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ISCA Academy Launches Hands-On AI Programme Across ASEAN to Close Finance Skills Gap

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New initiative equips finance, audit and accounting professionals with immediately applicable AI skill from Excel automation to AI agents as demand for practical AI capability accelerates across the region

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2026 – As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly shifts from experimentation to everyday business use, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) Academy has launched a hands-on AI training programme across ASEAN to address the region’s growing skills gap in finance and accounting.

Designed for immediate workplace application, the new programme equips finance, audit, and accounting professionals with practical AI capabilities, from automating Excel workflows and extracting data from documents to building dashboards, generating presentations, and deploying AI agents to support complex processes.

Developed in partnership with Singapore-based AI training specialist Skybots, the programme focuses on real-world tasks using widely accessible tools such as Microsoft Copilot, enabling participants to deliver tangible productivity gains from day one.

Leveraging ISCA’s network of overseas offices, the initiative will be rolled out across key ASEAN markets including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, with an initial target to train 2,500 finance professionals in the first phase, positioning Singapore as a regional hub for applied AI capability in finance.

Ms Cyndi Pei, Chairperson of ISCA Academy, said the programme represents a strategic response to a rapidly evolving profession: “The window for treating AI as a theoretical topic is closing. Finance professionals across ASEAN are now expected to apply AI in their daily work — safely, effectively, and immediately. ISCA Academy is stepping up to lead this transformation regionally, ensuring professionals across Southeast Asia have access to practical training that delivers real outcomes, not just awareness.”

Immediate Impact in the Workplace

Unlike traditional AI programmes that focus on concepts, ISCA Academy’s approach is fully task-based. Participants work on real scenarios such as financial analysis, document review, reporting, and workflow automation, producing outputs they can directly replicate in their roles. Across pilot sessions, participants have reported completing tasks in minutes that previously took hours, a shift that compounds quickly across teams and reporting cycles.

A key differentiator is its emphasis on responsible AI use, embedding considerations of confidentiality, ethics, compliance, and governance into every module, which are critical for regulated professions.

Early pilot sessions have demonstrated measurable impact. Dr Jenny Tan, Head of Group Internal Audit at CapitaLand, noted: “What stood out about the Practical AI programme was how hands-on and relevant it was. Rather than focusing on theory, our staff came away with techniques they could use from day one and we have observed a real shift in how our team approaches their daily work.”

Built for Mainstream Professionals

The programme is designed for broad accessibility, requiring no coding knowledge or significant technology investment. Participants learn to leverage free and low-cost AI tools to enhance productivity and output quality.

Mr Daryl Aw, Founder and Director of Skybots, who brings a unique background as both a Chartered Accountant and three-time UiPath Most Valuable Professional (MVP), said the programme demystifies AI for finance professionals: “There is a common misconception that AI requires technical expertise or large budgets. In reality, the tools are already available. What professionals need is the confidence and practical know-how to apply them effectively and responsibly. This programme is built to deliver exactly that.”

Regional Rollout and Expansion

The first phase of the programme launches in mid-April, focusing on audit, accounting and finance professionals across the private sector, public sector and charities. A second phase in the third quarter will expand coverage to additional sectors including tax, corporate secretarial, human resources, banking and finance, and legal.

Through its regional network, ISCA Academy aims to train finance professionals across ASEAN and support broader efforts to accelerate digital upskilling and strengthen workforce competitiveness.

A Broader Shift Across Industries

The initiative reflects a wider transformation across ASEAN, where AI adoption is expanding beyond technology teams into core business functions. Finance, public sector, and corporate professionals are increasingly using AI for practical applications such as extracting insights from unstructured data, streamlining compliance workflows including KYC and AML checks, and automating reporting processes.

The message from ISCA Academy and Skybots is consistent: meaningful AI adoption does not require large budgets or deep technical expertise. With the right training, professionals across ASEAN can begin generating real value from AI from day one.

Hashtag: #ISCA #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy #CharteredAccountants #ChooseAccountancy #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) Academy

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.

ISCA supports over 43,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.

ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.

ISCA Academy, the leading business school of ISCA, delivers immersive, industry-informed learning across accountancy, finance, technology, governance, and leadership. We equip learners to reskill, reconnect, and reinvent – empowering them to stay relevant and ahead by choice.

For more information, visit .

Skybots Pte Ltd

Skybots is a Singapore-based specialist in practical AI training and automation solutions, serving organisations across the public and private sectors. The firm has a particularly strong presence in the finance and accounting community, working closely with finance, accounting, audit, tax and corporate secretarial professionals to apply AI to real workplace tasks. Founded by Daryl Aw, a Chartered Accountant (CA) under ISCA and three-time UiPath Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Skybots designs and delivers hands-on programmes that equip professionals with immediately applicable skills — without requiring technical backgrounds or large technology budgets.

Skybots serves clients across Singapore and internationally, with training delivered in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bhutan. It is a recognised training partner of ISCA and sits on ISCA’s AI Solutions Sub-Committee.

For more information, visit .

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Taiwan International Plant-Based Festival Launches in Singapore: High-End Culinary Partnerships and Diplomatic Exhibitions Shape Premium Agri-Product Branding

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – The “Taiwan International Plant-Based Festival” officially launched in Singapore. Led by Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Deputy Minister Hu Jong-I, the delegation introduced Taiwan’s premium produce and elite Phalaenopsis orchids into Singapore’s luxury dining and international sectors. The initiative leverages high-end restaurant marketing and immersive thematic exhibitions to showcase the quality, safety, and sustainability of Taiwanese agriculture, actively expanding its reach into premium consumer and international procurement markets.

The culinary campaign features a high-profile partnership between “Yang Ming Spring”—a prominent Taiwanese pure vegan culinary group honored with the Michelin Green Star—and Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Beach Road under the Pan Pacific Hotels Group. From July 1 to September 30, this exclusive plant-based menu highlights premium fresh ingredients sourced directly from Taiwan, including water snowflake, green bamboo shoots, cabbage, tea leaves, and the rising export star, the “Mango Pineapple,” elevating Taiwanese produce onto international five-star tables.

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The launch was attended by MOA Deputy Minister Hu Jong-I, Ministry counselor Wu Wen-ling, Pan Pacific Hotels Group Executive Director Ms. Wee Wei Ling, and Yang Ming Spring Founder Mr. Chen Chien-Hung. Deputy Minister Hu noted that this festival marks a critical milestone for Taiwanese agriculture as it integrates with green gastronomy globally. The MOA aims to connect Singaporean consumers with Taiwan’s top-tier produce, establishing a premium brand image rooted in food safety and trust to unlock future export channels.

The launch elegantly incorporated Taiwan’s Phalaenopsis orchid floral aesthetics to create a “five-sensory feast” that harmonized taste, vision, and cultural narrative, solidifying Taiwan’s premium brand image. The event successfully drew over 80 distinguished guests, including mainstream Singaporean media, food critics, business chamber representatives, and executive chefs.

Concurrently, the official residence of the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore hosted the festival’s thematic opening reception, serving as a premier venue for cultural diplomacy and showcasing the narrative of Taiwan’s agricultural excellence. The exhibition focused on three themes: Taiwanese orchid aesthetics, Mango Pineapple innovation, and sustainable agriculture tourism. This space demonstrated Taiwan’s agricultural evolution from precision R&D to green sustainability, highlighting its export potential to foreign diplomats and Singaporean trade buyers.

The MOA emphasized that the initiative’s core strategy is to “drive tangible procurement through engaging and immersive experiences in our target markets.” By bridging high-end dining with diplomatic prestige, the three-month campaign will maximize the visibility of Taiwanese agri-products across Southeast Asian markets. Aligning with global net-zero sustainability trends, the festival establishes a safe, premium brand image, paving the way for Taiwanese agriculture to integrate into global high-end supply chains and broader Asia-Pacific channels.

Hashtag: #YMSpring

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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SIM Academy Enhances Flexible Upskilling Pathways for Adult Learners and Working Parents

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – SIM Academy today announced its continued commitment to supporting adult learners and working parents through flexible, industry-relevant upskilling pathways designed to meet the demands of modern work and life.

As workforce transformation accelerates, many adult learners face a common challenge: balancing professional responsibilities, caregiving commitments, and personal development. Recognising that time constraints remain a key barrier to learning, SIM Academy has developed a range of flexible programme formats that enable learners to upskill without disrupting their daily routines.

Short and focused pathways for working parents
Learning programmes with long course duration can be intimidating for busy adults. Working parents often prefer shorter and more manageable course modules. This is especially useful for parents who may only have short windows of time in the evenings, during lunch breaks, or over the weekend.

Instead of commuting to class every session, parents can learn from home and control their pace more easily. SIM Academy’s online courses are designed to support career mobility and future-proof skills. This is a practical option for learners who need both flexibility and relevance. When pathways are flexible, learners can choose the direction that best aligns with their current stage of life and career.

Supporting career progression across growth areas
SIM Academy’s learning pathways are structured to support progressive skill development across key industry domains. Learners can begin with foundational courses and advance to specialised areas aligned with their career goals.

For instance, individuals seeking to transition into digital roles can build core capabilities before moving into more advanced technical or applied programmes. Similarly, professionals aiming to strengthen leadership competencies can develop skills in communication, collaboration, and people management.

