Bintai Kinden Appointed by South Korean Company to Market Piping and Fitting Products

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Aug 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998) is pleased to announce that Bintai Energy Sdn Bhd has been appointed by World Standard Materials Co. Ltd. (WSM) to sell and market flanges, plates, tubes, pipe, coils and fittings for the chemical and petrochemical industries.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

Bintai Energy is 51% owned by Bintai Kinden through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd. WSM was founded in 1999 in Busan, South Korea. The company is involved in manufacturing and trading of industrial steel products. The company supplies to various industries internationally, including oil and Gas, power generation, shipbuilding, chemical and petrochemical industries.

As part of the appointment, WSM will work with Bintai Energy to seek opportunities as well as provide the necessary technical and competitive price support of the products while Bintai Energy will be responsible for the promotion of WSM's products. The collaboration is for a period of three years.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, "The collaboration with WSM enables us to widen our product offerings to the chemical and petrochemical industries important for their role in the value-chain of other industries such as plastics and automotives as they supply the raw materials."

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with WSM, whose research and development efforts have been rewarded with quality flanges, pipes and fittings that are used in the chemical and petrochemical industries. We look forward to working together to grow the market for WSM's products in Malaysia."

Mr. Ahn Byung Hwan, President of WSM said, "We are looking forward to working with Bintai Energy to bring our products to the Malaysian market. We believe that together, both parties will be able to make inroads into the chemical and petrochemical industries."

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

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

Amazfit Launches GTS 4 Mini in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Amazfit, a premium smart wearable hardware brand owned by Zepp Health Corporation (Zepp), launched the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini in Malaysia today with all the signature features packed into a lightweight and compact frame that challenges the limits of size.

The ultra-slim Amazfit GTS 4 Mini comes with heavyweight power in an aluminium alloy frame weighing-in at a mere 31.2 grams while the 70.2% screen-to-body ratio gives more screen. Powered by a 270-milliampere hour battery, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini can last for 15 days from a single charge.

Other highlights of this mini smartwatch include five-satellite positioning system for outdoor activities, 5 ATM water-resistance to track water-sports and 120+ sports modes. The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini can also recognise seven sports activities and the PeakBeats Workout Status Algorithm monitors post workout recovery while wearers can assess and compare their previous running performance lap-data through the Virtual Pacer. Stress monitoring is included in the health reminders.

All this data is easily viewed through the Zepp App, which is powered by the Zepp operating system. The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini also has Alexa that can be accessed through the built-in microphone.

The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini's soft and skin-friendly silicone band comes in Mint Blue, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Black and Moonlight White. The curved bezel smartwatch allows the wearer to download dozens of watch faces, some are animated, with matching always-on display or customize with photos.

The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini comes with a one-year warranty and will retail at RM399 each.

A special Shopee launch price of RM379 is good until 22 August 2022, plus those who order will also receive a limited edition Amazfit T-shirt (while supplies last)!

Find out more about the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini smartwatch at https://www.amazfit.com/my or Amazfit's e-commerce partner platform https://bit.ly/MYAmazfit-SHOPEE.

Amazfit: www.amazfit.com/en

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

Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) Marks First Foray into Indonesia by Acquiring Jakarta-based NusaTrip, Indonesia’s First International Air Transport Association-Accredited Online Travel Agency

JAKARTA, Aug 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia's ("SEA") next generation digital ecosystem, announces the acquisition of NusaTrip ("NusaTrip"), a leading Jakarta-based Online Travel Agency ("OTA") in Indonesia and across SEA. The NusaTrip acquisition extends SoPa's business reach into the booming SEA regional travel industry and marks SoPa's first foray into Indonesia as well as adds to SoPa's growing ecosystem of technology-enabled companies located in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Established in 2013 as the first Indonesian OTA accredited by the International Air Transport Association, NusaTrip pioneered offering a comprehensive range of airlines and hotels to Indonesian corporate and retail customers. With its first mover advantage, NusaTrip has onboarded +1.2 million registered users, +500 airlines and +200,000 hotels around the world as well as connected with over 80 million unique visitors.

Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, explains, "We happily welcome NusaTrip into our ever-expanding SoPa ecosystem. NusaTrip seamlessly blends into our user and merchant growth strategy as we enter yet another leading SEA market. We combine the robust technology and operational breadth of NusaTrip's e-commerce travel platform with our extensive brand building experience in SEA. With this acquisition, SoPa now cross-pollinates and integrates our six verticals (loyalty, lifestyle, food & beverage, telecoms, digital media and travel) into one cohesive loyalty and e-commerce platform to provide enhanced products and services for our consumers and merchants throughout the largest countries of SEA. SoPa has grown from strength to strength in 2022 as we opportunistically acquire market leading companies and partner with visionary entrepreneurs, underlining our unique aggregator approach that reflects immediate returns in terms of increased revenue generation and cost optimisation."

Patrick Soetanto, Society Pass Indonesia Country Manager, adds, "We will expand NusaTrip's services to support future growth pathways in more SEA countries in the very near future by integrating more travel product lines in its mix and developing more competitive products for a much larger international and regional audience."

Well-positioned to benefit from a high-growth travel industry, Indonesia's and SEA's inbound and outbound travel revenues are expected to continue soaring as increasingly more consumers engage in post-pandemic travel. This marked increase in demand is driven by strong government initiatives to boost tourism, the rise of Indonesia's burgeoning middle class and strong internet penetration, which enables more Indonesians to easily book flights and hotels through OTAs.

