Maybank marks 14th Group Global CR Day, driving meaningful change for over 18,000 lives across 15 markets

Turning Plastic Waste into Purpose - In Petaling Jaya, Selangor, over 100 Maybankers from the President and Group CEO’s office came together for the "Micro-factory Operation Volunteering" initiative, in collaboration with Hara Makers and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam. Officiated by President and Group CEO Maybank, Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli (centre, in beige khakis), the programme addressed the growing challenges of plastic waste and limited awareness of circular economy practices through hands-on recycling and upcycling activities.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Over 15,000 Maybank employees worldwide recently came together for the 14th Maybank Group Global CR Day where they made a difference to over 18,000 community members across Maybank’s operational footprint, by continuing to play a role in positively impacting lives and the environment through sustainable initiatives.

Guided by the theme “Impacting Society Positively: Enabling Well-being For All”, Maybank Group Global CR Day 2026 is part of Maybank Group’s flagship employee volunteerism programme, Cahaya Kasih (CK), a platform that empowers Maybankers worldwide to come together as agents of change in driving environmental responsibility, empowering communities and education.

This year, Maybankers came together to undertake 88 initiatives across the Group, reaching communities in Malaysia and around the world. To date, the programme has impacted over 259,000 lives globally.

The global initiative is in line with Maybank’s ROAR30 strategy and Sustainability commitments, particularly its ambition to Impact Society Positively through the delivery of over 77,000 volunteer hours annually, contributing towards the Group’s annual target of 150,000 volunteer hours.

In Petaling Jaya, Selangor, over 100 Maybankers from the President and Group CEO office came together for the "Micro-factory Operation Volunteering" initiative, in collaboration with Hara Makers and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam. Officiated by President and Group CEO Maybank, Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli, volunteers participated in plastic waste segregation and workshops that transformed discarded materials into keychains, candles and more. The initiative is expected to benefit 600 UiTM students, empowering B40 women and community members through income-generating opportunities and indirectly impact 176 households.

Elsewhere, members of the Board, senior management and employees across various locations around the world came out in full force to participate in their respective initiatives, which included empowering marginalised community, wildelife conservation, mangrove reforestation, financial literacy workshops and many more.

Group Chief Human Capital Officer Maybank, Mazhatulshima Mohd Zahid, said “Global CR Day is the strongest expression of how Maybankers come together with a shared purpose to impact society positively. Through the collective efforts of our employees across 15 markets, we are not only addressing immediate community needs but also enabling long-term well-being through initiatives focused on community empowerment, education and environmental sustainability. As we embarked on the 14th Maybank Group Global CR Day, we remain committed to creating meaningful change that strengthens livelihood, builds resilience and empowers communities to thrive.”

SOURCE: Malayan Banking Berhad (MAYBANK)​​​​​​​

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maybank Group Corporate Affairs
Name: Izlyn Ramli
Tel: +60 19 200 0248
Email: corporateaffairs@maybank.com

--BERNAMA

EB5 CAPITAL ACHIEVES FULL EARLY REPAYMENT OF JF38 PROJECT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- EB5 Capital has announced the full early repayment of JF38 – Hutchinson Island Apartments, a 288-unit multifamily development in Savannah, Georgia.

This milestone marks one of the first projects to reach complete capital recovery since the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), underscoring the firm's investment discipline and the potential of thoughtfully executed EB-5 structures.

EB5 Capital in a statement said eligible investors will receive their full US$800,000 capital return, while the remaining investors will be temporarily redeployed so their investments remain at risk until they become eligible. (US$1=RM4.04)

“Most of the industry remains in the early phases of these investments. This outcome demonstrates that when properly structured and managed, EB-5 investments deliver on their promises and validate our approach to the market,” said its President, Brian Ostar, who noted that full project repayment this early in the post-RIA landscape is exceptionally rare.

EB5 Capital said JF38 broke ground in 2023 and was successfully completed in 2025, creating more than 1,200 jobs through the EB-5 programme for Savannah.

The project's success reflects the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved, with EB5 Capital recognising its investors, project team, sponsor partners, immigration attorneys and channel partners for their contributions to the development.

Headquartered in Washington, EB5 Capital provides qualified foreign investors with opportunities to invest in job-creating commercial real estate projects under the United States Immigrant Investor Program.

