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Chongqing Summit Seeks to Bridge Capital and Industry as City Accelerates Economic Transformation

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CHONGQING, China, July 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A major financial summit was held in Chongqing on July 3 aimed at strengthening connections between capital and the city’s innovation-driven industries. The “Financial Support for High-Quality Development” conference featured deal-signing, investment pitches, panel discussions, and startup showcases, all designed to channel more private and institutional funding into local supply chains, technological innovation, and infrastructure projects. The event served as a targeted matchmaking platform—connecting companies seeking growth capital with financial institutions looking for investment opportunities in one of China’s fastest-growing urban centers.

During the conference, the city unveiled four new financing lists covering industrial, technological, infrastructure, and state-owned enterprise projects. In total, 549 projects are seeking approximately RMB419.4 billion in funding. Following multiple rounds of matchmaking, 60.66% of these projects have already secured matching investors. As of the end of the first quarter, the city’s medium- and long-term manufacturing loans reached RMB298.5 billion, while sci-tech lending hit RMB870 billion—up 13.9% and 13.1% year-on-year, respectively.

Beyond project pipelines, the conference delivered tangible outcomes: 56 contracts valued at RMB154.9 billion were signed on-site. The funds are directed toward some of China’s most dynamic industrial sectors, including connected electric vehicles and next-generation electronics manufacturing. Perhaps more telling is the diversity of financial backers—banks, securities firms, and asset managers all participated.

Zhang Zemin, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Chongqing is cultivating a collaborative ecosystem that unites universities, research institutes, hospitals, and corporations. He called on investors to focus on early-stage, innovative companies developing hard-tech healthcare technologies. Separately, Yin Qi, chairman of Afari Technology, observed that artificial intelligence and the automotive industry are now advancing in tandem. He urged deeper integration of R&D, manufacturing, capital, and talent to foster a self-sustaining industrial environment.

Executives from three major financial institutions—Xu Siwei, chairman of state-owned China Reform Holdings Corporation; Chen Liang, chairman of China International Capital Corporation (CICC); and Li Liang, founding partner of Hillhouse—said they would continue to increase investment to drive Chongqing’s technological innovation and industrial transformation by strengthening collaboration between finance and industry.

The event, organized by the Chongqing municipal government in partnership with its finance, technology, industry, and economic planning agencies. Two off-site sessions, held in the regional hubs of Wanzhou and Yongchuan, will explore each region’s role in Chongqing’s future growth.

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SOURCE Xinhua Finance

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Fortinet Appoints Luca Simonelli as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific

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SINGAPORE, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fortinet®, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the appointment of Luca Simonelli as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific (APAC).

Based in Singapore, Luca will lead Fortinet’s Asia Pacific sales organisation, overseeing the company’s businesses across Japan, North Asia and South Asia (Southeast Asia, India & SAARC, Australia and New Zealand). He will be responsible for further driving regional strategy, strengthening customer and partner relationships, and accelerating Fortinet’s continued growth across the region.

Luca brings more than 30 years of international technology leadership experience spanning cybersecurity, networking, SASE, cloud security, and managed services. Most recently, he served in a senior leadership role at GCX Managed Services. Throughout his career, he has built and scaled high-performing teams across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, holding leadership positions across the cybersecurity, networking and managed services industries, including nearly eight years at Fortinet, where he previously led the company’s EMEA business.

Announcing the appointment, Joe Sarno, Executive Vice President, International Sales at Fortinet, said “Asia Pacific continues to be one of the most dynamic cybersecurity markets globally, as organisations accelerate digital transformation, adopt AI, and modernise critical infrastructure. Luca’s deep industry experience, customer focus, and proven ability to build high-performing teams further strengthens our leadership across Asia Pacific and positions us well to further support our customers, partners and teams as we continue executing our long-term growth strategy.”

Luca Simonelli added, “Fortinet has built one of the industry’s most comprehensive and integrated cybersecurity platforms, bringing together networking, security and AI to help organisations reduce complexity while strengthening cyber resilience. As customers continue to modernise their infrastructure and embrace AI, Fortinet is uniquely positioned to help them secure every part of their digital journey. I’m excited to rejoin Fortinet and work alongside our customers, partners and teams across Asia Pacific to build on the company’s strong momentum and help more organisations securely embrace the next phase of digital transformation.”

Luca holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Milan and is based in Singapore.

About Fortinet

Fortinet is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere you need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including CERTs, government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

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SOURCE Fortinet

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EQT to acquire Orikan, a leading provider of integrated parking, enforcement, and compliance technology solutions

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EQT has agreed to acquire Orikan, a leader in end-to-end parking technology solutions across Australia, New Zealand and North AmericaEQT will partner with Orikan’s management team to support the Company’s next phase of growth through continued investment in product innovation, AI & data capabilities, service delivery, customer experience, and international expansionThe investment continues the build-out of EQT’s Asia mid-market strategy, which complements the firm’s flagship large-cap strategy by building on EQT’s prior sector experience to identify adjacent opportunities where the firm can deploy its expertise and help companies accelerate growth 

SYDNEY, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EQT today announced that BPEA EQT Mid-Market Growth Partnership (the “MMG Fund” or “EQT”), has agreed to acquire Orikan (the “Company”), a leading provider of integrated parking, enforcement, and compliance technology solutions.

