Lab-Grown Diamond Facility in Singapore to Commence Commercial Production

Singapore, Aug 8, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – SGX-listed Metech International Limited ("Metech" or the "Company", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), is pleased to announce that the lab-grown diamond facilities in Singapore of its joint venture company, Asian Eco Technology Pte. Ltd. ("Asian Eco"), can commence commercial production, following the receipt of the fire safety certificate issued by Singapore Civil Defence Force.

A pilot test of the lab-grown diamond facilities has been successfully completed.

As announced previously, Asian Eco entered into a 3-year lease agreement for an industrial property located at Kallang for the production of lab-grown diamonds.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhongxin Minghua (Shanghai) International Trade Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Nolash (Shanghai) Pte Ltd.), is now a registered member of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange with effect from 13 July 2022.

Growing Industrial Applications of Lab-Growth Diamonds

Diamonds are more widely known to be used in jewellery but diamonds are also commonly used for industrial applications in oil & gas, medical equipment, aerospace, among others.

With an impressive combination of chemical, physical and mechanical properties that are ideal for a wide array of industrial applications, there is increasing commercialisation of scientific discoveries for the industrial applications of diamond in the next generation of semiconductors, aerospace, electric vehicles, medical equipment, among others.

To harness such opportunities, Asian Eco has previously entered in various memorandum of understandings and collaboration agreements with strategic partners and prominent institutions in the areas of research and development and commercialisation.

Commenting on the commencement of Asian Eco's commercial production of lab-grown diamonds in Singapore, Ms. Samantha Hua, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Metech, said: "This is a major milestone in our business strategy, accelerating our growth ambitions within the global lab-grown diamond industry that continues to exhibit positive growth prospects with its sustainability features.

Aligned with the macro trends of the global lab-grown diamond market, we aim to progressively scale up our production capabilities in Singapore and harness new opportunities."

About Metech International Limited
(Bloomberg: CENR:SP / Reuters: METE.SI / SGX Stock Code: V3M)

Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Metech International Limited ("Metech") has a multi-pronged business model that aligns with the macro trends in the area of environmental and sustainability.

While proactively evaluating new business opportunities to broaden its business model, Metech continues to build on its capabilities and extend the value propositions of its business units.

Media & Investor Contacts:
This announcement has been prepared by the Company and reviewed by the Company's Sponsor, Novus Corporate Finance Pte. Ltd. (the "Sponsor"), in compliance with Rule 226(2)(b) of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "SGX-ST") Listing Manual Section B: Rules of Catalist.

This announcement has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this announcement.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Pong Chen Yih, Chief Operating Officer, at 7 Temasek
Boulevard, #18-03B Suntec Tower 1, Singapore 038987, telephone (65) 6950 2188.

Issued on behalf of Metech International Limited by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.
Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252
Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

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

HKTDC welcomes measures to ease quarantine restrictions

HONG KONG, Aug 8, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR) Government's relaxation of entry quarantine measures, which will have a positive impact on Hong Kong's economic recovery and strengthen the city's international competitiveness. The HKTDC has been supporting Hong Kong's small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and with the latest easing of quarantine measures, has set five key strategies to help SMEs capture business opportunities.

Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said, "The new HKSAR Government brings new hope to the people of Hong Kong. We welcome the HKSAR Government's announcement to ease quarantine measures which strike a balance between public health and economic recovery. I believe this latest development sends a positive signal to the global community and will help drive Hong Kong's economic momentum and strengthen the city's international competitiveness.

"As President Xi Jinping had said, Hong Kong should ride on its unique advantage as an international connector with the support of the mainland behind it. I am grateful for the support of the Central Government for Hong Kong. By aligning the HKTDC's five key strategies with the mainland's 14th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR Government's policies, we can help our SMEs and start-ups turn crisis into opportunity and create prospects for our young people."

HKTDC's five key strategies for 2022/23 are as follows:

1. Promote sustainable development, innovation & technology and wellness – The HKTDC will organise industry fairs and conferences to promote Hong Kong's achievements and strengths in sustainability, innovation and technology, as well as medical and wellness industries. These elements will be featured across our major international industry events, with matchmaking for projects from the above sectors to promote commercialisation and investment opportunities for global business as well as SMEs. Relevant conferences and exhibitions include the Asia Summit on Global Health (10-11 November, 2022) the Asian Financial Forum, Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), and Eco Expo Asia, among others.

2. Promote emerging industries and create synergy with traditional industries – The HKTDC will promote Hong Kong's strengths in emerging industries, including medicine and healthcare, innovation and technology, creative and cultural industries and environmental industries, while creating synergy with the city's core pillar industries, such as finance, logistics, intellectual property and manufacturing. For example, these platforms can match R&D technology with enterprises or match creative sectors with traditional manufacturers. The newly launched "Exhibition Plus" digital service also enables buyers and sellers worldwide source effectively through seamless online and offline connection and matching, and ample opportunity for interaction before and after trade fairs.

