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Wuxi Shows What It Takes to Become a UNESCO City of Music
The announcement was followed by a celebratory festival on Wuxi’s Bogong Island on the afternoon of Saturday 15 November, of which it seemed all of Wuxi wanted to be a part. Therein, Secretary of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Denise Bax (UCCN), within the Culture Sector of UNESCO, presented Mayor of Wuxi Jiang Feng with the approval letter recognising Wuxi as a “World Music Capital”.
In her inspiring speech, Bax said, “I would like to pay tribute to you, the citizens of Wuxi. In this city, music is not only performed and celebrated, but also believed and shared as the universal language that unites communities. … In becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Wuxi joins a global community of cities that believe in the transformative power of culture”.
City of Music is a designation appointed by UNESCO to a number of cities around the world “that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development”. Wuxi hereby joins cities such as Glasgow in the United Kingdom, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Kingston in Jamaica. Some 84 cities to date have been granted the distinction.
Saturday afternoon’s excitement also featured a brass band, a children’s lakeside erhu ensemble, captivating dance from a school for the visually impaired, plus much more.
A group of performers’ faces beamed, alive more than perhaps ever before, still fresh from the exciting recent news. And now, a foreign internet celebrity had come to sing with them, as their brass band performed for senior residents in a Wuxi retirement community.
That brass-band orchestra was comprised mainly of entrepreneurs—company owners who choose to spend what little free time they have pursuing what they love. Their enthusiasm is a crucial ingredient in why Wuxi has won such a prestigious worldwide honor.
Practicing together for 10 years, the Wuxi Entrepreneur Art Troupe has played almost every venue imaginable: retirement communities, universities, enterprises, the army, children’s events, New Year’s dinners and more. For them, Wuxi as a City of Music is a dream coming true. The highlight of their visit was the Troupe’s orchestra performing as backing for Shanghai-based French celebrity singer Alice Roche the following day.
Still within the voluntary sphere, Vice President of the self-organized Wuxi Saxophone Club Xiao Zhengqing teaches more than 400 amateur saxophonists. They come from different industries, but they all love music and saxophone. Xiao even took them to participate in the World Saxophone Congress this year, making these citizens of Wuxi who love music very popular.
Elsewhere, the city centre is the surprising home of the Wuxi National Orchestra. Guo Pan, a graduate with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Composition and Conducting Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, is the Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor—a notable achievement in a profession mostly dominated by more senior males.
Principal flautist Wang Yijing, who graduated with a bamboo flute major from the Central Conservatory of Music, feels that the UNESCO distinction will bring more musical events to Wuxi, encouraging more people to make the city an essential bucket-list item.
Meanwhile, Jason Hao, who plays double bass for the Orchestra, has dreams in a faraway land. He hopes to pursue his musical aspirations in the world of jazz in the USA, and believes Wuxi’s musical award might in some way enable this.
For evidence of Wuxi’s deep musical heritage, the Hongshan Relic Museum within the Grand Canal National Culture Park provides compelling examples. The Original Site of Qiu Chengdun’s Warring
States noble tomb includes 400 pottery replicas of bronze musical instruments unearthed from seven aristocratic tombs, underscoring music’s ancient presence in the region.
Wuxi also embraces the synergy between sight and sound. This is explored in the century-old building that now houses the Sound Hall within Wuxi’s Yingyueli in Huishan Ancient Town. Visitors can don headphones to hear recordings of the Yangtze River or various music genres, while browsing an extensive selection of vinyl records—overlooked by a colossal cyber statue of legendary erhu player A-Bing.
That Wuxi native’s influence is pervasive. At the Meicun Erhu Industry Park, a three-metre-long python skin is displayed as a highlight exhibit. This cultural and tourism venue showcases erhu craftsmanship and allows visitors to experience the making process. Techniques such as the searing of python skin—complete with its distinctive smell—demonstrate why the erhu stands out as a supreme example of intangible cultural heritage.
Connections between traditional and modern sound are also visible in the work of Kent Zhang, curator of a comprehensive audio museum. With tens of thousands of exhibits spanning audio cassettes, open-reel tape machines, Walkmans, Discmans, Digital Audio Tape and Minidisc players, plus signed albums from stars such as Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix and platinum-certified discs by Madonna and U2, Zhang has spent more than 20 years collecting globally and building a purpose-designed facility. It is, in essence, a City of Music within a City of Music.
Zhang’s reasoning is simple: the world—especially today’s youth—needs to understand the origins of the global modern music legacy.
Back with the Wuxi National Orchestra, Guo Pan’s aspirations have been bolstered by Wuxi’s UNESCO distinction. She laughs when asked whether it might increase her chances of conducting at the national level: “Of course.”
