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AXA Launches Limited Offer of a 2-Year Premium Payment Term for “WealthAhead II Savings Insurance” Series

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Advertorial Desk
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Empowering Customers to Accelerate Wealth Growth with Greater Flexibility
Projected total cash value exceeds 320% of total premiums paid in the 20th year
Prepaid premiums to enjoy guaranteed preferential interest rate up to 12% p.a. in the first 90 days

HONG KONG, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) is pleased to introduce a limited offer of a 2-year premium payment option for the WealthAhead II Savings Insurance Series[1] (“WealthAhead II Series” or the “Series”). Building on the strong market reception to WealthAhead II Series, this limited offer allows customers to accelerate wealth growth with a shorter premium commitment. By the 20th policy year, the projected total cash value is expected to exceed 320%[2] of the total premiums paid. In addition, the guaranteed preferential interest rate on prepaid premium will further enhance overall returns, supporting more effective wealth accumulation.

Janet Lee, Chief Life and Health Insurance Officer of AXA Hong Kong and Macau, said, “Amid rising global geopolitical tensions and market volatility, our customers are seeking both flexibility and stability. In response, the WealthAhead II Series now offers a 2-year fixed premium payment option, exemplifying the strategy of ‘short pay, long gain’. Building on the continuous popularity of the Series, this enhancement reflects our commitment to partnering with our customers to maximise their wealth, providing the liquidity needed to navigate the current challenges and the security to establish a lasting legacy for the future.”

3 Key Highlights of the Plan:

  1. Wealth Accumulation – Short premium payment term of 2 years with attractive potential returns and great flexibility 
    The Series offers a choice of up to 9 policy currencies[3], with favourable return each and includes flexible currency conversion option[4], to align with customers’ diverse individual needs and evolving plans. By the 20th policy year, the projected total cash value is expected to exceed 320% of the total premiums paid[2]. During the promotional period, customers who pay 2-year premiums in a single lump sum with USD as the policy currency, will receive a guaranteed preferential interest rate up to 12% p.a. on their prepaid premiums for the first 90 days, followed by up to 8% p.a. until the end of the first policy year[5].
  2. Wealth Allocation – Tailored Wealth Strategies in Action
    WealthAhead II Series features the market-first[6] Wealth Master Service[7], allowing customers to pre-set periodic withdrawal instructions for up to 3 designated recipients. Payments are automatically disbursed at scheduled intervals, creating personalised income streams that facilitate accurate and strategic wealth distribution. Additionally, the Series offers policy splitting options to optimise wealth allocation as the family expands.
  3. Wealth Succession – Empowering Generations to Build a Lasting Legacy Through Seamless Wealth Transfer
    The Series offers a range of trust-like[8] features aimed at safeguarding customers’ legacy and facilitating intergenerational wealth planning. Customers can ensure policy continuity and succession by designating a ‘contingent owner’, ‘interim owner[9]‘, ‘contingent insured’, or by exercising ‘the change of insured option’. Additionally, customers can appoint a designated executor and choose from various death benefit settlement options, enabling direct and efficient wealth transfer to family members.

The above information is for reference only. Please visit https://www.axa.com.hk/en/wealth-ahead-ii-savings-insurance for more details.

For full details on the promotional offer, product features, terms, conditions, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product brochure, policy contract, and promotional leaflet[10].

[1] WealthAhead II Savings Insurance” Series includes “WealthAhead II Savings Insurance – Prime” and “WealthAhead II Savings Insurance – Supreme”.

[2] The projected values are for reference only and based on certain assumptions, including but not limited to USD/AUD/CAD is selected as the policy currency, 2-year premium payment term, annual premium payment mode is chosen, all premiums are paid in full when due, no levy on insurance premiums is included throughout the term of the policy, no benefits have been paid, and no withdrawals or other policy options have been exercised. Above projected value is not guaranteed and is projected based on the Company’s current assumed bonus scale. The actual value may be higher or lower than the projected value.

[3] The nine policy currencies include Renminbi (RMB), US Dollar (USD), British Pound (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Singapore Dollar (SGD), Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), and Macanese Pataca (MOP) (MOP is only applicable to policies issued in Macau only).

