Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Beijing E-Town Accelerates the Development of an Integrated Robotics Industry Ecosystem

Published

on

Beijing E-Town

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2024 – The first comprehensive robot exhibition center in Beijing, “Robot World,” has established a permanent exhibition hall. The National Robot Testing and Evaluation Center (Headquarters) Beijing Evaluation Center provides authoritative domestic and world-class testing and certification services. The Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center focuses on solving common industry challenges in the development of key embodied intelligence robot technologies and ecosystem construction. The Beijing Artificial Intelligence Data Training Base helps build the “strongest brain.”

In Beijing E-Town, also known as the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), the ‘upstream and downstream’ sectors of the robotics industry have become ‘neighbors,’ fostering closer collaboration and integration. From attracting industry chain enterprises and building industrial spaces to providing computational support and large model training, Beijing E-Town is accelerating the construction of an integrated and interconnected robotics industry ecosystem.

Robot World showcases the application scenarios of handling robots and arc welding robots in the automotive manufacturing field

On the morning of August 21, during the opening ceremony of the World Robot Conference 2024, Beijing Robot World (referred to as Robot World) officially opened in Beijing E-Town, located at Courtyard 3, Jinghai 5th Road, Beijing Robot Industry Park.

In Robot World, a set of futuristic robot application scenarios is presented: In the automotive manufacturing field, handling robots and arc welding robots have become “skilled workers” on the production lines of complete vehicles and parts, working seamlessly in all processes such as welding, body arc welding, roof sidewall handling, painting, and stamping. In the trade and logistics sector, logistics robots have achieved automation in tasks such as shelf-to-person, bin-to-person, robotic sorting, and intelligent robotic logistics warehousing. In the healthcare sector, surgical robots equipped with high-definition stereoscopic vision systems, microsurgery instruments, intelligent surgical forceps, and fiber optic connectors provide doctors with a clearer view and more precise operation during surgery. In the commercial community services sector, the nation’s first certified AI catering robot has achieved the fully automated process of making Chinese crepes, from ingredient preparation to customized final products based on taste preferences.

At the National Robot Testing and Evaluation Center (Headquarters) Beijing Evaluation Center, a staff member demonstrates an upper limb testing system for humanoid robots in the interaction laboratory

A representative from Beijing E-Town Robotics Technology Industry Development Co., Ltd. introduced that the exhibition hall features nine major “robot+” scenarios, including robot + manufacturing, robot + healthcare, robot + artificial intelligence, and more. The goal is to promote production through exhibitions, inspire enterprise development strategies, and create a platform that connects platforms, industries, enterprises, and talents. For example, after the World Robot Conference, the exhibition hall will house select exhibits and provide continuous, free displays of new products and technologies for enterprises. Additionally, it will offer presentation spaces and roadshow services for robot companies to launch new products.

Moreover, within the 250,000-square-meter Beijing Robot Industry Park, a leading domestic robot testing and inspection technology platform—the National Robot Testing and Evaluation Center (Headquarters) Beijing Evaluation Center (referred to as the Evaluation Center)—has also been established. Equipped with authoritative domestic and world-class testing facilities, the center provides testing and certification services for the entire industry chain, including components, modules, complete machines, and integrated applications, for industrial, service, and special robots.

A representative from the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center (referred to as the Innovation Center) told reporters, “As the industry rapidly develops, testing and certification in technical areas such as electromagnetic compatibility, safety, reliability, and intelligence have become industry necessities. The proximity of the Evaluation Center allows us to effectively save time on testing and certification, shortening the research and development testing cycle.”

Turning our attention outdoors, the general humanoid robot platform “Tiangong,” independently developed by the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, is navigating a dedicated robot path, occasionally tackling challenging terrains like grass and slopes. As the first provincial-level innovation center for embodied intelligent robots in China, the Innovation Center focuses on developing key common technologies and ecosystem construction for embodied intelligent robots. It is committed to tackling the core tasks of “Tiangong” and “Kaiwu,” aiming to become a leading organizer of resources, a promoter of industrial development, and a facilitator of practical applications in the embodied intelligence field. “Our goal is to address common issues in the humanoid robot industry and drive overall industrial development,” stated Xiong Youjun, General Manager of the Innovation Center.

