Chris Cassidy Joins Mojix as President and Chief Commercial Officer

Boca Raton, FL, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Mojix, a leading inventory management and supply chain traceability enterprise SaaS platform, is pleased to announce that Chris Cassidy has joined the company as President and Chief Commercial Officer. This announcement comes as the direct result of the tremendous success Mojix has attained over the past several years, as the company has recorded significant growth and improvements in revenue, customer expansion, and product innovation. Supporting these achievements, the company has developed strategic partnerships for serialization and RFID Barcoding used by leading food & beverage, luxury brand, manufacturing, industrial, aerospace & defense, and retail clients across the globe.

Chris Cassidy

Dan Doles, Mojix CEO, said, "Chris joins Mojix with more than 20 years of executive leadership in various supply chain management roles and brings deep domain expertise and a stellar track record working with leading global enterprises on digital transformation and supply chain optimization. Chris is a recognized expert in supply chain management, logistics, and enterprise supply chain SaaS solutions, across both customer operations, strategy, sales and marketing. We are excited to partner with Chris to further our long-term strategic vision and provide value to our customers as a best-in-class item-level traceability SaaS platform."

Before joining Mojix, Chris was EVP & Chief Revenue Officer at Trax Technologies. Previously, he held various supply chain leadership positions of increasing responsibility at Gartner, UPS, and GSK. He holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an executive programme certification in supply chain management at MIT.

Pete Leibman, Managing Director of Peak Rock Capital, added, "the Board is thrilled to have Chris join the executive leadership team at Mojix, and exemplifies our commitment to drive accelerated growth in the years to come."

Chris stated, "I am both humbled and honored to be named President and Chief Commercial Officer of Mojix. I am excited to drive further acceleration of the company's growth as we continue to lead the industry in customer satisfaction, global program delivery and product innovation for end-to-end visibility and traceability. The aim is to continue leveraging the maturing serialization and RFID barcoding technology solutions with the purpose of driving smarter and intelligent insights. Through collaboration and innovation with our customers and strategic partners, our advances in bringing together the physical and financial data flows will empower global enterprise manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to improve visibility and traceability for optimized financial performance of their Supply Chain networks during these most uncertain of times. Our times require both an agile and resilient supply chain to manage cost-to-serve and inventory assets."

About Mojix

Mojix is a global leader in item-level supply chain intelligence software. The firm is leading the way in traceability solutions utilizing its high security, globally scalable cloud-native SaaS platform. Founded in 2004, the Company has deep domain expertise in serialization technologies such as RFID, NFC, and print-based marking systems. Mojix builds business intelligence from event-triggered actions tracking billions of unique identities, following item lifecycles from source to shelf. Companies can leverage the seamlessly integrated data to increase their sales and operational efficiency, reduce major risks and enhance their customer experience. With offices across the United States, Europe and South America, Mojix is now a recognized expert in end-to-end, item-level track and trace, product authentication and automated inventory management. Learn more at www.mojix.com

About Peak Rock Capital

Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com.

Editorial/Media Contacts
Jim Donaldson, Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Mojix, Inc
(314) 223-4779
jim.donaldson@mojix.com

Helene de Lailhacar, VP Marketing
Mojix, Inc.
(33) 6 70 61 72 22
helene.delailhacar@mojix.com

(c) Mojix, Inc. Mojix and ytem are registered trademarks of Mojix, Inc.

SOURCE: Mojix, Inc

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Asian Financial Forum kick-starts 2023 on a positive note

HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) kicked off today on a positive note, attracting over 1,000 participants on day one, including more than 100 global leaders and officials invited as speakers and 19 delegations from Mainland China and overseas. This was also reflected in the results of a poll conducted at the event, in which close to 70% of respondents indicated a neutral to positive sentiment towards the global economic outlook.

The 16th Asian Financial Forum opened today in physical format with digital extension and will run for two days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Former (Eighth) Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered a speech during the keynote luncheon.

AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session was once again held in physical format, facilitating business collaborations through face-to-face communication.

This year's Forum, themed Accelerating Transformation: Impact – Inclusion – Innovation, comes hot on the heels of the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China, along with Hong Kong's international business travel returning to normal.

After two years of being held in virtual format, the two-day event, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), returned in physical format, in addition to being available online.

The Forum was officiated by HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee. HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam also delivered his welcome remarks: "The Forum is the first flagship financial event held in hybrid format to kick-start the new year. Hong Kong has long been a leading global financial centre, and the global financial leaders' visit to Hong Kong solidifies our important role in the region and the world at large. Global cooperation has become more important than ever. Our collective aim is to stimulate growth, and if we join hands, we can do just that in this new normal we operate in."

The AFF opened with a plenary session hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR. The panelists included Ms. Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance, Luxembourg; Dr Benjamin Diokno, Secretary, Department of Finance, Philippines; Dr Zamir Iqbal, Vice President, Finance and CFO, Islamic Development Bank; Mr Jin Liqun, President and Chair, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Mr Ahmed Saeed, Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank; Mr Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman, International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and Chairman, Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA Belgium); Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Finance, Thailand and Dr Tao Zhang, Chief Representative, Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bank for International Settlements.

At the policy dialogue, Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, chaired a panel featuring Mr Otavio Damaso, Deputy Governor for Regulation of the Central Bank of Brazil; Dr Dong He, Deputy Director of Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund; Ms Verena Ross, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority; and Hiroto Uehara, Deputy Director-General of the Bank of Japan.

Real-time polling conducted during the Forum gauged participants' views on a broad range of subjects. When asked about the major challenges facing global growth in 2023, 60% of participants believe that the intensifying geopolitical risks will pose the biggest threat. 29% of participants believe the continued tightening of monetary policy will be the biggest risk, apart from cyber breaches and security risks (3%) and high corporate debt restraining business investment (8%). When asked about the possibility of innovation and technology bringing more benefits than risks to growth, 87% of participants said it was very likely or likely.

Ban Ki-Moon on multilateralism in a fraught world

At the keynote luncheon on the first day moderated by Mr Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR and Mr Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of the Management Committee of the China International Capital Corporation, delivered remarks. The luncheon also featured Mr Ban Ki-moon, eighth UN Secretary-General, as the keynote speaker. In his speech, he stated: "COVID-19, climate change and other global crises have underlined our fundamental interconnectedness. These events have also made it clear that we need global solutions to holistically address the enormous challenges that we are now facing. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement provide humanity with a collaborative blueprint to ensure the future that we want, while leaving no one behind. To achieve this noble goal, all stakeholders, including financial and business leaders, should strengthen cooperation, innovation, engagement and action. We can harness this time of uncertainty to pave the way towards a more sustainable, healthy and prosperous world for all."

In addition, financial and business leaders also attended sessions that explored prospects for the global economy. In her speech, Ms Valerie Baudson shared : "Speaking about 2023, I think there will be three factors, which will determine the global outlook. The first one is the Central Bank's policy with inflation, which starts to decrease. The second one, the energy crisis and the way the European governments will go on managing them, and the third one is of course the Chinese reopening, which will be very important for global growth". Gu Shu opined that: "The world economy is facing multiple challenges, but it is in better shape compared to that of the last few years. We have experienced sluggish trade and investment, high inflation, and disrupted global supply chains. This year downward pressure remains, but we believe inflation in major economies will start to come down. Growth rate may not be fast, but still in positive territory. We see opportunities coming from green transition and digitization. We call for countries to make concerted efforts to normalize the global economy."

In the afternoon, the inaugural Global Spectrum, Dialogue for Tomorrow and Fireside Chat sessions analysed social trends that impact our future, including financial innovation, healthcare and impact investing, and highlight opportunities and challenges facing start-ups in the Guangdong-Hong-Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the potential of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital collectables to drive the digital economy.

In view of the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) among corporates and investors, the HKTDC and PwC presented a joint research paper on "Financing the Corporate Transition to a Sustainable Future" at the AFF. Mr Raymund Chao, Asia Pacific and China Chairman of PwC, shared the findings: "It was a great opportunity for us to partner with HKTDC to release our joint research study today at the Asian Financial Forum. Our survey, which centred around ESG transformation, pointed to a number of challenges and opportunities facing local corporations in delivering meaningful results on their ESG journey and effectively financing their ESG initiatives. Businesses need to embrace a game-changer mindset, while working together with all levels of stakeholders to build trust and drive sustained outcomes in this space. As policymakers bring additional focus to ESG, along with higher C-suite awareness, we believe this will not only further Hong Kong's development in green finance, but will also propel the world forward towards a sustainable future."

