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Chubb Life Hong Kong Launches Critical Illness Plans with Market-First Features and Broader Protection for Customers with Diverse Health Needs

By
Advertorial Desk
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  • Chubb Care Critical Illness Series offers comprehensive protection for healthy individuals, cancer survivors and individualswith cardiovascular disease or diabetes histories, helping address a significant coverage gap in Hong Kong.
  • Market-firstflexible payout options and unified cross-border premiums offer advanced financial support and post-recovery care.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2026 – Chubb Life Hong Kong today announced the launch of the “Chubb Care Critical Illness Series”, a flagship suite of health solutions featuring market-first flexible payout options and unified cross-border premiums, designed to give customers greater flexibility and financial control at every stage of their health journey. The series aims to address a significant coverage gap in Hong Kong by offering comprehensive protection for customers across a range of health backgrounds,including those with a history of critical illness.

Chubb Life Hong Kong Launches Critical Illness Plans with Market-First Features and Broader Protection for Customers with Diverse Health Needs

With private healthcare costs in Hong Kong ranked the second highest in the world1, continuous critical illness protection against recurring or subsequent major illnesses remains increasingly crucial. At the same time, individuals with a history of critical illness often face application rejections, policy exclusions or higher premiums. Chubb Care Critical Illness Series addresses these varied health profiles through four distinct options:

  • Chubb Every Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan (“Chubb Every Care”): Designed for healthy individuals, with coverage for 146 illnesses and up to 800% protection2.
  • Chubb Cancer / Cardio / Diabetes Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan (“Chubb Cancer/ Cardio/ Diabetes Care”): Designed for cancer survivors, individuals with cardiovascular disease and those with well-controlled diabetes respectively with a simplified underwriting approach, offering up to 300% protection3 for up to 128 illnesses4.

The series is designed for customers with different health needs and encompasses groundbreaking first-in-market5 features including:

  • Flexible payout options: Offers a standby cash option for an additional 100% of the sum assured, or an ongoing protection option for continuing coverage up to 5 additional claims under Chubb Every Care.
  • Reimbursement for out-of-pocket items6: Covers eligible self-financed drugs and/or privately purchased medical items7 for cancer, heart attack7, and stroke7.
  • Post-recovery & advanced care6: Delivers extra 20% of the Sum Assured for appearance restoration and side-effects resulting from cancer and its treatments, plus an additional 20% of the Sum Assured if a condition progresses to advanced stage cancer, severe heart attack7 or severe stroke7.

To support customers residing in both Mainland China and Hong Kong, the series also features unified premiums for Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland customers and recognizes health reports from designated mainland hospitals. Other key benefits include a simplified underwriting process, an exceptional leverage ratio and one-stop dedicated medical case management team led by a family doctor8.

Alex Wong, Chief Customer Proposition Officer of Chubb Life Hong Kong, said: “Many individuals who have recovered from a critical illness may find themselves without insurance protection after their first diagnosis, leaving them financially exposed if the illness returns. With the launch of Chubb Care Critical Illness Series, we are helping to address this uncertainty by giving customers greater choice and practical support at every stage of their health journey, so they and their families can navigate the future with confidence. Chubb Life Hong Kong is committed to delivering forward-looking health solutions that respond directly to our customers’ evolving needs.”

For more information about Chubb Care Critical Illness Series, please refer to: https://www.chubb.com/hk-en/personal/chubb-every-care-critical-illness-insurance-plan-series.html.

This article is intended for general reference only and should not be regarded as professional advice, recommendation and does not form part of the policy. This article should be read along with other materials which cover more product information. Such materials include, but not limited to, product brochures setting out key product risks, policy provisions that contain the detailed terms and conditions, benefit illustrations (if any), policy documents and other relevant promotional or marketing materials, which are all available upon request. You might also consider seeking independent professional advice if needed. This article is intended to be displayed in Hong Kong only and does not construe as an offer to sell or solicitation to buy or provision of any insurance products outside Hong Kong. The above plan is a standalone policy and may be purchased independently without bundling with other insurance products.

Notes:

  1. The SIP Health Cost Index Global Ranking – 2025: https://www.sip.ch/service/sip-health-cost-index-2025/
  2. Assume that payout for Minor Illness Benefit has reached 90% of the Sum Assured; Protection Revival Benefit and Extra Coverage Benefit have been paid with the Major Illness Benefit; Ongoing Protection Option was selected for the payment of Major Illness Benefit; Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit has been paid five times; and the Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit, Appearance Care Benefit, and Embrace Life Benefit have all been paid out at respective maximum benefit payable.
  3. Assume that payout for Minor Illness Benefit has reached 90% of the Sum Assured; Protection Revival Benefit has been paid with the Major Illness Benefit; Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit has been paid; and the Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit, Appearance Care Benefit, and Embrace Life Benefit have all been paid out at respective maximum benefit payable.
  4. Chubb Cardio Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan provides coverage for 43 Minor Illnesses and Major Illnesses, while Chubb Cancer / Diabetes Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan provides coverage for 128 Minor Illnesses and Major Illnesses.
  5. It is based on a comparison with other participating critical illness protection plans offered by Composite and Long-Term Businesses as identified in the Register of Authorized Insurers by Insurance Authority as of 22 May 2026.
  6. Upon our assessment that all relevant reports have been submitted to our satisfaction, the Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit, Appearance Care Benefit, Embrace Life Benefit and Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit respectively will be unlocked from the corresponding Policy Anniversary. Please refer to the product brochure of respective insurance plan for details.
  7. Subject to the terms and conditions. It is not applicable to Chubb Cardio Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan. Please refer to the product brochure of respective insurance plan for details.
  8. Please refer to the “Chubb Care Critical Illness Series – Value-added Services Leaflet” for details and the applicable terms and conditions of the related services.


