Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) apprehended a 36-year-old Cambodian woman, identified as Sofia, on 15 March for allegedly luring four Lao women (aged 21, 24, 28, and 38) into the sex trade at a resort in Ban Bung district of Chon Buri, Thailand.
Thailand Busts Sex Trade Syndicate: Cambodian Woman, Four Lao Women Apprehended

EU-ASEAN Relations Reach New Heights with New Development Projects in Laos, the Region

The longstanding partnership between Laos and the European Union (EU) reached new heights with the recent official visit of Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, to the Southeast Asian nation. Commissioner Urpilainen’s visit aimed to strengthen ties and explore trade opportunities between Laos and the EU.
During her visit, on 14 March in Vientiane Capital, the commissioner launched a major program to support sustainable and inclusive value chains for coffee, tea, and forest-based products in Laos.
The program, titled “Team Europe Partnership with Laos for Sustainable Trade, Investment, and Connectivity in Agriculture and Forestry (TCAF),” unveiled the same day, aims to improve connections to regional and global markets by fixing national road 2, which leads to Thailand and Vietnam.
With funding of nearly USD 102 million from the EU and its member states, TCAF seeks to foster collaboration between Laos and the EU to address deforestation, promote sustainable land use, and develop resilient crops in the face of climate change.
In her remarks, Urpilainen highlighted the program’s benefits for rural communities, including diversifying incomes, promoting decent working conditions, increasing domestic production, exporting sustainable agricultural and forest products, and boosting public revenue.
“TICAF marks a milestone and is an excellent illustration of how we have translated our Global Gateway and Green Deal objectives in our partnership with Laos while ensuring a meaningful contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no one behind,” noted Urpilainen.
At the event, Khamjane Vongphosy, the Minister for Planning and Investment, also commended the support from the Team Europe Strategy 2021-2025.
“This cooperation highlights the harmonization and consolidation of resources from the Development Partner to support the implementation of priorities outlined under the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025,” said Khamjane.
The TICAF program, integral to Team Europe’s strategy in Laos, seeks to strengthen partnerships between the government, academia, the private sector, and local communities. It will prioritize skills development, social protection, trade facilitation, and rural road repair, with support from other Team Europe projects.
In a separate event, Urpilainen visited a local school in the capital to celebrate the success of Khang Panya Lao, Laos’ top digital learning platform.
The platform, launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), aimed to address the education challenges posed by COVID-19. It is supported by the EU and is part of UNICEF’s Learning Passport program created in collaboration with Microsoft.
The Commissioner presented tablets to the MoES and the school, showcasing how digital tools can improve learning for students and teachers.
“This premiere digital learning platform, Khang Panya Lao, exemplifies how collaboration and innovation can address the challenges faced by learners and educators […],” said the Commissioner.
Education and Sports Minister Phout Simmalavong emphasized the platform’s role in bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all children.
Over 140,000 users are now registered on Khang Panya Lao, providing education from pre-primary to Grade 12 and improving digital skills for students and teachers.
To further strengthen the relationship between the EU and Laos, Commissioner Urpilainen met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. The discussions centered on enhancing ties, working together, and achieving common goals within the EU-ASEAN strategic partnership, especially focusing on the EU Global Gateway agenda.
“The EU is firmly committed to helping you [Laos] strengthen the unity and integration. So, let’s continue developing quality partnerships that bind us in protecting and doing good to the people, […]” says Urpilainen during the EU’s commissioner’s reception with Lao government officials.
The cooperation between Laos and Europe continues to grow, with aid increasing from EUR 312 million (USD 339 million) to EUR 550 million (USD 598 million) in the 2021-2025 plan, focusing on green economy, human capital, and governance.
Laos and the EU have had good relations since establishing ties in November 1975, and this year marks the 49th anniversary of their bilateral relations.
