Innovative O2O Mode to Blend Virtual & Real Worlds Pre-sale of Hong Kong Virtual Building NFTs to Generate Millions AiR to House Hottest NFT Bunny Warriors Play-to-Earn in Virtual Adventure Game
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Hong Kong tech start-up Air World Limited proudly announces the launch of its brand-new, decentralized virtual world AiR Metaverse (AiR). Through blockchains, users can build and claim ownership of digital properties with tokens, constructing a metaverse economy. AiR Metaverse sets itself apart from its competitors by reimagining Hong Kong in its virtual environments. With a location-based gameplay, AiR Metaverse leverages its unique O2O (Offline to Online) mode to give users access to its ubiquitous gateways into the Metaverse, connecting to every aspect of their life and creating a truly authentic experience in its Hong Kong-themed virtual world. In addition, AiR has completed its first round of invite-only virtual building NFT pre-sale with 100 iconic structures, in which multiple individuals and enterprises have expressed keen interest. It is expected to generate millions of dollars in revenue, laying a strong foundation for the second round of pre-sale set to commence very soon.
AiR Metaverse co-founder Gabriel has a clear vision. “The metaverse is still a rather novel and distant concept to many, who have yet to fully comprehend and experience it. It might even still rest on just a promotion level for businesses. AiR is seeking a breakthrough to this. We want to start from Hong Kong and showcase how a metaverse can meet various business needs. We also want to be the most accessible and practical metaverse by offering an intuitive interface so as to further our reach and allow a wide audience to experience the strength of the Web3 technology. AiR will invest significant resources in enriching and diversifying its gameplay. It also provides limitless possibilities for NFT developers and is set to become an NFT playground!”
AiR has previously completed its first round of invite-only virtual building NFT pre-sale with 100 iconic structures, attracting multiple shopping malls, real estate developers, retail brands, celebrities, local artists, and other high-profile figures to set foot in the metaverse. One of the enterprises has confirmed to acquire over ten virtual buildings at millions of dollars to provide clients and partners with a metaverse experience. Another local NFT brand has signed an initial purchase offer for the virtual space of the Central Harbourfront Event Space, where the brand’s virtual carnival will be held. AiR will continue to launch rounds of pre-sale of Hong Kong building NFTs. A local realtor company has already expressed interest in representing AiR in its virtual building sales. The project will advance in 2022, with 300 virtual building NFT expected to be sold, forecasting an eight-figure revenue.
Co-founder Yuk added, “We’ll sell regular game NFTs at the same time. Through establishing an ecosystem with enterprise clients and collaboration with celebrities, we will materialize a GameFi era. NFT will no longer be merely an avatar or collectible, but a key to AiR metaverse. With the NFT, a Play-to-Earn model is made possible, where users can accomplish tasks to earn rewards and leisure gameplay can be monetized.” AiR is working tirelessly with various NFTs, notably the sought-after local NFT Bunny Warriors, which is endorsed by a plethora of celebrities. With a goal to bring NFT to another level, Yuk also shared that AiR will enter into the Southeast Asia and Taiwan markets, hoping to create a metaverse ecosystem in Asia!
Adventure in Reality
The core of AiR – Adventure in Reality, lies in the amalgamation of mobile games and reality where users embark on an adventure in the real world through an app on their smartphone. With a mobile device, internet, modem, and VR device, users will be able to access the various game scenes in AiR metaverse by simply scanning a QR code found in different places in real life. Users can also build, explore, adventure, and trade in the virtual environments to earn various cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and even physical rewards. AiR blends virtual and real worlds, bringing users and enterprises limitless possibilities.
Highlights of AiR Metaverse
METAVERSE-TO-GO, entering metaverse simply with a scan
METAVERSE-TO-GO makes the metaverse experience highly accessible to all. Users can enter the AiR metaverse by simply scanning a QR code on their mobile devices!
Retail stores and shopping malls can quickly transform into an AR game scene with a QR code. In the gameplay, users collect game cards to complete missions for rewards. Users can also make purchases on AiR or enter the AR game scene by scanning a QR code on a receipt. Again, users collect game cards to complete missions for rewards.
PLAY-TO-EARN, gaining rewards from virtual games
The games in AiR comes in various forms, ranging from virtual stores, battle, cooking, to even jigsaw puzzles and more. Users will earn NFTs, rare game cards, or game currencies. They can also earn physical rewards from AiR’s B2B network, enriching the gameplay. What’s more, fans can play with their favorite pop star characters and complete game tasks by chatting with them. Upon completion of the task, users will be given a special reward from the pop star!
A metaverse for Hong Kongers
To make for a truly Hong Kongers’ metaverse, AiR features familiar retail stores and shopping malls in its virtual environments to enhance its authenticity. AiR is also collaborating with local artist Felix Ip of Hong Kong Machines (香港重機) to reimagine a series of Hong Kong-themed hot spots.
