Category: Startups

Nigerian FG to Stop Importing Digital Products and Services says Digital Economy Minister

  • Minister of Communications & Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) made the declaration with exceptional growth and new Start-up Act fueling his sector on Day #1, Digital Nigeria 2022

With stakeholders in the Digital Economy, from within and outside Nigeria, gathered at Digital Nigeria 2022 to brainstorm on a sustainable digital economy for the nation, the Federal Government declared that it was no longer accepting importation of any digital technological product or service into the country, until and unless the country is convinced that capacity to develop such product and service is not readily available within the country.

NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa opening Digital Nigeria 2022 in Abuja, October 25 [Image: NITDA]
Communications & Digital Economy Minister, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) addressing Digital Nigeria 2022 [Image: NITDA]

The Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) made the sweeping declaration while delivering special remarks on Day #1 of the Digital Nigeria International Conference, Exhibition & Awards in Abuja on Monday, Oct 25.

The Conference, formerly known as the eNigeria International Conference, is the flagship awareness programme in the Digital Economy sector. The annual event was re-branded as Digital Nigeria to further expand its scope in line with the core objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

The aim is to brainstorm on contemporary issues of relevance across the globe, and to address Nigerian challenges for sustainable socioeconomic development. It is a veritable platform for Information & Communications Technology (ICT) awareness, creation, development of appropriate frameworks, and setting goals for best practices.

The Minister holds that wisdom behind the stoppage of importation of digital technological products and services gives effect to Executive Orders 003 of May 2017, and 005 of February 2018, which support “Local Content Procurements by Ministries, Department and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria”, and the “Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology”, respectively.

He stated further that “even in the employment position that is publicized, as long as there are Nigerians that have the capacities to take up the challenges, it is not allowed for you to bring somebody from outside the country, except in an agreement transferring knowledge, and 40% of our products and services must be retained for Nigerians.”

Prof. Pantami enthused that his segment has been performing with increasing creditably in the last three years, making it the fastest growing sector, and the highest contributor to Gross Domestic Product in the country. “The Digital Economy has in recent years recorded three unprecedented records. For example, contributing18.44% of GDP in the last quarter according to the National Bureau of Statistic.”

Listing record achievements for the sector, Prof. Pantami further expressed that his Ministry had scored high grades in each of the eight ministerial deliverables he signed with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. He noted that his Ministry scored a very strong 173.86% average across the eight.

The scores in each deliverable were recorded as: implementation of broadband connectivity -134%; deployment of 4G across the country – 127%; digitalising government functions and processes – 99%; development and implementation of a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy – 103%; implementation of a Digital Identity Programme – 86%; improvement and optimisation of revenues from all operators and licensees in agencies under the Ministry’s supervision – 594%; active collaboration with private sector to create jobs – 111%; empowerment of citizens – 137%.

According to the Minister, the sector used to contribute an average of N51 billion (approx. US$118 million) quarterly to the government’s coffer, but in the last three years, quarterly remittance has grown to N408 billion (approx. US$ 935 million). “And you cannot appreciate this until you know how difficult it is to generate funds for government. We remit all that we generate to the government, while others spend without generating,” he noted.

Prof. Pantami expressed that vigor in implementation of the various pillars of NDEPS was facilitating the unprecedented achievements the sector is recording since the policy was approved in October 2019. He listed the eight pillars to include: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Service Development and Promotion; Digital Society and Emerging Technologies; and Indigenous Content Promotion and Adoption.

The Minister revealed that the under the Service Infrastructure pillar, IT project clearance alone has saved the Federal Government over N44 billion in the last year, with the clearing of 1,600 projects which have to do with the automation of government processes in order to save funds, improve precision and accuracy, and promote accountability.

He said, “In order to simplify the implementation of each of the pillar, we developed other implementation policies under each pillar; under some pillars we have developed three to four policies. Within the last three years, we have developed 19 national policies and at least 17 of them are being implemented today – and this is unprecedented.”

While noting the Ministry’s achievements in capacity building, Prof. Pantami disclosed that 863,232 Nigerians have been trained on cutting edge and highly demanded digital skills, adding that the training identified a global vacuum in the digital sector, and focused on the provision of skills to citizens such that they could fill the vacuum. In addition, according to the Minister, over 2,000 IT centres have been established across the country.

He said the many regulatory instruments developed by his Ministry and its parastatals led to the initiation and passage of the Nigeria Start-Up Bill by the National Assembly, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari last week as the Nigeria Start-up Act.

