Astana, Kazakhstan, Jun 2, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - A business delegation led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), began its visit to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on 1 June. During the visit, a total of 43 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and announcements were signed, covering areas including trade and commerce, investment, financial services, technology, aviation, and green finance. These agreements further strengthened trade, economic and industrial cooperation among Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and Kazakhstan, fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique role as the country’s two-way services platform and supporting enterprises in tapping opportunities in Central Asia.The delegation will conclude its Kazakhstan visit tomorrow and depart for Uzbekistan to further explore business and trade cooperation among Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.To promote business collaboration, the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC jointly hosted a business luncheon today, attracting more than 300 business leaders and senior officials.John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said at the luncheon: “Kazakhstan has, for centuries, connected Eastern and Western civilisations, serving as a bridge of commerce, culture and innovative ideas. That legacy continues today. From the port of Khorgos to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazakhstan is now a business and logistics hub linking China, our country, and Europe. Rich in oil and mineral resources, and rapidly developing and diversifying, Kazakhstan is a regional economic powerhouse. Hong Kong, a pivotal player in the Belt and Road Initiative, looks forward to working with Kazakhstan in creating mutual opportunities.”Prof Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for 53% of the region’s GDP in 2025. Under its Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, the country is actively promoting economic diversification, with the goal of becoming one of the world’s top 30 most developed economies by 2050, demonstrating strong growth potential. This visit has enhanced local enterprises’ understanding of Hong Kong’s advantages as a superconnector and super value-adder. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe substantial cooperation opportunities will emerge across various sectors, including logistics infrastructure, green finance, digital economy, agricultural upgrading and food processing. The model of Mainland enterprises going global with Hong Kong while leveraging the HKTDC platform will create new opportunities for collaboration with Central Asia.”Following previous visits to Qatar and Kuwait last year, this delegation once again brings together the strengths of Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises. The delegation comprises 70 business leaders from Hong Kong and enterprise representatives from 17 provinces and municipalities across the Chinese Mainland, covering a wide spectrum of sectors, including financial and professional services, logistics and transportation, innovation and technology, trade, green industries, energy and mining, biopharmaceuticals, the automotive industry as well as the media. For the first time, representatives from journalism associations, including The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong News Executives’ Association, have joined the delegation, in line with the Policy Address’s initiative to enable local media to develop their overseas network and tell the Hong Kong story.During their stay in Kazakhstan, the delegation met with senior representatives from government bodies, chambers of commerce and major corporations, including the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan ‘Atameken’, ‘Baiterek’ National Investment Holding, Halyk Bank and Samruk-Kazyna. They exchanged views on strengthening bilateral trade ties and industrial collaboration and explored opportunities to leverage Hong Kong as a platform for broader regional cooperation.The delegation also visited Astana Hub and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) to gain insights into the latest developments in innovation and technology as well as financial services in Kazakhstan.According to available data, Kazakhstan’s GDP is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2026, reaching approximately US$360.5 billion, to maintain its position as the largest economy in Central Asia and among the world’s top 50 economies. Uzbekistan’s GDP is forecast to grow by 6.5% in 2026, reaching approximately US$181.5 billion, with its GDP in US dollar terms having doubled between 2017 and 2025. Overall, the IMF forecasts GDP growth for Central Asia and the Caucasus at 6.2% in 2025 and 4.8% in 2026, higher than the global average of 3.1%. During its Kazakhstan visit, the delegation facilitated 43 MoUs and announcements, including:1.Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"2.Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)3.Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Satbayev University4.Airport Authority and Almaty International Airport5.Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"6.Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce and Commex HK Link Digital Trading Company Limited and Eurasian Trading System Export” International Commodity Exchange (ETSE)7.Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce and JINGSH CONSULTING LLP8.Chinese Manufacturers Association and National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"9.Cyberport and Astana Hub10.Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in Kazakhstan11.Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited and Astana International Exchange (AIX)12.Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)13.Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks and Astana Hub14.Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Ltd. and Astana Hub15.The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken"16.Law Society of Hong Kong and National Bar Association of Kazakhstan17.BOCHK and Bank of China Kazakhstan and Baiterek18.BOCHK and Bank of China Kazakhstan and Samruk Kazyna19.Bosera International Asset Management Limited and JSC "Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan"20.Cathay Pacific and Almaty International Airport and Almaty City Government (Tourism Development)21.China International Capital Corporation Limited and Freedom Holdings22.China International Capital Corporation Limited and Samruk Kazyna23.China International Capital Corporation Limited and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)24.China International Capital Corporation Limited and Air Astana25.Deloitte and Universal Energy Co., Ltd.26.Ewpartners Investment Management Limited and Dasco Capital Ltd.27.Ewpartners Investment Management Limited and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)28.Goldford Group and Gas Energy Solution LLP29.Hong Kong News executives’ Association and The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong and Khabar Agency JSC30.Jardine Matheson and KIDF31.Jiaxin International Resources Investment Limited and Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan32.Koln 3D Technology (Medical) Limited and Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology33.PCCW and Kazakhtelecom34.PCCW and Khabar Agency JSC35.SCMP and Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)36.SCMP and GOBI PARTNERS and Astana Hub and Khan Tengri Innovation Hub37.Soy-Sky FarmTech Company Limited (Hong Kong) and JSC NC Food Contract Corporation of Kazakhstan38.Standard Chartered Bank and Development Bank of Kazakhstan39.Templewater and Freedom Holdings40.The Standard and Freedom Horizons41.Standard Chartered Bank and Hangzhou CIEC Group Co., Ltd.42.Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and Gold Astrum LLC43.Ewpartners Investment Management Limited and Jiangsu Solicitude Medical Technology (Group) Limited and Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLPIn addition, during the Central Asia visit, non-delegation members also signed a number of MoUs in academic, cultural or other collaboration areas:1.A-Grade Energy Ltd and Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan2.A-Grade Energy Ltd and Freedom Holdings3.China Mobile International Limited and Qazpost-YTO4.HKT and Education University of Hong Kong5.City University of Hong Kong and JSC "Center for International Programs under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan6.City University of Hong Kong and Satbayev University7.Education University of Hong Kong and Nazarbayev University8.Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Nazarbayev University9.Thei and BILIM-INNOVATION International Social Foundation10.Thei and L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National UniversityPhoto download: https://bit.ly/49zcFUnDuring its visit to Kazakhstan, the delegation facilitated 43 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and announcementsTo promote business collaboration, the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC jointly hosted a business luncheon, attracting more than 300 local business leaders and senior officials. John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said at the luncheon: “Kazakhstan has, for centuries, connected Eastern and Western civilisations, serving as a bridge of commerce, culture and innovative ideas. That legacy continues today. From the port of Khorgos to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazakhstan is now a business and logistics hub linking China, our country, and Europe. Rich in oil and mineral resources, and rapidly developing and diversifying, Kazakhstan is a regional economic powerhouse. Hong Kong, a pivotal player in the Belt and Road Initiative, looks forward to working with Kazakhstan in creating mutual opportunities.”Prof Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, said at the luncheon: “Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for 53% of the region’s GDP in 2025. Under its Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, the country is actively promoting economic diversification, with the goal of becoming one of the world’s top 30 most developed economies by 2050, demonstrating strong growth potential. This visit has enhanced local enterprises’ understanding of Hong Kong’s advantages as a superconnector and super value-adder. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe substantial cooperation opportunities will emerge across various sectors, including logistics infrastructure, green finance, digital economy, agricultural upgrading and food processing. The model of Mainland enterprises going global with Hong Kong while leveraging the HKTDC platform will create new opportunities for collaboration with Central Asia.”The delegation visited Astana Hub to gain insights into the latest developments in the innovation and technology sectorMedia enquiriesHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Johnny Tsui Tel: (852) 2584 4395 Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.orgSerena Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4272 Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.orgAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