Virtual Building NFT
Owners of virtual building NFTs can customize their constructions. In addition to malls and flagship stores, users can build art galleries, theme parks, or even event spaces to monetize their buildings with entrance fees. They can also install billboards on building exterior and resell the property to make profits.
Trend Micro report warns of growing attack surface for CPU-mining
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today announced a new report revealing a fierce, hour-by-hour battle for resources among malicious cryptocurrency mining groups.
“Just a few hours of compromise could result in profits for the perpetrators. That’s why we’re seeing a continuous fight for cloud CPU resources. It’s akin to a real-life capture-the-flag, with the victim’s cloud infrastructure the battleground,” said Stephen Hilt, Senior Threat Researcher at Trend Micro. “Threats like this need joined-up, platform-based security to ensure the bad guys have nowhere to hide. The right platform will help teams map their attack surface, assess risk, and apply for the right protection without adding excessive overheads.”
Threat actors are increasingly scanning for and exploiting these exposed instances, as well as brute-forcing SecureShell (SSH) credentials, in order to compromise cloud assets for cryptocurrency mining, the report reveals. Targets are often characterized by having outdated cloud software in the cloud environment, poor cloud security hygiene, or inadequate knowledge on how to secure cloud services and thus easily exploited by threat actors to gain access to the systems.
Cloud computing investments have surged during the pandemic. But the ease with which new assets can be deployed has also left many cloud instances online for longer than needed—unpatched and misconfigured.
On one hand, this extra computing workload threatens to slow key user-facing services for victim organizations, as well as increasing operating costs by up to 600% for every infected system.
Crypto mining can also be a precursor to more serious compromise. Many mature threat actors deploy mining software to generate additional revenue before online buyers purchase access for ransomware, data theft, and more.
The Trend Micro report details the activity of multiple threat actor groups in this space, including:
Outlaw, which compromises IoT devices and Linux cloud servers by exploiting known vulnerabilities or performing brute-force SSH attacks.
TeamTNT, which exploits vulnerable software to compromise hosts before stealing credentials for other services to help it move around to new hosts and abuse any misconfigured services.
Kinsing, which sets up an XMRig kit for mining Monero and kicks any other miners off a victim system.
8220, which has been observed fighting Kinsing over the same resources. They frequently eject each other from a host and then install their own cryptocurrency miners.
Kek Security, which has been associated with IoT malware and running botnet services.
To mitigate the threat from cryptocurrency mining attacks in the cloud, Trend Micro recommends organizations to:
Ensure systems are up-to-date and running only the required services
Deploy firewall, IDS/IPS, and cloud endpoint security to limit and filter network traffic to and from known bad hosts
Eliminate configuration errors via Cloud Security Posture Management tools
Monitor traffic to and from cloud instances and filter out domains associated with known mining pools
Deploy rules that monitor open ports, changes to DNS routing, and utilization of CPU resources from a cost perspective
About Trend Micro
Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.trendmicro.com.hk
GLASHÜTTE, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 30 March 2022 – Devotion to the highest standards connects people who call a watch from A. Lange & Söhne their own with those who create them. This is also evident in the four novelties that the Saxon manufactory will present to the public from 30 March to 5 April 2022 at the Geneva Watches and Wonders watch fair, on the Lange Experience Hub as its own platform, and at customer events worldwide.
A. Lange & Söhne novelties to be presented at the trade fair, from left to right: RICHARD LANGE MINUTE REPEATER, ODYSSEUS and GRAND LANGE 1 with two case variations. credit: Lange Uhren GmbH
The RICHARD LANGE watch family is enriched with a timepiece featuring one of the most elaborate sound functions – a minute repeater, classically executed but contemporarily evolved. With its white, three-part enamel dial, the 50-watch limited edition of the RICHARD LANGE MINUTE REPEATER in platinum is delightfully appealing, not only acoustically but also visually.
With the titanium ODYSSEUS, A. Lange & Söhne presents a casually elegant timepiece for high-end technical and aesthetic expectations. The new ice-blue colour and an exclusive surface structure adorn the dial of the brand’s first titanium watch, which is limited to 250 pieces.
The new GRAND LANGE 1 perfectly reflects the ambition to further develop a watch family that has been the face of the brand for more than 25 years and has set new standards in precision watchmaking. The new model’s height has been reduced to 8.2 millimetres, giving the timepiece, which is available in white or pink gold, an even better fit on the wrist.
All these novelties may seem different at first glance, but they do have one thing in common: they are all in line with the ambition of the Saxon manufactory to create new, inspiring masterpieces of watchmaking artistry time and again.