While commending President Buhari and National Assembly for the speedy passage and assent, the Minister described the legislation as “organic, as inputs were sought from the Start-Up ecosystem, and all its challenges are accommodated.” He said passage of the Bill has attracted commendations globally, especially the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which indicated it would be learning from Nigeria’s experience.

Written by Lukman Oladokun in Lagos
Day #1: Digital Nigeria International Conference 2022, Oct 25.

ONERHT launches accelerator programme Rebel Labs at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit

ONERHT has launched Rebel Labs at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit becoming one of the first homegrown professional services organisation to launch an accelerator programme to incubate creative ideas, business models, and solutions to current industry challenges.

Rebel Labs entered into a MoU with its global partners to offer an integrated offering throughout the start-up lifecycle during its launch at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit

Rebel Labs will leverage ONERHT’s integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional services, comprising experts from across RHTLaw Asia and the RHT Group of Companies, to help aspiring founders and early-stage entrepreneurs scale their vision into thriving businesses.

Presented virtually by RHTLaw Asia, RHT Group of Companies and the China-ASEAN Business Alliance, the Summit’s theme is “Opportunities and Growth Drivers in ASEAN’s Post-Pandemic Landscape amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties.”

Panellists including Dr Leo Suryadinata, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, examined macroeconomic growth and risk in the region, new opportunities in the green economy, dispute resolution across China & ASEAN, and the rise of ASEAN’s digital economy.

Speaking at the launch of Rebel Labs, Mr Victor Tay, Group Chief Executive Officer of RHT Consulting Asia, said, “Through Rebel Labs, ONERHT will take control of the narratives in the disruptive landscape. Entrepreneurs and startups can realise their aspirations through ONERHT’s multidisciplinary platform of professional services to co-create ideas, mould minimal viable products, reconfigure business models, access global markets, raise funds and seek public listing.”

Through Rebel Labs’ strategic partnerships, incubatees will have access to mentors from 18 markets across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Israel, South Africa, China and ASEAN member states.

Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner of RHTLaw Asia, said, “It takes fierce determination for aspiring founders to rebel against the status quo, reimagining the future shaped by their vision. To help start-ups in the region, ONERHT is launching Rebel Labs, an accelerator programme to incubate disruptive technologies including legal technology, environmental technologies, and the metaverse.”

RHTLaw Asia’s full legal service capabilities, with presence in 16 jurisdictions through its ASEAN Plus Group, will help aspiring founders overcome the hurdles of regulatory challenges while scaling from ideation to maturity across the region.

During the Summit, Rebel Labs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with its global partners to offer an integrated offering throughout the start-up lifecycle, from mentoring and fundraising to scaling and listing. These partners include MIW (Israel), Fvtura (Italy, Netherlands, UAE), Founders Foundry (US, UK, South Africa), the China-ASEAN Business Alliance, Singapore Digital Chamber of Commerce and Enjinstarter (metaverse) and The Next Level (entrepreneurship programmes).

About ONERHT
The ONERHT Universe is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional services. Collaborating as ONE, we seek to be a beacon of growth for our clients, stakeholders and communities, empowering them to achieve purposeful growth in Asia and beyond. RHTLaw Asia LLP is a Singapore law practice registered as a limited liability law partnership in Singapore. A leading full-service firm with industry focus, it has presence in 16 jurisdictions through the ASEAN Plus Group. In delivering innovative legal and commercial solutions, it collaborates with ONERHT through entities which are not affiliates, branches or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more information, please visit www.onerht.com and https://www.the-rebel-labs.com/

Issued on behalf of ONERHT
By Waterbrooks Consultants https://www.waterbrooks.com.sg/

For media enquiries, please contact:
Elliot Siow
+65 8375 0417
elliot@waterbrooks.com.sg

InvestHK’s Investment Promotion Week aims to lift foreign companies’ awareness of Hong Kong’s business opportunities

Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will launch a series of themed seminars to provide foreign companies and business chambers with the latest updates about the city’s dynamic business environment, enduring global hub status and business opportunities arising from growing ties with the Mainland.

As part of the official celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the five-day Investment Promotion Week will run in a hybrid format from October 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online. It will feature five thematic days – Financial Services/Business Professional Services/FinTech, Innovation and Technology, Lifestyle and Creative Industries, Startup – Sustainable Futures, and the Greater Bay Area – with over 120 speakers sharing insights and experiences in their respective areas.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, are offering full support for the event and hope it will reinforce foreign investors’ understanding of the city’s enduring business advantages and highlight the new and emerging business opportunities.

