engaging and accessible. Just as players adapt under pressure, traders learn to navigate market volatility. ATFX positions education as the assist that helps individuals overcome challenges and move closer to their goals.

“We selected the Argentine Football Association as a partner because they embody the pinnacle of strategic discipline and global influence,” stated Joe Li, Chairman of ATFX. “This collaboration fuels our commitment to global growth and community empowerment through education. By bridging football strategy and market navigation, ATFX ensures users never pursue their financial goals alone.”

“This new sponsorship with ATFX is a key step in the continued global growth of the AFA brand,” added Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of AFA. “Since 2021, AFA has established commercial offices worldwide, identifying strategic opportunities and building deep connections within global communities. Our expansion into markets across Asia and the Americas has been a core pillar of our strategic vision since 2018; announcing ATFX as a global sponsor today further validates that successful path.

Our mission is to continue delivering exceptional value to our partners while consolidating our presence in key regions. We are pleased that ATFX has chosen the Argentine National Team and our players as their brand ambassadors during this exciting journey toward 2026. Together, AFA and ATFX will develop unique marketing campaigns to enhance the synergy and global reach of both brands. We have full confidence that this partnership will be a resounding success.”

A Partnership Built on Shared Ambition

This collaboration marks a milestone in bridging finance and sport to inspire global achievement. Both organizations are committed to building new pathways for progress and resilience. Follow ATFX for the latest updates on this journey, both on and off the field.

About ATFX

ATFX is a leading global fintech broker with a local presence in 24 locations and holds 9 licenses from regulatory authorities, including the UK’s FCA, Australia’s ASIC, Cyprus’ CySEC, the UAE’s SCA, Hong Kong’s SFC, South Africa’s FSCA, Mauritius’ FSC, Seychelles’ FSA, and Cambodia’s SERC. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative technology, and strict regulatory compliance, ATFX delivers exceptional trading experiences to clients worldwide.

For further information on ATFX, please visit ATFX website https://www.atfx.com.

About AFA

Founded in 1893, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is the governing body of football in Argentina and one of the oldest football federations in the world. Headquartered in Buenos Aires, AFA oversees all aspects of the sport, including the organization of domestic leagues such as the Primera División, Primera Nacional, and lower divisions, as well as national cup competitions like the Copa Argentina and Supercopa Argentina.

For more information, kindly refer to afa.com.ar.

Cold Air Mass to Bring Sharp Temperature Drop Across Laos

By
Phoudasack Vongsay
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A picture of Nong Khiaw Viewpoint at Pha Daeng Peak with the river and small villages. (Photo by Mog and Dog Travels)

Laos will experience colder weather across all regions from 8 to 11 January as a strengthened cold air mass from China moves south, bringing strong winds and a sharp drop in temperatures, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The cold surge, combined with strong northeastern monsoon winds, is expected to lower temperatures by 3–5 degrees Celsius nationwide, with particularly cold conditions forecast for northern provinces and the Bolaven Plateau, in the South.

In northern Laos, very cold weather is expected, with minimum temperatures ranging from 3 to 8 degrees Celsius. Morning fog and strong winds are forecast in several areas, including Phongsaly, Houaphan, Xiengkhouang, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, and Xayaburi provinces.

Central regions are expected to experience moderate cold to very cold conditions, with minimum temperatures between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. Some fog in the mornings, alongside strong winds in parts of Xaysomboun, Lak 20, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, and Savannakhet provinces.

Vientiane Capital is forecast to see cold to moderately cold weather, with minimum temperatures ranging from 11 to 16 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong winds in some areas.

The Bolaven Plateau is forecast to be among the coldest areas, with minimum temperatures between 3 and 7 degrees Celsius and thick fog covering some locations.

Southern Laos is expected to face cold to moderately cold conditions, with minimum temperatures ranging from around 11 to 17 degrees Celsius, as well as some morning fog and occasional strong winds.

