Asian Financial Forum kick-starts 2023 on a positive note

HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) kicked off today on a positive note, attracting over 1,000 participants on day one, including more than 100 global leaders and officials invited as speakers and 19 delegations from Mainland China and overseas. This was also reflected in the results of a poll conducted at the event, in which close to 70% of respondents indicated a neutral to positive sentiment towards the global economic outlook.

The 16th Asian Financial Forum opened today in physical format with digital extension and will run for two days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Former (Eighth) Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered a speech during the keynote luncheon.

AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session was once again held in physical format, facilitating business collaborations through face-to-face communication.

This year's Forum, themed Accelerating Transformation: Impact – Inclusion – Innovation, comes hot on the heels of the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China, along with Hong Kong's international business travel returning to normal.

After two years of being held in virtual format, the two-day event, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), returned in physical format, in addition to being available online.

The Forum was officiated by HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee. HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam also delivered his welcome remarks: "The Forum is the first flagship financial event held in hybrid format to kick-start the new year. Hong Kong has long been a leading global financial centre, and the global financial leaders' visit to Hong Kong solidifies our important role in the region and the world at large. Global cooperation has become more important than ever. Our collective aim is to stimulate growth, and if we join hands, we can do just that in this new normal we operate in."

The AFF opened with a plenary session hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR. The panelists included Ms. Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance, Luxembourg; Dr Benjamin Diokno, Secretary, Department of Finance, Philippines; Dr Zamir Iqbal, Vice President, Finance and CFO, Islamic Development Bank; Mr Jin Liqun, President and Chair, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Mr Ahmed Saeed, Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank; Mr Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman, International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and Chairman, Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA Belgium); Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Finance, Thailand and Dr Tao Zhang, Chief Representative, Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bank for International Settlements.

At the policy dialogue, Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, chaired a panel featuring Mr Otavio Damaso, Deputy Governor for Regulation of the Central Bank of Brazil; Dr Dong He, Deputy Director of Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund; Ms Verena Ross, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority; and Hiroto Uehara, Deputy Director-General of the Bank of Japan.

Real-time polling conducted during the Forum gauged participants' views on a broad range of subjects. When asked about the major challenges facing global growth in 2023, 60% of participants believe that the intensifying geopolitical risks will pose the biggest threat. 29% of participants believe the continued tightening of monetary policy will be the biggest risk, apart from cyber breaches and security risks (3%) and high corporate debt restraining business investment (8%). When asked about the possibility of innovation and technology bringing more benefits than risks to growth, 87% of participants said it was very likely or likely.

Ban Ki-Moon on multilateralism in a fraught world

At the keynote luncheon on the first day moderated by Mr Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR and Mr Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of the Management Committee of the China International Capital Corporation, delivered remarks. The luncheon also featured Mr Ban Ki-moon, eighth UN Secretary-General, as the keynote speaker. In his speech, he stated: "COVID-19, climate change and other global crises have underlined our fundamental interconnectedness. These events have also made it clear that we need global solutions to holistically address the enormous challenges that we are now facing. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement provide humanity with a collaborative blueprint to ensure the future that we want, while leaving no one behind. To achieve this noble goal, all stakeholders, including financial and business leaders, should strengthen cooperation, innovation, engagement and action. We can harness this time of uncertainty to pave the way towards a more sustainable, healthy and prosperous world for all."

In addition, financial and business leaders also attended sessions that explored prospects for the global economy. In her speech, Ms Valerie Baudson shared : "Speaking about 2023, I think there will be three factors, which will determine the global outlook. The first one is the Central Bank's policy with inflation, which starts to decrease. The second one, the energy crisis and the way the European governments will go on managing them, and the third one is of course the Chinese reopening, which will be very important for global growth". Gu Shu opined that: "The world economy is facing multiple challenges, but it is in better shape compared to that of the last few years. We have experienced sluggish trade and investment, high inflation, and disrupted global supply chains. This year downward pressure remains, but we believe inflation in major economies will start to come down. Growth rate may not be fast, but still in positive territory. We see opportunities coming from green transition and digitization. We call for countries to make concerted efforts to normalize the global economy."

In the afternoon, the inaugural Global Spectrum, Dialogue for Tomorrow and Fireside Chat sessions analysed social trends that impact our future, including financial innovation, healthcare and impact investing, and highlight opportunities and challenges facing start-ups in the Guangdong-Hong-Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the potential of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital collectables to drive the digital economy.

