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Promperú’s Peru Trade Office Supports Expansion of Peruvian Agri-Food Export to Thailand

  • Thailand is the third biggest market for Peruvian agri-food exports in South-East Asia
  • Promperú will be relocating its trade office for South-East Asia to Bangkok after four years in Hong Kong

LIMA, PERU – Media OutReach – 9 September 2021 – Peruvian agri-food exports to Thailand continue to grow in 2021, reaching US$4.2 million in May, comfortably exceeding the US$3.6 million achieved in 2020.

 

Avocados, grapes, cranberries and asparagus were the leading Peruvian foodstuffs exported to Thailand last year. The biggest boom was in cranberries, which increased in value by 747% compared to the previous year.

 

The growing importance of the Thai market to Peru’s export strategy is the reason behind the transfer of PROMPERÚ’s trade office in the region. After almost five years based in Hong Kong, from 2021 Bangkok will be home to the Peruvian organization’s promotional office in South-East Asia.

 

The main objective of PROMPERÚ’s trade office in Bangkok will be to increase the demand for Peruvian produce through new trade agreements and promotional actions. 

 

Over the coming months, the promotions will reach the leading ecommerce platforms in Thailand. Peruvian avocados, cranberries, quinoa and chia have been available since July and through to September on the Fresh Living website. In addition, leading supermarkets such as Tops, Foodland, Makro and Max are also offering their shoppers Peruvian avocados and cranberries online in August and September.

 

“In Thailand we are committed to direct consumer promotion because, according to Food Export, around 54% of Thai people search for food from the West and therefore buy imported foodstuffs”, explained the Trade Commissioner of PROMPERÚ in South-East Asia, Erick Aponte.

PERU IN ASIAN MARKETS

 

Peruvian agri-food exports to the Asian continent account for 15% of its total exports to South-East Asia. The main markets are China (76 million), Hong Kong (117 million), South Korea (88.6 million) and Japan (55.5 million).

 

In South-East Asia the main destinations are Indonesia (11.5 million), Malaysia (6.4 million), Thailand (5.8 million), Vietnam (4 million) and Singapore (1.4 million).

SUPER FOODS PERU

 

The ‘Super Foods Peru’ brand represents Peruvian foodstuffs of distinctive quality that originate in the country’s unique ecosystems: the coast, the jungles and the mountains. These products boast unique nutritional properties; learn more about ‘Super Foods Perú’ here.

#PROMPERÚ


Crisis Management Centre calls for improved data utilization

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 9 September 2021 – The recent report produced by the Crisis Management Centre has exposed several gaps in the critical response to those adversely impacted by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The study “Consolidated Data Analysis of Malaysia’s Kita Jaga Kita Movement” was carried out by collecting publicly available data from the three leading applications developed to facilitate direct aid from the community to individuals and families.  Over a two-week period in the beginning of August data from the 478 households was gathered from the Kita Jaga Co app, Sambal SOS app, and the MyBendera app., this was further augmented with a detailed case study from 39 households in the Titiwangsa area who received aid.

 

“By compiling the publicly available data from these various sources into one database, the study identified some alarming trends. This study revealed that there is a need for greater utilization of community and social media generated data to inform the design of critical response programs. In addition, we need to make available other forms data previously designated not for public consumption to encourage open-sourced solutions.” Stated Nordin Abdullah the Founder of the Crisis Management Centre.    

 

“These apps are important in that they represent the first step in a “community driven data generation” able to respond to a problem impacting individuals and families in the broader society.  As a strategic approach there is a need to effectively integrate these data sets together with other real-time data. This data, once mapped and geotagged, can be dealt with in a hyper-local manner and at the higher level by various stakeholders. Better decisions are made with better data.” 

 

The research revealed that families and individuals needed assistance for food (46.1 per cent) and childcare necessities (21.5 per cent), while rental assistance comprised of 31.5 per cent of the requirements. Social media data suggested that the public and institutional response primarily focused on food and childcare as they were delivered in kind. This has exposed a considerable gap in the response. 

