Start-up Express Pitching Contest showcases innovative solutions

HONG KONG, Jun 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Start-up Express, an entrepreneurship development programme organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), has returned for its third edition. The pitching contest under the programme successfully concluded today as a judging panel selected exceptional start-ups to participate in local and international activities to build connections, explore markets, seek partners and enhance brand awareness. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Pitching Final was livestreamed online with a live polling of the "My Favourite Start-up Award", which was awarded to MICology.

Start-up Express Pitching Final winners photographed with jurors and guests.

Renowned stand-up comedian Vivek Mahbubani, the event host, talks to participating start-ups.

A distinguished judging panel witnessed the rise of new start-up success stories.

Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director of HKTDC said: "Start-ups have been affected by the economic downturn like much of the world but the true essence of entrepreneurship is persistence in the face of adversity. There can always be opportunities found amid what otherwise appears to be a crisis. Traditional business and consumption models are seeing a new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which can in turn increase receptiveness to new ideas. With outstanding achievements in innovation and technology, local start-ups launched products and services to fight against the pandemic. The HKTDC will continue to support local start-ups in exploring business opportunities amid the pandemic-struck economy, and to promote the city's capabilities in innovation and technology to overseas buyers."

Start-up Express offers global promotion, market exploration

The contestants propose innovative and disruptive solutions to transform business and social ecosystems through biotech, fintech, robotics, artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) and responded to questions raised by a distinguished judging panel and online audience. This year's juror line-up (listed below) witnessed the rise of new start-up success stories alongside online spectators:

– Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, AMTD Group
– Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Startup Council
– Cindy Chow, Executive Director, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund
– Duncan Chiu, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Radiant Venture Capital
– Herbert Chia, Venture Partner, Sequoia Capital China

This year's winners of the Pitching Final include: Arical, Arovia Hong Kong, BUG BROS BIOTECH, Gense Technologies, imBee, Inovo Robotics, Open Ocean Engineering, Return Helper, Shopkyo, SPES Tech and Wineworld Xplorer. (Click here https://bit.ly/2UsM30s for the list of wining start-ups and their profile)

The start-ups will be invited to exploratory sessions, power meet-up sessions with successful business leaders, business-matching sessions and local events organised by the HKTDC, including Start-up Zones at the Asian Financial Forum, spring and autumn editions of the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair and HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair. The HKTDC will also bring the start-ups to the international stage by organising overseas missions and setting up Hong Kong Pavilions at international technology exhibitions – including CES in Las Vegas and MWC Barcelona.

Double opportunities to build professional networks

AMTD Group is the strategic partner of Start-up Express for a second year. Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer said: "I am impressed by the innovative ideas and practical solutions presented by our city's young entrepreneurs in this year's Start-up Express Pitching Final presentation. This recurring programme serves as a valuable platform for participants to showcase their unique business ideas and demonstrate the innovative power of the young generation in Hong Kong.

"The current business landscape is full of challenges, but for start-ups that are agile and versatile in responding to changing conditions and market needs, they can definitely identify and seize the best out of available emerging opportunities."

With the support of AMTD Group, the SpiderNet Award has been established to recognise the top performer selected by AMTD in the Pitching Final. The award aims to provide the winner with a unique and rare opportunity to access the resources and network of the AMTD SpiderNet eco-system. The winner will benefit greatly for its future development, and will also offer synergetic value to other entrepreneurs within the eco-system. imBee won the inaugural prize.

Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Startup Council, said: "In every entrepreneurial journey, there are bound to be challenging times and the strength of a true entrepreneur is the ability to fight through the hard times and learn from each setback. This year has been especially trying due to the health situation that has impacted businesses globally but these start-ups have shown the resilience to fight through the adversity and succeed."

Mr Chiu added: "It has been great to see how this batch of start-ups have navigated the past few months to present themselves in a shining light, ready to embrace new opportunities on the international market through Start-up Express' unique support system. The programme helps entrepreneurs build connections and seek opportunities with potential investors and partners. I look forward to the winning start-ups joining HKStartupSociety and realise their dreams of not only excelling in Hong Kong but on the international stage."

Helping Hong Kong start-ups expand markets and networks

A key driver for Start-up Express participants has been the opportunity to enhance brand and media awareness, while also connecting with mentors, partners and investors through HKTDC-organised local and overseas events. This has provided start-ups with the chance to learn from experts and strengthen their core business.

Start-Up Express past winners benefitting from new opportunities include Miscato Limited, which developed and patented smart aromatherapy solutions, and Quikec International Limited, which developed a one-stop cloud-based supply chain management solution.

Michelle Fno, Founder & CEO of Miscato Limited, said: "HKTDC's strong network has helped us land interview opportunities with local and overseas media outlets, which in turn allowed me to share how my company developed our new series of antiviral smart aromatherapy products. Thanks to this increased exposure and HKTDC's support, we've since been able to capture new business opportunities and expand our clientele."

Peter Li, President and Co-founder of Quikec International Limited said: "Start-up Express has provided us an opportunity to participate in different exhibition and international exchange events. This has helped us expand our client base and find excellent partners despite operating on a tight budget. For example, meeting with Duncan Chiu, a well-known investor, offered many valuable lessons for us as he offered suggestions on business-development strategy."

HKTDC throws full support behind local start-ups

The HKTDC will continue to fully support the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem to maintain Hong Kong's status as a competitive business city and hub for innovation. To support enterprises, the HKTDC has launched the "HKTDC Transformation Sandbox (T-box)", offering free support on branding, e-commerce, manufacturing relocation and new market development. A "Voice of Start-ups" series has been launched on the HKTDC online platform to promote the success stories of local start-ups and to show how their creativity and versatility help them thrive and capture local and overseas business opportunities.

In addition to organising Start-up Express, HKTDC will support start-ups by hosting the annual Entrepreneur Day in July. The Council will also set up dedicated start-up zones at its world-class trade fairs in Hong Kong to help local start-ups reach out to overseas buyers and suppliers for potential partnership opportunities.

More information
Start-up Express: http://info.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/index.html
Photo download: https://bit.ly/30ugiZ4

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.

About AMTD

AMTD Group is Asia's leading comprehensive financial services conglomerate, with businesses in investment banking, institutional asset management, strategic investment, virtual banking, corporate insurance brokerage, etc. and non-financial services areas to include property investment and hotel operation, K12 education, innovative technology, and digital investment. AMTD Group is a global Strategic Partner Associate of the World Economic Forum, and has been supporting the Singapore Fintech Festival since 2017.

AMTD International (NYSE: HKIB; SGX:HKB), a subsidiary of AMTD Group and dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Singapore Exchange, is the No. 1 independent investment bank in Asia and one of Asia's largest independent asset management companies, and is also a leading investment house in the financial and new economy sectors.

AMTD Digital, a diversified digital technology platform under AMTD Group, operates in businesses covering digital financial services, digital marketing, media, and data intelligence, digital connectors and digital investment. Airstar Bank, one of the eight licensed virtual banks in Hong Kong, is the joint venture between AMTD and Xiaomi and a portfolio under this platform, and is also one of the earlier virtual banks launching its service.

Media enquiries
Please contact Creative Consulting Group or HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Creative Consulting Group
Wendy Chan
Tel: +852 3159 2962 / +852 6758 4869
Email: wendy.chan@creativegp.com

June Wong
Tel: +852 3159 2909 / +852 6986 5822
Email: june.wong@creativegp.com

HKTDC
Leslie Ng
Tel: +852 2584 4239
Email: leslie.ss.ng@hktdc.org

Beatrice Lam
Tel: +852 2584 4049
Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

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

84000 Launches an Animation Video to Preserve Buddhist Texts

NEW YORK, Jun 5, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, a global non-profit initiative to translate and preserve the Tibetan Buddhist Canon, is launching a video campaign to raise awareness around one of the world's largest and oldest collections of writings: With 230,000 pages locked within the fading Classical Tibetan language, the world is on the brink of losing access to a priceless archive of wisdom. This launch marks 84000's 10th anniversary.

In 2009, a conference of the world's leading Tibetan Buddhist teachers, translators, and academics concluded that less than 5% of the Canon had ever been translated into a language spoken today. That 5% of writings has already offered the modern world much insight into the mind, human psychology, relationships, and ethics.

Since its founding, 84000 has awarded over US$6 million in grants to translation teams around the world – from UCSB, Oxford, the University of Vienna, through to Rangjung Yeshe Institute (Nepal) – who work to decipher the Tibetan Buddhist Canon.

"The number of scholars who are both proficient in Classical Tibetan and trained to interpret this profound philosophy, is fast-fading," explains Huang Jing-Rui, 84000's executive director. "If we don't act now, imagine how much wisdom might be lost forever, locked within this ancient language."

In just ten years, 84000 has translated over 30% of the sutras. It has the endorsement of all four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism, and continues to work with the support of some of the most learned, living teachers of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

This historic initiative makes freely available for the first time, primary-source material in English that is proving invaluable for international scholarship on Buddhist history, philosophy, and insight into the development and transfer of cultures across Asia. And 84000 continually integrates new technologies with its digital library giving its readers access to multi-language glossaries, and source-text, bilingual reading ability. The translated Tibetan Buddhist Canon is made available freely to the public to enjoy.

The launch of this 3-min animation, voiced by award-winning, British actress Joanna Lumley, is accompanied by a weekend "Like and Share" campaign from June 5th (5am EST/5pm SG) till June 7th (5pm EST/June 8 5am SG). With millions confined to their homes, 84000 urges everyone to make their screen time count: With one click, help preserve the world's largest archive of wisdom.

"It's entirely possible that the survival of the Buddhadharma could depend on it being translated into other languages," notes the Founding Chair, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche known for his long-sighted vision and innovation in an arena that still highly values conservatism. "By translating and making available the Tibetan Buddhist texts to modern people, a vast swath of Buddhist civilization and culture may be saved from annihilation."

Today's launch coincides with Saga Dawa, a day celebrated by Buddhists around the world to commemorate the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing.

Video: https://84000.co/2020video
Directed by: Queena Li
Produced by: Blacksugar
Voiceover by: Joanna Lumley (English), Leah Dou (Chinese)

Website: 84000.co

For more information, please contact:
ASIA
Singapore
Huang Jing Rui
Executive Director
Email: jingrui@84000.co
WeChat: utpala84000

China
Wang Lang
Chinese Projects Coordinator
Email: 2773039697@qq.com

EUROPE
France
Dr. John Canti
Editorial Co-Director
Email: john.canti@84000.co
Tel: +33 6 83 85 82 64

USA
California
Dr. Rory Lindsay
Editor
Email: rory.lindsay@84000.co
Tel: +1-617-800-5755

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

Nili Method and APP helping Couples Choose Baby Gender Naturally

LONDON, Jun 3, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Nili Method (www.nilimethod.com), the easy, natural, and safe way to conceive the baby gender that parents wish for, with its new Family Planner, is now available at Google Play and App Store. Determining the gender of your baby is possible, and now, with the Nili method and new App, it is more accessible than ever.

Nili is a method that personalizes a unique day by day program for couples who want to conceive the gender they are wishing for. The personal Nili Family Planner is based on physical parameters and lifestyle, and will provide couples with daily instruction on how to conceive their desired baby boy or baby girl.

Family planning is one of the most significant decisions in life. The Nili Family Planner assists couples on this journey and supports them in the choice of the natural way. Thanks to latest technology, with an accumulation of world best research performed by physicians around the world, it is no longer required to go through a tiresome and expensive process.

And the Nili method and the new Nili Family Planner offer a full money back guarantee. Couples that use the Nili Family Planner and do not conceive their desired gender will receive their money back, without any questions. We have already helped thousands of people all over the world. And now it's your turn to make your dream come true.

People that had doubts beforehand are happy parents today. They follow our gender selection program and give birth to a child of their wished gender. We are so sure about the results that we say, If the method doesn't work with you, we'll return your money. It is reliable, affordable and easy to use. So, why not try?

Contact: Jeniffer Hamilton
office@media-group-international.com
www.media-group-international.com
http://www.nilimethod.com/home/
http://www.nili-family-planner.com

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

Mainetti to launch M-care PPE Range

HONG KONG, May 27, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Mainetti Group is pleased to announce a new range of personal protective equipment (PPE), "M-care", available to customers in support of mitigating the risks of COVID-19. The M-care product range features a "Made in Hong Kong" disposal mask, manufactured to EN14683 Type IIR and ASTM F2100 Level 2 standards, ensuring that Made in Hong Kong continues to be associated with product quality.

