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MDES and Huawei Cloud Announced Joint Initiative to Accelerate Thailand’s Agenda to Become the AI Hub in ASEAN

BANGKOK, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Huawei Cloud, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) of Thailand, held the Huawei Cloud Summit Thailand 2025. At the summit, the two parties jointly launched an initiative to accelerate Thailand’s agenda to become the AI hub in ASEAN. MDES shared the progress of their “Cloud First” strategy over the past year for building an inclusive, sustainable, and opportunity-filled Thailand where the public and private sectors are accelerating cloud and AI adoption. In alignment with this policy, Huawei Cloud deepens collaboration with local customers and partners to accelerate intelligent transformation through technological innovation, industry applications, thriving ecosystem, and talent cultivation.

Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Permanent Secretary of MDES, and Huawei executives jointly attended the summit
Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Permanent Secretary of MDES, and Huawei executives jointly attended the summit

Seizing AI Opportunities to Accelerate Thailand’s AI Hub Agenda

Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Permanent Secretary of MDES, stated: “Thailand is committed to becoming the AI hub in ASEAN. With our ‘Cloud First’ policy, AI strategy, infrastructure investment, and a thriving ecosystem, Thailand is transitioning from a technology user to a competency builder, allowing Thailand’s own innovations to benefit the world.” Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At acknowledged Huawei Cloud’s continuous efforts in promoting innovation and digital transformation.

Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Permanent Secretary, MDES
Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Permanent Secretary, MDES

Sunny Shang, President of Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific, emphasized: “In the AI era, intelligence brings us immense opportunities. In Thailand, Huawei Cloud is not only a technology provider but also a co-builder of the digital ecosystem. We will work with local customers and partners to accelerate Thailand’s intelligent transformation through four key initiatives: deep local engagement, technology leadership, experience sharing, and ecosystem co-building.”

Sunny Shang, President, Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific
Sunny Shang, President, Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific

After seven years of deep local engagement, Huawei Cloud has served more than 1,000 customers and developed more than 500 partners in Thailand. Mainstream local carriers, more than 80% of top financial institutions, and over 60% of top retailers in Thailand have chosen Huawei Cloud.

Forging an AI-Native Cloud to Embrace Intelligence

William Dong, President of Huawei Cloud Marketing, unveiled four solutions at the summit, which focus on a strong AI foundation, intelligent application development, intelligent data management, and all-scenario cloud deployment. He emphasized that AI has become the most influential general-purpose technology in the industry. Huawei Cloud is actively embracing AI and has made a full transition from “Cloud-Native” to “AI-Native” in two aspects: “Cloud for AI” and “AI for Cloud”. “Cloud for AI” accelerates the implementation of AI strategies by systematically innovating the technology stack and building the best cloud platform. “AI for Cloud” means reshaping Huawei Cloud services with AI to make them intelligent.

William Dong, President, Huawei Cloud Marketing
William Dong, President, Huawei Cloud Marketing

Strong AI foundation: Huawei Cloud AI Cloud Service enables model training jobs to run uninterrupted for up to 40 days, among other large-scale training needs. More than 160 mainstream foundation models are available for use and are now employed by over 1,000 AI enterprises. For scenario-specific demands, Pangu models provide tailored solutions and support, already proven viable in scenarios such as railway track inspection, steel blast furnace temperature prediction, and weather forecast.

Intelligent application development: CodeArts, Huawei Cloud’s software development pipeline, delivers intelligence in code generation, review, and testing, improving the end-to-end R&D efficiency by 30%. The Flexus LLM solution provides three capabilities: Dify HA edition, local knowledge base construction, and scenario-specific application development, facilitating small and medium-sized enterprises to develop AI applications in one stop.

Intelligent data management: DataArts, Huawei Cloud’s data governance pipeline, has been fully upgraded to serve as an AI-oriented, knowledge-centric data foundation. GaussDB, the distributed cloud database, outperforms the industry benchmark twice with its transparent multi-write technology across multiple nodes. Its high availability slashes impact on service with fast fault recovery.

