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Apical Secures Its First Sustainability-Linked Loan Facilities of US$750 million

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – Apical Group, a leading agri-business processor of palm oil and member of the RGE group of companies, has secured a US$750 million sustainability-linked loan from a syndicate of lenders. This is a first for Apical, and among only a few known in the palm oil industry, where borrowing is tied to sustainability targets and performance.

The loan, issued to Apical’s units AAA Oils & Fats Pte Ltd and Apical Middle East, is structured as a two-year revolving credit and four-year term loan facilities. Under the facilities, Apical is committed to meeting improvement targets for a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics, as assessed by Environmental Resources Management, a London-headquartered global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues consulting services.

Andy Cairns, Head of Global Corporate Finance of First Abu Dhabi Bank, the Facility Agent, commented, “We congratulate Apical on this achievement. ESG is an increasing focus for borrowers and investors globally and it reflects very highly on Apical that it is among the first Asia names, and companies in its industry sector, to embrace this. I am confident that such forward-thinking commitment to achieving its sustainability goals will position Apical advantageously for the future.” 

The targets are based on Apical’s commitment to ensure a sustainable supply chain. Performance against the pre-determined targets will be assessed on an annual basis for the loan period, and incentives awarded accordingly. The loan will be used to finance working capital and capital expenditure requirements of Apical Group. 

Apical’s Executive Director, Pratheepan Karunagaran, said, “This is a milestone for Apical and a testament to the commitment and confidence we have in our ESG performance. The spirit of continuous improvement is deeply rooted in our corporate culture and we are motivated to perform even better to deliver against the loan targets set.  We are grateful for the enthusiasm of our financiers and hope that our success will serve as a catalyst in further developing sustainability-linked financing in the sector.”

The loan facilities received overwhelming demand with participation from 22 banks in nine countries. Among the Mandate Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners are E.Sun Commercial Bank, Ltd, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mega International Commercial Bank Co., Ltd, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Bank Sinopac, and Taishin International Bank Co., Ltd.

About Apical

Apical Group is one of the largest palm oil exporters in Indonesia, owning and controlling a broad spectrum of the palm oil business value chain from sourcing to distribution. The company is also involved in the refining, processing of palm oil for domestic use and for international export. Its operations are located in Indonesia, China and Spain, and include six refineries, four biodiesel plants, two oleo chemical plants and a kernel crushing plant. Through joint ventures, Apical also has tolling and distribution operations in India, Pakistan, Philippines and Brazil.

Apical’s business is built on an extensive sourcing network in Indonesia with integrated refinery assets in strategic locations. This is reinforced by efficient logistics channels supported by Apical’s own infrastructure to deliver to a wide range of clients from international trading houses to local industrial buyers. With its unique business model, Apical has been able to control product quality and address sustainability and food safety concerns, while running highly efficient operations in world-class refineries and integrated storage and bulking facilities.

https://www.apicalgroup.com/

Apical 2020 Sustainability Report

#Apical

ILIFE Floor Washing Machine Shinebot W455 is now available in Europe

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – ILIFE, a World-leading robot vacuum manufacturer, announced its availability of Shinebot W455 in Europe Today. Shinebot W455 not only maintains its traditional floor washing capability but also supports smart navigation and app control. With enhanced CV-SLAM Camera Module, W455 solved the problem of lacking user interaction and customize cleaning option.

 

As the upgrade version of the earlier Shinebot W400, W455 enhanced its Navigation accuracy and obstacle Avoidance. Equipped with 13 sets of high accuracy seniors, W450 could avoid dropping and colliding effectively. The new-added app control function helps customers gain more smarter experience by scheduling Cleaning, selecting clean areas, setting up no-go-zone and customizing cleaning modes.

 

Same with W400, W455 adopts dual water tanks design, so W455 can realize clean and dirty water separation easily. With ILIFE-innovated Tidalpower cleaning system, W455 could finish 4 steps cleaning cycle at one time: Moisten, Scrub, Suction and Scrape. That’s exactly how W455 works cleaning stubborn stains while protecting the floor.