Appendix

About Chubb Care Critical Illness Series

  • Product Nature: Critical illness protection insurance series (with savings element)
  • Target Segments:
  • Chubb Every Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan (“Chubb Every Care”): Healthy individuals
  • Chubb Cancer / Cardio / Diabetes Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan (“Chubb Cancer/ Cardio/ Diabetes Care”): Customers with medical histories (i.e. cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes histories)
  • Four plan options under the series:

Chubb Every Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan

Maximum 800% of the Total Benefit Payable1
Core Protection Additional Protection Waivers of Premium
[First-in-market2] Two flexible options for receiving Major Illness Benefit Extra 50% protection within the first 10 Policy Years Waive Premium for 24 months when diagnosed with Minor Illness
Coverage for 146 Major and Minor Illnesses, including Angelman Syndrome and Tourette’s Syndrome [First-in-market2] Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit: Reimbursement for Self-Financed Drugs and/or Privately Purchased Medical Items up to 20% of the Sum Assured or USD 62,500 (whichever is lower) Waive all future Premiums when diagnosed with Major Illness
Protection Revival Benefit:

Major Illness Benefit or Death Benefit can be restored to 100% of the Sum Assured after Minor Illness claims

[First-in-market2] Appearance Care Benefit: Extra 20% of the Sum Assured for appearance restoration and side-effect resulting from Cancer and its treatments Waive all future Premiums on Death of Insured’s Parent/Guardian, until the Insured reaches Age 25
Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit: Up to five additional claims for Cancer, Heart Attack, and Stroke [First-in-market2] Embrace Life Benefit: Extra 20% of the Sum Assured for Advanced Stage Cancer, Severe Heart Attack or Severe Stroke
Dedicated case management team to provide one-stop value-added services

Chubb Cancer/Cardio/Diabetes Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan

Maximum 300% of the Total Benefit Payable3
Core Protection Additional Protection Health Management Incentive
Coverage for up to 128 Major and Minor Illnesses4,6 [First-in-market2] Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit5: Reimbursement for Self-Financed Drugs and/or Privately Purchased Medical Items7 up to 20% of the Sum Assured6 or USD 62,500 (whichever is lower) [First-in-market2] Coverage Unlock Privilege8: If the Insured’s health condition meets the required criteria, benefits can be unlocked without additional premiums
Protection Revival Benefit:

Major Illness Benefit can be restored to 100% of the Sum Assured after Minor Illness claims

[First-in-market2] Appearance Care Benefit5: Extra 20% of the Sum Assured6 for appearance restoration and side-effect resulting from Cancer and its treatments Waivers of Premium
Waive premiums for 24 months when diagnosed with Minor Illness
Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit5: Up to one extra claim with 50% of the Sum Assured [First-in-market2] Embrace Life Benefit5: Extra 20% of the Sum Assured6 for Advanced Stage Cancer, Severe Heart Attack7 or Severe Stroke7 Waive all future premiums when diagnosed with Major Illness
Dedicated case management team to provide one-stop value-added services

Notes:

  1. Assume that payout for Minor Illness Benefit has reached 90% of the Sum Assured; Protection Revival Benefit and Extra Coverage Benefit have been paid with the Major Illness Benefit; Ongoing Protection Option was selected for the payment of Major Illness Benefit; Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit has been paid five times; and the Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit, Appearance Care Benefit, and Embrace Life Benefit have all been paid out at respective maximum benefit payable.
  2. It is based on a comparison with other participating critical illness protection plans offered by Composite and Long-Term Businesses as identified in the Register of Authorized Insurers by Insurance Authority as of 22 May 2026.
  3. Assume that payout for Minor Illness Benefit has reached 90% of the Sum Assured; Protection Revival Benefit has been paid with the Major Illness Benefit; Multiple Protection Major Illness Benefit has been paid; and the Out-of-Pocket Items Benefit, Appearance Care Benefit, and Embrace Life Benefit have all been paid out at respective maximum benefit payable.
  4. Chubb Cardio Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan provides coverage for 43 Minor Illnesses and Major Illnesses, while Chubb Cancer / Diabetes Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan provides coverage for 128 Minor Illnesses and Major Illnesses.
  5. Subject to the provisions of Coverage Unlock Privilege.
  6. For Chubb Cancer Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan, this is subject to Cancer Lien. Please refer to the product brochure of respective insurance plan for details.
  7. Subject to the terms and conditions. It is not applicable to Chubb Cardio Care Critical Illness Insurance Plan. Please refer to the product brochure of respective insurance plan for details.
  8. For the avoidance of doubt, Coverage Unlock Privilege and any unlocked benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy, including provisions relating to lapse and reinstatement.


Hashtag: #ChubbLife

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

About Chubb

Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb employs approximately 45,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: .

Laos Attracts USD 8.5 Billion in Investment Projects in First Seven Months of 2026

By
Thongsavanh Souvannasane
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Construction of the Luang Prabang Mekong Hydropower Project. Luang Prabang Province, Laos. July 2026. (Photp credit: Luang Prabang Television)

Laos attracted over USD 8.5 billion in investment approvals during the first seven months of 2026, with officials greenlighting 34 projects in concessionary businesses and controlled business lists.

The figures mark a 68 percent increase over the same period last year, and actual capital inflow from these projects has already surpassed USD 1 billion.

Officials revealed the numbers at the first Investment Promotion and Management Committee conference, held over two days from 11 to 12 August in Vientiane. 

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said Laos has approved 5,394 domestic and foreign investment projects worth a combined USD 65.5 billion since it opened to private investment in 1989. Domestic investment in controlled and concessionary business activities accounts for about 23 percent of that total, he added.

China leads foreign investment with 970 projects worth USD 15 billion, followed by Vietnam with 441 projects worth USD 12.7 billion and Thailand with 686 projects worth USD 6.9 billion.

Japan has also expanded its footprint, with more than 160 companies now investing in Laos through direct investment and regional supply chains. This month, Laos and Japan revised their grant aid agreement for the Wattay International Airport improvement project, raising funding to JPY 3.863 billion (USD 26.5 million), up from the original amount set under the 2024 agreement, building on the upgrade project launched in May 2026.

Forest City Highlights Nearly 40 International Awards and Certifications

By
Advertorial Desk
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Recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council, Global Forum on Human Settlements, GEO Foundation, and Asia’s Top 100 Golf Courses — and what that recognition proves about the full picture of Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ).

JOHOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2026 — Forest City, the master-planned development in Iskandar Puteri, has achieved nearly 40 international awards and certifications as of August 2026, covering sustainability, green-building design, golf-course environmental management, and hospitality, as well as community contribution.

Aerial view of Forest City in Iskandar Puteri, Johor — more than 60% of the master plan is dedicated to green space, spanning 2.86 million m² of parks, mangrove corridors and landscaped zones.
Aerial view of Forest City in Iskandar Puteri, Johor — more than 60% of the master plan is dedicated to green space, spanning 2.86 million m² of parks, mangrove corridors and landscaped zones.

These include eight awards under the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA) series issued by the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), as well as a 2024 Certificate of Honor from GFHS; LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; GreenRE Gold ratings for Forest City Island and its international school; GEO Certified status for both golf courses from Scotland’s GEO Foundation; and a seven-year consecutive ranking for Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia. In 2026, the Classic Course was ranked No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia.