All-scenario cloud deployment: Huawei Cloud Stack provides a hybrid cloud for large AI models, allowing enterprises to build their own models in one stop. CloudDC, the solution for migrating data centers to the cloud, provides deterministic operations, cloud data center, and full-stack AI for different needs.

The event gave a vivid demonstration of how AI unlocks possibilities in lives and production, where a humanoid robot completed complex tasks in collaboration with a human wearing an intelligent bionic hand.

Tech for Good: Innovation for Sustainable Development

Cloud and AI technologies not only boost production efficiency but also bring a positive impact on human life, natural environment, and sustainable development. Aka Dai, Director of Huawei Cloud Marketing, illustrated Huawei’s “Cloud for Good” initiative with the company’s success stories in accelerating Thailand’s digital journey. For example, the paperless solution jointly developed by Huawei Cloud and Codium is expected to reduce paper consumption by 18 to 25 million pages annually for over 200 government departments and 300 enterprises, equivalent to saving 2,000 to 3,000 trees and reducing carbon emissions by 30 to 50 tons. Now, Huawei Cloud is strengthening local partnerships in nature conservation, smart agriculture, inclusive finance, energy conservation, emission reduction, and talent cultivation, all for supercharging Thailand’s digital transformation.

Aka Dai, Director, Huawei Cloud Marketing
Aka Dai, Director, Huawei Cloud Marketing

At the summit, Huawei Cloud and Chulalongkorn University jointly launched the “Cloud and AI Pioneer Initiative”, which aims to cultivate 30,000 talented people in the cloud and AI fields through diversified measures such as developing cloud and AI courses, organizing developer competitions, and implementing developer programs. By the end of 2025, Huawei Cloud is projected to cultivate more than 20,000 cloud and AI developers in Thailand, an effort for building a thriving local talent ecosystem.

Thongloun’s Tokyo Visit Seals New Chapter in Laos–Japan Strategic Partnership

70 Decades of Friendship: Lao President’s Visit to Japan Deepens Strategic Partnership. Tokyo. 29 May 2025. (Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan)

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith paid an official visit to Japan on 29 May, where he held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

The leaders welcomed ongoing collaboration in legal reform, particularly Japan’s long-standing support for Laos’s Civil Code development and the publication of a joint legal research publication. They agreed to deepen cooperation in security, energy, and climate action under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative.

Two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation under their newly elevated Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

President Thongloun expressed gratitude for Japan’s warm welcome from the Japanese government and praised the strong development of bilateral ties across various sectors. 

He reaffirmed Laos’s commitment to further strengthening ties with Japan, highlighting Japan’s significant support for Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) clearance efforts in Laos and its comprehensive assistance during Laos’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

Both leaders agreed to enhance economic cooperation, with Japan reaffirming its support for Laos’s efforts to strengthen economic resilience and improve public financial management. The two countries committed to expediting the conclusion of a bilateral tax agreement to facilitate increased trade and investment flows. 

In a new development for tourism and people-to-people exchanges, President Thongloun announced that effective 1 June, visa-free stays for Japanese citizens visiting Laos will be extended from 15 to 30 days.

Prime Minister Ishiba also thanked Laos for inviting Japan’s Princess Aiko to visit the country in November as part of the anniversary celebrations.

On regional and international matters, both sides pledged to maintain close coordination in addressing challenges related to the East and South China seas, the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar’s situation, and Middle East developments. 

On the same occasion, Lao President Thongloun is speaking at the 30th International Conference on the Future of Asia, held from 29 to 30 May in Tokyo.

The conference, under the theme “Asia’s Challenge in a Turbulent World,” highlighting the region’s need to address political, economic, and humanitarian uncertainties.

Singapore Expands Foreign Worker Source Countries, Adds Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia

A clean-up worker on a boat stands over oil absorbant booms during an operation to clear oil from a major spill near Pasir Panjang port terminal in Singapore on June 18, 2024. Clean-up operations continued on June 18 in Singapore as oil from a major spill washed up on beaches and shorelines in the city state following an accident at Pasir Panjang port terminal. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

Starting 1 June, Singapore will allow employers to hire workers from Laos, Bhutan, and Cambodia for work permit roles, expanding the list of non-traditional source (NTS) countries. 