Mr Lee said, “Hong Kong is the world’s freest economy and an international financial, trading and shipping centre. We are always welcoming companies and investors from all over the world. With the full support of the Central Government, as well as the plentiful opportunities under such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is the best choice for b usiness operations and expansion plans.”

Mr Chan said, “Under ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong has a distinctive status and advantages: we have unparalleled and privileged access to the Mainland market, while remaining a free and open market economy with the common law system. And moreover, the HKSAR Government is committed to creating a strong impetus for economic development, by combining the strengths of a proactive government and an efficient market. We are sure that businesses from all over the world will be able to tap the vast opportunities Hong Kong and the Mainland offer.”

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, “This is a week not to be missed for those who want to learn about the key trends shaping global investment and how Hong Kong can help in capturing these opportunities. Participants will gain first-hand insights and pragmatic advice in all these important areas where we are witnessing tremendous growth – not only in Hong Kong, but in Mainland China and the region as a whole.”

For more details of Investment Promotion Week, visit www.investhk.gov.hk/en/investment-promotion-week.html.

About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the HKSAR Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

Gradiant, Global Water Solutions Provider, Expands Australia Presence and Capabilities

Gradiant, a leading global water solutions provider, announced new milestones in Australia to execute its strategy to deploy its award-winning sustainable solutions in advanced water and wastewater into the Australia and New Zealand region. Two new offices have been established in Adelaide and Perth to complement Gradiant’s regional headquarters in Sydney. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification has been issued for all three office locations.

Gradiant‘s Adelaide, South Australia office is focused on delivery of the SmartOpsTM digital platform of asset performance optimization solutions for industrial end-users. The team works in collaboration with the global technology labs in Singapore and Boston, United States, to ensure customers’ needs are best met in the local market. The Perth, Western Australia office serves the mining sector and Water Corporation, the principal supplier of water and wastewater throughout the state.

“Our expanding presence in Australia will help accelerate the adoption of Gradiant’s solutions to lower the total water cost of our industrial and municipal clients and bring sustainability into their operations and supply chains,” said Govind Alagappan, President of Global Operations for Gradiant. “Australia is a highly developed economy with critical need for our solutions in mining and advanced manufacturing. The country is vast in size, where the opening of our new offices in South Australia and Western Australia will best serve our local customers.”

ISO certifications were achieved for all Australia office locations. The certifications demonstrate Gradiant’s commitment to quality, environment, and health & safety, and allow Gradiant to participate in large projects for its industrial and municipal client base. The certifications include:

  • ISO 9001-2016: Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 14001-2016: Environmental Management Systems
  • ISO 45001-2018: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

“The ISO certifications demonstrate to our growing base of customers in the region that Gradiant is a trusted and certified provider of water solutions in the local market,” Govind Alagappan said. “We strive for excellence in the work that we deliver. These certifications allow us to bring the best outcomes to our projects by ensuring quality, environmental, and health & safety standards are met for our customers and stakeholders.”

Gradiant entered the Australia market in 2020 with the acquisition of CRS Water, an Australian business with 25 years of experience in the design, construction, and operations & maintenance of facilities in the local market. Since then, Gradiant has grown the team by 200%, where today, 45 expert engineers and staff are in-country to serve our local clients. Revenue has increased by three times during this same period. Gradiant’s main Australia office is in Sydney, New South Wales.

Gradiant, a 2022 “Water Technology Company of the Year” by Global Water Intelligence and 2022 “Great Place to Work,” is growing its teams throughout Australia. Open positions may be found on Gradiant’s Careers page.

About Gradiant

Gradiant is a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions, powered by the top minds in water, Gradiant serves its clients’ mission-critical operations in the world’s essential industries. Gradiant was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is uniquely positioned to address the world’s increasing challenges created by industrialization, population growth, and water stress. Today, with over 450 employees, Gradiant operates from its global headquarters in Boston, regional headquarters and global technology labs in Singapore, and offices across twelve countries. For more information, please visit www.gradiant.com.

Corporate Contact:
Felix Wang
Gradiant, VP of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com

BayWa r.e. Eyes Expansion of Standalone Power Systems in Australia

BayWa r.e., the global energy developer, service provider, and distributor, is looking to expand its offering on Standalone Power Systems (SPS) to more regions in the State of Western Australia, and in the future, nationally, to different market sectors that require remote or standalone power.

This follows the company’s success in providing SPS to farming, mining, business communities and homeowners in parts of rural Western Australia at the beginning of 2018, who have greatly benefited from this innovative and cost-effective power source.

