SINGAPORE, Dec. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has curated a list of must-visit destinations across Asia where human creativity, architectural brilliance, and cultural heritage come together in unforgettable ways. From ancient capitals that feel like open-air museums to lantern-lit trading ports and lakeside palaces, these cities show how urban landscapes can tell powerful stories of both tradition and innovation.
Travelers are increasingly seeking trips that go beyond checklists of attractions, looking instead to immerse themselves in the design, history, and daily rituals of the places they visit. Whether it’s wandering through centuries-old alleyways, gazing up at intricate temple roofs, or crossing grand historic squares at sunset, Asia offers a wealth of man-made wonders that bring its cultures to life.
Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President at Agoda, shared, “More and more travelers are choosing cities not just for the tallest tower or newest mall, but for the stories etched into their streets, temples, and town squares. According to our 2026 Travel Outlook Report, cultural exploration is one of the top three motivators for Asian travelers, with architecture playing a crucial role in that experience. The places that really resonate are those that protect their heritage while still feeling current – they are living cities, not museum pieces. With Agoda, it’s easy to find and book these kinds of trips, where every walk through town feels like a front-row seat to Asia’s architectural and cultural evolution.”
Here is Agoda’s selection of six captivating destinations where travelers can explore Asia’s man-made marvels:
1. George Town, Penang – Malaysia: George Town’s UNESCO-listed historic center is a vibrant blend of Chinese shophouses, colonial facades, clan houses, and contemporary street art. Travelers can wander narrow lanes lined with colorful buildings, visit ornate temples such as Khoo Kongsi, and pause at traditional kopitiams that have served the community for generations. It’s a city where every corner café and courtyard tells a story of migration, trade, and creativity.
2. Gyeongju – South Korea: Once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju is often described as a “museum without walls.” Grassy royal tombs rise from city parks, while sites like Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto showcase intricate Buddhist architecture and craftsmanship. Travelers can also visit Cheomseongdae, one of Asia’s oldest astronomical observatories, and experience how history, spirituality, and urban life coexist in a remarkably serene setting.
3. Hoi An – Vietnam: Hoi An’s lantern-lit old town, set along the Thu Bon River, is a beautifully preserved trading port that reflects centuries of cultural exchange. Traditional merchant houses, assembly halls, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge create a unique streetscape best explored on foot. As day turns to evening, the glow of lanterns, riverside cafes, and wooden shopfronts offers a cinematic view into Vietnam’s architectural and cultural heritage.
4. Luang Prabang – Laos: Nestled between rivers and mountains, Luang Prabang is a gentle, contemplative city where gilded temples, French-colonial villas, and wooden houses sit harmoniously side by side. Travelers can watch the daily alms-giving ceremony at dawn, climb to Wat Phou Si for views over the town, and explore tranquil monasteries that remain central to local life. The result is a destination that feels both intimate and majestic, shaped by centuries of spiritual and cultural traditions.
5. Udaipur – India: Often called the “City of Lakes,” Udaipur showcases some of India’s most romantic man-made vistas. The City Palace complex rises dramatically above Lake Pichola, while island palaces and havelis appear to float on the water’s surface. Winding old streets, intricately carved balconies, and hidden courtyards offer endless details for travelers to discover. With its combination of royal architecture and atmospheric lakeside views, Udaipur is a striking example of how design and landscape can work in harmony.
6. Kanazawa – Japan: Kanazawa offers a refined glimpse into traditional Japan without the crowds of more famous cultural hubs. The city is home to Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens, as well as well-preserved districts like Nagamachi, once home to samurai families, and Higashi Chaya, known for its historic teahouses. Museums, craft workshops, and restored wooden buildings help tell the story of a city that has carefully protected its heritage while evolving into a modern cultural center.
Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app and start planning your next adventure today.
The World Bank recommends investing in climate resilient roads and an improved road preservation system as part of reforms to safeguard economic progress. (Photo: World Bank, Philippe Aramburu)
World Bank – Increased exports, foreign investment and tourism have helped Laos begin to emerge from a prolonged economic slowdown, according to a World Bank economic update, released today. Further reforms in the business, finance and infrastructure sectors would help the country sustain its progress.
The report, Consolidating Recent Reform Momentum for Stability and Growth, shows that strong foreign investment and a current account surplus are helping Laos to gradually rebuild its reserves of foreign currency, which in turn have stabilized the exchange rate and brought down inflation.
