HONG KONG, Mar 20, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – The 30th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully today. The two events attracted about 8,000 industry professionals from 53 countries and regions, highlighting the development momentum and collaborative potential of the global film and television industry. The events, held over four days, featured over 790 exhibitors across a record high participation of 38 countries and regions, bringing together enterprises from emerging markets like ASEAN members such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and mature film markets such as Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, further exemplifying Hong Kong’s position as a centre for cultural and artistic exchange.

FILMART advances international collaboration in the film and television industry

This year’s FILMART continued to demonstrate its role as one of the region’s most influential film and television trading platforms, bringing together exhibitors, buyers and producers from both emerging and mature markets to facilitate cross-regional collaboration and business cooperations. Participating in FILMART for the first time, the General Manager of COL International Group, Timothy Oh from Singapore, noted that FILMART plays a key role in helping companies expand their international networks, he said: "I am meeting friends and new business partners from Turkey, the UK, the US, and even Brazil. Hong Kong’s role as an international hub helps create a bustling market with many business opportunities for those looking at innovation and what’s next.” Sachitha Kalingamudali, General Manager of another first-time exhibitor Mogo Studios from Sri Lanka, said FILMART exceeded his expectations. "We've met distributors from many countries, and everyone has shown genuine interest. This is a great kickstart for future partnerships." Myanmar film production company aTwentyThree even chose FILMART as its first move to explore the international market, founder Arker Soe Oo connected with distributors from the US and Europe, and expressed plans to bring more productions to the event next year.

Overseas buyers also expressed strong recognition of the exhibition’s business matching effectiveness and the diversity of its content, further affirming that FILMART serves as an efficient platform for advancing collaboration across the global film and television value chain and strengthening market connectivity. Bizhan Tong, a buyer from the UK, commented: “FILMART continues to be one of the most effective platforms globally for driving cross-border collaboration. This year we formed a new strategic partnership with MOFAC, advanced multiple projects across both our and other companies' slates, and saw a highly concentrated run of meetings with partners across Asia translating into tangible co-investment and co-production opportunities.”

AI Hub supports Mainland tech companies in going global

A highlight of this year’s FILMART was AI Hub which had multiple leading AI and technology companies showcasing their latest AI technologies and solutions, attracting buyers and potential partners from around the world for business discussions and exchanges. Through this platform, many Mainland start-ups and established enterprises have accelerated their expansion into overseas markets and built international networks, further enhancing brand visibility and converting opportunities into concrete business outcomes. Zhihan Zhang, Founder and CEO of Daogu Culture Limited, remarked, “Whether it is AI animation, short dramas, or digital humans, the key to the future lies in global strategy. FILMART gathers global industry professionals, facilities connections and exchanges, and enables us to understand the various client needs of different overseas markets.” In addition, the newly established "AI Academy", supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and the Film Development Fund, was well-received. 19 thematic workshops equipped industry professionals with hands-on AI skills and insights into emerging trends.

Producers Connect fosters collaboration between local and global producers

Producers Connect, jointly organised by the HKSAR’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the Hong Kong Film Development Council and the HKTDC, united more than 100 producers from Hong Kong and around the world this year. Through a series of networking sessions, panel discussions and workshops, Producers Connect provided a cross-regional platform for creative collaboration, enabling industry professionals to share production trends, explore co-production models and discuss potential projects. The initiative strengthens connections between Hong Kong and the international film and television community, creating more possibilities for jointly expanding into the global market. Speaking at the panel discussion titled “International Coproductions in an Evolving Film Industry Landscape,” Janet Yang, Golden Globe-winning producer, observed: “The world is getting flatter, language is mattering less and less to audiences everywhere.” Producer and director Peter Chan also mentioned: “It’s always difficult to convince the studio, the investor, or now the platform, of a vision you want to make. What you try to do is diversify your investors and partners into different regions.”

48 featured forums and events examine emerging industry trends

Two major forums held alongside FILMART — EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit — focused on the latest developments in the global film, television and entertainment technology sectors, attracting strong participation from industry professionals. EntertainmentPulse addressed popular topics including artificial intelligence, streaming platform strategies, the rising popularity of short dramas, co-production and financing trends. Industry leaders shared insights on global market strategies and future directions, helping the sector capture emerging opportunities. The Financing & Investment panel, themed “Capital in Motion: Private Financing Promotes Development of Asia’s Film & TV Industry,” explored Asian private investment trends, project financing strategies and planning. Justin Deimen, Managing Partner of Goldfinch International, shared: “We need to allocate more resources and capability towards creative IP valuation. If you cannot value something, you cannot invest in it.”

Meanwhile, FILMART Online IP Catalogue featured more than 2,200 creative IP projects, extending the four-day physical fair into a two-month networking platform helping industry stakeholders continue exploring business opportunities. This initiative further consolidated Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s film and entertainment trading hub. The catalogue will remain open until 27 April, enabling industry participants to transcend geographical boundaries and continue expanding global business opportunities.

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About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. 

HONG KONG, March 20, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse successfully concluded at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The premier annual e-commerce and brand marketing events drew a vibrant crowd of more than 1,700 industry professionals from 22 countries and regions, who gathered in Hong Kong to navigate the ever-evolving marketing landscape and redefine the blueprint for business growth.

Driving brand evolution through innovation

Welcoming delegates to the conferences, Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "Rapid advances in digital technologies are allowing e-commerce to reshape the market landscape, transforming how businesses reach consumers, transact and scale. From AI-driven personalisation to social commerce, the pace of change is unprecedented, and with this change comes significant opportunity. The theme for this year’s events, "Generate New Growth", challenges us to seize these opportunities by exploring how fresh ideas, new technologies and bold strategies can power the next wave of momentum."

E-commerce experts unpack the latest AI trends

This year’s MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse staged 30 thematic sessions, with a comprehensive agenda exploring topics including "Growth leaders", "E-commerce new horizons", "Cutting edge marketing dynamics/new market potential", " Social media best practices", the "Meet the celebrity dialogue series”, and "PR disasters and opportunities", complemented by a series of digital marketing and e-commerce workshops. More than 85 esteemed e-commerce pioneers, brand leaders, marketing experts and innovative entrepreneurs from around the globe were invited to dissect the latest e-commerce innovations, global marketing trends and consumer opportunities, exploring how to cultivate new growth in a rapidly shifting marketing ecosystem.

