Industry Leadership Summit at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 marks the first step toward the full-scale PLX Asia trade event in 2027

BANGKOK, May 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PLX Asia, Southeast Asia’s first unified B2B platform dedicated to private label and contract manufacturing, was introduced today through the Industry Leadership Summit, marking the first step toward its full-scale trade event in 2027. Designed to connect retailers, manufacturers, and solution providers, PLX Asia addresses a critical gap in the region’s retail and manufacturing landscape through a focused, business-driven ecosystem that supports innovation, sourcing efficiency, and sustainable growth across Southeast Asia’s private label value chain.

Led by the Organisers and Official Partners — the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), and Koelnmesse — PLX Asia was introduced to the industry as a concept through the Industry Leadership Summit held during THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 on 29 May 2026, ahead of its full-scale trade event in 2027.

Addressing a Critical Gap in Southeast Asia’s Retail and Manufacturing Landscape

Private label has become a major growth driver in mature retail markets across China, Europe, and North America, where retailers increasingly leverage private brands to strengthen margins, accelerate innovation, and respond more effectively to evolving consumer demands.

In Southeast Asia, the private label market is entering a pivotal growth phase, underpinned by the region’s strong Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) capabilities, expanding modern retail infrastructure, and a rapidly growing, value-conscious middle class, creating significant headroom for private label expansion across the region.

“PLX Asia responds to a structural shift in global retail,” said Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director and Regional President, APAC, Koelnmesse Pte Ltd. “Private label has moved from a value alternative to a core growth driver for retailers worldwide. Southeast Asia is now reaching that inflection point, but the ecosystem is still fragmented. PLX Asia is being developed to bring focus to the market by connecting retailers and manufacturers, accelerating capability building, and supporting the next phase of private label growth in the region.”

PLX Asia is envisioned as a dedicated, regionally relevant platform that brings together retailers, manufacturers, and solution providers in one focused ecosystem. By doing so, the platform aims to reduce sourcing fragmentation, improve speed-to-market, and enable more strategic collaboration across the private label value chain. The introduction of PLX Asia marks an important step in advancing Thailand’s role as a regional trade and sourcing hub.

“Thailand’s competitive advantage in the Private Label industry extends beyond cost efficiency or production capacity; it lies in the trust and readiness of Thai manufacturers to respond to global market demands in an end-to-end manner, particularly in OEM and ODM production,” said Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). “Thai manufacturers integrate product development, design, and manufacturing in compliance with internationally recognised standards, in line with global consumer demand for value for money, quality, safety, and sustainability. Private Label therefore plays a key role in enhancing retailers’ competitiveness while enabling Thai manufacturers to strengthen their position in the global value chain.”

Nowadays, many Thai entrepreneurs demonstrate strong capabilities in high-growth sectors such as food, healthcare, and health-related products, as well as jewellery and fashion. Combined with flexible manufacturing and specialised expertise, Thailand is well positioned to further develop as a hub for Private Label manufacturing and value creation. In this regard, PLX Asia serves as a key platform connecting Thai manufacturers with international retailers not only to create short-term trade opportunities, but also to foster long-term partnerships that support the sustainable growth of Thailand’s economy.

A Dedicated Platform for Private Label Growth

PLX Asia is being introduced as a dedicated platform for private label and contract manufacturing across food and non-food categories, reflecting the broader opportunity for retailers and manufacturers in Southeast Asia. From food and beverage to beauty and personal care, household products, pet care, packaging, branding, and product development, the platform is designed to support private label growth beyond a single category or sector.

Rather than following a traditional exhibition model, PLX Asia is being developed as a curated, outcomes-driven platform that prioritises meaningful business engagement over scale and quantity. This approach reflects the specific needs of private label stakeholders, where efficiency, trust, category expertise, and long-term partnerships are often more critical than conventional trade show visibility.

Industry Leadership Summit at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026

The PLX Asia kick-off event, the Industry Leadership Summit, held during THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 on 29 May 2026, served as the platform concept’s formal industry introduction. Designed as a high-level, closed-door content and networking programme, the Summit convened more than 200 senior decision-makers from retail, manufacturing, product development, packaging, and investment communities across Southeast Asia and beyond to explore the evolving opportunities shaping the region’s private label landscape.

The event was supported by industry associations, including the Thailand Retailer Association, with Daymon participating as the Official Knowledge Partner.

“In Southeast Asia, Private Brand is no longer just a shelf tactic – it is becoming a boardroom growth agenda, won through flawless execution at the shelf. It is about more than price: it is about growth, differentiation, margin, and shopper relevance. The retailers who act now, and execute well, will shape the next chapter of modern retail in the region.” said Nuno Afonso, President of Daymon International.