SINGAPORE, June 2, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - For many in Singapore, a home makeover is more than just a fresh coat of paint; it is an investment in comfort and property value. Understanding how to navigate the financing landscape ensures you can complete your project without compromising your long-term financial stability.Thus, selecting the suitable personal loans in Singapore for home renovations requires a careful balance of flexibility, speed, and cost. While specific renovation loans exist, many homeowners find that the appropriate personal loans offer the versatility needed to cover both structural works and the finishing touches that a dedicated renovation loan might exclude.The strategies below focus on how to evaluate and choose the suitable Personal Loan for your renovation needs.Evaluate total project scope against loan limitsBefore applying for financing, it is essential to determine whether your renovation vision fits within the constraints of a traditional renovation loan. In Singapore, dedicated renovation loans are typically capped at SGD 30,000 or six times your monthly income, whichever is lower.If you are renovating a 4-room resale HDB or a mid-sized condo, costs can easily exceed SGD 50,000 to SGD 80,000. In these scenarios, seeking the appropriate personal loan is often more practical. Personal loans in Singapore can offer much higher ceilings, sometimes up to SGD 200,000 or eight times your monthly income for high earners, providing the necessary capital for extensive remodelling, subject to bank policies and eligibility.Prioritise usage flexibilityOne of the significant advantages of a personal loan over a specialised renovation loan is the freedom to use the funds as you see fit.Renovation Loans: These are strictly for structural or built-in works, such as flooring, tiling, and electrical wiring. The bank often pays the contractor directly via cashier's orders, meaning you never handle the cash.Personal Loans: These funds are disbursed directly into your bank account. This allows you to pay for specific items that renovation loans typically exclude, such as designer furniture, smart appliances, and decorative lighting.Compare Effective Interest Rate (EIR)When selecting a loan, do not be swayed by the flat interest rate alone. The true cost of borrowing is reflected in the Effective Interest Rate (EIR), which accounts for processing fees and the compounding nature of interest.In Singapore's competitive 2026 market, some of the personal loans offer attractive flat rates from 1.00% p.a. with EIRs from 1.93% p.a. Always check if the bank offers a $0 processing fee promotion, as this can significantly lower the EIR and keep your initial cash flow healthy.Consolidate multiple renovation costsA major renovation often creates several different bills, from furniture store instalments to contractor payment plans. Managing multiple due dates and interest rates can feel overwhelming once the work concludes.Choosing the appropriate personal loan allows you to combine these different costs into one simple monthly payment. This strategy makes it easier to track your money and often secure a lower interest rate than retail credit plans. By centralising your debt, this may help reduce missed payments and improve visibility over repayment obligations.A faster application made easy with digital toolsThe modern Singaporean financial landscape values speed and efficiency. Many homeowners now use digital application tools to streamline the loan application process.Lenders that integrate with MyInfo may help streamline the approval process and facilitate faster disbursement of funds, subject to credit assessment and eligibility criteria. This can help reduce potential delays in renovation timeline and support timely settlement of contractor invoices, where required.Match repayment tenures to your cash flowMost personal loans in Singapore offer flexible repayment tenures ranging from one to five years, with some lenders extending up to seven years.While a longer tenure reduces monthly commitment, it increases the total interest paid over the life of the loan. The key is to match your monthly instalments to your actual disposable income, thus maintaining a sufficient buffer for potential renovation cost overruns.Final thoughtsChoosing the right financing tool is just as important as choosing the right contractor. By prioritising flexibility and affordability, you can ensure your home transformation is both beautiful and financially sound.Disclaimer: This content is published by iQuanti Singapore Pte Ltd, an external marketer engaged and compensated by UOB Ltd.Contact Information:Name: Sonakshi MurzeEmail: Sonakshi.murze@iquanti.comJob Title: ManagerSOURCE: iQuanti Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, June 2, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (TSXV: GMG) (OTCQX: GMGMF) ("GMG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has submitted an additional application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") for the manufacture and sale of graphene and graphene coatings (THERMAL-XR®), lubricants (G® LUBRICANT) and other graphene fluids in the United States.GMG has submitted a Significant New Use Notice ("SNUN") to the US EPA under pre-manufacture notice (PMN) P-25-0018. Under this application, GMG is seeking authorisation to manufacture, distribute, sell, use and dispose of graphene and graphene coatings, lubricants and fluids across multiple industries in the United States. GMG expects to obtain this approval by the end of June 2027.This application is in addition to the existing approval under PMN P-25-0018, which authorises the Company to export, distribute, sell, use and dispose of graphene coatings across multiple industries in the United States.Craig Nicol, CEO & Managing Director of the Company, commented: "Submitting the SNUN is a decisive step in our US strategy. This application, if approved, will grant GMG the authorisation to manufacture graphene domestically in the United States — not simply to export into the market, but to produce within it. That distinction matters. It positions GMG to serve US customers at scale, deepen our industrial footprint, and build a genuinely American supply chain for graphene-enabled products. We