Government Blockchain Association (GBA) Announces New Ai Community for Blockchain

Washington, D.C., Feb 8, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – In response to the Executive Order titled Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government, the Government Blockchain Association, GBA, is pleased to announce that we are launching the AI for Government Community, led by Mr. Oki Mek, the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, (CAIO), for US Health and Human Services, (HHS).

Mr. Mek, along with Jose Arrieta, Former CIO at HHS, developed Accelerate, the first blockchain-based program in the Federal government to get an authority-to-operate. This program was purported to save HHS $30 million over five years, according to MeriTalk, 2/11/2020. Mr. Mek's leadership will be instrumental in supporting government's use of Artificial intelligence (AI) for economic growth and improving the quality of life for their citizens.

The International Community will meet virtually, the first Monday of each month, from 3-4 PM. On this call, Civil Servants from around the world can discuss best practices and lessons learned regarding government use of AI. Government employees from Tel-Aviv to Hyderabad can sign up discuss their intricate AI challenges.

The GBA Artificial Intelligence & Government Community of Interest is open to anyone in government who would like to join the conversation. GBA membership is free for all government employees. If you would like to join this community, please go to the GBA Membership page to register as a free civil servant and then go to the Community of Interest page to join this group.

The Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is the largest, most robust, and engaged blockchain association in the world. With over 120 chapters globally and more than 50 working groups, the GBA has thousands of public and private sector blockchain professional members from every continent. GBA members work in over 500 government offices at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Source: Platoblockchain https://platoblockchain.net/gba-announces-new-ai-community-for-government/

Contact Information
Kathy Dache (GBA): kathy.dache@gbaglobal.org
Government Blockchain Association: https://www.gbaglobal.org/

Kathy Dache is the Events Director of the Government Blockchain Association (GBA). She has over 30 years of training and events experience. She co-founded a blockchain professional networking group in 2016 and helped launch the Government Blockchain Association in 2017. She has conducted extensive research on blockchain and cryptocurrency topics including economic analysis, financial systems, and the impact of cryptocurrency adoption on governments.

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

CropLife Asia Statement: Reaction to New UN Regional Report on State of Food Security and Nutrition in Asia

SINGAPORE, Jan 20, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – With today's launch of the United Nations' (UN) "Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition", CropLife Asia released a statement urging more partnership and agricultural technology adoption across the region to help ensure an abundant and accessible supply of safe, nutritious food for all.

"Today's report confirms a sadly familiar refrain for Asia: our region is failing to deliver food security for far too many – particularly among mothers, children and the more vulnerable parts of society," said Dr. Siang Hee Tan, CropLife Asia Executive Director.

"The new data shared today is troubling and simply unacceptable. Nearly two billion people in Asia cannot afford a healthy diet. Meanwhile, two-thirds of our region's children suffer from wasting; and 14 countries in Asia have a prevalence of stunting with children exceeding 30%.

"Ensuring a healthy start for our region's children is crucial. We owe it to this generation and those that will follow to put aside differences and work together to address Asia's growing food crisis. From farm to fork, greater cooperation and collaboration across the region's food supply chain is critically important in helping realize positive nutritional outcomes.

"The innovative technologies of the plant science industry have a key role to play, but it's only one part of the solution. Making certain an ample supply of affordable and nutritious food reaches those who need it most is not a government, civil society or private sector responsibility – it's all our responsibility."

About CropLife Asia

CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.

For more information please contact:

Duke Hipp
Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
CropLife Asia
Tel: +65 6221 1615
duke.hipp@croplifeasia.org

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference to be held December 8

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Dec 4, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The 2020 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference is sponsored by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and undertaken by the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Commerce. It will officially start in Wuzhou Guest House on December 8th.

Since the beginning of this year, Shenzhen has actively overcome the impact of COVID-19, improved the business environment and promoted the projects of domestic and foreign investment enterprises. Shenzhen also plans to consolidate its position as a target of foreign investment by providing an attractive package of incentive policies, including land, talents, industry, technology and business environment.

"The conference is an extremely important platform to showcase the ambition of the city, a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to give further impetus to its trajectory," commented a spokesman of the city's Commerce Bureau.

The conference, to be held annually, is bound to become a must-attend attraction for global investors seeking to tap into new opportunities arising from China's reform and opening up.

According to the official, despite the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, cyberspace has facilitated efforts which, after months of hard work, has resulted in a group of investment projects which will be signed on the site.

