Uzpromstroybank launches JCB merchant acquiring operations across the Republic of Uzbekistan

TOKYO & TASHKENT, Jan 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand, and JSCB "Uzbek Industrial and Construction bank" are pleased to announce the start of JCB merchant acquiring operations across the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The introduction of a visa-free regime in 2018 with Japan, as well as the cooperation of Uzpromstroybank with JCB International Co., Ltd. (Japan) will expand the tourism potential of Uzbekistan, increase cashless money circulation and improve the quality of customer service.

In 2019, JSCB "Uzpromstroybank" launched a project to modernize card processing, the goals of which were the issuance of international cards with an electronic PIN code, multicurrency accounts and a credit limit on the card, and provision of service using international contactless card systems including JCB and the expansion of the acquiring network. As for today, the project has been implemented and testing and customization of new card products are underway.

In January 2021, a new processing "WAY4" has been launched in a productive environment, where all JCB cardholders will be able to withdraw cash from ATMs of Uzpromstroybank and pay for purchases in the network of the Bank's partners.

Takashi Suetsugu, the General Director of JCB International (Eurasia) LLC commented: "We are pleased to announce that JSCB "Uzpromstroybank", one of the largest and most reliable banks in the region with a high business reputation, has started to accept JCB Cards across the Republic of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is a popular tourist destination with an ancient history, rich cuisine, hospitable people. Uzbekistan attracts not only Russian tourists, but also tourists from Japan and other Asian countries and regions, where there are traditionally many JCB cardholders. The introduction of a visa-free regime in 2018, as well as our cooperation with JSCB "Uzpromstroybank" will definitely contribute to an increase in the flow of tourists, as well as creation of even more comfortable conditions for paying for purchases and withdrawing cash for JCB cardholders when traveling to the Republic."

Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSCB Uzpromstroybank Tavakkalov Ulugbek commented that the bank's ATM and terminal network serving Humo will simultaneously serve the cards of JCB international payment system. Now there are 150 of such ATMs and 16,000 of such terminals.

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 35 million merchants in the world. JCB Cards are now issued in over 20 countries and territories, with more than 140 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/

About JSCB "Uzpromstroybank"

JSCB "Uzpromstroybank" is the largest bank in the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose history is inextricably linked with the development of the economy, actively contributes to the implementation of structural reforms and liberalization of the economy, consistently implements a set of programs for the development of basic industries and modern infrastructure. Adhering to the strategy of intensive growth, Uzpromstroybank is implementing a set of measures aimed at increasing its authorized capital, issuing shares and actively placing them on the stock market to attract free funds from the population, business entities and potential investors. More information is available at https://sqb.uz/

Contacts

JCB
Kumiko Kida, Ayaka Nakajima
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: jcb-pr@jcb.co.jp

JSCB "Uzbek Industrial and Construction bank"
Bekhzod Bozorov
Information service
Tel: +998 78 1204500 (1311)
Email: press_service@uzpsb.uz

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

Azelis Acquires Majority Shareholding in MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi

SINGAPORE, Jan 6, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Azelis, a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients, has acquired a majority shareholding of MKVN Chemicals Co Ltd (MKVN) and Viet Chemi Trading and Service Co Ltd (Viet Chemi) through their parent company Bellekimia Singapore Pte. Ltd (Bellekimia). Both companies are active in personal care, industrial chemicals, agro and food segments as well as supply chain solutions. Founded in 2000 and with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi have a strong reputation in Vietnam, serving first-class international principals and 700 customers.

The strong market presence and know-how of the local MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi teams will increase Azelis' presence in Vietnam allowing significant portfolio expansion through lateral integration. Being the 15th most populated country in the world, Vietnam's young workforce, increasing purchasing power, and growing access to premium products are expected to benefit MKVN Chemicals' and Viet Chemi' main business activity in personal care.

This transaction is consistent with Azelis' corporate strategy of complementing organic growth with strategic acquisitions.

Mr. Kamal Hezry Kassim, Managing Director of MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi, will continue to manage the business and will report to Azelis Asia Pacific CEO & President, Laurent Nataf.

Mr. Laurent Nataf, CEO & President of Azelis Asia Pacific, explains, "Growth in Asia Pacific has been one of the strategic priorities for Azelis. By strengthening our presence in Vietnam, we will gain better coverage in the entire region which is key for us to attract new mandates with our existing principals. Azelis and our new partners MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi have highly complementary business models which will help us diversify our product portfolio significantly. MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi currently operate best-in-class personal care laboratories in Vietnam. These laboratories will provide important added value to Azelis' existing technical expertise and will bring benefits to the entire region. Last but certainly not least, the Kassim family have an excellent reputation on the market and the entire management team is well known and respected in the country."

Mr. Kamal Hezry Kassim, Managing Director of MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi, adds, "We are very excited about this partnership for several reasons. Firstly, becoming part of such a highly regarded, international player will not only provide continuity and security for our company but also additional expertise, infrastructure and growth opportunities. Secondly, we will benefit greatly from Azelis' sustainability reputation and EcoVadis Gold rating, which are both important criteria for customers and corporate principals alike in South East Asia. Thirdly, there is an excellent fit between our strong technical focus on one side and Azelis' ability to offer innovative solutions to the market on the other. In short, joining forces with Azelis will bring great synergies not only for both companies but also will be beneficial for our principals and customers alike."

Azelis has been active in Vietnam since 2015 and employs some of the best industry professionals in the country. Azelis runs application laboratories for Personal Care, Home Care, CASE, and Textiles in Vietnam.

The acquisition of MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemi illustrates the support provided by EQT since the initial acquisition of Azelis. EQT is confident that the expanded range of services and global reach provided by this acquisition will continue to bring benefits to customers and principals of the combined group.

Contact information
Azelis
Marina Kaptein
Group Communications Director
T: +32 3 613 0125
E: marina.kaptein@azelis.com

LEWIS on behalf of Azelis in APAC
Khalifah Hafiz
Account Coordinator
M +65 9150 3666
E: khalifah.hafiz@teamlewis.com

About Azelis

Azelis is a leading distributor of speciality chemicals and food ingredients present in over 50 countries across the globe with around 2,200 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to about 40,000 customers, creating a turnover of EUR 2.15 billion (2019).

Throughout our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award-winning technical staff help customers develop formulations. We combine a global reach with a local focus to offer a reliable, integrated service to local customers and attractive business opportunities to principals. And we believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners.

Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation.

www.azelis.com

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

SDGs Media Compact Indonesia: Strengthening the Role of Media in Achieving SDGs Goals

JAKARTA, Dec 20, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS together with the National Secretariat of SDGs Indonesia have launched the 'SDGs Media Compact Indonesia'. This Media Compact aims to increase the involvement and role of Indonesian mass media in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (TPB / SDGs).

SDGs Media Compact Indonesia: an initiative inviting Indonesian Media to step up public awareness.. and participation.

Host Meliza Gilbert (top left) discusses with key speakers Amalia Adininggar, Indonesian SDGs Secretariat (top right), and Indonesian SDGs ambassadors Alissa Wahid (bottom left) and Billy Mambrasar (bottom right).

"Based on Intelligence Media Management, of 50 media in Indonesia, only four percent consistently report in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Under these circumstances, where media involvement and public understanding are only developing, we have established the SDGs Media Compact in Indonesia," said Amalia "Winny" Adininggar Widyasanti, Head of the National Secretariat SDGs Indonesia and Advisor to the Minister of National Development Planning. Winny was speaking during "Role of Media in Sustainable Development Goals: Launching SDGs Media Compact Indonesia", a Webinar with Indonesian SDGs Ambassadors Billy Mambrasar and Alissa Wahid.

SDGs, which are mandated in the National Development Plan, has 17 objectives covering various development sectors, development aspects, and various aspects of life. Partnerships between the central government and parliament, to philanthropy, business, academics, experts, community organizations and also the media are very important to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development through SDGs. "The implementation of the TPB/SDGs in Indonesia must be a shared commitment and the media must play a role in harmonizing them because the media are the front mouthpiece to provide information to all parties," said Winny.

The SDGs Media Compact was launched globally by the United Nations in September 2018. Through 2020, 100 media from 160 countries were registered as members, including three media from Indonesia. Apart from encouraging the media to spread the spirit of achieving SDGs in Indonesia, the SDGs Media Compact Indonesia acts as a forum for media activists to collaborate in the SDGs campaign in Indonesia. SDGs Media Compact Indonesia, as the official information channel for SDGs, will distribute monthly information bulletins that can be used as reference by the media in reporting on the achievements and programs of the SDGs.

SDGs Media Compact Indonesia can be accessed through www.media-sdgs.id and will officially launch in 2021. Media institutions in Indonesia are encouraged to increase their editorial commitment and intensity, such that information on SDGs will be understood by the public, and lead to collaborative initiatives and community participation to encourage efforts to achieve the SDGs. "We hope that with a greater role of the media, this will increase public awareness of SDGs and become a means of educating the public on the importance of SDGs to become part of everyday life," said Winny.

Contact Fadlan Muzakki, Tel: +62 813-8005-1990, E-mail: fadlanmuzakki@gmail.com.

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

Taco Bell Indonesia Officially Opens Its First Restaurant in Jakarta

JAKARTA, Dec 19, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Taco Bell officially opened its doors to the public in Indonesia on December 18, 2020. PT Fast Food Indonesia (IDX: FAST) will be utilizing its expertise in developing global retail restaurant brands in the Indonesian market by introducing Taco Bell. PT Fast Food Indonesia is committed to advancing Indonesia's food and beverage industry and contributes to the nation's economic growth by performing a sustainable development in fast food restaurant retail through the Taco Bell establishment in Indonesia.

The first restaurant is located on Jalan Senopati, South Jakarta, a cosmopolitan neighborhood located near the heart of the city's CBD. This restaurant truly captures Taco Bell's 'Live Mas' brand philosophy which translates to 'Live More', as in more fervently and authentically, giving customers a truly unique dining experience accompanied by great food. The restaurant design is modern and features a combination of glass and LED lighting to bring in natural light and give a dynamic indoor experience. What stands out is its colourful, iconic branded tower and a spread-out seating layout across two floors.

The interior features customized artworks and a digital wall. Open daily from 10.00 – 21.00 for Dine In and Take away, the restaurant has a seating capacity of 182, following strict health protocols with only 50% of visitor capacity. The restaurant offers a range of facilities including Wi-Fi, charging stations, prayer room, semi outdoor seating and lounge seating. It features as an open kitchen concept that allows consumers to see their meals being prepared.

This Mexican-inspired QSR from Southern California is ready to serve its specialties to the Indonesian consumer such as the Taco Supreme(TM), Crunchwrap Supreme(TM), Quesadilla, Grilled Stuft Burrito, Naked Chicken Taco(TM) and Loaded Nachos. To maintain the quality of its menu, all Taco Bell products are made with best in class ingredients including the taco shell and tortillas, proteins such as seasoned ground beef, seasoned ground chicken, grilled chicken, crispy chicken. The brand conducted extensive consumer research in Indonesia on what suited the local consumer. "Bell Rice" has been crafted specially for Indonesia, taking into account local flavors made in Taco Bell style. Most importantly, all Taco Bell Indonesia products and ingredients are Halal certified.

Hendra Yuniarto, General Manager Marketing PT Fast Food Indonesia said, "After much anticipation and detailed preparation, we are excited to finally bring this youthful and iconic brand and be the first QSR that serves Mexican-inspired cuisine to the Indonesian market. The new restaurant will integrate Taco Bell's fun spirit and signature food with the local community. The restaurant really elevates Taco Bell's unique and bold character which we hope will foster great dining experiences for our consumers."

"We believe that there is a growing opportunity for Taco Bell. We also look forward to introducing this fun and dynamic brand to other parts of the country in the future. We will continue to review the demand and improve what Taco Bell offers to the Indonesian market," Hendra continued.

Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic still not over, Taco Bell is committed to maintaining its global standard health and hygiene procedures which includes maintaining safe social distancing protocols by featuring a separate pick-up window for take away order, spread-out seating layout, frequent sanitization of all contact surfaces in restaurant, temperature checks for customers and providing hand sanitizers. To find further information about the brand, consumers can visit Taco Bell Indonesia's website www.tacobell.co.id or follow social media accounts Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @Tacobellid.

About Taco Bell International

Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), is the world's leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant (QSR) brand. Taco Bell serves made-to-order and customizable tacos and burritos and other specialties with bold flavors, quality ingredients, breakthrough value, and best-in-class customer service to over 40 million customers weekly across the globe. There are currently more than 600 Taco Bell restaurants across 30 countries outside of the United States.

About PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk

PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk (IDX: FAST), established in 1978, holds the retail business license of KFC Indonesia, building the first KFC in 1979 in Jakarta. For over 41 years being in fast food chain industry Indonesia, currently KFC owns 750 stores throughout Indonesia with more than 16.000 employees.

As the restaurant with slogan 'Jagonya Ayam', KFC always uses high-quality chicken meat from the qualified chicken processing place, so the produced chicken meat is guaranteed, hygienic and healthy. All of the ingredients and products served by KFC, not only chicken meat, have been certified Halal from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and production process from KFC suppliers is monitored by KFC Quality Assurance team.

In 2020, PT Fast Food Indonesia expands its business coverage by introducing a Californian-based brand Taco Bell to the Indonesian market. Utilizing its expertise in developing global fast-food restaurant chains, PT Fast Food Indonesia will open the first Taco Bell restaurant in Jakarta. https://kfcku.com/news.

For further information:
Ika Diah Rhanny
PT Fast Food Indonesia
E: ikah.diah@ffi.co.id

Yasmin, Eureka! PR
E: yasmin@eureka-id.net

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

The Collective for Equality Launched; Aims to Enlist C-Suite commitment for better Workplace Gender Balance in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Dec 17, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-headquartered WomenIconsNetwork.com (WIN), has announced the launch of an initiative – The Collective for Equality (Singapore) – to promote and support the actions of organizations, programs and people working towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 that deals with achieving Gender Equality and empowering all women and girls.

A not-for-profit country-specific initiative, The Collective will be guided on a pro bono basis by a Council of Leaders and will urge CEOs in Singapore to not only commit time, effort and resources for ensuring gender-balanced workplaces but also share their goals, experiences and challenges, thus inspiring equality in all walks of life. The aim is to 1) Expand C-Suite support for Gender Equality; 2) Deepen organization commitment for Gender Equity; 3) Broaden the pool of aspiring women leaders.

Grace Park, Manisha Seewal and Dr Vinika Rao join as the Council of Leaders to advise on The Collective' efforts in Singapore. The Council will be expanded with other like-minded leaders.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Grace Park, Co-Founder & President, DocDoc said, "Though the SDG 5 Goals are common for the world, every country has to work within the boundaries of economic, social, and cultural realities. Thus, it is important that leaders in Singapore come together to discover innovative yet effective ways to overcome the challenges of gender inequities."

?Every organization irrespective of their size, sector or domicile will have to play its part to ensure that Singapore is truly a gender-balanced place of work. However, we have to recognize and assist organizations that need a nudge and a push to discover the long-term benefits of pursuing a gender-balanced strategy," said Manisha Seewal, Group CMO, Carro and CEO, Jualo.com.

Dr Vinika Rao, Executive Director, INSEAD Emerging Markets Institute & Gender Initiative and Asia Director, Hoffman Global Institute for Business & Society, said, "Some of the reputed corporates in Singapore have covered considerable ground in the journey towards gender equality. Their experience should both inspire others to follow suit and provide learnings on best practices for developing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This is especially relevant today, to ensure that Covid19 does not disrupt decades of hard-earned progress towards developing a gender-balanced workplace and society in Singapore."

Building awareness about an organization's intent for promoting gender-equal place of work is a key benefit of joining The Collective. By sharing news, views, and developments about the gender equality initiatives, an organization can not only attract and retain talent but also distinguish themselves clearly from others in the minds of half the world.

Vishwesh Iyer, Co-Founder & Director, Women Icons Network, said, "The problems of addressing Gender Inequities have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. It is important for leaders to recognize that working towards a gender-balanced workplace is one of the biggest challenges facing us today at the intersection of social and economic inequities.

The initiative, led by the Women Icons Network, aims to internalize the issue of Gender Equity into the collective consciousness as envisaged by the Singapore government. It will also add to the "Conversations on Women Development" that the government has recently rolled out. Following the Singapore launch, The Collective will also be launched in Malaysia and India soon.

About Women Icons Network

Women Icons Network (WIN) is an engagement and data aggregation platform that captures the value of gender-equal places of work across South and South East Asia. Integrating workplace feedback and published data on companies to create a Diversity Metric that differentiates places of work around gender equality, the platform will amplify the efforts of all stakeholders operating in the area of diversity and inclusion.

WIN, headquartered in Singapore, is promoted by two experienced professionals and supported by hundreds of women leaders across South and South East Asia.

For Media Enquiries
Vishwesh@WomenIconsNetwork.com
+65-9101 8487

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

SMEStreet Foundation Unleashed Prestigious SMEStreet GameChangers 2020 List

New Delhi, India, Dec 15, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – SMEStreet Foundation is proud to announce the season one of SMEStreet GameChangers Award Listing Series. COVID-19 has emerged as a global challenge, the SMEStreet GameChangers Award Listing initiative is conceptualized to recognize agile and concerned thought leaders who, through their strategies, initiatives and activities, have contributed in restricting pandemic's impact or helped MSMEs in getting back to business growthpath.

The first list of recipients of SMEStreet GameChangers 2020 includes Hon'ble Union Cabinet Minister, Road & Transport and MSME Ministry, Govt of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Cabinet Minister-Industries & MSME, Uttar Pradesh Govt, Shri Siddharth Nath Singh, Shri Vinai K Saxena, Chairman of KVIC, Shri Arun Kumar Jha, Director General, National Productivity Council, Shri Abhishek Singh, CEO MyGov, Shri Nikhil Arora, Managing Director & Vice President, GoDaddy India, Shri Tejas Goenka, Managing Director, Tally Solutions, Dr. Hari Eppanapally, Chairman, Lead India Foundation, NJ, USA, Shri Ajay Thakur, Head BSE -SME, BSE India and Shri Khalid Wani, Director of Western Digital India.

"The COVID Pandemic has led to greater global cooperation and collaboration especially in the field of medical supplies and vaccine research. In the fight against COVID, MSMEs hold a key role in restoring economic growth and well being of people. MSMEs have been on the front end of an economic recovery plan by all countries, and hence all efforts are aimed to help MSMEs to come back to normal. Policy initiatives like Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, with a strong focus on restoring liquidity, creating jobs, creating markets for products, and creating a facilitating manufacturing ecosystem all have MSMEs at their focal point. I want to congratulate SMEStreet Foundation for taking this initiative to multiply the goodwill impact of leaders who contributed in the fight against the COVID Pandemic," commented Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble, Cabinet Minister, MSME Ministry, Govt of India.

Commenting on the recognition and this activity, Shri Siddharth Nath Singh, Cabinet Minister of UP Government for MSMEs commented, "Since the pandemic started, we started our assessments and impacts of this on the economy of the state. Uttar Pradesh has powerful potential from the perspective of small businesses, local artisans and much more. On the other hand, we have also witnessed major reverse migration from other parts of the country. We have worked in ensuring job opportunities for local migrant workers who opted to come back from various places in the country during the lockdown period. We are thankful to the UP Government's leadership through CM Shri Yogi Adityanath ji in taking all possible measures to enable a support ecosystem for MSMEs and local workforce. I would also like to thank SMEStreet Foundation for taking this initiative to highlight such success stories from across backgrounds."

"With Pandemic impact, everything suddenly started getting considered for a restart and business activities. This effect has caused a major halt of financial flow among small entrepreneurs and the local artisans. At KVIC we aimed to break this halt and through our various efforts, we aimed to bring back economic revival for such entrepreneurs and artisans. I wish to thank SMEStreet's team for taking up this venture of GameChangers as this will spread the right message of a strong come-back spirit among Indian job creators," added Shri Vinai K Saxena, Chairman of KVIC.

Working regioursly on ensuring a strong communication flow around COVID-19, Mr. Abhishek Singh, CEO of MyGov, MeitY, Govt of India congratulated SMEStreet by adding: "Technology has been playing a critical role in ensuring continuation of normalcy and MSMEs are key to reviving our growth story post covid-19. During the Pandemic, ensuring availability of authentic information and fighting fake news and busting myths have been the focus of the communications on COVID19 by MyGov. In this endeavor, the role of MSMEs has been very important and many of them have emerged as true champions of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. SMEStreet Game Changers recognition by SMEStreet Foundation is a welcome step for our collective work towards ensuring a robust communication stream around COVID awareness."

"At SMEStreet Foundation, it is our great pleasure to recognize important game-changers who led our society to come out of this crisis of pandemic, which impacted the economy and the entire economic cycle. Industry leaders, policymakers have made a lot of efforts during the last nine months and ensured a support mechanism for their respective business ecosystem," says Mr. Faiz Askari, Secretary-General and Editor of SMEStreet Foundation & SMEStreet.in. Congratulating all the distinguished listed GameChangers, he mentioned, "I am thankful to all the listed professionals, policymakers and bureaucrats who made their efforts to support their respective business ecosystem in the times when it is needed most."

SMEStreet.in will publish detailed success stories of listed title recipients of SMEStreet GameChanger 2020. However, the campaign of SMEStreet GameChangers is still on. We are open for more success stories from the corporate world and recommendations on policymakers who bought a positive change in their respective ecosystem of MSMEs in response to COVID 19 Pandemic. You can click here to nominate your recommendation for SMEStreet GameChnagers 2020 Season 1.

Shri S Ravi Founder and Managing Partner of Ravi Ranjan & Co and Ex-Chairman of BSE India commented, "Whatever we witnesses was a lifetime-first experience, and we never wished to see such conditions again. We realized the importance of motivating such motivated leaders as Game Changers who paved this phase with their dedication and professional acumen in emerging as a winner for their organization and society."

Shri Arun Kumar Jha, Director General of National Productivity Council also expressed his views by saying, "Well we are committed to working towards ensuring the best level ecosystem for professional productivity. Initiatives like SMEStreet GameChangers will create a strong impact on those who are working hard in ensuring the best for their ecosystem, which got impacted during the pandemic. It is like motivating the motivators, which is a noble cause."

Representing world's leading digital company which is committed towards taking businesses online, Mr. Nikhil Arora, MD & VP of GoDaddy India congratulated other recipients of this listing and commented, "Today, as the world is experiencing the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, we at GoDaddy stand committed to support India's dynamic MSME ecosystem. Digital technology has emerged as a key survival mechanism for businesses and we aim to continue providing MSMEs with all the help and tools they need to successfully run their ventures online. In line with the government's vision to promote local businesses in the country, we have introduced a slew of initiatives throughout the year, like the GoDaddy Academy, product and pricing incentives and even some philanthropic efforts, to help them get back at pace with their business goals. Motivation can often be in short supply, especially during a global pandemic, and we are extremely honoured and humbled to be receiving this award. We also commend the SMEStreet Foundation for their effort in recognizing all the incredible work being done in these challenging times."

Congratulating the team of SMEStreet Foundation, Mr. Ajay Thakur, Head of BSE-SME, BSE India stated, "Pandemic has created huge challenge for business operations specially for the MSME entrepreneurs, but as we move ahead, we found that MSME Entrepreneurs require more proactive efforts which can help them to avail the stock market listing. Hence we made necessary steps to ease out the pressure of getting into stock market listing during the pandemic days. We are delighted to be part of the SMEStreet GameChangers listing by SMEStreet Foundation."

Acknowledging SMEStreet GameChangers as a needed initiative, Mr. Khalid Wani, Director- Sales for Western Digital have shared his perspective on Indian SMEs and their potential for bringing back the economy into the growth path, he said, "SMEs play a pivotal role towards shaping the economic progress of a nation and I would like to congratulate SMEStreet for their role towards creation of a robust platform that helps to create a strong engagement and collaborations across various segments and become a catalyst for growth for SMEs."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how fragile, yet how resilient we are as a society, and within that we have seen the tremendous spirit of the entrepreneurs in India and across the world to push through to serve and survive. We are blessed to play whatever small part we can to help them in their journey and are thankful to SMEStreet for the role they have played and for this recognition," says Mr. Tejas Goenka, Managing Director, Tally Solutions while getting listed into SMEStreet GameChangers 2020.

Dr. Hari Eppanapally, Chairman, Lead India Foundation, NJ, USA stated, "I would like to thank the team of SMEStreet for taking this initiative. Recognizing those who have committed their lives in the last few months in doing everything possible to restrict COVID impact, is a noble work in itself."

SMEStreet GameChangers is an attempt to recognize such individual success stories which have made a significant impact in their respective horizons of business. Success stories of successful COVID Warriors while doing something innovative, something constructive in sustaining business will get showcased here. We can refer to these heroes as COVID warriors of supporting business.

"Only few companies in the pandemic days were able to record miraculous turnarounds by adapting technology, efficient management and quick turnaround time for implementing realtime solutions to problems that dragged many down. At SMEStreet Foundation, we feel obliged and proud to be honouring such GameChangers via this recognition," commented Mr. Deepu Madhavan, Director Operations and Research at SMEStreet Foundation.

While thanking the distinguished stakeholders of SMEStreet GameChangers initiative, Faiz Askari also said, "We are convinced that to come out from the Pandemic impact MSMEs require a long-term strong movement. I am obliged and thankful to all the distinguished leaders and thinkers who are mentioned above. Their participation has made the start of this campaign very positive and gradually, the Indian economy will bounce back and MSMEs will become the heroes of this success story."

However, SMEStreet GameChangers will be a nationwide as well as global movement aimed to highlight those leaders, thinkers and heroes who acted smartly and proactively to curb the economic impact of Pandemic and helped MSME ecosystem at any respective level.

About SMEStreet Foundation
Click here: https://smestreet.in/smestreet-foundation

For More:
Tabinda Hilal
9354645130 /foundation@smestreet.in / smestreet.in@gmail.com

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

Founder Institute (FI) announces Pacer Ventures as Investor in Residence for its African Accelerators

PALO ALTO & LAGOS, Dec 14, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Founder Institute (FI), the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, today announces Pacer Ventures as 'Investor in Residence' for the Founder Institute's African Accelerator program. As part of the program, all startups that graduate the Founder Institute in Africa will be reviewed by Pacer Ventures for potential investment in their seed or pre-seed round of funding.

This development follows the announcement of Founder Institute as a strategic partner of Pacer Ventures for African early-stage start-ups that are solving some of the most critical problems on the continent. Pacer VC's purpose is aligned with FI's mission to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful, technology-enabled companies worldwide.

"FI is quickly becoming the gold standard for pre-seed acceleration in Africa," says Ryan Micheletti, Head of Global Operations for the Founder Institute. "We are excited to strengthen our leadership position by partnering with Pacer Ventures to foster investment in FI Alumni all across the Continent."

FI has an Alumni strength of 100+ companies tackling various challenges across the continent and this is bound to grow with FI's expanded footprint in Africa and Pacer's move to increase access to early-stage funding.

Managing Partner of Pacer Ventures, Gbemi Akande, sees value in formalizing the partnership with the Silicon Valley based program. "Our partnership is in line with what Pacer VC was set up to accomplish. By partnering with Founder Institute, we at Pacer VC will accelerate our mission of supporting early stage companies. It is a win-win and we look forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration with FI."

Pacer Ventures was one of a handful of new funds selected to pitch to a global gathering of limited partners from around the world at the VC Lab Venture Forum, which has also led to increased interest from LPs around the world.

Geoffrey Weli-Wosu, General Partner at Pacer Ventures, said, "Founder Institute stands out as one of the top pre-seed accelerators across the African continent. Pacer Ventures is committed to supporting startups coming out of the program who can support the transformation of the continent."

Pacer Ventures will continue to leverage its strategic partnership with Founder Institute chapters throughout Africa to identify and recommend winning teams with scalable solutions that meet market needs. Similarly, Pacer Ventures has partnered with techbuild.africa to provide marketing and promotional support for FI portfolio companies across Africa.

General Partner at Pacer Ventures and FI Regional Director, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata stated, "Africa faces many challenges, but within every challenge lies opportunity and young people are leveraging technology to solve these problems across the Continent. It is our duty to inspire and fund the entrepreneurs who are building valuable solutions to our most pressing problems. Africa is the future, and investors and LPs are now becoming aware of this."

About Founder Institute

Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, we have helped over 4,500 entrepreneurs get the focus and support needed to build a business that matters. Based in Silicon Valley with chapters across 90 countries, Founder Institute's mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide. To learn more, please visit http://fi.co.

About Pacer Ventures

Pacer Ventures has a strategic relationship with Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, to provide investment thesis support, structure, templates, tools, deal flow, potential seed, and mentorship support across all segments of the funding operation for African startups.

Pacer email: info@pacer.vc
Official website: https://pacer.vc/
Pacer blog: https://pacer.vc/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pacerventures
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/pacerventures/

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

Verofax Asia and AURI to launch Sustainable Traceability App powered by AntChain

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Verofax Asia and AURI, a lifestyle brand with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, announced an MOU to jointly launch an Asset Digitization and Traceability App for sustainable product passporting, to be adopted by suppliers of fashion and lifestyle products in the industry from Q1 2021.

Verofax and AURI are launching an Asset Digitization and Traceability App for Fashion and Lifestyle.

Young ASEAN shoppers' preferences are shifting towards brands that adopt values such as sustainability, environmentally friendly and community engagement. Recent surveys show that over 70% of consumers are willing to pay a significant premium for brands that adhere to such standards[1]. AURI and Verofax share these core values and have teamed up to provide consumers with a seamless application to validate brand claims and increase direct engagement.

Through its webstore (weareauri.com), the AURI community is offered a wide selection of ethically sourced products aligned with the brand's sustainable business practices. AURI also empowers the community to become brand ambassadors, offering them attractive rewards programs in the pipeline. Participating brands and suppliers will stand to benefit from greater trust and confidence when selling on AURI's lifestyle online store and be able to validate claims using the Verofax App, powered by AntChain Traceability as a Service (TaaS).

Verofax App will enable all suppliers selling on AURI to serialize each item, upload supporting sustainability and environmental certificates and enable consumers to validate their claims recorded onto Antchain's immutable blockchain ledger. In addition, Verofax App will allow apparel, garment and lifestyle product suppliers to indulge users with relevant content and empower them to validate claims on ethical sourcing, environmental impact and community support programs.

Suppliers validated on Verofax App can then access global markets and meet compliance regulations such as 'PRC eCommerce Law' and other consumer protection laws.

Capt. Koh Chen Tien, Executive Chairman of Verofax Asia, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with AURI in launching the first lifestyle-focused Traceability platform in ASEAN. Traceability plays a key role in meeting changing shopper needs, advanced product marketing and access to global markets[2]. Fashion and lifestyle brand owners are set to benefit from increase in sales and reduction in negative reviews/returns. Verofax offers enterprises complete privacy and control over sharing their data, automation of operations and reducing operational cost."

Kristy Yong, Executive Director of AURI commented, "We have recently launched AURI, a size inclusive people-powered community with a mission to provide accessible life-enriching experiences for all things from fashion to wellness. The recent pandemic has clearly demonstrated that we are all responsible for each other and the community. As such, we are working towards connecting the industry to deliver stronger impact."

Wassim Merheby, CEO Verofax Limited, added, "Trust in sustainable brands, is top of mind for young shoppers and will transform the way brands succeed. Sustainable asset tracing will accelerate ASEAN suppliers growth and create opportunities through access to global markets[3]."

Please visit AURI at https://www.weareauri.com, or contact hi@weareauri.com for more details.

For technical matters, visit Verofax at https://www.verofax.com, or contact info@verofax.com.

Verofax is an AntChain Alliance Partner: https://antchain.net.

About AURI
AURI [aw-ree] is a community-powered brand with a mission to provide life-enriching experiences from all things clothing to well-being. Beyond just fashion, AURI provides an eclectic yet relevant array of lifestyle products through its omnichannel retail distribution network.

About Verofax
Verofax is a blockchain-enabled traceability and Asset Digitization service provider with presence in Asia, Middle East and Europe. www.linkedin.com/company/verofax1/

[1] IBV research, changing consumer preferences, 2020
[2] Lux research, 2020
[3] PWC report, Time for Trust, Oct 2020

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

HKTDC Export Index 4Q20: Hong Kong exports expected to grow 5% in 2021

HONG KONG, Dec 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Export Index, published by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), increased further in the fourth quarter of 2020. The index has now risen for three consecutive quarters – rebounding from a record low of 16.0 to 36.2 – revealing a gradual improvement in the sentiment among local exporters. About 60% of those surveyed for the index anticipate sales will increase or remain unchanged in the coming year. Taking all these factors into consideration, the HKTDC forecasts Hong Kong's exports in 2021 will grow 5% by value year-on-year.

Announcing the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Export Index for the fourth quarter of 2020 along with the HKTDC export forecast for 2021 are: HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang, Director of Research Nicholas Kwan and Economist Poon Cheuk-hong [L-R]

HKTDC Director of Research Nicholas Kwan said that while local businesses still have to contend with weakened global demand, disrupted supply chains and elevated protectionism, business operations are expected to begin to revert to a more normal level when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, allowing the world economy to stabilise and rebound. "Hong Kong exports have more room to grow with the new opportunities arising from Mainland China's 'dual circulation' policy and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, coupled with the implementation of a free trade agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which promotes inter-regional trade," Mr Kwan added.

The HKTDC has also made an upward revision to its estimates for this year's total exports, from -10% to -3%. "We are glad to see that the situation is better than expected. Amid the pandemic, local exporters turned swiftly to online sales platforms to connect with buyers and get new orders. Driven by the rise of the stay-at-home economy, the demand for computers, webcams and microphones has increased greatly, making the city's electronics exporters more optimistic about growth opportunities in the coming year," Mr Kwan said.

