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BEIJING, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) successfully completes its May edition of the Asia Start Program. The May cohort brought together a diverse group of 25 senior executives from 19 countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas, representing industries ranging from technology and healthcare to consumer goods.
With a focus on AI and digital transformation, the program combines practical visits to companies like Tencent, BYD and Unitree, with insights from faculty doing cutting-edge research on the ground in China. Participants gained a unique access to the real tech-driven business world of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen dominated by emerging and mature tech-minded companies.
This approach enables participants to learn about China's AI strategies up close and get inspired to refine their own business models and growth strategies that translate into results for their own markets.
"The May cohort exceeded our expectations," said Bo Ji, Program Director of Asia Start. "The energy, creativity, and determination these leaders brought to the program is truly inspiring. We are proud to equip them with the tools and confidence to scale their ventures and make a meaningful impact in their communities."
Participants highlighted the program's blend of academic rigor and practical application. "I think it was an excellent program to really see the inside workings and the mindset of these companies," shared Andrea Napolitano, program participant from Brazil and Board Member and Founder of BP- Hospital and Beneficência Portuguesa.
Some participants expressed how the program helped them think differently about AI. "The lectures were pivotal in changing my stereotypical view of how China is thinking about AI and help us reframe with an inside-out perspective from the lecturers," noted Katja Forbes, program participant from Australia and Founder of CX Evolutionist.
As part of CKGSB's ongoing commitment to fostering future-ready leadership, the Asia Start program continues to serve as a dynamic platform for a first-hand look at the AI revolution and digital transformation coming from China.
Applications for the next cohort of the Asia Start program are now open. Join this exclusive journey for the latest AI trends in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou this November 2-5, with an optional extended trip to Shenzhen on November 6-7. To learn more, visit Asia Start's page today.
BEIJING, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) successfully completes its May edition of the Asia Start Program. The May cohort brought together a diverse group of 25 senior executives from 19 countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas, representing industries ranging from technology and healthcare to consumer goods.
With a focus on AI and digital transformation, the program combines practical visits to companies like Tencent, BYD and Unitree, with insights from faculty doing cutting-edge research on the ground in China. Participants gained a unique access to the real tech-driven business world of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen dominated by emerging and mature tech-minded companies.
This approach enables participants to learn about China's AI strategies up close and get inspired to refine their own business models and growth strategies that translate into results for their own markets.
"The May cohort exceeded our expectations," said Bo Ji, Program Director of Asia Start. "The energy, creativity, and determination these leaders brought to the program is truly inspiring. We are proud to equip them with the tools and confidence to scale their ventures and make a meaningful impact in their communities."
Participants highlighted the program's blend of academic rigor and practical application. "I think it was an excellent program to really see the inside workings and the mindset of these companies," shared Andrea Napolitano, program participant from Brazil and Board Member and Founder of BP- Hospital and Beneficência Portuguesa.
Some participants expressed how the program helped them think differently about AI. "The lectures were pivotal in changing my stereotypical view of how China is thinking about AI and help us reframe with an inside-out perspective from the lecturers," noted Katja Forbes, program participant from Australia and Founder of CX Evolutionist.
As part of CKGSB's ongoing commitment to fostering future-ready leadership, the Asia Start program continues to serve as a dynamic platform for a first-hand look at the AI revolution and digital transformation coming from China.
Applications for the next cohort of the Asia Start program are now open. Join this exclusive journey for the latest AI trends in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou this November 2-5, with an optional extended trip to Shenzhen on November 6-7. To learn more, visit Asia Start's page today.
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CKGSB Opens Applications for Asia Start Program in November 2026 after a Successful May Edition
JAMBI, Indonesia, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark achievement, a total of 2,266 independent smallholders from three farmer groups in Jambi Province have officially received Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, covering a total land area of 4,171.62 hectares. This dual certification is the first of its kind at this scale and represents a multi-stakeholder effort, successfully tackling long-standing challenges, including land legality, institutional capacity, and access to global sustainability standards.
In November 2022, RSPO together with the Jambi Provincial Government, Yayasan Setara Jambi, and Tebo Regency, Sarolangun Regency, and Tanjung Jabung Barat, established this multi-stakeholder sustainable palm oil certification acceleration programme to unlock global sustainable palm oil markets for smallholders. Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Head of Smallholder RSPO, says "This achievement is not merely a handover of certificates, it demonstrates that Indonesian independent smallholders have the capacity and commitment to meet the highest sustainability standards. When government systems, farmer organisations, legal processes, and market actors collaborate, smallholder inclusion and certification can be achieved. RSPO is proud to be part of this journey and remains committed to expanding its positive impact to more independent smallholders across Indonesia".
Adopting a dual pathway approach where ISPO is the foundation for national sustainability and RSPO is the international sustainability standard, the synergy between the two standards has enabled independent smallholders to meet domestic market requirements while simultaneously opening access to global export markets that are subject to increasingly stringent regulations. Sulistio from Koperasi Konsumen Agro Tani Lestari (KKATL), Sarolangun, reflects that "After receiving training and improving the way we manage our farms, we started to see improvements in our production. More importantly, for more than a year now we have been selling our fresh fruit bunches directly to PT. Inti Guna Nabati through our partnership arrangement. The prices we receive are higher compared to farmers who are not part of such partnerships.
The dual certification model has proven to be more affordable for farmer groups, while helping to overcome the administrative challenges that often serve as an initial barrier to certification. Dr. Iim Mucharam, S.P., M.P., Director of Oil Palm Crops, Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia stated "One important lesson from Jambi is that smallholders do not view sustainability standards as competing systems. Smallholders are seeking practical solutions that improve legal compliance, strengthen their organisations, provide market access, and improve livelihoods. Moving forward, we believe there is value in exploring how different sustainability frameworks can become more complementary and mutually reinforcing. If a farmer has already demonstrated compliance with sustainability requirements, then our collective challenge is how to make that achievement more efficient, more accessible, and more rewarding for the farmer."
The future of sustainable palm oil should not be about creating additional burdens for smallholders, but rather about building pathways that reward those who have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices. Through close collaboration between central and regional governments, civil society organisations, Setara Jambi as the implementing partner, and the full support of RSPO and ISPO, this multi-stakeholder partnership model is expected to serve as a reference for other regions across Indonesia in expanding independent smallholders' access to certification and sustainable palm oil markets.
About RSPO:
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.
As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.
The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.
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Over 2200 Jambi Independent Oil Palm Smallholders Achieve Historic Dual RSPO and ISPO Certification, Unlocking Global Sustainable Palm Oil Markets
