Sanofi Renews Partnership with Cielo to Strengthen its Talent Acquisition Strategy in Asia

SINGAPORE, Apr 19, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Cielo, the world's leading Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider, has renewed its partnership with Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company, to help them hire the best talent in Asia.

Cielo has been working with Sanofi in Asia since 2018 to provide cutting-edge talent sourcing and recruiting strategies in the region, helping Sanofi transform its approach to talent acquisition. The partnership covers key Asian markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Cambodia. Cielo is also Sanofi's RPO partner in the US and Latin America – a testament to our strategic approach and global offering.

"Life sciences leaders such as Sanofi are rapidly transforming their talent acquisition strategies. We are excited to renew our strategic partnership with Sanofi and continue to help them deliver on their commitment in offering innovative healthcare solutions to patients by providing in-demand talent in Asia," said Seb O'Connell, President of EMEA and APAC, Cielo. "We believe that the right talent is a key enabler for any organisation to unlock its true potential and achieve its business goals, and we are proud to support Sanofi."

Speaking about the partnership, Andrea Paola Poggio, Head of Talent for Sanofi Asia said, "At Sanofi, our employees are key to our success, and we are always looking for talent who are willing to join us to drive our ambition in empowering lives of our patients. As one of the leading providers of RPO for life sciences and being agile and flexible to deliver at a fast speed, Cielo has enabled Sanofi to benefit from scalable talent acquisition solutions, and reduced time-to-hire; key elements to build a diverse & talented workforce with targeted capabilities for a rapidly changing context."

"At Cielo, our teams are driven by an overarching purpose of providing superior experiences and outcomes to our clients and this relentless drive to challenge ourselves to do better fosters a strong sense of trust and mutual respect with our clients. Sanofi's renewed partnership is a validation of this trust and a testament to our Life Sciences domain expertise, commitment and value that we bring to customers," stated Kumar Bhaya, Vice President, Client Solutions APAC, Cielo Talent.

About Cielo

Cielo is the world's leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner and industry innovator delivering RPO, Total Talent Acquisition, Consulting and Executive Search services in 100+ countries. They design comprehensive, people-centric solutions and leverage Cielo TalentCloud – an award-winning technology suite featuring CRM, AI, automation and analytics capabilities – to help clients find, attract and hire the specific talent to move their businesses forward. To learn more, visit cielotalent.com.

About Sanofi

Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. They are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. They prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. They stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe. To learn more, visit www.sanofi.com

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

balabala X Tmall Super Brand Day “Endless Dreams” Super Show during Shanghai Fashion Week

SHANGHAI, Apr 18, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – balabala x Tmall Super Brand Day "Endless Dreams" Super Show scored a super success last week in Shanghai. balabala is the first children's clothing brand to join forces with Tmall Super Brand Day, balabala x Tmall achieving record sales of US$26.9 million during the event (9-12 April), with US$5.7 million on a single day on Tmall. Activities across Balabala's 4,000+ stores on the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong joined those at the official Tmall store and live broadcast platforms.

The highlight of the event was the fashion Super Show presented with Shanghai Fashion Week entitled Endless Dreams, celebrating balabala's vision of inspiring children to explore their innate curiosity and their infinite dreams. A runway show in three chapters, Endless Dreams was presented in the Shanghai Children's Art Theatre on April 9, making perfect use of the circular structure of the building, transforming the four stories and 10,000 sq.m into a childlike dream planet.

Each chapter unveiled a new collection: balabala x China Mars Mission Collection, balabala x Suzhou Museum Collection, and balabala x Jason Wu Collection, in collaboration with the renowned Taiwanese-Canadian designer and his JW line. 60 unique designs inspired by history took the audience across the universe through time and space, experiencing Endless Dreams. Jason Wu recorded a video of the event to express the design concept personally.

The success of Super Brand Day was driven by balabala's strategic omnichannel approach. Influenced by the epidemic, balabala quickly responded by strengthening coordinated development of e-commerce platforms, accelerating O2O omnichannel integration, and building a new retail model with enhanced consumer reach across the region – while maintaining sales and growth momentum.

