The Laotian Times revisits the top news stories of the year 2022.
Miss Universe Laos Shoots for an American Movie in Las Vegas
Payengxa Lor, Miss Universe Laos 2022, has performed some action scenes for a movie in the United States.
BCEL One Now Allows Overseas Funds Transfers
BCEL One has recently implemented a new “SWIFT Transfer” function that allows users to transfer and receive money from all around the world using SWIFT on the BCEL One application.
Yeebo Announces the Successful Listing of Suzhou QingYue on The Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market
Suzhou QingYue is one of the global leaders in passive mode organic light emitting diode (“PMOLED”). Leveraging its leading and proprietary technology, Suzhou QingYue integrates research and development (“R&D”), production and sales of PMOLED, e-paper modules and Micro-OLED. It has established R&D centers and large-scale production lines in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi. Its products are widely used in medical and health care, household applications, supermarkets and retailing, consumer electronics, automotive industrial control, wearable products, and safety products.
Immediately after the Listing, the Group’s shareholding in Suzhou QingYue has decreased from 35.10% to 28.08%. Suzhou QingYue continues to be an associate of the Group and the results of Suzhou QingYue continue to be equity accounted for in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. As of today, the Group holds 126,345,600 shares of Suzhou QingYue and the relevant market value was RMB1.16 billion based on its IPO offering price at RMB9.16 per share.
Commenting on the successful listing of Suzhou QingYue, Mr. Fang Yan Tak, Douglas, Chairman of Yeebo, said, “We are immensely proud of the Suzhou QingYue team and are excited on the successful listing of Suzhou QingYue’s shares on the STAR Market, which marks another milestone of Suzhou QingYue’s corporate development. The display industry is experiencing profound transformation, and Suzhou QingYue is well positioned to accelerate its growth. Investors’ overwhelmed response to the IPO of Suzhou QingYue is a testimonial of their recognition on the prospects and the valuation of Suzhou QingYue.”
“Yeebo is a diversified electronics component company. We have proven track record in identifying opportunities with exceptional management teams and outstanding product offerings. Nantong Jianghai Capacitor Co., Limited (stock code: 002484.SZ) and Suzhou QingYue, both associate companies of the Group, are industry leaders in their respective fields, and are well positioned to capture market share in their rapidly growing markets. We will continue to actively look for further M&A opportunities in companies with leading and differentiated technology and products. Growth by acquisition is an important part of the future growth of Yeebo, alongside our organic growth.”
Hashtag: #Yeebo
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited:
Founded in 1988, Yeebo (International Holdings) Limited is a diversified electronics component company, with a wide range of business interests in flat panel display and modules, OLED and capacitor. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the manufacturing activities largely reside in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces. With a global sales footprint, Yeebo is able to service its global customers on a local basis.
Gunung Raja Paksi champions sustainability initiatives in Southeast Asia with USD 32 million sustainability-linked loan from BNI
With the newly secured loan, Gunung Raja Paksi will be looking to further its ESG strategy initiatives as outlined in their handbook
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 28 December 2022 – PT Gunung Raja Paksi (GRP), a member of Gunung Steel Group and one of the largest private steelmakers in Indonesia, has secured a USD 32 million sustainability-linked loan from the national bank of Indonesia, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), making them the first steelmaker within the country to do so. The five-year bilateral credit would be used to fund GRP’s sustainability initiatives, which include the recently commissioned Light Section Mill (LSM).
The collaboration is marked with the visit to GRP site by the Director of Enterprise & Commercial Banking BNI, Muhammad Iqbal and General Manager of Enterprise Banking, Rangga Bhirawa was welcomed by Chief Financial Officer GRP, Roymond Wong and Head of Sustainability, Sheren Omega which located in West Cikarang, Bekasi on Wednesday, 28th December 2022.
Key to one of GRP’s commitments which is to meet domestic steel needs within the country, the LSM is expected to increase operational efficiency through lowering energy consumption and thereby reducing carbon emissions. This project is also part of GRP’s mission towards decarbonisation which follows their recent partnership with Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN), where the company pledged its support towards helping Indonesia achieve its goal of Net Zero by 2060.
As steel is an essential material needed in construction and industrial projects, GRP believes that the usage of steel produced via sustainable means will be an important pathway towards building an eco-friendly nation. A recent projection by PwC and Indonesian Iron & Steel Industry Association (IISIA) revealed that steel usage in Indonesia has reached 18.1 million tonnes (mt), an increase of 7.6% versus 2021. The same study also projects that the forecast for steel consumption by 2050 is 125 million tonnes, which is driven mostly by the construction sector which by itself accounts for up to 75% of steel demand.
“With the conclusion of COP27, the question now is, how do we help the private sector and industry players transition to sustainable business models? Green finance is a key area of discussion when it comes to advancing the sustainability agenda as it gives industry players the needed capabilities to implement sustainable technologies and processes in their businesses. Having the support of BNI will not only encourage sustainable methods of production, but also allow us to accelerate the rate of decarbonisation in the region,” said Roymond Wong, Chief Financial Officer at GRP.
“As one of the leaders in the private steelmaking space within Indonesia, we are conscious of the need to produce steel in a sustainable manner. Combined with this growing discernment around ESG strategies, customers and regulators are becoming more aware and educated on the need for sustainable steel. The combination of this newly secured loan and our existing ESG strategy, is aimed at ensuring that the produces steel meets green requirements towards regional development projects for Indonesia’s goals to become a greener nation,” said Sheren Omega, Head of Sustainability at GRP.
Director of Enterprise & Commercial Banking of BNI, Muhammad Iqbal said, GRP is an industry player who is at the forefront of implementing sustainable production methods in the business.
