InvestHK’s Investment Promotion Week aims to lift foreign companies’ awareness of Hong Kong’s business opportunities

HONG KONG, Oct 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Invest Hong Kong will launch a series of themed seminars to provide foreign companies and business chambers with the latest updates about the city's dynamic business environment, enduring global hub status and business opportunities arising from growing ties with the Mainland.

As part of the official celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the five-day Investment Promotion Week will run in a hybrid format from October 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online. It will feature five thematic days – Financial Services/Business Professional Services/FinTech, Innovation and Technology, Lifestyle and Creative Industries, Startup – Sustainable Futures, and the Greater Bay Area – with over 120 speakers sharing insights and experiences in their respective areas.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, are offering full support for the event and hope it will reinforce foreign investors' understanding of the city's enduring business advantages and highlight the new and emerging business opportunities.

Mr Lee said, "Hong Kong is the world's freest economy and an international financial, trading and shipping centre. We are always welcoming companies and investors from all over the world. With the full support of the Central Government, as well as the plentiful opportunities under such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is the best choice for b usiness operations and expansion plans."

Mr Chan said, "Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong has a distinctive status and advantages: we have unparalleled and privileged access to the Mainland market, while remaining a free and open market economy with the common law system. And moreover, the HKSAR Government is committed to creating a strong impetus for economic development, by combining the strengths of a proactive government and an efficient market. We are sure that businesses from all over the world will be able to tap the vast opportunities Hong Kong and the Mainland offer."

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, "This is a week not to be missed for those who want to learn about the key trends shaping global investment and how Hong Kong can help in capturing these opportunities. Participants will gain first-hand insights and pragmatic advice in all these important areas where we are witnessing tremendous growth – not only in Hong Kong, but in Mainland China and the region as a whole."

For more details of Investment Promotion Week, visit www.investhk.gov.hk/en/investment-promotion-week.html.

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

Speedy immigration clearance for Australian visitors entering Indonesia with first-ever fast-track Visa on Arrival service

BALI, INDONESIA, Oct 13, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – It is holiday season all year round in Bali, where travellers make their yearly pilgrimage to the beautiful island in Indonesia, a travel hotspot. To aid the increase in travel demand to Indonesia and especially Bali, VFS Global has rolled out the first-of-its-kind Indonesia fast-track Visa on Arrival service. Visitors from 86 different countries, including Australia, can now enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey by completing the process online, pre-departure, offered by VFS Global.

The service is provided in an exclusive agreement with TLP, the partner of the Immigration Department for Republic of Indonesia and Bank Mandiri. Apart from Bali, it is also available to Jakarta-bound travellers.

Since the lifting of the travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic, the number of visitors to Bali in 2022 has been consistently hitting new highs, with Australians taking up a massive 32.2% of the total number to the sunny destination in July 2022, making them the top visitors to Bali. Following close behind were travellers from India, the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America, according to Bali Central Bureau of Statistics data released on 2 September.

With the fast-track Visa on Arrival, immigration clearance for 86 nationalities, including India and France, can save up to three hours of waiting time. All they have to do is simply apply for their Indonesia Visa on Arrival through VFS Global on indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id.

The service will take visitors through an online pre-payment of fees, fast-track access and concierge services prior to their travel. With the confirmation sent to their registered email ID, the only step during arrival would be to get the visa stamped at the designated fast-track Visa on Arrival immigration lanes.

Mr. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global said, "Indonesia, especially Bali, is a popular destination for travellers across the globe. Unveiling a fuss-free, speedy service that will make travellers' visa application journey quicker and simpler will give these visitors less time on waiting and more time for their holiday. With tech-led Do It Yourself solutions becoming increasingly popular, this first-ever fast-track Visa on Arrival service is sure to offer applicants a more relaxed on-arrival experience."

How to use the fast-track VOA service
STEP 1: Visit indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id
STEP 2: Submit the required documents and pay the VOA fee online
STEP 3: Await the confirmation email that will be sent to the registered email ID
STEP 4: Upon landing in Jakarta and Bali, head to the dedicated fast-track lane with the confirmation email to get the visa stamped

VFS Global will offer Standard and Fast track service (Express) options. Applicants opting for the Standard service will be able to submit their applications no less than 72 hours prior to the date of departure, and benefit from the fast-track immigration process. Those opting for the Fast track service (Express) service will be able to submit their applications no less than 24 hours prior to the date of departure. The Express service additionally provides end-to-end personalised assistance and guidance, right from the arrival gate through immigration, baggage claim, and customs.

About VFS Global

VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 65 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,500 Application Centres in 144 countries. The company has processed over 246 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland and Dubai/United Arab Emirates.

VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they work. Blackstone's USD 915 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basis.

The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global. www.vfsglobal.com

Media Contact
Soubhik Mitra
Corporate Communications
soubhikm@vfsglobal.com
communications@vfsglobal.com

Jacqualine Chan
PRecious Communications
Jacqualine.chan@preciouscomms.com

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

80-160 year building use rights in IKN to attract investors: Minister

JAKARTA, Oct 12, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is offering building use rights (HGB) of up to 80 and extendable to 160 years to attract investors to the new capital (IKN) Nusantara.

Balang Island Short Span Bridge in Penajam North Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (ANTARA/HO-ATR BPN/rst)

"The efforts will benefit all parties, both to the welfare of those who live in the city or the business actors themselves," ATR Minister and BPN head, Hadi Tjahjanto, said to Antara here on Monday evening.

The 80-year HGB permit is meant as an incentive for investors to invest in IKN Nusantara, he added. The 80-year HGB will be divided into three stages: the first phase will span 30 years, the second phase 30 years, and the third phase 20 years.

In the first phase, the ministry will ask the investor to submit a report assessment. "The permit will continue up to 80 years," he said. The permit can be extended if it is profitable to the community. "If it is still used properly and beneficial to the community, we can still extend it for another 80 years, up to 160 years," the minister informed.

He further said that his ministry has completed four regional spatial planning plans (RDTR) for IKN Nusantara, which will be submitted to the IKN Authority for immediate approval. Furthermore, RDTRs are being prepared for five regions and are targeted to be completed by the end of 2022.

The ministry will provide facilities related to land, spatial planning, and business licensing in the IKN Nusantara area, which will then be submitted to the IKN Authority, he stated.

"We will facilitate it, and we will hand it over to the head of the IKN Authority, including RDTR, spatial planning, and land issues. We will help the process," he added.

Written by: Rini Utami, Aditya Ramadhan, Resinta S, Editor: Suharto (c) ANTARA 2022

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

NACOS Partners with Domineum Blockchain Solutions to Train 100,000+ Nigerian Computing Students

LAGOS, NG, Oct 9, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – NACOS has partnered with Domineum Blockchain Solutions to train 100,000+ Nigerian computing students on disruptive and emerging technologies.

The Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOS), the umbrella body for students studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Cyber Security, and all other IT-related disciplines in all Higher Institutions of learning in Nigeria, and Domineum BlockChain Solutions, a Distributed Ledger Technology Company providing Blockchain-as-a-service solutions, with Headquarters in London, U.K., will develop and train 100,000+ Nigeria Computing Students in emerging and disruptive technologies.

Announcing the national initiative at a press conference on Friday, 7 October, NACOS National President, Comr. Chihurumnanya Nwanevu GCCS, said, "The 23rd NACOS National Executive Council's primary mission is to empower computing students in Nigeria with adequate IT skills, as they will go on solve real-life problems with technology and add technological value to every sector of Nigeria's economy."

Chief Executive Officer of Domineum Blockchain Solutions, Mr. Geoffrey Weli-Wosu, said "The NACOS / DOMINEUM partnership is a strategic collaboration that will bring a significant change to all students studying computer-related courses in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Youths hold the future of IT in Nigeria, and it is paramount that they should be invested in and supported with the necessary resources, connections and opportunities to excel."

NACOS is focused on equipping Nigerian youths with the digital literacy and necessary skills to further facilitate Nigeria's transition to a digital economy. As an association with Local Chapters across Nigeria's 36 States, NACOS hopes to train more students in the rural areas to achieve a digital literacy, prioritizing technology and innovation as globally developed countries do, ultimately leading the country to prosperity.

NACOS and Domineum call upon ICT Stakeholders to support organizing innovative skill acquisition programs that will empower Nigerian youths to become world-class ICT personnel.

Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOS)
Domineum Blockchain Solutions
https://nacos.org.ng, https://domineum.io

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

G20 Sherpa committed to address global solutions

JAKARTA, Oct 1, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The third G20 Sherpa meeting in Yogyakarta has concluded with G20 member countries agreeing to seek solutions to myriad global problems.

The 3rd Sherpa Meeting G20 Indonesia delegations travel around Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, Tuesday (29/9). (ANTARA PHOTO/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/POOL/rwa/FR)

"During this meeting, we can see the collective commitment of G20 countries to remain united by offering solutions to global problems that occur recently," Co-Sherpa Edi Prio Pambudi noted through a statement, Thursday (Sept 29).

Problems, such as the energy crisis, food scarcity, rising food prices, inflation, and continuity of COVID-19 recovery, are issues that are not only encountered by G20 countries but also developing and vulnerable countries.

