Tag: Startups

HKTDC Entrepreneur Day and Business of IP Asia Forum start from late November

HONG KONG, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is organising the 14th Entrepreneur Day and the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum) between the end of November and early December. The two events will feature experts and high-profile speakers from various industries to share their insights with start-ups and small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs). Topics will include optimising business operations, pursuing entrepreneurship, and using the latest innovative technologies and creative mindsets to capture opportunities and expand your business globally, in particular in the Greater Bay Area.
The 14th edition of Entrepreneur Day will be from 30 November to 2 December under the theme of "Balance Beyond the Boom".

This year's Entrepreneur Day launches its first Start-up Express International, inviting high-calibre start-ups worldwide to join an exchange session with the winners of Start-up Express. Picture: The "Pitching Final" event of Start-up Express in June 2022.

Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Design Centre, the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum will be staged on 1-2 December 2022.


HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang, said: "Entrepreneur Day and BIP Asia Forum will offer start-ups and SMEs a chance to clearly understand the latest trends in their respective industries and enhance their knowledge whether they wish to learn how to start a business, embrace a path of sustainable development, safeguard their intellectual property or how to improve their branding strategy, equipping them to pursue the best opportunities.

"Start-up Express International, one of the highlights of Entrepreneur Day, will introduce top-tier start-ups from Mainland China, the United States, Italy, South Korea and Japan to local start-ups encouraging inspirational exchanges and creating opportunities for start-ups in Hong Kong to widen their horizon in a way that will hopefully be conducive to upgrading business performance. Finally, the BIP Asia Forum will host experts in intellectual property from across the world and assemble business leaders to generate discussion on recent developments in the market and application of industrial metaverse."

Entrepreneur Day – Developing a diversified and balanced start-up ecosystem

The 14th Entrepreneur Day will be on 30 November, with events culminating on 2 December. The theme for this year's edition is "Balance Beyond the Boom", with hybrid seminars and exhibitions being offered for the first time. Entrepreneur Day will involve more than 20 seminars and workshops and close to 60 speakers from 11 countries and regions sharing their innovative responses to market changes. More than 110 exhibitors will showcase their technological developments. At the same time, business matching sessions and networking events will be available for attendees seeking to explore cutting-edge products in the growing international start-up ecosystem. Start-ups will be encouraged to use Hong Kong as a platform to tap into the Greater Bay Area and global markets and seek out business partners.

This year's Entrepreneur Day Seminar series will cover four major themes: Entrepreneurship, Future Tech, Innovation for Good and Market Exploration. The key session, "T-Chat – Global VC Investment: Rise or Fall", will invite Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners; Duncan Chiu, Co-Chairman and Venture Committee of Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA); and Karena Belin, Co-founder & COO/CFO/RO of Hong Kong's first SFC licensed start-up investment platform AngelHub, share their views on the outlook for the global venture capital market in 2023. They will also guide start-ups on how to raise capital and expand their business at critical times.

Start-ups aspiring to achieve unicorn status (technology companies with a private market valuation of more than US$1 billion) can attend the "Unicorn Fireside Chat – Revival of the Travel Super App" with Kim Jong Yoon, CEO of Yanolja (the first and only travel unicorn based in South Korea, and owner of the most popular hotel booking app in the country). He will share how the company used emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology to reform its business during the pandemic. He will also discuss ways to seize new opportunities now that global borders are reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the growing importance of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) to the public, many companies use ESG criteria to ensure they run responsibly. In "Make Good Use of Waste", Shrikanth Narasimha, Director of Sustainability and Supply Chain – Far East Mainetti (HK) (the world's largest manufacturer of hangers); Rachel Barr, Vice President of Sustainability of Israeli start-up UBQ Materials; and Ricci Wong, Founder and CEO of HK Timberbank will discuss projects on achieving closed-loop recycling and reuse of plastic products, converting household waste into sustainable bioplastics, and upcycling local wood to make decorative materials, thus driving the development of the global circular economy.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have risen in importance and caused controversy. In the session "NFT: Eye Candy or Key to Gold?", Lucas Cheung, Managing Partner of Gusto Collective Hong Kong, Asia's first BrandTech group and Nick Lau, founder of WEAR (a Web3 platform for luxury brands to launch exclusive 'phygital' goods), will introduce the latest applications of NFTs in the entertainment and fashion industries and how they can boost sales and enhance customer loyalty.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has increased possibilities for trade and collaboration across the region. In "Start-up Ecosystem in RCEP", representatives from venture capital firms and start-up accelerators from Japan, South Korea and Australia will share the latest developments in the region's start-up ecosystem and incentives for local start-ups that are interested in exploring the new market.

Meanwhile, exhibitions under 2 thematic zones, "Start-up Zone" and "The Boosters", will showcase more than 110 innovative companies and business establishment service providers covering many of the most sought-after technologies, including biomedical sciences, green tech, food tech, smart city technologies, fintech and more. Visitors can interact with exhibitors at physical and virtual booths, and via daily guided tours and business matching sessions to learn about their innovative solutions. Some of the ingenious solutions include ZenxTag Technology Limited's smart food label, which changes its colour depending on the food's freshness; Key Points Exchange Limited's cross-border loyalty points aggregator for payment; Metamory Technology Limited's blockchain-enabled 'graveyard in the metaverse' for pets and humans; and Tencent Cloud's cloud solutions for start-ups.

Start-up Express International promote a vibrant exchange opportunities

To mark the 5th anniversary of Start-up Express, the start-up development programme, the HKTDC has launched Start-up Express International as one of the highlights of Entrepreneur Day this year to encourage international start-ups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and strengthen ecosystem-to-ecosystem collaboration between Hong Kong and other countries. Start-up Express International is supported by global partners in Belgium, Mainland China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who have nominated start-ups from those countries to participate in the contest. Nominated start-ups come from a diverse range of industries, including greentech, healthtech, smart city technologies and edtech, as well as the metaverse, blockchain, robotics, marketing technology and agritech.

