Taking Your Pets on the Go, Without Breaking the Bank! Making tails wag worldwide.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2024 – Attention all pet lovers and globetrotters! Get ready to embark on exciting adventures with your beloved fur-babies, as Canlife Pets Moving, Hong Kong’s pioneering pet relocation company, proudly introduces its latest pet travel service. Bid farewell to the notion that pet travel is restricted to private jets, as Canlife makes dreams of travelling with your pets a reality.
Hong Kong’s First Internationally ISO-Certified Pet Immigration Company “Canlife” Launches New “Furry Travel” Pet Travel Service Discover the World with Your Furry Friends.
According to statistical data, the number of people owning pets in Hong Kong is steadily increasing. As of 2023, the total number of registered pets in Hong Kong has exceeded 1 million, which means there is approximately one pet for every three households on average.
Canlife Founder Dr Tommy has over 15 years of vet experience and 6 years working in the import and export control at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Initially, Canlife provided comprehensive and budget-friendly pet relocation services to discourage pet abandonment due to high relocation costs. As the market matures, they then introduce “Furry Travel” service. This all-in-one package ensures a hassle-free and memorable journey for both pet parents and their adorable fur babies. Gone are the days of leaving your beloved companions behind or entrusting their care to others while you explore the wonders of the world. With Canlife’s dedicated support, you can now create cherished memories together and revel in the sheer joy of globetrotting side by side.
Japan Becomes First Destination Under Canlife’s ‘Furry Travel’ Service
With a newly established branch in Japan, Canlife team works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Japan, along with 24/7 emergency veterinary support based in Hong Kong. Pet owners can rest assured that their furry friends will receive the utmost care and attention throughout the entire travel process, ensuring a stress-free and comfortable experience for all.
Take pet travelling to Japan as an example, Canlife Pets Moving offers premium relocation services, including physical examination for fit to fly, ISO microchip implantation, rabies vaccination, rabies antibody testing (RNATT), application for import permit, pet seat booking, issuance of animal health certificate, and endorsement by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, in a span of 8 months.
The procedures required to enter Japan include:
First Veterinary Consultation
ISO Microchip Implantation
First Rabies Vaccination
Second Veterinary Consultation
Second Rabies Vaccination
Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titre Test (RNATT)
Apply Import Licenses
Third Veterinary Consultation
Japanese Official Health Certificate
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Endorsed Health Certificates
*The physical examination mainly ensures that the health condition of cats or dogs is suitable for export, and does not include any further testing or diagnosis fees.
3 Steps Before Considering Pet Travel
1. Find an IPATA pet shipper Pet shippers who are members of IPATA must follow ethical guidelines in pet travel and relocating animals worldwide. Canlife is a member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and Animal Transportation Association (ATA). It is also one of the few recognized local pet travel agents by Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong.
2. Research the country requirement Requirements vary between countries – some require specific vaccinations while others require quarantine. Research your destination’s pet entry rules and prepare accordingly. Some countries, like Australia and New Zealand, might need a preparation time of at least 7 months.
3. Crate train your fur babies Travelling might be stressful to your pet. Other than choosing an IATA compliant kennel that allows your pet to sit, stand and lie down comfortably, training them to relax and settle in the crate under complete darkness is equally important.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Canlife
Canlife is the first pet relocation company in Hong Kong to obtain international ISO 9001 certification. With a globally recognized standard for quality management, Canlife has served over 400 clients and their pets to relocate to different continents. Founder & senior veterinarian Dr Tommy Sze has over 15 years of vet experience and 6 years of animal import and export control in AFCD. With overseas branches in Singapore, Japan and Germany, Canlife offers professional and extensive pet relocation services to pet owners to and from around the world.
Address:Rm 1105, 11/F, Kowloon Plaza, 485 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong Tel: +852 9687 4387
In a significant stride towards sustainable mobility, the CEO of LOCA announced at the ZEEKR Launch event that the company is now operating 20 DC Fast charging stations across Laos. Demonstrating an ambitious vision for the future, LOCA aims to double this number, reaching a total of 40 stations by the end of 2024.
Pay transparency practices are mostly driven by regulation and compliance, followed by diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) policy and peer practices.
While large organisations in Asia with global headcount focus on gender for pay equity analyses, smaller organisations consider other factors like job family, performance rating and experience.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2024– Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today released its 2023-24 Asia Pay Equity Survey results, which reveal that pay equity and pay transparency are gaining importance in the region. The survey, which is the one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Asia, is conducted annually to understand prevalent practices on pay equity and transparency and provide valuable insight into the factors driving change, as well as the primary challenges organisations face while implementing pay equity and transparency strategies.
Pay Transparency is Gaining Importance
Organisations across North America and Europe are enhancing their pay transparency practices complying with increasing regulatory requirements. This trend is now gaining momentum in Asia, where companies anticipate similar regulations. Although 79 percent of survey respondents said they consider pay transparency important, with the exception of Japan and Australia, there are no specific regulations mandating pay disclosure in the region at present. Legislation around pay disclosures are expected in the near future for markets such as Mainland China, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.
According to the survey, 72 percent of companies cite regulation and compliance as their primary driver for action on pay transparency, followed by 58 percent that attribute it to DEIB policies and 38 percent to peer practices. However, only 25 percent of organisations say they have proactively disclosed some aspects of their pay-related matters to employees, with many taking a cautious approach. Apart from regulatory requirements, this shift toward pay transparency is also being championed by business leaders who recognise the role of pay transparency in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
The survey further reveals that, compared to privately-held companies, publicly-listed companies are further ahead in implementing pay transparency practices, with 86 percent adopting some form and frequency of pay transparency compared with 74 percent of privately-held organisations.
Peter Zhang, partner and head of Talent Solutions for Aon in Asia Pacific, said, “Globally, pay transparency regulations and directives are being introduced with the aim of closing the pay gap more quickly – through legislation, rigour and enforcement. Although it is still nascent, trends in pay transparency show that regulations will catch up in the region and most organisations may have to disclose some information about pay transparency. Forward-looking organisations in Asia are therefore not waiting for regulations to catch up but taking a proactive approach to pay transparency. While embarking on this journey, they are deciding on the degree and extent of pay transparency based on drivers such as their DEIB policy, peer practices, local market requirements and practices of their global headquarters.”
Pay Equity Practices
Pay equity compares the pay between job holders doing substantially similar work, which has historically been unequal across gender, disability status, race, ethnicity groups and other employee cohorts. Led by upcoming regulatory requirements along with their own maturing DEIB policies, organisations are anticipating the need to remediate their compensation structures. The survey results show that 62 percent of organisations conduct a pay equity analysis, and, among them, 65 percent have an implementation strategy. The prevalence of such analyses is higher in publicly listed companies, with 75 percent reporting that they conduct such analyses, compared to a split of 50-50 for private organisations. In addition, 71 percent of the companies surveyed consider job family rating as the top factor for consideration during pay equity analyses; followed closely by performance rating at 69 percent and experience at 59 percent.
Communicating the results of pay equity analyses to key stakeholders does not play a pivotal role in driving the implementation of pay equity strategy. According to the survey, more than 50 percent of the responding companies communicate results to top management, 29 percent to their employees, while 22 percent of companies report that they share this information with their board of directors. Despite the senior leadership being aware of this information, 38 percent of organisations say budget allocation is their top challenge for implementing pay equity, while 34 percent say a lack of knowledge of peer practices, and 25 percent say that unconscious bias in managers hinders implementing pay equity.
Maggie You, partner and head of people advisory and people analytics, Talent Solutions for Aon in Asia Pacific, said, “Organisations that have started to conduct pay equity analyses have also begun to articulate their remediation or pay equity implementation strategy. This trend is seen across the region, regardless of the organisation’s size or type. Developing a pay equity implementation strategy based on a thorough pay equity analysis helps organisations identify any discrepancies. However, it is essential to note that the foundation of such an analysis is based on a robust job architecture built on analytical job evaluation methodology. Also, accelerating and expanding pay equity and pay transparency efforts requires top management in the region to better understand its impact on employer brand, employee engagement, and attracting and retaining top talent.”
