Author: Asia PEVC

HKTDC’s Start-up Fiesta kick-starts today

Series of start-up programmes helps nurture local entrepreneurs

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced the launch of the inaugural Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta campaign that will run in May and June.

Comprising a full range of activities organised by the HKTDC and other organisations, the aim of the campaign is to support and foster the local start-up eco-system and help innovative new companies capture business opportunities amid the challenges of the pandemic.

Speaking at today’s ceremony to mark the launch of the Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta campaign, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said the HKTDC will work with different organisations to co-create a series of start-up-focused activities in May and June.
Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director, HKTDC (front row, second from right), Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Start-up Council (front row, from right) and Mark Lo, CEO, AMTD (front row, from left) took a group photo with the 10 selected scale-ups for the Start-up Express Master League, including Contact Beverage, CYC Motor, Film Players, Gense Technologies, Incus, Koofy Development Limited, MAD Gaze, Return Helper, MedEXO Robotics and Miscato.
MAD Gaze employs mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to produce the next generation of smart eyewear.

The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has more than doubled over the past six years, surging from 1,558 in 2015 to 3,360 in 2020. In order to empower local start-ups, the HKTDC will work with different organisations for Start-up Fiesta, including Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, InvestHK, universities and the start-up community, to co-create about 20 different start-up-focused activities. Anchored by the Start-up Express Master League and annual Start-up Express Pitching Final, the campaign also features a series of booster workshops, mentorship programmes and networking events.

Speaking at today’s opening ceremony, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said the HKTDC would continue its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses, in addition to promoting the city’s capabilities in innovation and technology. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the global economy, which means start-ups need our help more than ever. Giving start-ups the chance to use their creativity to explore business opportunities will help them continue to grow during this challenging time. The debut Start-up Fiesta campaign enlists the support of different organisations in the ecosystem, co-creating an array of activities to promote local entrepreneurship.”

Start-up Express Master League promotes local scale-ups
The Start-up Fiesta kicked off with the Start-up Express Master League, which aims to encourage and support local entrepreneurs, selecting programme alumni that have demonstrated the most vigorous business growth since joining the cohort. The selected scale-ups will be granted an extra year of marketing support from the programme to help them build their brands.

The 10 scale-ups joining the Start-up Express Master League were selected based on their business resilience, growth and expansion strategy. They include Contact Beverage, CYC Motor, Film Players, Gense Technologies, Incus, Koofy Development Limited, MAD Gaze, Return Helper, MedEXO Robotics and Miscato.

At today’s opening ceremony, the companies shared their experiences in overcoming obstacles and working to achieve breakthroughs during the pandemic. Among them, Contact Beverage has combined technology with traditional wisdom to produce the Lify smart beverage device. Using the Internet of Things, big data and smart mobile technologies, Lify aims to provide natural remedies and beverages in the simplest and most effective way. The company is also looking to launch its innovation in overseas markets with the help of networking and promotional activities organised by the HKTDC.

Another start-up, Incus, has developed disruptive source separation technology that can separate different human voices in complex environments with real-time processing. MAD Gaze is smart glasses company employing mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to create the next generation of eyewear. The company recently launched its latest smart glasses model, which allows users to experience the benefits of AR, and has successfully expanded its global footprint with the HKTDC’s support.

The winning scale-ups in the Start-up Express Master League will be able to join a range of local and international activities and events, exploring networking opportunities with potential investors, buyers and business partners. They can also participate in exhibitions and conferences organised by the HKTDC in Hong Kong that have a dedicated start-up zone, such as the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring & Autumn Editions) and the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to join the Hong Kong Pavilion at international exhibitions such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in the United States and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona, Spain, to broaden their connections and experience.

Fourth Start-up Express helps start-ups to grow
Start-up Express, a start-up development programme launched by the HKTDC, is returning for its fourth edition to assist local start-ups in building connections, exploring markets, seeking partners and developing brand awareness. Applications are invited until 12 May and the programme will culminate in the Pitching Final on 29 June, with the winners given the opportunity to join local and overseas trade promotions and activities organised by the HKTDC, as well as exhibit at international start-up events to expand their business networks.

“Start-up Express has been giving tremendous support to local start-ups over the past three years, helping them explore global markets, seal major orders and win international awards, assisting them in growing their businesses to the next level. With the global economy severely impacted by the pandemic, it is harder than ever for start-ups to find funding and business partners, making it all the more important to assist them in promoting their innovative technologies to corporations,” Mr Liang said.

The shortlisted start-ups in last year’s Start-up Express mainly focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, biotech, the Internet of Things, fintech and robotics. In 2021, more new technologies are explored, including augmented reality, virtual reality, green tech, health tech and retail tech. In recent years, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria have become increasingly important among venture capitalists and corporations, so the Social Impact Award has been established to recognised innovative and ground-breaking start-up ideas that create real social impact.

