Ganjar Pranowo driving Indonesian SMEs in Going Global

Semarang, Indonesia, Aug 15, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Ganjar Pranowo, the Governor of Central Java, Indonesia, is committed to driving the development of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in the region, to reach an international level. As of Q1 2023, SME export volume from Central Java had reached US$2.5 billion, resulting in a surplus of US$708 million for the province.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo is committed to the development of SMEs in the region, providing a learning platform 'Hetero Space' and funding 'Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR-People Business Loan) Super Mikro.' [Image: ANTARA]

During his two terms in office from 2013 to 2023, Ganjar facilitated the growth of SMEs through robust initiatives. One notable innovation was "Hetero Space," a creative hub addressing the educational needs of SMEs, offering knowledge on aspects such as bookkeeping, packaging, branding, and even photography skills required for product promotion.

Currently, Central Java has 3 Hetero Spaces for the development of SMEs and as a platform for young people to showcase their creativity, located in Semarang, Solo, and Banyumas. Hetero Spaces in Central Java have involved thousands of members: 3,000 members who have joined, 13,000 Hetero Space visitors, 500 local communities, 300 programs, 1,000 events, 15,000 SMEs, 2,500 startups, 100 companies, and 250,000 people have all benefited.

"When they start learning about bookkeeping, packaging, branding, and even when they want to promote their products, they need to learn photography. That's why we need a creative hub," he mentioned during 'Flexing Lokal', held by Google Indonesia and YouTube.

After providing a learning platform for SMEs, Ganjar moved to the next level by offering access to funding – a common challenge faced by SMEs when planning to expand. He launched the "Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR-People Business Loan) Super Mikro," providing access to capital with an interest rate of only 3% per year. Teaming up with Bank Jateng, this funding initiative assists SMEs in growing their businesses.

"Our task is to provide support. If the interest rate is at this level, it's not feasible. So, we try to assist them by implementing some policies, such as reducing the interest rate," Ganjar explained.

The decision to set the interest rate at 3% is the result of a lengthy process. Previously, the KUR interest rate was 12%, then 9%, and eventually, Central Java lowered it to 6%, surpassing the national KUR rate. Finally, Ganjar established the interest rate at only 3%.

These efforts led Central Java to become the largest distributor of KUR loans in Indonesia in 2022, with a loan distribution value of IDR 55.27 trillion (US$3.8 billion) in the previous year. "Thus, the role of the government is mainly to facilitate their growth," Ganjar stated.

Thanks to Ganjar's initiatives, SMEs in Central Java have now reached an international level. The best SME products, facilitated by Ganjar, have opportunities for export to Singapore, Japan, and even Europe. "For now, we're running this, curating it, and those who qualify, who have a strong market both nationally and internationally, we assist," Ganjar concluded.

Copyright (c) ANTARA 2023.

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

Indonesia’s first 8K uncompressed video conference inaugurates 100 Gbps network for education at UB-Universitas Brawijaya

Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Aug 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Universitas Brawijaya (UB), the Arterial Research and Educational Network in the Asia Pacific (ARENA-PAC) and Indonesia Research and Education Network (IDREN) held a ceremony at UB in Malang, East Java, to mark the operation of a 100 Gbps high-speed network for education in Indonesia on August 9.

Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Arterial Research and Educational Network in the Asia Pacific (ARENA-PAC) and Indonesia Research and Education Network (IDREN) held a ceremony to mark the operation of a 100 Gbps high-speed network for education in Indonesia on August 9, 2023.

The ceremony also connected to a remote venue in Keio University, Japan, using an uncompressed 8K video conference, marking the first such ultra-high resolution video conference in Indonesia, and demonstrating the high capacity and low latency of the research and education network that spans across the Pacific.

Representatives of the three organizations, Prof. Widodo of UB, Prof. Jun Murai of ARENA-PAC, and Dr. Achmad Affandi of IDREN, attended the ceremony at UB. The ambassador of Republic Indonesia to Japan, HE Heri Akhmadi, and Vice President of Keio University, Prof. Eiji Okada, attended remotely from Japan. In the audience in both venues, students witnessed this memorable ceremony, delighting in the interaction.

Rector of UB Prof Widodo said the inauguration was a follow-up to MoU signed between the three organizations in 2022. Emphasizing that this network is all about collaboration, he said, "This network infrastructure is not only about data transfer, but also a channel to be able to collaborate, innovate faster and be ready to jump in the digital era which will be dedicated to education and research."

