TradingPRO Secures BAPPEBTI Regulatory Licence in Indonesia

 

 TradingPRO's Indonesian entity, PT Trading Pro Internasional Berjangka, has received its official regulatory licence from BAPPEBTI, Indonesia's Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency, marking a significant step in the broker's Southeast Asian expansion.

TradingPRO has announced that its Indonesian entity, PT Trading Pro Internasional Berjangka, has been granted a regulatory licence by Badan Pengawas Perdagangan Berjangka Komoditi (BAPPEBTI) — the government agency responsible for supervising futures, forex, and commodity trading activity in Indonesia.

The licence confirms PT Trading Pro Internasional Berjangka's authorisation to operate in Indonesia's regulated financial market, in full compliance with Indonesian Law No. 32 of 1997 as amended by Law No. 10 of 2011 on Commodity Futures Trading.

BAPPEBTI operates under the Indonesian Ministry of Trade and is responsible for ensuring that market participants meet the country's standards for financial integrity, risk management, and client protection. For Indonesian traders, a BAPPEBTI licence provides the assurance that their chosen broker operates within a framework of formal regulatory oversight — including the separation of client funds and adherence to established conduct standards.

For TradingPRO, this licence represents a natural extension of the group's commitment to operating within regulated frameworks across every market it serves. The broker is already regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa under FSP No. 49624, and by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius under licence number GB23202513. The BAPPEBTI licence adds a third layer of regulated oversight, specifically for its Indonesian operations.

Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia's largest and fastest-growing retail trading markets, with a population exceeding 270 million and a growing base of active investors. PT Trading Pro Internasional Berjangka's licenced status positions TradingPRO to serve Indonesian clients with the same standard of regulated infrastructure it provides across its global operations.

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TradingPRO extended its gratitude to BAPPEBTI and its legal team for their role in facilitating the licensing process.

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About Trading PRO
TradingPRO is a globally recognized Forex broker regulated by the FSCA and FSC, committed to empowering traders with secure access to global markets, institutional-grade tools, and a client-first approach built on transparency and education. The company offers a wide range of instruments including Forex, metals, commodities, indices, and crypto CFDs, combined with ultra-tight spreads, rapid execution, and multilingual support across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

With platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, a mobile trading app, and API access for professionals, TradingPRO delivers an intuitive trading experience for both beginners and advanced traders. Its Telegram ecosystem provides real-time signals, education, and market updates, while value-added benefits like deposit bonuses and cashback programs support trader growth. Above all, TradingPRO prioritizes safety and compliance, ensuring a trusted and regulation-backed trading journey.

9th Hospitality Philippines Conference (HPC2026) Concludes with Resounding Success, Setting the Blueprint for the Future of Philippine Hospitality

 

 MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Hospitality Asia Event Series has successfully concluded the 9th Hospitality Philippines Conference (#HPC2026), held on September 9–10, 2026, at the Marriott Manila. As the region’s premier two-day leadership assembly, the landmark event brought together the nation’s foremost asset owners, operators, developers, investors, and tech visionaries to address a pivotal country theme: "What Comes After Growth: Hospitality’s Next Test in the Philippines."

Aligned with the overarching 2026 Hospitality Asia regional mandate, “Leading Hospitality Forward: Investing in Design, Driving Results,” HPC2026 delivered unparalleled insights, high-level networking, and actionable strategies aimed at navigating the evolving market landscape beyond rapid growth.

Unprecedented Engagement and High-Impact Attendance

The 2026 edition saw exceptional engagement across both days, cementing its position as the ultimate gathering for decision-makers in the Philippine hospitality ecosystem. The event convened 125 expert speakers and 54 leading event sponsors and partners showcasing cutting-edge solutions. Over the course of the two-day assembly, the conference welcomed 484 actual unique event attendees, comprising top-tier C-level executives, developers, hotel general managers, and government representatives. Daily participation remained consistently strong, with 306 attendees on Day 1 and 378 attendees on Day 2, reflecting sustained momentum throughout the conference.