-- BERNAMA

DNeX launches TradeHub, one-stop digital trade ecosystem to connect businesses, simplify trade and accelerate global market access

 

DNeX IT CEO Shiraz Ramli: By connecting businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, and logistics providers through a single, intelligent platform, DNeX TradeHub will remove critical friction across the trade lifecycle.

CYBERJAYA, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- Dagang NeXchange Berhad (“DNeX”) has announced the launch of DNeX TradeHub, a comprehensive digital trade facilitation platform designed to unify the entire trade ecosystem, connecting exporters, importers, government agencies, financial institutions, logistics providers and other trade ecosystem partners through a single intelligent gateway.

In today’s complex global trade environment, businesses often find themselves navigating a maze of disconnected systems. From market intelligence and customs declarations to financing and logistics, the lack of integration forces companies namely small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) to repeatedly submit data across multiple portals. This fragmentation leads to limited shipment visibility, prolonged processing times, and significant barriers to accessing new markets and capital.

DNeX TradeHub directly addresses these challenges by moving beyond simple document exchange. It supports the entire trade lifecycle, encompassing business onboarding, market intelligence driven by artificial intelligence (“AI”), export-readiness assessments, customs declarations, trade financing, and end-to-end logistics coordination. By consolidating these critical services within a secure, sovereign digital infrastructure, the platform enables participants to access and coordinate essential trade services with unprecedented efficiency.

Building on a National Mandate

DNeX TradeHub represents a strategic complement to Malaysia’s broader digital trade ecosystem. DNeX through its wholly-owned subsidiary Dagang Net Technologies Sdn Bhd is the appointed operator of the country’s National Single Window (“NSW”), the primary digital gateway for trade facilitation, customs clearance, and a one-stop hub connecting exporters and importers with all relevant government agencies. The launch of TradeHub signifies a monumental evolution of this role, as DNeX is no longer just facilitating individual transactions but also building a connected trade ecosystem that supports market access, customs clearance, financing, logistics and future valueadded services.

Where the NSW provides the foundational, regulatory backbone for trade, DNeX TradeHub layers on advanced digital services to create a seamless, end-to-end journey. It leverages the NSW’s trusted data exchange framework while adding value-added features like AI-powered business matching, streamlined financing applications, and real-time logistics tracking. This integration ensures that Malaysian businesses are not just compliant, but also competitive.

“By connecting businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, and logistics providers through a single, intelligent platform, DNeX TradeHub will remove critical friction across the trade lifecycle,” said Shiraz Ramli, Chief Executive Officer of DNeX IT.

“This is a monumental leap forward in how Malaysia conducts global trade. We are equipping our SMEs with the tools they need to compete effectively on the world stage, expanding their access to financing and new markets.”

Shiraz added, “With over three decades of experience operating Malaysia’s core digital trade infrastructure, we understand the intricacies of cross-border commerce. DNeX TradeHub is the natural culmination of that expertise which is a strategic shift from processing documents to orchestrating a thriving digital trade ecosystem that strengthens Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in digital trade.”

Through this coordinated digital journey, DNeX TradeHub will empower Malaysian businesses to prepare for export, connect with the right partners, and scale globally with greater speed and confidence and ultimately create new commercial opportunities across the ecosystem and reinforcing Malaysia’s status as a premier regional digital trade hub.

DNeX’s TradeHub is accessible at https://tradehub.dnex.com.my.

About Dagang NeXchange Berhad
Dagang NeXchange Berhad ("DNeX") is a global technology company operating across three business divisions: Semiconductor, Energy and Information Technology ("IT"). In Semiconductor, the Group operates a 200mm specialty foundry. In Energy, the Group is engaged in upstream exploration and production in the UK North Sea and Malaysia, alongside downstream equipment supply and maintenance services. In IT, the Group provides eServices for trade facilitation, technology consulting and systems integration, and is the operator of mission-critical national platforms in trade facilitation as well as a centralised financial and accounting system. The Company is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. For more information, visit www.dnex.com.my.

SOURCE: Dagang NeXchange Berhad ("DNeX")

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Sharifah Kasim Al Edrus
Head, Group Corporate Communications
Dagang NeXchange Berhad
Tel +603 8230 6900 / ​HP: +6013 342 1505
Fax +603 8230 6969
Email sharifah.kasim@dnex.com.my

--BERNAMA

ResourceWise Launches Compass, Its New Market Intelligence Platform

ResourceWise Compass platform vision: connecting ResourceWise Intelligence™ across markets through a modern, unified delivery experience.