Held at the Algoritma Auditorium, Faculty of Computer Science UB in Malang, East Java, Prof. Widodo said the network connects IDREN with UB as the gateway to Guam and Tokyo, as well as several other locations. In addition, the collaboration is also a big leap for Indonesia to be connected to the current global research and education network.

Prof. Jun Murai of ARENA-PAC in his keynote said, "We sent a message to global leaders that research and educational networks are important." He emphasized the need to work together for the next stage of global internet from research and educational networks point of view, working with commercial internet service providers, technology, and application people for many scientific purposes such as high energy physics, medical, and astronomy.

He appreciates Indonesian universities and the IDREN mechanism, which he sees as unique in that universities work with internet service providers that commit to support IDREN.

About UB
Universitas Brawijaya (UB) was established by the President of the Republic of Indonesia on July 11, 1961. Today UB is one of the leading universities in Indonesia with more than 60,000 students in various vocational, bachelor, master, doctoral, professional, and medical specialist programs. Learn more at https://ub.ac.id.

About ARENA-PAC
The Arterial Research and Educational Network in the Asia Pacific (ARENA-PAC) is a backbone network for research and education, established on an international submarine cable network constructed to expand the Internet in Asia Pacific. ARENA-PAC comprises several long-term 10 and 100Gbps IRU circuits between a central exchange point in Guam and sites in Tokyo, Philippines, and Indonesia. See www.arena-pac.net.

About IDREN
The Indonesian Research and Education Network (IDREN) is a dedicated network infrastructure that connects research and education institutions and communities in Indonesia. This network is dedicated to the necessary data communication connectivity to enable a community of researchers, academics, and developers to collaborate together. https://idren.id.

Written by A Malik Ibrahim; Editor: Fiqih Arfani; (c) ANTARA 2023.

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

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) organises RESOLVE-2023, an Exclusive International Convention on Insolvency Resolution

SINGAPORE, Aug 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – For the first time in its 75-years history, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will hold a mega convention overseas in Singapore. This unique international convention — RESOLVE-2023 is a highly anticipated conference that will revolve around the overall "Insolvency Resolution" ecosystem. The Convention will be held at Singapore's Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on 4th & 5th August, 2023 and will explore into numerous aspects of the insolvency resolution including innovative and best practices, and models to review and redesign the legal framework of the proceedings.

The grand event will bring under one roof about 300 industry leaders, financial experts and distinguished guests for two days of knowledge enrichment and networking while offering them insights into the world of insolvency from across the globe. The Guest of Honour for the programme is Mr. Vikram Nair, Hon'ble Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC, Republic of Singapore and some of the special guests and thought leaders who are participating are H.E Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, Hon'ble Justice Ashok Bhushan, Chairperson, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, Mr. Justice (Retd.) Arjan Kumar Sikri, Ex Judge, Supreme Court of India, Mr. Francis Ng SC, Official Assignee & Public Trustee, Ministry of Law, Singapore, Mr. Sudhaker Shukla, Whole Time Member, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, besides the top dignitaries and leadership of the Indian accounting profession, CA. Aniket Sunil Talati, President, ICAI and CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice President, ICAI.

The discussions will encompass topics of significance like Alternative Dispute Resolution, Trend Analysis in Global Debt Resolution, Group Insolvency, Opportunity for International Funds, Essence of Insolvency Timelines, Innovative Approaches to Resolution, Role of Regulators & Policy Makers for an Effective Ecosystem, Role of Creditors, Market Dynamics for Stressed Assets, Valuation, Transaction Review etc.

Adding more insights on the RESOLVE-2023 CA. Aniket Sunil Talati, President, ICAI said, "A comprehensive and coherent Insolvency Resolution Framework is one of the core pillars of economic growth of any nation and a strong resolution framework is indispensable for laying down the foundation for future sustainable development. RESOLVE-2023 will provide a unique learning opportunity for professionals across the world to learn and share the best practices and developments in the space of insolvency resolution. Let us all professionals fully gear up and wholeheartedly Involve to Resolve."

Speaking for the occasion CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice-President, ICAI said, "Economic stability and prosperity require an effective insolvency resolution framework. The need for strengthening the insolvency resolution framework has assumed great importance recently. This Convention will facilitate networking and indulge in deep insight and cross-jurisdiction experience sharing with globally diverse practitioners through interactive discussions."

