Snow Lake Lithium Corrects the Record and Confirms Postponed Meeting Date for January 17, 2023

MANITOBA, CANADA, Dec 21, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Snow Lake Resources Ltd., d/b/a Snow Lake Lithium Ltd. (NASDAQ:LITM) ("Snow Lake Lithium" or the "Company"), today corrects the record in response to misinformation perpetuated by the dissident group comprised of Kushkush Investments Pty Ltd (Alexandra Discretionary Trust), M + T K PTY LTD (MTK SUPERANNUATION FUND), Delaware IR LLC, Benjamin Abraham Fogelgarn, Nikola Najdoski, Yukor Mipoz Pty Ltd, Ozzi Pty Ltd, Deerhunter Investments Pty Ltd, and Nova Minerals Limited (collectively, the "Dissidents").

The Dissidents have announced a purported meeting of the Company's shareholders to take place on December 23, 2022. This meeting is invalid and will not be recognized by the Company. The Dissidents' improper attempts to hold a shareholders meeting as well as their repeated false statements regarding management compensation and ongoing initiatives at the Company are unfortunate and serve only to mislead the markets to the detriment of shareholders.

As explained in the Company's press release dated December 14, 2022, the annual general and special meeting of the Company's shareholders is now scheduled for January 17, 2023 (the "Meeting"). The Meeting was postponed by the Company's board of directors, in accordance with applicable law, as a result of concerns that the integrity of the voting process was at risk given inadequate disclosure from the Dissidents, issues with the manner in which the Dissidents solicited proxies, and a new assessment being conducted by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission with respect to an individual believed by the Company to be a joint actor of the Dissidents.

The Company again reaffirms that no meeting of shareholders will take place until January 17, 2023 and that any meeting of shareholders the Dissidents purport to convene prior to that time will be invalid, as will be any business purportedly conducted thereat.

Philip Gross, CEO and Chairman of Snow Lake Lithium, commented "There will be only one meeting at which shareholders will have the opportunity to support either current management or the Dissidents, and it will be held on January 17, 2023. We urge all shareholders to ignore any further attempts by the Dissidents to cause confusion about when and where the Meeting will occur and the issues that will be decided thereat. We also call on the Dissidents to work with management to ensure appropriate disclosure and proxy solicitation procedures are in place ahead of the Meeting, in accordance with applicable law, to prevent any further delays or erosion of shareholder value."

In light of the Company's concern with the proxy solicitation process, the Company is encouraging all shareholders to carefully review any proxy they have signed and to revoke any proxies inadvertently signed. As further disclosure is made, shareholders will continue to be entitled to revoke proxies or change their votes. If you have any questions related to proxies, voting instruction forms, or voting of your shares, please contact:

Alliance Advisors
200 Broadacres Drive, 3rd Fl.
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
North American toll free: 833-550-0994
Outside North America: 458-218-3345
Email: LITM@allianceadvisors.com

About Snow Lake Resources Ltd.

Snow Lake is committed to creating and operating a fully renewable and sustainable lithium mine that can deliver a completely traceable, carbon neutral and zero harm product to the North American electric vehicle and battery markets.

Our wholly owned Snow Lake Lithium(TM) Project now covers a 55,318-acre site that has only been 1% explored and contains an identified-to-date 11.1 million metric tonnes indicated and inferred resource at 1% Li2O.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements with respect to the timing of the Meeting. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Snow Lake Resources Ltd.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including without limitation future actions by the Dissidents. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our registration statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Snow Lake Resources Ltd. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:
Investors
ir@snowlakelithium.com

Media
media@snowlakelithium.com
www.SnowLakeLithium.com
twitter: @SnowLakeLithium
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/snow-lake-resources

SOURCE: Snow Lake Resources Ltd.

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

Samaiden Group Signs Agreement to Explore Cambodia Venture

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Dec 19, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Samaiden Group Berhad (Bursa: SAMAIDEN, 0223), a clean energy solution specialist principally involved in engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and power, is pleased to announce that the Group's wholly-owned subsidiary, Samaiden Sdn Bhd, has signed a partnership agreement with Management Venture Asia (Cambodia) Ltd. (MVA) today, to explore the clean energy-related business opportunities in Cambodia.

Group Managing Director of Samaiden, Ir. Chow Pui Hee

Director of MVA, H.E. Salah Essa

MVA, a business consultancy and clean energy project developer based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is primarily engaged in facilitating business ventures and taking products to market and market research throughout Asia. The company has successfully completed the development of 20MW ground mounted solar project in Bavet, in which the project was awarded power purchase agreement by the Electricite du Cambodge in August 2019.

