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Amari Puts Two Sides Of Laos Within Easy Reach For International Travellers

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From Mekong-side culture in Vientiane to the mountains and adventure of Vang Vieng, Amari encourages travellers to experience Laos at a slower pace


VIENTIANE, LAOS – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Amari is inviting international travellers to discover two contrasting sides of Laos in one journey, combining the culture, cuisine and laid-back riverside life of the capital, Vientiane, with the dramatic mountain landscapes and outdoor adventures of Vang Vieng.

Amari Puts Two Sides Of Laos Within Easy Reach For International Travellers

Connected by rail, the two destinations offer a compelling twin-centre itinerary for travellers looking to experience more of Laos beyond a traditional sightseeing trip. Amari Vientiane and Amari Vang Vieng provide bases at either end of the journey, allowing guests to move from life beside the Mekong River to the limestone mountains and waterways surrounding the Nam Song River.

The experience reflects a different approach to discovering Laos: travelling at a pace that leaves room for local food, everyday encounters and spontaneous discoveries alongside the country’s better-known attractions.

A Capital Best Discovered Slowly

Vientiane may be the capital and economic and cultural centre of Laos, but its appeal lies as much in its unhurried atmosphere as its major landmarks.

Travellers can visit icons including Pha That Luang, Patuxai and Wat Si Saket, while leaving time to explore local markets, discover small cafés, try Lao coffee, cycle through quieter streets and watch the city come to life beside the Mekong River as evening approaches.

Food provides another window into the destination, from noodle dishes and locally caught river fish to dishes flavoured with native herbs and ingredients. Even simple interactions – a “Sabaidee” greeting, a conversation at a market or a recommendation from a local – can become part of the experience.

Located in the heart of the city beside the Mekong River, Amari Vientiane places guests close to many of these experiences while providing a retreat from the capital outside.

Approximately 4.8 kilometres from Wattay International Airport, the hotel offers 242 rooms and suites alongside a swimming pool, fitness centre and Breeze Spa.

Its dining experiences bring further elements of the destination into the hotel. Amaya Food Gallery combines international and Thai cuisine with dishes influenced by Lao flavours and ingredients.

As evening falls, Stellar Rooftop Bar provides another perspective on the capital, with views across the river as the sun sets and Vientiane moves into its evening rhythm.

From Capital Culture to Vang Vieng Adventure The experience changes dramatically in Vang Vieng. Travelling from Vientiane to Vang Vieng by rail allows visitors to exchange the capital’s temples, markets and Mekong-side life for limestone mountains, caves, waterways and outdoor adventure.

Set beside the Nam Song River, Amari Vang Vieng places the surrounding landscape at the heart of the stay. Its more than 160 contemporary rooms incorporate details inspired by Lao craftsmanship, with views towards the mountains and surrounding countryside.

The destination offers a very different way to experience Laos.

Travellers can kayak along the Nam Song River, explore caves, experience the landscape from above or simply spend time surrounded by Vang Vieng’s striking natural scenery.

After a day outdoors, guests can return to the hotel to relax and dine against a backdrop of mountains and river views.

Two Destinations, One Laos Journey

Together, Vientiane and Vang Vieng demonstrate how dramatically the character of Laos can change within a single journey.

In Vientiane, the experience centres on culture, cuisine, temples and everyday life along the Mekong. In Vang Vieng, mountains, waterways and outdoor experiences take centre stage.

Yet both lend themselves to a style of travel that encourages visitors to spend longer in a destination rather than racing between attractions.

Through Amari’s More of What You Love philosophy, both hotels aim to connect the stay more closely with the places around them – through food, relaxation, well-being, local encounters and experiences that encourage guests to explore beyond the hotel.

For travellers, the result is an opportunity to see two distinct faces of Laos in one trip: beginning with the understated charm of the capital before changing pace amid the spectacular landscapes of Vang Vieng.

Because sometimes the most memorable way to discover a destination is not to see more, but to give yourself more time to experience it.

Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup

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

Advances in Digital Therapeutics and HoneyNaps AI Enhance Clinical Trial Efficiency

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Advertorial Desk
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  • Supporting pharmaceutical, medical device, wellness, and research organizations in obtaining standardized sleep data
  • Expanding the use of SOMNUM scoring technology to provide clinical analysis services tailored to each customer’s research objectives
  • AI Technologies Supporting Global Clinical Trials in Drug Development

BOSTON, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More pharmaceutical companies and research organizations are turning to HoneyNaps, an AI-based sleep health technology company, for objective analysis and validation of sleep data. Demand spans clinical trials of sleep medications, evaluations of wellness sleep devices and home-care products, and studies involving positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and cardiovascular disease. In response, HoneyNaps is broadening the scope of its clinical analysis services.

