Ni Hsin Group Unveils Two TAILG EBIXON EV Motorcycle Models

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Ni Hsin EV Tech Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Main Market-listed Ni Hsin Group Berhad (formerly known as Ni Hsin Resources Berhad (Bursa: NIHSIN, 7215)), today unveiled two models of the TAILG EBIXON EV Motorcycles.

Managing Director of NH EV TECH, Khoo Chee Kong

Mr. Chee Kok Hee, Secretary General of Malaysia Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association; Mr. Lee Kun Feng, Vice President of Dongguan Tailing Motor Vehicle Co., Ltd; Yang Berbaqhagia Dato' Zailani Hj Hashim, Director General of Road Transport Department; Yang Berbahagia Dato' Seri Rosman Mohamed, Chairman of Ni Hsin Ev Tech Sdn. Bhd.; and Mr. Khoo Chee Kong, Managing Director of Ni Hsin Ev Tech Sdn. Bhd. [L-R]

The models, the TAILG EBIXON BOLD and TAILG EBIXON TORQ, in the personal and commercial use categories, respectively, are assembled at the Group's manufacturing facilities in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Khoo Chee Kong, Managing Director of NH EV TECH, said, "After more than two years of hard work, from the conceptualisation, R&D, experimentation, trial and error, and close collaboration with our formidable partner, Dongguan Tailing Motor Vehicle Co., Ltd, we finally achieved the milestone with the launching of our TAILG EBIXON EV Motorcycles – the Game Changer for Ni Hsin Group."

The Group started selling coffee from motorcycles in line with BLACKBIXON's concept of cafe@home cafe@office cafe@anywhere where the BLACKBIXON Coffee Bike can quickly deliver coffee ordered through e-commerce platforms.

Khoo explained, "The first motorcycle we experimented with was an internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycle which was not efficient as it was burdensome and costly, and we wanted a vehicle that is environmentally friendly. After a series of trials and experiences, an electrical motorcycle that was clean and has zero tailpipe emission was successfully developed, as our BLACKBIXON Coffee Bike last year."

"We soon realised that there is a market for this purpose-built machine. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a spike in e-commerce and hence the demand for delivery services. Motorcycles are a popular choice for its quicker delivery time and low maintenance. In light of global warming, EV motorcycles make perfect sense as they are energy efficient and cheaper to maintain."

"There are lots of opportunities for the use of EVs, with the government providing incentives in the form of tax reliefs for the assembly or manufacturing of EVs, component parts, and the development of EV ecosystems such as charging facilities. The government as well as government-linked companies (GLCs) are also expected to adopt the use of EVs. Also, the global electric scooter and motorcycle market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% to US$93.9 billion by 2031 from US$35.3 billion in 2021."

"Our target is to sell 15,000 units of TAILG EBIXON EV Motorcycles a year over the next three years covering the Asia Pacific region. We are deep in negotiations with several organisations, GLCs, government agencies and dealers to promote, market and distribute our EV motorcycles in the region. Our business model includes outright sale and rent-to-own modules to businesses as well as consumers."

The Group's venture into the manufacture and assembly of EV motorcycles underscores its commitment to social and environmental responsibilities while creating a green revenue stream in carbon trading, in which emissions are treated as either carbon credits or offsets that can be sold in a carbon market such as Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad's voluntary carbon market (Bursa VCM), to be opened by the end of 2022.

Ni Hsin's EV motorcycle business generates carbon offsets that can be sold to other companies to reduce their carbon footprint. The Bursa VCM will, besides providing transparency in the carbon credit market, boost investments in high-quality offsetting projects such as planting trees or shifting to cleaner fuels.

In conjunction with the unveiling of the two TAILG EBIXON EV Motorcycle models, Ni Hsin will also sign Memorandum of Agreements with several esteemed and well-connected organisations, including MIMOS Berhad, Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (PROLINTAS), HAI-O Enterprise Bhd and PT Winn Pratama Indonesia to assist in the marketing, promotion and distribution of these EV motorcycles.

Ni Hsin Group Berhad: NIHSIN [Bursa: 7215] [RIC: NHSN:KL] [BB: NHR:MK], http://www.ni-hsin.com/

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

Keen Interest from Thai Business Community to Collaborate with Hong Kong on New Opportunities

HONG KONG, Nov 21, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – More than 200 Thai business leaders today joined a lunch seminar organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in Bangkok, affirming the Thai business community's confidence in Hong Kong's role to help businesses in the region grow and tap into opportunities in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

The luncheon seminar was held today with the theme "Hong Kong-Thailand: Enterting a New Era of Opportunities".

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam giving opening remarks.

Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Thailand delivered remarks.

Hong Kong business delegation led my HKSAR Chief Executive, John Lee, meets with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand, Han Zhiqiang, in Bangkok on 20 November.

The seminar was organised as a key closing event of a high-level business mission to Bangkok, led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr John Lee, and supported by the HKTDC.

Despite the pandemic, the Thai business community has shown keen interest in using Hong Kong as a springboard for their business expansion, fundraising and investment partnerships.

The business mission wrapped up a three-day programme of meetings and networking with leading Thai businesses to update them on the latest prospects in Hong Kong, including the city's strategic investment in innovation and technology, the latest overseas talent and enterprise attraction measures. There were also fruitful exchanges about opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and the development of the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong.

HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam said, "From this exchange, we can see that Thai businesses have full confidence in Hong Kong. They have keen interest in regards to, in particular, Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre and a springboard to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Following the resumption of international travel connecting Hong Kong, we hope this mission will help Hong Kong businesses find more opportunities in Thailand and ASEAN."

The HKTDC is planning a large-scale "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" business promotion campaign in Thailand in July next year, to showcase Hong Kong as a hub for connecting global businesses as well as Hong Kong products and services to the Thai business community. More Thai business are expected to join.

Through its worldwide network of 50 offices, the HKTDC continues to engage in overseas outreach through business missions and local events and activities.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3TUnvJT

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 Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

L’Oreal Groupe, together with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners, launches SHIHYO, a newly created luxury beauty brand

SHANGHAI, Nov 21, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – L'Oreal Groupe, together with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners, is launching a newly created luxury beauty brand 'SHIHYO' through Loshian, a third-party joint venture. This is the first time L'Oreal is launching a new beauty brand through a joint venture.

"SHIHYO" is a new luxury beauty brand launched by L'Oreal Groupe, together with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners through a joint venture Loshian

SHIHYO, which means "the wisdom of time," is a newly created skincare beauty brand inspired by the Asian wisdom of the 24 seasons. SHIHYO embodies the healthy energy of nature, powered by herbal sciences.

The new brand is based on the naturality of 24 herbal ingredients harvested at the peak of each season, combined with proven efficacy based on scientific research and innovation. All formulas include the signature ingredient called ShiHyo24, a patented, nutrient-rich concentrate of the 24 herbal ingredients infused with fermented rice water and ginseng water.

SHIHYO offers 24 different types of ampoules featuring 24 herbal ingredients, along with other skincare products such as facial cleanser, essence, and cream, as well as scalp care products such as shampoo and conditioner.

SHIHYO leverages L'Oreal's longstanding beauty expertise, Hotel Shilla's luxury retail channels, and Anchor's robust financial business model. SHIHYO's 1st flagship store, the "Seoul Garden," will open in the coming months at The Shilla Seoul Hotel in Korea, with the ambition of engaging with consumers and offering an immersive experience with an extensive luxury beauty product range.

Cyril Chapuy, President of L'Oreal Luxe, said, "L'Oreal LUXE is very pleased to announce the launch of SHIHYO through a partnership with Hotel Shilla and Anchor Equity Partners. Rooted in an exceptional traditional wisdom and knowledge of naturality, SHIHYO represents the epitome of Asian luxury beauty. Empowered by science, SHIHYO delivers the highest skincare quality thanks to its signature patented ingredient, offering the most elevated luxury beauty experience."

In-Gyu Han, COO of Hotel Shilla, said, "SHIHYO is a luxury beauty brand that brings out the best of naturality and efficacy with seasonal ingredients directly sourced from local farmers in Korea. With our rich retail expertise married with L'Oreal's strong brand building capabilities, we believe SHIHYO will elevate the desire for natural, luxury beauty in Asia."

Sanggyun Ahn, Managing Partner of Anchor Equity Partners, said, "We are glad to join this partnership to support the growth of the most unique brand in Asia and globally. We have full confidence that SHIHYO will meet the discerning consumers' needs with new luxury beauty routines."

About L'Oreal Groupe

For over 110 years, L'Oreal, the world's leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 35 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our 'L'Oreal for the Future' programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With 85,400 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2021 the Group generated sales amounting to 32.28 billion euros. With 20 research centers across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 3,000 tech professionals, L'Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom

About L'Oreal North Asia Zone

L'Oreal North Asia Zone was established in 2021 as L'Oreal Groupe regrouped the geographical scope of its zones to give greater coherence to consumer behaviour and to create synergy within the region. The North Asia Zone comprises of five geographically and culturally connected markets of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

L'Oreal North Asia Zone is the second largest region within the Group, accounting for 30.5% of the Group's global sales in 2021. Situated in the most beauty intense region with more than one-third of the world's total beauty consumers, L'Oreal North Asia shapes the future of beauty with its innovation centers in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, while investing in beauty tech transformation as one of the three beauty tech hubs globally. Here, our mission is to strategize, create and activate a powerful ecosystem around the North Asia Beauty Triangle as a competitive edge to unleash sustainable growth for all and inspire the world.

