L’Oreal Groupe, together with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners, is launching a newly created luxury beauty brand ‘SHIHYO’ through Loshian, a third-party joint venture. This is the first time L’Oreal is launching a new beauty brand through a joint venture.
“SHIHYO” is a new luxury beauty brand launched by L’Oreal Groupe, together with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners through a joint venture Loshian
SHIHYO, which means “the wisdom of time,” is a newly created skincare beauty brand inspired by the Asian wisdom of the 24 seasons. SHIHYO embodies the healthy energy of nature, powered by herbal sciences.
The new brand is based on the naturality of 24 herbal ingredients harvested at the peak of each season, combined with proven efficacy based on scientific research and innovation. All formulas include the signature ingredient called ShiHyo24, a patented, nutrient-rich concentrate of the 24 herbal ingredients infused with fermented rice water and ginseng water.
SHIHYO offers 24 different types of ampoules featuring 24 herbal ingredients, along with other skincare products such as facial cleanser, essence, and cream, as well as scalp care products such as shampoo and conditioner.
SHIHYO leverages L’Oreal’s longstanding beauty expertise, Hotel Shilla’s luxury retail channels, and Anchor’s robust financial business model. SHIHYO’s 1st flagship store, the “Seoul Garden,” will open in the coming months at The Shilla Seoul Hotel in Korea, with the ambition of engaging with consumers and offering an immersive experience with an extensive luxury beauty product range.
Cyril Chapuy, President of L’Oreal Luxe, said, “L’Oreal LUXE is very pleased to announce the launch of SHIHYO through a partnership with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners. Rooted in an exceptional traditional wisdom and knowledge of naturality, SHIHYO represents the epitome of Asian luxury beauty. Empowered by science, SHIHYO delivers the highest skincare quality thanks to its signature patented ingredient, offering the most elevated luxury beauty experience.”
In-Gyu Han, COO of Hotel Shilla, said, “SHIHYO is a luxury beauty brand that brings out the best of naturality and efficacy with seasonal ingredients directly sourced from local farmers in Korea. With our rich retail expertise married with L’Oreal’s strong brand building capabilities, we believe SHIHYO will elevate the desire for natural, luxury beauty in Asia.”
Sanggyun Ahn, Managing Partner of Anchor Equity Partners, said, “We are glad to join this partnership to support the growth of the most unique brand in Asia and globally. We have full confidence that SHIHYO will meet the discerning consumers’ needs with new luxury beauty routines.”
About L’Oreal Groupe For over 110 years, L’Oreal, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 35 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our ‘L’Oreal for the Future’ programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.
With 85,400 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2021 the Group generated sales amounting to 32.28 billion euros. With 20 research centers across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 3,000 tech professionals, L’Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom
About L’Oreal North Asia Zone L’Oreal North Asia Zone was established in 2021 as L’Oreal Groupe regrouped the geographical scope of its zones to give greater coherence to consumer behaviour and to create synergy within the region. The North Asia Zone comprises of five geographically and culturally connected markets of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
L’Oreal North Asia Zone is the second largest region within the Group, accounting for 30.5% of the Group’s global sales in 2021. Situated in the most beauty intense region with more than one-third of the world’s total beauty consumers, L’Oreal North Asia shapes the future of beauty with its innovation centers in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, while investing in beauty tech transformation as one of the three beauty tech hubs globally. Here, our mission is to strategize, create and activate a powerful ecosystem around the North Asia Beauty Triangle as a competitive edge to unleash sustainable growth for all and inspire the world.
Society Pass Incorporated (“SoPa”) (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia’s (“SEA”) leading data-driven fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today introduces the new Nusatrip CEO and announces its strategic plans moving forward, expanding Nusatrip business coverage throughout SEA. The recent acquisition of Nusatrip International Pte Ltd (“Nusatrip”), a Indonesia-based pioneer in the Online Travel Agent (“OTA”) sector, extends Society Pass’ reach into the booming SEA regional travel industry with a strong commitment to developing a vibrant online travel platform for both merchants and consumers in SEA.
Society Pass executives announces the appointment of Nusatrip’s new CEO, Johanes (Joe) Chang, welcoming Nusatrip into Society Pass’ growing ecosystem of technology enabled companies, joining the Society Pass team in its brand new Indonesia office in Jakarta and unveiling Nusatrip’s new logo and features for its website and app. Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, explains, “We are happy to announce the opening of Society Pass’ and Nusatrip’s Indonesia office as one of our important milestones in synergistically growing the OTA business within the Society Pass e-commerce ecosystem and loyalty platform. With his many years of experience in managing travel and technology companies, Joe will immensely contribute and drive Nusatrip to greater heights in the years ahead.”
Society Pass steps into the Indonesia market with a big agenda; to strengthen its position as the pioneer of the next-generation digital ecosystem and loyalty platform in Indonesia and throughout SEA. SoPa looks to acquire attractively valued companies in SEA to join its next generation digital ecosystem with key focuses on loyalty, lifestyle, F&B delivery, telecommunications, digital media, and travel.