Summit Highlights: Navigating Investment, Design, Revenue, and Travel 

DAY 1: Investment & Design

The Hotel Investment Summit featured industry leaders engaging in robust discussions on capital deployment, asset optimization, emerging destination markets across the archipelago, and sustainable long-term yields. Panelists highlighted the transition from rapid expansion to value creation and risk mitigation in a competitive landscape.

"This is a testament of the growth of the industry that we have in the Philippines. It’s no longer just Manila that’s discussed, but also in other parts of the Philippines who want to know how the hotel industry will be in the next five years. So this is a great learning platform for all different aspects of the hospitality industry, as well as how we can help each other in the growth."

— Christine Angela Sevilla, Senior Director, Development, South East Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group

Simultaneously, the Hotel Design Summit brought design pioneers and architects together to showcase master planning strategies that seamlessly blend modern luxury with authentic Filipino cultural heritage, emphasizing climate-resilient architecture, wellness-centric hospitality environments, and space optimization to drive operational efficiency.

"My session is on tropical intelligence and smart design in the most valuable areas in the Philippines. I want people to see that despite the presence of developments, development is not always bad as long as you're not just tapping into the environment, but you're improving the environment. A good development is able to enhance unique benefits, allowing people to experience things that they have never experienced before and through dialogues like here at HPC 2026, allows us to care more for tropical intelligence and the beautiful islands of the Philippines."

— German Paulo de Mesa, Partner, Director for Design and Innovations, Palafox

DAY 2: Revenue & Technology

The second day opened with an inspiring Cultural Performance sponsored by the Tourism Promotions Board, celebrating the rich heritage and warmth of Filipino hospitality. Following the opening, the Hotel Revenue Summit brought together revenue strategists and commercial leaders to delve into advanced dynamic pricing models, direct booking strategies, customer acquisition economics, and total revenue management to maximize profitability.

"My takeaway from the summit is how to build a strong brand, being able to offer experiences, things that make your brand and OTA reliance. It's time to take control of your guests and be able to bring back that human connection, that curated experience, and the perfect stay in the hospitality industry."

— Nicolas Jason Cotterman, Sales Development Representative, Profitroom

Concurrently, the Travel Byte Summit explored the intersection of artificial intelligence, guest personalization platforms, smart hotel technology, and digital transformation, linking technological adoption directly to operational excellence and inclusive tourism growth.

"This is a good opportunity to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and different types of operations. I wish that we can learn from each other, see how we can use the learnings in our operations and make sure that we consider that tourism is not just for me. It’s really for everyone else, making sure that we are able to share the rewards or incentives of tourism."

— Asec. Ma. Christina Aquino, Assistant Secretary, Tourism Regulation and Coordination (TRC), Department of Tourism

Exhibition, Networking, and Strategic Partnerships

Beyond the stage discussions, the bustling exhibition floor served as a focal point for collaboration. Attendees interacted with elite partners and sponsors showcasing state-of-the-art products, green tech solutions, and service innovations. Structured networking sessions and informal exchanges fostered critical business connections, paving the way for upcoming hotel developments and strategic alliances across the country.

"Well, I think many people don't really know about the Philippines. It's always nice to do this kind of event to bring awareness about the culture and about the people. I'm sure that with all those islands and all those places, the Philippines will be able to bring much more tourism. What is important in the hospitality industry is not only about selling a product; there are people behind it. So we have to know who the people behind it are because we are not only using a product, but the products operate with people as well. So it's a dynamic between the people who are creating the product and the technology."

— Philippe Raunet, VP Overseas Partnership, Tripla

Looking Ahead: Celebrating 10 Years in 2027

The event concluded on a high note of excitement as organizers officially announced the upcoming milestone 10th Anniversary of the Hospitality Philippines Conference in 2027 (#HPC2027). As the conference prepares to celebrate a decade of shaping the national hospitality landscape, organizers express their deepest gratitude to all speakers, sponsors, attendees, and partners for making HPC2026 a monumental success.

For detailed summit takeaways and early registration details for HPC2027, please visit Hospitality Asia Event Series

About Hospitality Asia
The Hospitality Asia Event Series is a leading platform for senior leaders across the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors. It is known for bringing together key decision-makers and industry innovators while creating strong opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration.

The series features seven flagship events across Asia, including the Hospitality Indonesia Conference (HIC), the Hospitality Vietnam Conference (HVC), the Hospitality Thailand Conference (HTC), the Hospitality South Korea Conference (HSKC), the Hospitality Malaysia Conference (HMC), the Hospitality Philippines Conference (HPC) and the Hospitality Japan Conference (HJC). These events attract a high-level and diverse audience from across the region. Hospitality Asia is distinguished by its balanced engagement of both C-level executives and senior professionals such as Vice Presidents, General Managers and Directors who manage contracts, negotiations and daily operations.

Supported by regional advisors who provide real-time market insights, the content focuses on practical strategies that enable participants to drive business growth. The series is guided by four summits that represent the main drivers of industry success. These include the Hotel Investment Summit Asia #HISA, the Hotel Design Summit Asia #HDSA, the Hotel Revenue Summit Asia #HRSA and the Travel Byte Summit Asia #TBSA. Each summit is delivered with a localized approach to ensure relevance and meaningful engagement with the region’s most important opportunities.
To learn more about Hospitality Asia, please visit our website at www.hospitality-asia.com.

Meet Sparkles.PH: The Filipino Brand Making Gold Investing More Accessible

 

Jewelry isn’t just an accessory, it can also be an asset. Sparkles.PH wants to shift the mindset that real gold is something you only buy later in life, showing Filipinos that investing can start with something they can wear, enjoy, and keep for years.

For many Filipinos, owning real gold has always felt like something to achieve later in life.

Sparkles.PH is changing that by making authentic 18K gold more accessible and encouraging

people to see jewelry not just as something beautiful to wear, but as a wearable investment.

Founded by entrepreneur Ryza Razo, Sparkles.PH was built on the belief that everyone

deserves the opportunity to own genuine gold, no matter where they are in their financial

journey. “We want to make gold ownership more accessible to Filipinos and show that investing

can start with something you can actually wear and enjoy,” said Ryza Razo, Founder of

Sparkles.PH.

With pieces starting at just ₱810, Sparkles.PH makes it easier for more Filipinos to begin

owning real gold without needing a large upfront budget. It's a simple way to start building an

asset you can wear every day and keep for years to come.

Ryza saw an opportunity to combine style with financial wellness by offering jewelry that not

only looks good but also holds lasting value. This vision has resonated with thousands of

customers and has helped Sparkles.PH grow into one of the country's emerging jewelry

e-commerce brands.

A major milestone came when Cebuana Lhuillier invested in Sparkles.PH, recognizing the

company's potential to make authentic, pawnable 18K gold more accessible to Filipinos

nationwide. The partnership gives the brand additional resources and expertise to continue

expanding its mission.

Today, Sparkles.PH believes that investing doesn't always have to start with stocks, mutual

funds, or real estate. Sometimes, it starts with a single piece of real gold, something you can

wear, enjoy, and keep as part of your financial future.

As more Filipinos become intentional about spending and saving, Sparkles.PH hopes to inspire

a new mindset: jewelry isn't just an accessory, it can also be an asset.

After all, some of the best investments are the ones you get to wear every day.

Explore authentic 18K gold jewelry at www.sparkles.ph.  

 

Carziqo Brings CM-EX Driverless Ride-Hailing Series to Houston

 

**The autonomous mobility company is expanding its US operations as it explores how intelligent fleet systems can respond to Houston’s complex transportation needs.**

**HOUSTON —** Autonomous mobility company Carziqo has introduced its CM-EX driverless ride-hailing series in Houston, expanding its presence in the United States and adding another major metropolitan area to its developing mobility network.

The launch places the CM-EX in one of the country’s largest and most geographically dispersed cities. Houston’s extensive highway network, busy commercial districts, residential communities, airports, medical centers, and suburban corridors present a demanding environment for any large-scale ride-hailing operation.

According to Carziqo, the CM-EX series will be deployed progressively, with vehicles assigned to selected routes and service areas based on passenger demand, trip distance, traffic conditions, and fleet availability.

Service coverage is expected to evolve as Carziqo collects operational data and evaluates demand across different parts of the city.

## Why Houston Matters

Houston presents both opportunities and challenges for autonomous ride-hailing providers.

Unlike cities where transportation demand is concentrated within a compact urban center, Houston’s travel patterns extend across a broad metropolitan area. Daily journeys frequently connect downtown offices, residential neighborhoods, airports, shopping districts, medical facilities, and suburban communities.

That scale makes vehicle allocation especially important. A fleet may have enough vehicles overall but still struggle to meet demand if those vehicles are positioned in the wrong locations.

Carziqo said its Houston operations will use demand analysis, intelligent dispatch, route coordination, and real-time fleet monitoring to determine where vehicles should operate. The system is intended to reduce unnecessary empty travel while improving the likelihood that vehicles are available in areas experiencing higher passenger demand.

The company’s approach reflects a wider trend within the autonomous mobility industry: greater attention is being placed on the systems surrounding the vehicle, rather than on self-driving technology alone.

## CM-EX Enters a Real-World Operating Environment

The CM-EX is positioned as an urban ride-hailing series within Carziqo’s broader vehicle portfolio. The company develops different vehicle series for different routes, operating environments, and mobility requirements.

In Houston, the CM-EX will be used to examine how an autonomous fleet can respond to varying journey lengths and changing demand throughout the day.

A vehicle serving a shorter urban route may face different operational requirements from one assigned to longer trips between residential and commercial districts. Instead of treating every journey in the same way, Carziqo plans to coordinate vehicle assignments according to route characteristics and service conditions.

This kind of fleet management will be central to the Houston rollout. The practical success of autonomous ride-hailing depends not only on whether a vehicle can navigate a route, but also on whether an operator can maintain availability, coordinate charging or servicing, monitor performance, and respond when travel conditions change.

## From Technology Demonstrations to Daily Operations

For years, much of the public discussion around autonomous vehicles has focused on technical milestones. The industry is now increasingly being measured by a more practical question: Can autonomous fleets provide consistent transportation services in real urban environments?

Operating a driverless ride-hailing network requires several interconnected systems. Vehicles must be monitored, routes must be assessed, passenger requests must be matched with available capacity, and operational teams must be prepared to manage unexpected conditions.

Carziqo’s Houston expansion suggests that the company is moving toward this operational phase, where fleet coordination and service performance become as important as the vehicles themselves.

The company said data gathered from the CM-EX rollout will be used to refine dispatch decisions, route planning, vehicle positioning, and future service coverage.

As with other emerging autonomous transportation services, expansion is expected to be gradual. Availability may vary by area and may be affected by vehicle deployment, route readiness, local conditions, and passenger demand.

## A Growing Market for Autonomous Transportation

Houston has attracted increasing interest from transportation and technology companies because of its population, economic activity, and dependence on road-based mobility.

The city’s size also provides an opportunity to evaluate whether autonomous ride-hailing can operate effectively across different types of communities rather than within a single, tightly controlled district.

For passengers, the potential benefits include additional transportation choices and improved service availability in areas where conventional ride-hailing supply may fluctuate. For operators, autonomous fleets may offer new ways to coordinate vehicles and respond to demand more consistently.

Those possibilities, however, depend on reliable operations and public confidence. Safety, service transparency, local compliance, vehicle maintenance, and passenger support will remain important as autonomous fleets become more visible on public roads.

Carziqo has described the CM-EX launch as part of a broader effort to build a connected autonomous mobility ecosystem combining vehicles, intelligent dispatch, fleet monitoring, and operational data.

Houston will provide a significant test of that model.

The city’s varied travel patterns will allow the company to observe how the CM-EX performs across different distances, service periods, and operating conditions. Those findings could influence how Carziqo develops its fleet strategy in Houston and other US markets.

The arrival of the CM-EX does not mean that autonomous transportation will transform Houston overnight. Instead, it represents another step in the gradual transition from limited autonomous vehicle projects toward structured, technology-supported mobility services.

As the rollout progresses, the key measure will be whether Carziqo can turn its autonomous driving and fleet-management systems into a service that is consistent, practical, and responsive to the transportation needs of the communities it intends to serve.