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TAT and Agoda Expand Strategic Collaboration to Drive Tourism Growth in Thailand

BANGKOK, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have reaffirmed their strategic collaboration to strengthen Thailand’s position as a leading global tourism destination through data-driven marketing initiatives, tourism product development, and industry capacity-building efforts.

Representatives of Agoda and TAT celebrate the MOU Launch
Representatives of Agoda and TAT celebrate the MOU Launch

The collaboration combines Agoda’s travel insights and digital expertise with TAT’s destination marketing capabilities to support demand generation from international markets while encouraging domestic tourism in Thailand.

Areas of collaboration include promoting Thailand’s unique tourism offerings, highlighting emerging trends such as wellness tourism and encouraging travel to lesser-known destinations. The partnership will also support broader industry development through encouraging more sustainable practices and capacity-building initiatives under the ongoing Trusted Thailand collaboration.

Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer at Agoda said “We see many opportunities to work together on TAT’s priorities, from highlighting wellness travel as the new luxury to amplifying communications around travel safety. Our joint efforts will promote Thailand’s rich and trusted offerings to travelers around the globe.”

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand added, “Our partnership with Agoda enables us to develop targeted campaigns that showcase Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, diverse tourism experiences and strong commitment to visitor satisfaction. By leveraging digital innovation and market intelligence, we can better connect with travelers worldwide and further reinforce Thailand’s reputation as a premier travel destination.”

Founded in Phuket, Thailand over two decades ago, Agoda maintains strong ties to Thailand and continues to support the country’s tourism sector through its global digital travel platform, which offers access to more than 6 million accommodation properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 travel activities worldwide.

Techman Robot Targets Southeast Asian Smart Manufacturing Markets at Thailand Automation Show

AI-guided smart cartoning & packing lines and the all-new lightweight TM3S cobot make their overseas debut.

BANGKOK, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Techman Robot, a global leader in collaborative robots and AI vision technology, will showcase its latest innovations at the “ME Assembly & Automation 2026”. Centered around the dual themes of “Smart Packaging Automation” and “High-Efficiency AI Inspection,” the company is introducing tailored solutions for the electronics manufacturing, automotive components, food & beverage, and consumer electronics sectors

AI Vision-Guided Smart Cartoning and Packing Line
AI Vision-Guided Smart Cartoning and Packing Line

AI Vision-Guided Smart Cartoning and Packing Line

To address the critical automation demands within e-commerce and retail product packaging, Techman Robot is highlighting its “Automated Cartoning and Packing Line”. This solution overcomes the traditional limitations of mechanical grippers in complex packaging environments by integrating Techman collaborative robot, advanced AI vision guidance systems, and dexterous gripping technologies.

Demonstrating a seamless synergy of “brain, eye, and hand,” the system automates cardboard fetching, precise positioning, box folding, cartoning, and transport. Featuring a modular design and rapid deployment capabilities, this solution significantly reduces line footprint, shortens implementation timelines, and enhances packaging efficiency and operational stability—making it ideal for high-mix, low-volume agile production.

The All-New Lightweight TM3S Cobot

Techman Robot is also debuting its latest flagship model, the brand-new “TM3S” collaborative robot. Engineered for on-site operations requiring frequent relocation and high flexibility, the TM3S boasts an ultra-lightweight design, weighing in at just 12 kilograms.

A key feature of the TM3S is its “Quick-release Connector” for cabling, which enables production engineers to install, disassemble, and relocate the unit within an exceptionally short timeframe, vastly improving operational mobility on the shop floor. Furthermore, the TM3S carries forward the signature feature of the Techman Robot family: the “Integrated Vision” system. This provides the robot with advanced spatial awareness and positioning capabilities, making it particularly suited for high-precision welding, assembly, workstation localization, and automated rapid inspection.

AI Flying Trigger Inspection & Instant Palletizer Solutions

Beyond its packaging and lightweight innovations, Techman Robot is demonstrating its “Flying Trigger AI Inspection” and “Instant Palletizer” systems.

  • Flying Trigger AI Inspection: Allows robots to perform real-time defect inspection and cosmetic recognition while in motion without pausing, driving significant leaps in both throughput and quality control.
  • Instant Palletizer: Offers a streamlined setup and intuitive operation to help Southeast Asian food & beverage and 3C retail clients rapidly upgrade their end-of-line logistics and stacking efficiency, directly addressing regional labor shortages.  

APAC healthcare systems face growing strain as rising patient expectations collide with stretched clinical workforce – Bain & Company survey

  • 95% of consumers want a single touchpoint to manage their healthcare
  • 84% of consumers expect greater convenience from healthcare system
  • Three in four consumers comfortable with AI-enabled healthcare apps
  • One in five doctors actively considering leaving their current employer due to burnout

SINGAPORE, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Asia-Pacific healthcare systems are facing growing strain as rising patient expectations collide with a stretched clinical workforce, accelerating the shift toward new care models and AI-enabled support, according to Bain & Company’s 2026 Asia-Pacific Front Line of Healthcare Report.

The report, based on surveys of 6,300 consumers across nine Asia-Pacific markets and 600 doctors in the region, reveals widening tensions across the healthcare system: Consumer expectations are rising faster than experience can keep up, clinicians are ready to walk away from overburdened systems, and AI capabilities are outpacing organizational readiness.

Consumers across Asia-Pacific are increasingly taking a proactive role in managing their health while expecting more convenience, responsiveness and coordination from the healthcare system. Today, 84% of consumers expect greater convenience from the healthcare system, while 71% expect doctors to be more responsive through channels such as phone, WhatsApp or email. Three out of five consumers now also schedule regular checkups and screenings, compared to 47% in 2023.

Additionally, consumers are increasingly seeking care beyond traditional hospital settings. On average, 57% of consumers report receiving care in at least one alternative setting, including telehealth, urgent care clinics, walk-in clinics, home-based care and ambulatory surgery centers. The consumer response to growing fragmentation is also becoming clearer, with 95% of respondents saying they want a single touchpoint to manage their healthcare, up from 70% in 2019.

“The region’s healthcare systems are approaching an inflection point where rising demand, workforce scarcity and fragmented care delivery models are converging at the same time,” said Vikram Kapur, head of Bain & Company’s Global Healthcare & Life Sciences practice. “The challenge now is not simply expanding access, but fundamentally redesigning how care is coordinated, delivered and experienced.”

Clinician strain is also intensifying across the region. One in five doctors report actively considering leaving their current employer, driven primarily by excessive workload, lack of recognition and burnout. Around one in three doctors also report significant waste and inefficiency in their daily work, including excessive forms and paperwork, low-value repetitive tasks and delays caused by fragmented workflows and coordination gaps.

AI-enabled care is gaining ground across Asia-Pacific and is showing potential for easing some pressures in healthcare, particularly for use cases that support clinicians and improve efficiency. Doctors, surveyed by Bain, identify reducing administrative burden and workload as the most significant potential benefits of AI adoption. Nearly three in four Asia-Pacific consumers report feeling comfortable with at least one AI-enabled healthcare application.

However, the report also highlights that the human relationship within care delivery remains highly valued. In-person appointments continue to be the preferred channel for non-acute symptoms, and both consumers and doctors view telehealth as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, in-person care. Approximately one in three doctors also report that their organizations are not prepared to deploy AI at scale, citing unclear strategy, limited training and insufficient clinician involvement as key barriers.

“Consumers and clinicians are increasingly open to AI-enabled support, but technology alone will not resolve the structural pressures facing healthcare systems,” added Kapur. “The organizations best positioned to lead will be those that combine AI-enabled transformation with stronger care coordination and deeper clinician engagement.”

The report identifies five strategic opportunities for healthcare stakeholders across the region:

  • Become a trusted coordination point for your customers: Own the patient relationship end-to -end across settings and channels.
  • Redesign care journeys around the moments that matter most: Recognize the economic value of customer experience and put it at the heart of strategy.
  • Implement the principles of value-based care models: Build the operational foundations to capture value as payment models shift from volume to outcomes.
  • Treat AI as a business transformation: Embed AI deeply into core operating models and redesign workflows, rather than layering it onto broken processes.
  • Increase clinician engagement: Deliver a better clinician experience and equip the clinical workforce to lead the transformation ahead.

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Front Line of Healthcare Report surveyed consumers in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, as well as doctors in Australia and the Philippines.

Media contacts:
Ann Lee (Singapore) — ann.lee@bain.com
Rachel Ng (Kuala Lumpur) — rachel.ng@bain.com
Gary Duncan (London) — gary.duncan@bain.com
Dan Pinkney (Boston) — dan.pinkney@bain.com 

About Bain & Company

Bain & Company works with leaders worldwide to solve their toughest challenges and deliver enduring results. Since 1973, we’ve partnered with clients, including private equity and portfolio companies, to build the capabilities they need to stay ahead of change and help them redefine their industries. We measure our success by our clients’ success, and we proudly hold the highest levels of client advocacy in our field.