When discussing the development and outlook for e-commerce, multiple industry experts at the conferences highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) applications and its latest trends. Terry Li, Vertical General Manager of Smart Retail, Tencent, noted that “AI is redefining digital commerce, and integrating AI into enterprise architecture properly is key to success. It will not destroy creativity; instead, it can inspire creativity and enable personalised customer experiences.” Bruce Pan, Cross-border Industry Operations Manager of TikTok Shop US, added that the real competitive edge will lie not in generating more content faster, but in combining creative direction, understanding the competitive edges of products and emotional storytelling.

Quick commerce charts a new course for e-commerce

Today's consumers have an insatiable appetite for convenience and personalisation, compelling brands to accelerate the transformation of their e-marketing strategies. Precision data and AI are fundamentally rewiring consumer experiences. Patrick Zhang, Senior BD Manager of Amazon Global Selling, pointed out that the next phase of globalisation will be defined by how quickly and accurately brands can understand local consumer needs and translate data insights into high-quality growth. Yatong Qiu, Vice President of Taobao & Tmall Group, Alibaba, highlighted how brands and merchants can deploy agile merchandising strategies, real-time digital marketing and speed-oriented approaches to upgrade supply chains and streamline order fulfilment, catering to the modern consumer's desire for "everything, instantly". And the "Decoding the Gateway to ASEAN: Cross Border Growth and Market Entry Strategies" session explored tactics for entering the ASEAN market. Speakers including Luca Barni, SVP, Commercial at Lazada Group, shared battle-tested experiences, providing a practical compass for enterprises eyeing ASEAN e-tailing expansion.

Visionary insights from distinguished brand leaders

As the consumer market pivots towards experience-driven models, "taste" and "perception" have become the ultimate battlegrounds for brand competitiveness. Brands are no longer merely delivering product value; they are curating a lifestyle. The "Growth leaders" series at MarketingPulse was inaugurated by Pauline Brown, former Chairman of LVMH North America, who delivered a presentation address on “Aesthetic Intelligence”, illustrating how sensory management and design thinking can elevate brand value and customer experience. “Economic inequality, environmental threats, and the rise of AI make the pursuit of aesthetic intelligence more important than ever,” Ms Brown said. “While AI enhances efficiency, consumers care about brands creating authentic sensory pleasure. Only people can truly convey a clear, well-articulated vision that resonates with customers.”

Haijun Wang, Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Experience Officer of Atour Lifestyle Holdings, shared his philosophy on weaving lifestyle experiences into hotel and lifestyle brand management. By extending the "accommodation experience" into new retail, he demonstrated how to forge brand identity through lifestyle sensibilities and customer resonance. Mr Wang believes that when both service and space strike an emotional chord, the resulting customer loyalty offers an enduring competitive edge. "In the experience economy, emotional value and authentic customer advocacy are becoming more important, making experience not only a point of differentiation, but also a source of sustainable brand growth and long-term development potential,” he said.

As younger generations emerge as the dominant consumer force, the dynamic between brands and youth demographics is being entirely redefined. JinHee Lee, Chief Operating Officer of South Korea's Olive Young, shared the brand's triumphant journey from local flagship to a global powerhouse. He showcased how this Korean beauty titan leverages seamless omnichannel operations and data-driven marketing strategies, using technology as a compass to build international competitiveness. “In order for a beauty brand to go global, it’s essential to develop a marketing platform that combines digital promotion and offline data,” he explained. “By integrating physical stores with online apps, we have built a seamless omnichannel ecosystem that continuously adapts to our customers’ lifestyles and needs. providing real time updates on product stock and promotions.”

Crafting an immersive and unforgettable shopping experience to amplify marketing efficacy and fortify long-term brand influence has always been the golden rule for major international brands. Krzysztof Andrzej Kowal, Global Retail Design Director at YSL Beauty, L'Oréal Luxe, took the stage in the session "The Poetics of Branding: Weaving Story, Design, and Emotion into Iconic Narratives". He shared how to transform physical retail spaces into the ultimate storytelling canvas through the alchemy of "Design × Story × Emotion". He said that to build emotional connections with customers, “physical stores should transcend showcase roles to become temples of experience and content factories that generate authentic and multi-sensory moments. By blending current trends like Y2K and nostalgia, we build up our persona based on new trends while maintaining our brand culture. At the same time, we maintain a cohesive global identity while adapting to local cultures.”

Creative social content ignites brand resonance

In an era saturated with content and dictated by algorithms, brands and creators must rebuild emotional bridges through authenticity and the power of storytelling. This year's conferences approached the subject through the lenses of film, television, social media and content creation, exploring how culturally resonant content can captivate audiences and amplify brand value.

Actor and "Threads Admin" Ng Siu-hin joined forces with Kenie Kwok, Creative Strategy Lead at Meta, in the dialogue "Threads for Consumer and Audience Engagement", comprehensively decoding the "traffic matrix" for the platform. Continuing the creative thread, the "Meet the celebrity dialogue series” invited actor and singer-songwriter Louis Cheung to share his creative odyssey and breakthrough moments. Spanning music to on-screen performances, Louis underscored the importance of staying true to one's original aspirations and authentic expression, inspiring brands and creators to co-create content with genuine warmth. Meanwhile, content creator and MUSE TV founder Mayao shared his ingenious use of disruptive social media promotional tactics to market music and content, leaving an indelible mark on the public consciousness.

As AI permeates every aspect of the marketing and design sectors, creative thinking faces an unprecedented paradigm shift. Award-winning creative minds, including Stephen Rogers, Group Creative Director at Droga5 from Ireland, explored this dynamic in the session "Creativity & AI: Human vs Artificial Mind". The speakers revealed that human imagination and intelligent technology are engaged in a symbiotic dance rather than a zero-sum game, with industry pioneers sharing how to masterfully navigate the shifting boundaries between human intuition and AI.

Practical insights and business matchmaking foster cross-sector synergy

Beyond the main forums and InnoTalks series, the events introduced a new feature, “e-Commerce Connect”, that brought together nearly 30 local and international exhibitors to showcase the latest one-stop e-commerce solutions. A series of digital marketing and e-tailing workshops was also held, at which industry experts imparted strategies for AI integration, cross-border market navigation, and brand influence elevation, arming participating brands with actionable intelligence. The organiser curated multiple networking events and arranged more than 170 one-on-one business matchmaking sessions for attendees and exhibitors. In addition, singer James Ng graced the event with a live performance during the conferences’ Happy Hour session.

Widespread industry support drives sector advancement

This year's MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse received robust support from numerous organisations and industry bodies, including the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong (HK4As), the Hong Kong Internet & Ecommerce Association, the Hong Kong Federation of E-Commerce (HKFEC), the Hong Kong Live E-Commerce Association, the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals’ Association, IAB Hong Kong and PRHK, providing attendees with invaluable market intelligence and unique perspectives.