 

As the star series of ILIFE, ILIFE Shinebot W-series attracted the eyes of thousands of people since its announcement in 2018. With the theme of “harsh to the stain, gentle to the floor”, ILIFE shinebot redefine the mopping market with hands-free mopping design and budget friendly price.

 

Earlier this year, ILIFE launched a fellow robot named W450 in US, which has earned good reputation from customers and high praise by media. By great expectation from European fans, ILIFE W455 finally debut on AliExpress today with an initial price of $199. This price only last 4 days from 9/6~9/9.

One thing worth mentioning is that together with shinebot W455, ILIFE also new launched a new steam mop S50 with the sub-brand name of Easine. Please check out here for more details.

About ILIFE

Founded in 2010, ILIFE Technology is an intelligent cleaning company focus on cleaning products including robot vacuums, floor washing machine and cordless vacuum cleaners. Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram. For more information, please visit: https://www.iliferobot.com/

#ilife

Digitrio promises to deliver Faster, Better SEO using the “Pareto Principle”

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – COVID-19 has changed the way companies around the world conduct their business. As a digital marketing agency, Digitrio has been able to observe first hand on how online marketing channel such as SEO has become even more key to fuel company growth and recovery in Singapore as the country start to move from pandemic to endemic.

Delivering SEO, Faster & Better

 

93 percent of online experiences begin with a search engine like Google and by doing SEO, the company website will appear on page 1 of the search results, thus driving them more website traffic and visibility to their offering.

 

SEO is often done wrongly or not widely used by companies due to the speed of it being slow, not producing the results or a combination of both. But that is not true as Digitrio promises to deliver faster & better SEO by utilizing the “Pareto principle”.

 

80/20 rule or the Pareto principle states about 80% of results from 20% of all works and that is true even for SEO. By applying the Pareto principle to SEO, Digitrio has come up with a proven SEO framework & process called K.A.R.A that can help businesses achieve more traffic growth, not just ranking.

  • Keywords
  • Accessibility
  • Relevancy
  • Authority

You can learn more at https://digitrio.com.sg/seo/ and get a free SEO proposal on what is the expected performance and growth that they can help your business to grow using that SEO framework derived using the Pareto principle.

About Digitrio

Digitrio is a dynamic digital marketing company based in Singapore. Specializing in search engine optimization, Digitrio works with businesses to help drive faster organic traffic growth to their website, fueling the company growth in the online space.

#Digitrio

GEODIS in Hong Kong Unlocks Priority Customs Facilitation and Inspection with AEO Accreditation

Partnership with the country’s Customs and Excise Department strengthens GEODIS’ offering, as the APAC division expands its network of local infrastructures

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – GEODIS, a leading global transport and logistics services provider, today announced that its division in Hong Kong has been accredited as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department. AEO status recognizes excellent security and safety procedures amongst those within the supply chain industry. With the accreditation, GEODIS in Hong Kong will now be given access to priority customs facilitation and inspection, allowing the logistics provider to optimize its local operations, delivering agile, secure, and reliable solutions for customers.

GEODIS in Hong Kong Unlocks Priority Customs Facilitation and Inspection with AEO Accreditation

The need for such efficient systems has become more vital than ever, given ongoing supply chain disruption to shipping schedules and factory production across Asia. These delays have also been accompanied by a continuing surge in consumer demand for Asian goods, challenging logistics partners to cope with an increasingly volatile supply chain ecosystem. As a key link between Mainland China and the rest of the world, these service providers in Hong Kong, in particular must work to keep processes up-and-running in the most seamless way possible.

 

“By achieving AEO accreditation we are helping to strengthen Hong Kong’s logistics credentials as a major international trading center and regional hub,” said Onno Boots, President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, GEODIS. “AEO status reflects the team’s commitment to providing our clients with best-in-class services and expertise to not only navigate, but thrive, amidst the challenges brought about by the pandemic.”

 

“This initiative affirms our continuous efforts to reinforce the infrastructures, processes and information systems required to ensure the most advanced and reliable security measures within the current dynamic environment,” said Christopher Cahill, Managing Director, North Asia Sub-Region. “GEODIS will continue to innovate, leveraging on new technology and automation to keep our operations in Hong Kong scalable and efficient.”

 

Since its incorporation in 1989, GEODIS in Hong Kong has expanded its presence, investing in an Air Export warehouse at the world-class Airport Freight Forwarding Centre (AAFC) within the Hong Kong International Airport (60,000 sqf) in addition to a Contract Logistics Warehouses located at Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, and Yuen Long (630,000 sqf).

 

GEODIS in Hong Kong prides itself in providing logistical support to businesses across key verticals such as High-Technology, Retail, Fast Moving Consumer Goods and Industrial goods.

 

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

#GEODIS

#ReConnect 2021 UK-China Contemporary Culture Festival launched

  • #ReConnect – a hybrid festival featuring online and offline work by leading British art and cultural organisations and artists, launched by the British Council.
  • Partnering with over 35 cultural organisations from the UK and China, the Festival offers thought provoking and stimulating experiences with British arts and culture.
  • The Festival presents the diverse breadth of contemporary UK arts, culture and education to inspire and connect audiences in China and beyond with British creativity.
  • The Festival aims to strengthen the connection between China and the UK through shared values in culture and education.

BEIJING, KUNMING, SHANGHAI, SHENZHEN AND ZHENGZHOU – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – The British Council launched the 2021 UK-China Contemporary Culture Festival. Titled #ReConnect, this year’s edition is a hybrid festival featuring work by leading British art and cultural organisations and artists via online and offline platforms, offering audiences in China an opportunity to reconnect with British art from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Organised by the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities, and sponsored by the Welsh Government, the festival will present nearly 40 cultural performances and projects online and offline in multiple cities across China between 1 and 20 September 2021.

 

“We are delighted to be a partner of the British Council, supporting the 2021 UK-China Contemporary Culture Festival to give people in China an opportunity to experience three wonderful examples of art and culture from Wales.The theme of the festival, reconnecting, is more important now than ever – reconnecting with our environment and our communities, both locally and across borders. I hope our contribution to the festival will encourage audiences to do just that, building new cultural connections between our two nations” said Rt Hon Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales.

 

Focusing on three different themes, the Festival will encourage audiences to #ReConnect with nature, community and the self through a variety of exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, film screenings and performances. #ReConnect with Nature will explore the deep relationship between humans and nature; #ReConnect with Community will explore the connection and consequence of human experience and our community; and #ReConnect with Self will support individuals to increase empathy and self-awareness.

 

Highlight projects under #ReConnect with Nature include:

  • British visual artist Celyn Bricker’s first solo exhibition in China, titled The Fifth Season. Bringing together interactive, AI generated artworks, paintings and prototypes, the exhibition held in Beijing will explore our relationship with nature and new technology.
  • An online talk held in partnership with the Natural History Museum, -titled Our Broken Planet: How We Got Here and Ways to Fix It will see young changemakers from the UK and China debate why and how our relationship with the natural world needs to change.
  • Eye of the Storm, a documentary film featuring Scottish landscape painter James Morrison will be screened in Shanghai, directed by award-winning director Anthony Baxter.
  • Dog Ballet, from the London International Festival of Theatre, is a webinar about a new participatory work of public art to celebrate the community around dogs and their owners to appreciate the joy and tenderness that can be found in these relationships of mutual care.

#ReConnect with Community will share work from the UK that places emphasis on the changing nature of community, as well as talks from leading arts and cultural experts alongside knowledge sharing events from dance and theatre producers. Selected highlights include:

  • O’r Graig, a short documentary featuring slate mines in North Wales, which have recently been designated UNESCO heritage status.
  • Journey to the Eyeth Art, a virtual art gallery showcasing the creativity of deaf artists in an imaginary world called Eyeth and a celebration of inclusiveness in the art for all.
  • Match Make is a series of short films which paired 8 dance artists and 8 artist collaborators during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which include natural, industrial, rural, urban and coastal settings throughout Northern Ireland.  

#ReConnect with Self will focus on activities that explore mental health and well-being. Highlight projects include:

  • Time to Dance China, an international digital collaboration between the Scottish Ballet and Shanghai International Dance Centre designed to deliver dementia-friendly dance activities for elderly people as well as a dance film screening.
  • An online solo exhibition of works by award-winning British artist Sir Christopher Le Brun, in addition to an online talk between Sir Christopher Le Brun and renowned art critic, writer and curator Shen Qilan.

At this time of limited travel, we are excited to once again bring some of the most dynamic and vibrant artistic and cultural performances, exhibitions and talks from the UK to audiences in China and offer people the choice to experience these in person or online. With the theme of #ReConnect, we hope to inspire our audience to re-evaluate their relationship with the natural environment, their community, and themselves. The world is going though unprecedented changes at this time, and arts and culture have the power to bring people together through presenting programmes in partnership with institutions and artists in the UK and China. The Festival acts as a platform to share knowledge, spark discussions and stimulate thinking among our audiences.” Said Rehana Mughal, Director Arts for the British Council China.

Programme list

 

Activity

Date

Partner

Format

Geography

ReConnect with Nature

 

1

British Library Exhibitions in Two Cities: London – Shenzhen

 

Sept 1 – 20

British Library

Online showcase

England

2

Affiliated Event – The Fifth Season by Celyn Bricker  (online talk)

Sept 18

Winland

Online event

 

England/Beijing

 

3

Broken Planet Programme (online talk for climate change between Glasgow and Kunming)

Sept 17

Natural History Museum

Online event

England/Scotland/Kunming

4

Eye of the Storm documentary featuring Scottish landscape painter James Morrison in Shanghai

Sept 16

Montrose Pictures

Offline event

Scotland/Shanghai

5

Eye of the Storm documentary featuring Scottish landscape painter James Morrison in Shanghai

 

Sept 19

Montrose Pictures

 

Online showcase

Scotland

 

6

Our Future Planet (Films and talks for Sustainability and the impact of Climate Change)

Sept 1 – 20

Science Museum Group

Online showcase

England

7

The Children of Lir (performances of raising environmental awareness)

Sept 1 – 20

Folk NI Theatre

Online showcase

Northern Ireland

8

Dog Ballet (Webinar)

Sept 15

London International Festival of Theatre

 

Online event

England

9

CURRENT (films of the exhibition)

Sept 13 – 20

Cooper Gallery

Online showcase

Scotland

10

Design and Sustainable Business Futures (panel discussion with Joey Pringle and others)

TBC

Veshin Factory

Online Event

England

ReConnect with Community

 

11

Making Matters

Sept 13 – 20

IM

Online showcase

Across UK

12

Short Film Project for Female Directors (panel discussion)

Sept 12

Encounters Film Festival, One International Women’s Festival

Online event

England/Beijing

13

Breathe and Draw (Orchestra Music)

Sept 1 – 20

 

Nevis Ensemble

 

Online showcase

Scotland

14

Mojo Mickybo (theatre film)

 

Sept 1 – 20

Bruiser Theatre Company

 

Online showcase

Northern Ireland

15

Songs for Heritage and Culture of Northern Ireland

 

Sept 6 – 20

 

Brigid O’Neill

 

Online showcase

Northern Ireland

 

16

Match Make (8 short films)

 

Sept 1 – 20

 

Maiden Voyage Dance Company

 

Online showcase

Northern Ireland

 

17

Plethu/Weave Project (series of dance-poetry performance films)

 

Sept 1 – 20

 

National Dance Company Wales, Literature Wales

 

Online showcase

Wales

18

Nurture (performance film)

 

Sept 1 – 20

 

Bbeyond

Online showcase

Northern Ireland

 

19

Creative Ageing in Scotland (online talk by Luminate Festival)

Sept 1 – 20

 

Luminate Festival

Online showcase

Scotland

20

O’r Graig (short documentary of UNESCO world heritage slate in North Wales)

Sept 1 – 20

 

Wicked Wales Film

Online showcase

Wales

21

Beijing Stories (film screening)

Sept 1 – 20

Scottish Documentary Institute

Online showcase

Scotland

22

Beijing Stories (artist talk)

Sept 20

Scottish Documentary Institute

 

Online event

Scotland

 

23

Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth an introduction speaker: Nikki Locke

Sept 16

British Council

Online event

Across UK

24

Deaf Culture Online Exhibition curated by Zhou Jiayi

Sept 1 – 20

 

Artist Jiayi Zhou

Online showcase

Across UK

25

Selector Online Competition

Sept 15

British Council

Online Showcase

Across UK


ReConnect with Self

26

[Hé]

Scottish Dance Theatre x Shanghai International Dance Centre Collaboration (dance film screening)

Sept 1- 20

Scottish Dance Theatre, Shanghai International Dance Centre

Online showcase

Scotland

27

Time to Dance (film screening)

Sept 7

Scottish Ballet, Luminous Festival

Online showcase

Scotland

28

Notes on Stone (Anna Mahler) film screening

Sept 10 – 20

Stephenson Art

Online showcase

England

29

Future of Art Education (film screening & panel discussion)

 

Sept 16

 

Cloud Intelligence

Online event

Beijing

30

Affiliated event -Solo Exhibition of works by Sir Christopher Le Brun  (online talk with artist Sir Christopher Le Brun & Shen Qilan)

Sept 13

Lisson Gallery

Online event

England/Shenzhen

31

Affiliated event – Italian Renaissance Drawings

Sept 17

British Museum, M Woods

Online event

England/Beijing

32

Affiliated event – Masterpieces in Miniature: Treasures from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection

Sept 19

V&A Museum

Offline event

 

England/Zhengzhou

33

Glass Meet the Future short films

Sept 1-20

North Lands Creative

 

Online showcase

Scotland

34

Artes Mundi Prabhakar Pachpute Exhibition (artist introduction)

Sept 1-20

 

ARTES MUNDI 

 

Online showcase

 

Wales

35

Origin to Future Thinking, podcast with Farooq Chaudhry, Xu Rui, and Rui Fu

Sept 1-20

China House Arts

Online showcase

England

36

2021 British Classical Art Film Festival at Lumiere Beijing, New Live Screenings

Sept 1-5

New Live

Offline showcase

 

 

Media kit

#ReConnect

2021 UK-China Contemporary Culture Festival

 

Organiser: British Council

Sponsor: The Welsh Government

Period: 1-20 September 2021

Festival portal: http://reconnect.britishcouncil.cn/  

British Council WeChat ‘bc-china’ and ‘UK_NOW’

British Council Weibo @英国大使馆文化教育处, @艺述英国

Festival visual material bank:

Baidu Cloud Link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1v-0MiFLbomjVJFHsQVpUxw  

Pin: p7wt

 

Notes to editors

 

The Welsh Government

Wales is a country in the UK with distinctive traditions, heritage, culture and language. It is known as a land of song and a country steeped in myth and legend, which, when you see the awe-inspiring landscape, is no surprise.

 

The Welsh national anthem picks out ‘beirdd a chantorion’ – the poets and singers – for special mention. Today, the Welsh music and arts scenes are alive with the sounds of bilingual music, poetry, art, and everything in between.

 

Learn more about Wales at wales.com

#BritishCouncil #ReConnect

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.

www.britishcouncil.cn

Please visit our official website in Chinese and English for detailed programme.

Festival visual material bank:

Baidu Cloud Link: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1v-0MiFLbomjVJFHsQVpUxw

Pin: p7wt

We will update our programme on daily basis through our social media accounts, please stay tuned with us on:

Weibo @英国大使馆文化教育处 @艺述英国

Wechat

bc-china (英国大使馆文化教育处)

UK_NOW (艺述英国)

Sinpopo Brand Unveils Its First Mid-Autumn Collection Featuring Modern Singapore Flavours Perfect For Gifting

Following the success of an online mooncake fair last year in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sinpopo Brand honours Mid-Autumn traditions this year with an intricate collection of luxury mooncakes that will be available online and in stores.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 September 2021 – Singaporeans can still get their yearly dose of the Mid-Autumn dessert from Sinpopo Brand‘s website by ordering online. Mooncake lovers can look forward to a total of four new flavours from the brand – Sinpopo’s Gula Melaka Mooncake, Kaya Matcha Single Yolk, Black Gold Double Yolk and Five Treasures in White Lotus.


Mooncakes That Look Good and Taste Good

 

Packed in boxes of four, Sinpopo Brand’s luxury mooncake collection comes in a stylish grey and gold rattan-woven reusable chest which features matching mooncake tins with gold detailing – paying homage to traditional Asian designs with its rattan exterior. The collectible boxes will also be delivered in an elegant matching suede-finish bag to complete the experience.

 

The mooncakes themselves are also a feast for the eyes, coming in a four gorgeous colours – green, black, rose and brown.

 

A crowd-favourite of the quad – the Sinpopo’s Gula Melaka Mooncake ‑ is the brand’s signature flavour. Encased with a natural rose-tinted skin, Sinpopo’s Gula Melaka Mooncake is filled with delicious premium white lotus making it a real treat for all Sinpopo Brand fans in Singapore.

 

Packed with local flavour, the Kaya Matcha Single Yolk will be a hit with the younger crowd who will appreciate the richness of matcha combined with the irresistible luscious pandan kaya custard loved by all Singaporeans.

 

The Five Treasures in White Lotus features a contemporary twist on the traditional Wu Ren or mixed nut mooncake. A healthy mix of cranberries, golden fruit, toasted pumpkin seeds, almond and hazelnuts encased, the Five Treasures in White Lotus is made with premium white lotus.

 

Last but not least, the all-time favourite Black Gold Double Yolk comes with Portuguese golden custard and two yolks enveloped by the classic charcoal skin.

 

Enticing Discount Available Online

 

Singaporeans who have set their hearts on Sinpopo Brand’s luxury mooncake collection can enjoy $22 savings on every chest of mooncakes with the promotional code: “BAKED22” on www.sinpopo.com.

 

Each Mid-Autumn Collection Chest comes with four delectable mooncakes in four different flavours and will cost $88 before discount. Free delivery is available with a minimum spend of $120. Alternatively, customers can also choose to pick up their mooncakes in stores at no additional charge.

About Sinpopo Brand

Sinpopo Brand is a home-grown brand that remains firmly rooted in Singapore’s local culture and cuisine by creating artisanal bakes and bites to pay homage to the country’s heritage flavours. In recent years, it has also expanded to include new concepts such as the Sinpopo Brand Coffee and Sinpopo Brand Grocer. For more information, please visit https://www.sinpopo.com/.

#SinpopoBrand

More Research Required Before Booster Shots Provided in Laos

Covid-19 update

Laos is studying and research the effectiveness of booster shots in close cooperation with the World Health Organization, according to a report by the National Taskforce today.

Chinese Developers to Construct 100m Buddha Image at That Luang Marsh

Giant Buddha Image Construction at That Luang Marsh
Artist's impression of the giant Buddha (Photo: CRI)

A giant Buddha image is to be constructed at the That Luang Marsh Specific Economic Zone (SEZ) as part of plans for a new cultural attraction.