The World Bank estimates GDP growth at 4.2 percent over 2025, with steady expansion in energy, mining, and manufacturing, and a growing regional economy boosting exports. This economic activity is helping Laos offset the impacts of low public expenditure and high debt repayments.
“The Lao economy has emerged from four difficult years thanks to shrewd reforms and stronger fiscal management”, said Khwima Nthara, World Bank Country Manager for Laos. “There is an opportunity now to consolidate that momentum by continuing the reform agenda so that the country can increase public spending on essential services such as education, health, and roads”.
Growth is expected to remain stable in 2026, with services and resource-based sectors continuing to drive economic activity. However, the outlook in the medium term remains constrained by low productivity, skill shortages, and infrastructure gaps.
The report recommends sustained reforms and deeper regional integration to help ensure a positive outlook, notably, by curbing tax exemptions, establishing a strong legal framework for public–private partnerships, strengthening public debt management, enhancing supervision of commercial banks, and improving the business environment.
The update contains a special section on Preserving Lao Road Assets, which notes that a well-functioning road sector is important for growth, competitiveness, and fiscal sustainability.
Reliable roads reduce transport costs, improve access to markets, and strengthen links between production hubs and borders. Weak road networks raise logistics costs, dampen private sector activity, and increase the fiscal burden through frequent repairs and emergency maintenance.
Lao roads currently face accelerated wear, particularly from climate impacts and heavy trucks, which alongside fragmented maintenance efforts, insufficient weight controls, and a lack of targeted investment, have resulted in deteriorating road conditions, rising lifecycle costs, and increased vulnerability to climate-related hazards.
The report details a unified asset management system and preservation strategies that can arrest further decline.
It gives clear recommendations for stabilizing revenues to fund road repairs and improvements, for protecting priority road assets through spending plans and better overloading controls, and improving governance and efficiencywith higher quality assurance and transparency.
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul (R) smiles in the parliament chamber in Bangkok on September 5, 2025. Thailand's parliament is set on September 5 to vote in a right-wing tycoon as prime minister, ousting the nation's dominant political dynasty from office after their leader was sacked by court order. (Photo by Chanakarn Laosarakham / AFP)
AFP – Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament on 12 December after three months in office, a royal decree showed, paving the way for general elections.
The move comes earlier than expected and during renewed deadly clashes on Thailand’s border with Cambodia.
“The House of Representatives is dissolved to hold a new general election for members of the House,” the decree published in the Royal Gazette said.
Anutin, of the conservative Bhumjaithai party, became prime minister in September after his predecessor was removed from office by the court over an ethics violation.
Earlier this year, he pledged to dissolve the lower house, the formal step to call an election, and hold a vote by early 2026.
Anutin was widely expected to wait until after Christmas to dissolve parliament.
The move comes as fighting flares again on the border with Cambodia, where clashes have killed at least 20 people and displaced around 600,000, mostly in Thailand.
“Since the administration is a minority government and domestic political conditions are fraught with multiple challenges, the government cannot continue administering state affairs continuously, efficiently, and with stability,” the Royal Gazette said, citing a report received from Anutin.
“Therefore, the appropriate solution is to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a new general election.”
SINGAPORE, Dec. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kuailu Tech today announced a significant upgrade to its Kuailu Cloud AI-CRM platform, introducing a new generation of AI-driven capabilities designed to help small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMEs) modernise customer management, automate sales operations, and improve sales-to-production coordination across Southeast Asia.
The enhanced platform addresses core challenges faced by manufacturers in Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, including fragmented customer data, manual follow-up processes, and limited visibility across distribution and production activities. With the latest release, Kuailu Cloud AI-CRM strengthens its position as one of the region’s most complete manufacturing-focused CRM solutions, offering rapid deployment without the cost or complexity of traditional enterprise systems.
New AI Capabilities Purpose-Built for Manufacturing
The upgrade delivers deeper intelligence, automation, and collaboration across the full customer lifecycle. Key enhancements include:
360° Unified Customer Intelligence consolidating real-time data from distributors, OEM partners, service teams, and end customers into a single, actionable view.
AI-Enhanced Sales Automation providing predictive pipeline forecasting, automated follow-up reminders, and efficiency tools that support faster, more reliable sales execution.