expect EPA approval by the end of June 2027 and are planning our commercial operations accordingly."Jack Perkowski, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the Company, commented: "The United States is the most important market in the world for what GMG is building. This SNUN filing reflects our commitment to America — not just as a customer base, but as a centre of production, capital formation, and long-term growth. We are looking to the US to drive the next chapter of GMG's commercial expansion."About THERMAL-XR®:THERMAL-XR® ENHANCE coating system is a unique method of improving the conductivity of corroded heat exchange surfaces and improving and maintaining the performance of new units at peak levels. The process coats and protects heat exchange surfaces while improving and rebuilding the lost corroded thermal conductivity and increasing the heat transfer rate by leveraging the physics of GMG Graphene, resulting in an efficiency improvement and a potential power reduction. THERMAL-XR® ENHANCE is now patented for 20 years in Australia and is expected to be patented in other countries around the world.About G® LUBRICANT:G® LUBRICANT is what management believes to be a transformative graphene liquid concentrate additive designed to enhance the performance of diesel and gasoline (petrol) engines. This product has the potential to reshape the future of the global liquid fuels industry and offers an innovative solution that optimises efficiency and power for stationary or mobile engines. G® LUBRICANT, a graphene liquid concentrate that can be added to any mineral or synthetic oil used in an internal combustion engine in a 1:100 dosage, has been verified by the University of Queensland to increase fuel efficiency by up to 8.4% in a diesel engine, as announced in February 2025.1 G® LUBRICANT is now patented for 20 years in Europe, the US, and China.1RSU GrantsThe Company is also pleased to announce that following the annual remuneration review, its Board of Directors have approved the grant of an aggregate of 783,590 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to employees and directors of the Company pursuant to its Restricted Share and Performance Share Plan and the Stock Option Plan.When vested, each RSU entitles the holder thereof to receive one Share upon exercise in accordance with the Plan. The holder at their own discretion, and separately to the Company, may action those shares accordingly for their personal use.About GMG:GMG is an Australian-based clean-technology company that develops, manufactures and sells energy-saving and energy-storage solutions, enabled by graphene produced via its in-house production process. GMG uses its proprietary process to decompose natural gas (i.e., methane) into its natural elements — carbon (as graphene), hydrogen, and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high-quality, low-cost, scalable, tuneable, and low- to no-contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications.The Company's present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities and to secure market applications. In the energy savings segment, GMG has initially focused on a graphene-enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC-R") coating (or energy-saving coating), which is now being marketed into other applications including electronic heat sinks, industrial process plants, and data centres. GMG has also developed a graphene lubricant additive focused on saving liquid fuels, initially for diesel engines.In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively, with financial support from the Australian Government, to progress R&D and commercialisation of graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Batteries"). GMG has also developed a graphene additive slurry aimed at improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries.GMG's 4 critical business objectives are:Produce Graphene and improve/scale cell production processesBuild Revenue from Energy Savings ProductsDevelop Next-Generation BatteryDevelop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution CapabilityFor further information please contact:Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "believes", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", or "will" "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include, without limitation: GMG's ability to obtain EPA authorisation to manufacture, distribute, sell, use and dispose of graphene and graphene coatings, lubricants and fluids across multiple industries in the United States; GMG's expectation to obtain SNUN approval by the end of June 2027; and GMG's intention to progress its broader US commercialisation activities across its graphene product portfolio; GMG's intentions to develop commercial scale-up capabilities, GMG's focus in the energy savings segment, GMG's intentions for the use of graphene lubricant additive on saving liquid fuels, expectations for R&D and commercialization of G+AI Batteries, GMG's ability to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries and GMG's critical business objectives.Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including the receipt of EPA approval of the SNUN filing. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation, that GMG does not receive, or does not receive on a timely basis, EPA approval of the SNUN, and the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated November 4, 2025, available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.1 GMG, "GMG Unveils G® LUBRICANT Engine Performance Testing Results," February 2025, https://graphenemg.com/gmg-unveils-g-lubricant-engine-performance-testing-results-a-transformative-graphene-energy-saving-solution-for-the-multi-trillion-dollar-global-liquid-fuel-industry/To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299808 Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com