#A.Lange&Söhne
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Dyson Zone™ is Dyson’s first wearable purifier, capturing city pollution including gas, allergens and particulate matter and cancelling unwanted noise with advanced noise cancellation and pure, high-fidelity audio.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Today, Jake Dyson has unveiled the Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones, Dyson’s first step into wearable technology. The Dyson Zone™ is a set of noise cancelling, high fidelity over-ear headphones which simultaneously deliver immersive sound to the ears, and purified airflow to the nose and mouth. The result of over a decade of air quality research and development, the Dyson Zone™ air purifying headphones simultaneously tackle the urban issues of air quality and noise pollution.
As the world’s urban population continues to grow, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 9 in 10 people globally breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline pollutant limits[1]. Where NO2 pollution in cities decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic[2], levels have quickly returned to normal, or exceeded pre-pandemic levels across many global cities[3]. It is estimated that more than 100m people, around 20% of the European population, are exposed to long-term noise exposure above WHO guidance[4]. In Hong Kong, Green Power reviewed the data of 15 general air monitoring stations last year and found that the air quality health index (AQHI) exceeded the standard – 7 or above, and the total number of hours with high health risk has increased 35% from1,609 hours in 2020 to 2,178 hours in 2021[5].
Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer said:“Air pollution is a global problem – it affects us everywhere we go. In our homes, at school, at work and as we travel, whether on foot, on a bike or by public or private transport. The Dyson Zone™ purifies the air you breathe on the move. And unlike face masks, it delivers a plume of fresh air without touching your face, using high-performance filters and two miniaturised air pumps. After six years in development, we’re excited to deliver pure air and pure audio, anywhere.”
6 years & 500 prototypes
The Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones are borne of Dyson’s 30 years of expertise in airflow, filtration and motors technologies and deep understanding of indoor and outdoor air quality. The compressors in each earcup draw air through the dual-layer filters and project two streams of purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth, channelled through the non-contact visor. Sculpted returns on the visor ensure purified airflow is kept near to the nose and mouth and diluted as little as possible by external crosswinds. The Dyson Zone™ delivers rich, immersive audio and relief from unwanted city noise thanks to advanced active noise cancelling (ANC), low distortion and a neutral frequency response, to faithfully replicate music or audio as the creator intended.
Originally a snorkel-like clean air mouthpiece paired with a backpack to hold the motor and inner workings, the Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones evolved dramatically over its six years in development. More than 500 prototypes saw one motor initially placed at the nape become two compressors, one in each ear-cup and the evolution of the snorkel mouthpiece into an effective, contact-free visor that delivers clean air without full-face contact – a brand-new clean air delivery mechanism.
Developing a non-contact solution was a must for Dyson engineers, to avoid the discomfort and irritation often associated with full-contact alternatives. The visor, therefore, was a critical element. The airflow pathways and visor design are central to delivering pure air. The geometries of the visor and the visor returns, alongside the central mesh that diffuses the two jets of airflow, ensure that the purified air exiting the filters is effectively delivered to the nose and mouth in crosswinds, and for the wearer’s specific facial shape. Going beyond existing testing methods, Dyson engineers use a breathing manikin fitted with medical-grade mechanical lungs and sensing equipment, which ‘inhales’ pollution replicating human breathing patterns in a controlled chamber. They then measure the pollution level within the nose and throat to determine the filtration efficacy of those particles which would otherwise end up in Frank’s artificial lung.
Precision-engineered compressors within the earcups draw air through the dual-layer filters, intelligently designed to fit within the considerable space constraints of a headphone. The negatively charged electrostatic filter media captures ultrafine particles such as allergens, and particles from sources such as brake dust, industry combustion and construction whilst a potassium-enriched carbon layer captures city gas pollutants like NO2 and SO2. The compressor channels the purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth via the contact-free visor, formed with flexible returns that to channel the flow of purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth.
A scientific approach
A first foray into the world of audio, Dyson engineers took a scientific approach, choosing not to rely on a ‘golden listener’ approach that many others do. Dyson’s team of audio engineers and acousticians sought to engineer excellent audio led by metrics, backed up with extensive listening trials. The result: pure, rich audio and advanced noise cancellation. Despite the space constraints inherent with a wearable device, Dyson engineers developed a high performing neodymium electroacoustic system within each earcup. A wide frequency response, precise left-right balance and distortion significantly below what can be detected by the human ear, offer a faithful reproduction as the musicians or creators intended.
Through solving a problem of Dyson’s own creation, the engineers have developed an advanced noise cancellation system. Together, the device’s passive attenuation and the ANC, with its unique array of microphones, reduce unwanted environmental noise and motor tones to provide advanced noise cancellation at home, at work and on-the-go. Large, angled ear cushions mould around the listener’s ear, with a foam density and headband clamp force engineered specifically for both comfort and optimal noise reduction.
