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Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) announced that Saudi Arabia’s venture capital ecosystem achieved two historic leaps in 2025, in terms of total investment value and number of transactions, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as the leading venture capital market in the Middle East for the third consecutive year. This performance reflects the tangible impact of Saudi Vision 2030 and the structural economic transformation taking place across the Kingdom.

SVC stated that the Saudi market recorded its highest-ever number of venture capital transactions, reaching 254 deals in 2025, alongside a record investment value of USD 1.66 billion during the year. This compares to approximately USD 60 million in 2018, representing a 25-fold increase in venture capital investment since the establishment of SVC and the emergence of its role as a market maker within the ecosystem.

Commenting on the announcement, His Excellency Dr. Nabeel Koshak, CEO and board member of Saudi Venture Capital Company, said:

“What we are witnessing today in Saudi Arabia’s venture capital sector is the direct result of the unlimited support provided by the Kingdom’s wise leadership — may God protect them — across all sectors. This support has been translated into a deliberate and well-calibrated economic transformation, moving private capital into a more mature and impactful phase. These figures reflect the strength of the Saudi economy, the clarity of national vision, and the growing confidence of investors, confirming that venture capital has become a core pillar of growth and economic diversification.”

Dr. Koshak added that the 25-fold growth in investment since 2018, together with the record-breaking figures for both investment value and deal volume, underscores the maturity of the Saudi venture capital market, stating:

“This progress reflects the increasing competitiveness of local and regional venture capital funds, the Kingdom’s growing attractiveness to global investors, the readiness of startups, and the expanding diversity of high-potential sectors. Venture capital today is enabling the creation of scalable companies, generating high-quality jobs, and transforming innovation into sustainable economic value, fully aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 as it enters its tenth year.”

About Saudi Venture Capital Company

SVC is an investment company established in 2018 and is a subsidiary of the SME Bank, part of the National Development Fund (NDF). SVC aims to stimulate and sustain financing for startups and SMEs from pre-seed to pre-IPO by investing $3 billion through fund investments and direct investments in startups and SMEs. For more information, visit svc.com.sa.

Walk into any sword shop a decade ago and the hierarchy was clear: historical blades for serious collectors, cheap replicas for everyone else. That distinction is dissolving fast.

Functional pop culture swords, steel weapons built to the same standards as historical pieces but designed after anime and video game characters are surging in popularity. Some industry watchers believe they could soon dominate the market entirely.

"Anime sword demand appears to be getting more popular than ever" said Vali Munteanu, CEO at Swordis, a well-known sword retail business. "Collectors used to choose between something that looked cool or something that was real. Now they're refusing to compromise."

Following the Money

The numbers behind this shift trace back to anime's explosive international growth.

The global anime market hit roughly USD 35.4 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach USD 84.85 billion by 2033 — a compound annual growth rate exceeding 10%, per Research and Markets and The Business Research Company.

The real story is geographic. Between 2023 and 2024, international anime revenue overtook Japan's domestic market for the first time in history. The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) reported that overseas revenue jumped 26% to 2.17 trillion yen, while Japan's domestic market grew just 2.8%.

That shift has direct implications for sword manufacturers.

Why Geography Matters

Japan's strict weapon laws have always limited anime merchandise to plastic toys and decorative replicas. But with North America and Europe now driving anime revenue, those restrictions no longer define the market.

"American and European fans can legally own functional steel swords," Munteanu explained. "So when they want a Demon Slayer blade, they're not looking for plastic. They want something forged from high-carbon steel that could actually cut."

Manufacturers have adapted accordingly. What was once a niche category, functional fantasy replicas has become a major production priority.

The New Collector

Today's pop culture sword buyer bears little resemblance to the mall ninja stereotype of decades past. They research steel compositions, debate heat treatment methods, and expect the same craftsmanship applied to historical reproductions.

"People are educated now," Munteanu said. "They know the difference between a wall hanger and a real weapon. They've watched the YouTube videos; they've seen the shows. The bar has moved."

This sophistication works both ways. Vali sees pop culture swords as an entry point rather than an endpoint — a gateway that leads curious buyers toward traditional swordsmithing.

"Someone starts with an anime sword because they love the character. Then they get curious about why the blade looks the way it does, what makes a good hamon, and how steel is folded. Before long, they're interested in historical techniques they never knew existed."

Where It's Headed

Whether pop culture swords will truly overtake historical blades remains an open question. Traditional collectors aren't going anywhere, and martial arts communities continue to drive steady demand for historically accurate weapons.

But the momentum is undeniable. As anime's global audience keeps expanding, and as that audience ages into disposable income, the market for functional fantasy replicas shows no sign of slowing.

The sword industry's future may look less like a museum and more like a streaming queue.

About History Puffs

HistoryPuffs is a non-profit research organisation committed to serious historical research and creative exploration. Through fun projects and in-depth research, HistoryPuffs aims to make history more accessible, engaging, and accurate for a modern audience.

The sword industry is witnessing a quiet revolution. While traditional Japanese katanas and European longswords have long dominated the collector market, functional replicas from anime and gaming franchises are gaining ground fast — and may soon take the lead.

Vali Munteanu, content manager at Swordis, a U.S.-based sword retailer and custom manufacturer, believes the shift is already well underway.

The Anime Factor

"For decades, you had two choices: affordable display swords that would shatter if you tried to cut with them, or expensive historical replicas for martial artists," Munteanu explained. "That middle ground didn't exist. Now it's becoming the main category."

The driving force is straightforward: anime has gone global in ways few predicted.

The global anime market was valued at approximately USD 35.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 84.85 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 10%, according to Research and Markets.

More significant is where that growth is happening. For decades, Japan's domestic market was the primary engine of anime revenue. But in a historic shift between 2023 and 2024, overseas revenue decisively overtook domestic Japanese revenue. According to the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), international revenue surged by 26% to 2.17 trillion yen, while domestic revenue saw modest growth of just 2.8%.

This geographic flip matters enormously for sword manufacturers.

"In Japan, strict weapon ownership laws mean anime merchandise is limited to plastic toys and non-functional replicas," Munteanu noted. "But in North America and Europe, where the majority of anime fans now live, people can own functional steel weapons. A U.S. collector doesn't want a plastic Demon Slayer sword. They want the real thing."

Quality Expectations Have Changed

Today's pop culture sword buyer isn't settling for decorative items. They expect the same metallurgical standards as historical weapons — high-carbon steel, proper heat treatment, functional edges — and wrapped in the aesthetics of their favorite characters.

"The modern consumer is educated," Munteanu said. "They've watched YouTube videos, seen reviews by creators, and understand materials. They're demanding weapons that look like they belong to a fantasy hero but perform like historical pieces."

This convergence of fantasy aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship has created a new category that appeals to collectors who might never have considered owning a sword otherwise.

A Gateway, Not a Replacement

Munteanu doesn't see pop culture swords replacing historical collecting, at least not entirely. Instead, he views them as an entry point.

"The customer who buys a Demon Slayer katana today often develops a curiosity about traditional Japanese swordsmithing," he said. "They start asking about steel types, hamon patterns, and historical techniques. Pop culture is becoming the gateway to deeper appreciation."

Whether historical purists welcome these new enthusiasts remains to be seen. But with anime's global audience continuing to expand, the trajectory seems clear: the future of the sword market may be forged as much in streaming queues as in traditional workshops.

About History Puffs

HistoryPuffs is a non-profit research organisation committed to serious historical research and creative exploration. Through fun projects and in-depth research, HistoryPuffs aims to make history more accessible, engaging, and accurate for a modern audience.

Media Contact

Peter Carol
History Puffs
petervalijv@gmail.com

Global football is riding a spending spree like never before. Meanwhile, behind the glitter of headline transfers lies a growing network of hidden fees, opaque contracts, and shifting financial pressures.

But how long can clubs keep taking on risk before the system cracks?

A Market on Steroids

The transfer market in 2025 broke all the records. Global spending in men’s football has surged to $9.76 billion, marking a new all-time high and a jump of more than 50% compared with mid-2024.

Premier League clubs have driven much of the rise, but Europe’s top leagues as a whole are moving faster and spending bigger than ever. Close to 12,000 international transfers have already gone through this year.

Some of the biggest moves included Alexander Isak's transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool (£125m), Florian Wirtz’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool (£116.5m), and Hugo Ekitike's transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool (£79m).

And even though all these moves still can’t reach Neymar’s record €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, in total, they show quite a surge.

What Fuels the Boom? 

First of all, Richer broadcasting deals and sponsorship money flood the top leagues. New capital, from wealthy owners, private equity, and investors drawn to sport’s worldwide reach, also injects fresh liquidity. Meanwhile, clubs are spending more on scouting, youth (to resell later), and inflated salaries.

It’s a cycle — success on the field demands expensive squads, but expensive squads often demand risky financial maneuvers.

Agents, Add-ons, and Contract Creativity

The headline fees are just the visible part. Beneath the surface lies a complicated network of intermediaries, back-loaded deals, and commission-heavy contracts, creating a shadow economy few outside club boards fully understand.

Agent fees alone have soared. In 2023, FIFA tried to rein in the system by proposing a cap on agent earnings — 10% of a transfer fee when representing the selling club and 5% for the buying club. But legal pushback in several countries put the rules on hold. That leaves the market wide open, where the “average” cut may sit around 10–15%, but high-profile clubs and star players can push commissions far beyond that.

From February 2024 to February 2025, Chelsea paid a little over £60 million in agent fees, and Manchester City spent around £52 million. Across the league, clubs handed over £409.1 million. That kind of fee can drastically amplify the cost of a “free transfer” or a loan-to-buy deal.