CA. Gyan Chandra Misra, Chairman, Committee on Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, ICAI added that, "RESOLVE-2023 Convention has been carefully crafted to facilitate the sharing of unparalleled knowledge and insights regarding best practices and emerging global developments in the field. It offers extensive networking opportunities for professionals in this domain and serves as a platform for professional enrichment in contemporary and emerging areas on a global scale."

For this momentous convention, CA. Somnath Adak, Chairman of the ICAI Singapore Chapter shared, "The Convention has been designed in a way as to enable sharing of knowledge with unsurpassed depth and breadth about the best practices and emerging global developments in this sphere. ICAI Singapore Chapter, being the Ambassador of ICAI in Singapore is proud to host this event."

About ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament viz The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for the regulation and development of the profession of Chartered Accountants in India. The ICAI functions under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, with more than 830,000 students & over 390,000 members, ICAI is the largest professional accounting body in the world, with a strong tradition of service to the nation. Today ICAI has a wide network of 5 Regional Councils and 168 Branches in India. It has 46 Overseas Chapters and 34 Representative Offices and a presence in 80 cities of 47 countries of the world.

Singapore Chapter of ICAI is a well-regarded professional body in Singapore. It plays a pivotal role in the professional development of Chartered Accountants in Singapore by curating & hosting professional events, webinars, and knowledge series events.

For media prc@icai.in
Jyoti Singh
9999926198

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

Healthcare Hiring on the rise in the Philippines: foundit Insights Tracker

Despite a slight dip in the country’s annual hiring activity, healthcare and retail continue to offer promising job opportunities.
Healthcare professionals lead all other industry job roles charting the highest annual growth of 21% in June ‘23

MANILA, Aug 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), one of the leading talent platforms, today published the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for June 2023, formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI). According to the Philippines fit report, job roles in the Healthcare and Retail sector have impressively grown by 26% and 12% respectively over the past year.

The tracker also reveals a marginal dip of 2% in e-recruitment activity, as the index climbed down from 127 in June 2022 to 124 in June 2023. Despite this drop in recruitment activity, sectors such as Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES witnessed progressive annual hiring growth in June’23. Amidst the ongoing pursuit of cost-cutting measures by global businesses, call centers and outsourcing companies in the Philippines have exceeded revenue and hiring targets and managed to maintain a positive outlook for the BPO job market. These promising numbers confirm a gradual but continuous improvement in the labour market, implying that demand for online recruitment will continue to climb in the coming months.

Commenting on the Philippines job trends for June 2023, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit, said, “Hiring is picking up pace in the Philippines. We are hopeful that jobs will rebound in the upcoming months as certain sectors such as Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES are showing a positive growth trajectory. The Philippines government has also shown support for gig & hybrid jobs, boosting hiring for service. This is crucial for job seekers, as it gives them more flexibility and opportunities to work in different sectors and locations.”

Healthcare, Retail, and BPO/ITES sectors lead in hiring activity, while the IT, Telecom, Logistics, Courier/Freight, and Advertising industries witness a drop in recruitment.

The fit reveals that the Healthcare industry continued to dominate the job market in June 2023, with a YoY increase of 26% hiring in the sector. Despite the shortage of skilled nurses and doctors, there has been a promising upward trend in hiring efforts to meet the country’s healthcare demands. Also, the Retail industry (+12%) witnessed double-digit growth in hiring demand this month owing to the increased number of customers visiting physical stores. Given that the Filipino government had allowed BPO companies with work-from-home arrangements to retain tax incentives, the hiring in the BPO/ITES sector (+11%) saw sequential annual growth in June ’23.

The Logistics, Courier/Freight/Transportation, and Shipping industry along with IT and Telecom/ISP has recorded a dramatic decline in hiring activity, with a YoY decrease of 34% and 20% respectively. Logistics has always presented a major challenge in the Philippines due to inadequate infrastructure, frequent weather-related disasters, and scattered demand. Consequently, the industry has struggled to thrive, resulting in sluggish hiring trends within the sector. The growth momentum for other industries such as Advertising, MR, PR, Media & Entertainment (-18%), Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (-1%), Hospitality (-3%), BFSI (-13%), Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (-14%), and Education (-17%) saw a consecutive dip annually in June’23.

Roles in Healthcare, Sales & Business Development, and Customer Service lead the hiring trends

There continues to be a high demand for Healthcare (+21%) professionals marking the steepest annual growth in June’23. With the sudden jump in the retail sector, the jobs in Sales & Business Development (+17%) went up leading to increase in demand for candidates Customer service and software, hardware, and telecom functions are also experiencing positive and steady growth of 11% and 3%, respectively, due to the improving economy.