Export Index rebounds

The HKTDC conducts a survey every quarter, interviewing 500 local exporters from six major industries including machinery, electronics, jewellery, watches and clocks, toys and clothing to gauge their business confidence on near-term export prospects. The readings of the HKTDC Export Index indicate an optimistic or pessimistic outlook, with 50 as the dividing line.

HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang said the index rose 11.1 points to 36.2 in the fourth quarter with a broad improvement across all major industries. The strongest rebound was seen in the jewellery sector, leaping from 20.1 to 33.0. "However, the index remains in contraction territory, indicating that uncertainties have cast a shadow on the short-term export outlook. Among other issues, the survey showed that the pandemic (54.9%), declining global demand (23.8%) and escalated trade tensions between the United States and Mainland China (9.6%) are the major concerns for Hong Kong exporters," Ms Tsang said.

In terms of major markets, Hong Kong exporters are more confident in the mainland (48.4), Japan (47.3) and ASEAN (47.2), while the outlook for European Union (44.0) and the US (44.4) is less promising. Aside from the main index, all subsidiary indexes revealed an upward trend, showing signs of improvement in trade value, procurement and employment.

Manufacturers show agility

More than 80% of survey respondents said they had been adversely affected by the pandemic over the past three months, with order-size reduction (56.9%), order cancellations (22.3%) and price bargaining (14.0%) cited as the most common downside factors. In response to these challenges, compared with last quarter, an increasing number of local exporters have cut unit prices (27.6%), downsized business (21.8%) or lowered the minimum order quantity (15.5%).

"Meanwhile, Hong Kong companies have shown agility in finding new opportunities such as developing online sales channels (21.8%) and new product categories (13.8%), as well as expanding into the retail market in the mainland and diversifying sales to other overseas markets (3.8%)," Ms Tsang added.

Mainland gets into the spirit

A separate HKTDC survey found that the emergence of a cocktail culture in the mainland has promoted the consumption of spirits, with mainland consumers spending an average of Rmb 3,059 in the past year on buying or drinking spirits, including cocktails (35%), vodka (34%), whisky (33%), brandy (27%), rum (14%) and liqueur (13%). It is expected that the demand for imported liquor such as sake and fruit wine will be on the rise in the coming year.

The average annual spending on imported wine consumed by the survey respondents at home was Rmb 1,407, while that spent for business events and as gifts was Rmb 3,284. France (39%), Spain (12%) and Italy (10%) were the most popular traditional wine regions among those surveyed, while for wines from new producers, they preferred those from the Mainland China (32%), Australia (19%) and Chile (10%).

Mainland consumers prefer to buy wines from large e-commerce platforms (33%), wine stores (25%) and supermarkets (25%). They are also interested in purchasing a wide range of wine accessories such as wine racks (20%), decanters (18%), wine stoppers (15%), glasses (12%) and bottle openers (12%).

HKTDC Economist Poon Cheuk-hong said: "Mainland consumers now have a better understanding of wine. Hong Kong wine dealers looking to tap into the mainland market should consider importing less famous yet high-quality wines from different countries. To match with mainland consumers' habit of purchasing wine through multiple channels, Hong Kong traders should adopt an online-to-offline sales and marketing model."

The survey was conducted in May 2020 with about 1,500 middle-class mainland consumers from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Harbin, Changsha, Nanjing and Xian polled through an online questionnaire.

References
– HKTDC Research website: http://research.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong Export Index 4Q20: Exporter Sentiment Improves as Initial Covid-19 Shockwave Recedes https://bit.ly/2JpnkYX
– Hong Kong Export Outlook for 2021: A Cautious, Fragile Recovery Awaits https://bit.ly/3g9NM4p
– China's Wine and Spirits Market (1): Wine Consumption Trends and Habits https://bit.ly/3qnapr7
– China's Wine and Spirits Market (2): Imported Wine Selection Criteria https://bit.ly/2I7Q2N4
– China's Wine and Spirits Market (3): Spirits Purchase Preferences https://bit.ly/37xFmA5
– Podcast: https://bit.ly/3qGnpZ4
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/33QANQn

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 trade publications, 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 Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

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

ATF Online+ Caps Off its First Week with Fresh Insights for 2021

SINGAPORE, Dec 8, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The 21st Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Asia's leading entertainment content and conference, capped off the first week of its digital edition – ATF Online+, with 2,320 unique attendees from 60 countries and regions as of 4 December 2020. The platform is available on-demand until 28 February 2021.

Mr. Yeh Chien Ee, President, Asia Pacific, Reed Exhibitions

ATF Online+ kicked off with an Opening Ceremony at the new state-of-the-art Hybrid Broadcast Studio located in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on 1 December 2020. Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information, Singapore officiated the launch in front of a physical audience of key industry players. The event was concurrently streamed live to a global audience watching via ATF Online+ and on Facebook. The ceremony was followed by a fireside chat between the Minister and Mr. Steven Chia, Presenter/Senior Editor of Channel News Asia, on the future of the media and entertainment industry, where he mentioned how companies need to create a wider variety of content, and the opportunities the Asian media market presents.

Business as usual at ATF Online+, with new connections made and deals announced

ATF Online+ 2020 saw 1,215 companies and 15 official pavilions participating, with 4,156 programmes presented on the platform. The first official four-days also saw more than 15,500 meetings arranged, underpinning ATF's importance as a platform to facilitate business dealings. The meetings will continue until 28 February 2021.

ATF also continues to be a key year-end market where deals are sealed, with a host of partnerships and deals announced during the ATF week. Some of the announcements made during the week came from 7 Steps Production, iQiyi, ITV Studios, Mediacorp, Nippon TV, TechStorm and WarnerMedia.

141 industry experts delivered insights at ATF Online+ sessions

This year's conference saw a refreshed programme schedule, specifically tailored for the global online audience. Segmented into five broad areas that cut across 1 to 4 December, each component focused on bite-sized discussions specific to the various pillars within the industry.

Mornings with Industry Leaders – Decision makers from the media, telecoms and entertainment industry took centre stage in the morning, sharing insights and thought-leadership on navigating the tides ahead and staying relevant amidst the changes. Top executives who participated in the fireside chats included Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, Priya Dogra, President, WarnerMedia EMEA & Asia (excl. China), Dr Michael Gryseels, President, True Digital Group and Jacques du Puy, CEO, CANAL+ International.

Lunchtime Buying – Key buyers took over the lunch hour sessions to give an insiders' viewpoints and perspective on today's buying strategies. Some of the panellists included Daphne Yang, CEO, CatchPlay, Maarten Meijs, President Global Entertainment, ITV Studios, Chao Gan, Vice President, Youku, Alibaba Media & Entertainment Group and Agustinus Bagus Abimanyu, Head of International Acquisition 3 TV, MNC Media, sharing strategies in the dramas, formats, kids and docs spaces.

Coffee Hour Content Showcase – This segment saw top sellers from China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey showcasing the latest entertainment content and industry updates, together with a spread of scripted and unscripted formats opened for contracts for the industry.

Production Afternoons – Format experts, creative leaders and decision makers took the afternoon to address issues and present user cases to advance production capabilities in the industry. Some of the speaker that took the virtual stage include Seo Hye-jin, Executive Director, TV Chosun, Yi Seung-jun, Founder, Director & Producer, Bluebird Pictures and Evelina Lye, Head of Regional Marketing, Media Partnerships APAC Entertainment, News & Sports, Facebook.

Southeast Asian Film Financing Forum (SAFF Forum) – The annual film-focused forum rounded off the four-day event with discussions on Southeast Asian partnership in media – cutting across content, connectivity, and capability. Among those who took part were as Abhi Rastogi, CEO & Founder, 108 Media, Elliot Renton, Senior Director & Head of APAC, Grabyo and Rashid Karim, CEO, Iskandar Malaysia Studios.

Active Engagements and Feedback from the Industry

Attendees were actively involved in the digital journey, and generous in communicating feedback of the platform, which included the following:

– Francesca Ibanez, CEO, CESCA Films: The organization has been really good, the cost was not high and the online platform worked. Was very easy to use. Easy to make contacts, that for a seller is of utmost importance.

– Carl D-Broughton, Producer, Manque: After crippling lockdowns and the global industry coming to a standstill, the online ATF was quite the godsend! The pricing was fair, the matching system worked well and the chat/messaging function made communicating easy. I confess to missing most of the conferences, but there's the 'catch-up' option and, with the system available until the end of February, I'm still able to make new connections. In fact, given how these events usually end when everyone goes home, this ability to reach out for several weeks afterwards may yet prove to be crucial.

– Harry Kyoungwon, Manager, Gyeonggi Content Agency: Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, ATF Online+ has successfully linked content and media professionals with an easy and stable platform. With this platform, exhibitors could easily learn how to communicate with buyers and manage their video meetings. Hope to visit real Singapore next year!

– Shenthil Ranie, Vice President, Inflight Inc Pte Ltd: It was seamless experience to connect with potential companies and especially the My Schedule functionality was very useful.

– Kanji Kazahaya, Seller, Culture Connect Co., Ltd.: ATF is always one of the most important markets to meet key persons. Although it was challenging during a pandemic, the organiser has successfully created a decent online platform.

– Eugene Venkovsky, Sales Director, Open Alliance Media: ATF+ platform really works. Better than real meetings. So many effective meetings past few days.

– Rachel Wong, Assistant Commissioning Editor, Mediacorp: I really like the interface. It's really easy to navigate.

Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director of ATF said, "We invited the industry to join our discussions on 'Prelude to 2021', the theme for ATF Online+ 2020. We are encouraged by the industry's response, which shows the eagerness to engage towards a positive 2021. It also underscores the trust they placed on ATF to partner them to deliver the right leads and platform to continue doing so."

Under the umbrella of Singapore Media Festival, the next edition of ATF and ScreenSingapore is slated to return 1 to 3 December 2021.

About Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2020

Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) – the region's leading entertainment content event – is the platform of calibre to acquire knowledge, network, buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all platforms. It is the premier stage in Asia to engage with the entertainment industry's top players from around the world. It's where the best minds meet and the future of Asia's content is shaped.

ATF facilitates opportunities to discover vital trends, crucial statistics and significant foresight particularly in TV's digital, kids and formats arenas. Its business match-making programme open doors to new connections in the region. With over 5,700 international buyers and sellers from more than 60 countries and regions, ATF presents valuable business prospects for top- of-the-line benefits. For more information, please visit www.asiatvforum.com

About ScreenSingapore 2020

ScreenSingapore – Southeast Asia's definitive marketplace for filmmakers, producers, distributors, financiers and film buyers to explore co-production opportunities, seek financing, make deals and learn about the changing film landscape.

In 2020, ScreenSingapore will once again host the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market and Conference, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind: Asia/Europe Producers Workshop (TTB) to connect promising filmmakers and producers from Southeast Asia and Europe with international co-producing partners, festival programmers, distributors, commissioners, and financiers. For more information, please visit www.screensingapore.com.sg

About Reed Exhibitions (RX)

Reed Exhibitions is a leading global event organiser, with more than 500 events in 30 countries. In 2019, Reed Exhibitions brought together more than 7m event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed Exhibitions' events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. For more information, please visit www.reedexpo.com

About the Singapore Media Festival (SMF)

The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority, is one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 26 November to 6 December 2020, the Singapore Media Festival brings together the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore, and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). SuperGamerFest will also be held in conjunction with SMF. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit www.imda.gov.sg/sgmediafest.

Press Contact
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T: +65 9176 7502
E: danielleloh@ninemer.com

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E: janicechew@ninemer.com

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