YIWU, China, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hero Time is proud to announce the appointment of Moris Lubin as the new Production Manager at its Yiwu facility for the manufacturing of board games and card games, marking a major milestone in the company’s ongoing mission to deliver industry-leading quality, communications and service to international customers.
Lubin brings a wealth of cross-cultural experience to Hero Time, with an extensive background in manufacturing leadership and management as a member of organizations supplying top toy brands such as Otto Simon, Intertoys, Toychamp and Xenos.
Board game manufacturing is uniquely complex, with each title a completely new product with different components, materials, and assembly challenges. To manage that complexity, Hero Time follows a four-pillar philosophy of System, Communication, Standard Procedures, and Personal Care.
Lubin’s appointment bridges the gap between Western expectations and Chinese production standards, allowing Hero Time to offer enhanced communication, quality assurance and game manufacturing efficiency.
“This is a key step in reinforcing Hero Time’s commitment to precision and transparency,” said Hersh Glueck, Founder and CEO of Hero Time. “By integrating global management practices with our experienced production team in Yiwu, we’re elevating both our product quality and our customer experience to a new level.”
For customers, Moris Lubin will focus on creating a more transparent and report-based work environment, improved coordination between project managers and the manufacturing floor, and achieve greater quality and overall game publishers satisfaction, including in consistency between prototypes and full-scale production games.
The addition of Lubin reflects Hero Time’s dedication to empowering game creators worldwide to easily create new titles and grow as publishers with a suite of game manufacturing, logistics and finance services.
For more information about HeroTime’s manufacturing process and services for tabletop game publishers, contact the Hero Time team online to discuss your board or card game project.
About Hero Time
Founded in 2019, Hero Time is the first board game and card game manufacturer that is a fully foreign-owned enterprise in China. The company is dedicated to helping game publishers grow via transparent, results-driven manufacturing partnerships.
Kia holds ceremony for completion of Hwaseong EVO Plant East and groundbreaking for EVO Plant West at AutoLand Hwaseong
Customized vehicle production and eco-friendly technologies adopted, to establish Hyundai Motor Group’s first PBV production hub
Kia to invest KRW 4 trillion in approximately 297,000 square-meter site to secure combined annual production capacity of 250,000 PBV units
100,000 PV5 units to be annually produced at EVO Plant East, and 150,000 PV7 and other PBV units at EVO Plant West
Kia to establish centralized production base in Korea to support global expansion of its PBV business
Launch of PBV Conversion Center for co-development of specialized PBV models with strategic partners, fostering a collaborative PBV ecosystem
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kia Corporation today celebrated the completion of its dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) facility, the Hwaseong EVO Plant East and the breaking of ground for the EVO Plant West, a large-scale PBV production facility in Korea.
Kia Marks Milestone with Establishment of Future PBV Production Hub in Korea.
The ceremony was held at Kia’s AutoLand Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The event was attended by around 200 guests, including Min-seok Kim, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea; Shinhak Moon, Vice Minister of Trade Industry and Resources (MOTIR) of the Republic of Korea; Dong Yeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; Myeong-geun Jeong, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City, and local National Assembly members.
From Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) key executives in attendance included Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Ho Sung Song, Kia President and Global CEO; Sung Kim, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Strategic Planning Division; and Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Planning (AVP) Division.
To support construction of the PBV-dedicated facilities – including the newly completed EVO Plant East and the EVO Plant West, scheduled for operation in 2027 – Kia has secured a site of 296,882 square meters and is investing approximately KRW 4 trillion in infrastructure and research and development.
Leveraging a combined annual capacity of 250,000 units, Kia plans to position the Hwaseong EVO Plant (East and West) as a future strategic hub to drive the global expansion of the company’s PBV business.
Min-seok Kim, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, said in his congratulatory remarks, “I am delighted to take part in the completion ceremony for Kia’s Hwaseong EVO Plant East and the groundbreaking ceremony for EVO Plant West. We will usher in a new era of innovation in future mobility together with the automotive industry, embracing new challenges including electrification, autonomous driving, and AI.”
