Category: Trade Finance

VOY Finance Partners with GDA Capital to Accelerate Growth and Innovation in DeFi Trade Finance

 Voy Finance has partnered with GDA Capital, following their win at the Next Top Blockchain Startup competition, hosted by GDA Capital, and unlocked an investment of up to $500K. This strategic partnership is set to propel Voy Finance towards revolutionizing the traditional RWA and global trade finance industry.

RWA stands for “Real-World Assets” and refers to traditional, tangible assets such as commodities, real estate, and invoices. These assets are typically used in trade finance as collateral for loans. However, RWA-based financing can be a lengthy and cumbersome process, making it difficult for small businesses to access the necessary funds. With the use of blockchain technology, Voy Finance streamlines this process, providing faster and more efficient financing options for businesses of all sizes.

Voy Finance, a decentralized finance platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, offers users access to secure and efficient trade finance infrastructure. Traditionally, the trade finance market has been dominated by financial institutions, making it difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to access the necessary funding for international trade. Voy Finance aims to disrupt this industry by providing a decentralized and transparent alternative.

Key Partnership Highlights:

– According to the founder of Voy Finance, Lee Tarone, this strategic partnership with GDA Capital will not only bring in necessary financial resources but also their expertise in capital markets. With GDA’s support, Voy Finance is set to expand their total value locked (TVL) and bring in a team of experienced advisors, who have completed billions in transaction value, who will guide the platform towards success.

– Lee elaborates, “I can’t wait to drive VOY to unicorn and completely upend the RWA and global trade finance scene”. This partnership between Voy Finance and GDA Capital is a significant step towards making trade finance more accessible and efficient for all businesses, big or small. With the use of blockchain technology, Voy Finance ensures secure and transparent transactions, reducing the risk for both lenders and borrowers”.

Quote from Key Executives

This partnership is a testament to the potential of decentralized finance in revolutionizing traditional industries. As blockchain technology continues to evolve and gain widespread adoption, we can expect to experience rapid expansion of decentralized solutions solving real world business challenges. By proving themselves to be a viable and efficient alternative, decentralized finance platforms like Voy Finance are paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible global economy.

“VOY Finance’s unique approach to decentralizing trade finance through blockchain technology aligns perfectly with our mission to support disruptive projects that address real-world challenges that accelerate mainstream adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology,” said Michael Gord, CEO of GDA Capital. “This partnership allows us to bring both capital and extensive expertise to a platform that is redefining access to trade finance for businesses of all sizes. We’re excited to support VOY’s journey toward transforming the RWA and global trade finance markets and look forward to helping them reach new milestones in this rapidly evolving space.”

About VOY Finance

Voy Finance is a decentralized finance platform that bridges on-chain liquidity with Tradetech through innovative real-world asset (RWA) securitization and tokenized crowdfunding. By transforming illiquid assets such as NFTs, invoices, receivables, bonds, and shares into easily tradable digital tokens, Voy Finance unlocks new liquidity streams and investment opportunities.

About GDA Capital

GDA Capital is a leading global digital asset and blockchain technology investment firm. With a diverse portfolio of investments across various sectors, GDA Capital is committed to driving innovation and providing strategic advisory services to businesses worldwide.

For more information, please contact:

Lee Tarone
Founder, Voy Finance
Email: lee@voy.finance
Website: http://voy.finance 

Michael Gord
Founder, GDA Capital
Email: michael@gda.capital
Website: www.gda.capital 

HKTDC welcomes 2024 Policy Address

– Reinforces eight centre advantages for high-quality economic development

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the 2024 Policy Address, delivered today by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee.

The Policy Address presents a comprehensive set of measures, ranging from the economy and trade and people’s livelihood to high-calibre talent attraction and youth development. Leveraging Hong Kong’s one country, two systems advantages, the policies will fuel the city’s continued economic growth.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “The Policy Address highlights the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts in seeking innovation and change, while striving for excellence. It addresses a wide range of areas covering economic growth, trade and investment, SME support, culture and creative as well as construction and planning. Riding on Hong Kong’s eight centre advantages, the Policy Address promotes new quality productive forces and high-quality economic development.”

