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Beyond the Hype: AI+ Power 2026 Explores How AI Drives Real Business Value

Tech Giants Microsoft, Adobe, BytePlus, HP, and iFLYTEK Headline the Event; Over 10,000 Professional Visits Expected to Bridge the “Deployment Gap” through High-Impact Exhibitions, Strategic Summits, and Hands-on Skills Labs


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – 2026 represents a definitive turning point as Artificial Intelligence transitions from experimental “pilot” phases to industrialized, enterprise-scale implementation. AI+ Power 2026, Hong Kong’s premier exhibition & conference for commercial AI applications, returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 4-5 Jun 2026. Now in its sixth edition, the event actively responds to the HKSAR Government’s “AI+” development strategy. Under the theme “AI+ Power in Action,” the expo focuses on how AI creates value and unlocks new market opportunities for enterprises. By showcasing a diverse array of AI solutions on-site, the event empowers businesses to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging business environment.

The 2026 Enterprise Imperative: Beyond Prompting – Agentic AI Enters the Era of Autonomous Execution

For today’s business leaders, the challenge is no longer understanding AI — it is choosing the right tools and applying them effectively. According to Gartner’s 2026 Strategic Trends, the enterprise landscape has moved beyond the initial GenAI hype into the era of Agentic AI — autonomous systems capable of independent decision-making and workflow execution. While most enterprises have begun AI deployment, the ultimate differentiator for 2026 is achieving the transition from “conversation to execution” and securing a measurable Return on Investment (ROI).

Culsin Li, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of AI+ Power, noted: “In 2026, the most critical executive skill is becoming leaders who can strategically direct AI adoption. With AI applications entering the ‘no-code’ era, technical implementation is no longer the primary hurdle; the focus for leadership returns to the core of business: identifying operational pain points and defining strategic needs. AI+ Power 2026 serves as a premier platform where attendees can gain insights from expert-led case studies and source ready-to-deploy AI solutions to immediately resolve bottlenecks. We provide a comprehensive one-stop ecosystem, enabling decision-makers to transition seamlessly from strategic inspiration to procurement and final implementation.”

AI+ Power 2026 features six high-impact pillars designed to accelerate AI adoption:

Pillar 1: AI+ Summit – Strategic Roadmaps for Vertical Transformation

The AI+ Summit features a formidable roster of global pioneers, including Microsoft, HP, Adobe, BytePlus, and iFLYTEK, who will dissect the shift from smart office revolutions to autonomous AI agents.

To address the critical pillars of corporate governance and financial practice, the Summit has curated two flagship strategic forums:

  • CEO Panel: AI Transformation for Hong Kong’s Legacy Leaders — Moderated by Dr. Toa Charm, Chairman of the Data and AI Literacy Association (DALA), this session explores how C-suites navigate AI strategy and talent governance while balancing technological innovation with business value creation. It also examines how leaders can accelerate the scalable adoption of AI across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and Asia to ensure AI visions translate into tangible organizational impact.
  • FinTech 2.0: From Future of Work to Agentic Workflows — Moderated by Mr. Peter Koo, Convenor, FinTech Specialist Group of Hong Kong Computer Society. Partners from the “Big 4” (EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC) will share the stage for a rare joint session to dismantle how Agentic AI automates KYC and risk monitoring, and explores “Data-to-Revenue” pathways. The forum will also address the convergence of AI with Tokenisation, Stablecoins, Digital Assets, and RegTech.

The Summit will also cover MarTech, enterprise productivity, retail, and education, featuring leaders from MTR Lab, HSBC, Maxim’s Group, Hong Yip, HKT, PrimeCredit, and Logitech, alongside academic representatives.

Pillar 2: AI+ Expo – The Modern Workplace & Smart Living Revolution

Industry leaders Canon HK, Logitech, Shure, and iFLYTEK will demonstrate how AI-driven hardware eliminates operational friction, allowing teams to focus on core creativity.

Pillar 3: AI+ Skills Lab — Zero-Barrier Mastery for Decision Makers

To address the enterprise talent gap, the AI+ Skills Lab has been launched this year to provide hands-on, practical training. Led by a team of veteran practitioners including Arik Chan from GDG HK (CISSP-certified), Frankie Wu from GDG HK and also Founder of Nexamind AI, and Roland Leung, Director of Datality Lab, the lab is tailor-made for non-technical decision-makers. It emphasizes a “small-class, laptop-ready” approach; featured highlights include OSINT-driven fraud detection using Google Gemini, the deployment of privacy-safe enterprise AI agents, and rapid AI-powered commercial video creation using Seedance 2.0 and KlingAI 3.0. This practical experience empowers participants to “Learn Today, Apply Tomorrow,” transforming AI into real-world productivity.

Pillar 4: Embodied AI & Robotics — The First “Smart Living Experience Zone”

Breaking away from pure software solutions, the event debuts the first “Smart Living Experience Zone,” presenting the physical manifestation of AI integrated with robotics in environmental management, medical rehabilitation, and gerontech. Highlights include environmental robots capable of automatic waste classification and autonomous cleaning; medical assistant systems for physical therapy and ward delivery; and non-invasive “passive fall detection” care solutions. These innovations are setting new benchmarks for automated operations across the property management, healthcare, and social welfare sectors.

