Home Blog Page 56

AiMOGA Robotics Crosses 2,000 Global Deliveries, with Robots to Serve Chery, OMODA&JAECOO, iCAUR and Lepas Showrooms across Key Destination Malaysia

WUHU, China, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiMOGA Robotics has crossed a major global milestone, surpassing 2,000 cumulative overseas deliveries with products and services now reaching more than 60 countries and regions. The company marked the achievement at a Global Delivery Ceremony held in Wuhu, Anhui, where robot arrays waving flags from around the world, a milestone lighting and a shipment dispatch underscored China’s robotics shift from product export to large-scale, systematic global expansion grounded in real-world business scenarios.


Malaysia has emerged as a key destination in AiMOGA’s global story. In 2025, the company first entered the automotive marketing service scenario there, taking the crucial “from 0 to 1” step in the overseas market — moving from prototype display to batch delivery and building a localized operation system. Across Malaysia, AiMOGA robots will serve showrooms and operations for Chery, OMODA&JAECOO, iCAUR and Lepas, bringing intelligent interaction experiences to local consumers. As part of this first wave of overseas deployments, dozens of AiMOGA units will operate across the mentioned Malaysian automotive showrooms, forming part of the broader 2,000-unit global footprint. From this base, the company has expanded into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America, and has obtained international certifications including EU CE and US FCC.

As an important part of Chery’s intelligent strategy, AiMOGA leverages nearly 30 years of Chery’s industrial accumulation in global markets, sharing its R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, channel and service systems. “Going global is not just about product capability, but full-chain capability including R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, delivery, services and localized operations,” said Zhang Guibing, President of Chery International and AiMOGA Robotics. “Only by truly integrating into the local market can long-term development be achieved.”

AiMOGA applies its robots across automotive marketing, smart police services, medical guidance and public spaces. In the first half of this year, 110 units of AiMOGA Smart Traffic Police Robots were put into use in multiple cities in China, providing regular services in traffic command, order guidance and safety promotion. With Chinese robotics accelerating from product export toward capability export, the company is contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global intelligent industry — from the globalization of the automotive industry to that of the robotics industry.

Advancing in Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition Samsung Malaysia Unveils Top 10 Young Innovator Teams

Semi-finalists will continue their innovation journey by developing prototypes and competing for prizes worth RM47,000 in Samsung products.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Spotlighting the next generation of innovators applying STEM, design thinking and technology to improve lives in their communities, Samsung Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Malaya, today announced the Top 10 semi-finalist teams advancing in the eighth edition of Solve for Tomorrow 2026.

Samsung Malaysia's Solve for Tomorrow 2026 Empowers 10 Young Innovator Teams to Turn Ideas into Impact
Samsung Malaysia’s Solve for Tomorrow 2026 Empowers 10 Young Innovator Teams to Turn Ideas into Impact

Selected from participants across Malaysia based on the originality, feasibility and impact of their submissions, the Top 10 teams will now take their ideas to the next level by refining their concepts, developing prototypes and competing for a place in the Grand Finale.

This year’s submissions showcased the passion and ingenuity of young Malaysians, with participants presenting solutions across four key themes:

Environmental Sustainability 

Explored ideas that promote a greener future,
including waste management, resource
conservation and climate resilience.

Sport and Technology

Focused on leveraging innovation to enhance
sports participation, performance, accessibility
and community engagement.

Health

Proposed solutions that support healthier
lifestyles, wellbeing and access to healthcare.

Education

Encouraged the use of technology to make

learning more engaging, inclusive and effective 
for all.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, a panel of judges from Universiti Malaya selected the top 10 teams whose ideas demonstrated creativity, practicality and the potential to create meaningful impact.

“At Samsung, we believe innovation begins with the confidence to take the first step,” said Agnes Wong, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “The ideas we have seen this year reflect not only creativity, but a strong sense of purpose among young Malaysians to solve real challenges. Through Solve for Tomorrow, we are proud to nurture this spirit and support the next generation of changemakers.”

Meet the Top 10 Semi-Finalist Teams (in no particular order), each recognised for the potential impact of their ideas. Representing schools from across Malaysia, these teams will continue to develop their solutions with guidance from Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya mentors.

