Heavyweights to speak as AFF opens conference year

HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on 11 and 12 January next year in hybrid format.


Ban Ki-Moon, eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and more policymakers and business leaders will deliver keynote speeches at AFF 2023.

Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Christiana Figueres, Co-Founder of Global Optimism and Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change


Themed "Accelerating Transformation: Impact – Inclusion – Innovation", the Forum will include addresses from more than 100 global business leaders, policymakers, financial and wealth management experts, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists who will share their views on issues related to global finance, economy, trade and sustainability. The Forum will also provide a platform to connect participants for business and investment opportunities to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre.

As the restrictions on arrivals have been relaxed, more international business travellers are expected to visit Hong Kong and participate in international conferences. To promote the vitality of the city, the HKTDC has curated a variety of exclusive benefits for AFF delegates from overseas, enriching their stay beyond the two-day forum.

Speakers include the Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

As the premier financial and business forum and the first large-scale business exchange event kicking off the new year, AFF assembles more than 100 heavyweight thought leaders to examine ways to formulate better business strategies and develop a blueprint for sustainable growth after a turbulent 2022, and explore how global corporates can work together to create a resilient economic landscape through innovation and inclusion. This year's forum draws a number of policymakers and business leaders to share their views, including the following three eminent keynote speakers:

– Ban Ki-moon, eighth Secretary-General of the UN

Ban Ki-moon served as Secretary-General of the UN between 2007 and 2016. During his tenure, he focused on the response to global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and food and energy crisis. He will deliver his keynote address and share his insights on coping with global challenges and promoting sustainable development with multilateral cooperation on the first day of Forum (11 January).

– Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

Helen Clark was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. Throughout her tenure, she engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres. She will deliver her keynote address under the theme of equality and diversity on the second day of Forum (12 January).

– Christiana Figueres, Co-founder of Global Optimism and Former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Christiana Figueres is an internationally recognised leader fostering climate action. As the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2010 to 2016, she actively coordinated climate change initiatives to jointly deliver the 2015 Paris Agreement. She will discuss the latest trends in climate action and net-zero policies on the second day of Forum (12 January).

Discussion sessions on hot market topics

The two-day Forum will include more than 40 discussion sessions, featuring heavyweight financial, government and business leaders to shed light on major topics, including global economic outlook, regional trade collaborations such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, asset and wealth management, environment, social and governance (ESG) and green finance, insurance and risk management, family office ecosystem, philanthropy and impact investing, financial inclusion, decentralised finance (DeFi), Web3 and Metaverse, monetary reforms and central bank digital currencies (CBDC) opportunities.

In the main panel discussions, international financial and business leaders including Valerie Baudson, Chief Executive Officer of Amundi; Takeshi Kunibe, Chairman of the Board, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Vista Equity Partners; Mark Tucker, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings; Dr Jose Vinals, Group Chairman, Standard Chartered; Dr Ridha Wirakusumah, CEO of Indonesia Investment Authority and James Turner, Group Chief Financial Officer, Prudential will examine macroeconomic trends amid the epidemic recovery and external uncertainties, and key market opportunities.

Tackling environmental challenges, energy and food crises has become top of the agenda on global level. Rapid development of Web3 and other financial technologies have also shaped the future of economy. In light of this, AFF will establish the Global Spectrum series, together with the Fireside Chat, to discuss various disruptive innovations and initiatives in society, covering venture capital and start-up ecosystem, transition to net-zero and ESG standard-setting, food security, health equity, metaverse and non-fungible token (NFT) and more. Speakers include Prof KC Chan, Senior Advisor, WeLab; Luanne Lim, Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC; Benedicte Nolens, Head of the Hong Kong Centre, BIS Innovation Hub; Alfred Chuang, General Partner, Race Capital; Andrew Schwabecher, CEO & Representative Director, Japan Computer Vision Corp. and Adam Litle, Chief Executive Officer, Sound Agriculture. The Dialogues for Tomorrow series will also invite forward-looking industry leaders, including Sebastian Fahey, EVP, Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead, Metaverse, Sotheby's; Jeremy Coller, CIO, Managing Partner and Founder of Coller Capital and Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect.

AFF Deal Flow in hybrid mode with extended period

In addition to gathering global financial and business leaders to share insights, the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association will again co-organise the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session. The first two days of the matchmaking meeting (11 and 12 January) will allow participants to meet at the physical Forum venue, and continue online till 17 January with a digital extension, offering investors and project owners prolonged period to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. The matchmaking projects will cover industries ranging from deep technology, digital technology and media, medical technology, education and infrastructure to real-estate services. A function for identifying ESG-integrated projects debuted last year has also been enhanced to facilitate business matching.