Proven Business Impact for Early Adopters
Manufacturers across precision engineering, industrial components, metal fabrication, and consumer goods have already recorded significant operational gains with the enhanced AI-CRM:
40% increase in repeat purchase rates
60% reduction in service-related operational costs
Up to 85% faster sales-to-production coordination
Customer churn consistently below 8%
“These results highlight the transformative potential of accessible, AI-driven systems for the manufacturing sector,” said Kuailu Tech’s Product Strategy Lead. “SMEs across Southeast Asia often operate with limited digital infrastructure. Our upgraded AI-CRM offers a powerful, easy-to-adopt platform that delivers measurable improvements within weeks.”
Flexible, Localised, and Designed for Real Manufacturing Workflows
Kuailu Cloud AI-CRM supports the end-to-end operational needs of modern manufacturing businesses with:
Low-code configuration enabling rapid adaptation to regional workflows and compliance requirements
Multi-device access for sales, service, and factory teams operating across multiple sites
Seamless integration with ERP, production management, and supply chain systems
The enhanced Kuailu Cloud AI-CRM is now available to all new and existing customers, supported by Kuailu Tech’s regional onboarding and migration teams.
Request a Demo Manufacturers looking to strengthen customer lifecycle management, improve sales automation, or accelerate sales-to-production workflows can request a demo via sales@kuailutech.com.
About Kuailu Technology (HK) Limited
Kuailu Tech is a global AI technology company dedicated to enabling intelligent digital transformation. Powered by proprietary large-model AI, the company offers a unified ecosystem that includes AI smart office solutions, AI collaboration tools, intelligent meeting systems, workflow automation, AI-driven CRM, low-code customisation, and ERP integration. Kuailu Tech helps organisations operate with greater speed, efficiency, and accuracy. For more information, visit www.kuailutech.com.
A heart disease patient from Laos receives color Doppler ultrasound check at Yunnan Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital. (photo: Yang Jinghao)
Laos has introduced a nationwide program aimed at improving the detection and treatment of congenital heart disease among children, marking one of the country’s most comprehensive health initiatives in recent years.
The Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project (2025–2027) was launched in Vientiane through a partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Mekong Institute, and Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
Supported by financing from the Global Development and South–South Cooperation Fund, the project is part of broader regional efforts under the Global Development Initiative to reduce preventable childhood deaths and expand access to specialized medical services.
Large-Scale Screening and Skills Development
The program aims to build a national system for the early detection of congenital heart defects, a leading cause of child mortality in Laos and Cambodia. Over the next two years, at least 10,000 children are expected to be screened across urban and rural areas. Children diagnosed with heart defects will receive full-cycle treatment, with a minimum of 30 cases targeted during the implementation period.
A key component of the project focuses on workforce development. More than 110 Lao healthcare professionals will undergo specialized training, while selected medical staff will participate in fellowship programs at Fuwai Hospital. Medical equipment,including an ultrasound machine,will be distributed to strengthen diagnostic capacity at provincial hospitals.
The launch marks an expansion of cross-border health cooperation in the Mekong region. The project is designed not only to improve clinical outcomes for children in Laos but also to establish a shared technical framework that benefits neighboring Cambodia. Coordinated efforts between national agencies and regional institutions are expected to enhance long-term service delivery and contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal targets related to child mortality.
Building on Prior International Initiatives
The new program follows a series of successful cross-border collaborations in pediatric heart care. In 2024, a Laos–Thailand partnership enabled dozens of Lao infants to access free cardiac surgeries in Thai hospitals, with screening and referrals coordinated by Nong Khai Hospital and specialist institutions in Bangkok.
Earlier, in late 2023, several Lao children were sent to Kunming under the “Love Heart Journey” initiative, a cooperation effort between Chinese charitable organizations, the Yunnan provincial government, and Yunnan Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital.
These programs demonstrated the benefits of targeted international support and underscored the need for a more sustainable, nationally led system, an objective the newly launched Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project aims to meet.
Long-Term Vision
Authorities expect the new project to play a central role in shaping Laos’ future policy direction in pediatric cardiac care. By creating standardized screening pathways, expanding treatment access, and improving data collection, the initiative is intended to strengthen the national health system well beyond its three-year implementation timeframe.
Rollout activities involving provincial health departments, schools, and local hospitals are scheduled to begin immediately, with the aim of reaching remote communities where access to specialized care remains limited.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bizcap, one of the fastest-growing alternative lenders, has promoted Rebecca del Rio to Deputy CEO for Asia-Pacific, recognising her substantial contributions to the company’s growth and evolution since joining at its inception in 2019. Del Rio will also continue in her existing capacity as Global Chief Revenue Officer, driving the organisation’s global revenue strategy.