3. Facilitate Hong Kong businesses in exploring markets – The Mainland China market, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) is our key focus. The HKTDC launched the GoGBA one-stop platform in 2021 and the "Support Scheme for Pursuing Development in the Mainland" in April 2022 to help Hong Kong businesses address pain points when entering or operating in Mainland China respectively. For companies tapping into overseas markets, we support them with a focus on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) markets (covering Hong Kong's major trading partners, such as ASEAN, Japan and Korea) and mature markets, such as Australia and New Zealand, with whom Hong Kong has established Free Trade Agreements. Through events, such as the Belt and Road Summit in August and through the HKTDC's network of 50 offices around the world, we actively work with governments, business communities and enterprises to promote and reinforce Hong Kong's position as an international business hub.

4. Strengthen support for SMEs and start-ups in Hong Kong, including making use of government funding – We support SMEs and start-ups by providing information, large-scale online and offline events and promotion platforms, as well as training programmes, such as Start-up Express for start-ups, Transformation Sandbox (T-Box) for SMEs and GoGBA for companies entering the GBA. The HKTDC also works closely with the HKSAR Government to enhance government funding schemes, including the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF), Convention and Exhibitions Subsidy Scheme (C&E), the Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) and the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP).

5. Align with two priorities of the new HKSAR Government: (i) promote Hong Kong as a platform for cultural exchange and (ii) enable development opportunities for youth – (i) The HKTDC will promote Hong Kong as a hub for cultural exchange between Mainland China and the world and create business opportunities for the cultural and creative industries through our exhibitions and promotions. (ii) The HKTDC will also focus on promoting collaboration between business and youth organisations by using our industry platforms. Our Trade Ambassador Programme (TAP) offers Hong Kong young people opportunities for exchange, learning and participation at international events, such as the Belt and Summit (August 2022), which will include a thematic forum focusing on young entrepreneurs to promote entrepreneurship. By creating opportunities, the HKTDC hopes to create opportunities for young people to contribute to Hong Kong and the mainland.

Since the beginning of 2022, the HKTDC has held 13 exhibitions and conferences. The Hong Kong Book Fair in July was a highlight, recording 850,000 visitors. This was followed by two jewellery fairs and the new Simply Shopping Fest, which opened up local retail opportunities for exhibitors. This Thursday (11-15 August) will see the Food Expo and concurrent tea, home and beauty and wellness fairs generating more opportunities. In 2021/2022, the HKTDC organised 37 physical, online and mixed mode events, including trade fairs and conferences and public fairs. More than 8,800 local and overseas exhibitors, 488,000 trade buyers and conference participants and over 1.6 million members of the public joined these events.

About HKTDC

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

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

OctaFX celebrates 11 years in the financial markets

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – OctaFX is celebrating its 11th anniversary! Here's what the broker achieved over the years and the core elements of the brand philosophy that helped it along the way. The global broker OctaFX is bigger than ever before – all thanks to the support of its clients. Below are the main achievements OctaFX has managed to accomplish over the past eleven years.

Those above are the numbers. But what is behind them? OctaFX shares the core elements of its philosophy and how they help the broker make the investment journeys of its clients as smooth as possible.

OctaFX is always online. The broker has already processed 8.8 million requests and dedicated approximately 96,800,000 minutes to resolving issues and answering the questions of its clients honestly and openly.

OctaFX is always looking for ways to improve, and therefore analyses all feedback carefully. Identifying the problems traders face when using its services or functionality they wish the broker had is what guides OctaFX's development. Apart from other significant changes, it managed to decrease the average verification process to around three minutes, with 85% of clients passing it on the first time.

Constant change in the financial world is what keeps OctaFX agile and ready to transform and develop at all times. This approach resulted in releasing its own mobile trading and copytrading apps, adding a variety of popular financial instruments ranging from cryptocurrencies to stock indices, and developing a copytrading platform with unique features for finding and copying professional traders.

Data is what OctaFX is driven by. The broker is constantly conducting research and analysis of itself, learning about the latest financial technologies – all to make sure it provides the clients not only with the best trading conditions, but also with the cutting edge technical solutions.

OctaFX is focused on the goals of its clients, and that is why it tries to eliminate all the obstacles limiting their trading experience and keeping them from realising the full potential of their diverse approaches. To help its clients boost their trading and allow for a more effective use of long-term strategies, the broker decided to remove swaps entirely this May.

To become yet closer to its clients, OctaFX decided to rebrand and adopt a fresh new look: with refined colours, space-inspired elements, and a new logo.

"All our achievements and transformations would be meaningless without our clients. It is our clients who drive our growth and allow us to always move forward. It is our clients who inspire us to be current, dynamic, innovative, confident. We thank all of them for choosing us as their broker," the OctaFX press office commented.

To mark its eleventh anniversary, OctaFX has made its usually below-the-market spreads the lowest in the industry on the MT4 and MT5 platforms. The broker has reduced the spreads by 20% on XAUUSD, EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, GBPJPY, USDCHF, XTIUSD, and US30, as well as by 25% on BTCUSD and ETHUSD.

About OctaFX

OctaFX is a global broker providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers everything one needs to reach their investment goals, providing top-notch conditions utilised already by clients from over 150 countries worldwide. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charity and humanitarian initiatives, including improvement of educational infrastructure, short-notice relief projects, supporting local communities and small to medium enterprises. On a side note, OctaFX has also won more than 45 awards since its foundation, including the 2021 'Best Forex Broker Asia' award from Global Banking & Finance Review and 2021 'Best ECN Broker' award by World Finance. www.octafx.com

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

Twin HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Shows and Simply Shopping Fest Conclude

HONG KONG, Aug 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, the 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show and the inaugural Simply Shopping Fest have all concluded successfully. The three public shows attracted more than 80,000 visitors appreciating and purchasing fine jewellery pieces, in addition to buying gourmet food and wine and household items. The concurrent events featured livestreaming sessions hosted by key opinion leaders (KOLs), offering more opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their products as well as creating a more engaging experience – covering shopping, leisure and entertainment – for the general public. The broadcasts received an enthusiastic response.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 38th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 8th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show concluded successfully yesterday.

The two jewellery shows featured jewellery parades that showcased elegant and stylish pieces.

The smart jewellery bidding session was well received with visitors participating enthusiastically in bidding for their desired pieces.

HKTDC Acting Executive Director Sophia Chong said: "The two jewellery shows were open to the public this year, bringing local retail opportunities for exhibitors. We promoted an online-to-offline (O2O) shopping model through the KOL livestreaming sessions, with engaging sales techniques helping exhibitors to further promote their products. Following the encouraging feedback received, we will continue reinforcing cross-channel marketing to help exhibitors increase brand awareness, reach out to a wider customer base and grow their business."

Jewellery exhibitors acquiring new customers

J Ocean Pearl Jewellery Limited Director Jackie Leung and Marketing Director Lila Wong said their sales at the Jewellery Show were satisfactory, helped by using social media promotions to further extend their reach to new customer segments. "The KOL livestreaming session at our booth was an interesting way to interact with viewers, opening up new business opportunities and attracting more customers," they said.

Yvonne Pong, Director of Wing Hang South Sea Pearl Company Limited, shared that a new customer purchased a golden pearl necklace priced at more than HK$200,000. "Our sales have been encouraging. The shows attract many quality consumers with strong purchasing power," Ms Pong said.

Another exhibitor, Jignesh Donda, Director, Sheetal (Far East) Limited, said: "We showcased a variety of exquisite diamonds at the show, primarily focused on 0.30 to 0.50 carat diamonds, to cater to the preferences of local customers. The new Exhibition Centre MTR station makes it more convenient for exhibitors and visitors to get to the fairground. We've received a number of enquiries from customers and believe we will meet more new customers here."

Talented local jewellery designers gathered at the shows

As one of the highlight events this year, the 23rd Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition continues to provide a platform for local talents to showcase their creative flair and to identify budding designers. The winning pieces were displayed at the twin jewellery shows.

The shows also provided a precious opportunity for young designers to interact with the public, while showcasing their creative talents and jewellery designs.

Fanny Yu, Group Project Director of Loupe, noted: "Loupe is a design incubation space founded by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group to nurture Hong Kong's young talents in jewellery-making and design. This is the first time we have participated in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show. Around 20 young jewellery designers are with us here. Through this opportunity, they have acquired a deeper understanding of local consumers' needs. This will definitely help their career development."

The HKTDC surveyed more than 1,000 exhibitors and visitors during the twin jewellery shows. The results showed that the most popular purchases were diamond jewellery, followed by gemstone jewellery and jade jewellery. Close to 40% of surveyed visitors said they had spent at least HK$1,000 more at the fairs in anticipation of a new round of consumption vouchers by the government. Around 33% of visitors said they had spent more than HK$10,000 at the jewellery shows.

Food and health products top sellers at Simply Shopping Fest

The debut Simply Shopping Fest showed its effectiveness as a channel for exhibitors to sell products to the general public. HKTDC's survey conducted at Simply Shopping Fest reflected that gourmet food and wine were the most purchased types of product, followed by home and living goods and health and beauty items. Survey respondents said that product variety, product price and discount offers were the most attractive aspects of the shopping fair.