Ho Sung Song, Kia President and Global CEO said, “Kia is leveraging the electrification of light commercial vehicles as a key opportunity to position PBVs as a core future business. As we continue our journey toward sustainable future mobility, Kia remains committed to becoming a trusted partner in building a better future for Korea — and for humanity as a whole.”
SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 November 2025 – OPPO today introduced Apex Guard, a full technology suite designed to safeguard the user experience with unprecedented quality in hardware and software. The new concept marks OPPO’s latest step in redefining what consumers can expect from smartphones—moving beyond everyday use to cover extended product lifespans and raise industry standards to the next level.
During an exclusive behind-the-scenes event at OPPO’s global headquarters and R&D hub at the Binhai Bay Campus, OPPO unveiled its vision for next-level quality: embedding its commitment to quality into every step of the product development process, from early-stage research to full-device validation.
“Quality is the foundation of everything,” said Grus Shan, Director of Manufacturing at OPPO. “Through continuous breakthroughs in quality, OPPO is committed to protecting the freedom of every user on their journey in life. Quality isn’t just a feature, it’s the freedom to Make Your Moment.”
Raising Quality to New Heights with Apex Guard Rooted in OPPO’s commitment to addressing genuine user needs with comprehensive solutions, Apex Guard is a technology suite that extends across all product lines, designed to elevate quality across three key dimensions:
Next-level quality beyond everyday use: With fundamental breakthroughs in design, Apex Guard not only protects against unexpected situations like water exposure or accidental drops, but also ensures a seamless and effortless experience beyond everyday use. Through pioneering research in materials and product design, OPPO has developed materials like Ultra-High-Strength Steel and AM04 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy that withstand daily wear and tear and also introduced structural solutions like Armour Shield that deliver protection far beyond everyday expectations.
Next-level quality beyond product lifespan: Apex Guard ensures next-level quality for a worry-free experience that truly stands the test of time. Through innovations like OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery with customized spherical silicon-carbon material, which delivers long-lasting safety while extending the lifespan of the battery cell by an additional 400 cycles, Apex Guard enables OPPO devices to continue to perform like new for even longer.
Next-level quality beyond existing standards: To ensure exceptional quality from the outset, OPPO collaborates with renowned international testing organizations including TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD, and SGS, and holds its devices to standards far above the rest of the industry. OPPO devices undergo highly precise manufacturing processes across every detail and are subject to the most rigorous testing procedures. This includes multiple rounds of quality assessments for new materials and over 180 device tests from pre-R&D to the end of the product lifecycle. Beyond products, OPPO after-sales services also surpass industry standards, providing additional quality assurance throughout.
Rethinking Quality with Next-Level Software Smoothness Recognizing that the smoothness of the user experience is one of the most direct ways in which users perceive smartphone quality, OPPO has also made software innovation an integral part of the Apex Guard suite to both enhance and extend this experience.
To ensure everyday smoothness, the All-New Luminous Rendering Engine in ColorOS 16 introduces the first Unified Animation Architecture for Android, delivering seamless app launches and smooth transitions across the entire system. For more demanding scenarios, Chip-Level Dynamic Frame Sync Technology within the All-New Trinity Engine helps the system respond in real-time to frame rendering when multitasking. Sensor-Offload technology meanwhile, leverages the powerful SoC to handle critical sensor tasks, significantly lowering total power consumption when recording 4K 60fps videos.
To further guarantee long-term performance, OPPO has introduced Instant Refresh into ColorOS 16 for entry-level devices, allowing users to reduce data fragmentation and optimize app permissions with just one tap. OPPO also conducts rigorous aging tests on devices by simulating long-term phone use over 48-, 60-, or 72-month periods, to ensure each device remains smooth and responsive after years of use.
As part of its focus on smoothness, OPPO has developed evaluation systems that quantify smoothness with measurable data. The OPPO Smoothness Baseline Test measures software performance across hundreds of real-world scenarios, while the industry-first Parallel Animation Standard 6 Zero (0 Lag, 0 Latency, 0 Flicker, 0 Crash, 0 Mislaunch, 0 Freeze) focuses on home-screen app launches and seamless transitions, setting a new benchmark for software quality across all devices, from the entry-level A Series to the flagship Find Series.
