ZALL Smart Commerce Group (ZALL), Asia’s largest B2B e-commerce group, looks to become the world’s leading global digital trade platform with its new strategic rebrand. It aims to create an open and interconnected B2B trading ecosystem between China and ASEAN, and to drive the rapid growth and development of industries and businesses through the use of new trading methods and advanced technologies.
With the strategic rebrand, ZALL aims to create value through its global intelligent services across B2B transactions, supply chain services and digital cloud services, transforming industrial value chains across the region and enabling businesses to improve overall efficiency. ZALL currently serves around 30 B2B platforms in China, the United States and Singapore, to millions of SMEs worldwide. It has also been investing heavily in the development of next-generation intelligent trading platforms to help empower seamless data exchange across platforms integrating information, logistics and capital flows across wholesale and commodities, retail trade and logistics industries in China and Singapore.
Testament to their hard work and effort, ZALL and its Singapore-based international trading platform, Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), were recently conferred the prestigious Gold and Silver Awards at the 2021 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards during the virtual awards ceremony held on 14 July 2021. It is a major achievement for the teams as it highlights ZALL’s dedication towards transforming global trade and supply chains since its strategic rebrand.
Peter Yu, Executive Vice President of ZALL Smart Commerce, Singapore, shared, “As the world continues to adapt and rise up to the challenges posed by the pandemic, we wanted to focus our efforts on digital innovation, creating an even more resilient and sustainable global trade and supply chain ecosystem. This can be done by incorporating data and digital technologies into every part of the industrial value chain, from both the demand to the supply side. With our expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Blockchain, we believe we are well-positioned to help businesses worldwide adopt innovative technologies to succeed in the new digital world order.”
On the back of its strong technology research and development capabilities, ZALL was also ranked 58th in the ‘2020 Global Blockchain Invention Patent Ranking’ published by the incoPat Innovation Index Research Center. ZALL’s research institute was granted more than 200 intellectual property rights last year, namely in the fields of blockchain, artificial intelligence and big data. Recognising the complexity and difficulty of adopting blockchain for many enterprises, ZALL recently launched ‘Z-Block Gateway’, a blockchain Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) solution that is both low-code and easy to operate and deploy across various industries and mainstream cloud servers.
Alongside ZALL, CIC has also launched “CORP INFO” that offers “Know-Your-Counterparty” and “Credit Info” services to help SMEs manage their business risks by being able to verify and conduct due diligence on prospective business partners and counterparties before engaging in official dealings. Companies will have access to a range of essential business information such as business registration, historical background, holding companies, shareholders, legal and financial activities, lawsuits and related risks of more than 200 million companies and 2.1 billion trade records in Singapore, China and other parts of the world to help businesses better identify their counterparties.
About Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC)
The Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC) is a global trading platform for physical commodities including Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals, Chemicals & Plastics, Oil & Petroleum, and Agri Commodities. Officially launched in Singapore on 12 Oct 2018, CIC is a Joint Venture between China-based ZALL Smart Commerce Group, Global eTrade Services (GeTS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) to build trade connectivity through digital marketplaces and to grow a vibrant trading ecosystem in Singapore.
CIC aims to revolutionise commodity trading and facilitate cross-border trade through deal matching, trade finance, supply chain logistics, track and trace and global trade compliance. Since its establishment in October 2018, CIC has achieved a GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) of more than US$13.4 billion (S$17.6 billion), with over 5,800 registered users covering markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, among other countries in Asia. For more information, please visit https://www.cic-tp.com/.
About ZALL Smart Commerce Group
ZALL Smart Commerce Group is a leading Chinese B2B e-commerce group (Fortune” China Top 500 list in 2020) with a global footprint across the world and its entities are listed on three exchanges on HKSE, NYSE and SSE. ZALL Group develops and operates Asia’s largest B2B offline-to-online trade ecosystem in China and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, with more than 30 B2B platforms in China, US and Singapore, and a GFA of more than 10 million sqm of wholesale trade centres in China. In 2018, ZALL Group achieved a GMV of more than RMB 600 billion (US$85.2 bn), serving over 1 mil SME customers worldwide. ZALL has also obtained a virtual banking licence and currently operates Z-Bank in China since 2017, one of China’s Top 5 digital banks that has supported more than 5.5 million SME and individual customers.
Since 2018, ZALL has invested in five projects in Singapore, including the Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), Singapore’s first physical commodity eTrading platform (B2B) powered by blockchain technology; ezbuy.sg, Singapore’s leading global online shopping platform; ZMA Smart Capital, an online trade finance company; ZALL Chain Technology, a blockchain solutions company. For more information, please visit http://en.zallcn.com/
The Board of Singapore Myanmar Investco Limited (“SMI”) is pleased to announce that it has entered a comprehensive non-binding memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) yesterday with NASDAQ-listed Internet company The9 Limited, to launch a cryptocurrency cloud mining business.
Focusing initially on three types of cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin (BTC), Filecoin (FIL) and Chia (XCH) – the mining business will be hosted in a range of facilities across Canada, US, Central Asia and the ASEAN region to serve customers. This business is expected to commence in Q4 2021 and will be subject to regulatory approval.
Following the MOU, SMI has also entered into a cooperation and support agreement yesterday, which includes a range of technical support services to be provided by NHASH (Hang Zhou Suan Li Technology Co Ltd), a cryptocurrency cloud mining Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) company, for an initial five year term, and with an option to extend for another five years, subject to mutual agreement.