Media contact:
Linda YAN / linda.yan@loreal.com

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

Ando Experiences Remarkable Growth Spurt in Indonesia with aCommerce Strategy and Services

BANGKOK, Nov 17, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – In today's ecommerce landscape, brands and retailers are expected to have a multi-channel presence in key platforms – from marketplaces, social media,direct-to-consumer channels and more.

A flurry of simultaneous activities is required to capture and engage with audiences in today's e-commerce landscape – from employing influencers, producing live streams, launching flash sales, or competing in mega-day sales, the e-commerce market is saturated with opportunities.

The challenge most brands are facing, however, is not knowing which platforms are best suited for their brands and managing large-scale operations, eventually taking their focus from business growth.

Ando, a popular brand of sandals and casual shoes for men, women, and children established in the '90s in Indonesia, had built a reputation over the years for stylish, quality, and affordable products to become a local favorite, was on the lookout for a reliable, experienced e-commerce partner.

A Trusted and Reliable Partner

With the aim of scaling its business through ecommerce, Ando partnered with aCommerce Indonesia to create its online stores in major marketplaces: Shopee, Lazada, Tokopedia, Tiktok, and direct-to-consumer.

"We were looking for a reliable and trusted partner. aCommerce, with its current extensive regional experience and reputation, was able to show us a clear path to scalability," said Sherly Yulianita, ANDO's Online Sales Head.

With this partnership, aCommerce is now responsible for a wide range of ecommerce services to get Ando to achieve its goals. One innovative initiative of the service is producing and broadcasting live-streaming videos for Ando on Shopee.

"It's our pleasure to work with great partners such as ANDO. We are collaborating tightly on various tasks such as marketplace management, fulfillment, customer services, and warehousing, and it's been a pleasure to see the results, partnership, and level of sync" said Antonius Adang, Chief Executive Officer of aCommerce Indonesia.

Expanding Ando's Playing Field

As a groundbreaking ecommerce marketing tool, live streaming has gained popularity in recent years due to its more engaging and authentic format, done in real-time. Combining video technology, entertainment, and retail, live streaming enables brands to communicate and connect with target audiences at a deeper level while monetizing live content.

As the largest end-to-end ecommerce enabler in Southeast Asia, aCommerce offers professional broadcasting and live streaming services from our studios at aCommerce HQ. From formulating the right strategy for your brand to creating a detailed communication plan, sourcing influencers and hosts for the broadcast, or using our in-house broadcasters, our aTeam offers the full spectrum of services to connect businesses with 370 million internet users in Southeast Asia.

"aCommerce helps us to focus on designing and developing our products, while they handle our store operations," Sherly added. "Allowing our customers to have an incredible shopping experience from Ando's official store."

The partnership also leverages TikTok's wide market coverage across the region. For the official inauguration of Ando's TikTok store in December 2021, aCommerce supported the company during a live stream where several successful campaigns, including the 'Buy 1 Get 3 Pairs' and 'Buy Shoes Get Nokia Phone.'

Demonstrated Results

Since the store's soft launch on TikTok, Ando was able to rake in impressive earnings. Across Ando's online stores in other marketplaces, aCommerce's strategic initiatives have already shown remarkable results.

Campaign revenues have posted double-digit growth every month, the biggest ones from the 7.7, 9.9, 11.11, and 12.12 mega sale days. Meanwhile, business-as-usual (BAU) days have substantially increased in revenues, while overall sales have more than tripled.

Aside from the Tiktok Shop launch in December 2021, other significant milestones that Ando achieved with the help of eCommerce's strategic efforts include

– Improvement of order fulfillment
– Maintenance of customer and after-sales service excellence
– Maintenance of good inventory levels
– Initiation of two new campaigns to boost sales:
— Free Gimmick Campaign
— Free Random Mystery Box

Moving forward, Ando intends to expand to another key local marketplace BliBli with support from aCommerce.

"The future looks promising," said Ms.Yulianita as the company witnesses and achieves overall growth on the path toward long-term success. "Both parties strive to grow. Many campaigns and strategies worked extremely well," added Mr. Adang.

aCommerce (SET: ACOM) revolutionized e-commerce enablement with a cutting-edge platform & technology stack, EcommerceIQ, and proprietary software, including innovative omnichannel management software. aCommerce drives brands to achieve e-commerce goals with high-performance digital marketing, online store development & management, data & analytics, customer care, fulfillment & delivery services. Visit https://acommerce.asia.