SOMNUM Clinical Trials
SOMNUM Clinical Trials

HoneyNaps has completed registration as a clinical research organization (CRO) with the Korea National Enterprise for Clinical Trials (KoNECT). It combines AI-powered sleep analysis technology with experience supporting clinical trials involving more than 10,000 participants and the capabilities to operate multicenter, multidisciplinary studies. Its clinical sleep data analysis services quantify key physiological measures obtained through polysomnography (PSG), including sleep stages, respiratory events, and arousals, and support the analysis of clinical endpoints aligned with each study’s objectives.

Although research objectives vary across sectors, pharmaceutical companies, device developers, and research organizations share a need for objective, consistent sleep data. Evaluating treatment response or device performance requires sleep metrics to be analyzed against consistent criteria while minimizing variability between institutions and scorers. The need to establish reliable and reproducible data is driving growing interest in HoneyNaps’ sleep analysis technology.

As demand for sleep data analysis and validation grows across sectors, HoneyNaps is extending its business beyond sleep scoring with its SOMNUM platform into clinical analysis services for the pharmaceutical, wellness, and medical device industries. Data quantifying sleep architecture and continuity, respiratory patterns, and oxygen saturation changes may also serve as foundational evidence for future digital biomarker development.

Taekyoung (Sean) Ha, PhD, President of HoneyNaps USA, said, “Pharmaceutical companies, device developers, and research organizations pursue different research objectives, but they share a need for objective and consistent sleep data. As more customers across these sectors turn to HoneyNaps to obtain such data, we are expanding both the applications of our existing scoring technology and the business areas that contribute to revenue.” 

He added, “We will continue to support the generation of clinical evidence through endpoints suited to each study and standardized analysis criteria, while diversifying our revenue base.”

For further information, please contact:
HoneyNaps USA, Inc.
Christine Kwon / Managing Director
Email: sleep@honeynaps.com
Address: 14th Floor, One Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
Website: www.honeynaps.com

Sharon AI Enters Into GPU-Backed Debt Facility, Expanding Funding Flexibility for AI Factory Deployments

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Proceeds from the facility will support the deployment of compute infrastructure dedicated to customer contracts

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SharonAI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SHAZ) (“Sharon AI” or the “Company”), a leading Australian Neocloud delivering trusted AI infrastructure, today announced it has entered into its inaugural US$356m committed senior secured, GPU-backed SPV debt facility priced at a fixed rate of 9.95%, excluding fees.

The facility will be secured against the GPUs and associated cash flows, with the contract-backed funding structure reflecting the security and delivery discipline underpinning Sharon AI’s platform and marks a further step towards the Company’s ambition of delivering gigawatt-scale AI compute capacity across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Asia-Pacific.

The facility includes marquee Australian, Asian and global investors including Goldman Sachs and select large private credit funds. This facility is the first in an expected series of GPU financings supporting the scheduled build out of over 68,000 NVIDIA GPUs deployed by mid-2027.

With the closing of this transaction, Sharon AI will have secured over US$2.6bn of institutional debt and equity capital over the past 10 months, extending the Company’s capital markets program and underscoring Sharon AI’s ability to access diversified sources of capital as it scales its AI infrastructure platform for a growing customer base of hyperscale, AI natives, government, enterprise, and research organizations.

“As demand for sovereign and secure, trusted AI infrastructure continues to outpace available supply globally, and particularly across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Asia-Pacific, access to scalable debt capital is an important enabler of our growth,” said James Manning, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sharon AI.

“This facility demonstrates how we expect to access debt markets to fund our GPU deployments, leveraging our book of quality customer offtake now standing at a TCV of over US$8.8bn. This is designed to enhance return on equity and ultimately drive increased long-term shareholder value. With a strong balance sheet, growing contracted capacity pipeline and a disciplined approach to capital allocation, we believe we are well positioned to continue scaling our AI platform across the Asia-Pacific region.“

Jarden Australia acted as sole financial advisor and arranger.