The annual address announced various measures to reinforce the city’s status as an international financial, shipping and trading centre. Dr Lam believed the move echoes the 20th Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session’s Resolution to develop Hong Kong into a supply chain service centre: “The HKTDC will continue to proactively promote Hong Kong’s eight centre advantages and enhance the development of high value-added supply chain services. We will step up cooperation with InvestHK to set up a mechanism and enhance the interface for attracting mainland enterprises to establish their international or regional headquarters in Hong Kong and provide one-stop diversified professional advisory services to help them go global via the Hong Kong platform.”

He added that the HKTDC will strengthen advisory services of its Transformation Sandbox (T-box) programme to cover a wider range of areas and support Hong Kong enterprises as well as mainland companies in Hong Kong in regard to business transformation, sustainable development and operational upgrade. Businesses are encouraged to leverage the HKTDC’s trade platforms and events to go global and explore international market opportunities, especially in the high-potential ASEAN region.

Dr Lam welcomed the HKSAR Government’s SME support measures, including the relaunch of the Principal Moratorium scheme, a HK$1 billion injection into the BUD Fund and an additional HK$500 million provision for the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions 2.0. He believes the measures will foster SMEs’ sustainable development and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a leading convention and exhibition hub.

The Policy Address stated the Hong Kong Shopping Festival will be relaunched in the next two years to help SMEs tap into the mainland e-commerce sales market. Dr Lam said: “The inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival organised by the HKTDC in August this year received an enthusiastic response. Not only did it raise participants’ brand exposure, but also provided them with practical experience in e-commerce operations. We will build on this year’s success and host the second edition of the Festival next August, and in the ASEAN market in due course, to enable Hong Kong SMEs to explore market opportunities via e-commerce and social media platforms.”

To help SMEs understand e-commerce marketing, the HKTDC will publish research reports and analyses on e-commerce ecosystems in different markets, such as ASEAN, to help businesses lay a solid foundation in e-commerce operations. Through its Digital Academy and Design Gallery’s (DG) cross-border e-commerce shops on Taobao and JD International, the HKTDC has been offering comprehensive support to Hong Kong SMEs to leverage diverse e-commerce and digital marketing channels to explore mainland opportunities. DG’s 70 physical sales network in the mainland serve as an ideal platform to promote Hong Kong brands in the region. As for the ASEAN market, the HKTDC’s DG Studio programme helps connect local businesses with ASEAN physical retailers and e-commerce platforms.

In terms of strengthening SMEs’ brand development, the HKTDC will continue to organise some 40 international exhibitions and conferences in Hong Kong every year. We will also set up more Hong Kong Pavilions in mainland and overseas exhibitions and further enhance business matching, to support SMEs in developing their brand and tapping global opportunities.

On promotion of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries, as mentioned in the Policy Address, more Hong Kong, mainland and overseas cultural and creative products will be added to the Asia IP Exchange (AsiaIPEX), managed by the HKTDC, to facilitate cross-sector exchanges and cooperation and contribute to Hong Kong’s development into a regional IP trading centre. Currently, the platform displays more than 28,000 IP projects available for trading. The HKTDC will continue to promote cultural and creative products as well as IP transformation and trading on its platforms, such as the Business of IP Asia Forum, Hong Kong International Licensing Show and the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market.

Dr Lam also welcomed measures addressing new quality productive forces, the Northern Metropolis, digital economy and silver economy, which will help Hong Kong businesses further explore opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Belt and Road countries and regions.

Addressing the reduction of the liquor duty rate, Dr Lam believes that the move will strengthen related trade and further promote Hong Kong as a regional wine trading hub. He added that the 16th Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair will be held from 7 to 9 November, which will showcase fine wines from around the world, including liquors and white wines in the mainland pavilions, whiskeys from Japan and Ireland and spirits from around the world. Fair seminars will highlight the prospects of Hong Kong’s spirits market, while Chinese liquor promotional events will help the industry seize new opportunities.

In conclusion, Dr Lam said: “The HKTDC will continue to support and complement national development and the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policies. We will work closely with the business community to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages and promote sustainable economic growth.”