Authorities have advised residents, particularly those in northern regions and the Bolaven Plateau, to prepare for colder conditions, take health precautions, and follow regular updates from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Amari Invites Travelers to Fall in Love with Laos Through Design, Local Stories, and Contemporary Relaxation

By
Advertorial Desk
-

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – When travel is no longer just about “arriving,” but about truly “being present” in every moment, ONYX Hospitality Group invites travelers to discover a new side of Laos through the concept of “Falling in Love with Laos.”

Amari Vientiane

This thoughtfully curated journey showcases the country’s cultural grace and natural serenity across two distinctive destinations—Amari Vang Vieng and Amari Vientiane—each offering its own unique experience. From tranquil days along the Nam Song River, surrounded by Vang Vieng’s dramatic mountains, to evenings spent on a stunning rooftop overlooking the Mekong River, where golden sunsets unfold across the heart of Vientiane, every moment is designed to be savored.

Blending Amari’s signature Thai warmth and contemporary style, the experience comes to life through thoughtful design and attentive service, and memorable culinary experiences—set against the rich culture, natural beauty, and enchanting charm of Laos, which make this journey truly unforgettable.

Amari Vang Vieng—where happiness feels effortlessly within reach. Simply open the balcony doors, let one’s gaze wander across the limestone mountains and the Nam Song River, and discover how easily happiness unfolds.

Set in a peaceful riverside location yet conveniently close to the town center and key attractions, Amari Vang Vieng is perfectly suited for both quiet relaxation and outdoor adventures in true Vang Vieng style. The resort features more than 160 contemporary rooms, thoughtfully accented with Laotian handicrafts. Spacious and light-filled, each room is designed with tall windows that invite the surrounding nature into every moment of relaxation. Guests can also unwind at the largest outdoor swimming pool in Vang Vieng—an inviting spot to linger as the sun begins to set.

Dining at Amari Vang Vieng is equally distinctive. Essence, the hotel’s signature restaurant, offers a curated selection of Laotian, Thai, and international cuisine. For more relaxed moments, Cascade, the riverside lobby lounge and café-style bar, invites guests to “slow down” with coffee, soft music, or signature cocktails crafted from local ingredients such as lemongrass, honey, and kaffir lime. Set against the tranquil flow of the Nam Song River, every bite and sip is delicious, approachable, and infused with Amari’s iconic charm.

Set in the heart of the culturally rich capital, Amari Vientiane is an ideal retreat for travelers who value culture, art, and authentic local life. With a prime location near notable landmarks such as Wat Sisaket, Patuxai Arch (Victory Gate), and the Morning Market, as well as being conveniently located near the airport, the hotel offers easy access for exploring Vientiane.

This upper-upscale hotel features 248 rooms in a variety of styles, thoughtfully designed to suit every lifestyle—from short city stays to indulgent moments of premium relaxation. Mornings invite guests to take part in the traditional Lao alms-giving ceremony before heading out to explore the city. As evening falls, Stellar Bar becomes the highlight—an elegant rooftop bar with 360-degree views of the Mekong River, where guests can enjoy breathtaking sunsets and sparkling city lights while sipping signature cocktails inspired by local flavors, capturing the effortless charm of Vientiane after dark.

Amari captures the charm of Laos through meticulously curated details—from design inspired by local craftsmanship, textiles, and weaving, seamlessly blended with the brand’s contemporary lines—to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere that tastefully reflects the true “Lao spirit,” while upholding internationally trusted service standards.

The attention to detail extends seamlessly to the service. Trained by Amari’s team from Thailand, the staff deliver sincere, warm, and generous Thai hospitality, thoughtfully infused with the gentle essence of Lao culture in every greeting and interaction throughout the stay. At the same time, the Local Flair dining experience completes the journey by reinterpreting local Lao ingredients through a contemporary lens—honoring cultural roots while remaining approachable and memorable.

All of this illustrates how Amari connects guests to the spirit of the destination, inviting them to gradually fall in love with Laos through warm, meaningful, and lasting memories.
Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup #AmariHotels #Travel #Hotel #HolidayTravel #HolidayIdeas



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About ONYX Hospitality Group:

ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers in Southeast Asia where their expertise lies. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food and beverage. With over five decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.