Forum highlights available via Video on Demand for one month

The Video on Demand pass for MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse is available from today, 20 March, until 19 April. Industry professionals are encouraged to leverage the platform's versatile features during this period to revisit the wealth of insights shared across the events.

Related websites

- MarketingPulse website: https://marketingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/mp/en
- eTailingPulse website: https://etailingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/etp/en
- Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and EntertainmentPulse:
https://hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4sVaOAg

Media enquiries

For enquiries, please contact:

Raconteur PR Agency:

HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:

HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

AI-Powered Marketing Services, Building a Dual-Engine Model of "Technology + Data"

At the core of Qunabox Group’s business model is the creation of a technology-driven, end-to-end value closed loop that upgrades AI from a single functional tool to a core engine embedded throughout the entire consumer journey. Marketing services, as the Group’s core business segment, has developed a dual-engine model of "standardization + value-added services", which continuously optimizes revenue quality and gross profit structure.

In terms of service model, the Group has deeply covered key consumer sectors such as food and beverages, daily necessities, new energy vehicles and household appliances. With a high-quality, stable and diversified brand customer base as its foundation, the Group keeps deepening cooperation with major clients by expanding service scenarios and optimizing product portfolio, thus achieving simultaneous growth in both the number of clients and the value generated per client.

In terms of product innovation, the Group takes technological R&D as the key driver, enabling AI to act as the "execution agent" throughout the end-to-end marketing value chain. The upgraded AI digital human shopping assistant, equipped with cross-sensory intent recognition and high-precision 3D modeling, delivers precise personalized recommendations and elevates user experience. The newly launched AI holographic marketing cabinet creates immersive display scenarios for high-intelligence products, restructuring the interaction mode of offline marketing. Meanwhile, the AI Agent marketing workstation enables closed-loop management across the entire process from content planning to performance tracking, raising marketing execution efficiency and precision to a new level.

In the meantime, the implementation of the AIGC marketing resource library and the marketing selling points database for beverages and snack foods has made data value the core support for marketing decision-making, forming a new marketing service model driven by the dual wheels of "technology + data" and further consolidating the Group’s leading position in the field of AI interactive marketing.

Global Layout in Innovative Tracks, R&D Innovation to Build Solid Barriers

Lifestyle and innovative businesses have injected long-term growth momentum into the Group’s business model. Focusing on "AI + Lifestyle", the Group has proactively explored emerging markets, with key focus on the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia where the demand for high-quality technology-enabled experiential consumption is robust. An overseas business department has been established to achieve end-to-end localized operation and management. At present, the AI indoor entertainment space has completed preliminary preparation and successfully obtained relevant business licenses in Dubai and Singapore.

From the validation of localized models to the integration of software and hardware systems, and from the building of professional teams to the development of content ecosystem, the Group has realized cross-cultural and multilingual adaptation of its AI technologies through refined operation and management. This has allowed its "AI + consumption scenarios" business model to expand beyond domestic markets, providing innovative solutions for the upgrading of global consumer markets.

In addition, other service businesses including IT system development leverage the Group’s technological reserves and first-mover advantages in AI applications to undertake technology development demands from industrial clients. These businesses have become an important extension of the commercialization of the Group’s technological capabilities, further enriching the Group’s revenue structure.

In building technological barriers, Qunabox Group deeply integrates R&D innovation with intellectual property protection. The number of software copyrights registered in China and patents held by the Group has increased to 173 and 22 respectively, with an additional 133 patents currently under application, making technological innovation a solid guarantee for the sustainable development of the Group’s business model.

At present, the integration of artificial intelligence and physical consumption is entering a phase of accelerated large-scale implementation. With its business model centered on "AI + Consumption Scenarios", Qunabox Group has not only achieved high-quality development for itself, but also reshaped the value creation model of the consumer industry.

Looking ahead, Qunabox Group will continue to deepen its technological advantages and service capabilities, advance strategic industrial mergers and acquisitions, and optimize its AI-powered experiential consumption business model. By leveraging the synergy of new technologies, new scenarios and new markets, the Group aims to build a cross-regional, end-to-end AI lifestyle platform. It will keep driving industry innovation and progress, creating commercial value for brand clients, delivering new experiences for consumers, and generating long-term value for shareholders and society.

On 12 March, Qunabox Group announced its 2025 financial results. According to the data, the Company maintained a robust growth momentum during the year, recording revenue of RMB1.663 billion, a year-on-year increase of 24.2%. More notably, the Company’s profitability continued to strengthen, with profit for the period reaching RMB290 million. The Company successfully turned losses into profits, marking the beginning of a new stage of development.

The accounting loss recorded by Qunabox Group in 2024 was mainly attributable to changes in the fair value of preferred shares during the listing period. With the elimination of these accounting-related disturbances, the Company’s genuine intrinsic profitability has become increasingly evident, signaling that Qunabox has officially entered a golden period of growth driven by the explosive release of scale effects.

Building a Solid Technological Foundation and Driving Qualitative Performance Growth Through Product Innovation

In 2025, Qunabox Group continued to deepen its “AI + Consumption Scenarios” strategy by increasing investment in underlying technologies and platform capabilities. R&D expenses rose significantly by 75% year-on-year, laying a solid technological foundation for the Company’s development. By building a unified AI technology middle platform and a modular capability system, the Group achieved improvements in both R&D efficiency and technology reusability.

Its self-developed AI-OMNI multimodal neural integrated collaboration engine achieved key breakthroughs in perception, decision-making, and execution, becoming the core technological support for the Group’s product innovation. Leveraging these technological advantages, Qunabox Group systematically launched and upgraded a series of AI-powered interactive marketing products, including AI digital human shopping assistants, AI holographic marketing cabinets, an AIGC middle platform and resource library, AI Agent workstations, and AI data and strategy analytics solutions. These innovations provide reliable support for implementation across multiple businesses and scenarios, directly driving high-quality revenue growth.

Business Synergy Fueling Expansion, Global Layout Unlocking New Growth Potential

By business segment, the marketing services segment, the Group’s core business, recorded a year-on-year revenue increase of 27.8% in 2025 to reach RMB1.402 billion. Among them, the high-margin value-added marketing services delivered a standout performance, with revenue hitting RMB236 million, a year-on-year surge of 32.9%. Its revenue share continued to rise, driving the optimization of the overall revenue quality and gross margin structure. In 2025, the gross profit of this segment amounted to RMB875 million, up 28.8% year on year.

