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Mekong and U.S. Strengthen Partnership for Sustainable Water Management

Major General Diana M. Holland, Mississippi River Commission President and Mississippi Valley Division Commander.

Op-Ed (Coordinated by U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Lao PDR)

By: Major General Diana M. Holland, Mississippi River Commission President and Mississippi Valley Division Commander 

Water is life. The need for this resource is universal, yet access to water is not guaranteed in many parts of the world. Together, the world faces new and evolving challenges.

Climate change—and it’s anticipated effects like prolonged droughts, changing weather patterns, and food insecurity—will create new barriers for vulnerable and at-risk communities to access clean drinking water and sufficient food sources. It is essential that we work together, across national and regional boundaries, to confront these emerging challenges. We all share a responsibility to protect and sustainably use our global natural resources to ensure they last.

One component of the Sister River Partnership is to facilitate reciprocal visits for representatives from the United States to travel to see the Mekong River and representatives from the Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Mekong River Commission Secretariat to travel to see the Mississippi River.

These in-person exchanges highlight the enduring friendship and partnership between the two river commissions, and enable us to better understand the challenges impacting riparian communities in both locations. Most of all these in-person visits afford us the opportunity to learn first-hand from each other on best practices and lessons learned to protect our waterways.

My team and I recently had the opportunity to visit Laos, and we were thoroughly impressed by the grandness of the mighty Mekong. The river’s sheer importance to the community and the Lao way of life is immediately obvious and reminded us of our home along the Mississippi River.

During our time in Laos, we had the fortune of visiting the Mekong River in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Xayaboury, and we met with senior representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the Mekong River Commission Secretariat headquartered in Vientiane.

My team and I observed immense dedication from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to protect the Mekong River for generations to come.

I look forward to continued collaboration with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and I eagerly await the opportunity to warmly welcome representatives from the Lao PDR to visit the Mississippi River for the next Sister Rivers Partnership exchange.

Appointment of Laurent Boisdron as Vice President & General Manager of Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila, The Philippines

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 28 July 2022 – Lanson Place Personal Hotels and Residences (Lanson Place) is pleased to announce the appointment of Laurent Boisdron as Vice President & General Manager of Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila, The Philippines.

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Laurent has over 29 years of hotel management experience in the USA, Philippines, France, Spain, Belgium and United Arab Emirates. Before joining Lanson Place, Laurent spearheaded the pre-opening and opening teams of Sable Navy Pier, Curio Collection by Hilton as the General Manager in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to that, he was General Manager of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC)’s luxury property, Conrad Manila from 2018 to 2020.

Laurent’s work has been highly recognized throughout the years, as validated by his numerous awards: 2021 Hotel Management’s GMs To Watch (USA), 2019 CMO Asia Award for one of the Best General Managers in the Philippines, 2017 Asia Pacific Hotel of the Year Award (Radisson Blu Cebu), and the 2015 President’s Award for outstanding quality for Radisson North America, among others.

Commenting on this appointment, Michael Hobson, Chief Executive Officer of Lanson Place said “We are thrilled to bring Laurent on board with his extensive hotel management experience in both The Philippines and around the world as Lanson Place makes its first foray in the country. Under his strong leadership, Laurent will assemble and lead the team to position this magnificent 390 key property in one of Manila’s most exciting business and entertainment hubs, and introduce the Lanson Place brand to the community.”

Scheduled to open in 2023, Lanson Place Mall of Asia, the first Lanson Place property in The Philippines located in the heart of SM Mall of Asia, will feature a 247-room hotel and 143-room serviced suites, providing guests with direct access to extensive retail, food and beverage and entertainment facilities. Lanson Place Mall of Asia is in close proximity to the flagship SMX Convention Center Manila as well as the iconic eCom office buildings, making it ideal not only for leisure guests but for business travellers and MICE delegates as well.

Hashtag: #LansonPlace

About Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited

Lanson Place is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wing Tai Properties Limited (Wing Tai), a publicly listed company in Hong Kong (HKEx stock code: 369). Wing Tai currently manages 7 properties (in which Wing Tai has equity in two) under the Lanson Place brand, comprising luxury Personal Hotels and Residences in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as well as two upcoming properties in Manila and Melbourne (to be opened in 2023).

