EPC Contracts for Energy Industry Online Masterclass is Now Back by Popular Demand

Singapore, Aug 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Due to popular demand, Infocus International Group is bringing back the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contracts for Energy Industry online masterclass and it will be commencing live on 23 September 2021. Throughout the five sessions, participants will learn a comprehensive analysis of EPC contracts and of the key considerations in projects and disputes where such contracts are used.

This course provides an in-depth analysis of EPC contracts, their interface with other project documents and their role in the project lifecycle. It discusses key risk allocation issues, and the structuring of the contract in a project financing context. Participants will be introduced to the key terms and negotiation issues in EPC arrangements, the role and incorporation of technical details, and the impact of project specifications in EPC arrangements.

Benefits of Attending:

– Best practices in negotiating EPC contracts
– Understand the procurement options for projects and the associated risks and opportunities
– Consider alternative pricing, incentivisation and risk allocation approaches
– Develop an understanding of the current EPC market and the legal risks associated with such forms of contracting
– Learn what the major areas of dispute may be in construction projects and how to manage them
– Understand the key specificities of construction projects in your region of the world

This course will benefit participants with different levels of experience. For those with no experience, it will provide a basic tool kit of what EPC contracts look like, what are the major terms and perspectives of owners, contractors and lenders, as well as familiarity with what the major areas of dispute may be during the construction phase and how to manage them.

For the more experienced, it will be a masterclass on EPC contracts, covering the key commercial and technical issues in the construction market today. The course director has vast experience of EPC contracts and can answer literally any question on the subject.

Want to learn more?

Simply email to emilia@infocusinternational.com or call +65 6325 0210 to obtain your FREE COPY of event brochure. For more information, please visit https://www.infocusinternational.com/epc-online .

About Infocus International Group

Infocus International is a global business intelligence provider of strategic information and professional services for diverse business communities.

Infocus International recognises clients' needs and responds with innovative and result oriented programmes. All products are founded on high value content in diverse subject areas, and the highest level of quality is ensured through intensive and in-depth market research from local and international insights.

Emilia Mok
Tel: +65 6325 0210 | Email: emilia@infocusinternational.com
Website: www.infocusinternational.com

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

Tickets Now Available for Jasper Johns Retrospective at Whitney Museum

NEW YORK, NY, Aug 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Tickets for Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, the most ambitious retrospective to date of the work of Jasper Johns, are now available for advance purchase at whitney.org and philamuseum.org. Co-organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror is a single exhibition in two venues, filling almost 30,000 combined square feet.

This unprecedented collaboration is the artist's first major museum retrospective on the East Coast in nearly a quarter-century and will feature more than 500 works, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. Presented simultaneously at the Whitney and the Philadelphia of Museum of Art, Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror opens on September 29, 2021 and will be on view through February 13, 2022.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, visitors who attend the exhibition at the Whitney or the Philadelphia Museum of Art will enjoy 50% off admission at the other venue. Members of both institutions will also receive reciprocal admission privileges throughout Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror. Member Preview Days for Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror are Friday, September 24 through Monday, September 27, 2021. Complete ticketing details are available at whitney.org and philamuseum.org.

About Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror

Over the past sixty-five years, Jasper Johns (b. 1930) has produced a radical and varied body of work marked by constant reinvention. In an unprecedented collaboration, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Whitney will stage a retrospective of Johns's career simultaneously across the two museums from September 29, 2021 to February 13, 2022. Featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints, many shown publicly for the first time, Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror is inspired by the artist's long-standing fascination with mirroring and doubles. The two halves of the exhibition will act as reflections of one another, spotlighting themes, methods, and images that echo across the two venues. A visit to one museum or the other will provide a vivid chronological survey; a visit to both will offer an innovative and immersive exploration of the many phases, facets, and masterworks of Johns's still-evolving career.

This exhibition is co-organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The organizing curators are Carlos Basualdo, Keith L. and Katherine Sachs Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Scott Rothkopf, Senior Deputy Director and Nancy and Steve Crown Family Chief Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, with Sarah B. Vogelman, exhibition assistant, in Philadelphia, and Lauren Young, curatorial assistant, in New York.

Whitney Museum Hours and Admission

The Whitney Museum of American Art is located at 99 Gansevoort Street between Washington and West Streets, New York City. Beginning September 29, 2021, public hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:30 am to 6 pm; Friday, 10:30 am to 10 pm; and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. Closed Tuesday. Member-only hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am – 11 am. Visitors 18 years & under and Whitney members: FREE. Admission is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 7-10 pm.

As of August 17, 2021, all visitors 12 years of age and older must be vaccinated against COVID-19 for admission to the Whitney, in accordance with New York City requirements. Face coverings are required, even if you are vaccinated. For complete visitor guidelines, visit whitney.org. For general information please call (212) 570-3600 or visit whitney.org.

About the Whitney Museum

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875 – 1942), houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. Mrs Whitney, an early and ardent supporter of modern American art, nurtured groundbreaking artists at a time when audiences were still largely preoccupied with the Old Masters. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for ninety years.

The core of the Whitney's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today. www.whitney.org/exhibitions/jasper-johns.

Contact: Press Office
Whitney Museum of American Art
E: pressoffice@whitney.org
U: https://whitney.org/exhibitions/jasper-johns
U: https://www.philamuseum.org

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

Trescon’s World AI & RPA Show to connect top AI Leaders and Experts in the MENA region

MENA, Aug 25, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – AI and RPA have been growing as enablers for the limitless growth of the economy in MENA. With more and more government initiatives looking to push the boundaries of innovation across sectors, reports estimate an annual growth through AI to range between 20-34 per cent per year for these economies.

The 29th global edition of the World AI & RPA Show is expected to convene over 300 participants online including, government leaders, CIOs, CEOs, CTOs, Heads of AI and innovation and AI experts from across the globe to explore MENA's untapped opportunities in AI and RPA.

"With hand-picked experts from a diverse variety of sectors, the World AI & RPA Show will address the most pressing AI & RPA challenges confronting companies in the MENA region. The event will also include technology providers specialising in AI and RPA to assist organisations in identifying significant areas of concern and appropriate solutions to address them," said Mithun Shetty, CEO of Trescon.

Some more leading industry experts confirmed to be speaking at the show include:
– Rashid Hazari, Chief Strategist, Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai;
– Dr Khaled Alhazmi, Director of the National Center for Robotics and IoT Technology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST);
– Eng. Isha Aljassmy, IT Director, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure
– Syed Mohammad Ali Naqvi – Head of Artificial Intelligence, Data & Analytics, Al Hilal Bank
– Salem Al Gharbi – General Manager, Energy-AI Advisory, National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) | SDAIA
– Neil Barman, Chief Growth Officer, yellow.ai
– Max Heinemyer, Director of Threat Hunting, Darktrace and more.

The cohesive agenda will cover topics such as preparing for the next evolution of AI as a driver for business success safety; building the business strategy for AI across the enterprise; aligning organisational structures to deploy at scale; and RPA and AI implementation: challenges and opportunities; to name a few.

The show will be hosted on the virtual events platform Vmeets to help participants network and conduct business in an interactive and immersive virtual environment. Participants will also be able to engage with speakers in Q&A sessions and network with solution providers in virtual exhibition booths, private consultation rooms and private networking rooms.
The event is sponsored by Official AI Cyber Security Partner – Darktrace; Gold Sponsors – Incorta, yellow.ai and Happiest Minds; Silver Sponsor – Uniphore.

About World AI & RPA Show

World AI Show is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused, global series of events that takes place in strategic locations across the world. It connects top AI experts, enterprises, government representatives, data scientists, technology leaders, startups, investors, researchers, academicians, and global AI innovators ? to discuss the impact of AI on commercial applications and the revolutionary ways it can transform businesses and government functions.

For more information visit: https://tresconglobal.com/conferences/ai/mena/.

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

HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE open in September

HONG KONG, Aug 25, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The special edition of the 40th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and ninth Salon de TE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries, return next month. The fairs will run in physical and online formats for the first time. The physical fairs run from 8 to 12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), while the online version will run until 19 September, helping global watch traders to explore business opportunities through both physical and online formats. The five-day fairs at the HKCEC will be open to industry buyers and, for the first time, to the general public, offering local watch lovers the opportunity to shop for precious timepieces.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, Philip Lau, Co-chairman, HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Organising Committee 2021 (L) and Daisy Mok, Co-chairman, HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Organising Committee 2021 (R)

Models at the press conference showcase selected timepieces, including winning timepieces from the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition

The results of the 38th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition were announced at the press conference. Gary Lau (Second from left), President of the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd, is pictured with winners in the Open Group.

Exports recovery is seen with optimistic prospect of watch & clock industry

The Watch & Clock Fair has long been regarded as an effective business platform for manufacturers and buyers, while Salon de TE introduces some of the best-known branded watches. The fairs are bringing together over 150 exhibitors, showcasing a wide array of watches from high-end designs to trendy day-wear watches.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Hong Kong's total exports of watches and clocks were valued at HK$27.8 billion from January to June this year, representing a year-on-year growth of 45.4%. The export index for timepieces was 21.6 for the third quarter of 2020 but had rebounded to 44.6 for the second quarter of this year, indicating that watch exporters are now more optimistic about the industry outlook. This year's fairs will give exhibitors and buyers the chance to explore more business opportunities through the physical fairs and online platform. What's more, Asia's fashion spotlight, CENTRESTAGE will be held concurrently from 10 to 12 September, enabling visitors to see the latest collections from more than 240 watch and fashion brands."

International exquisite brands featured at World Brand Piazza

The Salon de TE will feature a series of top-tier international designer brands. Sponsored by Prince Jewellery & Watch for the 11th consecutive year, the World Brand Piazza will present 12 renowned international brands, including Blancpain, Breguet, Chopard, CORUM, FRANCK MULLER, Glashutte Original, Jacob & Co, Jaquet Droz, Juvenia, PARMIGIANI FLEURIER, Piaget and SARCAR Geneve.

Wide array of luxury and fashion watches in different product zones

Showcasing watches of different designs, the Salon de TE will comprise various thematic zones including Craft Treasure, Chic & Trendy and Renaissance Moment. The Craft Treasure zone will feature high-end functional mechanical watches and jewellery watches. Among them is the Six Steeds in the Tang Dynasty from Hong Kong brand Memorigin – the company's first manual-winding watch with a central tourbillon and free sprung balances. The watch features the stunning scenery of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, China's famous sacred mountains and a vivid 18K golden horse sculpture, showcasing exquisite micro-engraving skills requiring 260 hours of intricate craftsmanship. This artistic timepiece is a collectable item for watch lovers.

The Chic & Trendy zone highlights a series of fashionable watch brands, including a solar-powered watch from Belgium brand Ice-Watch. Users simply need to expose it to natural or artificial light to operate without the need to change the battery, making it easy to use and eco-friendly. The Roulette Master Skeleton Automatic from Swiss brand Romago features a dial with a roulette design and a transparent case back exposing the open-worked rotor through the sapphire-crystal. This is a watch with inner and outer beauty, which has water resistance up to 50 metres.

A series of classic and elegant watches are showcased in the Renaissance Moment zone. The Iza Collection from Swiss brand COINWATCH is an elegant lady's watch with 16 diamonds and a rose gold bezel, complemented by stylish double-wrap leather straps. Many more international famous brands are featured in this zone, including DOXA, Leonard Montres and more. In addition, visitors can visit the Pageant of Eternity, which is a premium zone for original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and original design manufacturing (ODM) high-end watches.

Click2Match enables business matching, seminars offer business insights

The HKTDC has mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite overseas buyers to connect and maintain contact with exhibitors through video conferencing. The AI-powered online business matching platform, Click2Match will help to bring exhibitors together with the most suitable buyers. Participants can also use the tool to enjoy functions such as a meeting planner, live chat and e-business card exchange, helping them to overcome barriers and build business connections around the world.

Industry participants are also invited to join a series of forums and seminars that will provide first-hand market information and insights into the latest business trends. The Hong Kong International Watch Forum will be broadcast online on 6 September, featuring sharing from representatives of watch associations from Mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and Switzerland. They will share the latest market insights and discuss the future direction for development in the global watch manufacturing sector. Under the theme "Redesigning the Future of Luxury Watches", the Asian Watch Conference (9 September) will invite representative from iClick Interactive to share her views on online and offline marketing strategies for luxury watch brands in the mainland, while Dayton Industrial representative will offer insights into the latest developments in the watch industry.

Events, lucky draws and attractive shopping offers for public visitors

A selection of public activities will be held during the fairs including watch parades, "Watch X CENTRESTAGE" crossover parade and product launches, with the participation of local celebrities such as Cheung Tat-ming, Nelson Cheung and Chan Wing-luk. There will also be watch craftsmanship demonstrations and introductions to valuable collections, helping the public to get a deeper understanding of the art of watchmaking.

Lucky draws will be held during the fairs with prizes such as trendy watches, jewellery pieces, fashion items and more. Visitors can also participate in the Smart Bidding Game to bid for their favourite watches starting at low prices. Public visitors can download electronic coupons ( https://bit.ly/2W7eWU7 ) to enjoy discounts of up to 40% when buying watches. In addition, key opinion leaders will conduct livestreaming shows during the fairs to introduce selected watches at the onsite studio.

Design competition to promote local creativity

To raise design standards for the Hong Kong watch industry and nurture budding local designers, the HKTDC has joined together with the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd to jointly-organise the 38th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Competition. This year's competition was divided into two categories – the Open Group and Student Group – under the respective themes of "Minimalism" and "Live Fully". The creations of the competition winners and finalists will be on display throughout the Watch & Clock Fair to showcase the best of Hong Kong's creativity to visitors.

Organised by the HKTDC, CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event will be held from 10 to 12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), featuring designer brands from around the world. The concurrent fairs will create synergies and new business opportunities for both industries.

Export performance for Hong Kong watches and clocks
– 2020 (total value): HK$46.4 billion
– YoY change: -27.8%
– Jan-June 2021 (total value): HK$27.8 billion
– YoY change: +45.4%

Websites:
– Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com
– Salon de TE: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/te
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3zibQuX

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:
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org

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

Asia’s fashion spotlight CENTRESTAGE returns next month

HONG KONG, Aug 19, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event, returns in September for its sixth edition, running in a physical format from 10 to 12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the show features more than 200 brands from over 20 countries and regions and close to 30 fashion events, offering an ideal platform through which brands and designers can showcase their creativity in the fashion arena and demonstrate their resilience in overcoming the recent challenges. For the first time, the show will open to public visitors for the entire duration of the event.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau, speaking at today's press conference, said CENTRESTAGE has overcome limitations resulting from the pandemic to return in a physical format, featuring 200 brands from over 20 countries and regions.

Panther Chan, ANSONBEAN and Hong Kong designer Calvin Chan [L-R]. The two celebrities wore outfits by The World Is Your Oyster at the CENTRESTAGE press conference.

A fashion parade at the press conference presented designs by two of the featured brands from CENTRESTAGE ELITES and some of the other brands participating in CENTRESTAGE.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: "Last year's CENTRESTAGE was held virtually, but I am delighted that the event has been able to overcome limitations resulting from the pandemic and return in the physical format in 2021, helping to showcase more fashion brands and budding designers from Asia and across the globe. The show provides a comprehensive promotional platform through which fashion talents can present their latest collections and connect with global buyers and fashionistas. This year's CENTRESTAGE is particularly meaningful as designers have gone through so many challenges as a result of the pandemic. They are facing up to the new environment with fresh ideas and a spark of innovation in their creations."

Overcoming pandemic challenges, fostering industry interaction

CENTRESTAGE 2021 will have "Chapter Infinity" as its central theme, encouraging those in the fashion industry to take creative approaches and reignite their inspiration in the pandemic era, exploring the countless opportunities that lie ahead. The event will feature three thematic zones: ALLURE – representing craftsmanship, refinement and elegance; ICONIC – displaying avant-garde designs; and METRO – showcasing contemporary, minimalistic expressions of urban life. This year's event will feature over 200 fashion brands, including more than 120 brands from Hong Kong. Although travel restrictions remain in effect between Hong Kong and the rest of the world, some brands and industry organisations outside Hong Kong will send local representatives to participate in the event, including the Taiwan Textile Federation, Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center, Italian fashion promotion organisation Ente Moda Italia (EMI) and new joiner Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Amalty from Kazakhstan.

In addition, overseas buyers that have been invited to conduct video business meetings with exhibitors include 3NY from the United States, Germany's Encode Fashion, Thailand's Bluepin and Vietnam's Runway. Local fashion buyers such as Club 21, D-mop, Harvey Nichols, I.T, Lane Crawford and online fashion store Farfetch have also been invited.

CENTRESTAGE ELITES show boosted by XR, artiste Hins Cheung gives support

The spotlight opening gala show on 10 September, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, will see the global launch of the latest 2022 Spring/Summer collections from local designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun's renowned brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol's brand, YOUSER. Lee Mooyeol won't be able to come to Hong Kong himself, but he is actively involved in the show's production. Celebrity singer and fashionista Hins Cheung will attend the event, which will use extended reality (XR) for added impact, and give his support to the designers. The show will be livestreamed through the CENTRESTAGE website and social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, employing augmented reality (AR) effects to enhance the online viewing experience.

Wide array of fashion shows presented by local design talents

The HKTDC has organised a series of activities around the world. With profound experience gained through international fashion weeks, a number of local designers will present their latest collections at Hong Kong Emerging Talents Show on 10 September and Fashion Go Places on 11 September.

Another highlight of this year's CENTRESTAGE will be the final of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest 2021 (YDC) held on 12 September. The VIP judges will be Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, founders of menswear label BOTTER. The 10 shortlisted candidates will compete for four honours, including overall champion, the Excellence Award, Best Visual Presentation Award and My Favourite Collection Award. Members of the public can vote for their favourite collection online and stand the chance to win one of seven HK$2,000 Lee Gardens Area e-gift certificates sponsored by Hysan Development.

Local online fashion hub FASHIONALLY.com will feature its FASHIONALLY Collection #17 fashion show on 10 September, presenting rising local fashion designers and labels. Other Hong Kong brands will combine a fashion short film with an onsite performance at FASHIONALLY Presentations on 10 September and 11 September, providing a creative showcase for their 2022 Spring/Summer collections.

Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2021, an international forum focused on sustainable development in the fashion industry, will take place on 9 and 10 September with the theme "Design for the Future". Redress, a local non-governmental organisation promoting sustainable fashion, will present the Grand Final of the Redress Design Award 2021, the world's largest sustainable fashion design competition, on 11 September. Local fashion brands Sparkle by Karen Chan and The Sparkle Collection will launch their new collections at CENTRESTAGE. Well-known key opinion leader Lilian Kan will also showcase her designs at the fair for the first time. Other events include the Hong Kong Kids Fashion Show and "LEGO x Hong Kong Designers Parade" on 12 September, while the "Watch x Fashion" Lucky Draw Session will take place on the weekend of 11-12 September.

CENTRESTAGE in Town citywide events

CENTRESTAGE in Town features a series of fashion events beyond the CENTRESTAGE fairground, collaborating with some 100 Hong Kong boutiques, shopping malls and cultural landmarks to generate a fashion buzz across the city. Highlighted events include:

Date (Year 2021) : Event : Venue
– From today to 5 Jan 2022 : Exhibition – "NOT a fashion store!" : Hong Kong Museum of Art
– From today to 31 Dec : PMQ Creative Workshop Series : PMQ
– From today to 5 Sept : Fashion Walk HK Designers Concept Pop-up Store (inside Philip Gold Curation) : Fashion Walk, Kingston Street, Causeway Bay
– 20 Aug to 12 Sept : JCCAC X PMQ Collaborative Exhibition: But Wing-ki : PMQ
– 27 Aug to 6 Sept : CENTRESTAGE Fashion Showcase : Harbour City Gateway Arcade
– 1-9 Sept : CENTRESTAGE Digital Gallery : D2 Place TWO
– 1-9 Sept : CENTRESTAGE Pop-up Shop (Whitelisted by Novelty Lan & Fashion Farm Foundation) : D2 Place ONE
– 4-5 Sept, 11-12 Sept, 18-19 Sept, 25-16 Sept : D2 Place Weekend Market : D2 Place ONE
– 4-6 Sept : JCCAC Handicraft Fair : Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC)
– 20 Sept to 3 Oct : JCCAC X PMQ Collaborative Exhibition: Chan Ting : PMQ

Websites:
– CENTRESTAGE: www.centrestage.com.hk
– Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): www.fashionally.com
– CENTRESTAGE in Town: https://centrestage.hktdc.com/ex/centrestageintown/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3ATSnRt

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
HKTDC Communication & Public Affairs Department
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4537, email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

Five HKTDC August fairs and ICMCM draw to a close

HONG KONG, Aug 16, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, HKTDC Home Delights Expo and HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), as well as the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association, have all drawn to a successful close. The five public fairs brought together over 900 exhibitors and attracted more than 370,000 visitors.

The Food Expo, Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition), Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo drew to a close today, attracting more than 370,000 visitors.

The Gourmet Zone at the Food Expo showcased exquisite high-end food products. Various star chefs demonstrated "less salt and less sugar" recipes to encourage urbanites to develop healthy eating habits.

Pavilions and exhibitors from overseas participated at the Food Expo through local representatives to promote speciality foods and beverages. Mainland China, Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Thailand and Vietnam were among the countries and regions taking part.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "The Food Expo and concurrent fairs welcomed more than 370,000 visitors, showing that people are willing to spend and keen to use their consumption vouchers even though food and beverage sampling was not allowed in the fairground due to the pandemic. We were also encouraged to see a number of group pavilions participating through their local representatives to grasp business opportunities, confirming Hong Kong as an important trading platform."

Purchases through e-payment become popular

The HKTDC interviewed more than 1,400 visitors during the fairs through random sampling. A positive appetite for consumption was reported, with 44% of the respondents spending HK$1,000 or more and the average per capita spending reaching HK$1,273. With 85% of exhibitors at the fairs accepting at least one consumption voucher payment method, the survey showed that nearly 80% of visitors made purchases at the fairs using electronic payment methods, while more than half of the respondents used their consumption vouchers, highlighting the growing popularity of e-payment services.

The Hong Kong & Kowloon Provisions, Wine & Spirit Dealers' Association Limited (PWSA) and Nam Pak Hong Association set up a pavilion at the Food Expo for the first time, bringing about 20 food companies to promote their alcoholic beverages, canned foods, snacks, fruits and other food items. PWSA Director Michael Li said: "All our exhibitors adopted e-payment services to create a seamless shopping experience for customers. During the expo, around 80% of our sales were transacted through e-payment platforms. The Consumption Voucher Scheme has certainly helped to stimulate consumption and our sales result was better than expected. We plan to expand our participation at next year's expo."

Special temptations attract customers and boost sales

With great food and wine pairings in mind, some of the exhibitors at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition) said that running the fair in conjunction with the Food Expo had boosted exhibitors' sales performance. John Lee, Director at Everrise International Trading Co Ltd and spokesperson for Wuliangye International (HK) Limited, said: "To engage more customers, we offered discount vouchers during the fair period which can be used when they make purchases at our stores at a later date. Our eye-catching booth also attracted many customers to visit. We expect our onsite sales turnover to reach HK$1 million."

At the Home Delights Expo, exhibitor Bingo Leung, Customer Service Assistant at Smartech International Marketing Limited, Hong Kong, said the company's participation in the expo over the years had helped promote its brand and new products to consumers. This year, Smartech launched new promotion plans tailored to the Consumption Voucher Scheme. "We provided discount offers, free gifts and four e-payment methods to tempt consumers to use their consumption vouchers for purchases. Our bestsellers included handheld vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuum cleaners and dehumidifiers. We are very satisfied with the results and expect the five-day expo to generate HK$500,000 in sales turnover."

Since the Beauty & Wellness Expo debuted in 2016, Beauty Sensation Co Ltd, Hong Kong has participated as an exhibitor every year. Marketing Director Kin Wong expressed strong confidence in the company's sales performance at this year's event. "The expo provides an effective platform to raise brand awareness and promote our Australian skincare products to both existing and new customers," he said. "Visitors were particularly interested in our organic skincare products this year and we expect our onsite sales turnover to exceed HK$1 million."

Global traders view Hong Kong as an important trading platform

Despite the ongoing travel restrictions, numerous group pavilions participated at the Food Expo through local representatives, including the Ministry of Agriculture Trade Promotion Center, Shandong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing City from Mainland China which joined Japan, Korea and Poland to offer their food specialities to local shoppers. The Tea Fair also featured the Guizhou Pavilion to promote famous teas from the province. In addition to organising local buying missions, the HKTDC arranged nearly 200 virtual business matching meetings to enable global traders to stay connected and forge new deals.

Blanka Golebiowska, Deputy Consul-General at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong, said the Food Expo had given them the chance to connect with local importers to explore further cooperation. "The expo is a great place for us to promote Polish food products and test the market. We really appreciate the HKTDC's efforts in organising virtual business matching meetings to enable potential business development," Ms Golebiowska said.

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit: https://bit.ly/3g4N8Xc

Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition): https://hkwinefairaugust2021.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3AKzJLX

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:
HKTDC Communication & Public Affairs Department
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

Top tech leaders to discuss key opportunities & challenges in Asia’s SD-WAN & SASE ecosystem

Singapore, Aug 13, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Multifunctionality businesses rely on a strong network infrastructure that can support heavy data usage. With the quality of internet connectivity and broadband speed improving drastically, enterprises are seeking to shift from legacy MPLS to SD-WAN and SASE services.

The shift in trend to cloud-based solutions combined with certain demographical advantages that APAC's geographical positioning provides the potential for huge demand for SD-WAN and SASE services.

The inaugural edition of SD-WAN and SASE Summit will digitally converge key players and experts to help Asian countries digitize at speed and scale, on 19 August 2021.
The summit will feature eye-opening keynotes, government and enterprise use-case presentations, exciting product showcase, panel discussions and tech talk to discuss the latest challenges and explore the latest applications in SD-WAN and SASE powered solutions.

The event will focus on topics such as: Outlining possible pathways for SD-WAN evolution; Understanding SASE: The Why, What and How; Key architectural requirements of SASE; Key architectural requirements of SD-WAN; How Machine Learning changes SD-WAN; Main characteristics of the new era; and much more.

The summit will feature a groundbreaking collaboration of experts such as:
– Dr IR Ismail, Director General of Spectrum Management and Standardisation of Post and ICT, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) of Republic of Indonesia
– Vladik Arshanski, IT Communication & Infrastructure Director, NVIDIA Networking BU
– Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst, ZK Research
– Boaz Avigad, Director of Product Marketing, Cato Networks
– Shashi Kiran, Chief Marketing and Product Officer, Aryaka Networks, a Cloud-First WAN company
– Vikram Dua, Sr. Director, Head of Enterprise IT Security, Philips India Ltd
– Marlon P Sorongon, CISO, Maybank
– Mel Migrino, Chairperson & President, Women in Security Alliance(WiSAP)
– Samuel NG, Director of Cybersecurity & Analytics, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)
– Gabriel David, CIO, LCC Group of companies
– Bijender Mishra, CISO, Alkem Laboratories Limited
– Balram Choudhary, VP Head (IT Infra & Infosec Operation), Bob Financial Solution Ltd
– Renne Barcelona, Director and Head of IT, Global University Systems
– Subrat Kumar Kanungo, Principal Consulting Architect, Cloud, and Networking, Kyndryl; to name a few.

"In the aftermath of the pandemic, organizations are looking for effective approaches to manage hybrid work models. The need to provide consistent access and security for employees connecting from the office, home or the road is requiring solutions which are wider than just VPN or ZTNA. SASE offers a comprehensive approach which addresses these needs and offers a simpler, consistent and more secure approach to work from anywhere," states Boaz Avigad, Director, Product Marketing at Cato Networks.

"In the era of all the challenges during the M&A process, there is a common & major question: how can companies prepare and manage the integration of IT networks in M&A to enable the combined business process and achieve the expected M&A goals' Software-defined WAN manage services can be an efficient way to blend networks without compromising security, service degradation & time losing," states Vladik Arshanski, IT Communication & Infrastructure Director at NVIDIA Networking BU.

Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst at ZK Research stated, "SD-WANs and SASE are at an inflection point as they are moving out of the early adopter phase and into the mainstream. The primary catalyst for the acceleration of the technologies has been the pandemic as IT and business leaders are looking to modernize the network to accommodate the shift to hybrid work. The World SD-WAN Summit Asia provides an excellent forum for people to get some practical advice on how to adopt SD-WAN and SASE without putting their businesses at risk."

"The pandemic's disruptions have driven firms to explore SD-WAN & SASE solutions as a means of identifying major technology trends and prioritizing those that have the greatest influence on their competitive advantage. The World SD-WAN & SASE Summit is a great place to discuss and learn about the newest strategies, challenges, and trends that are driving Asia's SD-WAN and SASE services," stated Mithun Shetty – CEO, Trescon.

The summit will be hosted on the virtual events platform Vmeets to help participants network and conduct business in an interactive and immersive virtual environment. Participants can also engage with the speakers during Q&A sessions and network with solution providers/sponsors at their virtual exhibition booths, private consultation rooms and meeting tables.

World SD-WAN & SASE Summit is officially sponsored by Premium Gold Sponsor – CATO Networks; Gold Sponsor – Aryaka; Bronze Sponsor – Telin.

To get your complimentary passes, visit World SD-WAN & SASE Summit (bit.ly/3AEsUvf).

About World SD-WAN & SASE Summit

World SD-WAN & SASE Summit is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused, global series of events that takes place in strategic locations across the world.

As part of the world tour, this Asian edition is virtually gathering pre-qualified C-Suite IT Leaders, Data Heads, Heads of Research, Industry Practitioners, IT Decision Makers and Expert service providers in SD-WAN and SASE Technology among others from cross-industry verticals across Asia.

About Trescon

Trescon is a global business events and consulting firm that provides wide range of business services to a diversified client base that includes corporations, governments and individuals. Trescon is specialised in producing highly focused B2B events that connect businesses with opportunities through conferences, road shows, expos, demand generation, investor connect and consulting services.

For further details about the announcement, please contact:
Media, PR & Corporate Communications
+91 81059 75937
media@tresconglobal.com

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

HKTDC Food Expo and concurrent fairs open today

HONG KONG, Aug 12, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – The HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, HKTDC Home Delights Expo and HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The five public fairs have assembled 900 exhibitors from Hong Kong and beyond to showcase a global selection of delicacies and lifestyle products. About 85% of the exhibitors said they are making available at least one consumption voucher payment method to provide a smoother shopping experience for visitors.

Edward Yau, Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (front row, fourth from right), Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC (front row, fourth from left), Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director (front row, third from right), and other distinguished guests officiated at the opening ceremony.

The Food Expo is a summer shopping hotspot, attracting thousands of public visitors. The Public Hall presents a global selection of specialty food products.

In addition to the five public fairs, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association, runs at the HKCEC on 12 and 13 August.

Officiating at this morning's opening ceremony for the fairs was Guest of Honour Edward Yau, Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said: "Given the current travel restrictions, we are grateful to see group and individual exhibitors from outside Hong Kong showcasing products through their local representatives, including those from Mainland China, Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Thailand and Vietnam. Their presence underlines Hong Kong's strength as the ideal trading platform through which food suppliers from around the world can expand their business networks. We are most delighted to welcome 900 exhibitors who are showing their support for these events."

On-site hygiene measures to ensure safe shopping experience

The well-being and safety of exhibitors and visitors is the top priority at the exhibitions. Various measures have been put in place to protect people against the pandemic, including requiring everyone entering and staying in the fairground to wear a mask; not allowing eating, drinking and sample tasting in the fairground; setting up temperature-screening stations; providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations around the venue; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors' booths and the venue itself. Physical ticket sales for the August exhibitions are not available at the fairground to avoid the use of cash and minimise contact. Visitors can pay with their Octopus cards at the entrance toll booths to gain entry. To spread the flow of visitors and encourage the public to visit the exhibitions during non-peak hours, the HKTDC has introduced morning and night admission tickets at special prices.

Updates on the visitor flow and crowd control measures at the HKCEC will be provided on the event website for the consideration of those wishing to visit the fairs. For more details, please visit hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com/tc

Food Expo (12-16 Aug): wide selection of delicacies and culinary masterclasses

The 31st Food Expo comprises the Gourmet Zone and the Public Hall. The Public Hall, which opens throughout the five-day fair, showcases a global selection of food items including Japanese salted half boiled egg marinated in sea salt from Okinawa (booth: 1B-D02); Malaysian bak kut teh from Klang Back Street King Seng (booth: 1B-C21); radish pickles with three times more Chinese parsley, deep fried garlic, sakura shrimp and dried chillies (booth: 1C-B34) and low-calorie cauliflower rice (booth: 1E-E21). The Premium Food Zone in the Public Hall features food items offered by more than 20 renowned brands, including Tai Pan's brand-new vegan snowy mooncakes, Maxims' "Minions Collection" mooncakes, as well as other products from Nissin, Chui Lau Heung, WH Group, Chewy, Kee Wah, Wing Wah, Super Star Group, Tao Ti and more. New joiners in 2021 include Sau Tao and Chen Yun Pao Chuan.

The much-anticipated Gourmet Zone is open to the public for four consecutive days (12 to 15 August) and features five thematic zones, namely Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, Green Palate and Coffee Avenue. Speciality food items are featured in each zone, including tender aged sashimi with rich umami taste (booth: 3C-B17); lemon ginger kombucha that is both healthy and delicious (booth: 3C-E08); decaffeinated sparkling coffee tea brewed from Bolivian Cascara (booth: 3C-F24); Japanese Kohakuiro plum wine that uses 100% Japanese plums soaked in distilled brandy (booth: 3C-A02); and Daitouryou premium white peach from Yamanashi, Japan with 13.5 degrees of sweetness (booth: 3C-F07).

Activity highlights at the Food Expo include:
– Culinary masterclasses on "Less Salt and Sugar" recipes to encourage urbanites to develop healthy eating habits (13 August)
– Cooking demonstrations performed by eight celebrity chefs, including Ricky Cheung, Executive Chef of The Food Story; Kitty Siu, Executive Chef of Kitty's Kitchen; Will Leung, Executive Chef of 1111; Sandy Keung, founder and Executive Chef of Good BBQ; and Ng Kong-kiu, founder and Chef of Ju Xing Home (12 to 15 August)
– Local Fresh 123 at which the Fish Marketing Organization and Vegetables Marketing Organization will introduce fresh ingredients from local fisheries and farms (13 August)
– A series of seminars covering topics such as Dark Magic in Microwave Cooking (13 August), Plant-based Meat Development in Hong Kong (13 August), EatSmart Restaurant Star+ (12 August), Diet Therapy (14 and 15 August) and Foodwise (13 August)
– The Beef-and-egg King Prize Presentation Ceremony, highlighting what goes into making one of the most popular choices served at Hong Kong-style cafes, the beef and egg sandwich (13 August)
– Hosted by Jacky Chan, Chef's Dialogue invites three renowned Hong Kong chefs to share their tips on cooking, eating and ingredient selection (14 August)

Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition) (12-16 Aug): expert sharing, huge range of drinks

A new addition to the August fairs, the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition) introduces a broad range of old and new world wines, such as Luna di Luna prosecco (booth: 3D-A01) and wine from the East Helan Mountain Area of Ningxia, Mainland China (booth: 3C-G14). Popular craft beers include Hokkaido Brewing Melon Ale (booth: 3D-A31); MiMi Beer Ruby Roselle Gose (booth: 3C-G13) and Lion Rock Signature, a beer with a silky foam and a refreshing complex fruity taste (booth: 3C-G12). Japanese sake and spirits lovers will enjoy Pure Rice Daiginjo Dairi Special Limited, a masterpiece sake by Fujinishiki brewed with Omachi rice and low-flow water from Mount Fuji, with a specially designed bottle in the shape of the sacred mountain (booth: 3C-G08), Japanese whisky with a unique yuzu and myrtle flavour (booth: 3C-G20) and other interesting brews.

Wine lovers should not miss the series of activities covering the outlook for natural wines (13 August); sake basics delivered by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Wine & Spirits (13 August); a chit-chat on wine and food pairing with TV host Cecilia Wong (14 August); criteria for selecting high-quality wines from different production regions by Anty Fung, an MWM Wine School recognised instructor (14 August); spirit recommendations by the Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Association (15 August), and more.

International Tea Fair (12-16 Aug): selected teas and teaware, inspirational events

The 12th Hong Kong International Tea Fair showcases a variety of high-quality specialty teas, including Rooibos Tea from South Africa (booth: 3D-A12), fully hand-processed Tieguanyin Coal Fired Tea (booth: 3D-A20), 2002 Yiwu Song Ping Hao Lao Shu Tea Block (booth: 3D-A16), premium blended Da Hong Pao and Aged Old Growth Shui Xian from Wuyi Mountain (booth: 3D-B13), Matcha Divine Cloud (booth: 3D-A08A) and other selected teas. Delicate teaware is also featured at the fair, such as NIKKO – FLOWER DANCE designed by Japanese artist Shinpei Naito (booth: 3D-A08), Nambu Iron Kettle from Japan (booth: 3D-A02) and a Famille-Rose tea bowl with an intricate image of a woman teaching her child in the garden (booth: 3D-A10). Activities include an introduction to Japanese tea leaves (13 August), Tea for the Soul (14 August), The Mystery of Tea Therapy (15 August) and a milk tea workshop hosted by KamCha (15 August).

Home Delights Expo (12-16 Aug): one-stop shop for home tech and household products

The Home Delights Expo returns for its seventh edition, running for five consecutive days. The Avenue of Delights gathers multiple lifestyle brands, such as Towngas, ZWILLING J.A. Henckels, Tiger and German Pool, offering various kinds of home appliances, kitchenware, tableware and household items. Featured products include sterilisation items such as a car air purifier that employs NASA-developed technology (booth: 3F-D20) and an intelligent disinfection diffuser using ultrasonic technology (booth: 3G-E07).

In addition, the fair features Hong Kong's first-ever Smart (IoT) Anti-scorch Gas Built-in Hob (booth: 3F-E02), which can be linked to a mobile application that ensures hassle-free monitoring and supports remote emergency shut-off; and a foldable universal cooker that can be used as an electric oven, a hot pot, a stir-fryer, a grill pan or a barbeque grill (booth: 3F-A16), offering a creative solution for those who love cooking but have limited space at home. Other attractions include a showcase of home design solutions from the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association, while Sharon Lam, Founder of Home Therapy, will deliver a talk on decluttering under the pandemic (12 August).

Beauty & Wellness Expo (12-16 Aug): discover the formula for improved wellbeing

The fifth Beauty & Wellness Expo welcomes the Federation of Beauty Industry (H.K.), Hong Kong Hair & Beauty Merchants Association, International Beauty & Health General Union and The Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong to present a variety of health- and beauty-related products at their pavilions. Popular products include a bedding and mattress spray with an anti-dust mite function and blended Indian Neem and eucalyptus essential oils (booth: 3E-D06); an energy-balancing therapy machine that incorporates big data into body analysis and health advice (booth: 3E-A12); and a professional plasma skin purification treatment that employs thermal plasma condensation technology to purify skin, enhance absorption and accelerate skin regeneration (booth: 3D-C01).

Mask-induced skin problems have become of increasing concern since the pandemic began. Beauty & Health Columnist Yoko Tsang will share tips on treating mask-related skin problems (15 August). On the same day, the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness will stage an event to introduce the Hong Kong Bodybuilding & Fitness Invitation Championship.

ICMCM (12 to 13 August): convergence of healthcare insights

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM) runs on 12 and 13 August. The conference this year is themed "Integrative Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 and Related Disorders: Clinical Studies and Product Development", presenting invaluable Chinese medicine insights to industry practitioners. The speaker line-up features professors from Yale University in the United States and experts from the Netherlands, Malaysia, Mainland China and Hong Kong. Running in a hybrid format, physical and online sessions will be offered to facilitate the exchange of ideas among participants. Registered Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong are eligible for the CME application.

More opportunities to spend consumption vouchers plus daily lucky draw

The HKTDC has invited Octopus and WeChat Pay to provide exhibitors with exclusive discounts to encourage them to use the payment platforms, which in turn will give visitors more opportunities to spend their recently received consumption vouchers under the HKSAR Government's Consumption Voucher Scheme. Besides, the "Buy-more-win-more Lucky Draw" will be held every day during the exhibition period with prizes including five-star hotel accommodation packages, restaurant vouchers, luxury food items, skincare kits and health products. Spending HK$200 or more with a single receipt gives visitors one entry into the lucky draw – the more you spend, the greater your chance of winning.

The HKTDC has launched the August Happy Buy website for the five exhibitions, allowing the public to keep up to date with the latest shopping news and various flash sales, including a HK$1 Super Star Seafood Feast, bottled Hong Kong-style milk tea and Musang King durian snowy mooncakes. E-coupons can be downloaded in advance to enjoy all the special offers at the exhibitions. For more details, please visit the August Happy Buy website at https://ecoupon.hktdc.com/food

In addition, a vaccination incentive campaign is running during the fairs to give out 30,000 free admissions to citizens who have been vaccinated (that is, having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine). Members of the public can enter the venue for free on weekday mornings (12, 13 and 16 August before 12 noon) by presenting their COVID-19 vaccination record. Free admission will be given on a first-come-first-served basis while the quota lasts. Many exhibitors are also participating in providing discounts and gifts for people who have been vaccinated. For details, please visit the August Happy Buy website.

Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition): https://hkwinefairaugust2021.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com
– August Happy Buy website: https://ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/
– Photo Download: https://bit.ly/2VGD0x5

About HKTDC

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

Media enquiries:
HKTDC Communication & Public Affairs Department
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

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

Habitat for Humanity to hold Asia-Pacific Housing Forum in Thailand for the third time

BANGKOK, Aug 5, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Habitat for Humanity announced that the eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum with the theme, "Building forward better for inclusive housing", will be held in Bangkok from December 7 to 9. This will be the third time that the affordable housing forum will be held in Thailand. The strategic location of the country, presence of a strong and vibrant international development community in Bangkok, and Habitat for Humanity's 23-year history of building homes in Thailand, were the key considerations for the choice of venue for the biennial event.

"The focus for this year's Asia-Pacific Housing Forum centers on how affordable and sustainable housing solutions can bring an inclusive future for vulnerable and low-income families through greener, safer, and more resilient approaches," said Luis Noda, area vice president of Habitat for Humanity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Globally, the health and economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic have exacerbated the housing crisis and made clear how crucial having safe, secure, and adequate housing is to one's health, wellbeing, and even survival.

Around the world, approximately 1.6 billion people live without adequate shelter. In the Asia-Pacific region, an estimated one-third of urban dwellers live in slums or slum-like conditions. In Thailand, for instance, the slum and squatter population has continued to increase, with a majority of them in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The nation's urban population is approximately 35.29 million in 2019 (Statista.com). From 2018 to 2019, the poverty rate dropped to 6.2%, according to the World Bank. However, in 2020, the poverty rate increased to 8.8% due to the effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the main speakers of the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum include Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International.

Co-organized by Habitat for Humanity and the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia programme, with the support of other partners, the Forum brings together industry leaders, innovators, policy experts, and various stakeholders to inspire a new vision for more inclusive, healthy, and resilient cities and communities. It serves as a multi-sectoral platform to build collaboration among like-minded organization to create impact at scale for low-cost, affordable technologies across the Asia-Pacific region.

The importance of housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainability in human settlements will be one of the central discussions during the Forum. It also aims to strengthen the regional community's commitment to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and align climate change initiatives with national priorities.

The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, which has been attended by more than 7,200 participants since its inaugural conference in 2007, is supported by The Hilti Foundation, Whirlpool, Agence Francaise de Developpement, and Somfy Foundation. Other partners include UN-Habitat, Cities Alliance, and Total Quality PR.

The Forum will adopt a hybrid format, with limited in-person participation in accordance with government-mandated health and safety guidelines. However, with the fluid situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers are continuously monitoring the situation with a pivot strategy in place for an enhanced fully virtual experience. Register at aphousingforum.org and find out more about the forum program, tracks and side events.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific

About EU SWITCH-Asia programme

Launched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The programme has funded around 130 projects, supporting over 500 Asian and European non-for-profit partners, about 100 private sector associations and 80.000 Asian MSMEs. The SCP Facility, one of SWITCH-Asia Components, aims at strengthening the implementation of SCP policies at the national level, facilitating the coordination of all components of the programme through information sharing. In addition, it carries out analyses on the results of the pilot projects and supports dialogue with stakeholders.

Media contact:
Maetavarin Maneekulpan
+66-2260-5820
mae@tqpr.com

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

The 26th edition of World AI Show shed light on the need to accelerating the adoption of AI in Malaysia

MALAYSIA, Aug 4, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysia played host to the most content-rich virtual conference on Artificial Intelligence and related future-tech on Friday, 23 July 2021. Hosted by Trescon, World AI Show convened over 300 online participants that included major stakeholders of Malaysia's AI ecosystem including government authorities, top AI experts and solution providers. The online conference featured leading AI organizations such as Dataiku and Denodo to discuss Malaysia's AI prospects.

The conference was themed on assisting key government entities and private enterprises in developing a comprehensive AI roadmap and also how Artificial Intelligence can disrupt that one does business and generate value.

The event focused on key topics such as AI-driven innovation in the new normal; the road to efficient deployment of AI; human and machine interface to detect cyber threats and risks; how data virtualization accelerates ML and AI projects; AI framework and technological infrastructure strategies for the Malaysian and APAC Government authorities; powering data with AI and much more.

Some of the top speakers who attended the event that took place on 23 July 2021 included:
– Dr Mohd Nor Azman Bin Hassan – Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia
– Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid – Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
– Theng Hui Chong – Head of AI & Frontiers, PLUS Malaysia
– Shaun McGirr – AI Evangelist, Dataiku
– Alex Hoehl – Senior Director, Partner Channel Sales & Business Development, APAC, Denodo
– Sigrit Siht – Director of Data Policy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Estonia; to name a few

Key highlights and takeaways from World AI Show include:

Dr Mohd Nor Azman Bin Hassan, Deputy Secretary General – Technology Development at Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation spoke at length on the topic of how AI-driven innovation has become the new norm and expressed his views on why change is extremely crucial. He stated that "Successful digital models rely on digital platforms, which is a mesh up of democratized internal enabled technologies. With cloud being the foundation that stores, and processes data, all these helped in AI breakthrough."

While speaking about economies of AI, Shaun McGirr, AI Evangelist at Dataiku stated that "If AI becomes a pervasive way of solving problems and generating value across the organization – that is if it becomes fully democratized, you will change the way everyone works."

Karun Azhisur, CIO, Gas Power Asia at GE India in his tech talk spoke at length on the topic 'Leveraging Computer Vision/AI to drive Safety at Industrial sites', where he stated that, "A move should be made in AI from lagging to leading approach, and use advanced AI in detecting unsafe behaviours."

Alex Hoehl, Senior Director, Partner Channel Sales and Business Development, APAC at Denodo spoke on how Data Virtualization accelerates ML and AI projects. He was quoted saying, "Majority of data science projects fail, because of the problem with data, not using the right data, data not being relevant, and access to data. Many different aspects around data play a major role in its success".

The show was hosted on the virtual events platform Vmeets which helped the participants to network and conduct business in an interactive and immersive virtual environment. Participants were also able to engage with speakers in Q&A sessions and network with solution providers in virtual exhibition booths, private consultation rooms and private networking rooms.

"Finding the right business context for AI is a big part of the game as it opens up a plethora of possibilities. However, innovations such as AI, must be contextualized and integrated into a company use case," stated Mithun Shetty, CEO, Trescon. He further added, "Virtual events are providing opportunities for such discussions to take place during these difficult times".

World AI Show Malaysia was officially sponsored by Platinum Sponsor – Dataiku; and Gold Sponsor – Denodo.

About World AI Show – Malaysia

World AI Show is a thought-leadership-driven, business-focused, global series of events taking place in strategic locations across the world.

It connects top AI experts, enterprises, government representatives, data scientists, technology leaders, startups, investors, researchers, academicians, and global AI innovators – to discuss the impact of AI on commercial applications and the revolutionary ways it can transform businesses and government functions.

For further details, please contact:
Monith M Shetty
Corporate Communication Executive
marketing@tresconglobal.com

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