The awards and certifications documented here address a specific set of criteria: design quality, sustainability standards, and operational assessments by independent institutions. This release provides a transparent account of the institutions that have assessed Forest City, the areas reviewed, and the limits of what such recognition can reasonably prove.

Sustainability and Green-Building Recognition

LEED-CS Gold pre-certification has been secured from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for multiple buildings, demonstrating that environmental performance was embedded in project planning from the outset. LEED pre-certification represents verified design intent and a formal commitment to sustainable performance criteria, including energy modelling, water efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

This design-stage commitment is reflected across the master plan, which dedicates over 60% of the total land area to non-built space, equivalent to 2.86 million m² of green infrastructure. This includes two golf courses, public parks, landscaped residential zones, and mangrove corridors extending along the Johor coastline — green space that, as of 2026, supports more than 400 officially documented species.

At the national level, Forest City Island and its international school have received GreenRE Gold ratings under Malaysia’s green real-estate framework, reinforcing the project’s alignment with recognised sustainability benchmarks at both international and domestic levels. Beyond building-level certifications, Forest City has received eight awards under the SCAHSA, issued by the GFHS, an international non-profit organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The documented recognition spans planning and design, green-building industrial development, city-industry integration, green smart city development, coastal ecological protection, low-carbon city planning, and green and intelligent construction, with awards recorded from 2016 to 2023. In 2024, Forest City also received a Certificate of Honor at the 19th Global Forum on Human Settlements from GFHS for its contribution to promoting sustainable cities and human settlements for all.

Award / Certification Issuing Body What It Certifies Status as Reported by Forest City
SCAHSA series, including green and intelligent construction recognition Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS, UN ECOSOC consultative status) Sustainable city planning and green construction Eight awards and a 2024 Certificate of Honor, with documented recognition from 2016 to 2023
LEED-CS Gold pre-certification U.S. Green-Building Council Core and shell sustainable building design Multiple buildings
GreenRE Gold GreenRE, Malaysia Green real-estate design and operation Forest City Island and international school
GEO Certified GEO Foundation, Scotland Sustainable golf-course operations Both golf courses

Golf and Hospitality Recognition

Forest City’s leisure and hospitality assets have also received external recognition, led by the continued performance of Forest City Golf Resort’s Classic Course in regional rankings. The Classic Course has maintained its position among the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia for seven consecutive years, ranking No. 1 in Malaysia and No. 36 in Asia in 2026, a rise of 14 places from the previous year. The ranking is assessed by an independent panel co-hosted since 2016 by the Chinese and Korean editions of Golf Travel magazine and was reported by The Star on 26 April 2026 following the awards ceremony at Hillview Golf Club on 14 April 2026.

The hospitality component of the resort has also received platform-based recognition. Forest City Golf Hotel earned the Agoda Gold Circle Award 2025 based on service ratings and operational performance on the booking platform. Forest City regards the award as an encouraging indicator of its commitment to guest experience and service consistency, while noting that it reflects day-to-day hospitality performance rather than a measure of the wider development.

Additionally, both golf courses have earned GEO Certified status from Scotland’s GEO Foundation, which evaluates sustainable golf-course operations. GEO Certified is described by the GEO Foundation as “golf’s most comprehensive and widely recognised eco-label”, and is awarded following successful completion of the OnCourse programme and an independent audit. Collectively, these accolades attest to quality across golfing excellence, hospitality service, and environmental stewardship — recognition reflected in visitor engagement, with the resort welcoming more than 100,000 golfers in 2025.

Economic and Community Contribution

Forest City’s recognition record is supported by reported economic and social contribution figures. Internal records indicate that, as of November 2025, the development had contributed over RM790 million in taxes to the Malaysian government, alongside more than RM50 million in employee-related taxes.

More than RM53 million has been invested in charity and community programmes, including support for local schools and villages, and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created.

According to Forest City’s internal records as of November 2025, the development has engaged more than 190 local enterprises, attracted property owners from over 20 countries and territories, and contributed to attracting an estimated 300,000 international visitors to Malaysia.

The Significance Behind These Awards

In 2018, Forest City was profiled by Forbes as one of the “5 new cities that are set to shake up the future”. While the coverage is now nearly eight years old, it underscores the project’s long-standing visibility in global urban development conversations, rather than serving as an endorsement of present-day investment returns.

Green-building certifications relate primarily to design and operational standards; the SCAHSA recognitions focus on planning and sustainability; and golf-course rankings evaluate course quality and related criteria.

For prospective residents and investors, the awards should therefore be treated as evidence of build quality, institutional engagement and assessed sustainability credentials, to be considered alongside current data on occupancy, demand, connectivity and market liquidity. Questions relating to the Special Financial Zone framework and connectivity — including the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link scheduled to open for passenger service on 1 January 2027 — should be assessed through dedicated materials, current market data and, where relevant, Forest City’s investment overview.

The Broader Impact of Awards and Recognitions

The relevance of Forest City’s awards and certifications varies by audience. For ESG-minded investors and institutions, the most relevant credentials are Forest City’s LEED-CS Gold pre-certification, GreenRE Gold ratings, and GFHS recognition. These are issuer-named credentials aligned with green-investment screening and can be reviewed alongside Forest City’s broader investment framework. For enterprises operating within the SFZ, this integrated environment — where land and marine ecosystems are carefully preserved — enhances environmental performance and strengthens sustainability credentials.

For prospective residents and families, the GreenRE rating for the international school and the golf and hospitality recognition for the resort may be more directly relevant to daily living than city-planning awards. These credentials point to quality — but prospective residents should also assess schools, amenities, transport, community facilities, and the broader facts about Forest City on the ground.

For Malaysia-market watchers, Forest City’s SCAHSA record and reported RM790 million tax contribution mark the development as a recognised case study in green development and city-industry integration. This recognition is a data point on the development’s institutional standing, not a forecast of its commercial outcome.

Conclusion

What the awards record does establish is something more specific. Forest City reports nearly 40 awards and certifications across named institutions, including the U.S. Green Building Council, the Global Forum on Human Settlements, the GEO Foundation, and the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia panel. This is accompanied by reported contributions of more than RM790 million in taxes and the creation of more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. Prospective residents and investors should also consider Forest City’s position as the financial-services flagship within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone, along with its duty-free island and Malaysia Digital Status.

The strongest claim the awards support is also the most modest one: that Forest City has been built and planned to a standard that named international institutions have repeatedly chosen to certify — which is a starting point for due diligence, not a substitute for it.
Hashtag: #ForestCity #SFZ #ForestCityAchievements #Malaysia

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

About Forest City Special Financial Zone

Located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) is Malaysia’s first designated special financial zone and a key financial-services component of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone. It is positioned to attract financial institutions, multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals and businesses operating in wealth management, financial technology and global business services.

Its incentive framework includes a 0% income tax rate for qualifying Single Family Office Vehicles for up to 20 years, a preferential 5% corporate tax rate for approved qualifying activities, and a special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers, subject to the applicable conditions, regulatory approvals and prevailing legislation. Forest City also holds duty-free island status, further strengthening its appeal as a regional investment, business and wealth-management destination near Singapore.

Artmarket.com: Q2 2026 Upward Trend, from Progressive Transition to Artprice’s “AI-FIRST” Metamorphosis

By
Advertorial Desk
-

PARIS, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thierry EHRMANN, Founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket.com, and his family have full confidence in the future of Artmarket.com and in the growth of its activities, driven notably by substantial investments dedicated to the development of Artmarket.com’s vertical AI. The expression of support from the Ehrmann family and Groupe Serveur (majority shareholder) for the expansion of Artmarket.com’s business will materialize very shortly through an increase in their shareholding in Artmarket.com via the acquisition of additional Artmarket.com shares. Naturally, all required disclosures will be made to the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) and online within legal deadlines during authorized trading windows.

News and Outlook

From Progressive Transition to the “AI-FIRST” Metamorphosis of the Artprice Meta-Database

Following an in-depth strategic review approved by the Board of Directors, Artprice—the global leader in art market information for nearly three decades—is executing a major doctrinal shift in the integration of its proprietary artificial intelligence architectures, notably “Intuitive Art Market®” and “Blind Spot®”.

  1. From Incremental Deployment to the “AI-First” Architectural Shift
    The initial strategy called for a slow, educational rollout of our AI building blocks within our historical databases. While cautious, this approach fragmented the market’s perception of the ongoing technological revolution. AI is no longer an optional component: it has become the core matrix of the global economy.
    Gradually injecting AI modules into an infrastructure proven over 25 to 30 years of use is equivalent to attempting to convert an internal combustion engine vehicle with analog controls into a digital electric vehicle piece by piece while driving. Clients struggle to gauge the quantum leap between the old world and the new, risking operational inconsistencies. Today, we choose clarity and high standards: abandoning piecemeal deployments to deliver a global, seamless, and fully realized mutation.
  2. Financial Strength and Adjusted Schedule
    This choice of rigor entails a minor adjustment to our public deployment schedule, with no impact on our financial trajectory. In a complex global economic environment marked by heightened geopolitical tensions and sharp volatility in energy costs, Artprice by Artmarket’s revenue continues to maintain steady growth. This remarkable economic foundation grants us the independence and composure necessary to prioritize operational perfection over haste—a stark contrast to many listed companies incorporating AI into their business models while constantly seeking equity capital.
  3. Act I: The Intra-Community Revolution
    The restructuring centers around Artprice’s unique asset: nearly 180 interconnected proprietary databases forming an unprecedented global meta-database, alongside its world-renowned collection of Manuscripts and sales catalogs from 1700 to the present day, considered unique worldwide by researchers and experts.
    The first phase of this mutation is occurring internally. All Group employees, departments, and production units are being directly equipped with dedicated AI hardware and edge units. Before exposing these tools to our subscribers, we are completing a total overhaul of our internal workflows. Data collection, standardization, and enrichment pipelines are being completely rewritten according to Deep Learning standards and proprietary algorithms.
  4. Act II: Delivery of a Natively Transformed Database Platform
    Only once the internal value chain is fully calibrated will the platform be released to our subscribers. The database platform will not appear as a stack of incremental modules, but as a complete “AI-First” environment built upon our core pillars: certified massive data (standardized Big Data), deep learning (Data Learning), and algorithmic security.
    By choosing this comprehensive and structured metamorphosis, Artprice reaffirms its position as a pioneer: transforming 30 years of global art market information leadership into a sovereign engine of decision intelligence for the entire global art market.

In an era where the open internet is sinking into entropy and dilution caused by the surge of synthetic data (70% uncontrollable synthetic data as of June 30, 2026, according to Gartner Group and the Europol Innovation Lab), companies that own their entire data value chain constitute true citadels of cognitive sovereignty.

Mastering the process from raw capture (standardized big data) to data mining, through to training deep learning models on tens of millions of unique records protected by patented algorithmic architectures, is no longer mere digital asset management: it establishes a monopoly on ground truth in a given market—in this case, the Art Market.

The evolution of Artprice’s ultra-proprietary databases into vertical AI versions (Intuitive Art Market® and Blind Spot®) represents not a simple technical update, but an ontological mutation structured around key strategic axes:

Ontological Mutation Defined: According to Thierry Ehrmann, Founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket: An ontological mutation designates a radical transformation not of the form, performance, or functions of an entity (what it does), but of its fundamental nature, essence, and mode of existence (what it is). Where a traditional evolution refines an existing system, an ontological mutation changes the category of reality to which that system belongs.

Applied to Artprice and the full mastery of its vertical AI (Intuitive Art Market® and Blind Spot®) and industrial process pipelines, this mutation manifests across three levels:

  • From Information Container to Cognitive Organism: Artprice no longer defines itself as an expert aggregator or a historical database. By embedding vertical AI at the core of its sovereign infrastructure, the entity evolves from a knowledge base into an autonomous cognitive architecture.
  • The Metamorphosis of Data: Art market data changes its ontological status. From a static, descriptive archival trace, it becomes a dynamic, predictive, and living semantic matrix capable of contextualizing and analyzing the market in real time.
  • Ontological Sovereignty of the Process: Owning the entire industrial chain (from proprietary raw data to the vertical language model, without third-party application dependencies) guarantees systemic self-sufficiency. AI is not a tool grafted onto the model: it becomes the very substance of Artprice’s operation.