As the strategic practice platform for the Group's "AI experiential consumption" initiative, the merchandise sales segment achieved continuous improvements in the commercial conversion efficiency of AI interactive terminals. This was accomplished through expanding the terminal network in high-potential cities such as Hangzhou, Chengdu and Ningbo, optimizing the product portfolio toward higher-margin items, and replacing traditional price promotions with intelligent interactive marketing. The segment has developed strong synergies with the core marketing services and become an important scenario for the commercial application of cutting-edge technologies. In 2025, revenue from the merchandise sales segment of Qunabox Group increased by 5.2% year on year to RMB194 million, while gross profit rose by 12.7% year on year to RMB49 million.

The layout of lifestyle and innovative businesses has unlocked a new dimension of global growth for Qunabox Group. In 2025, focusing on "AI + Lifestyle", the Group expanded into the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia simultaneously. An overseas business department was established to oversee the full implementation of global operations, and strategic cooperation has been reached with key local partners in Dubai. Currently, Qunabox Group has completed the preliminary preparations for its AI-powered indoor entertainment spaces and obtained operating licenses in Dubai and Singapore. The establishment of overseas teams, product localization and refinement, as well as the integration of software and hardware systems are advancing steadily. The Group has also completed the validation of localized AI models, ensuring that its AI-driven interactive experiences can be accurately adapted to multilingual and cross-cultural scenarios. This lays a solid foundation for the scalable expansion of its overseas business, which is expected to become the Company’s second growth curve for performance.

Expanding Customer Base: A New Journey for AI + Consumption Scenarios

Leveraging its innovative and efficient business model and outstanding service capabilities, Qunabox Group has maintained sound and stable partnerships with brand clients. Additionally, the Company has expanded the application scenarios of its services, enriched and optimized its AI-driven interactive marketing products, developed data strategy solutions, and refined its marketing product portfolio and service model. As a result, the Company has continuously expanded its industry influence, deepened cooperation with high-quality clients, and steadily grown its premium client base, with both the number of brand clients and key accounts on the rise. In 2025, the total number of brand clients served by Qunabox Group increased to 332 for the full year, including 58 key accounts. The average revenue per key account grew by 15% year on year, reflecting a continuous rise in client value and further consolidating the foundation for the Company’s sustained performance growth.

Supported by strong performance, Qunabox Group maintained a sound financial position and ample cash flow throughout the year. As at 31 December 2025, the Group’s cash and bank balances amounted to RMB1.506 billion, providing strong support for subsequent investments in technology, business expansion and global deployment.

In summary, Qunabox Group’s outstanding performance in 2025 is the inevitable result of its years of deep engagement in AI technologies and its steadfast implementation of the “AI + Consumption Scenarios” strategy. The turnaround from loss to profit further demonstrates the sustainability of its business model and the growth potential of its profitability.

Looking ahead, as the integration of artificial intelligence with physical consumption scenarios continues to deepen, a window of opportunity has emerged for the large-scale deployment of AI applications. With technology at its core and scenarios as its foundation, Qunabox Group is building a cross-regional, end-to-end AI lifestyle platform. Amid the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces, the Company, leveraging its technological barriers, scenario advantages and global vision, is well positioned to continue leading the industry transformation in the integration of AI and consumption and to achieve long-term sustainable development of its own.

HONG KONG, Mar 11, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse – Asia’s premier annual e-commerce and marketing events – will be held concurrently on 19 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Under the theme "Generate New Growth", this year's conferences focus on how brands can rethink their growth strategies amid global market uncertainty, helping to turn challenges into forward momentum. From strategic insights to practical implementation, the events will comprehensively reveal new directions for growth, bringing together about 70 global e-commerce experts, marketing executives, brand representatives and advertising elites to share valuable insights and success stories relating to global marketing and e-commerce trends. Featuring 30 thematic sessions, seminars and demonstration sessions, the events will help to foster cross-sector exchange and boost collaboration within the industry.

The rise of e-commerce has injected new momentum into global economic growth, while the government is actively encouraging small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to develop e-commerce capabilities that can enhance their market competitiveness. This year’s conferences will focus on the latest developments in e-commerce, helping participants seize growth opportunities in the current market environment through a dual-track approach that advances both e-commerce development and brand marketing. A lineup of experts will speak on topics such as agentic AI, lifestyle e-commerce, quick commerce and global brand expansion. They will examine innovation in e-commerce along with global marketing trends and emerging consumer opportunities, while exploring how the industry can generate new growth amid a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.

Tech marketing expert shares insights on data-driven growth

Jinhee Lee, Chief Operating Officer of Olive Young, South Korea’s leading health and beauty brand, will present on the theme “Beyond Retail, Building an Ecosystem: Driving Collaborative Growth of Olive Young and K-Beauty”. Drawing on perspectives from both marketing and e-commerce, he will explain how seamless omnichannel operations and data-driven marketing strategies are being leveraged to build a high-growth ecosystem for Korean beauty brands, while continuously expanding their global footprint. Well-known for harnessing data to drive innovation, Mr Lee has spearheaded a series of digital transformation initiatives and integrated retail strategies, using technology to enable Olive Young to stay ahead of trends and become a leader in the global beauty market.

Breaking new ground in marketing through the China experience and new retail

Atour Group is a leading player in Chinese Mainland’s mid- to high-end hotel chain market. Its Founder, CEO & Chief Experience Officer, Haijun Wang, will focus on two key themes during his presentation: 1) Experience Differentiation Strategy — placing differentiated experiences at the core to build distinctive product and service offerings across both the hotel and retail businesses; and 2) Customer Segment Operations Strategy — using a core customer base that pursues a quality lifestyle as the connective thread to deeply integrate the hotel and retail businesses, thereby shaping a unique brand group model.

Enhancing brand value through aesthetic intelligence in e-commerce

Pauline Brown, former Chairman of LVMH North America, will share how to leverage "aesthetic intelligence" to elevate brand value, shape consumer perception and strengthen overall online-to-offline experiences and marketing strategies. She will also discuss how brands can continuously cultivate "taste" and aesthetic acumen and explain how aesthetics and elevated storytelling can be utilised to build truly compelling brands in a rapidly changing e-commerce and technological landscape.

Exploring the latest trends in agentic AI and quick commerce

Quick commerce and agentic AI are bringing unprecedented changes to the e-commerce market in the Chinese Mainland, continuously reshaping consumers' shopping patterns, habits and demands. Yatong Qiu, Vice President of Taobao&Tmall Group, Alibaba, will share on how brands and merchants can tackle demand through flexible merchandising strategies, real-time marketing and speed-oriented innovations to maintain competitiveness and seize time-sensitive opportunities. Meanwhile, Terry Li, Vertical General Manager of Smart Retail, Tencent, will take a deeper dive into agentic AI-driven e-commerce strategies. Looking from the perspectives of service providers and e-commerce ecosystems, he will share practical approaches and future innovation directions for agentic AI solutions, helping brands and businesses seize the initiative in the new era of e-commerce.

Decoding cross-border growth and market entry strategies for ASEAN

As ASEAN continues to rise as one of the world's most dynamic economic regions, enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong are actively setting their sights on Southeast Asia, particularly seeking growth opportunities through e-commerce channels. The conferences will feature a session titled “Decoding the Gateway to ASEAN: Cross Border Growth and Market Entry Strategies”, exploring strategies for entering the ASEAN market. Speakers including Luca Barni, SVP, Commercial, Lazada Group, will share their practical experiences in expanding within ASEAN. Attendees will get a comprehensive understanding of the growth opportunities and common pitfalls in this growing market, addressing e-commerce legal and regulatory challenges, as well as brand and product localisation strategies.

Cracking the Threads audience engagement plus celebrity insights

The recent rise of social platform Threads is further driving the evolution of brand marketing models. In the "Threads for Consumer and Audience Engagement" session, Kenie Kwok, Creative Strategy Lead at Meta, will share the latest trends in brand account management and user preferences from the platform's perspective. Actor and "Threads Admin" Ng Siu-hin will share his insights on how to stand out as a content creator, offering practical tips on building engagement with netizens from a creator's viewpoint. In addition, IN.DECIDE, renowned for managing social media platforms for multiple brands as an "admin", will analyse its promotional campaign for the film Peg O' My Heart, detailing how the virtual character "Choi San-keung" successfully broke the fourth wall with the audience.

This year's "Meet the Celebrity” dialogue series has invited actor and singer-songwriter Louis Cheung to speak on the topic "Chasing the Golden Boy Within". He will share his career journey in personal brand management and talk about his multifaceted development across the acting, music and creative fields. Meanwhile, content creator and MUSE TV Founder Mayao will discuss how he strategically leverages innovative promotional approaches to market music works, generating broad and lasting public impact and driving sustainable market growth.

Exploring the “healing economy" and IP marketing

When engaging with younger generations, who place strong emphasis on emotional connection, brands must understand “oshikatsu culture”, where young people identify strongly as a fan of an idol, along with the healing trend and intellectual property (IP)-driven consumer behaviour. The session "Healing Economy and IP Marketing" will feature speakers including Yiying Wang, Founder and Designer of Noodoll Limited, who will explore how brands can keep abreast of the latest trends, such as designing sustainably interactive experiences and campaigns with an "oshikatsu mindset", incorporating healing elements into products or marketing to enhance resonance, and collaborating with popular IPs to boost reach and engagement, thereby deepening connections and relationships with younger demographics.

The conferences will introduce a new feature, "e-Commerce Connect", showcasing the latest one-stop e-commerce solutions, with close to 30 local and international exhibitors. Additionally, a series of digital marketing and e-commerce workshops will enable participating brands to gain hands-on practical experience. Multiple networking activities will be organised, and participants can take advantage of one-to-one business matching services to facilitate cross-sector exchange and collaboration. The event will also feature live music performances, including a set from popular local singer James Ng.

For more information on speakers and the detailed programme for the conferences, please visit: https://marketingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/mp/en. To request interviews with guest speakers, please email betsytse@raconteur.hk or molisalau@raconteur.hk.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3OU0UAr

Websites

· MarketingPulse: https://marketingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/mp/en

· Event schedule: https://marketingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/mp/en/programme

· Speaker list: https://marketingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/mp/en/speaker

· eTailingPulse: https://etailingpulse.hktdc.com/conference/etp/en

· EntertainmentPulse: https://hkfilmart.hktdc.com/conference/hkfilmart/en 

Media enquiries

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

HONG KONG, Mar 9, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 will take place from 15 March to 19 April. Over the years, the Expo has served as a vital platform connecting innovators and industry leaders across the global film and entertainment industries, fostering exchanges among local, Asian and international practitioners, and presenting a wide spectrum of outstanding works. This year, it continues to span four major fields—film, television, music and digital entertainment—bringing together eight flagship events. International stars, renowned directors and leading industry figures will gather at the Expo, further strengthening cross-regional exchange in film and entertainment culture. The Expo has invited Leon Lai as Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador to help promote Hong Kong as a leading hub for film and entertainment in Asia.

Entertainment Expo Hong Kong is spearheaded by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), with sponsorship from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the Film Development Fund, and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This year’s Expo features eight major events: the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART); Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA); Asian Film Awards; Digital Entertainment Summit; EntertainmentPulse; Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); and the Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music). The Expo’s kick-off ceremony will be held on 17 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The occasion will also mark the 30th edition of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market and the 50th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, reinforcing the significance of this milestone year.

Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART)

Organised by the HKTDC, the 30th edition of FILMART will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 17 to 20 March. This year’s event brings together more than 790 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, further enhancing its global appeal. More than 30 regional pavilions will represent Chinese Mainland and international markets, including mature film markets such as France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and ASEAN members such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. FILMART also welcomes first-time exhibitors from various emerging markets. This diverse participation demonstrates FILMART’s role as Asia’s leading entertainment content marketplace and also as a vital catalyst for global cultural exchange and collaboration in the screen industry.

This year’s FILMART events will feature comprehensive upgrades. The second edition of Producers Connect, jointly organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, CCIDA, the Hong Kong Film Development Council, and HKTDC, will showcase an impressive lineup. In collaboration with 10 international film institutions, the event will gather over 100 global and Hong Kong producers to introduce regional film production and funding initiatives, fostering cross-regional collaborations and co-productions. Highlights include a keynote forum featuring renowned local director Peter Chan and Golden Globe-winning producer Janet Yang, who will share cutting-edge insights on international co-production strategies.

Furthermore, the AI Hub, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals, will expand its scale, bringing together leading artificial intelligence and technology companies—including Alibaba Cloud, Kling AI, MiniMax, Vidu, and more, alongside local academic institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Lingnan University. Additionally, the newly launched AI Academy, funded by CCIDA and the Film Development Fund, will host over 15 thematic workshops. Expert instructors will demonstrate how to leverage AI tools to efficiently produce high quality film and animation content, streamline production workflows, and empower the industry to capitalise on AI-driven opportunities.

Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)

Entering its 50th edition, HKIFF will take place from 1 to 12 April, reaffirming its status as one of Asia's most enduring and respected film festivals.  This milestone year adopts the theme "50 and Beyond: Framing the Future", celebrating both the festival's rich heritage and its commitment to innovation.  To commemorate the anniversary, HKIFF has commissioned local illustrator, comic artist, and lyricist Siu Hak to develop the annual thematic design.  His vibrant artwork captures the festival's imaginative spirit and its forward-looking vision.  Actors Angela Yuen and Tony Wu will serve as this year's ambassadors, symbolising the bridge between HKIFF's legacy and the creative energy of a new generation.  In addition, acclaimed actress Gingle Wang, winner of the Best Lead Actress award at the 22nd Taipei Film Festival, and Thailand's Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, recipient of the Asian Film Awards Academy's Asian Rising Star Award in 2025, have been appointed Asian Visionary Ambassadors.  Both will make special appearances during the festival, fostering artistic and cross-cultural exchange.  A special exhibition, "50 and Beyond: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Exhibition", will be held at Hong Kong City Hall, showcasing HKIFF's half-century contribution to film art and cultural dialogue.  To further mark the occasion, HKIFF will collaborate with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to present the Asian premiere of "In the Mood for Love in Concert", a unique programme that rekindles the iconic film's nostalgic charm through a live orchestral reinterpretation.

Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA)

The 44th Hong Kong Film Awards will be held on 19 April at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The Awards has invited Michelle Wai, recipient of the Best Actress at last year’s HKFA, together with Edan Lui, who was previously nominated for Best New Performer at the HKFA, to serve as special guests and announce the nominations across 18 award categories. This year’s entries demonstrate the diverse creative strength of Hong Kong cinema. Sons of the Neon Night leads with 12 nominations, followed closely by Back to the Past with 11 nominations.

Asian Film Awards

The 19th Asian Film Awards proudly presents three masterclasses, Hong Kong premieres of selected Asian titles, and creator-to-creator “In Conversation” sessions—showcasing the boundless possibilities of Asian cinema. Esteemed guests include acclaimed actress Zhang Ziyi, internationally celebrated director Jia Zhangke, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, Oscar-shortlisted director Tsou Shih-Ching, Korean actor Jung Kyung-ho, Jo Woo-jin, and Ky Nam Inn director Leon Le with actress 9m88, among others. Gathering in Hong Kong, they will explore the creative depth and cultural vitality of Asian filmmaking.

Digital Entertainment Summit

Organised by the HKTDC with co-organisation from the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association and MarketingPulse & eTailingPulse, the 15th Entertainment Summit will take place on 19 March as a FILMART flagship event. Under the theme “Animation Without Borders: Creating, Financing and Expanding Animation IP Worldwide”, the Summit will feature two panel discussions, and take a deep dive into how the animation industry can expand its global footprint through intellectual property (IP) innovation, strategic investment, and cross-border collaboration.

Featured speakers include Sai Abishek, Head of Factual Entertainment, Lifestyle & Kids, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Aurélien Dirler, Head of the International Cooperation and Partnerships Department at France’s Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), who will share insights into IP development strategies and monetisation pathways. The Summit will also present a case study of the local animated film “Another World”, inviting Polly Yeung, Producer & Scriptwriter; Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, CCIDA; and members of the overseas production partners to discuss how cross-regional investment and production collaboration can deliver internationally recognised animation projects.

EntertainmentPulse

Organised by the HKTDC, EntertainmentPulse will be held concurrently with FILMART, gathering global film and television industry leaders to provide insights into trending topics including artificial intelligence, video streaming, financing and investment, micro-short dramas, co-productions, and animation, providing attendees the latest market insights. For the financing session, experts such as Bennett Pozil, Head of Corporate Banking at East West Bank, Justin Deimen, Managing Partner of Goldfinch International, and Catherine Ying, President of CMC Pictures and Pearl Studio (China), will analyse banking considerations, private financing strategies, and film project capitalisation approaches from multiple perspectives. Additionally, industry leaders including James Gibbons, President of APAC at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Omar Giri Valliappan, COO of Vision+, will unveil development roadmaps for leading international streaming platforms. Addressing the recent surge in micro-short dramas, Chinese Mainland companies including DataEye, Xiaowu Bros, and Mansen (Shenzhen) Culture Media will share insights on globalisation opportunities and collaborative prospects within the Greater Bay Area's Micro-Short Drama industry ecosystem.

Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)

The 24th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum will take place from 17 to 19 March. This year’s lineup features 42 shortlisted projects from 22 countries and regions, spanning different stages of development. Notably, 13 projects are animation and genre entries, reflecting a rich spectrum of storytelling, from family-driven narratives and comedies to thrillers, fantasy, action and science fiction, highlighting the dynamism and diversity of Asian filmmaking. All shortlisted projects will be presented alongside FILMART during HAF, enabling project teams to engage directly with industry professionals, exchange views on creative direction and share their latest progress, with a view to advancing both regional and international partnerships. This year’s key visual is created by artist and director Qiu Jiongjiong. Staying true to the distinctive visual language of his paintings and films, the artwork is set against the backdrop of Wan Chai and reimagines Hong Kong’s iconic project landscape, encapsulating the imagery of “Cinema is everywhere.”

Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music)

The 13th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) will hold its Awards Ceremony cum Selected Works Screening on March 20 at Theatre 2, HKCEC. The Scheme aims to nurture local advertising and film production talents, providing HK$130,000 to HK$240,000 in production funding for 21 projects under the Tier "Advertising Production Start-ups" and 10 projects in the Tier "Small Advertising Production Enterprises." Supported by professional mentorship, training, and promotional resources, the Scheme assists creative teams in producing original microfilms. This edition also features collaborations with local musicians who will participate in performances, fostering dynamic interplay between music and visual storytelling. The ceremony will announce the award winners and screen their works, highlighting the creativity and talent of Hong Kong's creative community.

Entertainment Expo website: https://eexpohk.hktdc.com/en/

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4bfhges

Media Enquiries:

HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic direct sales reseller partnership with AnyMind Group, a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the growth of Truecaller’s direct advertising business across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) regions.  

Under this partnership, AnyMind Group will serve as the exclusive intermediary for Truecaller’s advertising inventory across Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The scope of the partnership is focused specifically on enabling brands and agencies to leverage Truecaller’s premium ad formats to reach highly engaged, high-intent users through relevant, data-driven advertising solutions. 