The conference is attracting senior executives from around 300 companies and institutes, including 65 Fortune Global 500 companies.

Besides the main venue in Shenzhen, parallel sessions in eight cities across five continents, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney will be held, truly a testament to the impact Shenzhen has on the world stage.

After 40-years of development, official figures continue to show the vanguard of China's reform and opening-up remains one of the country's top investment destinations with the city utilizing $7 billion foreign investment in the first 10 months of this year alone, up 7.58 percent from a year before.

According to officials, the city's already impressive investment environment will be even further improved.

The Commerce Bureau is accelerating legislation on the promotion of foreign investment, which will offer better protect of legal rights and interests of foreign investors.

Furthermore, according to the city's Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, the city government will ensure ample supply of land space for industrial use and lower land costs for investors.

And on top of even that, the city's HR and Social Security Bureau tells us that overseas professionals in Shenzhen, who fall in to the categories of high-end talents and urgently needed talents, will be able to enjoy a subsidy on personal income tax equivalent to that in the neighboring Hong Kong SAR.

Media Contact:
Sherry Tang, swj@commerce.sz.gov.cn
Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality

Source:
http://www.sz.gov.cn/cn/xxgk/zfxxgj/zwdt/content/post_8314390.html

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

West Java Investment Summit (WJIS 2020): Governor Ridwan Kamil Welcomes Investors Worldwide to Invest in West Java

Bandung, W Java, Indonesia, Nov 23, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The 2020 West Java Investment Summit (WJIS 2020) was held in Bandung City this week, Nov 16 to 19, hosted by the West Java provincial government in collaboration with the Bank of Indonesia Representative Office in West Java. Through the WJIS 2020, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil invited international investors from around the world to invest in the province of West Java, particularly through the Rebana Metropolitan project.

Rebana Metropolitan is the northern / northeastern area of West Java Province that includes the six districts of Sumedang, Majalengka, Cirebon, Subang, Indramayu, and Kuningan and the city of Cirebon. The Metropolitan area has a population of 9.28 million, or some 18.82% of the total 49.3-million populace of West Java as of 2019.

As many as 1,434 foreign and domestic investors participated in the one-on-one meeting session on Monday, in which 16 land projects were offered with a total investment value of US$2.8 billion (Rp 39.5 trillion). Governor Ridwan Kamil offered the advantages of investing in West Java for international investors.

First, West Java has quality infrastructure, and one of them is the Patimban Port, which, located in Subang district, will soon open in December 2020. "Besides, West Java is going to have the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train that will be completed next year," said Ridwan. Moreover, West Java also continues the development of several toll roads that will facilitate industrial and community access.

The other advantages of investing in West Java are its quality infrastructure and competitive human resources. With these two pros, quality infrastructure and competitive human resources, the governor ensures that West Java can compete with provinces in other countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam.

"West Java is one of the most competitive regions in Indonesia," he stated. Ridwan emphasized that to strengthen the provinces competitiveness, the West Java local government remained committed to making improvements in four important fields: education, infrastructure, socio-political stability, and bureaucratic reform.

The governor also expressed optimism that West Java would become a globally competitive region to attract investment, especially with the existence of the Rebana Metropolitan area. "For the last three years, West Java has been the premier investment destination. This year, we are still 'champs' for investment realization, almost reaching IDR 90 trillion," said Governor Ridwan.

West Java Province is currently still one of the main destinations for foreign and local investment. Up to the third week of November 2020, the province managed to record total inbound investment of more than IDR 380 trillion. That total consists of four categories, namely (1) Realized Investment (for the period of January to September 2020); (2) Preparation-stage Investment; (3) Commitment-stage Investment; and (4) Ready-to-offer Investment.

For Realized Investment, based on Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) data for the January to September 2020 period, the West Java province ranks first in investment realization based on location with a value of IDR 86.3 trillion or 14.1 percent.

Noneng Komara Nengsih, West Java Investment Agency (DPMPTSP) Head, mentioned five sectors in the province that are favourable to investors: (1) construction; (2) transportation, warehouse and communication; (3) housing, industrial and office areas; (4) electricity, gas and water; (5) motor vehicles and other transportation equipment industries.