The M-care suite of PPE products also includes anti-bacteria mask folders, protective gloves, safety goggles, gowns and hand sanitizers. Reusable masks and hi-tech smart devices such as portable air purifiers will be added to the range later this year. Hong Kong will serve as a regional distribution hub for all clients, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery as the world combats the pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Mainetti has been providing PPE to medical staff on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, as well as those in need, distributing masks, gloves and other essential gears to NGOs, food banks and hospitals in Italy, Spain, UK and Hong Kong, while leveraging its global supply chain and global client network.

Roberto Peruzzo, CEO of Mainetti Group, said, "As the world adapts to a rapidly changing landscape following COVID-19, Mainetti is working closely with business partners in our global supply chain to minimize disruption and navigate challenges. Our people are our most valuable asset and caring for our community is of critical importance to our group. In response to COVID-19, we have worked with local communities in Italy and Spain, as well as with charity partners and other relief organisations to supply PPE to healthcare professionals and those in need."

Paul Tai, Global Head of M-care and Regional Director of Mainetti said, "As global businesses re-commence operations, having readily-available and high-quality PPE will be essential for staving off the return of COVID-19. M-care is well placed to meet this growing demand. Together, we will beat the virus."

About Mainetti
Founded in 1961, Mainetti is one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of packaging for the fashion industry and a leading provider of smart retail solutions, with a presence in 49 countries. Working in partnership with its clients, which include many of the world's premier retail brands, Mainetti's sustainable products and solutions accelerates and enhances the sales process while controlling business costs. For more information, please visit www.mainetti.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Think Alliance Group
Henry Chow / Matthew Schultz
Tel: +852 3481 1161
Email: henry.chow@think-alliance.com / matt.schultz@think-alliance.com

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

Startup Domineum.io Generates $5M for African Govts within 11 months

LONDON, Apr 29, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – As blockchain technology is taking the market by storm and creating exponential growth, Africa would not be exempted. Delivering blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) and AI enabled SaaS designed to increase the efficiency of marine services and land department real estate services for government agencies, blockchain startup Domineum.io and its founder, serial entrepreneur Geoffrey Weli Wosu, managed to create more than US$5 million for several African governments during the final 11 months of fiscal 2019.

What makes blockchain technology so powerful? Blockchain's data structure, immutability and tamper detection, data protection, distributed ledger technology, relative user anonymity, the promise of ever-increasing IT spend, to name a few. Blockchain technology is already changing the way many segments operate, while its technology market is expected to grow from US$1.2B in 2018 to US$23.3B by 2023, an annual growth rate of 80.2%.

Ken Griffin, Citadel founder and philanthropist, says, "Blockchain's a very interesting technology that will have very profound applications for society over the years to come." Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, says, "Whereas most technologies tend to automate workers on the periphery doing menial tasks, blockchains automate away the center. Instead of putting the taxi driver out of a job, blockchain puts Uber out of a job and lets the taxi drivers work with the customer directly."

Blockchain technology allows users to participate in peer-to-peer transactions without involving central mediators, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) logically emerged as an early adopter. But many believe the true value of this revolutionary technology will be best felt across the developing world. From elections to international remittances, energy services to alternatives to banking, many issues could potentially be solved by a few principles inherent to blockchain: transparency and decentralization.

As a distributed ledger, or blockchain, technology company, Domineum Blockchain Solutions was established to assist Governments and Companies integrate Blockchain into their operations. Headquartered at Level39, London, with an R&D unit in San Francisco, a technology resource centre in Tallinn, and a current operational base in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, Domineum aims to disrupt several sectors in the emerging markets and leapfrog the current infrastructure with blockchain technology.

Domineum.io has quickly become a major developer of AI-enabled Blockchain Solutions for government agencies, financial institutions, and real estate and marine authorities interested in achieving the agility and capability needed to compete in current and future markets. In 2019, Weli Wosu and Domineum signed strategic Government alliances with Sierra Leone and Nigeria's Abia State, producing revenues of more than $5 million within the fiscal year for the Government agencies.

No stranger to the markets, Geoffrey co-founded Voguepay.com, a payment processing platform established in 2012 with over 100,000 global merchants today; and invested (Level39) in Analytics Intelligence, an artificial intelligence (AI) technology start-up that provides solutions for data collection and analysis to a wide variety of customers in Europe, America and Africa.

Geoffrey studied Business (2006) and Law (2009) at the University of Bolton in the UK, he's an Associate Member of the British Computer Society (AMBCS), Member of Level39, and author of "E-Government Solutions for the Developing World", "How to Simplify the Work of Governments in Developing Countries", and "Combining Blockchain and AI to Grow the Global Digital Economy" (ref: academia.edu).

For more information on the project pipeline, or to enter the discussion, please visit:

Website: https://www.domineum.io
Twitter: https://twitter.com/domineum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/domineum/
Telegram: https://t.me/domineum

Media Contact:
Geoffrey Weli-Wosu
geoffrey.weliwosu@domineum.io
www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreyweliwosu
Level39, One Canada Square,
Canary Wharf, London, UK.

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

Cisco & Google Lead the Way in Ensuring Broad Coverage from Aetna and UnitedHealthcare for Young Pregnant Mothers

Florida, USA, Apr 2, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Founded by mothers for mothers, Stand Up! For Accurate Prenatal Answers (Stand Up! 4APA) is on a mission to ensure that all women in the U.S. have access to accurate and non-invasive prenatal genetic screening tests concerning fetal health.

Stand Up! For Accurate Prenatal Answers is pleased to see evidence of leading tech companies such as Cisco and Google affirming the right of women's rights during pregnancy and pushing back on leading insurance companies who have generally restricted access to only pregnant women over the age of 35.

Nearly four million women in the United States, particularly women under 35, are being denied access to the benefits of reliable, accurate, and non-invasive prenatal screening tests, because of lack of insurance coverage, low income, and age-related discrimination. The result of this discrimination is:

– Too many false negatives: Up to 22% of Down syndrome cases are missed
– Too many false positives: Creating unnecessary anxiety for the mothers during pregnancy, expensive specialist referrals and invasive procedures that can result in the loss of the child

"Pregnancy is the most precious time in any woman's life. Carrying another life within you for those treasured nine months is a blessing and a miracle. Stand Up! 4APA was created to provide a voice for young mothers who have gone through traumatic experiences because multi-billion dollar insurance companies like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare do not cover more accurate testing," explains Cori Simmons, President, Stand Up! For Accurate Prenatal Answers. "While steps taken by Cisco and Google are encouraging, we implore women in other Silicon Valley companies take note and demand accurate prenatal answers".

Company: StandUp4APA
Contact: Cori Simmons
Email: info@standup4apa.org
Phone:+1 616 727 0164
Website: Standup4apa.org

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

JCB International signs License Agreement with Kyrgyzkommertsbank to start acceptance of JCB cards in Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic and Tokyo, Japan, Mar 10, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., and PJSC Kyrgyzkommertsbank, one of the leading banks in the Kyrgyz Republic announced signing a License Agreement for building a JCB card acceptance network and to start JCB merchant acquiring operations in the Kyrgyz Republic.

All JCB cardmembers travelling to Bishkek and other cities of the Republic will be able to use their JCB cards for purchases at merchants and for cash withdrawals at ATMs of Kyrgyzkommertsbank throughout the Kyrgyz Republic by the end of 2020.

This partnership will allow both the merchants affiliated to Kyrgyzkommertsbank to add a new payment system brand as an incremental sales opportunity, and JCB to offer cardmembers wide acceptance during tourist and business stays in the Kyrgyz Republic.

JCB is one of the major international payments brands and the only one originated in Japan. There are more than 130 million JCB cardmembers in the world, and JCB cards are accepted at 33 million associated merchants.

Takashi Suetsugu, the General Director of JCB International (Eurasia) LLC commented, "We are delighted to announce that Kyrgyzkommertsbank, a bank with a reliable and stable reputation and having a long history of success in the financial market of the country will start accepting JCB cards in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz Republic has one of the closest relationships with Japan among Central Asian countries, and we see an increasing number of travelers from Russia and China which are countries where JCB's card issuing business is growing rapidly. We hope that the cooperation with Kyrgyzkommertsbank will help to create a more comfortable and hospitable environment for JCB cardmembers from these countries".

"Evolvement of non-cash turnover in Kyrgyzstan is one of our strategic priorities. Developing cooperation with JCB, Kyrgyzkramdsbank will simplify payments with cards for tourists from East and South-East Asia. JCB cardholders traveling in Kyrgyzstan will be able to use their cards to pay for purchases and withdraw cash at Kyrgyzkommertsbank ATMs throughout Kyrgyzstan. This partnership will allow trading companies cooperating with Kyrgyzkommertsbank to get new sales opportunities with the help of the global financial brand," commented Erik Usubaliev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Kyrgyzkommertsbank.

About PJSC Kyrgyzkommertsbank

PJSC Kyrgyzkommertsbank is a Kyrgyz-Japanese bank that provides a wide range of banking services in the Kyrgyz Republic and has been operating effectively in the financial market for over 27 years.

Constantly improving and keeping up with the most modern international trends, the Bank is a stable and reliable financial institution of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The main areas of business: deposit placement, lending, settlements and cash services for legal entities and individuals, operations with securities, foreign currency, issuing and servicing of credit and payment cards. The Bank has the highest status of Principal Member of the international payment systems, Visa, Mastercard and Union Pay International. It serves Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Union Pay International and Elcard cards. Additional information about Kyrgyzkommertsbank is available on the official website of the bank www.kkb.kg

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. 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 card member base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/.

CONTACT
JCB
Kumiko Kida
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: kumiko.kida@jcb.co.jp

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

Hong Kong Investment Promotion chief visits Norway to promote Hong Kong’s long-term business opportunities

HONG KONG, Mar 3, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The Director-General of Investment Promotion of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (March 3) started his duty visit to Bergen and Oslo in Norway promoting Hong Kong's business attractions.

Mr Stephen Phillips

During the visit, Mr Phillips will meet with business leaders from various sectors including creative industries, consumer products, financial services, information and communications technology and a food trading company. He will also speak at Vestland Konferansen organised by Sparebanken Vest and DigiLab Scandinavia AS and a breakfast seminar organised by Nordea Bank and Norway-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce promoting Hong Kong's business opportunities, especially the opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong continues to be an ideal location for overseas and Mainland companies as well as entrepreneurs from around the globe who use the city as the base to set up or expand their business. It can be reflected in our surveys conducted last year, which showed a 9.9 per cent increase in the number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas and in Mainland China compared to the figure in 2017. In terms of start-ups, the results are even more encouraging with a 42.8 per cent increase in the number of start-ups in the city compared to the 2017 figure."

He added, "Hong Kong plays an important role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the most open and international city in the area. It is also an international financial, transportation, trade and aviation hub in the region. Norwegian multinationals and start-ups should seize the opportunities arising from the Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong and leverage the city's advantages to start or expand their foothold in the region."

About InvestHK

InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit http://www.investhk.gov.hk.

Contact:
Geert Hovens 
Principal Consultant 
Tel: +31 6 5232 3542
Email: GHovens@investhk.com.hk

JCBI and Far Eastern Bank announced the launch of JCB and MIR-JCB cards

Vladivostok, Russia & Tokyo, Japan, Feb 4, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Far Eastern Bank, which marks 30 years of successful financial activity this year, became the fourth bank in Russia to start issuing cards JCB cards.

PJSC Far East Bank is one of the largest banks in the financial market of the Far East and Eastern Siberia. According to the national rating agency Expert RA, Far Eastern Bank is included in the top 100 Russian banks.

JCB, originated in Japan, is one of the largest payment systems in the world. There are more than 130 million JCB cardholders in 24 countries and regions, also the cards are accepted in 33 million retail and service enterprises around the world.

Far Eastern Bank is launching the issuance of JCB Standard and Platinum cards, as well as co-branded MIR-JCB Standard cards. Cardholders can enjoy various exclusive privileges and discounts at restaurants, shops, airports and travel agencies around the world. In addition to the main privileges from JCB payment system, JCB Standard cardholders will receive 5% cashback on purchases in the duty free, taxi and fast food categories and 0.5% cashback on all other transactions. JCB Platinum cardholders will be able to get cashback up to 7% when shopping in duty free, gift shops and restaurants.

"The implementation of new development vectors using the advantages of modern international payment instruments is a natural growth stage of the retail business of Far Eastern Bank. The first in Primosrky krai to start servicing and issuing payment cards, for 30 years we have maintained and strengthened our leadership. Today, over the entire territory of our presence, the total number of cards issued by the bank exceeds one million, and our many years of experience in issuing and servicing bank cards allows us to offer our customers high-quality products and services that provide enhanced functionality and ease of settlements both in Russia and abroad," emphasized the President of PJSC Far Eastern Bank Valery Pavlyuk.

"The number of Russian tourists from the Far East region to Japan, as well as the number of Japanese tourists to Vladivostok, continues to grow, so this region is one of the most highly-promising for the JCB payment system," commented Kimihisa Imada, President and COO of JCB International Co., Ltd. We are confident that the issuance of JCB and MIR-JCB cards by the Far Eastern Bank meets the needs of residents of the Far East who can use all the privileges of JCB cards in such popular destinations as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries of Southeast Asia."

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. 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 card member base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.ru.jcb/ru/ or www.global.jcb/en/.

About Far Eastern Bank

PJSC Far Eastern Bank is a universal financial institution, which keeps a leading position in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. It was founded in Vladivostok in 1990 and is the same age as the banking system of Russia. The international agency Moody's Investors Service assigned Far Eastern Bank long-term deposit rating in foreign and national currency – B2. The rating agency RAEX (Expert RA) assigned to Far Eastern Bank a credit rating at the level of ruBBB. The rating set a stable outlook. Far Eastern Bank serves more than 17,000 corporate clients, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in all major sectors of the economy, as well as about 240,000 private clients. Today the Bank has a network of 42 branches in 10 regions of Russia. Additional information about the Bank is available on the website http://www.dvbank.ru.

CONTACT
JCB
Kumiko Kida
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: kumiko.kida@jcb.co.jp

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

Exvisa Launches Immigration App Designed to Change How People Move Across the Globe

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, Jan 27, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Exvisa GmbH is proud to announce the launch of its new immigration app, designed to change how people move across the globe in an increasingly digital world. Tolga Akcay, Exvisa CEO, says his company is transforming the immigration system, along with its counterparts, emigration and relocation. Exvisa is a comprehensive technology that effectively and safely digitizes our passports, visas, and immigration information, transforming the way that people look at traveling, immigrating, and crossing borders.

"Exvisa is more than a simple digitization process for your visa or your passport – it's a comprehensive travel technology that makes it easier than ever before for businesses and state entities to search for potential beneficial immigrants – those who possess certain skillsets or experience that are in need. In addition, Exvisa is the world's most secure, safe, and protected digital travel platform, with cryptonizing technology specifically designed to ensure that your documents cannot be hacked, stolen, or compromised.

"First, let's talk about the most advanced level of immigration protection that countries can now take advantage of thanks to this new technology. Because Exvisa digitizes and cryptonizes travel documents like visas and passports, countries can leverage the tremendous power of the intelligent system to effectively control relocation, immigration, or emigrations processes through a series of user-intuitive parameters that give authorities the comprehensive control that they've always wanted.

"Exvisa was built on the world's most advanced intelligent system to ensure that it could offer a wide range of benefits that extended far beyond the process of digitizing documents. I wanted it to have a real-world application. So far, we've seen first-hand just how powerful of a resource it can be for countries who want to gain more comprehensive control over their immigration, relocation, and emigration procedures. The system makes it easier for authorities to ensure that all necessary documents are legitimate and applicable for any new immigrants, while also helping to reduce any risks associated with immigration," says Tolga.

Exvisa can also be applied by large international corporations and employed as a talent acquisition or talent screening resource. For outsourcing needs, companies can utilize the power of Exvisa to identify specialized professionals in other countries whom they may want to recruit for their own purposes. For instance, if your business in Germany is running short on, say, programmers, you can work with countries like the US or China to cover your shortage and ensure that you have access to the talent that you need to deliver your services.

In the next few years, Exvisa will likely become the new standard instrument for immigration, relocation, and emigration. With the most advanced levels of security and protection, widespread application for businesses, comprehensive immigration control for government entities, and an easier, more convenient means for people looking to immigrate, emigrate, or relocate, Exvisa successfully leverages the power of intelligent digital technology to bring a much-needed solution to an increasingly complicated global problem.

Exvisa GmbH
Tolga Akcay
+49 211 5405 7101
t.akcay@exvisa.com
http://www.exvisa.com

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