Pillar 5: AI Strategic Advisory Hub & Industry Networking — Unlocking New Business Opprtunities

The event proudly presents the “AI Strategic Advisory Hub,” a flagship initiative designed to disrupt the traditional one-way nature of business matching. Technical experts from leading providers will transform into “Consultants”, offering decision-makers immediate diagnostics and tailored deployment advice. Navigating a vast array of technical choices can be overwhelming; this “Advisory Hub” is dedicated to helping enterprises pinpoint high-ROI implementation pathways, ensuring that technology investments translate directly into tangible profitability. Furthermore, the two-day event features exclusive industry networking sessions to foster deep dialogue and strategic exchanges between technology pioneers and enterprise leaders.

Pillar 6: AI+ Power Awards 2026 — Recognizing the Future Leaders of Commercial AI

The AI+ Power Awards 2026, a highly anticipated flagship event, returns to honor the region’s most innovative, impactful, and commercially viable AI applications. This year has seen an unprecedented level of competition, and the first-round finalists have officially been announced. Shortlisted organizations in key categories such as “AI+ in Business” and “AI+ Project of the Year” include industry pioneers such as Maxim’s Group, CITIC Telecom CPC, iFLYTEK, ASTRI, and Lingnan University. The final winners will be grandly unveiled in late May.

Capturing the Momentum of AI Scaling: Building a New Era for Innovation

AI+ Power 2026 responds proactively to the HKSAR Government’s “AI+” strategy, embodying the core spirit of “AI+ Power in Action.” We are committed to transforming policy vision into commercial reality, helping enterprises successfully transition from AI “observers” to “active practitioners.”

Through high-level summit exchanges, immersive exhibition experiences, step-by-step practical training, and prestigious award recognition, we empower every attendee to seize first-mover advantages in the age of AI scaling. Together, we are driving Hong Kong’s evolution into the premier Asia-Pacific hub for commercial AI innovation.

Secure Your Advantage: Register Now

Online pre-registration for AI+ Power 2026 is now officially open. Trade visitors and industry professionals are invited to register for free admission and pre-book seats for keynote summits and hands-on Skills Lab workshops. Please note that workshop seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register Now: https://bit.ly/3R9W3fC

Event Details:

  • Date: 4-5 June 2026 (Thursday–Friday)
  • Venue: Hall 5FG, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
  • Admission: Free for trade visitors (Pre-registration required; group registration available)
  • Official Website: www.aipluspower.com

Hashtag: #AIPower #AIPower2026

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

About AI+ Power’s Organizer – Baobab Tree Event Management Co., Ltd.

Baobab Tree Event Management Co., Ltd. (BTE) is a Hong Kong–based event and exhibition organizer founded in 2011, with offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. With over 20 years of industry experience, the company specializes in event management, exhibition operations, marketing, sales, and on-site delivery.

The company manages the delivery of Hong Kong’s signature mega events, including the Hong Kong Chinese New Year Parade and the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, both organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, while also developing and managing professional exhibitions across multiple industry sectors such as AI and digital technology, Food & Beverage, Veterinary, Non-Woven, Professional AV, and PCB & electronics manufacturing, serving regional and international markets.

Committed to sustainable development, the company integrates ESG principles into its operations and has completed an independent ESG assessment, achieving Level 1 status under an assessment framework developed by the The University of Hong Kong and ESG Development Co., Ltd.

Official website:

Philanthropy Deployed as Risk Capital Holds Potential to Scale Early-Stage Innovations in Asia, New Report Finds

  • Asia’s development challenges are outpacing conventional funding models, with early-stage, high-risk innovations chronically underfunded
  • Philanthropy Asia Alliance and Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society’s new research explores how Asian funders are bridging this gap, and the lessons to scale impact across the region

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – A new report released today at the sixth Philanthropy Asia Summit highlights what becomes possible when philanthropy in Asia is deployed as risk capital: funding that absorbs the risks of unproven solutions that governments are unable or unwilling to back, markets cannot yet price, and social innovators cannot bear alone. It also sets out what it will take to scale this approach and accelerate impact across the region.

The report spotlights 10 cases spanning climate, health, housing, water, waste, and digital inclusion where philanthropic risk capital underwrote the earliest and riskiest stages of social innovation. These range from sustainable housing and carbon removal technologies to public health interventions, with early backing helping solutions attract follow-on funding and achieve adoption within public systems. Collectively, these efforts have reached more than 210 million people across 13 Asian economies, a scale that demonstrates the model’s potential, even as these cases represent only a small fraction of the region’s needs.

Philanthropy as Risk Capital in Asia: Bridging Innovation to Impact was researched and written by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) and commissioned by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA). Drawing on 10 case studies and 37 in-depth interviews with philanthropists, fund managers, social enterprise founders and programme leads across 13 markets, the report explores how and when Asian philanthropy functions as risk capital, and its potential to address development challenges in Asia at scale. It also examines what drives funders to take these risks, how capital is deployed across different instruments and stages of innovation, and the strategies used to manage risk while maximising impact.