This agreement also presents SMI with the option to purchase up to 4,000 crypto mining machines, including models such as the Antminer S19j, and the Whatsminer M31S+, for a consideration to be further agreed on by both parties. Any payment through shares will be subject to the approval of SMI’s shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting to be convened in the later part of the year.
SMI, The9 and NHASH are committed to best practices in reducing the environmental impact of cryptocurrency cloud mining operations.
“SMI is delighted to embark on this initial range of mining products and services, making it easier for customers in our region to participate in cryptocurrency mining. We will continue to work with The9 and other partners to bring a range of other leading digital products and services to market, as we pivot SMI away from its traditional businesses,” said Mark Bedingham, President and CEO of SMI.
This latest move follows SMI’s entering into a subscription agreement with The9 for new shares in SMI, as announced by SMI on 21 June 2021.
About Singapore Myanmar Investco
Singapore Myanmar Investco Limited (“SMI”) is an investment and management company focused on the high-growth emerging economy of Myanmar. SMI adopts a diversified business model to capitalize on the strong trends in consumer spending, international tourism and infrastructure investment.
On June 30 2021, SMI announced its intention to pivot the company in a new direction encompassing cryptocurrency, SaaS and other high technology platforms subject to approval of SGX-ST, and SMI’s shareholders at a general meeting to be convened in the later part of the year (“EGM”), for a diversification of SMI’s core business. SMI is also looking to work with other partners in the areas of gaming, digital entertainment and robotics.
Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange, SMI has a highly capable and experienced management team with proven track record in finance, business development and emerging markets.
For media queries, please reach out to: Ashley Tan Financial PR E: ashley@financialpr.com.sg T: (+65) 6438-2990
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 30th edition of the HKTDC Education & Careers Expo opened today and runs until 18 July (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The expo is held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and HKTDC World of Snacks, all taking place at the HKCEC. Open to the public free of charge, the two major sections at the expo – Education and Careers – provide comprehensive information on education and job opportunities.
L-R: Benjamin Chau; Michele Anderson, Vice-Consul, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in HK; Benoit Cormier, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of France in HK and Macau; Ingrid Yeung, Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service of the HKSAR; Margaret Fong; Carrie Yau, Executive Director, Vocational Training Council; Stephen Mann, AD – Student & Curriculum Development, Hong Kong Institute of Construction; Lai Kam Fai, Chief Engineer, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
Ingrid Yeung, Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), officiated at the opening ceremony this morning. In her welcoming remarks, Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said: “Entering its 30th edition, the Education & Careers Expo is a one-stop platform for students and jobseekers looking to review a broad range of education opportunities and career options. This year, we are delighted to welcome 800 exhibitors, including educational institutions, government departments, public organisations, professional associations and private enterprises representing 14 countries and regions.”
Six education-themed zones highlight local and overseas opportunities
Six educational zones have been set up at this year’s expo, including the Tertiary Academy Zone, Vocational and Professional Education Zone, Continuing Education Zone, Creative and Educational Support Services Zone, International Exchange Village and the newly launched Self-Betterment Zone, featuring a wide range of courses and self-enhancement programmes offered by different educational institutes for students, especially Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) graduates looking to chart a pathway according to their interests and capabilities.
The expo’s education theme days highlight studying in the United States (16 July), France (17 July) and Canada (18 July), with representatives from consulate general offices on hand to introduce the prerequisites for admission, application procedures, information on campus life and more. Visitors can also meet with representatives from various officially recognised bodies to get first-hand information on studying abroad. Participating institutions include Advantage Austria Hong Kong and Jinan University and Huaqiao University from Mainland China.
Career theme days highlight employment trends
Catering to the recruitment demands of various industries, the expo will feature four career theme days that highlight employment trends. On the Construction Progression Pathway theme today (15 July), the supporting organisation – the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC) – invites its lecturers and graduates to discuss the manpower situation and current prospects within the industry, and introduce course details in areas such as painting and decorating, joinery, site surveying and welding. Virtual reality training equipment and students’ work in electrical installation is also being showcased. The Electrical & Mechanical Engineering theme day tomorrow (16 July), co-organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Trade Promotion Working Group, will invite industry professionals to share on current and future prospects in the industry and introduce the popular Engineering Graduate Training Scheme and Technician Training Scheme.
On the third day of the expo (17 July), the brand-new Skills theme, organised by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), invites several winners from the WorldSkills Competition to share their experience. Various seminars are being organised to enrich participants’ knowledge on different skills, including interior design, wardrobe, jewellery and webpage development. On the last day of the expo (18 July), medical and healthcare professionals will share their work experience, the career pathway and job requirements during the Introduction to Healthcare and Medical Sector theme day.
On-the-spot recruitment provides opportunities from various industries
The Youth Zone gathers information on continuing education and career planning for young people. This year, representatives from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups will introduce a range of popular courses such as floral design, barista skills, art therapy, speech therapy and STEM learning. Building Inspection is one of the highlights this year, with representatives sharing insider knowledge and details of career development in the industry, as well as interview tips for young candidates. In addition, information on the Working Holiday Scheme provided by various consulates can also be found at the expo, allowing young people to explore opportunities overseas.
Meanwhile, this year’s Recruitment Square will cooperate with various recruitment platforms, public organisations and private companies to offer more than 2,600 job opportunities during the expo. WHub, a Hong Kong start-up community platform, will work with nine local start-ups for on-site recruitment and there will also be a range of summer jobs and temporary internships on offer for younger people. In addition, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will set up a booth to help young people explore opportunities for study, work and entrepreneurship arising from the development of the Greater Bay Area.