Patrick Soetanto, Society Pass Indonesia Country Manager, adds, “Jo will drive our journey in generating new revenue streams by integrating Nusatrip’s robust technology and operational efficiency of its leading e-commerce travel platform into our ecosystem. We are reenergizing the OTA business in Indonesia and throughout SEA, to meet the increasing demand of pre-pandemic travel in the regions. More importantly, both Society Pass and Nusatrip aim to boost the travel and digital economy sectors in Indonesia.”
Johanes (Jo) Chang, CEO, Nusatrip elaborates, “I would like to thank both Messrs. Nguyen and Soetanto for placing their trust in me to lead Nusatrip and am honored to take on the position as Nusatrip’s new CEO. By integrating into the Society Pass fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, Nusatrip embarks on regional expansion and unlimited avenues to grow more channels and revenue streams. With strong support from Society Pass and partners, we are gearing up towards the recovery of the travel industry in Indonesia and SEA in 2023 and 2024.”
Jo adds, “Nusatrip’s mission is to become a world-class OTA and the most reliable partner for airlines and hotels, offering wide range of travel and tourism related products, services, and experiences to our customers and business partners globally. With our industry recovering from the pandemic, we will continue working within our digital ecosystem and loyalty platform to offer better travel products and services for our customers across SEA.”
About Society Pass Inc
Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.
Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.
SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa’s data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.
Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.
Founded in 2013, NusaTrip is an IATA licensed online travel agency that serves both local and global customers and partners by optimizing cutting-edge technology and providing quality customer-centric support team-as-a-service. In 2022, NusaTrip has officially joined the Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) ecosystem, with headquarters in Jakarta and representative offices in Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand. For more information, please check out: https://www.nusatrip.com/.
This press release may include “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
Time to embark on all-inclusive family adventures as children under eight years old can stay for free at selected international resorts
Make it a year to remember as Club Med, the leader of all-inclusive holidays, is offering its limited time 11.11 holiday packages, where children below 8 years old can stay for free at sought-after destinations – from Snow resorts such as Club Med Sahoro and Club Med Tomamu in Hokkaido, Japan; to Sun resorts in Club Med La Plantation d’Albion and Club Med The Albion Villas in Mauritius; in Club Med Bali and Club Med Bintan in Indonesia; or Club Med Phuket in Thailand.
Happening from 7th November 2022 until 11th November 2022, the promotion applies for bookings with a minimum stay of 4-Days 3-Nights for any accommodation type (Superior, Deluxe or Suites) at Club Med La Plantation d’Albion, The Albion Villas, Phuket, Bintan or Bali, and for those booking a minimum stay of 5-Days 4-Nights in Deluxe rooms or Suites at Club Med Tomamu or Sahoro. The promotion will be valid for stays until 30th April 2023 – allowing the chance for families to not only plan for the upcoming year-end holidays, but also for future holidays too.
Being a pioneer of Kids & Family experiences since 1967 with its initial introduction of Mini Club Med +, a space for children 4-10 year olds to learn and grow while on vacation, the promotion aligns with Club Med’s long-standing commitment to deliver unparalleled and meaningful holiday experiences for families. Especially with children’s time being ever more occupied by anonymous screens, Club Med is the ideal destination for them to reconnect with families in the real world as the array of outdoor adventures, family-friendly offerings, lifestyle ambience and shows available at their resorts provides the opportunity for children to rediscover the joys of doing things together.
Parents will also be delighted as programmes and activities at Club Med are created to keep the children entertained throughout their stay. Recently, Club Med introduced Mini Club Med + [1] the evolution of its highly acclaimed Kids Club formerly known as Mini Club Med +, featuring a brand-new science-based framework inspired by Positive Education.
Developed in partnership with Professor Ilona Boniwell, an Expert in Positive Psychology & Positive Education and a world leader in the field of Positive Psychology, the new framework helps boosts a child’s well-being and self-development by enhancing essential soft skills such as emotional intelligence and adaptability, which will help them grow and flourish in any environment. Through Mini Club Med +, children can discover their unique character strengths while on vacation, revolving around the six Cs: creativity, co-operation, courage, connection, cheerfulness and confidence.
Beyond the new Mini Club Med + enhancement, Club Med resorts also feature Kids’ Clubs for children 4 months to 17 years, the award-winning Amazing Family! program that encourages family bonding in a unique way, services and facilities such as a baby corner with pureed food for infants, interconnecting rooms which make vacationing as a family a breeze and sports and activities for all ages, making it the perfect holiday spot for families.
Families looking for an exhilarating ski escape with the family can look forward to a variety of unique experiences at a Club Med ski resort – where everything is taken care of in the all-inclusive package, including ski lift passes, group snow lessons and even apres ski activities. Guests seeking winter excitement to share with friends and family will find it at Club Med Tomamu, where one can expect action-packed snow adventures such as skiing, snowboarding, snow trekking, and even riding Japan’s largest indoor wave pool at the nearby Mina Mina Beach. Meanwhile, those seeking a true immersion into authentic Japanese culture and heritage can look forward to reconnecting with loved ones at Club Med Sahoro. Aside from the wide range of winter activities offered at the exclusive snow domain, guests can also look forward to exciting discoveries – from exploring the native Ainu culture and the local culinary delights, to soaking in the natural wonders of the surrounding mountains – the possibilities for unforgettable experiences are endless.