Guo’s conviction is infectious. The juxtaposition of musical traditions spanning thousands of years with state-of-the-art technology is further illustrated at the Digital Intelligence Center of Xingcheng Special Steel in Jiangyin City. Historically known for heavy industry, Wuxi is now integrating advanced technology with cultural vitality—and music is one of the beneficiaries.
The choir of steel workers performing in full voice offers a compelling demonstration of Wuxi’s musical culture and spirit. Their performance stands as one of the clearest affirmations of Wuxi’s qualification as a UNESCO City of Music.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Siam Piwat redefines global retail with NEXTOPIA, a future prototype where sustainability is a transformative force for business, people, and the planet
Chief Executive Officer Chadatip Chutrakul introduced the project during The Economist’s 5th annual Sustainability Week Asia, recently held in Bangkok, positioning NEXTOPIA as more than a response to necessity but as a genuine driver of business leadership and vision.
The vision for the future of retail is built on three interconnected pillars: co-creation with founders and partners, collaboration with tenants and communities, and customers. Together, they redefine retail as a platform shaped by shared purpose, creativity, and participation. This extends to redefining customer relationships through trust, inspiring customers to visit more often, spend more time, and deepen engagement within our ecosystem.
“Sustainability is no longer optional,” Chutrakul said. “We must accelerate and make a bold move. Real, lasting impact is never created alone. It requires co-creation across industries, united by purpose, in a place that captures the world’s attention and inspires change for the greater good.”
Launched in November 2025, the 15,000-square-meter attraction at Siam Paragon, a global landmark that draws more than 200,000 visitors daily, including a significant share of international tourists aims to move sustainability “beyond awareness into joyful and engaging experiences in everyday life,” she added.
Developed with more than 50 partners, NEXTOPIA operates under the theme “Co-creating Communities for a Better World.” It features infrastructure contributions from companies including B.Grimm, SCG, Indorama and Kasikornbank, incorporating solar energy, sustainable materials, advanced water systems, and cooling and clean air technologies.
The project has achieved zero waste to landfill, cut energy consumption by 47%, reduced water use by 34% and lowered carbon emissions from construction materials by 59%. Within a year, water savings are projected to be equivalent to the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Over two years, decarbonization efforts will deliver the environmental benefit of creating a vast urban park.
NEXTOPIA is Thailand’s first multi-tenant retail building to earn EDGE Advanced certification for resource efficiency and a two-star Fitwel rating. It also received the Best in Building Health Award 2026 from Fitwel, achieving top scores for its design and quality-of-life features.
Tenants must adhere to some 50 sustainability criteria covering waste management and value chain practices, with many exceeding standard industry benchmarks. Siam Piwat developed the framework over three years to help partners adopt sustainable practices quickly while cutting costs and unlocking new value.
Interactive elements at NEXTOPIA invite visitors to participate directly, with kinetic floors and bicycles that generate electricity for redeemable rewards, alongside exhibits featuring Thailand’s largest collection of recycled art, created by artists from waste collected nationwide. ECOTOPIA, the country’s biggest eco-store, stocks more than 110,000 sustainable products, many recycled or upcycled, sourced from around 300 Thai communities and small businesses.
The project has also brought together more than 30 local communities and global organizations, including the United Nations, World Food Programme, UNDP Biofin and WWF, to exchange knowledge and ideas.
More than a shopping destination, NEXTOPIA functions as a living laboratory for experimenting and exchanging ideas that retail and real estate developers worldwide could adapt. It marks a strategic evolution for Siam Piwat, transforming the company from a premier retail developer into what it describes as “a global sustainability platform” that links businesses, people and innovation.
This shift aligns with intensifying global pressure on companies to meet their sustainability commitments under the Paris Agreement, as brands and consumers increasingly demand verifiable environmental action.
With NEXTOPIA, Siam Piwat is betting that the future of retail lies not just in selling goods, but in creating spaces where sustainability feels tangible, measurable and above all inspiring.
Setting a new benchmark for co-created, revolutionary retail, NEXTOPIA offers a scalable model that delivers both business value and meaningful impact – one that can be adopted globally.
Hashtag: #SiamParagon #NEXTOPIA #Sustainability #PrototypeCity #NetZero #TheEconomist #SustainabilityWeekAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Siam Piwat
Siam Piwat is a leading retail and real estate developer behind Bangkok’s most iconic destinations, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, globally recognized for pioneering experiential destinations.
For over six decades, Siam Piwat has been renowned for creating iconic destinations and world-class experiences, continuously redefining Bangkok’s retail landscape through award-winning developments that set new global benchmarks. Guided by creativity, innovation, and sustainability, the company continues to lead with a bold vision s that inspire, engage, and delight customers from around the world, while creating long-term value for society, businesses, and future generations.
