How Bussr’s AI-Based Technology Is Set to Reshape the World’s Roads and Economies

SINGAPORE, Mar 21, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-based transport disruptor Bussr has the attention of the global investment community for its vision to change the way the world moves from A to B, and for the abundance of talent at its table. Bussr's vision springs from the trio of former Rocket Internet founder and CEO Hussein Abdelkarim, veteran technology consultant and co-founder I.M. Shousha, and former Microsoft Chief Architect, co-founder and CTO Ajay Bhandari.

With people looking for better lives in our cities, the world's urban population has grown 55% in the last 50 years, and now generates more than 80% of our global GDP. Central to this is mobility, and demand for urban road passenger transport is expected to double by 2050. The economy is reliant on the freedom of movement for its citizens to be productive members of society.

Forward-thinking cities have had the realization that the future lies in mass transit such as buses, subways, trains, and ferries, as well as walking and cycling. The rise of electric vehicles (EVs), micromobility, Uber, Grab, and Didi have made inroads over the last few years, but much more needs to be done to address the systemic throttling in the global transport sector.

Hussein Abdelkarim, Shousha and Bhandari see the current transport sector as a chaotic dance. But by digitizing this mobility they trust their technology will bring a choreographed elegance to the way people travel. Each Bussr trip is a choreographed, seamless leap from place to place, leaving cities less congested, less polluted, free to breathe again. All of which are part of Bussr realizing its goal of "Digitizing mobility. Connecting the world."

Bussr's Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) technology acts as both an app for private use and an end-to-end, omnichannel ticketing, payment, and fleet management solution for enterprises. Its specialist artificial intelligence (AI) platform continually monitors millions of data points to help mass transportation systems operate at optimal efficiency for both passengers and operators.

Bussr's app can be branded or white-labeled for transport providers and is available to cities, operators, schools, and corporates. The enterprise use of Bussr allows the management of ticketing and payment and provides immense data insight into traveller flow, density, and timing. Operators can then accurately predict and plan the future needs of both passengers and transport solutions.

Bussr's Big Thinking Has Attracted Big Backing

Bussr recently raised an undisclosed amount in a round led by high-profile investors, such as Bridford Group, Peng Ong of Monk's Hill, Le Mercier Group, Jack Selby of Thiel Capital, Altitude Partners, Angela Huang of Hillhouse, Duncan Clark, Founder of China BDA, Alibaba early investor and author of the book 'The House That Jack Ma Built,' Andrew Huang of Fountainvest, and AI Capital, the founding team of Siri. There are also strategic angel investors from Facebook, PayPal, Lyft, Spotify, Zoom, Didi, and Impossible Foods.

The funds will expand Bussr teams across engineering and product design while also creating further strategic partnerships to enhance its reputation as a global player in mobility technology, a market that analysts say will reach US$908.8 billion by 2027. And Bussr, by digitizing this mobility market, trust that their technology will bring an elegance to the way people travel.

The Bussr app is available on Android and iOS, and can provide full travel options utilizing ride-sharing, public buses, trains, renting of scooters, and even bicycles to complete a trip. The user enters Point A and Point B, and the app manages every facet of the journey, AI providing the optimal route in terms of time and cost, while reducing the carbon footprint by reducing dependence on single-occupant vehicle use.

Bussr also offers real-time communication, fleet maintenance, and automated workflows creating the foundations of efficient fleet management. Cities and operators will ultimately be able to manage their citizen and passenger mobility needs better while reducing pollution and congestion. Future-proofing benefits for governments and private mobility partners include facial recognition capabilities for passenger check-in, safety, and security.

More than 900 transport partners are enjoying the advantages of Bussr technology including Bluebird, the largest private transportation group in Southeast Asia, and Royal Platinum and Pahala Kencana, the largest intracity and intercity private operators in Indonesia. There are also 60 major payment providers already on the Bussr platform, and with 2,500 destinations in 370 cities, more than 6,000,000 travellers used Bussr's network in 2020.