Through Endless Dreams, balabala set new records for innovation in the kidswear industry in several aspects: The first cross-sector co-branding cooperation with three major IPs in the field of kidswear, the first KIDSWEAR External Show during Shanghai Fashion Week, and the first all-age kidswear brand with Tmall Super Brand Day. The Endless Dreams Super Show attracted over 1.2 billion views on 'Weibo', China's No.1 social media platform.

About balabala

balabala is the No.1 kidswear retailer in Asia, providing quality fashion, shoes and accessories for children aged 0-14. The Zhejiang Semir Garment brand delivers high-quality kidswear to children around the world with over 4,000 stores in mainland China and rapid international expansion through a franchising network in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Indonesia and Nepal, and direct operations in Hong Kong. balabala grows with a new generation of families, enabling children of the world to experience a wonderful childhood. For details please see https://www.balabala.com.hk/pages/franchisee.

Media contact:

Lucy Lu, luxin@semir.com
Zhejiang Semir Garment Co Ltd
Web: https://www.balabala.com.hk/pages/franchisee

SOURCE: Zhejiang Semir Garment Co Ltd

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

Indonesian SOE Minister Erick Thohir Inaugurates PERTAMINA PRIDE

LAMPUNG, Indonesia, Apr 18, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir was at the Port of Semangka Bay, Kota Agung, Tanggamus Regency to inaugurate the PERTAMINA PRIDE, the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) commissioned by Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), the shipping sub-holding of PT Pertamina.

Handover of PERTAMINA PRIDE VLCC model replica to SOE Minister Erick Thohir with PT Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati and Board of Directors of Pertamina and Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) at the inauguration, Semangka Bay, Lampung (4/15).

The ceremony was held onboard, the Minister joined by Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati and Director of Logistics and Infrastructure Mulyono, PIS President Director Erry Widiastono and PIS President Commissioner A. Junaedy Ganieand, and representatives of Pertamina management in Lampung.

Minister Erick said state-owned enterprises must contribute to maintaining Indonesia's energy security, with its natural wealth and natural products, while Pertamina was expected to help transform its units amid rapid ongoing changes, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Pertamina must remember its heyday in the 70s, become a global player and be ready to compete based on good corporate governance," said the Minister.

As a consumer-oriented shipping company, PIS continues to strive to meet energy needs by continuing to produce various breakthroughs. One of these is the PERTAMINA PRIDE. Built at the Japan Marine United (JMU) Shipyard since 2018 and sailing since February 9, 2021, this giant tanker was handed over, able to carry out its duties to distribute energy in Indonesian waters.

The tanker, which has a capacity of 2 million barrels, is a tangible form of PIS's commitment to improving quality and service. The PERTAMINA PRIDE aims to simplify the flow of energy distribution and secure the supply of captive crude to the Pertamina refinery FOB Ras Tanura to Cilacap more efficiently so that it is ready to become the lifeblood of the national energy distribution.

PIS also supports ambitions to become the leading integrated logistics company in Asia, centred on petroleum with new growth industries, integrated logistics and services, and green energy business segments. PIS formed a roadmap strategy of 3 phases, emphasizing the integration of PIS with other Pertamina subsidiaries, becoming an integrated logistics company in Indonesia, and becoming a sustainable and leading energy transportation company in the region.

President Director Nicke said investment in the two new vessels, PERTAMINA PRIDE and the PERTAMINA PRIME (under construction), were in line with shareholder directives to 'go global'. As a shipping company, Nicke continued, PIS was transforming into a globally integrated logistics solution provider as it not only had the ships, but facilities and storage at the port as well. "Thus, the value chain managed by PIS will also get larger," she said.

Energy Needs in Indonesia

There is an upward trend in consumption of the various energy and fuels, with Indonesia's total energy consumption increasing by a 3.5% CAGR from 100.1 million mtoe in 2000 to 185.5 million mtoe in 2018. PIS sees this energy consumption growing each year, from increasing demand for transport fuel to the widespread use of LPG for household needs.

"We see a significant increase in energy consumption in Indonesia, but we are optimistic that we can continue to meet energy needs for the country. The presence of PRIDE in Indonesian waters shows our determination to be a leading shipping company, regionally and internationally. Let's move towards the future together, 'Shipping The Energy Worldwide, Energizing The Nation With Pride, PT PIS Delivering Promises,'" said PIS President Director Erry Widiastono.

About PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS)

PT PIS, a sub-holding company of PT Pertamina (Persero), was established with a vision of becoming the leading shipping company in Asia, and driving economic growth in Indonesia. To realize this vision, PIS is aiming to be an agent of Indonesia's economic development with safe and sustainable operations, to become a trusted and reliable maritime partner, as well as creating value for stakeholders in running their business.

Media contact:

Roberth MV Dumatubun
E: roberth@pertamina.com
Manager, Stakeholder Relations
Pertamina International Shipping (PIS)
https://www.pertamina-pis.com

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

Spritzer Malaysia Celebrates World Earth Day with Rainforest-themed Station at Pavilion KL

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 16, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – In conjunction with World Earth Day, which falls on 22 April 2021, join Spritzer Malaysia ("Spritzer" or the "Company") at its "The Original Rainforest Water" station in front of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Bukit Bintang entrance to get the refreshing taste of Spritzer Natural Mineral Water and Acilis by Spritzer while experiencing an interactive 3D Elite screen showcasing the source of this natural mineral water.

The Spritzer Station featuring the layers of sand, the natural water filtration to underground water

The rainforest-themed station is a collaboration between Spritzer and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur to drive the awareness of World Earth Day and will be there from 12 April to 23 May 2021. Visitors will have photo opportunities from this mini rainforest in the city set-up and can have a taste of original rainforest water through samples of Spritzer Natural Mineral Water and Acilis by Spritzer.

Visitors interacting with the 3D Elite screen towering across the mall's entrance will see the importance of having clean water sources and its effects to the environment. The interactive screen introduces Spritzer's pristine 330-acre site in Taiping, Perak surrounded by a tropical rainforest, where silica-rich natural mineral water is extracted from underground aquifers.

Visitors can recycle their bottles after enjoying samples by Spritzer as the bottles are fully recyclable, including the caps and labels, which are made with 100% polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Spritzer is calling for all to be a part in creating a second life to all PET packaging, which can be reproduced into items including containers, clothing, protective packaging, green energy and many more, within one day with the current recycling technology. Bottles for Acilis by Spritzer range, which is environmentally conscious natural mineral water in the Malaysian market, are first plant-based bottles made in Malaysia made with up to 30% sugar cane waste and is 100% recyclable.

Recycling used bottles will create a second life to the bottle and effectively reducing the percentage of landfill waste. Landfill waste will rot and decompose to produce harmful gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane, which contributes to global warming, along with polluting the surrounding environment.

Come visit "The Original Rainforest Water" station to experience what it is like to be in a tropical rainforest and to learn more about where Spritzer's natural mineral water is sourced from, taste original rainforest water and learn how PET bottles can have a second life.

For more information, please contact:
Hakim Juraimi
Tel: +6012 318-5410
Email: h.jurami@swanconsultancy.biz

About Spritzer Berhad
Spritzer Berhad (MY:7103; SPZ.MY; SPTZ.KL) is the largest bottled water producer in Malaysia. The brand, SPRITZER, is Malaysia's best selling natural mineral water, produced and bottled from a vast environmentally-friendly 220 acre site replete with plentiful natural mineral water resources and lush greenery. Learn more at http://www.spritzer.com.my.

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

Indonesia’s State-owned Companies Go Global, Display Innovation at Hannover Messe Exhibition

JAKARTA, Apr 15, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – As many as 13 Indonesian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) display their latest innovations at the largest industrial technology exhibition, the Hannover Messe 2021, as Indonesia plans to join the top 10 global economies by 2030.

Minister of State-owned Enterprise of Republic of Indonesia Erick Thohir

"This goal can be achieved by accelerating the fourth industrial revolution, and pursuing not only technological transformation, but the digital transformation of industry, especially during this pandemic," Indonesian President Joko Widodo said.

Indonesia was the first Southeast Asian country to become an official partner of the exhibition, which is being held this week, 12 – 16 April, in a digital edition. Participation at Hannover Messe (HM21) is part of the national policy "Making Indonesia 4.0".

"We expect our state-owned enterprises to 'go global' as we stated in our ministry's road map. Not only through acquisition, but by leading the global competition," said Erick Thohir, Minister of State-owned Enterprises (BUMN).

Some state-owned enterprises have adopted and developed recent technologies to compete with, and even lead the competition in digital technology, specifically in the energy industry, and in the automotive, electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, and the health equipment industry. All have their innovation on display at MH21.

Indonesia's premier energy holding company PT Pertamina engages 4.0 industry transformation by transitioning energy consumption from fossil fuels to renewable energies. For energizing its sustainable future, Pertamina is converting its refineries to produce green diesel, green jet fuels and green gasoline, optimizing geothermal capacity, and utilizing green hydrogen. It also works with other state-owned companies to develop Indonesian EV batteries and energy storage systems.

The state-owned enterprise in the electricity sector, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara promotes digital-based products that can acclerate business processes, such as the iCORE Digital Power Plant for electricity generation, Digitally Enabled Distribution Excellence for electricity distribution, PLN Mobile application for customer service and the Charge in application for charging electric vehicles.

A testing, inspection and certification company, PT Surveyor Indonesia is showcasing its drone-powered enhanced solution services for predictive maintenance and remote surveys. Meanwhile, Indonesia's state mint Peruri developed a research institute for authenticity and collaborated with SICPA SA (a Switzerland company) and Giesecke+Devrient (a German company). At the Hannover Messe, Peruri introduces its innovations in digital business solutions with its products Peruri Sign, Peruri Code and Peruri Trust.

PT Pupuk Indonesia, the holding company for state-owned fertilizer producers, has implemented a "Smart Production" system that uses big data and integrates several data including operational data and distributed control systems. The system is expected to increase efficiency of operations and monitors production processes in real-time. The company also implements a 'Smart Distribution' system that integrates data in the warehouse all the way through the ports. Another smart product is the PreciPalm or Precision Agricuture Platform for Palm Oil that provides digital maps on soil condition in oil palm plantation that can give recommendations for fertilization.

Indonesian pharmaceutical holding company PT Bio Farma displays "bio tracking", "bio detect" and an integrated packaging line for vaccine distributions. A thermal sensor and a GPS are installed in vaccine transporting vehicles to monitor temperatures inside the vehicles and their real-time position. Bio Farma hopes to expand to Eastern Europe following HM21. PT Indofarma promotes several premium products and seeks to attract foreign investment in pharmaceutical and herbal products. PT Kimia Farma, another state-owned pharmaceutical company also joins the exhibition, alongside its subsidiary PT Kimia Farma Sungwun Phramacopia.

The largest port operator in Indonesia, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II is showcasing several of its latest innovations, including i-Hub, an application for one-stop port service and e-government solutions National Single Window and Online Single Submission.

In line with transforming into a digital telecommunications company, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia brought several digital solutions, including digital connectivity, digital platform and digital service, all being displayed at HM21.

PT INKA, the first integrated train manufacturer in Southeast Asia, presents 'E-Inobus', an electric bus that was produced in a configurable virtual workstation concept. The nation's shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia introduces a dual fuel (diesel and LNG) barge-mounted plant, a floating power plant that can be operated in shallow waters and remote regions.

Another state-owned company attending Hannover Messe is PT Barata Indonesia, which produces various machinery and components for power plants and trains. The company expects to expand its market and joins the global supply chain for industrial components.

"Leadership and technology transformation will create a momentum that will not only pull us out of this pandemic but will push us to leap further ahead," Thohir said. Indonesia's participation in Hannover Messe 2021 does push state-owned companies in going global, and it opens opportunities in forging business partnerships and investment cooperation with international companies towards building the future of industry 4.0.

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

Daraz announces Seller Promises including faster pay-outs and accelerated business growth for local entrepreneurs

SINGAPORE, Apr 15, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Daraz, the leading e-commerce platform in South Asia announced its commitment to provide additional support to local entrepreneurs and enhance the selling experience on the platform over the coming months.

In a recent online conference, Daraz Group CEO, Bjarke Mikkelsen, announced key initiatives planned for seller growth on Daraz. With the newly launched promises, the market leader will aid the economic growth of the region and accelerate digitalization.

According to Bjarke, "Sellers are the heart of Daraz' ecosystem, and in 2021 our key focus will be to make it easier and faster to sign up, start selling, and growing your business online. Our seller promises for 2021 form the foundation to improve seller experience and allow our sellers to capture the full growth potential in the market."

Key features of the announcement included:
1. Daraz will make the process of signing up easier and faster to allow new Sellers to start selling within 24 hours.
2. Effective immediately, Sellers will be paid twice as fast by reducing the payment cycle from 14 days to 7 days.
3. Daraz will aim to always respond to Seller enquiries on live chat within 30 seconds during business hours to ensure instant support.
4. For Sellers whose products are not selling as expected, Daraz will provide specific support to help identify the business gaps.
5. Lastly, the claims process will be streamlined to make it much easier and faster for Sellers to file claims when needed.

With these initiatives, and continued investments to increase the user base, Daraz expects to more than double the number of sellers generating more than a $1,000 revenue per month before the end of the year.

COVID has accelerated the retail shift to e-commerce, and thousands of sellers have been joining Daraz every month. However, the online retail share in the region is still low, and South Asian markets are expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. On this note, the CEO added, "We hope our seller community is as optimistic as we are about the year to come. Despite the COVID impact on the broader economy, we are convinced that 2021 will be a year of great success for e-commerce. We will be doing our utmost to make it a success for all of our trusted and valued sellers."

Daraz' mission to empower entrepreneurs across the region through its technology, logistics and business infrastructure. The seller promises for the upcoming year are a testament to the brand's commitment towards its sellers and ecosystem. As Jack Ma – founder of Daraz' parent company said, "Our philosophy is that we want to be an ecosystem. Our philosophy is to empower others to sell, empower others to service, making sure the other people are more powerful than us." With this vision, Daraz will enable ease of business and encourage sellers to shift to e-commerce.

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

UREEQA’s Extraordinary Partnership with the Ministry of Education in Cyprus

NICOSIA, Apr 14, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – UREEQA is thrilled to announce a brand-new partnership with the Republic of Cyprus' Ministry of Education, Department of Secondary General Education's music program. This pilot affiliation will grant students from the blockchain-oriented EU nation the opportunity to have their original musical creations protected, managed and monetized on UREEQA's innovative new platform.

The exciting new relationship with the Ministry's Department of Music will enable Cypriot Creators aged 12 to 18 to submit their work for a chance to gain entry into UREEQA's Closed Beta — where artwork of all kinds is verified to be original, minted as a non-fungible token (NFT) with a digital seal of authenticity on the blockchain.

"Our love of creative work binds us together as global citizens like nothing else," UREEQA CEO Harsch Khandelwal said, "and we're incredibly excited to unite with budding artists in Cyprus. We can't wait to see what these young creative minds will bring to our platform, and we're certain that the benefits associated with our system and our Responsible Minting technology will further stimulate an already robust NFT culture in Cyprus. This will truly be a win-win for Cyprus and UREEQA."

Dr. Georgia Neophytou, who oversees the nation's music program(s) as the Inspector of Music Education, echoed Khandelwal's excitement, stating that "The better I understand the principles of it, the more I appreciate the relevance and value this technology could bring to the artists and Creators of Cyprus; even more so, since Cyprus will be the first country in the EU to pilot this. We are a small country, and these kinds of wins are always sought after and critical to us."

The pilot alliance represents a significant step into a new, previously untapped realm for UREEQA's increasingly diverse and extensive portfolio of pledged artists and partners, but there's nothing random about the connection between the two parties.

Through this novel approach, UREEQA is offering access to a new service to Creators from all walks of life, while Cyprus has the opportunity to break new ground in embracing the blockchain and related digital assets — particularly at the grassroots. The University of Nicosia in the nation's capital was the first post-secondary institution in the world to offer a course in blockchain, the first to offer a degree in the same discipline, and the first to write academic certificates to the blockchain.

There's no telling what this arrangement could do for music produced by Cypriot youth whose work may have otherwise been lost in the creative world's enormous abyss, or how many new musicians or musical producers might emerge upon being motivated by a chance to introduce their creations to a dynamic and influential community like UREEQA's.

In the early stages of the Closed Beta, the UREEQA platform has most notably secured pledged assets from Lifehouse bassist and vocalist Bryce Soderberg, drumming legend Kenny Aronoff, as well as welcoming various music industry leaders to our Board of Advisors, including Kevin Leflar of officialCommunity and Janice Scott, a former VP at the music copyright organization SOCAN.

Now, several talented students in Cyprus will be among the ranks at our Closed Beta, and that prospect could inspire hundreds if not thousands of them to further build their musical skills and bolster their portfolios.

"The Republic of Cyprus has a history rich in the arts and culture," Khandelwal added, "and we look forward to helping shine a light on that."

About the Department of Secondary General Education in Cyprus

The Department of Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth in Cyprus is responsible for both Public and Private Secondary Schools in the country. It currently serves more than 60,000 students aged 12 – 18 at more than 150 schools, 10 of which are specialized music schools.

About UREEQA

The UREEQA platform strives to protect Creator's work, their rights and their revenue by harnessing the power of blockchain technology.

Established in Canada in 2020, UREEQA will modernize the inefficient and bureaucratic systems currently in place for copyright, patent, industrial design and trademark protection. By building a robust and compelling Package of Proof for source creative work, UREEQA only mints Validated NFTs to represent creative rights. This helps keep buyers safe by giving them confidence that the work they are purchasing was minted by the smart contract approved by the Creator of the work and is therefore authentic.

UREEQA provides value and opportunities for its Creators, Validators and Tokenholders via URQA, the token at the heart of the UREEQA ecosystem.

For more information on UREEQA and upcoming announcements please visit our website (https://UREEQA.com), join our Telegram channel (https://t.me/UREEQA), and follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/UREEQA_Inc).

Disclaimer:
Statements in this article, including any statements relating to UREEQA's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in technology development and commercialization. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

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

Spritzer Natural Mineral Water Passes Test for Plastics Contaminants

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 14, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Spritzer Malaysia (Spritzer), Malaysia's best-selling natural mineral water, has released the results of an analysis conducted by a reputable independent laboratory, SIRIM Berhad, showing that no microplastics have been detected in Spritzer's silica-rich natural mineral water.

The laboratory had recently conducted tests from a sample taken from a 600ml Spritzer Natural Mineral Water bottle produced on 21 January 2021 and did not detect any synthetic polymers or microplastics, even when examined under 50 times magnification.

This is in contrast to research conducted by the State University of New York – Fredonia (SUNY-Fredonia) titled "Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water" revealing that many international brands of bottled water were contaminated with microplastics, which, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Chemicals Agency, are very small fragments of plastic originating from various industrial and manufacturing processes and products that can contaminate natural ecosystems.

The tests done by SUNY-Fredonia covered 259 individual bottles from 27 different lots across 11 brands, purchased from 19 locations in nine countries around the world. The SUNY-Fredonia report noted that there was an average of 325 particles per litre, with concentration ranging from zero to more than 10,000 particles in a single bottle. From the samples, the report found that 93% were found to contain microplastics.

Most notably, the SUNY-Fredonia tests showed that microplastics were detected in the samples from these brands ranging from 6.5 uM (micrometre) to 100 uM in sizes. However, the recent analysis conducted by the independent laboratory showed that in these ranges and even up to 1uM, no microplastics were detected in Spritzer Natural Mineral Water.

The findings from SIRIM are a powerful affirmation of the stringent quality processes practiced by Spritzer, and a testament to its efforts in ensuring that the pristine 330-acre site in Taiping, Perak located near a tropical rainforest from which the Company draws the sources of its natural mineral water, is kept clean and safe for consumption.

Spritzer, which has won awards for the refreshing taste of its mineral water as well as various certifications for product processing, is committed to protecting the integrity, quality, safety and purity of this natural water source with automated and advanced bottling technology used to ensure that it is free from pollution.

Silica-rich mineral water has also been found to be beneficial to health, as research by UK-based Keele University has found. Those who consume 1- to 1.5 litres of Spritzer Natural Mineral Water can reduce or eliminate aluminium toxins found in their bodies as the silicate acid in the natural mineral water bonds with the toxins that are then passed out as urine.

For more information, please contact:
Hakim Juraimi
Tel: +60 12-318 5410
Email: h.juraimi@swanconsultancy.biz

About Spritzer Berhad
Spritzer Berhad (MY:7103; SPZ.MY; SPTZ.KL) is the largest bottled water producer in Malaysia. The brand, SPRITZER, is Malaysia's best selling natural mineral water, produced and bottled from a vast environmentally-friendly 220 acre site replete with plentiful natural mineral water resources surrounded by lush greenery. Learn more at http://www.spritzer.com.my.

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

The Executive Centre launches the “What Is An Office” campaign

HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The pandemic has led to the greatest debate of all time – do people even need an office and if so, what do they want? Today, The Executive Centre (TEC), the leading premium flexible workspace provider across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, launches the "What Is An Office" campaign, which examines the elements that make up a dynamic, productive workspace.

The campaign consists of a brand video, plus 4 product videos that examines how the workforce views the role of an office and asks the central question, "What Is An Office?" The short films explore how a positive working environment and agile working practices can help business operations, shedding light on the fundamental importance of a multi-purpose office to a company's success.

"The break from office has pushed people to reconsider what they require to create a positive working environment. People are waking up to the fact that an office should be more than four walls around a desk. — It is a space which fosters collaboration, communication and creativity," said Paul Salnikow, TEC Founder and CEO. "While human interaction proves to be crucial for work and life, people are also keen to enjoy variety in work options, the future of work is shifting from purely remote to a hybrid model. Flexibility is key in future workplace strategies because choice has become an invaluable asset; people want to choose to access workstations, meeting rooms and breakout areas when they need it, and corporations are realising that incorporating a flexible element can also positively impact their bottom line."

TEC has found that the need for more flexible lease terms, robust technological infrastructure and internet connectivity for virtual get-togethers, as well as spacious event venues to host socially distanced conferences, and even on-demand passes to support their remote working teams has dramatically increased in the last year.

A whitepaper report will also be released for free public download on the campaign website that looks into the history and future trends of office development, plus TEC's approach to office design strategy.

What is an office? Your work, your space, your choice.

Visit the campaign website here: https://www.whatisanoffice.executivecentre.com

The videos can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ykUYq-XGoOA

About The Executive Centre

The Executive Centre (TEC) opened its doors in Hong Kong in 1994 and today boasts over 150+ Centres in 32 cities and 14 markets.

The Executive Centre caters to ambitious professionals and industry leaders looking for more than just an office space — they are looking for a place for their organisation to thrive. TEC has cultivated an environment designed for success with a global network spanning Greater China, Southeast Asia, North Asia, India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and Australia, with sights to go further and grow faster. Each Executive Centre offers a prestigious address with the advanced infrastructure to pre-empt, meet, and exceed the needs of its Members. Walking with Members through every milestone and achievement, The Executive Centre empowers ambitious professionals and organisations to succeed.

Privately owned and headquartered in Hong Kong, TEC provides first class Private and Shared Workspaces, Business Concierge Services, and Meeting & Conference facilities to suit any business needs.

For more information please visit www.executivecentre.com.

Press Enquiries:

Finsbury Glover Hering
Kitty Lam
Kitty.Lam@fgh.com / +852 3166 9886

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

HKIoD Releases Revised Guide for INEDs

HONG KONG, Apr 7, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Amidst the economic decline for many sectors under the Covid-19 impact, the financial sector is faring with vibrancy. Witness the IPO line-up on HKEX and the financial trading activities. The investing public continues to place stake on listed issuers' performance, which comes with the expectation on corporate governance led by boards of directors. An important board role under public scrutiny is that of the independent non-executive director ("INED"). To provide up-to-date practice guidance, The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") releases a complete revision of one of its flagship publications, Guide for Independent Non-Executive Directors ("the Guide").

Drawing increasing attention from the public and in particular from regulators and stakeholders, the role of INED when performed well adds value to the board. Author of the Guide, Dr Carlye Tsui Wai-ling, CEO of HKIoD, highlights the implication, "Taking up an appointment as an INED carries with it an honour in trust bestowed, a commitment to service and acceptance of expectation in professionalism."

The Guide aims to provide practice notes and advisory tips in concise and user-friendly reading, with highlights on principles for INEDs at work as well as practical aspects of work scope, issues, skills and working relationship with other board members and management. "The INED role calls for serious and diligent service," said Dr Christopher To Wing, Chairman of HKIoD. "While offering practice guidance to INEDs, we encourage the board and management as a team to work together. Hence, the Guide also facilitates teamwork on the board." The Guide is sponsored by the Corporate Governance Development Foundation Fund and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong.

"INEDs may add value, not only to listed and regulated companies but also to all other types of companies," remarked Mr Henry Lai Hin-wing, Immediate Past Chairman of HKIoD and current Chairman of the institute's Corporate Governance Policies Committee. "While listed companies are mandated by Listing Rules to appoint INEDs to the board, non-listed companies may introduce diversity in perspectives on the board by appointing INEDs."

One important emphasis of the Guide is on corporate sustainability through ESG adoption and reporting led by the board, with INEDs serving as catalyst. Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi, Founding Chairman of HKIoD and a renowned INED, advocates ESG implementation and opined, "INEDs should be knowledgeable and proactive in driving ESG adoption and should ensure that ESG goals and achievements are communicated well by the company."

Echoing on the teamwork of the board, Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau, Past Chairman of HKIoD and a recognised practitioner as both executive director and INED, said, "We will see a paradigm shift in INED focus, to both financial and ESG performance, and extension from independence to interdependence and interplay among all board members."

On the significance of the INED role, Dr David Wong Yau-kar, Past Deputy Chairman of HKIoD and a well-respected business leader, highlighted, "INEDs must be seasoned in assessing business landscape and risks, particularly when the company engages in a major transaction or explores a new business line."

Given the enormous obligations and responsibilities, it may not be easy to have suitable candidates coming forward to accept INED appointment. Dr Tsui concluded, "Usually INEDs are mission-minded persons who are appropriately trained and who advocate good corporate governance. It is significant to develop a partnership of mutual respect and trust between the INEDs and other board members as well as management. It takes the whole board and management, working together, to realise the maximum value from INEDs."

HKIoD promotes excellence in director practices through its annual major project of Directors Of The Year Awards, honouring role models among individual director and the collective board. INEDs have been recognised at the Awards for their exemplary performance. Continuing in its 21st anniversary, the awards project this year takes on the theme "Leading in New Normal". Nominations for the awards are open to the public.

The HKIoD Guide for Independent Non-Executive Directors can be downloaded for free and nominations of candidates for Directors Of The Year Awards 2021 are welcomed.

1. Guide for Independent Non-Executive Directors : https://www.hkiod.com/INEDguide.html
2. Directors Of The Year Awards 2021: https://www.hkiod.com/dya-current.html

The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") is Hong Kong's premier body representing directors to foster the long-term success of companies through advocacy and standards-setting in corporate governance and professional development for directors. A non-profit-distributing organisation with membership consisting of directors from listed and non-listed companies, HKIoD is committed to providing directors with educational programmes and information service and establishing an influential voice in representing directors. With international perspectives and a multi-cultural environment, HKIoD conducts business in biliteracy and trilingualism. HKIoD is a member institute of the Global Network of Director Institutes, a worldwide alliance of leading director institutes.

Media Enquiries:
The Hong Kong Institute of Directors
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