Tag: Travel & Tourism

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

InvestHK encourages Australian companies to leverage Hong Kong’s business advantages in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

HONG KONG, Mar 2, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) hosted a hybrid symposium entitled "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1), attracting over 400 participants from Hong Kong and Australia.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, speaks via video on the huge potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and encourages Australian enterprises to seize the abundant opportunities in his keynote speech during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" hosted by Invest Hong Kong in Sydney today (March 1).


The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Mr Stephen Phillips, delivers welcoming remarks via video during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1), revealing the vast business potential and the composite advantages of Hong Kong in the emerging market of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.


The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Tommy Yuen, gives a keynote speech via video during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1).



The symposium focused on the attractiveness of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as well as the strategic role of Hong Kong in the overall development of the GBA. It brought together the Director of the Australian Chamber Business Leaders Council, Mr Paul Nicolaou, and other speakers renowned in their respective fields to share insights.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, talked in his online keynote speech about the huge potential of the GBA and encouraged Australian enterprises to seize the abundant opportunities. He said that, as quoted in studies, while the GBA constitutes only 1 per cent of land in the entirety of China and has 5 per cent of the country's population, it produces 12 per cent of the nation's GDP, and exports 37 per cent of national trade.

"Connectivity through extensive efficient railway systems plus world-class airports and container ports and telecom networks within the GBA provides a solid foundation for it to thrive as a major economic engine of the country. While the 11 cities pursue a common goal of building the GBA into the best bay area in the world, they play different functions as a holistic cluster. Green and sustainable development will be another driver of the GBA in attracting international businesses. By various estimates, the GBA's GDP will grow to top US$4.7 trillion by 2030, presenting growth potential that Australian companies should not be missing," Mr Yau said.

Another keynote speaker, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Tommy Yuen, said via video, "Hong Kong, under 'one country, two systems' and armed with the GBA development plan is ideally placed to contribute to and benefit from both. Hong Kong will focus on better integration into the country's domestic market, taking the GBA development as an entry point, and will proactively strengthen our role as a facilitator to link up the domestic circulation and the international circulation. Playing the dual role well will bring continuous impetus to Hong Kong's economy. Businesses that operate in Hong Kong will hence be able to take full advantage of not just what Hong Kong has to offer but what the GBA market can offer."

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, Ms Winnie Chan, and the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, delivered welcoming remarks. Mr Phillips, speaking via video, revealed the vast business potential and the composite advantages of Hong Kong in the emerging market of the GBA. "The GBA in my opinion is the most exciting economic development plan in this planet. It is home to 72 million consumers and many of the country's most innovative companies, and backed by the leading international financial centre status of Hong Kongas well as all other dynamic economic clusters. The intra-regional trade and investment flows, especially between the GBA and ASEAN, present many new opportunities ahead," he said.

Other speakers at the symposium included the Managing Director and Group CEO of the University of Wollongong Global Enterprises, Ms Marisa Mastroianni, who discussed her experience on how to leverage Hong Kong to extend the university's global network of higher education institutions. The CEO and Founder of AirTrunk, Mr Robin Khuda; Partner in Tax of KPMG Hong Kong and Head of Alternative Investments of KPMG China Mr Darren Bowdern; the National President of Australia China Business Council, Mr David Olsson; and the Director of Philanthropy and Government Relations of the Fred Hollows Foundation, Mr Michael Allen, also talked about the unparalleled opportunities in Hong Kong during the panel discussion moderated by the Chairman, Global Engagement of the Business Council of Australia, Mr Warwick Smith.

About InvestHK

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

For photos of the symposium, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157718478324988.

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

InvestHK of the HKSAR encourages Australian companies to leverage Hong Kong’s business advantages in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

HONG KONG, Mar 2, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), a department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR), hosted a hybrid symposium entitled "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1), attracting over 400 participants from Hong Kong and Australia.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, speaks via video on the huge potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and encourages Australian enterprises to seize the abundant opportunities in his keynote speech during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" hosted by Invest Hong Kong in Sydney today (March 1).


The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Mr Stephen Phillips, delivers welcoming remarks via video during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1), revealing the vast business potential and the composite advantages of Hong Kong in the emerging market of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.


The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Tommy Yuen, gives a keynote speech via video during the symposium "Hong Kong: Your Greater Bay Area Partner in Expanding Your Global Business" in Sydney today (March 1).



The symposium focused on the attractiveness of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as well as the strategic role of Hong Kong in the overall development of the GBA. It brought together the Director of the Australian Chamber Business Leaders Council, Mr Paul Nicolaou, and other speakers renowned in their respective fields to share insights.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, talked in his online keynote speech about the huge potential of the GBA and encouraged Australian enterprises to seize the abundant opportunities. He said that, as quoted in studies, while the GBA constitutes only 1 per cent of land in the entirety of China and has 5 per cent of the country's population, it produces 12 per cent of the nation's GDP, and exports 37 per cent of national trade.

"Connectivity through extensive efficient railway systems plus world-class airports and container ports and telecom networks within the GBA provides a solid foundation for it to thrive as a major economic engine of the country. While the 11 cities pursue a common goal of building the GBA into the best bay area in the world, they play different functions as a holistic cluster. Green and sustainable development will be another driver of the GBA in attracting international businesses. By various estimates, the GBA's GDP will grow to top US$4.7 trillion by 2030, presenting growth potential that Australian companies should not be missing," Mr Yau said.

Another keynote speaker, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Tommy Yuen, said via video, "Hong Kong, under 'one country, two systems' and armed with the GBA development plan is ideally placed to contribute to and benefit from both. Hong Kong will focus on better integration into the country's domestic market, taking the GBA development as an entry point, and will proactively strengthen our role as a facilitator to link up the domestic circulation and the international circulation. Playing the dual role well will bring continuous impetus to Hong Kong's economy. Businesses that operate in Hong Kong will hence be able to take full advantage of not just what Hong Kong has to offer but what the GBA market can offer."

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, Ms Winnie Chan, and the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, delivered welcoming remarks. Mr Phillips, speaking via video, revealed the vast business potential and the composite advantages of Hong Kong in the emerging market of the GBA. "The GBA in my opinion is the most exciting economic development plan in this planet. It is home to 72 million consumers and many of the country's most innovative companies, and backed by the leading international financial centre status of Hong Kongas well as all other dynamic economic clusters. The intra-regional trade and investment flows, especially between the GBA and ASEAN, present many new opportunities ahead," he said.

Other speakers at the symposium included the Managing Director and Group CEO of the University of Wollongong Global Enterprises, Ms Marisa Mastroianni, who discussed her experience on how to leverage Hong Kong to extend the university's global network of higher education institutions. The CEO and Founder of AirTrunk, Mr Robin Khuda; Partner in Tax of KPMG Hong Kong and Head of Alternative Investments of KPMG China Mr Darren Bowdern; the National President of Australia China Business Council, Mr David Olsson; and the Director of Philanthropy and Government Relations of the Fred Hollows Foundation, Mr Michael Allen, also talked about the unparalleled opportunities in Hong Kong during the panel discussion moderated by the Chairman, Global Engagement of the Business Council of Australia, Mr Warwick Smith.

About InvestHK

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

For photos of the symposium, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157718478324988 .

Media contact:

Mr Antoine So
Head of Public Relations
Tel: + 852 3107 1035
Email: ASo@investhk.gov.hk

Ms Eva Chan
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Tel: + 852 3107 1071
Email: EChan@investhk.gov.hk

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

ZALL celebrates the opening of its first overseas Chinese bookstore in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Feb 11, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – ZALL Group, Asia's leading B2B e-commerce group, has officially opened its first overseas all-in-one Chinese bookstore on 8 February 2021 that is situated right in the heart of Orchard Road at Wheelock Place. The bookstore comprises of a cafe, art gallery and craft store, as well as event and outdoor spaces. Aspiring to create an all-in-one lifestyle experience, ZALL Bookstore seeks to create the perfect quintessential conducive environment for like-minded individuals who are passionate about Chinese culture, literature and arts to congregate and interact.






"Perfect for enthusiasts who are keen to learn more about Chinese culture, ZALL Bookstore creates a completely immersive experience into the world of books," said Yan Ge, spokesperson of ZALL Bookstore. "ZALL Bookstore aims to represent the richness of the Chinese heritage by offering readers an array of books with varied genres, as well as a collaborative setting for our readers to rediscover themselves whilst reading."

Serving as a gateway into the world of rich Chinese history and culture, ZALL Bookstore caters to diverse cultural interests and offers a comprehensive curated collection of more than 30,000 books on Chinese literature, humanities, history, and philosophy from China and Taiwan – featuring adult and children's books from international bestsellers, Chinese authors and foreign literary works. Beyond books, ZALL Bookstore also embodies the spirit of humanities, creativity, art and lifestyle that seeks to nourish a reader's soul with experiential charm into Chinese culture.

The interior of ZALL Bookstore accentuates the calligraphic elements of black and white, inspired by the essence of the Jiangnan watertown, with a spiral staircase – the key element of the bookstore is the circular arch that extends from the second floor to the first, resembling that of a river bridge in the water towns symbolising the essence of connecting the two streets of the town/city.

Stepping into the bookstore on the first floor, readers will be greeted with calligraphic elements of black and white, inspired by the essence of the Jiangnan watertown, and would be able to browse an extensive range of Children's books as soon as they enter the bookstore.

This floor also includes a public multifunctional reading area that can hold events from new book releases to reading events; and a cafe that provides a cosy space for anyone seeking a quiet space to read, and to relax by enjoying the variety of coffee blends, Chinese Chu tea and Taiwan tea served at the cafe, amidst the hustle and bustle of Orchard road.

Walking up the spiral staircase to the second floor, readers shall be able to appreciate the well-designed circular arch that extends from the second floor to the first, resembling that of a river bridge in the water towns which symbolises the essence of connecting the two streets of the town/city.

The second floor of the bookstore boasts the Adults' section, where lovers of Chinese books can have the most pleasurable book-hunting experience in an exquisite ambience. There would also be a section for cultural creatives and fresh stationery ideas for art and design lovers.

Readers will be pleasantly surprised by the art gallery on the second floor of the bookstore if they wish for a change in scenery as this section will showcase the collection of creative artworks and thought-provoking paintings by Singapore's local talents and international artists.

Readers are invited to come and rediscover the joys of reading whilst immersing themselves into the rich Chinese culture. For more information, please visit ZALL Bookstore at Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, https://www.facebook.com/zallbookstore


About ZALL Bookstore

ZALL Bookstore offers a place for cultural exchange, social gathering and homecoming providing a conducive space for everyone. ZALL bookstore is the first upscaled Chinese-themed bookstore in Singapore, featuring an all-in-one lifestyle experience. ZALL bookstore is the ideal location for events such as artistic exchanges that will nourish a reader's soul with experiential charm into Chinese culture. Its cafe will allow a quiet cafe experience of Singapore's coffee culture, providing cosy corners for anyone seeking a quiet space to read. ZALL Bookstore not only feature books, but also embodies the spirit of humanities, creativity, art, and lifestyle, that will cater to the diverse arts and cultural interests in Singapore and aspiring to create the unique arts paradise reshaping Singapore's Chinese cultural landscape.

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

Heathrow Covid Chaos British Tech Co Has Solution

MANCHESTER, UK, Jan 22, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – British tech company VST Enterprises (VSTE) warned airlines and the travel industry in December of last year of 'Covid related security threats' prior to the chaotic scenes that unfolded at Heathrow airport (Monday 18th Jan).








Tech boss and CEO Louis-James Davis warned of the very real and serious threats facing airlines, airports and passengers from fake Covid 19 test certificates, vaccination record cards, social distancing breaches and the use of health passports with 'un safe' QR and bar code technology. He also warned of the serious implications of potential data breaches using 'unsecure' code scanning technology in health passports.

Passengers arriving into the UK this week (Monday) were faced with unprecedented scenes at Heathrow airport with long delays, social distancing rules breached, altercations between passengers and border officials, GBP500 on the spot fines and passengers being refused entry to flights for holding invalid Covid 19 certificates. The chaos came as the British Government put in place tough new measures for entry into the UK in a bid to get a grip of the pandemic and prevent the further spread of infection. Passengers were required to provide verifiable proof of their Covid 19 negative test result.

VSTE developed and launched the worlds first secure digital health passport called V-Health Passport(TM) in April (2020) both for passengers and airlines which authenticates a persons health status including Covid test status and their vaccination records all within a secure digital passport. The V-Health Passport(TM) 'cross border' technology can be used across all air, land and sea transport infrastructure. The V-Health Passport(TM) has over 200 clinics across the UK where a person can book a Covid test – including a PCR based test – and be recognised as 'FIT TO FLY' by all International airlines. VSTE believes its solution can solve the global airline and travel issue.

V-Health Passport(TM) will shortly start its roll out program of secure health passport across number of airlines and airports globally. In the UK it has already started this programme and is available through its healthcare testing partners Salutaris People www.salutarispeople.com and Akea Life at www.akealife.co.uk both at Newcastle and Liverpool John Lennon airports.

Both healthcare partners also offer full airline travel Covid testing at their own clinics with PCR based testing for airline travel with a V-Health Passport(TM). They also supply 'home test kits' which are supervised over Zoom calls.

It is the first company in the world to have a fully functioning and secure LIVE health passport that carries a persons Covid test status and vaccination record in one secure app. Most importantly the technology is GDPR compliant and was built on a privacy framework of 'Self Sovereign Identity' where the person – or airline passenger – can choose what information they want to share, when they want to share it and with who. Privacy by design is at the forefront of the V-Health Passport(TM) framework unlike other health passport technologies.

V-Health Passport(TM) is a test and vaccine agnostic platform working with all Covid 19 protocols from PCR to rapid antigen and antibody tests which can also authenticate a persons vaccine immunisation record. V-Health Passport(TM) is also the most secure passport technology in the world unlike bar codes and QR codes which are subject to a process called 'Attagging' where a QR code can be cloned and faked. Using the VCode(R) cyber coding, it works on a 'closed loop' system with 'end-to-end' encryption and has over 2.2 Quintillion variations of codes that are subject to many scanning permissions making it impossible to hack the front or back end.

V-Health Passport(TM) is 10 seconds faster than any code scanner and can also be scanned within and outside of the safe social distancing of 2 metres, whereas bar codes and QR codes have to be scanned in close proximity of inches. In other circumstances it can also be scanned upto 100 metres away, allowing for easier crowd and queue ingress and egress.

In addition to the security flaws and close proximity of QR code scanning, another downfall of using QR Code for this type of passport solution is that a user may have to carry hundreds of different QR codes for the same identity use case. Companies who wish to add any form of extra security to the QR code would also have to offer their own app to scan a QR code which may lead to a consumer having to carry 100's of apps or codes due to the QR codes open source nature (not being generated from a central source).

Commenting on the chaos around the events at Heathrow, VSTE CEO Louis-James Davis said;

"The scenes at Heathrow could have been easily avoided by using a secure system such as V-Health Passport(TM). Both airports and the airlines need to move to a secure digital platform technology to ensure the security and faster processing of passengers to verify their Covid status and vaccination records. We have that technology now and it is available for airline passengers and the airlines to download and use today. By using the V-Health Passport(TM) technology a passengers valid Covid 19 test certificate could have been scanned further than the 2 metre safe social distancing protocols and upto 100 metres away. This would have allowed for a smooth ingress of passengers coming through border control into the UK verified against their identity. This would have also helped the passengers to maintain safe social distancing and a much quicker processing through border control thus avoiding the social breaches which occurred.

The V-Health Passport(TM) would not only provide border officials and airports with authentication of an airline passengers Covid 19 test status – with both a digital and printed PCR test certificate – but also their vaccination records. The technology also verifies a persons genuine identity against their existing Government ID adding another layer of security. There has been a phenomenal rise in the sale of 'Fake Covid' certificates, with both Russia and the Middle East seeing the greatest activity and posing a serious threat to global aviation security.

Using any open-source technology such as RFID, bar code or QR code with any form of health passport or vaccine card/certificate leads it wide open to being hacked or cloned with a person effectively making themselves 'permanently Covid negative' and 'permanently vaccinated' and allowing them to travel freely. By moving towards a secure 'one for all' technology based solution that passengers can use with their phones, will not only protect the data of passengers but also the safety of their health. It will ensure that a passenger who is travelling has a valid Covid test result or vaccine immunisation record and ensuring other fellow passengers are safe."

The V-Health Passport(TM) technology has a complete audit trail of a persons Covid testing, their vaccination records and the clinics where those tests or vaccinations have been conducted. This information is also protected under the 'Self Sovereign Identity' data framework allowing only the passenger to view this information, with officials only able to see a current and valid Covid 19 test or vaccine status in the GDPR display of the app.

With the alarming increase and black market trade in fake Covid 19 test certificates and also vaccination cards and certificates this also puts a very real threat and risk to passenger safety. It poses a threat to airlines and international borders with the potential for a passenger carrying a fake Covid test certificate or vaccination card – who may be asymptomatic – to board an aircraft and infect other passengers. This poses a very real threat to the aviation sector and to Governments around the world as they try to arrest the rate of infection.

It is well documented that bar codes and QR codes can be hacked so any airline who considers using a health passport for Covid 19 testing and vaccination using this method of authentication risks a serious potential breach of its passenger data. In 2018 British Airways was fined a record GBP20M for a data breach on 400,000 of its customers which affected their personal and credit card data. It now faces one of the biggest ever group privacy claims in UK legal history as reported in the Financial Times. It comes at a time when security over the use of bar codes and QR codes in airline travel has come under intense scrutiny following the cyber attack last year on the former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot. The former PM had his Qantas airline boarding pass hacked. Details including his passport, mobile phone and messages between Qantas staff about him were intercepted.

VSTE CEO Louis-James Davis added;

"We are the first technology company in the world to have developed a secure, multipurpose, cross corporate & cross government digital health passport that does not rely on using bar codes or QR codes as its authentication technology. Both bar codes and QR codes have huge potential security implications as they can be cloned and hacked with the latter being subject to a process called 'Attagging'. Therefore any suggestion of using this type of technology in a health passport for air travel has very real security risks. Not only is a citizen's personal information at risk, but their Covid test status, vaccination records and also their credit card information. All of this can lead to the very real potential of a massive data breach and a persons personal information and data hacked and stolen. This is of particular concern when using a bar code or QR code technology designed for use to authenticate a persons Covid 19 testing and/or vaccinations records."

Unlike other health passports, V-Health Passport(TM) has been designed with a citizens privacy front and centre. The technology does not track your live location and provides all data in a secure GDPR compliant framework giving citizens a unique 'self sovereign identity' style technology putting them in control of who, when and how they share their data.

Louis-James Davis went on to state that both bar codes and QR codes – which represent first and second generation technology – are unsecure and vulnerable to hacking.

"QR codes were originally developed as a scanning technology for close proximity car parts tracking, a world away from identity and banking use cases and now digital health passports. It was then used to skip the input of websites in marketing and promotional purposes. They were never designed with security or privacy in mind… they are simply not fit for purpose and should not be used at all in any form for delivery of sensitive information, travel or event tickets or health passport."

QR codes can be subject to a process called 'Attagging' or 'cloning.' The process of 'Attagging' is where a 'genuine QR code' is replaced by a 'cloned QR code' which then redirects the person scanning that code to a similar website where personal data can be intercepted and breached. The problem is that serious that in India alone there are over 1BILLION fraudulent financial transactions each day using QR codes. As the scanning user journey is the same, it is only tech savvy individuals that may notice the domain name has changed.

QR codes can be cloned and redirected to other information points or websites. Often criminals and hackers will exploit this by putting a fake QR code over a genuine QR code. So a QR code for example on scanning would link to the genuine website www.similardomain.com but a fake QR code can be made up printed off and placed over the genuine code to redirect to www.similar-domain.com at this point the member of the public is tricked into entering their personal information, private data and financial information. The rogue website looks and feels exactly like the genuine one and is made to mirror it precisely.

VCode(R) which is the ultra secure digital code which powers the V-Health Passport(TM) cannot be cloned. Even if it was printed off, or a photograph was taken and placed over a VCode(R) or V-Health Passport(TM) it simply won't scan as it works on a call and response system of information between the code and web platform to verify location of the code, user ID and time and date and much more.

V-Health Passport(TM) is making a significant contribution to the safety, mobility and return to work of the UK economy, helping businesses and employers return their staff to offices, factories and warehouses.

VSTE is working with the UK Government and a number of other Foreign Governments around the world to use its technology. The company is active in multiple industries and sectors including the maritime and aviation industries, construction and major infrastructure projects, as well as major national and international sporting events. V-Health Passport(TM) is also being used by a number of private Covid testing clinics, manufacturers and healthcare practices.

V-Health Passport(TM) is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching for 'VPassport' and downloading to your device.

For more information on VCode(R) and VPlatform(R) technology please visit
https://www.vstenterprises.com

For more information on V-HEALTH PASSPORT(TM).
https://v-healthpassport.co.uk

For all media enquiries
Please contact Gerard Franklin – Head Of Communications & External Relations
M: 07885 388398 e: gerard@vstenterprises.com
VST Enterprises Ltd | The Lexicon | Mount Street | Manchester | M2 5NT

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the V-Health Passport(TM)
Search 'VPassport'
Apple App Store & Google Play
www.v-healthpassport.co.uk

Available on the Apple App Store and Goole Play by searching for 'VPassport' and downloading to your device.

– V-Health Passport(TM) can be scanned at a safe social distance of 1-2 metres and upto 100 metres away. QR code and Barcode technology has to be scanned inches away and as such breaches social distancing protocols.
– The V-Health Passport(TM) can authenticate a persons genuine Covid 19 test certificate – held in the secure health passport app and a printable version. The ultra-secure platform can now also hold vaccination records of all the major vaccination manufacturers which will be crucial in a person validating they have been vaccinated, the vaccine type, batch, dosage and date.
– V-Health Passport(TM) uses a persons official Government ID such as drivers licence, passport and cross matches against databases. It is then paired against a facial recognition 'Live Likeness' test to verify the persons genuine status.
– V-Health Passport(TM) is a test agnostic platform meaning it works with all Covid testing protocols from PCR based tests to rapid antigen and antibody. It has over 200 clinics across the UK on its app for passengers to book a Covid 19 test including a PCR based test approved for International airline travel.
– V-Health Passport(TM) can be scanned in a 170 degree arc, whilst a person is moving and thus ensures smooth ingress and egress,
– V-Health Passport(TM) It uses the worlds most secure cyber coding technology which works from a close loop system with end to end encryption and has over 2.2 Quintillion combination codes making it impossible to hack the front of back end of its system.
– V-Health Passport(TM) is a GDPR compliant technology built around self sovereign identity, allowing the airline passenger or member of the public to choose what data they want to share, with whom and when.
– V-Health Passport(TM) is available now and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching for 'VPassport' or by visiting www.v-healthpassport.co.uk.
– V-Health Passport(TM) also has its own unique contact tracing capability 'True Contact(TM)' built within the technology designed for travel, sports stadiums, venues, factories, offices and construction sites.
– V-Health Passport(TM) is the only health wallet and cross border platform in the world that is multi-functional and GDPR compliant. It allows acts like 'self sovereign identity', meaning a citizens personal data is protected and they choose what they want to share and with whom they want to interact or authorise.

SOURCE: VST Enterprises Ltd

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

Dusit International Singapore debuts with Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 December 2020 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has officially expanded into Singapore with the opening of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore in the heart of the renowned Laguna National Golf & Country Club, one of the island nation’s premier golf and country clubs.

Comprising 198 tastefully-decorated contemporary rooms and suites, plus eight pavilions with private pools, and located just 10 minutes by car from Jewel Changi Airport and 15 minutes from Downtown, the resort is the first in Singapore to offer direct access to award-winning golfing facilities.

It is also the first resort in the country to feature Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, and it serves as a showcase of the company’s new strategic direction for the new normal, which includes enhancing its brand DNA in four key areas – Personalised Service, Well-being, Local Connections, and Sustainability.

Opening initially to domestic guests on 4 December 2020, the elegant resort has been thoughtfully designed to cater to avid golfers, local families, and business and leisure travellers, and meet their needs from a wellness and destination getaway perspective.

The main building, whose sleek, contemporary design includes a curvilinear roof and impressive facade of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, signals a modern new direction for Dusit’s 50-year-old Dusit Thani brand. High-tech amenities and thoughtfully curated spaces combine to offer understated luxury which subtly references the old-world opulence of Dusit’s more traditional hotel offerings.

Current dining facilities include Greenhouse all-day dining; Tee Deck alfresco pool bar and grill; Legends Bar; and Dusit Gourmet.

In line with Dusit’s focus on well-being and sustainability, the restaurants are supported by an onsite garden planted with a selection of herbs, vegetables and fruits. A series of wellness menus are also offered featuring nutritious and balanced dishes for those seeking to maintain a healthy diet.

Alongside access to Laguna National Golf & Country Club’s renowned Masters and Classic championship golf courses, guests also have access to a 24-hour gym, three tennis courts, three swimming pools, a nine-hole putting green by Nicklaus Design, Laguna Practice powered by Toptracer driving range, and Devarana Wellness.

Alongside providing traditional Thai massage and premium health and beauty therapies, the latter facility also offers a wide range of activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as meditation, yoga, active stretching, and breath-work exercises. These activities have all been developed as part of Dusit’s new Devarana Wellness programme, which will also be rolled out to other Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide.

Positioned to become a leading venue for corporate functions, weddings and private social events, the resort also offers a spacious boardroom, three meeting rooms, three large event lawns, and a luxurious pillarless ballroom with capacity for 520 guests, depending on distancing requirements.

Nearby attractions for business and leisure include Changi Business Park, Singapore Expo, the Tampines business district, Marina Bay, Raffles Place, Orchard Road, and Sentosa Island. All can be reached within 20 minutes by car.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore’s concierge is also on hand to ensure guests can connect with the best of the destination with personalised tips on what to see and do.

Alongside showcasing Dusit’s new brand standards for the new normal, the opening of the resort demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainable expansion by planting flags in strategic locations with strong growth potential. It is Dusit’s fifth resort to open this year, following dusitD2 Salwa Doha, Dusit Beach Resort Guam, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, and Dusit Thani Wellness Resort Suzhou. It also comes hot on the heels of recent signings to manage upcoming hotels in India and Japan.

Dusit’s portfolio now includes 340 properties operating under six brands across 15 countries.

“Following this year’s signings and openings, the arrival of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore marks another important milestone in our sustainable expansion, and we are delighted to make our debut in one of the world’s most respected business hubs and showcase our new brand DNA with such an exceptional property,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “The resort’s stunning design, extensive guest offerings, and prime location on the grounds of the Laguna National Golf & Country Club puts us in a unique position to offer an integrated and full suite of services to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers, from C-suite executives and local staycationers, to soon-to-wed couples and avid golfers alike. This ensures we have plenty of avenues for domestic revenue creation while we wait for the COVID-19 situation to normalise and international travel to resume.

“While this is certainly a challenging time for our industry, Singapore previously recorded four years of consecutive tourism growth, and we remain confident that the market will bounce back strong. Until then, we will do our utmost to aid in its recovery by establishing Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore as a must-visit destination that brings enduring value to all stakeholders.”

Mr Eric Piatti, General Manager, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, said, “We are delighted to finally open Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and bring our personalised service and distinctive guest experiences to the destination for the first time. Opening the resort while the borders are closed may seem challenging, but demand for staycations among the domestic market is high, and we have an amazing and unique product to leverage this. Opening now will also ensure that everything is in place to help the Lion City roar back to life as soon as international travel resumes. We look forward to seeing Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore leading the pack, establishing itself as the new destination for Singaporeans.”

To ensure guest safety at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, the resort strictly adheres to Dusit’s group-wide ‘Dusit Care – Stay with Confidence’ programme. Heightened cleaning protocols, contactless registration, anytime breakfast, digital in-room menus, and mobile payment methods are just some of the services and facilities implemented to protect the health and well-being of guests and employees.

For more information about the resort and its opening room rates, please visit dusit.com/dusitthani-laguna-singapore.

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Lobby

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Suite Room

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore – Greenhouse Restaurant

Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company’s property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 15 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore is located within the grounds of the acclaimed Laguna National Golf & Country Club, 10 minutes by car from Changi International Airport and 15 minutes from Downtown.

Comprising 198 tastefully-decorated rooms and suites showcasing the best of contemporary Asian design, this resort is equipped for business and leisure with a wealth of experiences for guests to enjoy.

Facilities include Greenhouse, an all-day dining multi-ethnic restaurant with show kitchens; Tee Deck – alfresco bar and grill; Legends Bar & Lounge; Dusit Gourmet; The Nest restaurant; Club Lounge; DFiT – a fully-equipped gym; three swimming pools; three tennis courts; Laguna Putting powered by Nicklaus Design; Laguna Practice powered by Toptracer, and Dusit’s signature Devarana Wellness.

The resort also offers a boardroom, two meeting rooms, three event lawns, eight pavilions, a terrace for private functions, and a large pillarless ballroom (seats up to 520 guests) with a pre-function area overlooking the golf course.

Guests will enjoy privileged access to the driving range and Laguna National’s championship Classic and Masters golf courses. For more information, please visit dusitthanilagunasingapore.com

About Laguna National Golf & Country Club

A prominent club in the local and regional golf scene since its inauguration in 1993, Laguna National is one of Singapore’s premier golf and country clubs. Laguna National boasts two 18-hole championship courses that have won prestigious accolades and hosted international championships, including the European Tour’s Singapore Masters, the Korean LPGA Tour’s ADT Caps Tour Championship, and European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event, The Championship at Laguna National.

Following a multi-million-dollar facelift, Laguna National has developed a state-of-the-art union of a world-class golf club and a 198-room and suites plus eight pavilions Dusit Thani resort with full facilities including a spa, a learning and practice facility, a fitness centre, as well as Member-exclusive areas with private locker rooms, Golfers’ lounge and country club facilities.

In close proximity to the airport, beach, malls and with a private clubhouse and resort, golfers will find the world at their fingertips at Laguna National Golf & Country Club. For more information, please visit lagunanational.com and facebook.com/lagunagolf

Media Contact:

Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications – Hotel Business | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile: +66 89 0068 697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Sue Gan | Director of Sales & Marketing | Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore
Tel: +65 6248 1725 | Mobile: +65 9646 4352 | Email: sue.gan@dusit.com



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

SBI, NPCI and JCB Launch ‘SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card’

Mumbai & Tokyo, Dec 1, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – State Bank of India (SBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCB) have announced the launch of 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card'. This Card has been launched on the RuPay network by SBI in association with JCB. The SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card comes with a unique dual interface feature which will enable customers to perform both Contact & Contactless transactions in the domestic market and seamless contact transactions overseas. With this card, consumers would be able to transact on ATMs & POS terminals across the globe under JCB network. They can also shop online from JCB partnered international e-Commerce merchants using this card.

The 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card' supports RuPay offline wallet based transactions, enabling an additional payment mode within the Card. Consumers will be able to load the offline wallet and utilize it in transit in India (bus and metro) and retail (merchant) payments. This innovative proposition will offer customers uninterrupted shopping experience with an extra layer of convenience. Customers can also enjoy attractive discounts and offers while shopping at top brands, both within India as well as in international markets by using this Card. Additionally, customers will have access to JCB PLAZA Lounge (in-city exclusive lounges for JCB cardmembers) in prominent travel destinations such as Bangkok (Thailand), Orchard Road (Singapore) and Paris (France) which is a one-of-a-kind feature provided by JCB.

Ms. Praveena Rai, COO, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said, "We believe our collaboration with SBI and JCB will provide the cardholders compelling benefits and an unparalleled value proposition both in Indian and international markets. SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card holders can now use their cards at millions of locations in the world. It is also great to witness RuPay strengthening its foothold in international markets through our networks. We at NPCI constantly strive to offer an evolved and personalised shopping experience to the customers, and augment the existing segment of RuPay card holders."

Ms. Vidya Krishnan, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India said, "We are pleased to launch the 'SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card' through our strategic partnership with NPCI for RuPay and JCB. We believe the tap and pay technology on the Card will simplify the everyday purchases of customers with secure and fast contactless payments. With several attractive benefits and offers associated with this contactless Debit Card, we are hopeful that this Card would not only provide a rewarding shopping experience to the cardholders but also make their international travels worthwhile. At SBI, our consistent endeavour is to offer a differentiated and customised experience to our diverse set of customers in terms of their regular spends and transactions."

Mr. Yoshiki Kaneko, President and COO of JCB International Co., Ltd. said: "We are extremely happy and honoured to have the largest bank in India, State Bank of India, as a RuPay JCB Global Debit Card issuing partner. Together with our esteemed network partner, NPCI, we will bring best in class technology, access to the vast JCB global merchant network, and special offers and privileges to SBI customers. As more and more Indian customers adopt digital modes of payment to transact both domestically and internationally, we are sure this product proposition will be enjoyed and appreciated by the cardmembers."

About State Bank of India

State Bank of India (SBI) is India's largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers, and employees. It is also the largest mortgage lender in the country. As on June 30, 2020, the Bank has a deposit base of over Rs. 34 lakh crore with CASA ratio of more than 45% and advances of nearly Rs. 24 lakh crore. SBI commands nearly 34% market share in home loans and nearly 33% in the auto loans segment. The Bank has the largest network of over 22,100 Branches in India with an ATM/CDM network of over 58,500 and total BC outlets of more than 62,200. The number of customers using Internet Banking facilities is about 76 million and Mobile Banking services stand a little more than 17 million. The integrated digital and lifestyle platform by SBI – YONO has crossed the landmark of 58 million downloads. YONO which has 26 million registered users, witnesses 5.5 million logins per day along with over 4000 daily disbursals of personal loans, 16,000 YONO Krishi Agri Gold Loans. The Bank recently launched the YONO Global app in the UK and Mauritius and plans to cover 9 more countries by the end of 2020. On social media platforms, SBI has the highest number of followers on Facebook and Twitter amongst all banks worldwide. For more information, visit: https://bank.sbi

State Bank of India is the market leader in Debit Cards segment with a history of offering advanced and tailor-made products to its customers through various Channels. The Bank's latest offering in the form of SBI RuPay JCB Debit Card will also allow customers to pay for transit apart from retail payments – adding an extra layer of convenience for them. This card has all the potential of being the most preferred cards for customers.

The SBI RuPay JCB Contactless Debit Card is designed to enable banks to reduce their customers' effort of cash handling and provide them with the convenience of single tap payment. RuPay Contactless specifications are open standards, interoperable and scalable and can be adopted by all Card schemes. RuPay Contactless specifications have been developed to offer a vendor-agnostic, interoperable, secured and cost-effective ecosystem of low value payments to facilitate the government in building a less-cash economy. The SBI RuPay JCB Platinum Contactless Debit Card has all the elements to offer customers with ultimate choice of customising their payment decisions based on their comfort and needs, thereby creating for them, an ultimate transformative yet gratifying shopping experience.

About NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay Card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC Fastag) and Bharat BillPay. NPCI also launched UPI 2.0 to offer a more secure and comprehensive services to consumers and merchants.

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India's aspiration to be a fully digital society. For more information, visit: https://www.npci.org.in/

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading Credit Card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Backed by its vast global acceptance network, JCB cards are now issued in 24 countries and territories with more than 140 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.
For more information, please visit https://www.global.jcb/en/index.html
All information is current as of 4th November 2020

Corporate contacts:
NPCI
Swagata Gupta
98200 88951
swagata.gupta@npci.org.in

SBI
Ritesh Mehta
9930125097
Ritesh.mehta@sbi.co.in

JCB
Kumiko Kida, Ayaka Nakajima
+81-3-5778-8353
jcb-pr@jcb.co.jp

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

Fifth Belt and Road Summit opens today

HONG KONG, Nov 30, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The fifth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today. The two-day event (30 November and 1 December) is being held online this year with a new virtual platform that includes plenary sessions, one-to-one business matching meetings, project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition, bringing together some 80 ministerial officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road. The event attracted an audience of more than 6,000 from some 80 countries and regions.
The fifth Belt and Road Summit opened today as an online event, covering plenary sessions, one-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions. The first day of the summit marked the beginning of a new business partnership between the Smart City Consortium and Indonesia-based enterprise PT Graha Buana Cikarang, for the purpose of expanding Hong Kong's smart city technology to Southeast Asia.


Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, gave a pre-recorded address in which he spoke about how the Belt and Road Initiative is helping to promote virus control, infrastructure development, economic development and commerce in the region.


The first plenary session was hosted by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, exchanging ideas on policy analysis with Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade in Indonesia, Ceferino S Rodolfo, Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group, Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, Sultana Afroz, Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and CEO of the Public Private Partnership



Overcoming geographical boundaries, the event has brought together investors, project owners and professional investment advisors from Mainland China, the Asian Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa to share insights on the latest developments related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, officiated at the summit's opening ceremony and delivered the opening address. She said: "Since its inception, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been well received by the international community. So far, China has already signed over 200 cooperation documents with 138 countries and 31 international organisations. The BRI is all about collaboration and partnership. "As an active player in the Initiative, Hong Kong is keen to strengthen our collaboration and partnership with other Belt and Road economies. For Hong Kong, given our location and our growing economic ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones in the ASEAN region will present ample opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises and their partners."

Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, gave a pre-recorded address in which he spoke about how the Belt and Road Initiative is helping to promote virus control, infrastructure development, economic development and commerce in the region. He said: "Our world is facing a common enemy: the COVID-19 pandemic. To control the virus, we must work together and synergise. Everyone must walk and move in-sync towards a common goal, a healthy community, and a strong and robust economy. Through synergy, anything we do will be more effective and have a bigger impact; and we can apply this lesson in many other areas, including Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation. The key to BRI cooperation is synergy. Indonesia hopes the BRI cooperation will also encourage partnerships between the government, the public and the private sector, in the form of Public-Private Partnership or PPP. Second, we must continue to maintain the principle of equality in cooperation. Equality will create space for countries to plan projects based on their national interests. Indonesia's infrastructure development projects are open for cooperation with all partners, including BRI. The Government of Indonesia guarantees the establishment of a conducive environment for mutually beneficial cooperation."

Also delivering special addresses were officials from the People's Republic of China, including Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce; Ren Hongbin, Vice Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council; and Xie Feng, Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The speakers focused on the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative in driving the steady growth of China's national economy and examined Hong Kong's vital role in the process.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "International cooperation is more important than ever as we face the challenge of a global pandemic. Hong Kong is the ideal platform to turn Belt and Road projects into viable commercial opportunities, and it was here in 2016 that the Belt and Road Summit was conceived. Growing together with the Belt and Road Initiative, the summit is now the premier international business event to find partners, raise funds and learn about new developments and investment opportunities on the Belt and Road. We are confident that the online summit will provide a powerful platform to share ideas and make connections."

Hong Kong group forms partnership with Indonesian industrial estates

The first day of the summit marked the beginning of a new business partnership. Facilitated by the HKTDC, the Smart City Consortium used the virtual platform to sign a memorandum of understanding with an Indonesia-based enterprise, PT Graha Buana Cikarang, for the purpose of expanding Hong Kong's smart city technology to Southeast Asia. PT Graha Buana Cikarang is a subsidiary company of a listed industrial estates operator in Indonesia, which is managing various industrial estates and developing new towns in different areas of the country. Both parties agreed to cooperate in research areas such as smart mobility, e-health, crisis and disaster protection management, environment and energy.

The Indonesian government has been making plans to relocate the country's capital city to the province of East Kalimantan. The Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment Roundtable will be held by the HKTDC the day after tomorrow to discuss how to act on infrastructure development in Kalimantan as new opportunities arise. Participants will include representatives from some of the infrastructure projects in Kalimantan province, together with investors from Hong Kong and Mainland China and a number of local professional service providers and financial institutions.

Forum highlights Post-COVID economy

The pandemic has slowed down or halted economic activities, posing challenges to logistics and customer flow. Different cooperation activities and development projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have been affected to various extents. Today's plenary session was a policy dialogue focused on "Creating a Healthy, Sustainable and Inclusive Future", hosted by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR. Mr Yau exchanged ideas with senior international figures including Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary; Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade from Indonesia; Ceferino S Rodolfo, Undersecretary of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group, Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines; Sultana Afroz, Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and CEO of the Public Private Partnership Authority in Bangladesh; and Sompop Pattanariyankool, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy in Thailand. The discussion examined the policy landscapes and investment opportunities in their respective economies, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a regional free trade agreement formed in mid-November this year.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks at the main plenary session that followed. The Business Plenary was hosted by Victor Chu, Chairman & CEO of First Eastern Investment Group, leading a group joined by Francis Chua, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victor Fung, Group Chairman of the Fung Group, Vikrom Kromadit, Chairman of Amata Corporation PCL, Richard Lancaster, CEO of CLP Holdings Limited, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO & CEO Asia of Schneider Electric, Wang Tongzhou, Chairman and General Manager of China Communications Construction Group Ltd, and Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered PLC. Discussions focused on the topic "Powering the World's Recovery through Sustainable and Inclusive Development", seeking to find a way out of the current social and economic doldrums caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by adopting sustainable and inclusive development solutions, and examining how to navigate a clear pathway through the post-pandemic era.

Exploring infrastructure potential amid uncertainties

The economic challenges brought about by the pandemic have affected economic and trade cooperation, production cooperation and regional infrastructure development to varying degrees. Today's afternoon breakout session, titled "Challenges and Opportunities for Belt and Road International Infrastructural Cooperation", was co-organised with the China International Contractors Association to examine how to promote continuous innovation in the area of infrastructure cooperation in the new global landscape, exploring opportunities amid the current uncertainty.

Greater Bay Area a key focus for innovation

The markets resulting from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative are providing valuable opportunities to Hong Kong's innovation and technology sectors. Co-organised with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, a session titled "Fighting the Coronavirus with Innovative Tech and Thriving in a Post-Pandemic World – Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area" brought together prominent experts in respiratory diseases, biomedical professors and business leaders to examine how anti-virus technology has become the driving force to help Hong Kong overcome the impact of the pandemic, and how to give added momentum to the local economy by taking advantage of the ample opportunities created by the Greater Bay Area. Another breakout session, jointly organised with Hong Kong Cyberport, gathered representatives from Hong Kong's digital technology sector to share the latest information related to the Greater Bay Area and the not-to-be missed opportunities for the digital technology sector.

A thematic breakout session titled "Positioning Hong Kong for Deal-Making and Dispute Resolution under the Belt and Road Initiative", co-organised with the Department of Justice of the HKSAR, saw the participation of distinguished legal professionals who exchanged insights on the current landscape for deal-making and dispute resolution, and how technology may be used to overcome some of the challenges brought by the pandemic. One of the major discussions was about Hong Kong's strengths and how the city can build on its position as a leading international deal-making and dispute resolution centre to serve Belt and Road investors.

Given the unprecedented disruption of supply chains through the "double whammy" blow of global trade disputes coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, how is the cluster development of Belt and Road Economic and Cooperation Zones paving the way for international cooperation on alternative manufacturing locations and huge consumer markets, creating opportunities for enterprising new overseas ventures? The thematic breakout session "Manufacturing and Selling in Belt and Road Markets: Seizing Opportunities from the Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones" invited enterprising Belt and Road pioneers to share their first-hand experience in this area and offer advice on how to seize the boundless opportunities that lie ahead.

The thematic breakout sessions tomorrow will be co-organised with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO), the Financial Services Development Council, Hong Kong Association of Banks, Hong Kong Insurance Authority and InvestHK. Important issues such as financing, investment, risk management and start-ups will be discussed.

All-day online project pitching and business matching for first time

For the first time at the summit, a virtual exhibition is showcasing more than 30 local companies representing different sectors including banking and finance, infrastructure, professional services, and technology and innovation. The Global Investment Zone connects investors, project owners and professional investment consultants from 12 countries and regions, sharing the latest business information and highlighting investment opportunities.

The eagerly awaited Investment and Business Matching Session is held again this year. One-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions will run virtually, providing a platform for project owners, investors and service providers to connect and discuss their business and investment needs as well as exploring cooperation opportunities. The project pitching sessions cover four main areas: innovation and technology, transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, natural resources and public utilities, and urban development.

Websites
– Belt and Road Summit website: www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en
– HKTDC Belt and Road Portal: https://beltandroad.hktdc.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/33tq2Dz

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: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org



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

Alinma Bank signs acquiring agreement with JCB International for local acceptance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh & Tokyo, Nov 9, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Alinma Bank has partnered with JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co. Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand, to enable the acceptance of JCB Cards through its POS and ATM network devices deployed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The expansion is in line with the Kingdom's strategic vision to promote both a cashless society and financial inclusion as part of Vision 2030.

The partnership is also a continuation of JCB's plan for entering the market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a destination of ever-increasing importance for its cardholders around the world for both business and tourism. The partnership will significantly give added convenience to JCB cardholders from the Islamic world, who frequently travel to Saudi Arabia for religious tourism.

"I am delighted that we have entered into this partnership with Alinma Bank for the acceptance of JCB Cards," said Mr. Yoshiki Kaneko, President and COO of JCBI. "Saudi Arabia has always been a very important destination for many of JCB cardholders, from both a business and religious perspective. With the strategic plan for Vision 2030, the country is now increasingly an important destination for tourism as well. Alinma Bank's extensive reach in the market will ensure that JCB cardholders will be able to use JCB Cards at their convenience. The partnership will also enhance the already close fraternal ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

H.E. Mr. Abdulmohsen Al-Fares, CEO of Alinma Bank said: "We at Alinma Bank are so pleased to partner with JCB, whose reputation for the quality and reliability of their services precedes them. Through this agreement, Alinma will deepen its commitment to continually enhancing its service offerings for its partners (customers). Furthermore, this partnership will help Alinma support the kingdom's ongoing progress toward the realization of Vision 2030, as well as the enablement of daily life and business activities of those who visit the kingdom each year."

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes 34 million merchants in the world. JCB cards are now issued in 24 countries and territories with more than 140 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and card member base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/

About Alinma Bank

Alinma Bank strives to deliver forward thinking, innovative, exemplary products and services that meet customer needs and expectations. Alinma today owns one of the most advanced banking infrastructures with regard to technological capabilities, branch network, remote channels, and product and service innovation. In addition, Alinma's products and services are designed to meet the real and pressing needs of a growing and changing market. With full commitment to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, Alinma understands the importance of continually transforming and refining its business in order to be of true value to its partners, the community, and the kingdom as a whole.

Alinma Bank has four wholly owned subsidiaries: Saudi Financial Technology Company, Alinma Investment Company, Al-Tanweer Real Estate Company, and Alinma Cooperative Insurance Agency. The bank also holds a stake in and is a founder of Alinma Tokio Marine Company, which provides Shariah-compliant, cooperative insurance products and services, ERSAL Financial Remittance Company, and Bayan Credit Bureau Company.

Contacts:

JCB Co., Ltd.
Kumiko Kida, Ayaka Nakajima
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jp

Alinma Bank
Mohammed Abdulrhman Al Muwannas
Marketing & Corporate Communications General Manager
Tel: +966112185777
Email: malmuwannas@Alinma.com

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

Ziptrak Original Track-Guided Blinds System Resolves Top Pain Points for over 4,500 Singaporean Homes and Businesses

SINGAPORE, Nov 3, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Ziptrak(R), the original patented track-guided blind system based in Australia, has been making balcony and semi-outdoor spaces in Singapore more usable, protecting homes and businesses from sun glare, rain, noise, UV radiation and heat. To date, it has been installed in over 4,500 residences and commercial spaces with a proven track record of durability, where less than one percent of units installed required full replacements.



Track-guided blinds are designed so that the blind material moves along a track, preventing wind and insects from entering, and cold air to escape from. Unlike traditional cabled blinds, which flap about in the wind and are exposed at the sides, the blind material will remain in the tracks and continue to protect your spaces, come rain or shine. The trifecta of quality, experience and innovation has been making waves since the very first installation of Ziptrak blinds at IMM Outlet Mall in December 2012, to its introduction to the Singapore market in early 2017.

1. QUALITY – Every component is selected for its strength and durability; with a 2m by 2m blind being able to withstand a static load equivalent to wind speeds of 260km/hr. For a product that needs to withstand scorching sun, lashing winds and fierce rain, only the strongest and most durable, rust-free components are, and should be, used.

2. EXPERIENCE – With over 20 years of customer insights and feedback, Ziptrak is able to adapt and curate features that perform outstandingly in today's conditions, such as the RainOut fabric range, PestOut(R) Pelmet and Child Safety Latch which were introduced specifically to address concerns and pain points of the Singapore market.

3. INNOVATION – Ziptrak also patented the revolutionary manual SuperSpring(R) system, built with the elderly in mind, and known for its ease of movement without the need for cords, cranks or even motors.

Customised Features for residences in Singapore

With Singapore being its largest market in Southeast Asia, the creators of Ziptrak came up with a unique series of features catered specifically to address the concerns of local homeowners.

1. Rain Out, Stay Dry
Stay dry from the 168 thunderstorm days that Singapore experiences each year with the 100% waterproof RainOut Fabric range, which features a fiberglass laminated weave to keep your balcony dry.

2. Pest Out, Stay Clean
Our PestOut(R) Pelmet also keeps the pelmet pest-free and also helps to rid the fabric of dust with a sweeping motion every time the blinds are drawn up.

3. Child Lock, Stay Safe
As a preventive feature exclusively for Singapore's many high-rise buildings, the manual Ziptrak(R) SuperSpring(R) blinds come with the option of a Child Safety Latch, which prevents the blinds from being lifted beyond railing height when deployed, keeping it at a safe height for your little ones with a simple turn of the latch.

4. Unobstructed Views, Stay Free
The recent introduction of Ziptrak(R) PanoView(R) blinds, which stretches up to 6m wide without requiring a post in between for support, also allows for a super wide un-obstructed viewing pleasure of Singapore's morning sunrise and night-time city lights. Being able to maneuverer around limitations posed by elevators and stairwells in high-rise developments, Ziptrak PanoView blinds eradicates the need for support posts, giving rise to an unobstructed view beyond.

Ziptrak is exclusively distributed in Singapore and Malaysia by its official distributor, DuraBlinds Trading Pte. Ltd., since August 2017, and is only available at authorised retailers. Please visit https://www.sg.ziptrak.com/ for more information.

Authorised Retailers
– Fabrik Etc Pte Ltd
– The Curtain Boutique
– J & S Design
– Softhome Pte Ltd
– Lee Curtain House Pte Ltd
– Ricco Curtain Design
– H M Gallery Pte ltd
– Le Showplace Pte Ltd
– Recherche Interior Pte Ltd
– Light-Pro Furnishings Pte Ltd
– ClimaShield Solutions Pte Ltd
– Omni Interior Pte Ltd

About Ziptrak Pty Ltd, https://www.sg.ziptrak.com/en/

Ziptrak Pty Ltd is a 100% Australian owned and operated company that designs, develops and manufactures track-guided blind products.

With 30 years of experience, Tony de Maaijer is the original inventor of the track guided outdoor blind, Ziptrak; a spring-balanced or motorized track guided blind system providing UV, sun, wind, rain and insect protection. We proudly supply a product that allows people to enjoy the natural environment that surrounds their home, creating a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor living, with a controlled environment in which to indulge with family and friends. The Ziptrak(R) brand is a registered trademark and the blind system is protected under multiple patents.

With 20 years in the industry, Ziptrak is a leading brand of choice among consumers, retailers and fabricators. We lead our market segment through constant innovation and technological advancements in our manufacturing processes. Our headquarters is in South Australia, with distribution Australia-wide and internationally through a trusted network of other dedicated companies.

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