FIFA Compliance and Club Debt

FIFA’s transfer rules were meant to bring structure, but they leave room for creative accounting. The current regulations focus on contract stability, training compensation, the ban on third-party ownership, and the use of the FIFA Clearing House to monitor payments. Clubs must also comply with their own domestic financial rules, such as UEFA’s squad-cost ratio or England’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

But none of these frameworks cap transfer spending or stop clubs with large debts from striking huge deals as long as they remain technically compliant. That’s how clubs with significant liabilities — from Manchester United’s long-term debt to Barcelona’s well-documented financial strain — still manage major signings. Deferred payments, multi-year amortisation, conditional add-ons, and player-swap valuations all fall within the rules and allow clubs to operate aggressively despite balance-sheet pressure.

These blurry edges make room for inflated add-ons and image-rights carveouts — bonuses paid later depending on performance or commercial deals. Some transfers inflate the publicly declared fee but obscure how much or when the selling club actually receives the money.

Loans, intermediaries, and multipart contracts further dilute transparency, making real costs and future liabilities almost impossible to track. Analysts at CIES warn that these structures weaken financial fairness across leagues and increase long-term risk for heavily leveraged clubs.

Rising Calls for Reform, but Weak Oversight

In response to growing concern, FIFA has begun emphasizing compliance, transparency, and enhanced governance. Their mid-year 2024 transfer snapshot, for instance, was released on a new interactive platform aimed at tracking cross-border deals with more precision.

Still, enforcement remains patchy:

• Agent fees and add-ons often fall under different jurisdictions.
• Many contracts remain private.
• Third-party intermediaries operate across opaque networks.

Swiss-based CIES calls for standardized disclosure of agent commissions, loan-to-buy fee structures, and image-rights clauses — reforms that could shine a light on the hidden economics of transfers.

Until meaningful regulation and transparency are enforced, the gap between what fans see (transfer fees and player moves) and what clubs actually spend will only widen.

What’s at Stake?

The boom may fuel elite clubs, but its ripple effects threaten broader competitive balance. Clubs with deep pockets or willing investors can absorb hidden costs and structural debt, while smaller clubs risk insolvency when trading becomes speculative. Youth development may also suffer if clubs prefer buying stars over nurturing homegrown talent.

For players, volatility is real. Long-term security gets longer shadows. Contract clauses tied to performance, image rights, or resales may raise pressure, especially if transfers become more about financial engineering than career progression. Similar patterns are visible in sports and casino markets, where high stakes and speculative bets create winners and losers beyond the field.

Without safeguards, the sport risks shifting toward a financial arms race where success depends more on money-market moves than on goals, tactics, or training.

But if regulatory measures take hold, clubs and fans might finally glimpse the full cost of the game. Until then, every transfer is part of an ever-growing shadow economy, pulling soccer deeper into speculative markets and financial uncertainty.

Before the global media, Vietnam’s rapid tech ascent took center stage. CT Group ended 2025 by unveiling ASEAN’s landmark projects two spearhead sectors: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and the Low Altitude Economy (LAE), revealing a future never seen before.

On December 29, 2025, at Hanoi’s Ho Guom Opera House, before over 600 distinguished guests, including leaders from the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs; VCCI and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; officials from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Tay Ninh, and Ca Mau; alongside top scientists and representatives from VNU Hanoi, VNU HCM, and Can Tho University; and major corporations such as VDB, VNPT, Shrimpl, and Aicello (Taiwan), CT Group officially unveiled two landmark projects: the UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union and the ASEAN’s Largest Low Altitude Economy (LAE) Center.

In a departure from conventional launch events worldwide, CT Group adopted a novel perspective to address the fundamental question: “What is the scientific basis for a Vietnamese corporation to invest in two major global technology projects?” This was not only a candid and challenging question for CT Group but also a strategic solution for other corporations following Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. Not everyone grasps the philosophy behind this special event. So, how did CT Group respond?

Firstly, mastering all core UAV technologies: CT Group, through its subsidiary CT UAV, has achieved an average localization rate of 87.5% across six core UAV technology groups: Electronics and Semiconductor Technology, AI Technology, Control & Autonomous Technology, Composite Technology, Battery Technology, and Security & Telecommunications Technology. Notably, the two most critical groups, Electronics – Semiconductor Technology and AI & Software have reached 95% autonomy.

Secondly — and going beyond mastering core technologies — to compete, survive, and thrive, a Vietnamese corporation must possess robust creative capabilities to maintain and continuously develop superior new technologies as a single year’s delay in R&D means being eliminated from the race. During the event, CT UAV revealed three revolutionary proprietary technologies that could stun the world:

• "Magic Brush" technology: Characterized by the motto "fly with any propeller" and with super-advanced self-programming capabilities, the UAV can maintain stable flight even with four completely different propellers, whereas conventional UAVs require all four propellers to be identical and precisely calibrated;
• Multi-level safety technology: This allows the UAV to maintain control and perform a safe landing even in the event of a single propeller failure.
• Exclusive autonomous swarm firefighting technology: An innovative solution for automated fire suppression.

These are ultra-advanced technologies that far exceed current market standards. Most notably, the corporation has mastered the most difficult and high-end segment of the industry: passenger-carrying UAVs.

Thirdly, in today’s volatile and uncertain world, CT Group must demonstrate exceptional adaptability to create a significant competitive edge over global industry peers.

Fourthly, CT Group possesses extensive manufacturing and large-scale operational expertise, backed by a chain of five modern UAV production plants currently in operation (located on DT743 Avenue, near VNU-HCM). To continue meeting the surging demand from both domestic and international markets, CT Group has officially resolved to scale up production by investing in the UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union, with an estimated total investment of USD 2 billion over a 10-year period.

The UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union is envisioned as a "Technology City," integrating a chain of UAV component manufacturing plants, research institutes, flight training and testing grounds, universities, and innovation centers. This is bolstered by a comprehensive ecosystem designed to attract top talent, featuring international schools, hospitals, commercial centers, and specialized urban residential areas for experts, engineers, and workers. Most importantly, this will serve as a pilot city for the Low Altitude Economy (LAE), featuring more than 600 high-tech products and services.

Fifthly, the project is underpinned by the strong support of the Party and the State, evidenced by the commitment of Tay Ninh Province to facilitate all favorable conditions for CT Group’s swift deployment. “The UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union is not merely an investment project; it is a strategic high-tech complex. It perfectly aligns with the province's high-tech industrial development roadmap and the central government's policy on advancing strategic technology industries, integrating economic development with national defense and security in this new era,” emphasized Mr. Doan Trung Kien, vice chairman of the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.

CT Group officially announced an investment of VND 6,000 billion in the ASEAN’s  Largest Low Altitude Economy Center (LAE 1). Strategically located at the Truong Chinh-Cong Hoa intersection, the center is situated adjacent to Terminal T3 (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) and Metro Station No. 2. As the architect behind Vietnam’s Low Altitude Economy Doctrine, CT Group stands as one of the few entities globally to possess the complete suite of LAE and core UAV technologies, successfully bridging the gap from theoretical framework to practical application.

LAE 1 is set to become a strategic engine, empowering Vietnam to attract global talent and export home-grown technology to the international market. Its core is the Global Command Center, which integrates and operates centralized digital infrastructure, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Digital Twin technology, alongside a complex of advanced research laboratories, material science facilities, and pilot plants. This serves as a premier platform for innovation and technology commercialization, supporting 600 applications and services across more than 20 industries and 93 sub-sectors.

Sixthly, regarding quality standards, the Group has established an international quality management system. Experts from Switzerland have assisted CT Group’s entities in streamlining their quality control systems to meet aerospace standards, implementing AS9100D and ISO 9001 across the entire operational chain, from headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and research centers to the production processes.

Seventhly, CT Group currently possesses an extensive customer portfolio with a presence in major domestic and international markets. The Group has deployed and supplied products and services to numerous localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, and Ninh Binh, with plans for further expansion across 34 provinces in Vietnam. In 2025, CT Group reached a global milestone with an export order of 5,000 UAVs to South Korea and established strategic cooperation with the Indonesian government to develop the Low Altitude Economy (LAE). Concurrently, CT Group is penetrating markets in the U.S., Singapore, and the Middle East, with expansion targets spanning more than 100 other countries.

As concrete evidence, during the launch ceremony, CT Group signed strategic partnership agreements with over 20 major partners, including leading Vietnamese corporations like VNPT; provincial authorities of Tay Ninh, Ca Mau, and Ninh Binh; academic and research institutions such as the Quantum Technology Institute and the High-Tech and Innovation Park; along with major companies and distributors from Indonesia.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr. Tran Kim Chung, chairman of CT Group, stated: “Having proven our capacity to scale production and business through a system of five existing plants, and by mastering all core and advanced technologies alongside CT Group’s unique technology ecosystem and culture, as well as securing commitments from numerous major clients, we have boldly decided to invest in this project. Our partners recognize that we are a serious, steadfast enterprise with the utmost patience to pursue and fulfill long-term commitments.”

CT Group is powerfully demonstrating to the world that Vietnam possesses a solid scientific foundation to ascend to new heights in pioneering technologies such as UAV and LAE.

For years, 3D pipelines have lived with an awkward compromise: geometry defines the shape, and textures are something you slap on afterward. It’s efficient, and it works — until it doesn’t. 

The cracks show up the moment a model needs to be more than a pretty render. When you move into 3D printing, manufacturing, or any high-fidelity output, that classic “build the mesh first, then project details onto it” workflow can turn into a game of whack-a-mole: stretched textures, mismatched seams, missing detail in occluded areas, and hours of manual cleanup before anything is safe to send to a printer. 

Hitem3D says its newly released Hitem3D 2.0 is built to attack that split head-on. The headline feature is integrated texture generation at 1536³ Pro resolution, designed to make textures feel less like a layer painted onto a surface and more like something that’s generated as part of the object itself — tied to the geometry, scale, and material logic from the start.

“We weren’t trying to make models look more ‘flashy,’” a Hitem3D technical lead says. “We’re focused on making the structure, texture, and production logic more coherent — because if generation isn’t solid, printing and mass production turns into rework.”

From “Pasted On” to “Grown In”

A lot of the current wave of AI 3D tools still inherits a familiar problem: the output can look impressive from the front, but it’s fragile once you rotate it, inspect it up close, or try to push it into a real production workflow. In practice, the “AI magic” often ends up creating a new kind of technical debt — you gain speed upfront, then pay it back later with fixes.

Hitem3D’s pitch is that the solution isn’t just “higher resolution textures,” but a different generation logic: a structure-aware integrated texture generation approach that treats texture as something that should be consistent with geometry, not merely aligned to it.

dragon-shaped asset where scales, horns, and whiskers follow the underlying geometry rather than appearing as a flat overlay. Hitem3D claims the detail holds even as an untextured mesh, with volume and layering that remain intact before finishing, making the asset more directly usable for printing workflows.

Why This Matters for Printing (and Not Just Visuals)

The gap between “looks good” and “production-ready” is often found in the overlooked details: the underside of a seated figure, the interior folds of a cloak, or the complex internal cavities of an architectural model. For 3D printing professionals, these are the high-stakes areas where traditional textures often fail, leading to costly print failures.

Hitem3D 2.0 leans heavily on that reality. Instead of relying on the usual multi-view projection approach, the company says it generates texture information during geometry reconstruction — aiming for consistent completion across both visible and occluded regions.

In one architectural example described by a 3D printing studio operator, the model’s interior walls, the inner faces of openwork structures, and balcony railings were filled in with consistent material and texture logic — the kind of stuff that often collapses into blanks until you discover it in print.

“Before, a model could look fine from the front,” the operator notes, “but printing exposed the issues: empty bottoms, missing interior surfaces. Now the completion happens during generation, and we can send it to print with far fewer fixes.”

The Technical Spine: Constraints, Lighting, and Material Truth

Hitem3D says the engine behind 2.0 is trained on a large base of 3D asset data to learn spatial continuity and surface logic in three dimensions — so the system can do reconstruction under structural constraints rather than “guess and paste.” 

Practically, that’s meant to reduce the classic projection failures: stretching, misalignment, distortion, and that uncanny “texture sliding over the mesh” look that instantly gives away AI outputs.

Hitem3D is also targeting a different, quieter killer: lighting.

 If you’ve ever tried to extract clean material information from source imagery, you know the trap — highlights and shadows get baked into what’s supposed to be base color and material response, and suddenly your asset has an inconsistent material response under standard PBR lighting. Hitem3D 2.0 introduces illumination-aware semantic recognition paired with Physically Based Accuracy, meant to delighting (shadow, specular, ambient influence) from the underlying surface properties. The idea is to create a cleaner, more uniform base for downstream PBR workflows — and less of that “looks correct only in the lighting that created it” problem. 

A second demo example — a wooden crate — is presented as a case where material logic matters more than raw sharpness: wood grain orientation and plank seams are intrinsically aligned with the object's geometry. Furthermore, surface wear is intelligently distributed — concentrating on high-contact edges and base surfaces — resulting in a model that reflects authentic usage patterns rather than arbitrary procedural noise.

Portraits, but at “Hair Level”

If there’s one category that reliably breaks 3D generation systems, it’s humans — and hair, in particular, tends to turn into either a clumpy helmet or a mess of intersecting geometry.

Hitem3D 2.0 adds a portrait mode described as “strand-level fidelity,” aiming to reconstruct head shape and facial proportions structurally while preserving fine detail like hair flow direction, brows, and lashes, plus cleaner transitions between skin and hair material regions.

A long-time 3D modeling user described the difference in practical terms: clearer curl layers, less chaos, fewer interpenetration issues, and less manual cleanup time on face and hair details.

Production Features: Segmentation, Retopo, Embossing, and “Printing-Ready”

On the production side, Hitem3D is positioning 2.0 as something closer to an end-to-end system than a one-off generator:

• Semantic 3D model segmentation so the system understands parts, not just surfaces
• Automatic retopology and AI 3D embossing features for manufacturing-oriented workflows
• Export and workflow support aimed at moving assets from generation into toolchains without weeks of repair

And importantly: Hitem3D highlights automated export for multi-material printing-ready (4 materials) assets — with the note that the same concept extends to 8 or 16 materials. That’s a meaningful distinction from “full-color printing” in the casual sense: the point here is that the model is split and structured in a way that can actually map to a multi-material printer pipeline without hours of manual mesh surgery.

Hitem3D also says it supports USDZ, and a workflow that uses geometry and reference images to generate textures — positioning it as a way to “revive” existing models, not just create new ones. A deeply integrated Blender add-on is framed as the practical bridge: less context switching, more “native” insertion into creator workflows.

The Part That Actually Matters: Usability, Not Spectacle

It’s easy for AI 3D announcements to devolve into a familiar loop — bigger numbers, flashier renders, vague claims about “realism.” Hitem3D’s argument is that the next phase of 3D generation isn’t just about speed, but about whether the output can withstand the rigors of industrial workflows — from printing tolerances and structural integrity to material consistency and reduced rework rates.

If Hitem3D 2.0 delivers on this promise — providing integrated generation that holds up structurally and operationally — it represents a pivotal transition. It moves AI-generated assets from the realm of "cool demos" into a reliable, trust-based framework for B2B production. 

The real test, as always, is what happens when users push it beyond the cherry-picked examples: thin features, complex joints, extreme occlusion, and the messy variety of real-world assets. But the direction is clear: 3D generation is trying to grow up from “content acceleration” into a repeatable production capability — and Hitem3D wants to be one of the systems building that bridge.

About Math Magic

Math Magic is the developer of Hitem3D, a 3D generation tool powered by its proprietary high-resolution AI model, Sparc3D. With just a single reference image, users can instantly generate studio-ready 3D assets with industry-leading quality, making 3D creation faster, easier, and more accessible. This breakthrough solution empowers game developers, designers, and 3D artists to streamline their creative workflows and bring ideas to life efficiently from concept to deployment. For more information, visit hitem3d.ai.

Media Contact

Celine Su
contact@email.hitem3d.ai

MBANK, one of Kyrgyzstan's leading digital financial institutions, has been honored with the "Innovative Leader in Digital and Sustainable Banking – Kyrgyzstan, 2025" award from the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2025, conducted by Boston Brand Research & Media, one of the world's most reputed and highly regarded platforms for recognizing corporate excellence and transformative leadership.

"MBANK exemplifies what the future of banking should look like: inclusive, technology-led, and deeply sustainable," said Shivakumar, president and CEO of Boston Brand Research & Media. "Their visionary approach to digital transformation, combined with a strong commitment to sustainability, makes them a true pioneer in Kyrgyzstan's financial landscape."

This achievement reflects MBANK’s strategic vision and its evolution into a comprehensive financial ecosystem that has over 12 million MBANK app downloads. The bank continues to lead the market through innovative solutions, including cryptocurrency integration, children’s banking products, and lifestyle platforms, while strengthening its brand through customer-centric communication and financial literacy initiatives across diverse audience segments.

“The status of a Leader in Digital and Sustainable Banking confirms MBANK’s role as one of the key drivers of digital transformation and sustainable banking in Kyrgyzstan. We see this award as an incentive to continue developing solutions that create long-term value for customers and the country’s economy,” said Marat Toraliev, first deputy CEO and group strategy and development officer.

About MBANK

MBANK’s innovations encompass the digitalization of a broad range of financial services, alongside the development of proprietary acquiring solutions and lifestyle services. By combining advanced financial technologies with everyday digital services, the bank is building a comprehensive ecosystem that goes beyond traditional banking, offering customers seamless, secure, and convenient solutions integrated into a single mobile platform.

MBANK is steadily strengthening its position as one of the leading banks in Kyrgyzstan, demonstrating sustainable growth across key performance indicators.

MBANK’s superapp downloads has exceeded more than 12 million, making it one of the most widely used banks in the country. The bank’s assets have grown multiple times over recent years, reflecting strong scaling dynamics and a high level of customer trust. According to industry data, MBANK consistently ranks among the top banks in Kyrgyzstan in terms of financial performance and operational efficiency.

This growth is driven by active digitalization: the bank continues to expand its remote services, payment solutions, and everyday financial ecosystem, enabling MBANK not only to increase its business performance but also to set new standards for banking services in Kyrgyzstan.

As of today, MBANK operates over 85 branches across all regions of Kyrgyzstan, with more than 500 ATMs and more than 4,000 terminals servicing Visa and Mastercard payment cards. The bank also supports four international money transfer systems, providing access to 160 countries in the world.

Latest Innovations from MBANK

MBANK continues to lead digital banking in Kyrgyzstan by introducing innovative solutions that make financial services more accessible and convenient. Recent developments include MBANK Junior, MInvest, MProfi, MTicket, MPLUS (Buy Now, Pay Later).

MBANK Junior, the first children’s banking service in Kyrgyzstan, is a mobile banking solution for children aged 7 to 16, enabling them to make payments and transfers independently while developing essential financial literacy skills. The service is designed with enhanced security features, allowing parents to monitor and manage their child’s activity through their own MBANK account. 

Through the MInvest cryptocurrency platform, users can buy, store, and transfer cryptocurrency quickly, securely, and within a familiar banking ecosystem. MInvest integrates cryptocurrency functionality directly into the mobile app, allowing users to purchase digital assets from the available selection, store them in a familiar banking interface, transfer funds to friends or external wallets via QR code, and manage their cryptocurrency just as easily as traditional banking products.

MProfi by MBANK is a service for finding verified professionals directly within the bank’s mobile app. The platform brings together plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, tutors, cleaners, and photographers all in one place. All specialists are verified, with ratings, reviews, and confirmed identities. Users can select a category, view detailed profiles, prices, photos of completed work, and reviews, then contact and pay for services directly quickly, conveniently, and securely.

MTicket is a ticketing service within the MBANK app that allows users to purchase electronic tickets for concerts, movies, theaters, festivals, and other events. The platform brings all available events together in one place, enabling users to select, pay for, and store tickets directly in the mobile app — quickly, conveniently, and without the need for printed tickets.

MPLUS (Buy Now, Pay Later) is a credit line within the MBANK app that allows customers to purchase goods from partner merchants in installments with 0% interest and no overpayments. After applying and receiving a credit limit, users can split payments over three months without a down payment. The service offers transparent terms, with no additional fees, a minimum purchase amount starting from 2,000 KGS, and free delivery for installment purchases.

About Boston Brand Research & Media

Boston Brand Research & Media is a leading global consulting and media firm specializing in brand intelligence, strategic recognition, and corporate storytelling across industries including finance, technology, healthcare, and energy. Through its data-driven research, editorial platforms, and high-impact global award programs, the firm highlights organizations demonstrating excellence in leadership, customer experience, innovation, and sustainability. Recognized worldwide as one of the most reputed evaluators of corporate excellence, Boston Brand Research & Media empowers brands to gain global visibility and credibility through its flagship Global Brand Frontier Awards program. To learn more, visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com.

About the Global Brand Frontier Awards

Founded by Boston Brand Research & Media, the Global Brand Frontier Awards honor outstanding companies and leaders who are reshaping industries and setting new standards across global markets. Known for its rigorous selection process, the awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and a bold commitment to excellence. The 2025 awards recognized top-tier organizations, including AXA IM Select, STC Bank, Tawuniya, ADIB Egypt, Access Bank Tanzania, Gulf Insurance Group (GIG), Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance and many more innovators. To learn more or to nominate your organization for the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2025, visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com/register-for-the-2025-frontier-awards.

Media Contact

Boston Brand Research & Media
Awards Team
awards@bostonbrandmedia.com
+1 617-935-8890

Xu Yan Malaysia officially opened at Starhill, Kuala Lumpur’s prime lifestyle destination, marking the debut of a new immersive cultural dining experience that brings Malaysia’s diverse heritage to life through performance, storytelling, and gastronomy.

Designed as a multi-sensory cultural journey, Xu Yan presents an experience where dining, performance, and spatial storytelling are seamlessly integrated. Guests are invited to engage with Malaysian culture not through static displays, but through a live, evolving narrative that unfolds throughout the evening.

A Cultural Narrative Shaped by Diversity

Malaysia’s identity has long been shaped by the coexistence of multiple cultures. Drawing inspiration from this rich background, Xu Yan builds its experience around the idea of cultural coexistence and shared history.

Through music, movement, and storytelling, the performance reflects how different traditions have intersected over time, forming a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape. Rather than presenting history as a timeline, the show translates it into emotion, rhythm, and atmosphere — allowing guests to experience culture intuitively.

Cuisine as Part of the Storytelling

At Xu Yan, cuisine plays an essential role in the narrative experience.

The culinary journey is designed around cooking techniques, flavor structures, and cultural influences that reflect Malaysia’s diverse food heritage.

Instead of focusing on individual dishes, the dining sequence follows the rhythm of the performance. Cooking methods, seasoning profiles, and presentation styles echo the cultural themes being portrayed on stage, allowing food to become a natural extension of the storytelling rather than a separate element.

This approach transforms dining into an experiential layer — one that complements the visual and emotional flow of the evening.

An Immersive Space Built Around Story and Movement

The spatial design of Xu Yan centers on immersion and fluid movement. Rather than recreating specific architectural styles, the venue is designed as a narrative environment that adapts to the progression of the performance.

Lighting, music, and staging work together to guide the audience through different emotional chapters, creating a sense of continuity and engagement throughout the experience. The space becomes part of the storytelling, allowing culture to be felt rather than explained.

Connecting Culture, Experience, and Global Audiences

Xu Yan was created with the vision of presenting Malaysian culture in a way that resonates with both local and international audiences. By combining performance, dining, and narrative design, the project offers a contemporary platform for cultural expression — one that feels accessible, immersive, and emotionally engaging.

The team behind Xu Yan believes that culture is best shared through experience rather than exhibition. By transforming heritage into a living, participatory journey, the project aims to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of Malaysia’s cultural richness.

The opening of Xu Yan Malaysia marks not just the launch of a new experiential venue, but a new approach to cultural storytelling — one that invites the world to experience Malaysia through rhythm, flavor, and shared moments.

Media Contact

Cher Yee
cheryeechng@hotmail.com
+60 12-394 9118

Marlie AI, a leading AI answering service for small and mid-sized businesses, has processed over 1 million calls while delivering more than 50,000 hours in time savings to its customers. The milestone demonstrates how artificial intelligence is becoming a practical solution for businesses that can't afford to miss customer calls but struggle with the costs and limitations of traditional staffing.

The numbers tell a compelling story. One million calls represents thousands of potential customers who didn't hang up in frustration, didn't get sent to voicemail, and didn't call a competitor instead. The 50,000 hours saved translates to roughly 24 full-time employees working for an entire year — time that business owners have redirected toward actually running their companies instead of being tied to their phones. With an average response time under two seconds and a 98% accuracy rate, Marlie AI has proven that automated answering technology can match or exceed human performance while operating around the clock.

The platform serves diverse industries across the United States, from emergency services like towing companies and locksmiths who need to capture late-night calls, to home service providers like plumbers and HVAC technicians who are often too busy on job sites to answer their phones. Professional services including lawyers and real estate agents use the system to ensure potential clients always reach someone, while restaurants rely on it to handle reservation requests and takeout orders during dinner rushes. Each industry has different needs, but the underlying challenge is the same: missing calls means missing revenue.

Consider a typical plumbing company that receives 40 calls per week outside of business hours. Before implementing an AI answering service, those calls either went to voicemail or to a traditional answering service that cost hundreds of dollars per month and still couldn't book appointments directly into their calendar. Now, their AI receptionist answers instantly, understands which calls are genuine emergencies, schedules non-urgent appointments automatically, and sends detailed summaries to the owner's phone. The result? More jobs booked, happier customers, and the owner actually sleeping through the night.

"We built Marlie AI because we saw small business owners being held hostage by their phones," said Alex Dimcevski, founder of Marlie AI. "Reaching 1 million calls isn't just a number for us, it represents 1 million moments where a business owner didn't have to choose between serving a customer and living their life. These are real people running towing companies at 2 AM, managing restaurants during rushes, or trying to grow a law practice without hiring expensive staff. The fact that AI can now handle these conversations naturally and accurately is genuinely transforming how small businesses operate."

What sets Marlie AI apart from both traditional answering services and other AI solutions is its combination of simplicity and sophistication. Business owners can set up their AI receptionist in about 15 minutes by connecting their website and letting the system learn their services, pricing, and policies. The platform then handles everything from answering basic questions to booking appointments, collecting payments, and routing urgent calls to the right person. It works in multiple languages, integrates with the tools businesses already use, and costs a fraction of what they'd pay for human staff or conventional answering services.

The broader trend is clear: American small businesses are embracing AI not as a futuristic experiment but as a practical necessity. With labor costs rising and customer expectations for immediate response growing, the traditional model of hiring receptionists or paying for answering services that charge per minute is becoming unsustainable. AI answering services offer an alternative that provides better coverage at up to 90% lower cost than traditional solutions. For businesses operating in competitive markets where speed matters, like emergency services, home repairs, or professional consulting—the ability to answer every call in under two seconds can be the difference between winning and losing a customer.

As more businesses discover they don't need to choose between quality customer service and profitability, AI-powered phone systems are moving from "nice to have" to essential infrastructure. The 1 million call milestone suggests this shift is already well underway.

About Marlie AI

Marlie AI is an AI answering service designed to help businesses handle incoming calls automatically. With Marlie, you get a virtual receptionist that can answer calls, handle common questions, book appointments, capture key information, and route qualified leads to the right person. Based in New York City, Marlie AI serves small and medium-sized businesses across the United States. Our realistic AI receptionist is built to listen, understand, and act on caller needs, ensuring calls are managed efficiently while preserving the human touch when it matters most. For more information, visit www.marlie.ai.

Media Contact

Alex Dimcevski
Founder & CEO, Marlie AI
alex@marlie.ai

Within the scope of its international collaborations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emrina Inc. has signed a significant strategic agreement together with China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., Ltd., one of the largest companies in the People’s Republic of China and globally.

Under this collaboration, a comprehensive memorandum of understanding has been reached between Emrina and China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., and Le Park Concord Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading firms in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The agreement covers joint project development across Saudi Arabia, the establishment of a joint venture company, and the construction of a total of 60 motel projects throughout the Kingdom.

These projects are fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the country’s tourism, accommodation, and commercial infrastructure. The planned motels are designed to provide modern, sustainable, and high-standard solutions to the rapidly increasing demand for accommodation. They will be located in strategic areas and designed to appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

Leveraging its strong command of local regulations, permits, and authorization processes in Saudi Arabia, as well as its international project management experience, Emrina will play an active role in the planning, construction, and operational phases of the projects by ensuring effective coordination between the Chinese and Saudi partners. China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co. will contribute its global-scale engineering, construction, and infrastructure expertise to deliver the projects in accordance with the highest quality standards.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our valued friend Ahmed Al Yahya, whose support has made a significant contribution to strengthening communication and trust among the parties throughout the realization of this important collaboration. We also extend our gratitude to the Board of Directors of Le Park Concord Company, chaired by Faiz Tala Alenezi, for this valuable partnership.

As Emrina, we firmly believe that this strong collaboration established between Türkiye, China, and Saudi Arabia will pave the way for new investments and sustainable partnerships at both regional and global levels.

About Emrina

Emrina A.Ş. is a versatile company that represents leading global brands in Turkey, in addition to its own Consubcon and WorkinMENA brands. It holds the Turkish rights to prestigious brands such as Guido Gobino (producer of Armani Dolci), one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers; EdX, a company founded through a partnership between Harvard and MIT; Alchemy Pay, a global payment technology giant; and Shanghai Metal, one of China's largest industrial manufacturers. Through these partnerships, Emrina is a strategic player that makes a difference not only in the field but also through global collaborations. For more information, visit www.emrina.com.

Media Contact

Emrah Inanc
Emrina Inc.
emrah@emrina.com

Within the scope of its international collaborations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emrina Inc. has signed a significant strategic agreement together with China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., Ltd., one of the largest companies in the People’s Republic of China and globally.

Under this collaboration, a comprehensive memorandum of understanding has been reached between Emrina and China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., and Le Park Concord Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading firms in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The agreement covers joint project development across Saudi Arabia, the establishment of a joint venture company, and the construction of a total of 60 motel projects throughout the Kingdom.

These projects are fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the country’s tourism, accommodation, and commercial infrastructure. The planned motels are designed to provide modern, sustainable, and high-standard solutions to the rapidly increasing demand for accommodation. They will be located in strategic areas and designed to appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

Leveraging its strong command of local regulations, permits, and authorization processes in Saudi Arabia, as well as its international project management experience, Emrina will play an active role in the planning, construction, and operational phases of the projects by ensuring effective coordination between the Chinese and Saudi partners. China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co. will contribute its global-scale engineering, construction, and infrastructure expertise to deliver the projects in accordance with the highest quality standards.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our valued friend Ahmed Al Yahya, whose support has made a significant contribution to strengthening communication and trust among the parties throughout the realization of this important collaboration. We also extend our gratitude to the Board of Directors of Le Park Concord Company, chaired by Faiz Tala Alenezi, for this valuable partnership.

As Emrina, we firmly believe that this strong collaboration established between Türkiye, China, and Saudi Arabia will pave the way for new investments and sustainable partnerships at both regional and global levels.

About Emrina

Emrina A.Ş. is a versatile company that represents leading global brands in Turkey, in addition to its own Consubcon and WorkinMENA brands. It holds the Turkish rights to prestigious brands such as Guido Gobino (producer of Armani Dolci), one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers; EdX, a company founded through a partnership between Harvard and MIT; Alchemy Pay, a global payment technology giant; and Shanghai Metal, one of China's largest industrial manufacturers. Through these partnerships, Emrina is a strategic player that makes a difference not only in the field but also through global collaborations. For more information, visit www.emrina.com.

Media Contact

Emrah Inanc
Emrina Inc.
emrah@emrina.com

Businesses and consumers are increasingly turning to digital platforms that simplify complex decisions, improve efficiency, and deliver measurable value. StartupMafia selected the following six companies for their practical use of technology, data, and partnerships to address real operational and user needs across B2B and B2C markets.

1. Rounds

Rounds develops an autonomous, data-driven AI platform that manages the full lifecycle of mobile assets, from sourcing and evaluation to continuous optimization. The company works with mobile products as scalable digital businesses, using automation and analytics to identify assets with growth potential and improve their performance over time.

What distinguishes Rounds is its agentic AI approach, which continuously analyzes user behavior and market signals to guide decisions. Instead of relying on manual optimization, the platform acts as a persistent engine for improvement, helping mobile assets evolve sustainably while reducing operational overhead for teams managing large portfolios.

2. nCube Nearshore Development Services

nCube provides nearshore software development services that help product companies scale engineering capacity without expanding internal hiring. Operating across Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe, the company supplies developers who integrate directly into clients’ workflows and teams.

The firm’s key differentiator is its flexible delivery model. Clients can choose staff augmentation, dedicated teams, or a full nearshore R&D center, depending on their growth stage and control requirements. This structure allows companies to retain product ownership while gaining access to long-term engineering talent and regional cost efficiencies.

3. AtoZ PR

AtoZ PR is a communications and media agency focused on helping technology companies increase visibility and credibility across global markets. Founded in 2017, the agency works primarily with IT, blockchain, and Web3 businesses seeking structured media exposure and reputation building.

AtoZ PR stands out for its emphasis on measurable outcomes rather than broad promotion. By combining industry-specific expertise with targeted storytelling, press distribution, and expert placements, the agency aligns media activity with business objectives such as market entry, investor visibility, and audience trust.

4. Factory.Sale

Factory.Sale operates a B2B sourcing platform that connects buyers directly with manufacturers in the global construction and building materials sector. The company focuses on simplifying procurement by reducing intermediaries and improving transparency across pricing, specifications, and logistics.

Its differentiation lies in precision-driven sourcing supported by data and AI-assisted processes. Factory.Sale tailors manufacturer selection to each client’s technical and commercial requirements, helping businesses reduce supply risks while maintaining quality standards in complex international procurement environments.

5. Pleso

Pleso is a digital mental health platform that connects users with qualified psychotherapists through online sessions. The service addresses growing demand for accessible psychological support by removing geographic barriers and simplifying the process of finding appropriate professional help.

The platform’s smart matching algorithm is a key feature, pairing clients with therapists based on individual needs and preferences. By focusing on fit and confidentiality, Pleso aims to improve therapy outcomes while offering a structured, technology-enabled alternative to traditional in-person mental health services.

6. Topologica

Topologica Travel Map offers an interactive world travel map designed to consolidate destination research into a single digital experience. The platform covers more than 195 countries, providing information on visas, safety, cost of living, and travel planning tools for different traveler profiles.

Topologica differentiates itself through its map-based interface and comprehensive scope. By combining travel guides, budget calculators, and digital nomad visa data, it serves users who need more than flight or hotel search, supporting informed decision-making for short-term trips and long-term stays alike.

Conclusion

The companies highlighted by StartupMafia reflect a broader shift toward platforms that prioritize clarity, automation, and user-centric design. Across industries, these solutions demonstrate how targeted innovation can address operational complexity while delivering tangible benefits to businesses and end users.

About StartupMafia

StartupMafia is a business media and research platform that tracks emerging companies, technologies, and market trends worldwide. It provides curated insights to help businesses and investors identify relevant solutions in a changing global economy. For more information, visit startupmafia.eu.

Media Contact

StartupMafia.eu Press Department
press@startupmafia.eu

As the New Year approaches, StartupMafia reviewed consumer products that have gained attention not through seasonal promotion but through steady, year-round demand. The resulting selection reflects how families, professionals, and entertainment consumers increasingly favor gifts that combine practicality, reliability, and long-term relevance.

1. Naturally KIDS Dinosaur Backpack

Naturally KIDS dinosaur backpack is designed for children aged three to five and serves as an everyday item for preschool and early kindergarten use. The backpack is sized for small essentials such as snacks, toys, or personal items, making it suitable for daily routines rather than occasional outings. Its playful dinosaur design is intended to appeal to young children while remaining functional for parents managing regular schedules. The product is part of Naturally KIDS’ broader range of themed children’s accessories.

What sets Naturally KIDS apart is its scale and focus on safety. The company reports serving more than one million families worldwide and cites over 22,000 verified reviews averaging 4.8 stars on Amazon in the United States and Canada. Products are designed and tested with child safety in mind, and the brand maintains a consistent design language across backpacks, toys, and children’s lamps shaped as animals and fantasy characters.

2. Silverline® Compression Socks

Silverline® compression socks are positioned for individuals seeking everyday comfort during work, travel, or light physical activity. The socks are intended for people who spend long periods standing or sitting and who prefer non-medical compression wear as part of their daily routine. Vita Vera operates as a Slovenia-based e-commerce company serving customers across Germany and other European Union markets.

The product’s distinguishing features lie in material selection and production standards. Vita Vera emphasizes certified textiles and consistent manufacturing processes, aligning with growing consumer interest in quality assurance for apparel worn daily. Rather than focusing on elite athletic performance, the Silverline® line targets routine use, reflecting a broader market shift toward functional wellness products integrated into normal lifestyles.

3. OKDERMO Professional Skincare Products

OKDERMO professional skincare products reflect a wider shift in consumer behavior toward ingredient-driven, routine-based skin care. The platform specializes in dermatology-oriented formulations, with particular emphasis on retinoid-based products that are widely studied and commonly used by experienced skincare users. These products are typically incorporated into long-term routines rather than purchased for short-term cosmetic effects.

OKDERMO differentiates itself through structure rather than branding. Products are organized by active ingredients and use cases, allowing consumers to make selections based on familiarity and gradual routine building. This approach mirrors an industry-wide move away from trend-focused beauty retail toward platforms that prioritize formulation transparency, consistency, and informed use over novelty.

4. World Cup 2026 Tickets via Ticombo

World Cup 2026 tickets on Ticombo have become a notable gift option as official ticket releases continue to sell out within minutes. Many fans are unable to secure seats through primary sales channels, increasing reliance on verified secondary marketplaces. Ticombo operates as a resale platform that connects buyers and sellers while applying checks designed to reduce transactional risk.

The platform’s role reflects changing dynamics in global sports ticketing. As demand for major events outpaces supply, structured resale markets have become a common alternative rather than an exception. Ticombo’s large inventory and verification processes position it within this evolving ecosystem, where access and reliability increasingly shape purchasing decisions.

5. MAG555 Google TV™ Set-Top Box

Infomir MAG555 Google TV set-top box is designed for users looking to upgrade standard televisions into comprehensive smart entertainment systems. The device supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, HDR, HEVC video compression, and Dolby Digital™ audio. Built on Google TV, it aggregates streaming services, live television, and applications into a single interface.

The MAG555 stands out for its focus on performance standards and platform integration rather than proprietary limitations. By combining widely supported hardware specifications with Google TV, the device reflects consumer demand for flexible home entertainment solutions that remain compatible as content formats and viewing habits continue to evolve.

Conclusion

The five gifts selected by StartupMafia highlight a shared pattern across different markets: consumers increasingly value functionality, verified quality, and long-term use over novelty. From children’s products to digital entertainment and personal care, the common denominator is practical relevance. Together, these examples illustrate how everyday needs are shaping gift choices as the New Year begins.

About StartupMafia

StartupMafia is a business media and research platform that tracks emerging companies, technologies, and market trends worldwide. It provides curated insights to help businesses and investors identify relevant solutions in a changing global economy. For more information, visit startupmafia.eu.

Media Contact

StartupMafia.eu Press Department
press@startupmafia.eu

Yarbo will introduce the newest addition to its product portfolio, the Yarbo M Series Modular Yard Robot, on January 6, 2026. This groundbreaking piece of yard equipment redefines outdoor and yard living, making laborious outdoor tasks simpler through automation and AI technology. Yarbo’s transformative piece of modular yard equipment will be showcased at Booth #51232, Venetian Expo, Halls A–D, Level 2 at 2:00 PM. 

At the launch event, Yarbo will host live product presentations and demonstrations, while formally announcing that the Yarbo M Series will soon be available to a global audience via Kickstarter. The smart yard management solution not only marks a significant expansion of Yarbo’s product portfolio but also a turning point in its product strategy. Until now, Yarbo has primarily focused on premium large-yard solutions; however, the M Series opens the door to everyday yard maintenance needs of the majority of households.

Yarbo and the Next Chapter of Smart Yard Living

Yarbo has long been committed to reducing the physical burden of yard work by applying the concept of the indoor smart home system to the outside world with its new modular yard robot ecosystem. This automatic yard robot transforms labor-intensive outdoor jobs into a system-managed daily routine.

Built on Yarbo’s modular DNA, the M Series Yard Robot comprises one core piece of equipment and multiple interchangeable modules, designed for all seasons. The Yarbo Core is the foundation of the entire ecosystem. It incorporates a powerful computing system with sensors to plan its pathways, navigate autonomously, and avoid obstacles. 

Users can buy one Core and add modules as needed, eliminating the need for users to store multiple pieces of large yard equipment. With the Yarbo Core and its attachments, users can maintain lawn care during the spring and summer months and clear away debris and snow through autumn and winter. 

The Modular Yard Robot’s Key Features and Benefits

The Yarbo M Series is a compact yard robot for every season and a variety of yard types. Not only does this maintenance tool enhance service standards, but it also reduces labor costs, making it a useful asset in residential yards, high-end communities, resorts, luxury villas, and vacation properties. 

The three key pillars of its design are as follows:

1. Set up, charge, finish — all faster.

The M Series Yard Robot is designed to fit into users’ weekly yard work routine, including daily lawn mowing, trimming, leaf clearing, snow removal, and overall curb appeal maintenance. 

The interchangeable modules attach easily to the Core for a quick and hassle-free setup. Yarbo’s yard robot makes tasks easier to start and resume, cutting tedious tasks down to mere minutes of hands-on labor. It simplifies outdoor maintenance with its intelligent, all-season yard design. 

2. Compact size. Strong performance.

The Yard Robot has a compact footprint, making it easy to store. Despite its size, it packs power and intelligence into every inch. This piece of yard equipment is built to function across a wide range of terrain types–not just ideal lawns. 

3. Modular by design. Built for every season.

The Yarbo Yard Robot is not just a single-purpose machine, but a long-term service platform that allows users to buy the Core and add modules later. Under this budget-friendly, space-saving design, users only purchase and store what they need according to seasonal changes and climate. 

Upon its CES launch, Phase 1 of the M-Series will support the following modules:

• Two mower modules
• Plow blade module
• Collector module
• Trimmer module
• Smart assistant module

Kickstarter Launch and Preorder Information

The Yarbo M Series is set to launch first on Kickstarter, giving early supporters priority access to the system and exclusive early-bird pricing.

Attendees and readers are encouraged to subscribe on Kickstarter ahead of launch to stay informed and secure limited super early bird offers. Preorders are expected to open in February 2026, marking the first opportunity for users worldwide to experience Yarbo’s next-generation modular yard robot system.

The Future of the Yarbo Brand

Yarbo is making a global impact and is well on its way to becoming the world’s leading provider of smart yard solutions. Yarbo already has a wide following in North America and Europe, and is quickly catching on in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. 

The M Series Yard Robot launch at CES represents a key milestone in Yarbo’s expansion as a brand. Media and audiences can take the opportunity to stop by the Yarbo booth, see firsthand how this robotic yard system functions, and ask questions about its design and global crowdfunding via Kickstarter. 

With its new M series, Yarbo makes its innovative outdoor designs widely accessible to diverse audiences while steadily building its yard robot system.

About Yarbo

Yarbo is making a global impact and is well on its way to becoming the world’s leading provider of smart yard solutions. Yarbo already has a wide following in North America and Europe, and is quickly catching on in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. To learn more, visit www.yarbo.com, forum.yarbo.com, or wiki.yarbo.com. For additional information, you can also visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@yarboglobal, our Instagram at www.instagram.com/yarboglobal, our LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/yarboglobal, or our Facebook at www.facebook.com/yarboglobal.

Media Contact

Maggie Zhou
pr@yarbo.com

Metals Edge, a U.S.-based precious metals firm serving investors for more than two decades, today announced a business update expanding client support and investor education across three core areas: Gold IRA guidance, allocated precious metals storage, and insured physical delivery of gold and silver.

The update focuses on improving the investor experience from first inquiry through ongoing service, helping clients understand key decisions, including IRA eligibility, storage options, and the practical logistics involved in receiving physical metals.

Key Facts: Details of the Business Update

This business update includes improvements designed to create a clearer, more consistent experience across Metals Edge’s client workflows:

• Streamlined onboarding with more precise steps, documentation checkpoints, and improved process transparency
• Expanded investor education to clarify common questions about Gold IRAs, allocated storage, and delivery expectations
• Improved service pathways aligned to typical investor needs (retirement allocation, long-term diversification, direct ownership)
• Enhanced communication standards to reduce confusion around timelines, paperwork, storage coordination, and insured shipment logistics
• Updated website pathways to help visitors more quickly find resources related to Gold IRAs, storage, and physical delivery

What the Update Means for Metals Edge

The update strengthens Metals Edge’s ability to deliver a more standardized, service-led client experience across the full lifecycle of a precious metals purchase — from education and onboarding to storage coordination and fulfillment.

By prioritizing more precise documentation, cleaner process steps, and more accessible educational materials, Metals Edge aims to reduce friction points that can slow down decision-making or create uncertainty for investors — especially those evaluating precious metals for retirement planning, diversification, or long-term wealth protection.

Why It Matters for Customers and Stakeholders

For customers, the most meaningful benefit is clarity — knowing what to expect, understanding available pathways, and receiving straightforward explanations in plain English.

For retirees and pre-retirees, the decision to explore a Gold IRA or physical precious metals often comes with questions about custodians, eligibility, storage arrangements, timelines, and delivery. The Metals Edge update is designed to make those questions easier to answer early, so investors can move forward with confidence and with better context.

For stakeholders such as service partners and storage providers, more consistent documentation and communication standards can support smoother coordination, clearer handoffs, and more predictable service outcomes.

“Whether someone is planning for retirement or simply wants direct ownership of physical metals, we want the experience to feel organized, documented, and professional from day one,” said David Love, president of Metals Edge.

Supporting Investors Across Gold IRA, Allocated Storage, and Physical Delivery

Metals Edge supports investors pursuing different approaches to precious metals ownership, including:

• Gold IRA guidance: Many investors explore a Gold IRA as part of a broader retirement diversification strategy. Metals Edge provides education and process guidance to help clients understand common IRA-related considerations and next steps, including documentation flow, coordination steps, and service expectations.
• Allocated precious metals storage: For investors who prefer third-party storage, Metals Edge helps clients understand allocated precious metals storage — including what “allocated” means, why it matters, and how storage coordination typically works. The business update expands materials and service pathways intended to make storage decisions easier to evaluate.
• Insured physical delivery: Some clients prefer insured physical delivery of gold and silver for direct ownership. Metals Edge provides education around ordering, fulfillment expectations, shipping coordination, and communication standards to help ensure a professional experience from purchase through delivery.

About Metals Edge

Metals Edge is a full‑service precious metals firm serving high-net-worth investors and retirement account holders with Gold IRAs, storage trading accounts, and physical delivery. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured firm with an A+ rating and more than two decades in business. Our client‑facing platform includes a full‑service online account portal, and we offer market‑making capabilities for buys and sells, designed to deliver transparency and efficiency. Metals Edge is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information, visit metalsedge.com.

Disclaimer

Metals Edge does not provide tax, legal, or individualized investment advice. Precious metals involve risk and may fluctuate in price. Investors should consult qualified professionals regarding their specific situation.

Media Contact

Stephanie Sutcliffe
Metals Edge
contact@metalsedge.com
+1 800-982-6105

Though Europe’s most listened-to artist on radio in 2025 was Ed Sheeran, Alex Warren's hit song, “Ordinary,” emerged as the most listened-to song across European radio.

The results are published as part of Radioplayer’s annual overview of actual radio listening. Unlike traditional radio charts, which measure what is broadcast, Radio Played 2025 reveals what listeners actually chose to listen to across platforms, countries, and moments. It is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.

The data shows that while new hits dominate the very top of the rankings, radio listening across Europe is strongly shaped by timeless catalogue artists. Alongside Ed Sheeran, artists such as Queen, Madonna, and Michael Jackson rank among the most listened-to artists of the year, underlining radio’s unique role in sustaining long-term cultural relevance, not just short-term trends.

Seasonal listening also plays a clear role. Towards the end of the year, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” once again emerged as one of the most listened-to songs on European radio, highlighting radio’s continued importance for shared, live moments.

Beyond music, Radio Played 2025 also reflects how radio is used across Europe. Paris recorded the longest average listening sessions of any city, while November 27 became the single biggest radio day of the year, driven by an intense international news cycle that brought audiences back to live radio at scale.

Context and Platform

Radioplayer distributes radio across connected cars, smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers, offering a unique pan-European view of how radio is actually used today.

Unlike personalized or predictive rankings, Radioplayer captures collective listening behavior at scale, the artists, songs, cities and moments that brought audiences together across borders.

Radio Played 2025 is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe, and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.

Most Listened-To Song in Europe 2025

• No. 1: “Ordinary,” Alex Warren
• No. 2: “Messy,” Lola Young
• No. 3: “Nice to Meet You,” Myles Smith
• No. 4: “Azizam,” Ed Sheeran
• No. 5: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
• No. 6: “Bad Dreams,” Teddy Swims
• No. 7: “End of the World,” Miley Cyrus
• No. 8: “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
• No. 9: “That’s So True,” Gracie Abrams
• No. 10: “Sapphire,” Ed Sheeran
• No. 11: “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone
• No. 12: “Austin,” Dasha
• No. 13: “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish
• No. 14: “Belong Together,” Mark Ambor
• No. 15: “Anxiety,” Doechii

Most Listened-To Artist in Europe 2025

• No. 1: Ed Sheeran
• No. 2: Queen
• No. 3: Lady Gaga
• No. 4: Michael Jackson
• No. 5: Coldplay
• No. 6: Madonna
• No. 7: Myles Smith
• No. 8: Benson Boone
• No. 9: Sabrina Carpenter
• No. 10: Teddy Swims
• No. 11: Alex Warren
• No. 12: Taylor Swift
• No. 13: Lola Young
• No. 14: Miley Cyrus
• No. 15: Elton John

Cities with the Longest Average Listening Sessions in Europe 2025

• No. 1: Paris
• No. 2: London
• No. 3: Helsinki
• No. 4: Dublin
• No. 5: Milan
• No. 6: Lyon
• No. 7: Antwerp
• No. 8: Berlin
• No. 9: Tampere
• No. 10: Birmingham

Methodology

Radio Played 2025 is based on anonymized and aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform. Results are powered by broadcaster-supplied metadata from 27 European countries and cover listening in connected cars, on smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers.

About Radioplayer

Radioplayer is the broadcaster-owned technology platform that keeps radio strong in the car and across connected devices. We work to make radio look right, work right and be right there wherever people listen, in dashboards, apps, smart speakers and through voice. By combining FM and DAB broadcasting with internet connectivity, Radioplayer delivers hybrid radio that just works, with seamless coverage and a modern visual experience that makes stations clear, branded and premium on every screen. We collaborate closely with the world’s leading car manufacturers and technology partners, providing one certified feed and integration framework. This reduces complexity, ensures safety and compliance, and gives carmakers a consistent, trusted way to deliver the best radio experience to drivers. Radioplayer is live with 17 major car brands and more than five million cars. Learn more about Radioplayer at www.radioplayer.org.

Media Contact

Tommy Gaustad
Head of Communication, Radioplayer
tommy.gaustad@radioplayer.org
+47 93 00 35 66

Starting December 22, HEYTEA and POP MART’s popular IP Twinkle Twinkle officially launched their global co-branded campaign across HEYTEA stores worldwide. Timed to the Christmas and New Year season, the collaboration is built around the theme “Twinkle Twinkle for Winter.” Centered on the warm and comforting Twinkle Twinkle characters, the campaign introduces a multi-dimensional experience that includes custom character designs, co-branded drinks, themed merchandise, themed stores, and the Inspiration Bus pop-up activation.

This marks HEYTEA’s first globally synchronized co-branded launch. Even before the official rollout, the partnership generated strong attention across social platforms. With the campaign spanning Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, as well as more than 100 HEYTEA stores across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other overseas markets, the collaboration brings a shared winter moment to cities around the world.

Beyond its festive appeal, the campaign offers a glimpse into HEYTEA’s approach to international markets. While character-led collaborations help create seasonal resonance, HEYTEA’s broader focus lies in building meaningful, locally grounded brand experiences that feel relevant in different cultural contexts.

Localized campaigns, shaped by local culture

Across overseas markets, HEYTEA has consistently used collaborations and pop-up activations as a way to connect with younger audiences and spark cultural conversation. Over the past year, the brand has partnered with names spanning fashion, art, and entertainment, including alexanderwang, Sandy Liang, Wicked, and Yayoi Kusama. Each collaboration is paired with limited products and immersive offline experiences, encouraging consumers to engage, explore, and share.

Rather than applying a single formula across regions, HEYTEA selects creative partners with strong local or cultural relevance, develops visually distinctive concepts, and designs in-store experiences that naturally translate into social moments. This approach allows the brand to build local presence while maintaining a coherent global identity rooted in inspiration and creativity.

Product creativity as a shared language

Product creation remains central to how HEYTEA expresses its brand globally. As the originator of “new-style tea,” the brand views innovation as a way to continuously reinterpret tea culture for contemporary consumers, both in China and overseas.

Internationally, HEYTEA has introduced more than 20 localized drinks designed to reflect regional taste preferences while staying true to the brand’s emphasis on natural ingredients and modern tea aesthetics. Examples include Cloud Coconut Blue, Cloud Longjing Tea Latte, and Ocean’s Glow, which incorporate lighter flavor profiles, lower sugar options, and plant-forward elements to better align with local expectations.

This philosophy is reflected in the Twinkle Twinkle collaboration itself. Alongside HEYTEA’s globally available classics, the campaign introduces two exclusive drinks, Tiramisu Milk Tea and Tiramisu Rich Chocolate, marking the brand’s first globally synchronized seasonal product release. For HEYTEA, seasonal storytelling is less about promotion and more about creating moments of comfort, warmth, and shared experience across markets.

The U.S. as a key stage for cultural connection

The United States continues to play an important role in HEYTEA’s overseas presence. Since opening its first U.S. store at the end of 2023, the brand has expanded into cities including New York, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Houston, Seattle, and Boston. HEYTEA now operates 36 stores across the country.

For HEYTEA, the appeal of the U.S. lies not only in market scale, but also in its openness to new tastes and ideas. The brand sees tea as a cultural medium, one that can create connection through shared sensory experiences. This perspective has shaped both store design and product development, encouraging exploration rather than simple adaptation.

In New York’s Times Square, HEYTEA opened its overseas flagship TEA LAB store, a space designed to reinterpret Chinese tea culture through an inspiration-driven lens. Featuring exclusive drinks and a carefully curated environment, the flagship serves as a creative showcase for how tea can be experienced in a modern, global city.

Supporting experiences behind the scenes

As HEYTEA expands internationally, it continues to refine the systems that support consistent experiences across markets. The brand has extended its HEYTEA GO digital platform overseas and introduced a self-operated delivery model in the U.S., helping ensure a more seamless and reliable customer journey. These behind-the-scenes capabilities allow HEYTEA to focus on what consumers see and feel, while maintaining quality and coherence across regions.

About HEYTEA

Founded in 2012 in Jiangmen, Guangdong, China, HEYTEA is widely recognized as the originator of new-style tea beverages. The brand created the world’s first cheese tea using real tea and real milk, setting a new standard for the industry. HEYTEA is committed to using real ingredients, including real tea, real milk, real fruit, and real sugar, while continuously reimagining tea culture through products and experiences that resonate with young consumers. Today, HEYTEA operates around 4,000 stores worldwide, including more than 100 overseas locations across Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. For more information, visit www.heytea.com.

Media Contact

Matthew Zhou
zhouhaoge@heytea.com

HIZERO has firmly established itself in recent years as a category leader among home cleaning innovation brands, winning awards and gaining international attention for its breakthroughs in functionality and design.

As 2026 rolls in, HIZERO is on track to further revolutionize the market with new CES product launches. At the center of this pre-CES product launch buzz is the H100R Handheld Multi-Surface Cleaner.

This handheld cleaner is the world’s first multi-surface cleaner which can, clean, wash, and dry, featuring HIZERO’s patented no-suction technology. While other brands have introduced similar cleaning tools in recent years, HIZERO has proven it can outperform them in terms of results, and functionality.

The HIZERO H100R Handheld Multi-Surface Cleaner

The H100R is a game-changer for commercial customers and clean freaks who hold onto high cleaning standards. This multi-surface cleaner is putting cleaning cloths, and other forms of cleaning in their place, showing the world that cleaning doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, water-wasting, messy chore.

The handheld cleaner can go anywhere a cloth can, including refrigerators, mirrors, wardrobes, desktops, yoga mats, and commercial restaurant countertops. However, unlike the average cleaning cloth, this revolutionary no-suction cleaner is effortless to use and delivers more hygienic results. Using just one device, customers can both clean and leave the surface almost dry.

The H100R utilizes our own patented highly absorbent, Multi Roller, which rotates at 100 times per minute for the most efficient cleaning. Whilst in operation our real-time self-cleaning system kicks in, keeping the Multi Roller 100% clean, whilst in operation. The wastewater and solids are collected for easy maintenance, and the surface dries in seconds.

With no filthy filters and Automatic Waste Separation, the H100R delivers hygienic, hassle-free cleaning results. The H100R is part of the H100 Series and is $169 USD MSRP.

Other HIZERO products and new releases for 2026 

Besides the H100R Handheld Multi-Surface Cleaner, HIZERO is set to launch three other products in 2026: the HIZERO F200 Hard Floor Cleaner, HIZERO R700 Floor Washing Robot, and HIZERO M101 Wet Dry Cleaning Mop.

Here are a few of the main features and benefits users can expect from these new products.

HIZERO R700 Floor Washing Robot — Fully automated floor washing

The HIZERO R700 Floor Washing Robot is an innovative robotic cleaner that delivers ultimate cleaning by truly removing ingrained dirt and wet messes without spreading them around. Its self-cleaning roller keeps your floors washed with a clean roller at all times. Equipped with advanced navigation, you can relax while leaving floor cleaning the to the R700. Compared with conventional robots, the no-suction R700 prevents dust from being spread on the floor and air, is quieter, and delivers longer battery life. All of the above features are not only making cleaning easier for households but they will improve the cleanliness of your floor.

HIZERO F200 Hard Floor Cleaner — Ultimate clean in a snap

The HIZERO F200 Hard Floor Cleaner is a Multifunctional wet-and-dry cleaner that delivers deep floor cleaning. No Suction Technology ensures no flying dust during cleaning, and the F200 completely separates hair, dry debris, and liquid waste for effortless disposal, which is usually tedious with vacuum cleaners. Due to low power consumption associated with No Suction Technology, it will operate for up to 60 minutes with noise levels far lower than those of vacuum cleaners.

HIZERO M101 Wet Dry Cleaning Mop — One mop. All clean.

The HIZERO M101 Wet Dry Cleaning Mop is an innovative mop that delivers powerful cleaning performance without electricity. It sweeps, mops, and washes hard floors in one motion, covering large areas with its built-in water tanks. Dry debris and liquid waste are automatically separated for quick and easy disposal. With much less maintenance required, it is extremely easy to use, making it perfect for residential or non-residential areas.

Two of HIZERO’s newest cleaning products that are already on the market are the F300 All-In-One Hard Floor Cleaner and the F600 All-In-One Hard Floor Cleaner.

The F300 All-In-One Hard Floor Cleaner was released in January 2025 and is perfect for small homes or small commercial spaces. As they are lightweight, easy to maneuver and produce exceptional results. The F300 floor cleaner features HIZERO’s patented, highly absorbent Multi Roller and retails for $599 USD MSRP.

The F600 All-In-One Hard Floor Cleaner was released in 2024 and is designed for large homes and small commercial spaces. A continuously cleaned Multi Roller eliminates dirty water streaks. It sweeps and mops in a forward-backward motion, saving time and effort. The F600 has a larger water capacity allowing you to clean more flooring on a single tank of water. The F600 is offered at $899 USD MSRP.

Behind the HIZERO brand vision and future development

HIZERO’s goal is to help people enjoy healthier lifestyles by giving them tools to clean their homes and workplaces effortlessly and efficiently. The brand is now sold in more than 30 countries worldwide and is trusted by home and commercial cleaners for its results and reliability.

One of its major achievements is its patented No Suction Technology, which established the brand as an industry leader. Not only does this revolutionary approach cut down on dust, but it also saves energy and is environmentally friendly.

HIZERO currently has several innovative cleaning products on the market and ready for release. From 2026 onwards, HIZERO plans to launch new categories, including handheld, non-electric, and robotic products, to achieve a “clean beyond compare.”

About HIZERO

HIZERO currently has several innovative cleaning products on the market and ready for release. From 2026 onwards, HIZERO plans to launch new categories, including handheld, non-electric, and robotic products, to achieve a “clean beyond compare.” For more information, visit www.hizero.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Lorie Ho
lorie.ho@hizero.com

On July 29, 2025, in a decisive move signaling the start of yet another chapter of the journey towards regional industrial leadership, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al-Jubail (ArcelorMittal TPJ) issued a Letter of Award to Sinosteel Equipment & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Sinosteel MECC). The move signals the beginning of a new chapter in TPJ’s drive toward regional industrial leadership and marks the launch of its Heat Treatment and Finishing Line (HT/FL) capacity expansion project. The investment underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in seamless steel tube manufacturing, enhancing industrial capabilities through the use of advanced and sophisticated technologies. The Chinese engineering giant is set to implement the project as EPC lead with Italy’s Tenova S.p.A. (Tenova Italimpianti) supplying the latest technology.

This initiative represents a strategic leap towards further reinforcing industrial localization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon its completion, the Kingdom’s heat treatment and finishing capacity of OCTG (oil country tubular goods) and line pipe products will significantly increase, which will in turn facilitate the capture of greater value across its energy and infrastructure supply chain, thereby further consolidating its leading role in the MENA region.

“This is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s industrial ambition in motion,” said Laurent Dubedout, CEO of ArcelorMittal TPJ. “We are not waiting for the future. We are building it. With Sinosteel and Tenova, we are charting a path of regional leadership and long-term sustainability. We strengthen our strategic position; we secure the supply chain of our customers.” 

The groundbreaking for the HT/FL expansion project is expected to take place in December 2025 or January 2026.

A New Era for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Sovereignty

Aligned with Vision 2030, this latest project reflects the Kingdom’s firm and ongoing commitment to high-value localization, advanced technology integration, and economic diversification.

In selecting Sinosteel Equipment & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Sinosteel MECC) and Tenova S.p.A. (Tenova Italimpianti) as execution lead and technology partner, respectively, ArcelorMittal TPJ has secured best-in-class project delivery capabilities. Both contractors provide world-class expertise in engineering, metallurgical plant design, construction, and commissioning, forming a powerful partnership to deliver excellence with respect to one of the most notable expansion projects in the MENA+ seamless tube manufacturing industry in terms of both finishing capabilities and capacities.

Strategic Impact

• Capacity built for control: Expands domestic production of heat-treated, high-spec pipes to comprehensively cater for regional oil, gas, and industrial demand.
• Market locked: Consolidates ArcelorMittal TPJ’s role as the strategic gatekeeper for OCTG and line pipe tubular products across MENA+.
• Saudi first, global ready: Further consolidates and enhances industrial independence and competitive positioning in global markets.

About ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al-Jubail (ArcelorMittal TPJ)

ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al-Jubail (ArcelorMittal TPJ) is a bold expression of industrial excellence — a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company. Located in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it operates one of the most advanced seamless carbon steel tube mills in the region. Purpose-built to serve the Kingdom’s most demanding energy and infrastructure projects, ArcelorMittal TPJ is more than a manufacturer. It is a regional champion — designed for performance, engineered for endurance, and committed to powering the energy ambitions of the Kingdom and beyond. Driven by Vision 2030, ArcelorMittal TPJ fuses global industrial leadership with national ambition — delivering quality without compromise, forging strategic partnerships, and enabling the Kingdom to lead not only in production, but in industrial sovereignty. For more information, visit www.amtpj.com.sa.

Media Contact

Osamah A Q
osamah@manwar.co

The video series "Wild Yangtze" documents how cities along the Yangtze River are working to restore habitats and protect rare species. These efforts follow the principle of strengthening conservation while curbing excessive development along the river.

The series highlights 11 representative rare species from the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the Milu, the Yangtze finless porpoise, and the Chinese sturgeon. Through their recovery stories, the series reflects a broader shift in how people relate to nature along the river.

As one of the world’s most important freshwater ecosystems, the Yangtze River supports the livelihoods of more than 400 million people and is home to rich and unique biodiversity.

The Yangtze River is home to some of China’s most distinctive species. The Chinese sturgeon, often described as a "living fossil,” has survived on Earth for about 140 million years. The Yangtze finless porpoise, nicknamed the river’s "smiling angel," now numbers around 1,200 in the wild. A lesser-known but equally important species is Adiantum nelumboides, a fern endemic to the Three Gorges Reservoir area and known as a "green living fossil” of the river’s ecosystem.

For a long time, intensive human activity placed heavy pressure on the Yangtze and its wildlife. This began to change in 2016, when conservation became the guiding principle for development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, opening a new chapter in ecological restoration.

Over the past decade, China has launched large-scale protection and restoration efforts along the river. Measures such as a 10-year fishing ban, the Yangtze River Protection Law, the relocation of chemical plants, riverbank rehabilitation, and wetland restoration have driven a clear shift from a development-first mindset to an ecology-first approach.

These efforts are now producing visible results. The decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise has been halted, and its population is beginning to recover. The Chinese high fin banded sharks have returned to the Xiang River after years of absence, signaling improving aquatic conditions. Meanwhile, Adiantum nelumboides is sprouting new shoots in artificial breeding bases, helping preserve this rare species.

Behind these changes is the steady, long-term work of researchers, patrolmen, former fishermen who have changed livelihoods, volunteers, and grassroots workers. Their combined efforts are helping bring life back to the Yangtze, allowing species once on the brink of disappearance to return to the river they depend on.