In fact, it’s not just the Innovation Center that has gathered here; full-assembly manufacturing enterprises like the UBTECH humanoid robot headquarters and key component companies like Chietcom and Tsino-Dynatron have also joined. Furthermore, to accelerate the concentration of the robotics industry, promote technological exchange, and facilitate the transformation of innovative achievements, the Beijing Robot Industry Park established a Robotics Industry Incubator in April this year. This incubator provides services such as entrepreneurial guidance, project roadshows, investment and financing, achievement transformation, intellectual property, and policy consultation for start-ups and growing enterprises in the upstream and downstream sectors of robotics. Currently, four robotics companies—Lingzu Times, NextVPU, Ruiqu Technology, and DexForce—have signed up to join.

At the Tongming Lake National Information Technology Application Innovation Park, located 4 kilometers from the Beijing Robot Industry Park, it has been reported that Beijing E-Town is building a comprehensive AI city, with the first batch of ten benchmark application scenarios, including “AI + humanoid robots.” Here, Beijing E-Town’s largest and nationally leading public AI computing power platform has already activated 3000P of high-performance computing power. Throughout Beijing E-Town, 5000P of high-performance intelligent computing power has been deployed, with a planned computing power scale exceeding 10,000P. The Beijing Artificial Intelligence Data Training Base serves as a training ground for companies, helping large models develop the “strongest brains” and continuously advancing data aggregation in related fields to unlock the value of data.

“We have currently innovated in constructing a ‘data security physical space’ and ‘a highly efficient, interconnected data optical network,’ developed a ‘trustworthy data infrastructure,’ and formulated ‘an operational management mechanism.’ Through management mechanisms and technical means, we have built a secure environment for data circulation and model training,” a representative from the Training Base explained.

By leveraging the convenience of exhibition exchanges and testing and evaluation, bringing together leading companies like the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, UBTECH Robotics, and Longwood Valley MedTech, and benefiting from the support of specialized incubation carriers and key component companies, along with the vast application scenarios in intelligent manufacturing factories in industries such as automotive and new displays, the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area official introduced, “In Beijing E-Town, the ‘upstream and downstream’ of the robotics industry have become ‘neighbors.’ Robotics companies can find innovative partners for research and development, manufacturing, training, testing, and even application stages without leaving the district.”

Moving forward, Beijing E-Town will accelerate the construction of an integrated and interconnected robotics industry ecosystem, continually enhancing soft and hard collaborative service support for industrial development, closely adhering to the comprehensive development needs of the robotics industry supply chain, and refining the allocation of resources such as data, platforms, services, and capital, while continually fostering an environment that attracts talent from near and far, ultimately creating an “industry ecosystem rainforest” characterized by “resource coordination, element aggregation, and innovation collaboration.”

Business

Hong Kong sets out strategies to enhance the appeal and add value to the city’s tourism industry

Published

on

Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for tourism and major sports and cultural events was a strong focus of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee last week (September 16).

Mr Lee unveiled measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism which will help develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. These included enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, while bolstering infrastructure and ancillary facilities as well as deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and around the world.

 




 
 

“Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences,” Mr Lee said. “We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong.”

 

To support Hong Kong’s film industry and promote “Film + Tourism”, the Support Unit for Non‑local Film Productions will be set up to provide one‑stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.

Mr Lee noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park has substantially expanded Hong Kong’s capacity to host international mega events, with more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events having been held there so far, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all‑weather, multi‑purpose venue for holding larger‑scale and higher‑level sports events, as well as performance activities.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Ms Law said that Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11 per cent.

“The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026,” Ms Law said.

The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Chinese Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.

It will take forward “+ Tourism” joint initiatives, integrating various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value‑adding momentum. Such joint initiatives would integrate tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance and industrial brands.

On developing the yacht economy, Mr Lee said that a variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City “SKYTOPIA”.

“In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration,” Mr Lee said. “The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross‑boundary leisure consumption.”