Start-up Express International has already shortlisted the top 30 start-ups, and a professional panel of judges will select 10 global winners. The top 30 start-ups are entitled to a series of supporting services such as marketing support, technology support, peer support, mentorship and advisory, and incentive offers to help them set up business in Hong Kong and enter the Greater Bay Area market. The 10 global winners will share the stage with local winners from Hong Kong Start-up Express and exchange views on the industry and entrepreneurial experiences.

Business of IP Asia Forum create new value and discover new frontiers

With the flourishing development of innovative technology in Asia, companies have to formulate their Intellectual Property (IP) strategies to keep up with market development and changes. Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Design Centre, the 12th Business of IP Asia Forum will be held online and physically at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 1-2 December 2022. With the theme of "Creating New Value, Discovering New Frontiers", the two-day forum will bring together global IP experts and business leaders to explore the latest trends in the Global IP market.

The first-ever "Policy Dialogue" will feature Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization; Antony Taubman, Director of the Intellectual Property Division at the World Trade Organization (WTO); Rowel S. Barba, Chairman of ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC); Kyo-sook Choi, Chair of Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); and Antonio Campinos, President of the European Patent Office. They will discuss the co-creation of a resilient and sustainable IP ecosystem.

Following the policy dialogue, the plenary session "Powering the Future: Robust Patent Strategies Amid Challenges" will see industrial leaders like Brett Alten, Senior Vice President of Deputy General Counsel and Chief IP Counsel at Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Michael Ding, Vice President and Head of IP AMEA Region of ABB Group; and Masaki Ito, General Manager of the Intellectual Property Department at Toyota Industries Corporation, share their insights about how companies could scale up their businesses by making the best use out of IP.

Chaired by H.L. Yiu, Head of Re-industrialisation of the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, the "Global Tech Summit" will focus on how the Industrial Metaverse propels re-industrialisation in Hong Kong. It will feature Simon See, Global Head and Chief Solution Architect of NVIDIA AI Technology Center; T. John Koo, Director of Cyber-Physical Systems at the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI); and Eric Liu, Deputy Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). The speakers will share NVIDIA's journey to build Omniverse, an open modular platform for metaverse developers, artists and enterprises, integrating virtual collaborations and real-time physical simulation for virtual worlds. They will also discuss plans to nurture local talent in the field of metaverse technology.

HKTDC will join hands with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and organise "Innovation & IP Market" under the theme "Smart Manufacturing and Building" for the first time ever to strengthen IP commercialisation and foster industry collaboration. "Innovation & IP Market" will connect universities, research centres, start-ups, IP users and service providers to facilitate business networking and explore potential business opportunities. The "Innovation & IP Market" will include Inno Showcase with over 30 homegrown innovations applicable to a range of sectors, including manufacturing, construction, property development, transportation, energy, healthcare & beauty; Open Stage, where tech and IP experts will be sharing global trends and best practices on IP & tech commercialisation and adoption; and the Tech Consultation Salon, where enterprises can seek professional advice on business transformation and upgrading.

In an affiliated event titled "ASEAN Roadmap to Successful IP Commercialisation in a Knowledgebased Economy", co-organised by ASEAN and the Intellectual Property Department, local and ASEAN representatives from the legal, research and business sector will shed light on the characteristics of the financial and legal systems that favour IP commercialisation, their prior experiences with technology transfers and the key to success in a knowledge-based economy.

Meanwhile, the "Inspo Talk" will highlight IP-related points that matter for business collaboration with KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), discuss IP issues related to KOL marketing and connect IP service consumers and providers.

Finally, HKTDC and Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Department will jointly provide IP Training sessions during the forum introducing basic intellectual property concepts such as IP applications in e-commerce. Participants can learn about how intellectual property can protect original inventions in the digital era, empowering their ability to protect and manage IP on behalf of companies.

Websites
– HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: https://eday.hktdc.com/
– Start-up Express International: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/tc/s/start-up-express-international
– Business of IP Asia Forum: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3hN9Qqp

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 get in touch with PR agency Hill+Knowlton Strategies:
Entrepreneur Day
Joyce Kwong, Tel: +852 6842 5929, Email: joyce.kwong@hkstrategies.com
Nannerl Yau, Tel: +852 6846 7888, Email: nannerl.yau@hkstrategies.com

Business of IP Asia Forum
Rachel Zhu, Tel: +852 6816 5846, Email: rachael.zhu@hkstrategies.com
Jade Sin, Tel: +852 5646 8944, Email: jade.sin@hkstrategies.com

HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Gradiant, Global Water Solutions Provider, Awarded $20M in

New projects deliver Gradiant’s full-technology stack solutions to India’s renewable energy and industrial clients

BOSTON, Nov 16, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, is pleased to announce awards of $20 million in new contracts in September and October 2022. The awards are for clients in the manufacturing of photovoltaic cells (or solar cells) renewable energy and industrial protective equipment. All three projects will be delivered as design-build contracts.

One of the largest solar companies in India has partnered with Gradiant at a manufacturing site in the Western Region for ammonia and fluoride removal and wastewater treatment. The new facility will recover, neutralize, and treat complex wastewater rinse streams from photovoltaic cell production to levels that meet the client’s sustainability goals and local discharge limits.

Gradiant has also partnered with a leader in the renewable energy business for the design-build of two facilities for ultrapure water and wastewater treatment to support a new photovoltaic cell manufacturing site also in Western Region. The project will include Gradiant’s patented RO InfinityTM membrane technology to treat industrial wastewater streams. The zero liquid discharge (ZLD) facility will reduce wastewater to only salt and solid wastes.

“We are experiencing strong growth in the India market across multiple strategic verticals,” said Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. “India was already one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is well positioned to gain as global companies review their sourcing and manufacturing footprints to de-risk and diversify their supply chains. We are also witnessing a clean energy transition in India, as the country builds out renewable energy infrastructure and its supply to the world. This local market has always been important to India, and Gradiant is ready to support our clients with advanced water solutions as they shift or double-down their local manufacturing operations.”

In addition to these renewable energy projects, Gradiant is working with a leading manufacturer of industrial protective equipment for their new facility in Southern India. Gradiant will deliver an effluent treatment and ZLD waste minimization system. The plant will feature Gradiant’s Carrier Gas ExtractionTM (CGE) for ZLD and SmartOpsTM for AI-powered asset performance optimization, and a membrane biological reactor (MBR) for advanced wastewater treatment.

Gradiant entered the India market in 2018 to engage with major international and domestic companies to solve their advanced water and wastewater challenges in water recycling, minimum and zero liquid discharge, and ultrapure water. Clients are served by in-country expertise from Gradiant’s main office in Chennai while collaborating and leveraging global process and engineering resources. The India team is comprised of 80 expert engineers and staff today, with plans to increase headcounts across the country.

About Gradiant

Gradiant is a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions, powered by the top minds in water, Gradiant serves its clients’ mission-critical operations in the world’s essential industries. Gradiant was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is uniquely positioned to address the world’s increasing challenges created by industrialization, population growth, and water stress. Today, with over 450 employees, Gradiant operates from its global headquarters in Boston, regional headquarters and global technology labs in Singapore, and offices across twelve countries. For more information, please visit www.gradiant.com.

Corporate Contact:
Felix Wang
Gradiant, VP of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com



Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Digital Nigeria 2022: NITDA Director General tasks Tech Innovators with Problem Solving

ABUJA, NG, Oct 31, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE has challenged Nigerian tech innovators and entrepreneurs to identify problems bedeviling the nation with the view to proffering solutions because the government has provided a level playing field for them to achieve just that.
NITDA Director General and conference host Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, challenged Nigerian tech innovators and entrepreneurs to identify the problems bedeviling the nation, …with a view to proffering solutions. [Image: NITDA]

Day Three of the Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference, tagged "Start-Up and Innovation Ecosystem Day", four enlightening Panel Discussions before "The Future is Tech". [Image: NITDA]

Minister of Comms & Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, inaugurated the Digital Economy Industry Working Group (DEIWG) to accelerate the digital economy agenda in the country. [Image: NITDA]

Tech-drivers, the Digital Nigeria Family at the conclusion of the three-day Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference & Exhibitions in a group photograph for the ages. [Image: NITDA]


Inuwa stated his challenge during Day 3 of the Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference, held in Abuja. Inuwa noted that for Nigeria to succeed, the tech ecosystem needs every stakeholder on board to play their roles as required of them. "To build a very strong tech ecosystem, we need the government, the higher institutions, we need the entrepreneurs, the risk capitalists and corporate organisations, everybody has its own role to play."

He stated that the government is playing its role by creating a level playing ground by formulating policies, legal framework, regulations and intervening in providing infrastructure to the underserved and unserved communities, reiterating that the government is doing more than enough in these regards.

"The government needs you, needs your commitment the same way the government is committed. For the higher institutions, we need you to produce high quality education to the people because innovation, digital economy or knowledge-based economy are all human capital economy."

"Your greatest resources are not the mineral resources but it is what you have in your brain; we need higher institutions to produce the right skill, talents and people with entrepreneurial skills," Inuwa noted. He claimed that the government is doing more than enough in terms of building human capital and "this is beyond conventional educational systems."

The government has several initiatives to achieve the 90% digital literacy, which would go a long way in building the tech ecosystem. He said, "We need the numbers. We need people to have skills to use in the digital based technological environment, and that is why we are training people on high earned skills to build the digital service, because digital service is a product-based economy."

He listed part of government initiatives to include the partnership between the Nigerian government and Microsoft to train 5 million Nigerians, the partnership with COUSERA to train 24,000, and several others which aimed at positioning Nigeria to be the global talent factory.

"One of the digital prints we need in the ecosystem is the legal framework. Just last week the President signed the Nigeria Start up bill into law so all these are to level the playing field for you."

"For the entrepreneurs, now you have the playing field; it is left for you to take your ideas from invention to impact and in Nigeria and even Africa in general, we have a lot of problems awaiting solutions. And technology can serve as inspiration for you to solve these problems so all you need is to explore how you can solve the problems and impact lives," he said.

While decrying the imbalance in the distribution of global wealth and prosperity, Inuwa maintained that with the thriving tech ecosystem, the imbalance would be corrected. He added that successful countries have three things in common, namely innovation, entrepreneurship and a good ecosystem, as nobody succeeds in isolation.

"Even in Nigeria," said he, 'if you look at the ecosystem, Lagos alone is contributing almost one quarter of the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and when you talk about the tech ecosystem, Lagos attracts more than 50%; so why?"

He however sued for replication of the feat in all other parts of the country. "We can build this kind of ecosystem across the country because every part of the country has its strength and weakness. If we can leverage on the strength, we can build the same ecosystem to engender prosperity, because innovation is the only thing that can lead any nation to prosperity."

Day 3 of the Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference, which was tagged "Start-Up and Innovation Ecosystem Day", witnessed various enthralling discussions with the lead speech on "Innovative Ecosystem and Investors' Perspectives" presented by Satesh Elwani, Managing Director, Melsons Group.

The panel sessions focused on: "Building a Thriving and Sustainable Start-up and Innovation Ecosystem for Nigeria's Digital Economy;" "A Tent Approach to Addressing the Talent Gap Issues;" "Exploring the Funding Opportunities for Nigerian Start-ups" and "Unlocking Nigeria's Innovation Potential for Economic Growth and Prosperity."

About Digital Nigeria
The Digital Nigeria International Conference & Exhibition is the flagship annual awareness program of the Digital Economy. Formerly eNigeria Conference & Exhibitions, the event was re-branded to expand in line with the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy (NDEPS). It aims to brainstorm on contemporary issues of relevance from across the globe in order to address the Nigerian challenges for sustainable socioeconomic development. It is a platform for creating Information and Communications Technology (ICT) awareness, for associated framework development, and for charting best practices. Learn more at www.digitalnigeria.gov.ng.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Digital Nigeria 2022, Day 2: Blockchain Adoption Can Increase Nigeria’s GNP, If…

ABUJA, NG, Oct 28, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Developing nations like Nigeria stand a chance to benefit from the US$ 1.76 trillion market, if they can position themselves to adopt and leverage Blockchain technologies, Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said during Day 2 of the Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conferences, Exhibitions and Awards.
Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA Director-General, "There are a lot of opportunities in Blockchain, and it is critical in every business. So, you need to task yourself to know which solutions or offerings the industry requires."

Blockchain Summit @ Digital Nigeria 2022, Day 2, featured the summit that many had been waiting for, sponsored by NITDA, and Domineum Blockchain Solutions. [Image: NITDA]

Mohammed Ibrahim Jega, Domineum co-founder, "Blockchain is a technology that houses Cryptocurrency and other compelling ideas, it is important to demystify it, and enable young people to get a proper grasp of this game-changing technology."


The NITDA boss said "Developing countries like Nigeria, if we position ourselves, we can increase our GDP by at least 0.5 percent, which is almost US$ 25 billion. So today we are here to explore how we can position ourselves. The government has been doing it. It is in site. We have developed blockchain adoption strategies."

He revealed the NITDA Blockchain adoption strategy has four initiatives. "Firstly, to establish a consortia that will build the ecosystem. And today we are here to build that ecosystem and community! Secondly, to strengthen the regulatory instruments and have legal framework. and last week, the president signed the Nigerian startup Bill into law, now the Nigeria Startup Act 2022, which is going to provide legal instruments for all emerging technologies, including blockchain."

Inuwa noted "Thirdly, initiatives to incentivize the ecosystem which would encourage the building of use cases using blockchain, adding that the Start Up Act would to achieve that as well. And, fourthly is to build sandbox. We are going to work with you to develop sandbox for proof of concept and proof of value around blockchains. So, all that this government is doing, aims to make Nigeria attractive to blockchain investment."

He listed the benefits of Blockchain to include "Tracking and tracing. We can use it to solve our supply chain challenges. We can use it to track records like land titles. We can use it to track certificate, vaccine, and so many things, anything you can think of that needs that trust. Technology can also address payment system challenges and financial inclusion, adding that it can also be used to strengthen our identity management.

"Not only personal identity, but even things' identities. We're talking about the Internet of Things. That means everything connected to internet needs to be identified. With Blockchain, you can achieve that when you use blockchain and IoT. You can even use it to manage government spending. In the budgeting process, you can use it to attach every single Naira to what it is budgeted for. You can trace it, and make sure there is traceability for every Naira spent by the government."

Blockchain Summit @ Digital Nigeria 2022: And then some..

The session witnessed panel discussions on Prioritizing Blockchain Technology, Implications for Digital Asset Innovation, Impacts of Blockchain on the Digital Economy: the Myth, the Truth and the Opportunities, and, One World Connected with Blockchain. The highlights of the summit were the inauguration of the Blockchain Campus Ambassadors and evolution of Blockchain Technology in Nigeria, in story-book form.

"Blockchain is here to stay, and we are rapidly moving away from traditional process to the Digital Transformation process," concluded Ibrahim Jega, Co-Founder of Domineum Blockchain Solutions, who together with NITDA hosted nearly 2000 guests at this year's Blockchain Summit @ Digital Nigeria 2022, Day 2.

See more Blockchain Summit at https://www.digitalnigeria.gov.ng
More information and opportunity, please write to business@domineum.io
Blockchain Summit @ Digital Nigeria 2022 is powered by DOMINEUM

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

FG Stops Importation of Digital Technology Products, Services, as Nigeria Intends to be Global Talent Supplier

ABUJA, NG, Oct 27, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – As stakeholders in the Digital Economy sector from both within and outside Nigeria gathered in Abuja to brainstorm on the path to a sustainable digital economy in the country, the Federal Government (FG) declared that it would no longer accept importation of any digital technological product or service into the country "until and unless the country is convinced that capacity to develop such product and service is not readily available in the country."
Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, during his address to the Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference.

Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), during the opening address at Digital Nigeria 2022.

The Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference, Exhibition and Awards, which runs from October 25 – 27, 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria. [Image: FITMA]

Deemah Yahya Alyahya, Secretary General, Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), delivering her Keynote Address at the Digital Nigeria 2022.

Ousman A. Bah, Minister of Communications & Digital Economy of The Gambia, delivering a Keynote Address at Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference.


Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), the Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, made the declaration during a special address at the Digital Nigeria 2022 Conference, Exhibition and Awards in Abuja (Oct 25~27). Formerly known as the eNigeria Conference, the annual event was re-branded as Digital Nigeria to expand its scope in line with the core objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

Minister Pantami holds that wisdom behind the stoppage of importation of digital technological products and services gives effect to Executive Orders 003 of May 2017, and 005 of February 2018, which support "Local content procurement by ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria", and the "Planning and execution of projects, and promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology", respectively.

He stated further that "even in the employment position that is publicized, as long as there are Nigerians that have the capacities to take up the challenges, it is not allowed for you to bring somebody from outside the country, except in an agreement transferring knowledge, and 40% of our products and services must be retained for Nigerians."

The minister disclosed that his sector has been performing with increasing creditably in the last three years, making it the fastest growing sector and the highest contributor to Gross Domestic Product in the country. "The Digital Economy has in recent years recorded three unprecedented records. For example, contributing18.44% of GDP in the last quarter according to the National Bureau of Statistic."

Listing record achievements for the sector, Prof. Pantami further expressed that his Ministry had scored high grades in each of the eight ministerial deliverables he signed with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. He noted that his Ministry scored a very strong 173.86% average across the eight.

The scores in each deliverable were recorded as: implementation of broadband connectivity -134%; deployment of 4G across the country – 127%; digitalising government functions and processes – 99%; development and implementation of a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy – 103%; implementation of a Digital Identity Programme – 86%; improvement and optimisation of revenues from all operators and licensees in agencies under the Ministry's supervision – 594%; active collaboration with private sector to create jobs – 111%; empowerment of citizens – 137%.

According to the Minister, the sector used to contribute an average of N51 billion (approx. US$118 million) quarterly to the government's coffer, but in the last three years, quarterly remittance has grown to N408 billion (approx. US$ 935 million). "And you cannot appreciate this until you know how difficult it is to generate funds for government. We remit all that we generate to the government, while others spend without generating," he noted.

He expressed the vigor in implementation of the various pillars of NDEPS, facilitating the unprecedented achievements the sector is recording since the policy was approved in October 2019. He listed the eight pillars to include: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Service Development and Promotion; Digital Society and Emerging Technologies; and Indigenous Content Promotion and Adoption.

The Minister revealed that the under the Service Infrastructure pillar, IT project clearance alone has saved the Federal Government over N44 billion in the last year, with the clearing of 1,600 projects which have to do with the automation of government processes in order to save funds, improve precision and accuracy, and promote accountability.

He said, "In order to simplify the implementation of each of the pillar, we developed other implementation policies under each pillar; under some pillars we have developed three to four policies. Within the last three years, we have developed 19 national policies and at least 17 of them are being implemented today – and this is unprecedented."

While noting the Ministry's achievements in capacity building, Prof. Pantami disclosed that 863,232 Nigerians have been trained on cutting edge and highly demanded digital skills, adding that the training identified a global vacuum in the digital sector, and focused on the provision of skills to citizens such that they could fill the vacuum. In addition, according to the Minister, over 2,000 IT centres have been established across the country.

He said the many regulatory instruments developed by his Ministry and its parastatals led to the initiation and ultimate passage of the Nigeria Start-Up Bill by the National Assembly, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari last week to become the Nigeria Start-up Act.

While commending President Buhari and National Assembly for the speedy passage and assent, the Minister described the legislation as "organic, because inputs were sought from the Start-Up ecosystem, and all its challenges are accommodated." He said passage of the Bill has attracted global commendation, noting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which indicated it would be learning from Nigeria's experience.

Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), giving the opening speech at Digital Nigeria 2022, expressed optimism that with the several initiatives the ministry and all its parastatals are putting in place, Nigeria can become the global talent supplier in the tech ecosystem in no distant time.

He said Nigeria is doing a lot in trying to position itself in the area of talent development because technology has two components; the technology, and the people side, or IT talent, which is abundant in Nigeria. According the Director General, if Nigeria could harness her talents in the tech ecosystem, it would need nothing else "because our talent alone is estimated at 8.5 trillion USD market value, and Nigeria has the capacity to fill the global talent gap."

He assured that, "We have done it in the sport industry. We have done it in the music industry, and we are going to do it in the tech industry," adding that the country would also explore how to use Emerging Technologies to create and capture value from the tech ecosystem.

While recalling that the Minister recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft Corporation to train 5 million Nigerians, the NITDA boss disclosed that there were "several other initiatives, like the training of 1 million developers in the next 18 months, geared towards positioning Nigeria to bridge the global talent gap."

He described digital transformation and sustainability as increasingly important and intertwined phenomena that are full of promises and pitfalls. "To achieve sustainability, you need strategy to realise the promises while avoiding the pitfalls," he observed.

Inuwa noted that the Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has designed an approach to succeed in the digital economy sector. The Minister uses a three part gain : unleash the creative offence to position Nigeria as a leader in the digital economy, initiatives to strengthen the midfield in terms of processes, policies and legal framework, and initiatives to tide up the defense which is to explore technology to enhance processes and services which include the e-government master plan, and initiatives around infrastructure to connect the unconnected.

On the recently passage of the Nigeria Start Up bill, now an Act after the President's assent, the Director General averred that the Act would provide legal instrument for Nigeria to become a start-up nation. "With the president assenting to the bill, it will help us position ourselves to disrupt and not to be disrupted because it is through start-ups you can come up with disruptive ideas with innovations to create Innovation driven enterprises, and we are implementing several initiatives to achieve that.

"We have an MIT REAP programme, we are working with JAICA, and we have several other initiatives aimed to strengthen the ecosystem, that is why Nigeria's ecosystem is the most vibrant ecosystem in all of Africa. Out of seven unicorn companies in Africa, five originated from Nigeria and we have three more to join soon," he added. Inuwa however solicited the cooperation of others because digital transformation cannot be achieved in silos.

"We believe digital transformation needs collaboration. We need everybody on board. Government has its own roles; to create policies, to intervene in terms of regulations and legal framework and you all have your own roles to play. Academia produces the human capital; we need the innovators to come up with innovative ideas, we need the venture capitalists to invest, and we need you, our guests from abroad, to learn from your experience.

"At the end of this, we are looking forward to ideas that will promote what government is doing so that Nigeria can have a sustainable digital economy," the NITDA boss concluded.

Gambia's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, His Excellence, Mr. Ousman A. Bah, a keynote speaker at the conference, enjoined African countries to embrace digital transformation stating that "digital transformation required the need for visionary leaders that have purpose and purpose that has destiny and destiny has address."

He noted that adoption of blockchain technologies would speed up the continent's drive for digital transformation which will promote other emerging technologies such as data protection, cyber security, digital inclusion and entrepreneurship.

While acknowledging that Blockchain has many benefits such as financial inclusion and nurturing of small scale businesses, he stated that the technology comes with its challenges, and there are significant challenges to overcome before the benefits of Blockchain could be realised. According to Mr. Bah consumer protection and system network risk can slow down the pace being recorded.

He noted that Central banks in African countries need to be proactive to explore the technological advancement that Blockchain offers to promote digital inclusion advising that many countries need to embrace financial inclusion. "Countries in Africa are at the different stages of progress when it comes to allowing financial privacy from other sectors like telecom sector other than the banks."

In her keynote address, the Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Deemah A. Alyahya sued for bridging the gender digital divide that exists, maintaining that access to information should be all inclusive. "We need to promote digital inclusion and ensure that we bridge the digital gender divide that is prevailing because women occupy very important roles in our journey toward digital transformation."

In his goodwill remark, the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Muhammed commended the ministry and parastatals under the leadership of Prof. Pantami for deepening the digital inclusion in the country through many of their initiatives. He stated that the sector remains the fastest growing sector which has been helping the nation in its drive for economic diversification.

Other dignitaries at the conference were the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Yakubu Oseni, representatives of ministers of Special Duties, the Minister of State for Health, Service Chiefs, captains of industry, IT enthusiasts, tech start-ups and innovators.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a book titled "Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami: Advancing Nigeria's Drive Toward a Digital Economy", published in honour of the Minister.

By Lukman Oladokun in Abuja.
Digital Nigeria 2022 International Conference, Oct 25-27.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC and Microsoft join forces to launch the “Go Beyond Your Limits” initiative targeted at local SMEs and next-gen talent

HONG KONG, Oct 27, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Microsoft Hong Kong today announced a new partnership to jointly launch the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and foster next-generation talent in Hong Kong by leveraging best-in-class technology, practical learning and various support measures. The programme aims to achieve two key goals. First, it will help Hong Kong's SMEs take tangible steps to pursue their digital transformation and seize new market opportunities under the new normal. Second, it will provide a series of learning opportunities for tertiary students in Hong Kong, helping to enhance their business-related digital skills and knowledge.
Yvonne So, Director, HKTDC Corporate Communications & Marketing; Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director; Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau; Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong [L-R]


Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Our Transformation Sandbox (T-box) has helped more than 2,400 Hong Kong enterprises over the past two-plus years to realise different business transformation goals. Some of the most commonly seen goals relate to digitalization, which is undoubtedly a powerful tool for companies to reshape their business, enhance their competitiveness and drive innovation. The HKTDC is delighted to partner with leading global technology company Microsoft Hong Kong to jointly launch the 'Go Beyond Your Limits' Programme. By integrating teaching, consulting and practical knowledge sharing, we aim to help SMEs in T-box to make good use of digital tools, and to equip tertiary students joining the HKTDC Trade Ambassador Programme (TAP) to become the digital economy talents of tomorrow's Hong Kong."

Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau, said: "Microsoft Hong Kong is committed to empowering local SMEs to accelerate digital transformation and uplift businesses across Hong Kong. Through a holistic approach that encompasses Microsoft's technologies such as Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 (ERP), one-to-one diagnosis and advising on funding applications for SMEs, we hope to empower them to do more with less and assist them to identify new market opportunities. For decades, we have focused on upskilling next-gen talent, digital empowerment and making the best technology available to enable SMEs to thrive and scale their business. We're excited to be a part of the HKTDC's 'Go Beyond Your Limits' Programme in conjunction with T-box and TAP and we look forward to creating synergies that can inspire more local businesses and support talent development across different sectors in Hong Kong."

Dr Lau added: "The HKTDC's work is always in line with the policy direction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Policies to facilitate the development of the local technology industry and enlarge the I&T talent pool in Hong Kong were highlighted in the Policy Address 2022 released by the Chief Executive last week. Accordingly, the HKTDC will put further emphasis on helping Hong Kong enterprises and young people to thrive in the digital economy. We already do this through our conferences and exhibitions, business support and promotional activities infused with various technology elements, and this new partnership with Microsoft Hong Kong is a timely way to further reinforce our commitment."

"Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme aims to achieve two key goals:

1. Promoting SME digitalisation to increase operational efficiency

Riding on the HKTDC Transformation Sandbox (T-box) programme, and with invaluable support from Microsoft, the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme will offer support to more than 2,400 participating enterprises with the Mobile Office Portfolio, free one-to-one enterprise diagnosis and professional training courses to enhance their competitiveness. The programme will provide targeted solutions and follow-up support according to each enterprise's specific stage of development and business needs. The programme will also help SMEs identify and apply for suitable funding schemes to expedite their business development goals. Highlights of the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme include:

i. Mobile Office Portfolio plus special offers for T-box members

The Mobile Office Portfolio offers Microsoft 365 and Cloud PC solutions with a high-speed 5G network that allows businesses to unlock seamless hybrid work capabilities. T-box members can enjoy two months' rebate with a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 for Business.

ii. Free one-to-one enterprise diagnosis and workshops

Microsoft will provide participating T-box members with free one-to-one enterprise management diagnosis that can help them formulate a suitable digital transformation strategy. There are also free workshops on Dynamics 365 ERP to help SMEs strengthen and streamline their operations flow and management.

iii. Assistance with funding applications

Microsoft will assist SMEs to identify and apply for suitable funding schemes and financial assistance so that they can accelerate implementation and expedite their business transformation goals.

During the pandemic, remote working, automated business and production procedures and e-commerce became the new normal across enterprises of all sizes. As businesses continue their transformation journey, companies across all sectors of the Hong Kong economy will continue to look for new market opportunities with innovation and technologies. And as market and consumer demands continue to shift, enterprises will need to make the best use of new technologies to ensure effective allocation of resources and business processes, maximise operational efficiency and realise cost savings. This will help them capitalise on this new wave of innovation and adopt technologies to meet customer needs and expand into new markets.

2. Committed to nurturing young talents

The HKTDC Trade Ambassador Programme (TAP) was launched to help the younger generation equip themselves for future entrepreneurship, career development, as well as broaden their business horizons. In collaboration with tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, the full-year programme will consist of opportunities to participate in the numerous activities and initiatives organised by the HKTDC so that they can gain a more in-depth understanding and perspective of trade and commerce both within Hong Kong and internationally.

Another important role for Microsoft Hong Kong is to provide next-gen talent with cross-disciplinary learning and practical opportunities to develop a pool of IT specialists that can support the future development of Hong Kong. Microsoft will equip 1,200 TAP students with future-ready IT skills through expert talks, Microsoft Learn online courses, instructor-led tutorials and free examinations on Microsoft Fundamentals, a series of industry-recognised certifications for IT generalists to gain knowledge on digital transformation and to validate their skills relating to the cloud, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity standards and compliance. Students will also be entitled to free US$100 Azure Credits via the Azure for Students programme to enjoy free services on the Azure Portal and to have a hands-on trial of Azure cloud solutions, including but not limited to building their own apps, exploring AI, and working with big data sets.

"Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme website: https://home.hktdc.com/en/s/microsoft
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3SLhA9b

About T-box

In order to assist SMEs to explore opportunities and realised their business transformation, the HKTDC Transformation Sandbox ("T-box") support programme aims to help SMEs enhance their business competitiveness and achieve upgrading and transformation goals in the areas of branding, e-commerce, manufacturing and supply chain as well as access to new markets. Dedicated T-box staff work with enterprises to identify their goals and provide support over a three-month period, with group and individualised advisory services covering workshops, government-funding information, market knowledge and networking opportunities. The programme has been well received since its launch, with more than 2,400 Hong Kong companies participating and over 600 free consultations provided by professional organisations, chambers of commerce representatives, business partners and HKTDC overseas offices. Website: https://smesupport.hktdc.com/en/s/tbox

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:
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org

Microsoft Hong Kong Communications Department:
Bobo Wong, Tel: +852 5614 9998, Email: bobo.wong@microsoft.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

ONERHT launches accelerator programme Rebel Labs at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit

SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – ONERHT has launched Rebel Labs at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit becoming one of the first homegrown professional services organisation to launch an accelerator programme to incubate creative ideas, business models, and solutions to current industry challenges.
Rebel Labs entered into a MoU with its global partners to offer an integrated offering throughout the start-up lifecycle during its launch at the 8th RHT CABA ASEAN Summit


Rebel Labs will leverage ONERHT's integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional services, comprising experts from across RHTLaw Asia and the RHT Group of Companies, to help aspiring founders and early-stage entrepreneurs scale their vision into thriving businesses.

Presented virtually by RHTLaw Asia, RHT Group of Companies and the China-ASEAN Business Alliance, the Summit's theme is "Opportunities and Growth Drivers in ASEAN's Post-Pandemic Landscape amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties."

Panellists including Dr Leo Suryadinata, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, examined macroeconomic growth and risk in the region, new opportunities in the green economy, dispute resolution across China & ASEAN, and the rise of ASEAN's digital economy.

Speaking at the launch of Rebel Labs, Mr Victor Tay, Group Chief Executive Officer of RHT Consulting Asia, said, "Through Rebel Labs, ONERHT will take control of the narratives in the disruptive landscape. Entrepreneurs and startups can realise their aspirations through ONERHT's multidisciplinary platform of professional services to co-create ideas, mould minimal viable products, reconfigure business models, access global markets, raise funds and seek public listing."

Through Rebel Labs' strategic partnerships, incubatees will have access to mentors from 18 markets across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Israel, South Africa, China and ASEAN member states.

Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner of RHTLaw Asia, said, "It takes fierce determination for aspiring founders to rebel against the status quo, reimagining the future shaped by their vision. To help start-ups in the region, ONERHT is launching Rebel Labs, an accelerator programme to incubate disruptive technologies including legal technology, environmental technologies, and the metaverse."

RHTLaw Asia's full legal service capabilities, with presence in 16 jurisdictions through its ASEAN Plus Group, will help aspiring founders overcome the hurdles of regulatory challenges while scaling from ideation to maturity across the region.

During the Summit, Rebel Labs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with its global partners to offer an integrated offering throughout the start-up lifecycle, from mentoring and fundraising to scaling and listing. These partners include MIW (Israel), Fvtura (Italy, Netherlands, UAE), Founders Foundry (US, UK, South Africa), the China-ASEAN Business Alliance, Singapore Digital Chamber of Commerce and Enjinstarter (metaverse) and The Next Level (entrepreneurship programmes).

About ONERHT

The ONERHT Universe is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional services. Collaborating as ONE, we seek to be a beacon of growth for our clients, stakeholders and communities, empowering them to achieve purposeful growth in Asia and beyond. RHTLaw Asia LLP is a Singapore law practice registered as a limited liability law partnership in Singapore. A leading full-service firm with industry focus, it has presence in 16 jurisdictions through the ASEAN Plus Group. In delivering innovative legal and commercial solutions, it collaborates with ONERHT through entities which are not affiliates, branches or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more information, please visit www.onerht.com and https://www.the-rebel-labs.com/

Issued on behalf of ONERHT
By Waterbrooks Consultants https://www.waterbrooks.com.sg/

For media enquiries, please contact:
Elliot Siow
+65 8375 0417
elliot@waterbrooks.com.sg

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

InvestHK’s Investment Promotion Week aims to lift foreign companies’ awareness of Hong Kong’s business opportunities

HONG KONG, Oct 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will launch a series of themed seminars to provide foreign companies and business chambers with the latest updates about the city's dynamic business environment, enduring global hub status and business opportunities arising from growing ties with the Mainland.


As part of the official celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the five-day Investment Promotion Week will run in a hybrid format from October 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online. It will feature five thematic days – Financial Services/Business Professional Services/FinTech, Innovation and Technology, Lifestyle and Creative Industries, Startup – Sustainable Futures, and the Greater Bay Area – with over 120 speakers sharing insights and experiences in their respective areas.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, are offering full support for the event and hope it will reinforce foreign investors' understanding of the city's enduring business advantages and highlight the new and emerging business opportunities.

Mr Lee said, "Hong Kong is the world's freest economy and an international financial, trading and shipping centre. We are always welcoming companies and investors from all over the world. With the full support of the Central Government, as well as the plentiful opportunities under such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is the best choice for b usiness operations and expansion plans."

Mr Chan said, "Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong has a distinctive status and advantages: we have unparalleled and privileged access to the Mainland market, while remaining a free and open market economy with the common law system. And moreover, the HKSAR Government is committed to creating a strong impetus for economic development, by combining the strengths of a proactive government and an efficient market. We are sure that businesses from all over the world will be able to tap the vast opportunities Hong Kong and the Mainland offer."

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, "This is a week not to be missed for those who want to learn about the key trends shaping global investment and how Hong Kong can help in capturing these opportunities. Participants will gain first-hand insights and pragmatic advice in all these important areas where we are witnessing tremendous growth – not only in Hong Kong, but in Mainland China and the region as a whole."

For more details of Investment Promotion Week, visit www.investhk.gov.hk/en/investment-promotion-week.html.

About Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong is the department of the HKSAR 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 www.investhk.gov.hk.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

InvestHK’s Investment Promotion Week aims to lift foreign companies’ awareness of Hong Kong’s business opportunities

HONG KONG, Oct 14, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Invest Hong Kong will launch a series of themed seminars to provide foreign companies and business chambers with the latest updates about the city's dynamic business environment, enduring global hub status and business opportunities arising from growing ties with the Mainland.


As part of the official celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the five-day Investment Promotion Week will run in a hybrid format from October 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online. It will feature five thematic days – Financial Services/Business Professional Services/FinTech, Innovation and Technology, Lifestyle and Creative Industries, Startup – Sustainable Futures, and the Greater Bay Area – with over 120 speakers sharing insights and experiences in their respective areas.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, are offering full support for the event and hope it will reinforce foreign investors' understanding of the city's enduring business advantages and highlight the new and emerging business opportunities.

Mr Lee said, "Hong Kong is the world's freest economy and an international financial, trading and shipping centre. We are always welcoming companies and investors from all over the world. With the full support of the Central Government, as well as the plentiful opportunities under such national strategies as the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area development, Hong Kong is the best choice for b usiness operations and expansion plans."

Mr Chan said, "Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong has a distinctive status and advantages: we have unparalleled and privileged access to the Mainland market, while remaining a free and open market economy with the common law system. And moreover, the HKSAR Government is committed to creating a strong impetus for economic development, by combining the strengths of a proactive government and an efficient market. We are sure that businesses from all over the world will be able to tap the vast opportunities Hong Kong and the Mainland offer."

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, said, "This is a week not to be missed for those who want to learn about the key trends shaping global investment and how Hong Kong can help in capturing these opportunities. Participants will gain first-hand insights and pragmatic advice in all these important areas where we are witnessing tremendous growth – not only in Hong Kong, but in Mainland China and the region as a whole."

For more details of Investment Promotion Week, visit www.investhk.gov.hk/en/investment-promotion-week.html.

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Gradiant, Global Water Solutions Provider, Expands Australia Presence and Capabilities

New Offices in Adelaide and Perth, and ISO Certification Australia-Wide

SYDNEY, AU, Oct 4, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Gradiant, a leading global water solutions provider, announced new milestones in Australia to execute its strategy to deploy its award-winning sustainable solutions in advanced water and wastewater into the Australia and New Zealand region. Two new offices have been established in Adelaide and Perth to complement Gradiant’s regional headquarters in Sydney. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification has been issued for all three office locations.

Gradiant’s Adelaide, South Australia office is focused on delivery of the SmartOpsTM digital platform of asset performance optimization solutions for industrial end-users. The team works in collaboration with the global technology labs in Singapore and Boston, United States, to ensure customers’ needs are best met in the local market. The Perth, Western Australia office serves the mining sector and Water Corporation, the principal supplier of water and wastewater throughout the state.

“Our expanding presence in Australia will help accelerate the adoption of Gradiant’s solutions to lower the total water cost of our industrial and municipal clients and bring sustainability into their operations and supply chains,” said Govind Alagappan, President of Global Operations for Gradiant. “Australia is a highly developed economy with critical need for our solutions in mining and advanced manufacturing. The country is vast in size, where the opening of our new offices in South Australia and Western Australia will best serve our local customers.”

ISO certifications were achieved for all Australia office locations. The certifications demonstrate Gradiant’s commitment to quality, environment, and health & safety, and allow Gradiant to participate in large projects for its industrial and municipal client base. The certifications include:

  • ISO 9001-2016: Quality Management Systems
  • ISO 14001-2016: Environmental Management Systems
  • ISO 45001-2018: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

“The ISO certifications demonstrate to our growing base of customers in the region that Gradiant is a trusted and certified provider of water solutions in the local market,” Govind Alagappan said. “We strive for excellence in the work that we deliver. These certifications allow us to bring the best outcomes to our projects by ensuring quality, environmental, and health & safety standards are met for our customers and stakeholders.”

Gradiant entered the Australia market in 2020 with the acquisition of CRS Water, an Australian business with 25 years of experience in the design, construction, and operations & maintenance of facilities in the local market. Since then, Gradiant has grown the team by 200%, where today, 45 expert engineers and staff are in-country to serve our local clients. Revenue has increased by three times during this same period. Gradiant’s main Australia office is in Sydney, New South Wales.

Gradiant, a 2022 “Water Technology Company of the Year” by Global Water Intelligence and 2022 “Great Place to Work,” is growing its teams throughout Australia. Open positions may be found on Gradiant’s Careers page.

About Gradiant

Gradiant is a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions, powered by the top minds in water, Gradiant serves its clients’ mission-critical operations in the world’s essential industries. Gradiant was founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is uniquely positioned to address the world’s increasing challenges created by industrialization, population growth, and water stress. Today, with over 450 employees, Gradiant operates from its global headquarters in Boston, regional headquarters and global technology labs in Singapore, and offices across twelve countries. For more information, please visit www.gradiant.com.

Corporate Contact:
Felix Wang
Gradiant, VP of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com



Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com