ENDS

About Sharon AI

Sharon AI (NASDAQ: SHAZ) is a leading Australian Neocloud delivering trusted sovereign AI infrastructure. Through its AI Factory platform and world-class ecosystem of technology and co-location partners, Sharon AI expands access to the scalable capabilities organizations need to build, train and run AI, from model training through to inference and agentic AI. Serving customers globally, Sharon AI helps organizations move faster from AI potential to measurable value. For more information, visit www.sharonai.com.

Media
media@sharonai.com

Investors
investors@sharonai.com

Disclosure Information

Sharon AI primarily uses its Investor Relations page (https://sharonai.com/investors/) to disclose material non-public information and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The Company also notes that, at times, it discloses material non-public information through other communication mediums including, but not limited to, its X account (sharon__ai) and/or LinkedIn account (sharon-AI), press releases, and regulatory filings with the SEC, or through conference calls, webcasts, and investor days, etc. that the company may hold.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are not historical facts, and which are not assurances of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “project,” “strategy,” “plan,” “expect,” “goal,” “seek,” “future,” “likely” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions or references to future periods. Examples of such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to express or implied statements regarding Sharon AI’s management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future including, without limitation, statements regarding:

  • Service and product offerings;
  • The deployment of assets and expansion of network procurement;
  • Sharon AI’s ability to engage with additional potential customers;
  • Expansion of Sharon AI’s data center footprint and capacity;
  • The strengthening of Sharon AI’s partner network;
  • Additional or future GPU financings;
  • Complete fulfillment of all customer contracts;
  • The impact and effect of debt structures designed to enhance return on equity and to drive stockholder value; and
  • The Company’s position to continue scaling its AI platform across the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, among others, all of the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and other reports subsequently filed with the SEC. Additional assumptions, risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our registration statements, reports and other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements and other information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Sharon AI does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

 

OUE REIT Retains Four-Star GRESB Rating with Record Score of 88.7

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Advertorial Desk
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SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OUE REIT Management Pte. Ltd., in its capacity as manager (the “Manager”) of OUE Real Estate Investment Trust (“OUE REIT”), is pleased to announce that OUE REIT has retained its four-star rating for the third consecutive year in the 2026 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”) assessment, achieving a record overall score of 88.7 points.

OUE REIT’s overall score increased by 3.4 points compared with 2025, surpassing both the 2026 GRESB average of 80.9 and the peer group average of 83.6. The improvement was mainly driven by stronger performance in the environmental category, alongside consistently high social and governance scores.

Mr Han Khim Siew, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Manager, said, “Sustainability is an integral part of how we manage and future-proof our portfolio, supporting long-term value creation through responsible capital stewardship, disciplined asset management, and operational excellence. During the year, OUE Bayfront joined the Marina Bay District Cooling System, marking a key milestone in its decarbonisation journey. The initiative is expected not only to deliver meaningful energy savings, but also to unlock additional value by converting the former chiller plant space into premium office space for lease. More recently, One Raffles Place Shopping Mall became the first retail mall in Singapore to attain the EDGE Advanced green building certification. Looking ahead, we will continue to advance our climate transition initiatives, improve resource efficiency, and deliver sustainable value to our Unitholders.”

About OUE REIT

OUE Real Estate Investment Trust (“OUE REIT”), formerly known as OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust, is one of the largest diversified Singapore REITs (“S-REITs”) with total assets under management of S$6.1 billion[1].

OUE REIT aims to deliver stable distributions and provide sustainable long-term growth in return to holders of units (“Unitholders”) by investing in income-producing real estate used primarily for hospitality, retail and/or office purposes in financial and business hubs, as well as real estate-related assets.

OUE REIT’s portfolio comprises seven high-quality office, hospitality and retail assets located in Singapore and Australia. Rooted in Singapore, OUE REIT’s three office assets, OUE Bayfront, One Raffles Place and OUE Downtown Office, are situated within the Central Business District, with a total net lettable area (“NLA”) of approximately 1.7 million square feet (“sq ft”).

OUE REIT’s two hotels, Hilton Singapore Orchard and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, are strategically located along the prime Orchard Road belt and within the Changi Airport vicinity, offering a total of 1,655 upper upscale hotel rooms. Complementing Hilton Singapore Orchard is Mandarin Gallery, a 126,283 sq ft high-end retail mall that has been a preferred destination for international brands in the heart of Orchard Road.