Engineered for comfort
Every head on the planet is unique. As Dyson’s first wearable, Dyson engineers had to think about comfort in a new way. Detailed research into head and face geometries meant engineers could measure how the Dyson Zone™ air purifying headphones would sit on and perform on different heads– informing the clamp force of the headband, the geometry and materials of the visor, the adjustability of the machine and much more.
Taking inspiration from the shape and design of a horse’s saddle, the Dyson Zone™ is engineered to distribute weight over the sides of the head, rather than on the top. A saddle typically curves over the horse’s spine distributing the load through contact with the areas left and right of the backbone – a format used for the central cushion on the headband.
The development of the ear cushions is important for three reasons: comfort, on-head stability and passive attenuation. Foam is an obvious choice for ear cushions but Dyson engineers dug deep into the make-up of different foams to choose the most suitable material based on density, rate of compression and spring-back rate – all of which change the way pressure translates onto the head. When choosing the optimal foam for the ear and headband cushions, it was important to balance the comfort it provides, its stability when moulded to the ear, but critically the acoustic benefit it provides. Moulding around the ear increases the size of the contact points providing better sealing – and inhibiting additional urban noise entering the ear. The cushion is purposefully flatter than conventional ear cushions for both attenuation and comfort, and the cushions are angled in line with the angle of the ear on the head for optimal comfort.
A global effort
The Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones have been engineered by teams across the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and China, with a particular focus on software on our South East Asia campuses. The app development and integration was a critical project to ensure a smooth connection journey and provide intelligent, meaningful air and noise pollution tracking features. Robustness and durability are central to a product that leaves the home with the wearer. As with all Dyson machines, the Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones have been tested to the extremes – in temperature-controlled chambers, drop-testing, material and fabric wear testing, button robustness and much more. Our expert test engineers in the Dyson Malaysia Development Centre are integral to this, as is the geography – putting it through its paces in warmer climates and higher humidity compared to UK-based testing.
The Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones will be available from Autumn 2022. Timings will vary by geography. Full product specification and further details on availability will be announced in the coming months.
Radical new format for delivering purified air and high-fidelity audio on-the-go
Electrostatic filtration captures 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 microns, such as dust, pollen and bacteria
Potassium-enriched carbon filter captures city gases like NO2, SO2 and O3.
Contact-free air delivery visor channels two streams of purified air to the nose and mouth, engineered specifically for usage outdoors and in crosswinds
The smallest in any Dyson machine to date, two motors sit in each earcup and are the beating heart of the Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones
Advanced ANC and a high performing neodymium electroacoustic system deliver rich, immersive audio that faithfully replicates audio as the artist or creator intended
15 undergraduate students from the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology worked on the Dyson Zone™ project, supporting disciplines as diverse as acoustics development, electronics and airflow systems
3 ANC modes: Isolation, Conversation and Transparency
o Isolation mode: highest level of active noise cancellation to provide a rich, immersive audio experience – for example when you might be needing to concentrate on the task at hand.
o Conversation mode activates when you dip the visor – automatically turns off the purification to conserve battery power and amplifies conversation
o Transparency mode is designed to allow you to be aware of your surroundings, by amplifying key sounds like emergency service sirens or informational announcements.
4 air purification modes: low, medium, high and Auto. Because different levels of exertion require different breathing patterns, the Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones are informed by on-board accelerometers and in Auto mode, will toggle automatically between high, medium and low purification speeds as needed.
4 formats:
o Combined air purification, audio playback and ANC – visor remains attached
o The device can be used in for audio-only – the visor can be moved
o For scenarios that require community face coverings, the community face covering attachment forms a sealed solution – this is provided in the box
o For geographies or situations that require FFP2-compliant face coverings, an FFP2 face covering attachment meets the required filtration standard – this is provided in the box
Dyson AQ History
For 30 years, Dyson engineers have been removing particles from airflow. It started with cyclonic technology and the world’s first bagless vacuum, and has since developed into cordless, robotic and omni-directional vacuum cleaners, hand dryers, purifiers, and humidifier purifiers. Over the last decade, since the birth of the Dyson Environmental Care category, researching indoor and outdoor air quality has been high on Dyson’s agenda.
In 2009, Dyson launched the first bladeless fan and our engineers quickly turned their attention not just to moving air, but to cooling or heating people and spaces with clean air. The first Dyson purifiers launched in 2015 and have since developed to incorporate formaldehyde destruction, hygienic humidification and full-machine HEPA filtration. The Dyson Zone™ air-purifying headphones are Dyson’s next step, entering the worlds of wearable technology and audio, taking the high-quality filtration performance our machines offer to users on-the-go.