“Typically, organisations with mature HR functions with evolved pay equity practices conduct a pay equity analysis annually. For many of these organisations, the study is done during or after the annual salary increment cycle. The frequency of conducting a pay equity analysis should depend on various other factors, including the gap identified after the initial analysis, remediation plans for gap reduction, budget allocation, perceived changes in employee demographics for example due to large-scale hiring plans, significant changes in the organisation due to M&A, and re-organisation,” added You.
About the survey
Aon’s 2023-24 Asia Pay Equity Survey, which is the most comprehensive of its kind in Asia, was conducted between December 2023 and early January 2024. The survey collected more than 350 responses across 13 Asian markets, including Mainland China, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Japan. More information about pay equity can be found here:
Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research. Hashtag: #Aonplc
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Our colleagues provide our clients in over 120 countries and sovereignties with advice and solutions that give them the clarity and confidence to make better decisions to protect and grow their business.
호치민, 베트남 – Media OutReach Newswire – 2024 년 4월 9일 – 호치민시개발은행(Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank, 이하 HD은행, 종목코드: HDB)이 2023년도 배당으로 현금 10%, 주식 15% 등 총 25%의 배당금을 지급할 계획이다. 배당안은 4월 4일 발표된 2024년도 연례 주주총회 안건 자료에 공개된 것이다.
HD은행은 2023년도 배당으로 현금 10%와 주식 15% 등 총 25%의 배당금을 지급할 예정이다(사진제공 HD은행)
HD은행은 올해 전년 대비 22% 성장한 15조8500억동(6억3413만달러)의 수익 달성과 최대 30%의 배당금 지급(최대 15% 현금 지급)을 목표로 하고 있다.
자료에 따르면 연례 주총(AGM)은 4월 26일 온라인으로 진행될 예정이다. HD은행은 2023년도 경영 실적과 2024년도 사업 계획, 2023년도 이익 배분 계획, 기타 주요 보고서를 포함한 보고서를 주주들에게 제출해 승인을 요청할 예정이다.
2024년 수익 16조동, ROE 24.6% 목표
지난 10년간 개혁의 노정을 걸어온 HD은행은 2023년에도 높은 성장세를 구가했다.
지난해 수익성 비율인 총자산이익률(ROA)은 2%, 자기자본이익률(ROE)은 24.2%로 주요 은행 그룹 중 상위권을 유지했다.
2024년에도 높은 성장세를 이어가는 한편으로 포괄적인 환경ㆍ사회ㆍ거버넌스(ESG) 전략을 개발해 나갈 계획이다.
세전 이익은 2023년 대비 21.8% 증가한 15조8500억동, ROE는 24.6%를 목표로 하고 있으며 부실 대출 비율은 업계 최저 수준을 계속 유지한다는 계획이다.
올해 총자산은 2023년 대비 16% 증가해 700조동(280억달러)을 돌파할 전망이다.
총 자금은 전년보다 16% 증가한 624조동(250억달러)에 달할 것으로 예상된다.
미상환 대출은 베트남 중앙은행이 할당한 신용 확대 목표에 따라 438조동(175억달러)을 넘어설 전망이다.
현금, 주식으로 최대 30%의 배당금 지급
HD은행은 이번 주총에서 2023년도에 총 25%의 배당안건을 의제에 올릴 계획이다. 25% 중 10%는 현금으로, 15%는 주식으로 지급한다는 방안이다.
특히 2024년에는 현금과 주식으로 총 30%의 배당액을 지급할 계획이다.
HD은행은 10년 이상 줄곧 고속 성장을 구가하면서 꾸준히 높은 배당금을 지급해 왔다.
HD은행은 올해 배당금 지급을 위한 주식 발행을 통해 자기자본을 현재 29조1000억 동(11억6000만달러)에서 33조6500억동(13억4000만달러)으로 4조5600억동(1억8288만달러) 이상 늘릴 계획이다. 또한 이미 업계 최고 수준인 재무 건전성 지표를 더욱 확고히 하고 향후 지속 가능한 발전을 위한 전략적 기반을 공고히 할 방침이다.
HD은행은 지속 가능한 발전과 포괄적인 디지털 전환, 녹색 성장을 달성하기 위해 매진하고 있다.