 

ResourceWise Compass brings chemical pricing, market trends, expert intelligence, and AI-assisted discovery together in a modern, interactive platform.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., USA, Sep.07, 2026/Agility PR - AsiaNet/

New platform brings together pricing, market fundamentals, trade and plant data, analyst expertise, and AI-assisted discovery in a modern, connected experience.

ResourceWise today announced the launch of ResourceWise Compass™, its new market intelligence platform, together with ResourceWise IQ™, that enables users to explore ResourceWise intelligence through natural language questions.

Compass launches first with ResourceWise’s chemicals market intelligence, bringing together the deep expertise and market intelligence of Tecnon OrbiChem and Chemical Intelligence, previously delivered through OrbiChem360® and ChemEdge360®. The platform builds on that foundation, enhancing the way customers explore pricing, market fundamentals, trade, plant data, expert analysis, and market developments.

The platform is designed to make it easier and faster for chemical market professionals to explore related market signals, investigate changing conditions, and access the data, analysis, and expert insight relevant to their decisions.

“Our customers need immediate access to high-quality data to make critical business decisions,” said Pete Stewart, President and CEO of ResourceWise. “Compass brings together world-class human-driven intelligence carefully contextualized across dynamic global market. With connected supply, demand, production, trade, and pricing data, Compass gives customers a clearer view of what is shaping market direction and business risk, so they can make more informed commercial and strategic decisions.”

The launch marks the next stage in ResourceWise's broader strategy to modernize the delivery of its market intelligence. Compass is being built as a common platform for ResourceWise intelligence across the markets it serves, beginning with chemicals and expanding over time across the company's other verticals.

Understand What Is Driving the Market
Price movement is only one signal. To fully understand market direction, chemical market professionals need visibility into production, capacity, demand, trade, and the developments influencing those fundamentals.

Compass gives users a faster way to investigate those factors, add expert insights, and build a clearer view of current and emerging market conditions.

Users can explore the market from multiple angles, including:

• Track pricing and market direction with chemical pricing intelligence, historical trends, forecasts, analyst commentary, and filterable, exportable data views
• Understand the production landscape with plant-level information, global capacity, producer trends, and announced projects
• Follow global trade patterns through import and export flows, trading partners, historical trends, and geographic flow visualization
• Evaluate supply-demand fundamentals using demand trends, production, capacity, utilization, supply balances, and trade positions
• Add expert market context through analysis and commentary from ResourceWise chemical industry experts
• Explore intelligence more intuitively with ResourceWise IQ™ using natural-language questions to surface relevant ResourceWise data and analysis

“ResourceWise has built deep proprietary datasets and industry expertise across the markets we serve,” said Peter Coutu, Chief Operating Officer at ResourceWise. “Compass gives us a modern foundation for delivering that market intelligence and insight in a way that is easier to navigate, analyze, and apply. It also gives us a scalable platform for expanding both the depth of our market coverage and the ways customers can use ResourceWise Intelligence over time.”

Following the initial chemical market launch, ResourceWise plans to bring additional ResourceWise markets onto Compass, including forest products, pulp and paper, and low-carbon fuels as development progresses.

To learn more about ResourceWise Compass, visit www.resourcewise.com/platforms/compass .

About ResourceWise
ResourceWise provides price reporting, market intelligence, analytics, and strategic consulting across the chemicals, forest products, pulp and paper, and low-carbon fuels industries. The company combines proprietary data, industry expertise, and analytical tools to help customers understand complex, changing markets and make better-informed business decisions.
For more information, visit www.resourcewise.com .

Media Inquiries
Angela Rockwell
Director of Marketing
info@resourcewise.com
+1 (704) 540–1440

SOURCE: ResourceWise

--BERNAMA

Pacifica Hotels Signs Franchise Agreement with Marriott International to Open Westin Hokkaido Furano Resort

TOKYO, Sept 2 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacifica Hotels G.K. and its subsidiary Furano Hospitality G.K. today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Marriott International to open Westin Hokkaido Furano Resort. This will be the first Westin Resort property in Japan as well as the first Westin in Hokkaido.

