RHTLaw Asia strengthens Real Estate Practice with appointment of new partner

SINGAPORE, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm's Real Estate practice.

Mr Yeong Wai Cheong, Partner at RHTLaw Asia and Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner at RHTLaw Asia [L-R]

Wai Cheong brings extensive experience in real estate, banking and finance, representing Singapore-listed companies and banks, purchasers and vendors, developers, landlords and tenants across a range of domestic and cross-border financing and real estate matters.

He has been consistently ranked as a "Recommended Lawyer" for Real Estate in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for seven consecutive years. Dual-qualified in Singapore and Hong Kong, Wai Cheong has represented parties for the sale and purchase and financing of industrial, commercial and residential properties in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In addition to his prior stint at RHTLaw Asia, Wai Cheong was also previously the General Counsel for Asia for an European bank and the Head of Legal for Singapore for two European banks.

RHTLaw Asia Managing Partner, Mr Azman Jaafar, said, "Real Estate will continue to be an important sector for us given Singapore's position as a global financial centre. We will continue to strengthen our practice with the addition of new talent to support our clients. Mr Yeong is a welcome addition to our team as we roll out our new ONERHT Client UX strategy together with our core multidisciplinary capabilities."

About RHTLaw Asia LLP

RHTLaw Asia LLP is a leading regional law firm headquartered in Singapore with a network of offices in 15 jurisdictions in Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa under the ASEAN Plus Group (APG) comprising over 2,000 lawyers. We help clients understand the local challenges, navigate the regional complexity to deliver the competitive advantage for their businesses in Asia. We are also the Singapore member of the Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms.

RHTLaw Asia collaborates with ONERHT, an integrated network of multidisciplinary professional services, through entities which are not affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more details, please visit www.rhtlawasia.com

For Mr Yeong Wai Cheong's profile, please visit:
https://www.rhtlawasia.com/people/yeong-wai-cheong/

About ONERHT

ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional and specialist services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia's founding team has developed a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional and specialist services, and networks, complementing RHTLaw's full service legal offerings. For more details, please visit www.onerht.com

For media queries, please contact:
Elliot Siow / elliot.siow@rhtgoc.com / +65 8375 0417

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

airindiaexpress.com witnesses surge in interest and bookings with its new look and unique features

New co-branded website witnesses 125% increase in visits and generates over 25% revenue for Air India Express; Dubai, Bengaluru, Abu Dhabi, Doha emerge top sources of traffic

Singapore, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – airindiaexpress.com, the unified customer interface of Air India Express and AirAsia India – the two subsidiary airlines of Air India, has witnessed a surge of visitors within days of launch with the platform, contributing over 25% of international flight revenue on the first day itself, making it the dominant single source of reservations. Flyers of both airlines are now logging in, booking, and managing reservations for both Air India Express and AirAsia India flights on airindiaexpress.com, the new website launched as a major milestone in the integration of the two airlines. airindiaexpress.com is built on the platform of the award-winning AirAsia India website developed by Tata Consultancy Services with the support of Tata Digital and provides a significantly enhanced booking, support and travel experience for Air India Express customers from its historical platform.

The launch of the new website was enabled by the migration to a common reservations and check-in system, which now unifies the entire commercial ecosystem of the two airlines.

Following the successful launch of the reservations system, the airline entities are now focusing on cutting over to common airport check-in systems in a phased manner at all international terminals in India, followed by the overseas network.

Some of the salient features of airindiaexpress.com include:

Single Sign On (SSO) credentials, integrated with Tata Neu and other participating brands of the Tata NeuPass rewards programme
Personalised account profile with personal details, travel documents, saved family & friends for single click addition of guests to bookings, GST details for SMEs, past and upcoming bookings and personalised offers and vouchers
E-commerce style shopping cart, integrated with single sign-on, enables users to seamlessly continue their booking if they leave midway
A single page vertically stacked accordion-style booking flow, minimising the time between flight search and payments, providing a super-fast and efficient booking experience
An integrated booking widget offering special fares and benefits for different passenger profiles, including senior citizens, students, doctors and nurses and members of the armed forces and their dependants, ensuring personalised offerings for flyers on the same PNR
The option to use gender-neutral honorifics for each passenger when booking
Xpress Check-in – Fastest in the industry 5-second check-in which is already scoring global benchmark level Net Promoter Scores with over 80% of users scoring it a 9 or 10, and stating they would recommend it to their friends and family.

Nearly half the bookings on airindiaexpress.com have been from international markets, with Dubai being the largest source city of traffic and other top international sources of traffic being Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sharjah, and Singapore. Domestic traffic and bookings on the platform have come from metro markets like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, reflecting the domestic network and hubs of AirAsia India.

As part of the integration, brand communications and support have also moved to common social media handles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Online reputation management tools indicate that the integrated social media handles have the highest social reputation score amongst all Indian airlines, driven by faster response and resolution times and massive positive sentiment and feedback on the user experience of the new website and support channels. Advanced AI-powered conversational and multilingual chatbot Tia is also providing seamless 24*7 customer support for both airlines on a common WhatsApp number, Facebook Messenger and on the common website.