These additions join existing NTS countries including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The change applies to the construction, marine shipyard, and process industries, as well as to selected roles in manufacturing and services listed on the Non-Traditional Source Occupation List.

Announcing the update, Singapore Minister for Manpower said that broadening the pool of eligible foreign workers is aimed at helping firms “build a more skilled and resilient workforce.” 

The expansion was discussed during the Ministry of Manpower’s Committee of Supply debate on 6 March.

This policy shift is in response to long-standing labor shortages in key industries. 

The Singapore Manufacturing Federation highlighted that sectors such as precision engineering, electronics manufacturing, and aerospace have faced ongoing operational disruptions due to manpower gaps, affecting productivity and competitiveness.

In a related effort to support workforce stability, the Ministry of Manpower will also extend the maximum employment period for work permit holders. 

While the cap on employment age remains, it will be raised from 60 to 63 years, allowing experienced workers to contribute longer.

Further updates to the NTS Occupation List are expected in September, as Singapore continues its efforts to strengthen its manpower resilience and support industry needs.

AVIS Singapore Leads Car Rental Industry with ISO 45001 Certification

AVIS sets a safety precedent, becoming Singapore’s sole car rental firm certified to ISO 45001, meeting global standards.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 May 2025 – AVIS Singapore is the only car rental company in the country to have achieved ISO 45001 certification in December 2024, an international standard equivalent to Singapore’s bizSAFE Star, demonstrating its commitment to the highest levels of occupational health and safety.

AVIS Singapore personnel and their modern fleet, reflecting a commitment to safety, quality, and sustainable mobility solutions.
AVIS Singapore personnel and their modern fleet, reflecting a commitment to safety, quality, and sustainable mobility solutions.

Path to ISO 45001 Certification

The attainment of ISO 45,001 reflects AVIS Singapore’s dedication to robust health, safety, and operational standards, aligning with its “Driven by Better” brand promise. This certification was enabled by implementing structured internal safety systems for proactive risk management across vehicle handling, premises, and customer interactions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to safety.

A key enabler was a leadership-driven culture prioritising the safety, well-being, and accountability of all stakeholders. This was actively supported by systematic employee engagement through regular training and feedback mechanisms. Furthermore, comprehensive adherence to local regulatory requirements and globally recognised best practices in occupational health and safety management was ensured through a strategic partnership with certified consultants.

Commitment to Quality and Environmental Responsibility

Building on its priority of safety, AVIS Singapore also adheres to recognised standards in other key areas. Holding ISO 9,001 for Quality Management and ISO 14,001 for Environmental Management, the company affirms its focus on providing reliable car rentals with a continuous emphasis on service quality, maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for its employees, and proactively working to minimise its carbon footprint.

In line with its environmental responsibility, AVIS Singapore is actively integrating vehicles with enhanced fuel efficiency into its fleet. This includes an increasing adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), a focus aimed at offering customers renting cars in Singapore sustainable mobility solutions with reduced emissions and improved fuel economy.

Upholding Service Excellence

AVIS Singapore’s ISO 45,001, ISO 9,001, and ISO 14,001 certifications assure customers of high standards across all services. Whether you require short-term car rental with well-maintained and reliable vehicles from a diverse fleet, car leasing with consistent quality for extended transportation needs across Singapore and into Malaysia, or chauffeur service ensuring secure and professional transport throughout the region, AVIS Singapore’s commitment to safety, quality, and sustainability benefits every journey.

Learn more at AVIS Singapore’s website.
Hashtag: #CarRental #Avis #ISO45001




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

AVIS Singapore

AVIS Singapore, part of Avis Budget Group since 1961, leads the local car rental market. Located strategically at Changi Airport (Terminals 2 and 3) and Havelock Road, AVIS offers reliable rental solutions. As a member of the globally recognised Avis Budget Group — operating in 180 countries with over $12B in revenue — AVIS Singapore embodies the group’s commitment to innovation, customer focus, and sustainable mobility.

Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting (Japan) and Business Next Media (Taiwan) announce cross-border content exchange to spotlight Asian innovation

Partnership between leading startup media from Japan and Taiwan strengthens Asian innovation coverage

TOKYO, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting (PBMC), the Tokyo-based producer of the solutions-focused JStories media platform, and Business Next Media (BNext Media), publisher of Taiwan’s leading startup and technology news website Meet Global, are pleased to announce the launch of a cross-border content exchange initiative beginning in June 2025.

Under this new arrangement, selected content will be shared and co-published between PBMC’s JStories (https://jstories.media/), an English-language platform showcasing impact-driven innovation from Japan and across Asia, and BNext Media’s Meet Global (https://meet-global.bnext.com.tw/), which reports on startup trends and entrepreneurship throughout Greater China and Asia.

This partnership aims to broaden access to high-quality, locally sourced coverage of the fast-evolving Asian startup and innovation scene — helping founders, investors, and business professionals discover new ideas, cross-border opportunities, and success stories from both Japan and Taiwan, as well as the wider Asia-Pacific region.

About Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting (PBMC)
Based in Tokyo, PBMC is a multilingual media and communications firm specializing in international business storytelling, corporate communications, and event production. PBMC operates JStories, a global-facing media outlet that spotlights Japanese and Asian innovators solving pressing social issues, and produces branded content for clients ranging from government agencies to global corporations.

About JStories
JStories (https://jstories.media/) is PBMC’s flagship English-language platform focused on “solutions journalism” — covering entrepreneurs, researchers, and change-makers from Japan and Asia who are tackling social, environmental, and business challenges through technology and creativity. JStories features original interviews, analysis, and video content for a global audience.

About Business Next Media (BNext Media)
Founded in Taipei, BNext Media is Taiwan’s premier media company covering technology, startups, and digital innovation. The company publishes Business Next, a leading business magazine, and operates several digital news brands including Meet Global, which provides in-depth news, analysis, and startup resources for the Mandarin-speaking world and international readers.

About Meet Global
Meet Global (https://meet-global.bnext.com.tw/) is an English news platform focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment trends across Asia, with an emphasis on the Greater China region. Under the same brand, Meet operates additional language-specific channels, including Meet Startup (https://meet.bnext.com.tw/), its Mandarin-language platform, and Meet Japan (https://meet-japan.bnextmedia.com/), its Japanese-language counterpart.

Meet Startup is also Taiwan’s largest startup community platform. It organizes business networking events and Meet Taipei, a major startup festival.

Potential Benefits of the Partnership:

  • Broader Global Reach: Both JStories and Meet Global readers will gain access to a more diverse and regionally balanced stream of innovation stories, helping startups and founders boost their visibility across Asia and beyond.
  • Knowledge Exchange: Cross-publication of content will enable richer, locally informed perspectives on trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Asian startup landscape.
  • Ecosystem Building: By sharing news, interviews, and features, the partnership will foster new connections among startups, investors, and supporters in both markets.
  • Bilingual Impact: With content translated and adapted for local and global audiences, the initiative will help bridge language barriers and promote wider international understanding.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Pacific Bridge Media and Consulting (Japan)
Email: info@pacificbridge.jp

Business Next Media (Taiwan)
Email: meet@bnext.com.tw

PAObank Appoints Mr. Ronald Iu as Chief Executive and Executive Director


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 May 2025 – PAO Bank Limited (“PAObank”) announces the appointment of Mr. Ronald Iu as Chief Executive and Executive Director of the Board. Mr. Iu will lead the management team of PAObank to further leverage advanced financial technology, expanding our presence in small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) and retail banking, thereby creating greater value for our customers.

