Technology

China Continues as an Attractive Investment Destination

Published

2 years ago

February 26, 2025

GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) today released its 2025 Special Report on the State of Business in South China. The release was attended by over 200 government officials, business executives and members of media including over 40 foreign consulates mostly represented by their consuls general. This publication can be downloaded free of charge from the Chamber’s website at http://www.amcham-southchina.com/amcham/static/publications/specialreport.jsp

The 208-page bilingual 2025 Special Report on the State of the Business in South China, the 21st such endeavor, provides a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the business community and valuable insights into the development trends in South China. This year, 316 companies participated in the study in total. This publication is researched and produced independently by AmCham South China and does not represent the opinions of the US or any other government or organization. AmCham South China does not receive any funds from any government in the production of this publication.

According to the 2025 Special Report on the State of Business in South China, 76% of the companies studied plan to reinvest in China in 2025. A sizeable number of the participating companies have budgeted for reinvestment in China in 2025 under US$10 million, accounting for 77% of the total. A notable 6% have allocated over US$250 million for reinvestment plans in the coming year. It is estimated that member companies have set aside a total of US$14.59 billion from profits in China to reinvest over the next three to five years to expand existing operations and capture additional market share, a surge of 33.18% compared to the previous reinvestment figure.

Dr. Harley Seyedin, Chairman and President of AmCham South China, winner of 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award (along with Elon Musk, Durreen Shahnaz and Murad Al-Katib), which is awarded by an Award Committee consisting of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Economics, said, “Businesses are increasing their commitments in China to secure a stronger foothold in this critical market. The reinvestment surge signals confidence in China’s future, and their hope for US-China increased cooperation.” Dr. Seyedin continued, “Since nearly 75% of American companies in China are primarily focused on importing components from the US to produce goods and services in China for China, they believe that continued reinvestment in China is essential for their long-term success.”

In 2024, China achieved a GDP growth rate of 5% and a total GDP of RMB 134.91 trillion (US$18.80 trillion). This robust economic performance continues to attract global investors, with 39% of the companies studied ranking China as their top investment destination and 58% of foreign companies placing it among their top three global investment priorities. The 2025 Special Report further highlights strong investor confidence, as 73% of the participating companies report a positive or very positive overall return on investment in China in 2024, while 39% enjoy a higher return on investment in China than in other global markets.

Key Takeaways of the 2025 Special Report on the State of Business in South China:

The proportion of companies that gained over 60% of their global revenue from China has risen by 5 percentage points (pp) to 31%.47% of the companies studied experienced a significant or slight increase in revenue in China. A larger share of American companies (43%, +7pp y-o-y) and manufacturing companies (47%, +17pp y-o-y) experienced revenue growth.In 2024, overall profitability declined, with 85% of companies reporting profitability in China, a 3pp decrease compared to the previous two years.Concerning the companies that are profitable in China, 45% reported to have met their budget expectations. Among companies yet to make profits in China, 88% expect to reach that milestone within two to five years. Only 8% anticipate it will take more than six years.In 2024, 57% of the companies studied remain optimistic about their business prospects in China, a 5pp decrease from the previous year. American companies’ confidence dropped by 14pp, while the manufacturing sector saw the steepest decline, with an 18pp drop in optimism.In 2024, 61% of the companies studied reported to have reinvested in China, marking a 5pp decline compared with the previous year. The reinvestment trend remains consistent for American companies, with 57% reporting to have actually reinvested in China, in line with last year’s figures.3% of the companies studied had each budgeted to reinvest US$250 million or more in China in 2024, while this year’s findings reveal that 7% had actually followed through with reinvestments of this magnitude.59% of the companies studied have plans to expand their operations in China over the coming three years.Guangzhou has been ranked as the top investment destination in China for eight consecutive years, followed by Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing.Fierce local competition remains the greatest challenge faced by the companies studied in South China, followed by rising labor costs and rising operation costs.Not a single company indicated a complete withdrawal from the Chinese market. 91% of the companies studied assert that they will not decouple from the Chinese market due to the US-China trade tensions, a 5pp increase from 2023.One quarter of the companies studied are bullish about the US-China relations in the coming year, a significant decrease of 19pp compared to previous assessments.

The negative effects of both US and Chinese tariffs on the companies studied have been somewhat alleviated. Many companies have found ways to mitigate the impact through supply chain adjustments, strategic sourcing, or absorbing some of the tariff costs.

Dr. Seydin remarked, “American companies have long recognized the importance of the strong economic relationship between the two countries, and they remain committed to the mutual benefits of innovation, job creation, and cultural exchange that this partnership fosters. It is essential that both governments work together to create a more predictable and supportive trade environment where American businesses can continue to thrive and contribute to the long-term economic growth of both countries.”

Special Report on the State of Business in South China

The Special Report on the State of Business in South China is a quantitative study of the business environment, conducted for consecutive years by AmCham South China. Each year, AmCham’s member and non-member companies participate in AmCham’s State of Business study, results of which will be garnered and edited into a separate publication.

The document can be downloaded free of charge from the chamber’s website at http://www.amcham-southchina.com/amcham/static/publications/specialreport.jsp

About the American Chamber of Commerce in South China

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating bilateral trade between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Accredited in 1995 by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, AmCham South China represents more than 2,300 corporate and individual members, is governed by a fully-independent Board of Governors elected from its membership, and provides dynamic, on-the-ground support for American and international companies doing business in South China. Over the past decade, AmCham South China has hosted on average each year more than 10,000 business executives and government leaders from around the world at its briefings, seminars, committee meetings and social gatherings. All AmChams in China are independently governed and represent member companies in their respective regions.

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SOURCE The American Chamber of Commerce in South China

Technology

FGR advances carbon fibre commercialisation with Aeropreg agreement

Published

23 minutes ago

October 4, 2026

Highlights

First Graphene enters Development and Commercialisation Agreement with global prepreg manufacturer Aeropreg to develop graphene-enhanced carbon fibre prepregThree-year agreement builds on positive results from First Graphene’s development work incorporating PureGRAPH® into carbon fibre compositesCollaboration combines PureGRAPH® and proprietary epoxy concentrates with Aeropreg’s established manufacturing and resin development capabilitiesFirst Graphene intends to progress the graphene-enhanced prepreg product towards commercial launch through Aeropreg’s existing sales channelsPartnership solidifies FGR’s pathway into the global carbon fibre reinforced plastics market, estimated to grow to US$43.7 billion by 2033

SYDNEY, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — First Graphene Limited (ASX: FGR; “First Graphene” or “the Company”) (FRA:M11) (OTCQB:FGPHF) has entered a three-year Development and Commercialisation Agreement with Turkish prepreg manufacturer, Aeropreg, to advance a PureGRAPH® enhanced carbon fibre prepreg towards commercialisation.

Under the three-year agreement, First Graphene’s proprietary epoxy concentrates will be used to optimise the incorporation of PureGRAPH® into Aeropreg’s existing carbon fibre prepreg manufacturing process.

Carbon fibre prepreg is a composite material that has been pre-infused with partially cured polymer resin and is often used to strengthen components used in aerospace, defence, automotives and sporting goods.

The development program will focus on achieving controlled and repeatable graphene loading within prepreg before validating the strength, durability, performance and manufacturability of the resulting material.

Subject to trial results, First Graphene and Aeropreg will advance the material towards commercial launch, leveraging Aeropreg’s existing sales channels across the aerospace, automotive, marine and sporting goods industries.

The new partnership represents the next stage in First Graphene’s strategy to convert its technical development in carbon fibre composites into commercial opportunities for PureGRAPH®.

It also follows First Graphene’s track record of positive results from customer development programs and grant-funded research on graphene-enhanced carbon fibre composites.

Securing a commercial prepreg solution and an experienced manufacturing partner is an essential step towards addressing defence, aerospace and automotive applications. Modern commercial aircraft make extensive use of carbon fibre prepreg in their airframes, for primary structures.