School

Team Name

State

Idea

Sekolah Berasrama
Penuh Integrasi
Rawang

Replast

Selangor

Environmental 
Sustainability

SMK Beluran

EcoTerraNitro

Sabah

Environmental 
Sustainability

SMK Bukit Jambul

SafeNest

Pulau Pinang 

Health

SMK Raja Muda
Musa, Kuala Selangor 

Ecolab Junior

Selangor

Health

SMK Seri Panching

iSAFE Path

Pahang

Sports & Technology 

SMK Shah Alam

GulaGirls

Selangor

Health

SMK Tarat

Spark X Trio

Sarawak

Health

SMK Telok Panglima
Garang

Food
Freshness
Bioplastic Patch 

Selangor

Health

Vision Secondary 
School Tawau

Primates

Sabah

Environmental 
Sustainability

MRSM Bagan Datuk

InnovateZ

Perak

Health

The Top 10 teams will now take the next step in their Solve for Tomorrow journey, working closely with their mentors to enhance their ideas, develop working prototypes and strengthen their innovation capabilities. Participants will also take part in a Design Thinking Workshop designed to equip them with valuable skills in creative problem-solving, collaboration and solution development as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.

Their journey will culminate at the Grand Finale, where they will pitch their innovations to a distinguished panel of judges for the opportunity to win Samsung products worth up to a total of RM114,000.

Through Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung Malaysia continues to empower young innovators with the skills, mentorship and opportunities to turn bold ideas into meaningful impact.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow, please visit – https://www.samsung.com/my/solvefortomorrow/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, digital signage, smartphones, wearables, tablets, home appliances and network systems, as well as memory, system LSI and foundry. Samsung is also advancing medical imaging technologies, HVAC solutions and robotics, while creating innovative automotive and audio products through Harman. With its SmartThings ecosystem, open collaboration with partners, and integration of AI across its portfolio, Samsung delivers a seamless and intelligent connected experience. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

SAMSUNG MALAYSIA ELECTRONICS (SME) SDN BHD [Company No. 200301026766(629186-D)]

Dingdong to Report Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results on August 20, 2026

SHANGHAI, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dingdong (Cayman) Limited (“Dingdong” or the “Company”) (NYSE: DDL), a leading fresh grocery e-commerce company in China, with advanced supply chain capabilities, today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, before U.S. markets open on August 20, 2026.

About Dingdong (Cayman) Limited

Dingdong is the leading fresh grocery e-commerce company in mainland China, with sustainable long-term growth. The Company directly provides users and households with fresh groceries, prepared food, and other food products through delivering a convenient and excellent shopping experience supported by an extensive self-operated frontline fulfillment grid. Leveraging its deep insights into consumers’ evolving needs and its strong food innovation capabilities, Dingdong has successfully launched a series of private label products spanning a variety of food categories. Many of Dingdong’s private label products are produced at its own production plants, allowing it to more efficiently produce and offer safe and high-quality food products. Dingdong aims to be the first choice for fresh and food shopping.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.100.me.

IHH Healthcare and Prudential Partner to Offer Policyholders More Day Surgery Care Options at Mount Elizabeth Royal Square

Partnering for better care: Mount Elizabeth Royal Square day surgery centre becomes the first IHH Healthcare facility to join Prudential’s PRUPanel Connect network


SINGAPORE– Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – Mount Elizabeth Royal Square, a private day surgery centre, has been added to Prudential Singapore’s (“Prudential”) PRUPanel Connect panel network with effect from 1 August 2026. The empanelment was commemorated at a signing ceremony between Parkway Hospitals Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Prudential.

PRUShield Integrated Shield plan policyholders with eligible PRUExtra riders can now seek treatment at Mount Elizabeth Royal Square where they will have access to participating specialists and enjoy panel benefits.

Mount Elizabeth Royal Square is the first facility under IHH Healthcare Singapore to be included in the PRUPanel Connect network.

Dr Peter Chow, Chief Executive Officer, IHH Healthcare Singapore, said: “We are pleased to partner Prudential to bring Mount Elizabeth Royal Square into the PRUPanel Connect network. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to improving access to quality private healthcare, while giving eligible patients greater assurance and convenience when they require day surgery or endoscopy care.”