According to Western Power, the state owned corporation responsible for providing electricity in Western Australia, Western Australia has one of the largest isolated electricity networks in the world, and the provision of SPS at several sites in rural Western Australia in a trial exercise, helped ensure that the customers received adequate power supply.

Mr. Durmus Yildiz, Managing Director at BayWa r.e. Solar Systems Australia said “We are proud to be a part of powering the remote communities in the State of Western Australia and to be able to put our expertise in energy solutions to benefit the greater community. Through our network of trusted and capable off-grid installers, whom we work with to design and build such SPS. This has enabled BayWa r.e. to cater to different customers, depending on factors such as their required size of the system, location, or customer preference.”

These SPS operate independently off the grid and supply continuous power 24 hours a day, using a mix of solar and battery storage and backup generation. It is by far one of the most efficient local energy solutions that allows customers and the wider community in these remote areas to access a steady supply of electricity.

BayWa r.e. expansion plans for its offering of SPS include tapping into other regions in Western Australia, namely, the Kimberley and Pilbara as well as regions in the other states of the country such as the Northern Territory and Queensland. This vision of providing SPS nation-wide is part of BayWa r.e. ‘s commitment to aid Australia’s energy transition processes.

This is in line with the country’s climate goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which would require a rapid construction of an electricity grid running almost 100 percent on renewable energy.

Some benefits of SPS includes serving as a safe and reliable source, maximised efficiency via clean energy storage, reduction in electricity costs, flexibility for communities to place systems where it is needed, and integrated system monitoring for improved maintenance.

“SPS is a clear choice for remote areas, agricultural and mining sectors. It is a reliable and cost-effective energy solution that can power up these communities in the interim as the country continues to expand and improve its electricity grid. We are also confident that through BayWa r.e.’s technical expertise and product knowledge in renewable energy, that new design elements will be implemented to these systems, to further contribute to the state and country’s transition towards net-zero emissions,” continued Mr. Yildiz.

BayWa r.e. has been operating in Australia since 2016, after transitioning from existing solar wholesaling business Solarmatrix. The Projects team entered the Australian market through the acquisition and subsequent development of the Hughenden Solar Farm in Northern Queensland. The Wind Projects team was established through the acquisition of a local developer, Future Energy, and its project pipeline. In total, BayWa r.e. has delivered seven utility scale wind and solar assets in Australia, including the 112 MW Karadoc and the 106 MW Yatpool solar farms near Mildura in Victoria.

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 4.5GW of energy online and manage over 10GW 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 EUR19.8 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
Daniel Tan
Tel: +65 6303 0567
E-mail: baywa-re@preciouscomms.com

BayWa r.e. AG
Salim Pathan
Marketing Manager, APAC
Tel: +66 62 698 7162
E-mail: salim.pathan@baywa-re.com

Mark Cooper
Corporate Communications
Tel: +49 89 383932 3611
E-mail: mark.cooper@baywa-re.com

Less Than a Month to go for Jordan’s Largest Tech Expo for Start-ups

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s is preparing for the very first edition of the country’s largest tech expo for start-ups, Jordan StartUp Expo 2022 (https://jordanstartupexpo.com), organised by The Future Event Media & Productions (https://thefuture-event.com), on 19-20 October 2022 at the St. Regis, Amman.

Jordan’s start-up ecosystem being ranked 3rd in the Middle East & 64th Globally, this expo is bringing together the country’s emerging yet innovative start-ups along with leading cutting-edge solution providers, Venture Capital firms, Angel Investors, Accelerators & Incubators. With 1600+ Attendees, 250+ Start-up Founders, 55+ Speakers and 30+ solution providers, this business expo is aimed to deconstruct the critical issues, grouped into key themes namely:

– Start-Up Development & Grass roots
– Performance, Technology & Data science
– Brand & Engagement
– Finance & Funding

Under the Patronage of The Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship, along with the presence H.E. Mr. Ahmad Hanandeh, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, there will be multiple attractions, such as Start-up Solutions Showcase, Start-up Awards, Government Participation, Investor Meetings, Pitch Competition, Hackathon, Demo Days and many more. To learn more about the two days of entrepreneurial knowledge and networking, visit: https://jordanstartupexpo.com/.

For more information, contact:
Jamal Alturaby
Phone: + 91 8884144691
Email: jamal@thefuture-event.com

HKTDC launches GoGBA Day for the International Business Community

  • HKTDC’s Transformation Sandbox (T-box), Digital Academy and E-Tailing Academy help “go GBA” via Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office co-organised the inaugural GoGBA Day on Thursday (22 Sept). This support event aims to engage members of the international business community in Hong Kong that are currently underserved in terms of up-to-date business information on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The physical part of the hybrid on-site/online event was held at the HKTDC SME Centre at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event featured a series of seminars offering practical business tips and updates on the latest developments in the GBA to prepare international enterprises to “go GBA” via Hong Kong. The event received an overwhelming response with more than 160 participants attending the seminars at the venue while 260 participants joined the online webinar. At the same time, 65 business advisory sessions and one-on-one consultation meetings were arranged for 47 companies at the venue to facilitate business partnerships and opportunities.

The joint seminars welcomed officials from various authorities in the GBA, along with industry leaders and market experts from banking and other sectors, to share their insights and business know-how with international medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, helping them get equipped to set up business and succeed in the GBA via the Hong Kong platform. A wide range of topics was discussed, including the business landscape in the GBA and key incentives and subsidies for start-ups and businesses in the areas of tax, banking and investment.

Welcoming participants to the event, HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong said: “The GBA plan attracts attention not only because the GBA has China’s highest GDP at US$1.96 trillion, but it offers basically everything a business needs to grow, from the international financial hub of Hong Kong and the world-class manufacturing centres across Guangdong to the advanced innovation and tech clusters across the region – not to mention a huge market of 86 million people and a stepping stone to the vast Mainland China market.”

Ms Fong continued: “We launched our GoGBA support programme last year to help businesses navigate the GBA through Hong Kong by offering information, advisory support and networking and marketing platforms. The GoGBA Day is a highlight of our programme, bringing together the Hong Kong family of organisations under one roof to introduce their GBA support programmes and services, enabling us to hold a GBA event specifically for the international business community for the first time. We hope to give them not only an overview of the latest GBA developments but also offer practical information to help them make decisions and take action.”

Background to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) promotes Hong Kong’s integration into Mainland China’s national development by accelerating the socio-economic integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Hong Kong has been designated as an international financial, shipping, trade and aviation hub, a global offshore renminbi business hub and an international centre for asset management and risk management. As a value-added financial, trading, logistics and professional services centre, supporting technology and innovation, Hong Kong is also a centre for international legal and dispute resolution in Asia-Pacific.

HKTDC’s array of services support enterprises entering the GBA
Over the years, the HKTDC has worked hard to facilitate cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. To support companies in doing business in the GBA, the HKTDC shares useful official information on regulations, procedures and networks through its GoGBA website ( https://www.go-gba.com/en/ ) and WeChat mini-programme, the latter also offering tools such as public health updates, maps, transportation guides and a day counter for individual income tax purposes. As of mid-September 2022, more than 506,700 views of the HKTDC’s GoGBA digital platforms had been recorded.

GoGBA WeChat mini programme (QR Code).
GoGBA WeChat mini programme (QR Code).

On the ground, the HKTDC has established the HKTDC GBA Service Centre in Shenzhen to provide local and international enterprises from Hong Kong with consultation services, industry-related updates and business matching. The Service Centre has so far organised more than 70 activities, with about 3,000 Hong Kong enterprises using its services. Working together with mainland partners, the HKTDC has also set up GoGBA Business Support Centres in Qianhai (Shenzhen), Nansha (Guangzhou), Hengqin (Zhuhai), Dongguan and Zhongshan, with Foshan being added later this year, to provide Hong Kong enterprises with policy and market consultation services.

In addition, the HKTDC’s Transformation Sandbox (T-box) programme will extend its services from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and other cities in the GBA. Together with its Digital Academy and E-Tailing Academy, the HKTDC will provide advisory workshops related to e-commerce and digital business as well as marketing solutions and other digital platforms.

Officials explain GBA business landscape, supporting initiatives and keys to success:

Tommy Yuen, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said: “The GBA is more than a key national development strategy under China’s reform and opening up. It is also marked a further step towards enriching One Country, Two Systems and promoting coordinated economic development that can turn the region into a world-class area for living, working and travelling. New measures are continually being implemented, including steps to encourage the development of private equity and venture capital funds in Qianhai and improving land boundary crossing facilities to enhance talent mobility between Hong Kong and GBA cities. In the coming decade, the GBA is set to become the world’s most vibrant and rapidly growing economic region.”

Jimmy Chiang, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion (Business Development) of Invest Hong Kong, said: “President Xi Jinping has emphasised the importance of leveraging and strengthening Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international financial, shipping and trading centre, as well as its convenient links to international markets. The 14th Five-Year Plan also highlighted the country’s support for Hong Kong in traditional industries as well as four emerging areas, including aviation, innovation and technology, intellectual property trading and international cultural exchange. These specific sectors will see more development opportunities in Hong Kong, and the GBA’s growth will create many attractive opportunities for international companies.”