Bain is consistently recognized globally as one of the best places to work. We operate as one global team, uniting strategists, industry and functional experts, technologists, and advisors with a vibrant ecosystem of technology partners.

Notes to Editors

Bain & Company was founded in 1973 and today has 19,000 employees across 67 cities in 40 countries. We have worked with more than two-thirds of the Global 500 and more than 9,000 companies worldwide. Bain has pledged to deliver $2 billion in pro bono consulting to nonprofit, public-sector and charitable organizations by 2035. The firm is consistently recognized as a Leader in major analyst rankings across multiple areas, including digital business, innovation, strategy, experience design, customer experience, and carbon-zero transformation.

Daicel DURAST(R) POM Fine Powder Adopted for Innovative Stick-form Lubricant

OSAKA, Japan, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Daicel Corporation’s High Performance Polymers (HPPs) SBU (formerly Polyplastics Co., Ltd.), a global leader in engineering plastics, has announced that its DURAST(R) POM fine powder has been adopted for use in an innovative stick-form lubricant produced by Japan-based Maia Co. Ltd. This groundbreaking solid lubricant, utilizing newly launched DURAST(R) POM fine powder, resolves issues such as dripping, splattering, and waste caused by over-application, dramatically transforming maintenance processes.

Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100475/202606080534/_prw_PI1fl_wFrl551J.png

Maia’s unique manufacturing technology, called Sol – Mid (TM), delivers a product that is typically packaged in a stick-shaped container and can also be molded into custom shapes to meet customer needs. The performance of Sol – Mid (TM) is underpinned by the chemical properties of DURAST(R) POM. This product is formed by mixing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) with grease. DURAST(R) POM acts as an interlayer between the PE and the grease, and plays a crucial role in maintaining compatibility.

With the stick format, there is no risk of leakage like with liquids, and because it is easy to carry, it offers greater convenience at maintenance sites for office equipment and industrial machinery. For the maintenance of office equipment, it can reduce the use of conventional maintenance oil by approximately 80%.

Previously, the processing of general-purpose resins into uniform powder using conventional grinding methods was extremely difficult. Daicel overcame this challenge by developing a proprietary manufacturing process for DURAST(R) POM, which features a distinctive shape and controlled, fine and sharp particle size distribution.

This stick format solution utilizing DURAST(R) POM is scheduled for full-scale commercialization by targeting maintenance applications for major office equipment manufacturers, in addition to industrial sectors such as industrial machinery repair, bicycle maintenance and conveyor systems.

For more information, visit: https://hpps.daicel.com/global/s/ourapproach/a5nRB000004Rt2vYAC/261?language=en_US

About Daicel Corporation High Performance Polymers SBU: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202606080534-O1-pu6X2g4H.pdf 

DURAST(R) is a registered trademark of Daicel Corporation in Japan and other countries.

Vientiane Logistics Park Highlights Regional Connectivity Vision at China-South Asia Exposition 2026

A picture of the 10th China-South Asia Exposition (CSAE 2026) showcasing in Kunming, China. (Photo by VLC)

Vientiane Logistics Park (VLP) showcased its latest infrastructure developments and integrated logistics services at the 10th China-South Asia Exposition (CSAE 2026) in Kunming, China, reinforcing its role in supporting regional trade and connectivity.

The event brought together businesses, investors, and government representatives from across Asia, providing a platform for VLP to present its vision for strengthening Laos’ position as a regional logistics and trade hub.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a comprehensive Laos-China cooperation agreement, held as part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The agreement covers four strategic sectors: new energy equipment, cross-border supply chain logistics and bonded warehousing, integrated trade, and digital finance.

According to VLP, the partnership represents another step forward in expanding economic cooperation between Laos and China while supporting industrial development and regional integration.

The company said the agreement shows a shared commitment to leveraging Laos’ strategic location to strengthen cross-border trade, improve logistics efficiency, and attract greater investment into the country.

As one of Laos’ key logistics infrastructure projects, VLP continues to support the government’s vision of transforming the country from land-locked to land-linked by enhancing regional connectivity and facilitating the movement of goods across international markets.

Through ongoing partnerships and infrastructure development, VLP aims to further position Vientiane as an important gateway for trade, logistics, and investment in the Greater Mekong region.

