KUCHING, Malaysia, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Malaysia has been selected to host the Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA) Regional Symposium 2026, co-organised by the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) Malaysia and CIFA Hong Kong, with Kuching making history as the first city in the country to host the event.
Kuching's selection reflects Sarawak's growing recognition as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo, where events are intentionally designed to drive long-term progress beyond economic returns.
The symposium will take place from 18 to 20 November 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, welcoming over 500 delegates from across the Asia Pacific. It comes at a critical time, as rising anxiety, loneliness, and digital dependency among young people place increasing pressure on families and widen gaps in understanding between generations.
Held under the theme "Building Bridges: Mental Health and Resilience Across Generations in the AI Era", the symposium will focus on children, teens, and parents, with a strong emphasis on how families can build resilience in a rapidly evolving digital world.
The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 aims to move the conversation beyond awareness towards action, including developing accessible mental health resources such as affordable services, community-based support, financial assistance mechanisms, insurance coverage, and workplace protections.
Speakers will explore how resilience is developed through early life experiences and parental influence, as well as the impact of social media on self-perception, emotional well-being, and intergenerational communication. Discussions will also examine how different generations experience mental health in a digital era, highlighting both the risks and opportunities of technology, and the need to bridge gaps in understanding between parents and children.
In today's symposium soft launch, Dato Wee Hong Seng, Mayor of Kuching South, emphasised Kuching South City Council's commitment to advancing community wellbeing:
"For Sarawak to be selected as the host location for Malaysia's first CIFA Regional Symposium reflects the growing recognition of Kuching as a city that values inclusive development, social wellbeing, and people-centred progress. Kuching South City Council recognises that wellbeing is a key part of urban governance, and we must continue to address mental health stigma and strengthen suicide prevention through education, open dialogue, and compassionate community responses."
Siti Subaidah Mustaffa, Co-Chair of the CIFA Regional Symposium 2026, calls for society to work together to build sustainable mental health support for all – young and old alike.
"Policymakers, researchers, corporate partners, and communities cannot remain observers, but must come together as partners to shape policies, invest in mental health, and create environments where families are supported to build resilience from the ground up. Our intention is not just to host a symposium, but to drive meaningful, measurable impact through regional and multi-stakeholder collaboration."
Jason Tan Chin Foo, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), highlights the role of business events in turning mental health dialogues into coordinated action.
"Bringing the CIFA Regional Symposium to Malaysia for the first time reflects the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing family and mental health challenges. Sarawak offers a meaningful space where these conversations are closely tied to real community needs and lived experiences, aligned with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, where social wellbeing and human capital development are key priorities."
Today's soft launch also offered a preview of the programme:
Prof. Dato' Dr Andrew Mohanraj, in his session "Resilience is Learned, Not Downloaded: Strengthening Mental Wellbeing Across Generations", emphasised that resilience is developed through childhood experiences, particularly by observing how parents and caregivers manage stress.
Dr Janet Ann Fernandez, in her session "From Kampung to Cloud: How Different Generations Experience Mental Health in a Digital World", noted that the digital world should not be viewed as essentially harmful, but understood as both a challenge and a tool for wellbeing, emphasising the need to bridge generational differences in communication and coping.
The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 is part of a series of regional engagements and biennial Asian Family Summits organised by CIFA. The 2026 edition in Kuching will also include a series of pre-event engagements leading up to the symposium.
The symposium is jointly organised by the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) and CIFA Hong Kong.
The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 is supported by:
- Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak
- Kuching South City Council
- Ministry of Health Malaysia
- National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health
- BESarawak
- World Federation of Mental Health
- Rotary International
- Rotary Action Group District 3300 Chapter
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Kuching to Host Malaysia's First CIFA Regional Symposium
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One global brand. 38 owned legal entities. Coverage in 180+ countries, serving companies and professionals wherever work happens.
LONDON and DUBAI, UAE, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hightekers, Eos Global Expansion, Serviap Global, and Rivermate today announced the unification of their Employer of Record (EOR) services under a single global brand: Rivermate.
The combined entity brings together over 15 years of operational experience — anchored by Eos Global Expansion's and Serviap Global's founding in 2010 — across Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Rivermate now delivers EOR services through 38 wholly owned legal entities worldwide, supported by in-country teams and an extensive network of trusted local partners, enabling coverage across 180+ countries and supporting over 3,500 workers globally.
Through this operational and brand consolidation, the four entities now operate as one global company under the Rivermate name — delivering a more consistent, controlled, and locally grounded approach to international hiring, EOR, Contractor of Record (COR), and payroll.