A Regional Perspective
In an exclusive interview with the Laotian Times, Sujiro Seam, the EU Ambassador to ASEAN, emphasized the pivotal role of enhancing ties between not only the EU and Laos but also with the region. Sujiro Seam believes in the high potential benefits for Southeast Asia stemming from the EU-ASEAN Global Gateway initiative.

“Global Getaway is an initiative from the European Union to compensate for the lack of investments in infrastructure around the world, [which] focuses on five key priorities such as transportation, energy, digital connectivity, health, and education and research, ” he said.
Highlighting the substantial investment of over USD 10.8 billion allocated to ASEAN regions, the ambassador emphasized the far-reaching impact of these projects, both locally and regionally. Notably, he pointed out the significance of initiatives like TCAF in bolstering local products and infrastructure.
Seam also shed light on various regional projects, such as green transitions in Indonesia and Vietnam, water initiatives in Cambodia, and port developments in Malaysia, all aimed at fostering sustainable development across the region.
Pledging to deepen ties between the EU and ASEAN nations, Seam reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to actively engaging with ASEAN, particularly through strategic partnerships established in 2020. He emphasized the EU’s dedication to being a proactive ASEAN member, ensuring participation in key summits and fostering regular dialogue with ASEAN nations.
Meanwhile, as discussions continue between EU and Lao officials, including talks with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, the prospects for deeper ties and collaborative initiatives remain promising.
Axe Management Partners Completes Purchase of Three Osaka Hotels from CapitaLand Ascott Trust
Leveraging New Partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts for Launch of New Garner Hotel Brand Outside of North America
Acquisition and repositioning of hotel properties, bringing in new design and branding concepts targeting untapped customer groups, to maximize asset value and return on investment
Launch platform for Garner‘s expansion in Japan and Asia-Pacific, focusing on rapidly growing midscale traveler segment looking for high-quality well-priced accommodation in prime locations
TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – Axe Management Partners (“Axe Management”), a Pan-Asia real estate investment firm, today announced the completion of the acquisition of three hotel properties from CapitaLand Ascott Trust (“CLAS”) for JPY10.7 billion (approx. US$75 million).

Axe Management and IHG Hotels & Resorts (“IHG”) will work closely to launch the new Garner hotel brand outside of North America, including establishing design and branding concepts as well as refurbishment work. With targeted sales, marketing and operational strategies, the partners plan to provide differentiated, enhanced guest experiences, creating unique long-lasting impressions of the hotels. Targeting to open in Q4 2024, each of the three hotels will have its own design character with convenient amenities, offering guests a comfortable stay and the go-to option in the premium midscale segment.
The three hotel properties, currently known as WBF Honmachi, WBF Kitasemba East and WBF Kitasemba West, have a total of over 500 rooms and GFA of approximately 10,000 sqm. They are centrally located in the prime district of Honmachi Osaka with close proximity to Osaka Metro stations, and within walking distance to commercial districts and the renowned Shinsaibashi tourism area. The two largest terminal stations of Namba and Umeda are within two stops on the Midosuji line, with the Shin-Osaka Shinkansen station only five stops away. Future World Expo 2025, Japan’s first integrated resort and casino, and Universal Studios are approximately 25 minutes away by train.

Gary Kwok, Founder and CEO of Axe Management, said: “We are very excited about the acquisition of this exceptional hotel portfolio with immense value-add potential. With flexibility in repositioning strategies, we will further invest capex and utilize our development and operational capabilities to transform these assets, creating a product that goes beyond expectations, driving performance and unlocking their true potential.”
Sam Lau, Founder and Managing Partner, Axe Management, said: “We foresee attractive opportunities to emerge in selected regions across Japan and Asia in the coming months. Japan has had strong momentum and we expect this will continue in the foreseeable future. This investment underscores our commitment to Japan, where we plan to deploy more capital and make further acquisitions in the near future.”
Due to their excellent location with proximity within a key CBD and tourist areas, the hotels are primed to capture both business and leisure demand from domestic and international visitors alike. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of inbound tourists in Q4 2023 has surpassed that of pre-pandemic levels, despite travel by Chinese tourists remaining more than 60% below the same period in 2019, where they were the largest inbound visitor group. Continued steady increase in demand is expected in 2024 and 2025 supporting future demand growth. Additionally, CBRE and STR show both ADR and RevPAR[1] have surpassed 2019 levels demonstrating strong industry momentum. These key factors amongst others propelled record investment volumes into the Japanese hospitality sector in 2023, from both domestic and international investors.
Hashtag: #AxeManagementPartners
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Axe Management Partners
Axe Management Partners, with offices in Tokyo and Hong Kong, is a Pan-Asia multi-asset class real estate investment firm specializing in development, value-added and special situations opportunities. Axe Management was founded by visionary leaders forming a team equipped with decades of real estate experience based on a proven multibillion-dollar track record in projects and investments across geographies. Axe Management is dedicated to seeking out unique investment opportunities, leveraging deep regional insights to provide investors with access to high-potential ventures that are often beyond the reach of the broader market. With long-term trends driving growth in unique regional market segments, Axe Management creates significant value from its targeted strategies and partnerships throughout Asia.
China Tower (788.HK) Announces 2023 Annual Results
Innovation and Sharing Drive High-Quality Development Net Profit Increases by 11%, Dividend Payout Increases by 15.7%
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Performance Highlights
RMB Million | 2023 | 2022 | Change |
Operating revenue | 94,009 | 92,170 | 2.0% |
EBITDA | 63,551 | 62,844 | 1.1% |
Profit attributable to owners of the Company | 9,750 | 8,787 | 11.0% |
Basic earnings per share (RMB yuan) | 0.0558 | 0.0503 | 10.9% |
Dividend per share (RMB yuan) | 0.03739 | 0.03232 | 15.7% |
Key operating data | |||
Number of tower sites (thousand) | 2,046 | 2,055 | -0.4% |
Number of tower tenants (thousand) | 3,658 | 3,583 | 2.1% |
Tenancy ratio (tenants / tower site) | 1.79 | 1.74 | 2.9% |
The Company’s operating revenue maintained stable growth. During the year, our operating revenue grew by 2.0% to RMB94,009 million, after excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, revenue increased by 6.0% to RMB97,723 million on a comparable basis over the same period last year. EBITDA[1] reached RMB63,551 million, an increase of 1.1% year-on-year, with an EBITDA margin[2] of 67.6%. Profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB9,750 million, representing 11.0% year-on-year growth with a net profit margin of 10.4%, demonstrating further enhanced profitability.
Our net cash generated from operating activities for 2023 was RMB32,840 million. Capital expenditures stood at RMB31,715 million, with free cash flow[3] reaching RMB1,125 million. As of 31 December 2023, our total assets reached RMB326,007 million, with interest-bearing liabilities of RMB94,626 million and a gearing ratio[4] of 31.4%. Our capital structure remained healthy.
We remain committed to providing consistent and stable returns to shareholders. After considering our profitability and cash flow during the period under review, and future needs for development and capital, the board of directors of the Company has recommended a final dividend of RMB0.03739 per share (pre-tax) for the year ended 31 December 2023, equivalent to a payout ratio of 75% of our annual distributable net profit for the year under review.
Further strengthened market leadership in TSP business on a solid foundation
5G network penetration and coverage in China continued to expand in 2023 and we were able to capture the opportunities this presented. By strengthening resource coordination and sharing, and enhancing operational efficiencies, we were able to meet customer network construction needs in an intensive and effective manner. By doing so, we have further strengthened the foundation for high-quality development. In 2023, our TSP business recorded revenue of RMB82,163 million, a decrease of 1.0% year-on-year.
Tower business. Focusing on 5G network construction, we harnessed public policy support to unleash and share public and cross-sector resources. These initiatives helped reduce entry barriers and costs, therefore reinforced our competitiveness in resource coordination. Through increased sharing of existing site resources, wider use of social resources and greater effort in promoting the adoption of our integrated wireless communications coverage solutions, we have been able to effectively support the accelerated 5G network extension. We completed approximately 586,000 5G construction demand in 2023, of which more than 95% were achieved by sharing existing resources. We proactively captured the new construction demand for low-frequency network and network optimization, as well as stepping up our efforts in tackling difficult sites. This has effectively supported the stable growth of our Tower business. Leveraging our knowledge of construction features for comprehensive 5G coverage, we continued to launch innovative solutions for low-cost construction, products and services to satisfy customer demand economically and effectively. In 2023, our revenue from our Tower business was RMB75,023 million, a decrease of 2.8% from the previous year. However, after excluding the impact of the Commercial Pricing Agreements, our revenue increased by 2.0% year-on-year to RMB78,737 million on a comparable basis. As of 31 December 2023, the Company was managing a total of 2.046 million tower sites, a decrease of 9,000 from the end of the year before. We have gained 62,000 new TSP tenants since the end of 2022, bringing the total number of TSP tenants to 3.424 million. Our TSP tenancy ratio increased from 1.65 at the end of 2022 to 1.68 as a result of further improvements achieved through co-location.
DAS business. The implementation of “co-build and co-share” policies by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and 13 other departments has given rise to an enabling business environment for our industry. We furthered the integrated and coordinated development of “resources + demands”, with unified site entry and coordinated construction, focused on key business scenarios. Extended 5G coverage also enabled us to provide better service to support the segment for DAS construction demand. We continued to enhance product and solution design and quality control to strengthen our competitive advantages in cost, service quality, and green and low-carbon operations. Through innovation in products and application of integrated solutions, we were able to provide customers with differentiated passive and active DAS sharing solutions, which helped satisfy the demand for 5G upgrading of existing DAS while further exploring shared value and scaling up the business. In 2023, our revenue from DAS business reached RMB7,140 million, up by 22.5% year-on-year. As of 31 December 2023, we had covered buildings with a cumulative area of 10.15 billion square meters, up by 37.3% year-on-year, while high-speed railway tunnel and subway coverage reached a cumulative length of 24,072 kilometers, up by 20.1% year-on-year.
Strengthened core competencies to sustain rapid growth of Two Wings business
In 2023, we continued to seize the opportunities brought by the development of the digital economy and the “Dual Carbon” goals. By focusing on key sectors and promoting innovation-driven development, we strengthened our core competencies and competitive advantages to sustain rapid growth of the Two Wings business, which recorded revenue of RMB11,497 million in 2023, accounting for 12.2% of our overall operating revenue, an increase of 2.5 percentage points from the previous year.
Smart Tower business. We focused on supporting spatial digital intelligence governance of different industries and continued to expand the mid-to-high point site resources to cover broader areas of the national economy and people’s livelihood. As of 31 December 2023, approximately 217,000 “telecommunication towers” had been upgraded into “digital towers”, covering more than 40 industry segments concerning state planning and people’s livelihood. These included forestry and grassland, environmental protection, water resources, agriculture, transportation, land, and emergency response. We maintained our market leadership in various scenario-based solutions including straw-burning prohibition, farmland protection, fishing law enforcement and bushfire prevention. We forged ahead innovation to further enhance our five major competitive advantages – platform, data, algorithm, application, and operation, establishing a unified nationwide network to achieve distributed deployment on our platform and centralized data operations. As a result, our multi-source data access capability and AI algorithm accuracy have been significantly improved, and our leading capabilities in products developed for different industries and scenarios have been further consolidated. We have built a “companion” service system and completed the building of professional network management platform for our Smart Tower business, equipped with the ability to accurately diagnose incidents occurring in the terminal devices, dispatch for tasks in real time and handle the incidents in a timely manner. We have strengthened our localized technical support capabilities, helping us promptly respond to customer requirements thus consistently enhanced customer experience and customer loyalty. In 2023, the Smart Tower business generated revenue of RMB7,283 million, up by 27.7% year-on-year. Of which, revenue from Tower Monitoring business reached RMB4,727 million, accounting for 64.9% of our revenue from Smart Tower business.
Energy business. We worked towards achieving the “Dual Carbon” goals through our core business areas such as battery exchange and power backup. We continuously improved the quality of operations and business by consolidating our product, service, and platform advantages. In the battery exchange business, we accelerated product iteration and upgrades and strengthened our service system. We reinforced our presence in the consumer battery exchange market while increasing our efforts to expand the battery exchange market of business customers. These initiatives have helped us achieve a rapid increase in user scale. As of 31 December 2023, the number of battery exchange users reached 1.145 million, with an addition of 243,000 since the end of 2022. We have further strengthened our leading position in the battery exchange market for light electric vehicle. In the power backup business, we optimized the intelligent monitoring platform for visualized, managed, and controlled operation, and improved the integrated four-in-one solution covering power backup, power generation, monitoring and maintenance while stepping up our efforts in promoting standardized power backup products. We focused on key industries such as communications, healthcare and finance by introducing the “energy butler” service to drive the rapid growth of our power backup business. In 2023, our Energy business achieved revenue of RMB4,214 million, a year-on-year increase of 31.7%, of which the revenue from battery exchange business accounted for RMB2,067 million, with its contribution to the Energy business reaching 49.1%.
Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower said, “In view of the strategic opportunities presented to us, we will deepen our ‘One Core and Two Wings’ strategy to achieve high-quality operations. We will continue to grow our business around sharing, service, innovation, technology, and value creation, built upon an operating system that is professional, intensive, delicate, efficient, and digitalized. We seek to further enhance our core competitiveness, in order to achieve steady growth in our enterprise value, while reaching a new level of high-quality development.”
Hashtag: #ChinaTower
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About China Tower (Stock Code: 0788.HK)
China Tower is the world’s largest telecommunications tower infrastructure service provider, and the Company always adheres to the philosophy of shared development and implements the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy. The Company is principally engaged in the construction, maintenance and operation of base station ancillary facilities such as telecommunications towers, public network coverage in high-speed railways and subways, and large-scale indoor Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). Meanwhile, relying on unique resources to provide energy application services such as information application and intelligent battery exchange and power backup to the society, the Company strives to build itself into a world-class information and communications infrastructure service provider, and a highly competitive information and new energy applications provider. As of the end of December 2023, the Company’s total assets amounted to RMB326,007 million. China Tower operated and managed 2.046 million tower sites across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the PRC, and served over 3.658 million tenants with the tenancy ratio of 1.79.
UK Continues Funding UXO Clearance in Savannakhet Province
The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its support for the HALO Trust’s Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance operations in Savannakhet province by awarding USD 545,400 for HALO’s UXO clearance project in Phin and Nong districts.
Kenanga Investors Receives 2024 Lipper Recognition for Consistent Fund Performance

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – Kenanga Investors Berhad (“Kenanga Investors”) was a double winner at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024 (“Awards”). The firm received awards for the Kenanga Malaysian Inc Fund (“KMIF”) under the best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Pension Funds over 10 Years and for the Kenanga Diversified Fund (“KDF”) under the best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Pension Fund over 10 Years.

“In the face of challenging global macroeconomic conditions, including rising interest rates and persistent inflation, our portfolios continued to demonstrate resilience and adaptability over the past year. This outperformance hinges on our core strategy of bottom-up stock-picking which is underpinned by our investment philosophy of combining fundamental research with relative value approach in order to produce risk adjusted returns,” says Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis.
From analysing industry dynamics and trends to individual company business models, Datuk Wira De Alwis says the firm was able to gain valuable insights thereby enabling informed decision-making. “By monitoring most of the key companies within each sector, we were able to size positions effectively across portfolios. The construction, utilities and regional technology sectors were particularly successful, playing a crucial role in our achievement,” he explains.
On the current economic outlook for this year, Chief Investment Officer Lee Sook Yee says “We are adopting a tactical overweight position in equities, driven by a positive outlook. We will remain ready to readjust our allocations depending on market conditions. Our strategy remains consistent by focusing on bottom-up stock-picking.”
Globally, she sees some opportunities in the semiconductor sector due to increased AI demand. “AI adoption is in its early stages, with corporations and governments looking to ramp up deployments this year. We are also positive on sectors such as construction, property and renewable energy domestically due to an encouraging momentum in policy execution,” Lee elaborates. Additionally, she states that an anticipated recovery for global smartphones and PCs leading to a positive sentiment towards the local tech and manufacturing sectors, has contributed to the firm’s overweight position on Malaysia this year.
KMIF picks up its fourth title at the Awards by delivering returns of 111.53% (10 years) and 64.70% (5 years) as at 31 December 2023. For the same period, KDF’s returns stood at 70.35% (10 years) and 47.01% (5 years).
For more than three decades, the Awards have recognised funds and fund management firms for their consistently strong risk-adjusted three-, five-, and ten-year performance relative to their peers. Based on Lipper’s quantitative, proprietary methodology, the Awards reflect a truly independent and uncompromised assessment of fund performance.
For more information about Kenanga Investors, please visit www.kenangainvestors.com.my
Hashtag: #Kenanga
https://www.kenangainvestors.com.my/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P)
We provide investment solutions ranging from collective investment schemes, portfolio management services, and alternative investments for retail, corporate, institutional, and high net worth clients via a multi-distribution network.
The Hong Kong-based Asia Asset Management’s 2024 Best of the Best Awards awarded KIB under the following categories, Malaysia Best Impact Investing Manager, Best Impact Investing Manager in ASEAN, Malaysia Best Equity Manager, Malaysia CEO of the Year, Malaysia CIO of the Year, Malaysia Best House for Alternatives, Malaysia Most Improved Fund House and Malaysia Best Investor Education.
At the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Malaysia 2024, KIB received awards for the Kenanga Malaysian Inc Fund (“KMIF”) under the best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Pension Funds over 10 Years and the Kenanga Diversified Fund (“KDF”) under the best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Pension Fund over 10 Years.
The FSMOne Recommended Unit Trusts Awards 2023/2024 named Kenanga Growth Fund Series 2 as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Focused”, Kenanga Shariah Growth Opportunities Fund as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Small to Medium Companies (Islamic)” and Kenanga Shariah OnePRS Growth Fund as “Private Retirement Scheme – Growth (Islamic)”.
For the seventh consecutive year, KIB was affirmed an investment manager rating of IMR-2 by Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad, since first rated in 2017. The IMR rating on KIB reflects the fund management company’s well-established investment processes and sound risk management practices. As at end-June 2023, most of KIB’s funds had performed better than benchmarks and were comparable to peers.
This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability department.
Disclaimer: Investors are advised to read and understand the Master Prospectuses (“MPs”), the Supplemental Master Prospectus (“SMP”) (if any), Information Memorandums (“IM”) (if any), Product Highlights Sheets (“PHS”) as well as consider the fees, charges and risk factors involved before investing. The MP, SMP (if any), IM (if any) and PHS have been registered and/or lodged with the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”), who takes no responsibility for its contents and related advertisement or marketing materials, does not indicate that the SC has recommended or endorsed the product/service. The advertisement has not been reviewed by the SC. Investors have the right to request for a copy of PHS and other relevant product disclosure documents which are available at our office, at any authorised distributors and our corporate website before making investment decisions. If you are in doubt when considering the investment or any of the information provided, you are advised to consult a professional adviser. A Fund’s track record does not guarantee its future performance. Kenanga Investors Berhad is committed to prevent conflict of interest between its various businesses and activities and between its clients/director/shareholders and employees by having in place procedures and measures for identifying and properly managing any apparent, potential and perceived conflict of interest by making disclosures to Clients, where appropriate. Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P).
ViewQwest Commits to Responsible Innovation in Brand Refresh
The move reflects the company’s journey from telco to a dual force in connectivity and cybersecurity
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – ViewQwest, a leading telecommunications and managed security services provider (MSSP) in SEA, recently rolled out a comprehensive brand refresh, accompanied by a revamp of its headquarters by award-winning sustainable interior design firm, ipse ipsa ipsum. The initiative underscores ViewQwest’s dedication to fostering a digitally safer and more environmentally conscious future for both its customers and the world.

Established as a Business Internet Service Provider (ISP) in 2001, ViewQwest has matured into a network and cybersecurity powerhouse driven by a relentless spirit of disruption and innovation to solve customer problems and challenges.
To mark this chapter, the company has refined its visual identity to mirror this maturity and mandate. Its brand refresh introduced a new logo and wordmark featuring a modern, forward-looking design that honors the company’s original brand colors. It boasts a strongly identifiable look across digital and physical touchpoints, with prominent use of its initials. The refresh has also created distinct and cohesive visual and verbal expression for each of ViewQwest’s business segments, including an expanded color palette assigned to each. This facilitates connections between the brand and its consumer and business customers, and promotes more meaningful communication and conversations.
At the core of the brand refresh lies the company’s vision of “a world made better powered by safer internet”. In response to the pressing need for comprehensive digital protection for businesses and the global call to secure online experiences, ViewQwest expanded its capabilities in the cybersecurity domain while leveraging its network-building DNA. The strategic move yielded a powerful set of capabilities and network services that are secure by design, gaining both recognition and a rapidly growing enterprise base across the region.
The expansion to cybersecurity was not merely an addition of services. For ViewQwest, it was a fundamental rethinking of a telecommunications company’s role in the digital age, both as a responsible service provider and corporate citizen.
This commitment to corporate responsibility extended beyond cybersecurity to sustainability. The recent revamp of its headquarters in Singapore, completed in December 2023, embodied a deep belief in sustainable practices. Working with ipse ipsa ipsum, ViewQwest has breathed new life into discarded materials, turning them into functional and artistic pieces for the workplace.
Embracing a “high-tech office in a garden” concept, the headquarters’ interior design incorporates lush greenery and innovative use of reclaimed and renewable materials. From carpets hand-woven with 100% PET yarn in India to side tables and workstations crafted from recycled tech components, and even the nose of an airplane repurposed as the front desk, every element reflects ViewQwest’s commitment to sustainability and employee well-being.
“At ViewQwest, we believe that technology as a force for good, a powerful tool to solve customer problems, and make a positive impact on the world. We try to make good on these beliefs every day through our work, our services, and our commitment to our customers. Our brand refresh and office revamp reflect this ethos,” said Vignesa Moorthy, CEO of ViewQwest.
Hashtag: #ViewQwest
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ViewQwest
ViewQwest is an award-winning Telecommunications and Managed Security Services Provider driven by a vision to make the world a better place, powered by safer, better internet. Founded and headquartered in Singapore since 2001, it has expanded operations and market coverage in Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries in North and Southeast Asia.
ViewQwest builds and manages high-performing network and security infrastructure for the digital enterprise, securely connecting corporate sites and workforces wherever they are needed. It is a trusted partner of global and regional multinational corporations (MNCs) and top companies across Asia, delivering fit-for-purpose connectivity and security to power their digital future. ViewQwest also provides market-leading Residential and SME broadband connectivity and cybersecurity services in Singapore and Malaysia.
ViewQwest received the 2024 Network and Security Integration of the Year Award – Singapore and, in 2023, was named Singapore Broadband Telecom Provider of the Year by the Asian Telecom Awards, recognizing its innovation and excellence in network and security. From 2018 to 2022, ViewQwest was recognized as Fastest Fixed Network in Singapore by Ookla Speedtest Awards.
AIA Hong Kong – the undisputed market champion in 2023 Achieving 10 market share No. 1
The Hong Kong & Macau business being the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB in 2023
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2024 – AIA Hong Kong achieved 10 market share No. 1 in the 2023 Provisional Statistics on Hong Kong Long Term Insurance Business1, leading the industry as the undisputed market champion. Meanwhile, AIA Hong Kong & Macau delivered exceptional business performance with growth on multiple fronts in 2023 – Value of New Business (VONB) up 82 per cent, Annualised New Premiums (ANP) up 123 per cent2, making it the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB.

10 market share No.1 in the 2023 Provisional Statistics on Hong Kong Long Term Insurance Business1:
- Annualised New Premiums3
- Number of Inforce Policies
- Number of New Business Policies
- Number of Onshore New Business Policies
- Annualised New Premiums from Agency Channel3
- New Office Premiums from Agency Channel4
- Number of New Business Policies from Agency Channel
- Annualised New Premiums from Brokerage Channel3
- Number of New Business Policies from Brokerage Channel
- Linked Annualised New Premiums3
Exceptional VONB performance, largest AIA Group VONB contributor2
- VONB of US$1,430 million, up 82 per cent
- ANP of US$2,407 million, up 123 per cent
- Agency VONB up 57 per cent, supported by active agents up 12 per cent, new recruits up 59 per cent, and the Company’s focus on Premier Agency strategy
- Partnership distribution channel VONB more than trebled year-on-year
(Growth rates are shown on a constant exchange rate basis)
AIA Hong Kong & Macau’s excellent performance was supported by growth in both its domestic and Mainland Chinese visitor (MCV) businesses and across its agency and partnership distribution channels. The Hong Kong & Macau business was the largest contributor to the Group’s VONB in 2023 as it successfully captured the very strong demand of the MCV segment following the full resumption of normal travel in February 2023. The Company continued to increase the number of active financial planners and work closely with its distribution partners to leverage the sustainable and growing opportunities from the MCV segment, which contributed around half of AIA Hong Kong & Macau’s VONB in 2023.
Mr Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, said, “I am delighted to see AIA Hong Kong being the undisputed market champion in the industry with 10 market share No. 11, while the Hong Kong & Macau business being the largest contributor to AIA Group’s VONB in 20232. Our sincerest gratitude to our customers for their support and trust; and our frontline and supporting teams for their dedication.
“The exceptional performance reflected AIA’s commitment to customer centricity, our differentiated health and wealth propositions that truly meet our customer needs, the outstanding corporate solutions we offer including our stellar MPF performance, our service excellence and digital innovation through consistent investment in Technology, Data and Analytics, and the professionalism of our teams from financial planners, distribution partners and our corporate colleagues.
“What makes us truly proud is, besides the great financial performance, we have also contributed to the community through diverse activities and ESG. By hosting our signature AIA Carnival, being the Principal Sponsor of Oxfam Trailwalker for the 9th consecutive year, supporting youth development through AIA Scholarships and AIA Healthiest Schools Programme, we strive to make a positive difference to the community. Going forward, we will continue with our customer-centric approach, going beyond for our customers as we aspire to be their No. 1 choice and help everyone live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”
Notes:
1 Provisional statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong long-term insurance business from January to December 2023. The policies refer to Direct New Business and Direct Inforce Business of Individual Life, Annuity and Linked Individual (Classes A & C) and Other Individual Business (Classes B, D, E&F). “Agency channel” refers to “Agents” as classified by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority under Distribution Channel. “Brokerage channel” refers to “Brokers” as classified by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority under Distribution Channel.
2 Source: AIA Group Limited 2023 Annual Results’ “Results highlights” and “Announcement”.
3 “Annualised New Premiums” represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 10% of single premium.
4 “New Office Premiums” represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 100% of single premium.
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About AIA Hong Kong & Macau
AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have over 16,000 financial planners1, as well as an extensive network of brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.5 million customers2, offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension and personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers.
1 As at 30 September 2023
2 Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau’s individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as at 30 September 2023)