[4] Starting from the 2nd policy anniversary, the currency conversion option may be exercised within 30 days after each policy anniversary. There is no limit on the number of times this option may be exercised; however, only one application may be made per policy year. For details, please refer to the relevant product brochure and policy contract. Currency conversion involves exchange rate fluctuations, which may impact the actual benefits of the policy. It is advisable to fully understand the associated risks prior to proceeding with the conversion.

[5] For full details on the promotional offer, please refer to the relevant promotional leaflet.

[6] The information refers to the service of periodic withdrawal with up to 3 recipients of withdrawal payments. The information refers to Hong Kong market only and is based on a comparison of periodic withdrawal arrangements offered by insurers for Long-Term Businesses as defined by the Insurance Authority in the Register of Authorised Insurers in Hong Kong as of July 2025.

[7] Wealth Master Service is an administrative service arrangement offered by the Company and not a plan feature of “WealthAhead II Savings Insurance” Series. Any application for the service is subject to the Company’s approval at its sole and absolute discretion, any applicable laws, regulations and guidelines and the administrative rules of the Company from time to time.

[8] “Trust-like” indicates that the design concept of “WealthAhead II Savings Insurance” Series draws from the flexibility and precision of trust, but does not imply it is equivalent to a trust product.

[9] Interim owner is only applicable to policies issued in Hong Kong.

[10] https://axa.com.hk/en/wealth-ahead-ii-savings-insurance

 

About AXA Hong Kong and Macau 

AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 52 markets and serving over 92 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters. 

As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers’ needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation. 

We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles – as an investor, an insurer and an exemplary company.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK 

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.

Wondershare Earns Dual Honors at the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

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Advertorial Desk
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VANCOUVER, BC, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wondershare, a global leader in creativity and productivity solutions, has been recognized for innovation in data security and recovery at the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. Wondershare Dr.Fone won the Gold Award in Data Security, while Wondershare Recoverit secured the Silver Award in Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery (BCDR). These recognitions further strengthen Wondershare’s position as a trusted provider of data security and recovery solutions.

Wondershare Dr.Fone Wins Gold, Recoverit Takes Silver at the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards
Wondershare Dr.Fone Wins Gold, Recoverit Takes Silver at the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards is one of the more widely recognized awards in the global cybersecurity industry, with a history spanning more than a decade. Presented by Cybersecurity Insiders, a leading platform for CISO insights and strategic research, the awards are backed by a community of more than 600,000 cybersecurity professionals. Previous winners include leading industry players such as Zscaler, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks.

“We congratulate Wondershare Dr.Fone on earning the Gold Award in the Data Security category and Wondershare Recoverit on earning the Silver Award in the Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery category,” said Holger Schulze, founder of Cybersecurity Insiders and organizer of the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. “This recognition, selected by an independent jury of cybersecurity practitioners, analysts, and CISOs, highlights the role of innovative security solutions in strengthening cybersecurity across organizations worldwide.”

Wondershare Dr.Fone is a mobile device data management and security solution designed for individual users, supporting common use cases such as data transfer, backup, and recovery. The product uses local processing, meaning all data operations are carried out on the user’s device or within a local environment rather than relying on cloud storage, helping reduce the risk of data breaches. In 2025, Dr.Fone protected more than 9.5 million devices, achieved a success rate of up to 99.5%, and maintained a zero data-breach record.

Wondershare Recoverit has been dedicated to data recovery for more than 20 years. It supports data recovery from a wide range of devices, including computers, USB drives, hard drives, memory cards, and cameras. The tool holds 28 patents related to data recovery and has served more than 100 million users across over 170 countries and regions worldwide. The latest version of the product is powered by AI-driven device recognition and recovery strategies, covering more than one million device types and tens of thousands of data loss scenarios. Internal testing shows that its recovery success rate can reach as high as 99.5%.

“This recognition reflects Wondershare’s broader commitment to building a future-ready digital ecosystem driven by innovation, trust, and user value,” said Vic, Head of Brand at Wondershare. “In the era of AI at scale, users expect more than powerful features—they expect technologies that can adapt intelligently, operate securely, and integrate seamlessly into increasingly complex digital environments. These awards reinforce our belief that the next generation of digital tools must be both intelligent and trustworthy, and they validate our continued efforts to deliver that standard on that promise.”