Those looking to experience fun under the sun will also be delighted with the destinations Club Med has to offer. Discover an authentic Mauritian experience with carefully curated explorative family experiences in our Exclusive Collection resorts, Club Med La Plantation d’Albion and The Albion Villas. Fall in love with a resort where abundant tropical nature meets supreme refinement and exceptional service as you uncover renewed passions at La Plantation d’Albion. If you are looking for an extra special getaway in ultimate luxury, the Albion Villas are perfect for you as you will enjoy the best of both worlds in your own private space yet have access to all the activities available in the resort – fun for whole family is guaranteed. Families seeking the cultural wonders that Thailand has to offer can look to Club Med Phuket, Thailand, and be immersed in a sensorial feast – from traditional Thai performances and culinary adventures to vibrant local sights and Tropical Nomad Lifestyle concept parties – there is something for everyone to enjoy. At Club Med Bali, which features an all-new repertoire of activities, programmes, and entertainment line-up, families can explore the resort together through a digital treasure hunt with Club Med Play app or celebrate the rich Balinese culture with a full-day Balinese themed workshops and experiences. Meanwhile, a holiday at Club Med Bintan Island is perfect for families seeking a holistic wellness experience, offering a variety of fitness activities, outdoor pursuits and healthy cuisines.
With more than 70 years of experience perfecting the all-inclusive concept in 70 destinations located around the world, each Club Med property has its own personality and offers unique immersive experiences reflecting on the culture and customs of its host country. Coupled with the convivial spirit brought by Club Med’s G.Os (Gentils Organisateurs), the destinations offered are bound to excite families who have been yearning for hassle-free international holidays since travel restrictions were lifted.
Those looking to book their holiday during the 11.11 promotion can do so by visiting https://bit.ly/3SzvRWq.
About Club Med Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world’s leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employes (GEs), representing 110 nationalities.
First-ever pre-approved Visa on Arrival service makes visa applications quicker and more convenient for 86 nationalities travelling for work and leisure
Quick and hassle-free immigration clearance upon arrival in Indonesia
It is holiday season all year round in Bali, where travellers make their yearly pilgrimage to the beautiful island in Indonesia, a travel hotspot. To aid the increase in travel demand to Indonesia and especially Bali, VFS Global has rolled out the first-of-its-kind Indonesia fast-track Visa on Arrival service. Visitors from 86 different countries, including Australia, can now enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey by completing the process online, pre-departure, offered by VFS Global.
The service is provided in an exclusive agreement with TLP, the partner of the Immigration Department for Republic of Indonesia and Bank Mandiri. Apart from Bali, it is also available to Jakarta-bound travellers.
Since the lifting of the travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic, the number of visitors to Bali in 2022 has been consistently hitting new highs, with Australians taking up a massive 32.2% of the total number to the sunny destination in July 2022, making them the top visitors to Bali. Following close behind were travellers from India, the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America, according to Bali Central Bureau of Statistics data released on 2 September.
With the fast-track Visa on Arrival, immigration clearance for 86 nationalities, including India and France, can save up to three hours of waiting time. All they have to do is simply apply for their Indonesia Visa on Arrival through VFS Global on indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id.
The service will take visitors through an online pre-payment of fees, fast-track access and concierge services prior to their travel. With the confirmation sent to their registered email ID, the only step during arrival would be to get the visa stamped at the designated fast-track Visa on Arrival immigration lanes.
Mr. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global said, “Indonesia, especially Bali, is a popular destination for travellers across the globe. Unveiling a fuss-free, speedy service that will make travellers’ visa application journey quicker and simpler will give these visitors less time on waiting and more time for their holiday. With tech-led Do It Yourself solutions becoming increasingly popular, this first-ever fast-track Visa on Arrival service is sure to offer applicants a more relaxed on-arrival experience.”
How to use the fast-track VOA service STEP 1: Visit indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id STEP 2: Submit the required documents and pay the VOA fee online STEP 3: Await the confirmation email that will be sent to the registered email ID STEP 4: Upon landing in Jakarta and Bali, head to the dedicated fast-track lane with the confirmation email to get the visa stamped
VFS Global will offer Standard and Fast track service (Express) options. Applicants opting for the Standard service will be able to submit their applications no less than 72 hours prior to the date of departure, and benefit from the fast-track immigration process. Those opting for the Fast track service (Express) service will be able to submit their applications no less than 24 hours prior to the date of departure. The Express service additionally provides end-to-end personalised assistance and guidance, right from the arrival gate through immigration, baggage claim, and customs.
About VFS Global VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 65 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,500 Application Centres in 144 countries. The company has processed over 246 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland and Dubai/United Arab Emirates.
VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they work. Blackstone’s USD 915 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basis.