Released for aCommerce Group by MT Multimedia Co Ltd
Wasana Wongsiri (Jiab), T: +66 84 359 0659, E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com

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

Samaiden Posts 71.82% Revenue Increase in 1Q FY2023

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Samaiden Group Berhad, a renewable energy (RE) specialist principally involved in engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and power plants today announced that for the first quarter ended 30 September 2022 (1Q FY2023), revenue grew 71.82% to RM40.77 million compared with RM23.73 million registered in 1Q FY2022.

Group Managing Director of Samaiden, Ir. Chow Pui Hee

For the quarter under review, Samaiden recorded 19.90% increase in profit before tax to RM3.28 million compared with RM2.74 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. For 1Q FY2023, profit after tax registered growth of 18.02% to RM2.44 million compared with RM2.07 million in 1Q FY2022.

EPCC services contributed to approximately 99.63% of Samaiden's revenue in 1Q FY2023. Its other businesses are environmental consultancy and operation and maintenance.

Group Managing Director of Samaiden, Ir. Chow Pui Hee said, "The financial performance in the quarter under review is largely attributable to an increase in the number of projects as well as the higher value of the contract sums. We view positively the launch of the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 in September 2022 as it outlines the future and key priorities for the energy sector in the coming years. The policy will position the energy sector as a catalyst for socioeconomic development."

"We are also encouraged by the new opening of a 600MW quota application by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources' under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) initiative. The CGPP uses the virtual power purchase agreement to enable the sale of renewable energy to corporate clients on mutually agreed pricing and contract duration. And the large-scale solar farm developers and/or generators can participate in the electricity market operated by Single Buyer through the New Enhanced Dispatch Arrangement (NEDA) mechanism and trading of the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) and/or any green attributes."

"The increasing adoption of solar PV systems and power plants by businesses keen to accelerate their efforts in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives will also provide us opportunities to offer our EPCC services for the installation of solar PV systems as well as solar and non-solar power plants. We will continue to leverage on our core competency and experience in providing end-to-end services for potential solar PV and other non-solar projects."

Since the start of FY2023, Samaiden has secured new EPCC contracts with a combined value of approximately RM8.10 million. The new contract wins bring the current outstanding orderbook to RM325.40 million as of 30 September 2022 and is expected to contribute positively to revenue and profit over the next three years.

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

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

HKTDC Entrepreneur Day and Business of IP Asia Forum start from late November

HONG KONG, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is organising the 14th Entrepreneur Day and the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum) between the end of November and early December. The two events will feature experts and high-profile speakers from various industries to share their insights with start-ups and small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs). Topics will include optimising business operations, pursuing entrepreneurship, and using the latest innovative technologies and creative mindsets to capture opportunities and expand your business globally, in particular in the Greater Bay Area.

The 14th edition of Entrepreneur Day will be from 30 November to 2 December under the theme of "Balance Beyond the Boom".

This year's Entrepreneur Day launches its first Start-up Express International, inviting high-calibre start-ups worldwide to join an exchange session with the winners of Start-up Express. Picture: The "Pitching Final" event of Start-up Express in June 2022.

Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Design Centre, the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum will be staged on 1-2 December 2022.

HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang, said: "Entrepreneur Day and BIP Asia Forum will offer start-ups and SMEs a chance to clearly understand the latest trends in their respective industries and enhance their knowledge whether they wish to learn how to start a business, embrace a path of sustainable development, safeguard their intellectual property or how to improve their branding strategy, equipping them to pursue the best opportunities.

"Start-up Express International, one of the highlights of Entrepreneur Day, will introduce top-tier start-ups from Mainland China, the United States, Italy, South Korea and Japan to local start-ups encouraging inspirational exchanges and creating opportunities for start-ups in Hong Kong to widen their horizon in a way that will hopefully be conducive to upgrading business performance. Finally, the BIP Asia Forum will host experts in intellectual property from across the world and assemble business leaders to generate discussion on recent developments in the market and application of industrial metaverse."

Entrepreneur Day – Developing a diversified and balanced start-up ecosystem

The 14th Entrepreneur Day will be on 30 November, with events culminating on 2 December. The theme for this year's edition is "Balance Beyond the Boom", with hybrid seminars and exhibitions being offered for the first time. Entrepreneur Day will involve more than 20 seminars and workshops and close to 60 speakers from 11 countries and regions sharing their innovative responses to market changes. More than 110 exhibitors will showcase their technological developments. At the same time, business matching sessions and networking events will be available for attendees seeking to explore cutting-edge products in the growing international start-up ecosystem. Start-ups will be encouraged to use Hong Kong as a platform to tap into the Greater Bay Area and global markets and seek out business partners.