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DTAP Expands Access to Sexual Health Services with Two New Clinics in Holland Village and Clarke Quay
As healthcare-seeking behaviours continue to evolve, there has been a noticeable shift towards earlier and more proactive screening, especially for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Increasing public awareness of the importance of timely testing and treatment has driven demand for accessible, confidential care delivered in a professional clinical setting. The expansion into Holland Village and Clarke Quay reflects this shift, with both clinics designed to offer a comfortable and private environment that supports individuals in seeking care with confidence.
DTAP operates as a GP+ medical centre, bridging the gap between general practice and specialist care. Fully accredited for HIV and STD testing and treatment, its clinical protocols adhere to Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines, covering the full continuum from screening and early detection through to treatment and long-term management. Beyond sexual health, DTAP also supports men’s and women’s health, weight management and mental health.
Clinics are staffed by experienced doctors — both male and female — who take a friendly, open and non-discriminatory approach, ensuring patients can seek care with confidence and discretion.
“This expansion builds on DTAP’s longstanding commitment to accessible and confidential care, with over 20 years of experience since 2005. We are seeing a clear shift towards more proactive health-seeking behaviour, particularly in sexual health, with more patients coming forward earlier for screening and testing, including for conditions that were previously under-discussed. This highlights the importance of timely detection and access to care, supported by a discreet, comfortable environment with experienced doctors who provide care in a respectful, open and non-discriminatory manner,” said Dr. Alan Tan, Chairman of DTAP Clinics.
DTAP Clinic @ Holland Village and DTAP Clinic @ Clarke Quay are now open to patients. For more information on services, visit https://dtapclinic.com/.
Hashtag: #DTAP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About DTAP
DTAP clinics offer GP+ medical services, bridging the gap between general practice and specialist care. Established in 2005, DTAP provides services that extend beyond regular GP offerings, with key focus areas including men’s health and women’s health, including sexual health, STD check, weight management and mental health. Through all life stages, DTAP aims to be a trusted healthcare partner in both general and sexual health.
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TP’s AI-powered debt collection solution recovers up to 40% debt, improves efficiency and saves costs
Collections are emerging as a critical lever for both financial performance and customer retention. Regional institutions including the Asian Development Bank have identified digital transformation of financial services and credit infrastructure as a strategic priority across Asia, while rising consumer delinquencies are increasing pressure on banks to modernise servicing and collections operations.
However, debt collection remains one of banking’s most complex challenges, as lenders struggle to improve recovery rates without damaging customer relationships. AI-driven, human-supported debt collection models are emerging as a potential way forward to help lenders tackle rising credit risk and changing borrower behaviour. TP.ai FAB Collect is designed by training AI on decades of human collections expertise and deploying it where volume demands scale, so human advisors can focus on preserving customer relationships.
From Recovery to Relationship Management
TP.ai FAB Collect empowers lenders to operationalise more predictive, customer-centric engagement at scale, moving beyond traditional recovery models without adding friction to the customer experience. Built on TP’s proprietary TP.ai FAB (Foundational AI Backbone) framework, the solution integrates advanced analytics, AI-driven decisioning, and omnichannel engagement to improve recovery outcomes while maintaining compliance and customer trust.
“We trained our AI on 40 years of human collections expertise. Now it handles the first wave, so our human advisors can focus on the conversations that truly matter. TP.ai FAB Collect has produced results across debt recovery, promise-to-pay and overall customer satisfaction.” explains Assaf Tarnopolsky, TP’s Chief Business Development & Customer Officer, APAC.
When deployed by a leading financial institution, TP.ai FAB Collect’s AI agents achieved a customer satisfaction (CSAT) score that was slightly higher than human agents while also achieving a 40% debt recovery rate. At a leading telecommunications company, AI agents adapted outreach to customers based on local payment behaviour, achieving a 7%-point improvement in the pay-to-contact ratio compared to the human-only model. The solution also improved recovery performance over time while reducing collections costs by 40% compared to a human-only model.
TP.ai FAB Collect was recognised with a 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award by the Business Intelligence Group and was named Technology of the Year by the Excellence in Customer Service awards.
Hashtag: #TPAPAC #TPaiFAB
https://www.tp.com/
TP Group, a global leader in digital business services which consistently seeks to blend the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world’s biggest brands and their customers. The Group’s comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front office customer care to back-office functions, including operations consulting and high-value digital transformation services. It also offers a range of specialized services such as interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. The teams of multilingual, inspired, and passionate experts and advisors, spread in close to 100 countries, as well as the Group’s local presence allows it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment.
For more information: www.tp.com.
https://www.tp.com/en-sg/locations/singapore/
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