Dusit International Singapore debuts with Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 December 2020 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has officially expanded into Singapore with the opening of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore in the heart of the renowned Laguna National Golf & Country Club, one of the island nation’s premier golf and country clubs.

Comprising 198 tastefully-decorated contemporary rooms and suites, plus eight pavilions with private pools, and located just 10 minutes by car from Jewel Changi Airport and 15 minutes from Downtown, the resort is the first in Singapore to offer direct access to award-winning golfing facilities.

It is also the first resort in the country to feature Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, and it serves as a showcase of the company’s new strategic direction for the new normal, which includes enhancing its brand DNA in four key areas – Personalised Service, Well-being, Local Connections, and Sustainability.

Opening initially to domestic guests on 4 December 2020, the elegant resort has been thoughtfully designed to cater to avid golfers, local families, and business and leisure travellers, and meet their needs from a wellness and destination getaway perspective.

The main building, whose sleek, contemporary design includes a curvilinear roof and impressive facade of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, signals a modern new direction for Dusit’s 50-year-old Dusit Thani brand. High-tech amenities and thoughtfully curated spaces combine to offer understated luxury which subtly references the old-world opulence of Dusit’s more traditional hotel offerings.

Current dining facilities include Greenhouse all-day dining; Tee Deck alfresco pool bar and grill; Legends Bar; and Dusit Gourmet.

In line with Dusit’s focus on well-being and sustainability, the restaurants are supported by an onsite garden planted with a selection of herbs, vegetables and fruits. A series of wellness menus are also offered featuring nutritious and balanced dishes for those seeking to maintain a healthy diet.

Alongside access to Laguna National Golf & Country Club’s renowned Masters and Classic championship golf courses, guests also have access to a 24-hour gym, three tennis courts, three swimming pools, a nine-hole putting green by Nicklaus Design, Laguna Practice powered by Toptracer driving range, and Devarana Wellness.

Alongside providing traditional Thai massage and premium health and beauty therapies, the latter facility also offers a wide range of activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as meditation, yoga, active stretching, and breath-work exercises. These activities have all been developed as part of Dusit’s new Devarana Wellness programme, which will also be rolled out to other Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

Positioned to become a leading venue for corporate functions, weddings and private social events, the resort also offers a spacious boardroom, three meeting rooms, three large event lawns, and a luxurious pillarless ballroom with capacity for 520 guests, depending on distancing requirements.

Nearby attractions for business and leisure include Changi Business Park, Singapore Expo, the Tampines business district, Marina Bay, Raffles Place, Orchard Road, and Sentosa Island. All can be reached within 20 minutes by car.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore’s concierge is also on hand to ensure guests can connect with the best of the destination with personalised tips on what to see and do.

Alongside showcasing Dusit’s new brand standards for the new normal, the opening of the resort demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainable expansion by planting flags in strategic locations with strong growth potential. It is Dusit’s fifth resort to open this year, following dusitD2 Salwa Doha, Dusit Beach Resort Guam, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, and Dusit Thani Wellness Resort Suzhou. It also comes hot on the heels of recent signings to manage upcoming hotels in India and Japan.

Dusit’s portfolio now includes 340 properties operating under six brands across 15 countries.

“Following this year’s signings and openings, the arrival of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore marks another important milestone in our sustainable expansion, and we are delighted to make our debut in one of the world’s most respected business hubs and showcase our new brand DNA with such an exceptional property,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “The resort’s stunning design, extensive guest offerings, and prime location on the grounds of the Laguna National Golf & Country Club puts us in a unique position to offer an integrated and full suite of services to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers, from C-suite executives and local staycationers, to soon-to-wed couples and avid golfers alike. This ensures we have plenty of avenues for domestic revenue creation while we wait for the COVID-19 situation to normalise and international travel to resume.

“While this is certainly a challenging time for our industry, Singapore previously recorded four years of consecutive tourism growth, and we remain confident that the market will bounce back strong. Until then, we will do our utmost to aid in its recovery by establishing Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore as a must-visit destination that brings enduring value to all stakeholders.”

Mr Eric Piatti, General Manager, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, said, “We are delighted to finally open Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and bring our personalised service and distinctive guest experiences to the destination for the first time. Opening the resort while the borders are closed may seem challenging, but demand for staycations among the domestic market is high, and we have an amazing and unique product to leverage this. Opening now will also ensure that everything is in place to help the Lion City roar back to life as soon as international travel resumes. We look forward to seeing Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore leading the pack, establishing itself as the new destination for Singaporeans.”

To ensure guest safety at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, the resort strictly adheres to Dusit’s group-wide ‘Dusit Care – Stay with Confidence’ programme. Heightened cleaning protocols, contactless registration, anytime breakfast, digital in-room menus, and mobile payment methods are just some of the services and facilities implemented to protect the health and well-being of guests and employees.

For more information about the resort and its opening room rates, please visit dusit.com/dusitthani-laguna-singapore.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Lobby

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Suite Room

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Greenhouse Restaurant

Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company’s property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 15 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore is located within the grounds of the acclaimed Laguna National Golf & Country Club, 10 minutes by car from Changi International Airport and 15 minutes from Downtown.

Comprising 198 tastefully-decorated rooms and suites showcasing the best of contemporary Asian design, this resort is equipped for business and leisure with a wealth of experiences for guests to enjoy.

Facilities include Greenhouse, an all-day dining multi-ethnic restaurant with show kitchens; Tee Deck – alfresco bar and grill; Legends Bar & Lounge; Dusit Gourmet; The Nest restaurant; Club Lounge; DFiT – a fully-equipped gym; three swimming pools; three tennis courts; Laguna Putting powered by Nicklaus Design; Laguna Practice powered by Toptracer, and Dusit’s signature Devarana Wellness.