In view of the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) among corporates and investors, the HKTDC and PwC presented a joint research paper on "Financing the Corporate Transition to a Sustainable Future" at the AFF. Mr Raymund Chao, Asia Pacific and China Chairman of PwC, shared the findings: "It was a great opportunity for us to partner with HKTDC to release our joint research study today at the Asian Financial Forum. Our survey, which centred around ESG transformation, pointed to a number of challenges and opportunities facing local corporations in delivering meaningful results on their ESG journey and effectively financing their ESG initiatives. Businesses need to embrace a game-changer mindset, while working together with all levels of stakeholders to build trust and drive sustained outcomes in this space. As policymakers bring additional focus to ESG, along with higher C-suite awareness, we believe this will not only further Hong Kong's development in green finance, but will also propel the world forward towards a sustainable future."

Providing connections for investors

The AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, have returned in physical format. More than 600 matchmaking meetings are expected to be held. While the sessions take place in-person on 11 and 12 January, they continue online until 17 January, allowing investors and project owners more time to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. Representatives from a variety of industries will participate in this much-anticipated session, ranging from deep technology, digital technology and media, and medical technology to education, infrastructure and real estate services.

The Forum continues to provide a platform facilitating projects and business matching among global finance and trade institutions. For instance, the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association (REI) and Institution of Public Private Partnerships in Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding on the first day of AFF to strengthen collaboration in infrastructure. Yedpay, an exhibitor in the Forum's FinTech Showcase, also joined hands with global financial institutions and local universities at the event to launch a collaboration framework on jointly developing various payment technologies.

Two women leaders delivering keynote addresses tomorrow

The AFF will continue to feature stimulating and thought-provoking sessions tomorrow, including a keynote speech in the morning on the promotion of climate change delivered by Ms Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Co-founder of Global Optimism. Ms Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, will join the keynote luncheon as a guest speaker to share her experiences as an influential global leader and her mission to promote a diverse and inclusive culture.

There are over 20 workshops and panel discussions on a myriad of topics, such as sustainable development and ESG, green finance, inclusive capital markets, family office challenges, digital Reminibi and innovative technology development. Highlighted speakers include Dr Norman Chan, Chairman of RD Wallet Technologies / RD ezLink; Mr Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect; Dr Feng Xiao, Chairman of HashKey Group; Dr Giovanna Graziosi-Casimiro, Head of Metaverse Fashion Week of Decentraland and Mr Sebastian Fahey, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead of the Metaverse at Sotheby's.

The HKTDC is providing a variety of exclusive travel, food and hotel discounts for overseas delegates, to enrich their stay in Hong Kong beyond the two-day Forum. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Gv9xt6

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/
– Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme
– Speakers List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker
– HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3vRBnem

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Media enquiries

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Hing-fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

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

Chris Cassidy Joins Mojix as President and Chief Commercial Officer

Boca Raton, FL, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Mojix, a leading inventory management and supply chain traceability enterprise SaaS platform, is pleased to announce that Chris Cassidy has joined the company as President and Chief Commercial Officer. This announcement comes as the direct result of the tremendous success Mojix has attained over the past several years, as the company has recorded significant growth and improvements in revenue, customer expansion, and product innovation. Supporting these achievements, the company has developed strategic partnerships for serialization and RFID Barcoding used by leading food & beverage, luxury brand, manufacturing, industrial, aerospace & defense, and retail clients across the globe.

Chris Cassidy

Dan Doles, Mojix CEO, said, "Chris joins Mojix with more than 20 years of executive leadership in various supply chain management roles and brings deep domain expertise and a stellar track record working with leading global enterprises on digital transformation and supply chain optimization. Chris is a recognized expert in supply chain management, logistics, and enterprise supply chain SaaS solutions, across both customer operations, strategy, sales and marketing. We are excited to partner with Chris to further our long-term strategic vision and provide value to our customers as a best-in-class item-level traceability SaaS platform."

Before joining Mojix, Chris was EVP & Chief Revenue Officer at Trax Technologies. Previously, he held various supply chain leadership positions of increasing responsibility at Gartner, UPS, and GSK. He holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an executive programme certification in supply chain management at MIT.

Pete Leibman, Managing Director of Peak Rock Capital, added, "the Board is thrilled to have Chris join the executive leadership team at Mojix, and exemplifies our commitment to drive accelerated growth in the years to come."

