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DOCOMO Achieves 12-Channel MMT Transmission of 8K Video via 5G System

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TOKYO, Nov 8, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it succeeded in 12-channel MMT (MPEG Media Transport) transmissions of 8K video using fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology during a test conducted on November 1 at its Yokosuka R&D center in collaboration with Sharp Corporation.

Transmission of compressed 8K video, the next generation of ultra-high definition video, requires a data rate of 80 Mbps on average per channel. In the case of current LTE mobile technology, it is difficult to achieve such a data rate for the stable, multiple-channel transmission of 8K video. In the recent test, however, ultra-high speed, large-capacity 5G communications using MMT technology successfully transmitted stable multi-channel 8K video with a high bit rate to multiple devices.

Radio waves for wireless communications are constantly influenced by obstacles such as buildings, trees and terrain, and well as reflective objects, so reception errors are inevitable. In the recent test, however, an 8K video receiver with error detection/correction function was used in additional to error correction performed in the wireless layer of the 5G wireless transmission equipment, enabling the 8K video to be displayed with minimal disturbance.

DOCOMO provided the 5G wireless system and video content while Sharp provided the ultra-high definition video transmission/display environment using 8K decoders and 8K displays. Also, the Japan Broadcasters Association supported 8K video encoding and MMT encoding.

The successful results of the test will be exhibited during an event, Mietekita Chotto Saki no Mirai (A Peek into the Near Future), which will be held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) from November 9 to11.

Going forward, DOCOMO plans to further test 8K video transmission via its 5G system, targeting commercial services for sports, surveillance, etc. that would deliver high-definition video with MMT-enabled synchronization to diverse devices and displays.

About Sharp

Sharp Corporation is a worldwide developer of innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of electronics. As a leader in LCDs and digital technologies, Sharp offers one of the world's broadest and most advanced lines of consumer electronics, information products and electronic components, while also creating new network businesses. Sharp Corporation employs 42,861 people around the world (as of June 30, 2017) and recorded consolidated annual sales of 2,050,639 million yen for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.
For more information, please visit: New windowhttp://sharp-world.com/index.html.

About NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO provides innovative, convenient and secure mobile services that enable smarter living for each customer. The company serves over 65 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world's first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. Please visit https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/ for more information.

Contact:
NTT DOCOMO International PR Public Relations Department Tel: +81-3-5156-1366 Fax: +81-3-5501-3408 URL: www.nttdocomo.com

Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

IR Magazine Awards - Greater China 2017 Short Lists Announced

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Greater China Investment Community Names the Best of the Best in Investor Relations

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - IR Magazine, the global voice for investor relations, announces the short lists for the IR Magazine Awards - Greater China 2017, with winners to be announced at the event in Hong Kong on 7 December.

Making up the short lists for some of the most coveted categories of the night - best overall investor relations and best investor relations officer - are big names such as last year's best overall IR (large cap) winner, China Telecom, as well as firms such as AIA Group, China Resources Beer, Far East Consortium International, Kerry Logistics Network, Pacific Basin Shipping, and China Unicom, which last year walked away with two awards.

The nominees and winners of these categories, as well as the awards for best corporate governance, best in region and best in sector are all chosen via research and interviews with the investment community. Click http://events.irmagazine.com/greaterchina/#/home/researched-awards for the full short list.

Judged awards

This year marks the introduction of the new-style judged awards, self-nomination categories that allow companies to put themselves up for an award. This year's judges - IR Magazine deputy editor Candice de Monts-Petit; Louise Hedberg, head of corporate governance and sustainability at East Capital; Simon Weston, senior fund manager at AXA Investment Managers; and Harold Woo, president of the Investor Relations Professionals Association (Singapore) - have narrowed down the submissions to reveal the short lists across nine categories.

In the running for awards ranging from best crisis management to best investor event and best ESG communications are companies including Anta Sports Products, CLP Holdings, Man Wah Holdings and Delta Electronics.

For our awards, the latest rankings and profiles of all nominees and winners will be detailed in the IR Magazine Award-Winning IR Report - Asia 2017/2018, which will be published soon after the IR Magazine Awards & Conference - Greater China 2017 on December 7.

The winners of both the researched and judged awards will be announced on December 7 at an awards ceremony held at the Conrad in Hong Kong. Click http://events.irmagazine.com/greaterchina/ for more information on the event and how to book your place.

Strategic Public Relations Group is proud to be the official public relations partner for the IR Magazine Awards & Conference - Greater China 2017.

ABOUT US

IR Magazine

Launched in 1988, IR Magazine is the only global publication that focuses on the interactions between companies and their investors.

IR Magazine helps investor relations professionals achieve more in their IR programs, benchmark their efforts and connect to the global IR community. In addition to producing articles, research reports and investor perception studies, IR Magazine also hosts events such as awards, think tanks and conferences around the world.

To learn more, please visit our website at IRmagazine.com or connect with us via Twitter @IRMagazine and the LinkedIn group: IR Magazine.

About the IR Magazine Awards & Conference - Greater China 2017

The IR Magazine Awards & Conference - Greater China are among the most anticipated events of the year for the IR industry in Asia. IROs from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan get the unique opportunity to gather and discuss pressing issues, hear real-life examples and best practices from senior IR professionals, and celebrate their achievements at the awards ceremony.

The event is co-sponsored by Arkadin, Citigate Dewe Rogerson, EQS Group, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Hilton, Instinctif Partners, Ipreo, Nasdaq, Orient Capital/DF King, Strategic Public Relations Group and Wells Fargo. The event is also supported by IRPAS.

For more information, please visit events.irmagazine.com/greaterchina.

FULL 2017 AWARDS SHORT LISTS (listed alphabetically)

RESEARCHED AWARDS

Best overall investor relations
- AIA Group
- China Resources Beer
- China Telecom
- China Unicom (Hong Kong)
- Far East Consortium International
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Pacific Basin Shipping

Best investor relations officer (large cap)
- AIA Group -- Paul Lloyd
- Cathay Financial Holding -- Sophie Chen
- China Resources Beer -- Vincent Tse
- China Telecom Lisa Lai
- China Unicom (Hong Kong) -- Jacky Yung
- Galaxy Entertainment Group -- Peter Caveny
- Tencent Holdings -- Catherine Chan & team

Best investor relations officer (small to mid-cap)
- Anta Sports Products -- Suki Wong
- China Everbright International -- Grace Lee
- Far East Consortium International -- Venus Zhao
- Kerry Logistics Network -- Cheryl Yeung
- Pacific Basin Shipping -- Emily Lau
- Sa Sa International -- Tiffany Cheung
- VPower Group -- Ambrose Lee

Best IR by a senior management team
- AIA Group
- China Resources Beer
- China Unicom (Hong Kong)
- Kerry Logistics Network
- VPower Group

Best corporate governance
- AIA Group
- China Telecom
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
- Tencent Holdings

Most progress in IR
- Cathay Financial Holding
- China Mobile
- China Unicom (Hong Kong)
- CTBC Financial Holding Co
- Hon Hai Precision Industry Co
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China

BEST IN COUNTRY AWARDS

China
- AAC Technologies
- Alibaba Group Holding
- Anta Sports Products
- China Telecom
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China
- Tencent Holdings

Hong Kong
- AIA Group
- China Mobile
- China Resources Beer
- China Unicom (Hong Kong)
- Far East Consortium International
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Pacific Basin Shipping
- VPower Group

Taiwan
- Cathay Financial Holding
- CTBC Financial Holding Co
- Delta Electronics
- Fubon Financial
- Kerry TJ Logistics Co
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company

BEST IN SECTOR AWARDS

Consumer discretionary
- Anta Sports Products
- Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group
- Ctrip.com International
- Galaxy Entertainment Group
- Shenzhou International Group Holdings

Consumer staples
- China Mengniu Dairy Co
- China Resources Beer
- COFCO Meat Holdings
- Health and Happiness H&H International Holdings
- Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp

Energy
- China Suntien Green Energy Corp
- CNOOC
- Sinopec Group
- Sinopec Oilfield Service Corp

Financials
- AIA Group
- Cathay Financial Holding
- CTBC Financial Holding Co
- Fubon Financial
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China

Healthcare
- Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Co
- CSPC Pharmaceutical Group
- ScinoPharm Taiwan
- Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group
- Taiwan Liposome Co

Industrials
- China Everbright International
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Kerry TJ Logistics Co
- Pacific Basin Shipping
- VPower Group

Information technology
- AAC Technologies
- Alibaba Group Holding
- Sunny Optical Technology (Group)
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
- Tencent Holdings

Materials
- China Hongqiao Group
- China Steel Corporation
- Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings)

Real estate
- Champion REIT
- China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co
- Far East Consortium International
- KWG Property Holding
- Sun Hung Kai Properties

Telecommunication services
- China Communications Services Corporation
- China Mobile
- China Telecom
- China Unicom (Hong Kong)
- Taiwan Mobile

Utilities
- Beijing Enterprises Water Group
- Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings
- China Gas Holdings
- China Resources Gas
- ENN Energy Holdings

SELF-NOMINATION AWARDS

Best annual report
- Anta Sports Products
- China Communications Services Corporation
- China Telecom
- CLP Holdings
- Link Asset Management
- Pacific Basin Shipping

Best crisis management
- AAC Technologies Holdings
- Fosun International
- Man Wah Holdings

Best ESG communications
- Anta Sports Products
- CLP Holdings
- CTBC Financial Holding Co
- Delta Electronics
- Link Asset Management
- New World Department Store China
- Shun Tak Holdings

Best investor event
- Anta Sports Products
- China Communications Services Corporation
- China Merchants Bank
- China Telecom
- Kerry Logistics Network
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China
- Shimao Property Holdings

Best IR for an IPO
- VPower Group
- Zhou Hei Ya International Holdings Company

Best IR during a corporate transaction
- China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings
- COSCO SHIPPING Ports
- Pacific Basin Shipping

Best IR website
- Anta Sports Products
- China Communications Services Corporation
- China Telecom
- Fortune REIT
- Link Asset Management
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China
- Xtep International Holdings

Best use of multimedia for IR
- Anta Sports Products
- China Life Insurance Company
- Far East Consortium International
- Xtep International Holdings

Rising star
- Anta Sports Products Emily Ng
- Independent Kenneth Ke
- Link Asset Management Luna Fong
- Shimao Property Holdings Eva Lau
- VPower Group Ambrose Lee
- Xtep International Holdings Leah Liu



Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference Opens 23 Nov

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HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang (centre), says that the ALMC will explore three hot topics, including the Belt and Road Initiative, e-Commerce and smart logistics. Mr Liang is flanked by (R) Tung Chee Chen, Chairman and CEO, Orient Overseas (International) Ltd; and (L) Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong.
Spotlighting Belt and Road, E-Commerce and Smart Logistics

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The seventh Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference (ALMC) will be held 23-24 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The two-day conference is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). This year's ALMC will spotlight three important topics, including the Belt and Road Initiative, e-Commerce and smart logistics. About 70 luminaries from the logistics and maritime sectors will speak at the conference to share their visionary ideas. ALMC is expected to attract about 2,000 industry experts from some 20 countries and regions to take part and explore business opportunities.

HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said, "As the Belt and Road Initiative is turned from vision to action, and the rapid development of logistic technology is speeding up changes in the global supply chain, there is huge demand for logistics and efficient ocean shipment services in Asia. As the largest event of its kind in Asia, the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference strives to provide the ideal platform for the industry to learn about the latest development and explore business opportunities."

Belt and Road spotlight

Stephen Liang said that to match market demand, this year's ALMC will focus discussions on hot topics, including the Belt and Road Initiative, e-Commerce and smart logistics. Apart from the main conference and forums, exhibitions and networking receptions will also be organised led by heavyweight speakers.

New e-Commerce Support and Tech Applications zone

This year's exhibition will feature over 120 exhibitors showcasing supply chain management, logistics, maritime and related services. The E-Commerce Support and Tech Applications zone will debut with a range of fundamental toolkits, such as document management and e-Commerce tools including Internet security and real-time tracking system, offering professional and comprehensive services and solutions. To drive more business cooperation, the HKTDC will arrange more than 140 one-on-one business-matching sessions to help exhibitors and participants foster new business collaborations during the event.

Close to 70 renowned speakers share thoughts

Some 70 industry experts and representatives of international brands will speak at the ALMC. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport, Thailand, will deliver a keynote speech at the opening session. Among the highlights will be the two plenary sessions. The first, entitled "Belt and Road: Growth Engine Driving New Era for Global Trade" (23 November), will examine the prospects and challenges for the industry in light of the rapid development of the new Europe-Asia sea and land trade route, the ASEAN market and railway cargo transport. Dr Victor K Fung, Chairman of Fung Group, will be the keynote speaker at the first plenary session. Other speakers will include Siddique Khan, President, Kerry Globalink, and chaired by Ben Bland, South China Correspondent, Financial Times.