Binhai Bay Campus: The Home of OPPO Quality
As OPPO adds more facilities to Binhai Bay, the campus is set to benefit from improved scale and synergy, while access to more advanced equipment and centralized resources will allow OPPO to push its commitment to quality even further. The campus features a series of advanced laboratories—including a Materials Lab, Intelligent Terminal Testing Lab, Power Consumption Intelligent Lab, and Communication Lab—each conducting quality assessments from different perspectives to ensure dependable hardware and smooth software user experience.
Hashtag: #OPPO
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Ministry of Data and Statistics, led by Minister Ahn Hyung Jun, announced that the 2025 Population and Housing Census, marking its 100th anniversary this year, is now underway. Minister Ahn stated that the survey will carry forward a century of statistical tradition and serve as a vital foundation for shaping future national policies. He also encouraged foreign residents living in Korea to actively participate.
Ahn Hyung Jun (Minister of Data and Statistics)
[Question 1] The Population and Housing Census is currently in full swing. What is the significance of this census, notably as it marks 100 years?
Korea’s first modern census covering the entire population for statistical purposes was the ‘Simplified National Census’ conducted in 1925.
Over 100 years, the census has achieved the following:
It has provided a foundation of essential data for countless policies related to population, housing, education, and welfare throughout Korea’s journey—from overcoming the scars of liberation and war in the 1950s, through economic development plans in the 1960s and 1970s, to Korea’s emergence as an advanced nation from the 1980s and 1990s onward.
Korea’s statistical capabilities have grown significantly alongside national development.
Our statistical methods are now internationally recognized, and many countries seek to learn from our techniques.
There is particular interest in our register-based census methodology utilizing diverse administrative data, the electronic survey systems introduced for field surveys (mobile, PC, telephone, tablet, etc.), and digital map construction techniques.
These achievements belong not only to the Ministry of Data and Statistics but are the result of collaboration with citizens who have faithfully participated in the census over the past 100 years.
[Question 2] What new items have been included in this census?
(Number of items) The 2025 Population and Housing Census includes a total of 55 items (same as the previous cycle).
Of these, 13 items are obtained through administrative data, while 42 items are collected through direct survey.
(New items) This census was designed to comprehensively and accurately measure diverse social and economic changes, with seven new items compared to the previous cycle:
“Family care time” and “Marriage plans/intentions” reflecting policy needs related to low birth rates and aging populations
“Languages used at home” and “Korean language proficiency” for multicultural households and foreign residents
“Rental provider” to understand the status of households living in rental housing
“Religion,” which is surveyed on a 10-year cycle, and “Bicycle ownership,” reflecting policy needs of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Additionally, we have added the category “Unmarried cohabitation (partners living together, etc.)” to the question on “Relationship to household head” to measure changes in our society’s perceptions of marriage and cohabitation.
This will enable us to identify increasingly diverse household types and provide foundational data needed for related policy formulation and analysis.
[Question 3] With foreign residents from various countries living in Korea, how are you surveying foreign residents?
(Language) With the foreign resident population continuing to grow*, foreign residents in sample enumeration districts can participate through internet surveys (mobile, PC), telephone, and in-person interviews.
* Number of foreign residents (percentage of total population): 2010: 590,000 (1.2%) → 2015: 1.36 million (2.7%) → 2020: 1.7 million (3.3%) → 2024: 2.04 million (3.9%)
To accommodate respondents from diverse nationalities, we have expanded the number of foreign language questionnaires from 10 to 20*.
* Selected based on the top 20 languages used by foreign residents as of 2023: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Indonesian, Thai, Mongolian, Japanese, Cambodian (Khmer), Nepali, Uzbek, Kazakh, Burmese, Sri Lankan (Sinhala), Bangladeshi (Bengali), Pakistani (Urdu), Kyrgyz, Malay, Ukrainian, and Lao
The call center has deployed dedicated foreign language consultants (English, Chinese, Vietnamese*) to facilitate telephone survey participation and address inquiries.
* (2020) English and Chinese consultants → (2025) English, Chinese + Vietnamese (added)
< 2025 Population and Housing Census Call Center Foreign Language Operations>
Operating period: Weekdays 09:00 – 18:00, October 17 – November 18, 2025
(Method) Statistical enumerators equipped with tablet PCs are currently visiting sample households that have not yet completed the survey (internet and telephone survey participation is also available).