Gary Ching, Founder & Watchmaker, Anpassa Watch Company, Hong Kong said: "We are participating in the debut Simply Shopping Fest to let more people know about our local brand "Anpassa" along with our customised and personalised watchmaking service. We estimate that on-site sales will be around HK$100,000. Benefitting from the Government's Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) from different sectors are able to participate in this fair at discounted exhibition fees, bringing a greater variety of products to consumers."

Livestreaming generated more business opportunities for exhibitors

The HKTDC collaborated with livestreaming platforms to present multiple livestreaming sessions at the three events, helmed by KOLs who promoted exhibitors' products and interacted with the audience.

Exhibitor Kenneth Au, Co-founder and Director at Life Is For Excellence Limited, said: "The KOLs explain the features of our healthy foods to customers in an interactive and persuasive way. Customers buy our products via the livestreaming platform and pick them up at the fairground. This O2O shopping model has helped us increase our exposure, enrich our customers' experience and generate more sales turnover." Meanwhile, Jackel Lee, Owner of Nubiotic International (HK) Limited, said orders generated from the livestreaming sessions accounted for 10% of the company's turnover at the fair.

Numerous exciting events were held during the three fairs, including smart bidding sessions where shoppers bid on popular items starting at 10% of the retail price. Other well-received events organised at the jewellery shows include Jewellery Parade Series, Tahitian Pearl Stylish Bracelet Workshop and Handmade Rose Earrings Workshop as well as sharing sessions on "Diamond, Arts and Science" and "Making Unique Jewellery: The Tradition and Future of Craftsmanship".

At the Simply Shopping Fest, events such as the Hong Kong Tasting Trendies Sake Awards 2022, Cooking with Chef Kitty, Oppa's Cuisine – Food and Wine Pairing, Chinese calligraphy appreciation, Chinese medicine and ketogenic diet sharing sessions were popular among visitors.

Food Expo and three concurrent shows coming up in mid-August

Following on the heels of these three exhibitions, the HKTDC will organise a series of public fairs in the summer, including the Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Home Delights Expo (all 11 to 15 August), and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (11 to 13 August). These events will provide the public with a unique one-stop shopping experience, while helping companies expand their local retail market and provide a boost to Hong Kong's economy.

Websites
– Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: https://hkjewelleryshow.hktdc.com
– Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show: https://hkdgp.hktdc.com
– Simply Shopping Fest: https://ssf.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Q6NpbQ

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:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

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

Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund Launches Orange Tennis Community Programme

HONG KONG, Aug 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Nissin Foods Company Limited ("Nissin Foods", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; Stock code: 1475) today announced the launch of the Nissin Foods Orange Tennis Community Programme (Tai Po) by Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund ("Charity Fund") and The Hong Kong Tennis Association ("HKTA"), offering regular weekly trainings for young players to promote healthy living.

Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Charity Fund (middle), Mr. Philip Mok, HKTA President (left) & Ms. ZHANG Ling, Nissin Foods Sports Ambassador join the kids for a group photo after the Kick-off Ceremony.

The programme marks the first initiative funded by the Nissin Foods Charity Fund, in accordance with its vision to promote healthy living via eating and sports. Registered as a charitable institution since September 2021, the Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund was built upon Nissin Food's founder Mr. Momofuku Ando's belief that "Eating and sports are the two axles of health." Its mission is to advance education, to make provision for the people in need, and to carry out charitable works beneficial to the Hong Kong community.

"We are delighted to launch the first initiative to be funded by the Nissin Foods Charity Fund," said Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Charity Fund. "The Orange Tennis Community Programme is a worthy initiative that provides opportunities for disadvantaged young people to participate in sports, in line with the goals of the Charity Fund and our broader company ethos. Nissin Foods is strongly committed to the promotion of sports, physical activities, and a healthy lifestyle for all."

"We are honoured to be the first recipients of the Nissin Foods Charity Fund," remarked Mr. Philip MOK, President of The Hong Kong Tennis Association ("HKTA"). "The Orange Ball Programme offers an invaluable continuous experience in tennis for thousands of young players and we are excited to expand it to Tai Po. Players who are able to experience tennis for a second year after participating in our entry-level 'Tennis Rocks' programme are more likely to further their development and commit to playing tennis in the long-term. We are hugely thankful for Nissin Food's continued partnership to enable our grassroots youth programmes to flourish," MOK added.

To launch the programme, Nissin Foods Sports Ambassador and former Hong Kong No.1 ZHANG Ling attended a ceremony ahead of training commencing in July 2022. ZHANG will act as a mentor for the programme and make regular visits to training sessions to inspire and nurture the participants.