The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global. www.vfsglobal.com
Club Med, the pioneer of Premium All-Inclusive holidays, is ready to welcome travellers back to Japan, following the further relaxation of travel restrictions for overseas travellers into the country. This much-anticipated move by the Japanese government is the final lid to allowing overseas travellers easier access into the country after more than two years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Japan has been on the wish-list of many of our guests and travellers alike, listing the country as the top place to visit amongst Asian travellers post-pandemic, according to a survey by the Development Bank of Japan and Japan Travel Bureau Foundation and is the number one choice for 49% of Singaporeans according to a recent study by market research firm, YouGov. Our resorts in Japan have been preparing to welcome back our guests with the needs of post-pandemic travellers in mind,” said Rachael Harding, Chief Executive Officer, East and South Asia & Pacific Markets, Club Med. “We are very excited to introduce another property in Japan to meet this pent-up travel demand and to also showcase both enhanced and new programmes plus activities aimed at multi-generational families. Our guests can look forward to meaningful and distinctive travel experiences that are unique to the destination. This comes of course with our all-inclusive package and flexible booking policy.”
The Brand New Club Med Kiroro Peak, Renovated Club Med Sahoro and New Experiences in Club Med Tomamu
Travellers who have been eyeing Japan as a go-to destination post-pandemic can choose from three Club Med resorts in Japan, each offering unique locations and experiences, just in time for the winter season from some of the best powder snow in the world found on the ski slopes of Hokkaido. Listed below are the unique attractions, experiences and programmes that are available in each of the resorts:
Club Med Kiroro Peak, Hokkaido – For Savvy Travellers Looking For Unconventional Snow Vacations
Opening in December 2022, experience an unconventional snow vacation at Club Med Kiroro Peak, where mountain meets ocean. The ski-in-ski-out resort offers snow enthusiasts direct access to an untouched ski domain with 23 courses for all levels and pristine off-piste ski slopes. With the highest annual snowfall in Japan (averagely 21m of snowfall a year) and one of the best powder snow in the world, guests can enjoy abundant snow coverage and long ski seasons that start as early as November and last till May, the only mountain resort in Asia to offer spring skiing with this seasonality.
Aprés-ski the Hokkaido way as Club Med Kiroro Peak offers a wealth of experiences, featuring Club Med’s first traditional Japanese onsen, Rotenburo outdoor open-air hot bathtub, saunas and a dedicated wellness hub. Guests can also expect a multitude of facilities at Club Med Kiroro Peak, including cultural workshops and activities, nature centres and an indoor resort pool. Not forgetting about Club Med Kiroro Grand is set to open in 2023 and welcomes guests of all ages with a wide host of family-oriented activities and facilities suitable for 2 years old and above.
Club Med SahoroHokkaido – For the Discerning Travellers Looking to Unlock Hokkaido’s Mountain Charm
Surrounded by the magnificent Hidaka mountain range that is known for their fresh and snowy slopes, experience the exclusivity of a private mountain at Club Med Sahoro. Begin new traditions and experience a true immersion into authentic Japanese culture and heritage. Having completed its renovation in December 2019, the fresh new look is reflected in Club Med Sahoro’s rooms, reception, theatre, dining and outdoor spaces, blending a level of nuanced modernity with traditional Japanese aesthetics while preserving the beauty and splendour of the Ainu culture.
Discover the best of Hokkaido from indulging in a traditional nabemono dining experience in the specialty restaurant and interactive Hokkaido cooking lessons to trying out ski in Club Med’s first ever Ski Simulator (digital climbing wall) and unwinding in an open-air hot Canadian bath amidst a picturesque mountain landscape, Club Med Sahoro offers a unique selection of magical experiences and moments to share with family and friends.
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido – For the Trend Seekers Looking to Ride a Different Wave
Situated amidst Tomamu mountain, the 145-hectare ski-in and ski-out resort is a paradise for ski lovers and adventure seekers with 29 ski runs for all levels. The perfect natural playground in this winter wonderland, be the first on the mountain and strap on your skis or snowboards to ride a new wave on the freshly prepared white powdery slopes all day long. The fun doesn’t end after the sun sets as the expert Gentils Organisateurs (G.O.) pave the way for a memorable night skiing session under a star-filled sky.
Be in for a treat with a host of wonderful and spectacular winter experiences that ignite the senses at Club Med Tomamu. Immerse yourself in Hokkaido culture and mountain lifestyle with a weekly “Feel Hokkaido” Festival and Cosy Winter Lifestyle concept over special themed activities and entertainment. Not forgetting that food aficionados will have a great time savouring a farm-to-table authentic yakiniku barbecue and indulging in the best local brews with a guided tasting of three premium Japanese whiskies and sakes at The Nest.
A Snow Holiday Like No Other
With over 25 ski resorts spanned across Canada, France, Italy, China and Japan, Club Med offers a world of incomparable snow experiences. Guests can expect an all-inclusive, hassle-free holiday experience Club Med is renowned for, which includes accommodation with refined comfort and contemporary interior design, gourmet cuisine and open bar located in exceptional destinations. This is completed with a myriad of activities and entertainment throughout the day including ski and snowboarding classes with ski passes, as well as kids’ clubs from 4 to 17 years of age which are made possible by an attentive and dedicated G.O. team.
Travel with a Peace of Mind
Club Med has developed Safe Together, a guest assurance program with the support of Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, to ensure optimal health and safety of the travellers through a series of heightened hygiene and safety protocols implemented across all of Club Med’s resorts and aligned with recommendations from the worldwide health authorities and local regulations.
Aside from heightened safety measures, Club Med also understands the need for increased flexibility and security with travel planning and has introduced the Peace of Mind policy at the start of the pandemic, giving travellers the freedom of a complementary change of travel date, a book-now-pay-later option, and free cancellation of up to 30 days before the travel date. Complimentary COVID-19 coverage is also included in its all-inclusive holiday package for international destinations, more details available here.
Offering a unique blend of sports, cultural experiences, family activities and peace of mind, Club Med aims to make travel happen again to the land of the rising sun, with a renewed purpose of providing their guests with a Premium All-Inclusive worry-free experience. The same all-inclusive signature formula of great people, transformative experiences and idyllic destinations await guests at Club Med.
About Club Med
Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gérard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world’s leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employés (GEs), representing 110 nationalities.
Strengthening support to help the international business community in Hong Kong access Greater Bay Area opportunities
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 business 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.
GoGBA Day was launched yesterday (22 Sept) at the HKTDC SME Centre. The event began with welcome remarks from HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong (fourth from left, front row), followed by speeches delivered by the honourable speakers.
GoGBA WeChat mini programme (QR Code).
The half-day 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.”
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.”
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.
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.
The GBA presents enormous opportunities for businesses from Hong Kong and around the world and the HKTDC will continue to devote efforts to support local and international enterprises in the city, helping them seize business opportunities in the GBA and other mainland markets through its network of 13 offices in the mainland. It also plans to organise the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Week this year, including the annual SmartHK and Chic HK flagship events in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, along with a series of roadshows related to financial management, legal services, infrastructure development and real estate, as well as participating in key trade fairs in the mainland.
HKTDC SME Centre Tel: +852 1830 668 Fax: +852 3693 4938 E-mail: smecentre@hktdc.org
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, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
Media enquiries: HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Event attracts 19,000+ participants, bringing government and business leaders together to facilitate project matching
The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded yesterday (1 September). Continuing in the tradition of being a formal, substantial and high-quality event, the summit saw state leaders and senior officials, regional government leaders and business leaders gathered to explore the business potential of the Belt and Road Initiative, and to drive synergies and create a win-win situation through multilateral collaborations such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The seventh Belt and Road Summit, which ran under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”, attracted more than 80 government and business leaders to share their insights.
More than 19,000 participants from over 80 countries and regions attended online or in-person.
The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO and President of Berli Jucker PCL, Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, and Rod Eddington, Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion shared their insights at Business Plenary “Collaborate for a Bright New Era”.
As one of the major celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit saw more than 80 senior government officials and business leaders from the Belt and Road region gathered to share their insights under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”. For the first time, the summit was held in a hybrid format, overcoming geographical boundaries by allowing those who were unable to attend in person to participate virtually. More than 19,000 attendees representing over 80 countries and regions participated online or at the physical event.
More than 800 one-to-one matching sessions The business matching and project pitching sessions at the summit remained popular among project owners and attendees. More than 280 investment projects from the Belt and Road region and beyond were presented at the summit, covering four main areas, namely: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities; (2) innovation and technology; (3) urban development; and (4) transportation and logistics infrastructure. The projects focused on areas such as smart city development, data centres and e-commerce related investments. More than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged for project owners, investors and professional service providers to pave the way for collaboration agreements.
Real opportunities in RCEP but some challenges Multilateral collaboration creates more frequent cross-border trade and investment, and is becoming more important than ever in driving a strong recovery in the Asia-Pacific region following the pandemic. The RCEP, which came into effect this year, stands as the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world’s population and GDP. Combined with the joint effort of more than 180 countries connected through the Belt and Road Initiative, it will further strengthen regional economic integration around the world. In the Business Plenary titled “Collaborate for a Bright New Era”, business leaders from economies along the Belt and Road and the RCEP shared their insights and explored how these initiatives and agreements can complement each other to drive strong economic growth and promote cross-border collaboration between businesses of all sizes.
The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, shared his views on the RCEP. “One of the things that are challenged is the supply chains. China is a really a huge market, and we source a lot of goods from China. We can see the impact the breaking down of those supply chains has had on global inflation.”
Aswin Techajareonvikul, Chief Executive Officer and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited, shared that the Thailand enterprises have well received the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “It is in tune with our 20-year strategy and Thailand’s ongoing projects for economic development under the Thailand 4.0 economic model. We are able to expand trade and investment to our neighbouring countries. We can also better link with the world market, especially for the CLMV countries [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam].”
Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, said: “Most of the members in the RCEP are located in important junctions along the Belt and Road. This not only fosters connectivity between value chains and supply chains, but also further expands the ‘social circle’ of the Belt and Road Initiative, engaging more countries and businesses in the construction of the Belt and Road and in broader collaboration, as well as forming the dual-engine of the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP within the region.”
Belt and Road Initiative drives consumption and Infratech development Global economies are pushing to achieve post-pandemic economic recovery. At the same time, countries around the world are striving to build stronger global business connections with the help of macro measures such as the BRI, the RCEP and the GBA development.
