Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLAsia), Asia’s leading franchising and licensing trade event, will return from 13–15 August 2026 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore.

Organised by MP Singapore, and presented by the Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore), FLAsia 2026 marks a new chapter for the long-running industry event as it enters its 21st edition under a new organiser partnership. The appointment of MP Singapore brings expanded regional reach, deeper industry engagement and a strengthened focus on business outcomes for exhibitors and visitors across Asia.

FLAsia 2026 is expected to welcome more than 7,000 trade visitors and over 250 exhibiting brands from franchising, licensing, character IP, retail concepts and emerging business models. The event will continue to serve as a central marketplace for brand owners, franchisors, licensors, investors and entrepreneurs to connect, explore partnerships and identify expansion opportunities across regional and international markets.

Building on the momentum from previous edition, the Brand Licensing Village will return in 2026. The dedicated zone will spotlight locally developed intellectual property that has already been successfully commercialised, offering visitors a focused platform to discover market-ready IP, connect with licensing experts and explore collaboration opportunities across categories. The Licensing Village reinforces FLAsia’s role in supporting IP growth and brand extension within the region’s licensing ecosystem.

On the franchising front, the Chinese Franchise Conference will make a return, reflecting continued interest from Chinese brands and investors seeking expansion opportunities across Southeast Asia and beyond. Curated in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, the conference will provide targeted insights, market perspectives and networking opportunities for Chinese franchise brands and regional partners.

FLAsia 2026 will also feature international pavilions and brand participation from key markets, with brands from Korea, Thailand and other regional economies expected to be present, further strengthening the show’s international profile. Alongside the exhibition showcase, the event will include curated business sessions, industry sharing, talent and career touchpoints, and dedicated zones highlighting innovation, IP development and brand growth, reinforcing FLAsia’s position as a leading gateway for franchising and licensing opportunities in Asia.

“Partnering with MP Singapore marks a dynamic leap forward for FLAsia. Together, we’re amplifying the event’s influence and reach, ensuring the franchising and licensing community thrives as the industry surges across Asia,” Mr Gan Shee Wen, President, Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore).

“FLAsia is a well-established platform with strong industry trust, and we are pleased to be organising the event for the first time. By leveraging on MP’s global network, we will connect brands, partners and stakeholders in a way that will foster an environment that encourages collaboration, supports quality participation and drives tangible outcomes for both exhibitors and visitors. We are excited to grow FLAsia alongside the industry in the years ahead.” Jason Ng, Managing Director of MP Group.

Franchising & Licensing Asia has, over the years, established itself as a key business platform for brands seeking growth, market entry and partnership opportunities in Asia. With Singapore as its springboard, the event continues to attract regional and international participation, reinforcing its role as a gateway to Asian markets.

More information about FLAsia 2026 can be found at www.franchiselicenseasia.com.

About FLAsia

Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLAsia) – 21st Edition – Asia’s leading marketplace for franchising and licensing, FLAsia brings together reputable brand owners, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to create a dynamic platform for accelerating business growth, expanding professional networks, and increasing brand visibility across the vibrant Asian market.​ ​FLAsia provides the chance for exhibitors to showcase unique business concepts, engage in face-to-face meetings with high quality visitors and create meaningful business connections.​ ​Visitors get to connect directly with brand owners, franchisors, licensors, industry experts, and like-minded leaders, attend insightful conferences, and access high quality business opportunities.​
 

About Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore)

Franchising and Licensing Association (FLA Singapore), one of the founding members of the World Franchise Council, was established in 1993 with the mission to nurture and develop Singapore’s franchising industry. An essential component of Singapore’s knowledge-based economy, FLA Singapore promotes and facilitates the use of franchising, licensing and branding as a growth strategy for Singapore enterprises, thus contributing to turning Singapore into a regional franchise and license hub.

Through its partnership with Singapore government agencies and international franchise and license bodies, FLA Singapore also assists its members in their international development programmes. With an active growing membership of close to 150 companies, representing more than 250 strong brands, FLA (Singapore) is led and managed by a dedicated team of advisors, committee members and a full-time secretariat with the goal of supporting Singapore companies to expand internationally.
 

About MP Singapore

The MP Singapore (MP) is a global full-service agency that specialises in connecting and building eco-systems, industry engagement, events management and marketing. Established since 1987, MP embodies more than a quarter century of event building, marketing and management experience in both Eastern and Western cultures, practices, and business philosophies. We bring world-class talent, industry expertise, and incredible enthusiasm into the design and management of extraordinary online-to-offline experiences for your organisation.

MP is part of Pico Group, a global group of agencies specialising in engaging people, creating experiences and activating brands for businesses, institutions and governments. As part of the Pico group, MP has unlimited access to a wide network of industry contacts and resources. Pico Far East Holdings has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1992.

Indians are stepping into 2026 with their bags half-packed and wanderlust switched on, but planning the perfect trip is proving more challenging than ever. According to leading global travel app Skyscanner, 84% of Indian travellers are considering international trips this year, signalling a strong appetite to explore. However, with uncertainty over fares, timing, and an overwhelming array of choices, 81% admit that booking travel for 2026 feels daunting. Responding to these real planning pain points, Skyscanner revealed its Top 10 Cheapest Destinations for Indian Travellers in 2026, alongside the launch of a NEW Cheapest Destination Planner designed to simplify value-led travel decisions and make planning smarter.

Neel Ghose, Skyscanner Travel Trends and Destinations Expert, highlights how Indians are planning their travel ahead

At an event hosted in Delhi, Skyscanner shared these insights and explored how Indians are prioritising and planning their trips for the year ahead. Speaking at the event, Neel Ghose, Travel Trends & Destinations Expert, Skyscanner, said, “January is a peak moment in the travel cycle. We’re already seeing searches in the first week of January 2026 up 25% compared to the same period in 2025 (1) – highest volume recorded since 2024 – signalling that Indians are heading into the year with renewed intent for travel planning in January. Travellers are keen to explore in the year ahead – 89% say they’re open to alternative or lesser-known holiday destinations, while 77% plan to splurge on a luxury hotel stay on the final night of their holiday, yet they’re navigating post-year fatigue, rising cost perceptions and an overwhelming number of choices. The real opportunity, in January, is to replace that anxiety with clarity, which is why we’ve introduced our new Cheapest Destination Planner to help travellers instantly compare options by month, see the cheapest destinations to fly to, and plan with greater confidence and value.”

2026 Travel Planning Trends:

• Early Planning Momentum: January has become a clear planning inflection point for Indian travellers, with 73% mapping out trips at the start of the year. Driven by an emotional need to slow down, 67% plan holidays in January specifically to recharge, and create breathing space after an intense year.

• Lifestyle Trade-Off & Compromises: 49% Indian travellers say they’ve made personal financial sacrifices, from skipping meals out to forgoing haircuts, to make their last holiday possible. When saving for trips, 46% are even willing to skip buying new clothes, while 32% are open to cutting back on socialising with friends.

• High Travel Intent, Higher Overwhelm: Many Indian travellers haven’t confirmed their 2026 trips yet simply because they’re overwhelmed: 46% are worried about costs, 45% are struggling when to travel, and 40% are unsure where to go.

Skyscanner Launches NEW Cheapest Destination Planner

The research also found that 50% Indian travellers say they would be more likely to book their holidays in January if they simply had clarity on the cheapest destinations and the cheapest day to fly. To help travellers compare options effortlessly and book with confidence, Skyscanner has launched its NEW Cheapest Destination Planner, designed to cut through the stress of decision-making, allowing travellers to select their preferred month and instantly see the cheapest destinations to fly to, alongside average flight prices and the cheapest day to travel.

How does the Cheapest Destination Planner work?

1. Simply select the month you want to travel

2. The tool will reveal the top 10 cheapest destinations (on average) for that month- you’ll see the top reasons to visit and average price for a return flight alongside the cheapest days to travel

3. Made your choice?  You can click through to explore flights and/or hotel options for your chosen destination

Skyscanner’s NEW Cheapest Destination Planner

Sharing his own travel habits, Suryakumar ‘SKY’ Yadav, Skyscanner Brand Ambassador, said, “With a packed schedule, finding time to plan travel isn’t always easy, and I know that’s true for a lot of Indians. That’s why smart solutions really matter. For me, it’s about travelling efficiently so you can enjoy the moments that help you truly switch off, making sure the trip actually feels worth it. Skyscanner’s new Cheapest Destination Planner makes those decisions simpler and quicker, so you spend less time worrying and more time looking forward to the trip. It makes it much easier for people to discover great-value destinations!”

Busting Myths & Taking The Stress Out of Planning

• Skyscanner’s analysis also revealed that, on average, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly in 2026: a fact that is surprising to many, given that only around three in ten correctly identified midweek travel as the most cost-effective.

• While 67% anticipate flight costs exceeding INR 30,000 for their main 2026 holiday, Skyscanner has analysed millions of flight prices to identify the Top 10 Cheapest Destinations for Indian Travellers in 2026, with average return fares starting from only under INR 10,000, proving that great trips don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. (Refer to appendix for the complete list).

More Smart Ways for Indians To Save On 2026 Travel

• Drops: In-app feature that checks flight prices and reveals anomaly price drops of at least 20% for real bargains! 

• ‘Everywhere’ search: The all-time favourite – find the cheapest flights to anywhere in the world. 

• Price Alerts and Saved: Still in decision making mode?  Save your routes and keep track of the flight fluctuations.

Appendix

The Top 10 Cheapest Destinations for 2026: 

Notes to Editors

*Skyscanner research conducted with OnePoll in November 2026 with 2,000 respondents in India.

**Return economy flights booked on Skyscanner between 1 January 2025 and 31 October 2025 for travel between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026.

About Skyscanner 

Skyscanner is a global leader in travel that helps travellers plan and book their trip with ease and confidence. Every month, Skyscanner connects millions of travellers, in 180 countries and 37 languages, to more than 1200 trusted travel partners so they can find flight, hotel or car hire options. 

Founded in 2003, Skyscanner has offices worldwide, in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America where traveller-first innovations are developed and powered by data and insights. Making use of the latest technology, Skyscanner simplifies the complexity of travel and provides honest and transparent solutions, searching around 100 billion prices every day so travellers can be sure they’ve seen the best possible options, all in one place.

(1) Skyscanner search data for flights originating from India, comparing searches made between 1 – 7 January, 2026 with the same period 1 – 7 January, 2025. Percentage reflects year-on-year growth in search volume.

Headsup B2B, a tech-enabled B2B procurement and supply platform, has secured mandates for the supply of 40+ MW of solar panels and ancillary products across multiple projects in Rajasthan and Jharkhand. With an aggregated supply value of approximately Rs. 85 Crore, the execution is scheduled over the upcoming six months, reinforcing its role in India’s renewable energy ecosystem!
 

The Headsup B2B team at the company’s New Delhi office
 

The supplies will support a mix of utility-scale solar projects as well as institutional and commercial solar installations under government-backed programmes, including deployments aligned with the PM KUSUM scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with Rajasthan’s high solar potential and Jharkhand’s growing renewable footprint serving as key deployment support. The engagement will be limited to module sourcing and supply of ancillary products, ensuring technical compliance, logistics planning, and phased deliveries, in line with approved quality standards and project timelines.
 

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Sumit Kumar, Founder, Headsup B2B, said, “This 40+ MW mandate reflects our ability to manage large-scale, multi-location renewable supply programmes efficiently. By combining technology-led procurement with structured supply-chain coordination, we help EPCs and developers mitigate procurement risks while maintaining quality and delivery timelines. We are already in advanced discussions with leading execution partners for upcoming projects aggregating nearly 200 MW in the next financial year, which could help unlock an overall project value of approximately Rs. 400+ Crore across the ecosystem.”
 

Operating on an aggregator-led, asset-light model, Headsup B2B enables access to approved brands, competitive pricing, and structured procurement processes. Its renewable portfolio includes solar modules, inverters, structures, cables, energy storage solutions, and balance-of-system components, serving EPCs, infrastructure companies, and institutional buyers nationwide.
 

This milestone aligns with the company’s broader strategy to scale operations in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and clean-tech procurement, supporting India’s transition toward long-term energy security and sustainability.
 

About Headsup B2B
Headsup B2B is a technology-driven B2B marketplace offering integrated procurement solutions across renewable energy, metal solutions, building materials, electricals, industrial warehousing, road safety equipment, and sustainable infrastructure, focused on transparency, efficiency, and scalable execution.

Vikramshila, IIT Kharagpur West Bengal
IIT Kharagpur will host Kshitij 2026, its annual techno-management symposium, from 16 to 18 January 2026. One of India’s prominent student-led festivals focused on technology and innovation, the 2026 edition coincides with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of IIT Kharagpur, marking 75 years of the Institute’s contribution to education, research and national development.
 

Kshitij 2026
 

NPCI is serving as the Title Sponsor, with HCL Tech as the Co-Title Sponsor and Hero MotoCorp as the Associate Title Sponsor and for this edition, underscoring strong industry participation in the festival’s academic and outreach initiatives.
 

The Guest Lecture Series will feature speakers like Mr. K. N. Vyas, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and a former Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy; Mr. Ashok Lavasa, former Finance Secretary of India and former Chief Election Officer and former Vice President (South Asia), Asian Development Bank; and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the 51st Chief Justice of India.
 

Also participating are Mr. Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister for Railways, Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation; Mr. Rajat Sharma, Founder and Chairman of India TV; Mr. Rishi Kumar Shukla, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation; and Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India. The lecture series will address themes of governance, constitutional values, economic policy and institutional leadership.
 

The festival will include workshops, a Technology Summit, and a Business Conclave, focusing on industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Previous editions have seen participation from organizations such as Bajaj, Boeing, Cisco, and Genpact.

 

Kshitij 2026 will feature a wide range of competitive technical, analytical and innovation-driven events, drawing student participation from across the country and abroad. Core engineering competitions include Robowars, Drone Racing, Laws of Motion,Championship, Line Follower, Droid Blitz, and Sand Rover, testing skills in robotics, automation, aeromodelling and mechanical design. Mechatronics events focus on autonomous systems, control algorithms and real-time decision-making.
 

The festival will also host multiple hackathons and coding challenges, including Overnite, Source Code, On-Block Web3 Hackathon,Tech Triad Hackathon,Scam Bust Challenge,Lexicognition AI,Build with Gemini and the NLP Challenge, addressing problem statements in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity.
 

On the management and innovation front, events such as B-Plan, the Indian Case Challenge, Enigma (Biz-Tech Quiz),Anadigix and Kshitij Maths Olympiad provide platforms for entrepreneurship, strategic thinking and analytical excellence. Sustainability-focused initiatives like SolarVision and the WASH Innovation Challenge highlight real-world applications of technology for social impact.
 

Kshitij 2026 will host large-scale technology and robotics exhibitions, featuring quadruped robots, humanoid robots, autonomous service robots, AR/VR-integrated systems and LiDAR- based installations presented by the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoE- UPD), IIT Kharagpur. The exhibition zone will also feature a showcase of Ducati motorcycles and a professional stunt show by Hero MotoCorp.
 

The Megashows this year will be headlined by live performances of Raftaar and Last Minute India, reflecting the scale and outreach associated with the festival.
 

Further information is available at www.ktj.in, with accommodation details at www.ktj.in/Accommodation.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is ready to welcome the Year of the Horse with one of the world’s most vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations. On 17 February, the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade will transform the city into a glittering carnival of light, music, global cultures and festive spirit. Celebrate a Lunar New Year like no other, with colorful blossoms in Fairs, incense offerings for good luck in temples across Hong Kong, horse racing on Year of the Horse Raceday, and more.

A vibrant display of performers and floats brings Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year Night Parade alive

Start the First Day of the Year of the Horse with a Parade of Dazzling Floats and Enticing Performances from All Around the World.

Get ready for the first night of the Lunar New Year with a pre-parade street party, leading up to the dazzling procession of floats and performances. The Parade will start from Hong Kong Cultural Centre and travel through major roads in Tsim Sha Tsui – including Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road – beginning at 8 PM on 17 February. With the theme “BEST FORTUNE. WORLD PARTY,”, the festivities celebrate the energetic spirit of the horse, a symbol of strength, vitality, progress, and success in Chinese culture.

The 2026 Parade will be an authentic night-long celebration showcasing a spectacular line-up of themed floats sweeping in the best luck of the year. Some float sponsors will celebrate milestone anniversaries – with Cathay marking its 80th anniversary, Hong Kong Disneyland celebrating its 20th and McDonald’s Hong Kong debuting a float in honour of its 50th – adding extra excitement to the parade and doubling the surprises for all. The first-ever float from the Hong Kong Brand Toy Association will heat up the party by bringing beloved IP characters to the festivity. The Ocean Park Hong Kong will invite their adorable Panda Friends to spread new year blessings to families and friends, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club will spotlight the zodiac year with shimmering horse installations to bring prosperity to all. Multiple dazzling floats will be on display at Kai Tak Sports Park from 18 to 27 February, extending the Parade excitement to visitors throughout the festive season.

Beyond the floats, a dynamic line-up of performances from around the world during the Parade will reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a truly international festival city. Not only will France’s FierS à Cheval set the tone with illuminated horse tableaux that capture the spirit of the Year of the Horse, the exhilarating performances including the precision of the Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe from the Chinese Mainland, the comic acrobat duo Les Vitaminés from Canada, and the debut of Australia’s Manly Seabirds cheer performers will bring high-energy sparkle to the parade route. 

The Parade also embraces innovation while honouring tradition. Hong Kong’s East-Meets-West culture shines bright as the mesmerising Luminous Dragon Dance by Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association of Hong Kong, China, dances along the parade route with Italy’s Cromosauro, a large-scale dinosaur skeleton adorned with vibrant, colourful fabrics. 

Citywide Celebrations for best fortune in the Year of the Horse

There are many more Lunar New Year celebrations in addition to the Parade – the city pulses with festivities, giving visitors endless reasons to explore. 

For a week running up to the early hours of Lunar New Year’s Eve (11–17 February), visitors can dive into the festive spirit at Lunar New Year Fairs, commonly known as Chinese New Year flower markets, where parks and community hubs will burst with seasonal flowers, symbolic decorations and joyful atmosphere. Be sure to drop by some of the popular fairs for experiencing the vibrant ambience such as in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay or Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok. 

As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, visitors cannot miss at the much-loved Year of the Horse Raceday on the third day of Lunar New Year (19 February), where Sha Tin Racecourse will be filled with thrilling horse racing, entertainment, and festive excitement, promising your chance to boost the luck. 

Visitors can also take part in heartfelt blessings at the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen from 17 February to 3 March, where visitors can write their wishes on a piece of joss paper attached to an orange and toss it up to the tree. It is believed that wishes will come true if they successfully cling to the wishing tree. Those seeking spiritual connection can visit Hong Kong’s many historic temples – including Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple and Kwun Yum Temples – to pray for fortune, love, prosperity, and success in the Year of the Horse. 

With its captivating parade spectacles, luminous celebrations, and welcoming festive spirit, Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year promises joy at every moment. This Year of the Horse, travellers are invited to embrace the energy, happiness, and optimism that Hong Kong radiates at this special time of year. 

About Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked with marketing and promoting Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and enhancing visitors’ experience once they arrive. These include making recommendations to the Government and other relevant bodies on the range and quality of visitor facilities.

The HKTB’s missions are to maximise the social and economic contribution made by tourism to the community of Hong Kong and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a unique, world-class, and most desired destination.

Hong Kong

International travel, lifestyle, and accessories brand TUMI celebrates the Year of the Horse with its 2026 Lunar New Year Collection. In the lunar zodiac, the Horse symbolizes momentum and a drive to explore new horizons. TUMI’s limited-edition collection captures that feeling, honoring the strength, optimism, and spirited energy of the Horse.
 

Entering the Year of the Horse with momentum, strength, and purpose

Blending innovation with craftsmanship, the capsule reimagines iconic silhouettes from the Alpha Bravo, Voyageur, and Belden collections with equestrian-inspired details.

“The Horse represents movement, freedom, and an unwavering pursuit of what’s next — all qualities that deeply resonate with how we design at TUMI,” says Victor Sanz, TUMI’s Global Creative Director. “For this collection, we incorporated equestrian elements in a thoughtful way to create pieces that carry intention into the new year.”

Designed for lives in constant motion, Alpha Bravo styles channel the Horse’s dynamic spirit and confident energy. The Navigation Backpack, Search Backpack, Retreat Tote, Compass Flap Crossbody, and Platoon Sling are updated with embossed horse motifs, bridle-inspired trim, and contrast stitching. Whether used for day-to-day travel or longer itineraries, each style upholds the premium functionality that the Alpha Bravo collection is known for.

(Left to right: Alpha Bravo Navigation Backpack, Alpha Bravo Platoon Sling, Voyageur Q Tote, Voyageur Celina Backpack, Belden ID Card Lanyard)

Bestselling Voyageur silhouettes—including the Adela Crossbody, Celina Backpack, Halsey Backpack, and Pouch—return this season, joined by the relaunched Q Tote. Each is crafted from our signature lightweight, durable nylon and features bridle-inspired accents and equine details. Select styles include a collectable lucky horseshoe coin, while backpacks and totes also feature a horse-embossed card case.

The Year of the Horse capsule continues TUMI’s tradition of celebrating cultural moments through high-performance design. Perfect for gifting, the collection invites us to step into the new year with optimism and good fortune. The 2026 Lunar New Year Collection is available now at TUMI stores worldwide and online at TUMI.com.

About TUMI

Since 1975, TUMI has been creating world-class business, travel, and performance luxury essentials, designed to upgrade, uncomplicate and beautify all aspects of life on the move. Blending flawless functionality with a spirit of ingenuity, we’re committed to empowering journeys as a lifelong partner to movers and makers in pursuit of their passions.

For more about TUMI, visit TUMI.com and follow on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

TUMI and TUMI logo are registered trademarks of Tumi, Inc. © 2026 Tumi, Inc.

Anurag Sinha forays back on screen with the Netflix crime thriller Taskaree, based on customs and smuggling networks, directed by Neeraj Pandey and Raghav Jairath.

Anurag Sinha

Taskaree is Anurag Sinha’s first collaboration with Neeraj Pandey for a Netflix series. With a selective blend of varied genres ranging from crime thrillers, drama and dramedy, Anurag Sinha has yet again proved his ability to enthral audiences with his clinical yet highly compelling and bold performance. Set against the backdrop of smuggling and customs, Taskaree is an eclectic mix of a promising ensemble cast including Emraan Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Zoya Afroz, Nandish Singh Sandhu, Amruta Khanvilkar and Hemant Kher.

Debuted with Subhash Ghai’s Black & White and known for his stellar work in Nikhhil Advani’s Prisoners of War, Anurag Sinha was last seen in Shadow Assassins, a film based on true events of secret killings in Assam, 1991, for which he won the Best Actor award at NJIFF and ALTFF, Toronto.

With Taskaree, Anurag Sinha returns to the global platform, reaffirming his versatility in projects that combine strong narratives with compelling performances. The spotlight widens as he enters his next chapter. 

Taskaree | Released worldwide on 14 January 2026 on Netflix. 

Anurag Sinha
Taskaree
Netflix India

#AnuragSinha #Taskaree #NeerajPandey #Netflix 

In the final days of 2025, when many factories begin winding down and skeleton crews take over, the VinFast manufacturing complex in Hai Phong showed no signs of easing up. Robotic arms kept time with one another. Conveyors rolled steadily forward. Lights stayed on long after dark, as electric vehicles continued to come off the line at full pace. If this was a year ending, it did not feel like one slowing down.

VinFast rolled its 200,000th electric vehicle of 2025 out of the Hai Phong plant

That sense of continuity turned into a milestone on December 31, when VinFast rolled its 200,000th electric vehicle of 2025 out of the Hai Phong plant. The number capped a year in which the company had already spent more than twelve months as the best-selling car brand in Vietnam, steadily widening a gap between itself and long-established rivals.

The factory itself helps explain how that pace has been sustained. With more than 1,200 ABB robots and a production process nearing 90 percent automation, the Hai Phong plant runs with the discipline and rhythm of a mature global manufacturer. December alone saw nearly 26,000 vehicles completed. On its busiest day, the plant produced more than a thousand cars in 24 hours, a level of output that puts it firmly in gigafactory territory.

The identity of the 200,000th vehicle mattered as much as the number itself. It was the Limo Green, a fully electric seven-seat MPV that has become one of VinFast’s standout successes. In November 2025, the model posted monthly sales of 9,642 units, the highest single-month figure ever recorded by any car in Vietnam. The appeal is straightforward and deliberate: space, features, and practicality, wrapped into an electric MPV designed for families and fleet buyers alike. VinFast plans to bring the Limo Green to India and Indonesia next, markets where affordable electric people movers have big growth potential.

While celebrations were underway in Hai Phong, another piece of good news arrived from more than 5,000 kilometers away. On that same December 31st, India’s VAHAN data showed VinFast had recorded 321 new electric vehicle registrations for the month, overtaking both Hyundai and Kia. The result placed VinFast fourth in India’s EV market in December, a notable showing for a brand still learning its way around the country.

The ranking deserves attention. Although VinFast officially launched its brand in January 2025, sales only began in September, and with just two models, the VF 6 and VF 7, both assembled locally at its Tamil Nadu plant. Four months later, the company had already expanded to 35 showrooms nationwide.

“VinFast’s entry is raising the bar for design, features, and performance in the EV segment,” wrote one industry observer.

Taken together, these developments suggest a company stepping into 2026 with its footing secure. Beyond Hai Phong, VinFast brought three new factories online over the past year, in Ha Tinh in Vietnam, Tamil Nadu in India, and Subang in Indonesia. The footprint reflects a strategy built around local production, tighter supply chains, and a long view of global growth.

Looking ahead, change is coming, but the direction remains consistent. VinFast is continuing to build out its EV ecosystem, expanding dealerships and service centers while tackling charging access head-on. In December, its strategic charging partner V-Green signed agreements with HPCL to install EV chargers at fuel stations across India, addressing one of the most persistent concerns among Indian EV buyers.

In 2026, the company’s three core pillars will continue to bring tangible benefits to consumers. Vehicles are designed to meet high-quality standards. Pricing is structured to stay inclusive. Exceptional after-sales policies are meant to reduce uncertainty. Indian customers are offered warranties of up to ten years/200,000 km on vehicles and batteries, along with benefits such as three years of free maintenance, incentives that aim to make the transition to electric feel less like a leap of faith.

For a new brand, the strategy signals patience. VinFast is spending early to earn trust later, betting that consistency will matter more than quick wins. As one Indian auto industry analyst observed, the next phase will come down to execution. If manufacturing strength continues to show up in everyday ownership and charging access improves at the same pace, VinFast’s early momentum could carry well beyond 2026.

For customers already behind the wheel, the shift feels personal. “I didn’t buy it just because it looks good and new, though that helps,” said Rahul, a first-time EV owner in Pune. “I bought it because the VinFast team at the showroom made me feel supported, and because they’ve actually built a factory here. That tells me they’re serious about staying for the long term.”

New research conducted by World Animal Protection states that two thirds of captive elephants in Thailand’s tourism industry still live in poor conditions, despite some welfare improvements. Most elephants used in Thailand’s tourism industry continue to suffer in captivity, according to new World Animal Protection research.

Elephant in Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Bangkok in Thailand Photograph credit: Abhishek Shankhwar

Nearly two in three captive elephants are still living in poor conditions, despite some limited progress since the last assessment in 2019.

Elephants continue to endure short chaining, inadequate diets, dirty living conditions, lack of veterinary care and forced tourist interactions including riding, washing and shows.

The research, led by World Animal Protection elephant expert and wildlife veterinarian Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach, assessed 236 tourism venues housing 2,849 elephants across Thailand between February 2024 and January 2025. Encouragingly, observation-only elephant experiences with no direct human contact are increasing.

In 2024, 7.3% of captive elephants were kept at venues offering observation only experiences, compared with 4.6% in 2010.

The findings are published in Bred to Entertain – A new assessment capturing 15 years of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry, released on 12 January 2026. Link:

Using nine animal welfare criteria, the study found persistently low welfare standards across venues, with results almost identical to those recorded in 2019. World Animal Protection has long documented the severe physical and psychological harm caused by elephant rides and shows, driven by harsh training methods and restrictive living conditions that prevent elephants from expressing natural behaviours.

This study is of cardinal importance to the elephant riding situation in India given the status of riding elephants, especially the eighty elephants in Amer Fort in Jaipur in Rajasthan, the restarting of elephant rides in Corbett National Park (Tiger Reserve) and the tragic death of an elephant safari elephant named Swarnimoyee in Kaziranga on 11 December, 2025. The current situation is untenable and continuing research like the recent study in Thailand continue to show that captive elephants suffer in confined spaces and that the current tourism policy worldwide that somehow finds it acceptable that wild animals in captivity are entertainers needs to change.

In India, we are faced with massive issues of habitat loss and human animal conflict and the need of the hour is to address these in situ, rather than bring in more elephants into captivity and add to the wildlife trade and wildlife entertainment problem.

We understand that in a fast changing world, business models are adapting to new demands and tastes, and there is a very significant trend toward humane animal treatment that moves away from traditional practices of treating animals as commodities and commercial resources rather than sentient beings.

Regarding sentience, we are increasingly seeing very big strides in recognition of sentience in all animals, with debates becoming increasingly prevalent on whether all forms of animals, including invertebrates and forms of animals that have traditionally not been considered as being particularly sentient fit the sentience category and if sentience can extend to artificial intelligence in the advanced learning models that are now being developed. 2026 is being considered a cardinal year for discussions on the subject of sentience, with New Zealand making significant strides in this area. Sentience in animals like elephants and great apes now clearly show that their cognitive and behavioral abilities make them candidates for many rights that are accorded to humans.

World Animal Protection has been working on several levels to address the problem of sentient animals like elephants being mistreated: by lobbying and advocating for policy changes with the government, by convincing corporates to come out of offering cruel elephant rides and by engaging people to pledge not to take elephant rides anywhere, in any venue.

It is hoped that with emerging consciousness on the nature of animal sentience and emerging research that shows that breeding and maintaining elephants in captivity represent unscientific and immoral attitudes to our relationship with other life forms, wildlife tourism practices will change. In this regard, World Animal Protection is pleased to welcome Wildpaw Adventures and North East Travels under the wildlife friendly tourism initiative with the hope that other travel companies will follow their suit to move to more responsible travel practices.

“We hope the Thailand report research will encourage outbound Indian tourists to avoid low welfare venues abroad and exercise responsible travel choices in India to respect sentient animals like elephants. With India assuming the Presidency of BRICS in 2026, it is important for governments to recognize the role of sentience in framing policies toward tourism involving animals, wildlife trade and treatment of farm animals with regard to health and zoonoses as well,” says Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection in India.