Key findings
The findings point to several consistent patterns in how Asian philanthropists featured in the study approach early-stage risk:

  • Philanthropy as risk capital in Asia is often patient and conviction-driven; funders are prepared to commit long-term capital to enable solutions to scale. The largest and longest commitments came from individual philanthropists and families driven by personal conviction and direct experience of the challenges they seek to address. For example, The Tahija Foundation in Indonesia provided more than US$17 million over ten years to test a novel approach to dengue control using Wolbachia bacteria. A randomised controlled trial demonstrated a 77% reduction in dengue transmission, and the method has since been adopted into Indonesia’s national health plan, with an estimated 14 million people now protected. Institutional funders complement this with more targeted, milestone-linked discipline and deep trust in founders.
  • Funders are experimenting beyond traditional grants to explore a range of instruments across different growth stages. From concessional debt to equity, funders are exploring instruments across the spectrum, with some sequencing different forms of capital as trust and results develop over time. However, knowledge gaps and regulatory constraints in some markets continue to limit broader adoption.
  • Funders are leveraging relationships, community trust and government access to manage risk and extend reach. They bring networks, credibility, and access to government stakeholders alongside capital, reducing implementation risk and laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships. The funder’s proximity to the communities they serve, and alignment with domestic policy priorities, can prove as consequential as the funding itself.
  • Funders are supporting alignment with public sector priorities from the outset, as early integration with public systems matters when government adoption is the pathway to scale. The projects that achieved the greatest reach did so through early engagement with government, with funders helping to align solutions with national or local priorities from the outset. For example, the Vanke Foundation made community waste management a thematic priority in support of China’s zero-waste city ambitions, and backed INSPRO, a social enterprise using insect-based bioconversion to recycle organic waste. Beyond funding, the foundation facilitated access to district government stakeholders, enabling INSPRO to establish operations in Yantian and scale its technology for agricultural use. Similarly, Tata Trusts aligned its digital initiatives with the Government of India’s Digital India programme, providing early-stage funding and ecosystem support to Haqdarshak, a platform improving access to government welfare schemes.

“For these Asian philanthropists deploying capital to support early-stage innovation, we observe how trust in the capabilities of the people behind the ideas is critical to managing these risks,” says Dr. Ruth Shapiro, Co-Founder and CEO of CAPS. “And we see the importance of aligning with government as key to legitimacy and scale. The same strategies to manage risk are being leveraged to maximise impact for the community.”

“The report highlights what makes early philanthropic capital unique,” said Shaun Seow, CEO of PAA. “Taking an early position absorbs the risk of an untested solution and builds the evidence and regulatory confidence that later investment requires. PAA’s role is to help connect funders across the region so those early commitments compound rather than sit in isolation.”

Research methodology
The findings are based on a region-wide scan of social enterprises, programmes, and initiatives centred on novel or unproven solutions. Ten cases were selected through a targeted assessment identifying high-potential pathways for philanthropic risk capital across climate, health, and inclusive development. The research was conducted between October 2025 and January 2026, through 37 in-depth interviews and a review of academic and non-academic literature.

The cases examined include Agros, BillionBricks, Equatic, Haqdarshak, Inspro, Seven Clean Seas, Urban Spring, Wadhwani AI, Wateroam, and the World Mosquito Programme in Yogyakarta.

Download the full report: https://p-aa.org/PhilanthropyAsRiskCapitalReport (Live on 18 May)

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

About Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA)

Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA) is a Temasek Trust initiative dedicated to catalysing collaborative philanthropy in Asia through dynamic multi-sector partnerships. By harnessing collective strengths, PAA multiplies impact, accelerates positive change, and takes urgent action to address the pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. PAA’s flagship programme is the annual Philanthropy Asia Summit. For more information, visit

About the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS)

Established in 2013 and working across more than 17 economies in Asia, the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quantity and quality of philanthropic and private giving throughout Asia. Our mission is to maximize private capital for public good, conducting research, advisory, convening and capacity building to engage philanthropists, foundations, family offices, corporates, government bodies, social sector organizations and experts on best practices, models, policies and strategies to facilitate private giving and social investment in the region. For more information, and .

New Report Identifies 250+ Climate Adaptation and Resilience Solutions for Asia Amidst Rising Funder Interest

  • Asia-focused report by the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and collaborators identifies 250+ priority climate adaptation and resilience solutions for Asia,[1] based on over US$100 billion in financing flows over 5 years[2]
  • Study’s survey of 165 Asian funders managing over US$1 trillion in funds finds climate adaptation and resilience emerging as top impact theme by activity and interest
  • Report introduces a first-ever framework to mobilise coordinated action, mapping solutions across 3 tiers of commercial viability, highlighting entry points for commercial, philanthropic, and public capital to enable cross-sector climate adaptation action
  • Accompanying fund flows dashboard provides visibility on public, private and philanthropic capital flows and funding gaps in climate adaptation and resilience across China, India, and Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), in partnership with Temasek, Invesco, and ImpactSF (CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance), and with support from Dalberg, today launched a new report on climate adaptation and resilience (CA&R) in Asia. This regional study identifies more than 250 priority climate adaptation and resilience solutions for Asia, grounded in the region’s unique climate risks, hazards, and priorities, and informed by analysis of over US$100 billion in climate adaptation and resilience financing flows between 2021 and 2025.[3]

Launching at Ecosperity Week’s Impact Investing Roundtable 2026 on 19th May, the report Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Asia: Pricing Risk, Sizing Opportunities, Financing Solutions” examines the region’s climate risks, financing gaps, and barriers constraining investment in adaptation and resilience solutions. This includes persistent data gaps, limited visibility of investable opportunities, and unclear financing pathways.

The CA&R solutions for Asia span three tiers of commercial viability. These include 94 low or no commercial viability solutions but which are foundational in terms of building regional resilience, 93 emerging opportunities that are promising but need catalytic capital to scale, and 65 commercially viable solutions that have proven track record across markets. Together, they offer clear entry points across the spectrum of capital to support solutions at different stages of maturity — from early-stage innovation and ecosystem development to scaling proven technologies and infrastructure.

Accompanying the report are:

  • A first-of-its-kind fund flow intelligence dashboard mapping public, private and philanthropic capital flows across China, India, and Southeast Asia (SEA) and impact opportunities
  • The Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Asia Case Study Library featuring 50 real-world examples of companies, financial institutions and philanthropies advancing CA&R in respective ways.
  • A sectoral deep dive, Building a Climate-Adapted and Resilient Agri-Food System in Southeast Asia, focused on agri-food resilience in SEA – a top priority across the region’s National Adaptation Plans

“Climate adaptation and resilience financing in Asia remains constrained by limited data, fragmented approaches, and uncertainty around where capital can be most effective. We hope this report helps to provide greater clarity on the opportunities and roles different stakeholders can play in advancing solutions across the region. As climate risks intensify, stronger coordination between public, private, and philanthropic capital will be essential to accelerate action,” said Ms. Dawn Chan, CEO, Centre for Impact Investing and Practices.

Rising climate risks, widening financing gap

As a region, Asia is warming at twice the global average. Since 2000, 3.7 billion people in Asia have been affected by climate-related disasters – more than triple that in the rest of the world. These risks are already translating into significant economic and social costs.

By 2030, Asia will account for around 75% of the global CA&R financing gap, and Asian companies are projected to bear around US$336 billion in annual climate costs.

Despite this, annual CA&R financing flows in Asia remain significantly below current funding needs. More than US$200 billion is required annually across the region, yet current flows stand at only around US$19 billion.

Agriculture is among the sectors most significantly affected by climate change. While the sector contributes 9.8% to SEA’s GDP, average annual production growth of key staple food[4] has remained below 1.3% over the past decade. Climate stress could reduce crop yields by as much as 41%, with much of the burden and impact of declining production falling on the region’s 100 million smallholder farmers, many of whom live on less than US$2 a day.

“Impacts of climate risks vary according to crop or livestock, where they are and when the risk is going to be experienced. This determines the necessary strategy required for resilience uplift. ImpactSF uses CGIAR produced scientific data along with AI-based approaches to support investment processes in risk identification and mitigation and impact reporting for investees. This is extremely critical because if risks are ignored, they will eventually impact the financial bottom line of businesses in the agriculture and food sector,” said Dr. Godefroy Grosjean, Co-Lead, CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF).

Barriers to unlocking capital

Several structural barriers constrain capital deployment into CA&R. These include underdeveloped policy and regulatory environments; limited access to data on local climate, risk, and costs; and mismatches between solutions and the funding available.

Many CA&R solutions are also highly context-specific, making them harder to implement at scale and require longer investment periods. This calls for coordinated action across the spectrum of capital.

“While it’s clear that investing for climate adaption and resilience is still at a nascent stage, the critical work of identifying barriers, assessing commerciality and mapping context-specific investment opportunities is a major step forward that can move investors from exploration to tactical implementation. This analysis helps bring greater transparency to where capital is most needed across Asia, and where investable opportunities may be emerging,” said Mr. Norbert Ling, Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management, APAC, Invesco

From fragmented responses to coordinated action

Promisingly, funder interest is growing. Among 165 Asia funders surveyed by this study, CA&R ranks as the leading impact theme, with 81 funders (49%) already actively investing and 47 (28%) exploring entry into the space. Collectively, these 165 funders represent over US$1 trillion in Annual Funds Managed (AUM).

Translating interest into capital deployment, however, requires addressing key constraints faced by funders. Pipeline challenges are the top concern for both active or interested funders, as well as inactive funders in this space. Macro-level challenges and deal structuring are also key issues for active or interested funders, while main barriers for inactive funders include limited mandate to invest in the space, alongside knowledge and capacity gaps. Addressing these requires a comprehensive approach that strengthens business models, de-risks projects, and builds capacity and data systems.

Seven key building blocks

Recognising the multifaceted needs of the sector, this report sets out a roadmap for scaling CA&R finance in Asia through seven key actions. These include

  • Catalysing action
    • Embedding climate adaptation as both a value and growth driver
    • Strategic capital mobilisation across the spectrum
  • Improving decision-making
    • Better climate-risk pricing and valuation of resilience
    • Impact-linked decision pathways
    • Shared data and knowledge infrastructure
  • Laying the foundations
    • Climate-aligned financial system
    • Cross-sector collaboration and delivery for scale

Further details are set out in the appendix.

For more insights, access the report highlights here. The full report and fund flow dashboard will be available from 19 May.

APPENDIX

7 key building blocks for building lasting CA&R at scale

Catalyse Action

1. CA&R as growth engine and value driver. Investing in CA&R for business operations is not only a defensive strategy but can also unlock new markets and improve competitive advantage. Embedding CA&R into BAU and scaling investable solutions today can help build momentum for broader industry and system transformation.

2. Strategic capital mobilisation across the spectrum. Financing CA&R requires leveraging all forms of capital. Blended and innovative finance can help unlock investment, but only when grounded in strong fundamentals. Successful deployment depends on viable business models, robust data, and execution capacity.

Inform Decisions

3. Climate risk pricing and resilience valuation. Climate risks and resilience benefits, including avoided losses and induced economic, environment, and social impacts, remain systematically undervalued today, distorting investment decisions. Embedding avoided losses and broader impacts into pricing and valuation is key to unlocking capital at scale.

4. Clear impact-linked decision pathways. Clear impact pathways are essential to crowd in capital for CA&R. Given contexts across Asia require that solutions that are highly local and diverse, scaling requires credible causal pathways from action and investment to resilience impact, such as those anchored in a Theory of Change (TOC) and supported by standardised frameworks and comparable indicators rather than uniform metrics.

5. Shared data and knowledge foundations. Closing critical data and capacity gaps is essential to improve risk understanding and decision-making in CA&R. However, data cannot exist in siloes – coordinated investment in localised but interoperable data systems will unlock better pipeline development and capital allocation.

Lay Foundations

6. CA&R aligned-financial systems. Financial services are a foundational enabler of resilience across firms and communities, whether by funding CA&R (e.g., expanding access to capital, financing ecosystem services), or building financial resilience (e.g., by enabling risk transfer and building safety nets that are critical to absorb and manage climate shocks).

7. Cross-sector collaboration and delivery for scale. Lasting CA&R outcomes depend on coordinated action across public, private, and community stakeholders. Stronger collaboration mechanisms, whether among governments, philanthropists, investors, or businesses, can reduce fragmentation and enable faster, more effective capital deployment and action at scale.

Methodology

Insights from the report are based on engagement with ~250 stakeholders, including a survey of 165 funders deploying capital into Asia and 105 interviews. Stakeholders interviewed include commercial and philanthropic funders, financial institutions and insurance companies, corporates, ventures, and ecosystem enablers.

The identification and prioritisation of CA&R solutions for Asia involved narrowing down from 1,400+ recognised global climate adaptation and resilience (CA&R) solutions, aligned with Asia’s climate risks and needs, with maladaptive solutions removed at each stage. Each of the 250+ prioritised solutions were assessed for impact potential and commercial viability, leveraging tracked funding data of ~US$100B over the past five years.


[1] Asia coverage in the report largely covers East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, with a deep-dive focus on China, India, and all Southeast Asian markets

[2] From 2021 to 2025

[3] The solutions focus on nine key sectors: infrastructure, water, agriculture and allied sectors, energy, industry and commerce, disaster management, health, ecosystems and biodiversity, and social systems (pg. 14 of report)

[4] Such as rice, maize, soybean, sugarcane, cassava

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

About Centre for Impact Investing and Practices

The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (“CIIP”) is a non-profit centre based in Singapore. Established in 2022 by Temasek Trust, a steward of philanthropic endowments and gifts, the centre’s mission is to foster impact investing and practices in Asia and beyond. CIIP is the anchor partner for the United Nation Development Programme’s Private Finance for the SDGs, providing Asia investors and businesses with clarity, insights and tools that support their contributions towards achieving the SDGs. Temasek and ABC Impact are CIIP’s strategic partners.

About Temasek

Temasek is a global investment company headquartered in Singapore, with a net portfolio value of S$434 billion (US$324b, €299b, £250b, RMB2.35t) as at 31 March 2025. Its Purpose “So Every Generation Prospers” guides it to make a difference for today’s and future generations. Temasek seeks to build a resilient and forward-looking portfolio that will deliver sustainable returns over the long term.

It has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world: Beijing, Hanoi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore in Asia; and Brussels, London, Mexico City, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Washington, DC outside Asia.

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. is one of the world’s leading asset management firms serving clients in more than 120 countries. With US$2.2 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, we deliver a comprehensive range of investment capabilities across public, private, active, and passive. Our collaborative mindset, breadth of solutions and global scale mean we’re well positioned to help retail and institutional investors rethink challenges and find new possibilities for success. For more information, visit .

About ImpactSF

The CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) works to deliver locally relevant evidence & analytics to unlock capital aligned with SDG impacts that enable the food, land and water systems transformation. Hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT, ImpactSF builds on CGIAR evidence to deliver data driven solutions that enable financial institutions and investors to de-risk investments through AI-enabled analytics of climate and environmental risks and impacts. As a key technical partner, ImpactSF integrates evidence-based socio-environmental dimensions in all areas of the investment lifecycle, including pipeline development, investment screening & due diligence, investment implementation and post investment monitoring reporting and verification.

Agoda Simplifies Trip Planning with Multi-Product Booking in One Checkout

SINGAPORE, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced a new multi-product booking engine that allows travelers to book hotels, flights, and activities in a single seamless, transaction.

With this enhancement, travelers can plan and book entire trips in one flow, eliminating the need to manage separate checkouts across different travel components. Once booked, all elements of the journey are brought together in the My Trips section of the Agoda platform, where users can view, organize, and even rename trips for easy reference.

Behind the scenes, Agoda’s booking engine coordinates across multiple suppliers into one unified experience, handling payment processing, fraud checks, and inventory confirmation in a single, streamlined workflow. The result is a simplified booking journey with one checkout, one confirmation, and one place to manage the entire trip. 

Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda, said, “Travelers want simplicity and convenience. They shouldn’t need to manage separate bookings, payment processes, and confirmations. By bringing flights, accommodation, and activities into a single booking flow, we’re making it easier to plan and manage trips from start to finish, while handling the complexity behind the scenes.”

The new capability is designed to work seamlessly across Agoda’s global network, adapting to different supplier requirements and regional variations while maintaining a consistent user experience, regardless of what travelers are booking or where they’re booking from. 

Agoda offers more than 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, all available via Agoda.com or in the Agoda mobile app.

New Green Computing Application Showcase: SHPT’s Hydrogen Power Generation Products to Be Deployed in Egypt’s First Data Center Hydrogen Emergency Power Supply Project

SHANGHAI and CAIRO, Egypt, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, fuel cell power generation products of SHPT have been shipped and will be applied to Egypt’s first data center hydrogen emergency power supply project. Serving Egypt’s mobile operator with the largest user base, SHPT’s hydrogen power generation products can provide 2 hours of uninterrupted power supply as a backup power source when the data center’s main power supply is interrupted, ensuring reliable operation and data security of the data center.

To meet the diversified application demands of “photovoltaic + hydrogen energy”, SHPT, together with its partners, has achieved rapid deployment. Adopting a green power direct connection model, it provides customers with a highly reliable and fast-delivery comprehensive green backup power solution, truly realizing green power for green computing.

The solution connects three major links: green power hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage, and energy storage power generation. It is equipped with functional modules including PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, solid-state hydrogen storage equipment, fuel cell power generation systems, and battery UPS systems, achieving efficient full-chain collaboration, safe and reliable operation, simple operation and convenient maintenance. Featuring high comprehensive energy supply efficiency, fuel cell power generation products integrate hydrogen safety flexible isolation, online fault diagnosis and multi-energy flow regulation technologies, which effectively mitigate the impact of extreme working conditions and fully guarantee the stable and reliable operation of the power generation system.

Solid-state hydrogen storage stands out as a highlight of the solution. Compared with high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage, solid-state hydrogen storage is safer during storage and transportation, less prone to leakage, and lowers the risks of explosion and fire. It better meets the stringent requirements of data centers for power supply safety and environmental safety.

In the era of intelligent computing, data centers are growing increasingly important as key infrastructure. The exponential surge in computing power demand has driven up the power consumption of data centers, placing higher demands on power continuity and stability. Global AI infrastructure is advancing rapidly toward large-scale, efficient and green development, leading to a marked rise in demand for green power supply solutions.

Egypt’s first data center hydrogen emergency power supply project marks a new benchmark for SHPT in expanding the application scenarios of “green power + green computing”. Leveraging its mature fuel cell technology, SHPT has delivered a host of landmark projects, including China’s largest 2.5MW microgrid combined heat and power demonstration project under construction, and a 100kW distributed power station in Singapore. Meanwhile, its 300kW stationary power station has been operating stably for two years in Inner Mongolia’s first integrated hydrogen production, storage, refueling and utilization project. These practices have fully verified the maturity and applicability of its technologies, laying a solid foundation for SHPT to further expand green computing application scenarios.

This project also represents a new milestone for SHPT’s overseas expansion into the Middle East. As Africa’s second-largest economy, Egypt launched its national hydrogen energy strategy in 2024 and now ranks first among Arab countries in the number of hydrogen energy projects. In addition, Egypt’s digital economy is developing at a rapid pace, with the communication and information technology industry maintaining continuous growth for more than five consecutive years. Seizing the dual opportunities from regional policies and industrial development, SHPT will help the Middle East achieve diversified clean energy development and empower the high-quality growth of the local digital economy.

Putin Visit to China Caps Diplomatic Sequence Following US–China and Lao Engagements

Putin’s upcoming China visit follows a busy diplomatic period in Beijing involving the US, Laos, and several global leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China on 19 to 20 May for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, following a series of recent diplomatic engagements in Beijing involving the United States, Laos, and other countries.

According to Kremlin statements, Putin will attend a summit with Xi marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Discussions are expected to focus on economic coordination, trade relations under Western sanctions, and broader regional and global security developments.

Putin is also scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on investment and commercial cooperation.

US-China Talks

The visit comes shortly after a US-China leadership meeting held in Beijing from 14 to 16 May, when US President Donald Trump met Chinese leaders for discussions centered on trade tensions, strategic competition, and regional stability.

Trump’s delegation also included several major US technology and business figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, stressing the economic and technological importance of the visit.

The summit was widely viewed as an effort to stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies, despite ongoing disagreements on key issues.

Laos Marks 65 Years of Relations With China

At the same time, Laos also featured in China’s diplomatic calendar earlier this month during events marking 65 years of diplomatic relations between Laos and China.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane attended a ceremony in Beijing alongside senior Chinese officials of the Communist Party of China Politburo. The event formed part of the Laos-China Friendship Year 2026 celebrations.

Both sides reaffirmed cooperation in infrastructure development, energy, and regional connectivity, while highlighting progress under the second Laos-China bilateral master plan covering 2024 to 2028.