Preparation-stage Investment in West Java comes from 11 investors: (1) PT Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia; (2) PT Amazon Data Services Indonesia; (3) PT UPC Sukabumi Bayu Energi; (4) PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC); (5) PT Tanjung Jati Power Company; (6) PT Pertamina Power Indonesia dan PT Jawa Satu Power; (7) PT Premier Qualitas Indonesia dan Trisula Group; (8) Masdar Mubadala Company; (9) China Petroleum Corporation; (10) Frisian Flag Indonesia; and (11) PT Jasa Marga Japek Selatan.

For Commitment-stage Investment, as many as five MoUs and cooperation agreements among parties were signed, with an investment value of some IDR 4.10 trillion, or around USD 292.9 million. The signing ceremony was held on the first day, Monday Nov 16 at the Savoy Homann Hotel, Bandung City.

The parties in the Commitment-stage Investment were regionally owned, PT Bandarudara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB) and PT Jaswita Jabar, as well as PT Jasa Sarana, Aspen and Docta Proprietary Limited, PT Gobel Internasional, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur, and PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance. These companies have committed to investment in infrastructure development, starting from hotels; meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) facilities; warehouses, energy, to hospitals.

Meanwhile, for the Ready-to-offer Investment, West Java has 16 investment projects, with a total value of IDR 39.5 trillion or around USD 2.802 billion, that are ready to be tendered. The 2020 WJIS is expected to enhance investment realization in West Java in the fourth quarter this year — before the end of 2020 — and trigger the province's economic growth.

According to Bank Indonesia Representative Office in West Java, the Province had become a crucial contributor to Indonesia's economic growth since 2015. West Java is one of the three most competitive provinces in Indonesia in 2020, supported by three driving factors: foreign direct investment (FDI), quality infrastructure, as well as competitive and reliable human resources.

In the last three years, on an average, West Java's economy grew by 5.4 percent, higher than Indonesia's economic growth averaging 5.1 percent. The province's strong economic growth was driven by the manufacturing industry and household consumption.

Furthermore, investment has played a vital role in contributing to economic growth of West Java. Hence, in a bid to facilitate economic recovery, it is necessary to formulate a well-planned and comprehensive strategy to encourage investment inflow that could function as a driver for national economic recovery.

Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo stated at the WJIS that regional investment is one of the keys to driving the national economic recovery. Bank Indonesia (BI) West Java Office Head Herawanto said that Bank Indonesia in collaboration with West Java provincial government had taken strides to accelerate infrastructure development in various sectors, from transportation and renewable energy, to water management and urban infrastructure.

The West Java provincial government is also offering an alternative scheme for partnership and investment by involving the private sector in financing infrastructure development.

Luke Mackinnon, Infrastructure Country Manager at Amazon Web Services, said that Indonesia represented a great opportunity as an investment destination, with its growing economy. "This (growing economy) is also beneficial for Amazon Web Services, especially in terms of expanding investment opportunities in Indonesia. We do envision huge investment growth and we can't wait to add resources and infrastructure to serve consumers."

Lee Kang Hyun, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Asia Pacific, said that the company has the full support of the Indonesian central government and the West Java provincial government in running its business. "As investors, we certainly choose West Java because we can get full support here and the province has quality infrastructure," said Lee.

"Hyundai Motor has been building a factory in Cikarang. Despite the pandemic, with the full support of the governor and the minister, the factory development has reached 65 percent. Based on the plan, the factory can start local production in Indonesia by the end of 2021, and in 2022, it will produce Indonesia's electric cars which will be sold locally," he added.

The 2020 WJIS was held from Monday, Nov 16 to Thursday, Nov 19. The main agenda included launching the Rebana Metropolitan project, MoU Signing and Project Announcements, High Level Sessions, Market Sounding & One-on-One Meetings, Investment Talkshows, a Trade and Tourism Webinar, groundbreaking for Subang Smartpolitan development, and site visit to Rebana Metropolitan area.

Bank BJB fully supports the Rebana Metropolitan development. The West Java regional development bank has offered full support to the provincial government in establishing and developing the Rebana Metropolitan area. "Bank BJB acts as a driving agent that supports the development of new economic area, as initiated by the West Java Provincial Government. The Rebana Metropolitan project is a long-term strategic plan that requires support from various parties, including investors and banks," said President Director of Bank BJB Yuddy Renaldi.

Renaldi stated that Bank BJB in cooperation with West Java's two other regional-owned enterprises, PT Bandarudara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB) and Jaswita Jabar, will support the development of tourism and transportation infrastructure in the Rebana Metropolitan area.