About Wondershare

Wondershare is a globally recognized software company founded in 2003, known for its innovative solutions in creativity and productivity. Driven by the mission “Creativity Simplified”, Wondershare offers a range of tools, including Filmora and SelfyzAI for video editing; PDFelement for document management; and EdrawMax and EdrawMind for diagramming. With over 2 billion cumulative active users across all products and a presence in over 200 countries and regions, Wondershare empowers the next generation of creators with intuitive software and trendy creative resources, continually expanding the possibilities of creativity worldwide.

 

Airoha Technology Achieves Global Milestone as First Silicon Provider to Successfully Commercialize prplOS-based Fiber Broadband Platforms

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Advertorial Desk
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ZHUBEI CITY, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To address the global trend toward open-source systems for network operators, Airoha Technology, a subsidiary of MediaTek, announced today that following three years of collaborative development with Tier-1 operators, it has become the first in the world to successfully commercialize its prplOS open-source platforms. As of 2025, two of Airoha’s chipset platforms have reached mass deployment. This achievement makes Airoha the world’s first fiber broadband silicon provider to possess the technical expertise and commercial provenness across all three major open-source ecosystems: OpenWrt, RDK-B, and prplOS.

SoftAtHome believes Airoha's efforts will lower the barrier for innovation, fostering a more vibrant fiber broadband ecosystem.
SoftAtHome believes Airoha’s efforts will lower the barrier for innovation, fostering a more vibrant fiber broadband ecosystem.

Responding to the surging demand for open-source flexibility, Airoha will expand its prplOS support to four additional fiber broadband platforms in 2026, enabling operators to interface with a more extensive application ecosystem. Furthermore, SoftAtHome, a leading global software company for telecom operators, has expressed its strong support and recognition of Airoha’s visionary efforts within these ecosystems.

Overcoming the “Triple Challenge”: LL API Compliance, Carrier-Grade Interoperability, and EU Cybersecurity Standards

The standards for prplOS are exceptionally stringent, requiring significant technical investment in 3 key areas: [1] SoC Compliance with Low-Level API (LL API): Ensuring deep-level hardware abstraction. [2] Carrier-Grade Interoperability: Passing rigorous interoperability testing (IOP) mandated by telcos, which typically spans at least six months. [3] Cybersecurity Compliance: Adhering to the stringent commitments of the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

Airoha Technology has spent over three years methodically overcoming these barriers. By addressing customer needs with a pragmatic approach, Airoha has successfully reduced the integration cycle for this open architecture from the industry average of 18–24 months down to just 6–9 months, significantly lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fixed-line broadband operators.

First Silicon Provider to Enable Commercial Deployment Across Three Major Open-Source Platforms

In 2025, two of Airoha’s GPON SoC platforms received prplOS certification and completed commercial deployment with several operators, earning high praise for stability and performance. In 2026, Airoha will add three 10G-PON platforms and one GPON SoC platform to its prplOS-ready portfolio. By providing global fiber broadband operators with diverse and open choices, Airoha is effectively “decoupling” the application ecosystem, which is expected to bring significant positive disruption to the industry.

MH Shieh, Executive Vice President and Spokesperson of Airoha Technology, stated: “For 20 years, we have stood by global operators through every generation of broadband technology upgrades. We deeply understand the pain points and friction they face when deploying new technologies. Driven by an engineering culture of humility and excellence, our team continuously enhances the software maturity of our SoC platforms across OpenWrt, RDK-B, and prplOS. Our goal is to provide maximum flexibility and support, helping customers accelerate their time-to-market (TTM) for new services. We look forward to working with more ecosystem partners to promote the global proliferation of fiber-to-the-home services.”

Expanding the Fiber Broadband Portfolio to Drive Innovation and Ecosystem Decoupling

While open-source systems allow operators to reduce development costs and accelerate service launches, the industry has long faced a gap. Insufficient investment from core chipset providers in open-source ecosystems has often left operators unable to adopt prplOS at scale. Airoha Technology remains customer-centric, demonstrating long-term commitment and technical perseverance. Over the past three years, in partnership with SoftAtHome and various system integrators, Airoha has passed rigorous technical and market validations and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.

