Erez Capital is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Anita Gupta to its esteemed team of Venture Partners. Dr. Gupta, a global leader in healthcare innovation, is renowned for her ground-breaking contributions to the medical field and her exceptional expertise in anesthesiology and pain management.
With an illustrious career and a portfolio of remarkable accomplishments, Dr. Anita Gupta has made a significant impact on healthcare innovation and patient advocacy. As a World Economic Forum Member Expert, she has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Women of Influence in healthcare by Fierce Healthcare. Her educational background includes prestigious institutions such as Princeton and Harvard Business School, further solidifying her position as an award-winning executive and an exceptional leader in her field.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gupta’s dedication to healthcare innovation has led her to spearhead pioneering initiatives in the United States. Notably, her advocacy at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resulted in the expansion of naloxone for frontline use in combatting overdoses, addressing the drug crisis head-on. Dr. Gupta’s vigilance also played a crucial role in identifying and mitigating the impact of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, in the Philadelphia drug trade.
In recognition of her exceptional expertise, Dr. Anita Gupta has been appointed as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Global Forum on Innovation. Her distinguished title of Distinguished Fellow member at the National Academies of Practice further emphasizes her impact in the medical community.
Dr. Gupta’s remarkable contributions have not gone unnoticed, earning her features in renowned publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, CNN, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, and the Milken Power of Ideas. Her leadership and expertise have been acknowledged through numerous prestigious awards, including the Patient Advocacy Award by the National Academies, being named one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Leaders by PharmaVoice, and being recognized as one of the Top 10 Healthcare Business Leaders in Philadelphia. Additionally, Dr. Gupta has been honored as one of the Top 10 Emerging Leaders by Pharmaceutical Executives and as a Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Scholar, among other esteemed accolades.
Dr. Anita Gupta’s addition to Erez Capital reinforces the firm’s commitment to collaborating with top-tier professionals and industry leaders to foster innovation and make a lasting impact in the healthcare sector.
Global renewable energy developer, service provider and solar distributor, BayWa r.e announced the successful completion and handover of the Khau Dang Commune Cultural House in Lang Son Province, Vietnam. This exemplifies BayWa r.e.’s unwavering dedication to actively supporting and enriching the communities in which it operates, as well as nurturing enduring relationships with the community it serves.
BayWa r.e., in close collaboration with the Van Quan district people’s committee, supported the construction of the commune cultural house located at Khau Dang hamlet, Trang Cac Commune. The new commune cultural house will be able to foster community cohesion, facilitate annual general meetings and accommodate diverse activities, benefitting 500 people in more than 94 households, mostly Tay and Nung people who belong to the ethnic minority group.
The 360 square metre (m2) facility is a substantial increase from the previous culture house, which could only host 25 individuals. The project started construction in March 2023 and was officially handed over on 6 June 2023.
Nam Le, General Manager, BayWa r.e. Vietnam, said, “The commune cultural house would never have been realised if not for the continuous efforts made by the local district and villagers in overseeing this project. BayWa r.e. is committed to addressing the needs of the locals through regular communication and consultation with the local authorities and communities to ensure that all voices are heard. Vietnam is an important market for us, and we believe that we should not only build facilities for environmental sustainability, but we should also focus on creating long-lasting relationships within and with the local communities.”
Chu Tien Hoang, Chairman of Trang Cac Commune People Committee, said, “We would like to thank BayWa r.e. for the precious support to our community. The new commune cultural house will encourage residents in the Khau Dang Village to organise cultural, sports and entertainment activities, helping them to bond and improve their quality of life with recreational activities. This initiative also meets the needs of the Vietnamese government’s National Targeted Program on New Rural Development under criteria six, cultural facilities, where we can hold larger events for the entire commune.”
The Khau Dang Commune Cultural House is the fourth project targeting the residents in the Lang Son province since 2021. In two years, BayWa r.e. built two sanitation facilities for two local primary schools in the Loc Binh district and supported the Cao Loc district’s initiative to recognise top-performing students and teachers by awarding scholarships, prize money and school bags.
BayWa r.e. has been active in developing large-scale wind energy developments in Vietnam, viewing the technology as a key enabler in the country’s renewable energy push. The company currently has a 240MW portfolio of wind energy across sites in northern Vietnam and is fully committed to facilitating Vietnam’s ambition of becoming net-zero by 2050.