The latest addition to OUE REIT’s portfolio is 180 George Street (also known as Salesforce Tower), Sydney, a premium-grade commercial asset in which OUE REIT holds a 19.9% interest. Comprising 666,437 sq ft of NLA, 180 George Street is strategically situated in Circular Quay, one of Sydney’s key corporate and cultural precincts. As Sydney’s tallest office tower, 180 George Street is a landmark asset that strengthens the portfolio’s exposure to high-quality office real estate in a prime gateway city.

Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited since 27 January 2014, OUE REIT is managed by OUE REIT Management Pte. Ltd. (the “Manager”), a wholly owned subsidiary of OUE Limited (the “Sponsor”). The Sponsor is a leading real estate and healthcare group, growing strategically to capitalise on growth trends across Asia. Its real estate activities include the development, investment and management of real estate assets across the commercial, hospitality, retail, residential and healthcare sectors.

For more information, please visit www.ouereit.com.

[1] Includes OUB Centre Limited’s 81.54% interest in One Raffles Place, 50% interest in OUE Bayfront and 19.9% interest of Salesforce Tower. Independent valuations of the Singapore assets are as of 31 December 2025, and the valuation for Salesforce Tower is as of 31 January 2026, assuming an SGD:AUD exchange rate of S$1.00:A$1.117 as of 24 February 2026.

About the Sponsor: OUE Limited

OUE Limited (SGX:LJ3) is a leading real estate and healthcare group, growing strategically to capitalise on growth trends across Asia. Incorporated in 1964 and listed in 1969, OUE has a proven track record of developing and managing prime real estate assets, with a portfolio spanning the commercial, hospitality, retail and residential sectors.

OUE manages two SGX-listed REITs: OUE REIT, one of Singapore’s largest diversified REITs, and First REIT (a subsidiary of OUE Healthcare), Singapore’s first listed healthcare REIT. As at 31 December 2025, OUE’s total assets were valued at S$8.4 billion, with S$7.3 billion in funds under management across OUE’s two REIT platforms and managed accounts.

OUE Healthcare, an SGX Catalist-listed subsidiary of OUE, operates and owns high-quality healthcare assets in high-growth Asian markets. With a vision of creating a regional healthcare ecosystem that is anchored on Singapore’s medical best practices, OUE Healthcare’s portfolio of owned and operated businesses includes hospitals, medical centres, clinics and senior care facilities in Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, China and Myanmar.

Anchored by its “Transformational Thinking” philosophy, OUE has built a strong reputation for developing iconic projects, transforming communities, providing exceptional service to customers and delivering long-term value to stakeholders.

For more information, please visit www.oue.com.sg.

 

Women-Led Enterprises Record RM229 Million in Projected Sales at Inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026

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Advertorial Desk
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Whole-of-Government initiative empowers women exporters to secure international trade leads at the inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026.


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Demonstrating the global demand for Malaysian innovation, women-led enterprises achieved RM229 million in potential export sales during the pre-arranged business matching sessions and the 4-days exhibition held at the Women in Export (WiEX) Pavilion @ MIHAS 2026.

The targeted 215 B2B meetings connected local women entrepreneurs with international buyers and distributors from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Women-owned companies from Selangor, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Penang topped the sales with a combined value totaling RM129.84 million for confectionary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa and sportswear products.

The WiEX platform held in conjunction with MIHAS 2026 underscores a strategic Whole-of-Government (WoG) approach to scaling women-led businesses into high-value global supply chains. Led by MATRADE with the support of Pertubuhan Hal Ehwal Wanita dan Keluarga Malaysia (HAWA Malaysia), the initiative brought together key government Ministries and developmental Agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corp, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) and UDA Holdings Bhd. This inter-agency ecosystem ensures the inclusiveness of women entrepreneurs’ transition seamlessly from domestic capacity-building to international market placement.

Speaking at the WiEX Forum, MATRADE Chairman, Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican highlighted that:

“The contribution of women entrepreneurs is not a side story in our economy; it is central to it. DOSM’s Economic Census 2023 shows women own 20.1% of Malaysian businesses, generating RM136.9 billion in output and employing nearly a million people. Yet, there remains room to improve export readiness. That is why MATRADE continues the WiEX initiative alongside HAWA Malaysia, chaired by Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. I am delighted that WiEX is now incorporated as a key component under MIHAS 2026, delivering a complete ecosystem of capacity building, market access, and recognition under one roof to help women entrepreneurs seize global opportunities.”