Celebrities share practical tips
More than 90 on-site events will be organised as part of the expo, including fire investigation dog performances, seminars on further education, career opportunities, immigration information, working holidays and management trainee programmes, and sharing sessions on working in the mainland. Various celebrities will also be offering their valuable experiences and insights.
Jayden Lam, renowned DSE Chinese tutor, spoke earlier today and shared his tips on entering the tutoring industry and the future prospects it presents. Dominic Tong, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and guest host of the TVB programme Sidewalk Scientist, will share intriguing ways to understand physics to spur people’s learning interest along with interesting thoughts on exploring potential on 16 July. The following day, Bonnie Wong, DJ from Commercial Radio Hong Kong, will talk about her career experience after graduation and how she made her dream come true by embracing the opportunity to become a TV and radio host. On the last day of the expo (18 July), Education expert Jeffrey Hui will advise participants on the strategies for studying in the UK and offer golden tips on how to put together a great CV.
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.
Media enquiries: HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org
The Australian NFT marketplace NFT STARS made its debut on the NFT stage in early July 2021 and is rapidly conquering the market with its celebrity auctions, having already sold artwork for a handsomely high sum of 229 ETH.
Now, the marketplace aims to close the gap between traditional and digital art and is organizing the first-ever NFT art exhibition and conference in Australia – SIDUS. The event will be held in Melbourne on 7th-13th August at the contemporary gallery SpACE @ Collins.
NFT STARS is a new NFT marketplace that was launched in July 2021. The new platform set the bar high with a series of successful celebrity drops from the very beginning. NFT STARS debuted with the auction of the ‘Exploration’. The drop was followed by the auction of the artwork ‘Singularity’ by an anonymous artist. ‘Singularity’ was sold for 229 ETH. NFT STARS presents many new artists who have already made a name for themselves in the traditional art industry.
NFT STARS is pursuing the ambitious goal of shifting the market focus from NFT speculation to art appreciation and introducing more people to the unique world of NFT. To appeal to an audience that knows nothing about digital art or blockchain, NFT STARS is going offline and organizing the first NFT art exhibition and conference in Australia, SIDUS. The event will become a point of entry through which the general public can take their first steps into the world of NFT and discover new facets of digital art.
SIDUS will be held in Melbourne at a contemporary gallery SpACE @ Collins on 7th-13th August. The exhibition will present a diverse range of artists, most of which are featured on the NFT STARS marketplace. The agenda also includes an educational program. Every day of the exhibition, there will be an educational corner where visitors can learn the basics about non-fungible tokens and artists can mint their own NFT under the guidance of the NFT STARS team.
On the weekends, SIDUS will turn into a conference and host lectures and workshops. The NFT STARS hasn’t disclosed the list of speakers yet but the team promises an unforgettable and insightful experience.
Except for the opening ceremony, the event will be completely free. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase any of the presented artwork. However, only crypto payments are accepted, so the NFT STARS team will be there to help buyers set up a crypto wallet in case they don’t have one.
“We believe the future of art is digital. Technology is coming to every sphere of our lives and it’s natural for artists to portray the world we live in using the tools of our time. We want to break the stereotype that NFT art is only for crypto lovers. SIDUS 2021 is an entry point, perhaps the first touchpoint for many people concerning this new digital art form” – Dan Khomenko, CEO of NFT STARS.
About NFT STARS
NFT STARS is a multi-chain NFT marketplace with a unique suite of products relevant to artists, NFT art collectors, investors, NFT gamers and startup founders. The company introduces the general public to the positive aspects of non-fungible tokens and the opportunities they open up through their educational initiatives and the easy-to-navigate marketplace.
With NFT STARS, artists can enjoy Gas-free minting, collaborations via the collective NFT ownership feature and host their exhibitions in personalized AR galleries. Artists with premium accounts are appointed a personal manager and receive help in minting and promoting their collections.
In the future, NFT STARS plans to launch on Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche and other blockchains to support cross-chain NFT liquidity flow. The marketplace will expand its suite of products and introduce: an NFT Pricing Scanner, a 24/7 NFT Radio station, an Initial NFT Offering service for startups and it will enable fractional NFT trading.
KG Information Systems Private Limited (KGiSL), a global IT Products, Solutions, and Services provider, today announced the appointment of three banking leaders with impeccable leadership and track record, to support its growth and strategic vision. These senior finance professionals, with considerable expertise and a wealth of global banking experience, will significantly help in driving this critical phase of KGiSL’s growth strategy of reaching INR 1000 crore turnover in the next three years.
Shrinath Bolloju joins KGiSL as Chief Strategy Officer, Ramesh Nagesh as Chief Operating Officer, and Noor Hayati Ahmad as Senior Vice President & Country Head, KGiSL Singapore.
Welcoming the three banking stalwarts, Dr. Ashok Bakthavathsalam, Managing Director, KGiSL said, “The addition of these three well-established, seasoned leaders to the existing vibrant leadership of KGiSL supports our vision and strategy to become a strong player in the BFSI segment, especially in the banking domain. Their experience will help the accelerated growth plan we have, for the next 3 years.”