BayWa r.e. AG (BayWa r.e.): At BayWa r.e. we r.e.think energy – how it is produced, stored and can be best used to enable the global renewable energy transition that is essential to the future of our planet.
We are a leading global developer, service supplier, distributor and solutions provider and have brought over 5 GW of energy online and manage over 10 GW of assets. We are also an Independent Power Producer with an expanding energy trading business.
BayWa r.e. works with businesses worldwide to provide tailored renewable solutions. Operating 100% carbon neutral, we are also committed to our own sustainability journey.
Every day, we are working hard to actively shape the future of energy in a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.
Our shareholders are BayWa AG, a EUR27.1 billion global business, and Energy Infrastructure Partners, a leader in energy infrastructure investment. Visit https://www.baywa-re.com/en/.
Contact information: PRecious Communications for BayWa r.e. AG Li Wen Tan Tel: +65 6303 0567 Email: baywa-re@preciouscomms.com
Innovative solutions in art, education, healthtech, green tech and more
The sixth edition of Start-up Express, an entrepreneurship development programme organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), came to a successful conclusion today. The judging panel at the in-person Final Pitching, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, selected 10 winning start-ups from 20 finalists. The My Favourite Start-up Award, decided through live polling of the audience, was awarded to Meat The Next, while the ESG Award went to Negawatt Technology in recognition of its sustainable and socially impactful business solution. The 10 winning teams will participate in a series of local and international events to develop their businesses by building connections, exploring markets, seeking partners and enhancing brand awareness.
The Start-up Express Final Pitching winners pictured together with the judging panel and special guests.
The record number of applications for Start-up Express 2023 reflected the great enthusiasm of Hong Kong’s entrepreneurs. The 20 finalists come from diverse sectors such as ed tech, con (construction) tech & prop tech, fintech, health tech, as well as metaverse, Web 3.0, smart city, HR tech and food tech. More than 100 industry players were invited to attend the Final Pitching Day in person, including investors, business leaders, representatives from overseas entities and more. Booths were also set up during the event to showcase Start-up Express past winners and finalists, in addition to demo-pitch from secondary school teams.
Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said Hong Kong start-ups were highly adaptive and had shown great resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re still at an initial phase of post-COVID-19 recovery, when the global economic outlook is still uncertain. Investors remain conservative, and start-ups are in need of more support. Finalists of this year’s Start-up Express have developed products with advanced technology, and they have great potential to become unicorns. With business matching via HKTDC’s physical and online platforms to help start-ups connect with international investors and partners, we will step up efforts to promote local innovations to the world, and grasp post-COVID-19 opportunities,” Mr Liang said.
Diverse opportunities offered to winning start-ups Final Pitching contestants presented innovative business ideas and responded to questions raised by a distinguished panel of judges. This year’s judging panel comprises five renowned industry experts: Jason Chiu, Chairman of Hong Kong Startup Council; Gordon Yen, Chairman of Hong Kong Business Angel Network; Winnie Han, Head of China Issuer Services/ Senior Vice President, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Ben Cheng, President and Chief Executive Officer of C Capital; and Danny Yeung, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics. The 10 winning start-ups are: Big Bang Academy, DimOrder, Haofood, Kodifly, Meat the Next, Moongate, Negawatt Technology, Neuropix, Rocket Academy, and Syngular Technology (click here to download the list of winners and their company profiles). The HKTDC will arrange a series of exposure opportunities through which the winning teams can interact with buyers and investors.
Outstanding presentations at Final Pitching Jason Chiu, Chairman of Hong Kong Startup Council is a third-time judge of the programme. He said: “I am thrilled to participate in this year’s Final Pitching. Entering its sixth edition, Start-up Express’ competition is fiercer than ever, and each team displayed enormous growth potential. The industry verticals of the finalists this year were also more diverse, ranging from Web3.0 to con tech, which demonstrates their innovative thinking and proves the capability of Hong Kong tech talents. It is encouraging to see how vibrant the Hong Kong start-up ecosystem is becoming, with the number of start-ups increasing over the past few years. The winning teams this year will leverage the unique platform of Start-up Express to obtain more business opportunities and connections, and explore the Mainland and overseas markets.”
Danny Yeung, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics, who led his start-up to unicorn status, gave insightful advice to the finalists. He said: “It is definitely challenging for early-stage companies to gain a foothold in competitive markets. I am happy to see that the HKSAR government is strengthening its support to the innovative & tech sector; Start-up Express is also a meaningful programme for start-ups to connect with investors and business leaders. He also cheered for start-ups: “The journey of building a start-up is never easy. Founders must keep an eye on the latest market trends and make unremitting efforts, in order to scale-up in the challenging business environment.”
