Dr. Marliyyah Mahmood discusses the Impact of Tech on Women in Northern Nigeria

ABUJA, NG, Jan 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech and Project Manager for Startup AREWA, discusses how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. She emphasizes some of the fundamental advantages of social media technologies, such as giving women access to a virtual environment where they may express themselves.

Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech, Project Manager for Startup AREWA, spoke on how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. [Image: Startup AREWA]

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of women in the growth of any nation, state, or community. This is to reiterate the critical role that women's education plays in long-term national development, which begins at home. Women are frequently observed to be the children's first teachers at home. A mother's influence on upbringing in any developing country, and the empowerment of women, has a significant impact on key developmental outcomes like health, education, reproductive patterns, income level, and other factors," said Dr Mahmood.

While a report from PWC in April 2020 states that 41% of micro-businesses in Nigeria are owned by women, a report in EFInA stated that 55% of the financially excluded adults in Nigeria are women, and of the 25.1 million financially excluded in the north, 13.1 million are women. Business transactions are largely cash within informal channels, as business funds are kept at home because financial institutions are concentrated in the state capital, while poor record-keeping from transacting through informal channels in turn hampers eligibility for credit.

The previous census, which was performed in 2006, indicated that women made up around 49.7% of the population of Nigeria. Despite this, Nigerian women (particularly those in the northern region) have not been able to change the long-standing status that society accords to women. There are a number of reasons why women in Northern Nigerian society are treated unequally, the majority of which can be linked to the patriarchal system in place and the general lack of gender awareness among the rural population, including women who have been socialized to accept their subordinate position.

However, with better access to information online, women have developed a greater sense of awareness. Online educational content, blogs videos and social media tools have given women access to a virtual world that provides them with opportunities for self-expression. Digital platforms are aiming to be more inclusive than ever before in light of the changing political conscience. It is now essential, not simply an option, to guarantee women's safety, inclusivity, and a voice at all intersections.

Through online workspaces, more women have recently been able to achieve financial independence. There are now more jobs available for women thanks to specific job postings on numerous online portals. Housewives or moms who have taken extended absences from the workforce now have access to special possibilities to re-enter the workforce. Many websites provide part-time and full-time occupations that people can undertake from home.

In Northern Nigeria, Startup AREWA and Financial Service Innovation (FSI) organized a virtual hackathon on financial inclusion amongst female entrepreneurs within the northern region by proffering simple and easy-to-use fintech solutions to increase more of their participation in setting up businesses. The innovative solutions developed from this hackathon were able to tackle the challenges faced by unbanked and underbanked female entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria.

Dr. Marliyyah reveals how women now have access to a wide range of created opportunities online as a result of technology advancements. "Technology has helped women affirm their freedom of expression and right to the workforce, which they frequently find difficult to accomplish. This is a really great achievement that shows how it can be utilized to empower those with disadvantaged identities.

"However, it must not be overlooked that having internet access is necessary in order to take use of these virtual prospects. How many women and members of underrepresented groups actually have access to such technology is still an open subject. To ensure that intersectional gaps are filled and that technology and the internet are more widely available, intervention is necessary in this context."

About Startup AREWA

Startup AREWA was established to organize, empower and promote the Northern Nigeria technology and Startup Ecosystem, with the overarching goal of using technology and startups as a strategy to combat unemployment and poverty across the Northern Nigeria.

From the first Bootcamp at Bello Memorial Foundation Hall in Kaduna to a series of over 20 Bootcamps across Northern Nigeria, engaging over 5000 Startups with support from innovators and public-private leaders, Startup AREWA is implementing its strategic plan of promoting and providing real-time support to Startups.

Official website: https://startuparewa.ng
Facebook: https://facebook.com/startuparewa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/startuparewa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuparewa/
Email: hello@startuparewa.ng

For more information, please visit https://startuparewa.ng, write to contact@startuparewa.ng, or call us on +234 90 9685 9999.

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

Green Power Energy’s 20 MW Taungdaw Gwin Build-Own-Operate Solar Plant Commissioned in Myanmar

Mandalay, Myanmar, Dec 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Myanmar's latest solar energy plant, the 20 megawatt (MW) build-own-operate (BOO) Taungdaw Gwin project, has been officially opened, adding a new chapter to the country's sustainability and electrification efforts, its developer announced today.

The 20-megawatt Taungdaw Gwin mega-scale solar PV project will contribute to Myanmar's sustainability and electrification efforts. [Image: GPE]

The project was developed by Green Power Energy Company Limited (GPE), a subsidiary of Gold Energy Company Limited (GE), a leading renewable energy developer in Myanmar.

Taungdaw Gwin is the second mega-scale solar project to be completed by the GE group. Clean Power Energy Limited, another GE subsidiary, completed the 30 MW Thapyay Wa project in Mandalay district in December 2021.

With the official opening of the Taungdaw Gwin project, GE's solar energy capacity stands at 50 MW. GE also operates the 120 MW Thaukyegat (2) Hydropower Project (TYG), commissioned in 2013.

Located on an 80.9-hectare site southeast of Kyaukse, Myit Thar Township, the Taungdaw Gwin project utilizes a solar tracking system so as to maximize photovoltaic (PV) energy captured by 45,980 solar panels. The project is expected to generate 25.1 MW of direct current or 22.9 MW of alternating current per year.

The Taungdaw Gwin project began transmission to the National Grid on 17 November 2022. The energy output is directly linked to the Taungdaw Gwin substation and is connected to the national grid via a 69.6 km 33-kV transmission line built by GPE.

In line with its commitment to give back to the community, the GPE team conducted an in-depth Environmental and Social Impact Assessment before construction. This enabled an understanding of the impact on nearby communities and the environment and helped to facilitate construction in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Through engaging with local community leaders to understand the needs of the residents surrounding Taungdaw Gwin, the GPE team constructed and installed two overpasses measuring 20.1 metres long by 4.5 metres wide. These and other efforts have improved socio-economic benefits to the community in this otherwise harsh area which had faced challenges of accessibility during the development phase of this important project.

U Zaw Win, Managing Director of GPE, said: "We are proud of the successful completion of the Taungdaw Gwin solar facility. We look forward to a sustainable energy source for the future of Myanmar.

"As a partner in nation-building, GPE is deeply committed to infrastructure development and sustainability in Myanmar. This and other renewable energy projects we are involved in will increase the contribution of renewable energy to the national grid while advancing the country's national electrification goals."

About Green Power Energy (GPE)

Green Power Energy Company Limited (GPE), a subsidiary of Gold Energy Company Limited (GE), is a renewable energy developer. GPE completed the Taungdaw Gwin solar PV facility, which was officially opened in December 2022. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, GPE completed the project earlier than scheduled.

The solar energy is connected to the Taungdaw Gwin substation, part of the national grid, via a 69.6 km 33-kV transmission line built by GPE. As GPE continues to build upon its track record and execution capabilities, it remains committed to contributing to Myanmar's clean energy sector in the coming years. Visit https://gpenergymm.com/.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre holds “Light of Jinsha – The Ancient Shu Civilisation” exhibition

HONG KONG, Dec 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – An exhibition entitled "Light of Jinsha – The Ancient Shu Civilisation" is now open at the Hong Kong Heritage Discover Centre. Featuring over 70 pieces of invaluable national exhibits unearthed from the archaeological sites in Sichuan Province, namely Jinsha in Chengdu and Sanxingdui in Guanghan, the exhibition reveals the civilisation of the ancient Shu of 4,000 years ago.

The "Light of Jinsha – The Ancient Shu Civilisation" exhibition opens from December 30 to March 29, 2023 at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.

One of the highlight exhibits, a face-shaped gold foil (grade-one national treasure) unearthed from the Jinsha site.

One of the highlight exhibits, a replica of the "gold foil sunbird". Its prototype is one of the most significant national treasures excavated at the Jinsha site.

One of the highlight exhibits, a stone yazhang-tablet, unearthed from Tai Wan on Lamma Island in 1990. Its decorative style is similar to the jade zhang-tablet unearthed from the Jinsha site, suggesting a spread of ritual artefacts from the Central Plains to the Chengdu Plain and the Pearl River Delta region in Lingnan.

The "Light of Jinsha – The Ancient Shu Civilisation" exhibition is the first exhibition following the signing of the framework agreement by the Development Bureau and the National Cultural Heritage Administration last month to further promote cultural heritage exchange and collaboration on archaeology and built heritage.

The Jinsha site, a major archaeological discovery in 2001, is another political, economic and cultural centre established by the ancient Shu people in Chengdu Plain after the Sanxingdui civilisation. Located in the northwest of downtown Chengdu with a total area of over five square kilometres, the site has yielded various important remains as well as tens of thousands of precious cultural relics, including sacrificial vessels and household utensils made of ivory, gold, bronze and jade.

Over 200 pieces of gold artefacts were unearthed from the Jinsha site, topping the archaeological sites of the Xia and Shang dynasties ever found in terms of the quantity and variety. Among the gold artefacts on display at the exhibition are two pieces of grade-one national treasures, namely a face-shape gold foil and a frog-like gold foil. A replica of the "gold foil sunbird", the most significant national treasure unearthed at the Jinsha site, is also be displayed to showcase the exquisite gold craftsmanship of the ancient Shu.

Also displayed at the exhibition are seven selected archaeological artefacts from Hong Kong, including a stone yue-axe, a stone ge-blade, a stone ring and a stone yazhang-tablet, for comparison with those excavated from Sichuan. The similarities between these relics from Hong Kong and Sichuan suggest a spread of ritual artefacts from the Central Plains to the Chengdu Plain and the Pearl River Delta region in Lingnan, demonstrating the "pluralistic integration" of the origins of the ancient Chinese civilisation.

The arrival of the national exhibits in Hong Kong and the preparation of the exhibition are introduced in a short video (https://youtu.be/Jq9NCZOKaQI) produced by the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO).

The exhibition is held at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui until March 29, 2023. Admission is free. For details, please visit the AMO's website (https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/news/index_id_128.html?year=2022) or call 2208 4488.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Kingsoft Cloud’s Dual Primary Hong Kong Listing: Resilience Rooted in Technology-based Business, High-quality Development Expected from Improving Profitability

HONG KONG, Dec 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – On December 30, Kingsoft Cloud (3896.HK) was officially listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the "finale" of homecoming listing of Chinese ADRs in 2022. The dual-primary listing provides investors with greater protection and flexibility in terms of trading venues and hours, while listing by way of introduction prevents dilution and regarded as responsible for existing shareholders.

With deep devotion on and cultivation of the industry for ten years, Kingsoft Cloud adhered to building a technology-based business, stayed at the frontier of cloud-native, hybrid cloud, big data and other cutting-edge technologies, and achieved industry practice-and-technology integration. In combination with in-depth understanding of strategically selected verticals, Kingsoft Cloud accomplished fast growth in both business scale and financials. Total premium customers increased from 243 in 2019 to 597 in 2021; revenue CAGR between 2019 and 2021 was 51.3%, significantly outpacing the broader industry's 36.4%.

In the past year, the overall industry was under pressure due to market headwinds and the impact of COVID-19. Kingsoft Cloud made proactive adjustments, allocated resources in favor of more profitable products and projects to achieve improved sustainability, profitability and operating cash flow. A number of analysts noted that the Company's gross margin improved significantly in recent 3 quarters, and recorded operating cash inflow for 2 consecutive quarters, well received by the market such that the Company's share price has nearly doubled from the end of September to December 28. Analysts pointed out that such financial improvements are expected to continue, laying a solid foundation for the stock price to further recover.

Kingsoft Cloud has always been strongly supported by the strategic shareholders Xiaomi and Kingsoft Group. According to the management in recent results roadshow, Kingsoft Cloud, in its future development, will further strengthen collaboration with strategic shareholders in their digital transformation, as well as with the broader ecosystem, and actively explore opportunities in high-value verticals. It is noted that there are 800+ enterprises in the Lei Jun Ecosystem, among which Xiaomi and Kingsoft Group alone have many businesses that are inherently highly compatible with cloud computing, such as office collaboration, gaming, IoT, smartphone cloud storage and computing, as well as electric vehicle. All of these are potential growth opportunities that Kingsoft Cloud may actively explore out of its proximity advantages.

Zou Tao, Vice Chairman and CEO of Kingsoft Cloud, said, "Listing in Hong Kong is an important milestone in the Company's 10th anniversary, and the Company stands ready for the new decade. First, we will continue to invest in technology, focus on core business, and return to the essence and original aspiration of cloud; second, we will evaluate customers and projects, control costs, balance revenue scale and profitability; meanwhile, we will strengthen ecological synergy, tap into high-quality business opportunities in strategically selected verticals."

He Haijian, CFO of Kingsoft Cloud, also said, "Primary listing in Hong Kong will broaden our investor base, facilitate our participation in Hong Kong Stock Connect, and open up investment cooperation channels to more Chinese mainland investors. We will maintain the structure of the one-share-one-vote, which is rare among Chinese ADRs, and widely respect and adopt the advice of public investors. We will continue to attach importance to ESG and data security to ensure the stability and security of our services. "

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. Announces Proposed Listing on the Main Board of SEHK, Offer price at HK$19.32 per share

HONG KONG, Dec 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. ("Beauty Farm" or "Company", stock code: 2373), the largest provider of traditional beauty services in China, today announces the proposed listing of its shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("SEHK").

Beauty Farm plans to offer an aggregate of 40,536,500 Offer Shares under the Global Offering (subject to the Over-allotment Option), consisting of 36,482,500 International Offer Shares (subject to reallocation and the Over-allotment Option) and 4,054,000 Hong Kong Offer Shares (subject to reallocation), at a price of HK$19.32 per share.

The Company will start its public offering in Hong Kong at 9 a.m. on 30 December, 2022 (Friday) and end at 12 noon on 6 January, 2023 (Friday). Dealings in shares on SEHK are expected to commence on 16 January 2023 (Monday), with the stock code of 2373 in board lots of 500 shares each.

Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, Haitong International Capital Limited and Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited are the Joint Sponsors; Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, Haitong International Securities Company Limited and Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited are the Overall Coordinators, Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Bookrunners and Joint Managers.

Beauty and health management service provider with diversified brand portfolio in China

Beauty Farm is a leading player of the chain service brand in China's beauty and health management service industry, which has large and loyal client base, extensive network with expansion efficiency, diversified services and product offerings as well as strong brand awareness. According to Frost & Sullivan, Beauty Farm is the largest provider of traditional beauty services and the fourth largest non-surgical aesthetic medical service provider in China with a market share of 0.2% and 0.6% respectively, as measured by revenue in 2021. The Company provides overall beauty and health management services through its well-established and widely recognized brand portfolio of BeautyFarm, Palaispa, CellCare and Neology. The service offerings of the Company cover traditional beauty services, aesthetic medical services as well as subhealth assessment and intervention services, across the full client lifecycle. As of June 30, 2022, the overall service network of Beauty Farm comprised 352 stores, including 177 direct stores and 175 franchised stores. Among the direct stores, 84 stores were located in tier-one cities and 73 stores were located in new tier-one cities.

Constant evolution of business model in response to market demand, offering clients overall beauty and health management services

As the leading chain brand in China's beauty and health management service industry, Beauty Farm has provided traditional beauty services to clients for nearly three decades. With insights into clients' increasingly diversified demand accumulated through years of services, the Company has extended its offerings by providing more sophisticated services such as aesthetic medical services since 2011. Thereafter, the Company commenced to build its subhealth assessment and intervention service capacity in 2018, in response to the rising demand of subhealth assessment and intervention services as a result of consumption upgrade and China's rising prevalence rate of subhealth status. Counting the revenue generated in 2021, traditional beauty services, aesthetic medical services, and subhealth assessment and intervention services represented 58.8%, 37.8% and 3.4% of the total revenue for the year. These service offerings of Beauty Farm complement each other and create a synergistic effect for the overall operations of the Company. The Company's long history in traditional beauty services has positioned the Company uniquely in the industry and fueled the revenue growth without significant increase in customer acquisition costs as the Company has become many members' lifelong trusted advisor on health and beauty. And 21.7% and 21.2% of members of the Company's traditional beauty services in 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, purchased aesthetic medical services or subhealth assessment and intervention services, which is expected to further grow in the future. Likewise, the expansion of aesthetic medical services and subhealth assessment and intervention services can also further boost the growth of traditional beauty services going forward.

Standardized services supported by digitalized platform

Beauty Farm has established an integrated service platform to ensure high-quality services to its clients in a consistent manner across all stores. The digitalized platform of the Company is supported by standardized operating procedures and digital infrastructure covering stringent quality control, training system and supply chain management. The Company achieved one of the few highest service personnel annual retention rates in 2021 within the beauty and health management service industry. Among all the service personnel who have stayed with us for more than one year, they have an average of 6.1 years of retention. The standardization and digitalization of the business platform provides scale advantages across various aspects of the Company's operations that can be leveraged by its stores and service personnel. The integrated service platform is capable of consolidating and processing operational data accumulated from various systems across the store network. The Company also applies data mining and data analytics to obtain valuable insights to profile its clients' transaction patterns, consumption habits, and lifetime client value. Such tech-enabled enhancements allow the Company to customize its services according to clients' needs so as to maintain their stickiness and identify cross-selling opportunities. The platform-based operating model allows Beauty Farm to standardize various aspects of its operations to improve both client experience and the service performance of its service personnel. In addition, as the Company continues to accumulate and analyze digital information from its day-to-day business operations, the Company can further improve its operational efficiency.

A large client base of active members supported by CRM system

The comprehensive service offerings of Beauty Farm have attracted a large base of active clients, which is supported by a comprehensive client service system. In 2021, the direct stores of the Company served 77,356 active members, which was increased by 12.5% in 2020. The active members from direct stores on average made 10.8 visits (2020: 10.2 visits) and spent RMB20,832 in 2021 (2020: RMB20,151). 80.7%, 82.1%, 84.6% and 77.0% of the active members in 2019, 2020, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2022 made multiple purchases of the Company's services in the same period, respectively. In addition to the increasing client volume in direct stores, the franchised stores of the Company served 27,916 active members in 2021 and 22,552 active members in the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Sustainable development supported by organic growth and strategic acquisitions

Beauty Farm has a proven track record of rapidly expanding its geographic footprint across China and has achieved rapid and sustainable business growth through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The scalability and replicability of its business is evidenced by its ability to open new stores rapidly. The Company opened 45 new direct stores from 2019 to June 30, 2022. Beauty Farm is able to ramp-up its new stores and achieve profitability efficiently. Contributed by the Company's long-term business relationship with prime shopping malls and the ability to bring strong footage to the venue, the typical lead time from the completion of site selection to store opening is approximately three months. From 2014 to June 30, 2022, a new traditional beauty service store on average achieved initial breakeven in eleven months after commencement of operation.

Beauty Farm experienced a successful track record of identifying, acquiring and integrating stores into its network. The Company has completed 20 acquisitions in beauty and health management service industry from 2014 to June 30, 2022, most of which have successfully enhanced the Company's business offerings and management team. Upon the completion of integration, acquired stores typically witness improved business performance and rapid client expansion. For example, the acquisition of Palaispa shows the Company's acquisition power and capabilities in integration. Revenue generated from Palaispa members and franchisees increased from RMB102.4 million in 2017 to RMB185.7 million in 2021 at a CAGR of 16.0%. Those acquired stores were smoothly integrated into the Company's network, ensuring further synergies and value creation. Going forward, Beauty Farm will continue to identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities in high-quality stores to capture growth opportunities.

The success of Beauty Farm is also attributable to its visionary and dedicated management with extensive industry experience, as well as strong shareholder support. Since 2013, CITIC PE, who has extensive experience managing and growing companies in the beauty and health management service industry, has been working closely with Beauty Farm to establish a standardized and disciplined chain business with nationwide footprint and has made important contributions to the company's strategic formulation, merger and expansion, executive recruitment, brand and design, human resources, supply chain, marketing, finance and other aspects of management improvement.

Looking forward, Beauty Farm plans to carry out below key growth strategies to realize its development, including strategically expanding its service network and marketing channels to expand its client base and increase brand awareness; further enhancing its operational efficiency and client experience through standardization and digitalization of its system; improving client loyalty and fulfilling clients' evolving needs by introducing new technologies, equipment and products, and expanding its service offerings; continuing to cultivate, recruit and retain high-caliber talent and strengthen its human resources management mechanism; and integrating industry resources and promoting the development of industry standards by deepening cooperation with upstream suppliers and sharing its industry and management experience.

Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc.
Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. ("Beauty Farm" or "Company", stock code: 2373) is a leading player in China's beauty and health management service industry, which has large and loyal client base, extensive network with expansion efficiency, diversified services and product offerings as well as strong brand awareness. According to Frost & Sullivan, Beauty Farm is the largest provider of traditional beauty services and the fourth largest non-surgical aesthetic medical service provider in China with a market share of 0.2% and 0.6% respectively, as measured by revenue in 2021. Leveraging 29 years of industry experience and adapting to evolving client demand, the Company provides overall beauty and health management services through its well-established and widely recognized brand portfolio of BeautyFarm, Palaispa, CellCare and Neology. The service offerings of the Company cover traditional beauty services, aesthetic medical services as well as subhealth assessment and intervention services, across the full client lifecycle.

This press release is issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Beauty Farm Medical and Health Industry Inc. For further information, please contact:

Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group
Telephone: 852 3150 6788
Email: projectgarden.hk@pordahavas.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ACROMETA receives LOA for S$6.1 million design and build works from a global clinical research organisation

SINGAPORE, Dec 30, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – AcroMeta Group Limited, an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia sectors, has received a letter of award ("LOA") for the design and build of laboratory and office space worth approximately S$6.1 million from a global clinical research organisation that helps companies conduct clinical development of drugs or medical devices (the "Project").

The Project site work is commencing soon and a binding contract would be executed in due course. In the unlikely event that the execution of contract is not followed through, the Group is safeguarded as it would be entitled to claim a maximum value of approximately S$1.8 million for value of works performed.

Said Mr Lim Say Chin, Executive Chairman, "We are greatly encouraged that the Project involves a new customer in the biotechnology space. This speaks of the confidence that our customers have in our capabilities. We will continue to work hard towards delivering quality services, leveraging on our established track record and proven expertise as controlled environment specialist engineers."

The Project is expected to contribute positively to the earnings per share and net tangible assets per share of the Group for the current financial year ending 30 September 2023.

To the best of the Directors' knowledge, none of the Directors and controlling shareholders of the Company have any interests, direct or indirect, in the Project, other than through their respective shareholdings in the Company.

About ACROMETA Group Limited (SGX Stock Code: 1CH1)

ACROMETA (Previously known as ACROMEC Limited) is an established specialist engineering services provider with more than 25 years of experience in the field of controlled environments. The Group has over the years acquired expertise in the design and construction of facilities requiring controlled environments such as laboratories, medical and sterile facilities and cleanrooms.

ACROMETA's business is divided into two main business segments: (i) Engineering, procurement, and construction services, specialising in architectural, and mechanical, electrical and process works within controlled environments; and (ii) Maintenance and repair services of facilities and equipment of controlled environments and their supporting infrastructure.

The Group mainly serves the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia, and electronics sectors. ACROMETA counts amongst its customers, hospitals and medical centres, government agencies, research and development companies or agencies, research and development units of multinational corporations, tertiary educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor manufacturing companies, and multinational engineering companies. The company has been listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange since 2016. For more information, please visit www.acrometa.com.

Media and Analysts Contact:
ACROMETA Group Limited
Mr. Jerry Tan
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +65 6415 0574
Email: jerry.tan@acromec.com

Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Mr. Wayne Koo
Tel: +65 6958 8008 / +65 9338 8166
Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg
Email: query@waterbrooks.com.sg

This media release has been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, Evolve Capital Advisory Private Limited (the "Sponsor"). It has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "Exchange") and the Exchange assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this document.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Jerry Chua, 138 Robinson Road, #13-02 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906, jerrychua@evolvecapitalasia.com.

ACROMETA Group Limited: [SGX: 43F] [BIC: ACRO:SP] [RIC: ACRO.SI], www.acrometa.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Yoga’s Kashmir Connection: Time for Revitalisation

SINGAPORE, Dec 29, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The social tapestry of the valley of Kashmir is vibrant, diverse and layered. From the relics of its Buddhist past to its long history of association with Vedic practices, Kashmir is truly as multifaceted as it can get. Apart from its resplendent beauty, Kashmir has also been at the forefront of leading the mantle as a site of spirituality. Its connection to Yoga, in particular, traces its history back to the time of Adi Shankara, who is believed to have visited the valley in the 8th century CE. A proponent of Advaita philosophy, Adi Shankara advocated ideas related to spiritual oneness, attained as it was to be through meditative practices and consciousness about the Self. It is no surprise then that the Valley of Kashmir is full of places, monuments and sites named after the founder of Advaitism.

Speaking of Adi Shankara's cultural import, the Jyeshteshwara Temple, which is the oldest temple in the Kashmir Valley, is more commonly known as Shankaracharya Temple. Dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, this temple and its adjacent land have been declared sites of national importance. They are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Also, it is interesting to note that despite its inclusion within the folds of Hinduism, the temple and the hill on which it is located have been relevant to Buddhist and Persianate cultures alike. Accordingly, where the architecture of this temple is essentially Buddhist, the hill, which otherwise goes by the name of Gopadiri, is also known as Koh-e-Suleman and Takht-i-Sulaiman.

In addition to being a known seat of spirituality, the Shankaracharya Temple has a historic connection to Yogic practices. Connecting yoga to meditation, it was Adi Shakara who came to establish a tradition of meditative contemplation that could help in attaining a sense of spiritual oneness of the Self, i.e. Atman with the Universal reality, i.e. Brahman. For Shankaracharya, yoga was essentially a tool that could help in steadying one's mind and which, when combined with the study of the Upanishads, could help in attaining moksha, or salvation. Rejecting the need for an absolute suppression of desire in favour of the conscious withdrawal of the mind from sense objects, Adi Shankara approached yoga, particularly Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge), as the most optimal means to achieving higher knowledge about oneself. Indeed, the goal self-realisation is not simply attained through the renunciation of the material world. Instead, spiritual awakening often comes about as a result of a disciplined training of the mind and body, in which yogic meditation can be of immense help.

Latching on to this potential of yogic practices, the members of Yoga Library Singapore made their way to the Kashmir Valley last month. Having conducted yoga retreats in South East Asia, including Bali, Bangkok and Vietnam, their recently organised retreat in Kashmir marked their maiden foray into the Indian yoga market. In fact, in a way, choosing Kashmir as their first port of entry, so to speak, allowed the Library to give Kashmir its due by highlighting the contribution of the Valley to the larger yogic landscape.

According to Anand Goyal, co-founder of the Library, Kashmir Shaivism Yoga is at least 1200 years old. In fact, Goyal went on to observe that unlike what may have ordinarily been thought of, "yoga is not frowned upon in the Kashmir Valley (which is predominantly Muslim)". Apart from building on the vast historical capital that yoga has in the Valley, the Library maintains that the place itself, courtesy of its pitcuresque environs, is a "good place to do yoga ". For that matter, Goyal believes that the Library came to Kashmir at an appropriate juncture just when the Valley is recovering from the after-effects of COVID and lockdowns.

Kashmir's growing interest in yoga and other meditative practices was recently demonstrated as the union territory came to host a "Yogasana" competition. Organised in Srinagar by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and Jammu and Kashmir Yogasana Association, more than 300 more people competed in different age categories in the event. According to reports, the competition was not only meant to give the youth of the Valley an opportunity to participate and compete at national and international events on yoga. But, at the same time, use such collective events as occasions to create further awareness about social evils, such as drug abuse, with the objective of combating them.

The newfound momentum around yoga in Kashmir comes as an exciting and encouraging new development. Apart from helping the Valley promote itself as a spiritual retreat for the domestic audience, the international traction it is gaining on these grounds will certainly help Kashmir project itself in a new and different light.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

SinoHytec Announces Proposed Listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Offer Price Between HK$60 and HK$76 per H Share, Raise up to HK$1,540.7 million

HONG KONG, Dec 29, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The leading provider of fuel cell systems in China – Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd. ("SinoHytec" or the "Company", Stock Code: 2402), today announced the proposed listing of its shares on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ( the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange").

SinoHytec plans to offer an aggregate of 17,628,000 H shares under the Global Offering (subject to the Over-allotment Option), comprising an International Offering of 15,865,200 H shares (subject to Reallocation and the Over-allotment Option), representing 90% of the initial offer shares; and Hong Kong Public Offering of 1,762,800 H shares (subject to Reallocation), representing 10% of the initial offer shares), at a price range between HK$60 and HK$76 per Offer Share. The Hong Kong Public Offering will commence at 9 a.m., December 29, 2022 (Thursday), and close at 12:00 noon on January 5, 2023 (Thursday). Dealings in the shares of SinoHytec on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is expected to commence on January 12, 2023 (Thursday), with the stock code 2402 and in board lots of 50 Offer Shares each.

Guotai Junan Capital Limited and Giraffe Capital Limited are the Joint Sponsors.

SinoHytec is a leading provider of fuel cell systems in China, focusing on the design, development and manufacture of fuel cell systems and stacks (a key component of the system) mainly for commercial vehicles, such as buses and trucks. According to the China Insights Industry Consultancy Limited Report ("CIC Report"), the company ranked first in the PRC fuel cell system market in terms of the total power output of fuel cell systems sold* in 2021, with a market share of 27.8%; and in 2021, fuel cell systems accounted for approximately 0.8% of the total sales volume of new energy systems for commercial vehicles, while lithium battery systems accounted for the rest of the total sales volume. As of June 30, 2022, the company's fuel cell systems were installed on 80 models of fuel cell vehicles that are featured in the MIIT New Energy Vehicle Catalogs, ranking us first in the industry.

Leader in China's fast growing fuel cell system market

Established in 2012, the company is a pioneer in the R&D and commercialization of fuel cell systems in China and started batch production in 2016. The company also participated in the fuel cell vehicle development and commercialization scheme of the United Nations Development Programme in China and witnessed the progress of the PRC fuel cell industry from the R&D phase to pilot testing and to commercialization. The company's fuel cell systems are installed on commercial vehicles operating across various PRC cities, including Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and Zibo.

As of December 20, 2022, the company's fuel cell systems have powered over 2,800 fuel cell vehicles on the road in China. These vehicles had an average mileage of around 40,000 kilometers per vehicle, accumulating over 108.6 million kilometers and 2.3 million hours of operations, which built an industry leading record.

Strong research and development capabilities

The Company adheres to a R&D principle of "Advance Research", "Continuous Development" and "In-depth Promotion". The key objectives of the Company R&D and product testing activities are to optimize and upgrade the company products' adverse weather capabilities, durability, reliability, efficiency, safety and economy. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has establised an outstanding R&D team of 270 members. The Company also cooperated with leading research universities in China, such as Tsinghua University, to facilitate the development and commercialization of innovative fuel cell technologies so that the Company can respond to the fast-changing market demands.

The Company's R&D team has progressively developed the 30kW, 40kW, 50kW, 60kW, 80kW, 100kW, 120kW and 150kW models of fuel cell systems over the years. In particular, the Company launched the 240kW high power output model in December 2021, which is the first automotive fuel cell system in China that can reach a rated power of 240kW.

In addition, the Company participated in and achieved significant results in various R&D projects sponsored by the PRC government. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had over 590 patents, including over 210 invention patents, over 360 utility model patents, and 20 design patents. In addition, the Company has more than 590 patent applications that have been accepted by the State Intellectual Property Office of China.

* Sales volume of fuel cell systems comprises only direct sales to fuel cell vehicle manufacturers.

Solid partnerships with major PRC commercial vehicle manufacturers

The Company has built solid long-term partnerships with major commercial vehicle manufacturers in China, such as Beiqi Foton, Yutong Bus and Geely Commercial Buses, through jointly undertaking national-level R&D projects and codeveloping, demonstrating and testing fuel cell vehicles. In particular, Beiqi Foton and Yutong Bus purchased the Company's fuel cell systems on order basis since 2016 and 2018, respectively, for the production of their fuel cell vehicles. The Company codeveloped with Toyota and Beiqi Foton transit buses using the Company's fuel cell systems which are designated as the official transport vehicles at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has sold fuel cell systems to over 20 commercial vehicle manufacturers whose total fuel cell vehicles sold in 2021 represented nearly 60% of the market share in China. In addition, Beiqi Group and Yutong Bus have become the company Shareholders and strategic partners, representing the recognition of us by the downstream players of the fuel cell vehicle industry.

Integrated components supply system and close cooperation with suppliers

After years of dedication, the Company built a comprehensive procurement system with local suppliers. During the Track Record Period, the Company has established a relatively stable long-term relationship with over 300 suppliers in China, providing parts such as MEA and air compressors. During the Track Record Period, the company had localized the supply of MEA and procured more raw materials from local suppliers each year.

Mr. Zhang Guoqiang, Chairman, Executive Director and General Manager of SinoHytec said, "Our mission is to leverage advanced hydrogen fuel cell technologies to contribute to China's carbon emission peak and carbon neutralitygoal and empower global energy transition. We are committed to becoming a global leader in hydrogen fuel cell technologies for promoting a sustainable and low-carbon future. New energy vehicle development is strategically significant to China's energy security and environmental protections. We intend to achieve this goal by implementing the following strategies: further advance the R&D of fuel cell systems and core components; expand the production capacity of fuel cell stacks to meet the growing market demand and achieve economies of scale; strategically expand our customer base and geographical coverage; expand and strengthen our supply chains; and improve our brand awareness and promote the application of fuel cell systems. We will grasp the opportunities arising in future trend and development of the industry, leverage on our competitive advantages to further consolidate SinoHytec's market position, and create the greatest value for shareholders and investors."

Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd.
Fact Sheet

Information on the Global Offering:
Number of Offer Shares under the Global Offering: 17,628,000 H Shares (subject to the Over-allotment
Option)
Number of Hong Kong Offer Shares: 1,762,800 H Shares (subject to reallocation)
Number of International Offer Shares: 15,865,200 H Shares (subject to reallocation and the Over-allotment Option)
Maximum Offer Price: HK$76.00 per H Share, plus brokerage fee of 1.0%, SFC transaction levy of 0.0027%, AFRC transaction levy of 0.00015% and Stock Exchange trading fee of 0.00565% (payable in full on application in Hong Kong dollars and to refund)
Board Lot: 50 H Shares
Start of the Hong Kong Public Offering: 9:00 a.m., December 29, 2022 (Thursday)
End of the Hong Kong Public Offering: 12:00 noon, January 5, 2023 (Thursday)
Announcement of Allotment Results: January 11, 2023 (Wedsnesday)
Expected Listing Date: January 12, 2023 (Thursday)
Stock Code: 2402

Use of Proceeds:
The Company estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately HK$1121.8 million from the Global Offering, after deducting the underwriting commissions, fees and estimated expenses payable by the Company in connection with the Global Offering, assuming that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised and assuming an Offer Price of HK$68 per Share (being the mid-point of the indicative Offer Price range). The Company intends to use the net proceeds for the following purposes:

1) Approximately 75.0% (approximately HK$841.2 million) will be used to fund the research and development in the next three years;
2) Approximately 15.0% (approximately HK$168.4 million) will be used for improving the brand recognition through product promotion and multi-channel marketing in the next three years;
3) Approximately 10.0% (approximately HK$112.2 million) will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

DCM Suisse and Plato Announce Strategic Partnership for Ai Powered Content and Data Intelligence Syndication

Geneva, Switzerland, Dec 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – DCM Swiss (Digital Content Marketplace, a decentralized blockchain-powered platform for content creators, publishers and brands, today announced a strategic partnership with Plato Data Intelligence a NYC based Data Platform focused on the curation of data intelligence on today's most innovative technology verticals.

Through the partnership, DCM's partner brands will immediately benefit from the increased global reach Plato delivers. Both companies plan to deliver a wide range of embedded data products related to marketing communications, brand engagement and vertical data intelligence using Plato?s content distribution and syndication network.

"DCM is moving to the next stage in its life-cycle while enabling deep and authentic use cases for the mass adoption of blockchain. Plato?s expertise in this area is an invaluable resource for accelerating our plans for 2023 and beyond. We are excited to take part in building the Web3 and provide the world?s leading solution for decentralized content creation and distribution together," said Julia Zoltarenko, DCM Swiss' Founder and CEO.

"We are excited to work with DCM Swiss and see a perfect fit for our A.I. and Blockchain capabilities across their entire data ecosystem with unprecedented engagement opportunities. We believe that together we will set a new standard for the industry," said Bryan Feinberg, Plato's Founder and CEO.

Via the partnership, Plato?s and DCM's R&D teams will be able to integrate the latest data intelligence, trends, tools, and data centric applications, including in Web3 space, to achieve maximum reach and organic engagement for promotional campaigns.

The partnership promises deep value across each company's respective platforms and ecosystems and will leverage both Plato?s and DCM's extensive blockchain expertise in designing innovative solutions using blockchain. Publishers, audiences and advertisers benefit from the scale of a decentralized blockchain data ecosystem while gaining direct access to global audiences.

About DCM Swiss (https://dcm-swiss.com)

DCM Suisse is a decentralized, blockchain-powered platform for content creators, publishers & brands. It provides to all its participants an unlimited access to free flow of content, helps to protect copyright with DCM Media Passport, and enables a variety of promotion options for content creators and brands, including articles with embedded engagement tools and NFT collections in a truly decentralized way. In addition to blockchain technologies DCM uses A.I. tools for content quality check and authenticity certification.

About Plato (https://Platodata.io)

Plato is an open intelligence repository and platform that curates the latest in data intelligence across today?s most innovative market verticals. The platform is designed to provide and ultra-safe and secure environment to consume sector specific real-time data intelligence while delivering fully secured Web3 connectivity across 27 market verticals and 27 languages. Amplifi, Plato?s in-house syndication network currently syndicates content and press release?s electronically to over 1900+ Publisher websites for deep and authentic connectivity.

Media Contacts:

DCM Suisse
Anna Elitzur
Director of Partnerships
Anna.elitzur@dcm-swiss.com

Plato Data Intelligence
Bryan Feinberg
CEO / Founder
zephyr@platodata.io

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA)/Thoughtful Media Group Acquires More Media, Indonesia-based Digital Design and Branding Agency

SINGAPORE, Dec 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Thoughtful Media Group Inc ("Thoughtful Media" or "TMG"), the Thailand-based social commerce-focused, premium digital advertising network of Society Pass Incorporated ("SoPa") (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia's (SEA) next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces the acquisition of More Media, a leading Indonesia-based creative design and branding agency. The More Media acquisition extends TMG's social commerce and influencer advertising business reach beyond Thailand and Vietnam and into the booming Indonesia digital advertising sector.

Founded in 2021 as an international caliber design and branding agency serving up-and-coming Indonesian companies in the beauty, F&B, e-commerce and logistics sectors, More Media has grown its client base through quick deployment of value-added services and understanding of the local market tastes. With its focus on storytelling and providing end-to-end branding services, More Media has onboarded a diverse roster of clients such as Langsre, Emilia, Kei Dining, and Allino. Post acquisition, More Media is re-branded as Thoughtful Media Indonesia with its Co-Founder, Eugenia Agnes Gusti, appointed as VP of Business Development for Thoughtful Media to drive sales and onboard Indonesia clients onto the regional TMG digital advertising platform.

Mr. Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer/TMG Chairman, exclaims, "We are so excited to welcome Eugenia Agnes Gusti, Ursula Michelle and the rest of the More Media into our ever-expanding TMG platform. More Media seamlessly blends into our product and geographical growth strategy for TMG as we enter yet another leading SEA market. By combining More Media's market leading design and branding capabilities in Indonesia with TMG's social commerce and influencer advertising focused MPN, we leverage our storytelling capabilities and amplify SoPa's upcoming loyalty offering. And with this acquisition, TMG now operates in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Since SoPa acquired TMG back in July 2022, TMG has grown from strength to strength with headcount growing from a dozen professionals to over 30 staff in just a matter of months. As we enter Singapore, Philippines, and Malaysia markets in 2023, TMG is uniquely positioned to be the premier SEA regional digital advertising agency offering a significant value proposition for advertisers, merchants and influencers in SEA's biggest economy."

According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the influencer advertising market grew to US$16.4 billion in 2022 and the value of social commerce sales growing to US$958 billion in 2022. And according to Strategic Market Research, with Asia representing 70% of the market, the global social commerce market size is expected to reach US$7 trillion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 30% from 2021. Well-positioned to benefit from these growth forecasts, Indonesia's digital advertising revenues are expected to soar this decade as increasingly more consumers make direct purchases on social media platforms, as social media sites are adopting innovative buying criteria and features, and as merchants incorporate shoppable posts and buy buttons on their respective pages. In addition, socially conscious consumers are influencing the evolution of the entire online retail industry. This trend comes as a result of the shifting inclination of brands from traditional celebrities to online influencers to endorse their products. Indeed, influencer marketing is quickly becoming an indispensable part of the mainstream branding strategies across organisations of all types.

"More Media is proud to officially merge with TMG. By joining forces with TMG's broad advertising network and SoPa's extensive ecosystem and large user and merchant bases in SEA, we are thrilled about expanding our business to fully become an end-to-end digital marketing company. According to Grand View Research, the global influencer marketing platform market size was valued at USD 10.39 billion in 2021 and is now expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.4% from 2022 to 2030. With this explosion in influencer advertising and social commerce throughout SEA, Thoughtful Media Indonesia is well positioned to generate significant revenues in 2023 and occupies a central position in Indonesia's large and fast-paced growing advertising market, both online and offline," explains Ms. Eugenia Agnes Gusti, Co Founder, More Media.

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 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com