To further enhance the city’s appeal as a Muslim‑friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim‑friendly food options.
 




 

Continue Reading

Business

Former DAMAC Senior Vice President Paulo J. Cruz Appointed Founding CEO of African Collaboration Group (ACG) to Spearhead Sports and Entertainment District Development Across Africa

Published

on

DAMAC

Paulo J. Cruz will lead the development and expansion of a pan-African platform for the origination and structuring of large-scale sports and entertainment district ecosystems

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 21, 2026/APO Group/ –African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through bankable district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Paulo J. Cruz as its Founding Chief Executive Officer.

 




  

Mr Cruz joins ACG from DAMAC Group, one of the largest privately held real estate developers in the Middle East, where he served as Senior Vice President from 2022 to 2026. In 2025, the Group reported close to USD 10 billion in property sales. His tenure at DAMAC further deepened an already distinguished career spanning infrastructure origination, urbanisation strategy, and large-scale real estate development across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Over the course of his 28-year career, Mr Cruz has originated or structured projects ranging from USD 50 million to in excess of USD 5 billion, stewarding initiatives from early-stage concept through feasibility analysis, financial structuring, and investor alignment to bankable delivery stages. His professional footprint encompasses senior roles at BP, one of the world’s foremost energy companies; BlackIvy Group, a US-backed infrastructure investment platform; Movares, a leading European engineering consultancy; and Cushman & Wakefield, a globally recognised real estate advisory firm.

Prior to DAMAC, Mr Cruz served as Group Chief Executive Officer of LandAfrique, a pan-African development platform focused on industrial parks, infrastructure, housing and power projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, further solidifying his reputation as one of the continent’s most experienced development executives.

Infrastructure is the prerequisite for the industrialisation of sport in Africa

As Founding CEO of ACG, Mr Cruz will lead the development and expansion of a pan-African origination platform, working in close partnership with sovereign governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), private investors, sport and entertainment principals, and leading academic institutions to structure district-level projects that are both investable and deliverable at scale.

ACG operates as a specialised origination and collaboration platform engineered to transform concepts into credible, bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems — architectures capable of attracting institutional capital and generating long-term, multi-dimensional economic impact at a national and continental scale.

ACG’s flagship initiative, Victory District™, provides a proprietary district development framework designed to originate integrated, mixed-use sport and entertainment destinations that transcend conventional single-venue models. The framework prioritises asset utilisation optimisation, long-term sustainability, expanded revenue diversification beyond matchday economics, structured employment and youth opportunity creation, talent development pathways, and institutional-grade operations and maintenance standards.

Mr Cruz’s appointment follows the establishment of ACG’s Advisory Board, comprising internationally recognised leaders from global sport governance, finance, infrastructure and development institutions — including Fatma Samoura, Former Secretary General of FIFA; Kenny Jean-Marie, Former Chief Member Associations Officer of FIFA; Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and Executive Board Member of World Rugby; and Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the World Football Summit — as well as a Research & Impact Advisory Panel of leading scholars focused on the economics, governance and societal impact of sport. The full list of Advisory Board and Research & Impact Advisory Panel members can be consulted here:  https://apo-opa.co/4xMb5ry.

“Paulo brings an exceptional combination of origination expertise, institutional credibility, and continental experience that is virtually unparalleled in this space. His demonstrated ability to transform ambitious development concepts into financially structured, bankable projects positions him as the ideal leader to guide ACG as we build a platform capable of catalysing transformative investment and accelerating the realisation of financially sustainable sport and entertainment districts across Africa,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

A prominent thought leader and keynote speaker at leading international platforms — including the Africa Property Investment Summit (API Summit), the Africa Real Estate Conference & Expo (ARCE), the African Union for Housing Finance Annual Conference, and the West Africa Property Investment Summit — Mr Cruz was honoured as “Person of the Month” by Sustainable Investments and Alliances for Africa (SIA).