Grasping the market pulse and building a global network Start-up Express gives start-ups the chance to promote their business ideas. They can take part in exhibitions in Mainland China and overseas, and investor meetings in Hong Kong and the mainland. They can also strengthen their business networks, as well as expand their markets and businesses through the exposure they have gained.
Dr Martin Zhu, Co-founder of i2Cool, a winner last year, said: “Through Start-up Express, we have unlocked many publicity opportunities. HKTDC’s global network also helped us obtain many new customers from all over the world. For example, at last year’s Entrepreneur Day, we met with a construction company from the Philippines, and signed a large-amount business order with them on the spot. All of these are valuable opportunities offered by Start-up Express.”
Start-up Express International returns in December The HKTDC has always given its full support to Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping to maintain the city’s status as a competitive business centre and hub for innovation. Launched in 2022, Start-up Express International has attracted participants from around the world, including the United States, Germany, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Singapore and more. 10 winners were selected and exchange sessions were arranged between them and the Hong Kong start-up winners. Start-up Express International will return during Entrepreneur Day in December. The HKTDC will support the winning international start-ups to set up their businesses in Hong Kong, as well as to explore the mainland and Greater Bay Area markets.
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 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 HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Jane Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4137, Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org
Erez Capital, a emerging venture capital fund investing in disruptive technologies, is thrilled to announce its addition of 40 Venture Partners to join the fund. These new partners will play an important role in the quickly developing artificial intelligence ecosystem – specifically in the proptech, medtech and fintech sectors.
“This is an exciting new chapter for Erez Capital, creating a new collaborative model to drive rapid acceleration and growth for pre-seed and seed-stage technology startup companies.” said Michael Benezra, Managing Partner.
As part of our commitment to pushing boundaries and driving transformation, Erez Capital has diligently sought out Venture Partners who share our vision and possess unique expertise in their respective fields. The addition of academic experts, research directors, private equity principals, venture capital partners, fund managers, CEO’s, attorney’s, investment bankers, startup founders, and experienced investors to our network significantly bolsters our capabilities, propelling us forward in achieving our ambitious goals.
VENTURE PARTNERS – Omar Agely, Managing Partner Mandatory Ventures – Garth Daniels, CEO Ensign Global Fund – Kenneth Asher, CEO Kasher Capital – Jonah Zahnd, Manager for Social Impact Investing Harvard Business School – John Brice, Managing Partner Poseidon Capital Partners – Lawrence Jen, Managing Partner Anderson Angels – Andrew Cohen, VP YE Ventures – Brandon Kortokrax, Venture Associate Moonshots Capital – Pankaj Kedia, Managing Partner 2468 Ventures – Jim Lewis, Managing Partner Freestone Group – James Lubin, Partner Indigo Ventures – Joe Mikhail, CEO YouVue – Eric Mayo, Managing Partner Terra Incognita Capital – Mohammed Nagda, Venture Partner, NexGen Venture Partners – A.J. Noronha, Managing Partner, GX Ventures – Mario Pazos, Managing Partner, Moana Capital – Tyler Norkus, VP Ideanomics (NYSE:IDEX) – Keena Pierre, Chief of Staff, Zane Venture Fund – Brahm Pillai, Managing Partner Pillai Capital – Deepak Ramanathan, Director of Capital Markets Regent L.P. – Jeff Schell, CEO Prove – Amari Smothers A.I and VC – Dr. Aakash Saraiya, Physician Google Health – Varun Sharat, Managing Partner Charybdis Capital Management – Nick Sterlacci, Co-Founder OneDeal – Tom Vollbrecht, Zion Bank – Bryan Feinberg, CEO Zephyr Technology Ventures
Advisory Board – Leonard Johnson, CEO Artificial Intelligence Economic Development Corp – Dr. Cvic Innocent, CTO & Founder Estate Protocol – Tim Ramdeed, Managing Partner Dharma Capital Partners – Mike Berson, CEO Chainstarters – Eugene Buff, EIR Northeastern University – Steven Friedmutter, CEO SF Ventures
About Erez Capital
Erez Capital is a venture capital firm at the forefront of the AI and machine learning revolution. We are committed to accelerating innovation and breakthrough technologies. Through a collaborative approach to due-diligence, evaluation and venture investing – we aim to exit portfolio companies within 60 months.
Entrepreneurs represent diverse tech sectors from ConTech to Web
Start-up Express, the annual entrepreneurship development programme organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), has returned for its sixth edition. Hong Kong is rapidly growing following COVID-19 and the HKTDC will continue to incubate and support local start-ups and help them develop their businesses. This year’s programme continues to help them build connections, explore markets, seek partners and enhance brand awareness.
In 2022, 10 winning teams were selected for the Start-Up Express Pitching Final
DimOrder provides a cloud-based ecosystem to over 1,700 restaurants
Meat The Next launched tiger nut vegan ice cream and tiger nut oat milk, which are dairy-free and with no added sugar, to the market
Start-up Express cohorts show tremendous traction Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director of HKTDC, said the HKTDC would continue its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses into overseas markets, in addition to promoting the city’s capabilities in innovation and technology.
“Since the first edition of Start-up Express in 2018, the programme has already nurtured 50 start-ups, some of which have scaled up substantially. Start-up Express has given great support to start-ups over the past five years, helping them tap into new markets and win global recognition. Through the HKTDC network, numerous start-ups successfully obtained substantial business orders and secured partners as well as investment rounds. We will continue our quest to spread the spirit of entrepreneurship in Hong Kong, helping start-ups grow their businesses to the next level and helping them gain a foothold in the global arena. The HKTDC remains committed to building a sustainable and international entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes local economic growth and business development,” Mr Liang said.
Applications stream in Start-up Express is aimed at Hong Kong tech start-ups which plan to expand into international markets. The competition drew a record number of applications this year, with finalists from diverse sectors such as ed tech, con (construction) tech & prop tech, fintech, health tech, as well as metaverse, Web 3.0, smart city, HR tech and food tech. This year’s judging panel comprises five renowned industry experts: Jason Chiu, Chairman of Hong Kong Startup Council; Anthony Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Isola Capital; Gordon Yen, Chairman of Hong Kong Business Angel Network; Ben Cheng, President and Chief Executive Officer of C Capital and Danny Yeung, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics.
Live polling on physical Pitching Day The Final Pitching Day of Start-up Express 2023 will be held in-person on 4 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Apart from the 10 winners, one laureate will receive the ESG Award, rewarding the most sustainable and socially impactful start-up, while the My Favourite Start-up Award victor will be decided by a live audience vote. The 10 winning start-ups will have access to capability-building workshops, mentoring sessions, exploratory missions to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, marketing sessions, extensive publicity and investor-pitching opportunities. These activities will help the laureates hone business skills, gain access to the latest market insights and acquire business know-how from experienced industry leaders. The winners will also be able to interact with buyers and investors at HKTDC-organised local and overseas events. The HKTDC will arrange business-matching meetings, helping entrepreneurs connect with potential partners, increase media exposure and enhance brand awareness.
Taking the market pulse and building a global network Mr Liang added: “Last year’s winning teams stood out because of their innovative and forward-looking ideas. Through Start-up Express they were able to gain more insights into their industries, overseas market trends and investor preferences by participating in different HKTDC-organised events, including the Asia Summit on Global Health, Asian Financial Forum, exhibitions in Mainland China and overseas, and investor meetings in Hong Kong and the mainland. They have also been able to strengthen their business networks and expand their markets and businesses through the exposure they have gained. To help fuel the growth of these start-ups, the HKTDC also leveraged its network of 50 overseas offices worldwide to endorse them in international competitions and connect them to overseas investors through pitching events.”
20 finalists with unique products/solutions Start-ups selected for the shortlisted top 20 in the Final Pitching Day have all presented innovative business solutions that help address social and environmental issues. Among them:
– DimOrder provides a cloud-based ecosystem to more than 1,700 restaurants. It builds operating systems, processes transaction and offers a procurement platform. – Meat The Next launched tiger nut vegan ice cream and tiger nut oat milk, which are dairy-free and have no added sugar. – Moongate is a one-stop shop for brands and businesses to use utility NFTs to drive customer engagement and revenue, enabling businesses to create powerful NFT tickets and memberships to maximise customer lifetime value. – Neuropix has invented a bilateral wireless neurostimulation system to treat major brain diseases, a non-invasive innovative wearable neurotechnology.
Start-up Express 2023 Pitching Final Date: 4 July 2023 (Tuesday) Time: 1:15pm Media registration; 1:30pm-6pm Start-up Express Pitching Final Venue: S221, HKCEC 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai Judging panel: – Anthony Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Isola Capital – Ben Cheng, President and Chief Executive Officer of C Capital – Jason Chiu, Chairman of Hong Kong Startup Council – Danny Yeung, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics – Gordon Yen, Chairman of Hong Kong Business Angel Network Shortlisted start-ups: Click here to view the profiles of the shortlisted start-ups. https://tinyurl.com/yy9k28ve Start-up Express website: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/ Photo download: https://bit.ly/3PikEf6
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 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: Jane Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4137, Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org
With more professionals seeking a career change, franchising and licensing continue to be viable options for aspiring entrepreneurs pursuing business ownership. Franchising and licensing offer multiple benefits including a proven business model, established brand recognition, readilyavailable training, support and infrastructure; all of which translate into more assurance and confidence, andlower failure rates, more flexibility and potentially better control over a fulfilling and rewarding career.
With Asia as one of the fastest-growing economic regions in GDP per capita, countries in the region are seeing significant growth in their middle-class populations, where this tier of consumers with higher spending power and disposable income are influencing global consumption patterns and driving demand for premium and better-quality service and products. This is where the franchising and licensing models allow home-grown and established brands and aspiring individuals to step in to meet these consumers’ needs.Today there are more than 4,300 franchise systems throughout Southeast Asia with more than 150,000franchisee firms licensed to sell goods on behalf of master franchise brands.
Empowering aspiring individuals with knowledge, best practices and meaningful connections to jumpstart their business ownership journeys, Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLAsia) – Asia’s most established trade platform for the industry – returns this year from 17-19Augustat SandsExpoandConventionCentre Level 1. Presented annually by the Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore) andorganised by Constellar, FLA2023 offers tremendous opportunities for aspiring individuals andentrepreneurs to connect with global-ready brands who are looking to expand into the rest of Asia Pacificand globally, with Singapore as the springboard.
With a diverse and unique range of product and service brands on board, FLA2023 is the ideal platform tomeet brand owners and franchise leaders, as well as discover how franchisees can play unique strategic roles in furthering the brand’s success in the local market(s) with theirin-market knowledge of business, marketing and talent strategies.
“Singapore is a lucrative market and springboard for both master franchisors looking to expand in the region and for aspiring individuals seeking opportunities. Singapore’s dynamic pro-business environment, politicalstability, among other considerations, offer a much lower barrier of entry. FLAsia2023 is the key knowledge exchange and business networking platform where both franchisors & franchisees can greatly benefit from” said Mr Dickson Low, President of Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore).
Brands to check out at FLA2023 include the The TungLok Group, Russo’s New York Pizzeria, the KC Group of Companies (owner of full-service salon brands such as Kcuts, Kskin and Clippers Barber), Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant, Speech Academy, Mscents, Chewy Junior, and many more.
More details will be shared nearer to date. To attend Franchising & Licensing Asia (FLA) 2023, sign uphere at https://bit.ly/MediaReg2023
About Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore)
FLA (Singapore), one of the founding members of the World Franchise Council, was established in 1993 with the mission to nurture and develop Singapore’s franchising industry. An essential component of Singapore’s knowledge- based economy, FLA (Singapore) promotes and facilitates the use of franchising, licensing and branding as a growth strategy for Singapore enterprises, thus contributing to turning Singapore as a regional franchise and license hub. Through its partnership with Singapore government agencies and international franchise and license bodies, FLA (Singapore) also assists its members in their international development programmes. With an active growing membership of close to 140 companies, representing more than 250 strong brands, FLA (Singapore) is led and managed by a dedicated team of advisors, committee members and full-time secretariat with the goal of supporting Singapore companies to expand internationally. https://www.flasingapore.org/
About Constellar
Constellar connects a global eco-system of event partners and consumers through a holistic portfolio of intellectual property (IP) in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. As Asia’s partner of reference for curating innovative event and venue experiences, Constellar activates impactful networks to bring global markets, businesses and consumers together for sustainable growth. With our expertise and dedication, we are invested in helping you build trusted relationships with stakeholders for the long term and enabling cross-industry collaboration through world-class audience engagement solutions. Visit constellar.co for more information.
SMEStreet is excited to Welcome Mr Deepak Maheshwari as the chairperson of 2023’s MSME & Startups – Finance & Growth Committee of SMEStreet League of Mentors (https://smestreet.in/smestreet-league-of-mentors/smestreet-league-of-mentors/). Mr Maheshwari will also be the permanent Mentor of the SMEStreet League of Mentors which aims to ensure easy access of expertise for MSMEs and Startups.
“Finance for MSMEs and scaling of Startups are very crucial areas requiring serious attention for the growth of our country. The subject holds critical importance for MSME entrepreneurs in India, especially at a time when enormous opportunities are getting generated that require strong and timely execution. Through this engagement, we wish to bring our team’s expertise accessible for any entrepreneur from the startup or MSME sector,” says Mr Deepak Maheshwari (www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-maheshwari-0605b86/), Co-Founder Jindagi Live Group and Dealplexus.com.
Mr Deepak Maheshwari is an accomplished professional with over 27+ years of leadership experience across diverse businesses. He has led large and diverse teams with GE and IFCI with hands-on mentorship approach. He has well-rounded experience in start-up, growth and business optimization cycles and has facilitated multi-million dollar strategic investments in multiple businesses. He is a qualified CA, CS, CFA and Cost Accountant.
On this announcement, Dr Faiz Askari, Founder and Chief Editor of SMEStreet welcomed Mr Maheshwari and stated, “This is indeed a great milestone to have the knowledge support of Mr Maheshwari’s experience accessible for MSMEs and Startups. Mr Maheshwari holds a great understanding of today’s financial landscape for credit management and strategic growth for the business. His support and engagement in SMEStreet League of Mentors shall open a great horizon of opportunities for the vast Indian MSME and Startup sector.”
SMEStreet League of Mentors is a joint initiative of SMEStreet Foundation and Vertical Business Media’s that started in 2020.
SMEStreet League of Mentors is an initiative designed to bring much-needed expertise closer to MSMEs which is needed for their business growth. Mentors at SMEStreet League of Mentors will not only motivate the entrepreneurs but also bring clarity in business vision. We at SMEtreet have spent years in interacting and understanding the common and specific pain points of MSMEs. One of the most common pains that almost every startup and MSME entrepreneur faces is the limitation of seeking the best possible guidance. Limited knowledge and filtered information make business life difficult, so in order to make the entrepreneur’s life easier and smart and in other words, in our endeavour to contribute in the direction of ease of doing business, we would like to bring you closer to SMEStreet’s League of Mentors.
Darco Ba Lai Water Treatment Plant officially announces commencement of operations
Darco Water Technologies Limited, a provider of integrated engineering and expertise-driven solutions for water treatment, wastewater management, clean water supply and vacuum solid waste management, announced the completion of the first phase of its water treatment and clean water supply project in Ba Lai district of Vietnam’s Ben Tre Province, and the commencement of operations. It will supply 5,000m3 of clean water per day for up to 20,000 rural households. Upon completion of the second phase construction of the project in 2024, the plant will supply 15,000m3 of clean water a day to more households and industrial areas in the district of Ba Tri township and region of 15 communes in Ben Tre Province.
Grand opening ceremony of Darco Ba Lai Water Treatment Plant
Darco Ba Lai’s donation of stationery supplies to 13 schools in 6 communes of Ba Tri District
The DBOO project is a joint venture (JV) with InfraCo Asia, a commercially managed infrastructure development and investment company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). On 17 June 2023, Darco and InfraCo Asia jointly organized a grand opening ceremony of Darco Ba Lai Water Treatment Plant to officially announce its commencement of operations. Distinguished guests at the event included the Chairman of the Ben Tre People’s Committee, local government authorities, and representatives from the Singapore, Netherlands, and Australian Consulate Generals in Ho Chi Minh City.
The project has a 50-year lease from the Vietnam government commencing July 2017. According to the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Results-Based Approaches (www.gprba.org), approximately 74% of the Vietnamese population is concentrated in rural areas, yet only 48% of households have access to clean water and must rely on polluted sources for basic household needs during the dry season.” On 3 January 2022, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Le Van Thanh, signed a decision approving the National Rural Clean Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy to supply 65% of rural residents with affordable clean water by 2030, and 100% of all rural residents by 2045. ( https://en.vietnamplus.vn/national-strategy-aims-to-provide-clean-water-to-rural-residents-by-2030/220029.vnp )
Darco’s corporate ethos views ESG and CSR as inextricably tied to its business The success of the Ba Lai project will showcase Darco’s capabilities and present more opportunities for similar projects in Vietnam. However, Darco’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Wang Zhi said, “More business is good for Darco, but we do not forget our commitment to give back to Society. We work hard to incorporate ESG and CSR initiatives into all our projects. We organized activities to interact with the local community and donated home and school supplies to the needy. There will be more to come.”
InfraCo Asia’s CEO, Ms. Claudine Lim said, “In partnering with Darco for the development of the Ba Lai project with, we found a partner with a complementary capability when it comes to technical skill sets and sector knowledge. Working together, we are proud to bring a water treatment plant online that will supply water to people in the surrounding communities, meeting international Health, Safety, Environmental, and Social (HSES) standards.”
About Darco Water Technologies Limited Darco Water Technologies Limited (“Darco” and with its subsidiaries “the Group”) was founded in 1999 and listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2002. Darco is a provider of integrated engineering and expertise-driven solutions for water treatment, wastewater management, clean water supply and vacuum solid waste management. It has a well-established presence in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, with a track record of projects delivered on time, on budget, and with high quality. Darco’s scope of work includes design, fabrication, assembly, installation, and commissioning, as well as Design, Build, Own, Operate (“DBOO”) projects. The Group generates additional revenue from post-EPC (“Engineering, Procurement, and Construction”) maintenance services, which are supported by the service centres of its trading division, which supply essential chemicals and other products required for maintenance servicing. For more information, please visit www.darcowater.com.
About InfraCo Asia and The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) InfraCo Asia is a commercially managed infrastructure development and investment company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). Headquartered in Singapore, InfraCo Asia catalyses greater private sector investment in infrastructure across South and Southeast Asia by providing funding and development expertise. InfraCo Asia funds early-stage development activities to realise socially responsible and commercially viable infrastructure that contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. InfraCo Asia is currently funded by four members of PIDG – the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Australia. For more information, please visit www.infracoasia.com
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and south and south-east Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of opportunity, accountability, safety, integrity and impact. Since 2002, PIDG has supported 190 infrastructure projects to financial close which provided an estimated 220 million people with access to new or improved infrastructure. PIDG Technical Assistance (TA) can provide technical assistance and capital grants to the PIDG companies to meet a range of needs associated with an infrastructure project’s life-cycle. PIDG TA can also provide up-front viability gap funding grants to support PIDG projects that require concessional funding to make a project with strong development impact financeable. PIDG is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Germany and the IFC. For more information, visit www.pidg.org.
Trade recovery set to accelerate in the second half of 2023
The HKTDC Export Index rose 8.8 points to 47.8 in the second quarter this year, showing better business sentiment among Hong Kong exporters after Mainland China’s borders reopened and business activities return to normal.
HKTDC Director of Research Ms Irina Fan [L] and Senior Economist Ms Cherry Yeung [R] announced the HKTDC Export Index for the second quarter of 2023 at a press conference today.
All major industries and export markets rallied except for clothing, with toys (55.4, up 7.5 points) and machinery (50.3, up 7.4 points) moving above 50 into expansion territory while, among markets, the European Union (51.4, up 9.4 points) and United States (51.1, up 6.7 points) turned positive for the first time in five years.
Based on a quarterly Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) survey of 500 exporters from six major industries – machinery, electronics, jewellery, timepieces, toys and clothing – the index at above 50 indicates an optimistic outlook, and below 50 pessimistic.
Export outlook upbeat HKTDC Senior Economist Ms Cherry Yeung said three new sub-indices – inventory (48.5), current new orders (45.1) and expected new orders (53.6) – provided a more comprehensive exporter sentiment picture. Respondents – especially those from toys, timepieces and machinery sectors – expected strong growth in new export orders in July-September.
The profitability outlook improved as more respondents (66.3%, up 15.3 percentage points from the final quarter of last year) expected higher or stable net profit margins for this year.
“Against this backdrop, the city’s exporters have adjusted their business strategies, shifting the focus from cash-flow management to spending more resources on marketing, promotion and business matching (41.6%, up 11.7 percentage points from previous quarter) and diversifying sales into additional overseas markets (31.1%),” Ms Yeung said.
All sub-indices rise Other sub-indices grew this quarter with the Trade Value Index and Employment Index edged up 0.8 point to 48.8 and 0.5 point to 48.1 respectively, while the Procurement Index leapt 15.9 points to 44.3.