Alongside product development, Dyson collaborates with research bodies and academic institutions to advance global understanding of air quality globally. In 2019, Dyson engineers developed the Dyson AQ backpack for the Breathe London Wearables project. 250 schoolchildren wore the backpack fitted with particle and gas sensors, GPS and a battery pack to monitor their pollution exposure on their journeys to and from school. The data continues to support further research into air quality, and since the study, 31% of participating children changed their route to school or transport method to minimise exposure to pollution.
Since then, the Dyson Air Quality backpack has been used in more than 14 cities worldwide to educate individuals on their personal air quality exposure, as part of the Dyson Investigates Air Quality: Lockdown project. The backpacks are currently being used across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the CAPPA project, led by Queen Mary University London, to understand asthma rates among African children. Dyson works with a range of leading academics and experts across the globe, who together form the Dyson Scientific Advisory Board. The James Dyson Foundation champions the role of air quality education in schools, offering at-home, primary and secondary-level educational resources, helping students recognise and understand air pollution indoors and outdoors, and tackle the problem in a hands-on way, by engineering their own air pollution monitor. For more information, please visit the James Dyson Foundation website.
[5] Green Power Air Quality Hong Kong Press Briefing
About Dyson
Dyson is a global research and technology company with engineering, research, development, manufacturing and testing operations in Singapore, the UK, Malaysia, Mexico, China and the Philippines. Having started in a coach house in the UK, Dyson has consistently grown since it was established in 1993. Today, it has a global headquarters in Singapore and two technology campuses in the UK spanning over 800 acres in Malmesbury and Hullavington. Since 1993, Dyson has invested more than £1bn in its Wiltshire offices and laboratories that house the early stage research, design and development of future Dyson technology. Dyson remains family-owned and employs over 13,000 people globally including a 5,000 strong engineering team. It sells products in 84 markets internationally in over 318 Dyson Demo stores, 50 of which opened around the world in 2021 including a new Dyson Virtual Reality Demo Store.
Dyson is investing £2.75bn in the business to conceive revolutionary products and technologies, and this year will spend £600m of this investment in technology, facilities, and laboratories. Dyson has global teams of engineers, scientists and software developers focused on the development of solid-state battery cells, high-speed electric digital motors, sensing and vision systems, robotics, machine learning technologies and A.I. investment. Since inventing the first cyclonic bagless vacuum cleaner – DC01- in 1993, Dyson has created problem solving technologies for haircare, air purification, robotics, lighting and hand drying.
The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology is a new model for engineering education combining the academic rigour of a traditional university with hands-on and real-world experience of working on live product and technology projects inside a global technology company. Dyson’s 156 undergraduate engineers are paid a salary from day one and pay no tuition fees.
Founded in 2002, the James Dyson Foundation is an international charity that empowers aspiring engineers, supports engineering in education and invests in medical research, donating over £140m to charitable causes to date. The James Dyson Award is the Foundation’s annual international design competition and is open to current and recent design and engineering students. Since starting in 2005, the Award has supported more than 285 inventions, providing funds to support their commercialisation.
Key Facts and Figures
Dyson’s latest technologies for creating a healthy home, such as the Dyson V15 Detect Vacuum and Dyson Pure Cool Formaldehyde, are the result of a £130m investment, we will invest an additional £2.75bn over the next five years.
Dyson manufactures a product every 1.26 seconds.
Last year Dyson manufactured its 100 millionth digital motor. The motors are five times faster than a Formula One engine and the technology lies at the heart of our machines, powering our popular cordless vacuum cleaners, the Airblade hand dryers, the iconic Supersonic hair dryer and the Airwrap styler.
Dyson undertook one of the broadest studies of Air Quality during lockdown, using our backpacks in 14 cities and 1,576,658 connected purifiers in homes around the world.
70% of James Dyson Award international winners are commercialising their projects, against a backdrop where 90% of start-ups fail.
#Dyson
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Transform the Business Landscape for Hong Kong Original Design Products and Brands to Seize Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area
Appeal for Excellent Design Products under Four Categories
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Organized by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the first flagship business platform “Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in Greater Bay Area 2022” (“the Project”) is now calling for applications from Hong Kong original design products, brands and design services companies which have interest to expand their presence and business in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) market. Through a series of business matching sessions, as well as Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customer (B2C) events, the Project aims to bring new development opportunities for the Hong Kong design industry and SMEs in the rapidly growing GBA market. Interested companies may submit applications for their excellent design products in the categories of Gifts, Home & Houseware, Lifestyle, and Others by 6 May 2022.