Holistic support for start-ups
Co-organised with the Hong Kong Startup Council, Enterprise Connect: Solution Day will be held in mid-June and invites start-ups in medtech, food tech and wellness tech to present their ideas under the theme “Well Being Tech”, pitching to business users and fostering collaboration between start-ups and user enterprises. Co-organised with The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Young Founders’ Camp equips young entrepreneurs via brainstorming workshops and mentorship sessions, offering a testing ground for them to implement their start-up ideas through HKTDC-organised events such as SmartBiz Expo and Entrepreneur Day. Meanwhile, the success stories of various Start-up Express alumni will be brought together in the Start-up Express Digital Book: A Journey to Success.

Partner organisations of the Start-up Fiesta, including W-Hub, Entrelink, Advantage Austria, Junior Achievement Hong Kong and more, will organise various seminars and workshops to provide networking opportunities to support local start-ups.

Attracting investors
The AMTD Group is the Sole Strategic Partner of Start-up Express for the third consecutive year. Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of AMTD Group, Founding Chairman of the Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurs Association (“GBYEA”), Vice Chairman of Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation and the Vice President of China Young Entrepreneurs Association believes that core values and fundamental business models for start-ups must be solid, sustainable and resilient. Accordingly, there will be opportunities available for the more ready start-ups no matter during good times or bad times, and even during extreme situations such as the COVID pandemic, as long as the entrepreneurs have clear vision and strategy to navigate beyond status quo to rise up as a winner in due course.

“The global economy has been severely affected by the pandemic, and inevitably this has also impacted the investment sentiment. This makes it even more crucial for founders of start-ups to embrace developments and visions beyond the current points in time but into a sustainable long term future,” Mr Choi shared his perspectives, given that the AMTD Group has invested in many start-ups around the world, paying close attention to factors such as the comprehensiveness of business solutions, cross-region and cross-platform features, growth trajectory, sustainability, scalability and the team’s vision and resilience.

Websites
– Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta: https://hkstartupfiesta.hktdc.com
– Start-up Express: http://info.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/index.html
– HKTDC’s media room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3b3DP7s

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org

Fajarbaru upbeat on property segment’s outlook in Malaysia and Australia

The Group also proudly announced the completion of its first residential project in Malaysia – Rica Residence @ Sentul.

Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd, a Bursa Malaysia Main Market listed company primarily involved in construction and property development, is upbeat on its property segment’s outlook in anticipation of the economic recovery supported by the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

The company is also looking to launch new property projects towards second half of this year once market conditions improve.

The Group recently completed its maiden development Rica Residence @ Sentul on schedule, and started handover in mid-March this year. The handover was originally due to kick off up to 3 months earlier, but was delayed due to MCO restrictions.

Fajarbaru Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Sri Eric Kuan Khian Leng said: “The property division remains a significant revenue generator for the Group in addition to our core business in construction. We have property development interest not just in Malaysia but in Australia as well. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly affected the property segment, there are positive signs that market conditions will improve and we can capitalise on it as long as we adapt and innovate accordingly.”

Rica Residence @ Sentul, which has a gross development value (GDV) of RM292.49 million, is Fajarbaru’s maiden property development in Malaysia. Despite coming from a ‘construction-based’ background, the Group’s property development segment under its wholly-owned subsidiary Fajarbaru Land has made good on its promise of quality to its first customers and delivered extra value to buyers with the instalment of polyurethane (PU) flooring for its carparks as well as 3 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The latest take-up rate of Rica Residence @ Sentul stands at 82% (including booking). On the balance units, he said, “We are currently in the midst of releasing the remaining developer units. We believe there will be a strong take-up after MCO – the near-completion of the MRT2 in 2022 is also a positive boost for us to do so smoothly. We target to sell off the remaining units by end of 2021.” “Once market condition improves, we will also look into the possibility of launching the Rica Residence @ Kinrara project in 2021 which will be based on a condominium development concept.” Eric noted.

Meanwhile in Melbourne, Australia, the Group reported that its AUD182.84 million GDV Paragon Queen Street development was completed recently. Its latest take-up rate stands at 93%, and the developer is fairly confident of the sales of the remaining units in its project which has won awards in the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018-19 and iProperty Development Excellence Award 2019.

This is Fajarbaru’s second development after the success of its first sold-out project called ‘Gardenhill’ in Melbourne in 2017. The Group is now on to its third development here, a project comprising 15 residential two-storey houses along Merri Creek in Northcote, Melbourne.

“The construction from Northcote has not yet started, but it is scheduled for a soft launch sometime in mid-2021 and the interest has been encouraging due to the location. This project will increase our presence in the property market in Melbourne, Australia and expand the Group’s earning base,” said Eric. The estimated GDV for the Northcote development is approximately AUD40.20 million.

Going forward, Fajarbaru is looking into expanding its local property development footprints not just in the Klang Valley, but also into Penang and Putrajaya once the economy fully reopens. Eric reckons that for projects in prime locations, high-end landed property development will be viable but the market demand for affordable housing and family upgraders cannot be neglected.

The Group will continue exploring landbanks in locations that can generate income for now, and be on the lookout for potential joint-ventures to develop properties in Malaysia and Australia. Fajarbaru is cautiously optimistic on the growth prospects of its property development segment in 2021 and beyond in line with the expected recovery of market conditions.