Five Strategic Axes of the AI Mutation

  1. From Information Container to Deterministic Oracle: Historically, the value of these databases rested on indexing depth and search engine precision. Integrating a proprietary vertical AI transforms passive yet incorruptible data into active decision intelligence. While generic large language models (LLMs) suffer from hallucinations due to the porosity of their training corpora, vertical AI backed by a sovereign data pipeline operates in an ultra-secure closed loop. The system does not generate plausibility; it produces explainable certainty backed by pinpoint traceability.
  2. The Emergence of High-Value Sovereign Agency: User interaction evolves from the traditional query-response model to complex agentic automation. Artprice subscribers no longer search for a single occurrence or historical statistic; they mandate an autonomous Artprice agent trained exclusively on this data asset to perform arbitrage, simulate forward-looking scenarios, or model risks with extreme precision. Vertical AI becomes an augmented collaborator that unlocks the underlying value of millions of data pairs accumulated over decades by Artprice by Artmarket.
  3. Valuing Scarcity Amid the Synthetic Flood: As the marginal cost of creating generic content plunges toward zero, the relative value of historical, certified, and non-replicable databases grows exponentially (Financial Times). Companies controlling this sealed pipeline hold the only unpolluted “raw oil wells” of the digital world. Their subscription model no longer sells access to information, but the privilege of accessing critical information asymmetry for strategic, financial, or operational decision-making, via an annual subscription at a very reasonable cost of $1,600 to $2,500/year (€1,600–$2,500).
  4. Algorithmic Interfacing and Restricted Hybridization: These citadels will not isolate themselves completely, but will evolve their access models. The future lies in deploying predictive APIs and inference sub-systems capable of integrating directly into institutional clients’ workflows. Rather than delivering raw data, Artprice will distribute embedded intelligence modules, making its algorithmic ecosystem indispensable and intrinsically linked to its subscribers’ vital processes.
  5. Continuous Capture and Closed Feedback Loop: Every query and analysis conducted by privileged Artprice users within this vertical AI feeds back into and enriches the underlying data structure (continuous fine-tuning, metadata enrichment). This feedback mechanism creates an unassailable technological flywheel: the more Artprice databases are queried by experts via AI, the more the AI refines its semantic and predictive understanding of the market, indefinitely widening the gap with any emerging competitor.

In short, these ultra-proprietary databases will cease to be viewed as digital libraries and become sovereign inference engines. By controlling both the fuel (tens of millions of certified data points) and the engine (vertical AI and proprietary algorithms), these players do not merely evolve—they redefine the very nature of paid strategic intelligence, elevating data exclusivity into the supreme standard of the algorithmic era.

Strategic Summary: Perfect Encapsulation and Absolute Rigor for the High-End Offer

Armed with a massive head start guaranteed by our two proprietary artificial intelligences, Intuitive Art Market and Blind Spot, we took the necessary step back to make a minor adjustment to our launch calendar. This strategic timing reflects a fundamental requirement: finalizing a high-end subscription where technological power is entirely seamless behind absolute ease of use.

The top priority lies in complete encapsulation of algorithmic complexity between our data production pipelines and the client operational stage. Subscribers should no longer have to manipulate complex filters or settings; interaction must occur naturally and fluidly between our members and our sovereign AIs.

In the specialized ecosystem of the Art Market, this fluidity demands extreme rigor: the AI must master domain terminology and operate in over forty languages while strictly respecting the golden rule of art history, which formally prohibits any translation of artwork titles. Preserving original nomenclature and adhering to our historical protocols remain non-negotiable.

To perfect the user experience, the interface incorporates high-precision predictive guidance: from the very first natural language prompt, the system spontaneously suggests the most relevant follow-up questions to guide collectors, institutions, and professionals. However, unlike generic search engines that tolerate approximation, there is zero margin for error for a proprietary AI powered by our fully standardized and certified databases.

Currently undergoing rigorous and demanding beta testing to push their limits, our AIs are being calibrated to deliver flawless ergonomics. This stress-testing phase ensures intuitive and rewarding adoption across all user generations, proving that absolute mastery of internal corpora is the prerequisite for exceptional artificial intelligence.

From Valuation Algorithm to Systemic Paradigm: The “BLIND SPOT©” Dynamics

Initially conceived as a microeconomic modeling tool within Artprice, the Blind Spot© system was designed to solve the price discontinuity equation between two public auction sales. By relying on an artist’s global index history and formal traceability of auction sales—such as a Jackson Pollock masterpiece auctioned for $4 million in 1998 reaching $58 million in 2026—Blind Spot calculated with surgical accuracy the reconstruction of value during intervals of market opacity.

However, the rise of vertical AI architectures and the formalization of our theoretical corpus revealed a deeper truth: the blind spot is not merely a statistical gap; it is the underlying structure of data and the fundamental lever to access market truth.

Re-conceptualized by its creator Thierry Ehrmann, Blind Spot has become a 360-degree investigation engine capable of detecting and illuminating what escapes traditional modeling across key dimensions:

  • Biographical & Corpus Consistency: Applied to artistic career trajectories, Blind Spot analyzes abnormal proliferation of works that do not align with an artist’s documented biography. An artist’s biography is not just a historical narrative; it sets the physical boundaries of production, identifies creative shifts, and isolates peak periods—the key phases sought after by collectors. By cross-referencing market volume indices with real biographical pacing, the AI immediately detects flow anomalies and authenticates scarcity.
  • Macroeconomic & Geopolitical: On a global market scale, Blind Spot isolates exogenous factors explaining sudden drops in market activity for a financial center or country. Where traditional analyses suffer variations without grasping causes, the system cross-checks weak signals (regulatory, tax, sociopolitical) to explain trend disruptions and anticipate geographical shifts in capital.
  • Aesthetic & Cross-Recommendation: At the behavioral level, collectors often remain confined within rigid classifications of official artistic movements. Blind Spot breaks these conceptual silos by identifying formal, material, or conceptual correspondences between artists from seemingly disparate movements. By revealing these elective affinities invisible to the human eye, the system recommends works outside collectors’ usual scope that resonate perfectly with the deep sensibility of their collections.
  • Operational & Calendar Alignment: In processing massive global data flows, certain delays or acquisition pauses previously remained unexplained. By integrating all cultural, civil, national, and religious calendars into the heart of the model, the AI illuminated the temporal gaps responsible for these lulls. This granular understanding of societal cycles allows pre- and post-capture adjustments, permanently closing algorithmic gaps.
  • Cross-Functional Innovation Among Our Teams: Extended to internal organization, the Blind Spot concept transformed human capital management. In complex organizations, groundbreaking ideas rarely prevail when proposed by employees outside the relevant department. By identifying these organizational blind spots, the company unlocks cross-functional capabilities, encouraging employees to voice vision beyond their scope, enriching collective intelligence and driving unprecedented qualitative leaps.

Today, Blind Spot no longer merely bridges gaps between two market valuations of the same work: it has become the guiding principle of a global vision, converting every shadow zone of the market, data, and organization into a high-value strategic asset.