The collaboration aligns with First Graphene’s increased focus on the US market and its recent acquisition of MITO Materials, which expanded the Company’s composites technology and customer relationships in North America.

Importantly, Aeropreg has in-house resin development and testing capabilities, providing First Graphene with a manufacturing partner to advance this technology towards commercial production.

This agreement provides First Graphene with a potential pathway into the global carbon fibre reinforced plastics market, which is estimated to grow to the value of US$43.7 billion by 2033[1].

About Aeropreg

Aeropreg manufactures and supplies prepreg composite materials, including carbon, glass, aramid and basalt fibre prepregs, for aerospace, automotive, marine, sporting goods, medical and wind energy applications. The company offers customised material solutions and technical support to meet customers’ specific requirements.

Aeropreg’s research and development capabilities include developing and refining resin systems, supported by in-house chemical, physical, thermal and mechanical testing.

Aeropreg is a subsidiary of Spinteks. According to Aeropreg, its prepreg production operates under AS9100 aerospace quality management certification. In June 2026, Spinteks was added to the Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) Approved Supplier List for composite manufacturing, with Aeropreg carrying out prepreg production within the group.[2]

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO, Michael Bell, said:

“The new partnership with Aeropreg represents an important step in progressing our carbon fibre development work towards commercialisation in key industries such as aerospace and defence.

We have built considerable knowledge around incorporating PureGRAPH® into composite materials and the next step was to combine that expertise with an established manufacturer capable of producing and taking a product to market.

Aeropreg brings extensive prepreg manufacturing and resin development capabilities, as well as established global sales channels across a number of high-value industries.

Our immediate focus will be on successfully validating the material within Aeropreg’s manufacturing process, with the longer-term objective of establishing another commercial route to market for PureGRAPH®.”

-Ends-

This announcement has been approved by the Chairman.

References

1Grand View Research

2Aeropreg, The Prepreg Brief, Issue 02, June 2026

SOURCE First Graphene Limited

Technology

Oracle Announces $10 Million Partnership with the Nashville Symphony

Published

1 hour ago

October 4, 2026

The investment will allow Music City’s orchestra to reinstate its 2026-27 season and recall furloughed musicians and staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Oracle today announced that it is investing $10 million and creating a strategic partnership to help sustain the Nashville Symphony and keep the music playing as the organization restructures. Oracle’s support will help the Nashville Symphony address its immediate financial needs, move forward with its 2026-27 season, and bring its musicians and staff back to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

“Oracle’s commitment is a lifeline for the Nashville Symphony and the community we serve,” said Mark Tillinger, president and CEO, Nashville Symphony. “Oracle’s partnership gives us the ability to bring our musicians and our music back to the stage, and it gives us momentum as we build toward a stronger, more sustainable long-term future. We’re immensely grateful for Oracle’s belief in the Nashville Symphony.”

“It’s an extraordinary relief to be able to welcome a new corporate partner to arts philanthropy in Nashville,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “Oracle’s generosity ensures that the upcoming season will not be lost. For years, the Nashville Symphony has entertained fans—including me—and it’s encouraging to see the steps its new leadership is taking to ensure that remains true for years to come.”

The partnership enables the Symphony to reinstate the 2026-27 season along with its full-time staff members and all members of the orchestra who were to be furloughed on Oct. 18 due to a financial emergency.

“Nashville is a city that understands how music can bring people together,” said Clay Magouyrk, CEO, Oracle. “We are part of this community and understand how important cultural institutions like this are to the residents of Nashville. As Oracle builds its new headquarters on Nashville’s East Bank, we are here to help solve the community’s problems and ensure Nashville remains a vibrant place to live and work for generations to come.”

About the Nashville Symphony
The Nashville Symphony inspires and engages audiences across Middle Tennessee with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences. Founded in 1946, the Symphony is celebrated for its commitment to contemporary American orchestral music, innovative programming across genres, and a prolific recording legacy, earning 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations. Today, the Symphony performs in the world-class, acoustically superb Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and reaches nearly 550,000 Middle Tennesseans annually through its free and low-cost education and community programs. Globally, the orchestra connects with almost 13 million listeners worldwide through its recordings, broadcasts, and streaming activities. The Nashville Symphony is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching its community and inspiring the next generation of music lovers. Learn more at nashvillesymphony.org.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

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SOURCE Oracle

Technology

Tigerair Taiwan Expands Its Network With New Connected Travel Platform, Powered by Dohop

Published

1 hour ago

October 4, 2026

With Scoot as its first airline partner, tigerhop expands Dohop’s footprint in Asia and adds new network capacity and destinations for Taiwan’s leading low-cost carrier.

REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, Oct. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dohop, the travel technology company creating a new standard for Connected Travel that works beyond traditional interline, has announced a new partnership with Tigerair Taiwan to deploy the Dohop-powered tigerhop platform, now live on the airline’s retail channels. Through the initial partnership with Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, Tigerair Taiwan customers will have more options for travel within Asia, specifically across North Asia routes and new connections to Singapore, all bookable in a single transaction.

Tigerhop, powered by Dohop’s RetailConnect platform, allows Tigerair Taiwan to sell multi-carrier journeys that combine its own flights with onward services operated by partner airlines. At launch, tigerhop will offer connections from Taipei and Da Nang to Singapore via Scoot, and travelers departing from Singapore can transfer at Taoyuan International Airport to other destinations, including Akita, Hanamaki, and Tottori.

“Tigerair Taiwan demonstrates how airlines can use Connected Travel to expand their network without the cost and complexity of bilateral interlining,” said Hugh Aitken, Chief Operating Officer at Dohop. “Launching tigerhop with Scoot gives Taiwanese travellers access to more destinations through Tigerair Taiwan’s own channels, while enabling the airline to capture bookings that might otherwise go to OTAs. With additional carriers joining the platform in the coming months, tigerhop also marks an important expansion of Dohop’s presence in Asia.”

For Tigerair Taiwan, the partnership adds connections with other carriers without complex interline or codeshare agreements, expanding its commercial reach with minimal technical investment. By selling these itineraries through tigerhop under its own brand, the airline can compete more effectively with online travel agents while giving passengers access to Dohop’s ConnectSure disruption support and travel protection services.

“Working with Dohop, we can grow our international reach without traditional interline structures while maintaining our brand promise to our passengers,” said Joyce Huang, Chairperson of Tigerair Taiwan. “We look forward to partnering with new carriers and expanding our coverage in the APAC region through Dohop’s technology.”

The Tigerair Taiwan launch extends Dohop’s presence across Asia, where its platforms are already live for Scoot, Thai Vietjet, Citilink and Air India Express, with others in development. These deployments reflect growing demand among Asian carriers for flexible connectivity that can integrate into existing retail channels without individual codeshare or bilateral interline agreements, supporting the industry’s broader move toward modular, multi-carrier connectivity and modern retailing.

For more information about the partnership between Dohop and Tigerair Taiwan, or to arrange an interview with a Dohop executive, please contact Vanessa Horwell at vhorwell@thinkinkpr.com.

About Dohop
Dohop enables connected journeys from booking through arrival, combining flights and travel segments from multiple airlines and travel providers into a single trip supported by disruption handling, travel protection, and baggage transfer. More than 100 airlines and travel partners, including Air France, Air Transat, easyJet, Scoot, Vueling and Wizz Air, use Dohop’s Connected Travel platform to create, sell, and support multi-carrier journeys without traditional interline agreements, expanding network connectivity and route options as participation grows. Visit www.dohop.com/airlines to learn more.

About Tigerair Taiwan
Tigerair Taiwan launched its first route in 2014. As Taiwan’s first and only low-cost carrier (LCC), it operates routes across Asia, providing travelers with affordable, reliable, and convenient options. Focusing on a warm, passionate, and genuine service while upholding safety as its core value, Tigerair Taiwan continues to expand its footprint and add more destinations in Asia. Learn more at www.tigerairtw.com.

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