Jobs in Purchase/ Logistics/ Supply chain (-24%) have been facing some challenges since Jan’23 and showed the lowest growth in hiring this month among all monitored functions. Hiring for Marketing & Communications (-21%) and HR & Admin (-21%) roles too dipped substantially in June’23. Other industries to witness a subsequent drop in hiring activity include – Hospitality & Travel (-1%) Engineering/ Production, Real Estate (-2%), and Finance and Accounts (-10%).

The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by foundit. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.

Period for the report

The period considered for the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) data is June 2022 vs. June 2023.

About foundit – APAC & Middle East

foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 75 million registered users to find jobs, upskill, and connect with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in the world of recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalized job searches, and precision hiring. foundit strongly believes that a job title doesn’t define one’s potential and leverages technology to dig deeper to curate opportunities central to the needs and aspirations of each user.

To learn more, about foundit in APAC & Gulf,

Contact:
Namrata Sharma
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
+6581383034

Peace and stability as key factors to ASEAN epicentrum of Growth

JAKARTA, Jul 17, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesia has completed a series of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings from 10 – 15 July 2023 in Jakarta, which emphasized Southeast Asian region is the epicentrum of growth and that economy and stability cooperations must be maintained by member countries and partners.

President of Indonesia Joko Widodo delivers a speech during a courtesy call at the 56th ASEAN Foreign
Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on July 14, 2023. (ANTARA FOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/nz/djo)

On his courtesy call at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) here on Friday (July 14), Indonesian President Joko Widodo said ASEAN must not become a battleground of rivalry and a proxy of any country.

"We, in ASEAN, are committed to continuously bolstering unity and solidarity as well as strengthening ASEAN's centrality in maintaining peace and stability in the region," the president said.

Indonesia stressed that ASEAN has excellent opportunities as the epicenter of growth as the region has abundant natural resources and a productive age population.

The 56th AMM plenary – retreat sessions were held on 11-12 July and linked to other meetings, including a meeting of the commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), a meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

A number of post-ministerial conferences (PMC) and multilateral meetings have also been held with ASEAN dialogue partners: the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), India, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Turkiye.

The meetings discussed several cooperations, including South China Sea, Myanmar, and Indo-Pacific issues, food security, energy transition, health, financial stability, and nuclear proliferation.

"This showed that amid the current situation, Indonesia's chairmanship remains strong in its efforts to make Southeast Asia the epicenter of growth … and this is also supported by all of our partner countries," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during a press conference after the 56th AMM on Friday.

Regarding regional issues, ASEAN intensifies efforts to involve all stakeholders in Myanmar to reduce conflict. The organization reaffirms that the Five Point Consensus remains the primary reference to overcome the political crisis in Myanmar.

To maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, ASEAN stressed the importance of undertaking confidence-building and preventive measures to enhance trust and confidence amongst parties and uphold international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The joint statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers stated the organization looked forward to the adoption of the Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea at the PMC Plus One Session with China on July 13 and encouraged efforts to make full use of the Guidelines.

Meanwhile, during the ASEAN meeting with counterpart states and multilateral fora, the organization reiterated several agenda related to the region.

ASEAN reiterated that all related parties must make all-out efforts to preserve the Southeast Asian Region as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

Besides convincing Russia and the United Kingdom to approve the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ), Marsudi stated that ASEAN would review the treaty, so all nuclear-weapon states want to sign and adopt the SEANWFZ Protocol.

ASEAN and its counterparts also discussed food security issues. Indonesia highlighted the need for investment, education, and agricultural technology to ensure food availability, accessibility, and affordability in times of crisis during meetings with India and Canada.

ASEAN also conveyed to the European Union that the trade barriers policies, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER), should not disrupt potential economic relations potential between the two regions. Thus both parties must find a joint solution through ASEAN-EU mechanisms.

During the meeting with the Japanese counterpart, Marsudi highlighted the potential development of electric vehicles (EV) in the region with Japan. ASEAN is well-positioned to partner with Japan in developing the ecosystem for EV batteries, while Japan can support this goal through the Green Innovation Fund.

The implementation of these cooperations would be discussed in greater detail and with more concrete plans by ASEAN sectoral ministers responsible for the economic field.