When an enumerator visits, foreign respondents should first verify the enumerator’s identity by checking the multilingual statistical survey worker ID card issued by the local government and the Ministry of Data and Statistics (formerly Statistics Korea) displayed on the tablet PC.
The tablet PC contains survey information in 20 languages, allowing respondents to understand the purpose of the enumerator’s visit and the census itself.
A translation app installed on the device also enables basic communication with the enumerator.
If you are proficient in Korean, you may respond directly to the enumerator’s questions. If you prefer to complete a paper questionnaire in one of the 20 available foreign languages, request one from the enumerator.
We have also established a cooperative framework with the Ministry of Justice’s Foreigner Contact Center (1345), which many foreign residents contact, to ensure smooth guidance on census inquiries.
[Question 4] Are only foreign residents with legal status subject to the census? Some foreign residents, depending on their circumstances, may worry that their responses will be shared with the Ministry of Justice or other government agencies…
All Korean and foreign residents and dwelling units within the 20% sample enumeration districts are subject to the census.
Foreign residents in sample enumeration districts are included in the census regardless of legal status if they have stayed or plan to stay for three months or more.
The census doesn’t ask about legal status, so there’s no way to identify undocumented residents. You can respond without concern.
Active participation by foreign residents in Korea also contributes to the development of various welfare policies for foreign residents.
Under Article 33 of the Statistics Act, all information you provide is strictly protected and cannot be used for any purpose other than statistical compilation. Violations of this law are subject to penalties under the Statistics Act.
[Question 5] When will the results of this census be released, and how will they be used?
(Release) The data from this census will undergo processing and is scheduled to be released at the end of November 2026.
(Use) The results of the Population and Housing Census are widely used as foundational data for various national policy formulation and evaluation, academic research, and business management.
As a survey that provides statistics at the eup, myeon, and dong (township and neighborhood) levels, this data is essential for local policy formulation and regional development.
Census results are also made publicly available* for use by government agencies, the private sector, and the general public.
* Provided through the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and Microdata Integrated Service (MDIS)
[Question 6] Is there a final message you would like to convey to readers?
The successful implementation of the Population and Housing Census depends on active participation and accurate responses from those selected for the survey.
The Ministry of Data and Statistics will do its utmost to ensure that the results of the Population and Housing Census translate into policies that benefit both Korean and foreign residents alike.
We ask for your active cooperation and continued interest in the 2025 Population and Housing Census, which marks 100 years of census-taking.
TOKYO, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PRISM BioLab, Co. Ltd. (“PRISM”) announces that today, PRISM and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka; President and COO: Toichi Takino; hereinafter “Ono”) have achieved the initial milestone in the drug discovery collaboration and PRISM has confirmed receipt of the milestone payment.
PRISM and Ono have entered into a “Joint Research and Licensing Agreement” on April 25, 2024, (hereinafter “the Agreement”) for drug discovery in the oncology field. Under this Agreement, PRISM received an upfront payment and joint research fees, launched a joint research project (hereinafter “the Project”) to discover clinical candidate compounds against targets proposed by Ono, utilizing PRISM’s proprietary peptide-mimetic technology “PepMetics”. PepMetics® is a technology based on small molecules targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs).
The Project has progressed as planned under the collaboration of both companies, and has achieved the milestone defined in the Agreement for the drug discovery research stage. PRISM will receive the milestone payment and joint research fees from Ono. The milestone payment will be recorded as business revenue in the first quarter of PRISM’s fiscal year ending September 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). The joint research funding will be allocated proportionally throughout the period of the next phase of the joint research. While the specific amounts of the milestone payment and joint research funding are not disclosed under the terms of the Agreement, the total amount corresponds to approximately 80% of our net sales for the previous fiscal year (FY ended September 2025), as stated in our “Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 2025 (JGAAP) ” released today.
The Project will accelerate the search for clinical candidate compounds through collaborative research with Ono, and leveraging PRISM’s expertise in structural biology and computational chemistry. The Agreement stipulates multiple milestones, and PRISM will receive milestone payments according to the progress of drug discovery research and subsequent stages, including clinical development conducted by Ono. Furthermore, if clinical candidate compounds lead to the commercialization of new drug, PRISM will receive royalties based on product sales.
“We are delighted to have achieved the first milestone in drug discovery research targeting previously challenging targets identified by Ono.”, said Dai Takehara, President & CEO of PRISM. “This first step toward creating innovative new drugs is the achievement of the collaborative efforts of researchers from both companies, and we are grateful for this opportunity. We will continue dedicating our full effort to this project to achieve research outcomes in the next stage.”
PRISM will maintain its strong relationship with Ono, further advance the joint research project, and strive for the creation of groundbreaking new drugs in the oncology field. This achievement demonstrates the potential of PRISM’s PepMetics® technology and is expected to contribute to the company’s long-term growth and enhancement of corporate value.
About PRISM BioLab
PRISM BioLab is a discovery and development biotechnology company utilizing proprietary PepMetics® technology to discover orally available small molecule inhibitors of protein-protein interaction (PPI) targets and transform lives of patients suffering from cancer, autoimmune, fibrosis and other diseases. PepMetics® are a unique class of small molecules that mimic three-dimensional structures of alpha-helix and beta-turn, the peptide structures commonly found in intracellular PPI interphases and receptor-ligand interactions. By combining proprietary chemistry, know-how around PPI targets and AI-supported design, PepMetics® technology can deliver inhibitors of challenging PPI targets. The technology holds promise to expand the field of drug discovery by turning previously undruggable PPIs into targets readily druggable with small molecules and by generating oral small molecule alternatives for injectable biologics.
PRISM BioLab is collaborating on new PPI targets with global and Japanese pharmaceutical companies. PepMetics® targeting CBP/beta-catenin PPIs licensed to Eisai Co., Ltd. and Ohara Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. are in clinical development for cancer and liver disease, respectively.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamfong reported on 12 November.
Laos has made progress in its fight against drugs, with 21,003 cases handled and 31,289 suspects arrested between July 2021 and October 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamfong reported on 12 November.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China’s workplaces are evolving faster than ever. As the nation’s working-age population continues to shrink — dropping by nearly seven million in the past year — the battle for talent has become one of the most pressing challenges for employers. Skill shortages are now the new norm, with 60% of companies reporting difficulty finding qualified workers, especially in high-growth sectors such as AI and semiconductors. At the same time, younger employees are redefining work itself — prioritising wellbeing, flexibility, and personal growth over traditional career paths.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 China HR Asia Best Companies to Work in Asia
Amid this evolution, the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia awards, organised by Business Media International returns to China to celebrate organisations that are not only overcoming these challenges but setting new benchmarks for the future of work. This year’s winners — a mix of major Chinese enterprises and multinational corporations — exemplify a simple yet powerful truth: when companies put people first, everything else follows.
These award-winning companies are using innovation and empathy to stay ahead. They are building in-house academies to nurture skills, creating transparent career pathways, and fostering multi-generational harmony through mentorship and flexible work models. They are also embracing technology as a human enabler — deploying AI and digital tools to enhance productivity while investing in the training and trust that help employees thrive.
Beyond recognition, the HR Asia programme itself is transforming how companies approach their people strategy. The awards have become a trusted benchmark across Asia, boosting winners’ employer branding, helping them attract top talent, and strengthening their reputation as industry leaders. The insights and data-driven feedback provided through HR Asia’s TEAM Survey enable participating companies to uncover workplace trends, identify engagement gaps, and turn employee feedback into tangible action.
As a result, being recognised as one of the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia is more than a badge of honour — it is proof of leadership in a time of disruption. These companies are not only retaining their best talent but also inspiring others in their industries to follow suit.
“The winners in China have demonstrated exceptional adaptability in an era of uncertainty,” said Datuk William Ng, Chairman, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards. “They’ve shown that when you put people first — when you empower, listen, and evolve — you don’t just attract talent, you lead your industry. These organisations are redefining what it means to be an employer of choice in the world’s most dynamic market.”
The award covers fifteen markets across the region including mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, making this the largest recognition program and survey in the region for employee engagement. For more information about the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2025 – and a complete list of winners, please visit https://hr.asia/awards/
LIST OF WINNERS OF HR ASIA BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN ASIA 2025 (CHINA EDITION) IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
A.MENARINI CHINA HOLDING CO., LTD.
AICPA & CIMA
ALLIANZ CHINA
APL LOGISTICS CHINA, LTD
ARROW (CHINA) ELECTRONICS TRADING CO., LTD.
AVERY DENNISON CHINA
BOROUGE
CHINA INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL CORPORATION LIMITED
COLLIERS CHINA
CRYSTAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP LIMITED
E. SUN BANK (CHINA) CO., LTD
FUTU NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
Goertek Inc.
HANG LUNG MANAGEMENT (CHINA) LTD.
InnoCare Pharma
IPSOS (CHINA) CONSULTING CO., LTD.
JOHNSON MATTHEY CHINA
JPE YEAN HERN CO., LTD
KPMG
LEE KUM KEE (CHINA)
LEE KUM KEE GROUP
MANULIFE-SINOCHEM LIFE INSURANCE CO.,LTD.
MINISO GROUP
MUNDIPHARMA (CHINA) PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
OLAM AGRI CHINA
PUBLICIS GROUPE CHINA
SHANGHAI HENLIUS BIOTECH, INC.
SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
SYNTHASIA GROUP CO., LTD.
WELLINGTON COLLEGE EDUCATION (CHINA)
WINNERS OF HR ASIA MOST CARING COMPANY AWARDS 2025
MANULIFE-SINOCHEM LIFE INSURANCE CO.,LTD.
WINNERS OF HR ASIA SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE AWARDS 2025
A.MENARINI CHINA HOLDING CO., LTD.
BOROUGE
HANG LUNG MANAGEMENT (CHINA) LTD.
JOHNSON MATTHEY CHINA
OLAM AGRI CHINA
WINNERS OF HR ASIA TECH EMPOWERMENT AWARDS 2025
PUBLICIS GROUPE CHINA
WELLINGTON COLLEGE EDUCATION (CHINA)
-End-
About BUSINESS MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
Business Media International is a subsidiary of Audience Analytics Limited (1AZ.SG), a regional leader in promoting growth for companies in Asia through data-driven brands and initiatives. We own renowned media brands such as SME Magazine, HR Asia, Capital Asia, Energy Asia, Logistics Asia, TruthTV, and CXP Asia as well as business impact assessment brands such as SME100, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia, Golden Bull Awards and CXP Asia Best Customer Experience Awards. We organise various exhibitions and have the proprietary software-as-a-service — Total Engagement Assessment Model – in our portfolio.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — What does it mean to be an ASEAN enterprise today? For decades, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region have been described as the backbone of their economies — yet, for the first time, a new generation of businesses is redefining what that truly means.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 ASEAN SME100 Awards and 2025 ASEAN Halal Brand Award
The first ASEAN SME100 Awards and the ASEAN Halal Brand Awards organised by Business Media International, held in conjunction with the ASEAN SME Forum, marked a turning point — one that celebrated not just success, but transformation.
The Rise of the Borderless SME
The inaugural ASEAN SME100 Awards honoured companies that have broken past national boundaries to establish themselves as regional forces. These are not just growing businesses — they are ambitious disruptors shaping the new narrative of ASEAN competitiveness.
Across industries — from digital technology to logistics, from manufacturing to lifestyle — these companies are proving that size is no longer the measure of influence. Agility, innovation, and regional collaboration are the new currencies of success.
Their stories are evidence that ASEAN’s economic promise isn’t just theoretical — it’s unfolding in real time, led by enterprises that refuse to see geography as a limitation.
Halal as a Regional Language of Trust
Running parallel to this transformation is another quiet revolution — the rise of ASEAN’s halal industry. The ASEAN Halal Brand Awards celebrated brands that have gone beyond compliance to turn halal into a global value system: one that blends ethics, authenticity, and ambition.
In a world where halal products represent a market projected to exceed USD 5 trillion by 2030, ASEAN’s halal champions are redefining what trust and quality mean in a borderless economy. These brands have not only earned certification — they have earned regional respect by proving that faith and modern business innovation can thrive together.