Mr. Iu has over 20 years of solid experience in banking and finance. He held various leadership positions in global and local financial institutions, including China CITIC Bank International, Standard Chartered, PrimeCredit and GE Capital (HK). Prior to joining PAObank, Mr. Iu served as the Chief Executive of Airstar Bank and ZA Bank. His extensive experience spanning business management and strategies, risk management and product innovation has given him a deep understanding of customer needs and market trends, bringing unique insights and substantial experience in the development of digital banks.

Mr. Ronald Iu said, “I look forward to working together with the management team and colleagues at PAObank to create better products and user experience for SMEs and individual customers. As PAObank marks its fifth year, we are embarking on the next phase of our business direction and strategy, placing more emphasis on retail banking services. PAObank strives to become ‘the convenient wealth management digital bank’ in everyone’s mind, offering innovative financial solutions that are efficient, hassle-free and flexible. While continuing to offer competitive deposit interest rates as part of client rewards, we will expand into diversified financial services and products to fully develop our retail banking capabilities. Together with my team, we will continue to drive innovation to lead PAObank towards the next milestone.”

Looking ahead, PAObank will continue to be the reliable business partner of SMEs, and create better retail banking products and user experience for customers. By leveraging financial technology and ongoing innovation, PAObank will continue to support the development of digital banks in Hong Kong, serving customers in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Hashtag: #PAObank #Appointment

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

PAO Bank Limited

PAO Bank Limited (“PAObank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufax Holding Ltd (“Lufax”) (SEHK: 6623; NYSE: LU) and a member of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An”) (SEHK: 2318; SSE: 601318), is committed to fostering financial inclusion and establishing a digital banking ecosystem by leveraging its extensive experience in SME banking services and its leading financial technology advantages. PAObank was granted a banking licence by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in May 2019 to offer banking services via virtual channels. PAObank is expanding diverse business segments including retail banking and SME banking.

Black Sesame Technologies Showcases Robotics Innovation at Asia Tech x Singapore

SINGAPORE, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From May 27-29, Black Sesame Technologies (Stock Code: 2533.HK), a leading automotive-grade computing SoC and Soc-based intelligent vehicle solution provider, made its grand debut at Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) at the Singapore EXPO Convention Center. In the TechXLR8Asia zone (Booth 4N2-5) dedicated to AI, IoT and edge computing, the company showcased its full-stack solutions for robotics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and edge intelligence.

Black Sesame Technologies Exhibition Booth
Black Sesame Technologies Exhibition Booth

Leveraging years of expertise in the automotive industry, Black Sesame Technologies has expanded into robotics and edge computing through its proprietary IP cores, algorithms, and software ecosystems. The company’s Huashan A1000/A2000 and Wudang C1200 chip families deliver high performance, reliability and cost efficiency, serving as core computing engines for ADAS, robotics, edge AI and consumer electronics. These solutions have empowered leading global automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

At the exhibition, Black Sesame Technologies highlighted its comprehensive robotics solutions:

  • Pre-designed SOM Boards: Powered by Huashan A1000/Wudang C1200 chips, providing scalable, energy-efficient hardware foundations that reduce development cycles
  • Developer Kit/ Evaluation Board: Ready-to-use platforms with ROS1/ROS2 compatibility enabling rapid prototyping for SLAM navigation and multi-sensor fusion
  • Turnkey Solutions: End-to-end services from chip selection to structural manufacturing
  • Edge-side LLM AI: Industry-first solution enabling localized inference and autonomous decision-making

Since establishing its Singapore subsidiary in 2018, Black Sesame Technologies has built a team covering R&D, technical support, and business development. As a global operations hub, the Singapore team provides full lifecycle support for Southeast Asian clients from chip integration to deployment.

“Southeast Asia is an emerging frontier for robotics applications, with strong demand in industrial automation, smart logistics and urban mobility,” said Dr. Xu Jin, General Manager of Black Sesame Technologies Singapore. “We deliver not just high-performance hardware, but also algorithm optimization and customized solutions to help customers overcome complex challenges.”