Commenting on the new additions to the leadership team, Prassadh Shanmugam, Director & Chief Executive Officer, KGiSL, said, “We are really fortunate to have all three of them join the leadership team at KGiSL: Shrinath with a proven track record in the banking industry is probably at his peak of his career; Ramesh, known for his technology & Operation skillsets in the banking Industry, probably has not even reached his peak yet and Hayati, a seasoned banking veteran has deep connections in the industry in Singapore and globally. The three of them could have continued what they were doing, or could have chosen any number of BFSI opportunities. Instead, they chose to join us, believing in the vision, strategy, and execution strength of KGiSL. This really adds momentum to our goals.”
An accomplished business leader with close to three decades of experience in financial services, Shrinath Bolloju joins KGiSL as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). Shrinath’s experience straddles sales, product management, technology, operations and governance in different geographies, and banking and financial products. He most recently served as Managing Director and South Asia Operations & Technology Head at Citi Bank. Previously, he has been part of the leadership team with Deutsche Bank and RBL Bank, driving transformation and digitization. As CSO at KGiSL, Shrinath will be based out of Mumbai, India. In this role, Shrinath will work closely with the senior leadership at KGiSL to drive sustained and accelerated growth across key markets and sectors.
Ramesh Nagesh joins KGiSL as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will be based in Bangalore, India. He comes with over three decades of experience in managing regional and global operating units. He joins KGiSL after serving as COO of the Anglo Gulf Trade Bank, Abu Dhabi where he was involved in setting up the world’s first digitally-enabled, data-driven Trade Bank from the ground up. Ramesh has been part of the leadership team with top multi-national banks like Deutsche Bank, ABN-AMRO Bank, ANZ, Standard Chartered and RBS.
Noor Hayati Ahmad joins KGiSL as Senior Vice President & Country Head, KGiSL Singapore. She brings in over 35 years of experience, including 25 years of international banking, particularly in Global Transaction Banking, Money Markets, FX, Finance, and Retail. Having worked with global banks and leading technology organizations in Singapore, she understands the local market, technology trends and functional needs of the financial services sector. She has previously been part of the senior leadership teams at Deutsche Bank, Hatstand, Sonic, and Kashtec Technology Pte Ltd.
On his appointment, Shrinath Bolloju, Chief Strategy Officer, KGiSL, said “KGiSL has a proven track record of building robust products and solutions that have ensured long-lasting engagements with clients. I am delighted to join this seasoned and committed team, and look forward to work with them to scale up our offering, while continuing to operate as a trusted solutions provider to our clients, worldwide.”
Further to his new engagement, Ramesh Nagesh, Chief Operating Officer, KGiSL, said, “KGiSL is truly a unique and talented organization with deep-rooted capabilities in building top class products and solutions. I am honoured to work with such a culturally diverse, committed, and seasoned talent pool, and I look forward to collaborate with the team to unlock their full potential and enhance delivery capabilities.”
Noor Hayati Ahmad, Senior Vice President & Country Head, KGiSL Singapore, said, “I am truly excited to be a part of KGiSL, Singapore and I look forward to working with this highly professional team to further accelerate our ambitious growth strategy. Today, Singapore is among the top three financial hubs in the world, behind London and New York, and it is imperative that we showcase our products and services in the banking and financial sector and grow our presence in this area.”
KG Information Systems Private Limited (KGiSL) is a global IT Services, Consulting and Business Solutions provider in the BFSI space. KGiSL offers Software Products, Solutions and Services in Intelligent Automation, ERP (SAP), CRM, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Quality Engineering, IT Infrastructure Management and Application Development. KGiSL has offices in India, US, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand.
KGiSL is part of the $750 million business conglomerate KG Group with interest in Textiles, Engineering, Healthcare, Education, Real Estate, Entertainment, Software and Business Support Services. The Group employs over 25000 people and is known for its philanthropic services to the community for over 8 decades.
Fair runs under ‘Inspirational and Motivational Reading’ theme
The 31st HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), begins today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and closes on 20 July. Running in tandem with the Book Fair are the HKTDC Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and debut HKTDC World of Snacks.
Together they are welcoming more than 760 exhibitors to deliver a brand-new experience to visitors, with an array of books, leisure activities and tasty treats. Officiating at this morning’s opening ceremony for the long-awaited event were Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, together with Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, and Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC.
Carrie Lam (second from left), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), together with Dr Peter K N Lam (second from right), Chairman of the HKTDC, Edward Yau (left), Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, and Margaret Fong (right), Executive Director of the HKTDC, joined other guests at this morning’s opening ceremony for the long-awaited 31st HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair.
After attending this morning’s opening ceremony, Dr Peter K N Lam (second from right), Chairman of the HKTDC, visited the Children’s Paradise, Art Gallery and other zones at the Book Fair together with Margaret Fong (right), Executive Director of the HKTDC, and Benjamin Chau (second from left), Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC.
Hong Kong literature lovers have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Book Fair in the hope of buying their favourite books and discovering new reading adventures.
This year’s fair has the theme “Inspirational and Motivational Reading” with the tagline “Reading the World – Inspiring the Mind and Refreshing the Soul”. Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “After being rescheduled twice amid the volatility of the pandemic, we are delighted that the Hong Kong Book Fair can finally begin today. The HKTDC, publishers and the general public are unanimous in their desire for large-scale physical exhibitions such as this to return. The Book Fair presents a wide array of cultural activities, including the Eight Seminar Series and thematic exhibitions at the Art Gallery, that Hong Kong’s booklovers have been yearning for. Along with the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the new World of Snacks, visitors can enjoy a wide range of literary events, sports and leisure products and activities, and indulge in popular snacks from across the globe.”
Thematic exhibitions aim at nourishing minds Aligning with this year’s Book Fair theme, the HKTDC is showcasing a thematic exhibition, titled “Words to Warm the Heart”, at the Art Gallery. The exhibition introduces a number of inspirational authors and some of their selected works, including (in no particular order) A Nong, Cheng Kok-kong, Lee Chack-fan, Philemon Choi, Wu Yin-ching, Shirley Loo, Agnes Chan, Joseph Sung, Su Hei and Rap Chan. Precious memorabilia from the authors are on display, including manuscripts, artworks and souvenirs, giving readers a deeper appreciation of the writers’ creative journeys from different perspectives and encouraging them to seek out books that can motivate and inspire.
The Theme of the Year: “Inspiring the Mind and Refreshing the Soul” Seminar Series features leading inspirational authors to share their insights on creative writing with visitors. Lee Chack-fan examined “Seize the Day for Peace of Mind – Growth of Mankind amid Pandemic and Disaster” earlier today (14 July), sharing his thoughts on how to live a more valuable life. Agnes Chan will share on effective parenting methods in the seminar “Nurture Outstanding Children with Honesty, Courage and Kindness” tomorrow (15 July), while Joseph Sung will discuss his outlook on life by comparing it to football in the seminar “Football Life” via video conferencing (17 July).
Children’s Paradise, the classic Hong Kong children’s magazine, summed up the essence of childhood. It was first published in the 1950s and went on to become the city’s longest-lasting kids’ publication, growing together with generations of local children. The Cherished Memories of the Children’s Paradise exhibition displays various items, such as illustrations, authentic works by Lo Koon-chiu (former Chief Editor of the magazine) and the very first issue of the publication. Cheung Chun-wah, former director of Children’s Paradise, will talk about his relationship with the magazine at a seminar titled “Sentiments in Writing”.
Another exhibition, “The Dragon Never Dies – Bruce Lee @80”, organised with the support of the Bruce Lee Club, brings together Bruce Lee memorabilia from collectors, such as portraits, movie tickets, precious photographs and stamps, to pay tribute to the kung fu star. Wong Yiu-keung, Chairman of the Bruce Lee Club, movie director Alex Cheung and collector Ng Kwai-lung will speak at the seminar “Their Bruce Lee Stories” (17 July), giving participants the chance to revisit some of the legendary kung fu star’s most iconic moments.
Eight Seminar Series promotes broad range of literature The Eight Seminar Series returns to the Book Fair in 2021, continuing to promote the joy of reading by exposing readers to authors and works from a diverse range of literary genres. In addition to the “Inspiring the Mind and Refreshing the Soul” Seminar Series mentioned above, the Renowned Writers Seminar Series, co-organised with Mingpao and Yazhou Zhoukan, features a selection of acclaimed writers who will speak at seminars in person or via video.
The speakers in this seminar series include Fan Jinshi, known as the “Daugter of Dunhuang”; Gu Chunfang, professor at the Peking University School of Arts and co-author of “Dunhuang is Where My Heart Belongs: Biography of Fan Jinshi”; Liang Hong, professor at the School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China; Shuang Xuetao, the first Mainland Chinese author awarded the Taipei Literature Award; Wei Hui, a contemporary author from Mainland China; acclaimed novelist Ping Lu from Taiwan; Cheng Pei-kai, founder of the Chinese Civilisation Centre at the City University of Hong Kong; Louis Ng, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum; Xu Zidong, author of Reading Eileen Chang; Ronald Soong, Eileen Chang’s estate executor; and Zhou Jieru, Chief Editor of Hong Kong Literary. The seminars will enable authors to communicate with booklovers in a more direct and meaningful way.
With the support of Book Depository, an international online bookstore, the English and International Reading Series invites renowned authors from around the globe to share their creative experiences. The line-up features Heather Morris, the New Zealand author who has sold more than 7 million copies of her novels worldwide; renowned British broadcaster and writer Jeremy Vine; New York Times bestselling author of young adult novels Brigid Kemmerer; fantasy and graphic novel maestro Neil Gaiman; sinologist and Professor of Modern Chinese History and Literature at the University of London Julia Lovell; Co-director of Proverse Hong Kong, a local independent publisher, Gillian Bickley; editor of the Asian Review of Books Peter Gordon; former president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Juan Jose Morales; and experienced Mainland China-focused journalist and writer Mark O’Neill. Members of the public can broaden their horizons by immersing themselves in the diverse range of topics covered in these seminars.
Other seminar series at the Book Fair include World of Knowledge, Children and Youth Reading, Spiritual Growth and Personal Development, Lifestyle and the Hong Kong Cultural and Historical Seminar Series, catering to the diverse tastes of readers from all age groups. Visit https://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/Events/Event-Schedule.html for full details of the Eight Seminar Series.
Thematic zones cater to booklovers’ needs As a cultural exchange platform, the Hong Kong Book Fair helps take booklovers on a global literary journey. The fair features numerous thematic zones, including Mainland China Publishers, General Books Pavilion, University Press Square, Spirituality Zone, Children’s Paradise, e-Books & e-Learning Resources and more, all of which offer quality publications from around the world that allow visitors to gain more exposure to the works of different genres from different regions. This year, two newly added zones, Back to School and Virtual Classroom, present various educational materials and instruction methods that add fun to the learning process.
Emerging sports featured at Sports and Leisure Expo This year’s Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo delivers a full programme that offers numerous sporting and leisure experiences. In addition to existing thematic zones such as Sports Hub, Fun & Play, Outdoor Adventure and Handicraft Market, the expo features two new zones, namely Refresh & Relax and Travel. Excursion, which showcase exciting outdoors activities such as diving, rock climbing and stand-up paddleboarding. A range of free trials will be offered at the expo, including dodgebee and pickleball. There will also be demonstration sessions include dragon dancing, Brazilian jiu jitsu and capoeira, freestyle football and speed stacking. Visitors who prefer more sedentary pursuits can participate in activities such as photography workshops and table-top games. In addition, rugby sevens players Salom Yiu and Sham Wai-sum, freestyle football player Tony Ma and other Hong Kong sports stars will take part in a series of celebrity-sharing sessions and performances.
The Japan Pavilion returns this year on the fifth floor. Exhibitors from nine cities and prefectures, including Hyogo, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Shikoku and new exhibitors Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Kagawa and Oita, are teaming up with Kadokawa Hong Kong Limited from the KADOKAWA CORPORATION to showcase Japanese culture and entertainment hotspots.
Debut World of Snacks presents global selection of treats In Hall 5, the new World of Snacks features six thematic zones – Travel Delights, Chocolate and Sweet Factory, Oldie Snacks, Yummy & Healthy, Party Time and Snack Bar – bringing together more than 1,000 popular treats from across the globe. International snacks on offer include Taiwanese pineapple cakes, Finnish organic bulletproof coffee, Bien Jamon Iberico ham, quality Cheesepop from Holland and more. Meanwhile, Oldie Snacks offers vegan fruit gummies, crispy peanuts with fresh shrimp roe in black truffle flavour, hand-crafted nougat and a host of other options. Exciting activities are open to all visitors including the lollipop bouquet, handmade rock candies and taro pastry workshops.
Two citywide campaigns – Cultural July and Cultural Journey Online In addition to hosting the one-week Book Fair, the HKTDC is also collaborating with numerous cultural and educational institutions, libraries, museums, shopping malls and cafes to organise a broad range of cultural events running from late June to end of July as part of the Cultural July – Joyful Summer Reading citywide campaign. What’s more, the Cultural Journey Online webpage is now available on the Book Fair website, showcasing different e-reading resources, museum exhibitions and seminars offered by partners. Users can broaden their horizons and gain new knowledge at any time, whether its online or offline.
Incentive campaign and enhanced on-site hygiene measures The HKTDC has engaged a number of exhibitors to offer various incentives to visitors who have been vaccinated, including discounts, giveaways and cash vouchers. Additionally, the HKTDC is offering 35,000 free admissions to people who have been vaccinated (having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine). Free admission is being offered in limited quotas before 12 noon on every day of the fair to encourage the public to visit at non-peak hours. Members of the public can present their COVID-19 vaccination records (including an electronic vaccination record saved in the iAM Smart, eHealth or LeaveHomeSafe apps or a paper vaccination record) at the designated lanes. Free admission is given on a first-come-first-served basis while quotas last. There will be 10,000 free admissions available each day for the first two days of the fair (14-15 July), and 3,000 each day for the rest of the fair period (16-20 July). More details can be found on the Book Fair website or mobile app: https://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/Visitor/Vaccination-Incentive-Campaign.html.
The well-being and safety of exhibitors and visitors is the top priority at the Book Fair. Various measures will be put in place to protect people against the pandemic, including requiring everyone entering and staying in the fairground to wear a mask, setting up temperature-screening stations, providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations around the venue, and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors’ booths and the venue itself. To spread the flow of visitors and encourage the public to visit the fair during non-peak hours, in addition to offering morning admission tickets, the HKTDC has introduced night admission tickets as well as the special re-entry promotion. Physical ticket sales are not available at the fairground to avoid the use of cash and minimise contact. Visitors can pay with their Octopus cards at the entrance toll booths to gain entry.
The HKTDC Education & Careers Expo will be held at the HKCEC from 15 to 18 July, running in parallel with the Book Fair. Youngsters and jobseekers can access the latest useful information on education and career opportunities for their life planning at this one-stop event. Admission to the expo is free of charge.
About 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 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
Media enquiries: HKTDC Communication & Public Affairs Department
Opal, a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and Funding Societies, Southeast Asia’s largest SME digital financing platform, have initiated a partnership to offer a range of financing solutions to Opal’s ecosystem of clients and partners. This partnership aims to provide Opal’s clients and partners access to financing so as to address short-term cash flow needs and capitalise on growth opportunities.
Lim Ming Wang, Co-founder, Opal
Shrawan Saraogi, Head of Partnerships and Products, Funding Societies
Under this partnership, Opal will offer Funding Societies’ range of financing solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who will be able to access multiple financing solutions at a relatively lower rate and a quicker processing time. Further, to reduce the financial burden on SMEs, Opal and Funding Societies will reduce processing fees on all disbursals up to 50% of the loan amount and offer a full waiver of the facility fee on all line products.
Lim Ming Wang, Co-founder of Opal said, “Based on MAS’ growth forecast for 2021, Singapore’s economic growth will be robust but uneven. As a company that is focused on SMEs in Singapore, we want to be able to assist businesses at their time of growth who are looking for solutions to strengthen their cash flow. We are excited about this partnership as businesses can now have access to multi-currency management, payments, and financing solutions from a single platform on Opal. As our technology is driven by the interconnectivity of these different financial-business solutions, companies will get ever better rates and faster turnaround times.”
Shrawan Saraogi, Head of Partnerships and Products at Funding Societies said, “As a FinTech founded with the mission to uplift economies, we believe in helping SMEs obtain access to financing solutions that are easy and fair. We want to help them by providing the impetus for growth. I believe this partnership is ideal, as we would be able to support Opal’s ecosystem of clients and partners with our wide range of growth financing solutions.”
Aside from offering financing solutions via Funding Societies, Opal also provides cross-border money transfer and multi-currency accounts to SMEs in Singapore. Opal aims to make business financing more accessible and transparent to its customers.
About Opal
Opal is a leading provider of end-to-end, regulated payment and financial solutions based on a robust, proven platform and proprietary technology. Founded by a team of professionals seasoned in financial solutions, banking, compliance, 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 Funding Societies
Funding Societies | Modalku is the largest SME digital financing platform in Southeast Asia. It is regulated in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and registered in Malaysia. It is backed by Sequoia India and Softbank Ventures Asia Corp amongst many others and provides business financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is crowdfunded by individual and institutional investors. In 6 years, it has helped finance over 4 million business loans with over S$2 billion in funding. It was given the MAS FinTech Award in 2016, the Global SME Excellence Award at the United Nations’ ITU Telecom World in 2017, KPMG Fintech100 in 2018, Brands for Good in 2019, and in 2020 recognised by IDC as amongst the 5 fastest growing FinTechs in Singapore, won the Stevie(R) Award for Innovation in Technology, and named ASEAN Startup of the Year by Global Startup Awards. https://fundingsocieties.com/
Straits Inter Logistics Berhad (Straits), a Bursa Malaysia Listed Company, announced today that it has received approval from Marine Department Malaysia for Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd (Victoria STS) to develop an integrated offshore Ship-to-Ship (STS) Energy Transhipment Hub within the port limits of Victoria Bay, Labuan.
Victoria STS is a 70% owned subsidiary of Fajar Maritime and Logistics Sdn Bhd, which in turn is a 60% owned subsidiary of Straits.
The STS hub will be Straits’ energy flagship project which will be located within the port limits of Victoria Bay deep water area spanning a vast 3309 hectares supporting an initial six (6) STS berths with safe water depths of up to 30 meters. The development will advance the introduction of state-of-the-art multi-functional energy transhipment facilities that will be able to accommodate LNG carriers up to the size of a Q-Max and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC).
Victoria Bay is strategically located along the international shipping and energy trade routes. Straits’ plan to develop the STS Hub is set to be one of the largest offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) energy transhipment hubs in Asia. The STS hub is also strategically located within the vicinity of Labuan Liberty Port which is managed and operated by Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd (“MPM’), a 51% owned subsidiary of Straits.
The STS hub will be highly synergistic to Straits’ existing operations, leveraging on Straits’ bunkering and port services.
The first phase of the STS hub will be to develop a modern anchorage-based and Single Point Mooring system infrastructure supporting up to six (6) Deepwater Mooring Berths. The infrastructure will streamline cargo compatibility with LNG, LPG, Liquefied Ethylene Gas (LEG) and Bulk Petroleum and Oil cargoes. The STS hub is slated to commence operation by the 4th Quarter of 2021.
To ensure the success of the STS energy transhipment hub, Victoria STS has joined hands with two key partners, namely MISC Maritime Services Sdn Bhd (“MMS”) and STS Marine Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd (“STSM”) as strategic collaboration partners in the development of the hub. In the earlier planning stage, both MMS and STSM have separately signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Victoria STS with a view to facilitate further Definitive Agreements when the STS hub materialised.
MMS is a member of the MISC Group of Companies and it serves as the centre for maritime services in the provision of marine assurance and compliance, port and terminal management and operations, and consultancy services to a range of clients in the energy sector. Incorporated initially in 1992 as PETRONAS Maritime Services Sdn. Bhd. (PMSSB), the company was rebranded as MMS when it became part of the MISC Group in 2015. The principal businesses of the MISC Group comprise energy shipping and its related activities, owning and operating offshore floating solutions, marine repair and conversion, engineering and construction works, integrated marine services, port management and maritime services as well as maritime education and training. MISC is currently one of the largest single owner-operators of LNG carriers in the world and had recently ventured into the emerging sectors of LNG bunkering vessels (LBV), and very large ethane carriers (VLECs).
STSM, which is based in UK, is a world leading ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore service provider with more than 30 years’ experience in crude oil, refined petroleum, LNG and LPG transfers. Their specialised mooring masters deploy their worldwide services across 26 global locations and it offers full operational and technical support for ship to ship/shore operations, terminal management, and project consultancy. Their services comprise LNG STS full-service provision, LNG terminal management, Emergency STS response and planning, STS procedural development and STS equipment procurement.
Commenting on the latest development, Straits Group Managing Director Dato Sri Ron Ho Kam Choy said: “We are certainly very excited on this new STS transhipment hub as it is a landmark milestone for Straits Group. Straits has over the years diligently established its comprehensive infrastructure and widened its customer base and this STS hub will kickstart Straits’ foray into the Sustainable and Alternative Energy space. With this project as a start, Straits aims to be a major player in the Sustainable and Alternative Energy industry in addition to its current fuel bunkering and port operation business.
The STS transfer hub project will connect Labuan into the global energy grid by creating a transhipment infrastructure to access the maritime energy trade network. Our main focus is to collaborate with specialist industry partners like MMS and STSM to establish Victoria Bay Port as a major LNG and LPG energy transhipment hub. We are confident we are able to serve the needs of the major global shipping lines customers with our wide spectrum of energy-related maritime solutions.
