CWT INT'L (00521) has announced that its indirect non-wholly-owned subsidiary, Straits Financial Services Pte Ltd, a member of the Straits Financial Group and the entity for the Group's financial services business, has been formally granted the Overseas Intermediary (OI) futures brokerage qualification by the Shanghai Futures Exchange and the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. This approval represents a significant milestone for Straits Financial in the international expansion of its presence in China's futures market and further strengthens its comprehensive service capabilities in connecting global investors with the domestic derivatives market.

With the new qualification, Straits Financial can now legitimately assist international clients in trading products listed on the Shanghai and Guangzhou Futures Exchanges. By utilizing the Overseas Intermediary model, the company effectively lowers the entry barrier for overseas participants, eliminates the need for complex domestic structures, and establishes an efficient, compliant cross-border channel, thereby providing global investors with convenient access to China's futures market.

The Board of Directors believes that as China's futures market continues to open up, this qualification is of great significance to both Straits Financial and its global clientele. Straits Financial will continue to build smoother access channels for international investors to China's onshore derivatives market, strictly adhering to compliance and risk management standards to ensure efficient trade execution and the robustness of business operations.

With the steady development of China's derivatives market, the Straits Financial Group will leverage its advantage as a compliant, licensed institution to further enhance its global trading service system, expand the boundaries of its cross-border financial services, and continue to provide professional, compliant solutions to meet the diverse investment needs of global clients.