“Infrastructure is the prerequisite for the industrialisation of sport in Africa — without it, the entire value chain remains theoretical. Athletes need places to train, compete and develop. Sport governing bodies need venues that meet international standards. Broadcasters, sponsors and event organisers need facilities capable of generating commercial value. Every revenue stream in the sport economy ultimately depends on infrastructure existing and its respective operation. But how that infrastructure is originated determines whether it becomes an economic engine or a fiscal burden. Across Africa, too many sport facilities have been built in isolation — a stadium delivered for a single event, then left to deteriorate at a fraction of its capacity, draining public finances rather than generating returns. ACG exists to change that equation,” said Paulo J. Cruz, Founding Chief Executive Officer of African Collaborations Group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG).

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Business

Africa Makes its Case for a Bigger Role on the Global Stage

Published

on

Africa

GABI’s Unstoppable Africa 2026 brings global leaders together on Africa’s push to capture more value from its resources, accelerate investment and strengthen its influence in global trade and decision-making

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 21, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa is pushing for a bigger role in shaping the global economy, as business leaders, heads of state, investors, policymakers, and global partners converged in New York yesterday to articulate the continent’s ambition in global trade, investment, and value creation. Held alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Unstoppable Africa 2026 put Africa’s business agenda at the center of the global conversation.

 




  

The fifth edition of the Global Africa Business Initiative’s (GABI) flagship convening drew senior leaders from across business, government, and global institutions to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, including UN Secretary-General H.E. António Guterres; H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States on Arab and African Affairs.

The UN Secretary-General called for action to give Africa a greater role on the global stage, including a permanent presence on the United Nations Security Council: “Africa needs a permanent presence on the United Nations Security Council, where it can contribute to dialogue and action for the whole globe.” He stressed that Africa’s growing influence in global markets must translate into a stronger voice in international affairs. Guterres also urged reforms to better reflect the needs of developing countries, particularly in Africa, and for the continent’s natural resources, including critical minerals, to generate more local value and decent jobs rather than simply being exported.

With critical minerals, trade, energy, and investment dominating the first day, Unstoppable Africa reflected a wider shift in Africa’s economic story: from supplying the global economy to building more of the businesses, industries, and value chains that can capture the opportunity.

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said Africa’s 1.5 billion people and growing market create a significant opportunity, but the continent must accelerate the development of African value chains and remove barriers to trade to drive industrial transformation. He identified affordable energy, better infrastructure, access to finance, skills, technology, and clear standards as critical requirements for Africa to turn its market potential into faster economic growth.

Africa needs a permanent presence on the United Nations Security Council, where it can contribute to dialogue and action for the whole globe

The private sector took center stage, as African and global business leaders articulated what it will take to turn Africa’s resources, markets, and talent into productive economic capacity. The Leaders Panel brought together Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation; Aliko Dangote, Founder and Chairman of the Dangote Group; Mandy DeFilippo, CEO of Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Standard Chartered; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chairperson of Standard Bank Group; Nolitha Fakude, Chairperson of Anglo American South Africa; and Tidjane Thiam, General Partner at Allied Critical Minerals Fund.

Leaders stressed the need to move beyond exporting raw materials, including critical minerals and crude oil, by developing local processing, manufacturing, and value chains that create jobs and retain more economic value on the continent.

One of the highlights announced yesterday was that the US$300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Fund has reached its first close, securing its initial capital commitments and moving into operation. Co-managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Africa50, the fund will provide equity financing to local clean-energy developers, supporting decentralized solutions including solar mini-grids, solar home systems, commercial and industrial power solutions, and energy storage. Aligned with Mission 300, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, the fund is designed to mobilize private investment and expand reliable energy access for Nigerian homes and businesses.

Energy was another major focus. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Group, and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, joined discussions on how innovative finance could unlock investment in Africa’s power infrastructure and accelerate access to reliable energy.

Healthcare also featured within the wider economic conversation. Roche reaffirmed its commitment to advancing breast cancer care through its Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA), which aims to help 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Africa survive for at least five years by 2030.

Unstoppable Africa 2026 continues today, September 21st, with further sessions focused on digital transformation, investment, creative industries, sport, and Africa’s role in the global economy.

Everyone is invited to watch the event live on Unstoppable Africa YouTube channel at https://apo-opa.co/4xoGXlz

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Trending