The second plenary session, entitled "Delivering New World Order for Online Shopping" (24 November), features speakers including Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong; James Gagne, President, SEKO Logistics; Katsuhiko Umetsu, Director and Chairman, Yamato Global Logistics Japan Co, Ltd; James Chang, Chief Crossborder Officer, Lazada Group; and chaired by Fox Chu, Partner, Transportation, Travel and Logistics Practice, McKinsey & Company.

Forums explores industry development

Apart from the plenary sessions, other forums will cover hot issues such as supply chain management, logistics, maritime and airfreight. Topics include Halal Logistics, Temperature-controlled Cargo Handling, and Digital Supply Chains for F&B Logistics. Canada and Zhuhai will hold two forums to discuss regional logistics cooperation. The Canadian National Railway (CN) will explore seamless cooperation between North American ports and railway logistics, while representatives of the Zhuhai Municipal Government will examine new opportunities from the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the development of the Big Bay Area.

The forums will gather a range of noted speakers, including (in alphabetical order):

- Robert Armstrong, President, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation - North America Chapter
- Angad Banga, Chief Operating Officer, The Caravel Group
- Burak Cetinok, Head of Research, Arrow Shipbroking Group
- Dirk de Rooij, Commercial Director, Seabury Consulting
- Tabare Dominguez, Commercial Director, DP World Canada
- Tim Huxley, Chairman, Mandarin Shipping Ltd
- Eric Ip, Group Managing Director, Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd
- Frosti Lau, General Manager, Cargo Service Delivery, Cathay Pacific Cargo
- Dr Kelvin Leung, CEO, Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding
- Misha A Murakami, Deputy Manager, America Trade Division, COSCO SHIPPING Lines Co, Ltd
- Charles Raymond, President and CEO, Ray-Mont Logistics
- Paolo Emilio Signorini, President, Genoa and Savona Port Authority

Flagship event for Hong Kong Maritime Week

ALMC is one of the celebratory events for the Hong Kong SAR's 20th anniversary, garnering support from various sectors and matching the event's theme "Together, Progress, Opportunity." ALMC is also a flagship event of the Hong Kong Maritime Week, organised by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. The ALMC is supported by the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council and Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. The HKTDC invited 20 global leaders in the logistics and shipping industries and representatives of internationally renowned companies to serve as honorary advisors to provide advice on the agenda and content of the ALMC.

Members of the media wishing to interview speakers can fill out the enclosed form (http://bit.ly/2ycBMfT) and email it to sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org by 12 November. For the latest programme and speakers list, please visit: www.almc.hk.

Media Registration:
Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.

Photo download: http://bit.ly/2j9pnmc

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Joshua Cheng Tel: +852 2584 4395 Email: Joshua.cp.cheng@hktdc.org Sunny Ng Tel: +852 2584 4357 Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

4,100+ Visitors Joined Mega Promotion Event "In Style, Hong Kong"

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More than 1,800 Malaysian buyers attend the two-day In Style, Hong Kong Expo (7 to 8 November) to source products supplied by Hong Kong brands. 600 business matching meetings were organised by the HKTDC, with an aim to generate more collaboration opportunities.
The gala dinner featured a fashion parade that showcased batik fashion created by six Hong Kong fashion designers in a "Batik crossover" project.
From L: Professor Royce Yuen, CEO, MaLogic; Joseph Phi, President, LF Logistics; Kevin Huang, CEO, Pixels Ltd; and Nicholas Ho, Deputy Managing Director, hpa, examined how Hong Kong service companies can help Malaysian companies expand their business at the main symposium.
Expo, Symposium and Gala Dinner Advanced Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Links

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - In Style, Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's (HKTDC) mega promotion event held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, concluded today. The campaign was enthusiastically supported by the Malaysian political and business communities. Key events included a Symposium that promoted Hong Kong's professional services, an Expo that showcased the products of Hong Kong's leading brands, and a Gala Dinner that fostered exchange between Hong Kong's and Malaysia's business communities. The three events were attended by a total of more than 4,100 visitors.

Symposium spotlights Hong Kong services

The In Style, Hong Kong Symposium was held yesterday (7 November) at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur. More than 1,800 participants attended the event. At the main symposium, Professor Royce Yuen, CEO, MaLogic; Joseph Phi, President, LF Logistics; Kevin Huang, CEO, Pixels Ltd; and Nicholas Ho, Deputy Managing Director, hpa, examined how Hong Kong service companies can help Malaysian companies expand their business.

During the thematic session about Legal Risk Management in International Trade, Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Hong Kong is not just the ideal bridge between Mainland China and Malaysia, but is also well placed to provide a wide range of professional services to facilitate Malaysian businesses in grasping emerging opportunities in projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Highlighting the importance of legal risk management in modern business practice, Mr Yuen said with its strong legal system, Hong Kong is ready and able to serve as an international and neutral legal risk management and dispute resolution hub.

Gala Dinner fosters Malaysia-Hong Kong exchange

The gala dinner held last night (7 November) at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur was attended by more than 500 of Malaysia's and Hong Kong's political, business and community leaders. In his speech, Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, expressed gratitude for the support given to the In Style, Hong Kong campaign. He said Malaysia and Hong Kong have long enjoyed close business links. "The Belt and Road Initiative will provide further impetus to the soon-to-be-signed Hong Kong-ASEAN free trade agreement."

In addition to presenting four dishes created by Michelin Star chef Alvin Leung, the gala dinner also featured a fashion parade that showcased batik fashion created by six Hong Kong fashion designers in a "Batik crossover" project. Miss Hong Kong 2016, Crystal Fung, and artistes Jacqueline Ch'ng and Zoie Tam were among the models in the fashion parade. There was also an interactive gallery entitled "A Moment in HK" that displayed the works of noted artist and photographer Simon Yam, and award-winning Hong Kong photographers: Tugo Cheng, Jimmy Ho and Kelvin Yuen.

Over 1,800 Malaysian buyers take in the Expo

The two-day Expo (7 to 8 November) featured 40 exhibitors and welcomed more than 1,800 Malaysian buyers to source products supplied by Hong Kong brands. The HKTDC also organised 600 business matching meetings to generate more collaboration opportunities. Products on display encompassed home electronics, gifts and premium, fashion accessories, fine jewellery and watches, as well as eco-friendly products. Exhibiting brands included Chow Tai Fook, Chinese Arts & Crafts, ECO Concepts, HYOne, Me Too!, Prima Series, SAGA and Team Green.

Citywide promotions for Kuala Lumpur consumers to savour the Hong Kong lifestyle

To promote Hong Kong cuisine and lifestyle to more Malaysian consumers, the HKTDC partnered with 30 Hong Kong and Malaysian brands and more than 140 restaurants and retail outlets to organise a series of citywide promotions to offer discounts and incentives.

To amplify the promotion effect of the In Style, Hong Kong campaign, from now until early December, the HKTDC will spotlight Hong Kong's design-led products, trendy fashion and culinary experience at pop-up stores, showcases and retail stores. Kuala Lumpur consumers can pick up a Citywide Promotion coupon booklet at the participating outlets across Kuala Lumpur to enjoy the offers.

Websites:
In Style, Hong Kong website: www.instyle-hk.com
In Style, Hong Kong Symposium and Speakers' List: http://symposium.instyle-hk.com
In Style, Hong Kong Expo and Exhibitors List: http://expo.instyle-hk.com
In Style, Hong Kong Citywide Promotion: http://citywide.instyle-hk.com
Video highlights from In Style, Hong Kong will be added soon to this release on HKTDC Media Room (http://mediaroom.hktdc.com)
Photo download: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zbwxm978d3fc7wu/AABR7XZ1Bnnz8i0Ddaygotn3a?dl=0

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Sam Ho Tel: +852-2584-4569 Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong Optical Fair Opens Today

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The 25th edition of the Hong Kong Optical Fair opens today, showcasing the latest eyewear and optometric products from a record 800 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions.
Models parade the latest collections of eyewear brands at the Brand Name Gallery.
Focus on Local Design and Creativity; Vintage Handcrafted Spectacles and Smart Eyewear

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, the 25th edition of the Hong Kong Optical Fair opened today and will run from 8-10 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This year's fair welcomes a record 800 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions, including new exhibitors from Denmark, India, San Marino and Sweden.

Among the fastest-growing industries, global eyewear sales this year will reach nearly HK$1 trillion, according to Euromonitor International. "As a major eyewear manufacturer and exporter, Hong Kong's total exports of spectacles, lenses and frames in the first nine months of 2017 surpassed HK$15.4 billion, up two per cent year-on-year," said Benjamin Chau, Acting Executive Director of the HKTDC. "The strong rebound in demand in mature markets such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and the thriving demand in emerging markets were key factors that contributed to the growth. Hong Kong's top export markets are the United States, Italy and the Chinese mainland. Exports to ASEAN markets have also seen satisfactory growth."

To bring more business opportunities to exhibitors, the HKTDC has organised 76 buying missions from 47 countries and regions, bringing more than 3,400 companies to the fair. Among the participants are Australia's Aviva & Mann Optical Group, Canada's Fuji Optical Company, Brazil's MASTER GLASSES, Uruguay's Optica Nova and Legol Optica, the Chinese mainland's Jilin Wangpeng Glasses Co, Ltd and IPai Shanghai Auction Co, Ltd, Thailand's The Mall Group Co Ltd, the Philippines' GreatValuePlus, and the Singapore National Eye Centre.

Vintage handcrafted eyewear and smart designs in focus

Eyewear is a key style accessory. With vintage and scholarly styles in fashion, handcrafted spectacles have also become highly sought after. Several renowned handcrafted eyewear brands, including Oh My Glasses TOKYO, CLASSICO and Savile Row, are showcasing an assortment of styles; from small round frames to classic square frames. The popular Japanese brand 999.9 (Booth: GH-E30), which specialises in comfortable, durable frames made with acetate and titanium, presents its special-edition frame designed with its patented Gyaku-R hinge for the overseas market.

Smart eyewear is another fair highlight. Hong Kong exhibitor, Shutoo Gavazzi Optical Ltd's (Booth: 1C-G16) LCD lenses can change from sunglasses to colourless plain glasses in a second, using a patented technology for eye protection. The Australian brand Mallee Bull (Booth: GH-R10), a market leader in sports eyewear, is presenting its high-definition and free-form optics that create new experiences for sports enthusiasts. First-time exhibitor Bliz (Booth: GH-F03) from Sweden is featuring sports eyewear that uses ultra-light material and the Hydro Lens System for flexibility, comfort and protection.

Nine theme zones displaying a myriad of designs

This year's Optical Fair features nine theme zones, showcasing a broad spectrum of eyewear products to facilitate buyer sourcing. The acclaimed Brand Name Gallery features 225 international brands, including 999.9, B1919 EYEWEAR, BLANC & ECLARE, EVISU, Freddie Wood, ic! berlin, Markus-t, MINIMA, MUZIK, Oh My Glasses TOKYO, PARIM, Savile Row, Stepper, Superdry.

Highlighted products include:

- Specialising in vintage and progressive design eyewear that fuses traditional Japanese design and western Gothic influences, Matsuda (Booth: GH-F12) is a boutique Japanese eyewear brand.
- Glamorous sunglasses made in a hybrid acetate and metal style by BLANC & ECLARE (Booth: GH-D02), a brand founded by Jessica, the multi-talented Korean superstar. The brand is making its debut at the fair.
- Frames constructed from natural buffalo horn, pioneered by German exhibitor Freddie Wood (Booth: GH-P04). The unique pattern of each frame is excellent for reflecting the wearer's distinctive style.
- Eyewear with geometric patterns inspired by the Suprematist paintings of the 20th-century artist Malevich, from German brand, ic! berlin (Booth: GH-E30). Its latest design highlights the harmony of the frame and face, presenting an elegant artistic impression.

Several eyewear parades will be staged at the Brand Name Gallery, where models will showcase the latest collections of trend-setting eyewear brands.

Other zones include Contact Lens & Accessories; Sporting & Professional Eyewear; Kids Eyewear and Reading Glasses; Frames, Lens and Parts; Eyewear Accessories; Diagnostic Instruments; and Optometric Instruments & Machinery. There are also group pavilions representing the Chinese mainland, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, and the Visionaries of Style, providing a comprehensive trading platform for the industry.

Local creativity winning on the world stage

To showcase the local designs and products of Hong Kong eyewear manufacturers, the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association is promoting a number of local brands, including BIG HORN, CreationVC, Genic Eyewear, PAULO PILIPE and People by People, at the Brand Name Gallery.

The creative, bold and innovative designs of BIG HORN are revered by international celebrities and stylists. The brand's collections have won international awards, including Italy's A'Design Award and the US International Design Award for the designs' distinctive personality. Also on display are the new foldable sunglasses by Hong Kong brand People by People.

At Hall 1D, the winning and finalist entries of the 19th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition are on display, showcasing Hong Kong's extraordinary creativity to global buyers. Buyers can also cast their votes to pick the winner of The Latest Look Award. Details on the winning works can be found at: http://bit.ly/2zvsEPI

Seminars by top Harvard ophthalmology scholar and market trend experts

The 15th Hong Kong Optometric Conference will be held tomorrow (9 November) under the theme "Neuro Vision Rehabilitation." The conference will gather experts from Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the United States, including ophthalmology Professor Eliezer Peli of the Harvard Medical School, to examine such important topics as prismatic treatments and elderly neuro visual disorders. In addition, multiple seminars and workshops will be held during the fair to facilitate information exchange, such as Europe's retail and consumer trends and business opportunities in emerging markets. Representatives from renowned German research institute GfK will speak on eyewear design and market trends.

With the rapid development of mobile technology, e-Badge has been introduced at the fair for the first time to enhance buyers' sourcing experience. The Optical Fair is being held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair (9-11 November), drawing more buyers for greater business opportunities.

Fair Website: hkopticalfair.hktdc.com
Photo download: http://bit.ly/2fxFKDk

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Christine Kam Tel: +852-2584-4514 Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Fujitsu Launches CHORDSHIP as Next Step in Customer Engagement

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Figure 1: Overall structure of CHORDSHIP
Creating new value using AI where companies and customers come together

TOKYO, Nov 8, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced the Japan launch of "Fujitsu Enterprise Application CHORDSHIP powered by Zinrai." CHORDSHIP takes customer interaction to the next level, particularly in contact centers that are points of interface between companies and customers, and is a solution that represents a first step in Fujitsu's systematic approach to customer engagement.

CHORDSHIP contributes to enhanced customer experience and improved productivity in contact centers by utilizing Fujitsu Enterprise Application CHORDSHIP Digital Agent, a chat-bot capable of highly accurate responses gained through Fujitsu's approach to artificial intelligence, Human Centric AI Zinrai. The chat-bot is offered in combination with a "deploy and build" consulting service, and when up and running, an operations support service.

The Digital Agent is offered as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and is able to recognize individual expressions and synonyms in contact center chats, narrowing down the content of the question with high precision while extracting related information from a company's knowledge-bases and FAQs, then generating an appropriate response. Because the Digital Agent can offer a high correct answer rate using only a company's existing data, without being trained on massive amounts of teaching data in advance, customers can smoothly automate operations in their contact centers.

Fujitsu plans to rollout operations from early November, initially serving as a new channel of communications for TASKAJI Inc., a company that provides housekeeping matching services and for the Japanese football team, Kawasaki Frontale. In addition, Orient Corporation, one of Japan's largest consumer credit companies, has completed field trials of the application and is now moving forward on studies toward full-scale implementation.

Background

Points of contact between companies and customers are changing with the spread of new technologies such as social media, making it even more important to enhance customer experience. Because contact centers have a major impact on customer experience, serving as the frontlines of customer support, they are expected to provide added value leading to customer satisfaction. At the same time, contact centers must not only deal with personnel shortages and the diversification of channels, they also face numerous issues such as facilitating customer engagement.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu11717CHORDSHIPFig1.jpg
Figure 1: Overall structure of CHORDSHIPFigure 1: Overall structure of CHORDSHIP

In order to resolve these issues, Fujitsu is offering CHORDSHIP, a solution to raise the quality of customer contact, providing total support for contact center operations using chat-bots, from consulting to deployment, setup and operations, making the customer experience as rich as possible and contributing to improved productivity for contact centers.

Features of the Solution

1. Consulting service supporting the application of AI within contact centers

Fujitsu not only offers consulting on chat-bot deployment, including proposals for AI applications and verification of the effects that can be expected after deployment, based on a customer's existing operational data, it also provides total support for everything from deployment and setup to operations support for contact centers.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu11717CHORDSHIP1.jpg

2. Digital Agent with AI optimized for contact center tasks

The Digital Agent, offered as a SaaS, is a chat-bot equipped with an interface that can connect to websites and services such as LINE, Skype, and Facebook. It consists of Zinrai, Fujitsu's approach to AI, which automatically recognizes queries, including an individual's fluctuations in vocabulary and synonyms, and it can generate language as well. It also utilizes a company's accumulated FAQs and other data.

The chat-bot, being equipped with Zinrai AI, not only recognizes language features such as individualized expressions and synonyms, it extracts related information from question-and-answer knowledge-bases or FAQs that a company has accumulated, narrowing down the meaning of the question while finding an accurate answer. Because this system does not need to be trained in advance with huge volumes of teaching data, unlike deep learning chat-bots, it can rapidly automate contact center operations. In addition, by applying machine learning to the results of customer interactions, it can improve its own accuracy, enabling it to rank higher those answers that are closest to the correct response.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu11717CHORDSHIP2.jpg

3. Provides more detailed support through coordination between operators and the chat-bot

When a Digital Agent is unable to provide the answer a user was looking for, this solution provides a Live Chat Operations Service, which escalates the interaction to live chat with an operator to continue resolving the issue. Not only can operators with specialized skills continue to provide support via chat, they can maintain and improve answer accuracy after the Digital Agent begins operations by sifting through and building up the new knowledge gained from this process.

This solution is provided on Fujitsu Digital Business Platform MetaArc, as a service based on Fujitsu's Knowledge Integration(1) concept, which is leading toward the digital business era.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu11717CHORDSHIP3.jpg

Pricing and Availability
http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu11717CHORDSHIPPricing.jpg

Sales Target

35.0 billion yen in revenue by the end of fiscal 2020 (Fujitsu's fiscal year ends March 31).

Comment from Sachiko Wada, Founder, TASKAJI Inc.

"This application is helping us improve new plans and existing services based on user feedback from this newly created communication channel. We aim to create a service that can respond to user questions and needs at any time through 24/7/365 support with this chat-bot."

Comment from Yoshihiro Warashina, CEO, Kawasaki Frontale

"This application enhances our communication with customers, collecting and analyzing their actual voice data, deepens interaction with the local community, and contributes to the promotion of sports culture."

Comment from Kenichi Takahata, Head of the Card Planning Department, Card Promotion Group, Orient Corporation

"We implemented a trial of this chat-bot in order to validate its usefulness and the impact of deploying it, with the goal of providing complete, real time answers, 24/7/365, to questions customers ask over the web, in order to improve customer support quality and customer satisfaction. Based on the results of this field trial, we are currently discussing a full-scale deployment."

(1) Fujitsu Knowledge Integration
A concept in the integration services field that gives form to Fujitsu's brand promise, "shaping tomorrow with you."

About Fujitsu Ltd

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.

* Please see this press release, with images, at:
http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/

Contact:
Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-6252-2176 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/

Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Dr Lui Che-woo Donates RMB120 Million to The School of Life Sciences of Peking University; To Build a Major Scientific Research and Teaching Base for China

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Dr Lui Che-woo, Chairman of K. Wah Group and Director of Lui Che Woo Charity
Prof Lin Jian-hua, President of Peking University
(from right to left) Vicky Lee, Chief Executive Officer (Family Charity) of Lui Che Woo Management Limited; Alexander Lui, Executive Director of K. Wah International Holdings Limited; Dr Lui Che-woo, Chairman of K. Wah Group and Director of Lui Che Woo Charity; Prof Lin Jian-hua, President of Peking University; Prof Wang Bo, Vice President of Peking University, Vice Chairman of Peking University Education Foundation; Prof Wu Hong, Dean of the School of Life Sciences
Peking University Names The School of Life Sciences Research Building the "Lui Che Woo Building"

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Dr Lui Che-woo, Chairman and Founder of K. Wah Group (the "Group") and Director of LUI Che Woo Charity, has announced a donation amounting to RMB120 million to the School of Life Sciences of Peking University for setting up the Lui Che Woo School of Life Sciences Fund and constructing a new Life Sciences research building to be named the "Lui Che Woo Building". The donation's signing ceremony was held in Hong Kong today.

Prof Lin Jianhua, President of Peking University, and Prof Wang Bo, Vice President of Peking University and Vice Chairman of the Peking University Education Foundation Board, representing Peking University and Peking University Education Foundation respectively, signed the donation agreement with Dr Lui Che-woo. They also presented the "Peking University Outstanding Educational Contribution Award" to Dr Lui in appreciation of his generous donation to educational causes and his great support to life sciences teaching and research in China.

Mr Alexander Lui, Executive Director of K. Wah International Holdings; Ms Vicky Lee, Chief Executive Officer (Family Charity) of Lui Che Woo Management Limited; Prof Wu Hong, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, Peking University; Mr Li Yuning, Secretary General of Peking University Education Foundation; Mr Wang Yong, Deputy Director, Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs, Peking University; Ms Geng Shu, Vice Secretary General of Peking University Education Foundation; as well as senior management of K. Wah Group were present at the ceremony to witness this important moment.

In his speech, Dr Lui Che-woo, said, "Striving to support education and scientific research has been my constant wish throughout the past decades, which I have persistently pursued all these years. Today, I am proud and honoured to be able to play a part in supporting and promoting the research and teaching of life sciences at Peking University and also the construction of a national base for scientific research and teaching relating to key technologies. Gratitude is due to the leadership of Peking University for their broad vision for the future development of mankind, and for their steadfast efforts to drive the development of life sciences in China over the years. I also wish to take this opportunity to encourage tertiary institutions in China to continue their pursuit of far-reaching and innovative research and nurture more scientific research talent for China and the world, and thereby contribute to the well-being of mankind in the future."

The School of Life Sciences Research Building of Peking University - the "Lui Che Woo Building" - is scheduled to be completed and to commence operation in early 2018, marking a significant prelude to the 120th anniversary of Peking University. With a total GFA of 26,900 sq. m., the functional purposes of this seven-storey building are to focus on advanced inter-disciplinary research areas of modern life sciences and serve as a high-end facility platform essential for supporting life sciences research. Upon its completion and commencement in operation, the new building is expected to advance the frontier of sciences related to life, cognition and healthcare with substantial impact and profound new direction to life sciences.

Prof Lin Jianhua, President of Peking University, said, "The list of world universities with a history longer than Peking University may be a long one, but I don't think there is any academic institution so closely tied to the fate of its nation as Peking University. You are not only supporting Peking University, but also the country and our future. Today, Dr Lui is helping us build a top-notch facility dedicated to life sciences, to nurturing talent and facilitating life sciences research and study activities. This facility is a precious gift celebrating the 120th anniversary of Peking University and a good deed that will benefit the whole nation, the Chinese people, as well as humanity for generations to come. Thus, I hereby express my deepest respect and gratitude to Dr Lui." Prof Lin has also invited friends from different sectors in Hong Kong to visit the university next year when it celebrates its special anniversary and grow together with the university.

'The Lui Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilisation established by Dr Lui does not only focus on one area or one direction, but lays a foundation for betterment of humankind and world civilisation. The Prize exemplifies Dr Lui's abundant mind and his care for world betterment, which also coincides with the philosophy of Peking University,' he said.

Introducing the history and achievements of the faculty, Prof Wu Hong, Dean of the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, said, "The School of Life Sciences of Peking University has overall the strongest capacity among its peers in the field of life sciences in China. The construction of the 'Lui Che Woo Building' further supports Peking University to lead the development of life sciences in China and the world, ultimately benefiting all of mankind. Thanks to Chairman Lui, Peking University is seeing its dream come true."

As the critical base for advanced inter-disciplinary studies of Peking University, the School of Life Sciences has achieved many significant advances in recent years. It is a leading tertiary institution driving life sciences research in China. The Peking University new life sciences research building ("New Building") has been created to answer the need for the swift development of life sciences research around the world. It also complements China's protein science research initiative (also known as the "Phoenix Project"), the largest scientific experiment platform to be built within the country. The New Building is expected to enable Peking University drive advancement and development of life sciences research in China.

"The Phoenix Project" is a national-level central government-led effort to provide large-scale protein science fundamental research facilities funded by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal Government. As an important contributor to the national "Phoenix Project" initiative, the New Building will be equipped with advanced equipment covering proteins, magnetic resonance and optical microscopic imagery, and also a state-of-the-art cryo scanning electron microscope (Cryo-SEM) to render the best support to the study of structural biology and biological macromolecules. In addition, the New Building will house shared equipment rooms (laboratories), including cold storage, cytology laboratory, thermostatic chamber and ultra-low temperature freezer facilities, covering nearly 550 sq.m. on each floor, providing convenient access and usage to scientists of the university. The research team led by Professor Wu Hong, Dean of the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, will move into the New Building and focus on studying biological macromolecules in tumours and stem cells and also the development of small molecule drugs, helping to solve the mysteries of life and improve human health.

For video highlights of the event, please visit: https://youtu.be/6kWVn_wv_o8
Download here: https://goo.gl/tEwZzx



Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

10th Hong Kong Wine & Spirits Fair Opens Tomorrow

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The tenth edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair will open at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre tomorrow and continue through 11 November. Sophia Chong, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director, announces details of the event at a press briefing today.
Today's pre-fair press tour gives media representatives a taste of what to expect during the Wine & Spirits Fair, including award-winning liquors (R) and premium Chardonnay Brandy (L), from the Australia's Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.
One of the new pavilions, Portugal's Confederacao dos Agricultores de Portugal, brings to the wine fair red wines made from Castelao, a primarily red wine grape, as well as fortified wines.
70+ Events on Offer; Public Day on Saturday

HONG KONG, Nov 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The tenth HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair will open tomorrow (9 November) and continue through 11 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Paul Chan will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony.

This year's Wine & Spirits Fair will showcase fine wine and spirits from a record 1,070 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions. There will be more than 30 group pavilions representing wine-producing regions, trade organisations and governmental organisations from around the world.

These include new pavilions organised by France's Syndicat General des Vignerons de la Champagne (SGV), the Southern United States Trade Association, the Russian Export Center, Enterprise Mauritius, Portugal's Confederacao dos Agricultores de Portugal and Setubal Peninsula Wines, as well as Romania's Asociatia Producatorilor si Exportatorilor de Vinuri.

Highlight zones such as Wine & Liquor Products and Whisky and Spirits will also be showcased. The HKTDC will organise more than 70 events during the fair to provide the industry with a comprehensive business and intelligence exchange platform.

Public Day

On Saturday (11 November), the fair's Public Day, the show will be open to members of the public aged 18 or above, with tickets available on-site at HK$200. From now until 10 November, Public Day tickets are available at a special price of HK$99 on HOKOBUY, FeedMeGuru, Yahoo, Group Buyer, GOBUYA and HKTVmall. Mobile tickets are also on sale on TNG Wallet. Visitors with valid tickets for that day will receive a Lucaris crystal wine glass on-site on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

The groundbreaking Asia Wine Academy will offer two intensive courses at the fair -- "Contemporary Trends in Wine Consumption" and "Mastering Tasting & Rising Wine Trends," which will be conducted by Masters of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Steve Charters. Participants who complete the courses will be awarded a certificate.

Public visitors can enrol at a special price of HK$690 (original price: HK$990) on the Wine & Spirits Fair website, online group-purchase platforms, Timable, Feedme Guru or TNG Wallet. Participants will receive a complimentary Wine & Spirits Fair Public Day ticket and a Lucaris crystal wine glass, valued at a total HK$1,300, on a first-come, first-serve basis while stocks last.

Wine & Spirits Fair Schedule
- 9-11 November (Thursday to Saturday)
Opening hours: 9 - 10 November 10:30am-7:30pm
Trade visitors only, 18 and above (On-site Registration fee: HK$100)
- 11 November 10:30am - 6pm
Trade visitors, 18 and above (On-site Registration fee: HK$100)
Public visitors, 18 and above (Admission fee: HK$200)

Fair Website: http://www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair/
Hong Kong Wine Journey: www.hktdc.com/hkwinejourney
Asia Wine Academy: http://hkwinefair.hktdc.com/dm/2017/asia_wine/1st_edm/index_en.html
Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition: http://www.hkiwsc.com/
Product highlights and photo download: http://bit.ly/2hc5qHf
Photo Download: http://bit.ly/2zscsQg

Media Registration:
Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Agnes Wat Tel: +852 2584 4554 Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

MHIEC Receives Order to Refurbish Waste-to-Energy Plant in Sagamihara

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- Order to refurbish 3 stoker incinerators and a bulky waste shredder, to be completed March 2021
- 6.3 billion yen project will extend plant service life, boost energy efficiency and reduce CO2
- Reflects growing demand for renovation projects, partly driven by government subsidies

TOKYO, Nov 9, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. (MHIEC) has received an order from Sagamihara City to refurbish core components of the Kita Waste-to-Energy Plant, a facility for incinerating municipal solid waste (MSW). The order calls for refurbishment of three stoker type incinerators(1) with a total waste treatment capacity of 450 tons per day (tpd) and a bulky waste shredder with a capacity of 85 tpd. The project will extend service life to 2036 and increase energy efficiency. The order is valued at JPY6.3 billion and is scheduled for completion in March 2021.

The Kita Incineration Plant was originally designed and built by MHI in 1991, consisting of a bulky waste treatment facility and MSW incineration plant. The plant's three stoker type incinerators (each with a capacity of 150 tpd) and other related equipment can generate up to 2,500kW of electricity.

The order covers replacement and upgrading of superannuated components including equipment for refuse feeding, incineration, combustion gas cooling, flue gas treatment, ventilation, ash handling and water supply, as well as electrical and other instrumentation. Energy efficiency will be enhanced through the application of MHIEC's proprietary 'New Combustion Control System', which contributes to stable combustion, as well as more efficient ventilation equipment, and high-efficiency motors and inverters. In addition, CO2 emissions will be reduced by approximately 10% per year by increasing the output of the steam turbine to 2,625 kW, thereby helping to curb global warming.

Requests for renovation and upgrades to MSW incineration facilities are increasing today as a way of extending their service life while simultaneously reducing environmental impact. The introduction of a related subsidy system in 2010(2) by the Japanese national government helped accelerate this trend.

On the strength of its record to date, augmented by the newly received order from Sagamihara, going forward MHIEC will pursue further orders by actively offering up proposals for enhancing the energy efficiency of existing waste-to-energy plants, maintaining and improving their stable operation, and reducing their maintenance and lifecycle costs.

(1) A stoker furnace is the main type of MSW incineration plant. MSW is combusted as it moves along on a fire grate made of heat-resistant castings.
(2) This program, administered by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, promotes effective use of existing waste treatment facilities to address the issue of global warming. Local governments seeking to extend the operational life of their MSW facilities are eligible for subsidies covering one-third to one-half of project costs, depending on the degree of CO2 reduction.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.
For more information, please visit the MHI Group website: http://www.mhi-global.com.
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: http://spectra.mhi.com.

Contact:
Joseph Hood, PR Manager Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email: mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168 Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860

Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Mitsubishi Motors' Eclipse Cross Achieves 5-star Euro NCAP Safety Rating

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97% rating for Adult Protection
80% rating for Pedestrian Protection

TOKYO, Nov 9, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has today announced that its all-new Eclipse Cross SUV Coupe has secured a 5-star safety rating with excellent overall performance.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiMotorsEclipseCross11917.jpg

With safety as one of its strong-suits, the Eclipse Cross has scored high within the 'Small Off-roader' vehicle class, achieving a 97% rating for Adult Protection and an 80% Pedestrian Protection rating.

Furthermore, the new SUV Coupe's 'Forward Collision Mitigation' system demonstrated good performance with collisions avoided or mitigated in all test scenarios and at all test speeds.

Overall, Eclipse Cross scored maximum points in many of the various tests performed by Euro NCAP, helping the vehicle to secure a 5-star safety rating.

The first of Mitsubishi Motors' new generation of vehicles, Eclipse Cross blends sharp looks with the company's signature SUV & 4WD expertise. MMC began shipment of the new Eclipse Cross compact SUV to Europe on October 3, 2017, which will eventually be available in approximately 80 markets worldwide including Australia, North America and Japan. Approximately 50,000 units are planned to be shipped during the current fiscal year (ending March 30, 2018).

For additional information on the Eclipse Cross, please follow the link below.
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/showroom/eclipse_cross/

About Eclipse Cross

Developed with Mitsubishi Motors' Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) vehicle body, 7 SRS airbags and seatbelts designed for passenger protection, Eclipse Cross provides class-leading safety with unrivaled style. The Eclipse Cross comes with Mitsubishi Motors' advanced S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system, which uses braking to control the supply of torque to the left and right wheels for improved stability and control. The SUV Coupe is also equipped with a high-shock absorbing front end and safety spaces under the engine hood that enhances collision safety performance.

About Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP organizes crash tests on new vehicles and provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. Established in 1997 and backed by several European Governments, motoring, consumer and insurance organizations, Euro NCAP has rapidly become a catalyst for encouraging significant safety improvements to new car design. Visit the website: www.euroncap.com

Euro NCAP ratings strictly apply to vehicles of the specifications offered in Europe. The ratings do not necessarily apply to models offered in other regions, even when sold under an identical name, as production specification and equipment may vary.

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the sixteenth largest in the world. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. From October 2016, Mitsubishi is one-third owned by Nissan, and a part of the Renault - Nissan - Mitsubishi Alliance. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/index.html.

Contact:
Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275

Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Datacloud Asia 2018 appoints Industry Luminaries to Lead Awards Judging Panel

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Award Categories to Showcase Data Center Services, Energy, Innovation and the Above and Beyond

LONDON / SINGAPORE, Nov 9, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Two revered data center executives have been appointed to lead the judging panel for the Datacloud Asia 2018 awards. Joshua Au, Head of Data Center, A*STAR, joins as Chairman, and Billy Lee Kok Chi, Advisor and formerly Founding Chairman of the Malaysian Data Center Association, as Vice Chairman.

With an extended panel of Judges, the Datacloud Asia Awards for 2018 aims to be globally relevant and give recognition to the most innovative companies and people in the sector. The Awards ceremony, which includes a gala dinner, will be held on the evening of 22nd March at the prestigious Capella Hotel in Singapore.

"I am honored to accept the position of chairman, and look forward to working with the panel of distinguished judges to honor excellence and innovation demonstrated in the data center industry," commented Joshua Au, Chairman, Datacloud Asia Awards 2018.

Billy Lee, Vice Chairman, echoed the sentiments, "I am thrilled to be involved in one of the most prestigious awards in the Asian IT awards calendar, considered the Oscar's equivalent in the data center and cloud space. There will be an opportunity to learn from industry leaders in Asia who are shaping the digital economy."

Award nominations close February 10th 2018.

Sustaining the refreshed format, the Judges will award the Data Center and Cloud Leadership Awards, selected from nominations made by companies in any of the other categories.

All categories are open to enterprise-owned or third-party facilities, cloud service provide, energy specialists and individuals engaged in the data center and cloud sector.

The awards will also highlight data center location, a highly competitive area of the market today. Many agencies across Asia compete not only with each other, but also internationally, and the award will denote industry distinction.

The Judges also wished to bring a special spotlight on upcoming service providers in all industry categories.

The full Award categories are:

- Excellence in Data Center Service Award Asia
- Excellence in Data Center Service Award South East Asia
- Best Data Center Energy Solution Award
- Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility -- Company of the Year
- Data Center Above and Beyond Award
- Excellence in Data Center IT Architecture and Design Award
- Data Center Location Award
- Connectivity Provider of the Year Award
- Best programme for Data Center training and professional development
- Excellence in Cloud Service Award Asia
- Excellence in Cloud Service Award South East Asia
- Enterprise Cloud Adoption Award
- Marketer of the Year Award
- Individual Industry Contribution -- Ambassador Award

Among the newer award categories are 'Best Energy Solution Award', for the use of a disruptive energy innovation, and 'Excellence in Connectivity Award', for high levels of service reliability and availability provided by cable, dark fibre and Internet Exchange providers.

The Judges also announce the 'Individual Industry Contribution -- Ambassador Award' which will recognize an Asia ambassador for the Data Center and Cloud Industry for 2018-2019.

"Data centers have truly come of age," commented Philip Low, chairman of BroadGroup, "and the Datacloud Asia Awards, as the premier awards in the sector, will uniquely reflect its importance. Excellence will be the guideline for the Judges of this year's nominations."

Companies shortlisted gain immediate recognition, and winners make contact with a global network of potential customers and partners sustain the success of their innovation and service excellence.

About BroadGroup

BroadGroup is an Information Media Technology and Professional Services provider and a member company of FTSE 250 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. Established in 2002, the company has achieved recognition and growth through delivering quality research and events across the IT infrastructure sector. Its Data Center and Cloud practice is the market leader in providing commercial due diligence, research and analysis for the sector. The company's event portfolio brands include Datacloud, Datacloud Awards, Finance and Investment Forum and Dark Fibre Convention which deliver high quality international networking and business opportunity events. The company also owns the leading online information source, magazine and specialist forum Data Economy. Visit www.broad-group.com and www.data-economy.com.

Contact:
John Vather
+44-20-71995-730
john.vather@broad-group.com



Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Gemalto launches world's first "all-in-one" IoT module delivering global LTE connectivity

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New IoT module provides 12 band LTE coverage plus fall back to 3G and 2G in a single device

AMSTERDAM, Nov 9, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, is expanding Industrial IoT connectivity with a significant breakthrough in wireless engineering - the industry's first IoT module to provide global connectivity on 12 LTE bands plus, 3G and 2G cellular coverage all from a single device. This greatly simplifies logistics and distribution and lowers the cost of global IoT deployments.

In the decade ahead, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market value is expected to exceed $195 billion, transforming manufacturing, energy, transportation and many other sectors[1]. Coined the 4th Industrial Revolution, the IIoT relies on highly efficient, global connectivity solutions that can be easily deployed anywhere in the world.

The 'all-in-one' IoT module
The new Gemalto Cinterion(R) PLS62-W IoT Module delivers highly efficient LTE Cat. 1 connectivity on all 12 LTE bands while providing seamless fallback to multi band 3G and 2G networks if 4G is not available. This allows device manufacturers and integrators to develop one application that can connect anywhere in the world, even when solutions move between different regions and cellular network standards.

Embedded systems simplify and speed up new product development
A powerful Java(R) embedded system included in the IoT Module adds processing power to IoT solutions. It makes application design easier and faster by sharing memory, a large library of existing open source code and recognized software building blocks. In addition, it simplifies lifecycle management and streamlines integration with back-end IT systems.

Optimized power management
An advanced power management system ensures reliability, and provides optimized sleep mode to preserve power and extend battery life. This is critical for remote industrial applications, a sector expected to reach 5.2 billion in by 2025[2].

"Ideal for worldwide tracking and tracing, telematics and fleet management solutions, the Cinterion multi band LTE Cat. 1 module with 3G, 2G fallback is a one stop shop for cellular IoT connectivity, no matter where your IoT solutions are deployed or where they move," said Andreas Haegele, senior vice president IoT products at Gemalto. "The highly efficient Cinterion PLS62-W is perfectly suited for applications that need to operate across many different wireless network environments for many years."

[1] Markets and Markets http://bit.ly/2yiQuy2
[2] Grand View Research http://bit.ly/2jaGDrn

Related resources:
- Cinterion(R) PLS62-W IoT Module http://bit.ly/2m6FvWM
- Iot Module Product Datasheet http://bit.ly/2yJP5EI

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the global leader in digital security, with 2016 annual revenues of EUR 3.1 billion and customers in over 180 countries. We bring trust to an increasingly connected world.

From secure software to biometrics and encryption, our technologies and services enable businesses and governments to authenticate identities and protect data so they stay safe and enable services in personal devices, connected objects, the cloud and in between.

Gemalto's solutions are at the heart of modern life, from payment to enterprise security and the internet of things. We authenticate people, transactions and objects, encrypt data and create value for software - enabling our clients to deliver secure digital services for billions of individuals and things.

Our 15,000+ employees operate out of 112 offices, 43 personalization and data centers, and 30 research and software development centers located in 48 countries.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

Gemalto media contacts:
Philippe Benitez
Americas
+1 512 257 3869
philippe.benitez@gemalto.com

Kristel Teyras
Europe Middle East & Africa
+33 1 55 01 57 89
kristel.teyras@gemalto.com

Shintaro Suzuki
Asia Pacific
+65 6317 8266
shintaro.suzuki@gemalto.com

Press release (PDF): http://hugin.info/159293/R/2147741/823730.pdf
Picture: http://hugin.info/159293/R/2147741/823733.jpg


Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

World's First Christmas Tree Made from 2017 Vienna Philharmonic Coins on display at renowned GINZA TANAKA Ginza Main Store

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The GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree
Gold Philharmonic coin (front, L): Shows the pipe organ in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein Wien, where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra regularly performs. Gold Philharmonic coin (back, R): Six types of wind and string instruments are shown in relief, including the Vienna horn, a harp, viola, violin and bassoon.
TOKYO, Nov 9, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Renowned precious metal store, GINZA TANAKA (TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY K.K., main office: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Representative Director & CEO: Masakazu Tanaka, hereinafter: GINZA TANAKA), marked its 125th year since establishment in 2017. Going forward, it will continue to pursue possibilities for its distinctive precious metal ornaments with a fixation on quality that has been passed down the generations since its foundation, without forgetting to be continuously grateful toward the many people who have supported the company over its 125 years.

GINZA TANAKA created a GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (not for sale) made from 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins (worth 350 million yen), which are issued by the Austrian Mint (CEO: Gerhard Starsich, main office: Vienna, Austria) and will display it on the first floor of its GINZA TANAKA main store (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) during the Christmas season from November 9 to December 25, 2017. This is the first Christmas tree in the world to be made from Vienna Philharmonic coins.

The GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (height: approx. 3 m, width: 1.4 m) has been made from a total of 2017 coins (pure gold: approx. 63 kg) in reference to the year 2017. This includes 2016 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins and one 20-ounce coin. This is the most pure gold that has ever been used in a Christmas tree by GINZA TANAKA. The 2016 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins were placed individually by hand on a transparent acrylic square pyramid base and the top of the tree was adorned with a star-shaped decoration made using the 20-ounce Gold Philharmonic coin. The base supporting the Christmas tree was designed based on the Golden Hall of the Musikverein Wien and it has been made to rotate so that the Gold Philharmonic coins will reflect the light and shine.

For the back panel, trick art has been utilized in what is a first for GINZA TANAKA. Motifs such as musical instruments and musical notes shown behind the GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree have been gloriously designed together with the Christmas decorations. An optical illusion has been used to make it appear that the design emerges from the surface three-dimensionally depending on the angle it is viewed from. Visitors are welcome to take stunning pictures capturing the atmosphere of Vienna, the music capital of the world.

The GINZA TANAKA main store has displayed a Christmas tree made from precious metal every year from 2005, making this the 13th year that such a tree will be displayed. In the 125th year since GINZA TANAKA's foundation, this year's Christmas tree conveys the beauty of the Vienna Philharmonic coins and communicates the power and profound feeling of pure gold despite its simple silhouette. GINZA TANAKA directly managed by TANAKA KIKINZOKU, which is the sole agent for Gold Philharmonic coins in Japan, has utilized its distinctive characteristics to create this Christmas tree decadently covered in Vienna Philharmonic coins.

The Vienna Philharmonic Coin
Vienna Philharmonic coins are legal tender that the Austrian government guarantees as being made from gold of 99.99% purity. Because of this level of trust, it is the most commonly-purchased gold coin in Japan. It comes in four sizes -- one ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce. Therefore, it is popular not only for asset formation in accordance with budget, but also as a present for friends or family. In addition to investment coins, the coins are also available as various coin jewelry products such as pendants and broaches.

Outline of the GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree

Displayed item: GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (not for sale)
Display period: Thursday, November 9 - Monday, December 25, 2017, 10:30 to 19:00.
Display location: GINZA TANAKA main store, 1F Entrance
Materials:
One-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins (K24, diameter: 37 mm, thickness: 2.0 mm, weight: 31.1035 g) Total: 2016 coins
Twenty-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coin (K24, diameter: 74 mm, thickness: 8.3 mm, weight: 622.07 g) Total: 1 coin
*A total of 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins were used in the Christmas tree (Total weight: Approx. 63 kg, equivalent to 350 million yen)
Size:
Tree: Approx. 3 m high x approx. 1.4 m wide
Back panel: Approx. 3 m high x approx. 2.6 m wide
*The price of the 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins has been calculated at a rate of 171,738 yen (retail price including tax) per ounce.

GINZA TANAKA
GINZA TANAKA (TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY) was established in 1892. By means of the high quality jewelry and crafted products that it offers, it has become a renowned precious metal store that adds further sparkle to each individual's lifestyle. The company manufactures and sells jewelry and craft products with rich design and high investment potential that have been created by utilizing artisan craft skills on high quality precious metals such as pure gold and platinum.
Directly managed stores
Ginza main store, Shinjuku, Hotel Chizanso Tokyo, Isetan Tachikawa, Yokohama Motomachi, Sendai, Niigata Mitsukoshi, Nagoya, Sakae (specialty bridal store), Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae, Shinsaibashi, Takamatsu Mitsukoshi, Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel

The TANAKA KIKINZOKU GROUP
Since its foundation in 1885, the TANAKA KIKINZOKU GROUP, the Tanaka Precious Metals group has built a diversified range of business activities focused on precious metals. Tanaka is a leader in Japan in terms of the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, Tanaka Precious Metals has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry, but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and resources. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies within and outside Japan work together with unified cooperation between manufacturing, sales, and technological aspects to offer products and services. TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY is in charge of the jewelry sales business as a member of the TANAKA KIKINZOKU GROUP. In addition, in order to make further progress in globalization, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo welcomed Metalor Technologies International SA as a member of the Group in 2016. As precious metal professionals, Tanaka Precious Metals will continue to contribute to the development of an enriching and prosperous society.

Press Inquiries
Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd.
E-mail: t-ishibashi@ml.tanaka.co.jp / thdpr@kyodo-pr.co.jp


Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Asia Pacific Maritime 2018 to address present-day issues and chart new paths

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Industry leaders speaking to conference attendees at the Asia Pacific Maritime 2016
Exhibition area at the Asia Pacific Maritime 2016
- Over 40 key movers and shakers in global maritime to lead global discourse on hot-seat issues affecting the maritime industry
- Inaugural APM Leaders' Forum to spotlight progressive topics such as digitalisation and women leaders in maritime

SINGAPORE, Nov 9, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The 15th Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), Southeast Asia's most established maritime, workboat and offshore exhibition and conference will be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 14 - 16 March next year. The biennial event will expect to play host to more than 1,500 international exhibiting companies from 60 countries, and over 15,000 trade visitors from Asia.

Although signs of slow recovery in the global maritime sector this year brought relief to an industry that has been depressed in recent years, some industry leaders are holding onto cautious optimism that the global maritime industry will start to ease in 2018, encouraged by indicators such as the recovering energy sector. The digitalisation wave also signals renewed opportunities for players to explore and implement innovative ways to operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

In the face of these industry changes, APM introduces the inaugural APM Leaders' Forum (14 March 2018) in celebration of its 15th edition. Marking the start of the three-day conference, sessions will see industry masterminds discuss and debate the outlook, opportunities and threats in 2018, digital disruptors, digitalisation, women in maritime, the new normal in the industry and shipbuilding in Asia.

2018 will also see APM presenting its strongest line-up of keynote and conference speakers, with over 40 key shakers and movers in the maritime, workboat and offshore industry. They will lead thought-provoking dialogues as they deep dive into hot issues affecting the maritime industry.

"Over the last 30 years, APM has become a crucial business platform connecting the global maritime world to Asia. Not only to do business, but to enable discussions on regional developments and major industry shifts, by bringing together business leaders and experts in their respective fields to share their knowledge, insights and forecast that will help industry players reshape their business strategies, navigate new frontiers and discover new business opportunities, which is especially important in this market climate," said Yeow Hui Leng, Senior Project Director, Asia Pacific Maritime.

Future of maritime at the inaugural APM Leaders' Forum

The first session to kick off the inaugural APM Leaders' Forum will explore what 2018 has in store for the maritime industry.

Distinguished industry leaders and shipowners such as Hassan Basma, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, HBA Offshore; Peter Sand, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO; Su Yin Anand, Co-founder & Director, Young Professionals in Shipping Network; and Capt. Vinay Singh, Managing Director, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) and Director, Maritime Association of Ship Owners, Ship Managers & Agents (MASSA) will helm the panel, to shed light on the prospects, opportunities and challenges in the new year.

These include the future of LNG growth, harnessing the power of big data and new smart shipping technologies, maritime talent, and ratification of the Ballast Water Management Convention by the International Maritime Organization. The session will also uncover how shipowners can stay profitable amid changing market dynamics, the pressing concerns of cyber security in today's digital era and Asia's future for oil and gas trade flows.

Recognising that the stakes today are much higher compared to just a few years ago, Capt. Vinay Singh said: "The shipping industry has been going through a rough phase for the last few years. Not only will we see more mergers and acquisitions in 2018, stricter international regulations, environmental concerns, and increasing pressure to reduce operating costs will continue to affect the challenging landscape, until we start seeing signs of recovery. But the biggest disruptive change could be the launch of unmanned ships in the near future, which will put pressure on existing shipowners to cut costs to stay competitive."

Digitalisation is changing the landscape of shipping

With the global maritime shipping industry at the tipping point of digitalisation, the inaugural APM Leaders' Forum will also delve into one of the industry's hottest areas.

"The shipping industry has just entered the digital era but we are already witnessing fast-paced adoption. Remote access, next-generation performance monitoring, big data analytics, forecasting and condition-based maintenance are significantly improving operations and ship management," said Capt. Mohit Batra, Regional Director of Commercial Shipping, Eniram - A Wartsila Company. He added, "At the same time, online retailers such as Alibaba, Amazon, Walmart are also starting to disrupt the shipping space as they strive to take greater control over logistics and transportation."

Capt. Mohit Batra will be speaking at this ground-breaking session alongside Morten Lind-Olsen, Chief Executive Officer, Dualog; KD Adamson, Futurist & CEO, Futurenautics; Kenneth Lim, Chief Technology Officer, Maritime Port Authority, Singapore; as well as Lim Sim Keat, Managing Director (Transport & Logistics), IMC Industrial Group as they discuss the latest digital disruptors - from autonomous shipping to big data and new IT innovations, the dynamic changes they will bring to the maritime industry, and how the value chain will be redefined.

For the industry to benefit from digitalisation, certain challenges will need to be addressed. "To date, only slightly more than half the ships out there have internet access, and that needs to change. The digital infrastructure and technology clusters that are a part of that digital narrative are of crucial importance to shipping. However, the complexity of deep-sea connectivity has acted as a brake on the adoption of enterprise technologies which companies in other industries have been steadily implementing," said Ms Adamson. "That said, the industry is ripe for disruption by lean, customer-focused companies who can see big problems and solve them via new technologies and models. There is so much room for collaboration and new types of value creation."

Women Leaders in Maritime

Acknowledged as the world's foremost shipping and maritime domain futurist, Ms Adamson will be joined by other female industry veterans at the helm of the maritime industry to drive the conversation on the role and contribution of women in the maritime sector, particularly in Asia.

This all-women powerhouse includes Elaine Ong, Chief Financial Officer, BW LPG; Magdalene Chew, Director & President, Asia Legal LLC & Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA); Martha Lamp Sandvik, Shipbroker, Lorentzen & Stemoco AS; Monal Srivastava, Regional Head of Human Capital, Admin (Subcontinent Region), DP World; Sigrid M Schrodter Teig, Chief Process Officer, Western Bulk; and Su Yin Anand, Co-founder & Director, Young Professionals in Shipping Network.

Through an open discourse on the critical barriers in an industry where women make up only four per cent of the world's maritime workforce, this session aims to promote innovative thinking, and boost the progress and representation of women in senior management in the maritime industry.

Prominent Representation of Shipowners at APM 2018

Another valuable perspective at next year's APM conference will come from the prominent presence of shipowners as they share their views across a wide range of issues impacting the global maritime industry.

This includes influential figures such as Bui Viet Hoai, Deputy General Director, Vietnam National Shipping Lines (VINALINES) and Vice Chairman, Vietnam Shipowners' Association; Capt. Michael Elwert, Group Chief Executive Officer, Elektrans; Elaine Ong, Chief Financial Officer, BW LPG; Gernot Ruppelt, Senior Vice President, Chartering and Business Development at Ardmore Shipping Corporation; Hassan Basma, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, HBA Offshore; Lim Sim Keat, Managing Director (Transport & Logistics) at IMC Industrial Group; Peter Sand, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO; Sigrid M Schrodter Teig, Chief Process Officer, Western Bulk; and Venkatraman Sheshashayee, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Miclyn Express Offshore (MEO).

Information on the above topics and full list of speakers at the inaugural APM Leaders' Forum can be found at http://www.apmaritime.com/en/Conferences-Events/Conference-Programme.

Registration to APM 2018 is now open. Asia Pacific Maritime 2018 will be held from 14 - 16 March 2018 at the Singapore Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

More information about APM 2018 is available on https://www.apmaritime.com.

Stay connected with us via LinkedIn at https://lnkd.in/byEMQtd and https://www.facebook.com/asiapacificmaritime/.

About Asia Pacific Maritime (APM)

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) is Asia's premier exhibition and conference focusing on shipbuilding & marine, workboat and offshore. Gathering the world's marine, workboat and offshore community in Asia, expect to meet 15,000 visitors and decision makers from Asia, 1,500 international products & services companies from over 60 countries including 18 country pavilions and over 50 industry influencers, all in one single platform to buy, sell, network and learn. For more information, visit the official website at www.apmaritime.com.

Weichai Singapore Pte Ltd is a Gold Sponsor and Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP is a Silver Sponsor at APM 2018.

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 500 events in 30 countries. In 2015 Reed brought together over seven million event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 40 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of the RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

Media Contact
Ninemer Public Relations
Hsu Lin
T: +65 6534 9909
M: +65 9720 6119
E: hsulin@ninemer.com

Charlene Ho
T: +65 6534 9909
M: +65 9178 0194
E: charleneho@ninemer.com


Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

10th Hong Kong Wine & Spirits Fair Opens Today

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The robotic bartender demonstrates how to mix cocktail at the Ice Bar. Two 30-minute demonstrations are held each day. Public Day valid ticket holders can have a taste of six kinds of cocktails, served by the robotic bartender on the last day of the fair.
L"ASTEMIA Pentita from Italy brings to the fair wines from Barolo. One of the wines from year 2013 was carried in man and woman-shaped bottles, adding more fun to the palate.
Front row (from L): Dejan Zidan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia; Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government; and Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair.
Asia Wine Academy Debuts, Public Day on Saturday

HONG KONG, Nov 9, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The 10th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair opened today and will continue until 11 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the fair welcomed Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, as the guest of honour at this morning's opening ceremony.

"Entering its 10th anniversary, the Wine & Spirits Fair has grown to become a major event of its kind in Asia," said Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC. "This year's fair features 1,070 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions. We are particularly pleased to welcome first-time exhibitors from Malaysia, Mauritius, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine."

1,000+ exhibitors on show

Hong Kong's wine industry took off after the HKSAR Government eliminated all duty-related customs and administrative controls on wine in 2008. Wine imports have since jumped more than seven-fold, from HK$1.6 billion in 2007 to HK$12 billion in 2016. As the region's renowned wine trading and distribution centre, Hong Kong serves as a gateway for global wine traders to enter Asian markets. This year's Fair features more than 30 group pavilions representing wine-producing regions, trade organisations and governmental organisations from around the world. Among them are new pavilions organised by the Syndicat General des Vignerons de la Champagne (SGV) of France, Southern United States Trade Association, the Russian Export Center, Enterprise Mauritius, Confederacao dos Agricultores de Portugal, Setubal Peninsula Wines of Portugal, and Asociatia Producatorilor si Exportatorilor de Vinuri of Romania.

The central European country Slovenia, which has a growing beekeeping industry, is debuting the "Bee World" Interactive Pavilion at the fair to promote "World Bee Day" (20 May), as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. Some Slovenian exhibitors will also showcase wines made from honey. Dejan Zidan, Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, attended the wine-tasting session, "A Flight of Wines from Slovenia," to promote the country's fine wines. Bilateral trade between Slovenia and Hong Kong has been growing in recent years, with Slovenian agricultural and wine exports to Hong Kong exceeding EUR 500,000 in the first half of this year.

Global exhibitors are showcasing an array of wines and exhibits at the fair. Some of the highlights include:

1) Robotic Bartender Demonstrations at the Ice Bar.
2) The new Champagne Avenue, where SGV presents seven growers from four wine regions, along with Champagne tastings by small and medium-sized producers
3) Chateau Mercian Nagano's Chardonnay Unwooded 2015 from Japan, the Gold Award winner of the International Wine Challenge 2017. Japan's oldest winery, Chateau Mercian has been operating since 1877. This white wine presents a refreshing peach and lemon peel flavour.
4) Dictador 20 Years Solera System Rum from Colombia. With 15 international awards to its name, the rum is one of the world's most awarded varieties of its kind, thanks to its combined use of ancient recipes and modern technology.
5) The 2014 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon from the United States. It was served at the first state dinner US President Donald Trump hosted for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Theme zones include Liquor & Beverage Products, Friends of Wine, Wine Education and Wine Accessories Equipment and Services, helping to foster the industry's development.

Asia Wine Academy debuts

The Wine & Spirits Fair marks its 10th anniversary with the debut of the Asia Wine Academy, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). Based on the SHTM's MSc in International Wine Management programme, two courses will be conducted by Masters of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Steve Charters MW, entitled "Contemporary Trends in Wine Consumption" and "Mastering Tasting & Rising Wine Trends" respectively. Participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance.

During the fair, more than 70 events will be held to provide a comprehensive business exchange platform for visitors. These include a Wine Industry Conference, a gala dinner, thematic seminars and more than 50 tasting sessions presenting fine wines from Australia, Germany, Bordeaux (France), Japan, Italy and Slovenia.

Some of the highlights of today's opening day include the Wine Industry Conference, entitled "Trends to Watch in 2018: The Business of Bubbles and Beyond," as well as the ninth Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition Award Ceremony, to be held this evening followed by a Gala Wine Dinner. Under the theme "Cabaret Festival," the Gala dinner features a menu prepared by two Michelin-starred Chef Fabrice Vulin from the Macau French restaurant, The Tasting Room. A seminar entitled "Improve Your F&B Operations by Teaming up with Wine & Beverage Suppliers" will be held tomorrow, as well as the buyer forum "Easy Access: Facilitating Wine Trade to the Mainland Market," where speakers will discuss the hottest industry topics.

Public Day

The Wine & Spirits Fair will be open to public visitors aged 18 or above* on the last day (11 November). Regular tickets are priced at HK$200 each. Valid ticket holders on that day will receive a Lucaris crystal wine glass on a first-come first-served basis and while stocks last.

Events held on Public Day include the wine-tasting master class, "Welcome on Board to a First-class Wine Journey by Debra Meiburg, Master of Wine." Public visitors can also attend beer workshops, wine tastings, cocktail, whisky and liquor demonstrations, and seminars including "Enjoy Sake from Kumamoto with Kumamon," "What Makes a Good Wine?", "Choosing from a Wine List," and "How a Hongkonger Made Wines in Italy," a sharing session by Hong Kong Wine & Spirits Writers Association Chairman Ronny Lau. The Hong Kong Wine Competition 2017 will also be held on Public Day.

The HKTDC is again organising the Hong Kong Wine Journey citywide promotion, putting together more than 90 wine-related activities in November. While Fair visitors can enjoy free corkage at selected restaurants, the public can take part in a series of events, including wine tasting, themed tours and wine-and-food pairing sessions. For details, please refer to the Hong Kong Wine Journey map or the Fair website.

*Tickets:
Public Day tickets to the Wine & Spirits Fair are priced at HK$200 each and are sold on site. Until tomorrow (10 November), visitors can also purchase Public Day tickets at a special price of HK$99 on HOKOBUY, FeedMeGuru, Yahoo, Group Buyer, GOBUYA and HKTVmall; or they can purchase mobile tickets on TNG Wallet. Visitors with valid tickets will receive a Lucaris crystal wine glass on-site on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last.

Public visitors can also enrol in the Asia Wine Academy at a special price of HK$690 (original price: HK$990) on the Wine & Spirits Fair website, online group-purchase platforms, Timable, Feedme Guru or TNG Wallet. The price includes a complimentary Wine & Spirits Fair ticket and a Lucaris crystal wine glass, valued at a total HK$1,300 on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last.

Fair Website: http://www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair/
Hong Kong Wine Journey: www.hktdc.com/hkwinejourney
Asia Wine Academy: http://hkwinefair.hktdc.com/dm/2017/asia_wine/1st_edm/index_en.html
Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition: http://www.hkiwsc.com/
Product highlights and photo download: Click here http://bit.ly/2hc5qHf
Photo Download: http://bit.ly/2jesyt3

Media Registration:
Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Agnes Wat Tel: +852 2584 4554 Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Nanobiotix provides update on the global development of its lead product NBTXR3

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- Nanobiotix will give two immuno-oncology presentations at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) conference this month
- Tolerability, safety and first tumor response data in liver cancer will be presented at the ASCO GI conference in January 2018
- IND application in process of being filed in the U.S. for a combination trial with checkpoint inhibitors

Paris, France and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO - ISIN: FR0011341205), a late clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to the treatment of cancer, today provides an update on the global development of its lead product, NBTXR3.

Nanobiotix's lead product, NBTXR3, has a universal physical mode of action which is designed for the local destruction of tumors. In addition to the physical destruction of cancer cells, recently published data suggests that NBTXR3 generates immunogenic cell death that could trigger a specific immune response to attack tumors. In this regard, Nanobiotix is developing several programs in Immuno-Oncology on top of its core developments.

The global development of NBTXR3 is progressing well, following the Company's expectations.

Status of ongoing clinical trials
Image: https://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Nanobiotix171110.jpg

NBTXR3 in Head and Neck Cancer, Phase I/II trial, in elderly patients (Europe)
Prof. Christophe Le Tourneau, the trial's Principal Investigator, presented an update during the Trends in Head and Neck Oncology conference (THNO) earlier this month. This update included a median follow up of 14.2 months, confirming the potential impact of NBTXR3 on the long-term response of the treatment.

Following the very positive results obtained, Nanobiotix filed a protocol amendment of this study to include 44 additional patients - an expansion which aims to demonstrate the efficacy of NBTXR3. Nanobiotix is also opening 12-15 additional sites in Europe to expand the development of this indication.

NBTXR3 Immuno-Oncology clinical and preclinical programs
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) conference has invited Nanobiotix to present an update of its Immuno-Oncology program on Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) patient data on November 11, 2017. During this conference, the Company will also provide preclinical Immuno-Oncological data on November 12, 2017.

NBTXR3 in Liver Cancers, Phase I/II trial (France)
Nanobiotix has been selected to present at the ASCO GI conference, the world's leading gastrointestinal oncology symposium, on January 18-20, 2018. The Company plans to present the safety and tolerability results and the first tumor response of patients treated at the first dose levels, and detail the next steps of the trial.

NBTXR3 in Combination with Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung and Head and Neck Cancer patients (U.S.) - Immuno-Oncology program
Nanobiotix plans to conduct its first clinical trial with NBTXR3 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the U.S., with a multi-arm trial targeting a sub-population of advanced lung, and head and neck cancer patients. The medium-term objective is to transform non-responders into checkpoint inhibitor responders while improving patient benefits. The trial aims to evaluate the ability of NBTXR3 to generate an abscopal effect.

This trial also aims to expand the potential of NBTXR3, including using it to treat recurrent or metastatic disease.

The trial would begin by combining NBTXR3 with any approved checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or non-small cell lung cancer.

The IND application for this trial is ongoing.

NBTXR3 - CE Marking
Nanobiotix is working closely with the notified body in order to prepare for the CE Marking. The process is progressing according to plan and the Company's original time horizon remains unchanged.

About NANOBIOTIX: www.nanobiotix.com

Nanobiotix (Euronext: NANO / ISIN: FR0011341205) is a late clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering novel approaches for the treatment of cancer. The Company's first-in-class, proprietary technology, NanoXray, enhances radiotherapy energy with a view to providing a new, more efficient treatment for cancer patients.

NanoXray products are compatible with current radiotherapy treatments and are meant to treat potentially a wide variety of solid tumors including soft tissue sarcoma, head and neck cancers, liver cancers, prostate cancer, breast cancer, glioblastoma, etc., via multiple routes of administration.

NBTXR3 is being evaluated in: soft tissue sarcoma (STS), head and neck cancers, prostate cancer, and liver cancers (primary and metastases). Additionally, head and neck cancer and rectal cancer trials led by Nanobiotix's Taiwanese partner, PharmaEngine, are underway in the Asia Pacific region. The Company filed in August 2016 for market approval (CE Marking) in Europe for its lead product NBTXR3.

In 2016 the Company started a new preclinical research program in Immuno-oncology with its lead product NBTXR3, which could have the potential to bring a new dimension to cancer immunotherapies.

Nanobiotix is listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (ISIN: FR0011341205, Euronext ticker: NANO, Bloomberg: NANO: FP). The Company's Headquarters is based in Paris, France, with a U.S. affiliate in Cambridge, MA.

Contact

Nanobiotix
Sarah Gaubert
Director, Communications & Public Affairs
+33 (0)1 40 26 07 55
sarah.gaubert@nanobiotix.com / contact@nanobiotix.com

Noel Kurdi
Director, Investor Relations
+1 (646) 241-4400
noel.kurdi@nanobiotix.com / investors@nanobiotix.com

Media relations
France - Springbok Consultants
Marina Rosoff
+33 (0)6 71 58 00 34
marina@springbok.fr

United States - RooneyPartners
Marion Janic
+1 (212) 223-4017
mjanic@rooneyco.com

Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Nanobiotix and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Nanobiotix considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the reference document of Nanobiotix filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) under number D.17-0470 on April 28, 2017 (a copy of which is available on www.nanobiotix.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Nanobiotix operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Nanobiotix or not currently considered material by Nanobiotix. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Nanobiotix to be materially different from such forward-looking statements.

This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Nanobiotix shares in any country. At the moment NBTXR3 does not bear a CE mark and is not permitted to be placed on the market or put into service until NBTXR3 has obtained a CE mark.

###

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: NANOBIOTIX via Globenewswire


Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

CASBAA Convention 2017 - Day 2 Wrap-up

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India opens the batting for Day 2 at CASBAA Convention 2017

MACAU, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - News of the Pay-TV and digital video markets in India topped the agenda as the second day of the CASBAA Convention 2017 in Macau kicked off Wednesday morning.

"An improvement in India's global ranking for the 'Ease of Doing Business' is not just eyewash", said NK Sinha, India's Secretary for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) during a special CASBAA Convention 2017 conference session dedicated to the India market with a focused on satellite, broadband and content issues.

Sinha added that talks between the Department of Space (DoS) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) remain on-going on the liberalisation of licensing constraints on Indian Pay-TV platforms and channels capacity leasing on foreign satellites.

Meanwhile, RS Sharma, chairman of the powerful Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said his organisation continues to press for an "open skies" satellite policy. But "these are not issues of principle, but of operation", he told the CASBAA annual meeting.

Referring to the provision of broadband services for India, for which TRAI is also responsible, Sharma also had words of encouragement for satellite operators saying that to ensure affordable broadband in rural areas, India needs to make use of satellites. He added that TRAI is studying stakeholder comments on a consultation paper on the ease of doing business in the broadcast sector "to resolve matters".

As for the rollout of a multi-million dollar National Fibre Network in India, or Bharat Net, Sharma said the project now has a "public-private" business structure, not only for broadband data distribution, but also for the delivery of video services. "Come, analyse and invest in the Indian broadcast sector", he told the 400 CASBAA delegates in one of Macau's vast casino complexes.

Sudhanshu Vats, Viacom18:
As the Keynote Speaker for the day, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO Viacom18, said that "India's market evolution is now similar to that of China. In 2017 India is where China was in 2011", and the opportunities remain enormous.

However, "as in China, we need a robust pipeline for content and creative talent, but the challenge is developing that talent, and retaining it. Secondly, media companies need to pivot a little bit to be vertically capable. That's why Viacom18 will build an engineering hub in Bangalore which will help us with our technical products".

"What has surprised me is the nature of the media disruption we are experiencing in India. Not long ago you wouldn't have expected some of the big media companies to consolidate with the telecom companies."

And just a few more quotable quotes.

"New Channels":
Jean-Rene Aucouturier: Lagardere: "OTT gives us opportunity. We all have strong libraries. Non-linear development offers other revenue for that content."

Nela Pavlouska, My Zen TV: "We have succeeded in developed mature and difficult markets of Europe and North America - we can do so in Asia too, not in two months or one year, because the market is mature, but we take a long term view."

Roch Pellerin, TRT World: "TRT is an independent Turkish news organisation launched six weeks ago in Australia and now carried on Roku, an OTT platform... People who watch news... watch more news... and watch the channel".

Roger Wyllie Rialto / Pulse TV: "Pulse TV offers a platform for emerging [documentary] filmmakers to showcase their long form content. We often tell hard stories told from two/both sides - balanced".

On Research:
Nick Burfitt, Katar Media: "It's important not to lose sight of core TV measurement. Only then can you layer extended video measurements... Matching viewing data to purchase data... reports based on buyer behaviour. e.g I want to reach non-buyers of a certain brand or category".

Partho Dasgupta, BARC: "BARC is in the unenviable position of being both the joint industry body and the operator of the service. It was a herculean task to change the currency... The broadcasters took the lead and the advertisers, agencies came in followed by the government and regulators. BARC has now collected 7.5 petabytes of data which will move to about 20 petabytes in a couple of years."

Aimee Gerry, Nielsen: "More data is not necessarily better. For us it is about bringing disparate data together with a Truth Set... one centralised data set."

Rita Chan, GfK: "Trust is very important: from broadcasters, advertisers, panellists, [panel] recruiters, your own staff."

Dave Downey, INVIDI: "We don't oversaturate or under-deliver the audience... With addressable advertising clients can reach the right audience no matter what or when they are watching."

Sally Wu, BBC Global News: A BBC audience survey across five markets. "Seventy-seven percent of respondents see international news as more important than previously. 79% in APAC concerned about 'fake news'... two in three find it hard to distinguish fake from real.... 79% value accuracy over speed... 65% are more inclined to try a brand if it's promoted on a trusted source.... international news channels are most trusted... 34% International news will be viewed first to follow up on breaking news.... Social media amplifies and drives viewers to traditional news channels (BBC).... International news is the most used segment on pay TV."

Jean-Christophe Jubin, Viaccess-Orca: "Big data is changing the way TV is run. It's making understanding your customers more efficient; and, is creating a new business model.... With improved pattern analysis, addressable TV/Programmatic TV has become easier, putting TV operators in a better position to sell their ad space to advertisers."

Jeremy Butteriss, Google: "YouTube has seen 90% year on year growth in access from connected TV/Smart TVs.... Voice already represents 20% of our global searches and we believe that will be 50% by 2020, fuelled by Assistant. Nine out of the top ten TV shows in China are exported to the rest of the world via YouTube.... Cloud and AI have taken clipping and segmentation [e.g. of gameshows, sports] from an art to a repeatable automated service."

OTT:
Simon Vella, MPP Global: "It's easier today for consumers to say 'no' rather than to say 'yes'.... Drivers of choice split between rational drivers and emotional drivers.... People are irrational, they want choice, but it's important that are not forced into choice.... When forced with two extremes most will choose the better value.... Introduce a middle tier between the two extremes, and ARPU can increase by up to 21%.... Consumers can process 4-7 offers, provided they are clear, and are guided.... Think: Where can I start them from and where can I lead them to? Start small and build habits, event timed purchases, limited time offers to drive the F.O.M.O: (Fear of Missing Out)."

Three OTT Things in 6 Mins with Stephane Le Dreau, Nagra: Thinking about launching an OTT service? Three key things you need to know: 1. Invest in a compelling user experience on all screens; 2. Leverage your platform technology; 3. Invest in anti-piracy measures: monitoring systems/take down programs.

Scot Mason, ARRIS: Delivering Gigabites to every corner of the home.... Broadband subscribers just want same speed they're paying for.... Home gateways are asked to do a lot... "Improve home coverage with small WiFi extenders which adapt to the traffic generated by a device" ["Don't skimp on antennas, equipment quality and industrial design"]

Birathon Kasemsri, True Corp: "eSports is the next generation of sport for millennials. There are 200 million spectators annually, 40,000 professional players and US$20 million in prizes.... It is like no other sport because it is not a monopoly... and media companies must take control of their digital destiny... and create an international league which would eventually fill a 24 hour eSports channel.... Unlike normal sports, eSports value is created by broadcasters who can leverage eyeballs and thus sponsorship value."

CASBAA Chairman's Award 2017: The CASBAA Chairman's Award for the best contribution to the development of the Pay-TV and digital video industry in Asia over the past 12 months was made to Singtel and StarHub for their combined initiative to lead the fight in Singapore against Video Piracy Syndicates. The presentation was made by Joe Welch, Chairman, CASBAA Board of Directors, and S.V.P. Public Affairs Asia, 21st Century Fox.

CASBAA would like to thank CASBAA Convention 2017's Supporting Sponsor, TRT World, along with our other Sponsors: 21st Century Fox, ABS, Amagi, APT Satellite, ARRIS, AsiaSat, Australia Channel, Brightcove, Cisco, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, Deutsche Welle, The Walt Disney Company, FashionTV, FOX Networks Group, France 24, Friend MTS, Google, Intelsat, INVIDI Technologies, Irdeto, Leyard, Lightning International, MEASAT, MPP Global, NAGRA, SES, True Visions, Turner Asia Pacific, TV5MONDE, Viaccess-Orca, Vindicia and Viu.

We would also like to thank CASBAA Patrons: A+E Networks, Astro, BAM Asia Entertainment Network, BBC Worldwide, Celestial Tiger, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal International Networks, PwC, Scripps Networks Interactive Asia-Pacific, Star India, and Viacom International Media Networks.

About CASBAA

Established in 1991, CASBAA is the association for digital multichannel TV, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across a variety of geographic markets throughout the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA's members reach over 500 million connections within a regional footprint ranging from China to Australasia, Japan to Pakistan. For more information, visit www.casbaa.com.

Contact:
CASBAA Tel: +852 2854 9913 pr@casbaa.com

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Sanli adds New Contracts worth S$8.1 Million to its Order Book

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- New contract wins affirms the Group's capabilities in water and waste management
- Order book now stands at S$112.3 million
- Contracts to contribute to revenue from FY2018

SINGAPORE, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Sanli Environmental Limited ("Sanli" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), a Singapore-based environmental engineering company, specialising in water and waste management, today announced that it has secured four new contracts ("Contracts") worth a total of S$8.1 million, from both the public and private sectors. This brings the Group's order book to S$112.3 million.

The Contracts comprise projects in both Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") and Operations and Maintenance ("O&M") segments. Under the EPC contracts, Sanli will supply, install, commission and test, equipment at a water reclamation plant as well as a hydrated lime storage facility, and replace treatment process equipment at a salinity plant. Under the O&M contract, Sanli will provide maintenance services for sewerage pumping and treatment system.

Mr Sim Hock Heng, Chief Executive Officer of Sanli said, "We are encouraged that the Group continues to secure new contracts from the public and private sectors, which affirms the quality of our services in water and waste management. We will continue to seek to position ourselves for upcoming projects, tapping on demand for water and waste management solutions and seek potential opportunities regionally."

The Contracts are expected to contribute to the Group's revenue from the financial year ending 31 March 2018.

None of the directors or controlling shareholders of the Company has any interest, direct or indirect in the Contracts, other than through their respective shareholdings in the Company.

About Sanli Environmental Limited

Sanli is an environmental engineering company in the field of water and waste management. It has more than ten years of experience and over 1,000 completed projects under its portfolio.

The Group's expertise is in the design, supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair and overhaul of mechanical and electrical equipment as well as process, instrumentation and control systems in wastewater treatment plants, water reclamation plants, NEWater plants, waterworks, service reservoirs, pumping stations and incineration plants.

The Group has two main business segments: Engineering, Procurement and Construction ("EPC") and Operations and Maintenance ("O&M"). Under its EPC segment, Sanli provides services within the field of water and waste management, including process upgrading of existing water treatment plants, upgrading of pumping station capacities, replacement of aged equipment, and design and build of various treatment process systems. Through its O&M segment, the Group provides corrective and preventive maintenance services to ensure reliability and minimal disruptions to customers' operations.

For more information, please visit the company website at www.sanli.com.sg.

Issued on behalf of Sanli Environmental Limited by:
Waterbrooks Consultants Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6100 2228
Lynette Tan, M: +65 9687 2023, lynette@waterbrooks.com.sg
Angeline Cheong, M: +65 9666 0977, angeline@waterbrooks.com.sg


This media release has been prepared by the Company and its contents have been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, SAC Capital Private Limited (the "Sponsor"), for compliance with the relevant rules of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "SGX-ST"). The Sponsor has not independently verified the contents of this media release.

This media release has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this media release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this media release.

The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Ong Hwee Li (Telephone: +65 6532 3829) at 1 Robinson Road, #21-02 AXA Tower, Singapore 048542.


Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited Announces Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 September 2017

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Underlying Net Profit (excluding fair value changes of investment properties) Increased by 3.5% to HK$67.5 Million;
Declared Interim Dividend of 4.0 HK Cents per Share

HONG KONG, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited (the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 1271.HK) today announces its interim results for FH 2017/18.

Highlights

- Recorded revenue for the six month ended 30 September 2017 ("FH 2017/18") of approximately HK$815.0 million, an increase of approximately 58.4%.
- Attained net profit of approximately HK$71.4 million for FH 2017/18. Excluding the effect of fair value gains on investment properties, the Group recorded an underlying net profit for the period of approximately HK$67.5 million, increased by approximately 3.5%.
- Interim dividend of 4.0 HK cents per share is declared to pay

Total revenue of the Group for FH 2017/18 was recorded at approximately HK$815.0 million, representing an increase of approximately 58.4% from approximately HK$514.6 million for the six months ended 30 September 2016 ("FH 2016/17"). The increase in revenue was mainly attributable to the construction project at Kai Tak, Kowloon for which the construction work commenced in June 2016 and was in full swing during the period under review.

The Group's net profit for FH 2017/18 amounted to approximately HK$71.4 million (FH 2016/17: approximately HK$125.5 million), a decrease of approximately 43.1% relative to the corresponding period last year. This was mainly due to the fair value gain from revaluation of the Group's investment properties relating to high-tier data centre not being as significant as that for FH 2016/17. Excluding such fair value gains on investment properties, the Group recorded an underlying net profit of approximately HK$67.5 million for FH 2017/18, representing an increase of 3.5% or HK$2.3 million when compared to FH 2016/17.

The Board declares to pay an interim dividend of 4.0 HK cents per share, representing a payout ratio of approximately 42.1%.

During FH 2017/18, the Group's construction segment concluded with satisfactory performance, having generated HK$740.6 million in revenue, an increase of 68.0% compared to the same period of previous year. This is mainly attributable to the greater recognised revenue from the construction project at Kai Tak, Kowloon, which was in full swing in FH 2017/18. As at 30 September 2017, the gross contract value of the construction projects in progress amounted to approximately HK$1.48 billion.

The revenue derived from data centre premises leasing business slightly decreased by approximately 2.2% or HK$1.6 million, from approximately HK$73.8 million for FH 2016/17 to approximately HK$72.2 million for FH 2017/18 which is mainly due to the reduction of rental related income received from the customers for their electricity consumption. During FH 2017/18, a high utilisation rate in iTech Tower 1 was sustained and contributed a stable rental income for the Group, whereas a satisfactory occupancy in iTech Tower 2 also saw a gradual climb in rental income.

For the property development segment, the general building plan of the Group's first property development project in Sai Shan Road, Tsing Yi, New Territories, which was acquired in May 2016, had been approved with a gross floor area of approximately 400,000 square feet for private residential purposes. Development is envisioned to be two blocks of 30-storey residential buildings together with club house facilities and car parks. The development shall be completed and made fit for completion on or before 30 September 2024.

In order to enrich its property portfolio, the Group had entered into an agreement on 30 August 2017 for the purchase of an en-bloc residential building located at No. 279 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon through acquisition of the entire interests of Market Rise Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Able Business Development Limited. The property comprises 18 residential units and a clubhouse with permitted gross floor area of approximately 39,420 square feet. The occupation permit and certificate of compliance of the property had been obtained.

Mr. Chan Hung Ming, Chairman and Executive Director of Grand Ming Group Holdings said, "Realising that our long-standing expertise in the building construction sector could complement well the property development business, we had grasped the opportunity in 2016/17 to diversify the Group's business to property development by successfully tendering the government land in Sai Shan Road, Tsing Yi. In the first half of 2017/18, we further enrich our land bank by acquiring an en-bloc completed residential building at 279 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon. We will proactively searches for channels to expand the land bank to strengthen our property development business. As for our construction business, the future of the industry presents a bright outlook with a mix of ongoing labour-related challenges. We continue to pursuit a prudent strategy to strike a balance between tendering new construction projects and reasonable profit margin. Lastly, investment in data centre infrastructure will be geared towards upgrades and careful considerations in developing the third high-tier data centre. In summary, the Group will continue to grow the businesses with tactful and strategic plans."

About Grand Ming Group Holdings Limited (Stock code: 1271.HK)
The Group is principally engaged in the business of building construction, data centre premises leasing and property development. As a local wholesale co-location provider of high-tier data centres, the Group is one of the dedicated service provider in Hong Kong which owns and uses the entire building for leasing to customers for data centre use. Its clients include multinational data centre operator, telecommunications company and financial institutions. With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, the Group also provides building construction services as a main contractor, and is involved in residential property development projects with prominent local developers, as well as offering alteration, renovation and fitting-out services for existing buildings in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the Group owns a land in Sai Shan Road, Tsing Yi for the purpose of developing a residential project with gross floor area of 400,000 square feet, as well as an en-bloc residential building in Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon.

Media Contacts:
Angel Yeung
Jovian Communications Ltd
Tel: +852 2581 0168
Fax: +852 2854 2012
Email: news@joviancomm.com




Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

JWD InfoLogistics (SET:JWD) Posts Better-than-Expected Q3 Results

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- Excellent Performances for Transport
- Freight Forwarding Revenue Starting Q4

BANGKOK, Nov 10, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - JWD InfoLogistics PCL (SET:JWD), a leading total logistics solutions provider, announced its Q3 results, which featured better-than-forecasted growth rates, with a net profit figure of THB 56.5m, up 131.6% y-o-y (after extraordinary items) and 14.1% q-o-q, driven by outstanding growths in the inland and cross-border transport, general warehousing, automotive storage and management and cold storage segments. It forecasted continuing growths over Q4 as revenue and profit from the acquisition of Ocean Air International in last October would be recognised and enable it to create new growths by offering total solutions to customers whose businesses involve cargo import and export activities.

Dr Eakapong Tungsrisanguan, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), revealed that JWD recorded impressive revenue and net profit growth rates for Q3 (Jul-Sep) of 2017, with rental and service revenues reaching THB642m, up 15.1% y-o-y from THB558m and 11.1% q-o-q from THB577.8m, and net profit reaching THB56.5m, up 131.6% y-o-y from THB24.4m (after extraordinary items) and 14.1% q-o-q from THB49.5m.

JWD's Q3 performances by segment include a revenue figure of THB107.2m for the cargo transport business, up 16.8% q-o-q from THB91.8m (due to an expansion of the cross-border transport operations, especially for Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as jobs from new customers of the JWD Express business), and a revenue figure of THB84.3m for the general warehousing segment, up 12.6% q-o-q from THB74.9m (due to near-full capacity of the JWD Chemical Supply Chain (JCS) business and a greater number of customers of the Less Container Load Freight (or LCL) Consolidation Hub).

For the automotive storage and management business, revenue stood at THB110.1m, up 8.7% q-o-q from THB101.3m (due to increased orders driven by recovery in the automotive industry). The revenue figure for cold storage business was THB119.1m, up 6.1% q-o-q from THB112.2m. The revenue level of the hazardous cargo warehousing segment stood unchanged from the previous quarter.

The strong Q3 growths contributed positively to the nine-month (Jan-Sep) results, with rental and service revenues reaching THB1.7926bn, up 7.9% y-o-y from THB1.6614bn, and net profit reaching THB146.4m, up 87.5% y-o-y from THB78.1m (after extraordinary items). These, in turn, will allow JWD to meet its full-year revenue target of 7%.

Mr Charvanin Bunditkitsada, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JWD, said that Q4 results are forecasted to be improved by invested and planned projects, better overall national economy and export and the stream of revenue and profit from the acquisition of Ocean Air International Co Ltd, a freight forwarder firm, in last October.

The acquisition has strengthened JWD's product portfolio as the company has become capable of offering freight forwarding services to importers and exporters, and has begun providing 'Total Solutions', or a comprehensive range of upstream and downstream business services, including importation, customs clearance, cargo storage and management and exportation, to customers. It has also reduced the freight forwarding cost incurred in running international moving business, and planned to offer freight services to customers of JWD's existing businesses, e.g. hazardous cargo warehousing, Free Zone warehousing and cold storage, etc., to promote JWD as the hub for consolidation and outbound cargo distribution.

During Q4, JWD will build racking facilities for the JWD Chemical Supply Chain (JCS) business to increase warehousing space vertically and enhance revenue by 50% to 100%. It will also increase the number of four-wheel transport vehicles in its fleet from 20 to 40 by this yearend to facilitate order fulfilment.

"We expect to see sustained growths over the last quarter for all core segments in Thailand and other Asean countries, i.e. hazardous cargo management, cold storage, automotive and, most notably, transport segments. We predict to post the highest growth rate for the transport segment and to benefit from the continuous growths for warehousing and cold storage plants in other Asean countries, as well as from new investments in Indonesia and Vietnam", added Mr Charvanin.

About JWD InfoLogistics PCL

JWD InfoLogistics (SET:JWD) knows everything about logistics and supply chain management. The Group's fully integrated logistics and supply chain solutions cover all types of warehousing, including the free zone area, in fields where it has competitive advantage in terms of the ability to manage one-stop and unconditional service offers because it wholly own all warehouses. The Group is also proficient in customs procedures, product transportation and distribution, as well as logistics software development. Founded in 1979, the JWD Group has grown to comprise 18 subsidiaries and operates warehouses and yards covering a total storage space of approximately 800,000 sqm. The Group currently employs 1,300 staff and has branch offices in 32 countries. For more information, please visit www.jwd-group.com/en/.

Contact:
For JWD InfoLogistics: Yuttachai ("Tle") Paikanahok MT Multimedia Co Ltd Tel: +66 0 2612 2081 #125 Mobile: +66 9 1736 2866 E-mail: yuttachai.p@mtmultimedia.com

Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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