Rebecca del Rio has been promoted to Deputy CEO for Bizcap APAC
Over the past six years, del Rio has grown alongside Bizcap, taking on an increasingly expansive leadership role. Her remit spans marketing, sales, partnerships, people and culture, analytics, innovation, and product – a breadth of responsibility that positions her strongly to help steer Bizcap’s next phase of strategic development.
Since its inception, Bizcap has funded $4.8 billion globally, including $1.5 billion in 2025 across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. The company’s rapid momentum is reflected not only in its expanding footprint but also in its growing workforce, with global headcount rising more than 80% year-on-year.
As Bizcap has expanded into new markets and scaled its operations internationally, del Rio’s portfolio has broadened accordingly, giving her deep insight into the company’s business functions across regions including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Europe and Canada.
Del Rio’s promotion complements Bizcap’s collaborative leadership model, which brings together operational expertise from Global Chief Operating Officer Adam Szental, credit and risk leadership from Chief Credit Officer Tony Truong, and the strategic direction set by co-founders Zalman Blachman, Abrahram White and Albert Gafhi. This strengthened alignment positions Bizcap to execute its growth plans with greater cohesion and clarity.
Bizcap’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO Zalman Blachman said that del Rio’s leadership has been foundational to Bizcap’s trajectory, acknowledging her impact and the respect she commands across the organisation.
“Rebecca has played a significant role in Bizcap’s journey and growth. Her commitment, expertise, and collaboration with our broader leadership team have helped shape who we are today. We’re excited to see her continue contributing to our collective success in this next chapter,” Blachman said.
Abraham White, Bizcap’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, reflected on del Rio’s contribution to Bizcap’s culture and strategic direction, emphasising her vision and relentless drive.
“It has been a privilege to see Rebecca’s vision and dedication contribute to Bizcap’s culture and strategic direction. She brings an energy that strengthens our leadership team, and I’m looking forward to all that’s ahead,” White said.
In accepting the promotion, del Rio expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to help shape the company’s future.
“I’m honoured to step into the role of Deputy CEO for APAC. Having grown with Bizcap from day one, I’m deeply passionate about our mission, as well as our partners and customers. I’m incredibly grateful to have the trust of our founders, executive team and global partners to support the next stage of Bizcap’s growth and innovation,” she said.
As Bizcap accelerates its international expansion, del Rio’s elevated role provides strong leadership at a pivotal moment, positioning the organisation to scale responsibly and cohesively across global markets.
Patient survey finds that those engaged in shared decision-making were 11 times more likely to report higher satisfaction with their treatments, with 90% of lung cancer patients in Japan wanting to play an active role in their treatment decisions[1]
J&J deepens its commitment to patient empowerment in Asia Pacific by launching J&JwithMe, a new patient portal offering tailored patient resources, and co-driving market-specific initiatives with patient advocacy groups
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 December 2025 – Johnson & Johnson announced the next phase of The 3rd Opinion campaign across Asia Pacific, focused on championing shared decision-making between lung cancer patients and healthcare professionals through events and stakeholder engagements at ESMO Asia 2025 in Singapore.
At a Patient Reception on 6th December 2025, 20 leaders from 17 patient advocacy groups from across Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States shared their support for the need to strengthen shared decision-making. On December 7, 2025, the ESMO Asia 2025 Symposium, ‘Advancing EGFRm NSCLC Treatment Through Shared Decision-Making’ highlighted the role of healthcare professionals not only in making sense of the data but also in helping patients and their families navigate complex decision-making.
“High prevalence in Asia of certain NSCLC mutations makes the choice of first-line therapy absolutely critical. Treatment decisions must balance clinical objectives with patient values — weighing disease biology, survival prospects, durable disease control and the tradeoffs of side effects. That’s why shared decision-making is essential: clinicians should present all appropriate treatment options, so the final choice is collaborative and aligned with each patient’s goals,” said Professor Zhu Zhengfei, Director of the Radiation Oncology Department, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.
“When lung cancer patients are empowered to speak up and understand their options, they are more likely to continue the treatment and their dignity is preserved. Initiatives like ‘The 3rd Opinion’ are vital for fostering truly patient-centered partnerships between people living with cancer and their healthcare teams,” noted Ms. Liu Yiting, Marketing & Branding Director, China MeetHealth Mi-Jian Patient Community.