Facilitating Hong Kong SMEs to Seize Emerging Opportunities in the Booming GBA Market
The development plan of the GBA aims to build a strong Pearl River Delta economic zone across Hong Kong, Macao (two Special Administrative Regions) and nine cities in the Guangdong Province, making it an extensive market with a plethora of business opportunities. To further deepen the regional cooperation, the Project is positioned to consciously develop and promote “Hong Kong Original Design” brands within the GBA, consequently generating a synergetic promotional effect for the Hong Kong SMEs.
Showcasing 25 years of Hong Kong’s Innovation and Groundbreaking Designs
Riding on the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which is a milestone demonstrating the last 25 years of prosperous history in the development of Hong Kong’s economy, the Project launched this year will showcase the strength of Hong Kong exporters and their unlimited potential, talent, and creativity, and help bolster their business opportunities in the GBA.
A Platform for Expanding Network and Creating Business Opportunities
The “Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in GBA 2022” serves as a launchpad for introducing Hong Kong’s original design products, brands and design services to other markets in the GBA through a series of B2B and B2C events that will bring new development opportunities for the Hong Kong design industry, export community, manufacturers, and SMEs.
By participating in the Project, these companies will have access to major B2B trade fairs, roadshows at public transport stations, and kiosks or pop-up stores in large shopping malls in the GBA, in addition to the Business Matching Sessions with Mainland Buyers, and priority to join the relevant Business Summit/ Seminars to keep abreast of the government policies and news of the GBA development. As a result, they will not only maintain the relationship with their stakeholders, but also benefit from the vast business opportunities in the GBA.
Application for the “Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in GBA 2022” is now open. The table below shows the Biz-Sectors in which the applying companies can choose to take part and the corresponding application fees. For more information on the Project, please visit www.shksd.org.
Target Biz-Sectors & application fees
The application fee(s) is/are charged according to the Biz-Sector(s) the Applicant chooses to take part in.
Target Biz-Sectors
Application Fees (HK$)
HKEA Members
Referral corporates of sponsoring organizations
Standard Fee
Biz-Sector A
(Kiosk/Pop-up Store)
Retail Business Opportunities:
1. K11 Guangzhou
2. HKTDC Design Gallery (HK)
3. Shopping Mall in GBA
$1,000
$3,750
$5,000
Biz-Sector B
(B2B Trade Fairs)
Trade Fair/ Design Show:
1. Canton Fair in Oct 2022
2. Design Shenzhen in Dec 2022
$1,000
$3,750
$5,000
Biz-Sector C^
(Shops in Public Transport Stations)
Retail Business Opportunities:
1. At the High Speed Rail Stations / Domestic Airports in the GBA cities
$1,000
$3,750
$5,000
Plus other fees (see below)*
^Applicants opting for Biz-Sector C should be entitled to issue Mainland VAT special invoices.
*The above do not include other costs that may arise, such as bank transfers, credit card transaction fees, expenses due to sales issues, logistics, etc.
Application Deadline: 6 May 2022 Kick-off Ceremony Live Stream: 27 April 2022 Business Summit/Seminars: Jun/Jul 2022 Trade Shows & Roving Exhibitions: Jun-Dec 2022
About Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in Greater Bay Area 2022
Organized by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the “Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in GBA 2022” is a business platform that aims to introduce Hong Kong original design products, brands and design services to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) through a series of B2B trade fairs, business matching sessions with Mainland buyers, and B2C showcases and pop-up stores to bring new development opportunities for the Hong Kong design industry, export community, manufacturers and SMEs. Online application is now open, please visit www.shksd.org for more details.
About The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) is a non-profit making trade association registered under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance in May 1955 as a company limited by guarantee. We are committed to expanding business opportunities and developing Hong Kong as a trading hub for exporters. To provide a better service to our members from service industries, especially the Import and Export trade service, we liaise with the government, initiate various projects and organise seminars, luncheons, trade missions and exhibitions in order to help our members to capitalise on new market opportunities. In addition, we also disseminate the latest local and international trade information in a timely manner and help exporters gain additional exposure via online product promotions and searching services, to promote Hong Kong’s export trade and to enhance its competitiveness. For more information, please visit: www.hkexporters.org.hk
About CreateHK Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated agency set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in June 2009. It is under the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and dedicated to spearheading the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK has been sponsoring the “Hong Kong Smart Design Awards” (formerly known as “Hong Kong Smart Gifts Design Awards”) since 2012 and the “Hong Kong Smart Design, Sparkle in GBA 2022” in 2022 to promote Hong Kong’s design.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF)‘s exclusive roundtable on ‘Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector’ was held in a hybrid setting yesterday at the Element by Westin Kuala Lumpur. The discussion focused on what business leaders need to understand, to ensure business resilience and sustainability as well as to remain relevant in the digital economy especially as part of their post-COVID-19 recovery strategies. In attendance as guest of honour was Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
In his keynote speech titled ‘Driving Digital Resilience in the Context of Regulatory and Policy Frameworks’, Datuk Zahidi said, “The Malaysian government will also continue to invest in digital infrastructure. The case in point will be the 5G rollout. The new 5G networks support a massive number of connected devices and are expected to be much faster, reliant, and efficient. 5G technology will also provide a more stable mobile network for these activities and will also enable infrastructure for other services. This will allow foreign and domestic investors the required bandwidth to grow well into the future.