Headquartered in Melbourne, Orikan provides integrated parking operations and enforcement and infringement management services, supported by software, hardware, payments and data capabilities designed and operated by the Company. With nearly 400 employees, the Company serves hundreds of government and private sector customers – including universities, airports, hospitals and stadiums – across Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

Orikan helps customers manage complex parking operations more effectively across the full parking lifecycle, as cities become more connected and demand for smarter infrastructure and outsourced operational support grows. EQT will partner with Orikan’s management team to support the next phase of growth through continued investment in service delivery, product development, customer operations, and data and AI capabilities. Drawing on its global platform experience and sector expertise in technology-enabled services, EQT will support Orikan as it identifies opportunities to expand into adjacent customer segments and international markets. 

Nicholas Macksey, Co-Head of EQT Private Capital Asia and Head of the Mid-Market Growth strategy, said: “Orikan is a business we have followed closely and one that fits well with EQT’s Asia mid-market strategy, with a clear opportunity for EQT to support its next stage of growth. We see significant potential to help the Company continue investing in innovation, strengthen its customer offering and expand into adjacent markets. Importantly, we can bring the full resources of EQT’s regional footprint, sector expertise and industrial advisor network to support the management team as Orikan pursues selected international growth opportunities.” 

Jacob Van der Wiel, Managing Director in the EQT Private Capital Asia Team, said: “We have been impressed by the quality of Orikan’s technology, the strength of its management team and the trusted relationships it has built with customers across Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Orikan’s unique combination of best-in-class proprietary technology and comprehensive operational support services is highly differentiated and has generated a loyal following among Orikan’s customer base. We look forward to working closely with the team to continue to accelerate Orikan’s growth and help the Company reach its full potential as a global leader in parking and mobility solutions.” 

Peter Neale, Chief Executive Officer of Orikan, said: “We are thrilled to partner with EQT as we enter the next stage of Orikan’s growth. EQT shares our long-term vision and brings deep experience in scaling high-growth, technology-enabled businesses. Together, we will continue investing in our people, platform and service capabilities, while continuing to provide the high level of service our customers rely on every day. It is an exciting day for our people and our customers”

This investment continues the build-out of EQT Private Capital Asia’s mid-market strategy, which complements the firm’s flagship large-cap strategy by investing in high-quality businesses across Asia Pacific. EQT’s first dedicated Asia mid-market fund, the MMG Fund, closed in May 2024 with USD 1.6 billion in total fund commitments, above its original USD 750 million target. The strategy has since deployed capital across a diversified portfolio of quality, high-growth businesses, reflecting the depth of opportunity across Asia and EQT’s long-term commitment to supporting companies at different stages of development. Recent investments include PropertyMe in Australia and MAMEZO in Japan.

The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals.

Contact:
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-to-acquire-orikan–a-leading-provider-of-integrated-parking–enforcement–and-compliance-technol,c4371225

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SOURCE EQT

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One Destination, Endless Possibilities: Wego and Tourism Malaysia Partner to Inspire MENA Discovery Ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026

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DUBAI, UAE, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Malaysia to showcase the destination’s diverse travel offerings and inspire travelers across the MENA region to explore Malaysia’s unique blend of culture, nature, gastronomy, wellness, and family-friendly experiences.

The partnership will see Wego and Tourism Malaysia collaborate on targeted campaigns and destination-focused storytelling, highlighting Malaysia’s wide appeal from the vibrant energy of Kuala Lumpur and the heritage-rich streets of George Town to the pristine beaches of Langkawi, the rainforests of Sabah and Sarawak, and the country’s renowned culinary traditions. Together, the two organizations aim to inspire MENA travelers to go beyond the familiar and discover the many dimensions Malaysia has to offer.

Malaysia’s multicultural character, festival calendar, night markets, and diversity of landscapes make it one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling destinations for travelers seeking variety within a single trip. Whether visiting for a family holiday, a nature escape, a cultural journey, or a wellness retreat, Malaysia offers experiences suited to a wide range of travel interests and styles.

Commenting on the partnership, Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: “Malaysia has consistently ranked among the most sought-after destinations for travelers from the MENA region, and for good reason. The country offers a remarkable combination of culture, nature, gastronomy, and leisure that few destinations can match. Through our partnership with Tourism Malaysia, we are committed to inspiring travelers to look beyond the well-known highlights and discover the full depth of what Malaysia has to offer, whether that’s a family beach break, a rainforest adventure, a cultural city tour, or simply some of the best food in the world.”

Zaidi Kassim, Director of Tourism Malaysia, Jeddah, added: “Malaysia’s diversity is its greatest strength from our vibrant cities and UNESCO-listed heritage sites to our tropical islands, ancient rainforests, and world-class cuisine. We are delighted to partner with Wego, a platform that reaches millions of travelers across the MENA region, to bring Malaysia’s story to a wider audience. Together, we look forward to welcoming more visitors from the Middle East and sharing the warmth, richness, and spirit of hospitality that defines the Malaysian experience.”

With Malaysia continuing to attract strong interest from MENA travelers, this partnership reinforces both organizations’ shared commitment to inspiring meaningful travel and supporting the growth of tourism between the two regions. Through curated content, travel insights, and targeted campaigns, Wego and Tourism Malaysia will work together to turn travel inspiration into bookings and help more travelers from across MENA experience everything Malaysia has to offer.

About Wego

Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Combining a dynamic travel marketplace with on-platform bookings, Wego enables travelers to easily search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies. Beyond its B2C marketplace, Wego also operates WegoPro, a next-generation business travel platform, and WegoBeds, a MENA-focused bedbank. The company is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai with offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

For more information, visit www.wego.com

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