Chris stated, "I am both humbled and honored to be named President and Chief Commercial Officer of Mojix. I am excited to drive further acceleration of the company's growth as we continue to lead the industry in customer satisfaction, global program delivery and product innovation for end-to-end visibility and traceability. The aim is to continue leveraging the maturing serialization and RFID barcoding technology solutions with the purpose of driving smarter and intelligent insights. Through collaboration and innovation with our customers and strategic partners, our advances in bringing together the physical and financial data flows will empower global enterprise manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to improve visibility and traceability for optimized financial performance of their Supply Chain networks during these most uncertain of times. Our times require both an agile and resilient supply chain to manage cost-to-serve and inventory assets."

About Mojix

Mojix is a global leader in item-level supply chain intelligence software. The firm is leading the way in traceability solutions utilizing its high security, globally scalable cloud-native SaaS platform. Founded in 2004, the Company has deep domain expertise in serialization technologies such as RFID, NFC, and print-based marking systems. Mojix builds business intelligence from event-triggered actions tracking billions of unique identities, following item lifecycles from source to shelf. Companies can leverage the seamlessly integrated data to increase their sales and operational efficiency, reduce major risks and enhance their customer experience. With offices across the United States, Europe and South America, Mojix is now a recognized expert in end-to-end, item-level track and trace, product authentication and automated inventory management. Learn more at www.mojix.com

About Peak Rock Capital

Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com.

Editorial/Media Contacts
Jim Donaldson, Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Mojix, Inc
(314) 223-4779
jim.donaldson@mojix.com

Helene de Lailhacar, VP Marketing
Mojix, Inc.
(33) 6 70 61 72 22
helene.delailhacar@mojix.com

(c) Mojix, Inc. Mojix and ytem are registered trademarks of Mojix, Inc.

SOURCE: Mojix, Inc

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

SCIB Proposes Private Placement to Raise Up to RM10.98 Million

KUCHING, MALAYSIA, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Civil engineering specialist Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad (SCIB) is proposing a private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately RM10.98 million for working capital, repayment of bank borrowings and estimated expenses for the proposed private placement.

Group MD and CEO of SCIB, Encik Rosland bin Othman

While the issue price and the actual number of shares to be issued will be determined later, under the maximum scenario in which all the Company's 245.18 million outstanding warrants are exercised, the proposed private placement will entail the issuance of up to 82.72 million placement shares at an indicative price of RM0.1327 per placement share to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately RM10.98 million. Under the minimum scenario, should none of the outstanding warrants be exercised, then gross proceeds raised will be RM7.72 million.

The proposed issuance represents not more than 10% of the issued shares as at the latest practicable date (LPD) of 30 December 2022 while the indicative price per share represents a discount of approximately 9.97% to the five-day volume weighted average market price of SCIB shares up to the LPD of RM0.1474. The proposed private placement may be implemented in several tranches within six months of approval from Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad or any extended period approved by it until the conclusion of the next AGM.

The proposed private placement is undertaken in accordance with the approval obtained from the shareholders of the Company at the 46th AGM convened on 8 December 2022.

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd: 9237 [BURSA: SCIB], http://scib.com.my

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

Minetech Awarded RM36.71 Million Mini-Hydro Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Minetech Resources Berhad, a civil engineering specialist and bituminous products manufacturer today announced that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Techmile Resources Sdn Bhd (TRSB), has accepted a letter of award (LOA) from Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) of a 3MW mini-hydro power plant at Sungai Pelagat, Besut, Terengganu valued at RM36.71 million.

The project, which is expected to commence in January 2023, followed by construction in 2025, is expected to be completed by May 2027, comes under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority's (SEDA) feed-in-tariff (FiT) programme in which businesses or individuals that hold SEDA's feed-in approval certificate can sell RE at the FiT rate to distribution licensees such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

TRSB provides EPCC as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the energy industry. Tesdec Hydropower is a sub-subsidiary of Tesdec Berhad through its subsidiary, Tesdec Services Sdn Bhd. Tesdec is wholly-owned by the Terengganu government while Tesdec Hydropower is principally involved in renewal energy (RE) activities, development and facilities in the state.

Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech said, "This project represents for us another step forward in our venture into RE that began in 2020 as part of an organisational transformation at Minetech, which includes diversification and rationalisation. Our move into RE enables us to partake in the development of a sustainable economy that is in line with initiatives in recent years to be greener and ensure social wellbeing."

"The 3MW mini-hydro power plant project will allow us to also showcase what Minetech is capable of as we seek more opportunities in RE. As a registered solar photovoltaic investor with SEDA and the owner of a 9.99MW AC floating solar power plant located in Pantai Remis, Perak, we are also able to sell electricity to government agencies, businesses and individuals under SEDA's Net Energy Metering Programme or NEM 3.0."

YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu said, "The state government is committed to driving economic growth through such projects where positive spillover effects include lowering greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating the impact of human activities to the environment and safeguarding the wellbeing of communities through socio-economic progress".

Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower, YB Ir. Saiful Azmi bin Suhaili said, "We are pleased to initiate this renewable energy project that will bring benefits to the people of Terengganu by providing a stable and clean source of electricity that can also support essential backup power should there be power outages or disruptions."

The LOA signing ceremony was held at Primula Beach Hotel, Kuala Terengganu and were witnessed by Terengganu Menteri Besar, YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar and Executive Chairman of Minetech, Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera. Executive Directors, Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif and Mr Matt Chin signed on behalf of TRSB while Directors, Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail and Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, signed for Tesdec Hydropower.

Image Caption
From L-R:
1. Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail, Executive Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
3. YB Ir Saiful Azmi, Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
4. YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu
5. Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech Resources Bhd
6. Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
7. Matt Chin Leong Choy, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Minetech02301111.jpg

From L-R (Standing):
1. YB Ir Saiful Azmi, Chairman of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu
3. Dato' (Dr). Ts. Awang Daud bin Awang Putera, Executive Chairman of Minetech Resources Bhd
From L-R (Seated):
1. Ts. Shahidan Izham bin Yeop Ibrahim, Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
2. Ir. Rosdan bin Ismail, Executive Director of Tesdec Hydropower Sdn Bhd
3. Ts. Azlan Shah bin Zainal Arif, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
4. Matt Chin Leong Choy, Executive Director of Minetech Resources Bhd
https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Minetech02301112.jpg

Minetech Resources Berhad: 7219 [BURSA: MINE], https://minetech.com.my/

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

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA) to Present at Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference 18-19 January 2023

SINGAPORE, Jan 11, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Incorporated ("SoPa") (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia's (SEA) next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces Dennis Nguyen, Founder/Chairman/CEO will present and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Sidoti January Virtual Investor Conference, taking place on 18-19 January 2023.

The presentation will begin at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, 18 January 2023 at in Estate 4 and can be accessed live here. https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZPDz2TnkR9eknfGKZN2UGQ

SOPA will also host virtual one-on-ones with investors on Wednesday and Thursday, 18-19 January 2023. To register for the presentation or one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events.

About Sidoti & Company

For over two decades, Sidoti & Company has been a premier provider of independent securities research focused specifically on small and microcap companies and the institutions that invest in their securities, with most of its coverage in the $100 million-$5 billion market cap range. The firm's approach affords companies and institutional clients a combination of high-quality research, a small- and microcap-focused nationwide sales effort, broad access to corporate management teams, and extensive trading support. Sidoti serves 500+ institutional clients in North America. http://www.sidoti.com/

About Society Pass Inc.

Founded in 2018 as a next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital advertising network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; Handycart.vn, a premier online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; and Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please review the following online information which is not part of this press release:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

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

Avendus appoints Sumit Dayal as Independent Non-Executive Director in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Jan 10, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Avendus, one of India's leading institutional financial services companies, announced the appointment of Sumit Dayal as Independent Non-Executive Director in Singapore today. He will provide guidance and corporate governance oversight as a Board member to Avendus Capital Pte. Limited (Singapore).

Sumit Dayal

A seasoned banker with over 30 years of corporate and investment banking experience, spent 16 years as Managing Director and headed various business units of Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore and Hong Kong. He also spent over 13 years in multiple roles in Bank of America across client risk and client coverage based in India, Singapore, and Hong Kong in the past.

Commenting on the appointment, Gaurav Deepak, Co-founder and CEO, Avendus Capital said, "We are delighted that Sumit has decided to join Avendus Singapore. We're confident that his exceptional experience and advisory will be of immense value to the franchise as we focus on making Singapore a strong base to grow our institutional franchise in Investment Banking, Institutional Equities and Wealth Management."

Sumit Dayal, Independent Non-Executive Director, Avendus Capital Pte. Limited said, "I am delighted to join Avendus. It's an institution that has been built on very strong fundamentals and one that I have admired immensely. I am looking forward to working with the firm to further deepen its linkages in the APAC region."

About Avendus

Avendus Group is a leading financial services firm with presence in the areas of Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Credit Solutions and Asset Management. Established in 1999 in Mumbai, India, Avendus is today present in 10 cities across India, US, UK and Singapore. Avendus partners with the Indian entrepreneur ecosystem to provide differentiated solutions that enable clients to meet their strategic aspirations.

Avendus Capital, the investment banking arm, is consistently ranked among the top investment banks in the country on the back of its in-depth domain understanding and a best in the class track record of domestic and cross-border transactions. Avendus' wide range of clients is testimony to its ability to serve its corporates throughout their life cycle — from growth stage funding to large-sized transactions and M&A advisory.

Avendus Capital Inc located in New York is an Avendus Group entity offering M&A and Private Equity syndication services to clients in the US.

Avendus Capital Pte Limited located in Singapore is an Avendus Group entity undertaking Fund Management business in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.avendus.com.

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

2023 Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair, Stationery & School Supplies Fair Open Today

HONG KONG, Jan 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – As the first round of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) 2023 trade shows, the 49th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the 14th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and the 21st Hong Kong International Stationery and School Supplies Fair, jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, kick off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three fairs will run concurrently until 12 January and bring together more than 1,000 exhibitors to showcase a wide range of inspiring toys, quality baby products and creative stationery.

The physical Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair open today and run until 12 January 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Bernard Chan, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, delivered an opening speech at the opening ceremony this morning.

Brand Name Gallery at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair presents branded products with outstanding design and innovative functions from over 120 internationally renowned brands.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "With the first phase of the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China starting yesterday (8 January), Hong Kong's business travel is gradually returning to normal. The HKTDC continues to help companies seize opportunities, welcoming over 250 exhibitors from the mainland at the Toys & Games Fair. The Fair is supported by the Guangdong Province Department of Commerce's Cantonese Business Go Global programme, attracting over 120 exhibitors alone, and more than 1,000 representatives from Guangdong enterprises are expected to participate in the three fairs in-person."

Ms Chong added: "We are pleased to see that exhibitors at the three fairs are ready to showcase a wide range of uniquely designed toys products, quality and safe products for babies and children as well as personalised and eco-friendly stationery."

Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2023: latest trends and keys to success

The three fairs, themed Play To Bond – Family and Beyond, have attracted exhibitors from 17 countries and regions. One of the flagship events, the Hong Kong Toy Industry Conference 2023, opens tomorrow themed The Future of Play. Clifton Chiu, Research Analyst, Toys and Games of Euromonitor International will present the toy industry's key trends, while toy industry players will share how to succeed in the business. E-payment agencies and e-commerce companies will also discuss expanding your business through e-commerce. In addition, there will be seminars on smart toys and electronic games, baby products' market trends, the latest toy safety regulations, toy specifications, testing and certification and other topics.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair have various themed zones for easy sourcing. The highlighted Brand Name Gallery showcases branded products with eye-catching designs and innovative functions, featuring over 120 internationally renowned brands, including 4D Master, Eastcolight, Hape, KEEPPLEY, Ming the Minibus, Welly, Winfun and Marcus & Marcus. During the epidemic, school closures kept children at home for long periods, making educational toys a popular choice.

The Smart-Tech Toys zone presents toys and games that incorporate innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR), allowing consumers to learn while having fun. Kidult World features products for grown-ups, such as model mechs and vintage Paper Cardboard Vending Machine, filled with childhood memories. This year, more than 100 exhibitors showcase green toys, and a special Green Toys label helps buyers identify and source eco-friendly toys, one of the most popular product categories in the industry.

The Hong Kong Baby Products Fair continues to receive support from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Hong Kong Children, Babies, Maternity Industries Association, and once again has two pavilions, bringing diverse baby products to buyers. The popular Korea Pavilion showcases baby fashion, health and bath products, maternity products and more. The Strollers and Gear zone showcases strollers, car seats and bassinets. Other highlighted theme zones include Baby Bedding Items and Furniture and Feeding and Nursery Products.

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Hong Kong International Stationery and School Supplies Fair features the latest in creative art supplies, gift stationery, school and office supplies. The organisers continue to cooperate with renowned industry associations in different regions, including the Malaysia Stationery Importers and Exporters Association, the Federation of Stationers and Booksellers Association of Malaysia, the Taiwan Association of Stationery Industries, and the Thai Stationeries and Office Supplies Association, to promote the fair to their respective members.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair run under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, which includes HKTDC-organised physical fairs, the smart business-matching platform Click2Match, online-to-offline seminars under the Intelligence Hub, and the hktdc.com sourcing platform. This extends face-to-face interactions from physical exhibitions to an online smart business-matching platform to help enterprises connect with business partners proactively. The Click2Match platform for the three fairs will be accessible until 19 January, allowing exhibitors and buyers to continue to conduct business discussions online after the physical show.

