EMGA ARRANGES US$80 MLN CLUB LOAN FOR UZBEKISTAN’S IPAK YULI BANK

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- London-based Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) has led a US$80 million club loan financing for Uzbekistan’s Ipak Yuli Bank, funded by OeEB, CDP and Allianz Global Investors (AGI). (US$1 = RM4.07)

“We are pleased to be the lead arranger in structuring this latest facility for Ipak Yuli that was aimed at further building their SME, Gender and Green portfolios.

“Our close relationship with Ipak Yuli as well as each of these DFIs has been integral to the successful execution of a complex transaction,” said EMGA Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director, Sajeev Chakkalakal in a statement.

Meanwhile, Ipak Yuli Bank Chief Executive Officer, Umidjon Khakimov said the transaction further strengthens the bank’s cooperation with EMGA and establishes partnerships with new international institutions.

“The transaction further diversifies our funding base and enables us to expand our support to clients and businesses in Uzbekistan,” added Khakimov.

Established in December 1990, Ipak Yuli is a joint-stock commercial-innovation bank in Uzbekistan providing banking services to individual entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, state organisations and institutions, and corporate customers.

OeEB has been operating as the Development Bank of Austria since March 2008, while CDP is Italy’s official Development Finance Institution and National Promotional Institution, financing sustainable development, international cooperation, infrastructure and business growth in emerging and developing markets.

AGI is a global investment management firm with offices in 21 locations worldwide and is owned by the global insurance and financial services group Allianz.

-- BERNAMA

Mavenir Celebrates Four Award-Winning Entries at Light Reading's 2026 Leading Lights Awards

Awards recognize leadership in NTN innovation, IoT connectivity, network modernization and energy efficiency 


RICHARDSON, Texas, Sept 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, today announced it was featured in four award-winning entries at Light Reading's 2026 Leading Lights Awards, highlighting the company's leadership in non-terrestrial networks, cloud-native core innovation, network modernization, and energy efficiency. The awards recognize outstanding achievements and innovation across the global communications industry. 

Mavenir received awards in two categories:

• Most Innovative Satellite or Non-Terrestrial Network Product or Solution for the Mavenir Full-Stack NTN Platform. Judges commended the platform for enabling satellite-terrestrial integration across GEO, MEO and LEO environments while supporting 3G through 5G services on a converged core architecture that treats non-terrestrial access as a native network capability rather than an overlay.
• Outstanding Use Case: IoT, jointly with Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH, for Remote Packet Core for Connected Cars. The solution keeps the control plane in Europe while enabling localized traffic breakout in North America, addressing latency, transit costs, and data sovereignty requirements for global connected vehicle services. The live production deployment supports connectivity for more than one million connected vehicles worldwide, demonstrating how cloud-native packet core technology can scale to support mission-critical IoT services while meeting stringent operational and regulatory requirements.

"These awards highlight Mavenir's commitment to solving some of the industry's most important connectivity challenges," said Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO of Mavenir. "Our Full-Stack NTN Platform is helping operators extend connectivity beyond traditional terrestrial networks, while our Remote Packet Core deployment with Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH demonstrates how cloud-native core technology can securely connect more than one million vehicles worldwide while meeting the demanding performance, scalability, and regulatory requirements of global IoT services. These wins reflect the real-world impact of our technology and the strength of our collaboration with customers."

Mavenir was also a key technology partner in two award-winning Deutsche Telekom initiatives:

• Outstanding Use Case: Network Modernization & Automation for the Horizontal Telco Cloud initiative. The program replaced fragmented network silos with a shared, cloud-native platform spanning more than ten German data centers. Mavenir contributed complete cloud-native solutions, including a converged 4G/5G packet core with proven network slicing applications. These solutions use GitOps-based automation and Kubernetes capabilities to help create a scalable foundation for future network innovation.
• Outstanding Use Case: Energy Efficiency & Sustainability for Full Stack Energy Efficiency. The initiative achieved up to 65% off-peak energy savings in the 5G core network, without a hardware refresh. Mavenir's cloud-native 5G Core software and energy-aware automation capabilities helped enable dynamic scaling of resources to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions while maintaining network performance, supporting Deutsche Telekom's vision of a "zero bit & zero watt" core.

