Vietnam will set up a government delegation for international economic and trade negotiations. The minister of industry and trade will head the delegation.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc recently cleared the decision.

Vietnam will set up a government delegation for international economic and trade negotiations.
The minister of industry and trade will head the delegation.
The delegation will assist the PM in directing ministries, sectors and localities in negotiations, signing, coordination of ratification and approval, as well as implementation of international treaties and agreements on economic and trade matters.

The delegation will assist the prime minister in directing ministries, sectors and localities in negotiations, signing, coordination of ratification and approval, as well as implementation of international treaties and agreements on economic and trade matters.

It will advise the prime minister on developing negotiation guidelines, strategies, plans and frameworks for the country’s participation in international economic and trade treaties and agreements.

It will also propose objectives, viewpoints and road maps for negotiation with partners or groups of partners in flexible forms aligned with national interests and the country’s socio-economic development orientation, a domestic news agency reported.

It is responsible for coordinating with ministries and agencies in preparing, organising and conducting negotiations, while recommending solutions to difficulties and obstacles arising during the negotiation process.

The delegation will also consult businesses and relevant stakeholders regarding negotiation contents.

In special cases involving urgent and strategic issues related to national interests, the prime minister may set up separate delegations for negotiation.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

UK fashion retailer Next plc has raised its full-year profit guidance after reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter (Q1) trading for fiscal 2027 (FY27), supported by robust online demand and resilient international sales despite disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

The company increased its guidance for FY27 with profit before tax (PBT) to reach £1.22 billion (~$1.65 billion) from the earlier estimate of £1.21 billion. The revised forecast represents annual growth of 5.2 per cent year-over-year (YoY).

Next plc has raised its FY27 profit guidance after stronger-than-expected Q1 trading, driven by robust online and international sales.
Full-price sales rose 6.2 per cent YoY in Q1, exceeding forecasts, while FY27 PBT guidance increased to £1.22 billion (~$1.65 billion).
Despite Middle East-related logistics disruptions and higher freight and energy costs.

Next maintained its full-year full-price sales growth guidance at 5 per cent and expects FY27 full-price sales to reach £5.9 billion, while total group sales are projected at £7.3 billion. Post-tax earnings per share are forecast to rise 6.5 per cent to 792.9 pence.

For Q2, the retailer expects full-price sales growth of 4 per cent, with international sales projected to increase 17 per cent before moderating later in the year due to tougher comparisons following last year’s transition to ZEOS distribution services.

Online demand drives Q1 growth

Meanwhile, full-price sales rose 6.2 per cent YoY in the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2026, surpassing the company’s forecast of 4 per cent growth. Sales exceeded expectations by £28 million (~$38.08 million), contributing an additional £8 million (~$10.88 million) in profit.

The retailer said exceptionally strong trading during the first five weeks of the quarter, when full-price sales surged 11.8 per cent, drove the outperformance. However, momentum softened during weeks six to eight as the Middle East conflict disrupted regional delivery services and logistics operations.

“Trade began to recover in the Middle East as delivery services returned to normal,” the company said in its trading statement.

Total UK full-price sales increased 4.4 per cent in Q1, significantly ahead of the company’s internal forecast of 1.3 per cent growth. Online channels remained the main growth driver, with UK online Next brand sales rising 5.8 per cent and LABEL sales jumping 15.7 per cent. Retail store sales declined 3.4 per cent.

International online sales grew 12.8 per cent during the quarter despite temporary disruption in Middle Eastern markets.

Next also outlined the financial impact of the Middle East conflict, estimating additional annual costs of £47 million, largely linked to freight, distribution, fuel and energy expenses.

The company said these costs would be fully offset through overseas price increases, operational savings, currency gains in Europe and improved factory gate margins.

Price increases outside Europe will vary by market but will not exceed 8 per cent in any territory, while no further UK price increases are planned beyond the previously forecast 0.6 per cent rise.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Launched today at FESPA Barcelona, the new F Series Vantage marks the next evolution in flatbed cutting from Summa. In a world where margins and profitability are under increased pressure due to material cost, labour constraints and costly errors, The F Series Vantage is made to accelerate every stage of the workflow, combining enhanced cutting speeds with intelligent automation to deliver the ultimate operator-friendly experience. Its open, modular architecture ensures seamless integration into existing production environments, offering maximum flexibility and compatibility. The result? A powerful series of flatbed cutters turning complexity into flow and production into something that simply works for you.

Promising 40 per cent productivity gains, the F Series Vantage is here to transform the finishing workflow thanks to automation that anticipates errors before they happen, an open ecosystem and the widest tool library ever created. “We worked closely with customers and partners to understand their biggest challenges, which came down to preserving margins amidst rising costs, seizing new business opportunities and keeping safety a non-negotiable in the workshop.”, says Geert Pierloot, Managing Director at Summa. “That’s why we designed the F Series Vantage with the goal of keeping your operation moving and empowering operators. It’s the easiest to install flatbed we have ever made and it’s more intuitive to use than ever. Anyone can master this flatbed in under one hour, thanks to the ease of use and the GoProduce software.”

Summa has launched its F Series Vantage flatbed cutters at FESPA Barcelona, promising 40 per cent productivity gains through faster cutting, intelligent automation and easier operation.
The series supports wider material versatility, open workflow integration, improved safety, predictive insights and reduced downtime, with 1612 and 1625 models available immediately.

Sign & display businesses are looking to grow beyond their core activity into new, often rigid, materials like aluminum. Our new F Series, with its incredibly wide tool library featuring the new High frequency 3.7kW router, Fast+ & Core+ tangential modules and Rigid material & High precision cutout tools, answers that vision for you through the promise of unmatched material versatility.

Speed improvements run deeper than tooling alone. New motion control, unique blade recognition and a new media thickness sensor accelerate every stage, from setup to execution. The result: cleaner edges, fewer tool swaps, and a workflow that feels effortless.

“Everything about the F Series Vantage is built for speed and flow,” says Randi Kerkaert, Summa’s Product Manager. “Every choice, from firmware architecture to tool design, eliminates friction. The result is a system that moves faster across the entire finishing process, delivering the quickest ROI imaginable. Paired with one-click Action Sets and the new LED feedback strip, it offers precision without interruption.” That same philosophy extends to safety: with most shopfloor incidents caused by contact with moving machinery, the F Series’ safety ecosystem is designed to be non-negotiable and

impossible to bypass, protecting operators while also minimizing downtime and ensuring production keeps running at peak performance.

True to Summa’s philosophy, the F Series Vantage integrates seamlessly into any production environment. No lock-ins. No closed systems. Just freedom to build and evolve your workflow on your terms.

“Integration is everything,” said Kristof Tilleman, Software Development Manager at Summa. “With GoConnect and GoData, the F Series Vantage becomes a part of your ecosystem, open to any feeder or stacker. Automation, analytics, and predictive insights are now a certainty. With a Summa in your workflow, you’re assured to always be ready for whatever the future may hold for your business.”

The F Series Vantage is available right away in the 1612 and 1625 models and will be showcased throughout FESPA Barcelona at our unique booth built around the F Series Vantage and our promise as a brand to sharpen imagination. For more information, visit Summa at booth 2E30.

Summa is a global leader in digital cutting solutions, delivering innovative technology for signage, packaging, textiles, and industrial applications. Our product portfolio includes state-of-the-art vinyl, flatbed, and laser cutters that ensure exceptional precision and quality. Summa is headquartered in Gistel, Belgium, with regional hubs in USA and Italy. Leveraging more than 50 years of experience, we continue to pioneer cutting-edge technology that redefines precision cutting.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)