Black Sesame Technologies will continue expanding partnerships across Southeast Asia to scale robotics applications in smart manufacturing, service robotics, and smart cities. The company also demonstrated a logistics robot prototype powered by its Wudang C1200 chip featuring edge-LLM enabled autonomous navigation.

Contact
For business or technical inquiries:
Black Sesame Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
Address: 01 Fusionopolis Walk, #04-05/06, Solaris South Tower, Singapore 138628
Tel: +65 6908 2986
Email: sg@bst.ai
Website: https://www.blacksesame.com.cn

Banyan Group Residences Introducing its Most Luxurious Ever Phuket Homes at Singapore Sales Exhibition May 31-June 1

The pioneering hospitality group’s latest property exhibition is headlined by ultra-luxury condos targeting HNWI amid strong international demand for lifestyle homes in Phuket


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 May 2025 – Banyan Group Residences’ latest sales exhibition, to be held at Fairmont Hotel Singapore this weekend May 31-June 1 will showcase a number of new projects in Phuket, amid a surge of international interest in luxury real estate on the island from all over the world including Singapore which is one of the group’s top 5 global source markets and accounts for 6% of the group’s Phuket real estate sales.

Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus

Banyan Group expects to release US$1bn worth of new luxury residential real estate in Phuket over the next two to three years, as demand for quality homes on the island remains high from diverse international markets.

At the top of the range is Banyan Group’s latest absolute beachfront project, Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus – branded residences at the rarest location within internationally-renowned Laguna Phuket which are set right on the beach in a prime area of Bang Tao, the island’s most sought-after district.

The 16 magnificent ultra-luxury 4-bedroom Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus are exceptional in every way, with each boasting built-up areas which measure from an incredible 416 sqm all the way up to 768 sqm for the penthouses. Finished to the highest standards using the highest quality materials, they unlock a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury on the doorstep of one of the world’s most desirable beaches and are expected to set new record prices for condos on the island.

Other recent launches to be showcased in Singapore include Residences at Garrya Phuket, new wellness concept beachfront homes managed as part of the Garrya Phuket hotel which come with guaranteed rental returns of 5% for the first 5 years, and Laguna Lake Residences Aster, minimal-chic contemporary style low-rise condos with a stunning rooftop infinity pool – around a multi-purpose communal lawn and manicured gardens, situated at the entrance of Laguna Phuket and just a stroll away from the popular lifestyle malls of Boat Avenue and Central de Porto.

Meanwhile the Group will also be showcasing Skypark Elara Lakelands Residences, stunning nature-themed residences with beautiful rooftop pools and terraces overlooking tranquil parks and lagoons. These are the second phase of condos at the pioneering new Laguna Lakelands, a one square kilometre residential community interwoven by 15km of nature trails and walkways, natural forest and tranquil lagoons. The breathtakingly ambitious master plan is unfolding in stages and incorporates a wide range of recreational options for all ages prioritising health and wellness including a community club featuring an Olympic sized pool, tennis and padel courts and a fitness centre.

Banyan Group, led by Singaporean entrepreneur Ho Kwong Ping (KP Ho), is famous for its pioneering Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts luxury hospitality brand with a strong focus on wellbeing which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. The group’s first property was Banyan Tree Phuket – also the first resort to introduce the private pool villa concept – but this has since grown to an impressive group of over 90 luxury resorts globally. Last year, Banyan Tree Group rebranded to Banyan Group to reflect the fact that the Group now has 12 global brands of which Banyan Tree is the flagship.

Banyan Group has also been an important driving force in the development of Phuket first as a tourism destination, and more recently as a place for second homes. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Andaman Sea, on a 3km stretch of Bang Tao’s pristine beach, Laguna Phuket, developed by the Banyan Group has evolved over 35 years to become Asia’s leading integrated resort, home to seven world-class hotels, premium facilities as well as now some 3,000 branded residences, many on or close to the beach.