Deployment of Deterministic and Probabilistic AI Agents for Global and US Market Conquest

The Group’s technological infrastructure achieves a decisive milestone in its strategy to acquire and maximize high-value information by deploying two complementary agentic architectures: deterministic AI for structured data collection and probabilistic AI for strategic commercial expansion.

  1. Deterministic Agentic Agents: Sovereign Collection & Data Exclusivity
    Evolving from our initial web scraping and crawler systems, we have already deployed a generation of deterministic agentic agents. Engineered to operate without drift or interpretation, these agents interact exclusively under contractual agreements and formal partnerships with our global network of 7,200 auction house partners. Their mission is to extract, index, and structure an unprecedentedly rich data corpus, incorporating significant confidential information completely absent from the open Web. By deliberately excluding any probabilistic approach at this capture stage, we guarantee our databases scientific rigor and absolute certainty.
  2. Probabilistic Agentic Agents: High-Precision Targeting in the US Market
    To drive our expansion ambitions in the US market—the world’s primary art market offering immense revenue potential—we are concurrently deploying a fleet of probabilistic agentic agents with high success probability algorithms. Tailored to adapt to local, linguistic, and cultural specificities across US states, these agents model behavior to pinpoint major collectors, professionals, and institutions operating outside traditional sales channels with surgical precision.
  3. Media Synergy: The Impact of Artprice News
    This acquisition framework is amplified through synergy with Artprice News, our global art market news agency. Publishing real-time dispatches nearly every hour with a strong emphasis on the North American ecosystem, the agency and its editorial team continuously engage decision-makers. The combination of our data’s deterministic depth and our agents’ probabilistic market penetration establishes an unparalleled customer acquisition engine.

Copyright 1987-2026 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com – www.artmarket.com

For information purposes, Thierry Ehrmann has finalized the writing of an 1,800-page philosophical and scientific essay dedicated to Artificial Intelligence from 1987 to the present day. The central chapters of this work trace Artprice’s little-known human epic, leading to the global construction of a universal memory of the art market, shaped through landmark encounters with pioneers in art market sociology and historical market figures. This multilingual work will be released globally in digital and print formats, with the English version benefiting from a preliminary release prior to the launch of the French edition.

Artprice’s econometrics department can answer all your questions relating to personalized statistics and analyses: econometrics@artprice.com 

Find out more about our services with the artist in a free demonstration: https://artprice.com/demo

Our services: https://artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket.com:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris. The latest TPI analysis includes more than 18,000 individual shareholders excluding foreign shareholders, companies, banks, FCPs, UCITS: Euroclear: 7478 – Bloomberg: PRC – Reuters: ARTF.

Watch a video about Artmarket.com and its Artprice department: https://artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department were founded in 1997 by thierry Ehrmann, the company’s CEO. They are controlled by Groupe Serveur (created in 1987). cf. the certified biography from Who’s Who In France©:

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2025/11/2026_Biographie_de_Thierry_Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information (the original documentary archives, codex manuscripts, annotated books and auction catalogs acquired over the years) in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 915,300 artists.

Artprice Images® allows unlimited access to the largest art market image bank in the world with no less than 181 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, constantly enriches its databases from 7,200 auction houses and continuously publishes art market trends for the main agencies and press titles in the world in 121 countries and 11 languages.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artmarketcom-artprice-and-cision-extend-their-alliance-to-119-countries-to-become-the-worlds-leading-press-agency-dedicated-to-the-art-market-nfts-and-the-metaverse-301431845.html

Artmarket.com makes available to its 9.3 million members (members log in) the advertisements posted by its Members, who now constitute the first global Standardized Marketplace® for buying and selling artworks at fixed prices.

There is now a future for the Art Market with Artprice’s Intuitive Artmarket® AI.

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label “Innovative Company” by the French Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.

Artprice by Artmarket publishes its 2025 Global Art Market Annual Report, published in March 2026:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2025

Artprice by Artmarket publishes its 2025 Contemporary Art Market Report:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2025

Summary of Artmarket press releases with its Artprice department: https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/

Follow all the Art Market news in real-time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (more than 6.4 million subscribers)
x.com/artmarketdotcom
x.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and the universe of Artmarket and its Artprice department: https://www.artprice.com/video

whose head office is the famous Museum of Contemporary Art Abode of Chaos dixit The New York Times / La Demeure of Chaos:

https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

Madame Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture, has granted official recognition to thierry Ehrmann’s Abode of Chaos as a ‘total work of art’, the global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/madame-rachida-dati-french-minister-of-culture-has-granted-official-recognition-to-thierry-ehrmanns-abode-of-chaos-as-a-total-work-of-art-the-global-headquarters-of-artprice-by-artmarket-302409684.html

La Demeure du Chaos/Abode of Chaos – Total Work of Art and Singular Architecture.

Confidential bilingual work, now made public: https://ftp1.serveur.com/abodeofchaos_singular_architecture.pdf

Contact : Artmarket.com and its Artprice department – Contact: ir@artmarket.com

 

Kuehne+Nagel invests in new Container Freight Station in Cambodia

By
Advertorial Desk
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  • New 20,000 sqm facility will more than triple Kuehne+Nagel’s Container Freight Station capacity in Cambodia
  • Strategic location strengthens cross-border connectivity between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam
  • Expanded facility supports customers in the consumer goods industry

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2026 – Kuehne+Nagel has invested in a new Container Freight Station (CFS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Scheduled for completion in June 2027, the facility will provide more than 20,000 sqm of warehouse space, helping customers manage growing trade volumes and move goods more efficiently within Cambodia and across the region.

Cambodia CFS groundbreaking event
Cambodia CFS groundbreaking event

Cambodia continues to strengthen its trade infrastructure, with Phnom Penh Autonomous Port handling around 600,000 TEUs and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port approximately 1.3 million TEUs in 2025. Complementing this growth, the new CFS is strategically located near key transport gateways, including both ports, Phnom Penh International Airport and cross-border road links to Thailand and Vietnam, facilitating cargo movements across the country and supporting regional logistics operations.

David Roussiere, Managing Director, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, Kuehne+Nagel, said: “This investment will more than triple our CFS capacity in Cambodia and strengthen our logistics capabilities in the country. With direct access to key transportation gateways and regional trade corridors, the facility will support customers in the consumer good industry as they navigate evolving supply chains and growing trade opportunities across the region.”