This year's Entrepreneur Day Seminar series will cover four major themes: Entrepreneurship, Future Tech, Innovation for Good and Market Exploration. The key session, "T-Chat – Global VC Investment: Rise or Fall", will invite Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners; Duncan Chiu, Co-Chairman and Venture Committee of Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA); and Karena Belin, Co-founder & COO/CFO/RO of Hong Kong's first SFC licensed start-up investment platform AngelHub, share their views on the outlook for the global venture capital market in 2023. They will also guide start-ups on how to raise capital and expand their business at critical times.

Start-ups aspiring to achieve unicorn status (technology companies with a private market valuation of more than US$1 billion) can attend the "Unicorn Fireside Chat – Revival of the Travel Super App" with Kim Jong Yoon, CEO of Yanolja (the first and only travel unicorn based in South Korea, and owner of the most popular hotel booking app in the country). He will share how the company used emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology to reform its business during the pandemic. He will also discuss ways to seize new opportunities now that global borders are reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the growing importance of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) to the public, many companies use ESG criteria to ensure they run responsibly. In "Make Good Use of Waste", Shrikanth Narasimha, Director of Sustainability and Supply Chain – Far East Mainetti (HK) (the world's largest manufacturer of hangers); Rachel Barr, Vice President of Sustainability of Israeli start-up UBQ Materials; and Ricci Wong, Founder and CEO of HK Timberbank will discuss projects on achieving closed-loop recycling and reuse of plastic products, converting household waste into sustainable bioplastics, and upcycling local wood to make decorative materials, thus driving the development of the global circular economy.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have risen in importance and caused controversy. In the session "NFT: Eye Candy or Key to Gold?", Lucas Cheung, Managing Partner of Gusto Collective Hong Kong, Asia's first BrandTech group and Nick Lau, founder of WEAR (a Web3 platform for luxury brands to launch exclusive 'phygital' goods), will introduce the latest applications of NFTs in the entertainment and fashion industries and how they can boost sales and enhance customer loyalty.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has increased possibilities for trade and collaboration across the region. In "Start-up Ecosystem in RCEP", representatives from venture capital firms and start-up accelerators from Japan, South Korea and Australia will share the latest developments in the region's start-up ecosystem and incentives for local start-ups that are interested in exploring the new market.

Meanwhile, exhibitions under 2 thematic zones, "Start-up Zone" and "The Boosters", will showcase more than 110 innovative companies and business establishment service providers covering many of the most sought-after technologies, including biomedical sciences, green tech, food tech, smart city technologies, fintech and more. Visitors can interact with exhibitors at physical and virtual booths, and via daily guided tours and business matching sessions to learn about their innovative solutions. Some of the ingenious solutions include ZenxTag Technology Limited's smart food label, which changes its colour depending on the food's freshness; Key Points Exchange Limited's cross-border loyalty points aggregator for payment; Metamory Technology Limited's blockchain-enabled 'graveyard in the metaverse' for pets and humans; and Tencent Cloud's cloud solutions for start-ups.

Start-up Express International promote a vibrant exchange opportunities

To mark the 5th anniversary of Start-up Express, the start-up development programme, the HKTDC has launched Start-up Express International as one of the highlights of Entrepreneur Day this year to encourage international start-ups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and strengthen ecosystem-to-ecosystem collaboration between Hong Kong and other countries. Start-up Express International is supported by global partners in Belgium, Mainland China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who have nominated start-ups from those countries to participate in the contest. Nominated start-ups come from a diverse range of industries, including greentech, healthtech, smart city technologies and edtech, as well as the metaverse, blockchain, robotics, marketing technology and agritech.

Start-up Express International has already shortlisted the top 30 start-ups, and a professional panel of judges will select 10 global winners. The top 30 start-ups are entitled to a series of supporting services such as marketing support, technology support, peer support, mentorship and advisory, and incentive offers to help them set up business in Hong Kong and enter the Greater Bay Area market. The 10 global winners will share the stage with local winners from Hong Kong Start-up Express and exchange views on the industry and entrepreneurial experiences.

Business of IP Asia Forum create new value and discover new frontiers

With the flourishing development of innovative technology in Asia, companies have to formulate their Intellectual Property (IP) strategies to keep up with market development and changes. Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Design Centre, the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum will be held online and physically at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 1-2 December 2022. With the theme of "Creating New Value, Discovering New Frontiers", the two-day forum will bring together global IP experts and business leaders to explore the latest trends in the Global IP market.

The first-ever "Policy Dialogue" will feature Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization; Antony Taubman, Director of the Intellectual Property Division at the World Trade Organization (WTO); Rowel S. Barba, Chairman of ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC); Kyo-sook Choi, Chair of Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); and Antonio Campinos, President of the European Patent Office. They will discuss the co-creation of a resilient and sustainable IP ecosystem.

Following the policy dialogue, the plenary session "Powering the Future: Robust Patent Strategies Amid Challenges" will see industrial leaders like Brett Alten, Senior Vice President of Deputy General Counsel and Chief IP Counsel at Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Michael Ding, Vice President and Head of IP AMEA Region of ABB Group; and Masaki Ito, General Manager of the Intellectual Property Department at Toyota Industries Corporation, share their insights about how companies could scale up their businesses by making the best use out of IP.

Chaired by H.L. Yiu, Head of Re-industrialisation of the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, the "Global Tech Summit" will focus on how the Industrial Metaverse propels re-industrialisation in Hong Kong. It will feature Simon See, Global Head and Chief Solution Architect of NVIDIA AI Technology Center; T. John Koo, Director of Cyber-Physical Systems at the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI); and Eric Liu, Deputy Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). The speakers will share NVIDIA's journey to build Omniverse, an open modular platform for metaverse developers, artists and enterprises, integrating virtual collaborations and real-time physical simulation for virtual worlds. They will also discuss plans to nurture local talent in the field of metaverse technology.

HKTDC will join hands with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and organise "Innovation & IP Market" under the theme "Smart Manufacturing and Building" for the first time ever to strengthen IP commercialisation and foster industry collaboration. "Innovation & IP Market" will connect universities, research centres, start-ups, IP users and service providers to facilitate business networking and explore potential business opportunities. The "Innovation & IP Market" will include Inno Showcase with over 30 homegrown innovations applicable to a range of sectors, including manufacturing, construction, property development, transportation, energy, healthcare & beauty; Open Stage, where tech and IP experts will be sharing global trends and best practices on IP & tech commercialisation and adoption; and the Tech Consultation Salon, where enterprises can seek professional advice on business transformation and upgrading.

In an affiliated event titled "ASEAN Roadmap to Successful IP Commercialisation in a Knowledgebased Economy", co-organised by ASEAN and the Intellectual Property Department, local and ASEAN representatives from the legal, research and business sector will shed light on the characteristics of the financial and legal systems that favour IP commercialisation, their prior experiences with technology transfers and the key to success in a knowledge-based economy.

Meanwhile, the "Inspo Talk" will highlight IP-related points that matter for business collaboration with KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), discuss IP issues related to KOL marketing and connect IP service consumers and providers.

Finally, HKTDC and Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Department will jointly provide IP Training sessions during the forum introducing basic intellectual property concepts such as IP applications in e-commerce. Participants can learn about how intellectual property can protect original inventions in the digital era, empowering their ability to protect and manage IP on behalf of companies.

Websites
– HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: https://eday.hktdc.com/
– Start-up Express International: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/tc/s/start-up-express-international
– Business of IP Asia Forum: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3hN9Qqp

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 get in touch with PR agency Hill+Knowlton Strategies:
Entrepreneur Day
Joyce Kwong, Tel: +852 6842 5929, Email: joyce.kwong@hkstrategies.com
Nannerl Yau, Tel: +852 6846 7888, Email: nannerl.yau@hkstrategies.com

Business of IP Asia Forum
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HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
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Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Why Turkeys Should Give Thanks This Thanksgiving

NEW YORK, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Yes, it's true. Soon millions of Americans will gather around dinner tables to give thanks and eat turkeys, but there would be no turkeys at all if animal conservation efforts hadn't saved the species more than a hundred years ago!

"The story of the wild turkeys is, well, wild!" says Cynthia Thayer, the Chief Marketing Officer of educational chocolate brand, Yowie. "Thanksgiving and the history of wild turkeys is the perfect starting point for a lifetime of awareness. Our hope at Yowie is that we can introduce the concept of endangered animals in a fun way and in turn, show kids how important it is to help preserve wildlife."

In the early 1900s wild turkeys numbered less than 30,000 and had been eradicated from 18 of their native 39 states. Thanks to the conservation efforts of President Teddy Roosevelt and others, the wild turkey populations now number over 7 million and our Thanksgiving traditions continue.

Today, Yowie, the maker of the "Smart Treat" for kids, continues the all-American tradition of educating children about endangered animals. Yowie's delicious, surprise-inside chocolate treat is sustainably sourced, Rainforest Alliance Certified, and contains no GMOs, palm oil, gluten, nuts or artificial colors and flavors. Plus, each Yowie features an endangered animal collectible inside and a bite-size leaflet to help kids learn about that animal.

Yowie makes the idea of conservation fun through six Yowie characters (Rumble, Squish, Crag, Boof, Nap and Ditty). Each is the guardian of a different natural habitat including waterways, deserts and treetops. The characters are also the stars of various activities and games on YowieWorld.com. From arts and crafts to coloring sheets to lunchbox trivia, Yowie is a one-stop shop for educational and fun activities that will keep the kids entertained after the plates have been cleared!

Explore more of the wonderful world of Yowie on Facebook, or look for @YowieWorld on Instagram. You can also find easy, interactive, and educational craft projects and games on Yowie's YouTube channel and on Pinterest.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Interested in talking turkey? Yowie CMO Cynthia Thayer can share fun turkey facts and talk about animal conservation education from a young age. Contact Devin@kmkmedia.com or (779) 221-3764 to set up an interview before Thanksgiving.

About Yowie

Yowie is best known for its flagship product, the Yowie surprise-inside chocolate. Each Yowie product is created in the shape of the Yowie characters and contains limited-edition collectible animal toys and a full-color leaflet featuring a picture of the real-life animal, its profile and level of endangerment. Yowie's social media channels and website allow collectors to learn more about the animals and their world while having loads of fun through games and competitions. The combination of tasty, clean-label treats, fun animal toys and a digital platform encourages kids to learn about the natural world and understand its need for protection. For more information visit www.yowieworld.com.

SOURCE: Yowie Group

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

Hektar REIT’s Portfolio Benefits from Retail Recovery

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), today announced the third quarter results ended 30 September 2022 (3Q 2022). Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM31.06 million, a substantial increase of 62.4% compared with RM19.12 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The higher revenue is attributed to the increased rental income, including higher turnover rent, increased car park income and higher hotel occupancy. Hektar REIT registered a net property income of RM18.31 million, an increase of 77.2% compared with RM10.33 million in 3Q 2021, while the realised net income was RM13.50 million, a notable increase of 861.8% compared with RM1.40 million for the same quarter in the preceding year.

En. Johari Shukri, CEO of Hektar Asset Management

Hektar REIT's performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2022 (9M 2022) showed an increase in revenue by 25% to RM89.55 million compared with RM71.62 million in the corresponding period of 2021. The net property income rose 40.4% to RM48.64 million in 9M 2022 compared with RM34.63 million in the same period for last year, while the realised net income grew by 256% to RM33.82 million compared with RM9.50 million.

The Malaysian retail landscape showed steady recovery as it inches back to the pre-pandemic levels, and it is evident across Hektar REIT's portfolio. The shopping malls recorded a higher footfall of 269% year-on-year (y-o-y), along with a 152% higher vehicle count y-o-y. This is in tandem with the continuous improvement in tenants' sales performance at our malls, providing headroom for rental growth.

En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. said: "Retail activities remained strong in the quarter under review. Recovery in consumer-related subsectors, including leisure, international tourism and hospitality, continued to aid in the overall performance of the retail industry. Hektar REIT's malls are well-positioned as neighbourhood malls and leverage the proximity to the community, catering to all their basic needs as well as an increased desire for F&B and social offerings such as entertainment options to be enjoyed together with their family & friends."

"Despite the Malaysian economy's strong performance, we remain cautious of the outlook for the coming quarters given the volatile economic landscape driven by hawkish monetary policy in response to inflationary pressure, uncertain consumer sentiments as well as lingering supply-chain and logistics issues stemming from geopolitical concerns. We will continue adopting prudent financial management, cost optimisation and enhancing our asset efficiencies to help cushion the impact."

"We are also actively exploring avenues for growth by ensuring a strong portfolio of retail brands in our malls that can optimise sustainable returns and defensible income through active tenancy remixing and rejuvenation of the centres. We will continue to look for ways to enhance and improve the look and condition of our malls as part of longer-term strategies to improve our dividend yields. To improve on revenue and debt recovery post-pandemic, our team has been consistently tracking tenants' ongoing performance to carefully structure our new tenancies and renewals, apart from aggressively looking at strategies to manage rental collection. We also remain committed to reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our responsibility towards our stakeholders by continuously undertaking several ESG initiatives because it is the right thing to do for ourselves and our communities."

Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/

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

WIKA Achieves Rp865 Billion Operating Income

JAKARTA, Nov 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – PT WIJAYA KARYA (Persero) Tbk. [IDX: WIKA] successfully booked an operating income of Rp865.5 billion or 29.7% higher on a year-on-year basis (YoY) as recorded in the financial statement for the period ended on 30 September 2022. This figure reflected WIKA's success in recording sales of Rp12.8 trillion or 9.8% higher YoY.

WIKA's President Director, Agung Budi Waskito (Agung BW), said that the largest contributors to WIKA's sales performance were the infrastructure and building sector, industry sector, energy and industrial plant sector, and the realty and property sector.

"This achievement shows that the strategy implemented to strengthen the core business has proven successful to improve WIKA's profitability," said Agung BW.

One of WIKA's achievements in strengthening its core business was proven by WIKA's ability to complete the G20 supporting projects, such as the revitalisation of the VVIP Terminal of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta and the VVIP Terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. The quality of these projects has received a lot of praise from the ministers.

The success in carrying out the two projects helped the Company to secure the contract for the development of Hang Nadim International Airport, Batam.

Going forward, Agung BW believes that WIKA will be able to sustainably strengthen its core business by improving governance, risk management, marketing, and operations while being consistent in preserving the quality of the projects entrusted to the Company.

As at October 2022, WIKA has secured new contracts worth Rp25.5 trillion, which include several projects for the new capital city (Ibu Kota Negara, "IKN"). WIKA has secured projects to construct the KKT Kariangau – Simpang Tempadung toll road segment. Under the WIKA Gedung Joint Operation (Kerjasama Operasional, "KSO"), the Company secured the project to construct modular buildings to house workers. In addition, WIKA together with PTPP KSO managed to secure contracts for the construction of the Presidential Palace and Presidential Office. In total, new contracts from IKN projects was worth Rp2.3 trillion.

"WIKA has experience in carrying out various projects in Kalimantan, such as water infrastructures, bridges, toll roads, buildings, and the supply chain supporting these projects. WIKA's capacity to work on these projects is without doubt," Agung BW explained.

In addition to the IKN projects, WIKA has secured contracts for the Vertical Hospital in East Java, duplication of Kapuas Bridge in Central Kalimantan, and construction of the Juwana River Rubber Dam in Central Java.

PT WIJAYA KARYA (Persero) Tbk. [IDX: WIKA]

Contact:
Mahendra Vijaya
Sekretaris Perusahaan
Email: mahendra.v@wikamail.id
Website: https://www.wika.co.id/

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

Indonesia wants ASEAN to become the epicenter of economic growth

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The statement was delivered by President Joko Widodo during the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits at Sokha Hotel, Phnom Penh, Sunday, (Nov 13).

The Indonesia President Joko Widodo (R) and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) during the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits at Sokha Hotel, Phnom Penh, Sunday, (Nov 13).

Indonesia takes over the ASEAN chairmanship from Cambodia and will hold the chairmanship in 2023.

Prime Minister Hun Sen hands a gavel to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, a gesture symbolizing the handover of the ASEAN chairmanship on November 13, 2022

It is an honor for Indonesia to be the Chair of ASEAN in 2023, President Jokowi said.

According to Jokowi, ASEAN must be a stable and peaceful region, and an anchor for world stability.

The organization must also consistently enforce international law and not be a proxy for anyone, he said adding that ASEAN must be a dignified region, and uphold human values and democracy.

The President also wants ASEAN to become a fast-growing, inclusive, and sustainable economic region.

He noted that capacity building of ASEAN institutions must also be a concern in order to be able to answer the challenges of the next 20 years.

The President hopes that by 2045 ASEAN must be more adaptive, responsive, and competitive.

All of this must be fought for the ASEAN way, which is in line with the spirit of cooperation and the full implementation of the ASEAN Charter.

The President invited all ASEAN leaders to attend the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia next year.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023 took the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth".

Indonesia wants ASEAN to remain important and relevant to make ASEAN matters. Important and relevant inward for its people, as well as important and relevant outward for Indo-Pacific region and the World.

With this premise, the chairmanship of Indonesia will take the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.

The Foreign Minister said ASEAN has three pillars of cooperation namely the political- security pillar, the economic pillar, and the sociocultural pillar.

During the chairmanship, the handling of the political-security pillars will be coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The economic pillar will be coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and the socio-cultural pillar by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Next year, the first activity will be a Foreign Ministers Meeting in the form of a retreat which will be held in January.

In order to maximize the use of the ASEAN Secretariat building, most meetings at the technical level will be held at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

The new ASEAN Secretariat building has adequate meeting rooms and is very suitable to be used for ASEAN meetings.

Retno hopes Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN will be able to bring benefits not only to the people of Indonesia but also to the people of ASEAN and the world.

–Antara

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