Furthermore, Iqbal explained that BNI as a pioneer of green banking in Indonesia hopes to continue to encourage changes towards the future of sustainable business activities and comprehensive business collaboration with GRP.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to contribute together in realizing a green economy. In the future, BNI and GRP will also optimize the potential for financing the company’s value chain, cash management, payment channels, supply chain financing, financing for partners and employee consumer products, both funds and loans, along with providing solid digital solutions for GRP”, he added.
Hashtag: #GunungRajaPaksi #GRP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About GRP
PT Gunung Raja Paksi Tbk (GRP) is part of the Gunung Steel Group, which is one of Indonesia’s major private steel businesses. Our company began its operations in 1970 in Medan, North Sumatra, by producing hot steel, then progressed to manufacture steel beams and sheets.
With over 50 years of steel industry experience, GRP has a production capacity of 2,200,000 tons of high-quality steel annually approved by local and international certifying company.
Today, our company has become one of the largest private steel companies in Indonesia. Gunung Raja Paksi, “Shaping Tomorrow”. Together we develop a better future.
For more information, please visit: www.gunungrajapaksi.com
About BNI
PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI) is a provider of personal and business banking, treasury, and wealth management solutions. It offers a range of banking solutions such as loans, credit and debit cards, time deposits, savings accounts, current accounts, and bancassurance products.
It also offers services such as foreign exchange, priority banking, international banking, treasury management, investment, advisory, cash management, and payment. In addition, BNI offers ATM services, phone banking, SMS banking, and Internet banking.
The bank operates through a network of branches, sub-branches, and other outlets across Indonesia. It also has overseas branches and sub-branches in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, New York, Seoul, and Singapore. BNI is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Lao Woman Fatally Shot by Police Officer in Champasack
A police officer in Pakse city, Champasack Province, shot and killed a Laotian-Vietnamese woman in her home on Tuesday.
More schools take part in Back to School with Dad initiative post-pandemic
Incarcerated fathers take part in the Back to School with Dad initiative for the first time
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 December 2022 – Fathers from 200 pre-schools, primary and secondary schools as well as institutes of higher learning will be participating in the Back to School with Dad initiative for the next academic year in 2023. The dates for Back to School with Dad 2023 are 3 and 4 January 2023.
This represents an increase of nearly 67 percent increase from this year – boosted by the relaxed social distancing measures as Singapore entered the endemic phase. Fathers who have become more involved in their children’s schooling journey during the pandemic also continue to do so.
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is helping incarcerated fathers strengthen their bonds with their children. For the first time, over 200 incarcerated fathers took part in this initiative. These fathers wrote notes of encouragement on Back to School with Dad cards which were then passed to their families so that their children can be surprised and motivated when school re-opens.
“Children of incarcerated fathers are unable to be present for them physically at the beginning of the new school year. Encouraging their children through these handwritten notes serves to strengthen father-child bonds despite their absence. This benefits not only the children, but the incarcerated fathers too, as it helps keep them motivated and focused on their rehabilitation journey,” said Ms Charlene Chia, Senior Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist from SPS.
Back to School with Dad cards
In the years before COVID-19, only hard copy Back to School with Dad cards were disseminated to schools for fathers to pen notes for their children. Due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting logistics of cards distribution, Back to School with Dad 2022 went virtual.
For the 2023 academic year, due to the opening up post-pandemic, hard copy cards were provided to some schools. For fathers who do not have access to the hard copies, virtual cards are also available for download from the Back to School with Dad web page. This allows more fathers (and mothers) to access the card templates and share them with other parents in their community.
Using these templates, the parents can personalise a note of encouragement to be printed out and placed into lunchboxes or school bags so that their children can be pleasantly surprised during recess or sent to their children’s mobile phones for the older children. Parents will also be provided with a Back to School with Dad toolkit with ideas on how they can prepare their children for the new school year.
“Being there for my children during times of transition such as a new school year helps them understand that Dad will always have their backs. It is also my way of forming precious memories with them in their growing up years – memories which we will always have even as they move on to other stages of life beyond school and into adulthood,” said Mr Bryan Tan, CEO, Centre for Fathering, DADs for Life and MUMs for Life. “We hope that many more fathers and schools will appreciate the importance of a father’s involvement in his child’s schooling journey and pledge their support towards the Back to School with Dad initiative.”
Families for Life Council Chairman Mr Ishak Ismail said, “‘Back to School with Dad’ is a meaningful initiative for fathers (and mothers) to put their love and commitment in action. As fathers become more involved in the key milestones of their children’s lives, it will help them to navigate these transitions and approach the new school year positively. We hope more fathers will make time to accompany their children to school on their first day and create memories that will be cherished for many years to come.”
Hashtag: #CentreforFathering #BacktoSchoolwithDad
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Back to School with Dad
Research* shows that when fathers are engaged in children’s education, their children perform better academically and are better able to adapt to their schooling journey emotionally and socially. They are also less likely to drop out and exhibit undesirable behaviour in school.
Underpinned by evidence of the importance a father’s role in his children’s academic journey, Centre for Fathering mooted the initiative in 2006 to encourage fathers to take time out from work to accompany their children to school at the start of the school year and send them notes of encouragement to ease them in.
Organised by Centre for Fathering, DADs for Life and MUMs for Life, in partnership with Families for Life and in support of Made For Families and Celebrating SG Families, Back to School with Dad aims to encourage fathers to play a more active role in their children’s schooling journey.
For more information about Back to School with Dad, go to www.fathers.com.sg/btsd.
*Information extracted from https://www.fatherhood.gov/for-dads/father-involvement-education,
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2013/fatherhood-institute-research-summary-fathers-and-their-childrens-education/