Designed for cargo consolidation and handling operations, the new CFS will feature a raised-floor warehouse equipped with loading doors and dock levellers. It will offer a floor loading capacity of five tonnes per square metre and is expected to be certified to ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards.

The facility will also incorporate sustainability features including solar panels, skylight roofing, LED lighting, battery-operated forklifts, water infiltration systems and rainwater management infrastructure.

The investment reflects Kuehne+Nagel’s continued focus on strengthening its logistics infrastructure in high-growth markets and supporting the expansion of regional and international trade.

Hashtag: #Kuehne+Nagel

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

About Kuehne+Nagel

With approximately 88,000 employees across over 1,300 sites in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland and listed on the Zurich stock exchange, it is the global number one in Air and Sea Logistics and holds strong market positions in Road and Contract Logistics. Supporting around 400,000 customers worldwide, the Group draws on its global network, logistics expertise, and data-driven insights to deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions for global companies and industries.

Angelaligner Will Appeal Chinese Court Decision about Premolar Extraction Solution, Which Has No Impact on Customers

By
Advertorial Desk
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SHANGHAI, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) (“Angel”) http://www.angelaligner.com said today that it will appeal the August 10 first-instance judgment by the Jinan Intermediate People’s Court (Jinan City, China) that directed Angel’s Chinese subsidiaries to stop using the masterForce biomechanics simulation system and the ATreat digital diagnosis and design system to generate A7 and A7 Speed premolar extraction solutions.

The preliminary decision, which applies only in China, has not taken effect and, therefore, has not impacted the company’s customers or patients. The court’s ruling would take effect if Angel’s appeal is unsuccessful.

Angel is confident that the A7 Premolar Extraction Solution does not infringe any valid patent. The Company has won several patent disputes against the Plaintiff in various jurisdictions around the world and strongly advocates for fair competition in the aligner and scanner market.

“The court’s decision is limited to China. Even in China, there is no immediate impact on our customers,” said Fox Hu, CEO of Angel. “We feel very good about growth in orthodontist support for our professional solutions around the world. We feel confident about winning this appeal against our competitor, given we’ve won a series of similar cases.”

On May 12, 2026, the Local Division Düsseldorf (Germany) of the Unified Patent Court issued a preliminary ruling expressly rejecting the Plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction requiring Angel to cease using the A7 Premolar Extraction Solution. The Plaintiff did not appeal the ruling, which is now final. The European patent at issue and the Chinese patent at issue in the Jinan case belong to the same patent family.

On June 26, 2026, the Zhengzhou Intermediate People’s Court of China rendered two first-instance judgments in two disputes over patent infringement brought by the Plaintiff against Angel, dismissing all the Plaintiff’s claims. The Plaintiff has appealed the judgments.

Angel respects intellectual property and has a history of innovation in its 20-plus years in business. Some of the best orthodontists in the world, including even from competitors, consider Angel a leader in the treatment of complex orthodontic cases. Some competitors are even following in our footsteps, including our angelButton™ and A6 Mandibular Advancement System.

Angel has a market capitalization of $2 billion, strong profitability, a solid balance sheet, and a global team of caring professionals. This allows Angel to be a fortress of a long-term partner to orthodontists to create extraordinary clinical outcomes.

The Chinese case is part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by Align Technology Inc. (ALGN) (“Plaintiff”) against Angel that alleges patent infringement, which Angel denies. For additional information, please go to: https://www.angelaligner.com/legal-proceedings/

About Angelalign Technology Inc.
Founded in 2003 and celebrating over 2 million smiles worldwide, Angelalign Technology Inc. (HK:6699) (Angel Aligner) provides digital technology-driven clear aligner products and services to meet the needs of dental professionals and patients worldwide. The Company’s innovative portfolio — including the KiD aligner system, angelButton, A6 Mandibular Advancement, angelHook, and the iOrtho™ digital planning platform — reflects 23+ years of clinical innovation and a mission to deliver Complexity with Confidence for orthodontists and their patients. Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021, Angelalign launched its global expansion strategy in 2023, with products and services now reaching over 60 countries and regions. Angel Aligner entered the North American market three years ago and is expanding rapidly, including with a new 52,000 sq. ft. U.S. manufacturing facility. Learn more at www.angelaligner.com 

Media Contact:
Sue Kolb
sue.kolb@angelaligner.com

CPA Australia outlines recommendations for Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address

By
Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2026 – CPA Australia has suggested the HKSAR Government to use Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and the 2026 Policy Address to strengthen the city’s long-term competitiveness, accelerate innovation, deepen capital formation and support the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy.

Infographic - CPA Australia 2026 Policy Address and Five Year Plan (EN)

As one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies, CPA Australia has today submitted to the government a comprehensive series of policy recommendations under the following themes:

  1. Strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre
  2. Developing the Northern Metropolis as a key engine of economic growth and innovation
  3. Reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international trade hub
  4. Establishing leadership in sustainable finance and transition finance
  5. Building a future-ready workforce and innovation-driven economy

Macro vision and strategic positioning

Mr Cyrus Cheung, President of CPA Australia Greater China Division, emphasised the importance of long-term planning to support Hong Kong’s future competitiveness; “Hong Kong is entering an important period of economic development. The formulation of Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan alongside China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address provides an opportunity to leverage the city’s unique strengths, support innovation and sustainable investment, and strengthen its long-term competitiveness.”

Mr Cheung said Hong Kong should build on its role as a “super-connector” and “super-value-adder” by broadening its strategic focus beyond traditional trade and financial flows. “We recommend positioning Hong Kong as a comprehensive capital markets hub encompassing commodities, precious metals, carbon products, digital assets and RMB-denominated products. Given its strong financial, regulatory and legal foundations, Hong Kong should set a long-term ambition to become Asia’s leading centre for gold trading, clearing, settlement, financing and risk management.”

He added that Hong Kong is well placed to play a larger role in supporting the international expansion of Chinese enterprises.

CPA Australia’s recent research on Chinese enterprises going global found that over 3,000 A-share listed companies generated RMB 4.90 trillion in overseas revenue in the first half of 2025 alone. As Chinese enterprises continue to expand into ASEAN, the Middle East, Africa and other international markets, Hong Kong should position itself as the leading provider of professional services to support their global growth.

Enhancing Hong Kong’s capital market ecosystem

Mr Kelvin Leung, Deputy President of CPA Australia’s Greater China Division, highlighted key priorities for enhancing Hong Kong’s capital market ecosystem; “Hong Kong’s long-term success will depend on its ability to evolve beyond a traditional IPO fundraising centre into a comprehensive capital formation centre, positioning the city’s financial sector at the heart of international capital flows between entrepreneurs, investors, institutions and global markets.”