Group Managing Director of Samaiden, Ir. Chow Pui Hee said, "We're looking forward to the collaboration with MVA given their strong presence in Cambodia. Expanding in Southeast Asia is part of our 5-years plan given the region's growing population and its geographical advantages."

"We firmly believe the partnership with MVA will ensure our expansion plans in Cambodia are focused. We are honoured to have MVA as our business partner in the development of clean energy in the country given its vast experiences and network in clean energy infrastructure.

The Director of MVA, H.E. Salah Essa quotes, "We are looking forward to this collaboration with Samaiden in the renewable and sustainable energy businesses in Cambodia and hope to draw on their industry experience and skills to make this venture successful for nation growth and aligning with country goal towards Net Zero Carbon policy 2050."

Samaiden Group Berhad: 0223 [BURSA: SAMAIDEN], https://samaiden.com.my/

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

Heavyweights to speak as AFF opens conference year

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

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

Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

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

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

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

Discussion sessions on hot market topics

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

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

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

AFF Deal Flow in hybrid mode with extended period

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

Nearly 100 exhibitors showcase new technologies and investment opportunities

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

Wide array of exclusive discounts and privileges for overseas delegates

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

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

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

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

About HKTDC

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

Media enquiries

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

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

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

Indonesian new criminal code respects privacy, human rights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia encourages ASEAN-EU partnership conducted based on equality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hafary poised to become a key player in Southeast Asia’s ceramic industry – JV to add manufacturing capabilities to its portfolio

Singapore, Dec 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hafary Holdings Limited ("Hafary" or the "Group"), the leading distributor of premium ceramic tiles in Singapore has expanded its operations by gaining manufacturing capabilities through the incorporation of a new Joint Venture ("JV") Company, International Ceramics Manufacturing Hub Sdn Bhd ("ICMHSB"). The JV will enable the Group to move upstream and overcome supply chain constraints as well as leverage on majority shareholder Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad's ("Hap Seng") MML brand and its distribution networks to grow sales in Malaysia and the regional export market.

Since 2015, the strong union between the two companies, Hafary and Hap Seng, have provided a steadfast supply of ceramic tiles to the building material industry in the region. 2023 will see Hap Seng and Hafary move to the next level of their integration, with the ceramic manufacturing and distribution business divisions within the Hap Seng Group consolidated under the umbrella of Hafary, arguably one of the most competent players in this industry. The strong synergies are bound to solidify their leadership position in the ceramics industry going forward.

Strengthening core capabilities through a synergistic JV

With over 40 years of industry experience and its extensive distribution capabilities in Singapore, Hafary is well-positioned to capitalise on this regional expansion opportunity. Together with its JV partners, Guangdong ITA Element Building Materials Co. Limited ("ITA") and CNA Pte Ltd ("CNA"), the Group will lease two manufacturing plants in Johor, Malaysia, from Hap Seng Group.

CNA, an established premium tile manufacturer will bring its significant manufacturing capabilities and know-how into the JV. Having operated manufacturing plants in China for over 13 years and in Malaysia for over 3 years, CNA has vast experience in serving international markets like America, EU and Australia. Coupled with ITA's fine expertise in tile design patterns, Hafary is on track to become a key player in Southeast Asia's ceramic industry. To further build on their core capabilities, Hafary has plans to invest approximately MYR40 million to ramp up the plants' production capacity from approximately 16,000 m2 per day to approximately 41,000 m2 per day.

In addition to helming Hap Seng Group's ceramic business division, Hafary will also undertake the distribution of the MML brand of ceramic tiles through its wholly owned subsidiary Hafary Trading Sdn Bhd ("HTSB") for retail, project as well as export markets. With greater control over its supply chain, Hafary will be able to fully capture MML's steadily growing demand and will also be better equipped to take on larger project opportunities.

The road ahead: Forging a path to become key player in the ceramic industry in SEA
These strategic partnerships with Hap Seng's subsidiaries and the synergies that they will generate will help set Hafary on a robust growth trajectory. The joint venture will enhance not only Hafary's distribution outreach but also its production capabilities across Singapore, Malaysia and beyond. With this integration, Hafary strives to address potential supply chain issues in order to stay ahead of the competition. As Hafary continues to scale, it will aim for greater level of efficiency in its operations moving forward.

About Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad

Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad ("HSCB") is a public company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. HSCB is a diversified group with six core businesses namely plantation, property investment & development, credit financing, automotive, trading and building materials. Progressive and forward-looking, the Group's emphasis on value creation, operational excellence and sustainability has enabled the Group to consistently deliver value to our shareholders

About Hafary Holdings Limited

Hafary Holdings Limited ("Hafary") is a public company listed on the Main Board of Singapore Exchange. Hafary is a leading supplier of premium tiles, stone, mosaic,wood-flooring, quartz top and sanitary ware and fittings in Singapore. Leveraging on our strong sourcing and procurement network, we carry a wide variety of surfacing materials from Europe (mainly Italy and Spain) and Asia and supply to our customers at competitive prices.

About CNA Pte Ltd

CNA Pte Ltd ("CNA") focuses on ceramic tile manufacturing and currently have over 3 years' of experience in operating tile factories in Malaysia. CNA has extensive experience in the Ceramic manufacturing factory in China which focuses on high-end ceramic tile designs for international markets.

About Guangdong ITA Element

Guangdong ITA Element ("ITA") is Hafary's existing long term business partner in China and Hafary owned 50% shareholdings in ITA. ITA owned various design patterns in the tiles industry and has design capabilities. Since the establishment of this joint venture, Hafary has been sourcing tiles from ITA.

Issued for and on behalf of Hafary Holdings Limited. by Financial PR
Kamal SAMUEL/Shivam SARAF/Urvija DIWAN
Email: kamal@financialpr.com.sg / shivam@financialpr.com.sg / urvija@financialpr.com.sg
Tel: (65) 6438 2990 / Fax: (65) 6438 0064

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

HKTDC Export Index 4Q22: Hong Kong exports expected to grow 5% in 2023

HONG KONG, Dec 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) projects that Hong Kong's exports will grow 5% next year – a recovery from the 6% decline this year. HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: "Hong Kong's exports will gradually regain growth momentum amid the receding pandemic, easing of COVID-19 restrictions and resumption of cross-border land transportation."

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan (R) and Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang announced the HKTDC Export Index for the fourth quarter of 2022 and export forecast for 2023 at a press conference today (15 December)

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan

HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang

The latest HKTDC Export Index survey shows that significantly more exporters indicated businesses were no longer suffering from pandemic-related problems (up 10.6 percentage points from the previous quarter to 32.7%), with progress made towards resolving the challenge of high transportation costs and logistics bottlenecks.

Yet, more respondents said buyers haggled over prices (25.7%, up 9.3 percentage points) and reduced order sizes (40.1%, up 5.0 percentage points). Most respondents said they expected sales next year to decrease (49.4%) or remain on a par with sales this year (28.3%). "Lingering geopolitics, coupled with the risk of global stagflation, has dampened consumer sentiment and business confidence," Ms Fan explained.

Recessions risks

The risks of an economic slowdown or recession in major markets (36.2%) and difficulties in cross-border travel (21.1%) have become exporters' key concerns. In response, most said they would develop new products (50.0%), stabilise cash flow (34.6%) and cut costs (30.5%) in the coming year. Other business strategies to be adopted included lowering minimum order quantities, increasing the use of e-commerce for sales and purchases as well as enhancing marketing, promotional or business matching activities.

"High inflation and high interest rates will weaken purchasing power and consumers' desire in the European and American markets. Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become the bright spot for the city's exports. Local exporters should also pay more attention to the opportunities in the Mainland China market. Product-wise, toys and timepieces related to smart and intellectual property (IP) will have higher chance," Ms Fan said.

Sentiment edges down

The HKTDC interviewed some 500 Hong Kong exporters in mid-November for the survey to gauge business confidence about near-term export prospects. Respondents come from six major industries – clothing, electronics, jewellery, machinery, timepieces and toys. Readings above 50 indicate a positive sentiment, while below 50 is negative.

The HKTDC Export Index dropped 3.1 points from the previous quarter to 29.7. "The uncertainties led by slowing global demand has affected exporters' sentiments," said HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang.

Machinery, watches outperform

Ms Tsang added that machinery (38.3, up 3.4 points) was the most upbeat sector, followed by timepieces (36.8, up 3.0 points), while jewellery recorded a sharp fall of 13.4 points to 30.8. Other sectors such as toys (28.9, down 8.1 points) and fashion (23.8, down 7.4 points), also dropped significantly.