"NusaTrip is proud to officially partner with SoPa. By joining forces with SoPa's extensive ecosystem and large user and merchant bases in SEA, we are thrilled about the combined marketing capabilities. With the revival of the travel market throughout SEA in 2Q/3Q 2022, NusaTrip aims to dramatically increase its customer base by offering the region's business and leisure travellers more competitive, no-surcharge hotel and flight fares, convenient payment methods, and speedy itinerary bookings with our user-friendly platform," comments Menak Galumbang, Co Founder, Nusatrip.

About Society Pass

As a digitally-focused loyalty and data marketing ecosystem in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, lifestyle, F&B, telecoms, digital media, and travel), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

SoPa's business model focuses on analysing user data through its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points. The Society Pass loyalty platform drives customer acquisition and increases customer retention for merchants. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants/brands onto its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting-edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam, Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator, Thoughtful Media Group, a Bangkok-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network, and Mangan, the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

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

Four HKTDC August fairs and ICMCM close on a High Note

HONG KONG, Aug 15, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), have all drawn to a successful close, along with the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions. The four public fairs saw participation from more than 1,000 exhibitors and attracted over 430,000 visitors.

The Food Expo, Home Delights Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew to a close today, attracting more than 430,000 visitors.

The Gourmet Zone at the Food Expo showcased the finest international cuisines. Star chefs were invited to perform cooking demonstrations to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In addition to inviting and organising local buyers pavilions to visit Food Expo Trade Zone and Hong Kong International Tea Fair for businesses, the HKTDC also arranged more than 700 virtual business matching meetings for buyers.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "The bustling fairground, despite restrictions such as no sampling for food and drinks, show that people have a strong appetite for shopping. The timing of the second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme certainly boosted spending. Meanwhile, our first-ever KOL livestreaming sessions at the fairground further stimulated visitors' enthusiasm, allowing exhibitors to drive their promotions to a wider audience and expand their customer base. We were equally encouraged to see several group pavilions and exhibitors participating in the Trade Zone of the Food Expo and the International Tea Fair through their local representatives to explore business opportunities."

90% of exhibitors support consumption voucher payment to encourage spending

The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme was disbursed just days before the fairs. According to a survey, at the fairs, 90% of interviewed exhibitors accepted at least one form of consumption voucher payment, the convenience of which motivated spending. The HKTDC also interviewed around 980 visitors during the fairs through random sampling. 48% of respondents spent HK$1,000 or more at the fairs, with the average per capita spending reaching HK$1,400. The survey also showed that nearly 75% of visitors made purchases at the fairs using electronic payment methods, while more than 78% of them used consumption vouchers. The strong results demonstrated how the added convenience of e-payment can drive consumption at fairs.

Exhibitors' strategic promotions lead to improved sales performance

Oriental Products Supplies Ltd has been supporting the Food Expo since the company's founding in 1998. "The Food Expo has always been the perfect place to reach more customers and we have strengthened our brand through the exhibition over the years," said Mok Wa-yan, Director of the company. "This year, we are showing a diversity of food items including fresh jellyfish and partridge. The response has been very strong and we have had to replenish stocks again and again to meet demand. The latest batch of consumption vouchers that were distributed just before the expo also fuelled the public's buying sentiment. Our total sales will exceed HK$1 million this year – a very encouraging result."

Another exhibitor, Star Chefs Creation Limited, saw robust sales boosted by KOL livestreaming sessions during the Food Expo, with more than 200 products of spicy duck blood, butterfly crisp, abalone noodles and creamy custard mooncakes sold via the livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE. Betty Chan, General Sales Manager of the company, said the KOL-led livestreaming sessions opened a new promotional channel for the company's products.

The concurrent Beauty & Wellness Expo showcased a wide range of beauty and fitness products. Exhibitor Sandi Poon, Business Development Director at Phoelia (Far East) Company Limited, Hong Kong, featured her company's French facial and wellness equipment during the fair and was impressed with the interest shown by visitors. "The expo gave visitors a chance to try our products and see the benefits. Each set of equipment sells for nearly HK$1 million and we had already sold seven sets to two beauty salons and one rehabilitation centre on the first two days of the expo."

Local homeware product Sam!ly Group Company Ltd has participated in the Home Delights Expo for many years. With more visitors coming to the event this year, Sales and Marketing Director Lydia Lai said the company expected to see sales revenue exceeding HK$200,000 during the fair.

Success of fairs highlights Hong Kong's importance in global trade

Numerous group pavilions participated at this year's Food Expo through local representatives. From Mainland China, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality presented local specialities and shared their unique culinary cultures, along with the Aomori Prefecture of Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization and Indonesia. The HKTDC and the Aomori Prefectural Government of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to carry out economic exchange programmes in the future. Besides expanding bilateral trade and investment, the MoU will also strengthen the economic partnership between the two places to create new business opportunities.

Largely targeting industry and trade buyers, the Trade Zone of the Food Expo and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair were also open to public ticketholders this year. In addition to inviting and organising local buying missions, the HKTDC also arranged more than 700 virtual business matching meetings. Exhibitors and buyers can continue to schedule and conduct more online meetings through Click2Match within seven days after the physical exhibitions. The brand-new exhibition model EXHIBITION+ enables global food buyers to conduct business through the physical exhibitions and an online platform at the same time. Traders were able to stay connected more easily, helping them to forge new deals.