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:

Sam HoTel: (852) 2584 4589Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

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

Standard Chartered GBA Business Confidence Survey shows softer business performance in Q3

– Sentiment continues to improve, Hong Kong has the highest expectations

Standard Chartered and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today released the Standard Chartered GBA Business Confidence Index (GBAI) for the third quarter of 2024. The “expectations” index rose for a second straight quarter to 55.2 from 54.8 in Q2, reflecting sentiment continued to improve modestly among firms. The “current performance” index for business activity fell to 50.6 from 54.1 in Q2, indicating a further weakening of economic momentum after a challenging first half of 2024.

Hong Kong leads bulls
At city level, Hong Kong and Dongguan registered improvements in both current performance and expectations sub-indices. Hong Kong posted the highest “expectations” index, rising to 58.8 from 49.7 in Q2, the steepest rise among the 11 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, while “current performance” slightly increased by 0.2 points to 47.3. The “expectations” index of the other five cities in the survey were all above the 50 neutral mark.

In line with the soft set of China macro data in July and August, the sub-indices for industry categories trended down in general, with the manufacturing sector suffering the most. In terms of “expectations”, while GBA manufacturers’ confidence may have been affected by a potential surge in US tariffs against China-origin products in the event of a Trump win in the November US presidential election, the score remained stable at 54.1, well above the neutral mark.

Kelvin Lau, Senior Economist, Greater China, Standard Chartered, said: “The survey findings are in line with the economic data released in August, pointing to a slower industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment growth on subdued domestic demand and adverse weather. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the optimism associated with China’s stronger-than-expected stimulus package introduced in late-September, together with the new phase of Fed’s rate cut cycle, has yet to reflect in the third quarter survey findings. We believe the business sentiment among GBA companies can be boosted in the near term, driven by the positive sentiment and jump in equity market turnover following the announcement of the stimulus measures.”

60% GBA companies express concerns over risk factors – rates, economic growth and trade barriers topped the list
While the rate-cutting cycle can serve as a tailwind to business, the market outlook remains challenging. 60% of respondents saw external and internal risks posing a substantial risk to their overall business in the next 12 months. “Higher global inflation and interest rates” (47%), “renewed China growth slowdown” (46%) and “trade tariffs, sanctions against China-origin products” (42%) were the top three concerns. The Fed’s recent jumbo rate cut in September, signalling potential relief to GBA companies, likely offset lingering trade and geopolitical risks in the run-up to the US presidential election.

During the survey period, the discussion on tariff hikes against products of Chinese origin arose again. In terms of trade barriers, 47.2% of respondents said they were negatively impacted by tariff hikes versus 44.2% by sanctions and 34.6% by non-tariff barriers.

In the event of further rise in trade disputes between China and the US/EU, of the 37% survey respondents involved in external trade and anticipating a change to their external trade in the next few months, 88% said they would front-load their second-half export orders, while 81% said they would front-load their imports to minimise the potential impacts to their businesses.  

Irina Fan, HKTDC Director of Research, said: “GBA manufacturers may have concerns about a potential surge in US tariffs against China-origin products after the November US election. However, some 50-60% of the respondents do not anticipate any potential negative impacts on their business.”

About the GBAI
The GBAI is the first forward-looking quarterly survey in the market that looks at the business sentiment and synergistic effects in cities and industries across the GBA. It is compiled based on a survey of more than 1,000 companies in the GBA covering the manufacturing and trading, retail and wholesale, financial services, professional services and innovation and technology sectors. The index enables investors and businesses to better understand the current business climate, gauge future performance prospects and formulate their market strategies for the GBA.

Related materials
Standard Chartered GBA Business Confidence Index Report: https://www.sc.com/hk/gba/gba-index-report/
HKTDC Research: https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTgyMTM1MTk5Nw

Photos download: https://bit.ly/3NrhLXc

image

Media enquiries
Corporate Affairs Department
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Flora Chiu
Tel: (852) 3843 2285
Email: flora.chiu@sc.com

Communications & Public Affairs Department
HKTDC
Katy Wong                                     Clayton Lauw
Tel: (852) 2584 4524                      Tel: (852) 2584 4472
Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org     Email:clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

About Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 64. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.

The history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the Hong Kong SAR’s three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC. 

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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. 

Verofax facilitates Egyptian EU Export with CBAM Compliance and Lifecycle Assessment Solutions

  • Egyptian Businessmen’s Association (EBA) convenes export symposium on February 9

The Egyptian Businessmen’s Association (EBA) convened a symposium on February 9, chaired by Engineer Majd al-Din al-Manzalawi, Secretary-General and Chairman of the Association’s Industry and Scientific Research Committee, to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a law governing manufacturing standards for Egyptian exporters.

The Egyptian Businessmen’s Association (EBA) convened to discuss the importance of technology in keeping factories compliant with export requirements of the EU.

The symposium invited Mr Wassim Merheby, CEO of Verofax and a technology and AI (artificial intelligence) expert, along with Dr. Hossam Ezz al-Din, Director General of the Industrial Pollution Control Program at the Ministry of Environment, and several heads of specialized committees, to focus on the urgent need for Egyptian exports to align with the green economy principles outlined in the CBAM law. 

The discussion emphasized the imperative for Egyptian exports to adhere to the green economy principles outlined in the CBAM law. Key topics included the integration of automated quality data, aggregated across supply chains to streamline compliance processes, access to finance opportunities with prominent European institutions, and enhancing industry performance to support a sustainable economy in Egypt.

Wassim Merheby of Verofax explains how Egyptian exporters could achieve greater profit and seize a greater share of the EU market through compliance with CBAM.

Merheby highlighted the timeline for compliance, noting that registration for the new EU export regulations system would commence on January 1, 2025, with full implementation scheduled for January 2026. Merheby urged Egyptian factories to adapt promptly to the new international legislation, to avoid export bans and hefty tariffs of up to 35%.

The symposium underscored the importance of automating the processes in exporting factories to efficiently meet carbon footprint standards, thereby enabling Egyptian exporters to provide high-quality and validated data. This automation is made possible through Verofax’s comprehensive Lifecycle Assessment Solution, which integrates over 130 systems, ensuring seamless verification of recycled goods, emission reductions, and quality data aggregation for exports to the EU.

Hossam Ezz El-Din, Director General of the Industrial Pollution Reduction Program at the Ministry of Environment, outlined the program’s objective to incentivize industries to adopt environmentally compliant and sustainable practices through finance packages of loans and grants, funded by the European Union.

El-Din elaborated on available financing programs, detailing two types of program: loans, and grants. The Central Bank of Egypt has directed these programs to local banks, including the Ibad program, valued at 135 million euros and expected to conclude by the end of the year. Additionally, a new program named Green, valued at 268 million euros, will commence in 2025, offering a grace period of one to two years and repayment over 5 years. This program also allows borrowing in foreign currency and repayment in Egyptian pounds.

The symposium concluded with a call for continued collaboration among government bodies, financing institutions, and industries to facilitate smooth transition towards environmentally compliant production practices, thereby ensuring Egypt’s competitiveness in international markets.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/i88vJzpjPsM
source: Symposium on Carbon Tax – Egyptian Businessmen’s Association discusses the importance of technology in factory compatibility with EU export requirements; Elmahrousa News, February 9th, 2024.

About Verofax
Verofax is a blockchain-enabled Asset Digitization & Traceability Solution provider, assisting various industries in automating data validation for EU commodity exporters, integrating a Lifecycle Assessment Solution that automates data aggregation across supply chains for seamless EU Carbon Border Compliance. Integrated with Microsoft IoT hub, validated on Azure Cloud, and in compliance with ISO 14064/14067. Our patented computer vision prevents double counting, and our digital passport on an immutable ledger enables validated data for smooth exports to the EU. Learn more about our automated Lifecycle Assessment Solution at www.verofax.com, or contact us at info@verofax.com.

About Egyptian Businessmen’s Association (EBA)
The Egyptian Businessmen’s Association (EBA) is a leading organization dedicated to advancing economic development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business practices in Egypt. With a diverse membership representing various industries, the EBA catalyzes innovation, advocacy, and partnership-building to drive inclusive growth and prosperity. Visit www.eba.org.eg.

For media inquiries:
Wassim Merheby, CEO, Verofax
Email: info@verofax.com

NSE is the world’s largest derivative exchange for fifth consecutive year: Ranks 3rd largest globally in equity segment in calendar year 2023

NSE Group (National Stock Exchange of India and NSE International Exchange) has once again emerged as the world’s largest derivatives exchange group in calendar year 2023 by number of contracts traded based on statistics published by Futures Industry Association (FIA), a derivatives trade body.