Providing connections for investors

The AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, have returned in physical format. More than 600 matchmaking meetings are expected to be held. While the sessions take place in-person on 11 and 12 January, they continue online until 17 January, allowing investors and project owners more time to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. Representatives from a variety of industries will participate in this much-anticipated session, ranging from deep technology, digital technology and media, and medical technology to education, infrastructure and real estate services.

The Forum continues to provide a platform facilitating projects and business matching among global finance and trade institutions. For instance, the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association (REI) and Institution of Public Private Partnerships in Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding on the first day of AFF to strengthen collaboration in infrastructure. Yedpay, an exhibitor in the Forum's FinTech Showcase, also joined hands with global financial institutions and local universities at the event to launch a collaboration framework on jointly developing various payment technologies.

Two women leaders delivering keynote addresses tomorrow

The AFF will continue to feature stimulating and thought-provoking sessions tomorrow, including a keynote speech in the morning on the promotion of climate change delivered by Ms Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Co-founder of Global Optimism. Ms Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, will join the keynote luncheon as a guest speaker to share her experiences as an influential global leader and her mission to promote a diverse and inclusive culture.

There are over 20 workshops and panel discussions on a myriad of topics, such as sustainable development and ESG, green finance, inclusive capital markets, family office challenges, digital Reminibi and innovative technology development. Highlighted speakers include Dr Norman Chan, Chairman of RD Wallet Technologies / RD ezLink; Mr Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect; Dr Feng Xiao, Chairman of HashKey Group; Dr Giovanna Graziosi-Casimiro, Head of Metaverse Fashion Week of Decentraland and Mr Sebastian Fahey, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead of the Metaverse at Sotheby's.

The HKTDC is providing a variety of exclusive travel, food and hotel discounts for overseas delegates, to enrich their stay in Hong Kong beyond the two-day Forum. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Gv9xt6

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/
– Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme
– Speakers List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker
– HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3vRBnem

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

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

HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HighTide Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2b Clinical Study Evaluating HTD1801 in NASH (the CENTRICITY study)

ROCKVILLE, MD and SHENZHEN, CHINA, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HighTide Therapeutics Inc. ("HighTide"), a globally integrated clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel multifunctional therapies for metabolic and digestive diseases, today announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2b clinical study evaluating HTD1801 for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH").

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre Phase 2b study will evaluate the effect of HTD1801, 1250 mg twice daily (BID), compared to placebo BID on histologic improvement in adult subjects with NASH and liver fibrosis who also have type 2 diabetes mellitus ("T2DM") or pre-diabetes. The study will enroll approximately 210 subjects with biopsy-confirmed NASH and evidence of stage 2 or stage 3 liver fibrosis. Subjects will receive HTD1801 for up to 60 weeks.

"Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ("NAFLD") is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide with a global prevalence of 25.2% to 29.8%. Of those with NAFLD, about 20% have NASH. Patients with NASH and T2DM or prediabetes are at increased risk of progressive liver disease and cardiometabolic complications," said Dr. Liping Liu, founder and Chief Executive Officer of HighTide. "This first patient dosing marks a key milestone for the development of HTD1801 for the treatment of patients with NASH, building on data from our Phase 2a study which showed HTD1801 was associated with meaningful improvements in liver fat, markers of liver Injury and fibrosis as well as cardiometabolic factors (HbA1c, lipids, and weight) after 18 weeks."

About NASH

NASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a chronic, complex liver disease characterized by hepatitis – inflammation of the liver – and liver cell damage, which can lead to fibrosis of the liver. NASH can also lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NASH patients with T2DM or impaired glucose tolerance are more likely to progress to more severe disease and to develop complications that lead to increased mortality. Prevalence of NASH is on the rise and may soon surpass hepatitis C as a cause for liver transplant in the U.S. and Europe. Currently, there are no approved therapies for NASH.

About HighTide Therapeutics

HighTide is a globally integrated clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery and development of novel multifunctional therapies for metabolic and digestive diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company's lead drug candidate, HTD1801, is a first-in-class new molecular entity, currently in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). HTD1801 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for both NASH and PSC, as well as Orphan Drug designation for PSC. In China, HTD1801 has been included in the National Major New Drug Innovation Program. For more information, please visit www.hightidetx.com.

Contacts
Nadia Gao
ir@hightidetx.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

SCIB Proposes Private Placement to Raise Up to RM10.98 Million

KUCHING, MALAYSIA, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Civil engineering specialist Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad (SCIB) is proposing a private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately RM10.98 million for working capital, repayment of bank borrowings and estimated expenses for the proposed private placement.

Group MD and CEO of SCIB, Encik Rosland bin Othman

While the issue price and the actual number of shares to be issued will be determined later, under the maximum scenario in which all the Company's 245.18 million outstanding warrants are exercised, the proposed private placement will entail the issuance of up to 82.72 million placement shares at an indicative price of RM0.1327 per placement share to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately RM10.98 million. Under the minimum scenario, should none of the outstanding warrants be exercised, then gross proceeds raised will be RM7.72 million.

The proposed issuance represents not more than 10% of the issued shares as at the latest practicable date (LPD) of 30 December 2022 while the indicative price per share represents a discount of approximately 9.97% to the five-day volume weighted average market price of SCIB shares up to the LPD of RM0.1474. The proposed private placement may be implemented in several tranches within six months of approval from Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad or any extended period approved by it until the conclusion of the next AGM.

The proposed private placement is undertaken in accordance with the approval obtained from the shareholders of the Company at the 46th AGM convened on 8 December 2022.

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd: 9237 [BURSA: SCIB], http://scib.com.my

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Plotting toy market’s future – from e-commerce to NFTs

HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Industry players should catch up on trends, especially on technology use, as the world returns to normal this year, delegates at the Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2023 heard. The conference covered a plethora of the industry's pressing issues, trends and aspirations themed "The Future of Play".

The Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2023 The Future of Play covered many pressing industry issues, trends and prospects.

In the panel discussion E-Commerce is Shaping the Way for Toys Industry, moderator Stanley Lee, President, E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong, invited the three speakers to share insights: Yoyo Ng, General Manager of iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited; Betty Tse, Associate Business Development Director of AlipayHK and Raymond Choy, Founder of Toy2R Group Limited.

The one-day conference on 10 January was co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Toys Council and the Toy Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong Limited, running concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair.

Key trends

Three key toy-industry trends were explored by the conference's first speaker Clifton Chiu, Research Analyst – Toys and Games of Euromonitor International, as he noted that the rise of scientific educational toys, kidult toys and the impact of sustainability will be in the spotlight.

Mr Chiu said scientific educational toys were a perfect product for families looking to mix education and entertainment for their children during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, which limited outdoor activities and schooling. He said kindergarteners in Hong Kong had increased access to scientific educational toys that enriched different aspects of their learning, such as mathematics and vocabulary whereas Singapore had implemented robotics and programming into their primary school curriculum since 2018.

He said kidults, mainly young professionals, were willing to spend their disposable income on collectable toys such as blind boxes that let them relive their childhood. Kidults could afford to spend US$15,000 on a pair on Jimmy Choo x Sailor Moon limited edition boots but he believed more brands may see the potential for monetising nostalgia.

Sustainability had increasingly impacted the manufacturing and packaging of toys and games with many big players such as Lego consulting consumers and adapting manufacturing and packaging methods in accordance with the sustainability decisions of consumers, Mr Chiu said. For instance, Mattel's Barbie Loves the Ocean Series is made with recycled plastics collected from the ocean.

"Toys and games are no longer just a problem for kids alone. It is an industry of mostly multi-generational feel that has and will continue entertain everyone no matter how old you are or wherever you live," Mr Chiu concluded.

Where and what to look into

In the second session, The Key to Success – Things You Need to Know, three industry veterans shared their intelligence.

Drawing on years in the industry, Salley Sze, co-founder of Eastcolight (Hong Kong), noted that it was essential to develop a good brand which helped build up confidence for existing and prospective customers which would eventually be translated into potential business. Then she offered advice on hardware and software, from manufacturing to people management, from quality control to meeting various international standards, as well as from marketing and promotions to being socially responsible that help lead to success.

Arnoldo Concepcion, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Animoca Brands, said web3 technologies were at an early stage of development but use of nonfungible tokens (NFT, blockchain technologies) that allowed users to use experience and interaction to engage in digital lives. This had huge potential in toy industry applications. Web3 technologies could allow an RPG (role-playing) video game user who built a castle, for example, to create different types of experience such as inviting friends to visit the castle or to rent out the virtual building, which created value for the players, he noted.

Mr Concepcion also introduced the decentralised governance concept allowing participants to own platform, as opposed to a central party that could make decisions that may or may not be good for the ecosystem and participants. "These concepts are at a very early stage and it's time for a lot of ideas to flourish and be developed and experimented with," he stressed.

Noletta Chiu, Executive Director of Medialink Group Limited, said the licensing industry was a multi-billion dollar global market and best-selling items were mostly licensed characters. Matching target customers with trending products alongside innovative marketing were key success points in toy licensing.

The new game to play

In the panel discussion E-Commerce is Shaping the Way for Toys Industry, moderator Stanley Lee, President, E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong, invited the three speakers to share insights.

Yoyo Ng, General Manager of iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited, introduced attendees to the company's proprietary omni channel marketing platform which fulfils data-driven marketing automation objectives. The market intelligence platform, she added, offered audience insights which can help formulate digital marketing strategies for Hong Kong, Mainland China and around the world. "The beauty of digital is everything can be measurable, and thus we are able to identify and also measure the conversions for all the clients," she explained.

Betty Tse, Associate Business Development Director of AlipayHK, said widespread acceptance of online shopping and electronic payments during the pandemic allowed merchants to analyse transactions and come up with products that fitted the needs and interests of consumers. This led Alipay to launch a digital market platform in May last year that allowed merchant partners in Hong Kong to reach out to its 1.3 billion mainland users. Also, the company was building up a global alliance with Japan, Korea, elsewhere in Asia and Europe so digital wallets are connected globally to facilitate effective marketing and payment convenience.

Raymond Choy, Founder of Toy2R Group Limited, said the company used to design toys and manufactured in the mainland while selling to Europe through their distributors. This was made impossible during the pandemic. The company explored the NFT market in the mainland in order to survive, which proved a great success. For instance, the company launched three limited designs of its hero character QEE, each with 10,000 copies, on the Alipay platform in October 2021, which were sold out in 95 seconds.

The e-commerce platform suited small to medium sized companies and manufacturers most, especially for handling trade of small quantities, Raymond emphasised. "Manufacturers should invest time and money to try [e-commerce] and then you will get good results," he advised.

Fair Websites
– HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QxAwce

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
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Minetech Awarded RM36.71 Million Mini-Hydro Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Minetech Resources Berhad, a civil engineering specialist and bituminous products manufacturer today announced that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Techmile Resources Sdn Bhd (TRSB), has accepted a letter of award (LOA) from Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) of a 3MW mini-hydro power plant at Sungai Pelagat, Besut, Terengganu valued at RM36.71 million.

The project, which is expected to commence in January 2023, followed by construction in 2025, is expected to be completed by May 2027, comes under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority's (SEDA) feed-in-tariff (FiT) programme in which businesses or individuals that hold SEDA's feed-in approval certificate can sell RE at the FiT rate to distribution licensees such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

TRSB provides EPCC as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the energy industry. Tesdec Hydropower is a sub-subsidiary of Tesdec Berhad through its subsidiary, Tesdec Services Sdn Bhd. Tesdec is wholly-owned by the Terengganu government while Tesdec Hydropower is principally involved in renewal energy (RE) activities, development and facilities in the state.

Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech said, "This project represents for us another step forward in our venture into RE that began in 2020 as part of an organisational transformation at Minetech, which includes diversification and rationalisation. Our move into RE enables us to partake in the development of a sustainable economy that is in line with initiatives in recent years to be greener and ensure social wellbeing."

"The 3MW mini-hydro power plant project will allow us to also showcase what Minetech is capable of as we seek more opportunities in RE. As a registered solar photovoltaic investor with SEDA and the owner of a 9.99MW AC floating solar power plant located in Pantai Remis, Perak, we are also able to sell electricity to government agencies, businesses and individuals under SEDA's Net Energy Metering Programme or NEM 3.0."

YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu said, "The state government is committed to driving economic growth through such projects where positive spillover effects include lowering greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating the impact of human activities to the environment and safeguarding the wellbeing of communities through socio-economic progress".

Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower, YB Ir. Saiful Azmi bin Suhaili said, "We are pleased to initiate this renewable energy project that will bring benefits to the people of Terengganu by providing a stable and clean source of electricity that can also support essential backup power should there be power outages or disruptions."

The LOA signing ceremony was held at Primula Beach Hotel, Kuala Terengganu and were witnessed by Terengganu Menteri Besar, YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar and Executive Chairman of Minetech, Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera. Executive Directors, Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif and Mr Matt Chin signed on behalf of TRSB while Directors, Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail and Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, signed for Tesdec Hydropower.

Image Caption
From L-R:
1. Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail, Executive Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
3. YB Ir Saiful Azmi, Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
4. YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu
5. Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech Resources Bhd
6. Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
7. Matt Chin Leong Choy, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Minetech02301111.jpg

From L-R (Standing):
1. YB Ir Saiful Azmi, Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu
3. Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech Resources Bhd
From L-R (Seated):
1. Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail, Executive Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
3. Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
4. Matt Chin Leong Choy, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Minetech02301112.jpg

Minetech Resources Berhad: 7219 [BURSA: MINE], https://minetech.com.my/

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Avance Clinical Celebrates GlobalReady Success as more than 40 Biotech Clients Enter Program

San Francisco, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – More than 40 biotech clients are now taking advantage of Avance Clinical's GlobalReady program which delivers streamlined clinical development from early phase in Australia expanding to sites in North America for later phases. All with the one CRO and dedicated teams across both regions.

Avance Clinical made the announcement at Biotech Showcase 2023 where the team is taking meetings via PartnershipOne. "Given this successful early adoption of GlobalReady we are expecting more than half of our biotech clients to join the program within the next six months, said Avance Clinical CEO Yvonne Lungershausen.

GlobalReady biotech clients are primarily biotechs from the US and Asia, with an increasing number expected from Europe over the next few months.

Avance Clinical is the leading Australian-based biotech CRO with US operations, which has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan for the past 3 years with the prestigious CRO Leadership Award.

CEO Yvonne Lungershausen said: "These biotech clients are already benefiting from our expansion into North America and GlobalReady. The GlobalReady model is designed to extend biotechs' investments so they can achieve greater clinical development milestones with reduced spend, all with the assurance of FDA-accepted data. GlobalReady gives our biotech clients conducting their early phase studies in Australia and New Zealand a seamless journey into the US to continue their clinical development programs, retaining the same high-quality CRO, which reduces time and cost and delivers quality FDA-accepted data. In addition, the attractive 43.5% rebate on clinical spend in Australia, offers our clients the opportunity to utilize our North American operations expertise and team, whilst maintaining services in Australia to maximize their rebate potential. We often point to the fact that there are currently more than 280 Phase III global trials that have conducted their Phase I study in Australia, which again demonstrates Australian data acceptability with the FDA and other major regulatory authorities."

This seamless GlobalReady journey is designed for success whereby biotechs can:
– Take advantage of the Australian early-phase clinical trial landscape (No IND and 43.5% tax rebate)
– Transition or expand into North America for later phases – without changing CROs (retain study knowledge and processes/team)
– Seamlessly operationalize global dose-escalation and dose-expansion trials across the two regions
– Harness significant speed and cost advantages
– Be assured of quality data – transferable and readily acceptable by the FDA and other regulatory authorities

"We have shown, with our high growth and industry-leading repeat business rates that our focus on gold standard technology paired with solution-orientated clinical experts is the mix our biotech clients need for clinical success," commented Yvonne Lungershausen.

According to Frost & Sullivan as part of the independent analyst review of the company for the CRO Award: "Avance Clinical remains a trusted partner, earning a reputation for delivering the overall best in the CRO industry. With its strong overall performance, Avance Clinical earns Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Asia-Pacific Customer Value Leadership Award in the contract research organization industry."

Find out more:
– Learn about the Australian Advantage here https://www.avancecro.com/the-australian-advantage/
– Learn about the GlobalReady model here https://www.avancecro.com/avance-clinical-north-america-operations/
– For more information about the benefits of running your next study with Avance Clinical contact us: enquiries@avancecro.com

About Avance Clinical

Avance Clinical is the largest premium full-service Australian and US CRO delivering quality clinical trials, with globally accepted data, in Australia, New Zealand and the US for international biotechs. The company's clients are biotechs in their early phases of drug development that need fast, agile, and adaptive solution-oriented clinical research services. https://www.avancecro.com/

Frost & Sullivan Awards
Avance Clinical, a Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award recipient for the past three years, has been providing CRO services in the region for more than 24 years.

Pre-clinical through to Phase 1 and 2
Avance Clinical offers pre-clinical services with their experienced ClinicReady team right through to Phase 1 and 2 clinical services leveraging significant Government incentive rebates of up to 43.5% and rapid start-up regulatory processes. With experience across more than 110 indications, the CRO can deliver world-class results and high-quality internationally accepted data for FDA and EMA review.

Technology
Avance Clinical uses state-of-the-art technology and gold-standard systems across all functional areas to provide clients with the most effective processes. Medidata, Oracle, IBM Watson and Medrio are just some of the technology partners.

Media Contact:
Avance Clinical
Kate Thompson
media@avancecro.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA) to Present at Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference 18-19 January 2023

SINGAPORE, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Incorporated ("SoPa") (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia's (SEA) next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces Dennis Nguyen, Founder/Chairman/CEO will present and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Sidoti January Virtual Investor Conference, taking place on 18-19 January 2023.

The presentation will begin at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, 18 January 2023 at in Estate 4 and can be accessed live here. https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZPDz2TnkR9eknfGKZN2UGQ

SOPA will also host virtual one-on-ones with investors on Wednesday and Thursday, 18-19 January 2023. To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events.

About Sidoti & Company

For over two decades, Sidoti & Company has been a premier provider of independent securities research focused specifically on small and microcap companies and the institutions that invest in their securities, with most of its coverage in the $100 million-$5 billion market cap range. The firm's approach affords companies and institutional clients a combination of high-quality research, a small- and microcap-focused nationwide sales effort, broad access to corporate management teams, and extensive trading support. Sidoti serves 500+ institutional clients in North America. http://www.sidoti.com/

About Society Pass Inc.

Founded in 2018 as a next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital advertising network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a premier online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please review the following online information which is not part of this press release:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

17th Edition of Cyber Security Summit: Singapore

Singapore, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – After successful 16 editions of Cyber Security Summit, Exito is all set to host another milestone event- the 17th Edition of Cyber Security Summit, an in-person event organised under the theme Securing Singapore's Digital Future. The 17th edition of the Cyber Security Summit is an invitation-only in-person event exclusively for cybersecurity leaders in Singapore. Singapore has long set its sights on becoming a world-class, tech-driven city-state. The Smart Nation initiative was established to achieve this by harnessing IT, networks, and big data to create tech-enabled solutions. The cybersecurity industry is crucial in "underpinning a sustainable digital future," as stated by Teo Chee Hean, Singapore's coordinating minister for national security.

According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority, the cybersecurity market in Singapore is expected to reach USD 889 million in 2022. From 2022 to 2030, the market is projected to grow a further 10% to 13% to become a USD 2.4 billion market. In October 2021, Singapore launched the Singapore Cybersecurity Strategy 2021, outlining the country's goals and approach to adapt to a rapidly evolving strategic and technological environment. Strategy 2021 will support industry innovation and the growth of cyber entrepreneurs and start-ups in Singapore through targeted government initiatives. The agenda of the Cyber Security Summit is aligned with the Singaporean government's strategies to make organisations cyber resilient.

The conference will host 150+ IT security leaders, to network, learn, be inspired, and collaborate in identifying and addressing cyber concerns.

Speakers like Veronica Tan, Director, Safer Cyberspace, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, Steven SIM kok Leong, President, ISACA Singapore Chapter, AJ Eserjose, Regional Director, OT- ISAC, Working Group Member on Cyber Resilience in oil & gas, World Economic Forum, John Lee, Managing Director (Asia- Pacific), Global Resilience Federation, Anthony Lim, Director, The Centre for Strategic Cyberspace + international Studies, David Ng, Head of Group Technology Information, Security Office, OCBC Bank.

Marcus Tu, Head of Cybersecurity, Singapore Post Ltd. among many others will be sharing their experiences and expertise at the summit.

Event registration has commenced for Delegates and Sponsors.

– The delegates will be exposed to in-depth, trend-forward sessions & workshops – practical takeaways and ideas to keep you ahead in the digital economy.
– The sponsors will be able to create an overwhelming branding in the event along with meeting their prospects and displaying the products.
– Hundreds of seasoned marketers, strategists, designers, and more to network and connect with. Meet your customers, vendors, expert resources, friends and colleagues on 22nd & 23rd February.

Register now to engage at this grand event as the slots are filling up fast.

To know more about the event, http://www.cybersecuritysummit/singapore

About Exito

We are a global B2B business events company focused on crafting bespoke solutions and contexts by designing platforms that create new business opportunities for our clients across concepts and industries.We cherish the trust over the last 12 years garnered from our partnering organizations globally, and with a growing team of young, vibrant, and creative individuals, Exito aims at success and perfection!

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Prenetics Owned ACT Genomics Receives FDA Clearance for ACTOnco, the First Asia-Based Company to Receive Clearance for a Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Test for All Solid Tumors

LONDON AND HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Prenetics Global Limited (NASDAQ: PRE) a leader in genomic and diagnostic testing, today announced that ACT Genomics, a company which Prenetics recently acquired a majority stake in, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACTOnco, the company's comprehensive genomic profiling test for solid tumors. ACTOnco is intended for use by healthcare professionals to help them inform clinical management decisions in accordance with professional guidelines for cancer patients with solid tumors. This is the first and only Asia-based company to receive FDA clearance for a comprehensive genomic profiling test. ACTOnco is a diagnostic test which:

— provides a comprehensive genomic profiling test that looks at 440 cancer-associated genes;
— provides information to help guide clinical management decisions on the use of targeted oncology therapies, including immunotherapies;
— is intended as a pan-cancer test including breast, colon, endometrial, lung, and other cancers;
— is an FDA-cleared platform for comprehensive genomic profiling assay development for biopharma companies developing precision therapeutics.

The ability to perform a comprehensive genomic profiling test on an individual tumor helps open the door for personalized medicine, and a future where a person is matched with a treatment that targets the specific weaknesses in his or her cancer.

"Today's landmark clearance by the FDA represents a significant advancement in personalized cancer care in Asia and may lead to reimbursement and coverage by private insurers and healthcare systems. The clearance by the FDA further validates our status as a pioneer in the industry and we will continue to invest further in R&D efforts, especially related to early detection of cancer in healthy populations." Said Danny Yeung, Chairman of ACT Genomics and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics.

Dr. Hua Chien Chen, Chief Executive Officer of ACT Genomics, said "It was a tremendous team and scientific effort to develop ACTOnco. Asia contributes 48% of the new cancer cases and 55 % of the cancer deaths in the world. The disease imposes a serious burden on Asia. While precision medicine provides an advantage in disease diagnosis and treatment planning and has become a routine clinical practice in the west, it is not the case in Asia. ACT Genomics is the first biotech company in Asia that received market authorization for a cancer comprehensive genomic profiling assay. Unlike most of the currently marketed tests developed by US companies using mainly clinical samples from Western countries, the ACTOnco assay was developed and validated using half of the Western clinical samples and half of the Asia clinical samples. ACTOnco enables physicians to gain better insights into the genetic underpinnings of each patient's illness and helps them to formulate the best treatment decisions. Having ACTOnco cleared by the FDA will open new opportunities for patients to get the best cancer care. With this incredible milestone achieved, we will continuously promote precision medicine in Asia and our company mission to turn genomics into action."

About ACT Genomics
ACT Genomics is an innovation-driven cancer solution provider with offices in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, and the United Kingdom. With its Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, CAP-accredited laboratories, experienced bioinformatics team, and proprietary AI algorithms, ACT Genomics provides optimal cancer treatment planning, immunotherapy evaluation, cancer relapse & drug resistance monitoring, as well as cancer risk assessment services to medical professionals. Its mission is to "Turn Genomics into Action". To learn more about ACT Genomics, visit www.actgenomics.com.

About Prenetics
Founded in 2014, Prenetics is a major global diagnostic and genetic testing company with the mission to bring health closer to millions of people globally and decentralize healthcare by making the three pillars – Consumer Health, Clinical Care and Medical & Cancer Genomics – comprehensive and accessible to anyone, at anytime and anywhere. Prenetics is led by visionary entrepreneur, Danny Yeung, with operations across nine locations, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Prenetics develops consumer genetic testing and early colorectal cancer screening and provides COVID-19 testing, rapid point of care and at-home diagnostic testing and medical genetic testing. Prenetics is listed on NASDAQ with the ticker PRE. To learn more about Prenetics, visit www.prenetics.com.

Investor Relations Contact:
investors@prenetics.com

ICR Westwicke:
Caroline Corner +415 202 5678 Email: caroline.corner@westwicke.com

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of Prenetics and ACT Genomics. Any such estimates and assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions, whether or not identified in this press release, should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements by our management or the board regarding expectations for the closing of the acquisition, statements of plans, objectives, and expectations of synergy between Prenetics and ACT by our management or the board or by ACT or ACT's management or board. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decisions based on our estimates or forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. Prenetics does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com