Spanning over 1,000 acres of lush parkland and located just a 30-minute drive from Phuket International Airport, Laguna Phuket has an award-winning 18-hole golf course, luxury spas, exceptional dining options, and countless activities to create unforgettable experiences. Its hotels and condos are set against picturesque lagoons and are interconnected by boats. It will soon also have its own 150-metre-long Beach Club with dedicated zones reserved exclusively for residents.

As more and more people over time have flocked to Phuket not just for vacations but as a place to live, Laguna Phuket has evolved to become a unique international residential community, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, with nationals of some 70 different countries as its residents. It even has its own kindergarten, medical and wellness facilities.

“We’re seeing a huge demand for new homes in Phuket due to a whole range of factors from trends such as urban flight, work from home, geopolitical issues and simply the fact that Phuket has become a great place to live with world-class international schools and hospitals and all the benefits of a year-round tropical lifestyle,” said Stuart Reading, Managing Director of Banyan Group Residences.

“High-quality property is still significantly cheaper in Phuket than in most of the buyer source markets like Hong Kong, Singapore or Europe, which is also an important factor,” he said. “For a high quality development in a prime location in Hong Kong, USD1m only gets you about 22sqm of space, compared to over 200 sqm in Phuket,” he said.

Singapore buyers are in the top 5 markets for residential properties at Laguna Phuket, accounting for 6% of all historic sales.

There is still plenty of room for more growth, according to Banyan Group. Up to 2024, a total of around 3,000 residential units have been built in Laguna Phuket, with another 700 now under development. A further 10,000 units are eventually envisaged for Laguna Phuket and Laguna Lakelands over the next 10 years.

“Our strategy is to focus solely on quality high spec residences, regardless of their size,” says Stuart Reading, MD of Banyan Group Residences. “It’s a bit like when you buy a car from a luxury car brand like BMW or Mercedes, even if you are buying a smaller vehicle you know that the quality and craftsmanship is still on the same level as the top of the range models.”

Mr Reading says the group will develop larger branded apartments and penthouses in some of Laguna Phuket’s prime beachfront sites, some possibly measuring up to 500 or even 700 sq m in size.

“Scarcity of beachfront land especially on the prestigious central west coast where we’re located means we can look to create luxury living through spacious and high-spec apartments with private terrace or rooftop pools rather than land-intensive single villas,” he explains.

At the same time, Banyan Group will build lower entry price, smaller but still high specification condominiums in Laguna Lakelands, and other sites within Phuket Laguna that are further from the beach.

Banyan Group recently announced a new initiative The Laguna Advantage, which offers a full suite of services designed to make living in Phuket easier for new homeowners. They range from complimentary first year management services and property insurance to healthcare and education privileges such as complimentary first year enrolment at Laguna Phuket’s award-winning onsite pre-school SILK Kindergarten and special rates at Phuket’s leading international schools.

Hashtag: #BanyanGroup

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

About Banyan Group

Banyan Group (“Banyan Tree Holdings Limited” or the “Group” – SGX: B58) is an independent, global hospitality company with purpose. The Group prides itself on its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences and commitment to responsible stewardship. Its extensive portfolio spans across over 90 hotels and resorts, over 140 spas and galleries, and 14 branded residences in over 20+ countries. Comprising 12 global brands, including the flagship brand Banyan Tree, each distinct yet united under the experiential membership programme with Banyan. The founding ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People” is embodied through the Banyan Global Foundation and Banyan Management Academy. Banyan Group is committed to remaining the leading advocate of sustainable travel, with a focus on regenerative tourism and innovative programmes that elevate the guest experience.

About Banyan Group Residences

Banyan Group Residences is the property development arm of leading hospitality pioneer the Banyan Group, which is listed on the stock exchanges of Thailand and Singapore. With over 30 years of development experience and an impressive portfolio of residential brands to suit different lifestyles and budgets, it is Thailand’s leading lifestyle property developer with a strong and increasingly international pipeline of projects. The group s main residential brands are the flagship luxury Banyan Tree Residences as well as Angsana Residences, Dhawa Residences, Garrya Residences, Laguna Residences, Cassia Residences, Skypark and the pioneering new Laguna Lakelands.