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South Africa offers investment opportunities to Asia Pacific investors

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 15 June 2021 – The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and joint sponsors, Citi and Absa Bank are collaborating to host the annual SA Tomorrow Investor conference, which aims to showcase the country’s array of investment opportunities to investors in the Asia Pacific region, mainly from Hong Kong and Singapore.

“Asia is one of the few regions expected to grow this year, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting growth of 7.6% in the broader Asia Pacific region, with China alone expected to grow 8.4%. Our deep and liquid capital markets offer attractive opportunities for Asian investors looking to diversify offshore and gain exposure to Africa’s future growth,” said JSE CEO Leila Fourie.

Prospects abound in other sectors such as financial services, technology, renewable energy and transport.

The conference will be held virtually from 17 to 18 June 2021. It will bring together institutional investors, CEOs of large listed companies, bankers, investment advisors, policy makers and financial markets regulators to deliberate on ways to unlock new and existing investment opportunities. The South African delegation will include the President of South Africa, his excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Investors from the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates will also participate in the conference.

“With the global disruption to markets caused by COVID-19, investment will be vital to accelerate South Africa’s economic recovery. South Africa’s economic potential and investment opportunities are huge, and our partnership will help ensure that international investors and South African businesses are able to capitalise on trade and investment opportunities, now and in the future. I expect the conference will demonstrate what has been achieved, and establish a platform for what can be done, working in collaboration in the future,” says Citi Country Officer, Peter Taylor.

“We are very excited at the opportunity to be involved with this conference that demonstrates to international investors, that South Africa is open for business. As a leading Pan African financial services institution, we always seek to be involved with platforms that seek to build on the great investment opportunities across our continent, that drive economic growth and jobs,” said Absa CIB CEO, Charles Russon.

#JohannesburgStockExchange

Limitless Technology Launches a New Line of Women’s Supplement, “LYLA”

The Successful Internet Holding Company Is Set to Bring A New View on Women’s Wellness

 

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 15 June 2021 – Recognising how today’s women are putting wellness more on the forefront of their lives, Limitless Technology today announced a trailblazing women’s supplement line called LYLA. With its tagline “Ready for Life”, LYLA aims to deliver a collection of cutting-edge products that centre around health, beauty and overall well-being for modern, go-getter women.

After successful runs of launching e-commerce household names “Flower Chimp” & “CakeRush” in Southeast Asia, Limitless Technology recognises a demand in addressing women’s need in high performing supplements that can complement their busy lifestyles. While many supplement brands out there rely on its ingredients to speak for its key benefits, LYLA targets an issue that women face these days, and develops an exclusive solution to help them counter it.

“While doing customer research for our e-commerce ventures Flower Chimp and Cake Rush, we realised that today’s women customers are now moving into improving their inner beauty, on top of purchasing their outer needs such as skincare and makeup. The rise of supplements focusing on women’s concerns is proof of this, and we’re excited to marry our ecommerce expertise and excellent customer service to launch LYLA,” says Niklas Frassa, COO of Limitless Technology. “We are confident that LYLA will be another well-loved brand in the market, with its unique mix of natural, powerful ingredients that highlights convenience and effectiveness to everyone.

LYLA’s launch product is the immunity-boosting In The Pink, a supplement that features a blend of 22 fruits and vegetables. Priced at RM149, a box of berry-flavoured In The Pink carries 28 convenient sachets that are to be mixed with 100ml warm or cold water for consumption.

In the Pink was chosen to be LYLA’s launch product as it addresses the key concern of today’s women: poor diet that can cause negative effects on one’s health, mind, body and overall well-being. With regular intake, In the Pink aims to deliver these benefits:

  • Supercharged immunity to combat seasonal flu and colds
  • Improved energy levels to fuel a women’s busy day-to-day life
  • A better gut health with its detoxing properties

In the Pink is formulated with 100% vegan ingredients and is now available in Malaysia & Singapore at www.getlyla.com. For more information on the product, please visit its product page at https://www.getlyla.com/collections/our-health-products/products/in-the-pink.

LYLA aims to launch two more products later this year to further solidify its position as a strong contender in the women’s wellness industry. When asked what ‘LYLA’ means, Niklas Frassa commented, “LYLA might just be a name, but behind the name is the embodiment of a community made by women who are always ready to take on any challenge that they face. LYLA hopes to aspire every woman out there to be their best selves, without any limit.”

To further understand LYLA’s philosophy and keep up with its news and updates, visit its official website, www.getlyla.com.

About Limitless Technology:

Limitless Technology is an internet holding company with a track record of launching and scaling e-commerce businesses in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the company has an outpost in Manila, Philippines and possesses an online presence in five countries.

