The WAIC 2026 conference set new records, gathering 1100 enterprises presenting over 3000 exhibits, and planning more than 300 world premieres, against the backdrop of China's growing interest in the artificial intelligence revolution. Tickets for the event were sold out, with speculators selling them for ten times the nominal price.
The standard daily pass, priced at 168 yuan, was actively resold online for over 1000 yuan, while the membership pass for 899 yuan sold out weeks before the conference began. On the morning of July 17, visitors started queuing at 10 am when the outdoor temperature was approaching 50 degrees Celsius, waiting for nearly two hours. This scene demonstrates that enthusiasm for AI in China has reached a peak, attracting everyone—from AI practitioners and startup founders to investors and job seekers.
The scale of the event is unprecedented: over 1100 companies are presenting more than 3000 exhibits across an area of 100,000 square meters, distributed among three zones and four halls. More than 300 products are planned to be presented globally for the first time. The conference has a historic structure of three zones and four halls: the World Exhibition for demonstrating core technologies and industry applications, Zhangjiang for computing infrastructure, and West Bund in Xuhui for consumer AI experience. This coverage reflects how AI has transformed from a niche technology into an infrastructural layer affecting all spheres—from chip design to coffee delivery robots.
The atmosphere in the halls was palpable. Approximately two-thirds of attendees wore badges whose colors indicated their role: red for VIP guests, blue for media representatives, orange for exhibitors and forum moderators, and green for staff. This system of visual identification turned the exhibition hall into a dense environment for networking, allowing strangers to instantly find the right contacts. In addition to the main hall, dedicated capital matching zones gathered over 200 professional investors to meet with startups, and the solo company pavilions showcased 22 solo founders out of 711 applicants, indicating the democratization of entrepreneurship in the AI sector.
Beyond the hype, substantive signals emerged. The conference program showed that the three most discussed topics among 200 sessions were no longer benchmarks of large models but reflected industry development, talent ecosystems, and computing power. The greatest interest was not in model demonstrations but in operational robot production lines and supercomputer clusters. Products such as Kimi K3, Honor Robot Phone, and StepFun STEPX Neo attracted the most visitors, but the deeper essence lay in how these products integrate into a unified industrial ecosystem.
WAIC 2026 marks a turning point. As noted by Wu Xiaobo, China has always been the most aggressive market for internet experiments, and its approach to AI reflects this same spirit, combining anxiety, passion, and decisive action. Queues in 50-degree heat, ticket speculation, and continuous networking are not just a case of FOMO, but rather a collective national response to the technological transformation that China views as its sphere of leadership, not following.
The new Iranian ambassador to South Korea visited the Tehran Chamber of Commerce before his departure and held talks with the Secretary General of the Chamber. The goal of the meeting was to discuss opportunities for cooperation with this East Asian country and to develop commercial, technological, and cultural exchanges between the two states.
During the meeting, the importance of mutual recognition of potential and increasing awareness of both countries' opportunities was emphasized to strengthen trade ties. The meeting took place between Ahmad Erfaniaan, the new Iranian ambassador to South Korea, and Fereydoun Vardinajad, the Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber. The Deputy of the Chamber for International Affairs and Trade Development, as well as representatives of the Iran-South Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce, were present.
As solutions to enhance economic and trade interaction between Iran and Korea, regular B2B meetings and specialized webinars, exchange of economic and technological information, organization of trade delegations, and establishing contacts with South Korean chambers of commerce were proposed.
At the beginning of the meeting, Fereydoun Vardinajad, Secretary General of the Tehran Chamber, noted South Korea's growth experience over the past decades, highlighting its influence in cultural, industrial, and political spheres. He noted that preserving cultural identity and developing a brand are priorities for policymakers in the country, and significant success has been achieved in this area.
The Secretary General also stated the readiness of Iran's private sector to cooperate with Korean companies. He added that traders and businessmen from both countries can learn about each other's economic opportunities and potential through data exchange and establish long-term commercial ties. Thus, the development of exchanges depends on recognizing potentials and increasing awareness of opportunities in the economic sectors of the two countries.
According to the Tehran Chamber's Public Relations Department, Vardinajad described the areas of cooperation with Korean traders as diverse. He indicated that synergy and long-term planning involving the embassy's economic department, along with a targeted approach to developing trade between Iran and South Korea, can strengthen interaction with the country's economic enterprises in fields such as automotive industry, home appliances, information technology, digital economy, medicine and medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and others.
He also presented proposals aimed at facilitating trade relations, including increasing direct communication between the Tehran Chamber and the Iranian embassy in South Korea, regularly holding B2B meetings and webinars, exchanging economic and technological information, interacting with trade delegations, and communicating with South Korean chambers of commerce, which will help raise awareness of the country's opportunities.
Furthermore, Ahmad Erfaniaan, the new Iranian ambassador to South Korea, referencing his experience in other countries, emphasized the importance of utilizing the potential of chambers of commerce to improve trade relations. He stated that chambers of commerce, acting as a parliament of the private sector, can contribute to raising the level of trade ties and improving economic interaction in various fields.
Erfaniaan continued the discussion by mentioning the history of economic relations between the two countries. He reported that studies show that trade volume between Iran and South Korea exceeded $17 billion in 2011, and this country was Iran's fourth trading partner; however, this figure has decreased in recent years.
The Iranian ambassador to South Korea stressed the need to maintain communication between Iranian and Korean traders and businessmen despite political restrictions. He noted that scenarios for developing trade relations with South Korea have been developed under various conditions, and it is expected that bilateral trade relations will improve through online meetings, including South Korea in trade delegation programs, interaction with economic think tanks, and utilizing the potential of chambers of commerce. He also suggested considering the use of Korean companies' potential to repair war damage.
In another part of the meeting, Hesamaddin Hallaj, Deputy of the Tehran Chamber for International Affairs and Trade Development, pointed to the necessity of cooperation with academic centers, knowledge transfer, and interaction between domestic small and medium-sized enterprises and South Korean economic enterprises.
Pua Firuzi, Vice President of the Iran-Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce, also emphasized the importance of traders having access to up-to-date information. He deemed it necessary to create databases focused on laws, regulations, and investment opportunities in South Korea, as well as identifying authoritative legal institutions in South Korea to advise Iranian traders. Furthermore, he announced the development of an Iran-South Korea cooperation development plan focused on economic sustainability.
Volkswagen announced on Tuesday the start of a three-year collaboration with The Sharks, becoming their official vehicle provider partner. The company stated that this unites two iconic South African brands that share a commitment to excellence, precision, and high performance, while also inspiring dedicated fans.
Volkswagen emphasized that over its 75 years of existence, the company has created vehicles characterized by precision, innovation, and reliability. At the same time, The Sharks have built a proud rugby legacy based on resilience, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. Volkswagen noted that despite differences in fields of operation, both brands share a similar approach.
As the official transport partner, Volkswagen will support The Sharks throughout the entire season—from preparation and training to match days. The goal of this support is to promote the club both on and off the field. Bridget Harper, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen passenger cars, reported that the partnership reflects the company's commitment to people, communities, and South African sporting institutions.
Harper added that this cooperation goes beyond simply providing vehicles. It unites two brands convinced that high results are achieved through dedication, teamwork, and an unceasing pursuit of perfection. She expressed enthusiasm for supporting The Sharks, engaging with fans, and creating unforgettable moments over the next three seasons.
Sean Bryan, CEO of The Sharks, expressed delight at Volkswagen joining the The Sharks family as the official transport partner. He noted that as one of South Africa's most reliable brands, the club is proud of Volkswagen's support, especially from an organization that shares their commitment to innovation, passion, and performance. Bryan expressed hope for building an exciting partnership over the next three years.
Volkswagen and The Sharks begin a joint journey focused on performance and uniting passion to bring fans closer to the club and the game. Meanwhile, The Sharks announced on Wednesday a new agreement with Reebok, the iconic sports culture brand, which is returning as the club's official technical apparel supplier. Michael Leslie, The Sharks Growth Director, stated that they are very pleased to welcome Reebok back into the The Sharks family.
He stressed that this partnership is highly significant for fans, and the club is proud of reuniting with a brand that played an important role in its history. The Sharks' vision is to transform the club into a globally recognized sports and lifestyle brand, making it crucial to collaborate with brands that share this ambition. John Carden, CEO of Sports Hub Group and Reebok Teamsports partner, noted that this event marks a significant milestone for Reebok Teamsports. He added that this collaboration brings together two iconic brands striving to inspire the next generation of athletes and fans, and that The Sharks are one of the most respected and passionately supported clubs in world rugby.
Manufacturing Indaba, a leading conference and exhibition on manufacturing in Africa, focuses on supporting the industrial development of the entire continent. The past event gathered industry experts, manufacturers, and government representatives to stimulate growth, investment, and innovation in this sector.
According to Liz Hart, CEO of Manufacturing Indaba, the Manufacturing Indaba 2026 event demonstrated significant momentum in Africa's manufacturing sector. The conference served as a platform for important discussions on industrialization, regional trade, attracting investment, technology adoption, and the future of production on the continent.
Following the successful conclusion of the 13th Manufacturing Indaba, which lasted two days, dialogue, collaboration, and business interaction took place at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event brought together government leaders, manufacturers, investors, policymakers, industry experts, and innovators from across the African continent under the theme 'Made in Africa: Scaling Growth and Shaping Trade.'
Over the two days, delegates participated in high-level conference sessions, networking meetings, business matchmaking events, and an exhibition showcasing innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the competitiveness of African manufacturing.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile emphasized the government's commitment to promoting industrial development, localization, infrastructure investment, and economic growth through strengthening the manufacturing sector. High-ranking government officials, policymakers, and industry stakeholders agreed on the need for closer interaction between the public and private sectors to unlock Africa's manufacturing potential.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition John Steenhuizen called on Africa to transition from exporting raw materials to producing higher value-added goods. He stated that Africa should increasingly trade in value-added products instead of merely exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, and must transform from a source of raw materials into a manufacturing powerhouse.
Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosiyenso Ramokogapa highlighted the crucial role of energy security in ensuring industrial growth. He noted that expanding electricity generation and strengthening transmission infrastructure are critical for creating a stable energy environment necessary for producers to invest, expand production, and compete globally.
Experts throughout the conference examined key issues shaping the future of manufacturing, including industrial policy and economic resilience, regional trade opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), investment and access to finance, localization and supply chain development, digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence, energy security, and sustainable production, skills development and future workforce, as well as the competitiveness of manufacturing in African markets.
The exhibition functioned as a marketplace where exhibitors interacted with decision-makers, procurement specialists, and investors, creating commercial opportunities and partnerships. Hart noted that the discussions over the last two days were aimed not only at identifying problems but, more importantly, at implementing practical solutions to boost industrial growth, increase investment, and expand intra-African trade. She added that cooperation between government, industry, and investors strengthens belief in a bright manufacturing future for Africa.
The event also demonstrated how new technologies, innovations, and strategic partnerships are transforming manufacturing processes, increasing productivity, and enabling African producers to tap into new regional and international market opportunities. Momentum continues with Automation Day on July 16, 2026, where industry leaders will review technologies, automation strategies, and digital innovations shaping the next generation of African manufacturing. Experts observe that while manufacturing enterprises are adopting AI, financing models must evolve to support digital transformation and enhance competitiveness.