Early participants for the full-scale PLX Asia trade event in 2027 were also presented during the Industry Leadership Summit, offering the industry a first look at the ecosystem taking shape around the platform. Designed as a thought leadership and relationship-building forum, the Summit established the foundation for deeper engagement and participation in the years ahead.

Building Towards the Full-Scale PLX Asia Trade Event in 2027

Following this first official industry introduction, PLX Asia will continue to evolve as a dedicated platform, expanding exhibitor segmentation, strengthening its regional manufacturer database, and deepening engagement with retailers and industry stakeholders across Southeast Asia.

PLX Asia’s inaugural full-scale trade exhibition is planned for 2027 as a standalone show covering private label and contract manufacturing across food and non-food categories, including areas such as food & beverage, beauty and personal care, and household products. The long-term ambition is to establish the platform as the region’s leading hub for private label innovation, sourcing, and collaboration.

By connecting Southeast Asia’s competitive manufacturing base with the evolving needs of regional and international retailers, PLX Asia aims to play a central role in shaping the future of private label growth across the region.

About PLX Asia

PLX Asia is Southeast Asia’s first B2B platform dedicated exclusively to private label and contract manufacturing. Led by the Organisers and Official Partners — the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), and Koelnmesse — the platform connects retailers, manufacturers, and solution providers across the region to drive innovation, sourcing efficiency, and sustainable growth within the private label ecosystem.

Designed specifically for Southeast Asia’s retail and manufacturing landscape, PLX Asia addresses long-standing gaps in private label sourcing through a focused, business-driven engagement model. By prioritising curated interactions, knowledge-led programmes, and commercially relevant outcomes over traditional exhibition scale, the platform enables retailers to identify trusted partners and supports manufacturers in expanding their regional and international market access.

Organisers and Official Partners

Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand

The Department of International Trade Promotion is committed to providing excellent service to Thai entrepreneurs in international business, including trade facilities, cost reduction, value creation of goods and services, providing consultation for overseas market access and maintenance, as well as close cooperation with the private sector to promote Thailand as a major gateway of Asia. http://www.ditp.go.th/

Thai Chamber of Commerce

The Thai Chamber of Commerce represents the Thai private sector to facilitate business and trade as well as to serve as the central coordinating agency between the government and private sector, and also helps to promote trade, business and economic cooperation including, build relationships between Thai and partner countries at the bilateral and multilateral level as well as plays a proactive role in representing the interests of the local Thai business community.

https://www.thaichamber.org/

Koelnmesse Asia Pacific – Global Competence in Food and FoodTec

Koelnmesse is an international leader in organising food fairs and events regarding food and beverage processing. Trade fairs such as the ANUGA, ISM and ANUGA FoodTec are established world leaders. Koelnmesse not only organises food and food technology trade fairs in Cologne, Germany but also in further growth markets around the globe, for example, in Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, which have different focuses and contents. These global activities enable us to offer our customers a network of events, which in turn grant access to different markets and thus create a basis for sustainable and stable international business. Further information is available at: https://www.koelnmesse.com/current-dates/all-trade-fairs/

• Verified overall gameplay quality, including stable server environment during the OBT period
• Positive user feedback on 7-language support, leveling system, and high-quality localization. User meetup planned for July

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gravity Game Unite (GGU), the Malaysian subsidiary of global gaming company Gravity, announced on May 29 that it has successfully concluded the Open Beta Test (OBT) for its PC MMORPG, Ragnarok Zero: Global.

GGU conducted the OBT for Ragnarok Zero: Global from May 20 to 28, Malaysia Time, targeting users in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Through this OBT, the company verified overall gameplay quality, including server stability and optimization.

Ragnarok Zero: Global modernly recreates the classic charm of the original Ragnarok Online, while differentiating itself with a new storyline expanded from the existing universe, as well as changes to its growth structure and overall game progression. The game also provides a more comfortable play environment through upgraded UI/UX, auto-combat features, improved movement convenience, and expanded camera functions.

Users who participated in the OBT responded positively overall, particularly praising the leveling system and localization quality. To support smooth gameplay for global users, GGU provided support for seven languages. In addition, players who participated in the OBT page attendance event received 20,000 Free Kafra Points once per day. Exclusive benefits available only during the OBT, including limited titles and limited costume items, were also provided to further encourage participation. User feedback collected through the OBT survey will be reflected in future tests.

