Category: Travel

Seventh Belt and Road Summit draws to successful close

  • 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.

Image download: https://bit.ly/3edlV6t

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

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Wong Hing-fung, Tel: +852 3428 3122, email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Seventh Belt and Road Summit opens today

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.

The Seventh Belt and Road Summit
Date: 31 August 2022 (Wednesday) Hybrid; 1 September 2022 (Thursday) Online
Websites
– Belt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en
– Programme: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/programme
– Speaker list: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/speaker
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QbkuDe

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

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Wong Hing-fung, Tel: +852 3428 3122, email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

Asia’s First Hybrid Online to Offline Festival to Bring Sim Racers and Entertainers Rriley and Haneri to Scape

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.

All photo and visual assets can be downloaded here.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q7-el4f3XXS2zmflJQpjhFXqsRxEbvxG

Media Contact:
Melvin Moh
melvin@legionofracers.com

About HyperDrive Cities Festival 2022

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.

More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com
Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/STBsingapore or https://www.linkedin.com/company/singapore-tourism-board/mycompany/

Merdeka at Kuantan 188

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.

Club Med Redefines Vacation for Kids with a new framework inspired by Positive Education, Mini Club Med +

The launch of a science-based approach with pedagogical principles that promotes children’s sense of well-being and resilience, seamlessly integrated into brand new fun-packed activities and the best of the original Mini Club in Club Med resorts across Asia.

Club Med, the pioneer of Premium All-Inclusive holidays and the number one vacation brand for families, launched the evolution of its highly-acclaimed Kids Club (previously known as Mini Club Med(R)) to Mini Club Med + in Bali. This brand-new science-based framework inspired by Positive Education offers a fun-filled experience where play, cooperation and kindness are celebrated to help develop their soft skills while on vacation.

This much anticipated roll-out across Asia follows the successful test case in Club Med La Palmyre Atlantique, that has been specially formulated to address the changing needs of children and the rising expectations of parents, and directly responds to one of the major concerns, which is how to raise happy children? Holidays are very special moments in children’s development, where we believe creativity, courage, appreciation, teamwork or self-expression can be kindled and fostered.

Mini Club Med + is a Game Changer
Club Med has been a pioneer of Kids & Family experiences since 1967, with its initial introduction of Mini Club Med(R), a space for children 4-10 year olds to learn and grow while on vacation. Parents can leave their little ones under the watchful eyes of the Gentils Organisateurs (GOs(R)) in our Resorts, with the assurance that their kids will enjoy the most enriching experiences, while they enjoy their much needed me-time and we-time. With this enhancement to the program, it gives even more value to the time children spend at Mini Club Med + and the experiences that will empower them to be happy & confident.

At Mini Club Med +, kids are being prepared for the future. They will discover and develop unique character strengths around Creativity, Confidence, Connection, Cheerfulness, Courage and Cooperation (the 6 Cs of Mini Club Med +); vital soft skills to being happy, staying connected and growing with confidence.

One of such activities that the little ones can look forward at Mini Club Med + is the Ninja Bootcamp, where it requires them to design their own obstacle course and conquering it. The goal is to reveal a child’s unique character strengths and to develop his or her ability to effectively engage those strengths leading to increased self-esteem, energy and happiness. This approach echoes Club Med’s raison d’etre, perfectly matching the vision of Club Med’s founder, Gerard Blitz: “The purpose of life is to be happy. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now.”

The program was developed in partnership with Professor Ilona BONIWELL, an Expert in Positive Psychology & Positive Education and a world leader in the field of Positive Psychology, with over 20 years of experience. A wealth of exciting new activities was designed to help children discover and develop their strengths. All of the original Mini Club Med activities such as sports and the Mini Club Med Show have also been re-engineered and passed through the same framework, to help nurture children’s soft skills, making them more than just fun activities, but truly enriching learning experiences.

“Families are at the core of our offering at Club Med and this new enhancement of Mini Club Med + truly redefines the enriching holiday experiences children will have at our resorts. Over 70% of our guests from Asia visiting Club Med are families, we see the value and opportunity to empower the next generation with the character strengths they need to thrive in this fast-changing world.” said Rachael Harding, Chief Executive Officer, East and South Asia & Pacific markets, Club Med. “We are thrilled to be able to launch this enhancement across Asia (excluding China) and highlight our commitment to delivering unparalleled and meaningful experiences for families.”