The Nissin Foods Orange Tennis Community Programme in Tai Po extends HKTA's Orange Ball Programme which is designed to provide players aged 7-10 years from disadvantaged backgrounds a second tennis experience to further their development. It is the first initiative of its kind in Tai Po and will offer weekly trainings to young players across 4,300 coaching hours in its first year.

About Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund
The Nissin Foods (Hong Kong) Charity Fund ("Charity Fund") was set up in September 2020 by way of a trust deed by Nissin Foods Company Limited (Stock code: 1475). The Charity Fund obtained the tax exemption status for charitable institutions accorded by section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) in September 2021. The objects of the Charity Fund are: a) to advance education, teaching, learning, arts, science and academic research; b) to make provision for the people in need; and c) to carry out works of a charitable nature beneficial to the Hong Kong community.

About Hong Kong Tennis Association
The HKTA is a non-profit organization formed in 1909 with over 4,000 individual members and recognised by both the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The HKTA's objectives are to promote tennis to all, to nurture talented players to compete at a regional & international level, and to raise the standard of the game in Hong Kong. To meet its objectives, the HKTA organises a number of local and international tennis tournaments, as well as grassroots, junior and elite development programmes, inter-club leagues, coaching certification courses, and a Tennis-For-All open enrollment programme.
Please visit www.tennishk.org for more information.

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

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad Signs MoU for Indonesian 4G Telco Tower Project

KUCHING, MALAYSIA, Aug 3, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Civil engineering specialist Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad (SCIB) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT. Semesta Noor Berkarya (SNB) and PT. Envy Manajemen Konsultansi (EMK) to explore the formation of a partnership in relation to the construction of 4G telecommunications towers for Indonesia's outermost regions.

Rosland bin Othman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCIB

Under the MoU, SCIB will anchor the formation of the partnership as well as providing the corporate management setup. SNB, a state-owned enterprise of the Republic of Indonesia is an engineering, procurement and construction specialist with expertise in handing large-scale domestic projects, will build and install the 4G telecommunications towers, including site survey and acquisition as well as other supporting infrastructure works. EMK, which is involved in business advisory, consultation, project management and other corporate management activities, will provide project management services through operational and technical supervision.

The project, which comes under Indonesia's Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (Bakti), is expected to take three years to complete and involves the construction and installation of 4G telecommunications towers in 3,704 villages. Bakti is an agency under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology tasked to provide the telecommunications network.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SCIB, Encik Rosland bin Othman, said, "We look forward to working with SNB and EMK on the project, which is part of the push to provide internet accessibility to Indonesia's outermost, remote and underdeveloped areas as part of the country's national digital transformation framework."

"SCIB is at a distinct advantage for this project as more than 60% of the proposed sites of the 4G telco towers are located in Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo, which provides optimal opportunities to synergise our business as our three factories are located in Kuching, Sarawak. The project supports our strategy to diversify geographically by seeking opportunities for our engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) business, and we will certainly take this opportunity to also explore roles in the building of Indonesia's multibillion-dollar new capital at Nusantara."

SCIB leverages on its manufacturing business producing building materials as well as Industrialised Building System (IBS) to complement the EPCC business. The Company is the largest precast and IBS manufacturer in East Malaysia with the capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes of building materials annually.

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd: 9237 [BURSA: SCIB], http://scib.com.my

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

HKTDC Food Expo and four concurrent events kick off next week

HONG KONG, Aug 2, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the highly anticipated HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair will run from 11-15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Under the overarching theme "Living a New Style", the four fairs will present close to 1,000 exhibitors, featuring a wide array of global gourmet foods and various new products. 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, will be held at the same venue on 11 and 12 August to deliver professional Chinese medicine insights into the industry.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, introduced key highlights of the five events at a press conference today.

The Food Expo offers a wide range of products for those who enjoy indulging in a variety of international cuisines, including Ethiopia Sidama (natural) coffee beans, ice cream with no added sugar and Thai green curry vegan chicken.

The Home Delights Expo will showcase a wide range of smart home products, kitchen appliances, kitchenware, tableware, furniture and household products.

Introducing details of the five events at a press conference today, Sophia Chong, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, said: "The Food Expo is an eagerly awaited annual event in Hong Kong that has been well received by the public for more than 30 years. This year, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), we have invited 13 star chefs to conduct cooking demonstrations of 25 dishes as one of the key highlights. The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme and the recent opening of the Exhibition Centre MTR station will help attract more people to attend the concurrent events and enjoy a one-stop shopping experience."

Food Expo (11-15 August) – a global culinary journey

The 32nd edition of the Food Expo presents the Public Hall, Gourmet Zone and Trade Zone to showcase the finest international cuisines. The Gourmet Zone will be open to the public for four days (11-14 August) and will feature 90 exhibitors presenting the best of Asian and European cuisines, desserts, organic foods, fine coffee and more. A new theme, Beer Cheers, will enable the public to explore quality beers from a number of local craft breweries.

The Public Hall, with more than 430 exhibitors, is a five-day international culinary extravaganza where the Premium Food zone will feature more than 20 renowned brands, including Maxims, Tai Pan, Nissin, Sau Tao, Tao Ti, WH Group, On Kee Dry Seafood and newcomers, such as BGS. In addition, a number of organisations are setting up group pavilions to promote quality goods directly to consumers, including Hong Kong & Kowloon Provisions, Wine & Spirit Dealers' Association x Nam Pak Hong Association, Beverage and Food Community, Hong Kong People and Brands, Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association, Hong Kong General Chamber of Wine & Spirits and the Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Association. Overseas group pavilions set up through local representatives, including the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality from Mainland China, plus the Aomori Prefecture of Japan, Japan External Trade Organization and Indonesia, will present local specialities and different culinary cultures.

Food and beverage specialities at the Food Expo include cold brew coffee made with single-origin Ethiopia Sidama (natural) coffee beans, ice cream with no added sugar, and LEAVES Sarawak 3-layer milk tea from Malaysia. Given the growing popularity of vegetarian food, the expo has also sourced a wide range of sustainable and healthy vegetarian options, including Thai green curry vegan chicken, plant-based golden nuggets and plant-based crab cakes.

The Trade Zone (11-13 August) will feature more than 100 exhibitors and multiple group pavilions, including a number of provinces from Mainland China, such as Zhejiang, Hubei as well as the Sichuan online pavilion, and more. Featured products include Shaoxing Huadiao wine from Zhejiang, wild camellia oil from Hubei and truffle wine from Sichuan. The three-day exhibition is open to both industry buyers and public ticket holders.

To celebrate the HKSAR's 25th anniversary, 13 star chefs will 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. In collaboration with the Environment and Ecology Bureau's Committee on Reduction of Salt and Sugars in Food, and the Centre for Food Safety, the expo will invite famous chefs to demonstrate "less salt and less sugar" recipes to encourage healthy eating in the city. Other activities being held during the expo include seminars on food technology and the introduction of restaurants from the EatSmart Restaurant Star+ Campaign.

Home Delights Expo (11-15 August) – building the ideal smart home

The eighth Home Delights Expo will showcase a wide range of smart home products, kitchen appliances, kitchenware, tableware, furniture and household products. The Avenue of Delights will feature 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 will present various innovative products, including an ultra-small window cleaning robot (Wi-Fi version), an EMS and heating soother with eight connectors, an intelligent ionic 3D oscillating air circulation fan,a smart healthy pot, and more.

This year, the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association pavilion will showcase home design elements that integrate technology in various living situations to create the ideal smart home. In addition, the Creative Corner will introduce several innovative products from local start-ups, including handmade wooden frame glasses, a European birch grinder, and an iced tea candle.

Beauty & Wellness Expo (11-15 August) – revitalising beauty inside and out

The sixth Beauty & Wellness Expo will showcase a wide range of beauty and fitness products. In addition to the four major pavilions hosted by the Federation of Beauty Industry HK, Hong Kong Hair & Beauty Merchants Association, International Beauty & Health General Union, and The Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong Ltd, there will also be new pavilions formed by the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Limited and International Beauty Professionals Validation Association. The expo will feature a wide range of products for those looking for a healthy lifestyle, including an organic juicy makeup remover, an aroma bubble bath bomb and a total body portable gym. Several exciting events will be held during the expo, including a talk by diet therapy, health and beauty expert Yoko Tsang on the new normal for skincare.

International Tea Fair (11-13 August) – celebrating the art of tea

The 13th Hong Kong International Tea Fair brings a variety of exceptional products, such as Yunnan Taetea and Hong Kong-style milk tea home brew sets. The fair also features the Hubei pavilion, bringing its famous local teas to the city. KamCha will also share his valuable insights into brewing Hong Kong-style milk tea.

This year, both the Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the Trade Zone of the Food Expo will adopt EXHIBITION+, the brand-new hybrid exhibition model, allowing global food and tea buyers to simultaneously conduct business through the physical exhibition and online platform. Exhibitors and buyers who cannot attend the fairs in person can actively browse AI-recommended leads, search partners proactively, and send meeting requests for video conferences through Click2Match, the smart business-matching platform, up to seven days before the fairs.