“Emphasising on empowering the youth and fresh graduates in the digital economy, strengthening and nurturing skilled human capital is essential in the digital economy but the individual has a responsibility to themselves to be digitally resilient by equipping and arming themselves with the right skill sets. This will ensure they are future-proofed so that Malaysia can be an investment destination not because we have cheap labour but because we have highly qualified and productive individuals,” he added.
In the Asia Pacific region, investments in digital resilience reportedly grew fastest in 2020 in correlation with the region’s overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to Europe and North America. The surge is due to organisations realising the importance of being prepared for future business disruptions.
Founding Chairman of the Malaysia Global Business Forum, Nordin Abdullah, said, “We are at the beginning of a megatrend. The next generation of corporate leaders need to be empowered now. To survive in the business ecosystem that has become increasingly digital, leaders must be cognisant of the evolving threat matrix of the global digital economy.
“From start-ups to small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs) to larger organisations, all must invest in their own digital resilience. Simply because it is a component of any sustainable future. Failure to do so will only ensure you become a dinosaur in the digital era,” concluded Nordin, who is also a crisis management analyst.
Chief Executive Officer of Novem CS Sdn Bhd, Murugason R. Thangaratnam, in his closing remark, said, “Cyber security is the minimum baseline in a corporate sector’s digital equation thus, cyber-resilient organisations need to prioritise the protection of their crown jewels. A major component of cyber resilience is the ability to adapt and evolve your security posture to stay ahead of threats.”
The outcome of the discussion highlighted three critical success factors – a policy and regulatory ecosystem that encourages innovation that leads to economic growth, the need for considerable investments from both the public and private sectors, and to empower the next generation of human capital and to inculcate the understanding of digital resilience for a sustainable future.
Held at the Element by Westin Kuala Lumpur, the “Digital Resilience in the Corporate Sector” discussion is the second of the Malaysia Global Business Forum’s 2022 series of exclusive roundtables on “The Evolving Threat Matrix of the Digital Economy”. This series will confront critical questions impacting the future of business in the rapidly digitising world.
Speakers at the event also include Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC), Iskandar Ismail; Chief Executive Officer of Big Dataworks Sdn Bhd., Sheriza Zakaria; Chief Executive Officer of The Center of Applied Data Science (The CADS), Sharala Axryd; Director of International Business Development for Perfios Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Nantha Subramanian; Chief Executive Officer of Matryzel Consulting Inc., Bobby Varanasi; Founder and Director of SoCo and World Wonderers (WoW), Dr Sophie Lemière; Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Dr Julia Roknifard; Co-Chairman of Malaysia Global Business Forum and Executive Director of Tindakan Strategi Sdn Bhd, Rizal Kamaruzzaman; and Chief Executive Officer of Novem CS Sdn Bhd., Murugason R. Thangaratnam. The panel session was moderated by Editor-at-Large for News Hub Asia, Ruzanna Muhammad.
MGBF was established to empower stakeholders at the intersection of international and Malaysian business. Through government relations, business intelligence, advocacy, media engagement, market research, networking, advisory and business matching, MGBF will continue to explore threats and opportunities with industry leaders and policy makers to ensure that Malaysia becomes a leader in the context of Asia.
The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) was established to empower stakeholders at the intersection of international and Malaysian business. Through government relations, business intelligence, advocacy, media engagement, market research, networking, advisory and business matching, MGBF delivers results for individuals, corporations, trade and business associations, as well as national and state governments.
New production facility is aligned with the Indonesian Government’s plans to develop green economy and drive sustainable development
Additional supply for expanded production capacity will come entirely from APRIL’s existing supply chain
PANGKALAN KERINCI, RIAU, INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Leading sustainable fibre and product producer Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL Group), a member of the Singapore-headquartered RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, has strengthened its commitment to supporting the growth of the green economy in Indonesia. The company is set to expand its product portfolio in the downstream sector by investing IDR33.4 trillion (US$1.9 billion) in a sustainable paperboard production facility.
The construction of the new facility – which will be located at APRIL’s operations in Pangkalan Kerinci, in Riau province, Sumatra – is one of the largest manufacturing investments in Sumatra in the last decade. The investment is expected to support Indonesia’s continued economic development and recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic through the diversification of sustainable downstream fibre products with added value.