Officials also emphasized continued support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative and other international frameworks proposed by President Xi Jinping.

China remains Laos’ largest foreign investor, with ties between the two countries expanding significantly following the launch of the Laos-China Railway in 2021.

Wave of High-Level Diplomacy

Beijing has also hosted or engaged with several other international leaders and senior officials in recent weeks, including Vietnamese leader To Lam, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and delegations from Bangladesh, Iran, Uzbekistan, and the United Nations.

Analysts say the unusually dense diplomatic schedule reflects Beijing’s growing role as a major global diplomatic center managing relations with multiple powers and regional partners simultaneously.

Exclusively Sponsored by Sinopec’s Aipao Racing Fuel, the 2026 China Taklimakan Rally Kicks Off in Urumqi

URUMQI, China, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With the command to start, 152 vehicles and nearly 300 competitors of 74 teams from around the world embarked on a 7,500-kilometer extreme journey as the 2026 China Taklimakan Rally, exclusively sponsored by the Aipao racing fuel brand by China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”), officially kicked off on May 16 in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Exclusively Sponsored by Sinopec’s Aipao Racing Fuel, the 2026 China Taklimakan Rally Kicks Off in Urumqi, China.
Exclusively Sponsored by Sinopec’s Aipao Racing Fuel, the 2026 China Taklimakan Rally Kicks Off in Urumqi, China.

Spanning 17 days, this year’s rally sets a new distance record as it traverses northern and southern Xinjiang. The route begins in Urumqi, passes through Turpan, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Hotan, and Kashi, and concludes in Aksu. Competitors will tackle extreme terrain, including the vast Taklimakan Desert and the rugged canyons of the Tianshan Mountains.

Aipao 103, China’s first domestically developed racing fuel by Sinopec, is the official fuel for the China Taklimakan Rally. With an RON exceeding 103, the fuel offers four core advantages of anti-knock performance, environmental friendliness, high combustion efficiency, and safety. Designed for extreme racing conditions, it fills a long-standing gap in China’s high-performance racing fuel market and marks a major milestone for Sinopec and China’s refining industry toward world-class standards.

Chen Yanbin, director and senior vice president of Sinopec, highlighted Xinjiang’s strategic role as the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the rally’s status as a world-class off-road event.

“Guided by our commitment to ‘Clean Energy, Better Life,’ Sinopec continues to sponsor the rally through the Aipao brand, delivering comprehensive fuel assurance for China’s motorsport,” said Chen. “Going forward, we will deepen the integration of energy, sports, and tourism to drive high-quality growth in Xinjiang and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative.”

To ensure seamless operations, Sinopec has comprehensively upgraded its energy support system, deploying over 40 mobile refueling points along the route. An innovative “fixed + mobile” dual-mode strategy guarantees precise, timely, and safe fuel supply—even in the most remote desert sections.

Since its launch in 2015, Aipao has earned the trust of over 10 million users with its world-class cleanliness and performance. The brand, valued at more than 18 billion yuan (approx. USD 2.64 billion), continues to lead China’s fuel market in influence.

For more information, please visit http://www.sinopec.com/listco/en/.

SIWW2026 Water Expo opens visitor registration, showcasing global innovations for a resilient water future

Featuring close to 450 exhibitors, SIWW Water Expo connects global technology providers with ASEAN project owners and buyers to advance scalable solutions for water, energy and urban infrastructure systems


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Trade visitor registration is now open for the 11th edition of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Water Expo, taking place from 16 to 18 June 2026 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

In cooperation with IFAT, SIWW2026 Water Expo will bring together global water industry stakeholders, technology providers and solution developers to support collaboration across procurement, partnerships and innovation exchange. The Expo forms a cornerstone of SIWW2026 (15 to 18 June 2026), reinforcing Singapore’s role as a convening platform for the global water community.

Bringing together close to 450 exhibitors and trade visitors from over 65 countries and regions, SIWW2026 Water Expo presents more than 2,200 innovative solutions and technologies across water management, recycling, water treatment and desalination, energy recovery as well as digitalisation and AI solutions.

Trade visitors can now register at: https://www.gevme.com/siww2026-water-expo

Across Southeast Asia, rapid urbanisation and industrial growth are intensifying demand for reliable, high-quality and efficient water infrastructure, alongside integrated systems that can support energy-intensive sectors such as advanced manufacturing, data-driven industries and large-scale cooling applications.

SIWW2026 Water Expo highlights water’s role as a critical enabler of Asia’s economic growth and infrastructure development, supporting the convergence of water, energy and digital systems across the region. It also places stronger emphasis on enabling AI-driven infrastructure, energy-intensive industries and cross-border water investment and collaboration across ASEAN — positioning the Expo as both a showcase for solutions and a platform connecting technology providers, project owners and capital to accelerate deployment across the region.

Participation and Industry Representation

SIWW2026 Water Expo will feature exhibitors that directly address Southeast Asia’s most pressing water challenges in three key areas: municipal water systems, coastal and flood resilience, and industrial water management. These include advanced treatment and desalination, flood mitigation and coastal protection, as well as AI-enabled and digital solutions supporting energy-intensive operations such as data centre cooling, industrial processing and resource recovery.