Kenneth Wong, General Manager, MICE & Cruise, Europe, Hong Kong Tourism Board, said: “The Hong Kong Tourism Board has developed a tourism recovery framework to aid in the recovery, reopening and rebranding of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. We devised a number of publicity and promotion campaigns to maintain Hong Kong’s visibility during the pandemic and to facilitate tourism as well as MICE recovery. This includes bringing back large-scale international events and establishing a dedicated team to provide MICE organisers with one-stop support. Hong Kong can connect international visitors to the GBA’s tremendous business opportunities, generate attendance for organisers, facilitate professional visits and excursions to other GBA cities.”

Raymond Yip, Chief Liaison Officer of the Guangzhou Nansha Service Centre in Hong Kong, said: “The Central Government hopes that Nansha, with its strategic location at the heart of 10 GBA cities, will become a cooperation and collaboration hub for the GBA. Nansha has a broad and diverse industry base with advanced manufacturing, as well as a state-level science and technology forum. With no fewer than 20 policy measures for Hong Kong and Macao, including allowing people from Hong Kong, including foreigners, to pay Hong Kong taxes, Nansha is set to open up a larger hinterland for Hong Kong.”

Witman Hung, Principal Liaison Officer for the Hong Kong, Shenzhen Qianhai Authority, said: “Qianhai has always been a pilot zone to help China open up and deepen its reforms. Promoting and facilitating collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is high on our priority list. For example, we have incubated 335 Hong Kong start-ups and assisted the city’s professionals such as lawyers, engineers and architects in entering the mainland market. Recently, the Qianhai Authority and the Hong Kong government announced 18 new measures aimed at encouraging venture capital and private equity to enter China via Qianhai and Hong Kong. Hong Kong-based companies will be able to use Qianhai as a shopfront to provide professional services to the rest of the GBA and Mainland China.”

Vivian Cheung, Executive Director, Airport Operations, Hong Kong International Airport, said: “We have been expanding the capacity and functionality of Hong Kong International Airport in preparation for the resumption of international travel and business. The SKYCITY development is at the heart of this, featuring a new 3.8 million sq ft complex, with recreational facilities and three new office towers. New hotels will also be built and we are revamping services to provide better travel and transit experiences for passengers. Furthermore, we are transforming AsiaWorld-Expo into a 20,000-seat arena, adding new passenger and cargo handling facilities and constructing new infrastructure to make it easier for Hong Kong to connect with the GBA.”

HKTDC SME Centre
Tel: +852 1830 668
Fax: +852 3693 4938
E-mail: smecentre@hktdc.org

HKTDC GBA Centre
Tel: 0755-82280112
Fax: 0755-82280114
E-mail: shenzhen.office@hktdc.org

GoGBA Day website: https://go-gba.com/en/gogbaday.html
“Greater Bay Area, Great Future” promotional video: https://www.bayarea.gov.hk/en/stories/videos.html
(provided by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office).
More about the GBA: https://hkmb.hktdc.com/en/guangdong-hongkong-macao-greater-bay-area
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UyJSpU

Media enquiries:
HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org

Retail SaaS major Unicommerce eyes to double its transaction volumes in Southeast Asia

Unicommerce, an integrated SaaS platform for post-purchase experience management, is experiencing rapid growth across Southeast Asia. Currently processing over 2.5 million annual transactions, the company eyes to double transaction volumes to reach 5 million by December 2022. In its first year of operations, the company has signed up over 30 clients across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Unicommerce is bullish on the growth of e-commerce in Southeast Asia. The company has already established its local presence with a sales and customer service team in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, and is also planning to establish a local entity in the coming months.

Unicommerce’s expansion into Southeast Asia comes as e-commerce volumes spike and companies seek an integrated platform to handle the entire post-purchase transaction flow. Being a sector- and size-agnostic platform, Unicommerce solutions have been successfully deployed by a range of retail brands looking to build a robust online presence and re-engineer their operations and processes to achieve maximum consumer connection. Some of the leading brands that Unicommerce works with within the SEA region are Edamama, Locad PayO Asia, Amilo, Business Engineers, and Luxurious Craving, among others. The company’s clients in SEA include fashion brands, beauty, and personal care brands, fulfilment providers, and logistic service providers. The SaaS platform is also one of the finest omnichannel platforms that powers 2,000+ stores and 7,000+ warehouses across India.