When completed, the paperboard packaging facility will be capable of producing 1.2 million tons of folding box board annually that is fully recyclable and biodegradable. This growth is to meet the demand for more environmentally friendly packaging products in the domestic and international markets.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the construction of the new production facility, Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said: “We warmly welcome this investment by APRIL Group, which will improve the wellbeing and prosperity of the local communities while also boosting national economic development. The government will continue to develop strategies to support the recovery of national exports through strengthening market access and helping to improve product competitiveness”.
Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Industry, said: “The increased manufacturing of paperboard in Indonesia will reduce our dependence on imports for this product, while also boosting our foreign exchange reserves through export-oriented sales. This development is also aligned with our Government’s focus to reduce reliance on imports and boost Indonesia’s industrial and manufacturing development.”
Sihol Aritonang, President Director, PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, the operating arm of APRIL Group, said that the investment was the latest stage in the company’s development of its operations in Riau and was part of APRIL’s long term commitment to the region.
“This is our largest single investment here since the company was founded almost 30 years ago. This product diversification strengthens our commitment to grow our business sustainably, in line with our existing sustainability commitments and our APRIL2030 targets. The new facility will have a significant positive multiplier effect on our surrounding cities and towns, with over 4,000 construction jobs and nearly 1,000 permanent roles planned,” he said.
APRIL launched its APRIL2030 targets in November 2020 to deliver a positive impact on the climate, nature and people, while growing its business sustainably over the next decade.
The development comes as a global focus on reducing the use of plastics, polyester and other fossil fuel-based materials gathers pace. Demand for recyclable and biodegradable options for everything from packaging to fashion is being driven by consumer preference via expanding e-retail purchases in high-growth markets such as China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam.
The global paperboard packaging market is expected to grow by 3% this year, also driven by increased food production linked to population growth and lifestyle changes such as the preference for individual packaging and food deliveries.
APRIL Group’s fibre supply comes from 100% renewable plantation sources. Additional supply for expanded production capacity will come entirely from its existing supply chain. The company has posted a 40% increase in fibre yield over the past five years from its existing plantations while also committing US$1 per tonne of plantation fibre produced towards landscape conservation. The company has targeted a 50% gain in fibre plantation productivity by 2030.
The investment in downstream diversification and value added products is also in compliance with APRIL Group’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy 2.0 which includes no deforestation. It will directly contribute to the achievement of the company’s APRIL2030 commitments, including net zero emissions from land use, zero net loss of conservation areas, positive biodiversity gains and zero extreme poverty in its communities.
About APRIL Group:
APRIL Group is a leading producer of fibre, pulp and paper with plantations and manufacturing operations in Riau Province, Indonesia. We are committed to sustainability in our business and in the broader landscapes where we operate. Under our production-protection model, we adopted a unique 1- for-1 goal where we aim to conserve one hectare of forest for every hectare of plantation, and currently conserve and restore approximately 364,996 hectares of forests, including the largest peatland restoration project in Indonesia. For more information, visit www.aprilasia.com and follow Twitter @aprilpulp
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 March 2022 – Chubb announced today the completion of the agreement for the transfer of renewal rights of DUAL Asia’s Financial Lines portfolios in Hong Kong SAR and Singapore. Chubb will be purchasing the business assets including the intellectual property and underwriting models from DUAL in both Hong Kong and Singapore and intends to hire DUAL’s underwriting personnel. Verone Shek, DUAL Asia’s Underwriting and Operations Director, will take on the role as Chubb’s Underwriting and Operations Integration Manager, Financial Lines – Asia reporting to Jamie Park, Regional Head of Financial Lines – Asia; strengthening the Chubb team responsible for the continued growth of the small commercial business in Asia. The parties intend the take-over of DUAL’s client portfolio renewal rights to be effective from 18 June 2022.
In order to better serve the small commercial segment, Chubb has made investments in its people, processes and products over the years. This agreement further demonstrates Chubb’s commitment to expand its capability and enhance competitiveness in the small commercial marketplace.
Mr. Grant Cairns, Chubb’s Regional Head for Property & Casualty in Asia Pacific said, “This is an exciting opportunity for us to accelerate our small commercial growth plans in Hong Kong and Singapore. In both maturing markets, small commercial owners have become increasingly aware of the importance of secure and stable professional and management liability coverage. We aspire to be the go-to insurer to deliver such coverage backed by our award-winning claims service.”
Mr. Damien Coates, CEO DUAL Asia Pacific, said, “We are pleased to have signed the transfer agreement with Chubb, a leading Financial Lines insurer in the Asia region. This will allow us to focus our efforts and resources on our core strengths and growth in additional regions. We will work closely with Chubb to ensure a seamless transition for all stakeholders involved.”
About Chubb
Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide.
Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.
#Chubb
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.