Discussion on Leaders' Declaration began from materials that are relatively easy to accept by all countries followed by a bilateral meeting with several key countries, so that an agreement can be achieved.

A technical discussion on Leaders' Declaration will be conducted in October 2022 before it is finalized during the fourth Sherpa meeting in Bali in November 2022, near the execution of the G20 Summit held in the same month and place.

The declaration draft that contains three priority issues during Indonesia's G20 Presidency comprises global health architecture, digital-based economic transformation, and energy transition as well as food security.

This draft comes from 39 parties, comprising G20 member countries, nine invited countries, and 10 invited international organizations, that will attend the G20 Summit Conference in Bali, November.

The meeting also endorsed concrete deliverables, such as programs or initiatives. This aligns with President Joko Widodo's mandate that Indonesia's G20 Presidency should produce real benefits for Indonesians.

"It is true that the concrete results will have their follow-up programmed," secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono, said at an online press conference, which was followed from here on Tuesday (Sept 27).

The programs arising out of this year's G20 Summit will be reviewed together at next year's meeting.

"There is an annual forum so that we can review several agreements that have been conducted together," he said.

This year, in the midst of various global crises, Indonesia was able to contribute fairly, leading many to praise it, he added.

The G20 Sherpa Track discusses global challenges and various economic (non-financial) issues to find solutions and provide recommendations on the G20 agenda and priority issues, such as energy, development, tourism, digital economy, education, labor, agriculture, trade, investment, industry, health, anti-corruption, environment and climate change.

The role of Sherpa Track is very vital, especially in coordinating all Working Groups and Engagement Groups under its coordination.

Indonesia's G20 presidency in 2022 provides an opportunity for Indonesia to lead developed and developing countries in discussing various issues and the process of global economic recovery.

Underscoring Indonesia's important role as president of this year's G20, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the world was pinning hopes on G20 being a catalyst of global economic recovery, especially for developing countries.

"The G20 must not fail to be a catalyst for world recovery. We cannot let global recovery fall at the mercy of geopolitics," she stated, while delivering a speech at the general debate of the 77th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (Sept 27).

She proposed the paradigm of collaboration to surmount numerous global challenges.

"A paradigm of win-win, not of zero-sum. A paradigm of engagement, not of containment. A paradigm of collaboration, not of competition. This is the transformative solution that we need," Marsudi noted.

According to Marsudi, such a collaboration paradigm is deemed necessary to facing the current concerning world conditions wherein the pandemic persists and the global economy remains sluggish, war among nations, and violation of international law that has become a norm in pursuit of narrow self-interests.

Written by: Sanya Dinda S, Fadhli Ruhman, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

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

Bintai Kinden Shareholders Approves All Resolutions at 28th AGM

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Sep 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that shareholders have approved all resolutions at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company held today on a virtual platform.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

Shareholders passed the resolution to receive the audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2022 (FY2022) as well as to re-elect Ooi Jit Huat and Mohd Shakir Shahimi, the directors who were retiring in accordance with Clause 8 of the Company's constitution. Directors retiring in accordance with Clause 113 of the Company's constitution, Mohd Idzwan Izuddin Datuk Ab Rahman and Ku Chong Hong, who, being eligible, had offered themselves for re-election, were also re-elected.

The resolution to allow the board of directors the authority to allot and issue shares that does not exceed 10% of the total issued shares of the Company at the time of the issue to be in force up to the conclusion of the next AGM was also approved by shareholders. In addition, shareholders also waived statutory pre-emptive rights to be offered Bintai Kinden shares ranking equally to existing issued shares in accordance with Section 85 of the Companies Act, 2016 and with Clause 52 of the Company's constitution.

Messrs. HLB Ler Lum Chew PLT was also appointed as the auditors of Bintai Kinden and shareholders authorised the directors to fix their remuneration. Other resolutions passed included the payment of directors' fee amounting to RM108,000 for FY2022 and approving directors' other benefits payable up to an amount of RM10,000 from 16 September 2022 to the next AGM of the Company.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, "We would like to thank shareholders for their continued support and confidence in us. We will endeavour to ensure that their interests as well as the interest of other stakeholders are safeguarded as we work to grow the business."

"While the global economic outlook is increasingly challenging, we will continue to leverage on our core M&E engineering expertise to seek opportunities in Malaysia and around the region. We have in recent months also explored the Middle East market, a region with a lot of potential given the growing population and expanding economic activities."