Chan San San, Chief Executive Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “At Prudential, we want to make it easier for customers to navigate their healthcare journey with confidence. By adding Mount Elizabeth Royal Square to PRUPanel Connect, we are strengthening our panel ecosystem and giving PRUShield Extra customers more options for specialist day surgery care, supported by the benefits and assurance of our panel network.”

Opened in 2025, Mount Elizabeth Royal Square is a day surgery and endoscopy centre offering hospital-equivalent safety standards, shorter waiting times, dedicated procedure slots, and a seamless patient experience. The centre also provides bedside ultrasound services, a dedicated patient lounge, and is conveniently located right next to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

Through PRUPanel Connect, eligible Prudential customers have access to value-added services when they seek treatment with participating specialists at panel healthcare institutions. These services are available to customers holding eligible PRUExtra policies, including PRUExtra Premier Care, PRUExtra Preferred Care, PRUExtra Premier, PRUExtra Premier CoPay and PRUExtra Preferred CoPay. Customers may enjoy benefits such as cashless admission with an electronic Letter of Guarantee of up to S$15,000, subject to eligibility, as well as keep renewable premiums stable for panel-approved claims.

Notes:

Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore




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

About IHH Healthcare Singapore

IHH Healthcare Singapore (IHH SG) is part of IHH Healthcare, a world leader in integrated care with a presence in 10 markets across the world. As Singapore’s largest private healthcare provider, IHH SG operates an integrated network of four multi-award-winning acute hospitals – Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Parkway East Hospital – where more than 1,800 accredited specialists provide quality multi-disciplinary specialist care.

IHH SG’s network extends beyond acute and tertiary care to primary, specialty care and ancillary services. Its Parkway brand includes the Parkway Shenton network of over 50 clinics island-wide, and iXchange, its managed care and employee benefits arm. Together with Parkway Cancer Centre, Parkway MediCentre, Parkway Radiology, Parkway Laboratories, Parkway Rehab and Parkway Emergency Services, IHH SG’s comprehensive range of services underpins its position as the country’s most trusted healthcare provider, known for providing quality medical care and clinical outcomes in Singapore and around the region.

For more information, visit .

About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore)

Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country’s citizens for 95 years. As at 31 December 2025, it has S$66.3 billion funds under management. The company has an ‘AA’ Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s and delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of 5,400 financial representatives.

For more information, visit

Arm Fat Overtakes All Other Concerns as Top Reason Singapore Women Seek Body Sculpting Consultations, Clinic Data Shows

Amaris B. Clinic’s first-half 2026 enquiry figures show arm-related concerns accounted for 41.4% of all body-sculpting enquiries from women, with nearly half of those enquiries coming from women in their 40s. Medical director, Dr Ivan Puah links the trend to perimenopause, slowing metabolism and lifestyle pressures specific to Singapore.


SINGAPORE– Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – Arm fat has become the single most common concern driving women to seek body-sculpting consultations in Singapore this year, according to internal enquiry data from Amaris B. Clinic, whose medical director, Dr Ivan Puah, is an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor.

Between January and June 2026, the clinic logged 406 face- and body-sculpting enquiries from women, of which 168 (41.4%) cited arm concerns, more than any other body area. Thirty-one women enquired about more than one area, so individual counts do not sum to the total.

The pattern is one Dr Puah says he sees consistently in practice: Arm fat that resists diet and exercise and that many patients report noticing as they enter their 40s.

Nearly Half of Arm-Concern Enquiries Come From Women in Their 40s

Among women who wrote in specifically about arm concerns, enquiries were heavily concentrated in mid-adulthood, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women:

Share of arm-concern enquiries by age group Chart

Full Breakdown

Age group Percentage of arm-concern enquiries
21 –29 year-olds 4%
30 – 39 year-olds 32%
40 – 49 year-olds 42%
50 – 59 year-olds 11%
60 – 69 year-olds 3%
70 and above 1%

Nearly half of all arm-related enquiries came from women aged 40 to 49, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women.

Why Arm Fat Is Difficult to Shift

Women naturally carry 6 to 11 percentage points more body fat than men, a difference tied to reproductive physiology. Genetics also influence where fat is stored, and some women are predisposed to carrying it in the upper arms, a distribution pattern that responds poorly to exercise alone.