Nearly 100 exhibitors showcase new technologies and investment opportunities

The AFF will also house nearly 100 local and overseas exhibitors, international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups and investment promotion agencies and sponsors including PwC, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, HSBC, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, Huatai International, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and Cyberport to showcase leading financial technologies. Three highlighted zones, including Fintech Showcase, InnoVenture Salon and FintechHK Start-up Salon will allow on-site participants to experience technologies of tomorrow.

Wide array of exclusive discounts and privileges for overseas delegates

As the first large-scale business exchange event in 2023, the HKTDC has curated a variety of exclusive travel, food and hotel discounts and privileges in collaboration with Hong Kong Tourism Board, Klook, LKF Concepts and hotels to encourage AFF delegates from overseas to make the most out of their stay and experience the vitality of Hong Kong outside the Forum.

Participants who register now can enjoy an early bird discount. More activity details, speaker line-up and media registration arrangements will be announced in early January.

Website
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en
– AFF Programme List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/info-programme
– AFF Speaker List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker
– Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3FklQrP

Members of the media interested in interviewing AFF 2023 speakers can send an email to tleung@yuantung.com.hk or ayiu@yuantung.com.hk on or before 5 January 2023.

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
Fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

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

CleverTap appoints Satyadeep Mishra as Chief Human Resources Officer

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – CleverTap, the World's #1 Retention Cloud today announced the appointment of Satyadeep Mishra as their new Chief Human Resources Officer. He joins from the hospitality-technology platform, OYO where he worked as the Chief Human Resources Officer for its technology, product, global functions and international markets teams.

With over two decades of experience working with the likes of Jio, Barclays and Bajaj Finserv among others, Satya brings with him a demonstrable history of leading teams and conceptualizing innovative HR strategies across domains of talent acquisition, training & development, and performance management. He also played a pivotal role in the transformational growth journey of Jio's core telecom and digital initiatives.

"We are excited to have Satya onboard. Having nurtured some of the industry's leading experts, quality talent has always been a top priority for CleverTap. And with Satya's immense experience, I have no doubt that he will lead our People Strategy and continue to build on our culture which puts employees first, as we go from strength to strength in our journey as global MarTech leaders", said Sidharth Malik, Chief Executive Officer, CleverTap.

"It's an absolute pleasure to be part of such a dynamic and exuberant team. The growth of CleverTap over the past few years is a testament to the capabilities and dedication of everybody involved with the team. The roles that HR functions play, not just in people strategy, but even in business, have become significant for more companies especially within the era of work from anywhere. I am elated to be working with like minded individuals that understand the importance of retaining and nurturing bright talent. I am confident that together, we can scale new heights and break conventional barriers while creating value not only for our customers, but also for our employees world over", said Satyadeep Mishra, Chief Human Resource Officer, CleverTap.

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the World's #1 Retention Cloud that helps app-first brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and life-time value. It's the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep-segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB(TM) – world's first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

CleverTap is trusted by 1500 customers, including Gojek, ShopX, Electronic Arts, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John's, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Sequoia India, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements.

CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction

For more information:
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

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

CITIC Telecom CPC Clinches Two Innovation Awards at Asia Communication Awards 2022

HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited ("CITIC Telecom", SEHK: 1883) is honored to announce that it has received two major awards at the inaugural Asia Communication Awards 2022. The two awards, "AI Visual Security" for Cyber Security Award and "Cognitive Object Recognition Technology" for AI Innovation Award, recognize CITIC Telecom CPC's innovative achievements in fusing advanced technologies nurtured for years and leading the industry with game-changing innovations.



Mr. Taylor Lam, Chief Strategy Officer of CITIC Telecom CPC said, "It's truly an honor for CITIC Telecom CPC to receive Cyber Security Award and AI Innovation Award at Asia Communication Awards 2022. As cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, it is important to be innovative and excellent in tackling ever-changing security challenges. These awards recognize the continuous contribution of our innovation team to excel at the vanguard of providing superior security and innovative solutions to enterprises by leveraging our abundant resources and experiences. They also demonstrate our commitment to embed innovation into our people and corporate culture."

"Seeing is Believing". AI Visual Security Achieves Cybersecurity Transformation

CITIC Telecom CPC's breakthrough AI Visual Security Solution has won the Cyber Security Award at Asia Communication Awards 2022. Integrating advanced and disruptive technologies, AI Visual Security Solution has transformed the current "Seeing is believing" security model with its innovative "Quick to Catch" trace. Powered by AI and Computer Vision technologies, AI Visual Security is able to SEEING potential threats, QUICKLY identify malware variants and CATCH the malware family in FAST ways, safeguarding enterprises from sophisticated malware attacks for now and the future. It embraces patented AI algorithm, decades of IT operations experience and in-depth industry expertise to reinvent industry's "Visual Capability" with outstanding performance.

AI-enabled Cognitive Object Recognition ("COR") Technology Reinvents Different Industries

CITIC Telecom CPC received AI Innovation Award for its AI-enabled Cognitive Object Recognition (COR) solutions, which run its breakthrough algorithm and technique to improve object mapping. COR technology makes a breakthrough in Smart Industry Applications, reinventing multiple enterprise sectors such as Smart Hospital and Smart Warehouse with new real-world business values. Backed by an innovative Machine Learning model using AI, Big Data analytics and Deep Learning methods to identify, locate and count objects in 93 milliseconds with 99% accuracy, COR enables Smart Hospital transformation by validating physical appearance, flagging possible deformations and function defects, which greatly enhances efficiency and reduces human errors.

In the area of Smart Warehouse, COR revolutionizes warehouse operations by allowing enterprises to conveniently use mobile phones to scan equipment barcodes, facilitating Customer End Equipment Management (CEEM), and tracking equipment location, repair status, inventory transfers, shortening delays and increasing accuracy for field engineers to locate maintenance parts such as replacements and upgrades. The Intelligent Warehouse Platform uses AI to visually recognize equipment and compute technical specifications, assisting engineers to select the correct and best component for equipment maintenance. The overall operational efficiency is enhanced by saving nearly 90% time in equipment check-in/check-out, warehouse management and optimizing CAPEX savings.

"As a global-local DICT service provider, we have always strived to develop customer-focused innovative technologies and solutions to make the greatest difference to the market. With our motto "Innovation Never Stops", we look forward to empowering enterprises through combining emerging technologies, innovation and leadership to accelerate digital transformation and create a sustainable future." Mr. Lam added.

About Asia Communication Awards
Launched in 2011, the Asia Communication Awards (ACA) recognizes the region's leading communication service providers and telecom operators as well as OEMs, suppliers, and other service providers based within the region or offering products and solutions specifically targeting the region.

About CITIC Telecom CPC
We are CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited ("CITIC Telecom CPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), serving multinational enterprises the world over by addressing their specific ICT requirements with highly scalable tailored solutions built upon our flagship technology suites, comprising TrueCONNECT(TM) private network solutions, TrustCSI(TM) information security solutions, DataHOUSE(TM) cloud data center solutions, and SmartCLOUD(TM) cloud computing solutions.

With the motto "Innovation Never Stops," we leverage innovative technologies, embracing AI, AR, Big Data, IoT, and other cutting-edge emerging technologies to transform technical potential into business value for our customers. As an enterprise digital transformation partner, we strive to help our customers achieve industry-leading positions, high agility, and cost-efficiency through digitalization.

With our Global-Local capabilities, we are committed to providing our customers with one-stop-shop ICT solutions with superior quality. Having a worldwide footprint across 150 countries, including Asia, Europe and America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, our global network resources connect over 160 points of presence (POPs), 21 Cloud service centers, 30+ data centers, and two dedicated 24×7 Security Operations Centers (SOCs). We are certified with a series of international certifications, including SD-WAN Ready, ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, 27001, and 27017, to ensure our services compliance with international standards and resources for enterprises. We offer local professional services, superior delivery capabilities as well as exceptional customer experience and best practices through our global presence and extensive industry know-how, becoming a leading integrated intelligent ICT service provider to enterprise customers.

For more information, please visit www.citictel-cpc.com

Media Contact:
Catherine Yuen
CITIC Telecom CPC
(852) 2170 7536
Email: catherine.yuen@citictel-cpc.com


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

SinoMab Awarded the “Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company” in the Selection of the “7th Hong Kong Golden Stocks Awards”

HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – SinoMab BioScience Limited ("SinoMab" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 3681.HK), a Hong Kong-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of immunological diseases, is pleased to announce that the Company was awarded the "Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company" at the "7th Hong Kong Golden Stocks Awards Ceremony" held in Hangzhou today.
The Company Awarded the "Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company"


The "Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company" award aims to recognize Hong Kong-listed pharmaceutical and medical companies that have a healthy corporate governance structure, prominent industry status, sound governance structure, good main business, and the ability to provide investors with sustainable and stable values. SinoMab was awarded the "Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company", highlighting the attention and recognition of the industry and investors on the Company's value and innovation capabilities, which is a great encouragement and even a spur to SinoMab.

SinoMab is the first Hong Kong-based listed biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutics, primarily monoclonal antibody ("mAb")-based biologics, for the treatment of immunological diseases. With R&D headquarter in Hong Kong and production base in China, the Company strives to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company for the development of novel drugs to fulfil unmet medical needs through its Hong Kong-based innovative R&D, and PRC-based manufacturing capabilities.

Currently, various candidate products for all-field indications of autoimmune diseases in SinoMab's layout have started clinical trials successively and are progressing steadily. In particular, SM03 (Suciraslimab), the Company's flagship product, is a potential global first-in target mAb for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis ("RA") and other immunological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease ("AD"), systemic lupus erythematosus ("SLE"), Sjogren's syndrome ("SS") as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ("NHL"). The Phase III clinical trial of SM03 for treatment of RA completed its enrollment on 31 December 2021, and is expected to complete the last subject visit (FV) in December 2022, read out clinical data in the first quarter of 2023 and submit a New Drug Application ("NDA") to the National Medical Products Administration (the "NMPA") of the People's Republic of China ("PRC") for commercialization in the second half of 2023 at the earliest.

Under normal operation of the human immune system, the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway would be activated and create strong signals in response to foreign ("non-self") antigens and trigger a series of B-cell immune responses. To differentiate from our "self" antigens, our body would recruit molecules, like SHP-1, to inhibit or reduce BCR-induced signaling, thereby suppressing B-cell immune responses. SM03 can be used to recruit such immunosuppressive molecules as SHP-1 by conversion of cis-binding CD22 to trans-binding CD22, forming a stable CD22 trans-binding structure, thereby restoring the tolerance of B cells to our "self" antigens and inhibiting a series of immune responses of B cells to attack our "self" antigens, thus suppressing relevant immune responses.

Most of the mechanisms of action of existing RA therapies will result in the depletion or death of B cells, which can have a series of side effects on the human autoimmune system. In contrast, SM03 suppresses the autoimmune response by regulating the function of B cells and does not damage the B-cells and does not affect the normal function of B-cells in the immune system. Data from the Phase II clinical trial showed that SM03 has a comparable response rate and a significant safety advantage over competing products currently available on the market.

In addition, SN1011, a key product of the Company, has obtained four IND approvals from the NMPA for the treatment of SLE, pemphigus ("PV"), multiple sclerosis ("MS"), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder ("NMOSD") respectively. At the same time, the Company is planning an IND submission for MS in the U.S. SM17 (a humanized anti-IL-7RB monoclonal antibody for injection), another key product of the Company, its first healthy subject had been successfully dosed in a Phase I First-in-Human (FIH) clinical trial in the U.S. in June this year and the subjects are currently in normal condition.

Previously, SinoMab appointed Mr. Shanchun WANG as the President (China) of the Company, mainly responsible for the China operation. Mr. Wang has rich experience in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 30 years, served as the executive director of Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited and the president of Chia Tai – Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., and is a specialist that granted the special government allowances of the State Council and awarded as a national model worker. SinoMab's dedication to the field of autoimmune diseases and its vision of growing into a global leader in novel treatments of immunological diseases is highly consistent with the development model of Mr. Wang's service enterprises in the past. As one of the leaders in the biopharmaceuticals enterprise in China with rich experience and practical achievements in corporate strategic management, organizational management, innovation research and development and product commercialization, Mr. Wang's engagement as the President (China) of the Company will help expediting the Company's development from a global drug research and development enterprise to a biopharmaceutical company bearing commercialization capabilities and international perspective.

Dr. Shui On LEUNG, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of SinoMab said that: "The Company is deeply honored to be awarded the "Most Valuable Pharmaceutical and Medical Company" in the selection of the "7th Hong Kong Golden Stocks Awards", which reflects the capital market's recognition of the Company's value, innovation capabilities and growth potential, and is a great encouragement to the Company. In the future, the Company will, in line with its original purposes, endeavor to discover and develop innovative drug targets, explore therapies for immune diseases, accelerate R&D and clinical trials of various products, and at the same time further expand the product pipeline and potential indications, accelerate the realization of product commercialization, strive to bring benefits to patients and create values for shareholders and investors. With the imminent completion of the Phase III clinical trial of its flagship product SM03, the Company is poised for a new leap of increase in value."

About the Selection of the "7th Hong Kong Golden Stocks Awards"
The selection of the "7th Hong Kong Golden Stocks Awards" was jointly organized by Zhitongcaijing.com, a leading Hong Kong and US stock information platform in China, with RoyalFlush Finance and China Galaxy Securities. This selection was rigorous and attracted over 1,000 entries from Hong Kong-listed companies, covering traditional industries such as petrochemicals, finance, and automobiles, as well as emerging industries such as chips, Internet, and medical and pharmaceuticals, which are leading the transformation of China's economy.

About SinoMab BioScience Limited
SinoMab BioScience Limited (stock code: 3681.HK) is dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of immunological diseases. The Company's flagship product SM03 is a potential global first-in-target mAb against CD22 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is currently in Phase III clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis in China, which has been recognized as one of the significant special projects of Significant New Drugs Development of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan Period and the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan Period. In addition, the Company possesses other potential first-in-target and first-in-class drug candidates, some of which are already in clinical stage, with their indications covering rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Alzheimer's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), pemphigus (PV), multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), asthma, and other diseases with major unmet clinical needs.


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

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA) Announces 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 20 December 2022

SINGAPORE, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Incorporated ("SoPa" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia's (SEA) next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces that it will hold its 2021 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of shareholders at 9:00 A.M. US Eastern time, or at 10:00 P.M. Singapore time, on Tuesday, 20 December 2022 to be held virtually here from Society Pass' headquarters at Grace Global Raffles, #14-01, 137 Market Street, Singapore 048943. The Company's Schedule 14A was filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on 01 December 2022.


The Company's annual report can be downloaded at here ( https://thesocietypass.com/index.php/investor-relations/ ). The Company's Form 10-K, including its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2021, has been filed with the SEC and can be accessed on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Shareholders will vote on proposals for the election of board members, the amendment to the Company's equity incentive plan and the ratification of the selection for the independent registered public accounting firm for approval at the AGM. The AGM will also serve as a forum for management to discuss Company affairs with shareholders.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on 21 October 2022 as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the shareholders entitled to attend the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Holders of record of the Company's common and preferred shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the AGM and any adjournment or postponement thereof virtually. Holders of record of the Company's common and preferred shares planning to attend the AGM in person are required to indicate their interest to attend the AGM by following the procedures indicated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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

Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund and The Education University of Hong Kong Launch Scholarship for Elite Athletes

HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Nissin Foods Company Limited ("Nissin Foods", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; Stock code: 1475) has announced the launch of the Nissin Foods Scholarship for Elite Athletes by Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund ("Charity Fund") and The Education University of Hong Kong ("EdUHK").
Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Chairman of Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund (middle right), and Professor Stephen CHEUNG Yan Leung, President of EdUHK (middle left), announced the launch of the Nissin Foods Scholarship for Elite Athletes. The four scholarship recipients for the 2022-2023 academic year are – Mr. Dickson TAM Joe Dick (first from left); Mr. WONG Hong Ching (second from left); Mr. CHOI Kwan Lok (first from right) and Ms. FU Chi Yan (second from right).


The Scholarship is intended to encourage elite athletes who are on the Bachelor of Health Education (Honors) program or the Postgraduate Diploma in Education program at EdUHK to continuously pursue excellence in their athletic performance and their studies to become educators of health in the future. The four scholarship recipients for the 2022-2023 academic year are: Mr. CHOI Kwan Lok (cycling, retired); Ms. FU Chi Yan (badminton); Mr. Dickson TAM Joe Dick (triathlon, retired); and Mr. WONG Hong Ching (shuttlecock).

Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Chairman of Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund, said, "As a leading food manufacturer, we are not only committed to exploring food-related possibilities and creating fabulous tastes, but also nurturing talents for the food industry and the society. This is why we launched the Scholarship for Elite Athletes. We believe that by cultivating a healthy lifestyle among young people through food and sports, a new crop of elite athletes will emerge to carry on the Team Nissin spirit – passing it on from one generation to the next."

Professor Stephen CHEUNG Yan Leung, President of EdUHK, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Charity Fund for their generous donation, and added, "The establishment of the scholarship enables current and retired athletes to diversify their career development. We also hope the perseverance and indomitable spirit these student-athletes demonstrate will set a good example for other students."

Ms. ZHANG Ling, Sports Ambassador of Nissin Foods and former Hong Kong No. 1 tennis player, said, "I am glad to see our society showing greater care and appreciation towards athletes and supporting them in different ways. As a professional tennis player, I understand very well the many challenges that elite athletes face and what they need. I'm proud to be part of a team responsible for creating a better learning environment for potential teachers, which will ultimately help various beneficiaries, including the children in need. Through our collaborative efforts, we will play an active role in cultivating future leaders who will have a positive impact on Hong Kong, making it an even better place."

About Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund
The Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund ("Charity Fund") was set up in September 2020 by way of a trust deed by Nissin Foods Company Limited (Stock code: 1475). The Charity Fund obtained the tax exemption status for charitable institutions accorded by section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) in September 2021. The objectives of the Charity Fund are: a) to advance education, teaching, learning, arts, science and academic research; b) to make provision for people in need; and c) to carry out works of a charitable nature that are beneficial to the Hong Kong community.


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

Tianyun International Successfully develop new Fruit Chunks Vitamin Sports Drink and Fruit Enzyme Sports Drink, Accelerates our expansion to the functional beverage market

HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Tianyun International Holdings Limited ("Tianyun International", together with its subsidiaries, (the "Group") (Stock Code: 6836.HK), a leading seller and manufacturer of processed fruit products in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), is pleased to announce that following the successful launch of the Group's own brand "Shiok Party" vitamin sports drink and "Yao Guo Ji" chunky fruit beverages, the Group is planning to launch its latest products, the Fruit Chunks Vitamin Sports Drink and Fruit Enzyme Sports Drink. These new series of beverages are entering the preparation stage of production and sales, while all the research and development work has been successful completed. The beverages are expected to be launched in early 2023 and will further accelerate the Group's expansion to the growing functional beverage market.
New Fruit Chunks Vitamin Sports Drink (For Reference Only)

New fruit Enzyme Sports Drink ( For Reference Only)


The upcoming series of Fruit Chunks Vitamin Sports Drink combines chunks of fruit, such as peaches and apples. The product can not only boost energy level, but also help fight fatigue and stay awake. Additionally, the fruit chunks in this featured product can provide consumers with a satisfying chewing sensation and a rich fruit flavour, which can be adapted to a variety of scenes, including daily life, sports and fitness, studying, entertainment and travel. It is a perfect choice to boost energy level and improve efficiency.

Apples and peaches are used in the newly developed Fruit Enzyme Sports Drink series . The products mainly provide the enzyme concept that meets the needs of daily life. With a variety of different health effects, it is a functional beverage launched to meet the increasing public health awareness. These series of products belong to the "Medical, Health and Health Food Processing" industry which is among the "Top Ten" industries of "Shandong Province New and Old Dynamic Energy Conversion Major Project Implementation Plan", and is in line with the development trend of the national and Shandong provincial industries.

Mr. Yang Ziyuan, Chairman and CEO of the Group said, "With the increasing health awareness and the change of consumers' consumption concepts and dietary preferences,the functional beverage market has been growing rapidly in recent years and the scenes of drinking have been expanding, providing an unprecedented development opportunity for this market. In line with the implementation of the "Healthy China 2030" strategy, the Group is leveraging its industry experiences and strengths to launch two new featured beverages that are distinctive and different from some similar products in the market. While this is in line with the Group's strategic approach of enriching its product range and brand portfolio, it also meets customers' needs and consumers' evolving tastes. With the increasing diversification of our products, the Group is expected to further enhance its competitiveness in the functional beverage market, especially in the sports drink segment."

Mr. Yang continues, "Based on the theory of modern nutrition and sports medicine, the Group's new series of functional beverages can provide nutritional supplements and a variety of health benefits including immune system enhancement, slimming, anti-ageing, sports muscle building and intestinal tract conditioning. We believe that our products will arouse positive reactions after officially launched. As the market demand for functional beverages and processed fruit products continues to increase, the Group will continue to actively develop and innovate,and to bring more kinds of functional beverages and snack food products. To meet the needs of the market, we will contine to actively drive high-quality development in order to repay the community and consumer's support and trust on us."

About Tianyun International Holding Limited (Stock Code: 6836.HK)
Tianyun International Holdings Limited (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Group") are principally engaged in (i) the research and development, production and sales of processed fruit packaged in metal containers, plastic cups, glass containers and aluminum foil bags and beverages ii) trading of fresh fruit. Processed fruit products are sold both under its own brands "Bingo Times", "fruit zz" and "Tiantong Times" and on an OEM basis. The beverages are sold under its own brand Shiok Party "Shiok Party" and "Yao Guo Ji".

The Group has been consistently committed to providing its customers with healthy and safe products. As a food enterprise with one of the most complete quality certifications, we rigorously adhere to stringent international production standards and are accredited with BRC (A), IFS Food (High), FDA(FSMA), HALAL, SC, KOSHER, BSCI and ISO22000, etc. in respect of our production facilities, quality control and management. The Group has also passed the internal food-production standards reviews and audits from several UK and US supermarket chains. At the same time, as a Chinese "Equal production line; Equal standard; Equal quality" food production and export enterprise, the Group has been supplying products of equivalent quality to domestic and international markets. Since 2016, the Group's own-brand processed fruit products have continued to achieve high market recognition, and have also been awarded the honor and qualification of "China Canned Product Quality Certification Label" by national associations.

The Group was awarded China's Most Promising Listed Companies by internationally-renowned financial magazine Forbes, and the "2017 Linyi Mayor Quality Award" by the PRC government in 2017. The Group's new and proprietary researched, developed and produced pure fruit snack food received a national "Certificate of Invention Patent" in 2018. The Group was awarded the national Hi-tech Enterprise Certificate in 2019. In 2020, the Group was recognised as one of the Most Valuable Chinese Brands for the fourth consecutive year.

For more information, please visit www.tianyuninternational.com


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

Indonesian new criminal code respects privacy, human rights

JAKARTA, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesia clarifies that the New Criminal Code was drafted carefully and obeys Human Rights aspects, following the emergence of reactions related to the ratification of the code.


Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej on Friday stated the criminal code was drafted carefully by paying attention to the balance of the interests of individuals, the state, and the public and by taking into account Indonesia's multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural condition.

Some of the articles criticized by the public include those related to privacy, freedoms of the press, and human rights. One of the issues is regarding the adultery and cohabitation articles in the code.

Hiariej clarified that the adultery and cohabitation articles are complaint-based. Thus, the perpetrator should only be prosecuted on the basis of a complaint, which can only be made by their spouse (for those who are married) or parents or children (for those who are not married).

The articles, he says, are aimed at protecting people from acts of arbitrariness. "When these articles are regulated in the criminal code, there would definitely be no raids," he added.

Additionally, the Spokesman of the Dissemination Team of the New Criminal Code, Albert Aries, clarified the criminal code has never given additional administrative requirements for tourism players to question people about their marital status. Aries affirmed that people's privacy is still guaranteed by law in Indonesia, of course, without reducing respect for the values that the country holds.

A criminologist from the University of Indonesia, Adrianus Meliala, expressed optimism that the implementation of the cohabitation article will not violate human rights since it is complaint-based. He said that law enforcement officers must face the discourse with real actions.

Apart from adultery and cohabitation, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are among the issues that have been addressed.

Regarding freedom of expression, deputy minister Hiariej stated that the new criminal code made a clear distinction between critics and defamation. He explained that critics should not be criminalized as they are in the interest of the public in a democratic society, while defamation is deemed a criminal act in any country.

He further said that the freedom of the press is also ensured as the criminal code adopted one of the provisions of the Law on the Press, which states that critics are a form of supervision or public scrutiny.

The spokesman Aries affirmed that the criminal code is in accordance with human rights. "It is not true to say that the Indonesian Criminal Code is inconsistent with human rights," he stated. The criminal code, says Aries, regulates everything by paying attention to the balance between human rights and human obligations.

In order to pay respect to the general law principles that apply universally, the criminal code adopts the substance of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Treaty of Rome 1950). The code also adopts the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the New York Convention, 1966), and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, December 10, 1984.

Written by: Raka Adji, Editor: Rahmad Nasution (c) ANTARA 2022

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

Indonesia encourages ASEAN-EU partnership conducted based on equality

JAKARTA, Dec 18, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo attended the 45th ASEAN-European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit held in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday (December 14).


In his remarks at the Summit, President Jokowi stressed that the partnership between ASEAN and the European Union countries must be based on equality and there should be no coercion. "If we want to build a better partnership, that partnership must be based on equality and without coercion. There can no longer be parties who always dictate and think that their standard is better than others," he stated. Jokowi said that the 45 years of ASEAN and the European Union partnership had produced some good results.

However, he also acknowledged that not all partnerships can always be good so that some differences must be resolved to create a good one. Therefore, Jokowi asked member countries of the European Union to be able to partner in equality with ASEAN countries.

President Widodo had encouraged that the good relation and economic cooperation between the two regional organizations and all countries in the two regions must continue to be strengthened.

Earlier, he also stated that Indonesia has always encouraged closer cooperation between ASEAN and the EU, who has been an important trading partner of ASEAN. "The trade value between ASEAN and the European Union in 2021 reached US$268.9 billion. The value is the third largest after China and the United States," he said.

Apart from trade, Jokowi also mentioned that the European Union also plays an important role in foreign direct investment in ASEAN region, with an investment value of up to US$26 billion in 2021, which is the second largest investment after China. Vice versa, ASEAN is an increasingly important partner for the EU given the region's steady economic growth.

For decades, ASEAN has become an economic powerhouse that offers mutually beneficial cooperation since it has the productivity advantage from each country in the region. "All projections say that Southeast Asia will remain a center of growth. Thus, the partnership with ASEAN will certainly be profitable," Jokowi pointed out.

In fact, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the ASEAN region's economy will remain stable with growth reaching 4.3 percent amid the possibility of a multidimensional crisis at the global level in 2023.

Such an estimation is also reflected on the theme that Indonesia will carry out during its chairmanship in ASEAN next year — "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth", with three priority agendas, namely recovery-rebuilding, digital transformation, and sustainability.

Based on survey from the EU-ASEAN Business Council, some 63 percent of respondents view ASEAN as the region with the best economic opportunities. Meanwhile, 69 percent of respondents expect the ASEAN market to become more important in terms of global revenue in the next two years. Moreover, some 97 percent of respondents expressed hope that negotiation of the ASEAN-EU free trade agreement (FTA) will be accelerated and make good progress to be concluded.

Therefore, regarding the ASEAN-EU long standing relationship, President Jokowi urged all countries in the two regions to build an equal and mutually beneficial partnership in order to recover from the pandemic and the multidimensional crisis that both are currently facing. "We learned an important lesson… that to grow and to prosper together is the only option. We don't only have to move forward together, but we also have to move forward equally. Let us have a better future together," Jokowi concluded.

Written by: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

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

Sportsman Shikhar Dhawan launches $75M Global SportsTech Venture Fund

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec 17, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – International cricketer and entrepreneur Shikhar Dhawan has launched Da One Global Ventures (DOGV), a $75 million Global SportsTech Venture Fund focusing on innovation across the Sports spectrum. The multi-stage fund, with a greenshoe option of $25 million, is to incorporate in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), with its vibrant business ecosystem and robust regulatory framework, and include a SportsTech Accelerator and eSports Venture Studio as distinguishing verticals within its platform.
International Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan announcing $75M Global SportsTech Venture Fund, Nov 14, 2022 [Da One Global Ventures]


This is the first VC fund organized by an Asian sportsperson and Indian celebrity. Mr Dhawan introduced his partners and the team at Da One Global Ventures during his keynote at the LP-GP Summit, part of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), the prestigious economic forum for world leaders to gather and address strategic macroeconomic and financial topics which will shape regional and global perspectives for the years to come.

Shikhar Dhawan, a highly reputed name in the cricket world today, established a seasoned team as the fund's General Partner (GP) leading the investment thesis across the Sports spectrum – from SportsTech to eSports, and Gaming to Web3. The fund will be global in nature, as will its sports personalities, representing multiple sports as Limited Partner (LP) Ambassadors. This unique network will allow unprecedented access to sports ecosystems of the world, mobilizing investment and accelerating growth.

Shikhar Dhawan comments: "I am elated to start new innings and embark on this journey through the world of venture capital. All of this is only possible with the support of my commercial partners, and the commitment of Da One Global Ventures to the fund, readying for this week's announcement and targeted deployment in Q1 2023-24.

DOGV will go beyond traditional investing models, providing domain knowledge and accessing the global sporting ecosystem. We aim to scale greater heights and set new benchmarks for Sports Technology Venture Capital. I have much gratitude toward sports and look forward to the contributions of this fund to the economic strength, and the growth of Sports.

This year has been spectacular for SportsTech, with investments to the tune of $12 billion already, more than the preceding three years combined, covering multiple segments, and illustrating the rapid growth in this dynamic industry. We are in active discussion with various stakeholders across the ecosystem, and developments will be announced in due course."

Shikhar Dhawan is a leading Indian cricketer. A left-handed opening batsman and occasional captain of the India national team, he captains Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League and plays for Delhi in first-class cricket. For his notable contributions to the Indian Men's National Cricket Team, Shikhar Dhawan was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President of India in 2021.

For further details –
Mr Amitesh Shah,
Da One Global Ventures
E: ceo@daonegroup.org

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