In response to the growing importance of sustainability, SIM Academy also offers programmes tailored for senior professionals, including C-suite leaders, senior management, and SME decision-makers. These courses focus on equipping leaders with the knowledge and tools to address climate-related risks, strengthen governance frameworks, and integrate sustainability into business strategy in line with evolving regulatory requirements.

Enabling Lifelong learning through flexible delivery

SIM Academy’s multi-modal delivery approach, spanning online, blended, and in-person formats, provides learners with the flexibility to pursue continuous education at their own pace. By offering industry-aligned programmes in areas such as leadership, innovation, sustainability, and essential workplace skills, SIM Academy empowers adult learners to remain competitive and future-ready.

As organisations continue to evolve, SIM Academy remains committed to enabling lifelong learning through accessible, practical and flexible education pathways that support both professional growth and personal responsibilities.

References

  1. Catalyse Your Career Growth with SIM Academy: https://www.sim.edu.sg/professional-development/overview
  2. Why Learn at SIM?https://www.sim.edu.sg/professional-development/why-sim-for-professional-development
  3. Online short professional courses: https://www.sim.edu.sg/professional-development/courses/online-courses
  4. Sustainability courses for C-suite Leaders: https://www.sim.edu.sg/professional-development/courses/sustainability-courses

Hashtag: #SIMAcademy #SIMA

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SIM Academy

SIM Academy provides leading-edge professional development and enterprise solutions. SIM Academy offers over 300 executive and business programmes that help almost 10,000 professionals annually on average hone their competencies to drive business value and achieve peak personal and enterprise performance.

Our programmes encompass a comprehensive range of lifelong learning opportunities designed to empower professionals with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to become effective change-makers and leaders in today’s volatile and uncertain business landscape.

For more information on SIM Academy, visit

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Yeebo Announces Annual Results for FY25/26 Consolidated Revenue Increased by 13.7% to Approximately HK$1,181 Million Profit Attributable to Owners Amounted to Approximately HK$1,951 Million

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AI Business on the Rise, Revenue Soared by Nearly 2.8 Times Fuelling Future Growth

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited (“Yeebo” or the “Company”, stock code: 00259.HK, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Group”) announces its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2026 (the “Year”).

The Group recorded a consolidated revenue of approximately HK$1,181.0 million for the Year, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.7%. The Group’s product portfolio comprises Liquid Crystal Displays (“LCDs”), Liquid Crystal Display modules (“LCMs”), Thin Film Transistor modules (“TFTs”), Capacitive Touch Panel modules (“CTPs”) (collectively “Display Business”), as well as artificial intelligence (“AI”)-related products and AI computing services (collectively “AI Business”). During the year under review, revenue for Display Business increased by 2.6% to HK$1,021.7 million. Among which, the contribution of CTPs to the Group’s total revenue has become increasingly significant, reflecting the Group’s progress in expanding into higher value-added product segments. Meanwhile, the AI Business recorded strong growth, with revenue rising significantly by nearly 2.8 times to HK$159.3 million, emerging as a new growth driver. This rapid expansion highlighted the Group’s early success in developing this segment, which is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the Group’s long-term revenue and profitability.

For the year ended 31 March 2026, the Group achieved a gross profit of HK$125.9 million. The gross profit margin decreased slightly to 10.7%. This decline was mainly due to the high fixed costs associated with the AI Business. Profit attributable to owners of the Company surged to approximately HK$1,950.6 million, representing a decrease of HK$838.1 million as compared with that for the preceding year. This was primarily due to a non-recurring gain recorded in the preceding year from the disposal of the Group’s entire interests in Nantong Jianghai Capacitor Company Ltd. (“Nantong Jianghai”) (including the deemed disposal of the remaining 13.81% equity interests), which was a former associate of the Group. Basic earnings per share were HK212.7 cents. The board of directors (“Board”) has proposed to recommend the payment of a final dividend of HK5.0 cents per share for the Year.

Commenting on the annual results of the Group, Mr. Fang Yan Tak, Douglas, Chairman of Yeebo, said, “During the year under review, the global business environment remained challenging. Amid geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties, Yeebo remained committed to prudent execution, strengthening operational resilience, and focusing on long-term value creation. On one hand, we continued to broaden the application base of our core display business and deepen customer relationships. On the other hand, we made encouraging progress in scaling up our AI business, advancing ecosystem development, and driving commercial deployment. During the Year, the Group continued to increase its investment in AI compute and related businesses, achieving notable results in building a more comprehensive domestic AI compute service platform in Mainland China. Benefiting from the rapid development of the domestic AI compute industry, our AI business delivered strong growth and has increasingly become a key engine driving the Group’s overall development.”

For the Display Business, Yeebo is encouraged by the meaningful progress made in broadening our product offering, reflecting stronger product development capability and deeper engagement with customers. During the Year, the Group successfully secured consistent or first mass production orders across four application segments, namely (i) commercial coffee machines, (ii) automotive, (iii) household appliances and (iv) agricultural and construction machinery, demonstrating the Group’s continued market expansion and laying a solid foundation for robust growth in Display Business going forward.

Regarding to the AI Compute and related business, Yeebo has operated its AI compute and related businesses through its wholly owned subsidiary, Suanova Technology Limited (“Suanova”) over the past few years, and has successfully established itself as a key participant in China’s AI industry value chain. Yeebo continued to step up its investment in AI compute and related businesses during the Year. Its investments into early-stage AI companies, including MetaX Integrated Circuits (Shanghai) Co Ltd (688802.SH), Shanghai Biren Technology Co Ltd (06082.HK) and Shanghai Xizhi Technology Co Ltd (01879.HK), have generated strong and favorable returns.

For the AI Business development, the Group expanded the number of domestic graphics processing unit (“GPU”) clusters operated or managed under the public cloud service model to five, with utilization generally maintained at above 90%. These compute resources supported a broad range of AI for Science (“AI4S”) applications as well as foundation model training and inferencing scenarios. It demonstrated the Group’s increasingly mature capabilities in multi-network architecture compatibility, multi-platform scheduling, layered compute optimization and diversified application deployment. At the same time, the Group began to engage in the integration and delivery of private cloud GPU clusters of different scales and commenced the development of full-stack end-to-end AI solutions, taking initial steps toward becoming a domestic compute service provider with broader and more comprehensive service capabilities.

Over the past year, users of domestic GPU clusters were primarily concentrated in the AI4S field. Through long-term collaboration with leading universities and research institutions (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, Tsinghua University, the Shanghai AI Laboratory, the Shanghai Institute for Advanced Algorithms, Zhejiang University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Westlake University etc.), the Group established a strong base of core users for the domestic GPU clusters. The Group progressively expanded the usage of domestic GPU clusters to foundation models and vertical industry-specific models across both training and inferencing. Through investing in selected early-stage AI companies with differentiated core capabilities, the Group further promoted the adoption of domestic GPU clusters. In addition, the Group has also completed the first single domestic GPU cluster training task at the thousand-card scale, further strengthening its leading position in the industry.

The Group believes the long-term strategic importance of domestic compute capabilities remains compelling. Through equity investments, joint research and development and business collaboration, the Group has actively begun to build an integrated ecosystem. Leveraging the AI computing ecosystem, the Group has collaborated closely with various key domestic hardware and software partners to enhance mutual compatibility and achieve synergistic optimization. This further strengthens the Group’s capabilities in computing adaptation and scheduling optimization. Looking ahead, the Group will further accelerate the development of end-to-end domestic AI compute solutions for selected industries, including healthcare, financial services and AI4S, as well as model tools and extensions (such as low bit low resource training and memory OS). By combining relevant AI solutions with integrated domestic AI compute hardware and software, and offering flexible deployment through public cloud or private cloud models, we believe this business is increasingly well positioned to capture the opportunities arising from the continued development of AI.

The Group’s capacitor-related investment interests continued to contribute to the overall strength of the Group’s asset base during the Year. As at 31 March 2026, the Group held 100,600,932 shares in Nantong Jianghai, with a fair value of approximately HK$3.3 billion.

Mr. Fang Yan Tak, Douglas, Chairman of Yeebo, concluded, “Looking ahead, we will continue to refine our product portfolio, elevate production excellence, and optimize our customer structure to sustain our market position in the display market, while exploring new applications for our products across various sectors. We will continue to strengthen its strategic deployment in AI computing, and actively support Suanova in unlocking its technological innovation capabilities and platform potential. We believe that as AI applications continue to expand and deepen, computing power is gradually evolving into a core driving force behind a new wave of industrial upgrading. In the face of the historic opportunities brought by the AI wave, the Group will further intensify its investment in AI business, focusing on high-growth technology companies, and create synergies through collaboration to fully capture the development opportunities arising from the continued expansion of the AI computing market. We firmly believe that by upholding our commitment to technological innovation and continuously deepening ecosystem collaboration, we will sustain a leading position in the intelligent era and deliver long-term, sustainable value to the Group and its shareholders.”

Hashtag: #Yeebo

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited

Founded in 1988, Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited is a diversified electronic component company with a well-established presence in the global market. The Company’s core business spans flat panel displays, computing power and capacitors, serving a broad spectrum of industrial and consumer applications. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Yeebo operates its manufacturing operations primarily in the Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, supporting a global sales network that ensures localized service and support for its international clientele.

In alignment with its long-term strategic vision, Yeebo is leveraging its robust operational foundation to expand into the Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) compute and related sectors. This initiative reflects the Company’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement, with the objective of positioning Yeebo as a leading and influential participant in the rapidly evolving AI industry across Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong.

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