At the AGM, shareholders also voiced their concerns over arrears totalling RM42.0 million owed by Kolej Teknologi Islam Melaka Berhad (KTIMB) to Bintai Kinden's wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimal Property Management Sdn Bhd (OPM) for the construction and operation of the student accommodation at Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (KUIM), now known as Universiti Melaka (UNIMEL).

OPM completed the construction of the UNIMEL student accommodation in 2019. KTIMB had awarded a 25-year concession in 2016 to OPM to construct and operate the student accommodation at the then KUIM but to-date, OPM has received only a portion of the concession fees for operating the student accommodation and has been forced to use its own funds.

Bintai Kinden's orderbook covering M&E and oil and gas (O&G) projects currently total RM120.43 million. The Company was recently granted approval for a license by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) under the Standardised Work and Equipment Categories Code, to bid for O&G projects that come under Petronas.

About Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad is a multidisciplinary building and industrial service engineering outfit founded in 1973. The Company has designed, installed and commissioned systems that include the full range of engineering services for commercial buildings to industrial complexes. Headquartered in Malaysia, Bintai Kinden has worked on projects in Southeast Asia, China and the Gulf region of the Middle East. For more information, visit bintai.com.my.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

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

G20 Digital Ministers yields consensus on 3 priorities

JAKARTA, Sep 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Digital Economy Ministers Meeting (DEMM) was held in Nusa Dua, Bali, Thursday (September 1, 2022). It was the culmination of the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) meetings, as one of working group of the G20 that focuses on issues related to the digital economy and highlights the role of digital transformation on economic and social growth.

Communication and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate opened the 2022 G20 Digital Economy Ministers' Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali province, on Thursday (September 1, 2022). (ANTARA PHOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/foc/uyu)

The DEWG itself discussed three priority issues of the digital economy at the G20 Indonesia Presidency, including digital connectivity, digital skills and literacy, and cross-country data flow.

The Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, said the DEMM has produced a document called "G20 Digital Economy Minister Meetings 2022; Chair Summary".

The document summarizes agreements between the ministers for the digital economy on the three priority issues of the DEWG.

"The document shows that for all substantive content, the Indonesian Presidency (G20) has reached consensus from all DEWG members in accordance with DEWG priority issues," Plate said at a press conference, Thursday afternoon.

It also summarizes all ideas and dynamics that developed during the series of G20 DEWG meetings presented by representatives of G20 member countries over the past six months.

The formulation of concrete steps in the document will be presented as input for President Joko Widodo in leading the G20 Summit which will be held in November.

On the first priority issue regarding connectivity and post-COVID-19 recovery, Plate said the meeting agreed on the need for a people center in an effort to strengthen digital connectivity. The meeting, he said, also agreed on the importance of digital security as the key to business sustainability.

"The meeting also welcomed various initiatives of the G20 Indonesia Presidency, such as the G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN), G20 Digital Transformation Expo (DTE), and the smart village and island initiative together with ITU," he said.

On the issue of digital skills and digital literacy which is the second priority issue, the DEMM meeting succeeded in compiling the "G20 toolkit for measuring digital skills and digital literacy".

The document is useful for standardizing the measurement of literacy indicators and digital skills for more objective public policy making and encouraging international cooperation in overcoming gaps between countries, responding to the challenges of a digital future.

"The presidency has also succeeded in compiling a compilation of reports on policies and recommendations to increase meaningful participation of vulnerable groups in the digital economy, as well as a summary document of practices and policies on digital skills and advanced digital literacy," he said.

On the issue of free data flow with trust and cross-border data flow, Johnny said the DEWG forum has recognized the efforts of the Indonesian Presidency to initiate discussions on the principles of justice, transparency and legitimacy proposed by Indonesia.

"This is a new principle base in cross-border data governance. We all know that data contains at least two important things. The first is that the data has a high economic value, and the second is that the data is related to geopolitics and geostrategy as well as the sovereignty of each nation and state," he explained.

The DEMM meeting was attended by digital ministers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Cambodia, South Africa, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Australia, Germany and Spain were represented by ministerial representatives.

DEMM was also attended by representatives from international organizations, including the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and The Pacific (UNESCAP).

Written by: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Uyu Liman, Editor: Suharto (c) ANTARA 2022

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

Seventh Belt and Road Summit draws to successful close

HONG KONG, Sep 2, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded yesterday (1 September). Continuing in the tradition of being a formal, substantial and high-quality event, the summit saw state leaders and senior officials, regional government leaders and business leaders gathered to explore the business potential of the Belt and Road Initiative, and to drive synergies and create a win-win situation through multilateral collaborations such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, which ran under the theme "Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate", attracted more than 80 government and business leaders to share their insights.

More than 19,000 participants from over 80 countries and regions attended online or in-person.