During and post-pandemic, there is a surge in online shopping to avoid the spread of the virus. As the e-commerce and retail industry grows with multiple online shopping platforms, the supply chain has become an increasingly complex process, and companies rely heavily on technology to optimize operations.

Unicommerce’s SaaS platform enables brands to streamline the supply chain with an integrated SaaS solution for inventory, order, and warehouse management. The unique, award-winning platform for post-purchase experience management helps brands and marketplaces manage operations across multiple online sales channels and physical distribution points while maintaining a smooth inventory flow to meet user expectations. The company also enables marketplaces to streamline processes with its multi-vendor management solution.

Talking about the expansion plans, Mr Kapil Makhija, CEO of Unicommerce, says, “Our clients in Southeast Asia are focused on building a strong digital presence and looking for technology solutions. Our platform enables them to enhance the post-purchase experience and achieve operational excellence. Unicommerce’s robust and easy to integrate SaaS platform are well-suited to meet client needs which is reflected in our rapid growth. We are delighted to partner with many leading brands and look forward to expanding our presence across Southeast Asia.”

Edamama, one of the leading brands in the Philippines, has deployed Unicommerce’s Dropship Fulfillment, Vendor Management solution, and Personalized E-commerce solutions to manage different vendors and offer personalized shopping experiences to consumers. The automation by Unicommerce has enabled the company to manage operations across 400+ registered vendors and 1,000+ brands, while seamlessly maintaining 30K+ live catalog counts and allowing the brand to dispatch tens of thousands of items per month with a 99.99% fulfillment rate.

Unicommerce’s growth into Southeast Asia and also Middle East Asia is built on its decade-long experience and leadership position in the diverse and dynamic Indian market, where the company processes 500 million annual transactions. The company works with some of the leading brands and companies of India including Marico, Bestseller, House of Anita Dongre, Netmeds, Mamaearth, mCaffeine, and many more.

For media queries contact:
Ganesh S
Bloomingdale Public Relations
(+65) 97791286

HUB.ID Summit connects Early-stage Startups with Global Venture Capital and Business Partners

The HUB.ID is proud to be a hub that connects 80 curated startups with 80 global venture capital and well-known business partners, stated Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication & Informatics at this year’s HUB.ID Summit opening, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.

The opening ceremony of the HUB.ID Summit 2022 was held at Nusa Dua, Bali province, on Monday (September 5, 2022). (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti/uyu)

“We believe the startups have the ability and potential to be the tech giants. Therefore, the Ministry holds the HUB.ID Summit as a hub to connect the early-stage startups, venture capitalists and business partners in exploring collaboration and investment opportunities,” said Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, Director-General of Application & Informatics, Ministry of Communication & Informatics, in the opening address.

The HUB.ID Summit 2022 was held in Nusa Dua, Bali from 5 to 6 September 2022. Its focus is on early-stage startups looking for seed to series A investment. The Ministry hopes that the 80 selected startups participating in the HUB.ID Summit can explore opportunities for cooperation, especially in terms of funding.

HUB.ID includes the HUB.ID Accelerator, the HUB.ID Summit, and the HUB.ID Ecosystem. After undergoing a series of HUB.ID incubation and accelerator programs held by the Ministry, tech startups can continue their journey by expanding their business network on a global scale.

Startups are represented across sectors from agriculture & aquaculture tech, enterprise & government tech, health tech, social commerce & SME enablement, Web.30, deep tech, education, fintech and legal tech to property and proptech.

Startups participating in the HUB.ID Summit 2022 include Chickin, Dagangan, DOTX, Duitin, Eratani, Bananas, Fishlog, Gajiku, Gorrywell, HiPajak, Jejakin, Klinik Pintar, Legalku, MallSampah, NOBI, SoulParking, Teman Pasar, Verihubs, and ZI.Care.

Venture capitalists and business partners participating in HUB.ID Summit include East Ventures, DG Ventures, AC Ventures, BEENEXT, Finch Capital, Cyber Agent Capital, J Trust Bank, Telkom, Midtrans, OCBC NISP Ventura, Sinarmas Land, AppWorks, Investible, Jabar Digital Service, Jakarta Smart City, Bio Farma, and Mandiri Capital.

Semuel said that collaboration and investment can support startups in Indonesia to be more resilient in facing future challenges. “We are optimistic that startups in Indonesia will be more mature, as well as ready to collaborate and have investment cooperation,” Semuel stated.