Existing client contracts and service delivery are unaffected. Clients will continue working with their existing contacts, with the added benefit of expanded global capabilities across the unified platform.
Commenting on the news, Roger Oudiz, Chairman of the Group, said:
"We are not just renaming companies. We are building a global infrastructure for the future of work. Bringing Eos, Serviap, and our Hightekers EOR operations under the Rivermate brand is the right move at the right time — it gives our clients a single, trusted partner wherever they hire, and gives our teams the platform they deserve to compete globally. The regional expertise that made each of these businesses great is not going anywhere. It is now part of something bigger."
One company, two brands
This consolidation is part of a broader group strategy to build the world's most comprehensive global work intermediary: a platform that serves both companies navigating international expansion and professionals seeking to work on their own terms — across Employer of Record, Contractor of Record, global payroll, and freelancer management. It establishes a two-brand structure, with each brand serving a distinct market and mission.
Rivermate becomes the group's single global brand for Employer of Record (EOR), Contractor of Record (COR), and Contractor Payment solutions. The Serviap and Eos brands will be retired, with their operations, teams, and client relationships continuing within Rivermate.
Hightekers will continue to operate as a distinct brand, serving independent professionals globally through a premium freelancer management solution. With an established market presence and a loyal customer base, Hightekers retains its own identity, teams, and commercial focus.
About Rivermate
Rivermate is a global Employer of Record (EOR) provider that enables companies to hire, manage, and pay employees internationally — combining owned infrastructure with local expertise and dedicated human support. Built on 15 years of experience across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Rivermate operates through 38 wholly owned entities and a network of 150+ trusted partners, covering 180+ countries and supporting 3,500+ workers worldwide.
Website: https://rivermate.com/
Media contact: press@rivermate.com
One global brand. 38 owned legal entities. Coverage in 180+ countries, serving companies and professionals wherever work happens.
LONDON and DUBAI, UAE, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hightekers, Eos Global Expansion, Serviap Global, and Rivermate today announced the unification of their Employer of Record (EOR) services under a single global brand: Rivermate.
The combined entity brings together over 15 years of operational experience — anchored by Eos Global Expansion's and Serviap Global's founding in 2010 — across Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Rivermate now delivers EOR services through 38 wholly owned legal entities worldwide, supported by in-country teams and an extensive network of trusted local partners, enabling coverage across 180+ countries and supporting over 3,500 workers globally.
Through this operational and brand consolidation, the four entities now operate as one global company under the Rivermate name — delivering a more consistent, controlled, and locally grounded approach to international hiring, EOR, Contractor of Record (COR), and payroll.
Existing client contracts and service delivery are unaffected. Clients will continue working with their existing contacts, with the added benefit of expanded global capabilities across the unified platform.
Commenting on the news, Roger Oudiz, Chairman of the Group, said:
"We are not just renaming companies. We are building a global infrastructure for the future of work. Bringing Eos, Serviap, and our Hightekers EOR operations under the Rivermate brand is the right move at the right time — it gives our clients a single, trusted partner wherever they hire, and gives our teams the platform they deserve to compete globally. The regional expertise that made each of these businesses great is not going anywhere. It is now part of something bigger."
One company, two brands
This consolidation is part of a broader group strategy to build the world's most comprehensive global work intermediary: a platform that serves both companies navigating international expansion and professionals seeking to work on their own terms — across Employer of Record, Contractor of Record, global payroll, and freelancer management. It establishes a two-brand structure, with each brand serving a distinct market and mission.
Rivermate becomes the group's single global brand for Employer of Record (EOR), Contractor of Record (COR), and Contractor Payment solutions. The Serviap and Eos brands will be retired, with their operations, teams, and client relationships continuing within Rivermate.
Hightekers will continue to operate as a distinct brand, serving independent professionals globally through a premium freelancer management solution. With an established market presence and a loyal customer base, Hightekers retains its own identity, teams, and commercial focus.
About Rivermate
Rivermate is a global Employer of Record (EOR) provider that enables companies to hire, manage, and pay employees internationally — combining owned infrastructure with local expertise and dedicated human support. Built on 15 years of experience across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Rivermate operates through 38 wholly owned entities and a network of 150+ trusted partners, covering 180+ countries and supporting 3,500+ workers worldwide.
Website: https://rivermate.com/
Media contact: press@rivermate.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Rivermate Launches as a Unified Global Employer of Record Platform, Bringing Together Eos Global Expansion, Serviap Global, and Hightekers' EOR Operations