Patients describe the concern in different ways, including upper-arm fat, “bingo wings” or “bat wings” (a combination of loose skin and fat that moves with the arm), and chafing where the arm rubs against the body.

Dr Puah points to two overlapping life stages as the main physiological drivers:

“Perimenopause and menopause are the two life stages we most consistently see linked to arm fat in the clinic. As women approach these stages, metabolism slows, and that shift tends to show up first in areas like the arms and underarms. It’s most noticeable in women with an apple-shaped body distribution,” said Dr Puah.

Hormonal changes associated with ageing, often compounded by stress or poor sleep, can make the body more prone to storing fat and losing lean muscle mass. Skin also loses elasticity with age, which Dr Puah says contributes to the looser, softer contour some patients describe.

Climate, Fashion and Workplace Culture Add Visibility

Singapore’s climate means sleeveless and short-sleeved clothing is worn year-round, keeping arms visible for most of the year. Dr Puah says this, combined with grooming expectations in client-facing and corporate roles, contributes to why arm concerns generate more enquiries in Singapore than they might in cooler markets.

“In Singapore’s climate, women are more conscious of how their arms look in everyday clothing, and arm sculpting is consistently among the most common requests we receive for this concern,” said Dr Puah, who chairs Singapore’s Lipo Peer Review Committee.

Not All Arm Fullness Is the Same, Clinic Says

Dr Puah cautions that upper-arm fullness is not uniform from patient to patient. For some women it is predominantly fat. For others, it is a combination of fat and skin laxity, with genetics, hormonal changes and age all shaping the tissue involved.

“Many women are surprised to learn that arm fat is often genetically predetermined and resistant to exercise. A proper evaluation helps clarify what’s driving the concern and sets realistic expectations for what can be achieved. The rise in enquiries reflects growing awareness that stubborn arm fat is a physiological issue, not a failure of willpower or fitness,” said Dr Puah.

The clinic’s data points to a broader shift: arm concerns are no longer a secondary consideration for patients but a leading driver of body sculpting consultations among women in Singapore, particularly during the perimenopausal transition.

Note on methodology: Figures are drawn from self-reported enquiry records logged by Amaris B. Clinic between 1 January and 30 June 2026 and reflect enquiries at this clinic only; they are not a population-representative survey of Singapore women.
Hashtag: #MedicalAesthetics






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

ABOUT AMARIS B. CLINIC

Founded in 2004 and led by Dr Ivan Puah, Amaris B. Clinic is a Singapore-based medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery practice. Its services span facial and body sculpting, including liposuction, gynecomastia surgery, and fat grafting, alongside non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy Prime, biostimulator injections, and hair loss therapy.

Amaris B. Clinic’s Signature Treatments

ABOUT DR IVAN PUAH

Dr Puah, an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor with extensive training in various cosmetic procedures, is committed to providing personalised care with an artful eye and proven medical techniques.

  • Dedicated surgical training in gynecomastia surgery in San Francisco
  • Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore
  • Trained in Vaser liposuction (fundamental and hi-definition) in Colorado and Argentina
  • Trained in syringe liposculpture, fat grafting, and thread lift from renowned French plastic surgeon, Dr Pierre Francois Fournier
  • Appointed trainer by Allergan and Merz for fellow doctors on cosmetic injectables
  • Designated trainer for PDO thread lift and Picolaser from Venusys Medical
  • Graduate Diploma in Family Dermatology from NUS
  • Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture from TCMB
  • Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine from LKCMedicine, NTU

SPEAKIN SPIRE Brings Industry Expertise Directly Into Education To Prepare Asia’s Next Generation of Job-Ready Talent

Flagship Regional Launch in Singapore Brings Together Academic, Corporate and Policy Leaders, with a Focus on Internships Through SPIRE Partner Companies.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – SpeakIn, Asia’s largest on-demand thought leadership and capability-building platform, today announced the flagship regional launch of the SpeakIn Asia Institute for Industry Readiness and Employability (SPIRE) in Singapore. SPIRE is a dedicated institution designed to connect students and aspiring professionals with accomplished industry leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and subject-matter experts through structured learning, mentorship, industry-connect programmes, and workforce-readiness initiatives — and by connecting students to real employment and corporate internships, not just training.