It is worth nothing that all major markets recorded declines. Exporters have more confidence in Asian countries, with Japan topping the table at 47.2, followed by Mainland China (44.4) and the ASEAN bloc (43.5). They, however, remained less optimistic about the EU (40.4) and the US (40.2) markets, as persistent inflationary pressures and the likelihood of recession were set to hamper demand.

Growth in Asia

In the first 10 months of 2022, Hong Kong's total exports fell 4.4% over the same period last year. This was mainly due to pandemic disruption on cross-border trade flows between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the city's exports to key major Asian markets saw double-digit growth, as the intra-regional supply chain expanded. For instance, Hong Kong's exports to the ASEAN bloc increased 12.6% year-on-year, while they surged 15.0% and 13.5% to Taiwan and Korea, respectively.

However, Hong Kong's exports to the US showed no growth and shipments to the EU fell 2.9% during the same period, as aggressive central bank monetary tightening, high energy and food inflation as well as the lingering Russia-Ukraine conflict dampened consumer and business sentiment.

New products, new opportunities

Looking ahead, it is expected that toys exports will benefit from new 3D live-action games, and other peripheral products derived from film, TV and video games. Household electrical appliance exports will also pick up next year, as many restaurants, hotels and offices resume normal operations.

New products, such as robot vacuum cleaners and sound-activated light switches, also appeal to consumers. Moreover, smartwatches with more advanced health and wellness functions, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and blood oxygen readouts are becoming more popular.

To view our press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

References
– HKTDC Research website: http://research.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Export Index 4Q22: Local Exporter Confidence Falters in Face of Global Economic Slowdown https://bit.ly/3FNwCIz
– Covid Legacy and Global Economic Downturn Impact Hong Kong's 2023 Export Outlook https://bit.ly/3FOh7QH
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3FOi7nI

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
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

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

ESG reporting: Hang Seng companies have transparency shortcomings

HONG KONG, Dec 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Companies in the Hang Seng Index rank in the midrange internationally in terms of the quality of their ESG reporting. This is the finding of the Global ESG Monitor 2022 (GEM), Regional Report Hong Kong/China (https://globalesgmonitor.com/download-report/), published today. The GEM is considered an international leader in analysing the non-financial reporting of leading companies in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. According to the latest GEM study, the companies listed in the Hang Seng Index score an average of 57 points out of a maximum possible 100 points for the transparency of their non-financial reports. This result places the Hang Seng Index at the lower end of the midrange among the total of ten international indices from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia that were examined as part of the GEM, and ranks just above the level of S&P Asia (56 points) and Australia's ASX50 (53 points).

At the top of the index league are three companies – sports equipment supplier Anta Sports Products (02020.HK), financial services provider Hang Seng Bank (00011.HK) and Internet services provider and software developer Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) – on a score of 77. Sands China (01928.HK) and HSBC Holdings (00005.HK) rank the 4th and 5th among the blue chips with 75 and 74 points respectively. Other companies among the top ten include Lenovo Group (00992.HK), Power Assets (00006.HK), Henderson Land Development (00012.HK), China Mobile (Hong Kong) (00941.HK) and Hang Lung Properties (00101.HK).

With a rate of 97 percent, a generally high level of willingness exists among Hang Seng Index companies to base their non-financial reporting on a standard international framework. In a global comparison, however, they tend to be more focused with an average of 6.7 referenced frameworks and standards. This is also reflected, among other things, in the length of the reports, which rank among the most concise of the ten indices examined. "As you go through the Hang Seng data, you then notice that this focus is not always an advantage," comments Ariane Hofstetter, co-founder and Head of Research and Data Science at GEM. "In many cases, there's a lack of important details that would lead to better comprehensibility, reliability and comparability of the data."

Contextual information such as company size, number of employees and product and service portfolio is comparatively well established in non-financial reporting. Four out of five companies surveyed (81 percent) also describe the environmental parameters in which they operate. However, Hang Seng companies are less likely to address socioeconomic or political conditions (75 percent and 54 percent respectively). And only one-third (32 percent) from this group report on their value chains. "Greater sustainability nevertheless also requires close collaboration along the entire supply chain. How well Hang Seng companies achieve this undertaking remains in part an open question. Because here, too, there's a lack of information that enables the information to be classified," notes Michael Diegelmann, co-founder of GEM. "Although 83 percent of the reports contain descriptions of supply chains, once again there's a lack of detail to help rank the risks associated with the supply chain." For example, slightly less than a third of the companies provide information on the type of suppliers they do business with, and just under half state the estimated number of suppliers along the supply chain.