More information:

China’s AGI Pioneer and Leader Z.ai Listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange

By
Advertorial Desk
-

SHANGHAI, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Qiming Venture Partners’ portfolio company Z.ai (formerly known as Zhipu AI), a pioneer and leader inartificial general intelligence (AGI) in China, successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 8th, 2026, Beijing time, becoming the world’s first listed large language model company.

Z.ai (02513.HK) issued shares at a price of HK$116.20 per share and opened at HK$120.00 per share with a market capitalization of HK$52.83 billion.

Qiming Venture Partners co-led Z.ai’s Series B1 financing round in early 2022, nearly a year before ChatGPT was released and sparked the global wave of large models. This funding was instrumental in supporting Z.ai to overcome R&D challenges and complete its first 100-billion-parameter large model, GLM. Qiming continued to support the company in its subsequent B2& B4funding round. Under Chapter 18C of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Qiming stands as Z.ai’s  experienced independent investor

Z.ai was founded in 2019 as a commercialization of technological achievements from Tsinghua University. With the mission “to make machines think like humans”, the company has remained dedicated to AGI research and development. Since its inception, Z.ai has launched China’s first 10-billion-parameter model, its first open-source 100-billion-parameter model, its first conversational model, its first multimodal model, and the world’s first device-control AI agent. It has built one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive model portfolios and AI agent products.

GLM achieves breakthrough in full domesticization, supports over 40 domestic chips, becoming one of the most versatile model architectures in the industry. Its latest flagship model,GLM-4.7, has delivered top-tier performance among open-source models across multiple mainstream public benchmarks. In CodeArena, an authoritative coding evaluation system with global participation from a million users in blind testing, GLM-4.7 ranks first among open-source models and first among domestic models, surpassing GPT-4. Additionally, on the highly authoritative AA AI Index, the model also secured first place among open-source models and first among domestic models. The released GLM Coding Plan has already gained 150,000 users globally, establishing itself as a primary programming model solution for Chinese developers.

Today, Z.ai has grown into China’s largest independent large language model developer. Its GLM series of models are applied across various sectors including public governance, industrial manufacturing, energy and power, finance, internet, communications, consumer electronics, and education. As of September 30, 2025, Z.ai’s models had empowered over 12,000 enterprise customers, more than 80 million end-user devices, and over 45 million developers worldwide, making it the independent general-purpose large-model vendor in China with the highest number of enabled end-user devices.

Zhang Peng, CEO of Z.ai, stated: “Listing in Hong Kong represents a landmark milestone for Z.ai. Our journey—from commercializing research outcomes at Tsinghua’s labs to becoming a publicly listed company—has never strayed from our original vision: ‘to make machines think like humans’. Going public means we must shoulder even greater social responsibility and industry mission. Moving forward, Z.ai will continue to deepen our commitment to fully independent, controllable full-stack large model technology, relentlessly push the boundaries of AGI capabilities, and consistently enhance the reasoning, coding, and multimodal performance of the GLM model series. We are dedicated to building a more open and thriving AI ecosystem, empowering thousands of industries through accessible and inclusive technology, and making General Artificial Intelligence a genuine productive force for the advancement of human civilization.”

Alex Zhou, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, said, “The Z.ai team combines deep conviction in its technical roadmap with a rare ability to consistently translate frontier research into real commercial value. This dual strength—a strong belief in technology coupled with disciplined industrial execution—gives us confidence that the company will navigate the AI wave with resilience and emerge as a category leader. Z.ai’s successful IPO is not only a critical validation of China’s path in foundational AI innovation, but also sends a clear signal to the broader technology investment community: in the long run, the market recognizes and rewards teams that stay committed to frontier exploration and deep, foundational technological breakthroughs. We look forward to Z.ai building on this milestone and continuing to drive innovation in large language model technology and real-world applications, creating even greater value for the AI ecosystem.”

About Qiming Venture Partners

Qiming Venture Partners was founded in 2006. Currently, Qiming Venture Partners manages eleven US Dollar funds and seven RMB funds with $9.5 billion in capital raised. Since our establishment, we have invested in outstanding companies in the Technology and Healthcare industries at the early and growth stages.

Since our debut, we have backed over 580 fast-growing and innovative companies. Over 210 of our portfolio companies have achieved exits through IPOs at the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, Shanghai Stock Exchange, or Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or through M&A or other means. There are also over 80 portfolio companies that have achieved unicorn or super unicorn status.

Many of our portfolio companies are today’s most influential firms in their respective sectors, including Xiaomi, Meituan, Bilibili, Zhihu, Roborock, Hesai Technology, UBTech, WeRide, HyperStrong, Insta360, Unisound, Biren Technology, Z.ai (02513.HK), Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Tigermed, Zai Lab, CanSino Biologics, Schrödinger, APT Medical, Sanyou Medical, AmoyDx, SinocellTech, Insilico Medicine, AusperBio, Yuanxin Technology, Medilink Therapeutics, LaNova Medicines, StepFun, among many others.

 

Under the Patronage of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources – Inauguration of the First Edition of the “Future Minerals Pioneers” Bootcamp

By
Advertorial Desk
-

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, the Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, inaugurated the in-person bootcamp of the first edition of the Global Minerals Innovation Competition, titled “Future Minerals Pioneers”. The competition is organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

Future Minerals Pioneers
Future Minerals Pioneers

The in-person bootcamp commenced on Thursday, 8 January 2026, and runs through 10 January 2026, bringing together 356 qualified participants representing 32 countries at the global competition stage. The participants were selected from 1,812 applicants across 57 countries worldwide, indicating the competition’s strong international reach. Saudi participants accounted for 68% of the qualified cohort, while 32% represented international participation. The bootcamp is the final milestone of the competition, paving the way for the announcement of winners and the recognition of partners on 14 January 2026, during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

During his tour of the bootcamp, His Excellency the Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, reviewed solution prototypes presented by participating teams, observed innovative project presentations, and examined the bootcamp’s operational mechanisms. H. E’s visit also included an overview of the outputs of interactive workshops, as well as engagement with mentoring sessions and accompanying technical discussions.

Participating teams are competing across three core tracks, addressing six strategic challenges, with two challenges assigned to each track. These include the Smart Technologies Track, which focuses on smart compliance solutions within mining complexes and on enhancing mineral exploration processes; the Safety and Security Track, dedicated to developing preventive and proactive solutions to mitigate risks at mining sites and strengthen workforce health and safety; and the Resource Sustainability Track, which addresses challenges related to circular mining and improving water-use efficiency across mining operations.

The bootcamp has witnessed broad participation from key partners and supporting entities, led by the competition’s main partner, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), alongside the main partner for the national competition phase, the Saudi Mining Services Company (ESNAD). This engagement also includes a range of national and international entities that contributed to the design of challenges, mentoring, judging, and the enablement of participating teams.

The bootcamp also brings together a distinguished group of local and international experts, along with members of judging panels representing more than 16 public and private sector entities, enhancing the diversity of expertise, the depth of evaluation, and the overall quality of the competition’s outcomes.

The in-person bootcamp program includes a series of awareness workshops and mentoring sessions dedicated to the development and evaluation of solutions, ensuring their alignment with real-world challenges in the mining and minerals sector.

The Future Minerals Pioneers Bootcamp represents the final phase of the Global Minerals Innovation Competition, combining hands-on development, specialized guidance, and collaboration among innovators, experts, and partners, culminating in the selection and recognition of winners during the Future Minerals Forum 2026.

Over the past four years, the Future Minerals Forum has established itself as a key global platform for addressing the most pressing challenges in the mining sector, accelerating investment, and advancing responsible mineral supply chains—reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing role as a leading contributor to shaping the future of minerals worldwide.

For more information about the Future Minerals Forum, please visit:
https://www.futuremineralsforum.com

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