Author: Asia PEVC

Futu SG’s New Referral Programme “Share leh!” Rewards Users for Sharing

Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“Futu SG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq:FUTU) announced the launch of its new “Share leh!” campaign on its latest one-stop investment platform, moomoo, which aims to further boost the idea of inclusivity and connectivity within the investing community. The campaign, which runs from 1 May to 31 May 2021, will provide benefits to both new and seasoned users.

In line with the company’s mission to “make investing easier and not alone”, Futu SG has come up with an enhanced referral programme where new users and their friends are able to earn up to 20 Twitter (TWTR) shares*, which have a net worth doubling more than what was offered during the last campaign (one was previously able to earn up to S$600 cash coupon). In addition, users who had opened an account prior to the campaign can still enjoy benefits from the new referral programme as their list of referrers gets reset back to zero.

Under the “Share leh!” campaign, new users will now receive 1 free Apple (AAPL) share, along with 180 days commission-free trading for US, HK & SG markets, free level 2 market data for US stocks and free level 1 real-time market data for SGX securities per new account opening with a minimum deposit of either S$2,700, US$2,000 or HK$16,000 before 1500 hrs on 31 May 2021*.

The key motivation behind Futu SG’s new campaign is the results from its previous survey on investing trends amongst Gen Z and Millennials, which found that many young investors have developed a greater interest in investing and have begun taking greater ownership of their finances. As “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out) is highly undesired among these demographics, Futu SG hopes that its campaign would bring about an engaging social community that promotes a sense of inclusivity and culture to all users.

As highlighted by the campaign name, Futu SG hopes to show users how they will be rewarded by sharing offers, insights, profits graphs, and investment ideas to their peers. In addition, moomoo app provides an open forum known as the moo community which allows its users and clients to share investment ideas, ask questions and exchange insights through posts and live-streams. Features that are available in the community include digital content, tasks & missions and analytical guides for both new and seasoned investors. The moo community was created to boost the idea of making investing “not alone”, and seeks to help investors enrich their investing knowledge and establish rapport with other investors. Futu SG hopes that these initiatives will highlight how investment is never a lonely journey for users and that they will always have the backing of moo community.

Since its launch in Singapore this March, moomoo powered by Futu has received much success to date, having seen robust growth momentum and encouraging user feedback. The platform currently has more than 13 million users worldwide and possesses one of the fastest growing investor communities in the region which enables users to stay up-to-date of the latest investment trends.

Another testament to Futu Holdings Limited’s success is its achievement of the Fintech Award under the Trading Services category in the Singapore Business Review Awards 2021 for the launch and creation of moomoo.

Recognising the importance in having both user-friendly designs and advanced product features, Futu Holdings Limited designed moomoo with a slick interface which provides wide product offerings of market accessibility, data options, low commissions and user fees to reduce friction in accessing global investable products. moomoo app also includes AI-driven data screeners and easy-to-analyse trading charts, facilitating the convenience of trading across multiple markets with its multi-currency facility.

“We are very thankful to have received the SBR Awards and are confident that this is a positive sign of the success from our digitalisation efforts. Since establishing in 2012, we have always been on a mission to improve the investing experience of users through product upgrading and have dedicated over 70% of our employees to research and development. We also recognised that investing should not be a difficult and lonesome process and have therefore placed great emphasis on social elements. We believe that our latest campaign of rewarding users for sharing will show our commitment in being there for them along every step of the way,” says Leaf Li, Founder & CEO of Futu.

*Terms and conditions apply. The full terms and conditions and disclaimer can be found at https://j.moomoo.com/003U7L. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. In Singapore, capital market products and services in moomoo are offered by Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd.

About moomoo

moomoo Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Futu Holdings Ltd, which is an advanced technology company transforming the investing experience by offering a fully digitised trading and wealth management platform. moomoo’s mission is to provide any level of investors with an intuitive and powerful investing platform by using technology. We keep improving customer’s experience and driving industrial innovation backed by independent technological research and development (R&D) capabilities on the whole trading process and our creative internet operating model. Capital markets products and services on moomoo are offered by Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. to persons in Singapore, or to persons in jurisdiction where such offers are permitted. Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Futu Holdings Limited.

About Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd

Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Futu Holdings Limited. Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. (www.futusg.com) is a capital markets services licence holder regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS101000).

About Futu Holdings Limited

Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) is an advanced technology company transforming the investing experience by offering a fully digitised trading and wealth management platform. Pursuing a massive opportunity to facilitate a once-in-a-generation shift in the wealth management industry and build a digital gateway into broader financial services. The organisation’s primary fee-generating services include trade execution and margin financing which allow its clients to trade securities, such as stocks, warrants, options, futures and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, across different markets. Futu enhances the user and client experience with market data and news, research, as well as powerful analytical tools, providing them with a data rich foundation to simplify the investing decision-making process. Futu has also embedded social media tools to create a network centered around its users and provide connectivity to users, investors, companies, analysts, media and key opinion leaders.