ICMCM (11-12 August) – experts discuss Chinese medicine based new drug innovations

The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions have joined together to present the latest International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), providing invaluable Chinese medicine information and insights for industry participants. This year's theme is "Innovative Drug Development and Clinical Research in Chinese Medicine", featuring 17 keynote speakers, including experts from the United States, Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Mainland China and Hong Kong, who will discuss research results and share successful cases of integrating Chinese and Western medicines. The conference will run in a hybrid format with physical and online sessions to facilitate exchange of ideas among participants and the speakers.

Support for consumption voucher payment and daily lucky draw

With the second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme to be disbursed before the fairs, the HKTDC has been encouraging exhibitors to use electronic payment systems. A survey of exhibitors at the four fairs conducted by the HKTDC showed that more than 90% of them will accept at least one consumption voucher payment method for the convenience of the public. In addition, the new livestreaming sessions, created in partnership with livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE, will have key opinion leaders (KOLs) broadcast live about highlighted products and shopping privileges on the LOOPLIVE app before and during the fairs.

The "Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw" will be held daily during the exhibition period with 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 launched the "August Happy Buy" website, keeping the public up to date on the latest shopping news and various flash sales, 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 all the special offers at the exhibitions.

Safety arrangements for visitors

Safety is a top priority for the HKTDC, and various measures will be put in place to protect participants against the pandemic, including requiring everyone entering and staying 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 around the venue; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors' booths and the venue itself. All exhibition visitors will be required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to scan the venue QR code and present their Vaccine Pass at the fair entrance.

Physical ticket sales for the August exhibitions will not be available at the fairground to avoid cash usage and minimise contact. Visitors can pay with their Octopus card at the entrance toll booths to gain entry. To spread 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 special prices. Details of the ticketing arrangements can be found below.

HKTDC Food Expo: https://hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com
HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com
The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com
August Happy Buy website: https://ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/
Hygiene measures and health tips: https://bit.ly/3S2wokS
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3OOBM8h

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

Aneka Jaringan and Samaiden Join Forces to Tap Solar PV Potential in Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Aneka Jaringan Holdings Berhad and Samaiden Group Berhad has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement today, which will create new revenue streams for both companies via engineering, procurement, construction & commissioning (EPCC) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and power plants in Indonesia.

Aneka Jaringan's Managing Director, Pang Tse Fui and Samaiden's Group Managing Director Ir. Chow Pui Hee [L-R]

This JV provides Samaiden access to the Indonesian market and allows Aneka Jaringan which already has a presence in Indonesia via its subsidiary, PT Aneka Jaringan Indonesia, to add to its value chain in a fast-growing segment.

Indonesia's renewable energy (RE) sector holds promising potential. As Southeast Asia's largest economy and with an increasing energy demand due to its rapid development, it accounts for 40% of the energy consumption in this region. As committed to the Paris Agreement, Indonesia wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner. It has pledged to reduce its national carbon dioxide emission by 29% within the next decade and committed to scaling up clean power and transitioning away from coal. In line with this, Indonesia targets to have 23% of the national energy source to be RE by 2025 from the current 12%.

The country's Ministry of Investment has highlighted that Indonesia has 97 RE projects in the pipeline worth USD12 billion. With efforts underway by Indonesia to remove entry barriers for renewables, the prospects are attractive for the RE sector, in particular solar PV systems, a clean energy technology that can be deployed rapidly in the sunshine-rich country.

The JV puts both companies in a strategic position to capitalise on the opportunities presented by Indonesia's commitment to RE. In addition to EPCC of solar PV, the JV will provide RE and environmental consulting services, operations and maintenance (O&M) services and built-own-operate-tranfer RE facilities.

A JV company with a proposed authorised capital of IDR10.1 billion (RM3.03 million/USD0.71 million) will be incorporated in Indonesia for this purpose. The incorporation of the new JV company is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2022 in Jakarta.

Aneka Jaringan together with its subsidiary, PT Aneka and Samaiden will hold 45% and 50% stake respectively in the JV company. The remainder shall be subscribed by Aneka Jaringan's business partner based in Indonesia.

Commenting on the JV, Aneka Jaringan's Managing Director, Mr Pang Tse Fui said, "This JV is in line with our growth strategy of expanding our operations in Indonesia and increasing our revenue streams. Our new Jakarta office is nearing completion, ready to welcome a new JV company and this will enable them to hit the ground running to tap into Indonesia's 400,000 megawatt (MW) solar power potential. We are pleased to partner with Samaiden via this JV company which is expected to strengthen Aneka Jaringan's value chain and business resilience while contributing to Indonesia's carbon neutrality goal."

Ir. Chow Pui Hee, the Group Managing Director of Samaiden echoed these sentiments. "Indonesia presents great potential in an area of Samaiden's expertise – RE, in particular solar PV systems. We perceive Aneka Jaringan through its Indonesian subsidiary, as a perfect partner who has the local knowledge, network and experience that can expedite and support our geographical expansion. With over 200 completed projects under our belt, we are committed to provide our best solutions to support Indonesia's net-zero ambition."