The Media Launch at Club Med Bali, the #1 resort for families
The sneak peek into the Mini Club Med + program, held at Club Med Bali, presented the perfect space for family vacations. The Premium All-Inclusive Resort which recently reopened last month, features the ideal hassle-free infrastructure for families. Beyond the new Mini Club Med + enhancement, the Resort also has 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 over 60 sports and activities for all ages, making it the resort with the largest number of in-resort sports and activities in Bali.

Club Med’s First Ever Immersive Art Installation
Making waves during the event launch at Club Med Bali is the debut of Club Med’s first ever immersive art installation in partnership with Art Wonderland Singapore. This exclusive art installation brings another dimension of creative play, allowing families to bond over imaginative play and expose them to the artful storytelling in an outdoor setting. It hopes to encourage the spirit of pretend play and wild imaginations in families and to allow children to hone their strengths and develop soft skills through this limited-time feature.

About the artwork installation:
Of Dreams and Adventures is an experience-based, immersive installation that aims to encourage family visitors to play in the spirit of adventure. On a journey across a monstrous ocean to an illuminating forest and musical cave, family visitors are invited to take part in imaginative play and adopt the role of brave explorers on a quest for the glowing crown. Filled with interactive elements and playful activities, Of Dreams and Adventures aims to allow families to practice teamwork and embrace their wildest imagination for the greatest adventure of all time.

New Discoveries Await Families
In addition to the art installation, Club Med Bali will feature brand-new robust entertainment for the whole family. When evening comes around, grab the kids and head to the theatre for energizing beats in the new digital shows ‘Colours’ & ‘Magic Tribe’ by our talented GOs in dazzling costumes are sure to mesmerize and are definitely Instagram-worthy.

Connecting you to the soul of Bali, the resort also introduced a dedicated Balinese Day each week, where families can join in local cooking classes with striking flavours and relish in the rich, cultural performances. Another note-worthy event is the Nomad Festival themed day, where colourful bohemian-chic happenings and curated workshops such as eco-friendly glitter make-up, dreamcatcher-making and boho-chic festival party with a live DJ await. Watch as families of all ages doll up, bringing vibrancy of the island to life and with it, precious memories and maybe some new phone wallpapers.

Competitive families may find picking up a new sport while on vacation a massive draw and the best chance to level out the playing field between parents and kids. With the newest addition, Padel Tennis to Club Med Bali’s extensive list of all-inclusive activities in the Resort, families can seek to develop a new skill together.

For more details on What’s New at Club Med Bali, check out our press release on Bali Reignited.

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.

About Art Wonderland:\
Based in Singapore, Art Wonderland is an art collective that consists of lead artists – Lena Lok, Jesse Chong and Stacy Huang – and their team of creatives. Grounded in education, the collective designs spaces and encounters that stimulate curiosity and enables discovery of the worlds around us. Through exploration of mediums and creative dialogue, Art Wonderland aims to empower children to be independent artists that can tell their own stories.

About Ilona Boniwell
Ilona Boniwell is a professor of positive psychology at the University of East London and the original founder of the UEL’s MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, the first ever degree of this type in Europe. She is one of the world leaders in positive psychology, working in the field for over 20 years, originally mentored by Martin Seligman. Professor Boniwell wrote or edited twelve books, delivered over 200 keynotes and a TEDx, founded the European Network of Positive Psychology, organised the first European Congress of Positive Psychology and was the first vice-chair of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). She is also a passionate practitioner of positive psychology. As a CEO of Positran she consulted the Governments of UAE and Bhutan and many major international companies, including Club Med, L’Oreal, Unilever, Nestle, EY, Microsoft and BNP Paribas.

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) Marks First Foray into Indonesia by Acquiring Jakarta-based NusaTrip, Indonesia’s First International Air Transport Association-Accredited Online Travel Agency

Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia’s (SEA) next generation digital ecosystem, announces the acquisition of NusaTrip (NusaTrip), a leading Jakarta-based Online Travel Agency (OTA) in Indonesia and across SEA. The NusaTrip acquisition extends SoPa’s business reach into the booming SEA regional travel industry and marks SoPa’s first foray into Indonesia as well as adds to SoPa’s growing ecosystem of technology-enabled companies located in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Established in 2013 as the first Indonesian OTA accredited by the International Air Transport Association, NusaTrip pioneered offering a comprehensive range of airlines and hotels to Indonesian corporate and retail customers. With its first mover advantage, NusaTrip has onboarded +1.2 million registered users, +500 airlines and +200,000 hotels around the world as well as connected with over 80 million unique visitors.

Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, explains, “We happily welcome NusaTrip into our ever-expanding SoPa ecosystem. NusaTrip seamlessly blends into our user and merchant growth strategy as we enter yet another leading SEA market. We combine the robust technology and operational breadth of NusaTrip’s e-commerce travel platform with our extensive brand building experience in SEA. With this acquisition, SoPa now cross-pollinates and integrates our six verticals (loyalty, lifestyle, food & beverage, telecoms, digital media and travel) into one cohesive loyalty and e-commerce platform to provide enhanced products and services for our consumers and merchants throughout the largest countries of SEA. SoPa has grown from strength to strength in 2022 as we opportunistically acquire market leading companies and partner with visionary entrepreneurs, underlining our unique aggregator approach that reflects immediate returns in terms of increased revenue generation and cost optimisation.”

Patrick Soetanto, Society Pass Indonesia Country Manager, adds, “We will expand NusaTrip’s services to support future growth pathways in more SEA countries in the very near future by integrating more travel product lines in its mix and developing more competitive products for a much larger international and regional audience.”

Well-positioned to benefit from a high-growth travel industry, Indonesia’s and SEA’s inbound and outbound travel revenues are expected to continue soaring as increasingly more consumers engage in post-pandemic travel. This marked increase in demand is driven by strong government initiatives to boost tourism, the rise of Indonesia’s burgeoning middle class and strong internet penetration, which enables more Indonesians to easily book flights and hotels through OTAs.

“NusaTrip is proud to officially partner with SoPa. By joining forces with SoPa’s extensive ecosystem and large user and merchant bases in SEA, we are thrilled about the combined marketing capabilities. With the revival of the travel market throughout SEA in 2Q/3Q 2022, NusaTrip aims to dramatically increase its customer base by offering the region’s business and leisure travellers more competitive, no-surcharge hotel and flight fares, convenient payment methods, and speedy itinerary bookings with our user-friendly platform,” comments Menak Galumbang, Co Founder, Nusatrip.

About Society Pass
As a digitally-focused loyalty and data marketing ecosystem in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, lifestyle, F&B, telecoms, digital media, and travel), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

SoPa’s business model focuses on analysing user data through its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points. The Society Pass loyalty platform drives customer acquisition and increases customer retention for merchants. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants/brands onto its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting-edge components 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 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, Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator, Thoughtful Media Group, a Bangkok-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network, and Mangan, the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

Malaysia Witnesses 31% YoY Hiring Growth

The Malaysian job market has recorded a 31% growth in job demand this June indicating a spree in hiring activity on an annual basis. A number of segments hit hardest by Covid-19 have shown promising signs of resurgence, as per the Monster Employment Index (MEI).

An upsurge of 15% was registered for hiring activity over the last six months, while month-on-month growth improved at 5% projecting a continuous demand in the job market.

Despite two years of restriction on public activities, rising prices, and the current labour crisis, the retail industry in Malaysia has moved towards recovery with a 321% year-on-year growth in job activity in June 2022. Moreover, retail sales in the country are projected to grow at the rate of 25.7% in the current quarter as per Malaysian retail associations. While the country has seen a number of retail closures over the pandemic, consumer sentiments soar high showcasing a positive outlook for this segment in the months to come.

Commenting on job trends for June 2022, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, Monster.com – APAC & Gulf said, “Companies today are ramping up their demand for a digital-first future-ready workforce amidst the ongoing talent crunch we see globally. Jobs in Malaysia have come back and several industries have begun to almost reflect pre-pandemic business functioning with steadfast recovery especially across deeply impacted segments like Tourism, Hospitality, and Retail. With flexible work arrangements gaining popularity in the job market, we are optimistic to see continued growth and resilience in the coming months.”

Following retail, the Hospitality segment (up 65 percent) has also seen a huge inflow of demand for professionals in tourism and travel related industries with the user penetration rate nearing the pre-pandemic levels. With improved business sentiments and airline travel ramping up, tourism in the country has certainly picked up accompanied by the consequent rise in demand for skilled talent. Logistic, Courier/ Freight/ Transportation, Shipping/ Marine (up 51 percent) also noted a huge jump in hiring activity being next in the rung, followed by rapid digitization in BFSI (up 32 percent).

Other sectors that noted promising growth in June include Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (up 4 percent), IT, Telecom/ISP, BPO/ITES (up 5 percent), Advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media and Entertainment (up 16 percent) and Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (up 19 percent).

Across roles, the Malaysian job market exhibited maximum demand for professionals in Hospitality & Travel (up 162 percent) driven by travel resumption from neighbouring countries coupled with strong domestic tourism. Interestingly, all 9 functions monitored by the Index saw positive growth over the course of June 2022 projecting a great demand influx for the market.

Given the impressive performance of retail, roles in Customer Service (up 79 percent) increased, followed by Software, Hardware, Telecom (up 58 percent). Finance & Accounts (up 52 percent) and Sales & Business Development (up 41 percent) also observed a rise.

The Monster Employment Index is a broad monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by Monster India. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the Monster Employment Index presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.

Period for the report

The period considered for the MEI data is 1st to 30th June 2022.

About Monster APAC & Middle East

Monster (a Quess Company), the leading online career and recruitment resource, with its cutting-edge technology provides relevant profiles to employers and jobs to jobseekers across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. More than 200 million people have registered on the Monster Worldwide network. Today, with operations in more than 40 countries, Monster provides the widest and most sophisticated job seeking, career management, recruitment, and talent management capabilities globally.

Monster continues its pioneering work of transforming the recruiting industry with advanced technology using intelligent digital, social and mobile solutions, and a vast array of products and services.

To learn more about Monster in APAC & Gulf, visit: www.monsterindia.com | www.monstergulf.com | www.monster.com.sg | www.monster.com.my | www.monster.com.ph | www.monster.com.hk

Contact:

Yatharth Sharma
yatharth.sharma@monsterindia.com

Silky Sharma
silky.sharma@adfactorspr.com

Hong Kong ‘ideal listing destination’ for ASEAN companies

  • City serves as platform for satisfying two-way funding needs

Hong Kong has been named as an ideal overseas listing destination for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) companies in a research report^ prepared by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in collaboration with CCB International (CCBI).

Hong Kong is an ideal overseas listing destination for companies in the ASEAN region, according to a research report prepared by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in collaboration with CCB International (CCBI).

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement coming into effect on 1 January 2022, closer regional economic integration will foster funding needs for projects across Asia, particularly with regard to ASEAN companies’ projects in Mainland China and vice versa. Hong Kong is ideally positioned to serve as a platform to satisfy two-way funding needs.”

Simon Lee, Head of Corporate Finance & Capital Market Services of CCB International, said: “This is a highly informative and well-researched paper for any executive of an ASEAN company seriously considering fundraising via an overseas listing, and in which the insights of many stakeholders in the region are shared. Hong Kong stands out as the top choice for the listing of ASEAN companies seeking overseas funding.”

Most popular overseas listing destination for ASEAN companies
There are already more than 80 ASEAN-headquartered companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange – the highest tally for a non-ASEAN stock market. These listed ASEAN companies represent a variety of sectors covering consumer discretionary, property and construction, information technology and industrial businesses with a total market capitalisation at US$15.3 billion. This indicates that Hong Kong is the most popular overseas listing destination for ASEAN companies, representing a wide variety of enterprises in terms of sector and size.

The research report highlights that Hong Kong’s attractiveness to ASEAN companies is due to a range of factors including good market breadth and depth, efficiency and flexibility in funding overseas investment, access to more diversified financial and strategic investor pools, its position as a doorstep to expansion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Mainland China, strong governance, and the convenience provided by it being in a similar time zone to ASEAN countries.

Strengthening promotion in ASEAN countries
To facilitate ASEAN companies’ needs and enhance Hong Kong’s position as an overseas listing hub for these enterprises, Ms Fan highlighted some of the key recommendations proposed by survey interviewees. “Hong Kong should step up its promotion in ASEAN countries to raise companies’ awareness. Indeed, it is clear that some ASEAN companies need to be more informed about the latest developments relating to Hong Kong’s listing regime and policies,” she said.

HK well positioned for ASEAN companies in prevailing and emerging sectors
Survey interviewees highlighted that in addition to prevailing sectors in ASEAN such as consumer goods and services, mining and commodities and real estate investment trusts (REITs), fast-growing sectors including biotech, high-tech enterprises and fintech are showing good potential, while environmental, social and governance (ESG) is becoming an increasingly important factor across Southeast Asia. Interviewees suggested that Hong Kong can further reinforce its position as a listing destination for both prevailing and emerging sectors in ASEAN by streamlining its processes for overseas listing and the new special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) regime, in addition to providing listing incentives for REITs. Hong Kong is also in a strong position to respond to the growing need for ESG funding in the ASEAN bloc.

Closer collaboration with ASEAN exchanges to promote dual primary/secondary listing
Hong Kong can also enhance collaboration with ASEAN exchanges to promote dual primary/secondary listing in Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is the gateway between ASEAN countries and Mainland China. By working with ASEAN stock exchanges to facilitate the dual or secondary listing of ASEAN companies in Hong Kong, all parties would be better positioned to capture the growing opportunities,” Ms Fan added.

Hong Kong as preferred listing destination for Malaysian companies
The report also gave insights into overseas listings by Malaysian enterprises. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has the largest number of listed Malaysian companies among key stock exchanges outside ASEAN, and Hong Kong is well perceived by Malaysian companies as an important gateway for expanding into Mainland China. Leveraging Malaysia’s economic growth and further economic integration in the region, Malaysia’s fast-growing IT sector and growth companies could be potential candidates for listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through the new SPAC route.

^ The report is based on desktop research and interviews conducted by the HKTDC from September 2021 to January 2022. Interviewees included senior executives/members of listed companies, chambers of commerce, professional organisations, legal practitioners, accountants and investment bankers. Interviewees were asked to share their insights on Hong Kong’s strengths as a listing destination for ASEAN companies, some of the hurdles ASEAN companies are facing, as well as recommendations to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a listing hub. The first research report in this series focuses on the overall overseas listing regime of Hong Kong as well as Hong Kong as a listing destination for Malaysian companies, while two subsequent reports on Thai and Indonesian companies listing in Hong Kong will be released later this year. Disclaimer https://tinyurl.com/HKTDC-Disclaimer

References
– HKTDC Research Portal: https://research.hktdc.com/en
– “Hong Kong as a Listing Destination for ASEAN Companies”: https://bit.ly/3ajmAkV
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3MsV1UI

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

Please contact CCBI’s Corporate Finance & Capital Market Services:
Sam Siu, Tel: +852 3911 8926, Email: samsiu@ccbintl.com

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

About CCBI
CCB International (Holdings) Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “CCB International”) is a financial and investment services company owned by China Construction Bank Corporation (“CCB”). CCB International is committed to expanding its international platform. Backed by the CCB global network, its business covers key financial centres worldwide including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. CCB International offers a full range of products and services including sponsoring and underwriting, financial advisory, corporate mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, additional issuance and placement of shares, refinancing for listed companies, direct investment, asset management, securities brokerage, market research, investment consultancy, futures and commodities business. The corporate finance and capital market services of CCB International have raised almost HKD5 trillion from the global equity market for hundreds of companies. For more information, please visit: http://www.ccbintl.com/English.html.

Renowned Hotel-Chain Developer Lance Shaner, Owner of 48 Marriott Hotel Brands and Various Other Hotels, Recommends the Use of Sky’s Plug & Play Smart Platform Technology in His Hotels as Well as to a Leading Hotel Chain

  • Mr. Shaner will also chair Sky’s Hotel Advisory Board, as he strongly believes that Sky’s Plug & Play Smart Platform Technology is “game-changing” for the hospitality, lodging and apartment building sectors

SQL Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SKYX) (Sky Technologies or the Company), a Company significantly enhancing safety in homes and buildings as well as smart home lifestyle, with highly disruptive smart platform technologies and over 60 issued and pending patents globally, today announced that renowned hotel entrepreneur Lance T. Shaner will Chair Sky’s newly formed Hotel Advisory Board.

Lance T. Shaner serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shaner Hotel Group. A graduate of Alfred University, he provides the business strategy and entrepreneurial spirit for the Shaner family of companies. Under his leadership, the companies have completed several billion dollars in transactions and have grown into a highly respected leading business group comprised of over 60 Marriott hotel brands, Hilton, IHG, Choice and independent brand hotels with over 3,500 employees globally. Marriott recently awarded his hotel group with the 2021 “Intention to Return” Award, considered by Marriott to be their most significant award, as it indicates consumer probability to return.

In addition to his business achievements, Lance has been recognized for his service in numerous leadership roles in his community, including Centre County Entrepreneur of the Year and the 2019 CBICC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chaired by Mr. Shaner, the Hotel Advisory Board is expected to assist in driving the adoption of the smart SkyPlug and related Sky Platform into lodging facilities including hotels, resorts, the growing vacation rental industry and apartment buildings.

Mr. Shaner said: “I look forward to joining Sky, as I strongly believe that the Company’s smart platform technology has the ability to make hotels become smart and safer instantly, in just minutes per room and only days for an entire hotel. This is game changing for the hospitality, lodging and apartment building sectors. I firmly believe that the Company’s technology will enable hotels and buildings to become smart as the new standard.”

Rani Kohen, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sky Technologies, added: “We are privileged to welcome Lance to our newest advisory board – this is a significant recognition for us, as it comes from a U.S. leading hotel owner and developer with depth and experience across the vast variety of building types that our technology can enhance. We look forward to working closely with Lance to integrate our products into his hotels while continuing high-level discussions with major hotel chains. As we continue to build out our industry advisory boards, we believe we are well positioned to accelerate our commercialization pathway and turn upcoming product launches into revenue and mass-market adoption.”

About SQL Technologies Corp.
As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the standard.

SQL Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SKYX) d/b/a Sky Technologies has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 60 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at https://skyplug.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, including with respect to the proposed initial public offering. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and include statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully launch, commercialize, develop additional features and achieve market acceptance of its smart products and technologies, the Company’s efforts and ability to drive the adoption of Sky’s Plug Smart Platforms into multi-family residential buildings and communities and adoption by hotels, and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Recommendations are not to be construed as, and may not result in, any binding agreements, arrangements or commitments for the use or adoption of the Company’s technologies. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact:
Lucas A. Zimmerman
MZ North America
(949) 259-4987
SKYX@mzgroup.us

SOURCE: SQL Technologies, Inc. dba Sky Technologies

Dusit International showcases exciting new products, services, and experiences at the Arabian Travel Market 2022

The launch of Dusit’s new group-wide wellness concept, Devarana Wellness; a sneak peek of two upcoming hotels in Kyoto, Japan; a deep dive into the world of luxury villa rentals under Elite Havens; and updates on Dusit’s reimagined flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, set to open in 2024 as part of a USD 1.37 billion mixed-use project, are among the highlights as Dusit returns to the Arabian Travel Market this year.

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, will showcase its expanding portfolio of international properties, plus a wide range of new services and guest experiences, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, held from 9 – 12 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dusit’s reimagined flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel is slated to open in mid-2024 as part of Dusit Central Park, a landmark mixed-use development in the heart of Bangkok.
Dusit Thani Hua Hin’s large central pool has been stylishly transformed into a new ‘sanctuary by the sea’ following a complete renovation of all guest rooms and other exciting upgrades.
Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, gives travellers a unique opportunity to stay in incredible private residences in stunning locations across Indonesia, India, Japan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Designed to link millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, ASAI Hotels offers thoughtfully pared-back services while focusing on in-stay essentials and exciting lifestyle experiences.
Mr Prateek Kumar, Senior Vice President – Operations, Dusit International

During the event, Dusit executives will share details about Dusit’s group-wide response to the global pandemic, including how it has reimagined its unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to deliver not only short-term financial improvement, but also longer-term value creation by providing additional convenience, experience and value for guests.