The demand for high-quality, innovative and sustainable infrastructure around the world has given rise to many new business opportunities. These innovative projects will be led and driven by visionary industry leaders as they usher in a new era of infrastructure development. In the “Faster, Greater Infrastructure” session of the thematic group discussions, business leaders who had turned futuristic concepts into reality and envisioned some of the world’s most important infrastructure projects exchanged their views.
Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties and Founder and Director of Noon.com, HE Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, said: “I really believe that a link such as the Belt and Road Initiative and its effects on human life, economic progress, quality of life, job creation and exchange of cultures and knowledge and unity to the world – it is going to be incredible.”
Chief Marketing Officer of Hyperloop TT Robert Miller addressed the current trends in infrastructure technology (infratech) development. “Infratech is really underfunded and underdeveloped. Hyperloop really falls into the category of infratech where there is a longer time to profitability. So we need patient investors from both public and private sectors. Meanwhile, governments everywhere are looking at reducing carbon emissions. One of the biggest polluters is the transportation industry: 23% of all carbon emissions worldwide come from transportation. Europe, the United States and countries in Asia are all looking how to decarbonise the transportation industry. Hyperloop TT could be a massive driver in that decarbonisation,” he said.
The seventh Belt and Road Summit was made possible by its Strategic Partner, China International Capital Corporation (CICC); Regional Banking Partner, Bank of China (Hong Kong); and Platinum Sponsors, China Mobile International and China Unicom.
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: Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
Win-win hybrid format overcomes limits of geography
The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today (31 August). This year’s event lasts two days and runs in a hybrid physical and digital format, helping overcome geographical boundaries. Business leaders unable to attend the summit in person at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) join all sessions online and identify potential business opportunities through the online platform. Participants and guest speakers at the physical summit can actively interact during the event as more than 80 government and business leaders share their insights and explore opportunities the Belt and Road Initiative presents.
The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and HKTDC, opened today (31 August), with the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “With innovation driving progress, the Belt and Road Initiative provides the framework to apply these innovations to create a sustainable future.”
The Policy Dialogue Session analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under “Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration”.
As the first major international event following celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit runs under the theme “Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate”. Project owners and operators, investors and service providers can explore opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) through a variety of activities, including the Policy Dialogue, plenary sessions, thematic breakout sessions, one-to-one project matching and project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition, creating a multi-win situation that will help boost economic growth in the region. Activities today are held both online and offline while tomorrow (1 September) will be entirely online.
In this morning’s opening session, Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, delivered welcoming remarks. John Lee, HKSAR Chief Executive, delivered the opening address. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, delivered the keynote speech. Wang Wentao, Minister, Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Republic of China; Hao Peng, Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the People’s Republic of China and Lin Nianxiu, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, the People’s Republic of China, delivered special addresses while Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization, gave a keynote address.
Mr Lee said in his opening speech: “The global rise of protectionism has reminded us of how important regional co-operation is. We have to work together for the better future of the region. Hong Kong is therefore very pleased to see the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, come into force earlier this year. The landmark agreement underlines the open, inclusive, rules-based trade and investment partnership that RCEP’s member states are committed to realising. We believe that regional economic integration is an essential complement to multilateral trade. Hong Kong is seeking early accession to RCEP. It will enable us to deepen the collaboration and connections we enjoy with our close partners. The Belt and Road was created to build connectivity, to bring business, and people, together. No one does that better than Hong Kong, thanks to our ‘one country, two systems’ principle; thanks to our longstanding East-meets-West experience and the boundless opportunities afforded us in national development.”
Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Han said: “Hong Kong is an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. We are pleased to see that since the initiative launched, Hong Kong has actively negotiated and signed cooperation agreements with co-construction countries, developing trade and investment cooperation, service standard connection, international financial cooperation and exchange between people. Hong Kong plays an important role in Belt and Road development, as well as expanding its own development space. Hong Kong deserves full recognition for its work in this area. The Central Authorities will adhere to the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ in the long run, fully supporting Hong Kong in maintaining its unique status and advantages. Authorities fully support Hong Kong’s active participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road development.”
Addressing the opening session, Mr Zhang said: “The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, climate change and anti-globalization sentiment are the four major factors that I believe could affect the reshaping of the landscape of global trade policies. It is very challenging but can still be managed well if the whole world works together. To address these challenges, I strongly encourage enhanced dialogue and cooperation between all governments to find collective solutions because none of these challenges can be addressed by one government alone. Global challenges require global solutions.”
Dr Lam said: “The HKTDC is honoured to have Vice Premier Han Zheng deliver an important keynote speech at today’s summit, giving a more specific illustration of Hong Kong’s role as an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Following President Xi Jinping’s important speech on 1 July, the Vice Premier’s ‘Four Hopes’ for Hong Kong’s participation in the construction of the Belt and Road further highlighted the direction of the city’s development. The HKTDC has always been committed to promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and development opportunities. The team and I will continue our efforts to promote Hong Kong as an international business platform and services hub and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative.”