With a unified sustainability strategy, the website also offers flyers the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint by planting a tree for every booking, with a geo-location tagged URN Certificate.

A travel agent portal, built and accessible from the same platform, for corporate and retail travel agents in the largely disaggregated market is another key offering of the platform. The travel agent portal offers automated fund upload options, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The platform is also fully automated, from fetching fares to negotiations, enabling travel agents to handle individual and group bookings with ease.

Commenting on the warm response to the integrated platform, Mr. Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express and AirAsia India said, “The initial phase of integration of Air India Express and AirAsia India has been executed in a robust manner in record time. We have successfully migrated to modern day technology from the legacy systems that were dominant. This migration has been built by leveraging the existing strong attributes of AirAsia India with additional deployment of relevant tech solutions. We are very enthused with the initial response to the newly launched airindiaexpress.com. The unified customer experience is an important aspect of our objective of showcasing the larger strength and scale of the Air India network. We are working on adding even more unique features and integrated service which will deliver enhanced experience and strengthen our position in the minds of the customers.”

AirAsia India flies to 19 destinations across the country while Air India Express operates to 14 international destinations from 20 Indian cities.

About Air India Express:

Air India Express, launched in 2005, is India’s first international budget carrier and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India. It meets the need for affordable services on short and medium-haul routes connecting smaller Indian towns directly to the Gulf and South East Asia regions. With 20 Indian cities and 14 international destinations in its network, the airline operates more than 600 flights a week. The airline has a fleet of 26 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft. In January 2022, Air India Express, together with Air India, was successfully privatized, with ownership returning to the Tata group that had initially founded Air India.

About AirAsia India:

AIX Connect Private Limited, formerly known as AirAsia India Private Limited, was launched in 2014 and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India Limited. AirAsia India flies over 50 direct and 100 connecting routes across India, offering plush leather seats, Gourmair hot meals, pioneering in-flight entertainment, and a host of exclusive loyalty benefits for members of the Tata NeuPass rewards program and offers fast bookings, fab deals and fantastic value on its award-winning website and mobile app.

Media Contact:

Air India Express
PG Prageesh /Hari Krishnan
pg.prageesh@airindiaexpress.in
hari.krishnan@airindiaexpress.in

Adfactors PR
Namrata Sharma (Singapore): +65 81383034
Abreshmina Quadri (National): +91-8826721799
Jeevan Chandy (Kochi): +91-9447302033
airindiaexpress@adfactorspr.com

Vivid Sydney 2023 Serves Up Biggest Program Yet

SYDNEY, AU, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Vivid Sydney will deliver the biggest and most culturally relevant program in its event history when it returns in 2023 from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June.

Lighting of the Sails – Vivid Sydney – Sydney Opera House

Australia's largest event and the pioneer of light-based art and culture festivals in the Asia-Pacific region has assembled some of the world's most innovative artists, talented music makers and thought leaders as part of its 2023 lineup, which also recognises the significant contribution of First Nations peoples and cultures to the creative industries.

Inspired by the master of all creators, Mother Nature, this year's theme, "Vivid Sydney, Naturally," is reflected across all of the 300+ activations and events that make up the 23-day program.

Vivid Sydney Light Walk's signature Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails will see the vibrant works of one of Australia's most famed artists, John Olsen, brought to life as a spectacular tribute to his illustrious artistic career of more than 60 years. Life Enlivened (2023) will include Olsen's evocative Salute to Five bells (1971-73) mural commissioned especially for the Northern Foyer of Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, as well as other artworks spotlighting Olsen's fascination with Australian landscapes and nature.

The Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House lineup will feature more than 40 Australian and international artists. Jose Gonzalez, Yaeji, Ella Mai, Cat Power, Devonte Hynes and many more will take to the stages of the world-famous building in a program curated by Sydney Opera House's Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall .

The Vivid Music program will spotlight First Nations and Australian voices this year. The late Archie Roach AC will be celebrated with an incredible night of performances with the late artist's longtime friends and collaborators and special appearances by members of Roach's family. There will also be 12 nights of free music at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour featuring Yothu Yindi, Dan Sultan, cult Japanese artist Cornelius and many more.

British author and "master of her material" Jeanette Winterson features at Vivid Ideas and will reflect on questions of identity, sexuality, religion and more to unpack the idea of nature in LIFE AND MARS: The Future of Human .

And for the first time, Vivid Sydney's brand-new pillar – Vivid Food – will broaden the creative spotlight from Light, Music and Ideas to include culinary favourites and innovative food events. Work up an appetite for a fusion of street food; a barbecue of epic proportions with legendary pitmasters for Vivid Fire Kitchen at the Cutaway at Barangaroo; fine-dining experiences; and the return of 2022's sell-out Vivid Sydney Dinner at the Ivy Ballroom, a special feast by esteemed Sydney chefs Ben Greeno and Danielle Alvarez.