The three inked a cooperation agreement to build three-star and five-star hotels in the Kertajati International Airport area in Majalengka, West Java. Facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) will also be built in the airport area to accelerate development integration that supports economic activities.

The Rebana Metropolitan project is in line with the direction of Bank BJB's plan to create new economic areas that can improve the welfare of local communities. "Bank BJB will also expand its collaboration network with various stakeholders so that it can contribute more optimally in executing the project plan," said Renaldi.

The Rebana Metropolitan area is currently equipped with infrastructure facilities, including the Cikopo-Palimanan (Cipali) and Palimanan-Kanci (Palikanci) toll roads; the Cikampek-Cirebon railroad; Balongan, Cirebon, and Patimban (Phase I) Ports; West Java's Kertajati International Airport; and the Subang, Indramayu, and Cirebon bus stations.

Bank BJB will also provide financing for the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) toll road project in support of efforts to improve connectivity in West Java. Bank BJB's involvement will not only support the infrastructure projects, it will also help prepare local communities to take advantage of opportunities for economic projects in the province.

Contact person:
Lia Endiani
Team communication Ridwan Kamil
Email: lia.endiani@gmail.com

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

EMC Provides One-stop Marketplace for Businesses to Buy Electricity and Offset Consumption

SINGAPORE, Oct 12, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore's Energy Market Company (EMC) announced that organisations committed to environmental sustainability can now conveniently purchase electricity and offset their electricity consumption with Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through EMC's PowerSelect platform.

Toh Seong Wah, CEO of EMC

Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL)

His Excellency Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA)

RECs are an additional offering on the PowerSelect platform, which helps businesses efficiently source the best electricity packages across a large number of electricity retailers in Singapore. With this new service, organisations can now also access a wide range of RECs from local and overseas energy providers, and across different renewable energy sources. Increased choices for both electricity packages and RECs translate into more competitive prices for customers.

RECs are financial instruments that certify the purchase by an investor of units of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Once the renewable energy is fed into the national power grid by the power generator, the REC can be traded as a separate energy commodity (1)(2)(Fact Sheet on RECs in Annex A).

Sound sustainability practice and corporate reputation go hand in hand

RECs support businesses towards environmental sustainability goals. In addition to enhancing corporate reputation, studies have shown that good sustainability practices can be a competitive advantage and support business growth. Organisations that have already purchased RECs from EMC include City Developments Limited (CDL), Singapore Exchange (SGX) and the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) in the United Arab Emirates.

Loh Boon Chye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SGX, said: "A commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices is seen as increasingly important by customers, employees and shareholders of companies, who want their investments to not only deliver a financial return, but also contribute to social goals including environmental sustainability. We are delighted that our subsidiary EMC has launched a RECs offering which helps support organisations in their sustainability goals. SGX is pleased to be EMC's first customer, offsetting the electricity consumption of our offices in FY2019/20 using locally-produced RECs, which will support the adoption of solar panels in Singapore."

Convenience and benefits of purchasing electricity and RECs through EMC

Toh Seong Wah, CEO of EMC, said: "PowerSelect is a one-stop marketplace where businesses in Singapore can competitively purchase electricity and offset their electricity consumption with RECs. While customers can purchase either product independently, they gain additional savings when they purchase both electricity packages and RECs."

"EMC is neither a buyer nor a seller of electricity or RECs. This fully independent role means EMC is able to serve as a trusted advisor to our customers, helping them navigate the electricity and RECs markets and obtain the best value for their transactions," added Mr Toh.

RECs customers benefit from EMC's large pool of local and overseas suppliers, as well as the full range of renewable energy sources including solar, wind and hydro power. Customers that require a large quantity of RECs, which individual sellers may not have, can also rely on EMC to aggregate supply.

In addition, customers save significant time and effort as EMC does all the groundwork – like liaising with RECs suppliers, obtaining and comparing prices – before recommending the RECs that best meet their requirements. Furthermore, with EMC as its contract counterparty, customers face negligible counterparty risk compared to them entering contracts with RECs sellers directly. This is especially so with overseas sellers who usually require that buyers make payment before they receive the RECs.

Customers trust EMC's experience and reputation

With almost 20 years' experience in the power sector and backed by SGX, EMC ensures its customers can buy with confidence. The RECs offered by EMC are accredited by either the International REC Standard Foundation (I-REC) or the Tradable Instrument for Global Renewables (TIGR) Registry, the two key independent global RECs accreditations that ensure verification of trades and adherence to best practices in the sector.

As awareness grows of the need to mitigate global warming and climate change, EMC's customers are recognising the importance of RECs as instruments to help demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability.

Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL), said: "As a sustainability pioneer and green building champion, CDL has remained steadfast in tackling the climate crisis and reducing our carbon emissions. As the world navigates this new normal, sustainability, energy efficiency and the reduction of our carbon footprint will remain our top priorities in the way we design, build and manage our assets. Committed to embracing innovative technologies and solutions that reduce environmental impact, CDL is glad to support EMC's initiative to accelerate Singapore's transition towards a low-carbon economy increasingly powered by renewable energy."

His Excellency Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA), said: "Sustainable growth and carbon neutrality are important pillars in SEWA's Vision 2025, which is our blueprint towards a globally successful, innovative and sustainable tomorrow. EMC is the ideal partner for us, as we develop our plans to show our commitment to sustainability through the use of RECs."

Governments and enterprises around the globe are increasingly taking action to reduce their carbon footprint. EMC's entry into the RECs market demonstrates its commitment to the market's growth and evolution, and the development of renewable energy at large.

– RECs, Renewable Energy Certificates : http://www.acnnewswire.com/clientreports/598/FactSheet.pdf

– PowerSelect platform : https://www.powerselect.sg

– EMC, the Energy Market Company : https://www.emcsg.com

About Energy Market Company

Energy Market Company (EMC) operates the wholesale market of the National Electricity Market of Singapore (NEMS), which is Asia's first liberalised electricity market. EMC completes the connection between those who make electricity in Singapore and those who use it.

As the exchange for wholesale electricity trading, EMC provides a transparent and competitive trading platform and its key activities include calculating prices, scheduling generation, clearing and settling market transactions as well as supporting governance of the market.

In line with its mission of building successful energy markets, EMC also provides training and consultancy services to promote the development of competitive electricity markets in countries that are embarking on the path of market liberalisation.

EMC is a subsidiary of the SGX Group. For more information on EMC, please visit www.emcsg.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Winnie Tan
Vice President, Communications
Mobile: +65 9782 9705
Email: winnie.tan@emcsg.com

Carol Chong
Senior Executive, Communications
Tel: +65 6871 1857
Email: carol.chong@emcsg.com

1. PowerSelect is the most comprehensive electricity procurement portal for businesses in Singapore. It offers different procurement options (including 'live' auctions which drive prices down), access to data from the wholesale and futures electricity markets, and is supported by a good mix and number of electricity retailers in Singapore. For more information on PowerSelect, please visit the PowerSelect website.
2. RECs were created as a means of tracking and recording the amount of energy from renewable sources such as biomass, biogas, hydro-, solar- or wind-generated power, fed into national power grids.
3. Clark, G. L., Feiner, A., & Viehs, M. (2015, March). From the stockholder to the stakeholder – How sustainability can drive financial outperformance. University of Oxford and Arabesque Asset Management Ltd.

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

More Impactful Partnership to Address Asia’s ‘Gathering Food Security Storm’ Urged by Regional Plant Science Industry

SINGAPORE, Sep 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – As the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) convened virtually to begin its Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, CropLife Asia took the opportunity to raise the growing threat posed by a number of factors to the region's food supply and the critical need for shared, sustainable solutions driven by stakeholder collaboration across the food value chain.

"Our regional supply of safe and nutritious food is being threatened like never before," said Dr. Siang Hee Tan, CropLife Asia Executive Director. "These unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response — including strong partnership among the region's food supply stakeholders.

"In the fields, regional farmers are contending with limited natural resources, increasingly erratic weather, and a greater number of weeds, diseases and pests with which to contend. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the pressure on our regional growers as well as the larger food supply chain.

"The meetings this week are a great opportunity to bring our regional food supply stakeholders closer together in delivering shared solutions. It's critical that we use this opportunity to drive more impactful partnership across the food supply chain and meet the challenges posed by the gathering food security storm we face in Asia."

Earlier this year, the UN's 2020 State of Food Security & Nutrition in the World concluded that almost 690 million globally went hungry in 2019. The research also indicated that Asia is home to the greatest number of undernourished people.

In another policy brief released by the UN recently, The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition, serious concerns were also raised regarding the effect COVID-19 is having globally on the most vulnerable parts of society already experiencing hunger and malnutrition.

Plant science continues to play a crucial role in helping feed our growing global population. Biotech crops are developed with improved traits such as increased yield, better resistance to pests and/or improved nutrition, among others. These traits are important tools that enable farmers to meet global challenges such as food insecurity. Meanwhile, farmers continue to rely on crop protection products to produce more food on less land and raise productivity per hectare. Without crop protection products, 40 percent of global rice and maize harvests could be lost every year and losses for fruits and vegetables could be as high as 50-90 percent.

About CropLife Asia

CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.

For more information please contact:

Duke Hipp
Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships
CropLife Asia
Tel: +65 6221 1615
duke.hipp@croplifeasia.org

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

INDONESIA: BUMN Go Global is the Accurate Strategy in Midst of Pandemic

JAKARTA, Aug 21, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Christovita Wiloto, Founder of IYE! Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs, believes that the BUMN Go Global strategy issued by the Minister of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) is exactly what Indonesia needs right now, especially in the midst of a global economic recession due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir(R) and BUMN Deputy Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in Jakarta, Wed (8/19/20). (Antara Photos / Adam Bariq)

Indonesia Young Entrepreneurs, otherwise known as IYE!, is a global network of young Indonesians with entrepreneurial spirit across all industries. With over 50,000 members based all around the world, this organization acts as a platform to bring together young minds that are resilient and have integrity.

"The launch of the BUMN Go Global strategy as we enter a world recession due to the Covid-19 pandemic is very timely. Even countries as strong as the United States and China have been overwhelmed by this mega disruption. These new circumstances level the playing field so that countries are now in a position of equal opportunities within the global business playing field," explained Christovita Wiloto.

Known as a reliable global entrepreneur with an extensive international network, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir is believed to be able to direct BUMNs to be more active on a global scale.

"Under the leadership of Erick Thohir, the opportunities for SOEs to be more active at the global level has widened through the BUMN Go Global program," Christov said.

BUMN Minister Erick Thohir and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi initiated the BUMN Go Global economic diplomacy program. The goal of the program is to improve Indonesia's supply chain. BUMNs are encouraged to acquire foreign companies, many of which are beginning to stagger during this time of global recession.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir explained that the BUMN GO Global program is an effort to develop and uplift the Indonesian business world towards the international level. He said there were two big goals of the program, which includes marketing BUMN products as well as improving supply chains in Indonesia.

"So this is not a program that is just for show. But it really has to be able to improve the ecosystem of our nation," said Erick.

From the marketing side, Erick said that Indonesia's state-owned companies currently already have various products that are recognized by various countries. Examples of products that are already well known in other countries include vaccines produced by Biofarma as well as products of the defense industry, and these can be improved even more.

Christov also observed that there are actually quite a number of Indonesian state-owned companies that have already successfully penetrated the global market. These companies include Telkomcel, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Bank BRI, Bank Mandiri, PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk., PT Pertamina (Persero), PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk., Kimia Farma Dawaa, and many more.

"But it is not enough that BUMN Go Global, we also want to participate in improving the supply chain in Indonesia. We know that, so far, Indonesia has only been a market for other global companies, but how long will this go on? What we can expect from acquiring several global companies overseas is a simple objective, namely to improve Indonesia's supply chain," Erick asserted.

Erick further said that Indonesia actually has two advantages, namely a large market and rich natural resources. However, on the other hand, Indonesia is still facing challenges related to logistics and technology. For that reason, these are the areas that he intends to fix.

For more information, please contact:
PowerPR | Indonesia Investment Forum
christhaliawiloto@powerpr.co.id
www.powerpr.co.id/IIFNYC2021

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

Software AG partners with Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM) to drive digitalization in Indonesian Government Sector

Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Aug 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Software AG has announced a strategic partnership with Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM), Indonesia's leading public University, to drive digitalization in the Indonesian Government Sector and prime UGM graduates entering the job market. The partnership will begin with two initial steps:

The first, an Educational Webinar on August 14, open to all government officials.

Software AG and UGM will host a Webinar on Digital Transformation in the Indonesian Government Sector.
UGM will present their most recent findings, including challenges to the digitalization efforts of government bodies in Indonesia, and recommend strategies for a fast start to becoming a truly digitalized government.
Software AG will showcase highly relevant use cases from various government bodies in the US, UK, Germany, Singapore and Australia.

The second step is an Academic Partnership.

Software AG will provide a market-oriented education through UGM, giving graduates entering the job market an excellent head start, forming an integral and critical part of the digital transformation of the nation.

Prof Ir Panut Mulyono, Rector of UGM, said, "A close collaboration between the private sector and academia is essential. This is in line with our Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim's Independent Campus Policy, where universities are encouraged to develop partnerships with world class companies. With the upcoming Webinar, we provide thought leadership, views and ideas for the government sector to digitally transform in a safe and sustainable way; and with the Academic Partnership we are upskilling our students to support this transformation with a highly qualified workforce in the future."

Anneliese Schulz, President of Software AG Asia Pacific Japan, said, "What excites me the most is the opportunity to support upskilling student talent into world class tech professionals, who will contribute to the development of the nation. And when we look into government digitalization efforts in Indonesia and elsewhere, integration is a key enabler to modernize and innovate. As the world leading integration technology provider, we can share proven use cases from various sectors as well as the key learning from government bodies worldwide which will benefit Indonesia greatly."

The Ministry of Administrative Reform measured the e-government maturity level over 616 government institutions in 2018, and concluded that a majority of government institutions have been implementing e-services, particularly for internal work. However, these e-services share common problems: lack of integration, unsustainability, and low use, pointing to an absence of integrated and holistic policy, and partial planning and strategies in implementing e-government. Before 2018, there was no guidance and standard to develop e-services. As a result, "many government institutions in Indonesia have only developed partial e-services, even in the sake of innovation." (GovAsia https://tinyurl.com/yyvsn3k6)

About UGM
Gadjah Mada University is a public research university located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Officially founded on 19 Dec 1949, UGM is one of the oldest and largest institutions of higher education in the country, and among the best in many areas. Following its internationalisation programme, the setting at UGM continues to grow in an Indonesian as well as international atmosphere.

About Software AG
We reimagine integration, spark business transformation and enable fast innovation on the Internet of Things so you can pioneer differentiating business models. We give you the freedom to connect and integrate any technology – from app to edge. We help you free data from silos so it's shareable, usable and powerful – enabling you to make the best decisions and unlock entirely new possibilities for growth. Learn more about Software AG and Freedom-as-a-Service at www.softwareag.com.

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

INDONESIA: Finding the Right Momentum for ‘BUMN Go Global’

JAKARTA, Aug 6, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Indonesian Minister of BUMN (State-Owned Enterprises) Erick Thohir, promoting the vision behind his BUMN Go Global program and cooperation between the ministries required to make the program work, has been articulate in encouraging the country's massive State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) sector, presently more than 100 companies and 800,000 employees, into action towards developing more rapidly in the global business arena, while inking a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Economic Diplomacy and Support of the program with Retno Marsudi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

JAKARTA – The Minister of BUMN (SOEs) Erik Thohir[L] and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi[R] signing an MoU in Economic Diplomacy for the 'BUMN Go Global' program. (July 17)

Based on dynamic data collected from key govt representatives, Indonesia's SOE sector accounted for some US$17.5 billion in outbound investment last year, commercially reaching around the world, but as Erick Thohir points out, without any particular strategy. The Go Global agreement between the ministries is expected to remedy this situation, increase the value of SOE investments abroad, and encourage the country's export performance. In addition, the cooperation area also includes match making efforts between SOEs and foreign investors interested in making inbound investments into Indonesia in accordance with their sectors of interest.

"BUMN launched its Go Global program to support Indonesia's Supply Chain in marketing products in strategic markets. Now this is a special momentum because there is a common awareness and vision to encourage the development of BUMN (SOEs) in the global market, so as to increase the number of SOE outbound transactions and investment value, and advance Indonesia's leadership abroad," says BUMN Minister Thohir, at 50, one of the youngest members of Jokowi's second cabinet, and a successful media tycoon known internationally for his former ownership of football teams D.C. United and Inter Milan.

So far, several State-Owned Enterprises have ventured overseas, among them PT INKA, which has established a joint railroad project with the Bangladesh government, defense SOEs that export various products such as the Elite G2 Pistol, Bullet Ammunition, Medium Tanks, Cargo Ships, CN 235-220 Planes, and others. In addition, Bio Farma has produced and marketed polio vaccines in various countries such as Angola, Somalia and Ethiopia.

To achieve Erick Thohir's lofty BUMN goals, the two Ministries agreed to the possibility of forming a tactical team consisting of representatives of the two Ministries as well as BUMN representatives who have the readiness and capacity to carry out outbound investment. This special tactical team will collaborate as exploratory partners in identifying investment opportunities and access to capital through to the implementation of investments and the protection of Indonesian investments abroad. The MoU is valid for up to four years, and will be regularly monitored and evaluated.