The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO and President of Berli Jucker PCL, Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, and Rod Eddington, Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan's Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion shared their insights at Business Plenary "Collaborate for a Bright New Era".

As one of the major celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit saw more than 80 senior government officials and business leaders from the Belt and Road region gathered to share their insights under the theme "Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate". For the first time, the summit was held in a hybrid format, overcoming geographical boundaries by allowing those who were unable to attend in person to participate virtually. More than 19,000 attendees representing over 80 countries and regions participated online or at the physical event.

More than 800 one-to-one matching sessions

The business matching and project pitching sessions at the summit remained popular among project owners and attendees. More than 280 investment projects from the Belt and Road region and beyond were presented at the summit, covering four main areas, namely: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities; (2) innovation and technology; (3) urban development; and (4) transportation and logistics infrastructure. The projects focused on areas such as smart city development, data centres and e-commerce related investments. More than 800 one-to-one business matching meetings were arranged for project owners, investors and professional service providers to pave the way for collaboration agreements.

Real opportunities in RCEP but some challenges

Multilateral collaboration creates more frequent cross-border trade and investment, and is becoming more important than ever in driving a strong recovery in the Asia-Pacific region following the pandemic. The RCEP, which came into effect this year, stands as the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world's population and GDP. Combined with the joint effort of more than 180 countries connected through the Belt and Road Initiative, it will further strengthen regional economic integration around the world. In the Business Plenary titled "Collaborate for a Bright New Era", business leaders from economies along the Belt and Road and the RCEP shared their insights and explored how these initiatives and agreements can complement each other to drive strong economic growth and promote cross-border collaboration between businesses of all sizes.

The 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, shared his views on the RCEP. "One of the things that are challenged is the supply chains. China is a really a huge market, and we source a lot of goods from China. We can see the impact the breaking down of those supply chains has had on global inflation."

Aswin Techajareonvikul, Chief Executive Officer and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited, shared that the Thailand enterprises have well received the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). "It is in tune with our 20-year strategy and Thailand's ongoing projects for economic development under the Thailand 4.0 economic model. We are able to expand trade and investment to our neighbouring countries. We can also better link with the world market, especially for the CLMV countries [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam]."

Liu Liange, Chairman of the Bank of China, said: "Most of the members in the RCEP are located in important junctions along the Belt and Road. This not only fosters connectivity between value chains and supply chains, but also further expands the 'social circle' of the Belt and Road Initiative, engaging more countries and businesses in the construction of the Belt and Road and in broader collaboration, as well as forming the dual-engine of the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP within the region."

Belt and Road Initiative drives consumption and Infratech development

Global economies are pushing to achieve post-pandemic economic recovery. At the same time, countries around the world are striving to build stronger global business connections with the help of macro measures such as the BRI, the RCEP and the GBA development.

The demand for high-quality, innovative and sustainable infrastructure around the world has given rise to many new business opportunities. These innovative projects will be led and driven by visionary industry leaders as they usher in a new era of infrastructure development. In the "Faster, Greater Infrastructure" session of the thematic group discussions, business leaders who had turned futuristic concepts into reality and envisioned some of the world's most important infrastructure projects exchanged their views.

Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties and Founder and Director of Noon.com, HE Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, said: "I really believe that a link such as the Belt and Road Initiative and its effects on human life, economic progress, quality of life, job creation and exchange of cultures and knowledge and unity to the world – it is going to be incredible."

Chief Marketing Officer of Hyperloop TT Robert Miller addressed the current trends in infrastructure technology (infratech) development. "Infratech is really underfunded and underdeveloped. Hyperloop really falls into the category of infratech where there is a longer time to profitability. So we need patient investors from both public and private sectors. Meanwhile, governments everywhere are looking at reducing carbon emissions. One of the biggest polluters is the transportation industry: 23% of all carbon emissions worldwide come from transportation. Europe, the United States and countries in Asia are all looking how to decarbonise the transportation industry. Hyperloop TT could be a massive driver in that decarbonisation," he said.

The seventh Belt and Road Summit was made possible by its Strategic Partner, China International Capital Corporation (CICC); Regional Banking Partner, Bank of China (Hong Kong); and Platinum Sponsors, China Mobile International and China Unicom.

Image download: https://bit.ly/3edlV6t

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 HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

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

Seventh Belt and Road Summit opens today

HONG KONG, Aug 31, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today (31 August). This year's event lasts two days and runs in a hybrid physical and digital format, helping overcome geographical boundaries. Business leaders unable to attend the summit in person at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) join all sessions online and identify potential business opportunities through the online platform. Participants and guest speakers at the physical summit can actively interact during the event as more than 80 government and business leaders share their insights and explore opportunities the Belt and Road Initiative presents.

The seventh Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and HKTDC, opened today (31 August), with the theme "Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate".

In his welcome remarks, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "With innovation driving progress, the Belt and Road Initiative provides the framework to apply these innovations to create a sustainable future."

The Policy Dialogue Session analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under "Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration".

As the first major international event following celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the summit runs under the theme "Heralding a New Chapter: Collaborate and Innovate". Project owners and operators, investors and service providers can explore opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) through a variety of activities, including the Policy Dialogue, plenary sessions, thematic breakout sessions, one-to-one project matching and project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition, creating a multi-win situation that will help boost economic growth in the region. Activities today are held both online and offline while tomorrow (1 September) will be entirely online.

In this morning's opening session, Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, delivered welcoming remarks. John Lee, HKSAR Chief Executive, delivered the opening address. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, delivered the keynote speech. Wang Wentao, Minister, Ministry of Commerce, the People's Republic of China; Hao Peng, Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the People's Republic of China and Lin Nianxiu, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, the People's Republic of China, delivered special addresses while Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization, gave a keynote address.

Mr Lee said in his opening speech: "The global rise of protectionism has reminded us of how important regional co-operation is. We have to work together for the better future of the region. Hong Kong is therefore very pleased to see the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, come into force earlier this year. The landmark agreement underlines the open, inclusive, rules-based trade and investment partnership that RCEP's member states are committed to realising. We believe that regional economic integration is an essential complement to multilateral trade. Hong Kong is seeking early accession to RCEP. It will enable us to deepen the collaboration and connections we enjoy with our close partners. The Belt and Road was created to build connectivity, to bring business, and people, together. No one does that better than Hong Kong, thanks to our 'one country, two systems' principle; thanks to our longstanding East-meets-West experience and the boundless opportunities afforded us in national development."

Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Han said: "Hong Kong is an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. We are pleased to see that since the initiative launched, Hong Kong has actively negotiated and signed cooperation agreements with co-construction countries, developing trade and investment cooperation, service standard connection, international financial cooperation and exchange between people. Hong Kong plays an important role in Belt and Road development, as well as expanding its own development space. Hong Kong deserves full recognition for its work in this area. The Central Authorities will adhere to the principle of 'one country, two systems' in the long run, fully supporting Hong Kong in maintaining its unique status and advantages. Authorities fully support Hong Kong's active participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road development."

Addressing the opening session, Mr Zhang said: "The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, climate change and anti-globalization sentiment are the four major factors that I believe could affect the reshaping of the landscape of global trade policies. It is very challenging but can still be managed well if the whole world works together. To address these challenges, I strongly encourage enhanced dialogue and cooperation between all governments to find collective solutions because none of these challenges can be addressed by one government alone. Global challenges require global solutions."

Dr Lam said: "The HKTDC is honoured to have Vice Premier Han Zheng deliver an important keynote speech at today's summit, giving a more specific illustration of Hong Kong's role as an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Following President Xi Jinping's important speech on 1 July, the Vice Premier's 'Four Hopes' for Hong Kong's participation in the construction of the Belt and Road further highlighted the direction of the city's development. The HKTDC has always been committed to promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and development opportunities. The team and I will continue our efforts to promote Hong Kong as an international business platform and services hub and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative."

Multipartite cooperation to promote economic growth

The Policy Dialogue Session, chaired by HKSAR Deputy Finance Secretary Michael Wong, analysed how economies under the Belt and Road Initiative can strengthen cooperation and boost economic growth through infrastructure development and trade under the theme "Driving Growth through Partnership and Collaboration". The panel featured government and business leaders from several Belt and Road countries, including Lim Sidenine, Secretary of State of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Kingdom of Cambodia; Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia; Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Singapore; and Chayotid Kridakon, Thai Trade Representative and Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Growing relationship between Belt and Road, RCEP and GBA

The RCEP, which came into effect this year, is the largest free trade agreement in history, accounting for 30% of the world's population and GDP. With the joint effort of more than 100 countries connected with the Belt and Road Initiative, global regional economic integration will be become more established. The Business Plenary titled "Collaborate for a Bright New Era" was held this morning, with Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivering the welcoming remarks. Hosted by Ronnie Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties Limited, the session examined how economic growth can be achieved through multipartite cooperation. Other guest speakers included the Chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, JP Morgan's Asia Pacific Advisory Council and Non-Executive Chairman of Lion Rod Eddington; the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key; President of the Bank of China Liu Liange; Deputy Managing Director & Chairman for Hong Kong of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited YK Pang; and CEO and President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited Aswin Techajareonvikul.