The resort also offers a boardroom, two meeting rooms, three event lawns, eight pavilions, a terrace for private functions, and a large pillarless ballroom (seats up to 520 guests) with a pre-function area overlooking the golf course.

Guests will enjoy privileged access to the driving range and Laguna National’s championship Classic and Masters golf courses. For more information, please visit dusitthanilagunasingapore.com

About Laguna National Golf & Country Club

A prominent club in the local and regional golf scene since its inauguration in 1993, Laguna National is one of Singapore’s premier golf and country clubs. Laguna National boasts two 18-hole championship courses that have won prestigious accolades and hosted international championships, including the European Tour’s Singapore Masters, the Korean LPGA Tour’s ADT Caps Tour Championship, and European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event, The Championship at Laguna National.

Following a multi-million-dollar facelift, Laguna National has developed a state-of-the-art union of a world-class golf club and a 198-room and suites plus eight pavilions Dusit Thani resort with full facilities including a spa, a learning and practice facility, a fitness centre, as well as Member-exclusive areas with private locker rooms, Golfers’ lounge and country club facilities.

In close proximity to the airport, beach, malls and with a private clubhouse and resort, golfers will find the world at their fingertips at Laguna National Golf & Country Club. For more information, please visit lagunanational.com and facebook.com/lagunagolf

Media Contact:

Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications – Hotel Business | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile: +66 89 0068 697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Sue Gan | Director of Sales & Marketing | Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore
Tel: +65 6248 1725 | Mobile: +65 9646 4352 | Email: sue.gan@dusit.com

Fifth Belt and Road Summit draws to successful close

HONG KONG, Dec 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The fifth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drew to a successful close today. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's summit was changed to an online broadcast. With the new virtual platform helping to overcome geographical boundaries, more than 6,000 participants from about 80 countries and regions attended the event.

Under the theme "A Business Vision for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future", the fifth Belt and Road Summit brought together more than 6,000 participants from about 80 countries and regions.

Under the theme "A Business Vision for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future", the two-day summit featured more than 80 government and business leaders from countries and regions along the Belt and Road, along with investors from Mainland China, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as project owners and professional investment advisers, who all came together to discuss the latest developments driven by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Investment projects drive geographical connections

Holding the conference virtually presented no barrier to meaningful exchanges within the industry. In addition to various breakout discussion sessions, the 2020 summit featured one-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions that proved popular among both project owners and participants. The summit received 20 investment projects from countries and regions along the Belt and Road, focusing on four major areas – innovation and technology; transport and logistics infrastructure; energy, natural resources and public utilities; and urban development – and covering some 12 countries and regions including Indonesia, Thailand, India, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Austria, France and the United Kingdom.

The investment projects included the first Hong Kong-themed Thailand-based foreign project in Chonburi, "AMATA – Hong Kong Smart City"; a large-scale integrated project located nearby Indonesia's proposed new capital city; a new railway link connecting Eastern Slovakia and Vienna; and other projects related to topical issues such as fighting COVID-19 and green technology. In addition, more than 700 business matching meetings were arranged for project owners, investors and professional service providers, with over 250 companies participating.

ASEAN Belt and Road countries show willingness to negotiate and promote

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc is set to play a crucial role in the Belt and Road Initiative. This year's Policy Dialogue was chaired by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and invited Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, as one of the guest speakers. Mr Sambuaga commented on the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement, saying: "As the world's largest trade bloc, the RCEP should create a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership that will expand regular trade and investment while contributing to the global economy."

Ceferino S Rodolfo, Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group of the Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, added: "While physical infrastructure is the most tangible aspect of the Belt and Road, equally important are the policies that will facilitate the flow of economic activity among Belt and Road participants and those who are not formally part of [the initiative]. The RCEP is a building block for greater openness in the global economy and is not supposed to be exclusive."

Sompop Pattanariyankool, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy in Thailand, said: "During the pandemic, we need immediate recovery measures to ensure the energy sector continues to make an effective contribution to overcoming the current situation and empowering the subsequent recovery. To create a healthy, sustainable and inclusive future, it is important to include clean energy transition as part of this package, focusing on a cleaner, more secure and cost-effective energy system. This may include natural gas, renewables, batteries, hydrogen and other technologies."

Sultana Afroz, Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and CEO of the Public Private Partnership Authority in Bangladesh, also spoke at the Policy Dialogue, sharing that Bangladesh has set up 79 public-private partnership projects with an investment value of more than US$28 billion to realise the government's vision of bringing about transformational change to its infrastructure sector. "Mainland China has always been a prime strategic partner for the Bangladesh government in terms of its development, and most of the major projects in Bangladesh are being constructed by Chinese construction companies."

Increasing international cooperation amid pandemic

Speaking at one of the thematic breakout sessions, namely "Fighting the Coronavirus with Innovative Tech and Thriving in a Post-Pandemic World – Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area", Nanshan Zhong, Academician of the China Academy of Engineering, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Guangzhou Medical University, and Director of China's National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, stated in his keynote speech that there are currently five vaccines going through stage-three clinical trials in China, with the country also cooperating closely with Indonesia and the Philippines on the development of vaccines. He further emphasised the importance of strengthening the healthcare systems of different countries and regions as the wait for a vaccine continues.

"We still need to enhance cooperation in the medical and health sectors and establish bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms for epidemic response and biosecurity, ensuring that we are equipped with the ability to cope with virus outbreaks through regular detection, early warning, information sharing and the regional coordination and mobilisation of medical resources. By doing so, we will be able to prepare for other possible global outbreaks and pandemics through the timely sharing of data and information and by coordinating detection and early warning. All countries must join hands to combat COVID-19 internationally. We call for building a community of health for all, and as soon as possible, to deal with potential challenges. Let's work together to protect health and lives in the region."

Digitisation for sustainable and inclusive development

With the global economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, international cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative presents an opportunity for a sustainable and inclusive recovery and development. At the summit's Business Plenary session, a panel of business leaders shared valuable insights into the post-pandemic era.

Among the panelists, Victor Fung, Group Chairman of Fung Group, pointed out that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, there were two major trends impacting global supply chains: technological change resulting, in particular, from digitisation; and the United States-China trade conflict. He noted digitisation had swept across the world in the past 10 years, affecting trade and every aspect of the global supply chain, from product design to production and distribution. "The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated of these trends, resulting in a fundamental shift in the world's supply chains. This creates a huge opportunity in terms of what Hong Kong and the rest of the GBA [Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area], as well as countries along the Belt and Road can do in terms of adapting to this new situation in the global supply chains," he said.

China International Capital Corporation Ltd served as the Strategic Partner of the fifth Belt and Road Summit. Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd was the Regional Banking Partner. China Merchants Group was the Sapphire Sponsor of the summit and China Mobile International Limited was the Platinum Sponsor.

Websites
– Belt and Road Summit website: www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en
– HKTDC Belt and Road Portal: https://beltandroad.hktdc.com/
– Webcast interviews (1): https://youtu.be/EaAHaqXnffY
– Webcast interviews (2): https://youtu.be/EPQxuBn87u4
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/2HVZ0gt

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: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE attracts 27,000 buyers

HONG KONG, Dec 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) exhibition, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drew to a successful close on 27 November. The online exhibition featured more than 2,600 exhibitors and attracted more than 27,000 buyers from 132 countries and regions to participate. In addition to Hong Kong buyers, others came mainly from India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said the number of exhibitors and buyers at HKTDC Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) doubled and grew more international compared to Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE held in July.

9,000+ video meetings during ASWO, allowing business partners to continue generating opportunities in the face of the pandemic.

Highlights of "Eco Asia Conference", powered by the Environment Bureau of HKSAR, included progress on environmental protection work in the Greater Bay Area and insights into implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

More than 9,000 online business matching meetings concluded

Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said the number of exhibitors and buyers at ASWO was double the number attending Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE in July. Participation was also more international, demonstrating that the online exhibition was well received by different industries globally. "The HKTDC mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite quality international buyers to the event, arrange more than 9,000 online business matching meetings according to buyers' sourcing needs. This arrangement increased the chance of business collaboration."

The HKTDC's online business matching platform Click2Match uses artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct automatic matching between potential business partners. The platform also helps participants to schedule meetings, conduct video meetings, chat in real time and exchange e-business cards. The HKTDC conducted an online survey with exhibitors and buyers during ASWO in which respondents said that meeting scheduling was the most useful of the platform's functions, followed by video meeting and live chat capabilities.

3D virtual booths grab attention of global buyers

A number of exhibitors used 3D virtual booths to showcase their products in a more visually striking way, attracting more than 65,000 views. According to the survey, buyers agreed that the 3D virtual booths were useful for understanding exhibitors' products and services, showing that the booths could help to attract more buyers, increase their interest in exhibitors' products and services, and help them win more business.

In addition, more than 20 webinars were held during ASWO. The most popular webinars included the "Symposium on Innovation & Technology" (over 4,400 views), "Eco Asia Conference" (over 3,400 views), "Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium" (over 1,100 views), "Hong Kong International Watch Forum" (over 790 views) and the "Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference" (over 750 views). More than 100 industry leaders shared their insights in the webinars, allowing global exhibitors and buyers to stay close to the pulse of the market and get the most up-to-date information in the midst of the pandemic.

Online exhibition generates new business

ASWO provided an opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to continue to do business and close deals online, overcoming geographical constraints and helping to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Determinant (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong company that exhibited at ASWO, promoted their reusable masks and travel kits. Irene Chan, the company's Assistant Sales Manager, said: "Through the Click2Match platform, we were able to arrange video meetings with more than 20 new buyers from India, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia and the Middle East. Some of these potential buyers have already asked for our samples and a number of them will place orders after the online exhibition."

Sidney Yu, Director of Prime Success Enterprises Limited, a Hong Kong exhibitor specialising in baby products, said his company had established contacts with new buyers from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, Poland and Thailand. "Four of them will become our potential customers and we expect the initial order from each new customer will be around US$10,000."

A lighting buyer from Germany, Michael Wurzer, Managing Director of Why5 GmbH, had video meetings with four lighting suppliers through the Click2Match platform. He said: "With a sourcing budget of around US$5 million, we plan to place our first order with one of the new suppliers soon."

Korean buyer Han Moi Kim, CEO of MOI Inc, identified 10 potential suppliers and plans to buy gold watch cases and crystal watch cases worth US$30,000 from two potential suppliers. "ASWO provides a timely and effective platform for us to find quality suppliers that can meet our sourcing needs under the global pandemic," Mr Kim said.

Hybrid physical and virtual model for future exhibitions

According to the survey, a total of 96% of exhibitors said they had achieved one of the following objectives through the event, which included exploring market potential, generating new sales leads, meeting new customers, maintaining their presence in the market, launching and promoting new products, promoting their company's brand, and gathering market intelligence and product trends. A total of 64% of exhibitors surveyed said they would consider both online and offline platforms as their major promotional channels in the future, while 95% said they would participate in the HKTDC's virtual and physical exhibitions again. Of the buyers surveyed, 85% said they would use online and offline platforms as their major sourcing channels in the future, while almost all (99%) said they would participate in both virtual and physical exhibitions organised by the HKTDC.

In the face of the pandemic, it is anticipated that global sourcing behaviour will become increasingly digital, and that future trade fairs will be a combination of physical and virtual formats. The upgraded hktdc.com Sourcing platform and ASWO complement each other, with ASWO exhibitors able to keep in touch with global buyers through a three-month promotion run on hktdc.com Sourcing. The platform brings together 130,000 suppliers and 2 million buyers, creating more than 24 million business connections annually, while leveraging AI, machine learning and image recognition technologies to provide a personalised smart sourcing experience.

Websites
– Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE: http://asw.hktdc.com
– hktdc.com Sourcing: http://sourcing.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3mpp42D

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: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

SBI, NPCI and JCB Launch ‘SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card’

Mumbai & Tokyo, Dec 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – State Bank of India (SBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB) have announced the launch of 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card'. This Card has been launched on the RuPay network by SBI in association with JCB. The SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card comes with a unique dual interface feature which will enable customers to perform both Contact & Contactless transactions in the domestic market and seamless contact transactions overseas. With this card, consumers would be able to transact on ATMs & POS terminals across the globe under JCB network. They can also shop online from JCB partnered international e-Commerce merchants using this card.

The 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card' supports RuPay offline wallet based transactions, enabling an additional payment mode within the Card. Consumers will be able to load the offline wallet and utilize it in transit in India (bus and metro) and retail (merchant) payments. This innovative proposition will offer customers uninterrupted shopping experience with an extra layer of convenience. Customers can also enjoy attractive discounts and offers while shopping at top brands, both within India as well as in international markets by using this Card. Additionally, customers will have access to JCB PLAZA Lounge (in-city exclusive lounges for JCB cardmembers) in prominent travel destinations such as Bangkok (Thailand), Orchard Road (Singapore) and Paris (France) which is a one-of-a-kind feature provided by JCB.

Ms. Praveena Rai, COO, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said, "We believe our collaboration with SBI and JCB will provide the cardholders compelling benefits and an unparalleled value proposition both in Indian and international markets. SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card holders can now use their cards at millions of locations in the world. It is also great to witness RuPay strengthening its foothold in international markets through our networks. We at NPCI constantly strive to offer an evolved and personalised shopping experience to the customers, and augment the existing segment of RuPay card holders."

Ms. Vidya Krishnan, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India said, "We are pleased to launch the 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card' through our strategic partnership with NPCI for RuPay and JCB. We believe the tap and pay technology on the Card will simplify the everyday purchases of customers with secure and fast contactless payments. With several attractive benefits and offers associated with this contactless Debit Card, we are hopeful that this Card would not only provide a rewarding shopping experience to the cardholders but also make their international travels worthwhile. At SBI, our consistent endeavour is to offer a differentiated and customised experience to our diverse set of customers in terms of their regular spends and transactions."

Mr. Yoshiki Kaneko, President and COO of JCB International Co., Ltd. said: "We are extremely happy and honoured to have the largest bank in India, State Bank of India, as a RuPay JCB Global Debit Card issuing partner. Together with our esteemed network partner, NPCI, we will bring best in class technology, access to the vast JCB global merchant network, and special offers and privileges to SBI customers. As more and more Indian customers adopt digital modes of payment to transact both domestically and internationally, we are sure this product proposition will be enjoyed and appreciated by the cardmembers."

About State Bank of India

State Bank of India (SBI) is India's largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers, and employees. It is also the largest mortgage lender in the country. As on June 30, 2020, the Bank has a deposit base of over Rs. 34 lakh crore with CASA ratio of more than 45% and advances of nearly Rs. 24 lakh crore. SBI commands nearly 34% market share in home loans and nearly 33% in the auto loans segment. The Bank has the largest network of over 22,100 Branches in India with an ATM/CDM network of over 58,500 and total BC outlets of more than 62,200. The number of customers using Internet Banking facilities is about 76 million and Mobile Banking services stand a little more than 17 million. The integrated digital and lifestyle platform by SBI – YONO has crossed the landmark of 58 million downloads. YONO which has 26 million registered users, witnesses 5.5 million logins per day along with over 4000 daily disbursals of personal loans, 16,000 YONO Krishi Agri Gold Loans. The Bank recently launched the YONO Global app in the UK and Mauritius and plans to cover 9 more countries by the end of 2020. On social media platforms, SBI has the highest number of followers on Facebook and Twitter amongst all banks worldwide. For more information, visit: https://bank.sbi

State Bank of India is the market leader in Debit Cards segment with a history of offering advanced and tailor-made products to its customers through various Channels. The Bank's latest offering in the form of SBI RuPay JCB Debit Card will also allow customers to pay for transit apart from retail payments – adding an extra layer of convenience for them. This card has all the potential of being the most preferred cards for customers.

The SBI RuPay JCB Contactless Debit Card is designed to enable banks to reduce their customers' effort of cash handling and provide them with the convenience of single tap payment. RuPay Contactless specifications are open standards, interoperable and scalable and can be adopted by all Card schemes. RuPay Contactless specifications have been developed to offer a vendor-agnostic, interoperable, secured and cost-effective ecosystem of low value payments to facilitate the government in building a less-cash economy. The SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card has all the elements to offer customers with ultimate choice of customising their payment decisions based on their comfort and needs, thereby creating for them, an ultimate transformative yet gratifying shopping experience.

About NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay Card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC Fastag) and Bharat BillPay. NPCI also launched UPI 2.0 to offer a more secure and comprehensive services to consumers and merchants.

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India's aspiration to be a fully digital society. For more information, visit: https://www.npci.org.in/

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. Backed by its vast global acceptance network, JCB cards are now issued in 24 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 https://www.global.jcb/en/index.html
All information is current as of 4th November 2020

Corporate contacts:
NPCI
Swagata Gupta
98200 88951
swagata.gupta@npci.org.in

SBI
Ritesh Mehta
9930125097
Ritesh.mehta@sbi.co.in

JCB
Kumiko Kida, Ayaka Nakajima
+81-3-5778-8353
jcb-pr@jcb.co.jp

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

Digital Innovation in Accounting and Finance

SINGAPORE, Dec 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – At the end of a year like no other, on 3-4 November 2020 over 2,000 accounting and finance professionals from across Asia came together virtually at the Accounting & Finance Show Asia to learn, network and discover new digital solutions for their business.

Over the two days 120 expert speakers shared their insights across 5 channels covering digital innovation, digital practice, accounting tech and cash & treasury. Attendees were able to engage live with the speakers and ask questions during the panel discussions and presentations through the event platform's live discussion feature.

All sessions were screened live and made available on demand, making it easier than ever before for attendees to join all the relevant sessions at their convenience. In total we saw over 16,000 session attendees within just two days.

Our Sponsors showcased a range of innovative digital solutions designed to change the way that accountants and finance professionals work and run their business. Our Sponsors included Xero, Intuit QuickBooks, DocuSign, ApprovalMax, BGL, Fathom, SAP Business ByDesign, Western Union and many more besides. Each of our sponsors shared content, success stories and product demonstrations. Attendees could follow up for more information by visiting each Sponsor's virtual booth, and each Sponsor could proactively reach out to relevant event attendees.

Our virtual event platform is powered by AI, matching attendees based on their profiles and activity. Attendees and Sponsors were able to connect, message and set up virtual meetings with one another all within the platform. Over 4,000 contacts were made, almost 20,000 discussions created and over 24,400 messages were exchanged on the platform in just two days.

At the Accounting & Finance Show Asia, we drive the adoption of digital tools and technologies in accounting and finance. We look forward to meeting you virtually at our next Accounting & Finance Show Asia event.

If you want to be part of our future events, contact Laura Binns at
laura.binns@terrapinn.com

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

Fifth Belt and Road Summit opens today

HONG KONG, Nov 30, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The fifth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today. The two-day event (30 November and 1 December) is being held online this year with a new virtual platform that includes plenary sessions, one-to-one business matching meetings, project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition, bringing together some 80 ministerial officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road. The event attracted an audience of more than 6,000 from some 80 countries and regions.

The fifth Belt and Road Summit opened today as an online event, covering plenary sessions, one-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions. The first day of the summit marked the beginning of a new business partnership between the Smart City Consortium and Indonesia-based enterprise PT Graha Buana Cikarang, for the purpose of expanding Hong Kong's smart city technology to Southeast Asia.

Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, gave a pre-recorded address in which he spoke about how the Belt and Road Initiative is helping to promote virus control, infrastructure development, economic development and commerce in the region.

The first plenary session was hosted by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, exchanging ideas on policy analysis with Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade in Indonesia, Ceferino S Rodolfo, Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group, Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, Sultana Afroz, Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and CEO of the Public Private Partnership

Overcoming geographical boundaries, the event has brought together investors, project owners and professional investment advisors from Mainland China, the Asian Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa to share insights on the latest developments related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, officiated at the summit's opening ceremony and delivered the opening address. She said: "Since its inception, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been well received by the international community. So far, China has already signed over 200 cooperation documents with 138 countries and 31 international organisations. The BRI is all about collaboration and partnership. "As an active player in the Initiative, Hong Kong is keen to strengthen our collaboration and partnership with other Belt and Road economies. For Hong Kong, given our location and our growing economic ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones in the ASEAN region will present ample opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises and their partners."

Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, gave a pre-recorded address in which he spoke about how the Belt and Road Initiative is helping to promote virus control, infrastructure development, economic development and commerce in the region. He said: "Our world is facing a common enemy: the COVID-19 pandemic. To control the virus, we must work together and synergise. Everyone must walk and move in-sync towards a common goal, a healthy community, and a strong and robust economy. Through synergy, anything we do will be more effective and have a bigger impact; and we can apply this lesson in many other areas, including Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation. The key to BRI cooperation is synergy. Indonesia hopes the BRI cooperation will also encourage partnerships between the government, the public and the private sector, in the form of Public-Private Partnership or PPP. Second, we must continue to maintain the principle of equality in cooperation. Equality will create space for countries to plan projects based on their national interests. Indonesia's infrastructure development projects are open for cooperation with all partners, including BRI. The Government of Indonesia guarantees the establishment of a conducive environment for mutually beneficial cooperation."

Also delivering special addresses were officials from the People's Republic of China, including Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce; Ren Hongbin, Vice Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council; and Xie Feng, Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The speakers focused on the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative in driving the steady growth of China's national economy and examined Hong Kong's vital role in the process.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "International cooperation is more important than ever as we face the challenge of a global pandemic. Hong Kong is the ideal platform to turn Belt and Road projects into viable commercial opportunities, and it was here in 2016 that the Belt and Road Summit was conceived. Growing together with the Belt and Road Initiative, the summit is now the premier international business event to find partners, raise funds and learn about new developments and investment opportunities on the Belt and Road. We are confident that the online summit will provide a powerful platform to share ideas and make connections."

Hong Kong group forms partnership with Indonesian industrial estates

The first day of the summit marked the beginning of a new business partnership. Facilitated by the HKTDC, the Smart City Consortium used the virtual platform to sign a memorandum of understanding with an Indonesia-based enterprise, PT Graha Buana Cikarang, for the purpose of expanding Hong Kong's smart city technology to Southeast Asia. PT Graha Buana Cikarang is a subsidiary company of a listed industrial estates operator in Indonesia, which is managing various industrial estates and developing new towns in different areas of the country. Both parties agreed to cooperate in research areas such as smart mobility, e-health, crisis and disaster protection management, environment and energy.

The Indonesian government has been making plans to relocate the country's capital city to the province of East Kalimantan. The Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment Roundtable will be held by the HKTDC the day after tomorrow to discuss how to act on infrastructure development in Kalimantan as new opportunities arise. Participants will include representatives from some of the infrastructure projects in Kalimantan province, together with investors from Hong Kong and Mainland China and a number of local professional service providers and financial institutions.

Forum highlights Post-COVID economy

The pandemic has slowed down or halted economic activities, posing challenges to logistics and customer flow. Different cooperation activities and development projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have been affected to various extents. Today's plenary session was a policy dialogue focused on "Creating a Healthy, Sustainable and Inclusive Future", hosted by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR. Mr Yau exchanged ideas with senior international figures including Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary; Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade from Indonesia; Ceferino S Rodolfo, Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group, Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines; Sultana Afroz, Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and CEO of the Public Private Partnership Authority in Bangladesh; and Sompop Pattanariyankool, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy in Thailand. The discussion examined the policy landscapes and investment opportunities in their respective economies, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a regional free trade agreement formed in mid-November this year.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks at the main plenary session that followed. The Business Plenary was hosted by Victor Chu, Chairman & CEO of First Eastern Investment Group, leading a group joined by Francis Chua, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victor Fung, Group Chairman of the Fung Group, Vikrom Kromadit, Chairman of Amata Corporation PCL, Richard Lancaster, CEO of CLP Holdings Limited, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO & CEO Asia of Schneider Electric, Wang Tongzhou, Chairman and General Manager of China Communications Construction Group Ltd, and Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered PLC. Discussions focused on the topic "Powering the World's Recovery through Sustainable and Inclusive Development", seeking to find a way out of the current social and economic doldrums caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting sustainable and inclusive development solutions, and examining how to navigate a clear pathway through the post-pandemic era.

Exploring infrastructure potential amid uncertainties

The economic challenges brought about by the pandemic have affected economic and trade cooperation, production cooperation and regional infrastructure development to varying degrees. Today's afternoon breakout session, titled "Challenges and Opportunities for Belt and Road International Infrastructural Cooperation", was co-organised with the China International Contractors Association to examine how to promote continuous innovation in the area of infrastructure cooperation in the new global landscape, exploring opportunities amid the current uncertainty.

Greater Bay Area a key focus for innovation

The markets resulting from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative are providing valuable opportunities to Hong Kong's innovation and technology sectors. Co-organised with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, a session titled "Fighting the Coronavirus with Innovative Tech and Thriving in a Post-Pandemic World – Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area" brought together prominent experts in respiratory diseases, biomedical professors and business leaders to examine how anti-virus technology has become the driving force to help Hong Kong overcome the impact of the pandemic, and how to give added momentum to the local economy by taking advantage of the ample opportunities created by the Greater Bay Area. Another breakout session, jointly organised with Hong Kong Cyberport, gathered representatives from Hong Kong's digital technology sector to share the latest information related to the Greater Bay Area and the not-to-be missed opportunities for the digital technology sector.

A thematic breakout session titled "Positioning Hong Kong for Deal-Making and Dispute Resolution under the Belt and Road Initiative", co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR, saw the participation of distinguished legal professionals who exchanged insights on the current landscape for deal-making and dispute resolution, and how technology may be used to overcome some of the challenges brought by the pandemic. One of the major discussions was about Hong Kong's strengths and how the city can build on its position as a leading international deal-making and dispute resolution centre to serve Belt and Road investors.

Given the unprecedented disruption of supply chains through the "double whammy" blow of global trade disputes coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, how is the cluster development of Belt and Road Economic and Cooperation Zones paving the way for international cooperation on alternative manufacturing locations and huge consumer markets, creating opportunities for enterprising new overseas ventures? The thematic breakout session "Manufacturing and Selling in Belt and Road Markets: Seizing Opportunities from the Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones" invited enterprising Belt and Road pioneers to share their first-hand experience in this area and offer advice on how to seize the boundless opportunities that lie ahead.

The thematic breakout sessions tomorrow will be co-organised with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO), the Financial Services Development Council, Hong Kong Association of Banks, Hong Kong Insurance Authority and InvestHK. Important issues such as financing, investment, risk management and start-ups will be discussed.

All-day online project pitching and business matching for first time

For the first time at the summit, a virtual exhibition is showcasing more than 30 local companies representing different sectors including banking and finance, infrastructure, professional services, and technology and innovation. The Global Investment Zone connects investors, project owners and professional investment consultants from 12 countries and regions, sharing the latest business information and highlighting investment opportunities.

The eagerly awaited Investment and Business Matching Session is held again this year. One-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions will run virtually, providing a platform for project owners, investors and service providers to connect and discuss their business and investment needs as well as exploring cooperation opportunities. The project pitching sessions cover four main areas: innovation and technology, transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, natural resources and public utilities, and urban development.

Websites
– Belt and Road Summit website: www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en
– HKTDC Belt and Road Portal: https://beltandroad.hktdc.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/33tq2Dz

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: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

The Hong Kong Institute of Directors Announces Winners of Directors Of The Year Awards 2020

HONG KONG, Nov 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") has announced the winners of Directors Of The Year Awards ("DYA") 2020, which is a project that reaches the milestone of 20th Anniversary. This year, it is themed "Vanguard in Challenging Times".

Dr Christopher To, Chairman of HKIoD, said, "Hong Kong is facing a complex situation that has never been seen before. Unanticipated political developments combined with an unprecedented epidemic and rapid digitisation have made it difficult for the commercial sectors to plan and implement development strategies. Amid such challenging conditions, the foresight and governance capability of business leaders have never been more important. They have to respond quickly to protect the interests of stakeholders, while adhering to corporate principles. Through the Awards, we hope to recognise outstanding directors for their insightfulness, as well as to inspire and encourage corporations to demonstrate outstanding corporate governance. Together, we can overcome any difficulty."

Mr Kenneth Wong, Chairman of 2020 Directors Awards Organising Committee, said, "In the past, it took years to determine whether a business decision was a wise one. Now with the dawn of digitalisation, the cycle of "only the fittest will survive" has accelerated significantly in the business world. We can easily cite examples where companies have quickly turned from prosperity to decline due to a single decision, and vice versa. Today's business leaders need to be more aware of changes, and also be able to quickly adapt to change like never before in order to survive in the challenging environment. The Organising Committee has set the theme for this year's Awards project as 'Vanguard in Challenging Times'. We hope to set a new benchmark for corporate governance in Hong Kong by promoting some successful examples of corporations adapting to changes and overcoming difficulties, so as to be well prepared for future challenges."

Dr Carlye Tsui, CEO of HKIoD, said, "Corporate governance is a dynamic process, especially in today's rapidly changing business environment. Corporate directors must constantly improve themselves and acquire new knowledge. The training provided by HKIoD has been keeping abreast of the market situation and enabling directors to obtain the latest information, so as to face challenges and explore new opportunities confidently. HKIoD has always been committed to providing appropriate director training and guidelines to its members. Moreover, it is also a platform for directors to share and interact with each other, and also to speak out for members and representatives of the business sectors when appropriate."

The winners of DYA 2020 in the various award categories are listed below.

Listed Companies Categories
Executive Directors: Mr Cheong Thard Hoong Managing Director Far East Consortium International Limited
Boards: Board of Directors Karrie International Holdings Limited

Non-listed Companies Categories
Executive Directors:
Ir Kwong Ching Wai Alkin JP Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Hong Yip Holdings Ltd.
Mr Lee Tarn Siong, Amous CEO and Partner FM Investment Hong Kong Limited

Statutory/Non-profit Distributing Organisations Categories
Boards: Board of Directors Insurance Authority

About Directors Of The Year Awards
First launched in 2001, Directors Of The Year Awards were the first ever such Awards organised in Asia. The project has now become an annual project of impact in the community. The objectives are to recognise directors and board of directors for outstanding director practices and corporate governance, to publicise the significance of good corporate governance and to promote awareness of good corporate governance and director professionalism in Hong Kong. Nominations are open to the public. As good corporate governance is vital to all types of organisations, and professional director practices are encouraged from directors in all board roles, the Awards recognise excellence in categories by company types, including listed companies, private companies and statutory/non-profit-distributing organisations, and categories by roles, including Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors and Boards. For more details on the previous years' Awards, please visit http://www.hkiod.com/dya-awardees.html.

About The Hong Kong Institute of Directors
The Hong Kong Institute of Directors 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. Website: http://www.hkiod.com.

Media Enquiries:
Strategic Public Relations Group Limited
Eveline Wan +852 2864 4822 / eveline.wan@sprg.com.hk
Brenda Chan +852 2114 4396 / brenda.chan@sprg.com.hk
Chak Yau +852 2114 4395 / chak.yau@sprg.com.hk

Directors Of The Year Awards 2019 Enquiries:
The Hong Kong Institute of Directors
Odessa So +852 2889 4988 / odessa.so@hkiod.com
Moni Ching +852 2889 1414 / moni.ching@hkiod.com

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

The Hong Kong Institute of Directors Announces Winners of Directors Of The Year Awards 2020

Women Icons Network, Myanmar Coalition sign pact to enhance social conversations around workplace gender equality

SINGAPORE, Nov 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore headquartered, Women Icons Network (WIN), a platform that captures the value of gender-balanced workplaces by engaging women, corporates and D&I professionals, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Myanmar Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE). Under the terms of the MoU signed on November 5, 2020, WIN and BCGE will work towards increasing commitment and social conversations around gender equality at the workplace.

BCGE is a non-profit association that encourages businesses to initiate gender equality practices in the workplace. The association and its member firms have made considerable progress towards creating gender-equal places of work. WIN is a technologically powered, globally scalable online platform that amplifies the voices of women at the workplace and also enables them to share their experiences.

"We are excited to welcome Women Icons Network (WIN) as our latest partner. The collaboration will not only help us highlight the tremendous work done by our member firms but also roll-out mentorship programs that address the gaps essential to building an inclusive leadership," said Ms Kyawt Kay Thi Win, Country Director, BCGE

Mr Vishwesh Iyer, Co-founder, WIN, believes that all those working towards ensuring gender equal workplaces need to make a collective effort that augments individual strengths if we as a society are serious about SDG 5 Goals.

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 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.

About Business Coalition for Gender Equality

The Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE) is a non-profit association and also a coalition of companies that are committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace in Myanmar.

Our association is led and founded by seven leading businesses in Myanmar – City Mart Holding Limited (CMHL), KBZ Bank, KBZ MS, AYA Bank, FMI, Parami Energy Group of Companies, and Shwe Taung Group – that have all committed to achieve organizational growth and global sustainable development goals through workplace gender equality initiatives.

BCGE encourages all companies and organizations in the commercial sector to initiate workplace gender equality practices and serves as a center of excellence to support their journey.

Contact for Media queries

Vishwesh Iyer
vishwesh@womeniconsnetwork.com
+65 – 91018487

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

AppsFlyer Launches 19th Global Office in Sydney to Tap on ANZ’s AUD7.79 Billion Mobile Marketing Potential and Thriving Local App Industry

SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – AppsFlyer, the global attribution and marketing analytics leader, today announced its official expansion into Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with its first office opening in Sydney – making this its 19th office worldwide. AppsFlyer counts design giant Canva, neobank 86:400, and fitness app Sweat by Kayla among its current roster of ANZ clients. This follows AppsFlyer's recent announcement that Salesforce Ventures has joined its roster of investors in a late stage extension of its AUD287 million Series D round, which was led by General Atlantic earlier this year. The company now exceeds AUD273 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with over 1,000 employees globally.

By launching in ANZ, AppsFlyer hopes to support the region's rapidly growing local app economy by capitalising on the region's mobile marketing spend, which is expected to grow to up to AUD7.79 billion by 2021. According to AppsFlyer's first App Marketing in Australia and New Zealand 2020 report, although domestic apps currently occupy only 4% of the total ANZ app market share – with the US and China dominating at 29% and 12% respectively – growth potential for local apps is seen particularly in the verticals of Lifestyle (20%), Travel (16%), and Health & Fitness (13%).