Please contact:
Media Relations, Bussr Technologies
E: press@bussr.com, Web: www.bussr.com

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

A&S Group assisted in vaccines air freight forwarding ground handling services to support anti-virus measures actively

HONG KONG, Mar 4, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – A&S Group (Holdings) Limited ("A&S Group" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company, with its professional and efficient services, is honored to engage in the air freight forwarding ground handling services for vaccines arriving in Hong Kong at Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal, thus contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first batch of one million doses of Sinovac vaccines arrived in Hong Kong on the afternoon of February 19th. After the vaccines arrived at the airport port, they were immediately towed to Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal, which are transported and processed with the assistance of the ground crew of A&S Group.. With the arrival of the vaccines in Hong Kong, the professional ground staff of A&S Group immediately took safe and quick measures to help delivering the vaccines so that the public could get vaccinated as soon as possible, A&S is honoured to be participated in one of the important milestones in the fight against COVID-19.

LAW Kwok Leung, Chairman and Executive Director of A & S Group said, "We are very pleased to participate in the air freight forwarding ground handling services for vaccines arriving in Hong Kong, and making contribution to the pandemic prevention. Looking ahead, A&S Group will continue to provide professional, reliable and efficient services to customers in order to maximise returns for shareholders and contribute to society actively."

About A&S Group (Holdings) Limited
Founded in 2002, A&S Group provides air freight forwarding ground handling services with its facilities at its rented warehouse premises with areas of approximately 235,293 sq. ft. in the Airport Freight Forwarding Centre. The Company also provides air cargo terminal operating services at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal ("CPCT"), being one of the three air cargo terminals operating in Hong Kong. Maintaining a fleet of 56 cargo trucks and vans being installed with GPS tracking system and a sizable labor force, A&S Group is one of the very few relatively large players in the respective markets. With a reputation of being professional, reliable and efficient, it wins contracts from customers including leading global logistics companies, major freight forwarding agents and the operator of CPCT.

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

A & S Group assisted in vaccines air freight forwarding ground handling services to support anti-virus measures actively

HONG KONG, Mar 4, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – A & S Group (Holdings) Limited ("A & S Group" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company, with its professional and efficient services, is honored to engage in the air freight forwarding ground handling services for vaccines arriving in Hong Kong at Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal, thus contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

BYD to Help Kyoto Reach Japan’s 2050 Carbon Neutral Goal

KYOTO, Japan, Feb 26, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – On February 24, BYD Japan Co., Ltd. (BYD), Keihan Bus Co., Ltd. (Keihan Bus) and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (Kansai Electric Power) announced a tripartite deal in Kyoto, Japan, which will see the three parties work together to help the city achieve Japan's 2050 carbon neutrality target and build a carbon-free society.

Representatives at the event: Mr. Hanada Shinsaku, Executive Vice President of BYD Japan; Mr. Kazuya Suzuki, President, Representative Director of Keihan Bus; Mr. Kenichi Fujino, Assistant General Manager, Sales and Marketing Division of Kansai Electric Power (from left to right).

Kyoto's famous sightseeing bus loop line (Kyoto Station – Shichijo Keihan-mae – Umekoji – Hotel Emion Kyoto)

The BYD J6 Bus

Beginning in 2021, Keihan Bus and Kansai Electric Power will launch the first batch of 4 BYD J6 buses on Kyoto's famous sightseeing bus line (Kyoto Station – Shichijo Keihan-mae – Umekoji – Hotel Emion Kyoto), as part of a five-year demonstration operation to further promote pure electric public transportation in Japan. This will also become the country's first loop line operated solely by electric buses.

By analyzing vehicle operating data and energy-saving results, the project will provide useful experience to support Keihan Bus's plan to continue introducing BYD K8 pure electric buses and gradually realize a green and carbon-free society in the Kansai region, one of Japan's key economic and industrial hubs.

As the signing location for the landmark 1997 Kyoto Protocol, Kyoto is a pioneer city that has witnessed the world's active response to climate change. In the same spirit, this latest deal is not only an active response to the Japanese government's goal of achieving Japan's 2050 carbon neutrality target for a carbon-free society, but also an effort to achieve the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's plan to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the mid-2030s.