From Recognition to Regional Identity
The awards serve a larger purpose: to reshape how ASEAN sees itself. For too long, SMEs have been viewed as national players, their growth confined within borders. The ASEAN SME100 and ASEAN Halal Brand Awards challenge that narrative, recognising those who have evolved beyond being local champions to become regional catalysts.
This shift mirrors a deeper regional truth — that ASEAN’s future will be written not by governments or multinationals alone, but by SMEs bold enough to connect across cultures, sectors, and markets.
A Platform for the Future
Held alongside the ASEAN SME Forum, the twin awards represent more than celebration; they are a declaration — that ASEAN’s entrepreneurial class is ready to lead. These programmes are not about prestige alone, but about creating new pathways for SMEs to access visibility, credibility, and partnerships across borders.
They turn recognition into opportunity. They transform awards into accelerators.
As ASEAN moves toward deeper economic integration, one truth becomes clear: the next wave of regional powerhouses will not emerge from size, but from vision — the kind that sees ASEAN not as ten separate markets, but as one interconnected ecosystem.
For more information about the SME100 Awards 2025 ASEAN and the complete list of winners, please visit www.sme100.asia
LIST OF WINNERS OF THE ASEAN SME100 AWARDS 2025 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
APEIRON CONSULTANCY INC
ASE EDUCATION GROUP PTE LTD
BEYOND INSIGHTS SDN BHD
CK PACKAGING & PLASTIC INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
COLDWORLD ENGINEERING PTE LTD
COMPLETE HUMAN NETWORK SDN BHD
CS CLOUD SDN BHD
EDKA DIGITAL CO., LTD
ENERCON ASIA PTE LTD
FILIPINO HOMES
FPT FOOD PROCESS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
GRIFFIN PROTECTION INTEGRATED SECURITY PTE LTD
HOWERN WASSER SDN BHD
INNODENT TRADING CO., LTD
MATA GROUP HOLDING CO., LTD
MCE MARKETING SDN BHD
MOST CAPITAL GROUP SDN BHD
MX ENGINEERING PTE LTD
NETGAIN SYSTEMS PTE LTD
NEXT ENERGY SDN BHD
PET PROTECT FOOD CO., LTD
PROTUS WONDERLAND PTE LTD
PT. RAVELWARE TECHNOLOGY INDONESIA
RM APPLICATIONS SDN BHD
UNIQTEK CO., LTD
YOSHITEC PRECISION ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHD
ASEAN OUTSTANDING YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2025
MR. ANG SOON ENG – CK PACKAGING & PLASTIC INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
MR. LEONG CHIA HANN, JASON – MOST CAPITAL GROUP SDN BHD
MR. SONG MINGQIANG, STEVEN – MX ENGINEERING PTE LTD
MR. STEVEN CHIEW CHOON MENG – NEXT ENERGY SDN BHD
MR. RANDY BUDI WICAKSONO – PT. RAVELWARE TECHNOLOGY INDONESIA
SME100 ASEAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2025
MS. TEH CHAI PENG – COMPLETE HUMAN NETWORK SDN BHD
MS. LEONG HUEY MIIN – NETGAIN SYSTEMS PTE LTD
MS. PAN XIAOJING – PROTUS WONDERLAND PTE LTD
SME100 ASEAN SUSTAINABLE BRAND AWARDS 2025
COLDWORLD – COLDWORLD ENGINEERING PTE LTD
ENERCON – ENERCON ASIA PTE LTD
HOWERN WASSER – HOWERN WASSER SDN BHD
YOSHITEC – YOSHITEC PRECISION ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHD
ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES – ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES SDN BHD
ZUS COFFEE – ZUSPRESSO (M) SDN BHD
About BUSINESS MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
Business Media International is a subsidiary of SGX-listed Audience Analytics Limited (1AZ.SG), a regional leader in promoting growth for companies in Asia through data-driven brands and initiatives. We own renowned media brands such as SME Magazine, HR Asia, Capital Asia, Energy Asia, Logistics Asia, TruthTV, and CXP Asia as well as business impact assessment brands such as SME100, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia, Golden Bull Awards and CXP Asia Best Customer Experience Awards. We organise various exhibitions and have the proprietary software-as-a-service — Total Engagement Assessment Model – in our portfolio.