The relevant topics of Environment, Social and Governance are covered by a majority of Hang Seng companies in their non-financial reports. Around a third, for example, say they are already climate-neutral. A further 44 percent aim to achieve this objective in the future. In contrast to this statement, however, only three-quarters of companies identify their main sources of emissions in their reports and outline the biggest challenges they face in terms of climate-related emissions.

In the area of social issues, the topic of employee and human rights is not one of the most present in Hang Seng reporting. For example, 82 percent fail to state the extent to which specific incidents of discrimination and harassment have occurred. In contrast, the reports reflect more transparency on the subject of health and safety, where 89 percent of companies state their position – even though only seven out of ten companies report more specifically on "the number and rate of fatalities due to work-related injuries" and only a quarter provide information on "the number and rate of work-related injuries with serious consequences".

When it comes to governance, reporting by Hang Seng companies tends to focus more on structures and less on the functioning of the supervisory board. Around seven out of ten companies report how they ensure or promote their supervisory boards' collective knowledge about financial and non-financial issues and decisions. Only just under two-thirds of the companies (64 percent) report on the supervisory board's role when it comes to assessing environmental and social risk management. The scores are particularly low in connection with critical concerns and issues reported to the supervisory board. Here, only a quarter of the companies provide information, with only four percent then being specific and outlining the total number of critical concerns that were communicated to the supervisory board.

"One reason many reports lack detail and transparency is that they are prepared according to the HKEX ESG reporting guidelines," is Diegelmann's assessment. "This is where it then becomes noticeable that these guidelines have lower minimum requirements and don't go into much depth, especially compared to the Global Reporting Initiative requirements."

Among Hang Seng Index companies, it is also striking that there is little willingness to submit the non-financial report to an auditor. Only just under one-third of issuers (32 percent) issue a corresponding audit engagement. It is striking that in 70 percent of the cases no information was provided on the depth of the audit and only 16 percent of the reports were audited with "reasonable assurance".

"Hang Seng companies are generally convinced that their development towards greater sustainability must be accompanied by appropriate reporting," is the conclusion of Joanne Chan, Regional Partner Hong Kong and Managing Director at LBS Communications Consulting Limited. "However, an enormous amount of work will be required for Hang Seng companies to ensure that their reports can contribute to sustainable change through transparency."

Full report : https://globalesgmonitor.com/download-report-form/

For more information on the rating criteria and details of the report, please visit https://lbs-comm.com/global-esg-monitor-2022-report-scorings-is-out-now-two-hong-kong-companies-were-ranked-top-ten/

About the Global ESG Monitor (GEM)
The Global ESG Monitor (GEM) is a unique research initiative to examine transparency in non-financial reporting of the largest companies in the world. The GEM monitors, analyzes and reports on the transparency of non-financial ESG reporting using the GEM ASSAYTM, a proprietary research tool adapted annually in response to evolving conditions and developments. The operationalization of transparency underlying the GEM ASSAYTM is based on the relevant guidelines of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), ISO Standard 26000, World Economic Forum (WEF) and Accountability.

If you have any media enquiries, please contact LBS Communications Consultants Limited.
www.lbs-forum.com
Joanne Chan Tel : (852)3679 3671 Email : jchan@lbs-comm.com

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

Fight Zone Opens Inaugural Performance Centre at Suntec City

SINGAPORE, Dec 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Fight Zone, a born-in-Singapore fitness brand today announced the opening of its first franchised outlet at Suntec City. Located in the heart of Singapore's business district, the outlet will also be the first among its outlets to focus on physical transformation of clients and muaythai, moving away from just providing high-intensity training.

The Fight Zone Performance Centre will be the first of six franchised Fight Zone fitness centres which will open all around Singapore in 2023 as the brand aggressively expands its presence locally.

Apart from personal training with authentic muaythai, there will also be specialised kettlebell classes and Suples Bulgarian Bag strength and conditioning classes with the sole aim of helping members undergo their fitness and transformation programmes.

Said Sasidharan Unnithan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Fight Zone, "We have come a long way since opening the first Fight Zone outlet five years ago. While the pandemic set our plans back for a while, we are now back on track to continue growing Fight Zone as a brand which helps people transform their lives."

"While the last two years have been somewhat difficult for the fitness industry brought about by the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, we are proud to have been able to come out of it successfully and are now poised for growth. Our next step for Fight Zone would be to take the brand regional."