관리 역량을 꾸준히 개선하는 한편 바젤3(Basel III)과 같은 선진적인 국제 관리 표준을 채택했다.
HD은행은 포괄적인 ESG 전략을 수용한 선구적 기업으로 ESG 보고서를 발간하고 기업의 사회적 책임을 적극적으로 이행하는 동시에, 현대적 소매금융을 향한 디지털 뱅킹 개발 계획을 강화하고 있다.
2023년 예상보다 좋은 실적을 거둔 HD은행은 4월 26일 주총에서 주주들에게 긍정적 소식을 전할 예정이다.
HD은행은 경제가 불확실한 상황에서도 2024년 목표(주총 문서에 명시)를 달성할 수 있을 것이라 확신하고 있다.
약 2만 명의 HD은행 주주들은 HD은행의 지배구조와 2024년 계획 달성 능력에 대해 낙관적인 분위기 속에 주총을 준비하고 있다. Hashtag: #HDBank #HD은행
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
호치민시개발은행(HDBank) 소개
HD은행은 베트남을 대표하는 유수 금융 기관으로 ESG와 지속가능한 개발, 혁신을 촉진하는 데 매진하고 있다.
HD은행은 개인과 기업이 모두 번영할 수 있는 금융 솔루션을 제공하는 것을 사명으로 삼고 있다.
SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 April 2024 – In conjunction with the holy month of Ramadan, BEST Inc Malaysia treated 30 children from Pusat Jagaan Cahaya Kasih Bestari in Shah Alam for a “buka puasa”, spreading joy compassion to the less fortunate.
The buka puasa session served not only as sources of entertainment but also as avenues for fostering stronger bonds between the members of BEST Inc Malaysia and the children.
BEST Inc Malaysia CEO Gavin Lu with his team actively participated in this heartfelt occasion. Before the event commenced, members of BEST Inc Malaysia engaged the children in a plethora of captivating games and activities, ranging from traditional games to creative endeavors.
Prior to the commencement of the gathering, BEST Inc Malaysia members engaged the children in a variety of entertaining games and activities, ranging from traditional games to creative artworks.
These activities served not only as sources of entertainment but also as avenues for fostering stronger bonds between the members of BEST Inc Malaysia and the children.
During the event, Gavin Lu emphasized that the buka puasa gathering was more than just a joyful occasion for the children—it was an experience that deeply touched everyone involved. He reaffirmed BEST Inc Malaysia’s steadfast commitment to support the community, contributing to charitable initiatives, and continuously striving to make a positive impact on society.
Puan Hayati, the head of the center, extended her heartfelt gratitude to BEST Inc Malaysia for their unwavering support.
She commended the evening’s program, recognizing it not only as a means of fostering camaraderie but also as a testament to BEST Inc Malaysia’s corporate responsibility and social mission. In addition to engaging in games and activities, members of BEST Inc Malaysia berbuka puasa with the children, further strengthening their bond.
As a gesture of goodwill, BEST Inc Malaysia also distributed “sampul raya” to the children, ensuring they could partake in the Hari Raya festivities with utmost joy and merriment.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
BEST Inc
BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China and Southeast Asia. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-added services, including freight delivery, supply chain management and global logistics services. BEST’s mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain.
BEST Inc started its business mapping for Southeast Asia market expansion in 2018. The group completed its express delivery network coverage in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore in 2020, and opened up the cross-border logistics network between China and Southeast Asia.
Started with express delivery network in Southeast Asia market, BEST Inc has gradually built-up its global warehouses, cross-border networks, and cargo networks.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – “With every 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola® Trademark beverages you enjoy, you can contribute to helping move towards World Without Waste – one bottle at a time!” Tim Warwick, Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia at The Coca-Cola Company, commented as the company debuted the 500ml Coca-Cola® Trademark brands in 100% rPET (recycled plastic)* bottles, the first-ever Coca-Cola® Trademark packaging made from 100% rPET* in Hong Kong.
All 500ml Coca-Cola® Original, Coca-Cola® No Sugar and Coca-Cola® Plus have now adopted 100% rPET* in the production of their bottles. The new packaging features “I’m a 100% rPET* bottle” and “Recycle Me Again” messages to build recycling awareness and encourage action among consumers. “This is the latest effort from Coca-Cola Hong Kong, a pioneer in rethinking our beverage packaging to make it more sustainable. To support The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste strategy, we have been taking a bold, innovative approach to sustainability and are now doubling down on our rPET packaging effort to help drive our sustainability agenda forward,” Warwick continued.
Over the years, in partnership with industry associations and other organizations, including Drink Without Waste and industry peers, the Coca-Cola system in Hong Kong has been supporting consumer education and community collection programs to help enable beverage packaging recycling. In collaboration with Drink Without Waste, the Coca-Cola system in Hong Kong is investing HK$3 million in 2024 to support a new neighborhood collection scheme by mobilizing participating housing estates, their cleaners and the resident households to build a recycling habit and mechanism. Each resident in Hong Kong is invited to separate and recycle plastic bottles to help build a plastic bottle “recycling loop”!
“We continue to engage proactively to help drive collective action, working with all key stakeholders to invest in recycling innovation, facilities, organizations and initiatives. In Hong Kong, the Coca-Cola system is a strong enabler of a local circular economy for plastic,” Hunter Jin,Chief Executive Officer, Swire Coca-Cola SEAHKT Operations (Southeast Asia, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan markets), said: “One prime example is the significant investment we have been making in New Life Plastics, Hong Kong’s first food-grade-ready plastic recycling facility. It will have sufficient capacity to recycle each PET bottle we sell by 2030 as part of our World Without Waste ambitions.”
“Our packaging is our biggest, most visible billboard. We have been using the power of our brands, leading with Coca‑Cola® and bonaqua®, to educate, inspire and advance our sustainability priorities,” Marella Canepa Risso, Franchise Operations Director, Hong Kong and Macau at The Coca-Cola Company, said: “The introduction of our iconic Coca-Cola® Trademark brands in 100% rPET* bottles is an important step in our journey to showcase how recycling can help speed up a circular economy.”
This rollout further enhances the company’s commitment to a sustainable future in Hong Kong, following an array of bold yet solid sustainability actions in recent years, including:
· The rPET journey commenced in 2019, when a variety of Coca-Cola brands started using rPET content in the production of bottles.
· Since 2020, all locally produced bonaqua® water bottles (2L or below) use 100% rPET*. bonaqua® sparkling water launched in recent months has also adopted this sustainable format.
· Each bonaqua® 500ml bottle weighs 11.8g – 52.8% lighter than a typical PET bottle in the market** – helping to achieve 29% less overall CO2 emissions compared with other water brands***.
· In 2020, Sprite® made a bold transition to transparent bottles to enhance bottle recyclability. The effort continues with the recent adoption of transparent bottles by Schweppes® sparkling water.
· To help reduce plastic use, bonaqua® has been placing nearly 170 Water Stations across the city and advocating “bring your own bottle”.
· In 2021, bonaqua® launched its first label-less bottled water, further reducing packaging waste and improving recyclability through game-changing packaging design.
· In 2022, Coca-Cola Hong Kong reintroduced the Returnable Glass Bottles line encompassing key brands such as Coca-Cola®, Coca-Cola® No Sugar, Sprite®, Fanta® and Schweppes®.
· In 2022, bonaqua® launched its first label-less bottled water for individual sale, making it available to a broader range of customers.
· In 2023, bonaqua® rolled out water in Returnable Glass Bottles, inviting like-minded hotel industry players to join the sustainability effort.
“As one of the largest Coca-Cola® bottlers in the world, we continue to leverage our expertise and develop new manufacturing technologies to offer consumers even more environmentally friendly beverage packaging choices that promote a circular economy. We weave sustainability into the fabric of our endeavors, from design, sourcing, production to product delivery. It is our mission to contribute to a more sustainable way of living,” Connie Yeung, Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong, shared: “Bottles Returned; Bottles Reborn. Used PET bottles can be given a new life – again and again – if returned and recycled properly. We encourage our consumers to become aware of their recycling habits – and to change them if necessary – thus partnering with us in helping to build a World Without Waste.”
To learn more about Coca-Cola® in 100% rPET* bottles, customers can contact the Swire Coca-Cola HK Customer Service hotline at +852 2210 3888, or purchase the products via the current distribution channels and Swire Coca-Cola HK eShop (www.swirecocacolahk.com).
*Excluding caps and labels.
**bonaqua®’s 500 ml bottle weighs 11.8g, which is lighter than the typical PET bottle found in the market, which weighs 18-32g. (Source: New Life Plastics Ltd – https://www.nlplastics.com.hk/pet-hdpe/).
*** Based on research conducted by a local university, ‘Consequential Life Cycle Analysis Results for the Development of Bonaqua Environmental Claims’ (July 22, 2022).
Hashtag: #Coca-Cola
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. In Hong Kong, the company has a portfolio covering sparkling, sweetened and unsweetened tea, juice, sports drink, water, enhanced hydration beverages, etc. We have 12 brands offering 70 different variants such as “Coca-Cola”, “Coca-Cola zero”, “Coca-Cola Plus”, “Sprite”, “Fanta”, “Schweppes”, “OOHA”, “Bonaqua” Mineralized Water, “Authentic Tea House”, “Minute Maid”, “Minute Maid Qoo”, “Glaceau vitaminwater”, “Yeung Gwong”, “Aquarius”, “Healthworks” and “Kochakaden” “Craftea”. We are constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. Learn more at Coca-Cola Journey at coca-cola.hk and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Citibank today announced the appointment of Janus Wu as Head of International Personal Bank (IPB) for Hong Kong with immediate effect. In his new position, Janus will oversee the international personal banking business, with a focus on leveraging One-Citi partnership to cater to the unique needs of IPB clients. He will be responsible for driving IPB’s business growth with a comprehensive suite of banking solutions and investment services.
Janus was most recently the Shenzhen Branch Manager and fully responsible for the full spectrum of institutional and consumer businesses in Shenzhen, one of the cities in the Greater Bay Area. He relocated to Hong Kong from Shenzhen.
Vicky Kong, Chief Executive, Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited, said, “As one of Citi’s wealth hubs, we are strongly positioned and fully committed to providing wealth management services to both onshore and overseas clients across the region. We see immense opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and I believe Janus’ experience and proven track record of success in the banking industry will be great assets as we drive the growth of our GBA and IPB businesses. I am confident that we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the region as we further solidify our leading position in wealth management.”
Janus joined Citibank in 2007 as a Management Associate and has held various senior positions in China and Hong Kong across institutional and consumer businesses. He was appointed the Wealth Management Unit Head in Retail Banking for Citi China in 2017, and in 2020, he was appointed Shenzhen Branch Manager.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Citi
Citi is a pre-eminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
The latest additions to Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances supported by AI innovation delivers smarter experiences to elevate homeowners’ lifestyles
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced the launch of its latest WindFree™ Air Conditioner series, expanding Samsung’s range of home appliances for smarter homes, designed to elevate homeowners’ lifestyles with its Comfort Cooling, Energy-Saving, and Connected Living features.
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner is equipped to provide great cooling performance and comfortable airflow
“Through 2023, Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances range have delivered on consumers’ preferences for efficiency, sleek designs, and modern functionality to positive effect. 2024 sees a new addition to the lineup with the WindFree™ Air Conditioners, designed to elevate homeowners’ living spaces in sunny Singapore with better comfort, greater efficiency, and more convenient control,” said Gavin Yeong, Head of Digital Appliances, Samsung Electronics Singapore. “We are also excited to introduce other new and exciting additions to our lineup of Bespoke AI appliances in the refrigerator, laundry, and vacuum cleaner categories which deliver a more intuitive and connected home experience, powered by AI.”
Advanced airflow structure with 23,000 micro air holes for more effective cooling
Be Comfortably Cool with WindFree™
With the WindFree™ Air Conditioner range, homeowners can now stay comfortably cool without feeling cold. WindFree™ Cooling mode disperses cool air gently and evenly through 23,000 micro air holes, creating an environment with a very low air speed to enable greater comfort without the unpleasant feeling of cold air blown directly onto your skin, perfect for those with sensitive and dry skin. This is supported by findings published in Allergology International on the effects of conventional cold airflow on the skin, versus WindFree™[1]. Minimising direct exposure to cold airflow in the study suggests it can help reduce skin irritation while consistently maintaining skin moisture levels. On the other hand, the Fast Cooling mode cool rooms quickly from corner to corner, so you’re always comfortable.
AI Auto Cooling function automatically optimises between the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s cooling modes
With its AI Auto Cooling function, the WindFree™ Air Conditioner provides a smarter and more convenient way of living and comfort for homeowners by automatically optimising between WindFree™ Cooling and Fast Cooling modes by analysing room conditions, usage patterns[2], and preferred temperature to select the most appropriate mode[3] for homeowners’ comfort.
The WindFree™ Good Sleep mode helps homeowners achieve better sleep quality by automatically adjusting temperature based on sleeping patterns
WindFree™ Good Sleep mode creates the ideal climate for sleeping[4], minus the unpleasant feeling of cold airflow. Automated temperature control with WindFree™ Cooling helps homeowners enjoy a good night’s sleep, and to wake up feeling fully refreshed.
Greater Energy Savings with AI Energy Mode
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner goes beyond functionality and comfort, providing homeowners with greater energy savings with the AI Energy Mode by analysing usage patterns and external conditions to reduce the energy usage. AI Energy Mode works in conjunction with the AI Auto Cooling functionand reduces energy consumption by up to 28%[5] through controlling the compressor’s frequency and managing temperature levels without sacrificing comfort.
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner range enjoys a National Environment Agency (NEA) air conditioner energy efficiency rating of 5 Ticks, ensuring optimal cooling efficiency without sacrificing performance. The range also uses R32 climate-friendly refrigerant, which helps to conserve the ozone layer and with less impact on global warming as compared to conventional R22 or R410A refrigerants.
Enjoy greater energy savings with AI Energy Mode and AI Auto Cooling function
Smarter Convenience with SmartThings
Tech-savvy homeowners can conveniently monitor the energy usage of their WindFree™ Air Conditioner with the Samsung SmartThings app[6], utilising tariff information from four energy providers in Singapore. At the same time, homeowners can conveniently regulate their room’s temperature using a voice assistant[7] with suggested settings, such as Samsung Bixby[8], Google Assistant[9] or Amazon Alexa[10].
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner takes convenience to another level. Made possible by the SmartThings app7, come home to a comfortably cool space with Welcome Cooling that allows users to turn on and control the air conditioner from afar, to set the room temperature at their preferred temperature and mode settings when near home.
Convenient access to your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with SmartThings
Cool and Clean with Peace of Mind
Ensure hygienic operation for your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with the Auto Clean function and cool down with greater peace of mind with the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s 4-in-1 Filter
With the WindFree™ Air Conditioner, homeowners also ensure more hygienic operation with the Auto Clean function by automatically drying the Heat Exchanger using a 3-step process[11]. This removes moisture buildup inside by blowing out air for between 10 to 30 minutes[12]; this helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria and odours while also removing 95% of microorganisms[13].
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner also comes equipped with a 4-in-1 Filter that effectively removes 99%[14] of viruses, bacteria, allergens and fine PM2.5 dust alongside fibres and hair.
Unlock New Opportunities with Bespoke AI Appliances
Complementing the new WindFree™ Air Conditioner range, Samsung is also launching a lineup of new Bespoke AI appliances with enhanced connectivity and AI capabilities to allow homeowners to manage their homes in a smarter way while introducing futuristic style and functionality in their living spaces.
The AI Family Hub™ [15] 4-Door French Door Refrigerator features AI Vision Inside[16] that taps on a smart internal camera which can identify up to 33 different fresh food items in your refrigerator. With SmartThings Food [6], you can effortlessly create and maintain a detailed inventory of the items in your refrigerator, complete with expiry dates, ensuring that you always know exactly what you have on hand. AI EnergyMode also helps decrease energy usage by up to 15%[17], by optimising compressor speed and defrost cycles based on usage patterns and surroundings.
In addition, Samsung is also launching the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen and AI Wash & Dry™ for efficient cleaning cycles. With a 25kg large washing capacity and 15kg heat pump drying capability, big laundry loads can be done with ease in one single wash.
Samsung is also launching two additions to the vacuum cleaner lineup. The Bespoke Jet™ AI 350W is Samsung’s most powerful stick vacuum yet, with suction power of up to 350W and AI Cleaning Mode, which intelligently cleans various environments by optimising cleaning settings. The Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™️ is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner that comes with dual functions of vacuuming and mopping. It also maintains itself with Clean Station Steam+, which hygienically steams and sanitises the mop, and comes with AI Floor Detect to identify floor types and optimise cleaning performance.
Availability and Pricing
The new WindFree™ Air Conditioners will be available in May 2024, at the following recommended retail prices:
WindFree™ Air Conditioners (available in May 2024)
System
Recommended Retail Price
(w/GST and inclusive of installation)
System 2 (Fan Coil Unit 9,000 BTU x 2)
$2,920
System 3 (Fan Coil Unit 9,000 BTU x 3)
$4,285
System 4 (Fan Coil Unit 18,000 BTU x 1 + 9,000 BTU x 3)
Consumers buying 3 ticks and above refrigerators or heatpump dryers with AI Energy can get rebates of up to 2 years’ energy consumption. Also, up to $100 rebates for 4 ticks washing machines with AI Energy. Promotion runs in-store from April 15th to May 8th, 2024.
[1] The journal was conducted by Samsung Medical Center with the participation of several hospital members. Title: Exposure to cold airflow alters skin pH and epidermal filaggrin degradation products in children with atopic dermatitis URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1323893019301960
[2] Stores user data, preferences, and usage patterns to suggest the most useful options.
[3] When a Wi-Fi connection is not available, the preferred mode is based on the result of big data analysis.
[4] Based on internal testing, Tested on the AR07T9170HA3, Good Sleep mode.
[5] Based on internal testing on AJ018DBAPKF/SP and AJ045DCJ2KF/SP models, comparing AI energy mode vs AI auto mode. The testing was conducted in Samsung’s 40m² residential environment laboratory at a temperature of 35°C/24°C (dry bulb/wet bulb, KS C 9306: air conditioner). Requires the use of the SmartThings App and a Samsung account login. Actual savings may vary by usage patterns and environment.
[6] Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account login are required.
[7] A Wi-Fi connection is required.
[8] Bixby is Samsung’s brand of artificial intelligence (AI) / Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on country. Bixby recognizes selected languages and certain accents/dialects. The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required.
[9] Google is a trademark of Google LLC.
[10]Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or its affiliates.
[11]Models without WindFree™ mode will use a 2-step process (3 minutes of auto air flow and 7 minutes of high air flow).
[12]The Auto Clean time will vary depending on the condition of the air conditioner.
[13]Tested by Samsung in accordance with internal protocols. Results provided to and interpreted by Intertek for organisms (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538).
[14] Tested by Intertek for anti-bacteria properties, the Chungbuk National University (Korea), witnessed by Intertek, for anti-virus properties, the Japan test lab (ITEA) for anti-allergy properties and the Korea test lab (KITECH) for PM2.5 dust collection. The filter performance is based on testing of the filter material and not a specific model. Data has been measured under specific testing conditions and may vary depending on environmental factors and individual use.
[15]AI Vision Inside accessed through the AI Family Hub utilises AI-based algorithm, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. Only certain services on the AI Family Hub taps on the AI-based algorithms.
[16] A red light will turn on when the camera is working. The user’s appearance can be captured, but surroundings other than food items will be automatically blurred. As of March 2024, AI Vision Inside can recognise 33 food items including fresh fruits and vegetables. If the food item is not recognisable, it may be listed as unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognises food items based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. Users may need to manually manage the list for accuracy. Detection and identification of food items is based on Samsung’s deep learning model trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New datasets may be introduced to the learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy.
[17] The test results are based on a comparison of the factory setting temperature when using AI Energy Mode and without using AI Energy Mode. Results may vary depending on the usage conditions and patterns. SmartThings will display a notification before activating the saving algorithm in both the ‘Maximum Mode’ and ‘Custom Mode’.
Hashtag: #Samsung, #WindFree, #Bespoke
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Samsung
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