Arnaud Bensaid, VP Marketing at SoftAtHome noted: “SoftAtHome values Airoha Technology as a trusted silicon partner. Their stable platforms help us innovate on prplOS, and our 2025 launch with Orange Jordan— the world’s first home fiber services built on a full prplOS architecture—shows how this collaboration delivers real benefits for customers. We believe Airoha’s efforts will lower the barrier for innovation, fostering a more vibrant fiber broadband ecosystem.”

[Glossary of Terms] The global fiber broadband market primarily utilizes three open-source operating systems: OpenWrt, RDK-B, and prplOS. Among these, prplOS provides a unified, carrier-grade standard specifically designed for telecommunications operators. It enables them to rapidly integrate a diverse range of applications, shortening development cycles and allowing telcos to remain agile and competitive by offering innovative experiences to their subscribers.

Media contact: Airoha Technology, Terrence Chang, Email: terrence.chang@airoha.com

Hongkong Land Foundation launches “AI for Good” Hackathon to strengthen community impact

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Advertorial Desk
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  • A collaborative initiative bringing together NGOs, youth and academic partners to deliver community solutions
  • Leveraging AI and youth perspectives to address social issues

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 March 2026 – The Hongkong Land Foundation (the “Foundation”), formerly known as Hongkong Land HOME FUND, has launched its “AI for Good” Hackathon, a collaborative social innovation initiative developed in partnership with the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (“J.C.DISI”) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“PolyU”)

The two-day "AI for Good" Hackathon at PolyU concluded with four finalist teams advancing to the next stage. The winning projects will receive funding and ongoing support from the Hongkong Land Foundation over the next two years to drive their development and long-term impact.
The two-day “AI for Good” Hackathon at PolyU concluded with four finalist teams advancing to the next stage. The winning projects will receive funding and ongoing support from the Hongkong Land Foundation over the next two years to drive their development and long-term impact.

The initiative supports local non‑governmental organisations (“NGOs”) to address pressing community needs, reflecting the Foundation’s long‑term commitment to building vibrant, inclusive and resilient communities through social innovation, stakeholder engagement and long‑term partnerships. Anchored by three strategic pillars — People, Place and Culture, the Foundation has invested more than HK$115 million in community initiatives since its establishment in November 2020, benefiting over 630,000 people, and is increasingly focused on building partnerships that support sustained social innovation.

The two-day “AI for Good” Hackathon was held on 21 and 22 March at PolyU. Supported by Hongkong Land’s volunteers and J.C.DISI’s mentors, participating NGOs worked in a supportive and trusted environment to explore, iterate and strengthen their ideas. During the Hackathon, participants used AI-enabled tools to develop a visual “Pattern Book” – an investment-ready framework that consolidated field research, ideation, solution planning, and visual presentation into a single document. The AI-powered approach enabled participants to distil complex social issues into concise, actionable concepts, creating more meaningful dialogue between NGOs, judges, and potential partners.

The J.C.DISI has been a key partner in supporting the Hackathon through ideation, NGO capacity building, project management and student engagement. Students from across PolyU took part as youth consultants, working closely with NGOs to offer fresh perspectives and insights, reinforcing the programme’s focus on co-creation and placemaking impact.

John Simpkins, General Counsel of Hongkong Land and Director of Hongkong Land Foundation, said “The Hongkong Land Foundation has been committed to supporting communities through meaningful collaboration. Through the Hackathon, and our collaboration with J.C.DISI, we are harnessing AI as a tool to empower our NGO partners, helping them strengthen ideas, enhance digital capabilities and unlock new creativity in social innovation. The initiative reflects our belief that lasting social impact is not created through one-off funding, but through co-creation, technology and sustained engagement. By bringing together NGOs, students and cross-sector partners, we aim to develop solutions that strengthen communities and contribute to a more vibrant city.”

Sam Lam, Interim Director, Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, said “What distinguishes this Hackathon is its focus on AI‑enabled capacity building for social innovation. Rather than a standalone pitch exercise, the programme equips NGO teams with the skill to utilise cutting-edge AI Design Thinking tools commonly used by professional consultancies, helping them compress months of strategic work to implementable solutions within 48 hours. This collaboration redefines the traditional funder–NGO relationship. Through long-term capacity building, the Hong Kong Land Foundation equips NGOs with practical skills and tools to strengthen placemaking and community engagement. Together, we translate strategic vision into solutions – ensuring impact that extends well beyond the hackathon.”