“The shared commitment validates what many people living with lung cancer have long expressed: shared decision making is essential. From our experience supporting patients, meaningful conversations with clinicians help acknowledge patients’ experiences, address their concerns, and preserving their hopes,” added Mr. Jung-Il Cho, Chairman of Korea Lung Cancer Patients Association.
Our commitment comes off the back of a recent patient survey revealing that 90% of Japanese lung cancer patients want to play an active role in their treatment decisions. The survey also found that shared decision-making, where physicians and patients jointly compare treatment options and decide together, is the strongest driver of treatment satisfaction.1
Patient survey finds that those engaged in shared decision-making were 11 times more likely to report higher satisfaction with their treatments, with 90% of lung cancer patients in Japan wanting to play an active role in their treatment decisions. This finding underscores the importance of shared decision-making and patient-centered care.1
To bridge the gap between patients’ desire to engage in shared decision making and their lack of practical support, J&J has launched “J&J withMe”, an online hub that equips lung cancer patients and caregivers with tailored toolkits and conversation guides to prepare for consultations and make informed, personalized treatment decisions.
Anthony Elgamal, Vice President of Oncology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Asia Pacific said, “The 3rd Opinion truly puts patients at the center of care. As part of our deep commitment to address patients’ unmet needs, we will continue partnering with patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals to help patients to find their voice and the moment when medical advice meets what truly matters to patients.”
In recognition of diverse cultural and clinical norms across Asia Pacific, J&J has also rolled out tailored market activations in collaboration with local patient advocacy groups:
Provision of patient resources such as the “Lung Cancer Book of Answers” in China, ‘Value of Time’ video for patients in Japan, and educational assets in India and Australia/New Zealand;
Digital and social media engagement featuring patients and creators discussing the importance of shared decision-making across Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam;
Event engagement viathe establishment of a patient advisory board in India;
Corporate Social Responsibility program with a lung cancer patient group in Korea, bringing employees and patients together to better understand the disease burden of patients and strengthen emotional support for the patient community.
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About the 3rd Opinion
“The 3rd Opinion”, the patient’s own opinion, is a new term that sparks a social movement in the lung cancer treatment journey – designed to elevate the patient voice and empower individuals to take an active role in shaping their treatment plan. By prioritizing shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals, this collaborative approach ensures that treatment choices are aligned to each patient’s goals, preferences and circumstances. This results in more informed decisions, greater patient satisfaction, and the best possible outcomes.
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Worldwide, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, with NSCLC making up 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancer cases.[1], [2] The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.[3] Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase controlling cell growth and division.[4] EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent of Western patients with NSCLC with adenocarcinoma histology and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asian patients.[5], [6],[7],[8],[9],[10] EGFR ex19del or EGFR L858R mutations are the most common EGFR mutations.[11] The five-year survival rate for all people with advanced NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is less than 20 percent.[12],[13]EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are the third most prevalent activating EGFR mutation.[14] Patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations have a real-world five-year overall survival (OS) of eight percent in the frontline setting, which is worse than patients with EGFR ex19del or L858R mutations, who have a real-world five-year OS of 19 percent.[15]By comparison, other common cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer have a 5-year real world OS of 90% and 97% respectively[16].
[1] Johnson & Johnson lung cancer patient quantitative survey conducted in Japan, 2025
[2] The World Health Organization. Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed March 2025.
[3] American Cancer Society. What is Lung Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Accessed March 2025.
[4] Oxnard JR, et al. Natural history and molecular characteristics of lung cancers harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Feb;8(2):179-84. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e3182779d18.
[5] Bauml JM, et al. Underdiagnosis of EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutation Variants: Estimates from NGS-based Real World Datasets. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore.
[6] The World Health Organization. Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed March 2025.
[7] American Cancer Society. What is Lung Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Accessed March 2025.
[8] Pennell NA, et al. A phase II trial of adjuvant erlotinib in patients with resected epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 37:97-104.
[9] Burnett H, et al. Epidemiological and clinical burden of EGFR exon 20 insertion in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic literature review. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore.
[10] Zhang YL, et al. The prevalence of EGFR mutation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016;7(48):78985-78993.
[11] Midha A, et al. EGFR mutation incidence in non-small-cell lung cancer of adenocarcinoma histology: a systematic review and global map by ethnicity. Am J Cancer Res. 2015;5(9):2892-2911.