Operating buses in this world-renowned tourist destination, Keihan Bus has always provided important travel support for the tourism industry in Kyoto. The new bus loop line will connect Kyoto Station, Shichijo Keihan-mae, and Umekoji – Hotel Emion Kyoto, which are surrounded by key tourist attractions such as Kyoto Railway Museum and Kyoto Aquarium. The introduction of electric buses around the JR Kyoto Station – the gateway station to Kyoto – will further boost the city's green credentials.

"Keihan Bus will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. We believe that the transition from gasoline and diesel vehicles to pure electric vehicles will mark a huge turning point on the 100th anniversary for the company," said Suzuki Kazuya, President, Representative Director of Keihan Bus.

Kansai Electric Power, the second-largest electric power company in Japan, will not only build charging piles and other facilities for the project, but also construct a highly efficient energy management system, as well as analyze and research operating data.

"Kyoto Station is the gateway to Kyoto. The introduction of electric buses in the city is an important step for us to move towards a decarbonized society," said Kenichi Fujino, Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing Division of Kansai Electric Power. "We will fully cooperate with Kyoto to introduce pure electric buses and support subsequent operations."

BYD's pure electric buses are quiet and environmentally friendly, and are more cost-effective than fuel buses, while their power batteries can also provide emergency power in the event of a disaster. The first batch of BYD J6 buses can be fully charged within just 3 hours, with a range of more than 150 kilometers, and can accommodate up to 29 people.

Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, said, "At present, there are 53 BYD electric buses in operation throughout Japan, with a total mileage of approximately 1.2 million kilometers, which help reduce carbon emissions near to 271 tons, making us the leader in the country's electric bus market. We will continue to share our electric vehicle technology and experience in Japan and around the world, to contribute to the early realization of a decarbonized society."

Since BYD's K9 buses first began operating Kyoto in 2015 and successfully opened up the Japanese market, the brand's buses have gone on to enter Okinawa, Fukushima, Iwate, Yamanashi, Tokyo, and Nagasaki, and many other places in Japan over the past six years. It has also gained the trust of developed markets in Germany, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, thanks to its excellent and reliable product quality as well as trustworthy after-sales guarantee system.

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is one of China's largest privately-owned enterprises. Since its inception in 1995, the company quickly developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem – comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, and cutting-edge electrified transportation – has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sectors. BYD is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the company can be found at http://www.byd.com.

Contacts
In Asia-Pacific: Mia Gu
Pr@byd.com; tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666
In North America: Frank Girardot
frank.girardot@byd.com; tel: +1 213 245 6503
In Europe: Penny Peng
penny.peng@byd.com; tel: +31-102070888

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

Yutong Bus to serve FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020

ZHENGZHOU, China, Feb 14, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – On 4 February 2021, the 17th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup(TM) officially kicked off in Qatar, with top football clubs from five continents gathered in Doha. Among them are UEFA Champions League winners FC Bayern Munchen and host country representatives Al-Duhail SC, with other teams including SE Palmeiras from Brazil, Ulsan Hyundai FC from the Korea Republic, Mexican team Tigres UANL and Egyptian side Al Ahly SC. They will present a feast of football for fans around the world.

Joining hands with Mowasalat (Karwa), Qatar's major transportation service provider, Yutong Bus will be devoted to serving FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020. Yutong Bus's star product ZK6122H9 will also provide full service to launch international events, bringing players a safe, comfortable and high-end event travel experience.

Professional Quality, Choice of Champions

Taking into consideration the special geographic conditions of Qatar, and to better serve the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020, Yutong Bus has specifically customized the buses. It has improved the air conditioning systems and vehicle heat-shielding performance to adapt to the local hot climate. Yutong also upgraded the vehicle sealing and chassis protection, etc., to guarantee the lasting operation of the vehicles in windy and sandy weather, and to ensure the sustainable operation.

What's worth mentioning is that Yutong Bus cooperated with Mowasalat (Karwa) on the vehicle design and made adjustments and optimizations with regard to driver protection, interior layout and color collocation. It then optimized the buses' design accordingly to satisfy the needs of clients.

Win-Win Cooperation brings 'Better Bus Better Life'

The order was placed by Mowasalat (Karwa), the Qatar public transport company. This marks the second cooperation between Yutong and Mowasalat (Karwa) after Yutong received an order of 1002 buses in November, 2020.

It is Yutong Bus's strong professional technical strength, high-quality products and services, and rich experience in operation assurance in the field of new energy buses, that won trust from its partner and guaranteed the second cooperation with Mowasalat (Karwa).

Yutong has always provided more than just buses, but opportunities for a Win-Win cooperation. The company has signed an agreement with Qatar to establish KD factory for electric buses in this country, to serve Qatar's environmentally friendly vehicle transformation strategy, enhance the supporting capabilities of the auto industry, drive the development of the auto industry cluster, and help optimize local transportation upgrades.

In retrospect of the year 2020, the passenger car industry faced severe challenges. Yet as an industry shepherd, Yutong Bus has made outstanding progress, including active deployment in emerging fields, such as hydrogen-fueled buses and autonomous driving; and continues to consolidate its leading advantages in the fields of traditional buses and electric buses.

Yutong Bus maintained a fast-growing global presence in 2020 including 760 units of buses delivered to Kazakhstan, 130 units to Mexico as the world's largest order of dual-powered trolleybus, 102 units to Norway and held the official opening of its spare parts centre in Lens, France. Those orders demonstrate the strong brand strength, but also reflect Yutong's industry responsibility to actively promote the recovery of global transportation.

Adhering to the brand concept of 'Better Bus, Better Life', Yutong Bus continues to broaden the road to internationalization, and hopes to gain greater world recognition and trust with the strength and reputation of its brand.

Media contact:
Hao Yanyan, PR Specialist, Yutong Bus
E: haoyy@yutong.com, U: https://en.yutong.com/

Source: Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. (Yutong Bus, SHA: 600066)

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

MSC Ends “ANASTASIA” Cargo Ship Ordeal With Crew Change in Japan

GENEVA, SWITZ / ACCESSWIRE, Feb 9, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Following months of repeated appeals by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company to allow a change of crew on ANASTASIA, a cargo ship which had been stuck off the coast of China since September, MSC has effectively resolved the matter, avoided a humanitarian crisis onboard and mitigated the related safety risks.

MSC, which maintains the vessel and organises its crew, having exhausted all possible options for crew change including efforts at a diplomatic level between Indian and Chinese authorities, was left with no other option but to advise the master of ANASTASIA to make a short hop to Japan on 4 February after already grave concerns for the safety and well-being of the seafarers intensified.

Dozens of ships have been stuck off the coast of China in recent months amid a trade dispute, which has created uncertainty over whether cargo merchants could deliver coal to buyers in China. MSC understands that the company which initially chartered ANASTASIA from MSC had sub-chartered the vessel to a third party and that the commercial parties involved in the selling and buying of the cargo onboard were caught in the ensuing political uncertainty around the trade issue.

MSC tried to convince the chartering and commercial parties in control of the vessel and its cargo to allow a crew change in various locations before it arrived in Chinese waters, and again while it was at anchorage outside the Chinese Port of Caofeidian, although COVID-19 protective measures closed off many options in China which would normally have been available. MSC prioritised the Japanese option as the quickest and most efficient way to provide the necessary relief for the crew and to enable the ship to subsequently continue in service as it may be required by the charterers.

MSC is pleased to note that the Chinese and Indian governments seem, according to official remarks reported by media since the vessel left for Japan, to have endorsed a crew change on ANASTASIA.

People and Families First

MSC believes that those in control in similar situations should work to prioritise the well-being of seafarers and their families above commercial interests, as human suffering and lives are at stake.

As a result of MSC's action, 18 seafarers, mostly of Indian nationality, will disembark from ANASTASIA on 10 February 2021 and will undergo thorough medical examinations before being repatriated by MSC to reunite with their families as soon as possible. MSC will continue to monitor their physical and mental health.

The priority now is to get them home. However, they will continue to be subject to applicable COVID-19 precautions as required by authorities in Japan and in their home countries.

Global Crew-Change Crisis

While MSC observes and supports COVID-19 health and sanitation requirements wherever it operates, the impact of restrictions on crew changes has taken its toll on hundreds of thousands of seafarers globally, throughout the pandemic crisis.

Since the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, MSC has engaged directly with governments and intergovernmental bodies, as well as non-governmental organisations, to campaign for better standards and protocols for crew changes. MSC is also a signatory to the Neptune Declaration, which brings together shipping industry peers to call for global recognition for these heroes of global trade and improve the situation for seafarers across the maritime world.

Related News & Information:
– MSC Calls for Urgent Solution for Seafarers on Chartered Bulk Carrier ANASTASIA https://pr.report/PfIhGFTi
– MSC CEO Soren Toft Backs Industry Campaign for Seafarers Amid Global Crew Change Crisis https://pr.report/tWLvga8O

Accredited Journalists May Contact:
Giles Broom
Global PR & Internal Communications Manager
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
M: +41 (0)79 754 8827
E: media@msc.com

About MSC

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global leader in transportation and logistics, privately owned and founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte. As one of the world's leading container shipping lines, MSC has 493 offices across 155 countries worldwide with over 70,000 employees. With access to an integrated network of road, rail and sea transport resources which stretches across the globe, the company prides itself on delivering global service with local knowledge. MSC's shipping line sails on more than 200 trade routes, calling at over 500 ports. For more information visit www.msc.com.

SOURCE: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

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

ZALL Smart Commerce and CIC Launch Digital Silk Road Initiative

SINGAPORE, Dec 15, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Commodities Intelligence Centre ("CIC") announces a momentous 2020 as it has jointly launched a "Digital Silk Road" initiative led by ZALL Smart Commerce Group ("ZALL"), Asia's leading B2B e-commerce Group, and joined Singapore's Blockchain for Trade & Connectivity (BTC) Network. As Singapore's first global physical commodities B2B e-trade platform powered by blockchain, together with ZALL's latest global digital trading platform, and China's largest online and offline integrated wholesale trading platform "Zallgo", CIC will help Singapore businesses uncover new opportunities and reap the benefits of the global digital trade economy through enhanced digital connectivity, in turn boosting trade across the Asia-Pacific region on the back of the world's largest trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Zallgo was officially launched during the "2020 Global Digital Trade Conference" that was held in Wuhan last month. A total of 300 merchants sign 252 agreements on-site through ZALL's digital platform, amounting to a total of S$56.3 billion (US$42.2 billion) of cooperation agreements. The newly formed partnerships underscore the increasingly important strategic role of CIC in facilitating the expansion of regional trade and investment as it aims to develop more than 10 winning commodities that will be popular worldwide over the next three to five years.

Peter Yu, CEO of Commodities Intelligence Centre, shared, "We have withstood the test of the pandemic and have witnessed the impact of the industrial internet economy on global trade and investment. As digital trade becomes the new engine of global economic growth, digital connectivity becomes increasingly important for companies to expand their market footprint quickly in a safe and secure manner. The new partnerships forged with the Digital Silk Road initiative and BTC network strengthens CIC's existing networks in the region that will enable SMEs to uncover new trading opportunities and optimize their supply chains in cross-border trade through our ecosystem in Asia."

CIC is also one of the six commercial partners to be part of the recently formed Blockchain for Trade & Connectivity (BTC) Network, an initiative by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to develop a risk assessment framework for small and medium-sized enterprises to assess how blockchain can support their business needs.

The BTC network was officially launched at the sidelines of the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) on 7 December 2020. The BTC network to drive innovation and test bedding of blockchain solutions with multimodal global supply chain companies, digital trading platforms and technologies. Other five commercial partners who will be helping to create, trial and lead the BTC Network's implementation includes Ascent Solutions, Blockchain-based Service Network, GeTS, Trames and VeChain Technology.

"CIC is well-placed to provide the necessary tools and guidance in promoting greater efficiency and transparency across global supply chains to help SMEs embrace the power of digitalisation to explore opportunities, casting their net wider, reaching out to a larger pool of reliable partners and suppliers beyond their usual reach," added Peter.

Since the start of the year, CIC's platform has reported more than 20 per cent increase in customers joining their platform compared to the same period last year. The company also saw a surge in online transactions with over 4,000 customers searching for trading opportunities on the platform on a daily basis. CIC has since achieved a gross merchandise volume of US$13.2 billion (S$17.6 billion), with over 5,200 registered users covering markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China, among other countries in Asia.

About Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC)

The Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC) is a global trading platform for physical commodities including Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals, Chemicals & Plastics, Oil & Petroleum, and Agri Commodities. Officially launched in Singapore on 12 Oct 2018, CIC is a Joint Venture between China-based ZALL Smart Commerce Group, Global eTrade Services (GeTS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) to build trade connectivity through digital marketplaces and to grow a vibrant trading ecosystem in Singapore. CIC aims to revolutionize commodity trading and facilitate cross-border trade through deal matching, trade finance, supply chain logistics, track and trace and global trade compliance. Since its establishment in October 2018, CIC has achieved a GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) of more than US$12.7 billion (S$17.7 billion), with over 5,000 registered users covering markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, among other countries in Asia. For more information, please visit www.cic-tp.com.

For media queries, please contact
PRecious Communications for CIC
cic@preciouscomms.com

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

Verofax Asia and AURI to launch Sustainable Traceability App powered by AntChain

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Verofax Asia and AURI, a lifestyle brand with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, announced an MOU to jointly launch an Asset Digitization and Traceability App for sustainable product passporting, to be adopted by suppliers of fashion and lifestyle products in the industry from Q1 2021.

Verofax and AURI are launching an Asset Digitization and Traceability App for Fashion and Lifestyle.

Young ASEAN shoppers' preferences are shifting towards brands that adopt values such as sustainability, environmentally friendly and community engagement. Recent surveys show that over 70% of consumers are willing to pay a significant premium for brands that adhere to such standards[1]. AURI and Verofax share these core values and have teamed up to provide consumers with a seamless application to validate brand claims and increase direct engagement.

Through its webstore (weareauri.com), the AURI community is offered a wide selection of ethically sourced products aligned with the brand's sustainable business practices. AURI also empowers the community to become brand ambassadors, offering them attractive rewards programs in the pipeline. Participating brands and suppliers will stand to benefit from greater trust and confidence when selling on AURI's lifestyle online store and be able to validate claims using the Verofax App, powered by AntChain Traceability as a Service (TaaS).

Verofax App will enable all suppliers selling on AURI to serialize each item, upload supporting sustainability and environmental certificates and enable consumers to validate their claims recorded onto Antchain's immutable blockchain ledger. In addition, Verofax App will allow apparel, garment and lifestyle product suppliers to indulge users with relevant content and empower them to validate claims on ethical sourcing, environmental impact and community support programs.

Suppliers validated on Verofax App can then access global markets and meet compliance regulations such as 'PRC eCommerce Law' and other consumer protection laws.

Capt. Koh Chen Tien, Executive Chairman of Verofax Asia, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with AURI in launching the first lifestyle-focused Traceability platform in ASEAN. Traceability plays a key role in meeting changing shopper needs, advanced product marketing and access to global markets[2]. Fashion and lifestyle brand owners are set to benefit from increase in sales and reduction in negative reviews/returns. Verofax offers enterprises complete privacy and control over sharing their data, automation of operations and reducing operational cost."

Kristy Yong, Executive Director of AURI commented, "We have recently launched AURI, a size inclusive people-powered community with a mission to provide accessible life-enriching experiences for all things from fashion to wellness. The recent pandemic has clearly demonstrated that we are all responsible for each other and the community. As such, we are working towards connecting the industry to deliver stronger impact."

Wassim Merheby, CEO Verofax Limited, added, "Trust in sustainable brands, is top of mind for young shoppers and will transform the way brands succeed. Sustainable asset tracing will accelerate ASEAN suppliers growth and create opportunities through access to global markets[3]."

Please visit AURI at https://www.weareauri.com, or contact hi@weareauri.com for more details.

For technical matters, visit Verofax at https://www.verofax.com, or contact info@verofax.com.

Verofax is an AntChain Alliance Partner: https://antchain.net.

About AURI
AURI [aw-ree] is a community-powered brand with a mission to provide life-enriching experiences from all things clothing to well-being. Beyond just fashion, AURI provides an eclectic yet relevant array of lifestyle products through its omnichannel retail distribution network.

About Verofax
Verofax is a blockchain-enabled traceability and Asset Digitization service provider with presence in Asia, Middle East and Europe. www.linkedin.com/company/verofax1/

[1] IBV research, changing consumer preferences, 2020
[2] Lux research, 2020
[3] PWC report, Time for Trust, Oct 2020

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

Verofax Asia and AURI to Launch Sustainable Traceability App Powered by AntChain

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Verofax Asia and AURI, a lifestyle brand with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, announced the signing of an MOU to jointly launch an Asset Digitization and Traceability App for sustainable product passporting, to be adopted by suppliers of fashion and lifestyle products in the industry from Q1 2021.

Verofax and Auri are launching "Sustainable Product Passporting & Asset Tracing" services for Fashion and Lifestyle

Young ASEAN shoppers' preferences are shifting towards brands that adopt values such as sustainability, environmentally friendly and community engagement. Recent surveys show that over 70% of consumers are willing to pay a significant premium for brands that adhere to such standards[1]. AURI and Verofax share these core values and have teamed up to provide consumers with a seamless application to validate brand claims and increase direct engagement.

Through its webstore (weareauri.com), the AURI community is offered a wide selection of ethically sourced products aligned with the brand's sustainable business practices. AURI also empowers the community to become brand ambassadors, offering them attractive rewarding programs in the pipeline. Participating brands and suppliers will stand to benefit from greater trust and confidence when selling on AURI's lifestyle online store and be able to validate claims using the Verofax App, powered by AntChain Traceability as a Service (TaaS).

Verofax App will enable all suppliers, selling on AURI, to serialize each item, upload supporting sustainability and environmental certificates and enable consumers to validate their claims recorded onto Antchain's immutable blockchain ledger. In addition, Verofax App, will allow apparel, garment and lifestyle product suppliers to indulge users with relevant content and empower them to validate claims on ethical sourcing, environmental impact and community support programs.

Suppliers validated on Verofax App can then access global markets and meet compliance regulations such as 'PRC eCommerce Law' and other consumer protection laws.

Capt. Koh Chen Tien, Executive Chairman of Verofax Asia, commented, "We are thrilled to partner with AURI in launching the first lifestyle-focused Traceability platform in ASEAN. Traceability plays a key role in meeting changing shopper needs, advanced product marketing and access to global markets[2]. Fashion and lifestyle brand owners are set to benefit from increase in sales and reduction in negative reviews/returns. Verofax offers enterprises complete privacy and control over sharing their data, automation of operations and reducing operational cost."

Kristy Yong, Executive Director of AURI commented, "We have recently launched AURI, a size inclusive people-powered community with a mission to provide accessible life-enriching experiences for all things from fashion to wellness. The recent pandemic has clearly demonstrated that we are all responsible for each other and the community. As such, we are working towards connecting the industry to deliver stronger impact."

Wassim Merheby, CEO Verofax Limited, added, "Trust in sustainable brands, is top of mind for young shoppers and will transform the way brands succeed. Sustainable asset tracing will accelerate ASEAN suppliers growth and create opportunities through access to global markets[3]."

Please visit AURI at https://www.weareauri.com, or contact hi@weareauri.com for more details.

For technical matters, visit Verofax at https://www.verofax.com, or contact info@verofax.com.

Verofax is an AntChain Alliance Partner: https://antchain.net/.

About AURI
AURI [aw-ree] is a community-powered brand with a mission to provide life-enriching experiences from all things clothing to well-being. Beyond just fashion, AURI provides an eclectic yet relevant array of lifestyle products through its omnichannel retail distribution network.

About Verofax
Verofax is a blockchain-enabled traceability and Asset Digitization service provider with presence in Asia, Middle East and Europe. Follow on https://www.linkedin.com/company/verofax1/

[1] IBV research, changing consumer preferences, 2020
[2] Lux research, 2020
[3] PWC report, Time for Trust, Oct 2020

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

Commodities Intelligence Centre to groom Global Commodity Champions On the Back of RCEP

SINGAPORE, Nov 24, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC), a B2B e-trade platform for physical commodities, has announced its plans to groom one Global Commodity Champion from each participating country of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Since the start of year, CIC has reported more than 20% increases in customers joining the platform compared to the same period last year, and a surge in online transactions with over 4,000 customers searching for trading opportunities on the platform. CIC has since achieved a gross merchandise volume of US$13.2 billion (S$17.7 billion), with over 5,200 registered users covering markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China, among other countries in Asia. CIC looks to develop more than ten Global Commodity Champions over the next three to five years, as it strives to uncover new trading opportunities and boost global trade facilitation on the back of RCEP.

Peter Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Commodities Intelligence Centre, shared, "The coronavirus has radically reshaped the global supply chain, exposing the fragility of the industry. We believe that CIC is well-placed to empower companies, especially SMEs, from RCEP member countries to uncover new market opportunities and identify reliable partners and suppliers, while building business resilience and extending the global reach of their supply chains during this difficult period."

The RCEP is the world's largest trade pact signed by 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to eliminate as much as 90 per cent of tariffs on imports between member countries over the next 20 years, and will improve market access for goods and services within the region. RCEP members comprise all 10 ASEAN members and key partners, such as Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, accounting for 30 per cent of the world's economy and one-third of its population.

"The work that CIC has been doing for the past two years resonates strongly with the recently launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – to help participating countries establish a mutually beneficial economic partnership that will facilitate the expansion of regional trade and investment and contribute to global economic development and growth." added Peter.

Established in 2018 as a Joint Venture between Asia's leading B2B e-commerce group ZALL Smart Commerce Group, Global eTrade Services (GeTS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX), CIC platform supports 10 different languages encompassing RCEP member countries, and provides integrated services that help SMEs reduce transaction costs, optimise the efficiency of their supply chains across cross-border trading, financing, logistics and to be regulatory compliant. CIC also provides access to unique commodity offerings of participating RCEP countries, such as clean and renewable energy.

Recently, CIC has also successfully facilitated large-scale renewable energy transactions between customers from Australian, India and South Korea, with the official signing set to take place during this year's Global Digital Trade Conference 2020 and the 11th China Wuhan (Hankou North) Commodity Fair from November 28 to December 6.

About Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC)

The Commodities Intelligence Centre (CIC) is a global trading platform for physical commodities including Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals, Chemicals & Plastics, Oil & Petroleum, and Agri Commodities. Officially launched in Singapore on 12 Oct 2018, CIC is a Joint Venture between China-based ZALL Smart Commerce Group, Global eTrade Services (GeTS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) to build trade connectivity through digital marketplaces and to grow a vibrant trading ecosystem in Singapore.

CIC aims to revolutionize commodity trading and facilitate cross-border trade through deal matching, trade finance, supply chain logistics, track and trace and global trade compliance. Since its establishment in October 2018, CIC has achieved a GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) of more than US$13.2 billion, with over 5,200 registered users covering markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, among other countries in Asia.

For media enquiries
PRecious Communications for Commodities Intelligence Centre
Email: CIC@preciouscomms.com

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