This includes the introduction of four new pillars of Dusit Graciousness, which respond directly to shifting consumer trends – Service (personalised and gracious), Well-Being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), and Sustainability (social, economic, and environmental) – and the subsequent roll-out of services, activities and experiences in each of these areas to enrich the stay experience and create meaningful and memorable moments at Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

Dusit’s new group-wide wellness concept, Devarana Wellness, is just one exciting development to emerge from this strategic approach.

Specially designed to weave well-being elements throughout the entire stay experience, the new concept has been specially crafted to address guests’ most shared concerns – including destressing, detoxifying, and enjoying a deep restorative sleep – and includes, amongst others, the introduction of regular wellness activities such as yoga, meditation and sound bath sessions.

Dusit has also introduced a new centralised corporate Customer Experience (CX) team tasked with ensuring that each of its properties is positioned to drive guest satisfaction by offering unique experiences beyond the standards and capabilities of the competition. Local collaborations and community-centric events and activities are central to this.

Despite the challenging business environment, Dusit has continued to expand its operations globally during the pandemic. Over the past two years, the company has opened nine new properties, signed an additional nine, and leveraged its experience in operating hotels to introduce property management and training services for leading condominium developers in Thailand.

Significant enhancements of its longest-running properties, such as Dusit Thani Hua Hin in Thailand, have also taken place in line with Dusit’s vision to position them as dynamic and vibrant spaces that meet the lifestyle needs of all generations of travellers.

Notable openings since 2020 have included Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, the first resort in Singapore with direct access to two championship golf courses, and ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, the first property under ASAI Hotels – Dusit’s new affordable lifestyle brand designed to link millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

In terms of new signings, Dusit has continued to plant flags in new key destinations, including its first hotels in Japan (Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto) and India (Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata). All three are slated to open next year.

The most significant property in Dusit’s pipeline, the reimagined flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok, is also on the horizon – scheduled to open in mid-2024 as part of Dusit Central Park, a landmark USD 1.37 billion mixed-use development in the heart of the Thai capital. This highly anticipated project will also comprise ultra-luxury residences (Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside), a state-of-the-art office tower, a high-end shopping mall, and a large roof park. All components are expected to open by mid-2025.

As for current operations, Dusit’s property portfolio comprises 47 hotels operating under Dusit Hotels and Resorts (comprising five distinct brands) and 265 luxury villas under Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, which Dusit acquired in September 2018. In total, this makes 312 properties (11,990 keys) operating across 16 countries. Dusit also has more than 50 hotels and resorts in the pipeline.

Elite Havens will be represented at ATM for the first time this year. This gives visitors a unique opportunity to discover more about the company’s bespoke services and private sanctuaries in awe-inspiring locations across India, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Maldives.

Representatives from Dusit Hotels and Resorts Thailand, Dusit Thani Maldives, Dusit Thani Dubai, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo, and dusitD2 Naseem Resort Jabal Akhdar, Oman will also be available to explain more about their respective properties and Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality.

The delegation will be led by Mr Prateek Kumar, Senior Vice President – Operations, Dusit International, and General Manager of the renowned Dusit Thani Dubai hotel.

“As travel restrictions continue to ease worldwide, we return to ATM this year with much excitement, and we’re delighted to showcase how we have reimagined our services to position Dusit Hotels and Resorts for maximum value creation in the new normal,” said Mr Kumar. “Alongside celebrating our strong presence in the MENA region, we look forward to highlighting our ongoing expansion, both internationally and across the lodging spectrum, as well as our exciting and unique developments in hospitality education, food business, property development, and hospitality-related services, which add to our competitive advantage.”

Anyone wishing to speak with Mr Kumar or other Dusit representatives at ATM can make an appointment in advance via danelle.palang@dusit.com. Alternatively, they can visit stand HC0525 where the team will be delighted to assist them.

About Dusit International
Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.

The group’s portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under a total of six brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 16 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Dusit International’s diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification.

For more information, please visit dusit-international.com.
Images can be downloaded via medialib.dusit.com.

For more information, please contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Corporate Director of Public Relations | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Danelle Ruth Palang | Director of Marketing and Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +971 4 3174261 | Email: danelle.palang@dusit.com