The Offshore Trade Index, which tracks sentiment around shipments not passing through Hong Kong but managed by businesses within the city, soared 18.5 points to 46.5, “signalling a sustained recovery in demand for Hong Kong’s trading services”, Ms Yeung added.
Growing economic risks The survey results also revealed a slower-than-expected recovery of cargo routed through Hong Kong. Only 13.4% (down 23.1 percentage points from previous quarter) of related respondents expected an increase this year. As of last month, the number of cross-boundary vehicles at all crossings for goods vehicles and containers reached a plateau at about 60% of the pre-pandemic level. Some industry players said reduced capacity had raised cross-border logistics costs between 20% and 30% from pre-pandemic levels, slowing the recovery.
The biggest risk was seen as an external one, with most respondents (66.1%, up 29.9 percentage points from the final quarter last year) recognising an economic slowdown or recession in overseas markets as the top challenge to export performance over the third quarter this year.
Sustained recovery Affected by weakened global demand, a slower-than-expected recovery in cross-border land transport capacity, coupled with a longer-than-expected downcycle in the electronics sector, Hong Kong’s total exports fell 16.5% year-on-year in the first four months of this year. Among markets, the Middle East grew 11.5%, driven by the two economies’ closer economic and trade ties. Stimulated by a post-pandemic spike in demand in Mainland China and Macao, Hong Kong’s precious jewellery exports to the two markets surged 32% and 42% respectively.
HKTDC Director of Research Ms Irina Fan said the recovery was gathering momentum for the second half of this year which was likely to carry into next year. “However, traders remain cautious, with many concerned about the challenging external backdrop. The risk of escalating geopolitical tensions, may create uncertainties for electronics trade flows throughout the region, especially those relating to the semi-conductor industry,” she said.
Taking all these factors into account, HKTDC Research has revised its forecast for Hong Kong export growth this year down from earlier estimate of 5% to between 0% and 2%.
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 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 Communication and Public Affairs Department: Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org
Brawijaya University and some Japanese universities cooperate to establish the Research Center of Robotic and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Rector of Brawijaya University Prof. Widodo with President of Nagoya City University Prof. Kiyofumi Asai (ANTARA/HO-Brawijaya University).
The university’s deputy rector for planning, cooperation, and international affairs, Andi Kurniawan, underscored the important role of Brawijaya University to conduct such cooperation with its Japanese partners, such as the Nagoya City University (NCU).
The cooperation, which also includes the development of study program related to data science and material science, is expected to provide mutual benefits for the two universities.
“We work with universities that really consider Brawijaya as an important partner, so that collaboration for growing together can be delivered,” Kurniawan remarked in a statement, Monday (June 5).
In terms of AI, he noted that the cooperation will be implemented in research on life sciences, especially those related to medical plants.
Lecturer at the Faculty of Computer Science Novanto Yudistira explained that in future, the implementation of AI would be carried out for big data at the molecular level of medical plants.
With the utilization of AI, Brawijaya University is expected to conduct exploration of seven thousand medical plants.
During a visit to NCU, Yudistira noted that the rector of Brawijaya University also presented a research titled “Bioinformatic and Holistic Paradigm of the Complexity of Indonesia Traditional Medicine for Promoting Human Health” that sheds light on Indonesia’s biodiversity to open up opportunities in developing research on traditional medicine.
“However, we should find a solution regarding the standardization of product safety,” he noted.
In terms of robotics, Brawijaya University and Waseda University in Japan are creating a humanoid robot that will be named King of Brawijaya.
The collaboration with Waseda University, which is ranked 200 among the best universities in the world based on the QS Star version, had been established since 2019.
In addition, several professors at Waseda University, such as Prof. Shuji Hashimoto, who is known as one of the members of the Gundam robot manufacturing team and Prof. Pitoyo Hartono, an Indonesian diaspora member, who became a professor in Japan, have forged several collaborative relations by becoming guest lecturers or supervisors at Brawijaya University.
Under the collaboration, students of Brawijaya University can learn from the research and the professors mainly from Waseda and Chukyo universities, who are main experts and involved in the projects for making Gundam robots.
Apart from research, the output of the collaboration will also be directed to publish some international journals and encourage journals in Brawijaya University to become reputable journals.
Earlier, Brawijaya University had collaborated with other universities in Japan, such as Nagoya University, Chukyo University, Keio University, and Waseda University.