With a strong on-ground presence and established relationships with leading advertisers and agencies across MENA and SEA markets, AnyMind Group brings deep regional expertise that will support the scaling of Truecaller’s advertising footprint locally. The partnership is designed to empower brands with impactful placements on Truecaller’s trusted communications platform, helping drive meaningful engagement with users in these fast-growing digital economies.  

Truecaller continues to see strong user adoption across MENA and Southeast Asia, presenting advertisers with significant opportunities to connect with audiences in trusted, brand-safe environments. By combining Truecaller’s global scale, proprietary data capabilities, and premium ad formats with AnyMind Group’s local market leadership and execution strength, the partnership aims to unlock the full monetization potential of Truecaller’s ad inventory in these regions.  

Commenting on the partnership, Hemant Arora, Vice President & Global Head Truecaller Ads Business, said, “As Truecaller continues to expand its global advertising business, partnerships with strong regional players like AnyMind Group are critical to delivering localized expertise and measurable outcomes for advertisers. MENA and Southeast Asia represent high-growth markets with evolving digital maturity, and through this collaboration, we aim to bring brands closer to consumers via trusted and contextual communication experiences on our platform.”  

Aditya Aima, Managing Director, Growth Markets; Co-MD, India and MENA from AnyMind Group added, “We are excited to partner with Truecaller to open its inventory to brands across MENA and Southeast Asia. With Truecaller’s scale and trusted user ecosystem, combined with our market depth and networks, we see strong potential to drive more relevant, high-impact advertising outcomes for advertisers looking to deepen engagement in these dynamic markets.”  

This collaboration marks an important milestone in Truecaller’s broader international expansion strategy, focused on building strong local partnerships to deliver measurable value to advertisers while driving sustainable revenue growth across emerging markets.  

About AnyMind Group

Founded in April 2016, AnyMind Group [TSE:5027] is a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The company provides end-to- end offerings to brands and businesses, publishers and influencers for digital commerce, marketing, logistics, customer engagement, data and AI utilization, publisher monetization and creator monetization. AnyMind Group has over 2,000 staff across 24 offices in 15 markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.  

As of September 2025, the company serves over 1,000 enterprises for marketing, 190+enterprises for e-commerce, 1,800+ publishers and 2,100+ creators. More information is available on the company’s investor disclosure site.  

About Truecaller and Truecaller Ads

Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Advertising is the primary revenue stream for Truecaller. Truecaller Ads serves 5 billion impressions every day and is trusted by over 10,000 brands.

Visit advertisers.truecaller.com for more information.

Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb 26, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic direct sales reseller partnership with AnyMind Group, a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the growth of Truecaller’s direct advertising business across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) regions.  

Under this partnership, AnyMind Group will serve as the exclusive intermediary for Truecaller’s advertising inventory across Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The scope of the partnership is focused specifically on enabling brands and agencies to leverage Truecaller’s premium ad formats to reach highly engaged, high-intent users through relevant, data-driven advertising solutions. 

With a strong on-ground presence and established relationships with leading advertisers and agencies across MENA and SEA markets, AnyMind Group brings deep regional expertise that will support the scaling of Truecaller’s advertising footprint locally. The partnership is designed to empower brands with impactful placements on Truecaller’s trusted communications platform, helping drive meaningful engagement with users in these fast-growing digital economies.  

Truecaller continues to see strong user adoption across MENA and Southeast Asia, presenting advertisers with significant opportunities to connect with audiences in trusted, brand-safe environments. By combining Truecaller’s global scale, proprietary data capabilities, and premium ad formats with AnyMind Group’s local market leadership and execution strength, the partnership aims to unlock the full monetization potential of Truecaller’s ad inventory in these regions.  

Commenting on the partnership, Hemant Arora, Vice President & Global Head Truecaller Ads Business, said, “As Truecaller continues to expand its global advertising business, partnerships with strong regional players like AnyMind Group are critical to delivering localized expertise and measurable outcomes for advertisers. MENA and Southeast Asia represent high-growth markets with evolving digital maturity, and through this collaboration, we aim to bring brands closer to consumers via trusted and contextual communication experiences on our platform.”  

Aditya Aima, Managing Director, Growth Markets; Co-MD, India and MENA from AnyMind Group added, “We are excited to partner with Truecaller to open its inventory to brands across MENA and Southeast Asia. With Truecaller’s scale and trusted user ecosystem, combined with our market depth and networks, we see strong potential to drive more relevant, high-impact advertising outcomes for advertisers looking to deepen engagement in these dynamic markets.”  

This collaboration marks an important milestone in Truecaller’s broader international expansion strategy, focused on building strong local partnerships to deliver measurable value to advertisers while driving sustainable revenue growth across emerging markets.  

About AnyMind Group

Founded in April 2016, AnyMind Group [TSE:5027] is a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The company provides end-to- end offerings to brands and businesses, publishers and influencers for digital commerce, marketing, logistics, customer engagement, data and AI utilization, publisher monetization and creator monetization. AnyMind Group has over 2,000 staff across 24 offices in 15 markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.  

As of September 2025, the company serves over 1,000 enterprises for marketing, 190+enterprises for e-commerce, 1,800+ publishers and 2,100+ creators. More information is available on the company’s investor disclosure site.  

About Truecaller and Truecaller Ads

Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Advertising is the primary revenue stream for Truecaller. Truecaller Ads serves 5 billion impressions every day and is trusted by over 10,000 brands.

Visit advertisers.truecaller.com for more information.

Singapore, Feb 26, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic direct sales reseller partnership with AnyMind Group, a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating the growth of Truecaller’s direct advertising business across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) regions.  

Under this partnership, AnyMind Group will serve as the exclusive intermediary for Truecaller’s advertising inventory across Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The scope of the partnership is focused specifically on enabling brands and agencies to leverage Truecaller’s premium ad formats to reach highly engaged, high-intent users through relevant, data-driven advertising solutions. 

With a strong on-ground presence and established relationships with leading advertisers and agencies across MENA and SEA markets, AnyMind Group brings deep regional expertise that will support the scaling of Truecaller’s advertising footprint locally. The partnership is designed to empower brands with impactful placements on Truecaller’s trusted communications platform, helping drive meaningful engagement with users in these fast-growing digital economies.  

Truecaller continues to see strong user adoption across MENA and Southeast Asia, presenting advertisers with significant opportunities to connect with audiences in trusted, brand-safe environments. By combining Truecaller’s global scale, proprietary data capabilities, and premium ad formats with AnyMind Group’s local market leadership and execution strength, the partnership aims to unlock the full monetization potential of Truecaller’s ad inventory in these regions.  