Samaiden is an RE award-winning company listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. It has a proven track record in Large Scale Solar (LSS) projects, winning the ASEAN Energy Award 2017.

Aneka Jaringan is also listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities and has over two decades of experience in basement and foundation construction. Its subsidiary, PT Aneka, based in Jakarta, is the first regional office of Aneka Jaringan Group, and has proven steadfast growth since its establishment in 2014.

Aneka Jaringan Holdings Berhad: 226 [BURSA: ANEKA], http://www.anekajaringan.com/
Samaiden Group Berhad: 223 [BURSA: SAMAIDEN], https://samaiden.com.my/

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

Digital Treasures Center Secures MPI Licence to Provide Digital Payment Token and Other Payment Services in Singapore

Singapore, Aug 1, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted Digital Treasures Center (DTC) the Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence. Securing the full licence means DTC has exited from the exemption status and is now a fully regulated provider (MAS licence number: PS20200531) of Digital Payment Token (DPT) and other payment services under the Payment Services Act (PSA).

Ms. Alice Liu, Chief Executive Officer and founder of DTC

“We are excited to obtain the full licence from MAS. With the full licensing, we will continue to build on the good work that the team is currently doing while looking to expand our footprint globally starting from our ASEAN neighbours,” said Ms. Alice Liu, Chief Executive Officer and founder of DTC. “Our base in Singapore provides us with the unique competitive advantage in leverage the country’s strong business infrastructure, strong government support, innovation ecosystem and strong regulatory framework to allow us to expand our company.

Effect 1 August 2022, DTC will be providing the following payment activities under the MPI licence:

Account Issuance Service – open accounts for merchants and consumers to accept and pay e-money and non-card transactions.
Merchant Acquisition Service – enable merchants to leverage DTC services to accept and process payment transactions online and offline.
Domestic Money Transfer Service – provide local money transfer services in Singapore.
Cross-border Money Transfer Service – provide cross-border money transfer services globally.
E-money Issuance Service – issue e-money for merchants and consumers.
Digital Payment Token Service – facilitate transactions with digital payment tokens.

“We are grateful for the support and trust that our clients and community have given us over the years. We are optimistic about the future of cryptocurrency as a use case for payment. Over the past few months, we are seeing an uptick of enquiries and onboarding from merchants and companies from healthcare to music, F&B and automobiles on enabling crypto payments,” Liu said. “As crypto payment gains momentum, we are hopeful to see more merchants from various industries coming onboard to accept crypto as an additional form of payment.”

About Digital Treasures Center

Digital Treasures Center Pte Ltd (“DTC”) is an enterprise payment service provider incorporated in Singapore with PCI-DSS level 1 certification and winner of the prestigious Fintech Partner Award at Singapore Fintech Festival. Our payment solution – DTC Pay, offers clients and merchants the ability to receive and settle payment, including cryptocurrency. DTC Pay is compliant, fast, secure and cost efficient. DTC is dedicated to building the payment infrastructure that would allow merchants and consumers to interact with fiat and cryptocurrency seamlessly.

Find out more at www.dtcpayment.com

For media related queries, please contact:
Mr. Desmond Yong
Email: desmond.yong@dtcpayment.com
Mobile: +65 8889 7802

Bintai Kinden JV Wins Contracts to Supply O&G-Related Equipment

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Jul 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that Bintai Energy Sdn Bhd (Bintai Energy) has been awarded a series of additional sub-contracts by Petro Flanges & Fittings Sdn Bhd (PFF) to supply high-grade carbon steel/stainless steel piping, valves and piping accessories with a value of approximately RM4.43 million to companies in the oil and gas (O&G) industry.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

Bintai Kinden, through wholly-owned subsidiary Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd (KBK), has a 51% interest in Bintai Energy, with the other 49% interest held by PFF. KBK is a M&E engineering services specialist while PFF is a supplier of pipes, flanges, fittings, valves and other O&G-related equipment.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, "These sub-contracts are a welcome addition to the stable of sub-contracts under KBK and we believe that the partnership we have with PFF through Bintai Energy is an effective platform from which both sides can leverage and benefit."

"The dynamic team at Bintai Kinden is continuously evolving and one area we are focusing on is the O&G industry where we are tapping into opportunities from rising activities in the industry. Under these sub-contracts, we are supplying equipment to various established companies with O&G-related businesses and activities. Bintai Energy has been awarded with similar contracts since its establishment in March 2022 and we hope to be able to win more such contracts given our expertise and knowledge."

With the most recent sub-contracts, Bintai Energy has clinched a total of approximately RM9.0 million under the Bintai Energy JV since its formation.

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

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