Fair Websites
– HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3vOO1uA

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Media enquiries
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

Elcogen AS: MOU with Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems

TALLINN, EE, Jan 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Elcogen, the European manufacturer of clean energy technology that delivers affordable green hydrogen and emission-free electricity, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering ("KSOE"), a member of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group ("HHI Group"), and the Germany based Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems ("IKTS"). The MOU was signed at recently held CES 2023 in Las Vegas.

The MOU covers close R&D collaboration in the fields of green hydrogen production and emission-free power generation systems. KSOE is a research-oriented intermediate holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industry (HHI) group, one of the world's largest shipbuilders and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. In its own research centers, KSOE is pursuing the development of innovative technologies, including emission-free power generation and hydrogen value chain.

Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view the full announcement:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0647M_1-2023-1-9.pdf

For further information please visit https://elcogen.com/ or contact:

Elcogen AS
Marek Roostar
marek.roostar@elcogen.com
+372 53 84 6006

Tavistock (Corporate and Financial PR)
Simon Hudson / Nick Elwes / Rebecca Hislaire
elcogen@tavistock.co.uk
+44 20 7920 3150

For more information about KSOE, please visit http://ksoe.co.kr/en/about01

For more information about IKTS, please visit https://www.ikts.fraunhofer.de/en/aboutus.html

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

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

Malaysian Genomics Explores R&D Collaboration with SIRIM

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Jan 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Bursa: MGRC, 0155), a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, is pleased to announce a strategic cooperation with SIRIM Berhad, to explore the commercialisation of joint research and development (R&D) projects in the medical and biotechnology fields.

Encik Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics

SIRIM Berhad is wholly owned by the Malaysian Government, and is focused on R&D, standardisation and quality. The organisation acts as a catalyst for industrial development through programmes involving technology and standardisation.

Under the strategic cooperation, both parties will evaluate the potential commercial value of a range of genomics-driven biotechnology R&D projects. These include developing biofuels and biopharmaceuticals, companion diagnostic tests for cancer treatment, and bioactive cosmeceuticals.

Encik Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics, said, "SIRIM and Malaysian Genomics have complementary experiences, resources, and technology assets. Teams from both organisations have met to explore their research and develop interests in precision medicine, food security, and products for the consumer market. This strategic collaboration will pave the way for individual agreements specific to projects for which commercial opportunities have been identified."

President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SIRIM Berhad, Dato' Indera Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said, "We look forward to working closely with Malaysian Genomics on R&D projects that can benefit the country and domestic industries. This strategic collaboration will expedite the relevant processes to ensure that both parties can explore the commercial viability of projects, before commencing research, development and commercialisation."

The parties of this two-year strategic collaboration will also jointly source for suitable private and public institutional partners for the funding and commercialisation of these projects.

Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad: 0155 [BURSA: MGRC] [RIC: MGRC:KL] [BBG: MGRC:MK], http://www.mgrc.com.my/

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

Hong Kong Investment Promotion Chief visits Indonesia and Singapore to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities

HONG KONG, Jan 9, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (January 9) embarked on a duty visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, and Singapore this week as part of the latest efforts of InvestHK to promote Hong Kong's business attractions, including the opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Mr Stephen Phillips

During the visit, Mr Phillips will be meeting with representatives of companies from financial services and family offices, innovation and technology, transport, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, creative industries, and business and professional services sectors to discuss their plans of setting up or expanding operations in Hong Kong and other parts of the GBA.

Mr Phillips will also host a business roundtable cum luncheon for member companies of the Employers' Association of Indonesia in Jakarta to provide an update on business opportunities and talent initiatives in Hong Kong. In Singapore, he will conduct two roundtables jointly organised with the Good City Foundation and the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises respectively, to share with them the latest initiatives and opportunities of the family offices sector in Hong Kong.

Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong remains the only place in the world where the global advantage and the China advantage come together in a single city. This unique convergence makes Hong Kong the irreplaceable connection between the Mainland and the rest of the world. The city is an ideal location for overseas and Mainland companies, as well as entrepreneurs from around the world, as a base to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong, the GBA, China, and Asia more widely."

He added, "Hong Kong offers Indonesian and Singaporean companies a wide range of routes to growth opportunities. I look forward to sharing with representatives of companies and entrepreneurs the up-to-date and real situation in Hong Kong, and particularly how they can use Hong Kong to seize opportunities, including those arising from the GBA."

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