ASEAN reiterated that the member states need support from developed and friendly nations to leave the zero-sum approach and adopt a win-win strategy.

Source: Antara News Agency

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

Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition featuring the works of the late Mr. Lee Leng Chong to open on 14 July 2023 at ION Art gallery

100 Chinese calligraphy art pieces will be on sale, with part of the proceeds donated to the Community Chest
With a passion for Chinese cultural arts, Mr. Lee was an award-winning calligrapher that represented Singapore in multiple international Chinese calligraphy cultural exchanges
The official opening ceremony on 15 July 2023 will be graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law

SINGAPORE, July 13, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition: Tribute to the late Mr. Lee Leng Chong. As a tribute to the late Mr. Lee Leng Chong, a Chinese Calligraphy exhibition will be held at ION Art gallery, Level 4, ION Orchard. There will be 100 Chinese calligraphy art pieces on exhibit. A compilation of the Chinese calligraphy pieces on exhibit will also be launched during the exhibition.

The exhibition will be held from 14 July (Friday) to 18 July (Tuesday), 10am to 10pm.

The opening ceremony will be on 15 July 2023 (Saturday), 3pm at ION Art gallery. The Guest- of-Honour is Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law.

Mr. Lee Leng Chong’s Biography

The late Mr. Lee Leng Chong was a prominent and accomplished Chinese Calligraphy artist. Notably, he was listed as one of Singapore’s Top Teochew Famous People in the field of Cultural Arts in the book published in 2016 as part of SG50 collection, the editor was Mr. Phua Kok Khoo.

In his lifetime, he worked at the Singapore Press Holdings as an editor for the Chinese Newspapers (Lianhe Zaobao and Sin Chew Daily), which was also his first and last job, and devoted his time post-retirement on his passion for Chinese Cultural Arts and honing his craft for Chinese Calligraphy.

He had won several acclaimed Chinese Calligraphy awards including:

1. Dr Tan Tsze Chor Art Award

2002 – 1st prize; 2014 – 1st prize; 2008 Excellence Award;

2. Korean International Chinese Calligraphy Cultural Award

2003 – Silver, 2004 – Gold; 2008 and 2018 – 1st prize;

3. The Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore – Tan Keng Cheow Award

2013 Tan Keng Cheow Award

His works were regularly featured in all the major Chinese calligraphy exhibitions and events organised by the various Chinese Calligraphy Associations in Singapore and he has also represented Singapore in multiple International Chinese Calligraphy Cultural Exchanges (Singapore, China, Korea and Malaysia).

The late Mr. Lee Leng Chong had always been passionate about promoting Chinese Cultural Arts. The family of the late Mr. Lee Leng Chong hopes to continue his legacy to spread and instil the love and appreciation of Chinese Calligraphy and Chinese Cultural Arts in Singapore through the successful launch of this exhibition.

The son of the late Mr. Lee Leng Chong, Mr. Wayne Lee, is a veteran investment banker and is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of W Capital Markets Pte Ltd, a holder of the Capital Markets Services (“CMS”) licence issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to conduct regulated activities of “Advising on Corporate Finance” and “Dealing in Capital Market Products that are Securities and units in a Collective Investment Scheme”, and is an accredited IPO Mainboard Issue Manager and Catalist Full Sponsor authorised by the Singapore Exchange. Wayne is also the Founder of W Capital Private Equity VCC. He recently won the EYA Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 – New Entrepreneur Category awarded by ASME and the Rotary Club Singapore.

Part of the sale proceeds from the exhibition art pieces will be donated to the Community Chest.

100% of donated proceeds to Community Chest goes to support over 100 social service agencies to meet underserved and critical social needs. The causes supported include the following:

– Adults with Disabilities
– Children with Special Needs and Youths-At-Risk
– Families in Need of Assistance
– Persons with Mental Health Conditions
– Seniors in Need of Support

About W Capital Markets

W Capital Markets Pte. Ltd. (“W Capital Markets”) is a holder of the Capital Markets Services (“CMS”) licence issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to conduct the regulated activities of “Advising on Corporate Finance” and “Dealing in Capital Market Products that are Securities and units in a Collective Investment Scheme”.

W Capital Markets is an accredited Mainboard Issue Manager and Catalist Full Sponsor authorised by the SGX.

W Capital Markets provides a full suite of bespoke investment banking services, including M&As, IPOs, Pre-IPO & secondary fund raising and financial advisory, with a focus on mid-cap companies (S$50 million to S$1 billion enterprise value) in the Asia Pacific region.