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said Vivid Sydney has come of age and has evolved into a progressive and inclusive event that celebrates the best of an expanded definition of the creative industries in 2023.

"Vivid Sydney is the original festival of light, art and culture. 2023 is the 13th time it has been staged and so it has naturally evolved over time to ensure that it stays relevant to the creative industries and what that means to people today," Minervini said.

"We are truly proud of this year's program. We have raised the bar on the size and scale of the events and activated new parts of the city. Our lineup features more diverse talent across more industries.

"There are world-firsts and festival-firsts, and both free and ticketed events to make the festival accessible to everyone. Audiences should be prepared to be blown away by the calibre of talent and a program that has been inspired by the beauty and diversity of nature.

"Vivid Sydney's 2023 program is a celebration of authenticity, an invitation to connect, and a chance to create. You do not want to miss Vivid Sydney 2023."

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said Vivid Sydney was the biggest and most loved annual event in the NSW calendar that, in 2023, would once again support the entire ecosystem of the state's visitor economy. "Each year, visitors and Sydneysiders immerse themselves in the program and enjoy the activations of the talented creatives who make the festival so special. Last year we welcomed a record 2.58 million attendees across the festival footprint," Cox said.

"Vivid Sydney 2022 injected $119 million into the NSW visitor economy. It is our expectation that with its expanded program and more international travellers returning to our shores, Vivid Sydney 2023 will drive even greater visitor expenditure into the NSW economy."

Staged across Sydney's city centre, Vivid Sydney festival locations include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

MEDIA ASSETS

The full 2023 Vivid Sydney media kit, program announcement and high-res imagery, including 2023 Vivid Sydney light renders and broadcast-quality video footage of previous festival highlights, are available to download at www.vividsydney.com/news-room .

MEDIA CONTACTS

Greg Vekiarellis , Ogilvy PR
PH: +61 401 873 217
greg.vekiarellis@ogilvy.com.au

Jenna Whyte, Destination NSW
PH: +61 484 719 536
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

ABOUT VIVID SYDNEY

Vivid Sydney is Australia's largest festival celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforms Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 13th year in 2023, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world's brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency.

Contact Information
Jenna Whyte
PR Manager
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

Related Files
https://cdn.newswire.com/files/x/5c/41/1458df18fa2ae18629c003972d6b.pdf

Related Video
https://vimeo.com/807364026/acbc4fe650

SOURCE: Vivid Sydney

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC launches seven parallel events to cover lifestyle products and licensing

HONG KONG, Apr 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – As Asia's cultural and creativity hub, Hong Kong brings together innovative ideas and design talents. Coupled with the increasing demand of sophisticated consumers in pursuit of excellence, innovation and quality life, various industries such as fashion, lifestyle, product design and licensing are developing rapidly, creating abundant business opportunities.

Hong Kong Exporters Association Chairman Eric Sun; HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee Chairlady Katherine Fang; Home InStyle, Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair, and Gifts & Premium Fair Organising Committee Chairman Jeffrey Lam; HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong and Innovative Entrepreneur Association Vice President David Leung [L-R]

Home InStyle and Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will feature a brand new Cultural Creative Corner, showcasing designer brands and products with a unique cultural touch.

The InnoFashion and Trade Services zone, one of Fashion InStyle's main highlights, will have 12 exhibitors displaying a wide range of advanced fashion technologies.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will hold a series of exhibitions and conferences this spring, covering various lifestyle sectors. The seven events will run concurrently for the first time, from 19-22 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The events include the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair; Home InStyle (formerly the Hong Kong Houseware Fair); the Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair; Fashion InStyle (formerly Hong Kong Fashion Week); the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair as well as the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference which will end on 21 April. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, exhibitors and buyers have the opportunity to participate beyond physical shows, through the intelligent Click2Match platform which will run until 29 April.

Ms Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Hong Kong is a unique creative and cultural hub where East meets West and the city always excels in creativity. The HKTDC has been committed to promoting creative and design industries, help develop Hong Kong as Asia's city of culture and creativity. This year, the HKTDC gathers a number of large-scale exhibitions in April, covering lifestyle products and licensing to strengthen cross-industry and cross-field cooperation, creating even greater synergy to the industries."

"Since Hong Kong returned to normality, the HKTDC has organised several large-scale trade fairs and forums. Both domestic and international exhibitors and buyers showed support by attending the events physically, which is very encouraging. This time, the six major exhibitions attract over 3,800 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions, with 70% being non-local exhibitors who will participate in person. More than 20 international licensing leaders will also join the Asian Licensing Conference." she added.

The HKTDC invited buyers from all over the world through its 50 global offices, and expected the participation of 170 buying missions from 50 countries and regions – including Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, the Middle East, Germany, France and the United States.

Cultural & Creative Corner to debut at Gifts Fair and Home InStyle

The Hong Kong Houseware Fair has been renamed Home InStyle, in keeping with the latest developments; with the expectation of bringing more design and style-oriented products to buyers. The upcoming Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, and the Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair will draw more than 2,650 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, reaffirming Hong Kong's position as a renowned global hub for lifestyle product procurement. The Gifts & Premium Fair and Home InStyle will feature a brand-new Cultural & Creative Corner, promoting designer brands and products with unique styles. Additionally, the Gifts & Premium Fair will feature pavilions from a range of countries and regions including Mainland China and South Korea. At Home InStyle, a first-time participant – the Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong (IDSHK) will feature 12 exhibitors and present multiple design-led crossover product series from the ReMIX Program, covering lifestyle items, accessories-decorations, electronic devices, furniture and household essentials. Each product integrates the essence of brand and unique creativity, offering global buyers a glimpse into local design scene.

The fairs will also feature several themed zones. At Home InStyle, the Zhejiang Pavilion will feature unique products from various provincial cities under the Zhejiang Ingenuity: Culture and Quality theme, providing a one-stop sourcing experience for buyers. The mainland's Yuecheng District of Zhejiang Province will debut a pavilion at the Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair.

As branded products have always been popular amongst consumers, the Hall of Fine Designs at the Gifts & Premium Fair and the Hall of Elegance at Home InStyle will present various prominent designers and international brands. In addition, the Hong Kong Exporters Association will set up a pavilion at the Gifts & Premium Fair – featuring 21 local exhibitors and award-winning products from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

Several seminars will also be hosted covering various topics. The seminar "Feel the Pulse of the Upcoming Trend in 2023" will delve into the latest consumer trends for this year, as well as the optimisation of business-to-business (B2B) marketing through ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Representatives from the Business Environment Council and local eco-friendly companies will also discuss how to integrate sustainable development into their products. Expert speakers from the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Hong Kong Interior Design Association will share experiences on creative designs; while the Hong Kong Retail Technology Association and several start-up representatives will analyse how e-commerce and metaverse applications can strengthen business resilience.

Fashion technology takes centre stage

In the first quarter of this year, the HKTDC Export Index surged by 9.3 points to reach 39.0, with the clothing industry being the most optimistic, seeing an index jump of 27.7 points to 51.5. As a leading trade show in the Asian fashion and textile industry, Hong Kong Fashion Week, renamed Fashion InStyle, brings together nearly 430 exhibitors covering the entire industry chain from upstream to downstream. The highlighted zone InnoFashion and Trade Services gathers 12 exhibitors demonstrating cutting-edge fashion technologies, including 3D printed fashion, artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless radio frequency identification technology (RFID). One of the exhibitors, AiDLab, will host the Innovation in Design Summit 2023, where industry experts from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the United Kingdom's Royal College of Art will share how AI technology can be applied to the fashion industry. Another exhibitor, Stratasys, will unveil its latest 3D printing textile technology during the seminars. In addition, several fashion shows will be held during fair period, showcasing the latest clothing designs from multiple fashion brands.

The Hong Kong International Printing and Packaging Fair, jointly organised by HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (Hong Kong) Limited, will feature over 450 exhibitors. The highlighted zones, World of DeLuxe PrintPack and Green Printing & Packaging Solutions, will spotlight a wide range of premium and eco-friendly printing and packaging solutions. A series of seminars and forums will be held with industry representatives sharing the latest industry insights and global trends. Topics will include: ESG – Design & Printing; New Technology on Print Color Control: CTV, Going Green: Innovations in Sustainable Packaging; and The Latest Trend in Prepress: IT Innovations for Printing Industry.

Showcasing diversified global licensing projects and unveiling market trends

This year's Hong Kong International Licensing Show will showcase more than 500 licensing projects and brands, featuring top global licensors and licensing agents such as CAA-GBG Global Brands Management Group, MediaLink, Wildbrain CPLG and more. The Licensing Show will feature nine group pavilions – including the Mainland, Macao, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan, presenting unique brands from various regions. Meanwhile, with the dedicated support of CreateHK, the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion will showcase 45 local original Intellectual Properties (IP) and brands to promote the strength of homegrown design, including SHIBAINC, Falling Cyan, Malut Design and 8EGGS Studio.

Over at the concurrent Asian Licensing Conference, more than 20 experts from the global licensing field will gather to discuss hot topics, including the latest developments in global licensing, location-based marketing (LBM) and sport licensing, keeping participants up-to-date on market trends. Overseas speakers will include Ben Peace, Vice President for the Asia Pacific at WildBrain CPLG (the agency for PEANUTS, Sonic Prime, and the Teletubbies); Maura Regan, President of Licensing International; and Yvonne Chou, Head of Global Marketing at VICTOR Rackets Industrial Corp, (the badminton brand in cooperation with various IPs such as Peanuts, Hello Kitty, One Piece). The Licensing Academy, organised by Licensing International and supported by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, will host a speaker from Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture. The speaker will share insights on how "royalty-free" marketing creates a win-win licensing model and how the IP of prefecture mascot Kumamon is protected. The event will also feature a session themed "Powering change: Women in innovation and creativity", in the spirit of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day on 26 April.

Related statistics: Hong Kong export performance
2022 | January to February 2023
Houseware 275 billion (-20.8%) | 36.7 billion (-27%)
Home Textiles 560 million (-37%) | 60 million (-41.5%)
Gifts & Premium 177.6 billion (-2.8%) | 27.9 billion (-0.1%)
Clothing 53.5 billion (-19.8%) | 7.9 billion (-16.6%)
Printed Matter 9.9 billion (-37.2%) | 1.2 billion (-45.3%)
Packaging Material 14.5 billion (-33.3%) | 1.7 billion (-45%)

Websites
– The HKTDC's Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
– HK Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
– Home InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/en
– HK Intl' Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkhometextilesfair/en
– Fashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
– HK Intl' Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
– HK Intl' Licensing Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
– Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/40UVl5f

About HKTDC

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

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The Latest Book on Educating the Girl Child in Africa by the Renowned Beauty Queen, Jennifer Ephraim, Has Received Global Acclaim Upon Its Launch

ABUJA, NG, Mar 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Queen Jennifer Ephraim, a renowned beauty queen, humanitarian, and fundraising expert, recently launched a highly anticipated book titled "DILEMMA OF THE NIGERIAN GIRL CHILD" on Amazon.com through the Jennifer Ephraim Foundation. The book is aimed at providing innovative solutions to issues faced by the girl child in Africa, such as early marriages, child abuse, and sex trafficking.

Jennifer Ephraim Launches New Book "The Dilemma of the Nigerian Girl Child"

Unlike traditional fundraising methods like cookie sales and car washes, the book suggests ideas to direct money into classrooms, schools, and districts continuously. It is written in an intelligent and concise manner to save readers' time and keep them up-to-date with the latest fundraising innovations in Africa.

Queen Jennifer Ephraim has been involved in humanitarian activities for many years and holds a B.S. degree in International Relations, Project Management, and Human Resource Management. She is available for speaking engagements and can be contacted through her email at jenniferephraim88@gmail.com, Instagram handle @queen_jennifer_ephraim, and her Foundation website https://jenniferephraimfoundation.org.

About the Jennifer Ephraim Foundation

The Jennifer Ephraim Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating hope and opportunities for the younger generation. With a focus on education, the foundation provides scholarships and financial aid to students from low-income families, helping to ensure access to the resources they need to succeed. The foundation also works to improve the quality of education in under-served communities by providing educational resources and supporting literacy and lifelong learning programs.

Contact Information
Ken Smith
Manager
jenniferephraim88@gmail.com
+2347035030390

SOURCE: Jennifer Ephraim Foundation

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

World First Comes to Wynyard Tunnels as Part of Vivid Sydney 2023

SYDNEY, AU, Mar 30, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Australia's largest festival, Vivid Sydney, today announced that it will add a first-ever activation of the Wynyard railway tunnels to the festival's upcoming program with the world premiere of Dark Spectrum.

Dark Spectrum (Image credit: Destination NSW)

Three years in the making and tipped as an underground spectacular of what lies beneath, Dark Spectrum will fuse a dynamic musical soundtrack with the latest in laser, robotics, lighting and visual technology to transform the disused Wynyard Station train tunnels in a truly one-of-a-kind experience in a venue that has never been open to the public.

Creating an immersive multi-media environment, Dark Spectrum will deliver a heightened visual and audio experience for Vivid Sydney attendees set to penetrate the deep underground of Wynyard's tunnels and take its audience into a new time and space.

Secret passageways will be lit, and pulses of electronic dance music will ring out across eight rooms, with each space representing a different human experience and associated colour. Guests move through rooms themed to separation, constriction, pressure, the unseen, reflection, the unfamiliar, connection and end with a revelation.

Highlights from Dark Spectrum include "Constriction," 150 LED "pipes" hung from the roof to form an interactive landscape of animated pixels that can be touched; "Pressure," a spectacular array of 50 archways covered in lights and mirrors that create the visual illusion of a never-ending tunnel; and "Interaction," an Avatar-esque environment featuring hundreds of hanging strings of light interspersed with illuminated alien plants that respond to movement.

Presented by Vivid Sydney, Sony Music, Mandylights and Culture Creative, Dark Spectrum will premiere at Vivid Sydney on May 26, running until July 16 before touring the world.

Dark Spectrum will be a ticketed experience with entry via Wynyard Park Rooftop between York and Carrington Streets, Sydney. Entry will be timed from 12:00 p.m. to 9.15 p.m. Ticket prices vary depending on the visit date/time; general admission from $35, children from $24, and families from $98.

"We're thrilled to announce this world-first experience for Vivid Sydney 2023. Dark Spectrum perfectly fits this year's festival theme, exploring the intersection between human emotions, our natural environment, and the urban landscape and relics of Sydney's industrial past.

"Diving beneath the surface of what is now one of the city's busiest railway lines, Dark Spectrum is a truly mesmerising and engaging experience for visitors to explore Sydney in a whole new way. I am excited we get to shine a light on unknown spaces across the city," says, Gill Minervini, Vivid Sydney Festival Director.

This year, Vivid Sydney will deliver the biggest and most culturally relevant program in its event history when it returns from Friday, May 26 to Saturday, June 17. The spectacular Light Walk will host the works of 100+ light collaborators and 26 international light artists from 13 countries, with street installations, re-shaping old sights, surprising projection sites and large-scale immersive experiences that will paint the urban landscape.

Vivid Sydney will be staged across Sydney's city centre, at locations including Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Train Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Dark Spectrum and full details of the Vivid Sydney 2023 program, visit vividsydney.com.

About Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is Australia's largest festival celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforms Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 13th year in 2023, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world's brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency. For more information visit vividsydney.com.

Contact Information
Jenna Whyte
PR Manager
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

SOURCE: Vivid Sydney

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Freedom Business Summit 2023 brings together 5000+ entrepreneurs, freedom seekers and global citizens from all over the world

Estonia, Mar 22, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Join on 26-28 September 2023 for 3 powerful days for expert keynotes, workshops and panel discussions about Freedom Business, Global Citizenship and Freedom Lifestyle.

Freedom Business Summit 2023 is the premier online event for global citizens that brings together 5000+ attendees from 100 industries and 80 countries.

Connect with like-minded sovereign individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, global citizen experts to learn about:

– Best strategies about relocation and getting second citizenship
– Sovereign location independent lifestyle and Flags Theory
– Finding best jurisdiction, Incorporation and e-Residency
– Global Investing strategies, Investment Migration and Tax Planning
– Running remote company and managing distributed teams
– Building Safety Net, Personal Sovereignty and Inner Freedom
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Over 7,300 industry talents at HKTDC FILMART and EntertainmentPulse

HONG KONG, Mar 16, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – FILMART and EntertainmentPulse, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), assembled more than 7,300 leading entertainment figures from 41 countries and regions. The four-day content marketplace successfully showcased a great variety of cross-media, cross-genre content and brought numerous business opportunities for participants. The confident global exhibitors and buyers were delighted to network in person. "This is my first time attending FILMART. HKTDC helped line up over 10 business matching meetings which are all helpful in establishing business contacts and develop new opportunities. I'm sure some would come to fruition with follow ups," said Ms Jean Dong, Founder & Chairman of Zespa Media Group, based in London and Beijing.

FILMART and EntertainmentPulse brought together over 7,300 industry talents from 41 countries and regions. Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions showcased a wide variety of latest film and TV productions.

Industry leaders participated in EntertainmentPulse conference series to talk about the latest entertainment industry trends.

Popular boy band MIRROR visited FILMART to introduce the debut feature film WE 12.

A representative of Hengdian Film & Television Industry Experimental Zone, which has participated in FILMART for five consecutive years, said: "The film industry of Hong Kong is mature and with the advantage of international connections. It is a must for Hengdian to collaborate with Hong Kong in order to go global and co-promote Chinese culture to worldwide audiences."

Over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions gathered at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) over the past four days for Asia's largest cross-media and cross-industry film and TV entertainment trade expo. The Mainland China exhibitor tally at FILMART exceeded 330, a record, including the three major streaming platforms – iQIYI, Tencent and Youku. The revived physical marketplace was as vibrant and active as in the past, successfully reuniting industry players from all around the globe for business partnerships.

Innovation and technology had a strong presence as the Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment Pavilion at FILMART gathered more than 30 local companies offering animation, digital effects and interactive media – the three major digital entertainment areas – to promote innovative technology development. Their innovations included creative content rendered through digital effects and Web 3. EntertainmentPulse, the concurrent conference series of FILMART, featured a dedicated session on Web3 in the entertainment industry. Entertainment industry leaders also discussed the prospects and potential of Asian content, the hype behind dating and romance reality shows, and Chinese donghua (animation) as soft power.

Growing interest in dating and romance reality shows

Dating and romance reality shows are not new to the TV landscape but are finding great success once again. During the Love Story Wanted: Hype behind Dating and Romance Reality Show session, Mr Yosuke Muramoto, Director and Chief Producer of YD Creation, described how to captivate audiences: "The question is 'What is true love?'. But how many people amongst the viewers could answer that? This is truly the topic that everyone wants to know and what keeps the viewers coming back."

Web3 redefines engagement in the entertainment industry

The entertainment industry is fuelled by creativity and technology can accelerate its development. The latest breakthrough innovation is Web3 which makes entertainment more realistic and engaging. In the session Uncovering the Application of Web3 in Entertainment Industry, Ms Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products and Experiences of Lionsgate, discussed how brands should engage consumers with Web3: "We should approach it in the way that fans could understand and avoid the technical terminologies. The way we market it and engage with fans should always be very simplified. The key to success is to make it feel trusted, understandable and not complicated. The more steps involved, the more people we lose."

New era for Hong Kong Movies

Several Hong Kong productions have broken Hong Kong box-office records recently. In Dialogue with Hong Kong Directors: The Spring of Hong Kong Movies? renowned Hong Kong film directors including Mr Sunny Chan of Table of Six, Ms Judy Chu of Sunshine of My Life, and Mr Jack Ng of A Guilty Conscience, which became the highest-grossing Hong Kong film, reflected on the city's cinematic success. Mr Ng said: "It is the script that gives confidence to the investors and actors. Without the script, we cannot go anywhere."

Numerous special events announcing exciting titles

This year's FILMART again received strong support from major local film and TV companies, organising press conferences as well as on-site booths. Emperor Motion Pictures invited more than 80 movie stars and industry leaders to announce upcoming productions at a press conference, including Under Current, Customs Frontline and New Police Story 2. In addition, PCCW Media Limited's MakerVille and Viu also held a press conference to announce boy band Mirror's first film WE 12. A large-scale release conference organised by Muse Communications showcased a wide range of Japanese anime, including the big hit Demon Slayer.

FILMART online platforms open until 15 April

The online FILMART portal is accessible until 15 April. Users can revisit all the exciting content from EntertainmentPulse and utilise the direct messaging function offered through the FILMART online platform.

Websites:
FILMART: https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkfilmart-en/
EntertainmentPulse: https://entertainmentpulse.hktdc.com/en
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3JjUkwt

About HKTDC

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

Media Enquiries:
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Ogilvy PR: Honman Li, Tel: +852 9638 1208, Email: honman.li@ogilvy.com

HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC twin jewellery shows attract exhibitors and buyers from 130 countries and regions, delivering robust results

HONG KONG, Mar 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Following Hong Kong's lifting of the mandatory mask mandate and full resumption of travel, business people from around the world flocked to the city's first major trade fair. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 39th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 9th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show gathered over 2,500 exhibitors and successfully concluded today. The five-day fairs attracted over 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions, with significant increase in participation from Mainland China and the Asia region. In an on-site survey with around 700 exhibitors and buyers, about 60% exhibitors and buyers expected their business to return to pre-pandemic levels in one year, reflecting a positive outlook for the jewellery sector.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 39th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 9th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show concluded successfully.

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

A total of 20 regional pavilions were set up at the twin shows this year, including Mainland China, Italy, Turkiye, Japan and more, showcasing artisan jewellery from around the world.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "We are delighted to see the overwhelming support from industry buyers and exhibitors for the twin shows. The vibrant atmosphere, busy traffic and packed booths not only reflected the global jewellery market's pent-up demand after three years and strong buying power, but also reaffirmed Hong Kong's position as the world's premier trade fair capital in Asia which brings the world together to do business and to build relationships.

"Looking ahead, we have many more trade events lined up for different sectors throughout the rest of the year, and with the policy support from the Hong Kong SAR Government, we are confident that trade fairs and conferences will help to re-energise the city's economic recovery," Ms Chong added.

Under HKTDC's EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, global jewellers and traders can connect online for another week beyond the physical fair days until 12 March via the Click2Match smart business matching platform. Over 1,800 meetings between exhibitors and buyers have been scheduled.

Positive outlook with 60% exhibitors and buyers predicting uptick in sales this year

In a survey conducted on-site by the HKTDC, some key findings include:

Market and industry outlook:
– Around 60% of exhibitors (62%) and buyers (61%) expect their business growth to return to pre-pandemic levels in a year.
– More than 60% of respondents foresee that overall sales will pick up in 2023 and 74% of buyers anticipate a rise in sourcing cost.
– Factors that are expected to bring opportunities for the industry in 2023 include: the recovering purchasing power from customers (57%), rising demand from emerging markets (34%) and the potential to expand business in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) (13%).
– Anticipation of the growth prospects of jewellery products in the target sales market are satisfactory in the next two years: Mainland China (78%), Hong Kong (71%), ASEAN countries (64%), Northern & Western Europe (58%), North America (55%)

Challenges: fluctuations of the global economy (51%) and impact of inflation (46%) as well as fluctuating exchange rate (35%) were seen as key challenges.

Product trends:
– Karat white gold and Karat yellow gold are expected to be the most popular metal product in 2023;
– Diamond will be the most in-demand gemstone;
– Social media, e-commerce and big data will have the greatest impact on the jewellery industry in the next three years.

HK$100 million sales recorded by some exhibitors

In addition to the high volume of buyers and exhibitors, robust business results were seen across the shows. Exhibitor Bruno Scarselli and Davide Scarselli, Co-owners of Scarselli Diamonds Inc, from the United States shared: "The twin shows are making a strong comeback this year. After the pandemic, the mood is positive and buyers are willing to buy. We have met a lot of buyers from Europe, Japan, Korea, Mainland China and the Middle East who are very interested in our blue and pink diamonds. Twelve buyers, including six from Mainland China, already placed on-site orders amounting to US$11-12 million for our fancy colour diamonds."