Lanson Place provides comfortable, personal sanctuaries for extended stay guests at central locations in major global cities. Infused by a family-like service tradition, Lanson Place creates warm and sheltered places with a club-like feel where communities form and bond. Guests can enjoy a home-away-from-home experience.

The Group aims to grow the Lanson Place brand across the Asia-Pacific region and continues to explore both investment and management opportunities in major gateway cities.

OrangeTee & Tie launches second run of Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Internship Programme less than four months after inaugural run

– More than 239 applications received for first run

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 July 2022 – Real estate agency OrangeTee & Tie (OTT) has launched its second run of the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Internship Programme, following the success of the industry’s first-ever internship programme of this nature earlier in March 2022. With another $500,000 set aside, the second RES programme will once again be fully funded by OrangeTee, and will benefit 200 interns, providing them with access to learning materials, in-house training and project marketing opportunities to kickstart their careers as real estate agents. Exclusive access to OrangeTee’s fast track package, alongside its Career Booster package, will also be offered to successful interns.

Officially launched on 14 July 2022, the second run of the programme has received an enthusiastic response so far. In less than a week, OrangeTee has received over 70 submissions.

In addition to a full reimbursement of the examination and course fees, OrangeTee will be awarding interns a $500 cash bonus upon joining OrangeTee after being successfully registered as a licensed salesperson with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). Interns will have 12 months to pass the RES examination and submit their applications to CEA for registration. Examination and application fees will be covered by OrangeTee.

Complimentary training courses and full access to weekly revision classes will also be made available to all interns. Under the second RES programme, interns will also be able to enjoy the flexibility to determine their course schedule. Interns simply have to register for the RES course and OrangeTee will reimburse the amount paid once they complete the programme, upon CEA’s approval.

Following completion of the RES programme, interns will have exclusive access to a 6-month fast track package, which aims to expedite their promotion to Associate Manager at OrangeTee. They will also be entitled to OrangeTee’s Career Booster package. The key highlight of the package is the provision of Continuing Professional Development Scheme (CPDS) Credits, comprising four CPD credits for courses related to Professional Competencies and two CPD credits for courses related to Generic Competencies.

Sheryl Lim, 42, Assistant Associate Manager of OrangeTee, said: “I am grateful to be able to start my real estate career through the OrangeTee Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Internship Programme. The training courses available, especially OrangeTee’s Real Estate Millionaire programme, equipped me with the necessary industry knowledge to get me started. My mentors were always there to guide me with kindness and patience. Getting full access to OrangeTee’s suite of digital tools really shortened my learning curve.”

Mr Simon Yio, Chief Operating Officer at OrangeTee & Tie, said: “Sheryl’s achievements from the RES programme are promising – proving that the programme is a step in the right direction for the industry. The inaugural run of the RES programme has also provided us with insights on how we can better nurture aspiring RESs, during and beyond the programme.”

Mr Yio further added, “People have always been at the heart of our business, as we truly believe that they are key to our growth as an agency. We stay committed to attracting and empowering talent to excel in this ever-evolving industry, which is why we are back with the second run of the RES programme. In addition to building a strong talent pipeline, investment in the latest technologies has been another cornerstone of OrangeTee’s continued growth. We are confident that equipping these budding agents with our robust in-house training, coupled with access to the full suite of our leading digital technology tools, will enhance their productivity and enable them to drive growth by providing better counsel to clients.”

OrangeTee’s RES Internship Programme is open to all Singaporeans of at least 21 years of age. Fresh graduates and mid-career switchers are welcome to apply. Applications are open and interested participants can email their interest at people_operations@orangetee.com or sign up on OrangeTee’s official website here. OrangeTee will be closing the application link upon receiving 200 applications.

