Nonfinite Web3 Crypto Exchange Announces their Institutional partner

NEW YORK, NY, Dec 7, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Nonfinite is proud to announce that Nonfinite will be using Binance as one of their liquidity partner for the BTC/USDT spot trading via Binance, Kucoin, and Bitfinex Instituional. Nonfinite will allow their users to deposit and withdraw to their Binance, Kucoin, and Bitfinex wallet address instantly without fees.

Oh Shen King, CEO of Nonfinite labels this as the swap transaction optimization. Nonfinite users can save gas fees. At the same time, they are able save the energy consumption on blockchain mining. Currently the declared blockchain mining consumption is taking up as much 150 terawatt-hours of electricity annually.

Nonfinite runs crypto business for years, but they care about solutions to minimize carbon neutrality footprint. Nonfinite also provide their users with a new feature, they call it as Checker.

Nonfinite CEO says, “Checker allows our users to identify or check their incoming transaction address sources are reputable or flagged addresses. Sometimes, an address could be link to multiple transaction which involve illegal issues or money laundry. Checker can provide a good solution for a more secure trading environment.”

Nonfinite CEO adds, “We don’t want our big whales, wallet address link to all those activity, we doing our best to serve our whales and traders. With this feature Nonfinite user able to verify the sender address first before accept the crypto from the sender, as well as their receiver address is in good standing before sending them crypto. We will do our best to serve big whales and traders. With Checker’s solution, all users are able to verify the sender’s address before accepting crypto payment. Also they can make it clear if the recipient address in good condition before sending the crypto to them.”

Nonfinite is also currently in progress to join Blockchain.info Kucoin, and Coinbase’s institutional partner program.

Social Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonfinite.ex

Media Contact
Media team, Nonfinite
Email: admin@nonfinite.com
Website: https://nonfinite.com

SOURCE: Nonfinite

Deloitte Hong Kong celebrates 50th anniversary and commits to empower 10,000 local secondary school students in the next five years

HONG KONG, CHINA, Dec 7, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and Deloitte's 50th anniversary in Hong Kong. To celebrate this landmark, Deloitte today announces the launch of a new talent development initiative – INspire HK: Future Ready Talent – with a commitment to empower 10,000 Hong Kong secondary school students in the next five years to become future-ready talent with strong national connectivity and a global vision.

Mr. Patrick Tsang, Deloitte China CEO (Left); Mr. Edward Au, Deloitte China Southern Region Managing Partner (Right)

Mr. Patrick Tsang, Deloitte China CEO

Through a diversified, one-of-a-kind learning experience, INspire HK: Future Ready Talent focuses on boosting local young talent's 'future skills' by enhancing their knowledge of advanced technology and innovation capabilities, equipping them with a global mindset to promote national development.

With the arrival of the digital economy, many countries have in recent years introduced strategies to compete for talent to build an innovative economy. Amid a shortage of talent, the HKSAR Government rolled out a series of aggressive measures in the recent Policy Address to attract high-caliber global talent to Hong Kong, with a view to furthering the development of the 'eight centers' and integration into the national economy, while injecting new impetus into local economic growth and diversification.

Deloitte China CEO Patrick Tsang says, "As a locally-rooted and globally connected integrated professional services organization, Deloitte China has been steadfast in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility to support China's strategy on developing a quality workforce in the new era for robust and sustainable growth."

"Hong Kong is where we laid the foundation for our success today, and we continue to be committed to contributing our strengths to develop the next generation of local talent, and support Hong Kong's future growth and prosperity. In addition to our participation in the HKSAR Government's Strive and Rise Programme(1), with our strong local and global networks, deep market insights, and advanced digital capabilities, INspire HK: Future Ready Talent can become an impactful platform to nurture future-ready young talent for Hong Kong."

An integral part of Deloitte's INspire HK strategy(2), INspire HK: Future Ready Talent supports the development of secondary four to six students through a series of diversified training and learning activities, aiming to help them enhance their international perspectives, understand emerging technologies and business trends, and broaden exposure to work environments across geographies.

Combining theory and practice, the program will offer interactive online and offline learning courses, job shadowing, visits to Deloitte offices in China, as well as Deloitte University in Beijing and its sister institutions around the world.

Besides providing traditional business and financial knowledge, the program will be structured around Hong Kong's 'eight centers' positioning, covering the 'ABCDEF' concepts (AI, blockchain, cloud, data analytics, ESG, fintech, etc) to help students become 'future-ready' talent by strengthening key 'future skills' in sustainable development, innovative technology, and digital.

The program will also help students gain insights into the development and prospects of various markets, while encouraging them to expand their horizons and cultivate creative, multi-perspective thinking to create more future opportunities.

Tsang says, "Established on the concept of 'National Connection. Global Vision. INspiring youth to shape a better future', INspire HK: Future Ready Talent not only demonstrates our commitment to talent development, but also reflects our confidence in Hong Kong and aspiration to create a brighter future for a city that we are proud to call our home for 50 years."

Note:
(1). 'Strive and Rise': Deloitte Foundation Hong Kong uplifts youth for brighter futures | Deloitte China | Newsroom (Deloitte.com)
(2). Deloitte announces HKD1 billion strategic investment in Hong Kong | Deloitte China | Newsroom (Deloitte.com)

About Deloitte China

Deloitte China provides integrated professional services, with our long-term commitment to be a leading contributor to China's reform, opening-up and economic development. We are a globally connected and deeply locally-rooted firm, owned by its partners in China. With over 20,000 professionals across 30 Chinese cities, we provide our clients with a one-stop shop offering world-leading audit & assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, business advisory and tax services.

We serve with integrity, uphold quality and strive to innovate. With our professional excellence, insight across industries, and intelligent technology solutions, we help clients and partners from many sectors seize opportunities, tackle challenges and attain world-class, high-quality development goals.

The Deloitte brand originated in 1845, and its name in Chinese denotes integrity, diligence and excellence. Deloitte's professional network of member firms now spans more than 150 countries and territories. Through our mission to make an impact that matters, we help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society and a sustainable world.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ("DTTL"), its global network of member firms, and their related entities (collectively, the "Deloitte organization"). DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") and each of its member firms and related entities are legally separate and independent entities, which cannot obligate or bind each other in respect of third parties. DTTL and each DTTL member firm and related entity is liable only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of each other. DTTL does not provide services to clients.

Deloitte Asia Pacific Limited is a company limited by guarantee and a member firm of DTTL. Members of Deloitte Asia Pacific Limited and their related entities, each of which are separate and independent legal entities, provide services from more than 100 cities across the region.

Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.

Disclaimer

This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ("DTTL"), its global network of member firms or their related entities (collectively, the "Deloitte organization") is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser.

No representations, warranties or undertakings (express or implied) are given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in this communication, and none of DTTL, its member firms, related entities, employees or agents shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly in connection with any person relying on this communication. DTTL and each of its member firms, and their related entities, are legally separate and independent entities.

2022. For more information, please contact Deloitte China.

Contact: Ashley Leung
Tel: +852 2109 5261
Email: asleung@deloitte.com.hk

Contact: Lyanna Chan
Tel: +852 2238 7111
Email: lyachan@deloitte.com.hk

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

NUNMN and Nulab Technology LTD. Supplements Opening Their Online Store to the Hong Kong Market

HONG KONG, Dec 7, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – NUNMN, part of Nulab Technology Ltd., is a rapidly-expanding company in Canada that offers 99.5% pure NMN supplements and they are now available in the Hong Kong market. Previously only sold throughout Canada and the US, Nulab Technology LTD has decided to expand its sales and provide NMN supplements to customers in Hong Kong, as an entry point to the Asian market.

During a recent interview, Nulab Technology LTD president Alan M. had this to say: ''Each year, the supplement receives a high volume of new users from all corners of the world. We have had inquiries from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, Oceania & North America. All our products are authorized by Health Canada as they improve health performance and meet consumer demands. Hong Kong is just part of the second phase of our global expansion plan!"

According to Alan M., NUNMN and Nulab Technology LTD's recent expansion is only the start. They have already initiated market research to gain a foothold in the European and South American markets as well.

Nulab Technology LTD's president said that originally starting in Canada as a health supplement supplier, they have now reached customers all over the world with their global network and website.

Now that they have consistent customers in Canada and that the US market is growing, they have brought the business to a point where expanding makes even more sense. After months of research, testing, and preparation, they are officially opening their online store to the Hong Kong market.

About NUNMN & Nulab Technology LTD

NUNMN is a leading beauty and wellness company with offices in Canada, the US, and soon in Hong Kong. They are committed to redefining wellness and chronological age in terms of biological age.

David Sinclair, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, discovered that NMN (99.5%) can be widely consumed to improve health and metabolism, and brain function as well as cardiovascular improvement.

The nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) molecule is converted into the vital and well-known chemical compound nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). The human body uses NAD+ to fuel a plethora of processes, including DNA damage repair, energy production, and boosting immunity. Therefore, it aids in maintaining high metabolism and keeping overall bodily functions healthy.

Media Contact:
Alan M.
Email: hello@nunmn.com
Website: https://nunmn.com/zh/
Phone: 1(888) 666-6851

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

Series of “Overseas Talents’ China Visit to Shenzhen” Events Successfully Held

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – A series of “Overseas Talents’ China Visit to Shenzhen” events were successfully held in Guangming district, Shenzhen from November 21 to 22. The events were co-organized by Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel.

The events are hosted by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission, the Communist Party of China Guangming District Committee, and the Shenzhen Guangming District People’s Government.

Presented by Guangming District Talent Work Bureau and Guangming District High-level Talent Service Center and co-organized by Shenzhen International Personnel Exchange Center, the series of events feature visits and exchanges by foreign experts, a forum for global experts and an exchange activity for Chinese and foreign guests named “The Night of Guangming”, to name a few.

The foreign experts symposium under “Overseas Talents’ China Visit to Shenzhen” was held via video link in Beijing and Shenzhen on the afternoon of November 21.

Li Xin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Expert Services of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Xia Bing, Deputy Director of China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, Cheng Buyi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Minister of the Organization Department, Cai Ying, Secretary of the Guangming District Party Committee, attended the meeting and delivered speeches through online and offline channels. Qiu Haohang, Deputy Secretary of the Guangming District Party Committee and Chief of Guangming District, presided over the meeting.

The events gathered academicians and experts from six countries, including the US, the UK, Italy, Germany, France and Cuba, putting the spotlight on topics such as original innovation breakthroughs, scientific research and economic development, talents opening up, and talent highland construction.

Answering the requirements of “facing the world’s scientific and technological frontier, facing the main economic battlefield, facing major national strategic needs and facing people’s life and health”, the series of activities gave Shenzhen a thorough examination and offered suggestions based on the city’s industrial development characteristics and its environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Aimed at tapping into the innovation plateau with talents, the events help the Guangming district to speed up the construction of a world-class science city and to become a representative and pioneer for Shenzhen’s participation in future technology competitions.

During the events, foreign experts also visited Shenzhen Engineering Biological Industry Innovation Center, Feiyada Museum, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Dadingling Greenway — Hongqiao Park and other research institutes and key enterprises. They listened to the introduction of institutions, and exchanged with scientific and technological personnel, laying the foundation for future cooperation.

Media contact
Wang Chan, Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel
Email: wangchan@ciep.gov.cn
Tel: 0755-81707961; 0755-81773121
Website: http://www.ciep.gov.cn/

SOURCE: Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel

CMS (867.HK) Joins Hand with Incyte on Ruxolitinib Cream, Brings 1st Repigmentation Drug for Vitiligo Patient

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – China Medical System Holdings Limited (CMS, 867.HK) acquired another blockbuster innovative product in dermatology filed. On December 2, CMS announced that it had, through one of its subsidiaries, a dermatology medical aesthetic company (“CMS Aesthetics”), reached a collaboration agreement with Incyte, a global biopharmaceutical company, obtaining the license for the development, production, registration and commercialization of Ruxolitinib Cream in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and eleven countries in Southeast Asia (“Territory”), commencing on its effective date and with a royalty term of ten years from the date of the products’ first commercialization in the Territory, which, after expiration, may be renewed for another 10 years or longer as per certain conditions.

Ruxolitinib Cream is the only topical JAK inhibitor and the first vitiligo repigmentation drug approved by the U.S. FDA. Through this transaction, CMS once again brings a novel treatment option for patients with unmet medical needs.

The first and only vitiligo repigmentation therapy approved by the U.S. FDA

Ruxolitinib Cream is a cream formulation of Incyte’s first-in-Class medicine, ruxolitinib, selectively inhibits Janus kinase 1 and 2 (JAK1/JAK2), with composition patent, formulation patent and use patent.

The product was approved by the FDA in July 2022 for the topical non-segmental vitiligo patients. Previously, it was approved by the FDA in September 2021 for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. The product also has the potential to meet the clinical needs of other autoimmune inflammatory dermatological diseases.

In July this year, Ruxolitinib Cream became the first and only drug approved by the U.S. FDA for vitiligo patients repigmentation. This approval was mainly supported by the positive results of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical studies (TruE-V1 and TruE-V2), specifically:

Primary endpoint: At week 24, approximately 30% of patients treated with Opzelura (Ruxolitinib Cream) achieved ≥75% improvement from baseline in the facial Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (F-VASI75), compared to approximately 8% and 13% of patients treated with vehicle in TRuE-V1 and TRuE-V2, respectively. At Week 52, approximately 50% of Opzelura-treated patients achieved F-VASI75.
Key secondary endpoints: at Week 24, more than 15% of patients treated with Opzelura (Ruxolitinib Cream) achieved ≥90% improvement from baseline in F-VASI (F-VASI90), compared to approximately 2% of patients treated with vehicle. At week 52, the percentage of patients treated with Opzelura (Ruxolitinib Cream) that achieved F-VASI90 doubled to approximately 30%.

Ruxolitinib Cream is a topical preparation with long-term safety performance proven by pivotal clinical trials for 52 weeks, in which no serious drugs-related adverse events reported.

Ruxolitinib Cream brings novel treatment option for vitiligo patients

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by localized or generalized depigmentation of the skin and mucous pigment and gradually enlarged and irreversible white spots. Vitiligo is more likely to occur in areas with exposed skin such as the face, neck and limbs, and it is initially found in heads and faces of about 40% vitiligo patients. As the disease seriously affects the appearance of patients, and the incidence among young people and women is high, extensive patient with vitiligo are suffering from the “appearance anxiety”. At the same time, some people prejudice against vitiligo patients and estrange from them with the misconception that vitiligo is contagious, hereditary, etc., which have aggravated the patients’ stigma in their daily life. According to a paper published in The Lancet, it is estimated that there are about 14 million people with vitiligo in China, and nearly 6.5 million people with vitiligo in 11 countries in Southeast Asia.

At present, vitiligo is generally treated with off-label drugs combined with laser treatment in China. As vitiligo is a chronic disease, patients need long-term and continuous treatment. However, the existing off-label drugs for vitiligo, such as topical glucocorticoids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (TCI), have clinical pain points such as adverse reactions and uncertain efficacy with long-term medication.

Ruxolitinib Cream, with good efficacy and limited side effects, will fulfill the unmet clinical needs, provide an effective innovative therapy for vitiligo patients, and improve their quality of life.

Joining hands with Incyte, CMS wins Ruxolitinib Cream with strong competitiveness in dermatology filed

As a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the United States founded in 2002, Incyte, in partnership with CMS, is continuously advancing its drug pipeline in the fields of hematology/oncology and inflammation/autoimmunity. Incyte has licensed-out a number of its products to well-known pharmaceutical companies at home and abroad, such as Novartis (ruxolitinib tablets, for the treatment of myelofibrosis, etc.), Lilly (JAK inhibitors with oral administration, for the treatment of severe alopecia areata, etc.), Innovent (FGFR1 /2/3 inhibitors and other oncology drugs), Zai Lab (PD-1, for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors).

Ruxolitinib is a flagship product of Incyte. Since the first indication for Ruxolitinib Cream was approved in September 2021, its sales has grown rapidly. According to Incyte’s Report, the sales of Ruxolitinib Cream in the United States in 2021 was approximately USD$5 million, and approximately USD$30 million in the first half of 2022; Following approval of the indication for vitiligo, its sales revenue in the third quarter alone of 2022 rose rapidly to about $38 million, has surpassed total sales revenue in the first half of 2022.

As a flagship product, the collaboration on Ruxolitinib Cream in China and Southeast Asia markets must be very attractive to many well-known pharmaceutical companies in China. In the selection of partners for its flagship products, Incyte has clear criteria. According to public reports, the partner chosen by Incyte for the Ruxolitinib Cream in the Japan market is Maruho Co., Ltd. (founded in 1915), a leading dermatology pharmaceutical company in the Japanese market. With Ruxolitinib Cream as a medium, Incyte has obvious intentions to bring together top dermatology specialty companies.

The partnership between Incyte and CMS creates strong alliance that could make the most of respective strengths of each other in the dermatology field.

CMS has deeply rooted in the dermatology field for years, and promoted the independent operation of its dermatology line in January 2021, to improve scale efficiency of the business with in-depth development. As at June 30, 2022, CMS has built a dermatology promotion team of about 600 people, covering more than 20,000 dermatologists. Of its marketed dermatology products with professional brand image, Hirudoid (a skin barrier repair agent with multiple functions) has gained a leading market position in China; Aethoxysklerol is an international brand for the treatment of sclerotherapy of varicose veins with years of clinical application. At present, CMS Aesthetics has 8 marketed products and more than 10 pipelines products, covering dermatology prescription medicines, light medical aesthetic products, energy-based medical aesthetic devices and dermatology grade skincare products, and etc. While continuously enriching its product matrix, CMS Aesthetics is committed to becoming a leader in the dermatology field.

“We are excited to partner with CMS and leverage their dermatology expertise to expand the global opportunities for Ruxolitinib Cream as a potential treatment for patients with immune-mediated dermatologic conditions in China.” said Hervé Hoppenot, Chief Executive Officer, Incyte.

For this transaction, CMS expressed that it will leverage its own advantages in clinical development and commercialization to realize the marketing and sales of Ruxolitinib Cream in China and Southeast Asia as soon as possible, benefiting more patients. Meanwhile, it will continue to introduce high-quality innovative products globally with flexible, mutually beneficial collaboration models, and develop CMS Aesthetics into a leading company in dermatology, medical aesthetic health management in China.

Media Contact
Media Team, CMS
Email: ir@cms.net.cn
Website: http://www.cms.net.cn/

Source: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

Investigation and analysis of the three major challenges and advantages of developing business in the GBA

HONG KONG, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) have, for the first time, jointly released a survey study (Hong Kong – the Business Platform to Capitalise on Greater Bay Area Opportunities in the Post-pandemic Era).

Dr Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC (L) and Terence Chiu, Commissioner, HKECIC (R)

Irina Fan, Director of Research, HKTDC

The report found that Hong Kong companies are facing three major challenges: low-price competition, unfamiliarity with the Mainland legal/regulatory regimes, and financing and customer credit risks. However, opportunities coexist alongside the challenges. The companies surveyed expressed that Hong Kong enterprises have considerable unique advantages in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) market, including Hong Kong's brand reputation and capacity to bring in high-quality foreign products. As such, Hong Kong companies are advised to make good use of their advantages and use the GBA as a springboard to further develop the huge domestic sales market in the Mainland, while diversifying the risks of relying on the international market.

Terence Chiu, Commissioner, HKECIC, said: "The HKECIC and the HKTDC have jointly conducted a research study for the first time as many parts of the world, including Hong Kong and the Mainland, see economic and trade activities gradually restarting. Given the uncertainty in overseas markets such as Europe and the United States, the domestic market in the Mainland can provide another option for Hong Kong companies, with the GBA being the ideal springboard. The HKECIC has always attached great importance to the Mainland market and began to underwrite buyers decades ago, and indeed the Mainland is now our biggest insured market after the United States. Riding on the development of the GBA, we will continue to support Hong Kong companies to seize the opportunities offered through the dual circulation strategy that can help them develop their business in the Mainland market."

Dr Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said: "With a GDP of about US$1.96 trillion and GDP per capita of over US$22,500, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao (GBA) is clearly a bright spot for business growth amid challenging market conditions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical issues, interest rate hikes and inflation. The HKTDC has been strongly advocating the GBA, and our GoGBA digital platform has reached a viewership of more than 590,000 since its launch over a year ago, which demonstrates the business community's keen interest in the GBA opportunity. The HKTDC is very pleased to work with the HKECIC to conduct this research to further understand the pain points and needs of Hong Kong companies in developing the GBA market, and to collect opinions from and brainstorm with industry experts so as to make the GBA opportunity accessible by more Hong Kong companies."

In the third quarter of 2022, the HKTDC conducted a questionnaire survey on the "Greater Bay Area Domestic Market Development Strategy", surveying 413 Hong Kong companies that have either started developing domestic sales in the GBA or are planning to do so. Over 95% of the surveyed companies said they are facing various challenges, particularly those related to the pandemic such as disruptions in supply chain and production/sourcing activities as well as stringent border control measures. Besides, declining orders from overseas markets and spiralling costs have also dented business development.

Almost 70% of the respondents have sold directly to the Mainland buyers. Based on the weighted average amount, sales to the Mainland buyers account for 37.5% of the overall average annual sales of the respondents. Among them, over 90% have sold to Guangdong Province/the nine the Mainland GBA cities.

Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan are top three GBA cities in which Hong Kong companies have most interest

The Mainland GBA cities in which the companies surveyed are most interested in expanding into include Shenzhen (73.8%), Guangzhou (68.8%) and Dongguan (43.6%). Hong Kong companies mainly plan to sell products manufactured or sourced by them in the the Mainland as well as goods purchased from abroad to the GBA.

For sales channels, most of them sell to the Mainland importers/wholesalers (48.2%) and other business-to-business (B2B) channels. Almost 40% also sell directly to the Mainland consumers through websites or third-party platforms. Less than 14% of the surveyed enterprises have so far embarked on using e-commerce and internet applications to directly develop the GBA market. However, 65.1% would consider using these e-commerce applications to explore the Mainland market directly in the future.

Unfamiliarity with operation of the Mainland domestic market is biggest pain point for Hong Kong companies

Many survey respondents said they encounter various difficulties in expanding sales in the GBA, such as the Mainland market being flooded with cheap products (36.8%) and an unfamiliarity with the Mainland laws and regulations/product standards (35.8%). Some Hong Kong companies also mentioned issues relating to financing and customer credit (25.9%), including the lack of information on the credit background of the Mainland clients, capital shortage (23.5%), and the high risks of sales on credit (22.0%).

In addition, most Hong Kong companies would demand the buyer to make an advance payment (57.9%) or they would choose to bear the risks themselves (43.6%) in managing accounts receivable in the Mainland domestic sales. There are also a number of Hong Kong companies which buy credit insurance (14.0%) either directly in Hong Kong or through banks in Hong Kong.

To deal with the challenges involved, the companies surveyed said they need various support services, including promotion activities targeting the Mainland markets to identify buyers (33.2%) and marketing strategies for the GBA/Guangdong Province (31.5%). They also need support for a variety of financing and risk management services.

Hong Kong enterprises have unique advantages

In addition to the questionnaire survey, the HKTDC also conducted in-depth interviews with nine selected Hong Kong companies and industry representatives to better understand the views of the trade on how to bolster sales in the GBA.

Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: "Hong Kong companies should make more use of innovative technologies to map out e-commerce solutions and build integrated online/offline sales channels in regard to domestic sales in the Mainland, enhancing their production and operational efficiency to help them seize GBA opportunities in the post-pandemic era."

The companies surveyed believe that Hong Kong possesses various advantages in developing the GBA domestic market, including the good reputation enjoyed by Hong Kong brands or Hong Kong products on the Mainland (48.4%), and Hong Kong being good at bringing in quality and trendy products from overseas (43.3%).

The report also showed that products that are "Made in Hong Kong", "Made by Hong Kong" and "Designed by Hong Kong" are all well received in the Mainland market. As such, Hong Kong companies should formulate the right business strategy targeting the domestic market as part of their plan to develop the GBA market.

Domestic sales risk management is crucial

According to the report, enterprises engaging in domestic sales in the Mainland or exports are inevitably exposed to certain market and customer credit risks. As credit transparency in the Mainland is rather low, Hong Kong companies must take risk management seriously and seek professional services that can provide due diligence checks when necessary to find out about the business status and credit background of their clients. Apart from the option of avoiding sales on credit to clients, Hong Kong companies should also consider using such tools as credit insurance to strike a balance between market development and risk control.

References
– HKTDC Research Portal: http://research.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong – the Business Platform to Capitalise on Greater Bay Area Opportunities in Post-pandemic Era: https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTIzNDA4NTczNw
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3h5tFJM

About HKECIC

HKECIC was established in 1966 under the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance (Chapter 1115). Through the provision of export credit insurance services, HKECIC protects Hong Kong exporters who trade on credit terms with overseas buyers against non-payment risks and helps them conduct export business in a prudent manner. The HKSAR Government provides a guarantee of HK$55 billion for HKECIC's contingent liability.

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 The 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 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

HKECIC
Corporate Communication Division
Gina San
Tel: +852 2732 9998
Email: gina.san@hkecic.com

HKTDC
Corporate Communication & Marketing Department
Kate Chan
Tel: +852 2584 4239
Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org

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

Global pharma giants partner Singapore researchers to boost innovation in biologics and vaccines manufacturing

SINGAPORE, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Leading pharma companies GSK, Sanofi and Takeda will partner with research communities from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); National University of Singapore (NUS); Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and its innovation and enterprise company, NTUitive; and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to boost Singapore's biologics manufacturing capabilities.

BioPIPS MOU signing ceremony

Their partnership will be formalised through the Biologics Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (BioPIPS), a consortium initiated by A*STAR with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

BioPIPS seeks to use research and innovation to grow Singapore's manufacturing capabilities for biologics, which include recombinant therapeutic proteins, and vaccines. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, biologics and vaccines played a critical role globally in preventing severe disease and saving lives.

The consortium will bring together leading industry experts and Singapore's research ecosystem to enhance manufacturing productivity, improve operational efficiency and achieve sustainability goals. The consortium ultimately aims to make Singapore's biologics manufacturing capabilities best-in-class and well-positioned for the introduction of new products and novel manufacturing technologies.

"New opportunities will emerge as the biomanufacturing industry undergoes major changes brought about by the rapid pace of digitalisation, Industry 4.0, and the need for greater sustainability. As Singapore makes biopharma production a priority area in its Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan, A*STAR aims to contribute our R&D capabilities through BioPIPS to help make the local biomanufacturing industry become more agile and better positioned to benefit from new products and technologies," said Professor Lim Keng Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR.

"Riding on the success of PIPS, BioPIPS aims to enhance Singapore's innovation capabilities in biologics and vaccines manufacturing by leveraging the strengths of our leading pharmaceutical companies and institutes of higher learning. The programme will develop highly productive, sustainable and advanced production technologies and solutions. We look forward to deepening partnerships with like-minded companies to strengthen Singapore's position as a global biopharma manufacturing hub," said Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Executive Vice President, EDB.

Specifically, BioPIPS will have three workstreams.

– The Sensing and Modelling workstream aims to harness machine learning and mechanistic modelling technologies, together with smart sensors, to enable simplified and faster workflows. Data analytics will enable the effective translation of process knowledge gained into performance improvements, which in turn benefits the overall manufacturing process.

– The Sustainability workstream focuses on tackling sustainability challenges in biologics and vaccines manufacturing, which typically utilises single-use (disposable) equipment due to the extremely sterile environment needed for product purity. This workstream will explore the use of novel materials and circular economy approaches to address this challenge, as well as models to promote more sustainable and resilient supply chains.

– The Compliant Agility workstream focuses on the removal of manual tasks to achieve greater productivity in the manufacturing facilities while maintaining compliance status, by using solutions like robotics and advanced analytics.

BioPIPS is in line with Singapore's Manufacturing 2030 vision, which aims to anchor leading manufacturing activities to grow the country's manufacturing value-add by 50 per cent from 2020. The solutions developed through BioPIPS will also enhance Singapore's capabilities to meet the growing global demand for biologics and vaccines, as well as equip pharmaceutical companies here with the resources to scale up and respond more rapidly to future pandemics.

"By collaborating to tackle common challenges, we can leverage diverse skills and capabilities to create a sustainable manufacturing environment in Singapore. We also look forward to developing new ways to monitor and control our processes and automate our manufacturing operations," said Chan Siong Wan, Site Director, GSK.

"Sanofi is building a next generation manufacturing site, the EVolutive Facility, in Singapore, which will bring advanced digital and modular vaccine production capabilities to the Asia region. The BioPIPS programme's focus on transforming biologics and vaccines manufacturing through pre-competitive partnerships is aligned with Sanofi's vision for the EVolutive Facility, to continuously push the envelope of innovation for biopharmaceutical manufacturing," said Mr Koh Liang Hong, Site Head, EVolutive Facility, Sanofi.

"The objectives of BioPIPS are aligned to Takeda's ambitions of being net carbon zero in our operations by 2035 and how we can tap on data, digital and technology to transform our manufacturing site. We look forward to this partnership with Singapore's research ecosystem to further strengthen our capabilities, and discover new and sustainable ways to develop and manufacture innovative medicine to deliver on Takeda's commitment to Patient, People and Planet," said George Lam, Site Head, Takeda Manufacturing Singapore.

BioPIPS builds on the consortium model established by the Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS), which was set up to boost Singapore's capabilities for manufacturing of small molecule drugs made of chemical compounds.

"NUS is delighted to be a member of BioPIPS, contributing our capabilities in areas such as biocatalysis, reactor manufacturing, and digital factory. By leveraging the complementary strengths of A*STAR, EDB, the academia and the pharmaceutical industry, we can create a strong technology foundation for innovations that will bring about compelling improvements in productivity, operational efficiency and sustainability practices in Singapore's biopharma manufacturing sector," said Professor Thorsten Wohland, Director, Research Governance and Enablement, Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology), NUS.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for the biomanufacturing industry to be innovative and agile when dealing with challenges, including future pandemics and disease outbreaks. At the NTU Smart Campus, our scientists have been pioneering advanced solutions such as breathalysers that can detect Covid-19 in two minutes and a semi-autonomous robot that can disinfect surfaces. Such groundbreaking research underlines our commitment to the NTU 2025 strategic plan that aims to solve some of humanity's grand challenges, including addressing the needs and challenges of healthy living and ageing. With our strengths in interdisciplinary research and innovation, we hope to play our part to bolster the sector's manufacturing productivity and operational efficiency in a sustainable manner. We look forward to achieving meaningful results with our partners through this national consortium," said Professor Peter Preiser, Associate Vice President (Biomedical and Life Sciences), NTU Singapore.

"SIT is excited to be part of BioPIPS, which will inject next-generation process innovation into the local pharmaceutical industry. This partnership will allow SIT to strengthen its applied research capabilities in sustainable biopharma manufacturing technologies. Under this initiative, SIT will explore opportunities to work with manufacturers to apply digitalisation for process optimisation and better regulatory oversight while incorporating environmental considerations to progress production processes for the pharmaceutical industry," said Associate Professor Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT.

Image https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_astar20221206.jpg
A/Prof Susanna Leong, Vice President (Applied Research), SIT; Prof Thorsten Wohland, Director, Research Governance and Enablement, Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology), NUS; Prof Ng Huck Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR; Mr Chan Siong Wan, Site Director, GSK; Mr Tan Kong Hwee, Executive Vice President, EDB; Mr Koh Liang Hong, Site Head, EVolutive Facility, Sanofi; Mr George Lam, Site Head, Takeda Manufacturing Singapore; Prof Lim Keng Hui, Assistant Chief Executive, Science & Engineering Research Council, A*STAR; Prof Peter Preiser, President's Chair in Biological Science & Associate Vice President (Biomedical and Life Sciences), NTU Singapore; Mr David Toh, Director and Chief Executive Officer, NTUitive [L-R]

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Owen Sia (Mr)
Assistant Head, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6517 7866
Email: owen_sia@hq.a-star.edu.sg

Fabius Chen (Mr)
Senior Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications
Singapore Economic Development Board
Tel: +65 6832 6125
Email: fabius_chen@edb.gov.sg

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR's R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

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About the Singapore Economic Development Board

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for strategies that enhance Singapore's position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent. We undertake investment promotion and industry development, and work with international businesses, both foreign and local, by providing information, connection to partners and access to government incentives for their investments. Our mission is to create sustainable economic growth, with vibrant business and good job opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans. For more information on EDB, please visit www.edb.gov.sg.

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Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Fully Repays USD 45 Million Loan to IFC

JAKARTA, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – On 5th December 2022, Wintermar Group (WINS) fully repaid the US$45 million loan facility by IFC signed in December 2011. The IFC loan enabled Wintermar to transform the fleet into higher valued vessels through the purchase of 8 OSVs. Although the loan maturity had been extended to 2025, through better cash management the Company has been able to fully repay the loan early on December 2022.

Sugiman Layanto, Managing Director of WINS said, "Wintermar values IFC as a partner that has played an important role in the growth of Wintermar. Our relationship with IFC facilitated the Company's growth to become a recognised international shipowner and operator in the Offshore industry. With IFC's support, Wintermar has continued to develop and reaffirm its best practices in Environmental, Social as well as Corporate Governance standards. We are thankful that we have been able to complete this early repayment of the loan ahead of the repayment schedule. We look forward to continuing our relationship."

Azam Khan, IFC Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste said, "We are very pleased with IFC's long term partnership with Wintermar. It demonstrates IFC's commitment and continuous support to local clients even during challenging times. We look forward to continuing this relationship and supporting the company's new initiatives such as offshore wind and other renewable energy endeavors."

Wintermar has in recent months embarked on a fleet expansion program, with total acquisition of 2 PSVs in 2021 and 1 PSV and 5 AHTS in 2022 through internally generated cash and term loans of US$14 million. Net gearing after this repayment is still low at 8.9%, providing room for further growth in the coming years.

About Wintermar Offshore Marine Group

Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.

Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA
Investor Relations
PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk
Tel (62-21) 530 5201 Ext 401
Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com

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

Fintactics announces its new ventures Holoul and Leza’am; Signs MOU with Aion Digital and Bitfy Holdings at Trescon’s World Fintech Show

SAUDI ARABIA, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – World Fintech Show, a global fintech series managed by Trescon offered Saudi Arabia’s fintech industry a platform for significant advancement. The event witnessed the launch of Fintactics Studio and its commitment to shape the future of fintech in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. World Fintech Show, which was held at the InterContinental in Riyadh, aided in establishing strategic alliances aimed at transforming the financial services industry for the foreseeable future.

World Fintech Show played host to the announcement and commencement of numerous partnerships. Here are some exclusive highlights of the event.

Launch of Fintactics Studio and VC Fund:
Fintactics Studio, the first dedicated Fintech venture builder in the region supported by a 150Mn SAR CMA authorized VC fund, will concentrate on supporting internal businesses and investing in cutting-edge, high-growth fintech ventures throughout the kingdom, MENA, and the rest of the world.
Fintactics Venture Builder has emerged out of Revival Lab and is launched under Arbah Capital.

Trescon hosted senior executives from the organizations:

Saad AlMoammar, Chairman, Revival Lab
Mohammed Al Maghlouth, Co-Founder and CEO, Revival Lab
Haitham Al Sahafy, CEO, Fintactics
Hisham Al Rashed, Board Member, Arbah Capital
Mahmoud Koohaji, CEO, Arbah Capital

Partnership Agreement of Fintactics & Aion Digital
Success is contingent on having the ideal partnerships. Aion Digital, a digital banking platform that strives to revitalize banking through customer-centric digital transformations that are adaptable for financial institutions, is working with Fintactics as part of the builder’s mission to shape the financial landscape of the future. Both companies will be able to jointly develop and expand important digital products in the GCC and MENA thanks to this collaboration.

The signing included:

Haitham Al Sahafy, CEO, Fintactics
Mohammed Al Maghlouth, Managing Partner Fintactics
Abdulatif Al Rajhi, Chairman, Aion Digital
Ashar Nazim, Founder and CEO, Aion Digital

Signing of Reg-Tech (Lezaam) JV agreement
Businesses today require a fully digital onboarding experience to lead customers through their onboarding process as business resilience requirements and consumer expectations have grown. RegTech-as-a-Service with all features and capability required for digital onboarding and eKYC from journey orchestration, compliance and AML screening, and digital forensics is what Leza’am, a new joint venture between Fintactics and Aion Digital, is offering. Retail and corporate customers for GCC and non-GCC nationals with add-on services for fraud and risk management.

The signing included:

Haitham Al Sahafy, CEO, Fintactics
Mohammed Al Maghlouth, Managing Partner Fintactics
Abdulatif Al Rajhi, Chairman, Aion Digital
Ashar Nazim, Founder and CEO, Aion Digital

Partnership Agreement of Fintactics & Bitfy Holdings
To accelerate the adoption of Distributed Ledger Technologies in financial and non-financial verticals in the Kingdom, Fintactics has invested in Bitfy Holdings, a Brazilian-based venture pioneering “Blockchain as a Service” to offer tokenization of illiquid assets.
Through cooperation with the relevant regulatory bodies in the Kingdom, CMA & SAMA, Fintactics will be able to localize blockchain tokenization and securitization technologies of physical and illiquid assets. This investment was followed by a partnership at World Fintech Show.

The signing included:

Haitham Al Sahafy, CEO, Fintactics
Mohammed Al Maghlouth, Managing Partner Fintactics
Lucas Schoch, Founder and CEO Bitfy Holdings

Launch of Fintech (Holoul)

Utilizing the opportunity of being preset at World Fintech Show, the launch of the most recent Fintactics Venture, Holoul was announced.
In keeping with the Saudi residents’ Vision 2030, Holoul is a digital mortgage platform that focuses on facilitating and enhancing homeownership. In Saudi Arabia, the mortgage market is evolving quickly, and the results are very positive.
There is little doubt that numerous market dynamics and political encouragement from various bodies and ministries were the driving forces behind this. In addition, it’s a marketplace where customers can find a variety of luxury home products that suit their demands.

The signing included:

Haitham Al Sahafy, CEO, Fintactics
Mohammed Al Maghlouth, Managing Partner Fintactics
Basil Al Shamlan, Founder and CEO Holul Venture

About World Fintech Show

World Fintech Show is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused event that deep dives into the latest challenges and technology trends in Saudi Arabia’s financial services sector.
World Fintech Show sets the standard for financial innovation in the Kingdom by connecting global fintech experts, technology innovators and startups with pre-qualified CFOs, CEOs, CTOs, Heads of Business Transformation, Chief Digital Officers, Heads of Innovation, government authorities, and fintech investors from Saudi Arabia.
The event features exciting keynotes, enterprise use-case presentations, product showcase, panel discussions and tech talks. Witness next-gen fintech solutions from global tech leaders and explore their relevance and impact on organizations.

Learn more: World Fintech Show

About Trescon

Trescon is a global business events and consulting firm that provides a wide range of business services to a diversified client base.
With a deep understanding of the realities and requirements of the growth markets we operate in – we strive to deliver innovative and high-quality business platforms for our clients.

Learn more: Trescon

For further details about the announcement, please contact:

Nupur Aswani
Head – Media, PR and Corporate Communications, Trescon
+91 95559 15156 | media@tresconglobal.com

Novotech Awarded the Asia Pacific CRO of the Year 2022 for Best Practices in Clinical Trials

SYDNEY, AU, Dec 6, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO, has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan Company of the Year Award 2022 for Best Practices in the Asia-Pacific contract research organization industry. Novotech has been a recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Best Practices awards since 2006.

Frost & Sullivan identifies companies that consistently develop growth strategies based on a visionary understanding of the future, and effectively address new challenges and opportunities.

Frost & Sullivan said: "Our approach involves the deployment of best practices and strategic analytics across a value chain. Against this backdrop, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Novotech for its valuable achievement. Novotech addresses the global drug development market's unmet needs with a strong leadership focus that incorporates client-centric strategies with best-practice implementation. From feasibility assessments to regulatory submission support, data management, medical monitoring, and project management, the company provides a 360-degree approach to drug development for its biotech clients."

In response to the Company of the Year Award announcement, Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said this award is a credit to our entire global team which has decades of biotech drug development experience.

"Every day our team supports biotech companies in their drug development programs with unparalleled regulatory knowledge, vast site and investigator networks, technology-driven clinical data management, and a project management approach focused on problem-solving, ownership, and flexibility. Our global clients benefit from access to our expert teams in Asia Pacific, which is the fastest-growing clinical trial region, due to its vast patient populations and sophisticated medical research infrastructure. Our consistent investment in advanced training and technology systems combine to deliver a specialist full-service biotech CRO solution."

Novotech regularly produces expert reports on East-West strategies. A new publication is now available for international biotechs considering China for their clinical research, as well as China biotechs conducting research in China, and the relevant processes required for global regulatory approvals.

The report details regulatory requirements for biotechs including NDA and IND processes as well as ex-US research guidance for a successful US FDA approval pathway. Novotech can provide the relevant regulatory knowledge and drug development pathways specifically designed to support the US FDA approval process, avoiding delays and additional costs.

Download whitepaper here https://novotech-cro.com/whitepapers/china-biotech-landscape-opportunities-china-and-path-usfda-approval

Novotech has also recently been benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, is a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions delivering exclusive benefits for sponsors.

About Novotech

Novotech is the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO. Novotech has integrated labs and phase I facilities and provides drug development consulting and clinical development services across all phases. It has been instrumental in the success of approximately 4,000 clinical trials across a broad range of therapeutic areas. Novotech is well-positioned to serve biopharma clients conducting clinical trials in Asia-Pacific and the US. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contact

Media Contact
David James
E: communications@novotech-cro.com
AU: +61 2 8218 2144
USA: +1 415 951 3228
Asia: +65 3159 3427

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