SpeakIn SPIRE

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn from those who have already achieved excellence in their chosen field. Talent is universal, but opportunities for mentorship and industry exposure are often unevenly distributed. SPIRE is our commitment to making that access available at scale and to lead to tangible internships and possibly, full time roles, ” said Deepshikha Kumar Anand, Founder of SpeakIn.

What SPIRE Will Deliver

SPIRE works with government bodies, schools, colleges, universities, associations, NGOs, and employers to integrate industry engagement into education and skill development. Its offerings include:

  • Curated industry-connect sessions with business leaders and domain experts
  • Employability and workforce-readiness programmes
  • Career guidance and future-skills training
  • Leadership and entrepreneurship learning modules
  • One-on-one coaching and mentorship through SpeakIn’s FindACoach™ platform
  • Global workforce readiness initiatives for students and young professionals

Building the Bridge to Employment

A defining feature of SPIRE is its focus on outcomes, not just training. Students who complete SPIRE’s readiness programmes specialise into one of three career tracks — Marketing, Engineering, and Operations & Administration — chosen specifically so that the skills they build map directly onto real, hireable roles.

SPIRE partner companies commit to a minimum of two internship placements per cohort for SPIRE-certified students in their relevant track, with decisions on whether a placement is paid, and whether it is extended into a full-time role, remaining entirely at the company’s discretion. This ensures that SPIRE’s promise goes beyond a certificate — offering a genuine, curated pathway from classroom to career. With the launch, SPIRE will also announce two anchor government partnerships currently under development. The first, an Industry Connect Module for government school students in Delhi, aimed at providing meaningful exposure to careers. The second, an MoU signed under the Government of Telangana – the Telangana Global Workforce Readiness Initiative, which seeks to prepare aspiring overseas workers for opportunities across international markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.

Flagship Regional Launch in Singapore

SPIRE’s regional launch is marked by an invitation-only leadership roundtable in Singapore on 22nd October 2026, convened under SpeakIn’s Asia Dialogues Forum. The roundtable, themed “Talent by Design: How Singapore Is Building the Workforce of Tomorrow, ” brings together senior business leaders, policymakers, education leaders, and industry experts shaping the future of work across Asia.

Singapore has made one of the world’s most deliberate investments in human capital, with initiatives such as SkillsFuture 2.0, the Forward Singapore agenda, the transformation of ITE, and stronger industry-academia collaboration redefining how talent is developed. The closed-door dialogue will explore how Singapore can continue building a future-ready workforce, strengthen education-industry partnerships, accelerate lifelong learning, and sustain its global talent advantage in an AI-first economy — the same principles underpinning SPIRE’s regional model.

Why SPIRE Matters

Across Asia, students increasingly require access to practical knowledge, mentorship, and industry networks that complement formal education. SPIRE has been created with a simple belief: every learner should have the opportunity to engage with people who have built successful careers and can help guide the next generation. By making industry expertise — and genuine employment pathways — more accessible, the institution aims to strengthen employability, confidence, and career readiness for young people across diverse backgrounds and geographies.

Built on Over a Decade of Research and Development

SPIRE is the latest initiative from SpeakIn, which was founded in 2016 on the belief that access to knowledge should not be limited by geography, hierarchy, or circumstance. Over the past two decades, SpeakIn has built Asia’s largest on-demand thought leadership and coaching ecosystem, connecting more than 31,000 curated experts, coaches, and industry leaders with over 3,500 enterprise clients across more than 30 countries. Its clients and partners include leading corporations, educational institutions, government agencies, and professional bodies. SpeakIn is also the creator of FindACoach™, Asia’s largest ICF-partnered coaching platform, and the Asia Dialogues Forum, which convenes leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society across the region. In Singapore, SpeakIn has engaged with public institutions including the

People’s Association, Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) Singapore, and other capability building organisations on development, and future-readiness sessions. These experiences have helped shape the institutional model that SPIRE now brings to markets across Asia, beginning with this flagship regional launch.
Hashtag: #SPIRE #SpeakIn






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

About SpeakIn

SpeakIn is Asia’s largest on-demand thought leadership and capability-building platform, headquartered in Singapore with a deep and founding presence in India. Founded in 2016, SpeakIn connects more than 3,500 enterprise clients across 30+ countries with a network of over 31,000 curated experts, coaches, and industry leaders. SpeakIn operates through its flagship expert network, FindACoach™, the Asia Dialogues Forum, and the SpeakIn Asia Institute for Industry Readiness and Employability (SPIRE). SpeakIn is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and an ICF Global MoU Partner.