“In the era of Industry 5.0, success is no longer defined by high-tech alone, but also by high touch. Businesses must go beyond profit and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their employees, communities and society. As women leaders and entrepreneurs, we must ensure that technological progress is balanced with values that are inclusive, ethical and anchored in integrity”, said Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, President of HAWA Malaysia during her opening speech.

Complementing the commercial outcomes at the WiEX Pavilion is the WiEX Forum 2026 brought together over 300 participants for actionable knowledge-sharing under the theme “Thriving through Uncertainty: Adapt, Compete, and Grow.”

The forum featured an array of industry leaders and founders sharing practical international expansion models:

  • Ms. Low Ngai Yuen, Managing Director of AEON 360, detailed retail procurement standards and supply chain integration strategies for domestic and regional growth.
  • Datin Eryca Baiduri (Madammu), Founder of NOIR, delivered a fireside chat on evolving a home-based digital business into a scalable global beauty and health brand.
  • Founder-led Panel: Moderated by TV personality Ms. Azaria Tagaya, a dynamic panel consisting of Ms. Amnah Shari (Founder/CEO, Serunai Commerce), Tengku Norhanim Tengku Othman (Founder/CEO, NIMS Adeliciousz), Ms. Jesmine Tan (Co-Founder/COO, Applecrumby), and Ms. Amy Blair (Founder/CEO, Batik Boutique) provided tactical lessons on maintaining quality, navigating regulatory compliance, and managing supply chains across export markets.

Through the combined impact of trade facilitation, strategic cross-agency backing and industry mentorship, MATRADE will continue working alongside HAWA Malaysia, KKDW, MARA, SME Corp and NCER and international trade partners to elevate the ‘Made by Malaysia’ brand globally.

Hashtag: #MIHAS

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

MATRADE

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency. Established in March 1993, its primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia’s commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation’s trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories

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Advertorial Desk
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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Indonesia is inviting the world to experience its culture through one of its most distinctive assets: gastronomy. Following a strong first edition, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) returns in 2026 with a bigger ambition, turning Indonesia food into a global storytelling platform

Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories
Beyond the Plate: Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 Invites the World to Taste Indonesia’s Stories

Taking place from 26 September to 4 October 2026 in Solo and Yogyakarta, WIG 2026 carries the theme “From Local Roots to Global Recognition,” bringing together culinary heritage, local communities, chefs, artisans, and tourism stakeholders to showcase food as a gateway to experiencing Indonesia more deeply.

With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s culinary traditions have evolved through centuries of local customs, agriculture, landscapes, and cultural exchange. Behind every dish is an ecosystem of farmers, fishermen, producers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and communities who preserve these traditions.

“We hope that in the long term, gastronomy can become one of the main pillars of Indonesia’s tourism marketing, not merely as a complement to travel, but as one of the reasons travellers choose Indonesia as their destination,” said Hafiz Agung Rifai, Acting Deputy for Events’ Organizer Development, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

WIG 2026 will host 18 media representatives and tastemakers, including voices from Forbes Travel Guide, La Liste, The World’s 50 Best, and CNN International on a journey through Solo and Yogyakarta’s culinary landscapes.

For the public, highlights include a Royal Heritage Dinner at Pura Mangkunegaran, WIG Talks, and the WIG Artisan Market at Grand Hotel De Djokja from 2–4 October, featuring 21 local producers and workshops and tastings, expected to welcome up to 1,300 visitors. Visitors can also join free walking tours with Jogja Good Guide, through Yogyakarta’s streets and living culinary traditions.

The impact of gastronomy tourism has already been proven. WIG 2025 generated 38 international media stories and IDR 16.5 billion in media value, while its Artisan Food Market brought together 25 local F&B tenants, welcomed more than 600 visitors, and generated IDR 1.01 billion in business opportunities, a benchmark WIG 2026 aims to surpass.

Through WIG 2026, Indonesia invites travellers not just to taste its food, but to discover the people, traditions behind every plate. For more detail https://www.instagram.com/p/DdYOOKtmrC2/?img_index=1

Laos to Reopen Applications for Non-Bank Financial Institutions by End of 2026

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Laotian Times
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BOL Gives More Flexibility To Commercial Banks on Foreign Currency Exchange
(Stock Photo)

The Lao central bank plans to resume accepting applications to establish new non-bank financial institutions by the end of 2026, after suspending new applications earlier this year to review and update licensing regulations.