Hong Kong exhibitor Imran Khan, Director of Sparkle Gems Global Inc, said: "We first joined the HKTDC show 12 years ago because it is the best platform for suppliers from all over the world to promote their raw materials to international buyers. We are showcasing emeralds and tanzanites, with prices ranging from US$50 to US$10,000. We met 10 buyers from Europe, Mainland China and the US who placed on-site orders for our emeralds worth a total of US$1 million on the first day. We expect our on-site orders we receive at the show to amount to US$3 million."

Zhuji City from Zhejiang Province, Mainland China made their debut at the show. Chen Wenjin, Deputy Mayor of Zhuji City said: "A total of 49 Zhuji companies have gathered at our pavilion and we also organised a delegation from 300 companies to source at the shows. The show is an excellent platform for our pearl companies to connect with overseas buyers. We expect total sales of over RMB100 million."

One of the exhibitors, Tota Koyama, Chairman of the Japan Jewellery Association said: "Now that travel restrictions have been removed, Japanese jewellery companies are very happy to come to Hong Kong. We've brought 86 jewellery companies from Japan to participate in the Jewellery Show, and 69 companies in the pearl business to join the Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show. The response from buyers is better than expected and we've recorded very good sales. The purchasing interest is particularly strong from Mainland Chinese buyers."

A jewellery buyer, David Abraha from the United States said: "The Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl provides an important platform for me to meet suppliers from worldwide at one place. I always come here to connect with new suppliers. At this year's show, I have found suppliers of loose diamonds from Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong. My budget is up to US$5 million."

Qian Yiting, Chief Operating Officer of Wuxi Yinlou from Mainland China said: "The show has staged a strong comeback this year with the relaxation of pandemic policies. I have visited jewellery fairs in Japan and Korea, but the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show is definitely the best one showcasing an amazing mix of jewellery from all over the world. I have already met with six exhibitors from Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Thailand through the Click2Match business matching service."

More major fairs for technology and lifestyle sectors

On the heels of these two exhibitions, the HKTDC will organise a series of trade fairs in April, including InnoEx, Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) on 12-15 April; Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Fashion InStyle, Home InStyle and more on 19-22 April. These events will provide buyers with a unique one-stop souring experience and help exhibitors expand their market reach, while boosting Hong Kong's economy.

Websites:
– Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkjewellery/en
– Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkdgp/en
– HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/41KMt3v

About HKTDC

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

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Fight Zone’s First Franchised Outlet at Suntec City Opens, with Six More Outlets to Come in 2023

SINGAPORE, Feb 27, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Fight Zone, a born-in-Singapore fitness brand has opened its first franchised outlet at Suntec City. The official opening was attended by more than 50 members of the public and current Fight Zone members on 25 February on a bust Saturday afternoon. Located in the heart of Singapore's business district, the Fight Zone Performance Centre outlet is the first to focus on physical transformation of clients and muaythai, moving away from just providing high-intensity training.

The Fight Zone Performance Centre at Suntec City is the first of six franchised Fight Zone fitness centres which will open in 2023, as the fitness brand aggressively expands its presence within Singapore.

Apart from personal training with authentic muaythai, the Performance Centre will also feature specialised kettlebell classes and Suples Bulgarian Bag strength and conditioning classes with the sole aim of helping members undergo their fitness and transformation programmes at the Suntec City outlet, with the brand especially targeting busy executives who work within the area.

Said Sasidharan Unnithan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Fight Zone, "The Fight Zone Performance Centre at Suntec City aims to help the busy working executive who work and live near the area to transform their lives and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We are proud that our first franchised outlet is located at Suntec City, the venue where we started building the brand from scratch in 2017. Our next step for Fight Zone would be to take the brand regional to the neighbouring Southeast Asian cities like Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok."

Fight Zone opened its first outlet in Suntec City in 2017 and have added two more outlets at Velocity at Novena and AMK Hub at Ang Mo Kio since then. The newly opened Fight Zone Performance Centre with its muaythai focus will also help develop the popularity of muaythai as a sport, while it also offers personal training for members.

Added Mr Su YunPeng, owner of the first franchised outlet, "It is an honour for us to own the first franchised outlet of a fast-growing brand like Fight Zone. Fitness is an important aspect of maintaining one's mental wellbeing. With executives headed back to work following a few years of living with a pandemic, it is our hope that we can provide them with an opportunity to maintain their fitness or transform their lives through personal training."

Members of the public can sign up as members of the all-new Fight Zone Performance Centre or at any of their other outlets here ( https://www.fightzonesg.com/book-a-trial/ ). Potential business owners looking to start their own Fight Zone franchise outlets can connect with the team here ( https://www.fightzonesg.com/contact/ ).

About Fight Zone

Fight Zone was first conceptualised in 2017 and began with its first fitness outlet in Suntec City. The brainchild of CEO and Founder Sasidharan Unnithan, it was conceptualised with the objective of giving working professionals and fitness buffs an innovative way of keeping fit without taking much too mu h of their daily time. Fight Zone uses various techniques and fitness forms to keep enthusiasts and members engaged throughout their workout.https://www.fightzonesg.com/

Media Contact:
hello@swstrategies.org

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com