For all media queries, please contact:
Ashley Tan
FPR
T: 6438-2990
E: FUTU-SG@financialpr.com.sg

ADO Debuts A20 Urban Off-Road Commuter Ebike across EU on May 6

Innovative startup ADO officially debuts the A20 off-road commuter Ebike across EU countries on May 6. The A20 is positioned as an urban off-road Ebike, able to conquer all urban terrains.

Crush the commute with A20 e-bike, 20-inch, max speed 25km/h, 36V10.4AH

ADO will hold the momentum for a June launch in the UK, Russia, and Ukraine. With years of effort and an accumulated experience in the Ebike industry, ADO will cooperate with more than 20 local distributing partners in Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Ukraine, extending its business across Europe.

ADO’s electric bicycle A20, positioned as urban off-road, can conquer all urban terrains:
— 350W (CE version: 250W) and 380r/min motor, rated as off-road power drive, provides excellent obstacle crossing ability, can easily conquer all urban terrains
— Shimano 7 speed transmission system offers an easy cycling experience
— Full body shock absorption system provides a smooth riding experience
— 36V10.4AH, automobile-level battery and energy recovery system provide with excellent cycling distance
— 886 Type HD LCD display, crystal clear under the sunshine
— USB charging/gravity handle follows ergonomic design principles

ADO G-DRIVE frequency conversion control system can instantly receive signals from motors, sensors and adapt to various cycling and bicycle modes with a super-strong motor drive. Meanwhile, it helps reduce energy consumption to increase the riding distance.

The energy recovery system and 3.25 gold transmission ratio design increase the power conversion efficiency by more than 92% through the power sensor and control system, thus improving the battery life.

Hassle-free after-sales support, warranty up to 10 years
Besides launching an accessible Ebike with high quality, ADO spares no effort to set up strong and long-term after-sales support in Europe. This has been a pain in the neck for years that local customers find it difficult or inconvenient to get simple issues fixed.

ADO promises to provide consumers with localized hassle-free technology and after-sales service in European countries. Fast dispatch from local European warehouses and real-time online technical information, advice, guidance available. Plus, free replacement for a new Ebike when maintenance is not available due to quality issues is guaranteed.

For warranty policies, ADO offers a 10-year warranty for the frame and a 1-year warranty covering structural parts – front fork, seat tube, handlebar, headset stem, brake handle, brake lever, sprocket crank, chain wheel, thumb shifter, derailleur; and electrical components – charger, battery, motor, controller, instrument, booster, USB charger, acceleration handle, 2in1 switch, and headlight.

To provide better after-sales support, ADO has set up a technical service centre in the industrial area of Broussard, Germany, with a self-built warehouse of 3,000 square meters and an office of 400 square meters. In addition, three other maintenance centres, in Germany, the UK, and Poland, provide instant follow-up to customer repair requests in Europe.

Green commuting
ADO is a brand born in the middle of the pandemic when the world is facing changes in all walks of life. Sustainability is becoming ever more crucial and Ebike marketing is booming. Practising a green commute is important for not only personal health but for ensuring that we have a healthy planet to inhabit in the future.

“Riding your bike or walking to work can help you show up awake, sharp, and focused. When you choose an active commute, you’re incorporating physical activity into your daily routine in a necessary way,” said Sen, founder of ADO and an advocate of a green and healthy lifestyle himself.

To provide a smoother riding experience in European countries with mountainous roads, ADO is embracing more fat-tire electric bicycles in product development. Solar energy Ebikes and hubless Ebikes will also be considered in the coming future.

The A20 Ebike is available on www.banggood.com at a premiere price of EUR 639 from May 6th to 31st. Additionally, there will be 100 EUR619 coupon offers to Redditors.

About ADO
ADO is short for ‘A Dece Oasis’, or Oasis in the Desert. ADO is taken from Crescent Lake in China, a diamond on the ancient Silk Road, and a bridge connecting China and Western. Flowing for thousands of years in the desert, Crescent Lake is symbolic of Green and Challenge, and also Inheritance and Hope. ADO was founded in 2020, committed to building a green commuting ecology by advocating the riding culture and philosophy of Green, Challenge, Inheritance & Hope.

In 2021, ADO launched the first Ebike A20, equipped with competitive electric power and a multiple shock absorption system. Based on the complex road conditions in many old cities in Europe and the uncomfortable riding experience, ADO has a clear direction for product development: ADO products are positioned as urban off-road Ebikes suitable for all urban road conditions. With the highest requirements for electric power and shock absorption systems, ADO Ebike was born for pursuing the ultimate in quality. Learn more at www.adoebike.com.

Media contact:
Sen Xie, ADOEBIKE
E: ado@adoebike.com
W: www.adoebike.com

Digital Week Northeast Asia 2021: How will Japan’s Data Centre market play out?

Data centre penetration in Japan is largely concentrated in two regions–Tokyo and Osaka.

However, post COVID-19, with the ubiquitous use of technology across the length and breadth of Japan, there is a growing clamour for data centres to be set up in other locations. Addressing delegates at Digital Week Northeast Asia on the topic of “Growth projections for Japan DC Hubs,” Takashi Kondo, Product & Sales Director, Asia, Colt Data Centre Services, pointed out that currently data centre hubs in Japan are concentrated in a 100 kilometre radius around Tokyo.

“There are many factors but the big ones are submarine landing stations, which are close to the Tokyo Bay area,” he said.

In Japan, there are more than 20 international submarine cable landing stations with cables connecting the United Station, Australia, Russia, Pan-Asia, Europe and Africa. Japan is well-connected with submarine cables, with even more projects on the way, including Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2, JUPITER, Japan-Guam-Australia North, and Okinawa Cellular Cable.

In 2020, NEC Corporation, a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics company, announced a 9,400-kilometer ADC submarine cable that will connect China (Hong Kong and Guangdong province), Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is also interesting to ntoe that Osaka has a long history, as the capital in olden times, and also as a gateway for international exchange. From the early-modern era, it prospered as a central area for business and finance and played a large role in the growth and development of Japan’s industrial economy.

“The demand has gone up since the onset of the pandemic and data centres have been driven by submarine cables as well as land availability around Tokyo and Osaka,” according to Hessam Seifi, Managing Director, DC PRO BV. In October 2020, AirTrunk announced a new 300 MW hyperscale data centre in Tokyo.

Challenges in DC penetration

Even as the demand is increasing in the interiors of Japan, companies are a bit hesitant when it comes to setting up data centres. “Land and power requirements are a challenge in smaller regional hubs,” noted Seifi. All that could change.

Edward Tay, CEO, Sistema Asia Capital is of the view that a lot depends on how much content services can be provided locally.

There is also a need to understand the local dynamics in Japan. “We are building a land bank and we work closely with the ecosystem as they are in the best position to provide local knowledge,” pointed out Kondo.

So, what are the trends playing out in the data centre segment in Japan? What is the marketshare of hyperscale versus colocation providers versus local organisations?

Seifi is of the view that the Japan data centre market is dominated by international cloud providers such as Amazon. In Asia Pacific, the trends are similar to other parts of the world.

“Increasing hyperscalers- American as well as Chinese cloud providers such as Alibaba, Huawei dominate the market,” said Daryl Dunbar, CEO of Dunbar Enterprises. Colocation service providers will keep growing, as enterprises are still moving to the cloud. “A lot of businesses have not yet adopted the cloud. In the next 5 years, growing demand in the colo segment,” stated Kondo.

Excluding China, Japan is Asia’s biggest data center market, with an estimated value of US$7 billion by 2025.

Sustainability push

The Japanese government has committed to the decarbonisation goals by committing to a greater usage of Renewable Energy (RE). Recently, Japan said that it aims to double its inter-regional power grid capacity by adding up to 23 GW to help speed expansion of renewable energy such as offshore wind farms. “Japan is strong in wind power and is also the second largest PV market after China,” said Tay.

Japan has substantial coastline and has enormous potential in offshore wind. The Japanese government has introduced legislation to strengthen the regulatory environment for offshore wind and is committed to work together with private sector to promote offshore wind power generation in both domestic and international markets.

Blockchain & Liberty for All

Live from Washington DC, GBA will host a virtual gathering of members to celebrate the accomplishments of 2020 and plan our trajectory going forward. Join us, June 18-19, as the GBA hosts, BLOCKCHAIN AND LIBERTY FOR ALL, streaming virtually to cities around the world.

In commemoration of June 19th, also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth is a U.S. holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans still held in slavery in Texas in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery. This 2-year delay came from a deliberate withholding of the news of freedom, chaining thousands of slaves with a lie. Today we have an abundance of news, 24/7, on multiple channels. But are we getting the truth, or is it fake news? Without verification, can we trust the data? Blockchain is a specific type of database in which blocks of data are chained together in chronological order, immutable, irreversible, and viewable to anyone. No data goes into a block until the entire community sees it and verifies it. Blockchain as a system can provide verification, trust, and liberty for all. Hence the theme of this year’s GBA annual meeting, Blockchain and Liberty for All.

The Government Blockchain Association, GBA, is a global business association with chapters in 120 cities around the world. In only a few short years, the GBA has risen from a local meetup to an international association of blockchain innovators and government policy makers with over 50 Working Groups including:

– Acquisition Management
– Big Data
– Cannabis
– Cybersecurity
– Education and Training
– Emergency Management
– Financial Regulatory
– Gaming
– Grants
– Intellectual Property
– Land Titling
– Smart Cities
– Space
– Supply Chain
– Voting, and More…

Leaders from GBA Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, US, Canada, and India will give yearly updates. Eric Guthrie, Esq., GBA Director of Training and author of Diversify or Die, will give a Keynote on ‘Journey to Freedom’. Technology, the Token, Fair and Honest Elections, and Blockchain and Equal Opportunity will all be discussed.

“Political freedom must be accompanied by economic freedom for people to be truly free. Blockchain Technology is a new frontier in the economic landscape.” says Gerard Dache, Executive Director, GBA.

Blockchain technology does not discriminate between color, gender, age, nationality, or background (education). This new technology presents an opportunity for all who want to embrace it. Join GBA on June 18-19 as we discuss our yearly update.

For more information go to Blockchain & Liberty for All (www.gbaglobal.org/event/blockchain-liberty-for-all)

Source: Plato Data Intelligence (https://zephyrnet.com/blockchain-liberty-for-all/)

HKTDC Lifestyle ShoppingFest draws to successful close

  • 75% of exhibitors agree physical show helps promote business
  • Gourmet products prove most popular with public

The HKTDC Lifestyle ShoppingFest, a brand-new public fair organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), came to a successful close yesterday (2 May).

The fair kicked off on 28 April (Wednesday) and ran over five days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), featuring 430 exhibitors and attracting more than 55,000 public visitors.

The Lifestyle ShoppingFest concluded successfully yesterday (2 May). Happy shoppers are pictured visiting the last day of the fair to buy their favourite products.
“Food Street” introduced local and global delicacies.
Fun-filled events were held during the fair including cooking demonstrations by master chefs, rope-skipping and smart bidding auctions.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: “The Lifestyle ShoppingFest is the first physical show organised by the HKTDC since the pandemic began early last year. We implemented a series of anti-pandemic measures to safeguard the health and safety of participants. We were pleased to see a positive response from exhibitors and the public, reflecting the fact that physical shows are irreplaceable. The HKTDC responded to the needs of Hong Kong enterprises, bringing them additional selling opportunities during a challenging period, while the public were provided with an enjoyable shopping experience.”

Apart from the Hong Kong Book Fair and concurrent fairs running in mid-July, the HKTDC will also host several trade fairs including the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show from 25 to 29 July, and the International Sourcing Show from 26 to 29 July. The three fairs will be the first concurrent physical trade fairs to be staged by the HKTDC since the pandemic. It is expected that the three fairs can create synergies across industries, enhancing sourcing efficiency and creating more opportunities for cross-industry exhibitors.

Physical fair provides boost for business
This five-day Lifestyle ShoppingFest provided a valuable opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to understand more about consumers’ preferences. The HKTDC conducted a survey to gauge the views of exhibitors, finding that 75% of exhibitors agreed that physical shows can help to boost their businesses.

Richard Leung, Director of the Ballerina Watch Company Limited, said: “The pandemic has inevitably decelerated the economy and had an impact on exports and local retail. The Lifestyle ShoppingFest is a timely opportunity to provide a solid selling platform for various industries as the pandemic subsides. Consumers of high-end products such as jewellery and watches prefer examining tangible products, which explains the importance of physical fairs.” He added that as the pandemic comes under control, sales of food and hygiene products will see a brisk recovery, followed by a progressive resumption of sales for high-end consumer products.

It was the first time for optical agent Opticon Ltd to join a local public fair. Christopher Chan, Director of the company, said, “We focused on commercial clients in the past, but we are now looking to explore the retail market. The people flow and atmosphere at the Lifestyle ShoppingFest was good, helping us to get to know more about consumers’ preferences which in turn will give us more confidence to build up our retail business.”

OMG Design, the sole agent of Israel suitcase brand Rollink in Asia, promoted its feature products at the fair having seen strong growth in consumer demand for household products amid the pandemic. Andy Cheung, the company’s Business Development Manager, said: “The Lifestyle ShoppingFest showcased a wide range of products that attracted local consumers from different age groups. We adjusted our marketing strategy, offering special prices to attract visitors at the fair. We successfully sold more than 100 Rollink suitcase at a discount of 45%, earning revenue of approximately HK$80,000.” Mr Cheung also met a jewellery industry buyer and wine supplier interested in using the company’s suitcases for product packaging and corporate gifts. He hopes to close more business deals after the fair.

To help exhibitors grasp online business opportunities, the KOL Live Station was set up at the fair. The HKTDC partnered with the team from Bonjour Hong Kong to introduce a range of highlighted products, and individual exhibitors also got the chance to present their own products at the Live Station. A series of live-broadcast sessions featured products from nearly 60 exhibitors, with some of the products made available for online sale at the Bonjour HK Mall. The HKTDC is also collaborating with e-commerce platform Boutir to offer exhibitors the chance to open an online shop with a three-month free service to help them get established as an online retailer.

Gourmet products remain popular with public
A survey of visitors to the fair showed the four most popular product categories to be food and drink (75%), healthcare and sanitary products (20%), houseware (20%), as well as luxury products such as jewellery and watches (18%). The reasons visitors found the show attractive included special prices and discount offers (65%), product quality (61%), and the variety of products offered (57%).

Of those surveyed, 82% of visitors expressed satisfaction with the health and safety measures put in place at the show, including reminders on social distancing, the cleanliness of public areas, and minimising the exchange of cash at the event.

Websites
– Lifestyle ShoppingFest: https://lsf.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/2PFdk0L

About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly SMEs, in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org

Rimba Raya Floating Clinic Supplying Health Care to the Community along the Seruyan River

The Rimba Raya Floating Clinic was introduced into the project area as a means to improve community access to health services in and around the Rimba Raya working area which is located along the Seruyan River.

In cooperation with the Seruyan District Health Office, the Rimba Raya Floating Clinic has delivered health services three times in 2020 (Jan, Aug, Nov) and once already in 2021 (March).

Medical check-up by Medical personnel in Belanti Village(L) & Medical personnel with Rimba Raya Staff(R).
Dr Ristya Aulia of the Floating Clinic medical team.
Medical examination by Medical personnel in Tampudau Village(L) & Cempaka Baru Village(R), Miss Irus is checked by the nurse.

During these trips, several healthcare services are provided including general medical check-ups which help determine the health of local people by recording their weight, height, blood pressure and temperature. A general wellness check is also done. Additionally, pregnant women are examined to ensure that the pregnancy is advancing normally and that the mother to be is in good health. Children are also examined to monitor their growth and physical development. Other community members are examined for health problems such as myalgia, hypertension, cholesterol, URTI (upper respiratory tract infection), gastritis, eating disorders, skin infections and allergies.

Medical personnel who provide these services on each floating clinic trip include a doctor, midwives and nurses who are normally based in Puskesmas Kuala Pembuang 1 and Kuala Pembuang 2.

Dr. Ristya Aulia, a member of the Floating Clinic medical team said; “Thank you Rimba Raya for introducing this initiative that provides much needed additional health services to the villages along the Seruyan river. It is my hope that the facilities and infrastructure will improve over time and that the floating clinic will continue to provide this service and that trips into the project area will happen more frequently.”

An elderly woman, Mrs. Irus from Cempaka Baru Village said, “I am very happy with the services provided by the Rimba Raya Floating Clinic, especially because the doctor was able to visit me at my house. I live in a remote village it makes me feel better to know that I can receive treatment in my own home. I live alone and I can’t afford to pay for health care if I have to go outside the village.”

The last two trips conducted by the floating clinic took place from 10-12 November 2020 and 22-24 March 2020. There were 10 locations targeted which included 8 villages and 2 hamlets, namely; Pematang Limau, Tanjung Rangas, Muara Dua (Tampudau and Belanti Hamlet), Jahitan, Baung (west and east), Cempaka Baru, Palingkau and Ulak Batu. A total of 706 patients received health care where 60.91% (or 430 patients) were female.

The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Floating Clinic is equipped to supply 86 types of medicines. Vitamins are also supplied, particularly to children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Reportedly, during these health outreach trips, 12 common health problems were diagnosed with the top three being hypertension (24.08%), myalgia (a chronic muscle disorder) – 21.67%, and URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) – 17%.

Based on the data collected during these trips, it is also known that older people are the most susceptible to various illnesses and therefore, in this region, people aged 50 and older are the most vulnerable. 42.78% or 302 patients who received treatment, fell into this category.

“Rimba Raya Floating Clinic is vital to villagers who require health services, particularly because some areas in the Seruyan are difficult to reach and as a result, there is a severe lack of regular health care. I would like to see an increase in the frequency of these health service trips,” said Anggi Mulyawan, Staff of TNTP SPTN II Kuala Pembuang.

Head of Seruyan District Health Office, Mahdiniansyah added, “Because there has been limited availability of regional government funding, the field health program introduced by Rimba Raya has been very well received by all community members. A good example of how Rimba Raya has positively impacted this area is when they helped supply medicines to people who were victims of the major flooding that occurred in the Seruyan District in 2020.

Additionally, waterborne diseases have been reduced after Rimba Raya introduced initiatives that supply clean drinking water to villagers through the provision of individual water filters and newly constructed water purifying systems. The Head of Seruyan District expressed his gratitude for the assistance of PT. Rimba Raya Conservation in providing free health services to 10 villages and hamlets in the Seruyan District.”

“Rimba Raya hopes to have better cooperation and support from all parties involved in this effort to improve health services in the region. Access to basic health care services is as a fundamental human right and the needs of all community members should be adequately met,” said Sylviana Andhella, Executive Director of Rimba Raya Conservation.

Rimba Raya Duty
“By protecting forests, we protect all the life in them and contribute to balancing the global climate. We empower communities to be involved in protecting peat swamp forests. Together we love the earth so that its sustainability is maintained.” – Djonni Andhella, President Director of Rimba Raya Conservation.

Abou Rimba Raya
The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, an InfiniteEARTH Project, is one of the largest REDD+ projects in the world, protecting nearly 65,000 hectares of peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan, the world’s first REDD+ project verified under the Verra Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SDVista) and achieved the highest rating possible, contributing to all 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while retaining the coveted Triple Gold status under the global Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standard in the voluntary carbon market. It is a living example of an economically viable alternative to deforestation. Visit https://infinite-earth.com.

The project has reduced Indonesia’s emissions by preserving tropical peat swamp forest, avoiding large-scale deforestation, drainage and conversion to palm oil plantations. Bordering the eastern boundary of the Tanjung Puting National Park in the Seruyan River watershed, the Rimba Raya project is rich in biodiversity with over 100 threatened and endangered species, including the endangered Bornean orangutan. Visit https://rimba-raya.com.

Rimba Raya Conservation as the field implementer, empowers the community to be involved in maintaining and preserving peat swamp forest ecosystems with the following approach: Empowered Communities, Healthy Forests, Maintained Climate, and supporting the achievement of the SDG targets in the assisted villages of the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve.

Health Protocol
This activity was carried out with reference to the WHOs COVID-19 Health Protocols.

Contacts:
Frita Junita
Communication Officer – Rimba Raya Conservation
E: rimbarayajakarta@gmail.com
H: +62 857-1743-7001
U: www.rimba-raya.com

Rimba Raya MedSos:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rimbarayaproject/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RimbaRayaForest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rimba_raya_

Synopsis 2021: Hot Trends Online Summit Live June 1 to 5

This year summer starts with Synopsis 2021: Hot Trends. This is the second edition of one of the largest online summits featuring top trends in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and DeFi. Synopsis 2021: Hot Trends gathers the brightest industry participants to share their knowledge with 50,000+ viewers around the world.

Duration: June 1 to 5, 2021
The summit gathers 60+ speakers who are experts in blockchain, DeFi, and NFT, representatives of exchange platforms and biggest blockchain projects. They will share the current and future trends of the blockchain market.

The summit offers you 5 days of full immersion in the digital economy. Synopsis 2021: Hot Trends is the event to establish close communication between the experts and the community.

Key summit topics are DeFi, digital economy and regulations, NFT and digital art, trading and market analysis, and marketing and PR.

The Interactive Zone is a unique occurrence among online summits, originating in the first edition of Synopsis 2021. The Interactive Zone allows getting to know the mechanics of blockchain projects in the form of games. And game participants can win prize money!

The target audience of Synopsis 2021 is investors, business representatives, traders, market analysts, economists, business consultants, marketers, developers, representatives of regulatory bodies, PR experts, blockchain enthusiasts, college students, and everyone keen on the digital economy and DeFi market.

Synopsis 2021: first edition was a most Interactive blockchain and DeFi summit. Synopsis 2021: Hot Trends will follow through and offer viewers an even wider range of interactive events and online activities.

Summit hosts: Maria Stankevich (EXMO), Yan Khavanskiy (Coindar, Colibri Group), Lihan Lee (Xangle).

The broadcast will be carried out simultaneously on various popular streaming services including YouTube, Theta.tv and Verasity.tv.

Partners: THETA, Binance, Aergo, Conflux, TON Labs, Free TON, EXMO, MahaDAO, OKEx, Elysia, Plasm Network, Shiden Network, Stake Technologies, VAIOT, J2TX, MobiFi, Coffe.io, Securities, BeInCrypto and other popular projects
Organizers: Colibri Group, Coindar
Co-organizers: Xangle, Prometh, eus, Investment Russia
Summit sponsors: Algorand, ARPA, CyberVein, Gather Network, Verasity, Bella Protocol, TrustBase, Gate, Bingbon and others
Special partner: THETA Labs

Web: https://synopsis2021.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/synopsis2021

Media contact:
Daria Chernova, Colibri Group, Coindar
E: info@colibri-group.org, info@coindar.org
W: https://coindar.org, https://synopsis2021.com

Sentinel and StrongBlock Combine Forces for Greater dVPN Node Availability

Sentinel, a one-of-a-kind network layer that allows the development of third-party and white-label decentralized Virtual Private Network (dVPN) applications, is excited to announce its integration with StrongBlock, the leading Nodes-as-a-Service (NaaS) provider. StrongBlock launches and operates full blockchain nodes for non-technical users to increase blockchain strength, rewarding them with STRONG or native protocol tokens. With this integration, the stage is set for Sentinel’s dVPN to expand in scope and utility, while creating new use cases for the network.

With over 5,500 operators running 21,000+ nodes, StrongBlock allocates resources to networks seeking security, diversity, and decentralization. By combining forces with Sentinel, a network that has over 300,000 global users of dVPN applications, StrongBlock’s infrastructure will provide significantly more dVPN nodes, expanding Sentinel’s dVPN bandwidth far beyond its existing capacity.

Combined, the two organizations will provide a truly decentralized VPN that surpasses the performance and user experience of existing centralized competitors such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad, and TunnelBear, all of which have single points of failure due to their centralized architecture.

Providing nodes for Sentinel is a leap forward in StrongBlock’s long-term strategy of increasing node ecosystem support across blockchain protocols, while providing value generation to the node operators within their ecosystem. “It’s the STRONG node army at work,” said David Moss, StrongBlock CEO. “StrongBlock’s click-and-go process will allow anyone to provide a dVPN node to the Sentinel network and earn passive income.”

Typically, Proof-of-Work (PoW) miners are rewarded with native tokens like ETH or BTC for mining, while nodes keep records of all transactions without receiving rewards. In exchange for running dVPN nodes via StrongBlock, node operators will be rewarded with $DVPN tokens to incentivize network health, uptime, and availability.

In partnership with Pangea Blockchain Fund (https://pangeablockchain.ch), backed by renowned blockchain entrepreneur Roger Ver, and the new Pangea Research project, both StrongBlock and bitcoin.com will be operating Validator nodes on the Sentinel network. When asked in an interview between William Duplessie, CEO of Pangea, and Ver, why decentralizing the VPN industry is important, Ver replied, “You can’t have just one single VPN company that can be compromised at any time, or leak all the customer data, or have all sorts of bad things happen. The more holes we can poke in the Great Firewall of China and every other piece of censorship on the internet, the better the world is for everybody. So I’m really excited about these decentralized VPN protocols enabling people to communicate more freely without any permission or being spied upon.”

“It’s a really big deal to be able to give people all over the world access to information without it being censored from them. I support any technology that empowers individuals to have more control over their own lives and access to more information,” Ver added.

As StrongBlock expands across new blockchains such as Cosmos, the integration with Sentinel and StrongBlock will incentivize provably private node operations to share dVPN bandwidth across a broader spectrum of nodes, enabling other new, highly available Web3 applications on top of the Sentinel network.

“We are honored to work with StrongBlock to empower the Sentinel network to increase its bandwidth and reliability for existing and future dVPN users,” said Srinivas Baride, CTO of Exidio (https://exidio.co) (a core contributor to the Sentinel network).

About Sentinel

Sentinel (https://sentinel.co), a decentralized VPN protocol, is built on Cosmos SDK-based architecture. Differing from centralized VPN companies that have been proven to log user data, Sentinel is an open-source, encrypted, peer-to-peer bandwidth marketplace accessible to anyone. Users can connect to any of the provably secure dVPN applications built on the Sentinel network. Individuals can also earn passive income by offering bandwidth to the marketplace. Live network statistics can be found at https://stats.sentinel.co.

Keep up with developments on the Sentinel network on the official Medium (https://medium.com/sentinel), Twitter (https://twitter.com/sentinel_co), and Telegram (https://t.me/Sentinel_Announcements) channels.

About StrongBlock

StrongBlock (https://strongblock.com/), led by blockchain and enterprise software veterans CEO David Moss, CTO Brian Abramson, and CPO Corey Lederer, is the first and only cross-chain protocol to reward nodes for supporting their blockchain infrastructure.

The STRONG protocol and node reward mechanism, integrated with NFTFi tokens, lays the foundation for stronger, more secure, and economically sound blockchain networks.
STRONG enables decentralized governance of its community DeFi protocol. STRONG is not a fundraising device or investment opportunity.

Learn more by visiting StrongBlock’s Medium (https://strongblockio.medium.com), Twitter (https://twitter.com/Strongblock_io) and Telegram (https://t.me/strongblock_io).

AVIA appoints Celeste Campbell-Pitt as its new Chief Policy Officer for the region

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) has appointed a new Chief Policy Officer to be based in its Singapore office, a first for the role.

Celeste Campbell-Pitt joins AVIA on Monday 3rd May, initially joining Chief Policy Officer John Medeiros, who will be retiring after a transition period. Medeiros, who is based in Hong Kong, and joined the Association then known as CASBAA, in 2005 as Vice President of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, has been Chief Policy Officer since 2013.

A key focus of AVIA is to represent the combined positions of its members and engage in constructive dialogue with governments so they may better understand the curated video industry and foster an environment of support for the growth of the industry. The Chief Policy Officer spearheads this goal, developing and executing policy initiatives relevant to the video industry, in consultation with and on behalf of AVIA member companies.

The role of the Chief Policy Officer has evolved over the years and has become a lot more critical as regulatory policies continue to develop alongside the sweeping changes the video industry has seen in recent years.

“This role is absolutely critical for AVIA and we have taken a long time to find the right person. While taking over from John who has made the role his own will be no easy task, I am delighted that we have found Celeste who has such a passion for the industry and a clear vision for how to build and develop the role,” said Louis Boswell, CEO, AVIA.

Campbell-Pitt comes with over twenty years of business and legal experience in the media and entertainment industry across both Europe and Asia. Prior to joining AVIA, she was consulting with various global media and technology companies as well as private equity firms who were looking to expand into the Asia Pacific region. Campbell-Pitt was previously the Vice President and Head of Business Development and Advertising Sales at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, after her stint at Endemol Shine Asia Group as the Director and Head of Commercial and Operations. She has also held Senior Legal Counsel positions in international media companies including Star, Turner and Channel Four in the UK.

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 through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) 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

DiMuto and OPAL Announce Agrifood Fintech Partnership to Tackle Trillion Dollar Global Trade Finance Gap

DiMuto, a global agri-fintech trade solutions company that provides end-to-end supply chain visibility for global agrifood trade, has partnered with OPAL, a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licensed by Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), to provide payment services on the blockchain-powered DiMuto Platform.

Lim Ming Wang, Co-Founder and COO of OPAL, with Gary Loh, Founder and CEO of DiMuto at the MoU Signing Ceremony

The two companies are collaborating to bring together the strengths of both companies to innovate and transform the future of payments and financing in the agrifood trade space. Working together provides an exciting opportunity to leverage OPAL’s expertise in international payment, multi-currency wallets, FX management and financing solutions alongside DiMuto’s strong network of agrifood clientele, robust trade digitalization technology and capability to collect asset-based data.

DiMuto and OPAL will develop a new first-of-its-kind payment module that will allow DiMuto’s agrifood customers to make payments directly tagged to the movement of goods on the DiMuto Platform, creating visibility of both the movement of goods and money for physical agrifood products tracked with DiMuto’s existing trade digitalization technology.

The DiMuto Payment module taps on OPAL’s expertise in servicing SMEs with payment and financing solutions. OPAL aims to be One Account for Payments and Loans (OPAL) for SMEs, by simplifying payment processes, lowering fees and providing easier access to financing. OPAL is able to facilitate safe and secure cross-border transactions in over 100 financial corridors with multi-currency accounts and competitive FX rates that are cheaper than conventional banking methods. With the new DiMuto Payment module, DiMuto’s agrifood customers will be able to conduct transactions that are in full compliance with Singapore regulations and international AML/CFT standards.

“We are excited to bring our experience in the financial, payments and technology industry to the collaboration with DiMuto. The partnership gives OPAL an opportunity to reach more small and medium businesses globally, particularly in the agrifood and perishables trade, that have not been serviced by traditional banking institutions. We look forward to helping them accelerate their growth with complex payments made easy,” said Lim Ming Wang, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of OPAL.

The digital payments collaboration establishes the first step to DiMuto’s trade financing solution for the unbanked SMEs in the agri-perishables sector that have traditionally been unable to access financing from conventional banking institutions. Despite being the largest contributors to employment and economic development, SMEs have struggled to obtain formal financing, due to factors including creditworthiness, collateral requirements, short-term liquidity, and political or currency risks. Asian Development Bank (ADB) found that over 40% of trade finance applications by SMEs are rejected and the global trade finance gap is a staggering US$1.5 trillion in 2019 and is projected by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to increase to US$3.4 trillion due to Covid-19. The exponential trade finance gap impedes the effort to reduce poverty and minimize inequality, two of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

By capturing and developing primary trade data through trade digitalization, DiMuto effectively reduces the risks associated with trade financing. With both visibility of movement of physical goods and movement of money on the DiMuto Platform, DiMuto can now further develop data-driven agrifood asset financing.

“At DiMuto, our vision is to power global agrifood trade with visibility. We have built a powerful platform that combines IoT, cloud, blockchain, and AI technology in our journey to bring visibility to global trade,” said Gary Loh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DiMuto. “By partnering OPAL to enable direct payments on our platform, we are moving closer to this goal as this creates a complete solution tying the movement of goods to the movement of money. With this, we can transform global trade by tackling the financing needs of the unbanked agrifood market.”

The partnership between DiMuto and OPAL will enable trade that traditional trade finance cannot effectively support. DiMuto is implementing AI, machine learning capabilities and new predictive analytic algorithms for valuable insights into the trade health and credit score of agrifood companies to develop alternative financing and insurance services for the global agrifood market.

About OPAL
OPAL is a leading provider of end-to-end, regulated payment solutions based on a robust, proven platform and proprietary technology. Founded by a team of seasoned professionals with significant experience in financial solutions, banking, regulatory issues, cross-border payments and money management, OPAL offers a broad set of financial solutions to help clients meet their diverse needs in today’s ever-changing financial and business environment. OPAL is licensed as a Major Payment Institution (MPI) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. For more information, please visit www.opalpayment.com.

About DiMuto
DiMuto provides agrifood companies with data they can see and trust, down to every single product of every trade, where they can easily see all that is happening for every trade transaction in an organized manner, on one single platform.

DiMuto simplifies every step of global trade – from produce, trade to market. DiMuto provides sales, marketing, operations, financing and insurance tools so businesses can trade better. Equipped with a data-backed growth roadmap, companies can now navigate the complex global trade landscape with ease and focus on what matters – growing a thriving international business. With Visible Trade, DiMuto powers companies and the world forward with confidence.

Since 2019, DiMuto has successfully tracked and traced over millions of pieces in produce and millions in dollars of trade value on our platform, working with a global portfolio of clients in over ten countries and five continents. DiMuto is founded by Chief Executive Officer Mr Gary Loh, who is also the Executive Chairman of First Alverstone Group. For more information, please visit www.dimuto.io.