#LimitlessTechnology

Community Spread Continues in Vientiane as Laos Confirms 15 New Cases of Covid-19

Covid-19 Update

Laos has recorded another 15 cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 2,025

Hong Kong Design Centre Names New Executive Director

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 15 June 2021 – Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) announced today the appointment of Dr Joseph Wong as its new Executive Director, succeeding Dr Edmund Lee with effect from 1 July 2021.

Dr Joseph Wong, new Executive Director of Hong Kong Design Centre effective from 1 July 2021

Dr Joseph Wong is a designer, academic and educator, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in design education to HKDC. He has most recently served as the Vice Principal of Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and Deputy Academic Director – Design Discipline of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), where he oversaw the strategic and academic development of a diverse portfolio of design programmes and built relationships with local and international partners. His contribution to design education has won him the Berkeley Prize International Fellowship in 2014.

Joseph is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, and was elected its Council Member in 2020. He has served on a number of professional and government bodies related to sustainable design and development. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, a Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Leicester.

Prof. Eric Yim, Chairman of HKDC, said that the Board of Directors was confident that Joseph’s well-developed industry background and experience will steer HKDC’s far-reaching mission to the next level, including fostering new opportunities brought forth by the Greater Bay Area development.

“We believe that Joseph’s vast industry experience, especially in design education and fostering connections with industry and academic partners will be very valuable for HKDC, bringing in fresh knowledge and perspectives as we continue to push forward our mission of establishing Hong Kong as an international design hub,” said Prof. Eric Yim.

Dr Joseph Wong remarked, “I am honoured to be named the new Executive Director of HKDC, as I have long known and been impressed with its wide range of programmes. It is also an exciting time to join the organisation as it prepares to establish a new base in Sham Shui Po over the next few years. I look forward to working with HKDC’s diverse stakeholders in carrying on the design movement, and maximising its mission reach and impact.”

Hong Kong Design Centre expresses its deepest appreciation to Dr Edmund Lee for his excellent stewardship in the past 11 years. Under Edmund’s leadership, HKDC has greatly expanded its portfolio of programmes and strengthened its institutional structure, poising it for further growth. Edmund has also secured policy support from the HKSAR Government, raising awareness of the value of human-centred design thinking among the public service sector as well as the general public.

“As a design advocate, I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the unique public mission of HKDC and advanced the design mission to one increasingly strategic and human-centric for the city, businesses and the community,” said Dr Edmund Lee.

Prof. Eric Yim and the Board of HKDC are thankful to Dr Edmund Lee for his long-term service and significant contributions, and wish him the best in his future endeavours.

About Hong Kong Design Centre

Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2001 as a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in establishing Hong Kong as an international centre of design excellence in Asia. Our public mission is to promote wider and strategic use of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societal well-being. Learn more about us at www.hkdesigncentre.org

#HongKongDesignCentre #HKDC

Laos to Quarantine Close Contacts of Infected People

Laos to quarantine close contacts of infected people
Dr. Lattanaxay speaks at the daily briefing yesterday.

To break the chain of Covid-19 infections, the Ministry of Health has said it will quarantine anyone who has had contact with an infected person.

Cushman & Wakefield and China Real Estate Association Release 2020 Asia REIT Market Report

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 15 June 2021 – Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, released the 2020 Asia REIT Market Report today at the 9th China Real Estate Finance Forum, in conjunction with the China Real Estate Association (CREA). The report presents a REITs market overview for major Asia countries and regions, together with an analysis of properties in mainland China, and the market for securitization of real estate assets in China. For the first time, the report also includes a special study of the infrastructure REITs markets in the U.S., Singapore and India; and offers a detailed case analysis of Mapletree Logistics Trust – thus providing a reference for China to draw on in its ongoing development of a public offering-based REITs market.

REITs in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR and India are the focus of the Asia market

As at the end of 2020, there were 185 REITs in the Asia market with a total market value of US$281.4 billion, down around 5% year-on-year. Regulators and REITs managers actively responded to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic via a range of measures, providing multi-level supporting initiatives for REITs to maintain resilience in the wake of the pandemic.

  • There were 62 REITs in Japan, with a total market value of approximately US$139.4 billion. Although the market value contracted by 9% compared with 2019, Japan still accounted for more than half of the Asia REITs market, making it the largest REITs market in Asia and the second largest globally.
  • The Singapore REITs market was active in 2020. Driven by regulatory policies, consolidation and merger activities were prevalent and transaction liquidity improved. By the end of 2020, there were 42 REITs in Singapore, with a total market value of around US$81.4 billion and a dividend yield of 6.4%.The REITs market in Hong Kong SAR faced challenges and also embraced reforms in 2020. Total REITs’ stock prices dropped by 11% overall, depressed both by the impact of COVID-19 and an environment of lingering social unrest. The average dividend yield was 6.3%; the average gearing ratio was 28% which is lower than those in Singapore and Japan.
  • India’s REITs market saw two office property REITs issued in 2020 and early 2021, along with two infrastructure INVITs, namely, IRB and Indigrid, engaging in roads and power networks, respectively.