Ahead of the official launch, GGU plans to hold a Ragnarok Zero: Global user meetup in July to communicate directly with players. In particular, at the time of official launch, the game plans to introduce a global server across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania, marking the first PC-based Ragnarok IP title to do so. This is expected to help activate cross-regional user communities. In addition, GGU plans to introduce a UGC (User-generated Content) system that allows users to participate in creating in-game content.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all users from Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania who participated in the OBT,” said Harry Choi, President of Gravity Game Unite. “We plan to actively reflect the feedback received during this test into the game. We ask for your continued interest and support for Ragnarok Zero: Global until its official launch.”

Meanwhile, GGU is currently holding pre-registration for Ragnarok Zero: Global. Players who pre-register will receive special in-game rewards after launch. More details can be found on the pre-registration page:
https://roz.mygnjoy.com/en/event/prereservation?media=pr4

Stay Connected

Players can follow the official Ragnarok Zero: Global channels for the latest news and updates.

Join OBT: https://roz.mygnjoy.com/en/event/obt
Pre-Register: https://roz.mygnjoy.com/event/prereservation?media=pr4
Discord: https://discord.gg/bFg77WjcHT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ragnarokzeroglobal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ragnarokzeroglobal/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RagnarokZeroGlobal
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ragnarokzeroglobal

About Gravity Game Unite SDN. BHD.

Gravity Game Unite SDN. BHD. (GGU) is a global publishing and service subsidiary of Gravity Co., Ltd., headquartered in Malaysia. The company focuses on delivering Ragnarok titles and operating global game services for players worldwide through publishing, operations, and community engagement.

About Gravity Co., Ltd.

Founded in April 2000 and listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (GRVY), Gravity Co., Ltd. is a global game company headquartered in Korea. Best known for its flagship MMORPG Ragnarok Online, Gravity continues to expand its portfolio with online and mobile games enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.

In the news release, SEMIFIVE and ICY Tech Achieve Successful Tape-out of 8nm eMRAM-Based Edge AI SoC, Targeting First Commercialization in Asia, issued 07-May-2026 by SEMIFIVE over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows:

SEMIFIVE and ICY Tech Achieve Successful Tape-out of 8nm eMRAM-Based Edge AI SoC, Targeting First Commercialization in Asia

Enabling on-device inference with up to 2 billion (2B) parameters, accelerating expansion into ultra-low-power edge AI markets such as AI PCs and humanoid robots

SEOUL, South Korea, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SEMIFIVE, a leading global provider of custom AI semiconductor (ASIC) solutions, and ICY Tech, a Chinese AI semiconductor company, today announced the successful tape-out of next-generation Edge AI SoC jointly developed utilizing Samsung Foundry’s 8nm (8LPU) embedded Magnetic Random Access Memory (eMRAM) technology. This marks a significant milestone toward the first commercial deployment of 8nm eMRAM technology in Asia.

This collaboration represents SEMIFIVE’s first ASIC design project leveraging eMRAM technology. By integrating eMRAM into an Edge AI accelerator, the company aims to reinforce  its technical leadership in the ultra-low-power, high-performance inference market.

Compared to SRAM, eMRAM features a smaller bit cell, enabling higher data density within the same area. Unlike DRAM, it does not require periodic refresh operations, significantly reducing power consumption. With its non-volatile characteristics that retain data even when power is removed, eMRAM is widely regarded as a “universal memory” particularly well-suited for environments with constraints on power and area, such as edge devices.

Originating from the Applied Magnetism Center of the School of Physics at Peking University, ICY Tech brings deep insight and extensive experience in magnetism and spintronics for AI inference scenarios. Additionally, the company possesses globally leading, uniquely patented accelerator designs for high-bandwidth readout and in-situ matrix-vector multiplication (GEMV).

SEMIFIVE is a key Design Solution Partner (DSP) in the Samsung Foundry SAFE™ ecosystem and a global AI ASIC specialist with a proven track record of successfully delivering advanced custom semiconductor projects ranging from AI/HPC to Edge AI. The company provides comprehensive engineering services from spec consulting to mass production, serving a broad range of customers including fabless companies, service providers, and system OEMs.

For this project, SEMIFIVE provided comprehensive ASIC design services and transformed, ICY Tech’s novel architecture into production-ready silicon. By integrating ICY Tech’s Processing Near Memory (PNM) technology with SEMIFIVE’s proprietary SoC design platform, the two companies developed an optimized architecture capable of high-speed, on-device inference for models with up to 2B parameters in edge environments. This enables operation— without any network connectivity. At the 2B-parameter scale, practical AI tasks such as text summarization, translation, and conversational inference become feasible on-device, a capability that has been challenging to achieve with conventional SRAM-based edge AI chips due to physical limitations in die area and power.