"The formation of the Go Global Joint SOE Team between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of SOEs is intended to synergize the development of SOEs in the global market and increase cooperation with strategic partners," says Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi. "It is hoped that the cooperation and assistance regarding economic diplomacy can expand the partnership network, the potential for BUMN investment and the opportunity to market SOE products on the international scene."

"Thus, the BUMN Go Global program has two main objectives," says Erick Thohir. "The first objective is to market SOE products that have already established some demand in multiple countries or markets, while the second objective is to improve the Supply Chain in Indonesia. In the past, Indonesia was only ever seen and treated as a domestic market. The BUMN Go Global program also hopes to help facilitate SOEs in acquiring enterprises in foreign countries. This will in turn ultimately rectify the supply chain in Indonesia."

Christovita Wiloto, Founder of IYE! (Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs), is optimistic about the BUMN Go Global strategy, saying, "It's about time that Indonesia's State Owned Enterprises go global and it's only natural that we are no longer satisfied only competing domestically. While it's true that our domestic market is full of potential and should not be neglected, Go Global is the strategy that should be implemented as soon as possible so that Indonesia may not only survive, but thrive."

Indonesia Young Entrepreneurs, known as IYE!, is a global network of young Indonesians with entrepreneurial spirit, across all industries. With over 50,000 members based around the world, the IYE! organization acts as a platform to bring together young minds that are resilient and have integrity. In regards to the BUMN Go Global strategy, Christov asserts that SOEs and the business world in Indonesia are ready and more than capable of competing at the global level.

What we urgently need is to solidify a clear and consistent strategy that will give guidance to the Go Global program. The steps that the Ministry of BUMN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have taken have been celebrated by tens of thousands of Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs across Indonesia, who are already fighting to break into the global market with a plethora of goods and services that they have continued to develop and perfect, Christov emphasized.

"The Go Global strategy has the potential to lift the standard of quality among Indonesian businesses in all aspects, whether it be integrity of individual character to the sophistication of the goods and services themselves. At the same time, this program will introduce a variety of disruptions in all aspects, which will work to turn the wheels of revolution within the world of business in Indonesia, in an integrated manner," Christov further explained. "Strike while the iron is hot: taking advantage of the moment, when the momentum is right in Indonesia."

BUMN Minister Erick Thohir believes that the country has reached a stage with a special momentum in its capacity to develop SOEs for the global market, and to advance Indonesia's leadership in the international arena. The factors supporting this are, among others, a common awareness and vision to encourage the development of SOEs in the global market, which acts to increase the number of transactions and the value of outbound SOE investment, as well as advance Indonesia's leadership abroad.

Collaboration between Indonesian government agencies has been intensified by the recent Onward Indonesia Cabinet, so the Indonesian economy will have the power to recover quickly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, this collaboration is further fortified by an aggressive strategy which ensures that every step taken promotes Indonesian competitiveness in an increasingly fierce global market.

For more information, please contact:
PowerPR | Indonesia Investment Forum
christhaliawiloto@powerpr.co.id
https;//www.powerpr.co.id/iifnyc2021

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

Geoffrey Weli-Wosu, Founder & CEO of Domineum, accepted into Forbes Business Council

LONDON, Jul 24, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Geoffrey Weli-Wosu, founder & CEO of Domineum Blockchain Solutions, founded to assist Governments and Companies to integrate blockchain into their operations, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.

Geoffrey was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

"We are honored to welcome Geoffrey into the community," said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Business Council. "Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally to make an even greater impact on the business world."

As a member of Forbes Business Council, Geoffrey has access to a variety of opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum and at members-only events. Geoffrey will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

"I am honored to be accepted by the prestigious Forbes Business Council. Over the past few years I have admired the contributions the group has made to business communities around the world. As a member I will do my best to continue and expand on this great tradition. And I strongly believe that my participation will help further cement my leadership role in my community and industry. I look forward to a rewarding association with the members and thank them for this expression of confidence."

About Forbes Councils

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

For more information about Domineum Blockchain Solutions, or to enter the discussion, please visit:

Website: https://www.domineum.io
Twitter: https://twitter.com/domineum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/domineum/
Telegram: https://t.me/domineum

Media Contact:

Geoffrey Weli-Wosu
Domineum Blockchain Solutions
Email: geoffrey.weliwosu@domineum.io
Level39, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, UK

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