The real estate securitization market in mainland China continues to expand rapidly

This report focuses on an analysis of changes and highlights in REITs, CMBS and CMBN products in the mainland China market in 2020, and summarizes the disposal of products that expired prior to the end of 2020:

  • In 2020, 90 products were issued, totaling RMB179.86 billion, up 8.4% and 13.1% respectively over the previous year in terms of number and value.
  • Two infrastructure REITs were issued in 2020, providing an innovative model for the financing model in domestic infrastructure industry.
  • By the end of 2020, 32 products had successfully exited. The disposal of R&F Guangzhou International Airport – Integrated Logistics Park CMBS, and Beijing Huayuan Yingdu commercial REITs, attracted extensive attention from the industry.

The 2020 Asia REITs Research Report also robustly analyzes the market performance of infrastructure REITs listed in the U.S., Singapore and India. Chris Yang, Director, Valuation & Advisory Services, Beijing and Leader of Asset Securitization Business Line at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The 2020 report analyzes the infrastructure REITs in detail, including AMT and Corenergy in the U.S., Hutchison Port Trust in Singapore, and IRB Invit in India, aiming to explore the development of overseas infrastructure REITs and present a more usable outlook and forecast for China’s public offering-based REITs”

Cushman & Wakefield has been involved in over 100 real estate securitization projects

As one of the professional firms earliest engaged in the practice and research of REITs in China, Cushman & Wakefield has been actively participating in the development of China’s real estate securitization. By May 2021, it had completed due diligence and valuation work for 113 issued REITs, CMBS and CMBN projects, with a combined value exceeding RMB270 billion. Representative projects include Cainiao Network Logistics, the first expandable REIT in China; Poly multifamily, China’s first shelf offering renting house REIT; Shenzhen Anju Group’s Talent Apartment, the first talent apartment REIT in China; and Suning Yunxin, the first REIT allowed for subsequent issuance in China.

Public offering infrastructure REITs to arrive in the China market soon

Recently, nine public offered infrastructure REITs products gained official registration permission from the China Securities Regulatory Commission and have entered the sale stage. This development was one of the focus of discussion among participants at the China Real Estate Finance Forum. Feng Hu, Senior Director, Head of Valuation & Advisory Services, North China, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “As the nine public offered infrastructure REITs pilot projects entered the sale stage, the long-expected REITs market in China finally drew back the curtain. Cushman & Wakefield was excited to be involved in the due diligence and valuation work of five of these projects. The underlying assets include logistics warehousing, industrial parks, waste disposal and power generation facilities. Cushman & Wakefield supports the sustainable and healthy growth of the public offered infrastructure REITs with its experience and professional services.


Hong Kong REITs Market

In Hong Kong, to enhance the competitiveness of the city’s REITs market and promote its long-term development, while safeguarding the interests of investors, the SFC announced and implemented a revised Code on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in December last year.

The proposed amendments include:

(i) allowing REITs to make minority-interest investments in properties (Minority-owned Properties) subject to various conditions;

(ii) allowing REITs to make investments in property development projects in excess of the existing limit of 10% of gross asset value (GAV) subject to unitholders’ approval and other conditions;

(iii) increasing the borrowing limit for REITs from 45% to 50% of GAV;

(iv) broadly aligning the requirements for REITs’ connected party transactions and notifiable transactions with the requirements for listed companies, in line with existing policy and practices.

The Chief Executive has also stated in the latest policy address that the government would strive to promote Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) in Hong Kong to develop Hong Kong into a vibrant REIT market in Asia. LINK REIT (00823) as the largest REIT in Asia in terms of market capitalization, has actively developed into a global real estate investment and management institution through the acquisition of multiple domestic and overseas properties and the right of ownership in recent years. The company has assets spread in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, London and Sydney. It plans to explore business growth opportunities in various markets continuously.

A couple of REITs are launched by reputable companies lately in the Hong Kong’s REITs market, including China Merchants Commercial REIT (01503) and SF REIT (02191), which were listed in December 2019 and May 2021 respectively. Other REITs are also reported to be preparing for listing in the market.

Mr. Andrew Chan, Cushman & Wakefield’s Managing Director, Valuation and Advisory Services, Greater China, commented, “REITs are an important asset class in the capital market. With the implementation of the newly revised Code on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), the amendments will allow Hong Kong REITs with greater investment flexibility. Coupled with the listing of China’s Infrastructure REITs, we believe that there will be more positive and comprehensive development in the Hong Kong and China’s REITs market.

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 50,000 employees in over 400 offices and 60 countries. Across Greater China, 22 offices are servicing the local market. The company won four of the top awards in the Euromoney Survey 2017, 2018 and 2020 in the categories of Overall, Agency Letting/Sales, Valuation and Research in China. In 2020, the firm had revenue of $7.8 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).

#Cushman&Wakefield

Local Support For Singapore Food Produce Encourages Move Into Agritech Careers

  • 97% of survey respondents are supportive of the development of Agritech in Singapore
  • 64% of respondents who are currently not employed in Agritech are open to starting a career or making a switch to the industry. 98% of them are interested in receiving training to develop the necessary skillsets and knowledge to work in the industry.
  • However, 81% are unaware of where they can receive the relevant training.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 15 June 2021 – As the economy continues to recover, growth industries — such as agriculture technology, or Agritech, – are picking up pace. With most (89%) Singaporeans believing that the local Agritech industry will continue to grow within the next two to three years, two thirds (64%) of jobseekers who are currently not employed in Agritech are open to starting a career or making a switch to the industry.

These are some of the key findings NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB)’s recent Industry Insights 2021 survey on Agritech, conducted in March 2021 with 300 professionals and job seekers in Singapore.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 97% of the respondents agree that it is more important now to develop key areas for Singapore’s self-sufficiency in terms of food supply. In addition, despite three in five (61%) agreeing that local produce is priced higher that imported ones, 71% are willing to pay more for local produce to support the industry if it translates to higher salaries and better job prospects for employees involved.

In terms of career opportunities, nine in ten (89%) of respondents who are currently not employed in the Agritech agree that it is a promising industry when it comes to career growth and development. In fact, more than half (64%) are open to starting a career or making a switch to Agritech. Most of them (98%) are interested in receiving training to develop the necessary skillsets and knowledge if given the opportunity. However, four in five (81%) are unaware of where they can receive the relevant training.

“With considerable private and government investments into Singapore’s Agritech industry, this is an opportune time for those keen on joining the sector to contribute greatly to our nation’s goal towards food security and sustainability. It is an emerging sector, which from the survey results, we can see that there is a promising buy-in from the general population. This motivation will encourage more from our local workforce to take on relevant skills and knowledge to drive the Agritech industry,” says Eugene Wong, Chairman of NTUC LHUB.

In its latest collaboration, NTUC LHUB partners Netatech to offer a new course in Agriculture Technology. The homegrown company is the sole exclusive distributor for Netafim in Singapore, the global leader in precision irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture. Farm technology and automation are some of the key skills that will be imparted to those who are looking to venture into this emerging sector.

Commenting on the partnership, Tay Ee Learn, Director of Technical Skills Product Division, NTUC LHUB says, “We are encouraged by both the overwhelming response in our SG United Skills (SGUS) Programme on Digital Agritech, and the ongoing interest displayed by our trainees in entering the Agritech field. This is owing to the exciting opportunities in a burgeoning industry, appealing to job seekers at any career stage. Driven also by the social aspect of supporting the nation’s sustainability agenda, NTUC LHUB will continue our efforts to develop in this space. Partnering with best-in-class experts such as Netatech, we aim to boost the employability of our trainees with the necessary skills and expertise in Agritech.”

“Food is involved in many supply chains and wholesale, supermarket, food production, and medical industries. Urban farms require Agronomists, R&D specialists, IT experts, mechanical engineers, supply chain managers, business development managers, and more. This an opportunity to reinvent what a farm could look like, where more can take on ‘green-collar jobs.’ Food is a fundamental need, so there will not be any shortage of industry demands, but we need our local community to farm. If we don’t have that, we can’t do it,” says David Tan, founder of Netatech.

To download the Industry Insights 2021 Report on Agritech, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com/agritech-2021. Find out more about the courses, training and grants, contact NTUC LearningHub at https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/ .

About NTUC LearningHub

NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Cloud, Infocomm Technology, Healthcare, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources and Foreign Worker Training.

To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 25,000 organisations and achieved over 2.6 million training places across more than 500 courses with a pool of over 600 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships and offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training solutions and work constantly to improve our training quality and delivery. In 2020, we have accelerated our foray into online learning with our Virtual Live Classes and, through working with best-in-class partners such as IBM, DuPont Sustainable Solutions and GO1, asynchronous online courses.


#NTUCLearningHub

About Netatech

Netatech, powered by Netafim, envisions a future where cities are built beyond resilience and sustainability by tapping into innovative, high-tech solutions like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Cloud Computing to optimize the earth’s natural resources. Netatech specializes in High-tech Urban Farming, Precision Drip Irrigation, Rainwater Harvesting & Treatment, PUB ABC Waters Design Features, including master planning of decentralized Stormwater Management projects using advanced hydrodynamic modeling systems. The company’s projects span the public, healthcare, commercial, and industrial sectors.

3,000 People Affected by Floods in Xayaboury

Floods in Xayaboury Province from above.jpg

Villages in Xayaboury District of Xayaboury Province have been hit by serious floods after days of torrential rain in northern Laos.