On day one, the HUB.ID Summit consisted of two panel discussions: “The Dawn of New Groceries Shopping in Indonesia: Is it a sustainable business model?” including Metha (Co-Founder SayurBox), Vincent (Co-Founder Astro), Yosua Setiawan (Co-Founder Segari), and moderated by Agung Nugroho (Co-Founder Kudo).

The second panel “Anticipating The Next Momentum of Indonesia Fintech” included Triyono Gani (Head of Digital Innovation Growth Otoris Jasa Keuangan), Dino Setiawan (Co-Founder Awan Tunai), Vira Widiyasari (SVP of Fintech and Payment Tokopedia), and moderated by Rico (Commissioner LinkAja). Those two panels showed Indonesia’s digital economy landscape from the startup point of view.

On day two, the HUB.ID Summit featured: “Standing Tall Amidst the Chaos: Indonesia Startup Investments Today and Tomorrow”, with Dirk Van Quaquebeke (Managing Partner, BEENEXT), Helen Wong (Managing Partner, AC Ventures), and Melisa Irene (Partner, East Ventures), on stage and moderated by Willis Wee (Founder & CEO, Tech in Asia). This panel discussed the future of Indonesia’s startup investment.

More than 350 participants joined Hub.ID Summit 2022, which consisted of 1-on-1 Business Matchmaking, Panel Discussions, and a Networking Dinner. Venture capital and business partners came not only from Indonesia, but also from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and India.

About HUB.ID

HUB.ID includes the HUB.ID Accelerator, the HUB.ID Summit, and the HUB.ID Ecosystem. HUB.ID is a platform provided by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, focusing on enabling post-seed local Indonesian startups to scale regionally by leveraging KemenkomInfo?s vast network of corporate & governmental partners. Learn more at https://hub.id/.

G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN): Catalyst for Digital Economy Growth in Indonesia

The G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN) meeting is able to be a catalyst to expedite the digital economy sector development in Indonesia, said Minister Johnny G Plate, Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO). The event aims to bring together start-ups, venture capital companies, policy makers, as well as leading global technology enterprises, including Google.

Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate delivered his remarks at the opening of the G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN) forum in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Saturday (September 3, 2022). (ANTARAFOTO/Aditya Pradana Putra/rwa.)

“We believe that the DIN event is an important catalyst for the growth of the digital economy by strengthening collaboration among start-ups, venture capital companies, as well as national and international corporations,” the minister said in his opening remarks at the inauguration of G20 DIN, a High-level Side Event of the 2022 G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG), in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Before the G20 ministers and international organization representatives present, Plate noted the development of the digital economy in Indonesia shows a positive trend. “In 2021, the value of the digital economy in Indonesia reached US$70 billion and it will increase to US$315,5 billion in 2030. This potential is Indonesia’s future economy (strength) which is supported by various well-performed start-ups,” he said.

Plate said that currently, Indonesia has two decacorn start-ups, or companies whose valuations have reached US$10 billion, and more than 10 unicorn start-ups, which have valuations of at least US$1 billion. Plate believes that start-ups play an important role in determining the development of the digital economy sector, both at the domestic and regional levels.

“I trust the G20 DIN (organizing committee) to carry out this series of meetings and discussions which are expected to encourage various collaborations on digital innovations,” Plate stated.

The G20 DIN meeting was held in the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in Badung District from September 2 to 4, 2022. More than 400 participants attended the event in person, while another 200 participated in the event virtually.

Chairperson of 2022 G20 DIN, Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, said at a press conference after the inauguration that the implementation of 2022 G20 DIN would focus on five priority sectors: education technology, financial inclusion, healthcare, supply chain, as well as green and renewable energy.

2022 DIN Start-Up Awards Winners:
1. Healthcare — UCARE.AI, Singapore / Neurobots, Brazil
2. Supply Chain — MOOVA, Argentina / Sinbad, Indonesia
3. Green & Renewable Energy — Xurya, Indonesia / Uali, Argentina
4. Edutech — Edubuk, India / Accredify, Singapore
5. Financial Inclusivity — WireBarley, South Korea / Lendo, Saudi Arabia

Favourite Start-Up Winners:
1. Healthcare — NUSANTIC, Indonesia / Qapsula, Russia
2. Supply Chain — Eunimart, India / FairSupply, Australia
3. Green & Renewable Energy — EINHUNDERT Energie GmbH, Germany / MVL Labs, South Korea
4. Edutech — Cakap, Indonesia / Sarente Gameon, Turkey
5. Financial Inclusivity — Komunal, Indonesia / Lendo, Saudi Arabia

G20 Digital Innovation Network: https://g20innovationnetwork.org
Source: DIN, Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO).