Ziptrak Original Track-Guided Blinds System Resolves Top Pain Points for over 4,500 Singaporean Homes and Businesses

SINGAPORE, Nov 3, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Ziptrak(R), the original patented track-guided blind system based in Australia, has been making balcony and semi-outdoor spaces in Singapore more usable, protecting homes and businesses from sun glare, rain, noise, UV radiation and heat. To date, it has been installed in over 4,500 residences and commercial spaces with a proven track record of durability, where less than one percent of units installed required full replacements.

Track-guided blinds are designed so that the blind material moves along a track, preventing wind and insects from entering, and cold air to escape from. Unlike traditional cabled blinds, which flap about in the wind and are exposed at the sides, the blind material will remain in the tracks and continue to protect your spaces, come rain or shine. The trifecta of quality, experience and innovation has been making waves since the very first installation of Ziptrak blinds at IMM Outlet Mall in December 2012, to its introduction to the Singapore market in early 2017.

1. QUALITY – Every component is selected for its strength and durability; with a 2m by 2m blind being able to withstand a static load equivalent to wind speeds of 260km/hr. For a product that needs to withstand scorching sun, lashing winds and fierce rain, only the strongest and most durable, rust-free components are, and should be, used.

2. EXPERIENCE – With over 20 years of customer insights and feedback, Ziptrak is able to adapt and curate features that perform outstandingly in today's conditions, such as the RainOut fabric range, PestOut(R) Pelmet and Child Safety Latch which were introduced specifically to address concerns and pain points of the Singapore market.

3. INNOVATION – Ziptrak also patented the revolutionary manual SuperSpring(R) system, built with the elderly in mind, and known for its ease of movement without the need for cords, cranks or even motors.

Customised Features for residences in Singapore

With Singapore being its largest market in Southeast Asia, the creators of Ziptrak came up with a unique series of features catered specifically to address the concerns of local homeowners.

1. Rain Out, Stay Dry
Stay dry from the 168 thunderstorm days that Singapore experiences each year with the 100% waterproof RainOut Fabric range, which features a fiberglass laminated weave to keep your balcony dry.

2. Pest Out, Stay Clean
Our PestOut(R) Pelmet also keeps the pelmet pest-free and also helps to rid the fabric of dust with a sweeping motion every time the blinds are drawn up.

3. Child Lock, Stay Safe
As a preventive feature exclusively for Singapore's many high-rise buildings, the manual Ziptrak(R) SuperSpring(R) blinds come with the option of a Child Safety Latch, which prevents the blinds from being lifted beyond railing height when deployed, keeping it at a safe height for your little ones with a simple turn of the latch.

4. Unobstructed Views, Stay Free
The recent introduction of Ziptrak(R) PanoView(R) blinds, which stretches up to 6m wide without requiring a post in between for support, also allows for a super wide un-obstructed viewing pleasure of Singapore's morning sunrise and night-time city lights. Being able to maneuverer around limitations posed by elevators and stairwells in high-rise developments, Ziptrak PanoView blinds eradicates the need for support posts, giving rise to an unobstructed view beyond.

Ziptrak is exclusively distributed in Singapore and Malaysia by its official distributor, DuraBlinds Trading Pte. Ltd., since August 2017, and is only available at authorised retailers. Please visit https://www.sg.ziptrak.com/ for more information.

Authorised Retailers
– Fabrik Etc Pte Ltd
– The Curtain Boutique
– J & S Design
– Softhome Pte Ltd
– Lee Curtain House Pte Ltd
– Ricco Curtain Design
– H M Gallery Pte ltd
– Le Showplace Pte Ltd
– Recherche Interior Pte Ltd
– Light-Pro Furnishings Pte Ltd
– ClimaShield Solutions Pte Ltd
– Omni Interior Pte Ltd

About Ziptrak Pty Ltd, https://www.sg.ziptrak.com/en/

Ziptrak Pty Ltd is a 100% Australian owned and operated company that designs, develops and manufactures track-guided blind products.

With 30 years of experience, Tony de Maaijer is the original inventor of the track guided outdoor blind, Ziptrak; a spring-balanced or motorized track guided blind system providing UV, sun, wind, rain and insect protection. We proudly supply a product that allows people to enjoy the natural environment that surrounds their home, creating a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor living, with a controlled environment in which to indulge with family and friends. The Ziptrak(R) brand is a registered trademark and the blind system is protected under multiple patents.

With 20 years in the industry, Ziptrak is a leading brand of choice among consumers, retailers and fabricators. We lead our market segment through constant innovation and technological advancements in our manufacturing processes. Our headquarters is in South Australia, with distribution Australia-wide and internationally through a trusted network of other dedicated companies.

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Dusit International to manage its first Dusit Thani hotel in Kyoto, Japan

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 November 2020 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., a community-focused property developer based in Tokyo, to operate the luxury Dusit Thani Kyoto – its first Dusit-branded hotel in Japan.

Dusit Thani Kyoto is designed to blend seamlessly with its traditional surrounds in the heart of the city

Signed through D&J Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Dusit International based in Tokyo, the historic deal reflects Dusit’s commitment to sustainable expansion by bringing long-term value to its local communities through creating jobs, contributing to the economy, and encouraging responsible tourism.

Located in the heart of the city, only 850 metres from Kyoto Station in the Honganji Monzen-machi district, the new property will comprise approximately 150 rooms set over four floors. Facilities will include a Thai-themed all-day dining restaurant, a Japanese specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, function rooms, a health club equipped for fitness, and wellness facilities.

Guests will enjoy easy access to nearby attractions such as Higashi Honganji Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kyoto Tower, and Kyoto Aquarium. Gion, the city’s most famous Geisha district, is only 10 minutes away by train, while Nishiki Market, a lively shopping and dining street known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen,’ can be reached in 15 minutes.

In 2019, some 87.91 million people visited Kyoto, an increase of 2.86 million on 2018. While international tourism is currently paused in line with travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dusit’s management expects the city will quickly regain its status as a major tourism hub when people are free to visit Japan once again.

“We are delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to work with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd. to bring our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Japan for the first time,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “Continuing our strategy for sustainable expansion, the signing of Dusit Thani Kyoto serves as a major milestone for our company. It also highlights our confidence in the strength and resilience of Japan’s travel market and its ability to bounce back strong after all the current challenges. Kyoto is a wonderful destination, rich in history, heritage, and culture, and we look forward to embracing this in our operations while doing our utmost to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders.”

Mr Masahiro Nakagawa, President, Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., said, “Our company prides itself on developing projects which not only celebrate cultural and natural heritage, but which are also positioned to deliver social and economic value far into the future. With a locally inspired design and unique blend of Thai and Japanese hospitality traditions, Dusit Thani Kyoto will be ideally positioned to deliver a truly distinctive stay experience in the heart of the city. We are delighted to partner with Dusit for this very special project.”

Dusit International’s property portfolio now comprises 339 properties operating under six brands across 14 countries. In Japan, the company already has a presence through Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, which manages a collection of ski chalets in Niseko.

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company’s property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 14 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd.

Yasuda Real Estate was established in 1950 by inheriting the residual assets from Yasuda Hozen-sha Company which was at the core of the former Yasuda Zaibatsu (Conglomerate). Yasuda has continued office development and rental business in central Tokyo as its core business while expanding redevelopment business and housing business in accordance with the demands of the times.

Yasuda upholds the belief “Customers first,” which was promoted by its founder Zenjiro Yasuda, and prides itself in being a comprehensive real estate company that contributes to society by creating value.

Media Contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Endowus launches Fund Smart for Singapore investors: Build customisable portfolios with direct access to curated institutional best-in-class funds from the world’s leading asset managers

SINGAPORE, Oct 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Endowus.com, Singapore's leading MAS-licensed digital wealth management platform and the first and only digital advisor for the Central Provident Fund (CPF), has announced the launch of their new investment solution – Fund Smart. Singapore investors can now build investment portfolios from a selection of institutional share-class and trailer-fee free funds curated by the Endowus Investment Office, led by Samuel Rhee, Chairman & Chief Investment Officer at Endowus. This new solution gives investors the ability to customise their fund allocations, analyse the historical and projected performance, as well as look-through the underlying exposure and total costs across the selected funds. It also provides real time advice to investors on the suitability of the portfolio they have created against their financial needs. Similar to existing Endowus investment offerings, Fund Smart has no sales fees, no transaction fees, no lock-ups and 100% trailer fee rebates. Endowus has also built in automated rebalancing and regular savings plans capabilities to improve the client investment experience.

Endowus launched a market survey to better understand Singaporeans' investment preferences and needs prior to designing Fund Smart. The majority of respondents indicated a strong preference for the flexibility to customise their own investment portfolios, with exposure to specific geographies or sectors (74.5%) and lower costs (84%) as key considerations. Endowus Investment Office sought to design a differentiated investment solution to take into consideration Singaporeans' investment needs and also provide quality advice in the form of curated fund selection and model portfolios.

Samuel Rhee, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer at Endowus, said: "Fund Smart's value proposition is clear. People struggle with too many options – a growing array of platforms, and far too many funds to choose from with confusing fee structures. Transparency is important to us as it should be to our clients. We want our clients to experience the same quality of advice we have provided with our core portfolio products, but now with greater flexibility as we introduce a new way of investing through Fund Smart. Stick to our advised and new model portfolios, or make the tweaks you need. It's that simple. And at the same low and aligned fees you can't get elsewhere."

The curated model portfolios include an ultra-defensive fixed income portfolio to prioritise capital preservation to weather volatility in markets and also flexible cash management solutions, as well as thematic and sector-focused portfolios such as ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) or SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) funds, Shariah-compliant funds, and thematic funds.

Funds available on Fund Smart include those managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, PIMCO, Vanguard, Schroders, First Sentier, Franklin Templeton, Eastspring, Fidelity, PineBridge, Legg Mason, Fullerton, Lion Global, Nikko, and UOB Asset Management.

Endowus' no sales fee and 100% trailer fee rebate policy not only lowers the total cost of investment, but also ensures alignment of interests with the investors. As a fee-only advisory firm, Endowus is not incentivised by product providers paying them hidden sales kickbacks. The average net cost of managing portfolios with Endowus is 65% cheaper than trying to replicate the portfolios on popular platforms and private banks in the market.

Kimberley Stafford, Managing Director and Head of PIMCO Asia Pacific said, "PIMCO has had the pleasure to collaborate with Endowus since their launch. With its unique solution offerings and the launch of the new innovative Fund Smart solution, we believe Endowus, as an industry leading digital wealth management platform, will help broaden PIMCO's outreach to retail investors in Singapore and provide them with the access to our fuller range of global fixed income investment solutions."

Gregory Van, Founding Partner at Endowus, said "Fund Smart provides transparency and flexibility for clients to express their investment views through access to best-in-class funds, all on a secure wealth platform that is home to all their money – Cash, CPF and SRS. We will continue to help clients cut through the clutter, keep fees low and aligned, and improve everyone's investment experience."

Joel Kim, CEO of Dimensional Asia ex-Japan, said "Dimensional is pleased to have worked with Endowus since they started serving Singaporean investors. They are one of the pioneers of fee-based independent advice in Singapore with a strong focus on low cost, transparent and systematic approach to investing. Endowus' launch of the Fund Smart solution is a significant evolution in their advice offering for Singaporeans wishing to invest more of their savings with Dimensional through Endowus."

Safety and Security together with Ease of Use Are Still Important

According to the investor survey conducted, the safety and security of the platform (83.9%) are crucial deciding factors in determining where Singaporeans invest. Through Endowus' partnership with Singapore's largest broker UOB Kay Hian, all client assets and investments are safely held in trust under the client's own name. As with all of the Fintech company's product offerings, Endowus Fund Smart gives users a fully digital, fuss-free onboarding experience using MyInfo within minutes from the comfort of their own homes.

About Endowus

Endowus.com is a MAS-licensed financial technology company and the first-and-only digital investment advisor for the Central Provident Fund (CPF), Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS), and cash.

Endowus offers access to superior investment products, personalised advice, and lower costs on a seamless digital investment platform for all investors. Partnered with UOB Kay Hian, Singapore's largest broker, client assets and positions are safely held in the client's own name. For more info, please visit www.endowus.com/

For media queries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Endowus
E: endowus@preciouscomms.com
T: +65 6303 0567 / +65 9644 2930

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

KFC Indonesia Presents Naughty by Nature, The First Lifestyle-dining and Salad Bar

JAKARTA, Oct 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – KFC Indonesia presents Naughty by Nature, a lifestyle dining and salad bar restaurant which is a breakthrough originally concepted by KFC Indonesia. Naughty by Nature which is located at Jalan Senopati no. 24A South Jakarta was officially opened for public since Friday, October 16, 2020, in coincide with KFC Indonesia's 41st anniversary. Green lifestyle trends among urbanites and culinary trends which always evolve along with times and technology developement become the inspiration for KFC Indonesia to keep innovating and offering different dining experiences. Naughty by Nature offers exciting new way to enjoy salads and vegetables, by combining it with KFC's signature chicken as the protein.

Naughty by Nature aims to fulfill consumers who are cravings for salad whilst still want to consume other foods that are more fulfilling as well. Naughty by Nature's signature menu is Meal Market Platter, where consumers can freely combine various choices of KFC chicken such as Grilled Chicken, O.R Chicken, Hot and Crispy, and Chicken Skin as the protein with a wide selection of vegetables ranging from fresh vegetables such as kale caesar, sweet potato salad, kale slaw to grilled vegetables such as roasted baby potatoes, mashed potatoes, zucchini gratin and others as side dish. Naughty by Nature also offers a variety of innovative food creations bringing KFC chicken into gourmet-style dishes such as chicken tacos, pasta, KFC chicken geprek; and egg-based foods and various snacks which can surely be enjoyed by everyone and according to Indonesian taste reference. Moreover, Naughty by Nature also offers various kinds of drinks such as smoothies, milkshakes and coffee, as well as desserts.

Naughty by Nature comes with a totally different concept from any KFC outlets in Indonesia. Displaying an open kitchen for consumers to see how their food is freshly prepared. Located in a strategic area at the center of Jakarta which is easily accessible, Naughty by Nature targets the urbanites with modern lifestyle who like to try new culinary trends, enjoy socializing and prefer an 'instagrammable' restaurant atmosphere. Naughty by Nature restaurant offers a cozy, trendy and luxurious lifestyle dining style that will make consumers feel comfortable hanging out with family and friends while enjoying delicious and fun dishes. The cool and trendy impression at Naughty by Nature outlet is also supported by the existence of a music lounge/podcast room on the dining area's mezzanine floor. With 150 visitor of total capacity and carrying eco-friendly concept, Naughty by Nature ambience is dominated with calming earth-tone colors, wood-nuanced, and open space concept.

Hendra Yuniarto, General Manager Marketing of PT Fast Food Indonesia stated, "As part of cultivating the original idea of KFC Indonesia to introduce a lifestyle dining and salad bar to consumers, we have conducted research and development (R&D) in developing Naughty by Nature concept and menu. Not only the concept of restaurants and menus, we also choose natural concept for our exterior and interior design which closely related to current urban green lifestyle. The presence of Naughty by Nature aims to fill the gap in the culinary market targeted at consumers who love to consume vegetables but still want savory, fun, filling up and appetizing dish."

As we are still within the transition period of the pacdemic, Naughty by Nature implements strict health protocol system as required by the Government for safety, health and mutual comfort, including limiting restaurant visitor capacity by 50% with operating times from 10:00 – 18:00 on Monday-Thursday and from 07:00 – 18:00 on Friday-Sunday. To see Naughty by Nature various and fun menu and see the restaurant concept, consumers can easily find them on @Naughtybynaturekfc Instagram account or scan the following QR code for the menu.

ABOUT PT FAST FOOD INDONESIA TBK

PT Fast Food Indonesia, Tbk. Established in 1978 and hold the retail business license of KFC Indonesia. The first KFC built in 1979 in Jakarta. The superior products of KFC are New Improved Original Recipe and Hot Crispy Chicken that become the most loved fried chicken in several consumers survey in Indonesia. On the journey, KFC continues to add its superior menu collections.

For over 41 years being in fast food chain industry Indonesia, currently KFC owns 750 stores throughout Indonesia with more than 16,000 employees.

As the restaurant with the slogan of 'Jagonya Ayam', KFC always use the high-quality chicken meat from the qualified chicken processing place, so the produced chicken meat is guaranteed, hygenic and healty. All of the ingredients and products served by KFC not only chicken meat have been certified Halal from the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) and production process from KFC suppliers is monitored by KFC Quality Assurance team.

For further informations:
Ika Diah Rhanny
PT Fast Food Indonesia
T: +62 21 72791777
E: ikah.diah@ffi.co.id

Dita Wasis
Eureka! PR
T: +62 811 165 195
E: dita@eureka-id.net

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Building Environmental Awareness through Religious Leaders Training on Peatland and Conservation

Seruyan, C Kalimantan, INDONESIA, Oct 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – In this modern world, all humankind has been affected by the impact of the global climate crisis. Not only facing the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we also have to deal with floods and forest fires currently occurring in our region.

Scientists have given extensive warning regarding the effects of climate change on our planet, however collective action to hinder the climate crisis is largely considered to be too slow.

At the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Project, we have made concerted efforts to play a leading role in mitigating the damage done to the environment in our region through the introduction of various initiatives, including a spiritual approach to change community behaviour and to engage them by encouraging active involvement and inclusion in all efforts taken to preserve the environment and to minimize damage.

Rimba Raya empowers local community members to play a role in protecting and conserving the peat forest with a long-term philosophy of 'community for healthy forests and climate'. The project aims to consistently work towards achieving the UN's SDGs, both within the project area and the bordering villages. In September 2020, Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve became the world's first forest conservation project to independently verify its contributions to the environment, biodiversity and social SDGs under the newly created Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta), and has managed to target all the 17 SDGs goal.

In collaboration with the National Peatland Agency (BRG), Seruyan District Government, Rimba Raya conducted "Dai Gambut" Training on the 6-7 October 2020. The training was aimed at promoting capacity building efforts, help increase knowledge regarding peatland restoration and to raise awareness in the importance of being environmentally friendly in our daily activities.

The training was conducted combination between online and offline in Kuala Pembuang. There were 28 (twenty-eight) participants from 14 villages. The speakers; Kyai Cholil Nafis and Kyai Sholahuddin Al Aiyub (Wasekjen Field MUI Fatwa) used zoom to convey "environmental fiqh" (Muslim jurisprudence). The in-person meetings were presented by Dr. Fachruddin Mangunjaya or well known as Ustad Rudi. Topics included; Fusing Faith, Education and Environmentalism.

"Taking care of the environment is about making action and behavioural changes that are controlled by the human heart and mind. A religious approach can contribute to highlighting the importance of caring for our environment," said Ustad Rudi during a training session.

After training, the Da'i will share their knowledge through religious preaching about the importance of having healthy peatland, healthy forests and the need to practice conservation and land clearing without the traditional 'slash and burn' technique.

"This collaboration with BRG is very beneficial for the Rimba Raya project. The hope is to encourage a change in behaviour and increase public awareness to the importance of preserving the peatland ecosystem," said Sylviana Andhella, Executive Director of Rimba Raya Conservation.

Rimba Raya has established a partnership agreement with the National Peatland Agency (BRG) from June to December 2020 under the Deputy of Education, Socialization, Participation and Partnership. This includes 5 activities namely; peatland restoration socialization, Da'i training and/or Peat Care Pastor, Sustainable Farmer Field School, peatland restoration literature (for students); understanding value added commodities (Non-Timber products) in the 14 villages that are within the RRC working areas.

The project area acts as a vital buffer zone for TN Tanjung Puting National Park and focuses on Ecosystem Restoration. It aims to restore and preserve the tropical peat swamp forest which is essential habitat for orangutans and is managed under the principles of ecology and economic & social management. Initiatives implemented positively impact 14 villages in two sub-districts (Seruyan Hilir and Danau Sembuluh), in the Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan.

Rimba Raya initiatives are developed by InfiniteEARTH with a focus on assisting local communities to improve their economic status and embrace the positive impacts of being a REDD+ project.

Contacts:
Frita Junita
Communication Officer Rimba Raya Conservation
Email: rimbarayajakarta@gmail.com
Hp: +62 857-1743-7001

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Olympus to Support Endoscopic AI Diagnosis Education for Doctors in India and to Launch AI Diagnostic Support Application

TOKYO, Oct 20, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Olympus Corporation took part in a ground-breaking project as a business promoter, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), entitled, "Survey Study for International Expansion of AI Diagnosis Support System Using Ultra-High Magnifying Endoscopes in India." The project aims to develop advanced endoscopy diagnostics in India, where there are relatively few endoscopists.

In collaboration with CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO,. LTD., Olympus has established an AI diagnostic support system at a major medical institution, the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) based in Hyderabad, India. Specialist lecturers and physicians from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital provided expert guidance to AIG doctors. In addition to training AIG doctors in techniques for detecting diseases and differential diagnosis by colonoscope, they also trained the doctors on how to instruct the next generation of endoscopists.

The project started on October 12. At the kick-off meeting, Satoshi Hemmi, Deputy Director-General of the Information and Communications Bureau, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications commented, "We hope to contribute to the spread of AI endoscopy systems and the development of medical care in India through training future leaders in AI endoscopy systems in India. We also hope that the cooperation between India and Japan in the field of healthcare ICT will continue to develop."

In addition to the ultra-magnifying scope Endocyto(*1) released last year, Olympus will release endoscopic diagnostic support software equipped with AI in India from December. The endoscopic diagnostic support software EndoBRAIN(*2) and EndoBRAIN-EYE(*3) will be utilized for physician training in India. Olympus intends to assist in the development of physicians and promote the use of endoscopic diagnostics.

(*1) An endoscope that enables observation at the cellular level in real time with up to 520 times optical magnification.
(*2) AI real-time in-vivo analysis of colon lesions taken with ultra-high magnifying endoscopes, numerically indicating the possibility of neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps to assist physicians in the differentiation and detection of polyps through figures.
(*3) AI endoscopic diagnostic imaging support software that assists physicians in diagnosing lesions by alerting if a polyp or other lesion is detected using regular colonoscope images.

Background of Olympus' Participation

In India, the rate of cancer morbidity is expected to increase as the economy grows. On the other hand, there is a severe shortage of doctors who can conduct precision diagnostics with endoscopes, which are essential for early detection and treatment of cancer. Olympus participated in this project to support trained AIG specialists to train doctors in India and neighboring countries and to contribute to the popularization and development of endoscope diagnostics using the latest AI technology.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Project

– Purpose:
The MIC aims to realize the sustainable development goal and SDG pledges to ensure "no one will be left behind." To this end, the MIC aims to realize a model that contributes to SDG through digitization and to disseminate and promote an SDG + ICT model domestically and overseas between both public and private sectors. This project aims to contribute to the introduction and dissemination of Japan's endoscopic AI diagnostic support system to India and neighboring countries in response to the social issue of increasing cancer prevalence in India.

– Projects:
1) Survey on the Current Status of Policies in the Medical Health Sector in India and the Current Status of the Introduction of Medical ICT in India:
Collecting information from major medical institutions and external research institutions and investigating the spread of medical systems, including endoscopic systems.

2) Verification through proof-of-concept tests in India:
Physicians from the Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital will train AIG physicians, from the detection of disease utilizing a colonoscope to discriminatory diagnosis, and train them as lecturers to train instructors. MIC provided equipment and training courses.

For questions or additional information, please contact:
Yuka Horimoto
+81-90-2490-1071
yuka.horimoto@olympus.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

WeR1’s Client SGX-Listed Sasseur REIT Wins Top IR Award For Second Consecutive Year

Singapore, 30 September 2020 – Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) Mainboard-listed Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust (“Sasseur REIT”), a client of investor relations (“IR”) specialist WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd (“WeR1”), has been named Platinum winner for IR at the Asia Pacific Best of the Breeds REITs Awards™ 2020. This is the second consecutive year that Sasseur REIT has secured top IR ranking, having won the Gold award in 2019.

Sasseur REIT, which has been a retained client of WeR1 since 2019, secured a total of three awards at the annual event this week. The other two are Platinum Awards for Best Retail REIT and for Best CEO – also for the second year running. All 2019 and 2020 awards received by Sasseur REIT are for REITS under U$1 billion in market value.

The Platinum IR award cited Sasseur REIT’s prompt and informative communication of information to stakeholders, media and the community. Listed in March 2018, Sasseur REIT continues to report its financial performance on a quarterly basis. It has maintained a high level of engagement through regular virtual briefings even after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sasseur REIT closed its four retail outlet malls in China for several weeks in the early days of the pandemic. The closures coincided with falls in global stock markets in March 2020 and concerns about how retail REITs may be impacted by health concerns and changes to shopping trends.

After the release of Sasseur REIT’s Q1 2020 results, WeR1 worked with the management team to explain how it aligned the interests of mall owner, merchants and REIT holders. This mitigated the impact of the temporary mall closures on various stakeholders.

WeR1 worked closely with management to engage sell-side and buy-side (including remisiers serving retail investors) on Sasseur REIT’s unique ‘A x 1+N x DT’ formula which enshrines Sasseur REIT’s commitment to refresh mall concepts regularly to keep attracting foot traffic.

KGI Securities issued a fresh research report with an Outperform call, raising the number of sell-side coverage of the REIT to five. WeR1 also organised a virtual briefing between Sasseur REIT’s management and over 20 KGI brokers on 15 July 2020, as well as a webinar with Phillip Securities which attracted over 100 participants.

As a result of the efforts to explain the decisive response to the pandemic, Sasseur REIT received significant media coverage in 2020.

Bloomberg ran a commentary which mentioned how Sasseur REIT managed the landlord-tenant relationship differently. The Edge of Singapore carried an in-depth piece on this subject based on interviews with management. The coverage followed a prominent interview in 2019 of Sasseur’s founder and Chairman Mr Vito Xu who was featured in the “In Good Company” column of The Straits Times of Singapore.

Anthony Ang, CEO of Sasseur REIT, said: “We were very happy to receive the significant coverage, as well as the awards for the second consecutive year; Sasseur REIT has been working hard to achieve a swift recovery once lockdown measures in China were lifted, and a strong media strategy gave Sasseur REIT’s investors and analysts renewed confidence in our recovery.”

“We are also pleased to have WeR1 working alongside us to ensure our key differentiators were clearly and swiftly communicated, going the extra mile to offer strong media angles that were in-depth and engaging.”

Mr Lai Kwok Kin, Managing Director of WeR1, said: “The COVID-19 presented challenges as well as opportunities to position Sasseur REIT positively to the media and investment community. We are honoured to support the excellent and committed management team of Sasseur REIT, and are elated by successive awards they have secured.”

About WeR1 Consultants

WeR1 Consultants is a pan-Asian communications specialist in Investor Relations, Tech PR, Crisis Communications and Litigation PR based in Singapore. Our service is distinguished by a high level of strategy led by senior consultants with decades of experience in media, capital markets and communications. For more information on WeR1, please visit https://wer1.net/

About Sasseur REIT

Sasseur REIT is the first outlet mall REIT listed in Asia. Sasseur REIT offers investors with the unique opportunity to invest in the fast-growing retail outlet mall sector in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) through its initial portfolio of four quality retail outlet mall assets strategically located in fast-growing cities in China such as Chongqing, Kunming and Hefei, with a net lettable area of 312,844 square metres.

Sasseur REIT is established with the investment strategy of investing principally, directly or indirectly, in a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used primarily for retail outlet mall purposes, as well as real estate-related assets in relation to the foregoing, with an initial focus on Asia. For more information on Sasseur REIT, please visit https://www.sasseurreit.com

WeR1’s Client SGX-Listed Sasseur REIT Wins Top IR Award For Second Consecutive Year

SINGAPORE, Sep 30, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore Exchange ("SGX") Mainboard-listed Sasseur Real Estate Investment Trust ("Sasseur REIT"), a client of investor relations ("IR") specialist WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd ("WeR1"), has been named Platinum winner for IR at the Asia Pacific Best of the Breeds REITs Awards(TM) 2020. This is the second consecutive year that Sasseur REIT has secured top IR ranking, having won the Gold award in 2019.

Sasseur REIT, which has been a retained client of WeR1 since 2019, secured a total of three awards at the annual event this week. The other two are Platinum Awards for Best Retail REIT and for Best CEO – also for the second year running. All 2019 and 2020 awards received by Sasseur REIT are for REITS under U$1 billion in market value.

The Platinum IR award cited Sasseur REIT's prompt and informative communication of information to stakeholders, media and the community. Listed in March 2018, Sasseur REIT continues to report its financial performance on a quarterly basis. It has maintained a high level of engagement through regular virtual briefings even after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sasseur REIT closed its four retail outlet malls in China for several weeks in the early days of the pandemic. The closures coincided with falls in global stock markets in March 2020 and concerns about how retail REITs may be impacted by health concerns and changes to shopping trends.

After the release of Sasseur REIT's Q1 2020 results, WeR1 worked with the management team to explain how it aligned the interests of mall owner, merchants and REIT holders. This mitigated the impact of the temporary mall closures on various stakeholders.

WeR1 worked closely with management to engage sell-side and buy-side (including remisiers serving retail investors) on Sasseur REIT's unique 'A x 1+N x DT' formula which enshrines Sasseur REIT's commitment to refresh mall concepts regularly to keep attracting foot traffic.

KGI Securities issued a fresh research report with an Outperform call, raising the number of sell-side coverage of the REIT to five. WeR1 also organised a virtual briefing between Sasseur REIT's management and over 20 KGI brokers on 15 July 2020, as well as a webinar with Phillip Securities which attracted over 100 participants.

As a result of the efforts to explain the decisive response to the pandemic, Sasseur REIT received significant media coverage in 2020.