Multipartite cooperation to promote economic growth The Policy Dialogue Session, chaired by HKSAR Deputy Finance Secretary Michael Wong, analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under the theme “Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration”. The panel featured government and business leaders from several Belt and Road countries, including Lim Sidenine, Secretary of State of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Kingdom of Cambodia; Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia; Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Singapore; and Chayotid Kridakon, Thai Trade Representative and Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Growing relationship between Belt and Road, RCEP and GBA The RCEP, which came into effect this year, is the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world’s population and GDP. With the joint effort of more than 100 countries connected with the Belt and Road Initiative, global regional economic integration will be become more established. The Business Plenary titled “Collaborate for a Bright New Era” was held this morning, with Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivering the welcoming remarks. Hosted by Ronnie Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties Limited, the session examined how economic growth can be achieved through multipartite cooperation. Other guest speakers included the Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion Rod Eddington; the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key; President of the Bank of China Liu Liange; Deputy Managing Director & Chairman for Hong Kong of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited YK Pang; and CEO and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited Aswin Techajareonvikul.
In his welcome remarks, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, said: “We are capitalising on our strong collaboration with Shenzhen, developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub, focusing development on life and health sciences, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data industry, etc. We are also pressing ahead with more local infrastructure projects, including the Northern Metropolis and the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, as well as many other road, railway and land development projects. Talents, capital and entrepreneurs are all essential to achieving our goals. We warmly welcome businesses and talents from all over the world, Belt and Road countries included of course, to come to Hong Kong to collaborate with us and grasp the enormous opportunities together. To this end, we will have new policies and support measures to facilitate the coming of talents and enterprises.”
The strong economic resilience demonstrated by the Greater Bay Area amid the pandemic will further unleash the region’s economic potential in terms of cross-border trade and financial market liberalisation, along with the development of cutting-edge innovation and technology. The Business Plenary this afternoon, “Capturing Synergies between Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area”, was hosted by David YK Wong, Permanent Honorary President of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong. The panelists included Chairman of the Power Construction Corporation of China Ding Yanzhang; CEO, Chairman of the Management Committee, Executive Director of the Board of China International Capital Corporation Limited Huang Zhaohui; Chairman of MTR Corporation Limited Rex Auyeung; Chairman of WeLab Bank KC Chan; and Chairman of East Asia Region of Arup Group Michael Kwok. The speakers shared ideas on the potential opportunities the GBA brings as an important Belt and Road hub, and also discussed how Hong Kong can further leverage the advantages of the GBA to enhance its position and promote the development of the city’s industries.
Five breakout sessions explore hot-button issues on summit’s first day Spanning many countries and regions, the Belt and Road Initiative creates new room for the development of professional sectors. On the first day, the summit, in conjunction with a number of organisations including the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, China Foreign Contractors Association and Dun & Bradstreet, held five breakout sessions to examine a range of topics such as international dispute resolution, insurance services, GBA infrastructure development, digital technology development and future infrastructure development. More thematic breakout sessions and project pitching sessions will be held tomorrow – details of the programme, speakers and partner organisations can be found at https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en
One-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions Following the success at previous summits, the HKTDC has extended the hybrid project and business-matching sessions from two to seven days (31 August to 6 September) this year. New features include a video display at the summit to increase project exposure and give investors and professional service companies a better understanding of project details.
The summit also features online and offline exhibitions which have attracted more than 60 exhibitors and are divided into the “Global Investment Zone”, “Hong Kong Zone” and “GBA Tech Zone”. The project pitching sessions give entrepreneurs from different countries a platform to present projects, giving investors and service intermediaries a comprehensive understanding of investment opportunities in different sectors. Pitching sessions focus on four main areas – energy, natural resources and public utilities; innovation and technology; urban development; and transport and logistics infrastructure.
China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner of the seventh Belt and Road Summit; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; and China Mobile International Limited and China Unicom Global Limited as Platinum Sponsors.
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 HKTCD’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
The Legion of Racers, with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, will be organising the HyperDrive Cities (HDC) 2022 Festival from 23 to 25 September. To be held at Orchard Road, this will be Asia’s first hybrid online to offline festival that combines live sim racing, entertainment, lifestyle and technology within an urban carnival setting.
The HDC will take place during this year’s Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) from 23 September to 2 October. GPSS is a collection of innovative race-themed lifestyle experiences that complements the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022 excitement beyond the track.
For three days, the HDC will be held at *SCAPE in Orchard Road and will include feature a regional sim racing championship that follows the inaugural E-Cities Championship held in November 2021, along with an electric go-karting experience and a community sim racing challenge with prizes for the fastest sim racers from the public.
The HDC Championships 2022 boasts a prize pool of SGD10,000 with the top winner guaranteed at least SGD3500.
In addition, the festival at Orchard Road will also feature the HDC Gameplay Stations, a motorsports-themed gameplay powered by Augmented Reality where participants complete the various Gamemaster challenges to earn NFTs and rare prizes.
To cap off the event, an entertainment element will be added to the post-sim race event with Singaporean artistes RRILEY and Haneri, who will both perform a set of three songs each. In addition, DJ NashD, who is the official DJ for local artistes Shigga Shay and hip hop collective Grizzle Grind Crew, will raise the decibels on 23 September from 8pm to 10pm.
“This is a unique event comprising multiple elements for the community,” said Lim Keong Wee, co-founder of the Legion of Racers.
“We wanted to create a motorsport festival for everyone, ranging from electric karting for young families to youths and millennials who could watch an entertainment segment at the end of the day that features some of Singapore’s hottest music talents.”