This architecture is designed for edge devices operating in offline environments, including AI PCs, private AI agents, and humanoid robots. Target applications encompass robotics (physical AI), automotive semiconductors (such as autonomous driving and digital cockpits), and smart devices.

“This collaboration is a highly challenging project to bring a spintronics-based AI inference architecture into silicon using Samsung Foundry’s 8nm (8LPU) process. By fully integrating the non-volatile and ultra-low-power characteristics of eMRAM into AI accelerators, we believe this will set a new milestone for edge AI semiconductors,” said Yves Zhu, CEO of ICY Tech. “With SEMIFIVE’s proven comprehensive ASIC design capabilities, ICY Tech’s accelerator architecture design expertise, and Samsung Foundry’s advanced node technology, we are confident this project will establish a new standard for performance and power efficiency that surpasses the limitations of existing architectures in the global AI inference market.”

“In the AI era, semiconductors are rapidly shifting from off-the-shelf components to custom-built solutions tailored to specific needs. As the Edge AI market expands, the architectures requested by customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse,” said Brandon Cho, CEO and co-founder of SEMIFIVE. “As ASIC design involving next-generation memories like eMRAM gains momentum, the role of a specialized partner managing the entire process becomes vital. As a key partner in the Samsung Foundry SAFE™ ecosystem, SEMIFIVE has successfully executed numerous AI, HPC, and Edge AI projects. Through our partnership with ICY Tech, we are proud to expand our portfolio into cutting-edge memory-based ASIC design.”

MRAM/eMRAM

Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a next-generation memory technology that utilizes Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) elements. It combines the non-volatile characteristics of NAND Flash, retaining data even when power is removed, with high-speed performance comparable to DRAM. With write speeds over 1,000 times faster than flash memory and significantly lower power consumption, MRAM is emerging as a core technology for AI semiconductors and low-power edge devices. In particular, embedded MRAM (eMRAM) refers to MRAM technology integrated directly into system semiconductors such as SoCs and MCUs. It is widely regarded as a next-generation on-chip memory solution to replace conventional embedded Flash (eFlash).

Unlike traditional DRAM, MRAM is a type of resistive memory. While DRAM is based on electrical charge storage, MRAM relies on the resistance changes within the MTJ unit cell. DRAM has achieved significant advancements in density, bandwidth, and power efficiency. However, it requires continuous refresh operations to retain data, consuming standby power even when not actively in use. In contrast, MRAM can preserve data for extended periods without refreshing operations. For this reason, it is gaining attention as a “universal memory” with the potential to fundamentally transform current computing architectures.

About SEMIFIVE

SEMIFIVE Inc. (KOSDAQ: 490470) is a pioneer of platform based SoC design, working with customers to implement innovative ideas into custom silicon in the most efficient way. Our SoC platforms offer a powerful springboard for new chip designs and leverage configurable domain-specific architectures and pre-validated key IP pools. We offer comprehensive spec-to-system capabilities with end-to-end solutions so that custom SoCs can be realized faster, with reduced cost and risks for key applications such as data center or AI-enabled IoT. With a strong partnership with Samsung Foundry as a leading SAFE™ DSP partner, as well as the larger ecosystem, SEMIFIVE provides a one-stop shop solution for any SoC design needs. For more information, please visit www.semifive.com.

About ICY Tech

ICY Technology is a specialized chip R&D company dedicated to redefining conventional computing through physics-native computing and magnetic computing. Incubated at the Applied Magnetism Center of Peking University, the company combines full-stack strengths in magnetism, spintronics, device engineering, IC design, and algorithm-hardware co-optimization to bring MRAM-based weight-stationary architectures and ultra-high-bandwidth readout schemes into system-level deployment for AI inference. It has developed the SpinPU^®-E family of “magnetic logic computing” products for high-bandwidth AI inference, as well as the SpinPU^®-M family of “magnetic probabilistic computing” products for quantum-inspired classical computing. Compared with traditional SRAM- and DRAM-based approaches, ICY Technology aims to fundamentally break the limits of edge-side large-model deployment in area, energy efficiency, and cost through higher density, lower static power, and much stronger on-chip bandwidth, building core technological barriers for robotics and edge intelligent hardware. Since its establishment in 2023, the company has completed four rounds of market-driven financing and has led or played a principal role in two major provincial- and ministerial-level R&D programs focused on high-bandwidth magnetic computing. ICY Technology is headquartered in Beijing, with an R&D center in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and a testing center in Weihai.