Four finalist teams were shortlisted to advance to the next stage, following an initial pitch assessed by Hongkong Land executives, and academic and industry experts. The shortlisted teams will refine their proposals with cross‑sector mentors, with winning projects receiving funding and ongoing support from the Hongkong Land Foundation over the next two years.

Appendix:

  • Four finalist teams:
  • Caritas Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong Design Institute
  • Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation
  • Young Founders School

Hashtag: #HongkongLandFoundation

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

Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property development, investment and management group. It focuses on developing, owning and managing premium and ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. With over US$50 billion in assets under management, Hongkong Land’s ultra-premium mixed-use real estate footprint spans over 1.97 million sq. m. lettable area in operation and 1.43 million sq. m. lettable area under development, with flagship mixed-use projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. Established in 1889, Hongkong Land takes a long-term view, investing significantly alongside its capital partners and concentrating its portfolio where it can create the most value for tenants, customers and investors. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation

Established in 2012, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) is a catalyst for transformative social change. J.C.DISI serves as a strategic vehicle advancing the University’s commitment to social responsibility through human-centered approaches to society’s most pressing challenges. J.C.DISI is dedicated to driving social innovation through the “Inno for Good” strategic framework, which focuses on six key innovation streams: Aging for Good, Care for Good, Community for Good, Design and Service for Good, STEAMS for Good, and Tech for Good.

Heatwave to Push Laos Temperatures to 40°C, Storms Possible

By
Phoudasack Vongsay
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Picture to show heatwave hitting Laos

Laos is set to experience extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach 40 Degrees Celsius this week, while authorities warn of possible hailstorms in some areas.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said a low-pressure system, combined with southwest winds, is covering the country, bringing hot to very hot conditions and dry haze during the day.

Unstable weather may also trigger sudden thunderstorms, with risks of lightning, strong winds, and hail in some parts of the country.

Officials warned that the heat could impact public health, particularly among children and the elderly, with increased risks of heatstroke, fires, and electrical short circuits. 

Residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure, stay hydrated, and follow official weather updates.

Conditions will vary across regions. The northeast will see cooler mornings before turning hot, with temperatures between 13°C and 34°C and possible light storms. The northwest may reach up to 40°C, with widespread haze.

Vientiane Capital and central provinces will experience hot, hazy conditions ranging from 23°C to 40°C, with isolated thunderstorms. Xaysomboun Province will remain slightly cooler, between 16°C and 36°C.

In the south, temperatures will range from 23°C to 40°C, with some storms expected, while the Bolaven Plateau will remain relatively cooler.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said it will continue monitoring the situation and urged the public to remain alert as conditions may change.

GAC INTERNATIONAL Accelerates “Four-Pillar Global Expansion”, Unveils “Thailand Action 2.0” and Launches GAC CARE Service Brand

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Advertorial Desk
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BANGKOK, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On March 23, the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show officially opened. Centered on “service upgrading”, GAC INTERNATIONAL launched GAC CARE – its first overseas service brand – at the show, fully unveiled its upgrade “Thailand Action 2.0” strategy, and debuted the new AION V 500KM variant. These milestones – from service system enhancement and localized strategy upgrading to product renewal – marking GAC’s entry into a leading phase in the Thai market.

 

As a key pillar of GAC’s global strategy, the Thai market continues to show strong growth potential. Under the guidance of “ONE GAC 2.0” and “Thailand Action 1.0”, GAC has achieved a critical leap from product introduction to ecosystem deployment. In 2025, GAC sold 15,301 units in Thailand, representing a 305% year-on-year increase, securing its position among the top tier of new energy vehicle (NEV) brands. Building on this foundation, officially announced the comprehensive launch of the “Thailand Action 2.0” strategic upgrade at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

Fully unveiling “Thailand Action 2.0”, GAC’s localization development is shifting from “putting down roots” to “taking the lead”. By leveraging systemic capabilities across product layout, channel & mobility ecosystem, energy ecosystem and manufacturing & industrial chain, GAC is building a long-term competitive advantage. Through multi-dimensional collaboration, GAC is evolving into an ecosystem builder covering products, services, energy and manufacturing, upholding its commitment “In Thailand, For Thailand” and delivering care to users through superior products and comprehensive services.

While advancing its localization strategy, Wang Haoyong, General Manager of GAC INTERNATIONAL Thailand Sales Company, announced on-site the launch of GAC’s first overseas service brand — GAC CARE. He stated, “In Thailand, for Thailand. What GAC brings is not just advanced vehicles, but a complete, reliable, and heartfelt mobility ecosystem. Centered on users’ full lifecycle needs, GAC CARE is built on Four Core Pillars: customer centric, advanced assurance, rapid responsiveness and exclusive experience.

The all-new AION V 500km variant brought by GAC became the highlight of the booth, attracting numerous visitors to experience and inquire.

Going forward, GAC will continue to take Thailand as a critical hub, stay user-centric, deepen localization, advance the NEV industry ecosystem, and achieve long-term win-win development with local society.

 

CPA Australia Survey: Practical AI adoption and easier financing drive Taiwan SME confidence to a five year high

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 March 2026 – More than half of Taiwan’s small businesses recorded growth in 2025, while confidence heading into 2026 climbed to its highest level since 2020, according to the Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey 2025–26 conducted by global professional accounting body CPA Australia.

SBS Infographic 2026 Taiwan Eng

The survey found that 53 per cent of Taiwanese small businesses grew in 2025, slightly below the 57 per cent recorded in the previous survey. Looking ahead, business sentiment strengthened notably. In 2026, 63 per cent of respondents expect their business to grow, while confidence in the local economy also improved, with 61 per cent anticipating economic growth, the highest level recorded since Taiwan was first included in the survey in 2018.

Taiwan’s small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to play a vital role in creating new jobs. In 2025, 31 per cent of SMEs increasing staff numbers, while 44 per cent plan to hire additional employees in 2026.

With rising costs identified as the biggest challenge facing Taiwan’s SME in 2025, many businesses identified cost control as the most positive contributor to business performance last year.

Mr Elic Lam FCPA (Aust.), Honorary Taiwan Advisor at CPA Australia, said Taiwan’s economic fundamentals continue to support small business resilience, “Rising global demand for semiconductors and AI related chips continues to create opportunities for exporters and suppliers across Taiwan’s value chain,” Mr Lam said. “While geopolitical tensions and intensifying competition are adding uncertainty, government support measures for SMEs, including targeted subsidies and tax incentives, together with Taiwan’s resilient domestic demand, are helping to lift business confidence.”

Technology adoption, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming increasingly widespread among Taiwanese small businesses. The survey found that 33 per cent of small businesses identified AI as the technology they invested in most heavily invested in 2025, up from 29 per cent in the previous year.

Cyber risk among Taiwanese small businesses fell markedly. The share of small businesses reporting losses of time or money due to cyber incidents declined sharply from 59 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025, reflecting stronger awareness and the uptake of basic protective measures across the sector.

However, the survey also indicates there is room to strengthen the returns from digital investment. Only 40 per cent of respondents reported that their technology investment in 2025 improved profitability, compared with the survey average of 56 per cent.

Mr Lam noted that Taiwan’s SME sector is undergoing a generational transition that is influencing technology adoption patterns, “Many SMEs in Taiwan are moving from first generation ownership to second or third generation leadership, and technology adoption remains cautious and practical,” he said. “The increase in AI investment reflects both external drivers, such as changing customer expectations and government policy support for digital transformation, as well as internal factors, including younger owners’ familiarity with AI tools and rising operating and staffing costs.”

“To improve profitability, SMEs should focus on applying digital solutions in areas with the greatest impact. For example, as rising costs were identified as the most negative factor affecting performance in 2025, investing in ready-to-use and AI enabled accounting or financial management tools can help reduce operating expenses and lift productivity.”

Access to finance is another notable finding. Financing conditions in Taiwan improved significantly in 2025, even as borrowing softened. Two-thirds of businesses (66 per cent) I said it was easy to access external finance, placing Taiwan among the top three surveyed markets and representing a sharp increase from 28 per cent in 2024. Looking ahead, financing conditions are expected to remain supportive, with 63 per cent anticipating easy access to finance in 2026.

