Media OutReach
Phu Quoc prepares for APEC 2027
Phu Quoc Island has captured global attention as the chosen venue for the 2027 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week.
PHU QUOC, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2025 – 2027 will be the third time Viet Nam has hosted APEC, following the events in Hà Nội in 2006 and Đà Nẵng in 2017. The Vietnamese government has selected the island city of Phu Quoc to host APEC 2027.
Kien Giang Province has launched and expedited investments in transportation infrastructure, including Phu Quoc Airport, An Thoi International Port and the APEC Multifunctional Complex, to welcome this hugely significant occasion. The hosting venue will accommodate high-level leaders from 21 member economies, along with thousands of delegates, international journalists and top global business executives.
Upgrading transportation infrastructure
The city will construct a 4E-class airport, including extensive upgrades to passenger and cargo terminals, VIP lounges, aircraft parking areas and runway enhancements.
Phu Quoc International Airport will expand to 1,073 hectares, extending the existing runway to 3.5km, constructing a second 3.3km-long runway and developing a new T2 international terminal, with a capacity of up to 20 million passengers, along with a VIP terminal, an apron for up to 70 positions, hangars and cargo warehouses.
Beyond air travel, upgrades will also be made to the An Thoi International Port which will be expanded to a 100-hectare scale, capable of accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships, such as the Icon of the Seas, which carries between 7,000 and 10,000 passengers.
For road transportation between Phu Quoc International Airport and the APEC Summit Convention Centre, the city will expand Provincial Road 975 and develop a new urban rail line. The APEC Avenue project will serve as a key horizontal axis connecting provincial highways (existing boulevards) to the APEC Multifunctional Complex, with a road width of 68m and a length of about 3km.
To support the city’s overall development, additional infrastructure projects will include investments in reservoirs, water treatment plants, the renovation of Duong Dong River and the construction of wastewater treatment and waste management facilities.
Investment in the APEC Multifunctional Complex
The APEC multifunctional complex will accommodate nearly 15,000 people, including a 10,000 square metre conference and exhibition centre, with a seating capacity of 3,000 to 3,500, a multifunctional auditorium, APEC Square and an international press centre capable of accommodating 3,000 to 4,000 journalists.
A high-rise mixed-use area will feature hotels, a duty-free shopping centre, and a multifunctional cultural and arts hub, with 3,000 to 3,500 seats, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for hosting performances and shows produced by leading global entertainment companies. Within the centre, there will also be a dining area capable of serving 3,000 to 4,000 guests.
With existing landmarks including the Kiss Bridge, the longest non-stop three-rope Hon Thom cable car, and the nightly Kiss of the Sea multimedia show with fireworks displays, the APEC Multifunctional Complex will become a new beacon for visitors and create long-term value for the local tourism industry.
Phu Quoc has been consistently ranked among the best beach destinations in Asia, and the world, by globally renowned media outlets and organisations.
Hashtag: #TDC
https://visitphuquoc.com.vn/en/southern-phu-quoc-hotspot-tourism-real-estate-investment-apec-2027
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GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.
Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.
The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.
Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”
The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.
Hashtag: #Paymentology
https://www.paymentology.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/paymentology/
https://x.com/Paymentology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia
Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.
Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.
Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.
Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.
Hashtag: #Discovery
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About Discovery Channel
The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.
The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.
To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings
https://www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw/zh-tw/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