This is especially relevant today when app usage is on the rise in ANZ; the same AppsFlyer report showed that Finance apps grew by 175%, Shopping apps by 125%, and Health & Fitness apps by 86% in H1 2020 vs H1 2019 for non-organic installs (NOI).

Under the leadership of Antony Wilcox, Director of Growth, AppsFlyer is looking to pursue vast growth opportunities in the region's mobile marketing and analytics industry, provide a platform to better serve app marketers in understanding customer data, and accelerate their mobile marketing efforts. The opening of a physical office in the middle of a pandemic, further shows AppsFlyer's commitment to the region, and its focus on servicing customers and growing its business further.

Antony Wilcox, Director of Growth, Australia and New Zealand, AppsFlyer, states: "Australia and New Zealand's move into the mobile generation is happening right now. We've seen homegrown start-ups move from seed rounds to a string of IPO's and have now become global players in Fintech, Retail Tech, and Productivity categories. AppsFlyer serves as the bridge between the mobile web and the app ecosystem, and we are currently building out our integrations with Cloud Marketing partners to bring all the value of the Martech ecosystem into one platform for marketers."

Ronen Mense, President and Managing Director for APAC, AppsFlyer, says: "We are immensely proud to be able to expand physically into Australia and New Zealand during a pandemic. Globally, many businesses have accelerated their digital transformation as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, with mobile taking front and center stage in their strategic focus. We see an opportunity here to not only better support our existing customers in the region, but also to help empower the greater ANZ business community with our mission-critical tools and industry expertise so they can get the most out of their mobile marketing potential."

Ecosystem shifts and digital transformation accelerated by COVID-19 have fuelled the growth of AppsFlyer's ground-breaking solutions to meet the needs of marketers and app developers. These include innovative, privacy-centric attribution solutions for iOS 14, in a post-IDFA world; App Clips analytics; a zero budget marketing plan for app developers; enabling the web campaign-to-app opportunity; and two brand new products: Xpend – a cost aggregation solution that extracts cost data from any source, and accurately calculates ROI across the entire marketing journey, and Incrementality – which helps brands test and prove incremental lift of their marketing campaigns.

Globally, AppsFlyer works with thousands of customers, including leading brands such as Macy's, Minecraft, Nike, NBC Universal, Tencent, US Bank, Wayfair, and StitchFix. AppsFlyer's marketplace of over 8,000 partners includes Facebook, Google, Apple Search Ads, Twitter, TikTok Ads, Pinterest, Snap, Salesforce, Adobe, and Oracle. AppsFlyer was recently named to the Forbes 2020 Cloud 100 list for the 2nd year in a row.

Existing investors include General Atlantic, Goldman Sachs Growth, DTCP (Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners), Qumra Capital, Pitango Venture Capital, Magma Venture Partners, and Eight Roads Ventures.

App Marketing in Australia and New Zealand 2020 report highlights:

The AppsFlyer App Marketing in Australia and New Zealand 2020 report examines 120 million installs, covering 12,500 apps downloaded between January to June 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. The report was done across eight verticals including Entertainment, Shopping, Gaming, Health & Fitness, Finance, Utilities, Travel and Lifestyle. The dataset in the report has also been compared against H1 2020 global data and H1 2019 Australia and New Zealand data.

– Finance – Non-organic installs (installs as a result of paid marketing activity), nearly tripled (175%) in comparison to H1 2019.

– Fraud – Overall fraud in ANZ grew to 14.94% by June 2020, doubling from 7.9% in February 2020. With Shopping and Finance apps being widely utilised, marketers were sinking more advertising spend, which in-end targeted fraudsters. Over 50% of apps expected to generate fake attributions.

– Travel – New Zealanders tended to over-index on Travel app NOI at 21% (enjoying the second-highest share behind just New South Wales, 26%). Marketers might therefore find a measure of solace in this finding by boosting their spending in New Zealand.

– Health and Fitness – With gyms and stores closed, health and fitness apps grew in H1 2020 by 86% and shopping apps grew by 125%, as people were seeking alternatives.

– User Acquisition – January showed to be a great month for marketers to invest in, benefitting from extended holiday spending, with user acquisition in January proving to be at lower costs.
— Cost per installs grew during March, April, and May months as COVID-related NOI and Organic Install spikes
— Entertainment (1.65 in May 2020 from 1.39 in January 2020),
— Lifestyle (1.7 in May 2020 from 1.2 in January 2020) and
— Shopping (3.17 in May 2020 from 2.4 in January 2020) apps
— Revenue and App Opens also peaked in January as Health & Fitness (17%), Lifestyle (20%) and Travel (25%) apps peaked, gaming and utilities apps also grew

AppsFlyer was founded in Israel in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, by Oren Kaniel, current CEO, and CTO Reshef Mann. Globally, the company works with more than 12,000 customers including leading brands like HBO, Alibaba, Skyscanner, and is currently located in 19 global offices. AppsFlyer works with data-driven marketers for independent measurement solutions and innovative tools to grow and protect their mobile business. AppsFlyer's platform processes billions of mobile actions every day, empowering marketers and developers to maximize the return on their marketing investments.

App Marketing in Australia and New Zealand 2020 report is available at https://www.appsflyer.com/resources/others/app-marketing-australia-new-zealand/

About AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer, the global attribution leader, empowers marketers to grow their business and innovate with a suite of comprehensive measurement and analytics solutions. Built around privacy by design, AppsFlyer takes a customer-centric approach to help 12,000+ brands and 7,000+ technology partners make better business decisions every day. To learn more, visit www.appsflyer.com

Media Contacts
Debbie Beins
PRecious Communications on behalf of AppsFlyer
appsflyer@preciouscomms.com
+65 6303 0567

Press Contact For AppsFlyer in APAC:
Nico Marco
nico.marco@appsflyer.com

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