In his welcome remarks, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, said: "We are capitalising on our strong collaboration with Shenzhen, developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub, focusing development on life and health sciences, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data industry, etc. We are also pressing ahead with more local infrastructure projects, including the Northern Metropolis and the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, as well as many other road, railway and land development projects. Talents, capital and entrepreneurs are all essential to achieving our goals. We warmly welcome businesses and talents from all over the world, Belt and Road countries included of course, to come to Hong Kong to collaborate with us and grasp the enormous opportunities together. To this end, we will have new policies and support measures to facilitate the coming of talents and enterprises."

The strong economic resilience demonstrated by the Greater Bay Area amid the pandemic will further unleash the region's economic potential in terms of cross-border trade and financial market liberalisation, along with the development of cutting-edge innovation and technology. The Business Plenary this afternoon, "Capturing Synergies between Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area", was hosted by David YK Wong, Permanent Honorary President of The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong. The panelists included Chairman of the Power Construction Corporation of China Ding Yanzhang; CEO, Chairman of the Management Committee, Executive Director of the Board of China International Capital Corporation Limited Huang Zhaohui; Chairman of MTR Corporation Limited Rex Auyeung; Chairman of WeLab Bank KC Chan; and Chairman of East Asia Region of Arup Group Michael Kwok. The speakers shared ideas on the potential opportunities the GBA brings as an important Belt and Road hub, and also discussed how Hong Kong can further leverage the advantages of the GBA to enhance its position and promote the development of the city's industries.

Five breakout sessions explore hot-button issues on summit's first day

Spanning many countries and regions, the Belt and Road Initiative creates new room for the development of professional sectors. On the first day, the summit, in conjunction with a number of organisations including the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, China Foreign Contractors Association and Dun & Bradstreet, held five breakout sessions to examine a range of topics such as international dispute resolution, insurance services, GBA infrastructure development, digital technology development and future infrastructure development. More thematic breakout sessions and project pitching sessions will be held tomorrow – details of the programme, speakers and partner organisations can be found at https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en

One-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions

Following the success at previous summits, the HKTDC has extended the hybrid project and business-matching sessions from two to seven days (31 August to 6 September) this year. New features include a video display at the summit to increase project exposure and give investors and professional service companies a better understanding of project details.

The summit also features online and offline exhibitions which have attracted more than 60 exhibitors and are divided into the "Global Investment Zone", "Hong Kong Zone" and "GBA Tech Zone". The project pitching sessions give entrepreneurs from different countries a platform to present projects, giving investors and service intermediaries a comprehensive understanding of investment opportunities in different sectors. Pitching sessions focus on four main areas – energy, natural resources and public utilities; innovation and technology; urban development; and transport and logistics infrastructure.

China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner of the seventh Belt and Road Summit; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; and China Mobile International Limited and China Unicom Global Limited as Platinum Sponsors.

The Seventh Belt and Road Summit
Date: 31 August 2022 (Wednesday) Hybrid; 1 September 2022 (Thursday) Online
Websites
– Belt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en
– Programme: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/programme
– Speaker list: https://www.beltandroadSummit.hk/conference/bnr/en/speaker
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QbkuDe

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 HKTCD's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

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

HKTDC and Huatai International launch strategic partnership

HONG KONG, Aug 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council ("HKTDC") and Huatai International Financial Holdings Company Limited ("Huatai") have unveiled a new one year strategic partnership to jointly promote the Dual Circulation Strategy laid down in China's 14th Five-Year Plan. The two parties aim to achieve three key objectives: 1) Complement the strategy by helping Mainland China enterprises go global, while attracting foreign investment into the domestic market, such as Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), thereby achieving a triple-win outcome for the project owners, investors and the Hong Kong service providers and advisers; 2) Reinforce and promote Hong Kong as an effective platform for mainland enterprises to invest overseas; and 3) Create strong synergy through the integration of the two parties' business platforms and investor and resource networks.

Dr Patrick Lau (L), HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, and Levin Wang (R), CEO of Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, unveiled the new strategic partnership between the HKTDC and Huatai.

Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Hong Kong is not only a trading hub, but also an international investment hub. Our success in deal-making showcases the best of Hong Kong's ecosystem by providing all-round professional and finance services to Mainland China and the Asia region, facilitating part of the country's objectives of the Dual Circulation Strategy. Huatai Securities is one of the top securities houses in Mainland China, with Huatai International being its international business platform with financial expertise and capable teams in corporate finance. Therefore, it will be an ideal partner for HKTDC to achieve our objectives. I believe Hong Kong's dealmaker role is one way to make better use of Hong Kong's advantages to help not only mainland enterprises, but also create opportunities for Hong Kong and international firms, investors and project owners under today's complex international environment."

