HAIKOU, China, May 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily:
Delegates from Hainan province and Hong Kong pledged deeper collaboration in finance, technology, data flows and tourism during a conference in Haikou on Thursday, with officials positioning the southern island province as a gateway for international companies entering the Chinese mainland market.
Hainan Party Secretary Feng Fei called on Hong Kong entrepreneurs to expand investment in the Hainan Free Trade Port, which offers zero-tariff policies, low tax rates and a simplified tax system. He promised "maximum sincerity, optimal services and the best environment" for businesses setting up operations in Hainan.
"Hong Kong and Hainan have walked forward hand-in-hand, and the road to cooperation has grown wider," Feng said.
Jonathan Choi Koonshum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group, highlighted policy synergies between Hainan's zero-tariff policies and Hong Kong's free-port framework.
He recommended that Hong Kong companies, particularly in electronics and pharmaceuticals, establish factories in Hainan to benefit from tariff exemptions on value-added processed goods, helping build cross-border supply chains for the Asia-Pacific market.
Choi also proposed a cross-border "bonded computing power zone" in Hainan, allowing Hong Kong researchers to access lower-cost computing resources on the mainland through a whitelist management system.
"Hainan has unique policy advantages in cross-border data flows and power costs," he said.
Xing Dandan, CEO of Hainan Modern Technology Group, called for a "front store, back factory" model to deepen Hainan-Hong Kong ties. She identified four priority areas: international computing power trading, space data exports, AI-driven remote sensing services, and leveraging Hong Kong's capital markets to support AI development.
"This month we completed the country's first approved space data export order, reflecting the free trade port's policy advantages," Xing said.
Connie Leung, vice-chairwoman of the culture committee of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, said Hainan's production and processing capabilities could complement Hong Kong's financial and professional services.
Hong Kong has long been Hainan's largest source of external investment. In 2025, Hong Kong companies established 793 new ventures in Hainan, while trade between the two sides reached 9.35 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), more than triple the 2020 level.
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Hainan and Hong Kong explore greater economic cooperation
The region's most authoritative marketer-judged awards programme returns, recognizing outstanding agency, brand, and leadership excellence across Asia Pacific
HONG KONG, May 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Campaign Asia-Pacific, Haymarket Media Asia's industry-leading marcomms title, today announced that nominations for the 2026 Campaign Asia Agency of the Year Awards will open on Tuesday, 9 June 2026.
Recognised as the most prestigious and trusted benchmark for marketing communications excellence in Asia-Pacific, the Awards celebrate outstanding work across agencies, brands, and leaders who have delivered measurable impact, innovation, and growth in an increasingly competitive and evolving industry.
The industry benchmark for credibility and trust
Since its inception in the early 1990s, Campaign's Agency of the Year Awards has remained the region's definitive standard for recognising agency excellence. It is widely regarded by both client marketers and agencies as the most credible validation of performance and impact in the industry.
What sets the programme apart is its fully marketer-led judging process. Senior client-side marketers from across Asia-Pacific are appointed to evaluate entries based on strategic effectiveness, creativity, and business results - ensuring a rigorous, impartial, and commercially grounded assessment.
Further strengthening governance and transparency is the appointment of SCS-Invictus Group as Process Integrity Partner for the 2026 Awards to independently verify all results.
Recognising excellence across a changing industry
Agency of the Year celebrates excellence across both network and independent agencies, recognising outstanding work in local markets while also highlighting regional achievement.
Spanning six sub-regions across Asia-Pacific: Australia/New Zealand, Greater China, Japan/Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and APAC, the programme covers 22 local markets. Entries are open across three core pillars: Agency, People, and Brand.
APAC categories recognise leaders and teams operating across multiple markets, highlighting excellence in cross-border strategy, leadership, and regional business impact.
Campaign's Agency of the Year initiative provides winning agencies with the opportunity to gain recognition beyond their home markets, strengthening both regional visibility and local credibility. The beauty of the programme is that it gives agencies the opportunity to compete within their local market, with the chance to be recognised on the regional (and global) stage.
All Agency, People, and Brand categories are open to both network and independent agencies, recognising excellence across the full breadth of the industry.
The Independent Agency category is the only dedicated stream exclusively for independent agencies, providing a platform to showcase market-level excellence while contributing towards broader regional recognition.