[12] American Lung Association. EGFR and Lung Cancer. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/egfr. Accessed March 2025.
[13] Howlader N, et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2016, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2016/, based on November 2018 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site.
[14] Lin JJ, et al. Five-Year Survival in EGFR-Mutant Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated with EGFR-TKIs. J Thorac Oncol. 2016 Apr;11(4):556-65
[15] Arcila, M. et al. EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in lung adenocarcinomas: prevalence, molecular heterogeneity, and clinicopathologic characteristics. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Feb; 12(2):220-9.
[16] Girard N, et al. Comparative clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations and common EGFR mutations. Abstract presented at: World Conference on Lung Cancer Annual Meeting; January 29, 2021; Singapore.
[17] Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, National Cancer Institute, 2024.
Hashtag: #Johnson&Johnson
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.
HONG KONG, Dec. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As its business footprint expanded, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) decided to modernize its IT infrastructure on the cloud. In collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its core partner eCloudvalley, Towngas migrated mission‑critical systems, saving up to 40% in IT costs while ensuring 99.99% availability for core systems.
(From left) Joe Kwok, Hong Kong Country Manager at eCloudvalley; Alex Wong, General Manager of Corporate IT at Towngas
Unwire.pro interviewed Alex Wong, General Manager of Information Technology at Towngas, and Joe Kwok, Regional Manager of eCloudvalley Hong Kong, to explore how cloud modernization drives transformation and how the two organizations are partnering to leverage data and generative AI to deliver better service experiences.
From “Back‑Office Maintenance” to “All‑Around Stewardship”: A Proactive Partnership
Speaking about the collaboration, Joe from eCloudvalley shared: “What we are most proud of in the past two years is that ‘nothing major happened.'” Rather than acting as Towngas’ back‑office support, eCloudvalley functions more like an embedded steward—providing 24/7 monitoring, developing ongoing cost‑optimization strategies, and tailoring every solution to Towngas’ needs.
eCloudvalley oversees full‑spectrum management and alerts—from cloud architecture security and backup mechanisms to cost‑efficiency planning—allowing Towngas’ IT team to focus on business innovation and application development without worrying about infrastructure stability. “eCloudvalley feels like part of our internal team,” said Alex Wong. “They anticipate our needs, optimize costs, and help us achieve maximum return on our AWS investments.”
Reducing IT Costs by 30–40% and Achieving 99.99% Availability — Faster Market Response from Months to Days
With eCloudvalley’s support in modernizing on AWS, Towngas now operates with greater efficiency, agility, and resilience—directly reflected in faster business rollout and scalability. The migration reduced IT costs by 30–40%, cut routine management time, and maintained 99.99% availability for mission‑critical systems, enabling Towngas to deliver consistent and reliable services more rapidly.
After adopting a microservices architecture, Towngas decoupled applications into independently functioning modules, allowing individual feature enhancements without disrupting the whole system. Joe explained that initiatives such as loyalty programs or promotional campaigns can now be adjusted weekly—or even daily—enhancing customer experience and empowering the company with real‑time responsiveness.
Looking Ahead: AI and Security Compliance Take Center Stage
As AI adoption accelerates, Towngas has already begun building AI‑driven services to enhance customer support and streamline operations. For example, leveraging Amazon Bedrock to develop generative AI tools, enabling legal and supply chain teams to quickly validate customer contracts and terms, while also exploring Agentic AI to support employees in handling complex, multi‑step tasks. Joe believes that only when internal processes are optimized and employees learn how to “work with AI” can enterprises effectively apply AI to core decision‑making and business innovation.
Looking ahead, with Hong Kong implementing critical infrastructure regulations by 2026 and AI applications becoming more widespread, data security and regulatory compliance will be top priorities in the partnership. In the AI era, data‑leakage risks take on new forms—so eCloudvalley will continue helping Towngas strengthen protective frameworks, including endpoint security, data governance, and regulation‑aligned backup mechanisms. For enterprises still hesitant about cloud or AI adoption, Joe offers simple advice: start by solving an immediate pain point, build confidence through small‑scale success, and progress step by step toward full transformation.
About eCloudvalley
Founded in 2013, eCloudvalley is a leading cloud service provider in the Asia-Pacific region, serving over 2,400 customers with tailored cloud, data, and security solutions. As an award-winning AWS Premier Partner, the company combines global expertise with local insight to support enterprises through every stage of digital transformation.
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