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world’s largest derivatives exchange for the fifth consecutive year in 2023. NSE is ranked 3rd in the world in equity segment by number of trades (electronic order book) in 2023, as per the statistics maintained by World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

The year has witnessed many milestones such as market capitalization of listed companies surpass USD 4 trillion, SME listed companies surpassed the Rs 1,00,000 crore mark and the Nifty 50 index surpassed the 20,000 index levels for the first time. The number of unique registered investors on the exchange surpassed 8.5 crores at the end of the calendar year.

NSE has witnessed year on year growth in number of clients traded for the 10th consecutive year beginning 2014 to 2023 in its equity segment. The year also saw record high turnover on single day in equity segment of Rs 167,942.47 crores on November 30, 2023, and Rs 381,623.12 crores on December 2, 2023, in the equity derivatives segment. The equity derivatives to cash market turnover ratio marginally declined this year from 2.86 in calendar year 2022 to 2.64 in calendar year 2023.

The equity segment completed its transition for settlement of all securities on T+1 basis. In the primary market, the timeline for listing of securities has been shortened to T+3 days.

Exchange launched the Social Stock Exchange as a segment this year which will facilitate the social enterprises (NPO and FPE) to showcase their work to a wider audience & mobilize funds through issuance of instruments such as Zero Coupon Zero Principal Bonds, thereby allowing participants to participate in philanthropic causes and bring in efficiency & transparency in the overall ecosystem. The segment has seen registrations by 42 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and fund raising by one NPO.

In the commodity derivatives segment, the exchange has launched 21 new commodity derivatives contract including commodity options on futures contracts on underlying such as WTI Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Gold, Silver, and Base metals. 

NSE International Exchange (NSE IX), commenced its full-scale operations of the NSE IX-SGX GIFT Connect from July 3, 2023, paving way for creating deeper liquidity pool for Nifty products at GIFT IFSC. GIFT NIFTY contracts are available for trading for almost 21 hours, which overlaps Asia, Europe, and US trading hours.

Shri Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development officer, NSE said, “Ranking 3rd in the equity segment and being the largest derivatives exchange demonstrates the strong capabilities of Indian capital market ecosystem on the global map. This will help attract new investors as well as fund flows to Indian markets, thereby aiding capital formation. I take this opportunity to thank Government of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, Trading members, Investors, and all other stakeholders for their continued support.”

About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE):

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world’s largest derivatives exchange by trading volume (contracts) as per the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA) for calendar year 2023. NSE is ranked 3rd in the world in equity segment by number of trades (electronic order book) in 2023, as per the statistics maintained by World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).  NSE was the first exchange in India to implement electronic or screen-based trading. It began operations in 1994 and is ranked as the largest stock exchange in India in terms of total and average daily turnover for equity shares every year since 1995, based on SEBI data. NSE has a fully integrated business model comprising exchange listings, trading services, clearing and settlement services, indices, market data feeds, technology solutions and financial education offerings. NSE also oversees compliance by trading, clearing members and listed companies with the rules and regulations of SEBI and the exchange. NSE is a pioneer in technology and ensures the reliability and performance of its systems through a culture of innovation and investment in technology.

For more information, please visit: www.nseindia.com

For any media queries please contact:

Arijit Sengupta – Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Kumar Kartikey – Associate Vice President, Corporate Communications
Priyanka Roy – Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Email ID:  cc@nse.co.in

Indonesia’s Investment Outlook 2024 & Green Economy Opportunities: Singapore hosts BKPM Investment Forum

Entering a political year in Indonesia in 2024, the Ministry of Investment/ Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) organized an Investment Forum on Friday (12/08) in Singapore, focusing on the theme “Indonesia’s Investment Outlook 2024 and Green Economic Opportunities.”  The forum featured the Minister of Investment/ Head of BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, as key speakers.

Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia
Minister of Investment/ Head of BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia [IMAGE: BKPM]

With an audience of more than 200 forum participants, Minister Bahlil stated that the investment climate in Indonesia is continually growing, and the country remains open to collaborating with investors from Singapore to invest in Indonesia. He emphasized Indonesia’s openness to investors from all countries, not offering special privileges to specific nations.

“Despite facing political events, I am confident that politics wouldn’t hinder investments and the government will keep facilitating business permits through the Online Single Submission (OSS) Indonesia application,” said Bahlil. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo added that Indonesia, rich in natural resources, holds great potential. However, he stressed the importance of focusing on environmentally sustainable industries and ensuring well-being for future generations.

“The government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy sources, and preserving internationally recognized natural resources. We have embarked on ambitious steps to become one of the global leaders in the environmentally friendly economy,” emphasized Suryo.

The panel discussion session featured Deputy for Investment Promotion of the Ministry of Investment/BKPM, Nurul Ichwan; Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of National Development Planning/ National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti; Economic Advisor to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Reza Yamora Siregar; Maritime and Investment Advisor to the Coordinating Minister, Edo Mahendra; and Chief Economist of Bank Mandiri, Andry Asmoro.

Singapore has been the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) source for Indonesia in the last three years, with significant investments totaling USD 12.1 billion from January to September 2023. Dominant sectors include basic metal industries (USD 11.3 billion), transportation and warehousing, and telecommunications (USD 7.9 billion), as well as real estate, industrial zones, and housing (USD 7.8 billion).

The primary investment destinations are DKI Jakarta (USD 12.4 billion), Central Sulawesi (USD 6.5 billion), and West Java (USD 6 billion).

For further information, please contact:
Ricky Kusmayadi, Head of Communication and Information Service Bureau,
Ministry of Investment/ Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) 
URL: www.investindonesia.go.id/en/home  E-mail: rickykusmayadi@bkpm.go.id

Over 7,300 industry talents at HKTDC FILMART and EntertainmentPulse

Asia’s largest film and TV entertainment trade platform continues online until mid-April

FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), assembled more than 7,300 leading entertainment figures from 41 countries and regions. The four-day content marketplace successfully showcased a great variety of cross-media, cross-genre content and brought numerous business opportunities for participants. The confident global exhibitors and buyers were delighted to network in person. “This is my first time attending FILMART. HKTDC helped line up over 10 business matching meetings which are all helpful in establishing business contacts and develop new opportunities. I’m sure some would come to fruition with follow ups,” said Ms Jean Dong, Founder & Chairman of Zespa Media Group, based in London and Beijing.

FILMART and EntertainmentPulse brought together over 7,300 industry talents from 41 countries and regions. Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions showcased a wide variety of latest film and TV productions.
Industry leaders participated in EntertainmentPulse conference series to talk about the latest entertainment industry trends.
Popular boy band MIRROR visited FILMART to introduce the debut feature film WE 12.

A representative of Hengdian Film & Television Industry Experimental Zone, which has participated in FILMART for five consecutive years, said: “The film industry of Hong Kong is mature and with the advantage of international connections. It is a must for Hengdian to collaborate with Hong Kong in order to go global and co-promote Chinese culture to worldwide audiences.”

Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions gathered at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) over the past four days for Asia’s largest cross-media and cross-industry film and TV entertainment trade expo. The Mainland China exhibitor tally at FILMART exceeded 330, a record, including the three major streaming platforms – iQIYI, Tencent and Youku. The revived physical marketplace was as vibrant and active as in the past, successfully reuniting industry players from all around the globe for business partnerships.

Innovation and technology had a strong presence as the Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment Pavilion at FILMART gathered more than 30 local companies offering animation, digital effects and interactive media – the three major digital entertainment areas – to promote innovative technology development. Their innovations included creative content rendered through digital effects and Web 3. EntertainmentPulse, the concurrent conference series of FILMART, featured a dedicated session on Web3 in the entertainment industry. Entertainment industry leaders also discussed the prospects and potential of Asian content, the hype behind dating and romance reality shows, and Chinese donghua (animation) as soft power.

Growing interest in dating and romance reality shows
Dating and romance reality shows are not new to the TV landscape but are finding great success once again. During the Love Story Wanted: Hype behind Dating and Romance Reality Show session, Mr Yosuke Muramoto, Director and Chief Producer of YD Creation, described how to captivate audiences: “The question is ‘What is true love?’. But how many people amongst the viewers could answer that? This is truly the topic that everyone wants to know and what keeps the viewers coming back.”