The Place Holdings’ Land Site at Mount Yuntai Tourism Township Revalued at RMB 481 Million, a Substantial Increment in Value of 329%

The Place Holdings Limited (“The Place Holdings”, the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), an SGX mainboard-listed company with a primary focus on integrating traditional businesses and new growth opportunities in the digital economy, is pleased to announce that the land site, held by its subsidiary Tianjie Yuntai Wanrun (Xiuwu) Property Development Co., Ltd. (“Tianjie Yuntai Wanrun”), has been assessed and revalued at RMB 481 million by one of China’s leading valuation companies, WorldUnion Property Assessment Co., Ltd.

Compared to the valuation of the land site of RMB 112 million as at 30 September 2020, the revaluation of RMB 481 million after the change in zoning represents a substantial increment in value of RMB 369 million, which is an increase of 329% from RMB 112 million.

The size of the land site is approximately 270,500.64 square metres. It is strategically located within Mount Yuntai Tourist Township, where hospitality properties, wellness resorts, integrated retail and commercial developments and theme parks are been planned and some are currently under development.

The revaluation of RMB 481 million of the land site is primarily based on the change in zoning from commercial to residential and it also take into consideration the increase in land-use rights assigned to the land from its existing 40 years to 70 years, larger buyer group and as well as the current developments and completed infrastructure surrounding the area.

Mount Yuntai Tourist Township is located at the entrance of Mount Yuntai, which is approximately 70km from Zhengzhou City, the provincial capital of Henan Province in the PRC.

Highly accessible and connected via various transportation networks, Mount Yuntai Tourist Township is just a 20 minutes ride from Jiaozuo high-speed rail station and a 45 minutes drive from Zhengzhou International Airport.

Mount Yuntai is a tourist site with the highest “AAAAA” rating under the Tourism Attraction Rating Categories of China. Mount Yuntai is also listed as one of the National Parks of China and as a geological park in the Global Geoparks by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In 2019, approximately 6 million visitors visited Mount Yuntai.(1)

Tourism has become an essential contributor to China’s domestic economy and it is a cornerstone of the government’s long-term goal to create a consumption-driven economy. The emergence of an affluent middle class and an easing of movement restrictions for locals and foreign visitors are both supporting this domestic travel boom.

According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, travelers made 102 million domestic trips during the annual holiday (over an extended three-day weekend) in April 2021. The figure was 94.5% of the number of trips made during the holiday in 2019, the year before COVID-19 hit.(2)

Under the leadership of Executive Chairman, Mr Ji Zenghe and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fan Xianyong and combined with their deep property development experience and long-standing business track record, The Place Holdings has established a business model that integrates omni-channel strategies and innovative business concepts (such as “new-retail” solutions, last mile logistics, immersive virtual reality technology, enterprise intelligent connectivity) within its 3 core business pillars that include property, cultural tourism and integrated media-related businesses to create new value propositions.

Mr Ji Zenghe, Executive Chairman of The Place Holdings, said, “While China’s giant middle-class continue to grow rapidly, the hectic lifestyles of Chinese consumers have spurred significant opportunities in the tourism and wellness industries.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has created pent-up demand for travel and cultural immersion activities in China.

With Mount Yuntai’s strategic location that is within an hour’s drive from a catchment zone of nearly 40 million people, the substantial increment in value of our land site from the revaluation highlights the underlying value and strong prospects of Mount Yuntai Tourist Township.

Integrating new digital solutions with traditional property development approach, there is strong potential for us to create new value propositions with our land site that caters to the demand for quality accommodations at Mount Yuntai.”

(1) http://travel.ce.cn/gdtj/202011/03/t20201103_7290941.shtml
(2) s.nikkei.com/2QYfAk7

This document is to be read in conjunction with The Place Holdings’ exchange filings on 5 May 2021, which can be downloaded via www.sgx.com.

About The Place Holdings Limited (SGX Code: E27)

Listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange, The Place Holdings Limited (“The Place Holdings”, the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), focuses on integrating traditional businesses with omni-channel strategies and digital solutions (such as “new-retail” solutions, last mile logistics, immersive virtual reality technology, enterprise intelligent connectivity) to harness new growth opportunities in the digital economy.

The Group has established a strong business platform to create new value propositions within its 3 core business pillars:

1. Property development and property management activities
2. Cultural tourism and related “new retail” businesses
3. Integrated media-related businesses with management & operation rights

The Group is backed by the key management team of The Place Investment Group, a multi-billion PRC conglomerate that has a strong track record for its extensive business portfolio in tourism, media, property management, biomedical technology investments and international trade.

Embolden with a new business approach and forward-looking corporate culture, The Place Holdings is expanding its business presence with high growth businesses in Singapore and China through organic and inorganic initiatives.

For additional information, please visit www.theplaceholdings.com

Issued on behalf of The Place Holdings Limited by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.

For further information, please contact the following:

Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252
Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

Mr. Zhang Wei
IR Director
The Place Holdings Limited
Tel: (65) 6781 8156
Fax: (65) 6781 8159
Email: zhangwei@theplaceholdings.com

India sees Huge Headroom for Growth Across TV and Digital

At the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) recent Future of Video India conference, industry leaders remained upbeat on the potential for growth despite a painful 2020 which had seen a 25% drop in TV advertising revenue.

The conference opened with an overview of the Future of Video in India with Mihir Shah, VP, India, at Media Partners Asia (MPA). With learnings from the last year and economic resurgence picking up in certain sectors, MPA predicts that in the next 5 years, with every new incremental dollar in the region, India will have 35% share, almost evenly divided between television and online video. While cable in general is going through a structural decline, Pay TV subscriptions will grow both in value and volume and continue to offer scale for the traditional media players. And with more than 60 online video services in India, the total addressable market will continue to expand.

This local expansion is what Sunil Rayan, President and Head of Disney+ Hotstar, is eyeing, with their next stage for growth primed at developing their product for India, with pricing and content made for the local market. As India is a mobile first market which drives individual viewing, while OTT and TV is not a zero sum game, OTT content needs to be far more engaging for individual viewing. “Fundamentally, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach for India because there are multiple Indias within India, said Rayan.

The sentiment of diversity and positive co-existence between the platforms was echoed by Megha Tata, MD of South Asia for Discovery Communications India. “India lives in several centuries at the same time,” commented Tata, and this is not only the beauty and complexity of the market but also the opportunity to do more. While it is still a long way away before the demise of the TV, a differentiated content and product offering remains a key focus. “Content is the king… distribution is the god.., that play of god and king will continue but differentiation of content… will play a critical part in decision making,” added Tata.

This focus on local content is also what drives the content platforms. Monika Shergill, VP of Content for Netflix India, shared that premium storytelling was a new space in India, as Indian audiences were open to experimentation and yet gravitating towards highly local tastes. “Our job and our passion is to find the best stories… the biggest stories… the untold stories from India and to become the service of choice for Indians in India… and in different parts of the world,” added Shergill.

For Nimisha Pandey, Head of Hindi Originals, ZEE5, while the initial focus was on building volume, it has now shifted to adding to the diversity and scaling up the content offering. Pandey too saw the need to up the game on the regional market for the next set of growth. “There is… so much demand that… there is much hope for everyone… to grow their businesses,” said Pandey.

As the market where the next billion consumers of video will come from, Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer of ZEE5 Global summed it up best when she said, “It is the decade of video.”

Future of Video India is generously supported by Bitmovin, Brightcove, Kaltura, NETFLIX, Vindicia and Xandr.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

For media enquiries and additional background please contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia
Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA

CITIC Telecom CPC’s DataHOUSE AR Remote Hand wins Augmented & Virtual Reality Award for Telecommunications at SBR TEA 2021

DataHOUSE™ AR Remote Hand leverages wearable AR technology to transform field engineers’ operations and maintenance processes.

CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), is honored to announce that its innovative product, DataHOUSE™ AR Remote Hand, bagged the Augmented & Virtual Reality – Telecommunications Award during Singapore Business Review’s (SBR) recently concluded Technology Excellence Awards (TEA).

DataHOUSE™ AR Remote Hand is a highly practical, productive, and effective tool for field engineers that allows them to do virtual collaborations with offsite members whilst streaming data in real-time. The technology employs AR glasses to allow field engineers to conveniently retrieve encrypted backend data from backend systems, so that they can conduct maintenance, troubleshooting, and field operations speedily. With virtual access to equipment history or status, service manuals, complicated technical procedures, troubleshooting logs, and graphics via a designated QR code for each device, they can utilise hand gestures to review a device’s historical record to speed up analysis and troubleshooting, minimising downtime and costs whilst boosting field engineer productivity by up to 50%.

Traditionally, field engineers communicated with back-end support using email or phone. This makes it challenging to describe a troubleshooting situation. The AR Remote Hand solves this problem by allowing back-end engineers to view real-time images streamed via AR glasses through an AR operations console. Its powerful video conferencing feature also offers engineers instant support and fosters off-site collaboration between global operations and maintenance teams. It also overcomes the challenges of time zone, languages, distance barriers, and professional skill sets in multi-technology environments.

On the customer side, the current pandemic has made it difficult for enterprises’ IT staff to travel to data centres and manage their equipment. Through its AR glasses, CITIC Telecom CPC’s DataHOUSE AR Remote Hand can serve as the customers’ remote hands. Not only does it show the status of on-site equipment as customers watch in real-time from offices or other locations through the AR operations console, but it also lets customers provide live instructions to CITIC Telecom CPC’s on-site engineers as they troubleshoot equipment issues without customers being physically in the data centre.

AR Remote Hand solution is the brainchild of CITIC Telecom CPC’s professional teams of data scientists and research and development experts. Combining their knowledge with experts from the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), which was founded by the Hong Kong government to enhance the city’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research, this collaboration has been very successful in creating a groundbreaking technology to revolutionize management and maintenance in data center scenarios.

CITIC Telecom CPC is now building additional enhancements in the new version of AR Remote Hand by expanding its range of supported vendor equipment and adding on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to extend more service coverage. As one of the trusted partners of leading multinational and business enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, it maintains its integrity as the premier connectivity, cloud services, information security, and data centre provider in the world.

The Technology Excellence Awards was presented by Singapore Business Review via video conferencing throughout the second and third week of April. This year’s nominations were judged by of Daryl Pereira, Head of Cyber at KPMG; Cheang Wai Keat, Partner, Consultant at Ernst & Young Advisory Pte. Ltd.; Henry Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Nexia TS; Sivakumar Saravan, Senior Partner at Crowe Singapore; Cecil Su, Director, Head of Cybersecurity of BDO Singapore.

About CITIC Telecom CPC
We are CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), serving multinational enterprises the world over by addressing their ICT requirements with integrated digitalisation solutions built upon our flagship technology suites, comprising TrueCONNECT™ private network solutions, TrustCSI™ information security solutions, DataHOUSE™ cloud data center solutions, and SmartCLOUD™ cloud computing solutions.

With the motto “Innovation Never Stops”, we leverage innovative technologies, embracing AI, AR, Big Data, IoT, and other cutting-edge emerging technologies to transform technical potential into business value for our customers. As enterprises digital transformation partner, we strive to help our customers achieving industry-leading position, high agility and cost-efficiency through digitalisation.

Bringing with our Global-Local capabilities, we are committed to providing our customers with one-stop-shop ICT solutions with superior quality. Having a worldwide footprint across 160 countries, including Asia, Europe and America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, our global network resources connect over 160 points of presence (POPs), 18 Cloud service centers, 30+ data centers, and two dedicated 24×7 Security Operations Centers (SOCs). As one of the first managed service providers in Hong Kong to achieve multiple ICT-related certifications, including ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, 27001, and 27017, we have been offering professional local services, superior delivery capabilities as well as exceptional customer experience and best practices through our global presence and extensive industry know-how, becoming a leading integrated intelligent ICT service provider to enterprise customers. For more information please visit www.citictel-cpc.com.

About Singapore Business Review
The SBR Technology Excellence Awards is organised by Singapore Business Review (SBR.com.sg), the definitive magazine for Singapore’s business elite. Not only has it built its reputation and credibility as a publication, but it has also become a recognised symbol of excellence for multinational companies with offices in Singapore. Since then, SBR continuously strives to provide a platform where companies can showcase and celebrate their growth and success.

Media Contact:
June Tay
CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited
+65 6692 8357
Email: june.tay@citictel-cpc.com

FINXFLO Announces Binance as Latest Liquidity Provider

FINXFLO, the world’s first hybrid DeFi/CeFi liquidity aggregator, today announced that Binance, the world’s leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider, will join the platform as its newest liquidity provider.

In line with this announcement, Binance will support FINXFLO’s expansion as the platform aims to deliver a seamless trading experience for FINXFLO users.

With the support of Binance as a liquidity provider, FINXFLO will continue its momentum as an industry-leading aggregator with access to the most well-known DeFi and CeFi protocols.

“We could not be more excited to announce Binance as a liquidity provider for FINXFLO,” said James Gillingham, CEO of FINXFLO. “This announcement cements our platform among the most trusted aggregators in the space. Liquidity is for stability in the financial market, and especially significant for cryptocurrency, where volatility can cause significant disruption.”

Early indications point to a spike in retail investors as the catalyst for the recent cryptocurrency price surge. Despite the growth in users, the crypto space notoriously suffers from poor usability and substandard user experience. FINXFLO strives to solve noticeable hurdles in the space by offering a one-stop solution for crypto traders. The platform aggregates the best prices across the top CeFi and DeFi protocols in a single interface.

“With the influx of retail crypto investors entering the space, it is crucial that the barriers to entry are eliminated,” continued Gillingham. “FINXFLO’s platform looks to deliver a platform with a simplified trading experience that supports the surge of new users.”

This news follows FINXFLO’s recent additions of Coinbase and FTX as liquidity providers.

To learn more, visit FINXFLO.com. Follow them on Twitter, and join the conversation on Telegram.

About FINXFLO
Co-founded by leaders in their respective niches, FINXFLO is a platform that focuses on changing the cryptocurrency market through innovation. As the world’s first hybrid DeFi/CeFi liquidity and protocol aggregator, FINXFLO brings a one-stop solution for all cryptocurrency traders and investors. Using only one account with one KYC, our users are now able to utilise liquidity from 25+ CeFi and DeFi platforms through a single user interface. In simple terms, FINXFLO blends all the upsides of DeFi and CeFi ecosystems to produce the ultimate product. Visit www.finxflo.com.

About Binance
Binance is the world’s leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users, and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including: trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralization and infrastructure solutions, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com

Trade on the go with Binance’s mobile crypto trading app. Download for Android or iOS.

Media contact:
Stefan Lai, Partnerships Manager, FINXFLO
T: +65 3157 4301, E: marketing@finxflo.com
Address: Level 12, Capital Tower, 168 Robinson Rd, Singapore 068912

Trintech Announces Sponsorship of ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2021 Event

Trintech to present how to digitize workflows across your financial close process with CadencyDirect, the only Financial Close Automation (FCA) application on the Now Platform(R)

Trintech, a leading global provider of integrated Record to Report software solutions for the Office of Finance, today announced its gold sponsorship of ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2021 event taking place virtually May 11th – 20th. During this event, digital leaders, partners, and forward-thinkers will come together to discover how organizations are becoming more resilient and reshaping their industries with digital workflows.

As part of this sponsorship, Trintech will be hosting two speaking sessions. The first, “Delivering Real-Time Financial Insights with the Right Processes and Technology,” will be co-hosted with KPMG and focuses on how to address the financial close by combining effective processes and technology that simplify workflows across your Office of Finance.

“As enterprises continue to accelerate digital transformation efforts, it is critical to think about this holistically from both a process and technology-perspective,” said Scott Cohen, Advisory, KPMG LLP. “A comprehensive digital workflow transformation is vital to your future success and we are excited about our expanded partnership with both Trintech and ServiceNow to address companies’ unique finance and organizational transformations by turning knowledge into value and successfully driving large, global, and complex workflow transformation.”

The second session, “Transform Your Office of Finance by Powering Your Workflow with CadencyDirect,” will showcase how CadencyDirect, the only Financial Close Automation (FCA) application on the Now Platform(R), can digitize your workflows across your financial close process on a single, scalable, cloud-based platform that reduces complexity and risk, accelerates the overall process, and drives a greater experience for finance teams.

“Leading enterprises understand the need to digitize workflows across the enterprise which is why we are excited about our recent partnership with ServiceNow and bringing our CadencyDirect solution to the ServiceNow customer base at Knowledge 2021,” said Robert Michlewicz, Chief Strategy Officer at Trintech. “For finance organizations, CadencyDirect complements and extends financial operations management by addressing the shared needs of the CFO, CIO and CAO and enabling their teams to digitize workflows impacting the financial close process – thus creating visibility and improved synergies that help companies achieve a more effective operating enterprise.”

Trintech recently was named a ServiceNow Elite Partner in the ServiceNow Technology Program, bringing CadencyDirect, an industry-leading financial close automation solution, into the Now Platform(R) to support digital transformation across the enterprise. CadencyDirect is powered by Trintech’s industry-leading Cadency solution that combines all financial close activities into a single, seamless process, including operational matching, intercompany transaction management, balance sheet reconciliations, journal entry management, close task management and compliance. Cadency integrates with 100s of ERP instances including SAP(R), Oracle(R) and NetSuite(R) and currently serves the majority of the Fortune 100.

For more information on ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2021 event, or to register, click here. https://knowledge.servicenow.com/

Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

About Trintech
Trintech Inc., a pioneer of Financial Corporate Performance Management (FCPM) software, combines unmatched technical and financial expertise to create innovative, cloud-based software solutions that deliver world-class financial operations and insights. From high volume transaction matching and streamlining daily operational reconciliations, to automating and managing balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, journal entries, disclosure reporting and bank fee analysis, to governance, risk and compliance – Trintech’s portfolio of financial solutions, including Cadency(R) Platform, Adra(R) Suite, and targeted tools, ReconNET(TM), T-Recs(R), and UPCS(R), help manage all aspects of the financial close process. Over 3,500 clients worldwide – including the majority of the Fortune 100 – rely on the company’s cloud-based software to continuously improve the efficiency, reliability, and strategic insights of their financial operations.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Trintech has offices located across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Nordics, as well as strategic partners in South Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific. To learn more about Trintech, visit www.trintech.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About KPMG LLP
KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 146 countries and territories and in FY20 had close to 227,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.

Media Contact:
Kristina Pereira Tully
Vested
+1-650-464-0080
trintech@fullyvested.com

SOURCE: Trintech, Inc.

Stakeholders from the Australian Government Highlight the Use of AI in Creating Smart and High-Performance Governance

Australia played host to a content-rich virtual conference on Artificial Intelligence on Thursday, 22 April 2021. World AI Show convened over 300 online participants that included major stakeholders of Australia’s AI ecosystem including Government authorities, top AI experts & solution providers. The online conference featured leading AI organisations such as Dataiku and Tiger Analytics amongst others to discuss Australia’s AI prospects.

“Finding the right business context for AI is a big part of the game as it opens up a plethora of possibilities. However, innovations such as AI must be contextualised and integrated into a company usecase,” stated Mithun Shetty, CEO, Trescon. He further added, “Virtual events are providing opportunities for such discussions to take place during these difficult times.”

The conference was hosted on the world-renowned virtual events platform, Vmeets that provided an immersive digital experience for participants to engage in keynotes, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, technology use-cases, industry solutions, applied AI showcases and the latest go-to-market innovations.

World AI Show – Australia covered key topics such as AI-driven digital transformation for enterprise, Accelerating and Operationalizing AI deployments within any organization, Data visualization bringing business intelligence to life, Ethical implications of enterprise AI and much more.

Some of the top speakers who attended the event included Ruby Wolff, COO, Aramex; William Yeoh, Associate Professor, Deakin University; Oleg Kravets, Global Head of Data and Analytics, The Travel Corporation; Amir H. Gandomi, Professor of Data Science, University of Technology Sydney; Angela Kim, Head of Analytics and AI, Teachers Health Fund; and Joshua Arvin Lat, Chief Technology Officer, NuWorks Interactive Labs, to name a few.

Highlights and key takeaways from World AI Show – Australia:

World AI Show started with an interesting panel discussion on “AI and Public Sector – Combining to create Smart and high-performance Governments” where the panellists discussed the immense opportunities presented by AI and also the risks associated with it. Also, an attempt was made to unearth the potential for AI to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the near future.

The panellists who joined the discussion included Kate Harrington, Head of Strategic Digital Initiatives,NSW Government Chief Information & Digital Office; Ed Santow, Human Rights Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission; Manohar Esarapu, CIO, City of Port Phillip; Dr Mahesh Prakash, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO DATA61 and moderated by Reynaldo Lugtu, Founder & CEO, Hungry Workhorse.

In a keynote on “Saving the world’s rarest dolphin with AI & Drones” by Tane Van Der Boon, Co-founder & Technical Lead, MAUI63 spoke about the critically endangered Māui dolphins. He shared some light on how MAUI63’s UAV (drone) equipped with AI is helping gather crucial data which is required by the policymakers to make data-driven, informed decisions to protect these animals.

The show also featured an interesting tech talk by Shaun McGirr, AI Evangelist, Dataiku on the topic “AI: From Cost to Revenue Center”.

In a panel discussion on “How Banks and Financial Institutions are making the most of AI” moderated by Neal Cross, Co-founder and Chairman, PictureWealth the panellists discussed various challenges faced in engaging people with AI-driven projects and how large organizations set up their AI framework.

The panellists who joined the discussion included Dan Jermyn, GM Chief Decision Scientist,, Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Kshira Saagar, Chief Data Officer, Latitude Financial Services and Sonny Supriyadi, SVP, Head, Pricing and Data Analytics, Maybank Indonesia.

World AI Show – Australia was officially sponsored by Platinum Sponsor – as Dataiku and Bronze Sponsor – Tiger Analytics.

About World AI Show

World AI Show is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused, global series of events taking place in strategic locations across the world. It connects top AI experts, enterprises, government representatives, data scientists, technology leaders, startups, investors, researchers, academicians, and global AI innovators – to discuss the impact of AI on commercial applications and the revolutionary ways it can transform businesses and government functions.

Register for free at – https://saudi.worldaishow.com/free-pass-registration

For further details about the announcement, please contact:

Karthik Adhikary

Corporate Communications Manager

marketing@tresconglobal.com

NTSB-style Report Blames the Washington Companies in Bridge Destruction

A root cause analytical investigation of the causation of a potentially fatal collision of two Komatsu excavators with a locally important bridge on the I-5 freeway in the State of Washington was executed recently. Mr Jeff Guzzetti, former Director, Accident Investigation Division of the Federal Aviation Administration, and former Deputy Director, Regional Office of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), provides an in-depth review of the accident which occurred July 22, 2016. The goal of Mr Guzzetti’s investigation is to determine the root cause of the bridge strike.

Mr Guzzetti was called upon to utilize the forensics-style methodology employed by his former employer, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with a high degree of professional integrity and impartiality in determining the causal events behind the accidents, and finding the parties with the most responsibility in the bridge strike.

Quoted from Mr Guzzetti’s report under probable cause:
“Based on my review of available material, I have determined that the probable cause of this accident is (1) the shipper’s improper loading of the excavator, and failure to prevent the departure of the truck in an over-height state. Factors contributing to the cause are (2) the lack of adequate training and protocols by Modern Machinery.”

The list of other parties that may have contributed to the accident listed in this report are, The State of Washington Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and ETON.

The shipper of the two excavators was the Modern Machinery company, a subsidiary of the Washington group of companies. Part of the material Mr Guzzetti used was the deposition of the Washington company employee, Mr Piles, where under sworn oath he testified that they had never been trained to curl the excavator’s bucket as required by the manufacturer for the transport of these excavators in question.

ETON is a Las Vegas-based premier transportation company serving the Western United States with equipment, professional drivers and superior on-time service.

The Washington Companies are a group of individual, privately held companies headquartered throughout the United States and western Canada and conducting business internationally, whose purpose is to reliably provide equipment, technology, service, and special expertise that aids customers to operate more efficiently and more profitably. Our affiliation gives us the ability to interconnect and combine resources and remain highly competitive. The individual success of each Company also empowers a strong sense of social responsibility, realized through corporate charitable activities and programs funded by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.

Modern Machinery is part of this large consortium of privately held companies, collectively known as the Washington Companies, owned by billionaire Dennis R. Washington. Modern Machinery sells and rents high-quality heavy equipment and provides product support to the construction, mining, and forestry industries. The Modern Machinery terminal in Rochester, WA is home to a large staging area for a variety of Komatsu product brought from overseas awaiting shipment to other Komatsu dealers.

Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd. (OTCMKTS: KMTUY) the world’s second-largest manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment, consisting of construction, mining and compact construction equipment.

CONTACT:
ETON.me
Mitchell Truman
+1 (702) 348 6370
http://www.ETON.me
Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC

“IN MOMS WE TRUST” Global Virtual Summit

You are cordially invited to join us for this Global Virtual Summit celebrating the voices of women & girls around the world as we discuss new paradigms in reshaping the global digital economy and celebrate the launch of The State of Women Podcast Network in partnership with The State of Women Institute, SHEQONOMI, and Women Investing in Women DIGITAL.

Inviting all global partners & leaders committed to the economic empowerment of women to join us for various strategic opportunities

Our 3-day event will engage women entrepreneurs & women owned enterprises build bridges for global international trade & commerce

Join us in setting a new global standard for the economic empowerment of women, especially small and large scale women entrepreneurs from leading economies, emerging markets, and industry thought leaders and mavericks leading Post-Pandemic Recovery.

Register Here: https://hopin.com/events/inmomswetrust

Global investment into women led companies has reached an all-time low during 2020. We are seeing many innovative ideas come out of developing nations across the globe that deserve more visibility and connectivity with qualified investors and partners who can help them grow and scale. Amplifying Her Voice will serve as a global platform that will bring such stakeholders together from within Women Investing in Women Digital’s virtual tribe to a broader global community of women entrepreneurs, investors, technologies, and industry professionals to accelerate both communication and unprecedented digital connectivity. This Roundtable will be the beginning of a series of conversations where professionals from within the global innovation ecosystem may listen, learn, and share best practices with the global women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem where our global network of women investors and philanthropists will be invited. Your will have the opportunity to share your Call’s to Action from local, regional, and global standpoints that will hopefully be a starting for deeper conversations and partnerships leading to change, investment, impact, and transformation.

About Amplifying Her Voice (May 11-13, 2021): (https://hopin.com/events/inmomswetrust)

For three days starting this International Women’s Day, we held the first Amplifying Her Voice Global Summit. From Fiji to France, Bermuda to Bhutan, South Africa to Sweden; women and men around the world came together as one to celebrate what we’ve overcome together and to discuss how to keep moving the needle. With more than 1,600 attendees and 250 speakers from over 100 countries, we were inspired by the turnout–and the conversation. We hope you’ll join us again this May as we meet to honor mothers and discuss motherhood at our May, “In Moms We Trust” Summit.

From investors and philanthropists to media moguls and CEOs, women are driving change–and then driving home to raise families, as they always have. On May 11, 12, and 13, in celebration of Mother’s Day and mothers worldwide, we’re inviting you to join us for the Amplifying Her Voice Mother’s Day “In Moms We Trust” Summit as we listen to, learn from, and lift up the voices of the women raising the next generation.

Hear from experts on finance, psychology, climate activism, health, entrepreneurship, podcasting, investing, and more.

EVERY PAYING IT FORWARD: “Investing in Women” ticket will support 500 women to attend for FREE! We have 100+ countries represented so far and looking forward to having a truly INCLUSIVE event, where we can all learn and grow together. Digital gifts and giveaways be announced to all registrants over the next few weeks! Men are welcome to join us! We never want cost to be prohibitive for any of our events or initiatives. Free tickets will be announced starting May 1. All sessions will be recorded and shared free of charge post event.

About Anu Bhardwaj

Founder Anu Bhardwaj is a serial social entrepreneur and philanthropist, listed on the 2020 Inc Magazine Global Top 100 Female Founders and one of 7 female Award Recipients of the 2020 Transform Fund from the Islamic Development Bank (from a pool of 5,000 applicants worldwide). Anu also co-chaired the 2nd Annual Blockchain for Impact Summit at the United Nations HQ in 2019, and is the founder of Women Investing in Women Digital with over 1M international followers, The State of Women Institute, and SHEQONOMI which has produced a suite of women-led and women focused podcast APPS on Android, iOS, and KaiOS.

About The State Of Women Institute

The State of Women Institute is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls through programs and initiatives that support the creation of various forms of digital media (including podcasts, video documentary, social media related, print, AR and VR). The State of Women Podcast Network, launching Spring 2021 on GooglePlay, Android, and KaiOS, encompassing 300 women podcasters from across five continents. The State of Women Institute will be partnering with Women Investing in Women DIGITAL, SHEQONOMI, and a long list of reputable global non-profits and change makers across 100+ countries worldwide in leading “Amplifying Her Voice” Global Virtual Summit in honor of Mother’s Day 2021.

About SHEQONOMI

SHEQONOMI is on a mission to bring women’s voices to the main stage, and that alone has the power to change the trajectory of our entire planet. SHEQONOMI is a highly unique podcast platform – built organically by millennial women to serve 2 billion women globally, where content creation and listening are rewarded.

Contact: ANU Bhardwaj
Mobile: +18587367460 Email: Anu@womeninvesting.in

Source: Plato Data Intelligence: https://zephyrnet.com/