Frozen seafood supplier Garmine Marine Products regularly joins the Food Expo to seek out new suppliers. General Manager Cameron KH Choy said: "Through the Click2Match platform, I've established contact with three mainland companies from Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province for the supply of frozen seafood. Click2Match is very user-friendly, enabling smooth and effective exchanges with overseas suppliers. At the fairground, I found two other seafood suppliers from Zhoushan City at the Zhejiang Province pavilion. The hybrid EXHIBITION+ model is very useful in connecting suppliers online and offline for business expansion."

The HKTDC arranged a series of exciting activities for visitors during the four fairs, including the Star Chef Session, Road to Brewers Cup and Sharing, and numerous talks with different topics, including "Health Supplements Essential for COVID Period", "Innovative Hard Coating for Food Appliances", "Probiotics" and "The New Normal for Skin Care". The Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw and Smart Bidding sessions were also held and met with great reception from visitors.

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://bit.ly/3w4deSn
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://bit.ly/3C3720E
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://bit.ly/3dvJXJP
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://bit.ly/3AouJPU
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3PqBXXA

Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkfoodexpo/en
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com/en
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com/en
– August Happy Buy website: https://ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/
– Hygiene measures and health tips: https://bit.ly/3S2wokS

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
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Serena Chow, +852 9709 1318, serena.chow@ogilvy.com
Christy Lee, +852 9090 1314, christy.lee@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, +852 2584 4298, frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, +852 2584 4554, agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

Hong Kong strengthens trade relations with Japan through MoU with Aomori Prefectural Government

HONG KONG, Aug 12, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – As the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt by economies across the globe, Hong Kong looks to strengthen economic relations with its key trade partners. Today, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Aomori Prefectural Government of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual cooperation in promoting economic exchange. The signing occurred during the Food Expo 2022, a flagship event organised by the HKTDC.

HKTDC, represented by Executive Director Margaret Fong (L), and Aomori Prefecture, Japan, represented by Governor Shingo Mimura (R), signed a MoU at the HKTDC Food Expo, Hong Kong’s flagship event organised by the HKTDC.

Japan was Hong Kong's 6th largest trading partner in 2021, with total merchandise trade amounting to about HK$390 billion. In 2021, Hong Kong's domestic export of goods to Japan totalled HK$666 million, while Hong Kong imported about HK$271 billion worth of goods from Japan. Commanding a vast coastline with an abundance of marine life, Aomori Prefecture in Japan's Tohoku region boasts a flourishing aquaculture industry. It is also known for its well-developed forestry and agricultural industries thanks to its rich natural environment.

The HKTDC and Aomori Prefectural Government will engage in a variety of exchange programs, including business meetings, seminars and trade fairs, to extend economic cooperation. The MoU will not only facilitate economic exchange, but also create opportunities for businesses in Hong Kong and Aomori Prefecture. With businesses looking to recover from the pandemic, the MoU enables them to capture these opportunities, tap into new markets and expand operations.

HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong said, "The HKTDC today signs into effect a Memorandum of Understanding on economic collaboration with the Aomori Prefectural Government of Japan. I hope that through carrying out economic exchange programs, including business missions, seminars and trade fairs, we can expand trade and investment, cement our business ties and drive economic growth in Hong Kong and Aomori Prefecture. Strong bilateral economic relationships are critical to the stability of today's global economy, and the HKTDC is pleased to engage with the Aomori Prefecture Government to further economic exchange."

Shingo Mimura, Governor of the Aomori Prefectural Government, added, "While Hong Kong is the main export destination for the world-renowned Aomori apple, its people also enjoy our beautiful landscapes created by the four seasons, our festivals, fresh food and hot springs. Over the years, they have built a close relationship with Aomori. The Aomori Prefecture Government is committed to promoting agriculture, forestry, and aquatic products for export and attracting tourists. We will continue to devote our efforts to strengthening the trade relations between the two places. With HKTDC's platform, we hope to promote our hidden gems and gourmet cuisine to those in Hong Kong who love Japanese food and culture."

The HKTDC Food Expo (11-15 August) is being held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, HKTDC Home Delights Expo and HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), featuring more than 1,000 exhibitors. A regional pavilion for the Aomori Prefecture showcases its local specialities.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Qj2h7t

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
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Serena Chow, +852 9709 1318, serena.chow@ogilvy.com
Christy Lee, +852 9090 1314, christy.lee@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, +852 2584 4298, frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, +852 2584 4554, agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

HKTDC Food Expo and concurrent fairs open today

HONG KONG, Aug 11, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair kicked off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). In addition, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA), together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions, runs concurrently on 11 and 12 August. Guest of honour Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), officiated at this morning's opening ceremony for the concurrent fairs, joined by Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, and Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC.

Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Paul Chan (front row, center) officiated at the opening ceremony, joined by Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman (2nd from R), Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director (2nd from L), and other distinguished guests.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the ICMCM include (front row, from L): Professor Lin Zhi Xiu, Chairman, ICMCM 2022 Organising Committee; Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC; Libby Lee, Under Secretary for Health of the HKSAR Government; Prof Vivian Taam Wong, Vice President, Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association; and Prof Feng Yi Bin, Chairman, ICMCM 2022 Organising Committee

The Food Expo, featuring a wide range of gourmet products and cuisines from around the world, has once again attracted huge crowds.

Welcoming guests to the fairs, Dr Lam said: "Featuring a wide variety of quality products, these concurrent events highlight Hong Kong's reputation as Asia's gourmet paradise and lifestyle hub. The fairs also present an opportunity for over 1,000 local and global exhibitors to tap the tremendous buying power of Hong Kong consumers and buyers. In addition, I would like to thank the HKSAR Government for supporting the exhibitors through the Convention & Exhibition Industry Subsidy and the SME Export Marketing Fund. In challenging times, this support is invaluable to help exhibitors make use of our fairs to expand their buyer and customer base."

Food Expo (11-15 August): A global culinary journey

The 32nd edition of the Food Expo features the Public Hall, Gourmet Zone and Trade Zone to showcase the finest international cuisines. The Public Hall, which stays open throughout the five-day fair, presents a global selection of food items. These include Food Expo debutant Musang King durian snowy mooncake (booth: 1D-A18), the KiKi Moon Custard Mooncake Collection, plus sauces and tea blends from the popular Taiwanese restaurant KiKi Noodle Bar (KiKi Tea) (booth: 1A-A01), vegetarian crab cakes crafted with a proprietary blend of plant-based proteins (booth: 1E-A28), and the city's bestselling hormone-free partridge (booth: 1B-B02). Besides, the Premium Food Zone in the Public Hall features quality foods offered by more than 20 renowned brands, including Maxim's, Tai Pan, Nissin, Sau Tao, Tao Ti, WH Group, BGS and On Kee Dry Seafood.

In addition, three mainland Chinese pavilions participated through local representatives, including the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Chongqing. Among them, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will bring high-quality local products from Hebei, the Commerce Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will display the exquisite local traditional food, Yulin Niuba. The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce will present local snacks and hot pot seasonings.

The highly anticipated Gourmet Zone is open to the public for four consecutive days (11 to 14 August) and features six thematic zones, namely Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, Green Palate, Coffee Avenue and an exciting new addition, Beer Cheers. Each zone features speciality food items, including the Mazinger Z 50th anniversary limited-edition red wine (booth: 3B-F19), Aomori Apple Jewellery Jelly from 76-year-old Japanese confectioner Nikaido Patisserie (booth: 3B-E07), Australian Jarrah honey straws (booth: 3C-B05), mead fermented from exquisite local longan honey using modern wine-making technology (booth: 3C-B06), and ready-to-eat Spanish sliced dried wagyu beef (booth: 3B-D05).

The Trade Zone, running for three days (11-13 August), features more than 100 exhibitors and multiple group pavilions, including several exhibitors from different provinces of Mainland China, such as Zhejiang, Hubei and the Sichuan online pavilion. Featured products include green plum fruit wine from Zhejiang, Wuchang rice from Heilongjiang, Shennong honey from Hubei, and fresh Sichuan pepper oil. The three-day exhibition is open to both industry buyers and public ticket holders.

To celebrate the HKSAR's 25th anniversary, 13 star chefs are invited to perform cooking demonstrations of 25 dishes. They include Executive Chef Ho Wai-sing of The Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant, Chinese Chef de Cuisine Ho Chun-hung of Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Founder of Hung's Delicacies Lai Wai-hung, and Executive Chef Will Leung of 1111 and more.

Other activity highlights at the Food Expo include:

– Culinary masterclasses on "Less Salt and Sugar" recipes to encourage the public to develop healthy eating habits (12 August)
– Interesting tutorials and insights including the "Chinese Rice Wine + Japanese SAKE Contest" (11 August) and "All about Single Malt Whisky" (13 August)
– Sharing on preparation for the World Brewers Cup coffee brewing competition along with coffee brewing tips (12 August)
– A series of seminars covering topics such as "Testing & Certification Services in the Food Industry" (11 August), "Health Supplement Essentials for COVID" (12 August), "Innovative Hard Coating for Food Appliances" (12 August), "EatSmart Restaurant Star+" (11-12 August), "Probiotics" (12 August), and "Blood Vessel Scavenger" (14 August)
– Hosted by media veteran Jacky Chan, Chef's Dialogue features three renowned Hong Kong chefs to share their tips on cooking, eating and ingredient selection (13 August)

Home Delights Expo (11-15 August): Build the ideal smart home

The Home Delights Expo returns for its eighth edition in 2022 and runs for five consecutive days. The Avenue of Delights features nearly 40 exhibitors and several lifestyle brands, including Towngas, ZWILLING JA Henckels, Rasonic, A-Fontane, Tiger, German Pool, and Zhang Xiao Quan. In addition, the expo presents a variety of innovative products, including an air purifier that uses NASA technology (booth: 3F-E20), an acetone breathalyser with an AI nutritionist built into the mobile app (booth: 3G-A16), an ultra-small window cleaning robot with autonomous navigation (booth: 3F-A12), and an EMS and heating soother with eight connectors that can massage two body parts at the same time (booth: 3F-C18).

This year, the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association pavilion is showcasing home design solutions that integrate technology in various living situations to create the ideal home. The Creative Corner introduces several innovative products from more than 50 local start-ups. They include handmade wooden frame glasses (booth: 3G-F05), a European birch grinder (booth: 3G-F02), and an iced tea candle with a look and aroma very similar to the popular drink (booth: 3G-F09).

Beauty & Wellness Expo (11-15 August): Maintain wellness inside and out

The sixth Beauty & Wellness Expo features four major pavilions: Federation of Beauty Industry (H.K.), Hong Kong Hair & Beauty Merchants Association, International Beauty & Health General Union, and The Cosmetics & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong Ltd. In addition, new pavilions have been formed by the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness and the International Beauty Professionals Validation Association.

The expo features a wide range of products for those looking for a healthy lifestyle. They include Disney Trendy Colour Gel, a soak-off gel nail polish by Korean professional brand DGEL (booth: 3E-B17), an organic juicy makeup remover made using a unique formula (Booth: 3E-D02), a detoxification and dampness removal supplement kit using 13 patented ingredients (booth: 3E-E11), shoe insoles designed using biomechanical principles and sports mechanics (booth: 3D-C13), and a portable gym that provides total body strength training (booth: 3D-C01). In addition, diet therapy, health and beauty expert Yoko Tsang will share the new normal for skincare (14 August). On the same day, the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness will host a preview of the 2022 Hong Kong Bodybuilding & Fitness Charity Championship – HKSAR 25 Anniversary Cup.

International Tea Fair (11-13 August): Appreciate the art of tea

The 13th Hong Kong International Tea Fair presents a variety of exceptional products, such as innovative Yunnan Taetea that still retains a traditional and classic style (booth: 3B-A02), special editions of Pu'er raw and ripe tea cakes produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR (booth: 3B-A08), and centennial Pu'er tea and tea of ancient tree made using century-old traditional fermentation techniques (booth: 3B-A11). There are several exciting activities at the fair including the "KamCha Workshop, Taste of Hong Kong – HK Style Milk Tea" (13 August), the Strength – Youth Tea Ceremony (13 August), and an insightful sharing session on nutrition and tea therapy (12 August).

This year's Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the Food Expo's Trade Zone are held in a brand-new exhibition model called EXHIBITION+ that allows global buyers to conduct business through physical exhibitions and an online platform at the same time, further expanding their market access. Exhibitors and buyers who cannot attend the fairs in person can actively browse AI-recommended leads, proactively search for business partners, and send requests for video conference meetings up to seven days in advance of the fairs via Click2Match, the smart business-matching platform.

ICMCM (11-12 August): Expert insights into Chinese medicine and therapies

The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association has joined hands with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions to present the latest International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) on 11 and 12 August. The conference delivers invaluable information and insights on Chinese medicine to industry participants. This year's theme is "Innovative Drug Development and Clinical Research in Chinese Medicine" featuring 17 keynote speakers from the United States, Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Mainland China and Hong Kong. These experts will discuss research results and share successful cases of integrating Chinese and Western medicine. The conference runs in a hybrid format with physical and online sessions to facilitate the exchange of ideas among participants and speakers. Registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong who join the conference can apply for the CME credits.

Supporting consumption voucher payment and fabulous lucky draw

The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme was disbursed just before the fairs. The HKTDC is encouraging participants to use electronic payment systems at this year's fairs, with 90% of the surveyed exhibitors accepting at least one consumption voucher payment method for the convenience of the public. In addition, in partnership with livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE, the newly introduced livestreaming sessions feature key opinion leaders (KOLs) broadcasting live about exciting products and shopping privileges on the LOOPLIVE app during the fairs (11-15 August).

The "Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw" is held daily during the exhibitions with fabulous prizes, including household products, skincare products, gourmet food, health products and fitness classes. Spending HK$200 or more on a single receipt gives visitors one entry into the lucky draw, with a maximum of five entries per receipt.

The HKTDC has also launched the "August Happy Buy" website, keeping the public updated on the latest shopping news and various flash sales at the fairs, including a HK$1 chicken pot, abalone noodle gift boxes and snowy durian mooncakes. Attendees can also download some 200 e-coupons in advance to enjoy special offers at the exhibitions.

Safety arrangements for visitors

Safety is a top priority for the HKTDC and various measures have been implemented to safeguard participants, including requiring everyone in the fairground to wear a mask; not allowing eating, drinking, and sample tasting in the fairground; setting up temperature-screening stations; providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors' booths and the overall venue. All exhibition visitors are required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to scan the venue QR code and present their Vaccine Pass at the fair entrance.

No physical ticket sales is arranged at the fairground. All visitors can pay with their Octopus card at the entrance toll booths to gain entry. To space out the flow of visitors and encourage the public to visit the exhibitions during non-peak hours, the HKTDC has introduced morning and night admission tickets at a special price.

Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkfoodexpo/en
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com/en
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com/en
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3zQihql

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
Ogilvy Public Relations:
Serena Chow, +852 9709 1318, serena.chow@ogilvy.com
Christy Lee +852 9090 1314, christy.lee@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, +852 2584 4298, frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, +852 2584 4554, agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

Society Pass backed Thoughtful Media Group Announces New CEO and Vision to be the Leader in Digital and Social Commerce in SEA

BANGKOK, Aug 10, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA) recently announced the acquisition of Thoughtful Media Group ("Thoughtful Media" or "TMG"), a social commerce-focused, premium digital video MPN headquartered in Thailand with an operating presence in the US, Vietnam, and Philippines. The acquisition of Thoughtful Media marks SoPa's first foray into Thailand and adds to SoPa's growing ecosystem of technology-enabled companies located in the SEA countries of Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Along with this latest acquisition, Bien Kiat Tan has been appointed as the CEO of TMG, along with Jittra Cheng as TMG Thailand Country Director and Quynh Vo as TMG Vietnam General Manager. The three executives will drive Thoughtful Media forward in its next stage of growth.

TMG is a leader in digital and social commerce across Southeast Asia region. Thoughtful Media recorded revenues of US$5.8 million in 2021. Since its founding, Thoughtful Media's data-rich MPN has uploaded over 675,000 videos with over 80 billion video views. The current network of 263 YouTube channels has onboarded over 85 million subscribers with an average monthly viewership of over 600 million views.

Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Thoughtful Media's social commerce-focused business model perfectly complements our future growth strategy for Society Pass as we drive consumer eyeballs and generate revenues for riveting consumer brands throughout SEA. I am proud to appoint Bien Kiat Tan as the CEO of TMG, along with Jittra Cheng as TMG Thailand Country Director and Quynh Vo as TMG Vietnam General Manager, and look forward to their expert leadership in steering our operations to greater heights. As we grow our presence across SEA, we are confident that the SoPa ecosystem will nurture and accelerate the growing portfolio of brands."

Originally founded in 2010, Thoughtful Media today creates and distributes digital advertising campaigns across its MPN in both SEA and the US. With its intimate knowledge of local markets, digital marketing technology tools and social commerce business focus, advertisers leverage Thoughtful Media's wide influencer network throughout SEA to market and sell advertising inventory exclusively with specific placement and effect. As a result, Thoughtful Media's content creator partners earn a larger share of advertising revenues from international consumer brands. And according to Accenture, the social commerce market is poised to grow to US$1.2 trillion by 2025 at a CAGR of 26%.

Bien Kiat Tan, CEO of TMG, shares his enthusiasm saying, "Partnering with Society Pass allows Thoughtful Media to unlock strategic opportunities with influencers and advertisers as well as design cross-marketing synergies for companies in the SoPa ecosystem. Powered by these synergies, we are confident in driving tremendous revenue growth in 2022 and beyond. Focusing on the new influencer market trends, TMG is nurturing its content creators to develop Short Videos and build presence in the Social Commerce space, which is booming in Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia. TMG is creating synergies by leveraging its creators and creative talent to serve the sister platforms in the SOPA ecosystem as well as its Brands and millions of consumer base."

Welcoming the renewed foray, TMG Thailand Country Director, Jittra Cheng said, "Given the immense potential of the Thai market, I look forward to lead TMG to be the leader in digital and social commerce across SEA, backed by SoPa's unique modus operandi, and take my team along in this successful journey. With an amplified focus on content creators, TMG is building additional support including infrastructure like new studios for its influencers and creators to host live streaming, and educating creators on content across multiple platforms. TMG assists its creators in effective monetisation through social commerce and earning commissions while working with brands."

TMG looks at doubling its current team size of 17 to over 30 people in the next couple of years, powered by the growing ubiquity of social media influencers on shaping purchase decisions and driving increasingly greater numbers of brands to shift advertising budgets to this dynamic outlet. Thoughtful Media's digital advertising tools and expertise bolsters Society Points, SoPa's paradigm shifting loyalty platform. SoPa's product offering uniquely positions Thoughtful Media as a leading SEA retail marketing and advertising hub for international and regional consumer brands.

About Society Pass

As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem in Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand and with offices located in Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Angeles and Bangkok, SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating 7 interconnected verticals (loyalty, merchant software, lifestyle, F&B, telecoms, digital media, and travel), which seamlessly connects millions of consumers and thousands of merchants across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

SoPa's business model focuses on analysing user data through its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points. The Society Pass loyalty platform drives customer acquisition and retention for merchants. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 2.1 million registered consumers and over 6,700 registered merchants/brands onto its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in Southeast Asia. SoPa operates #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a Vietnam-based POS, CRM and analytics technology solutions provider for small and medium-sized enterprises, Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam, Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator, Thoughtful Media Group, a Bangkok-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network, and Mangan, the leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/.

Media Contacts:
PRecious Communications
sopa@preciouscomms.com

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

CleverTap Raises US$105M in Series D Funding Round Led by CDPQ

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California & MUMBAI, India & MONTREAL, Canada, Aug 10, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – CleverTap, a leading global B2B SaaS platform for customer engagement and retention today announced it has signed definitive agreements to raise US$105M in a Series D funding round led by CDPQ, a global investment group who committed US$75M, with participation from IIFL AMC's Tech Fund, along with existing investors Tiger Global and Sequoia India. The funds will be used to support CleverTap's global expansion and enhance the development of its world-class solutions and technology.

Founded in Mumbai in 2013 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, CleverTap's customer engagement and retention SaaS platform leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to offer a comprehensive user engagement suite that enables brands to build valuable, long-term relationships with their customers. CleverTap's subscription-based solution has been adopted by a loyal customer base of 1,200 brands in 100 countries representing 10,000 apps across industries including Fintech, eCommerce, Subscription, On Demand, and Streaming media.

In June 2022, CleverTap completed the acquisition of San Francisco-based Leanplum, a leading multi-channel customer engagement platform, further strengthening its footprint in North America and Europe. In the same month, it also unveiled TesseractDB(TM), the world's first purpose-built database designed to dramatically improve user engagement and retention for digital consumer brands.

"Our vision has been to reshape the way businesses engage with their consumers and bring the tech to MarTech. The addition of long-term investors CDPQ and IIFL AMC Tech fund to CleverTap's existing backers, Sequoia India, Accel, Tiger Global, and Recruit Holdings is a great endorsement of the successful business we have built, the innovation we bring to the market and the growth potential CleverTap holds," said Sunil Thomas, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, CleverTap. "The fresh funds will help fuel our plans to further strengthen our presence in key geographies and expand our teams. The last few months have been quite exciting for us with the Leanplum acquisition and unveiling of TesseractDB(TM). And now with the new institutional investors coming on board we have all that we need to grow at a faster rate while consolidating our position as the global leader in the retention space."

"CleverTap has established itself as a partner of choice for its clients by helping them generate significant incremental revenue. Its subscription-based platform offers a single and reliable source of information that allows brands to maximize the lifetime value of their existing customers by engaging them in a highly personalized way" said Martin Laguerre, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity, CDPQ. "As consumer brands are increasingly focused on customer retention and prioritize tools offering tangible return on investment, we believe CleverTap is well positioned to maintain its global growth trajectory and help more businesses enhance their customer experience."

"CleverTap is a fast-growing SaaS company that not only has recurring revenue streams and top tier financial metrics, but also a scalable business model with large addressable markets" added Meng Ann Lim, Managing Director, Direct Private Equity for Asia Pacific, CDPQ. "This investment is in line with our strategy to work with innovative companies that enable rapid digital transformation, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where high smartphone penetration is facilitating the digitalization of the economy at a rapid pace."

"Enterprises are increasingly looking to engage with customers in a real time and in a personalized manner across digital channels. CleverTap's full stack approach to customer engagement allows them to perform user analytics and run personalized customer campaigns on a real-time basis which enables companies to improve user retention and understand user journeys across channels" said Chetan Naik, Fund Manager and Senior Executive Vice-President, Private Equity at IIFL AMC. "CleverTap has built a unique product suite and analytics capabilities that runs over a proprietary database. CleverTap is one of the fastest growing SaaS companies with best-in-class revenue retention rates. We are excited to partner with them in their journey of creating a leading global customer retention platform out of India."

"The latest fundraise reaffirms customer and market belief in CleverTap and our growth potential. This fundraise will help us elevate our growth trajectory and further enable us to innovate better and faster while staying ahead of the curve," said Sidharth Malik, Chief Executive Officer, CleverTap. "The paradigms of user engagement are changing, and as industry leaders we are best positioned to help businesses adapt to this ever-evolving consumer landscape. Our recent acquisitions helped us expand our foothold in North America and Europe, and enhance our leadership in verticals such as on-demand and subscription."

As part of the transaction, CDPQ will join CleverTap's Board of Directors upon closure of this funding round. IIFL AMC's investment is subject to approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the World's No.1 retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. CleverTap drives contextual individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML-powered insights, and automation enabling brands to offer hyper-personalized and delightful experiences to their customers. 1,200 customers in 100 countries and 10,000 apps, including Gojek, ShopX, Canon, Electronic Arts, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John's, and Tesco, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long- term revenue. Backed by leading investors such as Sequoia India, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, IIFL and Recruit Holdings, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, Sofia, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Amsterdam, Jakarta, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About CDPQ

At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2021, CDPQ's net assets totalled CAD 419.8 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.

About IIFL AMC

IIFL Asset Management (IIFL AMC) is a part of IIFL Wealth and Asset Management. IIFL AMC is an alternates-focused asset management and has been playing a pivotal role in the growth of the AIF industry in India. A disciplined and active management approach combined with research-led strategies allows IIFL AMC to tap into India's potential for delivering on its commitments and long-term growth. The AMC's diversified suite of mutual funds, PMS, alternative investment funds, credit funds and venture capital funds span public and private equities as well as fixed income securities and real estate. IIFL AMC's distinctive products bring out the entrepreneurial edge, agility and speed of execution of a boutique asset management business, while providing gold standards of corporate governance of a large corporation with a long-term focus.

For more information
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM, CDPQ
+1 514 847-5493
medias@cdpq.com

IPSHITA BALU
+91 95901 11798
Ipshita.balu@archetype.co

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release or any related damages.

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

Bintai Kinden to Market O&G Equipment in Indonesia

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Aug 10, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad's (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998) sub-subsidiary, Bintai Energy Sdn. Bhd., has entered into a business collaboration agreement with PT Raintech Indo Energi (PTRIE) in which PTRIE has been appointed to market and promote flanges, fittings, pipes and other oil and gas (O&G) equipment on behalf of Bintai Energy in Indonesia.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

Bintai Kinden owns a 51% stake in Bintai Energy through Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd, an M&E engineering services specialist. PTRIE provides integrated solutions with a focus on the upstream, midstream and downstream O&G industry as well as the marine, industrial, aviation, water and waste water, food and beverage and, healthcare industries.

Under the agreement, which is valid for three years, Bintai Energy will collaborate and work together with PTRIE to promote business opportunities and provide the necessary technical and competitive price support on the products to be represented by PTRIE, which will be responsible for the promotion of the products in Indonesia and advise Bintai Energy on market-related information on these products.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, "The collaboration with PTRIE opens up vast opportunities for us as Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy with a GDP of US$1.19 trillion as of 2021 and a population of 270 million. Its O&G industry is an important contributor to the economy and a key growth driver."

"We look forward to working together with PTRIE, whose founders are renowned experts in Indonesia's O&G industry, to seek opportunities that are beneficial to us both as Indonesia has set a target to ramp up crude oil and condensates production to 705,000 barrels a day."

Ms. Verra Christianty, Director of PTRIE said, "We are happy to collaborate with Bintai Energy to introduce these products to Indonesia. We are sure that, with their technical and pricing knowledge, both parties will be able to penetrate a vast market."

Bintai Energy was recently awarded additional sub-contracts to supply high-grade carbon steel/stainless steel piping, valves and piping accessories with a value of approximately RM4.43 million and has to-date clinched approximately RM9.0 million in sub-contracts.

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

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

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries to Improve Food Security for Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PLS Plantations Berhad, a leading agrofood company in Malaysia, to conduct an in-depth study and put forward a proposal for the national food security programme.

YBhg Dato' Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid, Secretary-General of MAFI, MAFI Minister YB Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee, YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Bin Yaakob, PLS Plantations' Group Chairman YBhg Tan Sri Mohammed Nazir Bin Abdul Razak, and PLS Plantations' Group Chief Executive Officer Lee Hun Kheng.[L-R]

The MoU was officiated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Bin Yaakob at the biennial Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism (MAHA) 2022. Also present was the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, Yang Berhormat (YB) Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee, and PLS Plantations' Group Chairman, Yang Berbahagia (YBhg) Tan Sri Mohammed Nazir Bin Abdul Razak. Also in attendance to sign the MoU were YBhg Dato' Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid, Secretary-General of MAFI, and PLS Plantations' Group Chief Executive Officer, Lee Hun Kheng.

YB Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee said, "Malaysia continues to rise on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI)[1] and is ranked 39th, up from the 43rd spot in 2020[2]. We have performed well with an overall score of 70.1 compared to the previous year of 67.9. The increase in Malaysia's score (compared to the previous year) is the highest increase in score among the 113 countries involved.

However, due to multiple issues, compounded by rising population, and labour shortage, Malaysia's food and agriculture imports remains high at around RM55.5 billion[3]. As such, it is crucial for the industry – both public and private – to work closely to further strengthen our food sufficiency throughout the entire supply chain. At the same time, we need to organise ourselves to capitalise on opportunities to generate higher incomes for agriculture frontliners, close the income gap, and improve livelihoods. Securing this future also requires us to attract more youth to participate in the sector and we see public-private partnerships as a key strategy to injecting new programmes, technologies, and platforms that will attract new farmers and participants to the industry. Through these efforts we are confident we can improve our national food security resilience, accessibility, and affordability of quality food, which is in line with our National Food Security Policy (DSMN Action Plan) 2021 – 2025[4]."

YBhg. Tan Sri Mohammed Nazir added, "This MoU is a significant milestone for PLS Plantations. We look forward to supporting MAFI and the industry's efforts to further improve the nation's food sufficiency levels. The research and proposal will serve as a baseline that will guide our efforts in rolling out our food security programme. In addition, our newly launched initiatives, the PLS Agropreneur Programme and PLS Integrated Agrotech Park, will contribute to creating a thriving ecosystem where we can attract the experienced and specialised farmers to scale their farms and produce, as well as bring the best and brightest to participate in the industry."

The PLS Agropreneur Programme is a platform for new and experienced farmers who are interested to participate in the industry or scale their farms. It offers end-to-end support, from training and development, land lease, offtake network support, as well as financial support and incentives. The PLS Intergated Agrotech Park serves as a platform for collaboration with universities, and agrofood to science and technology companies.

He concluded, "Collaboration, specifically knowledge-sharing aided by technology and science have paved the way for the industries to grow and thrive. Likewise, for the agrofood industry, we see these initiatives as a way to elevate the industry, to bring our youth back to the suburbs and villages, and uplift the B40 communities, farmers and indigenous communities."

[1] Source: GFSI by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) based in London, United Kingdom https://tinyurl.com/54zydpck
[2] Source: MAFI – https://www.mafi.gov.my/en_US/gfsi-2021
[3] Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia 2022 https://tinyurl.com/5xbvnv6r
[4] Source: MAFI – https://tinyurl.com/2ccdnp8h

About PLS Plantations Berhad

PLS Plantations was incorporated in Malaysia in 1987 and was listed on the Second Board of Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange in 1994. Currently listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, PLS and its subsidiaries are involved in the management and operation of forest, oil palm and durian plantations, as well as the processing, distribution and sale of durian products.

PLS Plantations received a Silver3 rating from RAM Sustainability in April 2022, setting the baseline for the Company's sustainability journey and framework. PLS Plantations remains guided by environment, social and governance (ESG) values as they progress towards becoming the nation's leading sustainable agrofood company. https://plsplantations.my/

Forward-Looking Statements

The statement included in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statement generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "seek," or "believe." These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations about future event. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to our ability to win additional business. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward- looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future result, level of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not rely upon forward- looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this press release; as such, they should not be unduly relied upon as circumstances change. Except as required by law, we are not obligated, and we undertake no obligation, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that might reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release or those that might reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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