Visone Saysongkham, head of the non-bank financial institution supervision department at the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), said the review is intended to improve the application process for prospective operators while supporting the government’s broader push to expand access to financial services across the country.

The suspension, which has been in place for roughly two months, has given the department time to examine existing requirements and related legislation, according to the department.

Laos currently has 300 non-bank financial institutions in operation.

Of these, 166 fall under the direct supervision of the central bank, while the remaining 134 operate as branches in southern provinces.

The BOL said these institutions have played a role in the country’s economic and social development by broadening access to financial services, but added that it is also reviewing their management and risk-control practices to ensure compliance with existing laws.

Licensing Freeze

The move builds on a suspension first announced on 31 July, when the central bank halted new applications specifically in Vientiane Capital for deposit-taking and non-deposit-taking microfinance institutions, as well as pawnshops, covering both domestic and foreign investors.

At the time, the bank said the pause was meant to give authorities time to review the operational status of institutions already licensed in the capital and to tighten licensing conditions going forward.

It initially indicated it expected to reopen applications by November, though the detailed rules underpinning any reopening have not yet been made public.

The central bank has said the suspension does not affect existing borrowers or customers, as currently licensed operators can continue providing services as normal.

Investors outside Vientiane Capital have also been able to continue applying to establish new financial institutions through BOL’s provincial branches throughout the suspension period.

With the latest announcement extending the review nationwide and setting a year-end target for reopening applications, the central bank has not said what the new rules will look like, just as it did when the suspension first applied only to Vientiane Capital.

Aolani, Karman partner to unlock 50% more AI compute capacity with same provisioned power

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Advertorial Desk
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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Aolani, a Singapore-founded neocloud powering AI growth, today announced a partnership with Karman (formerly known as Utilidata) to fully utilize available power of Aolani’s AI infrastructure through advanced power orchestration capabilities.

As global demand for AI compute intensifies, intelligent energy management has become crucial in maximising AI infrastructure performance and scalability. Being at the forefront of providing AI compute access in Asia, Aolani is continuously investing in technologies that optimise the use of available power resources to drive greater efficiency and value from their AI deployments.

Through this partnership, Aolani will integrate the Karman platform, a dynamic power orchestration platform that combines high-resolution metrology with local processing and AI, into its infrastructure stack. Karman is built on a custom NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and designed to measure and dynamically allocate available power capacity across high-density GPU workloads to actively manage rack-level energy consumption in real time. In doing so, the platform, increases infrastructure utilisation within the facility’s existing power envelope and lowers the cost per unit of compute.

The joint proof of concept project will be deployed on the NVIDIA Blackwell Platform. The Karman platform has already unlocked 33% more compute capacity from existing power infrastructure at its first commercial deployment in North America, potentially translating into a $20M increase in revenue per 1 MW.

“We are excited to be partnering with Karman to leverage their innovative technology and deliver greater value from existing energy resources. For Aolani, this represents an opportunity to further improve the economics of AI workloads and reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing our AI infrastructure platform. By optimising how power is allocated and used, we can help customers scale their AI ambitions and strengthen our ability to deliver the compute capacity quickly without waiting on the grid,” said Nicholas Chia, Chief Executive Officer at Aolani.

“Access to power is one of the defining factors in supporting AI adoption and the growth of increasingly demanding AI workloads. As we continue to advance alongside the latest generation of GPU systems, we look forward to working with Aolani to demonstrate how our Karman platform can fully utilize the power already available to data center operators and cloud providers,” said Karman CEO, Josh Brumberger.

Media Contact
H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani
pr@aolani.com

Hashtag: #Aolani #Karman

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

About Aolani

Where AI gets built in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore and founded in 2023, Aolani is backed by compliant and purpose-built infrastructure to deliver the performance capabilities for next-generation AI. Aolani’s AI factories enable organisations to build with confidence, scale ambitiously, and move at hyper-speed in the world’s fastest-growing AI market.

For more information, visit and follow on LinkedIn.

About Karman

Karman is an AI company providing dynamic power orchestration for AI data centers, enabling operators to better utilize the power already available to them. By embedding real-time visibility and millisecond control directly into power distribution equipment, Karman increases tokens per watt by 50% by unlocking stranded power. The Karman platform is built on a custom NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, and was previously embedded into smart meters to bring real-time visibility and power-flow control to the electric grid.

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