Web3 redefines engagement in the entertainment industry
The entertainment industry is fuelled by creativity and technology can accelerate its development. The latest breakthrough innovation is Web3 which makes entertainment more realistic and engaging. In the session Uncovering the Application of Web3 in Entertainment Industry, Ms Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products and Experiences of Lionsgate, discussed how brands should engage consumers with Web3: “We should approach it in the way that fans could understand and avoid the technical terminologies. The way we market it and engage with fans should always be very simplified. The key to success is to make it feel trusted, understandable and not complicated. The more steps involved, the more people we lose.”

New era for Hong Kong Movies
Several Hong Kong productions have broken Hong Kong box-office records recently. In Dialogue with Hong Kong Directors: The Spring of Hong Kong Movies? renowned Hong Kong film directors including Mr Sunny Chan of Table of Six, Ms Judy Chu of Sunshine of My Life, and Mr Jack Ng of A Guilty Conscience, which became the highest-grossing Hong Kong film, reflected on the city’s cinematic success. Mr Ng said: “It is the script that gives confidence to the investors and actors. Without the script, we cannot go anywhere.”

Numerous special events announcing exciting titles

This year’s FILMART again received strong support from major local film and TV companies, organising press conferences as well as on-site booths. Emperor Motion Pictures invited more than 80 movie stars and industry leaders to announce upcoming productions at a press conference, including Under Current, Customs Frontline and New Police Story 2. In addition, PCCW Media Limited’s MakerVille and Viu also held a press conference to announce boy band Mirror’s first film WE 12. A large-scale release conference organised by Muse Communications showcased a wide range of Japanese anime, including the big hit Demon Slayer.

FILMART online platforms open until 15 April
The online FILMART portal is accessible until 15 April. Users can revisit all the exciting content from EntertainmentPulse and utilise the direct messaging function offered through the FILMART online platform.

Websites:
FILMART: https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkfilmart-en/
EntertainmentPulse: https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/en
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3JjUkwt

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:
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Ogilvy PR: Honman Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

GenTwo Continues Growth Story, New Inflows of Over US$1 Billion

The international securitization specialist GenTwo celebrates its 5th anniversary and looks back on a fast-paced development. In 2022 the number of new products increased by 60% and international business doubled.

The business momentum of GenTwo and its subsidiary GenTwo Digital has progressively picked up since the company was founded 5 years ago in February 2018. The products issued on its platform recorded over USD 1 billion in new inflows, resulting in a surge in assets under services growth to USD 2.5 billion as of today, despite the challenging market environment in 2022.

The number of new products increased by 60% to a total of 900. This impressive growth underpins the ongoing high level of interest in alternative and digital investments among institutional clients around the world and Gen Two’s expertise to provide flexible portfolio structuring for investors.

“We were able to broaden our customer base once again in 2022 nationally and are currently servicing clients in over 25 countries. The number of clients grew by almost 50%, even 100% on an international level,” says Philippe A. Naegeli,Co-Founder, and CEO.

This success is also based on a solidly developed and diverse workforce with an above-the-industry F/M gender ratio of 35:65, with 21 nationalities, totaling up to 70 employees.

Patrick Loepfe, Founder and Chairman of the Board says, “A 2022 highlight was the extension of the offering for financial intermediaries to retail investors. This move will transform the market for alternative and digital investment products and marks another pioneering achievement for GenTwo.”

The main focus of 2023 remains on the continuous improvement and build-out of the service platform and its further digitization and client-centric automation. Additionally, the company pursues its international growth strategy by further internationalizing its customer base, onboarding more financial institutions onto its platform, and growing its ecosystem for investors and innovators.

About GenTwo and GenTwo Digital

Zurich-based innovative securitization specialist GenTwo has invented a new generation of financial products. The company creates securitization platforms for asset managers, banks, family offices and venture capital investors, enabling professional investors to easily invest in bankable and previously non-bankable assets. The focus on off-balance sheet investment products solves the problem of declining margins and growth barriers for many financial market participants. New performance potential emerges through granting access to a theoretically unlimited world of asset classes. Institutional investors can use GenTwo’s securitization solution to realize their own product and business innovations, to make any type of assets investable and to help shape new, sustainable markets. Private investors in Switzerland can now also benefit from these innovative products via their financial intermediaries, thereby giving GenTwo the opportunity to open and expand its customer base to retail investors.