Helmed by a team of reputable & highly experienced M&A and IPO investment bankers, it also has the privilege of having amongst its directors and shareholders, several prominent & well-regarded practitioners from the corporate finance/ private equity/ legal and business community. Nanshan Group, a Chinese conglomerate with diversified businesses globally and ranked among the top 200 enterprises in China is the second largest shareholder of W Capital Markets.

Led by its founding Chairman and CEO, Mr. Wayne Lee, the vision of W Capital Markets is to be an international financial group with presence in key financial centres and be recognized as a premier corporate finance powerhouse in the Asia Pacific region.

Find out more at www.wcapitalmarkets.com.sg/leadership.html

Media Contact:
Mr. Kamal Samuel / Ms. Vicki Zhou
kamal@financialpr.com.sg / zhouyan@financialpr.com.sg

Indonesia urges ASEAN to preserve nuclear-weapon-free zone, not abandon human rights issues

JAKARTA, Jul 12, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesia has urged ASEAN member states to preserve the Southeast Asia Region as a nuclear-weapon-free zone and not abandon human rights issues, and reaffirms its readiness to cooperate in reaching significant human rights promotion and protection efforts.

"We will continue the communication with each other, but I emphasize that we have a very strong political will to maintain Southeast Asia as a nuclear-free region," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said during the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Marsudi has led the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) meeting. The SEANWFZ had contributed to the collective efforts in maintaining the region's peace and stability through global disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

However, Indonesia regretted that none of the nuclear weapon states had signed the protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty, which was inked by ASEAN member states 25 years ago. The protocol was formulated to invite the five nuclear powers — China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States — to join the efforts to realize Southeast Asia as a region free of nuclear weapons.

During the SEANWFZ meeting, the Commission plans to task negotiators to examine the treaty body due to some objections to some sentences. Thus, the ASEAN member states must cooperate to achieve the region's peace and stability without nuclear weapons. "We must come as a united front before the nuclear weapon states. (It is) only then we can forge a clearer path toward a region free of nuclear weapons," Marsudi said.

Additionally, during the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) with representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Indonesia stated that differences between ASEAN member countries should not become an excuse for abandoning Southeast Asia's human rights issues.

The Indonesian foreign minister noted that dialogue on human rights should be conducted regularly. "We are, therefore, aiming for a Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue," Marsudi said. ASEAN could set an example of its values in prioritizing constructive engagements amid global crises and rivalries that worsen human rights.

The AICHR should continue to work beyond capacity-building activities and results in impactful homegrown initiatives, as well as continue to promote human rights values in accordance with the regional context and voice the promotion and protection of human rights that are constructive, objective, and proportional in the three pillars of the ASEAN Community.

Indonesia reaffirms its readiness to cooperate in reaching significant human rights promotion and protection efforts.

The series of ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) events are being held in Jakarta from July 10 to July 14, 2023. The events comprise 18 meetings, including the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) meeting, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) meeting, the AMM plenary session, and a retreat session, as well as meetings with ASEAN's dialogue partners.

Yashinta Difa, Raka Adji, Editor: Azis Kurmala (c) ANTARA 2023

Image: [L-R] Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Philippines Enrique Manalo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Timor Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the General Secretary of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn take a group picture before the Meeting of the Commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in Jakarta, Tuesday (11/7/2023). (ANTARA FOTO/Indrianto Eko Suwarso/YU/cfo) (https://photos.acnnewswire.com/20230712.ASEAN.jpg)

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

Roles in Hospitality and Travel Soar with 120% Surge in Hiring: foundit Insights Tracker

The country’s annual hiring activity gains 8% momentum, showcasing a positive economic recovery in Malaysia
Hospitality leads all other industry sectors charting the steepest annual growth of 102% in May ‘23

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), one of the leading talent platforms, today published the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for May 2023, previously Monster Employment Index (MEI). According to the fit Report for Malaysia, job roles in the Hospitality and Travel sector have shown impressive growth of 120% over the past year.

fit also reveals a promising year-on-year (YoY) growth of 8%, as the index climbed from 73 in May 2022 to 79 in May 2023. Additionally, a month-on-month (MoM) analysis indicates a notable 6% surge, with an index of 73 recorded in April 2023. The rising index values reveal a thriving labour market that will benefit employers and job seekers alike.

Commenting on Malaysia’s job trends for May 2023, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit, said, “Our findings indicate a strong momentum and a promising future for Malaysia’s labour market. However, in this competitive landscape, companies emphasise on individuals with specialised skills. Hence, job seekers must always be aware of the changing demands of the industry and equip themselves with the required skills. Upskilling and continuous learning will be the key to unlocking new opportunities and thriving in this dynamic landscape.“

Hospitality and Retail sectors lead in hiring activity, while the IT, Telecom, Oil and Gas Industries witness a drop in recruitment.

The hospitality and retail industries continue to lead the way among steadily growing sectors. The hospitality industry saw a remarkable YoY growth of 102%, owing to Malaysia’s booming tourism. Similarly, the Retail sector (57%) marked noteworthy progress in e-recruitment due to the rising retail sales. Being next in the rung, Engineering, Construction, and Real Estate industries also witnessed a YoY increase in May 2023 with a 24% rise in the hiring activity due to infrastructure developments, government policies, and rapid urbanisation plans of Malaysia.

The IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES, along with Oil and Gas industries recorded a substantial deceleration in YoY hiring activity with a decrease of 14% and 7% respectively. This trend can be attributed to the economic slowdown and political uncertainties that lead to reduced investments, and lower demand for services. However, the overall hiring sentiment in Malaysia has been positive with industries such as Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (+2%), BFSI (+5%), Advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media and Entertainment (+14%), and, Logistic, Courier/ Freight/ Transportation, Shipping/ Marine (+18%) showcasing hiring optimism in May ’23.

Hospitality & Travel, and Sales & Business Development Lead the Way in Hiring Trends

In terms of functional roles, Hospitality & Travel jobs continued to witness significant demand in May 2023, with a staggering YoY growth of 120% driven by international tourism and the holiday season. This economic recovery created an online demand for other job roles, such as Sales & Business Development (28%) and Marketing & Communications (16%) as well. A few of the other job roles that have showcased a robust YoY growth rate include Software, Hardware & Telecom (+3%), Engineering/ Production, Real Estate (+4%), Purchase/ Logistics/ Supply chain (+8%), Finance & Accounts (+8%) and HR & Admin (+12%).

The roles in Customer Service (-33%) registered the steepest monthly as well as annual decline and it was also the only sector to register negative growth among all monitored functions. Several reasons can be attributed to this including the advancements in technology that have led to the implementation of automated customer service systems such as chatbots and self-service portals. There have also been instances during challenging economic times, where businesses need to prioritise cost-cutting measures, resulting in a decrease in hiring across various job roles, including customer service.

Period for the report

The period considered for the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) data is May 2022 Vs May 2023.

About foundit – APAC & Middle East

foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 75 million registered users to find jobs, upskill, and connect with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalised job searches, and precision hiring. foundit strongly believes that a job title doesn’t define one’s potential and leverages technology to dig deeper to curate opportunities central to the needs and aspirations of each user.

To learn more, about foundit in APAC & Gulf:

Contact
Namrata Sharma
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
+6581383034

International Yoga Day Celebrations by Ojas Yoga and Wellness Align with “Health Happiness Harmony” Book Launch, Inspiring a Holistic Approach to Inner Transformation

Singapore, Jun 22, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – In celebration of the highly anticipated International Yoga Day on June 21st' Ojas Yoga, a renowned holistic wellness and yoga practice hub, celebrated Yoga Day with transformative events and activities promoting health, harmony, and inner well-being. His Excellency.P Kumaran, High Commissioner of India, Singapore launched the book on 21st June 2023 on the auspicious day of International Yoga Day in Singapore at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. A special master class was organized to celebrate and honor World Yoga Day in which around 200 people participated. The event aimed to promote the practice of yoga and its numerous benefits for physical and mental well-being. Participants had the opportunity to learn from esteemed yoga instructors, who guided them through various yoga techniques and shared their expertise.

International Yoga Day, celebrated every year on the 21st of June, was established by the United Nations, is a global initiative that recognizes the profound benefits of yoga for individuals and communities alike. It serves as a reminder of the timeless wisdom and practice of yoga, which has been cherished for centuries and continues to inspire millions worldwide.

As a leading yoga teacher and passionate advocate for the power of yoga, Archana Amlapure, Founder of Ojas Yoga and Wellness, is committed to spreading the joy and benefits of yoga to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. With a mission to foster a healthier and more balanced society, Archana has been empowering people on yoga and its benefits across Asia. The studio is located in 359A, Joo Chiat Road, Singapore. She has been instrumental in conducting various Yoga lessons for students from India, US, Thailand and Malaysia.

"I am thrilled to celebrate International Yoga Day and share the profound benefits of yoga with our community," said Archana, the visionary behind Ojas Yoga and Wellness. "Yoga has the power to heal, restore, and unite people from all walks of life. Our events and programs aim to create a space where individuals can cultivate mindfulness, strengthen their bodies, and nourish their souls. It is time to discover the transformative power of yoga and embark on a journey towards a healthier, more balanced life."

The book "Health Happiness Harmony" embarks on a journey that delves into the depths of our inner being, guiding us towards self-discovery, healing, and profound growth. Yoga, with its ancient roots and timeless wisdom, has the power to unlock every individual's true potential and connect to a state of harmony and balance.

Archana, on launching her first book, quips, "As I reflect upon the significance of yoga in my own life, I am humbled by its ability to create a profound shift in our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It is a practice that transcends boundaries, cultures, and beliefs, embracing all who seek solace, strength, and serenity. Through the pages of this book, we all have the opportunity to embark on a shared exploration of this beautiful and transformative practice. May this book serve as a trusted companion on your personal odyssey of self-discovery, growth, and connection. May it inspire you to step onto your mat with renewed vigor and embrace the teachings of yoga with unwavering devotion."

It is time to embrace the practice of yoga as a lifelong journey and let it illuminate your path with its transformative light.

About Ojas Yoga and Wellness-

Ojas Yoga and Wellness is a premier yoga studio dedicated to empowering individuals through yoga and mindfulness. Led by Archana Amlapure, a highly trained and experienced yoga teacher, Ojas offers a variety of classes, workshops, and retreats designed to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Website: https://ojasyog.com/

Contact:
Archana Amlapure
(+65) 8191 2862

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

SATRIA-1 launch to improve internet access across Indonesia

JAKARTA, Jun 19, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Republic of Indonesia Satellite (SATRIA-1) successfully lifted off on Sunday at 18:21 local time from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) in the US, intending to increase internet coverage for the disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.

SATRIA-1 successfully launched using a Falcon 9 rocket at 6:21 PM from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) in the U.S. on Sunday (18/6/2023). (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti/aa)

The satellite launch is an effort to equalize development and include the Indonesian public in the digital economy with the provision of internet in the 3T regions and in the country. SATRIA-1 will cover the entire Indonesian territory, including remote areas.

"This first Indonesian satellite, SATIRA-1, aims to distribute internet access evenly, particularly for purposes of education, medical, public services, the military and the police force," acting Communication and Informatics minister Mahfud MD said here on Monday.

The satellite was launched using American-based private spacecraft manufacturer and launch company Space X's Falcon 9 rocket. The launch runs for about ten minutes and SATRIA-1 will head to the orbit point at 146O of East Longitude.

"It was a great achievement and success, thanks to the support of all Indonesian people," the acting president director of Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI), Arief Tri Hardiyanto, said at Kennedy Space Center, Florida after the launch of the first internet satellite owned by the Indonesian government.

After arriving at the orbit, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) along with Thales Alenia Space (TAS) will conduct In-Orbit Testing of the satellite for three weeks to ensure the function of the satellite. The next phase of the satellite operating series is the In-Orbit Acceptance Review (IOAR) which is scheduled to be held in the first week of December 2023.

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO) will monitor SATRIA's internet service quality. It hopes Indonesians will be able to utilize the internet capacity of SATRIA-1 gradually starting in January 2024.

SATRIA-1 has been built by the government since 2019 to provide equal internet access in public facilities, specifically in the 3T regions. According to the ministry's latest study in 2023, the 150-Gbps capacity SATRIA-1 will provide expanded broadband coverage to 50 thousand public facility points in 3T regions connected to the internet.

It will provide equal internet access for public facilities in 3T regions, such as schools, hospitals, community health centers, village offices, and sub-district offices, as well as security services. The internet speed in each of these points will reach 4 Mbps, which is four folds higher than the previously projected speed of only 1 Mbps for every point in 2018.

In addition to SATRIA-1, the ministry will launch Hot Backup Satellite (HBS) in the third quarter of 2023. The Communication and Informatics Ministry stated that satellites are the best and quickest choice for equitable internet distribution in Indonesia.

Adimas Raditya FP, Mecca Yumna, Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga (c) ANTARA 2023

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