Mr Leung said this evolution should be supported by the continued development of areas such as digital finance, asset tokenisation, offshore RMB business, wealth management and family offices. “To support Hong Kong’s long-term development, the government should leverage the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) to catalyse private sector investment in strategic industries. To further strengthen the economy, we encourage the government to develop a Capital Formation Strategy in close collaboration with Mainland regulators.”

Mr Leung added that maintaining Hong Kong’s tax competitiveness will be critical to preserving its status as a leading international financial centre. “We suggest a comprehensive review of Hong Kong’s tax system, potentially structured as a series of interconnected reviews covering key sectors including family offices, funds, corporate treasury centres, insurance, and private credit. Led by the Advisory Committee on Tax Policy, these reviews should focus on reducing administrative burdens, assessing substance requirements and safeguarding the city’s international investment appeal.”

Accelerating Northern Metropolis growth and technology commercialisation

Dr Albert Wong, a divisional councillor on CPA Australia’s Greater China Division, outlined a potential roadmap to support Hong Kong’s technological transformation: “The Northern Metropolis should be positioned as an internationally connected engine of growth and innovation, serving as a strategic platform bringing together world-class universities, research institutions, multinational corporations, investors and technology enterprises to accelerate the development and commercialisation of new technologies.”

Dr Wong said stronger support is needed to help innovative ideas move more efficiently from research laboratories to commercial markets. “To strengthen Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, we recommend establishing a ‘Government-as-First-Customer’ procurement program to support local tech firms. We also recommend leveraging the HKIC as an anchor investor, where appropriate, to help attract private capital into locally developed technologies, alongside the creation of a University Commercialisation Acceleration Fund, to expedite the translation of research into commercial outcomes.”

He added that Hong Kong should further strengthen support for business adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. “To align with the national ‘AI+’ initiative and enhance business competitiveness, Hong Kong should expand support for AI adoption through measures such as an AI Adoption Support Scheme for SMEs and a Cross-Border Data Exchange Sandbox with the GBA.

Dr Wong emphasised that realising the full benefits of AI requires significant investment in education, workforce development and talent attraction. “Capturing the opportunities presented by AI requires a fundamental transformation in education and workforce skills. Hong Kong should aim for higher levels of digital literacy, critical thinking, communication and human-AI collaboration across all levels of education and training,”

Leadership in sustainable and transition finance

Highlighting long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth, Mr Cyrus Cheung added that said Hong Kong is well positioned to play a leading role in financing Asia’s transition to a lower-carbon economy. “Building on its strengths as a leading centre of finance and professional services, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to become Asia’s leading centre for financing the transition to low emissions technologies and serve as a bridge between the Chinese Mainland’s carbon markets and international investors. The Five-Year Plan should include a clear ambition to develop a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainable finance, transition finance, carbon trading, climate-related reporting, assurance and advisory services.”

Mr Cheung said Hong Kong has a unique opportunity to leverage its access to both Mainland and international capital to support the region’s decarbonisation efforts. “By adopting international sustainability standards and leveraging its access to Mainland and global capital, Hong Kong can play a leading role in mobilising investment for Asia’s decarbonisation transition. The Northern Metropolis should also be positioned as a demonstration zone for sustainable urban development and green infrastructure.”

CPA Australia believes that aligning near-term policy initiatives with a clear five-year strategic framework will help Hong Kong strengthen its competitiveness and accelerate its development into a more diversified, innovative and resilient economy.

Hashtag: #CPAAustralia

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

About CPA Australia

CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 176,000 members in over 100 countries and regions. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. More at

MoES and Australia release a new video to empower educators to better support students with disabilities

By
Public Diplomacy
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A picture of Teachers can observe for signs of students’ learning difficulties in the classroom using the CFM-TV form in TPS 14. (Photo by The Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR)

Many students with disabilities or other learning support needs are not identified early in the classroom. As a result, they may struggle to participate fully in learning and can fall behind their peers. Teachers often need practical tools and guidance to recognise these needs and make simple adjustments that help all students learn effectively. 

The Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR (MoES), with support from the Australian Government through the BEQUAL program, released Teacher Development Video 29 (TDV 29), which complements Teacher Support Pack 14 (TSP 14), “Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Classroom”. The video gives teachers practical guidance on how to recognize signs that a student may have difficulties with vision, hearing, mobility, attention, communication, or memory, and how to utilize the Child Functioning Module – Teacher Version correctly.

Vongphet Oudomlith, Director General of the Research Institute for Educational Sciences said “Visual materials are essential for teachers because they make key teaching strategies easier to understand, remember, and apply in practice. TDV 29 is a useful resource for promoting inclusive teaching practices and strengthening support for every learner in the classroom.”

The video is intended for primary teachers and other education staff who support classroom teaching and learning. By helping teachers identify learning support needs and respond with simple, inclusive classroom strategies, the video supports better participation and learning for all children, including children with disabilities. This makes inclusion stronger in everyday classroom practice as early identification of learner’s needs and the simple classroom adjustments suggested in the TSP 14 can make a real difference for students with disabilities and benefit the whole class.

Michael Currie, First Secretary, Australian Embassy said “Education gives children the skills they need to build their future, and this must include children with disabilities. When teachers adapt their teaching to meet different learning needs, every child has a better chance to participate, succeed, and grow in a supportive classroom. This video will also help parents identify signs of additional learning needs early and better support their children’s development and learning at home. Australia is proud to partner with MoES in advancing practical solutions that make schools and communities more inclusive for all learners.”

The video was produced by the Information Media Center of MoES, with close collaboration with lecturers from the three target Teacher Training Colleges of Luang Namtha, Khang Khay and Savannakhet, Department of Teacher and Education Administration Development, Department of General Education and their Inclusive Education Promotion Center, public and specialized schools as well as communications and inclusion experts under the BEQUAL program. TDV 29 is also part of the Research and Learning on Disability Inclusion pilot being implemented during the full 2026–2027 academic year and will help test how the TSP 14 strategies work in practice, as well as identify any further support needed for teachers.

The video can now be viewed on Lao ESTV – Education and Sports TV Channel on Lao Satellite 8, Khang Panya Lao, ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos YouTube channel and on tablets used by pedagogical support staff working with teachers in the 30 target districts supported by Australia.

Watch the video from this link: https://youtu.be/-57NdPzq-QQ?si=JWXgqsnCAHxA3TQx 

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