Hashtag: #OrangeTee&Tie #singaporerealestate

About OrangeTee & Tie

Founded in February 2000, OrangeTee has firmly established itself as one of the most reputable, dynamic and fast-growing real estate companies in Singapore over the past two decades. In 2017, the associate agencies of OrangeTee and Edmund Tie & Company merged to form OrangeTee & Tie. Today, the company remains at the forefront of technology and innovation in the property industry, with its digital solutions such as the exclusive OrangeTee Agent App. OrangeTee champions transparent and ethical advisory practices, while committed to building a sustainable business.

Stray Dog Causes Motorbike Crash in Vientiane Capital

A loose dog in the road caused an accident near That Luang yesterday, sending two people to the hospital with serious injuries.

Four Years On, Attapeu Dam Collapse Victims Continue to Wait for New Homes

Attapeu dam disaster victims continue to wait for homes.
Unfinished houses built for victims of the 2018 dam collapse in Attapeu Province.

Victims of the dam collapse in Attapeu Province continue to wait for housing, four years after the disaster.  

Goodyear Joins Lockheed Martin to Commercialize Lunar Mobility

Vehicle Tires Designed for Extreme Temperatures in One Sixth Gravity on Crater-Filled Terrain

AKRON, OHIO – Media OutReach – 28 July 2022 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company supplied essential products for NASA’s Apollo program, including the Apollo 11 mission which landed on the Moon 53 years ago today. The company will continue that tradition—focusing on lunar vehicle tires—by joining Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) in its development of a lunar mobility vehicle.

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Since Apollo, Goodyear continued innovating alongside NASA to advance designs for a lunar vehicle tire. The team of companies intends to be the first to establish extended-use commercial vehicle operations on the Moon. Goodyear brings its vast expertise in a mission-critical component to traverse the lunar surface, tires.

“NASA’s Artemis program to live and work on the Moon has a clear need for lunar surface transportation that we intend to meet with vehicles driven by astronauts or operated autonomously without crew,” said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin. “We’re developing this new generation of lunar mobility vehicle to be available to NASA and for commercial companies and even other space agencies to support science and human exploration. This approach exemplifies NASA’s desire for industry to take the lead with commercial efforts that enable the agency to be one of many customers.”

Goodyear is drawing from its advanced airless tire technology used on Earth with micro-mobility, autonomous shuttles and passenger vehicles, to advance lunar mobility and withstand the challenging conditions on the Moon. The companies are already applying existing expertise to the project including testing concepts in lunar soil test beds.

“Everything we learn from making tires for the Moon’s extremely difficult operating environment will help us make better airless tires on Earth,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear. “This will contribute to our end goal of enabling mobility no matter where it takes place. Just as important, it is an honor to write history with this prestigious company who knows how to make giant leaps in exploration and mobility.”

The Apollo lunar rovers were purposely built for just a few days of use on excursions within five miles of their landing sites. Future missions will need to traverse rugged terrain over much longer distances while operating in greater temperature extremes. New tire capabilities will need to be developed for years of durability and even survive the night that sees temperatures of below -250 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime temps of over 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lockheed Martin leads this growing team by leveraging its more than 50-year-history of working with NASA on deep space human and robotic spacecraft, such as NASA’s Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis and numerous Mars planetary spacecraft. The company will also manage the development of the program’s commercial business operations and engagement with NASA and global space agencies. Lockheed Martin has also helped NASA explore every planet of our solar system, and continues to develop new technologies for future space missions.

Another teammate, MDA of Canada, recently announced its commercial robotic arm technology will be used on the human-rated lunar mobility vehicles. The arm will provide valuable contributions as support for astronauts as well as enabling greater functionality of the rover on fully autonomous missions.

Together, the teams are applying unique perspectives and shared expertise to new challenges and market approaches that are being considered for the first time. The companies expect to have its first vehicle on the surface of the Moon in time to support NASA’s first landed mission that will have the first woman and first person of color walk on the Moon, currently planned for 2025.

Hashtag: #Goodyear

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to .

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Please follow on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation, and follow to learn more about the latest technologies, missions and people driving the future of space.

ERP Implementations Still Biggest Concern for About Half of Customers, Says 2022 Epicor Industry Insights Report

Annual Epicor Study Also Reveals 90 Percent of Cloud Users Believe the Flexibility, Agility, and Security Benefits of Moving to the Cloud Outweigh the Migration Effort

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 28 July 2022 – According to a recent research study from Epicor, a global leader of industry-specific enterprise software designed to promote business growth, a resounding 96 percent of organizations surveyed worldwide have confidence in their ability to navigate the early stages of the ERP purchase process, from initial evaluation to requirements planning. However, 48 percent cited a strong need for more support and partnership from their ERP providers during the latter stages of the purchase journey – from implementation, go-live, and ongoing customer care – to ease migration and realize faster time-to-value.

The 2022 Epicor Industry Insights Report surveyed more than 1,350 ERP users in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand to reveal what is driving organizations to look for – and expect more – from their ERP providers, especially critical as organizations are increasingly presented with a growing number of options in making the move to the cloud and expanding technology capabilities beyond traditional ERP.

According to the study, 82 percent of respondents were operating in a hybrid cloud environment, with 46 percent either primarily or entirely in the cloud, a slight uptick from survey findings in 2021 which saw a large increase in cloud consideration driven by the pandemic. In fact, 90 percent of decision makers indicated their move to the cloud was worth the effort, having realized a variety of transformational benefits including improved flexibility and adaptability, better security, simple regulatory compliance, and enhanced business resilience.

But while the vast majority of these respondents using cloud solutions – nearly 90 percent – said they feel loyal to their current ERP provider, nearly half of decision makers said they actively consider moving to a new ERP solution every one to three years, due in part to industry innovation and rapid digital transformation delivering a proliferation of new technologies. Common triggers cited for re-evaluation include better functionality from another provider, integration challenges with new technologies, cybersecurity concerns, and stronger customer support. For ERP providers, there’s no room for complacency.

“Companies are setting a higher bar for their ERP providers to deliver on more than just the technology itself,” said Steve Murphy, CEO of Epicor. “Our annual study shows that customers want a provider that can not only tailor their solution to the industry-specific needs that fit the customer’s business, but also collaborate closely throughout the entire purchase journey to provide transparency, strengthen onboarding and training, ensure dedicated support teams, and ultimately help realize meaningful business value. To do that, the ERP provider can’t just be a software expert, they must also act as a committed partner.”

The study identified five phases of the customer experience – from sales, planning, implementation, go-live, and ongoing support – and what respondents need across each. The collective insights from the study show a clear picture of what customers are really looking for from their ERP partner:

  • Industry-Specific Knowledge and Guidance: Customers need to be confident that their ERP partner knows their industry and understands their business. They want guidance and solutions that are curated to their specific needs, especially during the implementation and go-live phases of the journey.
  • Interoperability and Data Support: For successful migration and integration, having a dedicated support team is a must-have. From supporting backup and data hygiene issues, to ensuring successful interoperability across applications, expert support delivers a better experience for customers.
  • Staff Training and Materials: Migrating to a new ERP solution can feel daunting, and it is essential for customers to get staff up to speed as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Businesses value staff training and onboarding materials that help make the switch a successful and painless experience.
  • Greater Transparency: Businesses really value transparency and clarity, especially during evaluation and planning. They are concerned by a lack of transparency around pricing and security, and worried by a lack of clarity around training during migration.
  • Better Partnership: Teamwork and partnership are crucial. Businesses want a consistent team that supports them at every stage. From initial contact, to “on the ground” support for go-live and beyond, they need to know they are a priority.

To download a copy of the 2022 Epicor Industry Insights Report, please visit our website.

Survey Methodology
PSB conducted an online survey among 1,350 IT decision-makers in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. The interviews were conducted in English from April 1 to 22, 2022. The margin of error for the total sample is +/-2.76 ppts, and larger for sub-groups.

Hashtag: #Epicor

About Epicor

Epicor equips hard-working businesses with enterprise solutions that keep the world turning. For 50 years, Epicor customers in the automotive, building supply, distribution, manufacturing, and retail industries have trusted Epicor to help them do business better. Innovative Epicor solution sets are carefully curated to fit customer needs and built to respond flexibly to their fast-changing reality. With deep industry knowledge and experience, Epicor accelerates its customers’ ambitions, whether to grow and transform, or simply become more productive and effective. Visit for more information.

Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation. Results are not guaranteed, and each user’s experience will vary.

OR to invest in Traveloka, a travel and lifestyle platform

This collaboration will see OR expanding its reach into the travel sector, as well as strengthen their lifestyle business

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 July 2022 –Traveloka, a travel and lifestyle platform in Southeast Asia, is pleased to announce that PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (“OR”) will invest in Traveloka, through its subsidiary, PTTOR International Holdings (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (“SGHoldCo“). This is a major step for OR to expand into the travel sector and strive to become a one-stop solution for all lifestyles.

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From right to left: Ferry Unardi (Mr.), Jiraphon Kawswat (Ms.), Rajsuda Rungsiyakull (Ms.) present at the signing ceremony

Miss Jiraphon Kawswat, President and Chief Executive Officer of OR hosted a signing ceremony of the Collaboration Agreement between OR and Traveloka on 26 July 2022, where Mr. Ferry Unardi, Co-Founder and CEO of Traveloka was also present.

According to Miss Kawswat, the travel sector is an area of focus for OR, as tourism is one of the major economic contributors to the Thai economy. The tourism sector employs a large portion of the Thai population and many Thai SMEs are also reliant on this segment. The travel sector in Thailand and Southeast Asia has enjoyed high growth rates, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to rebound quickly following the easing of travel restrictions, and the recovery in travel demand. Collaborations between OR and Traveloka will provide additional lifestyle solutions to OR customers in line with OR’s strategy to become a one-stop solution for all lifestyles. This collaboration will also provide growth opportunities to both OR and Traveloka, in domestic and international markets in accordance with OR’s strategy to focus on Outside-In Growth, as both OR and Traveloka seek new investment opportunities together with partners, to provide more solutions to address customers’ needs. In addition, this will also create new opportunities for Thai SMEs and Thai individuals in the travel sector to grow together with OR.

“OR foresees many opportunities and possibilities that we can realize from this collaboration. Not only can this partnership provide new opportunities to OR in the travel sector, it can also provide additional venues for OR’s existing partners and business alliances to grow together with OR and to deliver greater offerings and experiences to OR customers. Given Traveloka’s position as a leading online platform for travel and lifestyle services in Southeast Asia, as well as its strong technology capabilities, I believe there is a range of areas OR can explore together with Traveloka, to further enhance our tech capabilities”, said Miss Kawswat.

This collaboration is also a positive step in furthering Traveloka’s mission of fulfilling the aspirations of its users and allowing its merchant-partners to thrive. “We see immense value from the collaboration as we see the region growing at a rapid pace, leading to greater opportunities in the industry. We are excited to work with OR, with its expertise in creating great businesses with a customer-focused approach, to capture the demand and provide enhanced solutions to our customers, while also creating new opportunities for our merchant-partners in Thailand and the region”, Mr. Unardi says.

Hashtag: #Traveloka

About Traveloka

Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s lifestyle superapp, provides users access to discover and purchase a wide range of travel, local services, and financial services products. Traveloka’s comprehensive product portfolio includes transport booking services such as flight tickets, bus, trains, car rental, airport transfer, as well as access to the largest accommodation inventory in Southeast Asia, including hotels, apartments, guest houses, homestays, resorts, and villas, making Traveloka a booking platform with the widest selection of accommodation and packages.

Traveloka is also a key player in the local services category (currently specific to certain markets), offering reservations for a wide range of local attractions, activities, wellness and beauty clinics, culinary directories as well as food delivery. Traveloka also offers financing, payment, and insurance products to help Southeast Asian consumers fulfill their lifestyle aspirations. Traveloka provides 24/7 customer service in local languages as well as more than 40 different local payment methods. Traveloka lifestyle superapp has been downloaded more than 100 million times, making it the most popular travel and lifestyle booking application in the Southeast Asian region.

For more information, please visit: