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Twig Learning Center Launches A New Innovative Chemistry Learning App

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 7 March 2023 – With an aim to provide engaging learning methods to Chemistry students in Singapore, Twig Learning Center is pleased to announce a newly launched application designed to aid students in their studies and revision. Currently, the online learning platform is limited for use to Twig Learning Center’s tuition classes, however it may have plans to expand to the public in the future.
This application features a comprehensive set of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), that includes a video solution, written solution, and the final answer. Students can now look forward to testing their knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in class, with the added benefit of an in-depth pre-recorded explanation for those who require further assistance.
In addition to the MCQs, the app also comes with a set of assignments allocated to each student. The assignments are developed and curated by Twig Learning Center’s team of experienced tutors. These assignments will help students in their revision process by providing them with an opportunity to practice and apply their knowledge effectively outside of the classroom.
As a testament to Twig Learning Center’s commitment to making Chemistry lessons accessible to all students, the tuition center has also recently set up a laboratory to facilitate practical activities. In the laboratory, students can participate in hands-on scientific demonstrations and experiments under the supervision of qualified tutors.
Established in 2008, Twig Learning Center was founded by Mr Donnell Koh, a former teacher at Raffles Junior College and Meridian Junior College (now Tampines Meridian Junior College). Twig Learning Center was established with the objective of demonstrating that chemistry tuition in Singapore can be effectively facilitated through the utilization of carefully devised teaching methods, resulting in a more engaging and easily understandable learning experience.
Its O Level Chemistry tuition, as well as A Level, IB, and IP Chemistry tuition, are all carried out by carefully selected tutors who are equally qualified. Through the introduction of this online learning app and laboratory, Twig Learning Center seeks to continue helping students achieve high scores in their Chemistry examinations.
For more information, please visit https://twig.sg/.

Hashtag: #TwigLearningCenter #Education

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Vingroup Chairman Establishes Electric Vehicle Rental and Taxi Service Company

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 6 March 2023 – Vingroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong announced the establishment of the Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (GSM), an entity dedicated to using VinFast electric cars and scooters for rental and taxi services. GMS is the world’s first multi-platform green transport rental and taxi service aiming to popularize the experience of electrified mobility while advocating Green Lifestyle.

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With a charter capital of 3,000 billion VND (approximately $125.7 million), GSM was founded by Vingroup Chairman, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, who holds a 95% stake. The company will use VinFast electric vehicles and operate in the two sectors of vehicle rentals and electric taxi services.

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Specifically, GSM will offer electric car rental services for traditional and online taxi service providers and their employees. At the same time, GSM will also operate its own electric car taxi service. Vietnam’s first pure electric taxi firm is planned to commence its operation by next month in Hanoi and will expand nationwide in 2023.

All vehicles provided and used by GSM are VinFast electric vehicles. The initial investment scale is 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM JSC said: “GSM was established to further the development of the green and smart mobility ecosystem in Vietnam, providing people with more options to use electric vehicles at reasonable pricing.Whether it is just a few dozen minutes in a taxi or a few weeks or months of renting, customers will have the opportunity to experience the smart features and convenience of electric vehicles. In this way, we can accelerate the smart electric vehicle revolution faster and stronger in Vietnam.”

GSM aims to promote the usage of electric vehicles by raising awareness about the convenience, intelligence, and sustainability of electric vehicles. By offering direct driving experiences (with test drive customers) and opportunities to enjoy smart technology features and amenities in vehicles (rental customers, electric taxi passengers,…), GSM will introduce VinFast electric cars to the broader public and gradually establish the habit of using smart and environmentally friendly transport in the daily lives of Vietnamese people.

Hashtag: #Vingroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

JPEX Plans to Apply for Crypto Trading License with the Hong Kong Authorities

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 6 March 2023 – The licensing system for virtual asset service providers in Hong Kong will be officially launched on June 1st this year. JPEX announced that it plans to apply for the latest crypto trading license given by the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government in Hong Kong.

JPEX announced that it has plans to apply for the latest crypto trading license given by the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government in Hong Kong. Some of the services JPEX will provide to customers in Hong Kong once the license has been granted include, but are not limited to spot trading, derivatives, and other crypto services such as staking.

SFC Launched a Consultation on Licensing

Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced a consultation On February 20 to solicit ideas from the market on “whether licensed platform operators should be permitted to provide services to retail investors” and “how to protect investors”. Under the new licensing system, which will come into effect on June 1, 2023, all centralized virtual asset trading platforms operating in Hong Kong or marketing to Hong Kong investors will need to be licensed by the SFC. And the consultation will end on March 31. JPEX hopes that the new policy direction will set a new milestone for the cryptocurrency industry.

Jpex Is Fully Prepared to Apply for Hong Kong Crypto Trading License

JPEX is now fully prepared to apply for Hong Kong crypto trading license, after previously giving up several times due to the Hong Kong government’s restrictions on the crypto industry.

Previously, the Hong Kong government only allowed users with a portfolio of at least HK$8 million (US$1 million) to trade in cryptocurrency investments. However, since Hong Kong is an international financial center, it should be open and accommodating to emerging financial services, including virtual asset services and new entrants to the global cryptocurrency industry, regardless of their assets. The impact of the previous policy has made it difficult for new users to participate in virtual asset trading.

JPEX said it will review related systems and controls to prepare for the new system, compliance with rules and regulations to ensure the application provides better service to customers.

With SFC finally changing its stance on cryptocurrencies which signifies the SAR government’s open and friendly attitude, JPEX will continue to collect information about licensing system. And it will also be holding extensive discussions with personnel in its legal department to advance the licensing process.
Hashtag: #JPEX

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About JPEX

JPEX Digital Asset Bank holds the Canadian MSB Fintrac license, the U.S. FinCEN issued by the MSB financial license, Australia ASIC issued by the operating license, Lithuania cryptocurrency exchange and wallet operator registration license. JPEX users of crypto assets will be all deposited in the offline cold wallet. JPEX also provides each user with a financial insurance coverage plan, the protection limit of 75,000 USDT, and 90% claims coverage in accordance with international financial regulations, protecting each real-name authentication platform users.

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Laos-China Railway Ticket Reservation App to Go Live This Month

Passengers aboard the Laos-China Railway (Photo: Teng)
Passengers aboard the Laos-China Railway (Photo: Teng)

The Laos-China Railway Company has announced that its long-awaited ticket reservation mobile application will go live from 15 March.

Welcome to the Future: Bybit Partners with Mastercard to Offer Crypto Payments Debit Card

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 6 March 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange, is proud to announce the launch of Bybit Card, a debit card powered by the Mastercard network, issued by Moorwand. This card will allow users to off-ramp crypto into the fiat world to make purchases or take out cash from ATMs with ease.

Bybit Card will enable users to skip intermediaries and other off-ramp providers and debit their crypto balances directly to pay for goods and services. It will be available for clients in eligible countries in Europe and the UK who have completed the necessary KYC and AML procedures.

Initially, Bybit Card will be available for a selection of blue-chip cryptocurrencies, namely, BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, and XRP. Payment requests will automatically convert balances in these digital assets into EUR or GBP, depending on the client’s country of residence.

Bybit launched its free virtual card today allowing for online purchases, with a physical card planned to launch in April. The plastic cards will be mailed directly to clients and allow them access to ATM withdrawals as well as spending at merchants worldwide with spending limits aggregated across currencies held in their Bybit account.

“Bybit users will be able to access and manage their funds faster, more securely, and more conveniently,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “By launching Bybit Card, we are creating a full 360-degree journey for our users, offering next level reliability, products, and opportunities. We are confident that these innovative payment solutions will improve people’s lives and are a step towards a brighter future for crypto and finance.”

Christian Rau, Senior Vice President, Fintech and Crypto, Mastercard Europe added “Mastercard enables customers, merchants and businesses to move digital value — traditional or crypto — however they want, with the confidence that they are doing so safely and securely. With launches like this, we’re excited to continue to innovate in payments by making digital assets more accessible across the ecosystem.”

Further information and resources

Hashtag: #Bybit #NextLevelPartnerships

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, esports teams NAVI, Astralis, Alliance, Made in Brazil (MIBR), and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports, and association football (soccer) team Borussia Dortmund.

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KGI Asia launches KGI Asia Sage, a new Wealth Management Service

Reached US$1.5 billion in AUM in just two short months Expect it will grow by 100% within one to two years

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 March 2023 – KGI Asia officially launched “KGI Asia Sage”, a new wealth management service.

(From Left) Antony Kristanto, President Director, KGI Asia, Indonesia; Patrick Lin, Head of Global Markets, KGI Asia, Hong Kong; William Fang, President, KGI Securities; Reddy Wong, Chief Executive Officer, KGI Asia, Hong Kong; and Kevin Tai, Head of International Wealth Management, KGI Asia, Hong Kong
(From Left) Antony Kristanto, President Director, KGI Asia, Indonesia; Patrick Lin, Head of Global Markets, KGI Asia, Hong Kong; William Fang, President, KGI Securities; Reddy Wong, Chief Executive Officer, KGI Asia, Hong Kong; and Kevin Tai, Head of International Wealth Management, KGI Asia, Hong Kong

KGI Asia Sage provides clients with wealth management needs in Asia. We take a holistic and forward-looking approach to wealth management by exploring opportunities and developing customized wealth solutions to help our clients protect and preserve the wealth of their families and future generations.

The launch ceremony held earlier last Wednesday was officiated by Mr. William Fang, President of KGI Securities, Mr. Reddy Wong, Chief Executive Officer of KGI Asia, Mr. Patrick Lin, Head of Global Markets, KGI Asia, Mr. Kevin Tai, Head of International Wealth Management of KGI Asia and Mr. Antony Kristanto, President Director of KGI Asia Indonesia.

William Fang, President, KGI Securities, says, “KGI Securities has a long history of operating in the Asian financial markets, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. We provide forward-thinking and customized investment services and financial products, thanks to our customer-centric approach and innovative capabilities.”

Reddy Wong, Chief Executive Officer of KGI Asia, says, “It is no secret that due to strengthening economies, greater savings, and new wealth creation, Asia Pacific affluence is on the rise, to cater to this market, we have proudly decided to launch KGI Asia Sage, an exciting and brand-new customized wealth solution that focuses on protecting and preserving the wealth of our clients’ families and their next generations. We believe that wealth management business will be key to KGI Asia in the years ahead.”

With a 25-year history in Hong Kong, KGI Asia is one of the region’s leading financial brands. We are committed to providing wealth management, brokerage, investment banking, fixed income and asset management services to corporate, institutional, and individual clients. Firmly backed by our parent company, KGI Securities Co. Ltd. and China Development Financial Holding Corporation in Taiwan, and a robust Asia network that spans Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, we are dedicated to helping our clients explore cross-border investment opportunities.

Kevin Tai, Head of International Wealth Management KGI Asia, says, “We understand that clients not only rely on traditional ways to manage their wealth, but also take into account total wealth solutions at every stage of their lives. At KGI Asia, we take a holistic approach to wealth management, explore opportunities, and develop customized solutions to help our clients explore cross-border investment opportunities. KGI Asia Sage has provided client with wealth management services with investable assets over US$250,000 this year. In just two short months, we have successfully reached US$1.5 billion in AUM, and we expect it will grow by 100% within one to two years. We are determined to become a preferred wealth management partner in Asia within the next three to five years.”

With a strategic focus on wealth management, our 300 relationship managers partner with our specialists from the Investment Strategy Team and Product Team to help our clients navigate through volatile markets. Drawing on our extensive experience, industry knowledge, research-based advisory services, and strong execution capabilities, we leverage our group-wide expertise to craft sustainable wealth solutions tailored to our clients’ goals and risk tolerance throughout the wealth cycle.

A range of products and services exclusive to KGI Asia Sage clients includes:

  • A broad array of investment products, including securities, bonds, investment funds, and structured investment products.
  • Customized investment solutions and portfolio advisory services.
  • With our portfolio leveraging and tailored financing options, and preferential financing interest rates, the potential returns and purchasing power of clients’ investment portfolio/IPO subscription can be enhanced.
  • To assist clients with cross-border investment needs, we provide one-stop service to assist clients with identity authentication via our service providers in Asia.
  • KGI Asia’s exclusive “Wealth Insights” provide the latest market trends, along with KGI Asia Sage exclusive investment strategies.

To learn more about KGI Asia Sage, please visit via https://www.kgi.com.hk/en/sage.

Hashtag: #KGIAsia #KGIAsiaSage

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About KGI Asia

KGI Asia1 is one of the region’s leading financial brand since 1997. Our scope of businesses compasses brokerage, wealth management, investment banking, fixed income and asset management. We are committed to offering a broad range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional and individual clients throughout Asia. Backing by our parent company, KGI Securities Co. Ltd. and China Development Financial Holding Corporation in Taiwan, we have a robust Asia footprint covering Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. KGI Asia Limited attained a BBB+ rating by Standard & Poor’s and received the “Private Wealth Management Award” at the 2022 Corporate Brand Awards of Excellence organized by the Hong Kong Economic Journal.

Disclaimer

All the information contained in this document is not intended for use by persons or entities located in or residing in jurisdictions which restrict the distribution of this document by KGI Asia Limited (“KGIA”) or any other affiliates of KGIA. Such information shall not constitute investment advice, or an offer to sell, or an invitation, solicitation or recommendation to subscribe for or invest in any securities or other investment products or services nor a distribution of information for any such purpose in any jurisdiction. In particular, the information herein is not for distribution and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States of America, or to or for the benefit of United States persons (being residents of the United States of America or partnerships or corporations organised under the laws of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof). All the information contained in this document is for general information and reference purpose only without taking into account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be redistributed, reproduced or published (in whole or in part) by any means or for any purpose without the prior written consent of KGIA. Such information is not intended to provide any legal, financial, tax or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. All investments involve risks. The prices of securities fluctuate, sometimes dramatically. The price of a security may move up or down, and may become valueless. It is as likely that losses will be incurred rather than profit made as a result of buying and selling securities. You are advised to exercise caution and undertake your own independent review, and you should seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision. You should carefully consider whether investment is suitable in light of your own risk tolerance, financial situation, investment experience, investment objectives, investment horizon and investment knowledge.

1. KGI Asia in this paragraph means KGI Asia Limited and its affiliates.

KPMG Joins Forces with Four Organisations to Help ASEAN Businesses Tackle Decarbonisation Goals and Chart the Roadmap to Net-Zero

  • Decarbonisation is expected to drive 5.5 million jobs globally by 2050 and 50,000 in Singapore by 2030 in areas such as energy efficiency, supply chain decarbonisation, green procurement, new energy technologies, carbon trading and green finance
  • This collaborative alliance aims to fast-track decarbonisation of energy, transport, and real estate sectors in the region, and develop capabilities of businesses in innovative energy-efficient technologies & green financing solutions


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 March 2023 – KPMG, a leading professional services firm, has partnered with four other organisations, through the KPMG ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub, to equip businesses in the region to meet their sustainability goals in the face of strong economic headwinds and uncertainties. Through this partnership, businesses in the region will be able to “plug-and-play” decarbonisation solutions as they undertake ESG transformation towards meeting net zero goals. They will also be able to raise green financing, gain credible accreditations and certifications, and leverage digital tools for cost effective growth. A major focus of the partnership will be to facilitate low carbon and energy efficiency project origination, structuring, financing and implementations.

The four partnering organisations are Bureau Veritas (BV), Energy Institute (EI), Maybank Singapore (Maybank) and two research institutes at the National University of Singapore (NUS) – Energy Studies Institute (ESI) and Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN). These four organisations have each signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KPMG to provide their complementary expertise to catalyse businesses’ decarbonisation goals via the Hub.

KPMG and the four partnering organisations will work together to help businesses manage the impact of climate change (see figure 1 below). Leveraging their complementary skills, they will provide businesses with customised plans to achieve their net-zero goals, including creating a carbon reduction roadmap and supporting implementation. Companies will also receive tools and solutions to pilot environment-friendly projects that offer economic incentives for reducing carbon emissions. In addition, Maybank will provide sustainable financing to encourage a strong pipeline of decarbonisation projects – this will set a precedent for successful use cases across the decarbonisation value chain, thereby increasing financing for similar projects in the region.

Finally, the Hub will also be running industry workshops in collaboration with the Energy Institute and develop thought leadership and research in the decarbonisation space together with NUS. Some of the capability development and transformation tools slated to be covered include energy efficiency across the value chain, electrification of vehicles, greening of buildings, renewable energy integration, smart grids and carbon sequestration, among others. KPMG plans to collaborate with more organisations in the future, via the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub, to provide businesses with greater capabilities and expertise that can address their decarbonisation requirements.

Annex A outlines the roles of each partnering organisation.

Sharad Somani, Partner, Head of KPMG ESG, KPMG in Singapore said, “As businesses strive to achieve net-zero commitments, they must develop implementable plans and document their carbon footprint through climate accounting infrastructure to demonstrate progress. Unfortunately, not all companies are equipped to do so. To successfully tackle climate change, collaboration is essential. That’s why KPMG created the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub – to bring together organisations with complementary skills, with the shared goal of net-zero emissions – which we are seeing in this collaborative alliance with Bureau Veritas, Energy Institute, Maybank and the National University of Singapore. KPMG is also expanding the tools, financing and access to expertise for both public and private sectors to help build resilience and reach sustainability objectives during uncertain economic conditions – all in pursuit of achieving net-zero emissions.”

In a KPMG 2022 CEO Outlook survey, Singapore CEOs identified the main barriers to their ESG strategies as the difficulties in identifying and measuring metrics (28 percent), lack of skills for implementation (28 percent) and lack of budget for investing in ESG transformation (20 percent). Hence, this collaborative alliance with its plug-and-play solutions, expertise and training for decarbonisation are intended to address these concerns and help move Singapore closer to reaching its goal of reducing emissions to 60 million tonnes by 2030.

Decarbonising of industries is expected to create 5.5 million jobs globally by 2050, and 50,000 in Singapore by 2030. These jobs may include those in areas such as energy efficiency, supply chain decarbonisation, green procurement, new energy technologies, carbon trading and green finance.

Figure 1: How businesses in the region will be supported for their decarbonisation drives by KPMG and its four partners

Certified decarbonisation scores

Setting verifiable carbon baseline
Certify scoring of decarbonisation efforts and impact assessment with the latest climate technology and digital life-cycle emissions tools
Effective capital allocation and financing structures Competitively priced and preferred access to green financing for energy transition and new technology solutions
Decarbonisation transformation

Activation of organisation wide transformation to build capacities internally for sustainable initiatives.
Quality technical and operational guidance in navigating decarbonisation every stage of the pathway with midpoint re-evaluation.
Specialised decarbonisation advisors who will

Structure pilot projects in the areas of energy efficiency, low carbon fuel, storage technologies
Take leadership in facilitating nature-based solutions and market-based mechanisms to complement to broader decarbonisation of the targeted sectors.

Vincent Bourdil, Senior Vice President, CIF South East Asia & CIF PAC Operating Region, commented, “At BV, Sustainability is embedded into our strategy, our organisation, our culture and across all our businesses. We serve our clients to meet the challenges of safety, the environment, social responsibility and product or service quality all along the chain. This joint partnership between Bureau Veritas and KPMG is testament to the way we contribute to our clients’ sustainability journey and help them shaping trust with their stakeholders in Southeast Asia. Leveraging our strong global expertise and local presence, we are looking forward to collaborating and developing innovative decarbonisation solutions together across the energy, transport and real estate sectors. In today’s world where sustainability knows no borders, I am delighted that Bureau Veritas, as a Business to Business to Society company, has shown its critical role to shape trust between businesses, public authorities and consumers.”

Peter Godfrey, Managing Director – APAC of the Energy Institute said that “creating a just energy transition towards a greener, cleaner future represents one, if not the greatest, of challenges of our time, and decarbonisation lies at the very heart of this challenge. But at the time, the energy transition has the potential to become a massive opportunity, not only by transforming our lives but by creating fundamentally new ways of value creation and increased prosperity focused on the creation of a more sustainable future for us all. To achieve these opportunities requires collective effort by governments, businesses, and individuals to ensure that economic, social and political challenges such as energy security, job creation and addressing energy poverty are overcome as part of our journey to a more sustainable world. The Energy Institute’s is focused on “Creating a better energy future for our members and society by acceleration a just global energy transition to net zero” and, within this context, is proud to be working in partnership with KPMG to develop its newly established ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub. There is much that can be done to improve the regulatory, technical and investment/financial inertia directed at accelerating sustainable business practices with the SE Asia region and we look forward to assisting in the process of building the capacity required to build appropriate pathways towards the more sustainable future we all strive for”.

Dr John Lee, Maybank Singapore Country Chief Executive Officer & CEO, said, “Maybank Singapore is proud to be part of this forward step in driving our leadership position in the sustainability agenda through this joint partnership. This is also aligned with the Maybank Group’s approach to develop strategic alliances with like-minded sustainability advocates to facilitate knowledge exchange in today’s business environment, where ESG is increasingly an important agenda for many companies. We will continue to advocate sustainable financing solutions that can drive down emissions. As a leading bank in Asia and as the only bank with an omnipresence in all 10 ASEAN countries, we want to drive long-term value creation for businesses and the community, remaining true to our mission of Humanising Financial Services. As decarbonisation is a transition journey for many, we will help potential clients to navigate their ESG journey with us to create a sustainable future yet meet their business objectives at the same time.”

Associate Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director of NUS Energy Studies Institute, said, “ESI is thrilled to partner with KPMG on this important initiative. Together, we will be able to leverage our collective expertise to tackle some of the most pressing energy challenges of our time, including decarbonization and the development of new digital tools and methodologies. We believe that this collaboration will expand the range of opportunities, and depth of impact we have in accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future for Singapore and beyond.”

Professor Sumit Agarwal, Managing Director of Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at NUS, said, “SGFIN enthusiastically supports this crucial initiative as a part of NUS’ broader push towards a more sustainable world. Data-driven research is an important driver of potential innovations, tools and solutions that will accelerate the development of businesses’ capability in tackling difficult challenges towards a lower-carbon society.”

About the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles are becoming critical for companies not only from regulatory and compliant perspectives, but primarily as a key business imperative. To help provide pathways and solutions for decarbonisation, the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub is working with companies across ASEAN countries in a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model. It also works with both governments and corporate sector to create sustainable financing models and facilitate large scale ESG transformation.

The coverage extends to projects across the three identified targets sectors with high carbon footprint – Energy, Transport & Logistics, and Built Environment & Real Estate. Some examples of projects that the Hub has started to work on include: replacing diesel with renewable energy, setting up funds for early retirement of coal fired power projects under the Energy Transition Mechanism, developing pilot green hydrogen projects in emerging markets, setting up solar and wind energy platforms, developing use cases for smart & sustainable cities, advising on emerging technologies including carbon capture and storage, and facilitating the raising of green and sustainable finance for environmentally friendly projects.

The Hub will help businesses operationalise decarbonisation by using strategies like pursuing energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy. Companies can also gain regulatory agility through introducing new policies and technologies internally, as well as carrying out training programmes.

The Hub will also assist in forming and nurturing climate-focused partnerships across supply chains – such as working with smaller suppliers – in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the final product. Finally, it can support companies in gathering data, leveraging technology to detect patterns of consumption and emissions, demonstrating progress made in decarbonisation programmes, as well as gaining the trust of stakeholders.

Annex A: Roles and involvement in collaboration

Company Roles and involvement
KPMG in Singapore KPMG, a leading professional services firm, will work together with BV, Maybank and NUS to originate decarbonisation opportunities. KPMG will also build ecosystem capabilities in decarbonisation, ESG and transformation by running workshops for businesses on knowledge sharing and industry best practices. To aid companies looking to scale in global competitiveness while being relevant locally, KPMG will enable access of participating companies to its global network of experts on ESG and decarbonisation. Finally, KPMG will also afford participating companies its anticipatory thought leadership in energy diversification, operational decarbonisation, supply chain management and sustainable finance as well as its digital tools backed by artificial intelligence and blockchain to capture, measure and verify emissions data – these tools and insights are expected to help companies project long-term to take advantage of upcoming trends in their business models and decarbonisation pathways.
Bureau Veritas Bureau Veritas (BV) a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services, will collaborate with KPMG in providing industry players end to end solutions in their decarbonisation projects. Through its BV Green Line of Services and solutions dedicated to Sustainability, Bureau Veritas supports its clients to be more efficient, more methodical and more trustworthy in their journey towards more sustainable business and a more sustainable world. In this framework, the Group will provide its multi-disciplinary technical expertise to develop and implement decarbonisation roadmaps with best industry practices to deliver transparency, credibility and traceability.

As an independent third party, BV’s accreditation with numerous international sustainability certifications such as ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO14025, ISO14064 and GHG Protocol, as well as carbon offset standards such as Verra, Gold Standard, CDM and GCC, empower clients to implement and measure outcomes that demonstrate the impact of achieving their sustainability objectives.

Energy Institute Energy Institute (EI) will work closely with the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub, through the MOU, with a view to assisting in the provision of quality continuous professional development including, where appropriate, links to its technical and operational guidance activities related to decarbonisation and the energy transition. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, EI is the internationally recognised chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy. Its purpose is “to create a better energy future for its members and society at large by accelerating a just global energy transition to net zero” with three core objectives underpinning its activities:-

  1. Attracting, developing and equipping the diverse future energy workforce
  2. Informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice
  3. Enabling industry and consumers to make energy lower carbon, safer and more efficient

Maybank Singapore Maybank Singapore (Maybank) will work together with KPMG to mobilise funding for low carbon and green projects originated by the ASEAN Decarbonisation Hub. This joint partnership underlies the importance of advancing sustainable financing as there is a growing pressing need to mitigate climate change impact. According to a 2017 United Nations Environment Programme report, annual flows of green finance in Southeast Asia were estimated at US$40 billion, and an estimated US$200 billion green investment is needed in ASEAN per year till 2030 against climate change effects to protect the people’s livelihoods and ASEAN economies. As green financing is key to unlocking a sustainable future which is aligned with the Maybank Group commitment to mobilise RM80 billion in sustainable finance by 2025 to support the transition to a less carbon intensive economy, Maybank Group has as of 30 September 2022, mobilised about RM29 billion– out of which 59 per cent of the green financing was from Singapore. Maybank has also been involved in arranging and participating in Shariah compliant sustainability-linked loans and green loans, totalling S$4.5 billion. Additionally, Maybank has facilitated Worldwide Hotels Group’s first green loan facility worth S$405 million for its new hotel and commercial development, marking one of the largest bilateral green financing for a hospitality asset in Singapore.

National University of Singapore National University of Singapore (NUS) will collaborate in joint research and consultancy projects of mutual interest in the areas of energy technology assessment, decarbonisation pathways, carbon pricing & climate finance, development and enhancement of digital tools, and life-cycle accounting methodologies. The Energy Studies Institute (ESI) will bring its deep industry research and modelling capabilities to develop innovative frameworks that will help transform the sectors. The Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) will bring its rigorous research approach to provide insights regarding the commercial value of decarbonisation.

Hashtag: #KPMG

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About KPMG

KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 265,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

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About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 82,000 employees located in nearly 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its 400,000 clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20 and SBF 120 indices. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.

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About Energy Institute

The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy. Our purpose is to create a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global energy transition to net zero. We do this by attracting, developing and equipping the diverse future energy workforce; informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice; and enabling industry and consumers to make energy lower carbon, safer and more efficient.

Join us to be part of a global energy community of 20,000 individuals and 200 companies. @EnergyInstitute

About Maybank Singapore

Maybank is among Asia’s leading banking groups and South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. Maybank Group has an international network of over 2,600 branches in 18 countries including all 10 ASEAN countries, with more than 42,000 employees serving customers worldwide.

Maybank Singapore is one of the Group’s largest overseas operations and a Qualifying Full Bank in Singapore. As at 31 December 2021, Maybank’s total assets in Singapore were approximately S$81.5 billion. With strategically located banking branches and over 2,000 employees in Singapore, Maybank is well-positioned to provide highly personalised services and locally-oriented solutions that will deliver more value to customers.

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About Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore

The Energy Studies Institute (ESI), a research institute under the National University of Singapore, aspires to be the leading institute for strategic research and a global thought leader in energy policy. The institute conducts research on energy policies and their national, regional and global implications, and promotes discussions and advances collective understanding on issues related to energy policy development.

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About Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at the National University of Singapore

The Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) is a new institute for research and education in sustainable and green finance established by NUS and supported by MAS. SGFIN develops deep research capabilities in sustainable and green finance with the focus on Asia. SGFIN aims to provide crucial support for the growing needs of regional and global investors, regional households and corporations, and policymakers. In particular, SGFIN plans to establish thought leadership, provide educational programmes, and develop measurement tools to capture the sustainability and environmental impacts of various corporate and investment decisions.

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Xaysettha District Occupants Raise Land Grab Issues at National Assembly

Xaysettha District Occupants Raise Land Grab Issues at National Assembly
Members of the National Assembly and Vientiane People’s Council meet with their constituents in Xaysettha district, Vientiane. ( Photo : Pasaxon )

Residents of Xaysettha District raised concerns about not receiving the full payment after their land had been taken from them for a development project, along with other problems in their respective villages.