About GenTwo Digital

GenTwo Digital is based in Crypto Valley in Zug, Switzerland. The subsidiary of GenTwo enables professional investors around the world, and now also private investors in Switzerland, to securitize all digital assets, including crypto assets, in securities on the traditional financial market via their financial intermediaries. www.GenTwo.com

Contact GenTwo
Simone C. Drill
Chief Marketing & Communication Officer
media@gentwo.com
+41 79 207 33 49

Broadhill Capital Announces its Capital Deployment Strategy for 2023

Broadhill Capital announced today that the firm will target to commit equity investment of USD $15 Billion across approximately 100-150 businesses.

“We expect to make non-control equity investments into businesses that have the potential to achieve 5-10x revenue growth with our capital commitment,” stated investment committee member Francis König. “We separate ourselves by our willingness to assist businesses in situations that often appear high risk to more conservative investors.”

Investment commitments are expected to range between USD $50 Million to $5 Billion per company, with most falling between USD $100-500 Million. Businesses must either be public or be positioned and agree to become publicly listed on a major global stock exchange within 3 years. Most business types, industries, and geographies are eligible, provided the business activities are legal in the United States, and in the countries where the business operates. Due diligence and transaction approval should typically be completed within 30 days.

Businesses seeking equity investment may submit their opportunity for immediate consideration through the BroadhillCapital.com website by using the link: https://broadhillcapital.com/submit-business/.

pSource: Broadhill Capital LLC
Media Contact: press@broadhillcapital.com

LiquidityFinder Brings Advanced Social Features to Leading Institutional OTC Liquidity Information Platform

LiquidityFinder is thrilled to announce the launch of their upgraded community-driven fintech platform to assist electronic trading businesses and institutional investors in discovering and connecting with well-matched business partners to drive OTC liquidity.

As organizations and the range of financial instruments they offer change frequently, providers seeking to enhance their liquidity services are in need of new tools to stay ahead of the competition. New entrants to the institutional liquidity provision space are emerging every month. LiquidityFinder provides the tools to let the market know what their product range is, and makes them immediately discoverable. Consumers of liquidity products also need to be sharp about who provides what instruments at a fair price to enable their business to stay competitive.

LiquidityFinder provides tools to simplify this discovery.

The new social, partnership and research functionalities developed by LiquidityFinder aim to make it easy for Brokers, Asset Managers, and Proprietary and Professional Traders to keep up to date with the latest changes in the industry, leverage advanced research, and obtain access to the best possible commercial terms for their business.

The free-to-use features include complete user profiles and posting, industry forums, and partner matching and messaging capabilities to directly communicate with Prime of Prime (PoP) brokers, ECN’s and related businesses to optimize their trading. Users of the site can submit requests for information to brokers able to offer the services they require and for Retail Brokers, this means an ability to search and discover more competitive terms (spreads and commissions) than they currently receive from incumbent providers.

Sam Low, Founder and CEO of LiquidityFinder stated, “I am incredibly excited to announce the launch of the new LiquidityFinder platform. We have created an environment where any person involved in trading or fintech is able to research and follow the best liquidity and fintech providers in the market, keep on top of the latest news and developments in the trading and fintech industry and share their views, questions and comments in our secure forums to create engaging conversations covering the industry.”

He continued, “Through our hands-on work with clients, we have been engaging with a broad range of traders and brokers to ensure that our new product meets their needs. Speaking to senior executives at retail brokerage firms I know that there is a lot of room for them to get more competitive business terms than those they are currently on. The businesses on LiquidityFinder are hungry for that business. The tools we have created help bring these two sides together.”

About LiqudityFinder

LiquidityFinder is a community-driven fintech platform that assists electronic trading businesses in discovering and connecting with well-matched and sustainable business partners. Our mission is to help traders, brokers and institutions streamline their research and create frictionless partnerships that drive OTC liquidity more efficiently, accelerating their time to market. www.liquidityFinder.com @LiquidityFinder

Media Contact:
Sam Low
LiquidityFinder
+44 7734 467909
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/liquidityfinder
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiquidityFinder
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/liquidity-finder