The Caravel Group’s 5th Annual ESG Report Outlines Strategic Resilience in Global Shipping

Refreshed five-year Encompass roadmap highlights accelerated fleet decarbonisation and proactive talent integration as key competitive advantages


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 June 2026 – The Caravel Group, a diversified global conglomerate with core businesses in maritime services, commodity trading and investment management, today released its fifth annual Responsibility Report, Encompass. The report details the Group’s progress, key achievements and future targets in running a sustainable and resilient business, with a particular focus on its ship management subsidiary, Fleet Management Limited.

Caravel SustainabilityReport2025 Main Cover

Guided by the four core pillars of the Encompass strategy—Navigating Responsibly, Evolving Environmental Stewardship, Safeguarding People and Working Together—the 2025 report demonstrates how the Group has successfully translated high-level ESG ambitions into measurable, accountable day-to-day operational practices across ship and shore.

Dr. Harry S. Banga, Founder & Executive Chairman of The Caravel Group, said: “Five years ago, we established Encompass as our guiding compass. This fifth annual report is a testament to how we have built a business trusted to perform responsibly, adapt with discipline and remain relevant in a volatile maritime industry. By formally embedding ESG metrics into performance reviews for all onshore employees and establishing strategic initiatives like our LNG bunkering joint venture, we have ensured that responsibility and performance are no longer separate conversations.

Key Sustainable Milestones in 2025:

1. Evolving Environmental Stewardship & Accelerated Decarbonisation

  • The Group achieved a 42% reduction in managed ship GHG emission intensity from its 2008 baseline, significantly exceeding its established 2030 target of a 30% reduction.
  • Currently, 74% of the managed fleet is equipped with advanced Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), including high-performance hull paint, Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCFs) and variable speed motors, keeping the Group firmly on track to equip 100% of its fleet by 2030.
  • The Caravel Group entered a strategic joint venture with Celsius Shipping to co-own and operate a new fleet of high-specification LNG bunkering vessels, supporting the maritime sector’s wider transition towards cleaner fuels.

2. Navigating Responsibly & Digital Innovation

  • The Group continued the active pilot deployment of Captain’s Eye, an AI-powered maritime safety solution using onboard CCTV to detect smoke, leaks and safety hazards in real-time.
  • Upgrades to PARIS (integrated fleet management platform) and NOVA (data analytics) provided vessel owners with real-time financial, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance reporting, bolstering transparency and proactive risk management.

3. Safeguarding People & Safety Excellence

  • Port State Control (PSC) detentions across the fleet plummeted from 22 in 2023 to just 5 in 2025, driven by the Group’s increasingly rigorous safety protocols and strengthened reporting discipline.
  • The Group recorded an exceptional 91% wellbeing score in its annual employee survey, surpassing its 78% target set for 2028 ahead of schedule.

4. Working Together, Talent & Community Engagement

  • Following its landmark acquisition of the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, the Group integrated a highly reliable, Group-aligned talent channel, welcoming over 500 job-ready cadets to Fleet Management in 2025.
  • The Caravel Group recorded a 92% employee engagement score and a 93% Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) score.
  • In line with its pledge to commit at least 2% of average net profits over the previous three years to social causes, the Group contributed USD 1,529,993 to community partnerships, education initiatives and disaster relief programmes.

Mr. Angad Banga, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Caravel Group, added: “In today’s market, sustainability is no longer a future consideration—it is an active operating condition. Regulatory frameworks like FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS carry real economic consequences, and our clients look to us for the systems, judgment and commercial depth to navigate this landscape. By pairing digital tools with a robust talent pipeline through the IMI, we are building organisational capability before the moment it is needed, creating a lasting competitive advantage.

To explore the detailed performance data, future targets, and the full version of the Encompass: Responsibility Report 2025, please visit The Caravel Group Website: https://www.caravel-group.com/our-impact/responsibility-reports

Hashtag: #FleetManagementLimited

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

About The Caravel Group Limited

The Caravel Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a privately held and globally diversified group with operations across maritime services, dry bulk commodity trading, institutional investment management, and philanthropy. Its maritime division includes Fleet Management Limited, one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management, and strategic investments, including a major stake in Pacific Basin (HKEX: 2343). Caravel also owns the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, reinforcing its commitment to maritime talent development. Through Caravel Asset Management, the Group invests globally across public markets and private equity, while its philanthropic arm, The Caravel Foundation, supports the education and well-being of underprivileged youth across Hong Kong, China, and India.

Learn more:

About Fleet Management Limited

Fleet Management Limited, part of The Caravel Group, is one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management. This scale bears testament to the resilience and commitment of thousands of seafarers and onshore maritime professionals serving shipowners worldwide.

Fleet manages a range of vessels, including bulk carriers, containers, car carriers, oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers from 600 to 320,000 DWT in size – with many being young and energy-efficient with an age profile below the industry average. The company also has a dynamic newbuilding supervision department.

Learn more:

Laos, China Approve Seven New Development Projects Worth USD 3.31 Million

A picture of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maythong Thammavongsa (on the right) and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong (on the left) after signed agreements and approved 7 projects. (Photo by Lao National Radio)

Laos has secured seven new development projects worth USD3.31 million under the Mekong–Lancang Special Fund for 2026, as it deepens cooperation with China on regional development.

The parties signed the agreement on 16 June at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane.

The projects will focus on human resource development, agriculture, water resources, health, and poverty reduction. Authorities say the funding will support basic services and strengthen long-term development across the country.

The Mekong–Lancang Cooperation Framework brings together six countries: Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. It was first launched in 2016 to promote regional cooperation along shared river systems and improve economic and development links.

China established the Mekong–Lancang Special Fund in 2017 to support practical cooperation projects under the framework.

According to state media, the Lao government said the latest funding round will continue to support national development priorities and improve living conditions in rural areas.

Officials from both Laos and China said the new projects would strengthen regional cooperation and contribute to wider goals, including ASEAN integration, Belt and Road cooperation, South-South cooperation, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Laos has relied heavily on regional development funding in recent years as it seeks to improve infrastructure, strengthen public services, and reduce poverty.

The government said it will work with partners to ensure the new projects are implemented effectively and deliver results at community level.

Past Cooperations

Over the past decade, Laos has received around 100 projects worth more than USD 26 million through the fund, according to officials. The projects have supported rural development, agriculture, health services, and skills training across the country.

Beyond development cooperation, Mekong–Lancang countries have expanded coordination into security and enforcement areas. 

In November 2025, the six member states agreed on new measures to combat transnational telecom and online fraud, including real-time information sharing, stricter SIM-card controls, and closer regional law enforcement cooperation.

China has also introduced new regional visa policies in June 2025 aimed at boosting travel, business, and economic cooperation with ASEAN countries and Mekong region partners.

Officials from Laos and China said the latest funding package would further strengthen regional cooperation and contribute to wider development goals, including ASEAN integration, Belt and Road cooperation, South–South cooperation, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Lao government said it would work with partners to ensure the new projects are implemented effectively and deliver tangible benefits at community level.

Asia Symbol Publishes Its Ninth Sustainability Report on China’s National Low-Carbon Day

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 June 2026 – In conjunction with National Low-Carbon Day, Asia Symbol has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, marking the ninth consecutive year that the company has released a comprehensive account of its sustainability performance and progress.

The report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards (2021) and references the IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information, IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures, the SASB Standards for Pulp & Paper Products, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To enhance the relevance and transparency of its disclosures, Asia Symbol conducted a comprehensive assessment of sustainability topics based on both impact materiality and financial materiality. The report systematically addresses these material topics through detailed performance data, case studies and practical examples. Independently verified by a third party, the report also highlights the company’s continued progress toward green, high-quality development.

Guided by its mission of “Improving Lives by Developing Resources Sustainably”, Asia Symbol further strengthened its sustainability management framework in 2025. Taking into account industry developments, operational priorities, future growth plans and regulatory expectations, the company implemented several key initiatives during the year, including:

  • Revising and enhancing its 2030 Sustainability Goals;
  • Establishing and strengthening a due diligence system for woodchip and pulp procurement;
  • Conducting its first Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions inventory to advance decarbonisation efforts across the value chain; and
  • Joining the United Nations Global Compact, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices.

Looking ahead, Asia Symbol, a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, remains committed to working closely with stakeholders to advance sustainable development. The company will continue to adopt higher standards, implement practical actions and deepen its sustainability practices to help address shared environmental and social challenges. Through collaboration and innovation, Asia Symbol aims to contribute to balanced progress across the economy, society and the environment.

The Asia Symbol 2025 Sustainability Report is available at:
https://www.asiasymbol.com/en/sustainability/sustainability-report.
Hashtag: #RGE #AsiaSymbol #China #Sustainability #Carbon #GRI #SDGs #Reporting

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

About Asia Symbol

Asia Symbol is a world leading producer of pulp, paper and paperboard with investment in Shandong, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces in China. Its main products are BHKP, ivory paperboard, uncoated woodfree printing and office paper, with annual production capacity of 6 million tons.