Levin Wang, CEO of Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, said: "As a statutory body of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with a global network, the HKTDC is an important conduit for Hong Kong's services industry to demonstrate its strengths and capabilities to the world. Huatai International is an important platform of Huatai Securities to develop overseas business. As a leading securities house with advantages in fintech, we provide high-quality, innovative and competitive financial products and services to our global clients. We are delighted to join hands with the HKTDC to demonstrate the strength of Chinese financial institutions in the international capital market, with the help of the HKTDC's wide networks, and contribute to consolidating Hong Kong's status as a financial centre."

To help enterprises seize opportunities in the GBA, which is a strategic national development initiative, the HKTDC is preparing to host the SmartHK event to promote Hong Kong's services sectors to mainland enterprises in Guangzhou, with Huatai as the Greater Bay Area business matching and investment partner. A senior representative from Huatai will join other star speakers to examine the collaboration opportunities and challenges awaiting Hong Kong and other GBA cities in the areas of finance, transportation, trade, aviation and innovation and technology (I&T).

In addition to seminars, SmartHK will feature a service consulting area to provide business-matching services for Hong Kong's professional service providers, research institutions and start-ups. The area will help them connect with mainland enterprises in the GBA to promote Hong Kong's financial, I&T and creative servicesand products. Huatai will set up a booth at SmartHK to foster stronger ties with participating mainland enterprises and provide pragmatic advice and diversified solutions for investment sourcing, financing arrangements, asset and risk management and other business requirements. Additionally, Huatai will help companies leverage different financial strategies to allocate assets or raise capital in order to expand their presence in the GBA and other domestic and overseas markets.

In the past five years, Huatai's total assets and revenue expanded 10-fold and nearly 30-fold respectively, while its number of staff doubled, making it the fastest-growing Chinese securities firm in recent years. As fintech expands into more application scenarios, Huatai has adhered to the group company's technology empowerment strategy and launched a one-stop global wealth management platform – the Zhangle Global app. Drawing on advanced technology, the app combines a brokerage service with wealth management and uses open architecture to empower local small and medium-sized securities firms, making Huatai a leader in fintech development in Hong Kong.

Huatai will also participate in HKTDC-organised business matching activities that are organised periodically in the mainland for the benefit of Hong Kong's services industry. These activities include financial services or cross-border investment missions, fundraising roundtables and "Hong Kong Team" missions. The aim is to provide practical advice and support to facilitate mainland enterprises' internationalisation, fundraising and business-expansion needs.

To date, Huatai has been invited by the HKTDC to join year-round deal-making and networking events, where Huatai explains to mainland enterprises the strengths of Hong Kong's financial services, including its comprehensive range of financial products, deep pool of financial talent, free capital markets and simple tax system. This enables mainland enterprises to better understand the benefits of using Hong Kong as a springboard for going global, including reducing overall costs, improving operational efficiency, capturing business opportunities in the international market and consolidating Hong Kong's position as an ideal fundraising platform for mainland enterprises under the 14th Five-Year Plan.

Among these events, the Hong Kong-Hubei Virtual Fundraising Roundtable, organised by the HKTDC, successfully organised 60 one-to-one business matching sessions between 25 mainland enterprises and 10 Hong Kong professional services providers. During the event, the HKTDC connected Huatai with mainland companies with fundraising needs from various sectors, including biotech, healthcare, new media, consumer staples and more. Huatai also held online matching meetings with several mainland enterprises and reached preliminary intent to cooperate.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3JUeeOF

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.

About Huatai International

Huatai International Financial Holdings Company Limited ("Huatai International") is a wholly owned subsidiary and overseas business platform of Huatai Securities Co., Limited (601688.SH and 6886.HK) (the "Group" or the "the parent company" or "HTSC"). Huatai International operates its Hong Kong business via its wholly owned subsidiary Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited ("Huatai Financial")which holds the SFC licence to carry out type 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9 regulated activities. It also carries out the US wealth management business via AssetMark and the US investment banking business via Huatai Securities (USA). Because of its strong capital base, excellent business operations, and mature risk management, the Standard & Poor's credit rating of BBB+ for long-term issuer and A-2 for short-term issuer were assigned to Huatai International[1], which shows the group's well-recognized international business development by the international market.

[1] November 2021: https://tinyurl.com/mstuvk9

Media enquiries
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org

Huatai International Financial Holdings Company Limited
Sidney Leng, Tel: +852 3161 3541, Email: sidneyleng@htsc.com

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