With 195 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites, multiple restaurants, indoor and outdoor baths, a spa and numerous other facilities for guests, “We expect Westin Furano to immediately become the leading hotel in Furano and to help expand the area’s profile among inbound visitors,” says Seth Sulkin, CEO of Pacifica Hotels G.K. and Furano Hospitality G.K. “Furano is a wonderful, year-round resort, popular in the summer for its huge lavender fields and in the winter for high-quality powder snow.”

Construction on the hotel started in August 2026 and opening is scheduled for summer 2029. The location is just a short walk from the Kitanomine Gondola Station and guests will enjoy wonderful views of the nearby mountain range. The food selection will include an Omakase counter restaurant as well as an all-day dining outlet, where guests can enjoy fresh cuisine made from Hokkaido’s bountiful seafood, meat, dairy and vegetable products.

The signing of this project marks Pacifica Hotels’ entry to operation of upper upscale hotels and resort properties. “We are committed to building and operating great hotels where guests want to be,” said Mr. Sulkin. “We see a huge opportunity to help Furano develop further as an international destination.”

About Pacifica Hotels G.K.: Japan’s leading third-party operator of international branded hotels, Pacifica operates numerous brands under franchise agreements with Marriott International and IHG. Pacifica’s track record includes operation of hotels under the brands: Moxy, Fairfield by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, Garner by IHG and Holiday Inn & Suites.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Akio Nakamura, Executive Director, Pacifica Hotels G.K. nakamura@pacifica-cap.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e8c4500-276a-4195-bd68-1c99cab17bd2 

SOURCE: PACIFICA HOTELS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

--BERNAMA 

​Helical Fusion Named a Final Candidate for Japan’s METI Fusion Power Demonstration Program

Image of Helix HARUKA, Helical Fusion’s Integrated Demo Device(left), and Helix KANATA, Helical Fusion’s Fusion Pilot Plant(right)

Milestone-based government program supports multiple fusion approaches toward power demonstration and commercialization

TOKYO, Sept 1 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Helical Fusion Co., Ltd., a fusion energy company developing a Helical Stellarator toward commercially viable fusion power, has been named a final candidate for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) program supporting the demonstration of fusion power generation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260831991676/en/

 

The program is designed to accelerate fusion power demonstration in the 2030s under Japan’s national energy and fusion strategies. It supports private-sector technology development across multiple fusion approaches, including tokamak, stellarator and laser fusion, with approximately JPY 60 billion in total government support anticipated over the three years through 2028.
The amount to be awarded to Helical Fusion will be announced following the formal grant decision.

For Helical Fusion, the selection represents an important step in advancing the Helix Program, its development roadmap toward fusion power generation in the 2030s.

Japan Accelerates Fusion from Research toward Industrial Deployment

Japan has strengthened its commitment to fusion energy as both a next-generation energy source and a strategic industry.

Under Japan’s national fusion strategy, the government aims to achieve fusion power demonstration in the 2030s while encouraging the development of multiple technological approaches. The METI program supports private-sector developers pursuing this goal through a milestone-based framework, under which progress is evaluated against defined technical and commercialization objectives.

The program calls for projects not only to demonstrate the technical feasibility of fusion power generation, but also to establish fundamental knowledge required for future commercial power plants. Safety, appropriate safety measures and engagement with host communities are also incorporated into the framework.

Against this backdrop, Helical Fusion is advancing a development strategy centered on the requirements that ultimately determine whether fusion can function as a power plant: steady-state operation, net electricity generation and maintainability.

Why Helical Fusion Is Pursuing the Stellarator

Helical Fusion is developing a Helical Stellarator, building on approximately 70 years of Helical Stellarator research and engineering in Japan.

Unlike pulsed approaches, the Helical Stellarator is designed for inherently steady-state operation. Helical Fusion believes this architecture offers a credible path toward simultaneously achieving the three requirements essential for commercially viable fusion power:

* Steady-state operation — stable operation capable of supporting continuous electricity generation
* Net electricity — generating sufficient electricity to deliver net power outside the plant
* Maintainability — enabling maintenance necessary to achieve high plant availability

The company was founded in 2021 as a spin-out leveraging research originating from Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), one of the world’s leading research institutions in stellarator fusion.

NIFS has accumulated extensive experimental knowledge through the Large Helical Device (LHD), including plasma operation lasting 3,268 seconds, plasma temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, and advanced plasma control technologies.

Helical Fusion is translating this scientific foundation into engineering and hardware through the Helix Program.

The Helix Program: From Integrated Demonstration to Fusion Power

The Helix Program is Helical Fusion’s roadmap toward commercially viable fusion power in the 2030s.

The company is first developing and demonstrating two critical technology systems: high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets and an integrated blanket/divertor system.

These technologies will be brought together in Helix HARUKA, the Integrated Demonstration Device, followed by Helix KANATA, the company’s first power-generating fusion plant.

Manufacturing and construction for the HTS magnet demonstration using Helix HARUKA are already underway in Helical Fusion’s dedicated workspace on the NIFS campus in Toki, Gifu Prefecture.

More than 30 companies across Japan are already contributing to the development of key components for Helix HARUKA. They include manufacturers with world-class precision machining and engineering capabilities, companies with deep expertise in integrating and refining complex technologies, and some of Japan’s leading heavy electrical equipment manufacturers with decades of experience in large-scale energy infrastructure.

By bringing together these industrial capabilities with Japan’s accumulated expertise in stellarator research, Helical Fusion is building an engineering and manufacturing foundation for commercially viable fusion power.

Comment from Takaya Taguchi, Co-Founder & CEO of Helical Fusion

“As global competition to bring fusion energy into real-world use accelerates, we believe Japan has reached a critical moment: one where we must make the fullest use of the outstanding knowledge and technological capabilities built by generations before us, while at the same time evaluating the best path forward from first principles.

When we focus on what it truly takes to make fusion energy a reality, we are convinced that developing the Helical Stellarator has an essential role to play.

We strongly support the purpose of this program and its commitment to advancing the deployment of fusion energy ahead of the world. As one team, we will dedicate ourselves fully to delivering on that ambition.”

About Helical Fusion

Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. is developing a Helical Stellarator to realize commercially viable fusion power. Founded in 2021 as a spin-out leveraging research originating from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), the company is building on decades of Japanese stellarator research while integrating technologies from industry, academia and public research institutions.

Through the Helix Program, Helical Fusion is developing the technologies required for steady-state operation, net electricity generation and maintainability, with the goal of advancing fusion power generation in the 2030s.

The company is currently manufacturing and constructing key systems for Helix HARUKA, its Integrated Demonstration Device, in collaboration with more than 30 industrial partners across Japan.

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260831991676/en/ 

Contact

Media Contact
Communication Design Office
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.
contact@helicalfusion.com 

Source : Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. 

--BERNAMA 

Coastal Protection Begins with Awareness: Yayasan PETRONAS Brings Communities and Students Together at Seberang Takir, Terengganu

TERENGGANU, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Yayasan PETRONAS brought together volunteers and local communities at Pantai Seberang Takir to raise awareness of coastal protection and foster a shared responsibility for safeguarding Malaysia’s marine ecosystems.

In collaboration with the Terengganu State Education Department (JPNT), Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT), Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) and the Seberang Takir community, the initiative was anchored on environmental education and community participation. It consisted of a beach clean-up and educational talks as practical platforms to help participants better understand the importance of healthy coastlines, marine biodiversity and responsible waste management.

The beach clean-up session involved 30 volunteers and 50 students from schools participating in the Eco-Schools programme, a GGAF initiative supported by Yayasan PETRONAS.

The participants collectively removed approximately 305 kilogrammes of waste and marine debris from the coastline.

Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer, Hajah Shariah Nelly Francis, said, “Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires the collective efforts of communities, educators, institutions and individuals. Through initiatives such as this, we hope to deepen understanding of the important role that coastal ecosystems play in supporting both people and nature, while encouraging practical actions that could contribute to healthier and more resilient coastlines for future generations.”

The outreach effort also saw educational talks and engagement sessions by Universiti Putra Malaysia, Persatuan Pemuliharaan dan Kajian Marin Malaysia and Geng Plastik Ija where experts shared insights to better understand how collective action, from reducing waste to protecting coastal habitats, can contribute to healthier and more resilient coastlines.

Issued by Yayasan PETRONAS

SOURCE: Yayasan PETRONAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Yayasan PETRONAS
Name: Low Jia Yin
Email: low.jiayin@petronas.com

--BERNAMA