The Expo showcases exhibitors from around the world, with over 52% international participation, reflecting its global scale and diversity. It brings together leading technology providers and solution developers — including Autodesk, CPG Consultants, Georg Fischer, GHD, Hach, Ingersoll Rand, Jacobs, Keppel, Meiden, Nijhuis Saur Industries, RSK, Sulzer, Toray and Xylem — with more than 80 product launches and key announcements.

These include ultrasound-based innovations designed to break down PFAS contaminants in wastewater without chemicals or incineration, advanced rainwater capture and treatment systems for industrial use, and next-generation UV systems designed for ultra-pure water applications such as in semiconductors industry. These range of innovations highlight how water technologies are being deployed to improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and support sustainable infrastructure development across the region.

In addition, SIWW2026 Water Expo features a dedicated Startup Zone, showcasing emerging innovators advancing digital water systems, AI-enabled technologies, advanced treatment, resource recovery and environmental intelligence. Supported by platforms such as the Digitalisation & AI Pavilion, this zone enables participants to engage directly with next-generation solution providers alongside established industry players.

SIWW2026 Water Expo is expected to convene a broad cross-section of the global water ecosystem, bringing together senior stakeholders across government, industry and infrastructure development. Participation spans key stakeholder groups including regulators and utilities, government agencies, Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms, and international trade and investment organisations.

Representatives include stakeholders from national and city-level water authorities such as PUB (Singapore), the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) in Malaysia, Maynilad Water Services, Melbourne Water Corporation, and Air Selangor, alongside global engineering and infrastructure firms including AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs, and Arup. Development and financing institutions such as the World Bank Group and International Finance Corporation (IFC), alongside regional chambers of commerce and trade agencies, further strengthen SIWW Water Expo’s role in linking policy, capital and project delivery across Asia’s water sector.

SIWW2026 Water Expo Programme

SIWW2026 Water Expo will offer a curated lineup designed to support knowledge exchange, dialogue and business engagement. This includes integrated showcases and platforms, such as refreshed thematic zones and expanded international participation from key water markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas. These provide opportunities for buyers, project owners and solution providers to connect around emerging technologies, market trends and real-world applications.

The programme is structured across key content platforms, including Main Stage 1, Main Stage 2, and the Technology Forum. Main Stage 1 will focus on urban water security, resilience, financing and coastal protection, highlighting how cities are adopting more predictive, data-driven approaches to infrastructure planning and climate adaptation. Main Stage 2 will explore water opportunities and challenges across Southeast Asia, including water resource management, affordability, decentralised systems and the role of water in supporting industrial and energy systems. The Technology Forum will showcase real-world case studies at the intersection of water and technology, including AI-enabled infrastructure, utility intelligence, IoT-based monitoring and risk modelling to improve operational efficiency and resilience.

Trade visitor registration is now open, and industry professionals are encouraged to secure their complimentary passes early. Secure your pass here: https://www.gevme.com/siww2026-water-expo

Qualified ASEAN buyers may also apply for the Hosted Buyer Programme, which offers curated business matching opportunities and enhanced access to exhibitors and partners: https://www.siww.com.sg/water-expo/whats-on/hosted-buyer-programme

For more information, visit www.siww.com.sg/water-expo

Hashtag: #SingaporeInternationalWaterWeek #SIWW2026



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

About SIWW2026 Water Expo

Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is one of the world’s premier platforms to share and co-create innovative water, coastal and flood solutions to meet urban water and associated climate challenges.

In cooperation with IFAT and organised by Messe Munich, the SIWW Water Expo is the pre-eminent marketplace for the international water, coastal and flood community to converge and find opportunities in business. The Water Expo showcases the latest state-of-the-art solutions, technologies, products and services for cities, utilities and industry in Asia.

The SIWW2026 Water Expo will take place during SIWW2026 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore.

Dates:
SIWW2026: 15 – 18 June, 2026
SIWW2026 Water Expo: 16 – 18 June, 2026

About IFAT Worldwide

In addition to IFAT Munich as the world’s leading trade fair, IFAT now comprises eleven trade fairs around the globe, forming the world’s largest network for environmental technologies. The IFAT network includes IE expo Shanghai, IE expo Chengdu, IE expo Guangzhou, and IE expo Shenzhen, as well as IFAT Africa in Johannesburg, IFAT Eurasia in Istanbul, IFAT India in Mumbai, IFAT Delhi in New Delhi, IFAT Brasil in São Paulo, and the Singapore International Water Week (in cooperation with IFAT). Since 2026, IFAT Saudi Arabia in Riyadh has joined the portfolio. Together, the events of the IFAT network act as a driving force advancing the global transformation toward sustainable technologies.

About Messe München

As one of the world’s leading trade fair organizers, Messe München presents the world of tomorrow at around 90 trade fairs worldwide. These include twelve of the world’s leading trade fairs such as bauma, BAU, IFAT and electronica. Messe München’s portfolio comprises trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, as well as for new technologies. Together with its 1,300 employees in the group and associated companies, it organizes trade fairs in China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Türkiye, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand and the USA. With an international network of affiliated companies and foreign representatives, Messe München is active worldwide. Each year, more than 150 events attract around 50,000 exhibitors and around three million visitors in Germany and abroad. This makes Messe München an important economic engine that generates billions in purchasing power.