Added RRILEY, who made her debut in 2012 as a founding member of the Sam Willows, “It is just so nice to be performing again and I am so excited to bring my music to a new audience.”
The event is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, which oversees the Orchard Road precinct.
Ms Guo Teyi, Director, Retail and Dining, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We welcome the inaugural HyperDrive Cities Festival to Singapore’s famous shopping street. With its diverse mix of virtual and in-person experiences, the festival will add buzz to Orchard Road and strengthen its position as a lifestyle destination beyond retail. We invite visitors of all ages to join the festival and reimagine Orchard Road’s offerings.”
Among the partners confirmed for the festival include McLaren, TYCA, Next Level Racing, Logitech G, Monster Energy, and Tarmac Works. A McLaren 720S sportscar will also be on display at the venue during the course of the programme.
The simulated track which the sim racers will be racing on is the Orchard Road Street Circuit, which was produced by the Legion of Racers team. For 2022, the track has been extended to include the Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut sub-precincts.
The HDC 2022 Festival is set to bring more than 5,000 members of the public to *SCAPE while thousands more will follow the HyperDrive Cities Championships live on Youtube.
HyperDrive Cities is the first of its kind to bring sim racing into familiar streets, turning cities into race circuits and unlocking the once-in-a-lifetime experience of racing virtually down urban spaces. The HDC Festival will also feature entertainment acts and RaceHub which allows members of the public to experience driving an electric kart. To find out more please visit www.hyperdrivecities.com
About Legion of Racers
The Legion of Racers is Singapore’s first sim racing entertainment and lifestyle brand which combines the best in motorsports and the gaming world. With a studio in Kallang, the Legion of Racers taps into the world of sim racing and brings together online gamers who play in games such as Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Gran Turismo 7, Formula 1, and RFactor2. Follow Legion of Racers on their Facebook @LegionofRacers and on their website at www.legionofracers.com for updates and information about sim racing activities.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.
Kuantan 188, Malaysia’s second-tallest tower, will host two major events, the Kuantan 188 International Extreme Challenge (KIEC), their first-ever challenge event since reopening early this year, and Pesta Kuantan 188.
En Mohd Shafrul Bin Kadir, Jabatan Belia & Sukan Negeri Pahang; Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Johari, Exco Sumber Manusia, Belia & Sukan; YB Senator Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker, Timbalan Menteri Belia & Sukan; Dato’ Zulkifli Mohamad, Kuantan 188 Managing Director; Man Bai, Malaysian rock singer; Puan Haslina Binti Bahasan, Ketua Jabatan Bahagian Pelaburan dan Penswastaan [L-R]
Khairul Azrin Bin Abdullah, Skywalk Operator of Tower Kuantan 188
Encik Jamaluddin Ismail, oldest Malaysian base jumper, 67years old
The KIEC will see a group of people base jumping from the tower in celebration of Merdeka while Pesta Kuantan will be held from 27 August 2022 to 4 September 2022.
The launch will be officiated by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Senator Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker and Chairman of the Pahang State Human Resources, Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Committee YB Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Johari bin Haji Hussain.
To promote adventure and outdoor sports, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue to support events such as KIEC and work closely with Kuantan 188 to encourage local youth groups to use the Kuantan 188 as their venue of choice.
The main focus of the KIEC will be a group of volunteer base jumpers who will jump down 104 metres from the skydeck. There will be a total of 65 jumps from multiple jumpers on 30 August 2022 carrying the Kuantan 188, Pahang and Malaysian flags commemorating 65 years of independence. Among the base jumpers is the country’s oldest, 67-year-old Encik Jamaluddin Ismail, from Mentakab, Pahang.
Besides Malaysian base jumpers, there will also be participants from United States, Singapore and Indonesia. Other sports will also be held at the same venue, including paintball, drop zone, kickboxing, outdoor zumba and hammock zone while children can enjoy activities at Kuantan 188’s Kids Club and Zipline. The festival will also be hosting local brands with a nine-day pop up retail booth to bring awareness to local talent and support local merchandise.
To celebrate the birthdays of KDYMM Yang Di Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and KDYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, which were on 30 July 2022 and 5 August 2022 respectively, Kuantan 188 will host a concert featuring Man Bai and Joe Flizzow, among others, on 3 September 2022.
Tickets for the concert will be on sale via www.gotifi.com, with four categories available for purchase – TIER 1 (RM188), TIER 2 (RM138), TIER 3 (RM88) and TIER 4 (RM58).
Pesta Kuantan 188 concert is supported by MAA Group Berhad and Imperium International College and sponsored by Selborn Group, Wawasan Intact Properties, CKS Global Buildility, LBS Bina Group, Cameron Valley Tea and Bharat Group, TAS Leisure, Chili’s Bar and Grill and Dancom. Official hotel sponsors include Shahzan Hotel Kuantan and Ramada Suites by Wyndham KLCC.
Lucky draw items are powered by Cuckoo, Toush Inspired by Pensonic & Panasonic.
To know more about KIEC and Pesta Kuantan 188, check out @kuantan.188 on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for recent updates, as well as www.kuantan188.com.my.