Persistent unmet need in women’s reproductive health across APAC highlights need for cross-sector partnerships

SYDNEY, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The rate of unintended pregnancies continues to soar across Asia Pacific each year, comprising 47% of all pregnancies in the region, and underscoring persistent gaps in access to contraception, counselling and care services. 

As a region of extraordinary diversity, health systems range from highly advanced to chronically under-resourced, with differing funding models, policy frameworks and service availability between countries. Yet, despite advances in recent years, the scale and persistence of unmet need in women’s reproductive health is a reality shared across all. 

Access to modern contraception is about ensuring that every woman and girl can exercise her right to make informed decisions about her body, her health and her future, with voluntary, rights-based family planning remaining one of the most effective investments in women’s health, education and economic participation.

Yet across Asia Pacific, where over 8 million pregnancies happen each year, over half are unintended, leading to a significant number of abortions or unwanted births. This reflects the reality that 140 million women in the region are still without access to family planning, according to the UNFPA. 

The paradox is that many countries in the region are simultaneously facing declining fertility, with rates falling from around five or more children per woman in 1970 towards roughly 2.1 today, causing a shift in demographic realities across the region.

These trends reinforce the need for policies that support individuals and couples to achieve their reproductive intentions rather than enforcing and implementing pronatalist policies. 

But one thing is clear: these challenges are interconnected and systemic and cannot be solved by any single organization acting alone. 

Building access through partnership

Organon was established in 2021 with a commitment to listen and act on issues that affect the health of women. Over the past five years, the company has worked with organizations across Asia Pacific, including governments, NGOs, multilateral agencies and the private sector, to expand access to women’s reproductive health services. This includes initiatives such as Organon’s Her Health Grants, which support community-based partners working to address persistent gaps in women’s health through locally tailored solutions. Progress has been made, but it has not come through scale alone. It has come through partnerships built on trust, shared objectives, collaboration, and deep local understanding. 

Organon is proud to partner with Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) in a global partnership focused on expanding access to voluntary, rights-based services, to advance the Made Possible by Family Planning campaign, a global effort to unlock the transformative impact of reproductive health access. Together, we are mobilizing private-sector leadership through a series of high-impact convenings designed to catalyze investment, strengthen partnerships, and elevate family planning as a driver of economic growth and gender equity.

Our collaboration brings together business leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and civil society to accelerate progress toward shared goals. By leveraging FP2030’s convening power and Organon’s commitment to women’s health, the partnership aims to unlock innovative financing, amplify regional dialogue, and ensure sustained momentum for rights-based family planning.

At a time when global funding faces significant challenges, this joint effort underscores the critical role of the private sector in safeguarding access to reproductive health and empowering women and families to shape their futures.

For FP2030 and its partners, it has meant bringing together governments, donors, community organisations and industry to align priorities, mobilize commitments, and accelerate country-led progress on family planning and reproductive health. 

Crucially, the most effective partnerships are grounded in a clear understanding of government policy priorities and national health ambitions. Sustainable progress depends on aligning stakeholders around national health priorities while leveraging the complementary strengths of governments, civil society, multilaterals and the private sector. 

The results of this collaborative approach are clear. All FP2030 commitment countries in the Asia Pacific region increased their number of modern contraceptive users between 2020 and 2024. In the same period, all but one country reduced unmet need for family planning among married women aged 15–49.

Together, these experiences reinforce a simple but important truth: partnerships that succeed are not transactional—they are structured collaborations that recognize the interdependence of supply, education, provider capability and policy.

The role of regional platforms

Platforms such as FP2030 also play a critical role in creating a cross-border architecture. In the Asia-Pacific region, eleven governments have made national FP2030 commitments, several of them within the last two years, which, in the context of declining fertility, sends a strong signal that family planning remains essential for advancing gender equality, improving health outcomes, and supporting sustainable development. By convening governments, NGOs, multilaterals and the private sector, FP2030 is helping to align priorities, mobilize resources, create opportunities for cross-country learning and scale what works across countries. 

In Asia Pacific, this model is already taking shape. Partnerships with NGOs, collaboration with multilateral agencies such as UNFPA, and direct engagement with healthcare providers and communities are helping to expand equitable access where unmet need is greatest. At the same time, digital health solutions are increasingly enabling these efforts to reach further and scale more effectively.

A call to act and to partner differently

The women’s health challenges facing Asia Pacific – from unintended pregnancy to shifting fertility patterns to persistent gaps in family planning services – are deeply interconnected.

They will not be addressed through incremental progress or isolated interventions, instead requiring a fundamental shift in how the sector approaches collaboration.

Whether through decentralized global platforms like FP2030 or local delivery partnerships, the path forward depends on moving beyond fragmented efforts toward coordinated, sustained and purpose-driven collaboration.

Across Asia Pacific, governments, industry, community organisations and multilateral organisations are increasingly aligning behind shared goals to address complex challenges. Strengthened collaboration, coordinated action and a clear understanding of policy priorities will be critical to delivering sustainable outcomes in reproductive health for women. 

Authors
Andreas Daugaard Jorgensen, Managing Director, Organon Asia Pacific
Sumita Banerjee, Managing Director, Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) Asia – Pacific

About Organon

Organon is a global healthcare company with a focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon has a portfolio of more than 60 medicines and products across a range of therapeutic areas. Led by the women’s health portfolio coupled with an expanding biosimilars business and stable franchise of established medicines, Organon’s products produce strong cash flows that will support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women’s health. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialise their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 9,300 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States of America.

© (2026) Organon group of companies. All rights reserved. Organon and the Organon logo are trademarks of the Organon group of companies.

Organon ANZ, Level 5, 66 King St, Sydney, NSW 2000. First issued August 2026. For more information, visit www.organon.com/australia or connect with us on LinkedIn at @OrganonANZ.

Laos Studies USD 1 Billion Vientiane-Lidu Industrial Park in Pakngum

A picture of representatives from The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Lao-Lidu Mining Company agreed to study the feasibility of developing the Vientiane-Lidu Industrial park. (Photo by The Ministry of Industry and Commerce)

On 13 August, Laos agreed to study the development of a new industrial park in Vientiane, with the proposed project expected to attract around USD 1 billion in investment.

The feasibility study for the Vientiane-Lidu Industrial Park will cover 307 hectares across four villages in Pakngum district and is expected to take 24 months, officials reported.

The proposed industrial park would be divided into three areas.

Zone A spans 153 hectares across Natham and Phao villages and will host mineral processing plants, raw material storage, wastewater treatment facilities, and power infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, Zone B covers 100 hectares in Nongdonng village and will focus on agricultural processing, including sorting and processing facilities alongside power and wastewater treatment systems. Zone C occupies 54 hectares in Donhai village and will hold administrative offices, warehouses, and worker accommodation.

The Vientiane-Lidu Industrial Park is the sixth feasibility study under Laos’ new 2025 industrial zone decree.The project shows Laos’ push to diversify beyond hydropower, mining, and agriculture by promoting industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZ).

Similar industrial development plans are also advancing elsewhere in Laos.

Oudomxay is developing a 6,279-hectare clean-energy and aluminium zone, while a separate Vientiane-Pak Ngum industrial estate is underway with plans to attract over USD 165 million in investment and more than 100 companies.

SEZ Growth

So far, 21 SEZs have been approved across the country, attracting 2,041 companies with registered capital of over USD 41 billion and planned investment of more than USD 86 billion, according to Phonvanh Outhavong, Vice Minister of Finance.

She said SEZs have supported manufacturing, services and industrial growth in Laos, but performance remains uneven. Tax revenue in the Golden Triangle SEZ fell by 49 percent to USD 1.5 million after 551 businesses closed as authorities blame collection and tighter enforcement tax reforms to improve compliance.