Despite the marked improvement in financing conditions, demand for finance was more subdued. In 2025, 54 per cent of SMEs sought external finance, down from 72 per cent in 2024.

“The Taiwan government has expanded inclusive and guaranteed financing mechanisms to support SMEs, including higher guarantee ratios under the SME Credit Guarantee Fund and preferential loans offered through state affiliated banks,” Mr Lam said. “These measures have made bank financing more accessible for small businesses.”

“Even so, many SMEs remain cautious about taking on new debt. In a stable domestic environment, businesses can maintain steady growth, but external uncertainties drive them to take a prudent approach to borrowing. This aligns well with the government’s policy focus on gradual and resilient SME transformation rather than rapid, high risk expansion.”

Lam concluded, “To navigate international uncertainty and intensifying market competition, Taiwan’s small businesses should make better use of government policy support to upskill their workforce through AI adoption, foster innovation, and diversify export markets by strengthening online sales channels.”

The Asia Pacific Small Business Survey 2025–26 gathered views from 4,166 small businesses across 11 markets in the region, including Singapore, Chinese Mainland and Australia. The Taiwan survey sample comprised 311 small businesses.

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, including more than 22,500 members in Greater China. 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

Tencent Cloud Partners with ComfyUI to Transform 3D Workflows in Open-Source AI

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, today announced its partnership with ComfyUI, one of the world’s most popular free, open–source, node–based visual AI platform for generative content creation. Through this collaboration, ComfyUI integrates Tencent HY 3D Global as its native Partner Nodes, enabling millions of creators worldwide to seamlessly incorporate advanced 3D generation workflows into their pipelines.

ComfyUI is recognized as the leading open–source platform for image, video and 3D AI models, with more than 105,000 GitHub stars, 60,000 custom nodes, and adoption by professional studios across industries. Its visual workflow interface empowers creators to generate visual pipelines using open source and closed source models, making it one of the largest and most influential ecosystems for generative AI content creation globally.

By embedding Tencent HY 3D Global 3.0 APIs — spanning text–to–3D, image–to–3D, and sketch–to–3D generation — ComfyUI now enables creators to transform ideas and assets into high–quality 3D models directly within its workflow interface. The integration also introduces advanced features including 3D Parts Decomposition, allowing complex assets to be split into editable components; UV unwrapping, accelerating model preparation for texturing; and Smart Topology, which generates cleaner, production–ready meshes.

These advanced capabilities open new opportunities across product visualization, industrial design, and VFX and animation. Creators can transform product images into interactive 3D models, accelerate prototyping through sketch–to–3D workflows and 3D–print–ready part decomposition, and produce high–resolution assets with clean meshes and PBR materials.

Through this collaboration, Tencent HY 3D Global is established as a first–class 3D generation solution within the world’s largest visual AI ecosystem, driving broader adoption and strengthening its global visibility.

Fred Sun, General Manager of Tencent Cloud Europe, said, “Partnering with ComfyUI marks a significant milestone in bringing Tencent HY 3D Global capabilities to the global open–source community. By embedding our advanced 3D APIs into one of the world’s most widely adopted generative AI platform, we are expanding access to professional–grade 3D tools and accelerating innovation across industries. This collaboration reinforces Tencent Cloud’s commitment to empowering creators, strengthening the AI ecosystem, and shaping the future of digital content creation worldwide.”

Jo Zhang, Founding Member and Product Manager of ComfyUI, said, “ComfyUI has always been driven by a vision to enable creators everywhere to harness the full potential of generative AI. Through our partnership with Tencent Cloud, we can now offer Tencent HY 3D Global as a native capability, unlocking new possibilities for millions of users — from professional studios to the open–source community. Together, we are building the foundation for next–generation 3D workflows that will transform product design, entertainment, and digital experiences at a global scale.”

About ComfyUI:

ComfyUI is the AI production engine for complete control over every model, every node, every step, every output. It’s trusted by Netflix, Tencent, Ubisoft, and thousands of Enterprise creative teams and studios. With 4 million users, over 60,000 community developers, Comfy is by far the most popular AI workflow tool among creative professionals.

About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation. 

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