MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HungryPanda, the leading Asian food delivery platform, celebrated International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day with a series of appreciation activities across Australia and its global markets, recognising the thousands of delivery riders who connect local restaurants with customers and communities every day.
To mark the occasion, HungryPanda partnered with restaurants and beverage brands across participating cities to offer riders complimentary meals, bubble tea, vouchers and giveaways, giving riders an opportunity to take a break, connect with others and enjoy some of the food and drinks they deliver every day.
"Delivery riders play an essential role in the HungryPanda community and in the everyday experience of our customers and restaurant partners," said Kitty Lu, Global Director of Brand and Public Relations at HungryPanda.
"International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day is an opportunity to say thank you and recognise the commitment and energy riders bring every day. Behind every delivery is a person supporting local restaurants and helping customers access the food they love."
Lu added: "Riders are often the final connection between a local restaurant and a customer discovering a new cuisine or reconnecting with a familiar taste from home. In that sense, they also help connect businesses, cultures and communities."
In Melbourne, HungryPanda hosted its major rider appreciation event outside Zhu Guang Yu Hot Pot, one of the CBD's newest dining destinations. The restaurant prepared 100 specialty drinks and snacks for local delivery riders throughout the day.
"Riders are an important part of the restaurant ecosystem. They help us reach customers beyond our restaurant and bring our food to people across the city," said Lavender Xiao, Group Spokesperson for Zhu Guang Yu Hot Pot.
"We see them coming through our doors every day, in all kinds of weather and during our busiest periods. We were very happy to have the opportunity to turn things around for a day and serve them instead."
The initiative formed part of a wider global celebration across HungryPanda's international operations, with rider appreciation activities and giveaways also taking place in markets including the United Kingdom, United States and Japan.
HungryPanda's rider community represents people from a wide range of cultural, professional and personal backgrounds. For many, delivery work offers flexibility alongside study, family commitments, other employment or personal pursuits, while also helping restaurants extend their reach to customers across their cities.
"Technology has transformed the way people access food and the way restaurants reach their customers, but at the heart of that ecosystem are still people," said Kelu Liu, Founder and CEO of HungryPanda.
"Every order brings together a restaurant, a rider and a customer. As HungryPanda continues to grow globally, we want to create value not only through convenience, but through stronger connections between people, businesses and communities. International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day is an opportunity for us to recognise and thank our riders for the contribution they make every day."
International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day forms part of HungryPanda's ongoing commitment to strengthening its rider, restaurant and customer communities across its global markets.
About HungryPanda
HungryPanda is a leading Asian food delivery platform connecting customers with authentic Asian cuisine, restaurants, groceries and other services in communities around the world. Through its network of restaurant partners and delivery riders, HungryPanda makes it easier for customers to discover and enjoy the flavors they love. For more information visit www.hungrypanda.co.
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HungryPanda Celebrates Delivery Riders on International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day with Free Meals, Bubble Tea and Giveaways
Health Ministry Seeks Affordable Malaysian Healthcare for Bangladeshi Patients
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A delegation from Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), led by H.E. Mohd Shuhada Othman, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh, met with H.E. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, Honourable Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, at his office to further advance healthcare cooperation between Malaysia and Bangladesh.
The engagement forms part of MHTC's Working Visit and Engagement in Bangladesh from 17 to 20 August 2026 and builds on the momentum generated by the official visit of the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to Malaysia on 22 June 2026. During the visit, the Leaders of both countries expressed optimism about expanding bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector, particularly in conjunction with Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT2026).
The meeting provided an opportunity to explore avenues for closer collaboration in healthcare and medical tourism, while further strengthening the longstanding and friendly relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh. This commitment is underpinned by growing demand. Healthcare travel revenue from Bangladeshi healthcare travellers to Malaysia rose from RM2.2 million in Q1 2025 to RM2.7 million in Q1 2026, representing a 22.7 per cent increase and highlighting the growing potential of Bangladesh as an important market for Malaysian healthcare.
"Malaysia and Bangladesh have built more than five decades of partnership, and in June our leaders agreed to extend that partnership into healthcare. Our responsibility now is to translate that commitment into practical cooperation, not only in healthcare travel, but in the exchange of skills, standards and knowledge that strengthens both our systems," said Dato' Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of MHTC.
The Honourable Minister emphasised the importance of making Malaysian healthcare more accessible and affordable to the wider population in Bangladesh, including through competitive pricing and, where possible, special packages. He also stressed the importance of establishing clear and effective communication channels between patients and hospitals to ensure a smooth healthcare journey. Malaysia's combination of medical excellence, accessibility, and a Muslim-friendly environment, supported by high safety standards, specialised healthcare services, and Malaysian hospitality, provides a strong foundation for meeting these needs. Malaysia's established healthcare ecosystem, regulated under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, together with its patient-centred approach, further provides patients and their families with confidence throughout their healthcare journey.
Representing Irving Aviation, MHTC's local partner in Bangladesh, HBM Lutfur Rahman highlighted the benefits that Malaysian healthcare can offer Bangladeshi patients, including access to experienced specialists and established medical institutions, as well as Malaysia's Muslim-friendly environment, halal food, and renowned hospitality.
Under MYMT2026, themed "Healing Meets Hospitality", MHTC will continue to expand its engagement in Bangladesh through potential healthcare awareness and educational programmes, participation by Malaysian healthcare institutions in relevant initiatives, specialist consultation and second-opinion programmes, and further government-to-government and institutional engagements. MHTC will continue working with Bangladeshi health authorities, healthcare institutions and professionals throughout MYMT2026 to establish durable, mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen healthcare cooperation between Malaysia and Bangladesh.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Siti Hamidah Mohd Najib
Senior Executive, PR and Media
Communications
+603 8776 6168
hamidah.m@mhtc.org.my
Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi
Head, Communications
+603 8776 6168
shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
Abid Rahman Rafsan
+8801762001467
Irving Aviation Ltd.
About Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the "Malaysia Healthcare" brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia's healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 91 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation's first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia's world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry's significant contribution to the national economy.
MHTC's website: https://www.malaysiahealthcare.org.
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MALAYSIA AND BANGLADESH TRANSLATE LEADERS' COMMITMENT INTO HEALTHCARE COOPERATION