"These awards highlight two of the industry's most important imperatives: building more agile networks and operating them more sustainably," added Kohli. "We congratulate Deutsche Telekom on these achievements and are proud that Mavenir technology helped power both projects. By combining cloud-native architecture, intelligent automation, and energy-aware 5G Core software, we're helping operators modernize their networks while delivering measurable efficiency and sustainability gains."

Light Reading's Leading Lights Awards 2026 full list of winners: https://www.lightreading.com/optical-networking/light-reading-s-leading-lights-awards-2026-the-winners

About Mavenir

Mavenir is enabling intelligent, automated, programmable networks through the development of telco-first, cloud-native, AI-by-design software solutions for mobile operators. The company’s deep telco domain expertise has been proven through deployments with 300+ operators globally in over 120 countries, which together serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. Mavenir combines its deep telco experience with the cloud and IT expertise and data science skillsets essential to solving real customer challenges. Its proven software solutions are AI by design, delivering the AI-native future and operators’ evolution to TechCos. For more information, please visit www.mavenir.com.

Mavenir PR Contacts:
Emmanuela Spiteri
PR@mavenir.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ee11b01-f063-4fa2-8558-3f834be5d83f 

SOURCE: Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Dark Horse Consulting Group Marks the Opening of Its Shanghai Office with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. and SHANGHAI, Sept 10 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dark Horse Consulting Group (DHCG) marked the opening of its Shanghai office with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating Dark Horse Consulting China. The event brought together DHCG leadership, “Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development”, “China leading CDMO and CRO companies”, and invited guests from across the region's life sciences community. Anthony Davies, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, led the ceremony, joined by John Ng, MBA, General Manager, DHC Asia Pacific, and Kang Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, Head of China. The ribbon cutting ceremony is jointly performed by Mr. Zhang Hua, Deputy Director at Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development, Anthony Davies, Founder and CEO at DHCG and John Ng, GM APAC at DHCG.

DHCG announced the formation of Dark Horse Consulting China in August 2026, together with Kang Liu's appointment to lead it. The practice was established to help biotherapeutic developers leverage China's advanced CDMO and CRO infrastructure, its streamlined regulatory pathways to first-in-human (FIH), and its growing role as a hub for globally relevant clinical data. China's life sciences sector is at an inflection point. Its manufacturing and contract research infrastructure now rivals global standards, its regulatory frameworks continue to mature, and the Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) pathway offers developers a cost-effective route to FIH data.

Those advantages are driving a fundamental shift in the global biopharma landscape. Lower clinical costs and faster timelines have made China IITs a serious consideration for innovative companies, supported by an ecosystem in which leading CDMOs match their global counterparts, intellectual property enforcement is held to international standards, and co-development agreements with western partners have become routine. Under Decree 818, studies are restricted to Grade A tertiary hospitals, a measure that has strengthened data quality, and western regulators are increasingly recognizing the validity of IIT-generated data.

“Standing in Shanghai with our partners makes concrete something we have believed for years: biotech is a truly global industry, and China is a core consideration for western developers rather than an afterthought. Dark Horse Consulting China is how we make that opportunity navigable for our clients," said Anthony Davies, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Dark Horse Consulting Group.

Dark Horse Consulting China guides clients through every stage of the IIT process, from assessing strategic fit and building a regulatory strategy that works across frameworks, to CMC planning, CDMO and CRO selection, hospital and principal investigator selection, supply chain management, and strategy for fundraising and asset licensing.

“Today marks the beginning of the work, not the end of it. The opportunity to generate meaningful clinical data in China and to accelerate programs globally is real, and it is here now. DHCG China exists to make that path clear, strategic, and executable," said Kang Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, Head of China at Dark Horse Consulting Group.

About Dark Horse Consulting Group

Dark Horse Consulting Group is a worldwide consulting organization with offices in North America, Europe, and APAC. Founded in 2014 to accelerate the development and delivery of cell and gene therapies through specialized expertise, the firm's focus has since expanded dramatically, with consulting team expertise now encompassing strategy, operations, Quality, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, modeling, supply chain, commercial launch, and business optimization across the biopharma landscape. DHCG provides white-glove client service grounded in rigorous scientific and technical expertise, from early discovery through commercial launch. The organization comprises three business units, DHC, BioTechLogic, and Converge Consulting, with Bruder Consulting & Venture Group forming a specialized Regenerative Medicine department within DHC. DHCG is currently expanding into the APAC region in 2026 through the acquisition of CJP Tokyo and the formation of Dark Horse Consulting China.

bd@darkhorseconsultinggroup.com 

SOURCE: Dark Horse Consulting Group

--BERNAMA 

AM Best Sees Steady Prospects For China’s Non-Life Insurance

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has maintained its stable outlook on China’s non-life insurance segment, citing improved regulatory oversight, new growth opportunities and ongoing digitalisation and innovation.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Market Segment Outlook: China Non-Life Insurance”, said that enhanced regulatory oversight, particularly for non-motor lines such as property and liability, is expected to support pricing discipline, strengthen distribution practices and promote prudent market conduct.

New growth opportunities are also emerging from initiatives under the nation’s latest five-year plan, which focuses on technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance, as well as the expanding Chinese Interest Abroad business, despite moderating gross domestic product (GDP) growth and slower premium growth in traditional non-life business.

“For Chinese Interest Aboard business, while expansion may enhance China non-life insurers’ geographical diversification over time, it is important to note that insurers could also be exposed to unfamiliar risks that require advanced underwriting skills and robust risk management systems to protect against large financial losses,” said AM Best associate director, analytics, Lucie Huang in a statement.

Meanwhile, its director, analytics, James Chan said the industry’s priorities are increasingly shifting towards sustainable profitability and operational efficiency, supported by accelerated digitalisation and innovation.

“Beyond traditional reinsurance support, they are also adopting proactive risk reduction measures to better manage exposures, while enhancing the client experience and improving post-disaster response,” he said.

The report said investment returns have driven the China non-life segment’s bottom line, while underwriting margins remain thin amid intense competition.

Although underwriting profits are largely concentrated among large insurers that benefit from economies of scale, some smaller local insurers have achieved favourable underwriting margins by focusing on niche market segments.

At the same time, concerns over China’s economic momentum have emerged amid lower GDP growth forecasts, prompting insurers to shift their focus from top-line growth to bottom-line protection and operational efficiency.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST: REGULATORY INITIATIVES, ECONOMIC EXPANSION DRIVE MALAYSIA’S NON-LIFE GROWTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- AM Best has maintained a stable outlook on Malaysia’s non-life insurance segment, citing regulatory initiatives and economic expansion, which are driving robust premium growth and increasing insurance penetration.

The stable outlook on Malaysia’s non-life segment is also supported by de-tariffication of motor and fire insurance, as well as measures curbing medical inflation. However, it remains vulnerable to developments in the external environment.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “Market Segment Outlook: Malaysia Non-Life Insurance”, stated that motor and fire insurance anchor the market, together accounting for more than 65 per cent of total non-life premiums.

In a statement, the global credit rating agency said pricing has progressively shifted towards a more risk-based approach since phased liberalisation of tariffs for these lines began in July 2016.

Over time, AM Best expects de-tariffication to drive product innovation, improve service quality, align pricing with underlying risks and enhance market efficiency, although it may pressure underwriting margins over the intermediate term.

“Malaysia’s non-life insurers continue to maintain healthy underwriting profits through disciplined underwriting and effective pricing strategies, supporting the industry’s long-term sustainability,” said AM Best senior financial analyst, Sin Yee Chuah, adding that the segment remains poised for continued growth.

The rating agency added that Malaysia’s non-life segment reported an improved underwriting profit in 2025, with a healthy combined ratio in the low-to-mid-90 per cent range, reflecting sustained underwriting discipline that supported profitability.

Malaysia’s economy continues to be supported by resilient domestic demand, particularly household consumption and investment, while strong demand for electrical and electronics exports and continued investment in data centres provide additional support.

The report also noted that a pilot phase of the recently introduced RESET Strategy, which introduced a standardised base medical and health insurance/takaful plan with a co-payment feature, is targeted for the second half of 2026, with full rollout expected by early 2027.

In addition, climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, presenting floods as a persistent tail risk for insurers and exposing the segment’s profitability to greater volatility.

-- BERNAMA

GENERAL ROBOTICS ADVANCES ROBOT DEPLOYMENT WITH SELF-ENGINEERING GRID PLATFORM

 

GRID, the robot intelligence platform from General Robotics, auto‑engineers the full lifecycle of a complex pouring skill — from creation and testing to deployment and real‑world evaluation in a biolab.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- General Robotics, a company developing an intelligence layer for physical artificial intelligence (AI), has advanced its GRID robot intelligence platform to automate key stages of robot deployment, reducing the time and specialised expertise needed to bring robots into production.

The company in a statement said GRID can now use AI to automate processes ranging from robot onboarding and AI model integration to the creation and deployment of new robotic skills.

General Robotics founder and chief executive officer, Ashish Kapoor said the platform brings robotics knowledge spanning research, software, AI models, simulations, data and hardware into a single agent-first system, enabling intelligence to compound with each deployment.

The latest development has reduced robot onboarding time from one month to as little as two hours, while model ingestion has been cut from three days to as little as 20 minutes. Skill transfer across different robot form factors now takes as little as 1.5 hours, while new skill creation and deployment can be completed in as little as two days.

General Robotics said GRID uses knowledge graphs to convert each deployment, task, model and failure into structured, reusable intelligence while protecting customer data and intellectual property.

The platform supports robots from different manufacturers and form factors, allowing customers to select systems suited to specific tasks. Its growing ecosystem includes industrial robotics maker FANUC and bimanual mobile manipulation company Galaxea Dynamics.

The company said GRID customers include global companies in automotive manufacturing, port operations, energy generation and food and beverage production, as well as government agencies.

General Robotics said the robotics industry faces shortages of specialised talent and a fragmented development stack that requires bespoke integration of software, communications protocols and programming systems, limiting the transition from pilot projects to production-scale deployments.

GRID is designed to address these constraints through a modular library of robotic skills, foundation models and classical techniques that can be used across different robot types and applications.

The latest version of GRID can determine the skills required for a task, select and combine relevant models and approaches, create and run simulations, and deploy and monitor AI skills. The platform then uses real-world performance and failures to determine further refinements, creating a continuous development loop across connected robots and tasks.

-- BERNAMA

SHENZHEN FORUM ADVANCES ASIA-PACIFIC MEDIA COOPERATION

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The Asia-Pacific Media Forum in Shenzhen has brought together more than 400 representatives from over 220 media organisations, think tanks, government bodies, diplomatic missions, United Nations (UN) agencies and international organisations from 42 countries and regions.

Themed “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action”, the forum focused on strengthening regional media cooperation ahead of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which China is scheduled to host later this year.

The event resulted in several new cooperation mechanisms, including the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Organizing Committee and the signing and exchange of media cooperation documents.

It also saw the launch of the “Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific” Media Cooperation Initiative, which focuses on technology sharing, joint content production and professional training, as well as the release of the Shenzhen Consensus, according to a statement.

Under the technology pillar, Shenzhen plans to establish the Asia-Pacific Digital & Smart Media Intelligence Shenzhen Center to promote exchanges in digital media technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the OpenHarmony ecosystem.

For content collaboration, the forum launched the “Witness Miracles, Seek Solutions” programme, which invites media organisations from across the region to jointly develop and broadcast reporting projects using Shenzhen as one area of focus.

The initiative also includes a Training Base for Asia-Pacific Youth Media Professionals, which is expected to host media professionals, particularly those under 45, for study visits, exchanges and training programmes.

The Shenzhen Consensus calls for greater regional cooperation in areas including digital transformation, AI, green development, media exchange and multilateral trade, while encouraging greater dialogue and mutual understanding across the Asia-Pacific.

-- BERNAMA