Added Hsien Naidu, CEO of Top Franchise Asia, "Fight Zone is a growing brand which shows a great deal of potential not just in Singapore, but in the region. With citizens of the region experiencing increased standards of living and better quality of life, it is inevitable that many will start investing in fitness as a means of improving their mental and physical wellbeing."

Fight Zone opened its first outlet in Suntec City in 2017 and since then, have added two more outlets at Velocity at Novena and AMK Hub at Ang Mo Kio. The newly opened Fight Zone Performance Centre with its muaythai focus will also help develop the popularity of muaythai as a sport.

Said President of the Singapore Muaythai Federation Clement Ong, "With more Fight Zone outlets, this will provide more venues for the learning, development and promotion of Muaythai as a sport."

Members of the public can sign up as members of the all-new Fight Zone Performance Centre here ( https://www.fightzonesg.com/book-a-trial/ ). Potential business owners looking to start their own Fight Zone franchise outlets can connect with the team here ( https://www.fightzonesg.com/contact/ ).

About Fight Zone

Fight Zone was first conceptualised in 2017 and began with its first fitness outlet in Suntec City. The brainchild of CEO and Founder Sasidharan Unnithan, it was conceptualised with the objective of giving working professionals and fitness buffs an innovative way of keeping fit without taking too much of their daily time. Fight Zone uses various techniques and fitness forms to keep enthusiasts and members engaged throughout their workout. https://www.fightzonesg.com/

Media Contact:
hello@swstrategies.org

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

Club Med appoints Olivier Monceau as its new General Manager of Singapore and Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Club Med, the leader in premium all-inclusive holidays, has announced the appointment of Olivier Monceau as the new General Manager of Singapore and Malaysia effective from October 2022.

Olivier Monceau appointed General Manager, Singapore and Malaysia

With his strong business acumen and deep brand knowledge, Olivier is poised to deliver success while demonstrating an inspiring, creative and fresh approach to leadership. Under his leadership, Olivier's priorities will be to guide the team through the next phase of strategic brand growth within the region, drive a purposeful brand building through exceptional travel destinations, and to solidify the brand as the leader for all-inclusive ski and mountain holidays. Olivier will also lead his team to deliver effective and targeted end-to-end omni-channel experience to clients that synchronises consideration and conversion to grow top line and client acquisition. Club Med will continue its journey to being the #1 brand choice for vacations and business trips preferred by families, active couples and business-leisure clients.

"Olivier brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role and I am delighted to have him on the team as he leads the execution of our aggressive plans to grow the Club Med brand within the region," says Rachael Harding, Chief Executive Officer of East, South Asia and Pacific (ESAP). "Moreover, Olivier has produced exceptional results in his previous appointment within Club Med, and I am confident that he will accelerate the strategic growth in both Singapore and Malaysia markets. His appointment is also perfectly timed to succeed our new capacity in Kiroro, Hokkaido in 2023 and Borneo, Kota Kinabalu in 2024."

Originally from Paris, France, Olivier embarked on his Club Med journey in 2016, where he was appointed General Manager of Russia. Olivier was responsible for building brand awareness and positioning Club Med as a premium holiday brand in the market. Together with his team, Olivier turned unprecedented challenges into opportunities during the global pandemic as he tapped on an unrealised potential for long-haul and upscale travel within the region and delivered an effective marketing campaign that led to +400% market growth in 2021 compared to 2019 in an exceedingly challenging time, through the successful recruitment of a new Premium clientele and achieved more than 45% of the total sales for the Exclusive Collection resorts. The market has also been a key contributor to the reopening of Club Med in Seychelles and Maldives, both of which became crucial resorts in the group's rebound once travel bans were lifted.

"I am excited to be joining such a dynamic team and even happier to lead the brand through its next phase of growth," shares Olivier. "I look forward to cementing Club Med as the preferred holiday brand for families while building on our shared vision to further enhance the value of our brand towards achieving a long-term strategic growth within the region."

Now in the heart of a city pulsating with boundless energy, Olivier together with his wife and lovely daughters are embracing their new home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with open arms and heart. Since his arrival, Olivier can be found busy exploring the city's neighbourhoods, discovering new cultures and the vibrant street hawker culinary scene.

About Club Med

Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world's leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employes (GEs), representing 110 nationalities. http://www.clubmed.asia/

Press Contacts for Club Med
PRecious Communications for Club Med
clubmed@preciouscomms.com
+65 6303 0567

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