China's Open Door Amplified: the Upcoming Eighth CIIE Cements Role as Global Business Gateway
The first batch of over 300 exhibitors has been officially announced, with more than 100 companies having engaged in every edition since the inaugural CIIE. Currently, an exhibition area of over 250,000 square meters has been booked for this year's CIIE, and more buyers along the industrial chains, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be encouraged to participate.
Sector-Specific Synergy
A dedicated business matchmaking session for the food and agricultural sectors on April 18 demonstrated CIIE's operational effectiveness. 41 international exhibitors—including Dole, Goodfarmer, and Theland—who engaged in business talks with over 150 Chinese buyers such as Sinopec Shanghai Easy Joy, Bailian Group, and Eastern Airlines Food Co.
Global Endorsements
International policymakers continue to recognize the CIIE's value. Malaysia's Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, highlighted the CIIE's strategic importance as an important gateway for Malaysian businesses, especially SMEs, to gain new impetus and fruitful results through deepened cooperation. Echoing this sentiment, State Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries of Norway, Janicke Andreassen Hirstad, recognized the CIIE's effectiveness in connecting Norwegian companies in agriculture, shipping, and maritime sectors with Chinese consumer demand.
Intellectual Engagement
Held alongside the CIIE, the eighth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) is finalizing its agenda, with guest invitations progressing steadily. The eighth HQF will align closely with current global economic dynamics, focusing on key topics such as multilateral trade governance, digital empowerment, green development, new quality productive forces, institutional openness, Global South cooperation, and inclusive development, reinforcing its role as a high-level dialogue platform.
As the upcoming China–Central Asia Summit highlights the growing momentum for regional and global cooperation, the eighth CIIE and HQF present a valuable platform for international enterprises to integrate into China's market and explore new opportunities in Chinese dynamic economy.
Don't miss the chance to be part of these significant global events—visit https://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/ for the latest updates and participation details.
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Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
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"This partnership with TNB marks a bold step forward in our decarbonization journey," said Jamie Khoo, CEO of DayOne. "It reflects the ambitious collaboration needed to power the AI-driven digital economy sustainably—and to do so at scale. We are proud to lead by example in Malaysia through the country's first CRESS agreement. Sustainability is core to how we build, operate, and grow. At DayOne, we are not only transitioning our campuses to renewable energy—we are working to embed ESG principles into every part of our value chain." DayOne is deeply committed to sustainability and responsible growth. The company is working toward full renewable energy use across its operations and is taking concrete steps to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while helping its customers decarbonize their digital infrastructure. This landmark agreement not only advances DayOne's ESG strategy, but also demonstrates how green energy adoption and digital transformation can go hand in hand to build future-ready infrastructure for Malaysia. The signing ceremony was officiated by YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. Minister Zafrul commented, "The formalization of the partnership between DayOne and Tenaga Nasional Berhad clearly demonstrates the private sector's confidence in Malaysia's reindustrialization and clean energy visions. Such policy clarity, as laid out in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap, has also sent a strong signal to the world: Malaysia is open for business, with focused execution on the investor's journey to lead the next wave of sustainable digital growth, high-quality jobs, and a future-ready development that will benefit our people and our economic expansion." Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, President/CEO of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, emphasized that the agreement is more than just a power contract—it reflects a shared ambition for a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable future. "As the first CRESS agreement to deliver up to 500 megawatts of green energy, this partnership is a powerful signal of how a strategic collaboration can unlock reliable and scalable clean energy solutions for Malaysia's most demanding digital infrastructures, including hyperscale data centers." "TNB is proud to lead in this transition—not only by supplying renewable energy, but by building the grid resilience, energy infrastructure, and digital backbone that enable AI, cloud, and high-performance workloads. Through initiatives like the TNB Green Lane Pathway and One-Stop Center (OSC) for data centers, we are supporting Malaysia's 70% RE target and net-zero ambition, while driving inclusive growth and job creation." The Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), introduced by Malaysia's Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), allows medium and high-voltage corporate consumers to directly access renewable energy through TNB's grid system. CRESS supports Malaysia's transition toward a greener and more sustainable energy ecosystem by enabling businesses to procure clean energy efficiently. In October 2024, DayOne and TNB strengthened their partnership through the signing of the fourth Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under the Green Lane Pathway Initiative and One-Stop Center (OSC) for Data Centers. This collaboration advances key green initiatives, including rooftop solar via GSPARX, dark fiber connectivity through ALLO, and renewable energy solutions under CRESS. As Malaysia accelerates its energy transition and digital infrastructure development, DayOne is committed to being a long-term partner in building a low-carbon, future-ready, and globally competitive digital infrastructure platform. About DayOne DayOne is a data center pioneer that develops and operates next-gen digital infrastructure for industry leaders who demand reliable, cost-effective, and quickly scalable solutions. Our cutting-edge facilities empower hyperscalers and large enterprises to achieve rapid deployment and enhance connectivity, driving transformative engagement and innovation as we shape the future of industries. DayOne's data centers are located across tier-one and emerging markets, including Singapore, Johor (Malaysia), Batam (Indonesia), Greater Bangkok, Hong Kong SAR, Tokyo, and beyond. Headquartered in Singapore, DayOne's leadership team draws on over two decades of industry experience and a track record of building Asia's largest data center business. 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Almonty Industries – NASDAQ listing, Pentagon, world-class mine, critical raw materials: ride the perfect wave
Tungsten – hard, heat-resistant, indispensable for rockets, semiconductors, and high-tech tools. However, the global supply chain for this critical metal is on the verge of collapse. China's export restrictions have choked the market, and Western stockpiles are depleting rapidly. In this volatile situation, one company is increasingly stepping into the spotlight: Almonty Industries. With the imminent commissioning of the world's largest tungsten mine outside of China and its unique vertical integration, the Canadian company is no longer just a mine operator – it is becoming the architect of Western raw material security. Here is why investors should take a closer look. Geopolitical earthquake: China's grip on critical raw materials The West's dependence on Chinese raw materials is becoming a strategic Achilles' heel. Since 2023, Beijing has been systematically tightening exports of key metals – most recently tungsten. 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Conflict of interest Pursuant to §85 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG), we point out that Apaton Finance GmbH as well as partners, authors or employees of Apaton Finance GmbH (hereinafter referred to as 'Relevant Persons') currently hold or hold shares or other financial instruments of the aforementioned companies and speculate on their price developments. In this respect, they intend to sell or acquire shares or other financial instruments of the companies (hereinafter each referred to as a 'Transaction'). Transactions may thereby influence the respective price of the shares or other financial instruments of the Company. In this respect, there is a concrete conflict of interest in the reporting on the companies. In addition, Apaton Finance GmbH is active in the context of the preparation and publication of the reporting in paid contractual relationships. For this reason, there is also a concrete conflict of interest. The above information on existing conflicts of interest applies to all types and forms of publication used by Apaton Finance GmbH for publications on companies. Risk notice Apaton Finance GmbH offers editors, agencies and companies the opportunity to publish commentaries, interviews, summaries, news and the like on These contents are exclusively for the information of the readers and do not represent any call to action or recommendations, neither explicitly nor implicitly they are to be understood as an assurance of possible price developments. The contents do not replace individual expert investment advice and do not constitute an offer to sell the discussed share(s) or other financial instruments, nor an invitation to buy or sell such. The content is expressly not a financial analysis, but a journalistic or advertising text. Readers or users who make investment decisions or carry out transactions on the basis of the information provided here do so entirely at their own risk. No contractual relationship is established between Apaton Finance GmbH and its readers or the users of its offers, as our information only refers to the company and not to the investment decision of the reader or user. The acquisition of financial instruments involves high risks, which can lead to the total loss of the invested capital. The information published by Apaton Finance GmbH and its authors is based on careful research. Nevertheless, no liability is assumed for financial losses or a content-related guarantee for the topicality, correctness, appropriateness and completeness of the content provided here. Please also note our Terms of use. This is sponsored content issued on behalf of Apaton Finance GmbH, please see full disclaimer here.
Winnipeg Free Press
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Innovation takes a backseat at small companies as tariffs become a full-time preoccupation
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O'Callaghan started the eco-friendly home goods company with a stone bath mat and now offers about 50 kitchen and bathroom accessories, which are made in China with a non-toxic material that dries quickly. New launches are critical to increasing sales and attracting customers, she said. As Trump increased the tariff on Chinese goods to 20% and as high as 145% before reducing the import tax rate to 30% for 90 days, Dorai Home postponed introducing new merchandise. O'Callaghan said she had to lay off the CEO as well as the head of product development, who helped the company jump on new trends. 'I haven't really put the time or the emphasis on (innovation) because I'm covering too many other people's roles,' she said. The company paused shipments from China in early April but resumed some on a staggered basis after the president's rate reduction. On Wednesday, Trump touted progress in U.S.-China trade talks. 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Trump has argued that curtailing foreign imports with tariffs would help revive the nation's diminished manufacturing base. Analysts and various trade groups have warned that fractured trade ties and supply chains may depress R&D activity of U.S. tech and health care companies that rely on international partnerships or foreign suppliers. Small companies, which often drive the innovations that create jobs and economic growth, already are under strain. With fewer people on staff and tighter budgets compared to large corporations, entrepreneurs say they are spending more time on cutting costs, suspending or arranging orders, and deciding how much of their tariff-related costs to charge customers. That means they're spending less time thinking of their next big ideas. Schylling Inc., a Massachusetts company that produces modern versions of Lava lamps, Sea-Monkeys, My Little Pony and other nostalgic toys, has its products made in China. As part of its strategy to account for tariffs, the company put a group of employees on temporary unpaid leave last month to reduce expenses. Marketing director Beth Muehlenkamp said she and other furloughed workers typically would have been planning products for the final months of 2026. But Schylling isn't focusing on designing new products given the unstable trade outlook. 'It's really hard to focus on innovation and creativity when you're consumed with this day-to-day of how we're just going to balance the books and deal with the changing rates,' Muehlenkamp said. An uneven product pipeline Even some companies that do their manufacturing in the U.S. are scaling back investments in new products. Made Plus, a Maryland company that makes athletic shoes at a small factory in the state capital, put a planned golf line on hold because two key components — a foam insole and the tread for the bottom of the shoe — currently are made in China, founder Alan Guyan said. The company customizes its shoes on demand and charges $145 to $200 a pair. The footwear is made from recycled plastic bottles with advanced knitting, 3D printing and computerized stitching techniques. It's looking into getting components from Vietnam instead of China. Embracing new technology is essential to restoring manufacturing capability in the U.S. and competing with Asia, Guyan said. But given ongoing trade frictions, he said he does not want to invest time or money evaluating the latest embroidery and knitting machines, which come from Germany, Italy, China and the U.S. 'We're just battening down the hatches a little bit and just hoping that there's enough influence in the community of footwear that it will somewhat change and get resolved and we can move forward,' he said of the tariff roller coaster. In contrast, many big companies are forging on. Google parent Alphabet confirmed late last month that it still planned to spend $75 billion on capital expenditures this year, with most of the money going toward artificial intelligence technology. What's next for R&D? Sonia Lapinsky, a managing director at consulting firm AlixPartners, has advised her clients to limit tariff discussions to a small group of executives and to keep their product creation cycles in motion. Businesses have an even greater imperative to come up with attention-grabbing innovations when consumers may be reluctant to open their wallets, she said. Yet smaller companies may struggle to wall off tariff discussions from the rest of the business. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg said that roughly 25% to 30% of the 350 employees at the educational toy company's headquarters, including product developers, are working at least part-time on tariff-related tasks. The company usually develops 250 different products a year and expects to get half that many off the drawing board for 2026, Woldenberg said. While exploring factories in countries besides China, he said, Learning Resources is delaying the next generation of its interactive robots that help children develop computer programming skills through games and other activities. The family-run business and Woldenberg's other toy business, hand2Mind, are locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration. The jointly owned companies filed a lawsuit accusing the president of exceeding his authority by invoking an emergency powers law to impose tariffs. A federal judge ruled in favor of the two companies last month, and the administration has appealed the decision. Woldenberg said he's ready to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. 'It's a win at the Supreme Court that we need,' he said. 'And so until then, there will be no certainty. Even then, if the government is bound and determined to keep us in an uncertain situation, they'll be able to do that.'