Bloomberg ran a commentary which mentioned how Sasseur REIT managed the landlord-tenant relationship differently. The Edge of Singapore carried an in-depth piece on this subject based on interviews with management. The coverage followed a prominent interview in 2019 of Sasseur's founder and Chairman Mr Vito Xu who was featured in the "In Good Company" column of The Straits Times of Singapore.

Anthony Ang, CEO of Sasseur REIT, said: "We were very happy to receive the significant coverage, as well as the awards for the second consecutive year; Sasseur REIT has been working hard to achieve a swift recovery once lockdown measures in China were lifted, and a strong media strategy gave Sasseur REIT's investors and analysts renewed confidence in our recovery."

"We are also pleased to have WeR1 working alongside us to ensure our key differentiators were clearly and swiftly communicated, going the extra mile to offer strong media angles that were in-depth and engaging."

Mr Lai Kwok Kin, Managing Director of WeR1, said: "The COVID-19 presented challenges as well as opportunities to position Sasseur REIT positively to the media and investment community. We are honoured to support the excellent and committed management team of Sasseur REIT, and are elated by successive awards they have secured."

About WeR1 Consultants

WeR1 Consultants is a pan-Asian communications specialist in Investor Relations, Tech PR, Crisis Communications and Litigation PR based in Singapore. Our service is distinguished by a high level of strategy led by senior consultants with decades of experience in media, capital markets and communications. For more information on WeR1, please visit https://wer1.net/

About Sasseur REIT

Sasseur REIT is the first outlet mall REIT listed in Asia. Sasseur REIT offers investors with the unique opportunity to invest in the fast-growing retail outlet mall sector in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC") through its initial portfolio of four quality retail outlet mall assets strategically located in fast-growing cities in China such as Chongqing, Kunming and Hefei, with a net lettable area of 312,844 square metres.

Sasseur REIT is established with the investment strategy of investing principally, directly or indirectly, in a diversified portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used primarily for retail outlet mall purposes, as well as real estate-related assets in relation to the foregoing, with an initial focus on Asia. For more information on Sasseur REIT, please visit https://www.sasseurreit.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ZALL Smart Commerce Group To Expand Its Singapore Operations

SINGAPORE, Sep 25, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Asia's leading B2B e-commerce group, ZALL Smart Commerce Group (ZALL), announced that it will be expanding the scale of its operations and investments in Singapore. ZALL will invest in its Singapore business, including Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), a Joint Venture between ZALL, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Global eTrade Services (GeTS). It has increased its recruitment efforts, with a number of open roles for its operations and trading teams in Singapore. ZALL is also investing into technology to further enable Singapore SMEs to trade more freely across Asia.

ZALL is one of the nine bidders who made the shortlist for the Singapore wholesale digital banking license with only three licenses will be awarded by end-2020. The digital bank foray will mark ZALL's fourth major project in Singapore as it aims to bridge the funding gap and support the expansion of local SMEs and micro-SMEs into Asia.

ZALL's Chairman, Yan Zhi believes that the pandemic has highlighted the importance of leveraging cross-border growth opportunities, especially between ASEAN and China to build more resilient supply chains. Mr. Yan's comments were shared at the recent FutureChina Global Forum 2020 (FCGF) that was attended by over 1,300 regional delegates who discussed the latest development trends and growth opportunities between China and ASEAN. From Singapore, the event was graced by Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Chan Chun Sing.

"While it is business as usual in China now, the rest of the world is still affected by the pandemic that has disrupted supply chains, cratering economies. Today, most of the trading and transactions have to be done online, creating an urgency for traditional businesses to leverage on digital platforms and digitally transform as soon as possible in order to survive," emphasized Mr. Yan Zhi, Chairman of ZALL.

"With confidence, we will eventually go through the difficulties, through the epidemic and fog before us, and the world in three years will only be better," said Mr Yan.

The pandemic has amplified Singapore's importance in driving ASEAN-China trade, a valuable proof point around ZALL's decision to establish its international headquarters in Singapore by launching Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC) two years ago (2018). CIC is Singapore's first B2B e-trading platform for physical commodities powered by blockchain technology. It offers a global intelligent trading platform to more than a dozen countries, helping companies to reduce transaction costs, optimise the efficiency of their supply chains across cross-border trading, financing, logistics, compliance and risk management; and achieve greater trading synergies globally.

Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, CIC has seen sales revenues at approximately US$1 billion (S$1.36 billion) during the first half of this year (2020), which exceeded the total revenue throughout last year. Moreover, the number of customers on the CIC platform increased by 20 per cent as compared to 2019, resulting in a surge in the level of activity on the entire platform.

Mr Peter Yu, CEO of Commodities Intelligence Centre, shared, "Singapore has the ideal geographical location when it comes to commodities trading, playing a critical role in supporting regional trade. Singapore's nation-wide push for digitalisation has created the necessary environment to groom digital-savvy talents, and we look forward to inviting ideal candidates to join our growing team in Singapore."

"Be it COVID-19 or the recent spike in dengue cases, CIC offers opportunities for businesses of all sizes to mitigate crises by diversifying revenue sources and extending their global reach of their supply chains. In doing so, we are building business resilience against current and future pandemics," added Mr Yu.

About ZALL Smart Commerce Group

ZALL Smart Commerce Group (ZALL) is a leading Chinese B2B e-commerce group (ranked 139th of Fortune China 500 companies in 2020) with a global footprint across the world and is listed on four exchanges on HKSE, NYSE, SSE and SZSE. ZALL develops and operates Asia's largest B2B offline-to-online trade ecosystem in China and Southeast Asia, including Singapore, with more than 30 B2B platforms in China, US and Singapore, and a GFA of more than 10 million sqm of wholesale trade centres in China. In 2018, ZALL Group achieved a GMV of more than RMB 600 billion (US$85.2 bn), serving over 1 million SME customers worldwide.

ZALL has also obtained a virtual banking licence and currently operates Z-Bank in China since 2017, one of China's top 5 digital banks that has supported more than 5.5 million SMEs and individual customers. For more information, please visit http://en.zallcn.com/

About Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC)

The Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC) is a global trading platform for physical commodities including Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals, Chemicals & Plastics, Oil & Petroleum, and Agri Commodities. Officially launched in Singapore on 12 Oct 2018, CIC is a Joint Venture between China-based ZALL Smart Commerce Group, Global eTrade Services (GeTS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) to build trade connectivity through digital marketplaces and to grow a vibrant trading ecosystem in Singapore.

CIC aims to revolutionise commodity trading and facilitate cross-border trade through deal matching, trade finance, supply chain logistics, track and trace and global trade compliance. Since its establishment in October 2018, CIC has achieved a GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) of more than US$13.1 billion (S$17.9 billion), with over 5,000 registered users covering markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, amongst other countries in Asia. For more information, please visit www.cic-tp.com.

For media queries
PRecious Communications for ZALL
ZALL@preciouscomms.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Tiger Brokers adds ASX to its Online Trading & Mobile App

SINGAPORE, Sep 18, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Tiger Brokers, the NASDAQ-listed, Xiaomi-backed online brokerage focused on global trading across the world's top markets, announced the addition of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) to its mobile and online trading application, Tiger Trade. This brings the current number of exchanges available to regional investors to 6; the US, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Australia: the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, Shanghai/Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX), and since Monday, the ASX.

The addition of ASX to Tiger Trade's offering addresses regional investors' increasing appetite for equities, even during the current COVID-19 pandemic: Tiger Brokers witnessed a surge in account openings especially during June to August, with an increase of 43% y-o-y following the addition of SGX to the platform on June 8. With the ASX seeing an average daily on-market trading volume of AU$5.4 billion (S$5.36 billion) in July, up 21% y-o-y, it was natural that Tiger Brokers would want to provide access to ASX trading on its platform and to expand its offerings to potential ASX investors.

Mr Eng Thiam Choon, CEO of Tiger Brokers Singapore, said, "Tiger Brokers believes that technology is a strong enabler to providing convenient access for retail investors to meet their investing needs. The access to another popular stock exchange like the Australian Securities Exchange will allow investors to further diversify their investment portfolio."

Demand for Overseas Exchanges

The top 10 stocks traded on the Tiger Trade platform included Tesla, Alibaba, Apple and Netflix from US exchanges, Tencent and Alibaba from Hong Kong, rounded out by banking stocks, glove makers and Singapore Airlines (SIA) in Singapore. Across exchanges, the sectors most traded were ihealthcare, followed by the technology sector.

"Industries like healthcare and technology have seen tremendous interest from retail investors, and surging stock prices. Tiger Trade has also seen an increased number of transactions in these stocks. We are also seeing retail investors more comfortable using online trading platforms such as ours, similar to the financial industry as a whole, which is rapidly digitizing. With more people at home, the consumption of technology has risen, and Tiger Brokers is well placed to meet that rising trend," said Mr Eng.

Mr Wu Tianhua, CEO of Tiger Brokers, commented, "A major increase in new customers in Q2 2020 as well as a strong growth momentum in total client assets is indicative of the appeal of our service offerings to both retail and institutional clients. The improvement of these key business metrics showed strength in the business amidst the COVID-19 induced market volatility."

Tiger Brokers Singapore is able to tap the expertise and insight of its parent UPFintech Holdings (NASDAQ: TIGR) in helping drive fintech innovation in Singapore and Southeast Asia. UPFintech Holdings focus is on global Chinese investors. UPFintech's Q2 earnings shared positive momentum with revenue growth of 121.8% y-o-y to US$30.1 million, on trading volume of US$46.8 billion. Client assets hit a high of US$8.3 billion as of June 30, an increase of 132.9% from a year earlier. UPFintech led the rankings of underwriters among brokerages for US IPOs during H1 2020. Despite COVID-19, UPFintech assisted many firms in settling sizable orders, showing the group's capability to serve its 500+ institutional and corporate clients. Earlier this month, it received approval for five new Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") licences in the United States.

The Tiger Trade mobile app is available for download at Apple App Store and Google Play store.
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/sg/app/id1023600494
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigerbrokers.stock

For media enquiries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Tiger Brokers (Singapore)
Email: Tiger@preciouscomms.com / media@tigerbrokers.com.sg
Phone: +65 9667 3157 or +65 9152 0086

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com