New categories reflecting the industry's digital and AI transformation
The 2026 edition introduces new categories that reflect the increasing impact of AI, marketing technology, and innovation in shaping the future of the marketing and communications industry across Asia-Pacific.
Developed following consultation with the industry, these new categories spotlight organisations and teams that are pushing boundaries in AI adoption, marketing technology, and innovation excellence.
New Agency Categories
- Agency AI Excellence of the Year
- MarTech Agency of the Year
New People Category
- Most Innovative MarTech Team of the Year
"At a time when the industry is being reshaped by change at every level, Campaign's Agency of the Year Awards continue to represent the most trusted measure of success," says says Atifa Silk, managing director of Haymarket Media Asia. "This is not an award decided by peers within the same competitive set; it is judged by senior marketers who understand what effectiveness truly means for business outcomes,"
"That independence is what makes it the benchmark for the industry," she adds. "We encourage agencies, brands, and leaders across Asia-Pacific to put forward their best work, teams and people to be recognised for the impact they have made in a year defined by both challenge and opportunity."
Key Dates for 2026
| Milestone | Date |
| Nomination Open | Tuesday, 9 June |
| Early Bird Entry Deadline | Tuesday, 30 June |
| Standard Entry Deadline | Thursday, 30 July |
| Final Entry Deadline | Friday, 4 September |
| Judging Period | 17 September – 26 October |
| Shortlist Announcement | Wednesday, 28 October |
Milestone
Date
Nomination Open
Tuesday, 9 June
Early Bird Entry Deadline
Tuesday, 30 June
Standard Entry Deadline
Thursday, 30 July
Final Entry Deadline
Friday, 4 September
Judging Period
17 September – 26 October
Shortlist Announcement
Wednesday, 28 October
Awards Ceremonies
| Location | Date |
| Tokyo, Japan | Wednesday, 25 November |
| Mumbai, India | Thursday, 26 November |
| Shanghai, China | Tuesday, 1 December |
| Singapore | Tuesday, 8 December |
Location
Date
Tokyo, Japan
Wednesday, 25 November
Mumbai, India
Thursday, 26 November
Shanghai, China
Tuesday, 1 December
Singapore
Tuesday, 8 December
Register your interest: https://bit.ly/AOY2026-register
For more information, visit: aoyawards.com
Past winners: aoyawards.com/winners
Enquiries: aoy@haymarket.asia
Campaign Asia-Pacific is pleased to announce PR Newswire as the official media partner for the 2026 Agency of the Year Awards.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Danika Wong
danika.wong@haymarket.asia
Senior Marketing Manager
Haymarket Media Limited
Agency of the Year Awards
Since the 1990s, Campaign Asia's Agency of the Year Awards has been Asia-Pacific's most trusted benchmark for marketing excellence. The Awards are judged exclusively by senior client-side marketers, independently verified by SCS-Invictus Group, and recognize outstanding achievements across agencies, people, and brands across five regional markets.
www.aoyawards.com
SCS-Invictus Group
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Singapore, SCS-Invictus Group is a global professional services firm with offices in over 20 locations worldwide. Specialising in accounting, tax, advisory, and assurance services, the group brings together more than 500 professionals across APAC, EMEA, and North America.
With strong local market presence and cross-border expertise, SCS-Invictus Group supports clients in navigating financial, tax, and regulatory complexities through practical, commercially focused solutions aligned to their strategic and operational needs. Its professionals bring extensive industry experience, including backgrounds from the Big Four, global consultancies, and leading financial institutions, enabling a strong understanding of clients' organisations, operating models, and market environments.
www.scsinvictus.com
Campaign Asia-Pacific
Campaign Asia-Pacific delivers unparalleled insights into the ideas, work, and people shaping the marketing communications industry. By fostering open, honest dialogue and showcasing game-changing innovation, the platform has become an indispensable resource for marketing professionals across the region and beyond.
www.campaignasia.com
Haymarket Media Group
Haymarket Media Group is a global media, information, and technology company with more than 70 market-leading brands and operations across key markets including the UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India. As the parent company of Campaign Asia-Pacific, Haymarket is dedicated to delivering specialist content, insights, and experiences that connect professional communities worldwide.
www.haymarket.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Campaign Asia Agency of the Year Awards 2026 Open for Nominations on 9 June