Commenting on the partnership, Hemant Arora, Vice President & Global Head Truecaller Ads Business, said, “As Truecaller continues to expand its global advertising business, partnerships with strong regional players like AnyMind Group are critical to delivering localized expertise and measurable outcomes for advertisers. MENA and Southeast Asia represent high-growth markets with evolving digital maturity, and through this collaboration, we aim to bring brands closer to consumers via trusted and contextual communication experiences on our platform.”  

Aditya Aima, Managing Director, Growth Markets; Co-MD, India and MENA from AnyMind Group added, “We are excited to partner with Truecaller to open its inventory to brands across MENA and Southeast Asia. With Truecaller’s scale and trusted user ecosystem, combined with our market depth and networks, we see strong potential to drive more relevant, high-impact advertising outcomes for advertisers looking to deepen engagement in these dynamic markets.”  

This collaboration marks an important milestone in Truecaller’s broader international expansion strategy, focused on building strong local partnerships to deliver measurable value to advertisers while driving sustainable revenue growth across emerging markets.  

About AnyMind Group

Founded in April 2016, AnyMind Group [TSE:5027] is a Business-Process-as-a-Service company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation. The company provides end-to- end offerings to brands and businesses, publishers and influencers for digital commerce, marketing, logistics, customer engagement, data and AI utilization, publisher monetization and creator monetization. AnyMind Group has over 2,000 staff across 24 offices in 15 markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.  

As of September 2025, the company serves over 1,000 enterprises for marketing, 190+enterprises for e-commerce, 1,800+ publishers and 2,100+ creators. More information is available on the company’s investor disclosure site.  

About Truecaller and Truecaller Ads

Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Advertising is the primary revenue stream for Truecaller. Truecaller Ads serves 5 billion impressions every day and is trusted by over 10,000 brands.

Visit advertisers.truecaller.com for more information.

SINGAPORE, Feb 19, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Asia’s largest food retailers, manufacturers, restaurant chains, and hospitality groups remain behind international better practice on sustainable and responsible protein sourcing, but progress is accelerating across the region, according to The Asian Protein Buyers 100: An Assessment of Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing released today by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE). 

The APB100 is a benchmark based on investor-backed priorities - assessing how 100 of Asia’s largest listed protein-buying companies — headquartered or operating across Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam — manage environmental, social, and governance risks embedded in meat, dairy, poultry, and seafood supply chains. Collectively, the companies assessed represent more than USD500 billion in market capitalisation and sit at the choke point of Asia’s protein system, where procurement decisions shape production standards, risk management and food-system outcomes.

The companies assessed include some of Asia’s most recognisable food and retail groups. These include China Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group, Yonghui and Yum China (Mainland China); AEON, Seven & I Holdings, Meiji, Nissin and NH Foods (Japan); CJ CheilJedang, Lotte and E-Mart (South Korea); Charoen Pokphand Foods and Thai Union (Thailand); Jollibee, Century Pacific Food and San Miguel Food & Beverage (Philippines); Vinamilk (Vietnam); and Hindustan Lever, Nestle India, Jubilant, Devyani, DMart, Westlife Foodworld (McDonald’s India) (India), among others.

Scores are improving, but the baseline remains low

Now in its second edition, the benchmark shows clear momentum since 2023 — but also highlights that most companies remain at an early stage of credible implementation.

The average overall score increased from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2025, with around 80% of companies improving year-on-year. More than half of comparable companies moved up at least one performance tier.

However, no company reached the top two performance tiers, underscoring a persistent gap between sustainability commitments and on-the-ground execution.

A growing group of leaders is emerging

The number of companies in the leading Tier 3 group more than doubled from 10 in 2023 to 26 in 2025, while the lowest-scoring group halved from 44 to 21 companies.

Progress, however, remains uneven and concentrated among a subset of early movers and sustainability themes, while a significant minority of companies continues to disclose little or nothing across several material risk areas.

Climate, labour, and waste are moving fastest

Companies performed strongest on Water & Waste, Labour , and Climate Change, reflecting wider uptake of international disclosure frameworks and growing expectations around supply-chain due diligence.

Climate and labour show the fastest improvement since 2023, driven by emerging regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny, particularly around Scope 3 emissions and labour standards in supply chains.

Governance and protein diversification remain critical gaps

Several material risk areas continue to show weak performance. Governance in relation to protein sustainability, remains the lowest-scoring theme, averaging just 4.5%, with most companies scoring zero. Few have board-approved protein sustainability strategies, capital allocation plans, or accountability mechanisms.

Protein diversification also remains underdeveloped at 7.4%, indicating that most companies have yet to articulate how they will shift product portfolios toward truly low carbon plant proteins at scale.

Disclosures on deforestation and biodiversity, animal welfare, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) also remain thin and rarely quantified. The intersection of climate and deforestation is still not being duly harnessed. Similarly, policies and procurement practices that strengthen animal welfare and enable antibiotic reduction remain a low point, with average animal welfare performance at just 14.1% and only one company aligned with recognised higher-welfare standards or independently certified disclosure.

Why this matters: Asia is the decisive region for global protein systems

Compared with innovative international peers, many of Asia’s protein buyers remain behind on deforestation-free sourcing, antibiotic stewardship, higher-welfare policies and procurement, plant-protein targets and science-based climate transition planning.

However, Asia now represents the most important opportunity for global leadership in responsible protein systems. And with less than five years to implement meaningful change towards various 2030 United Nations and related targets, the vision of a more responsible and sustainable food system is at risk.

“Asia is the world’s fastest-growing protein market, which means what happens here will determine the future of global food systems,” said Kate Blaszak, ARE Director, Protein Transition. “ThisAPB100 shows that disclosure and awareness are improving and aims to trigger a shift from Policy to Practice. With a realm of better practice examples in the report to also assist companies, the next phase must focus on full supply-chain coverage, measurable targets, and annual progress with board-level accountability.”

Download the APB100 Report HERE.

About Asia Research & Engagement (ARE)

ARE brings leading investors into dialogue with Asian-listed companies to address sustainable development challenges and help companies align with investor priorities. With decades of Asia experience, our cross-cultural team understands the region’s unique needs. Our high-quality independent research, robust investor network, and engagement expertise, provide corporate leaders and financial decision makers with insights leading to concrete action.

For media interviews and further enquiries, please contact:
Wani Diwakar
Asia Research & Engagement (ARE)
wani.diwakar@asiareengage.com