On top of that, this STS hub will be a new local economic driver with huge and substantial spillover effect to the local maritime services as well as employment opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled labour. It will also be a catalyst to other related business in the Malaysia Maritime sector. The Company will be preserving the environment, with plans to establish an articial reef designed for sustainable fishing and to conduct coral conservation and water monitoring programmes to help the reefs of Labuan recover from the past blast and cyanide fishing which has caused fish stocks to deplete rapidly.”
To have a video insight on the operations of the Victoria Labuan STS hub, please click on this link: https://youtu.be/aRdXXYZfFu4
(from left) Haily Group Berhad Executive Director Ms See Swee Ling, Haily Group Berhad Founder & Executive Director Mr See Tin Hai, and Haily Group Berhad CEO & Executive Director Mr Yoong Woei Yeh at the Balloting Ceremony of the Company in conjunction with its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities
(A) Public issue of 30,000,000 new ordinary shares in HAILY (“Public Issue Shares”) in the following manner: i. 8,920,000 new Public Issue Shares for application by the Malaysian public: ii. 10,000,000 new Public Issue Shares for application by the eligible directors and employees of HAILY and its subsidiaries (“Group”) and persons who have contributed to the success of the Group; iii. 11,080,000 new Public Issue Shares by way of private placement to selected investors in the following manner; and – 5,100,000 Public Issue Shares to selected Bumiputera investors approved by Ministry of International Trade and Industry (“MITI”); and – 5,980,000 Public Issue Shares to selected investors.
(B). Offer for sale of 18,000,000 existing ordinary Shares in HAILY (“Offer Shares”) by way of private placement to selected investors in the following manner: – 12,700,000 Offer Shares to selected Bumiputera investors approved by MITI; and – 5,300,000 Offer Shares to selected investors.
Tricor Investor & Issuing House Services Sdn Bhd (“TIIH”) wishes to announce that the Public Issue of 8,920,000 new Public Issue Shares of HAILY available for application by the Malaysian public has been oversubscribed.
A total of 13,367 applications for 355,099,900 new Public Issue Shares with a value of RM241,467,932 were received from the Malaysian public, which represents an overall oversubscription rate of 38.81 times. For the Bumiputera portion, a total of 6,185 applications for 138,110,700 new Shares were received, which represents an oversubscription rate of 29.69 times. For the public portion, a total of 7,182 applications for 216,989,200 new Shares were received, which represents an oversubscription rate of 48.09 times.
Meanwhile, a total of 10,000,000 new Public Issue Shares available for application by the eligible directors and employees of the Group and persons who have contributed to the success of the Group have also been fully subscribed.
In addition, the Placement Agent has confirmed that the 5,980,000 Public Issue Shares and 5,300,000 Offer Shares made available for application by way of private placement to selected investors have been fully placed out.
In relation to the 5,100,000 Public Issue Shares and 12,700,000 Offer Shares made available for application by Bumiputera investors approved by MITI, a total of 2,159,300 shares were not taken up. Pursuant to the terms set out in the Prospectus, the said remaining unsubscribed shares which were initially reserved for Bumiputera investors approved by MITI were clawed-back and reallocated to the Bumiputera public via the balloting process.
Commenting on the balloting result, HAILY’s Executive Director Mr. See Tin Hai said: “We are delighted to see the strong support from investors for HAILY’s shares. This is an encouraging sign as we embark on our next stage of growth as a public-listed company. We believe that the construction industry will show positive signs of recovery towards the second half of 2021, bolstered by the country’s on-going national immunisation programme. Thus, we look forward to more developments being revived by property companies which provide the construction sector with more project bidding opportunities especially in the Johor region where HAILY is operating. However, before that, let us anticipate another key milestone in the pipeline, which is the official listing of HAILY on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities on 21 July 2021.”
The notices of allotment will be posted to all successful applicants on or before 19 July 2021.
TA Securities Holdings Berhad is the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter and Placement Agent for this IPO exercise.
As the Sri Trang Group races towards its goal of 100%, highlighting commitment to staff welfare and ESG to achieve business sustainability
Pressing ahead with its campaign to provide inoculation to all Southeast Asia based employees of the Sri Trang Group of Companies against Covid-19 with Sinopharm vaccine, provided by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) reached its goal of 100% jabs for its entire workforce of 11,000 employees in production plants and Southeast Asia offices.
The second jabs will be given at the end of July. Other companies in the group will continue their inoculation programs where permitted until the goal is achieved, demonstrating the group’s commitment to employee welfare.
Most recently, Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (STA), and Jarinya Jirojkul, CEO of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL, pledged to implement the group’s ESG policy, which pays special attention to sustainability in business while treating employees with fairness in accordance with human rights and transparency principles. The companies have launched the Covid-19 vaccination program for all Southeast Asia based employees and their family members as well as select employees of suppliers and trading partners.
At the same time, the Sri Trang Group will earnestly continue to acquire additional doses of alternative vaccines for its employees and families in Thailand and abroad, as well as select members in its supply chain, to build confidence for all concerned and to help these countries overcome the current Covid-19 crisis as soon as possible.
For more information, visit Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL at https://www.sritranggloves.com/en. Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL Wasana “Jeab” Wongsiri, Tel: +66 84 359 0659, wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) PCL (SET: STGT) (SGX: STGT) Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (SET: STA) (SGX: STA)