 

“The report highlighted a critical are of concern, a “rental gap” which may have a greater impact on mental health than we expect. According to the Maslow’s theory of Hierarchy of Needs, which places shelter at the base of the pyramid is required for an individual to feel safe. There needs to be a concerted effort to address this problem.” Explained Nordin who is an EXCO member of the Malaysia Australia Business Council.   

 

The research finding echoed this sentiment with 67.7 per cent of people self-declared stress levels before receiving assistance as “very stressed”.  The report also stated that an increased understanding through mental health research is required, while the economy many recover in due course the long term phycological impact of two years of pandemic lockdowns will have a spill over effect into a post-pandemic Malaysia.

 

“A holistic approach towards effective communications needs to be developed. This crisis increases the number of people pushed below the threshold for assistance, the data further indicated that 76.9% of those who require aid are not recipients of aid programs. Which means in a crisis numbers change and the response needs to be flexible” stated Rizal Kamaruzzaman the Executive Director of Tindakan Strategi Sdn. Bhd. who contributed to the strategic insights and recommendations of the report.   

 

The report was release via the Crisis Management Centre’s LinkedIn page.

 

Link to Report https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6836630572102758400

About the Crisis Management Centre

The Crisis Management Centre was established by Glenreagh Sdn. Bhd. to empower individuals, corporations and governments to effectively deal with all aspects of crisis.

The Crisis Management Centre can help individuals, corporations and government with a wide range of services from pre-crisis training and risk management to mid-crisis management including the all-important crisis communications and stakeholder engagement. Post-crisis management has become increasingly important as it allows for the public and those effected to put context on what happened allowing people to tell the full story in the light of day.

#CrisisManagementCentre

Cryptocurrency and Millennials—The Perfect Match: An Expert Article by OctaFX

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 9 September 2021 – From the standpoint of technological adaptability, Millennials are among the groups which were able to adjust the most in a brief period of time—a time that is torn and accelerated anew by paradigm shifts all over the board. The older ones (born between 1980–1993) received insights from the preceding generations and accommodated to the best of their ability: lessons that remained from the preceding Gen X’s beliefs and habits and what their Baby boomer parents taught. Organic intergenerational exchange is now juxtaposed with exponential technological progress. The reality is, Millennials suffered a clash because of this energetic ambiguity. As a result, they stumbled into a whole new era where everything they’ve been taught has been distorted and tested. A test that already shows many fruits and reasons to believe that Millennials readjusted swiftly.

 

The prior generations’ values about work, savings, lifestyle, and investments have radically shifted to different priorities. They appreciate investing in new technologies, have other behavioural habits, preferences and expectations towards their future.

Many of them are under the justified impression that merely finishing a bachelor’s degree is not enough to find a fulfilling job and the salary of their dreams, as maybe their parents did. 

 

Millennial traders are the most ambitious

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of the financial market is uncertain. One age group that seems to take advantage of this web of uncertainties, however, are millennials. Even though it might sound redundant, Millennials become more and more proficient in dealing with uncertainty at their best. A well-known characteristic of Millennials is their desire for aspirations to be fulfilled rapidly, no time wasted. Be it the morning news, dinner plans, or instant gratifications from their physical achievements in their jogging app—all rest comfortably at their disposal through a simple swipe or click on their smartphone.

We observe similar strives in today’s fintech domain, evolving at par with this generation. For instance, the fact of digital and branchless banks challenging traditional bank structures.

 

Cryptocurrency—the most popular digital asset

 

As some also refer to Millennials, Generation Y has a reputation for embracing all things digital, especially cryptocurrencies. So when it comes to investments, most prefer doing things online or over an app rather than filling up lengthy paperwork. Cryptocurrencies emerged a little over a decade ago, with the first taking the spotlight in 2009: bitcoin. These novel assets became a diverse basket of tokens and coins, thriving from blockchain technology—a prospective and growing alternative to our current legacy financial system. It basically means that cryptocurrencies can be purchased, sold, exchanged, or stored by anyone, digitally, online with the aid of the blockchain. It is a unique database that has so far proved to be virtually incorruptible, with a natural affinity for decentralisation and self-responsibility. Many of these blockchain projects releasing new cryptocurrencies every year yielded unfathomable results and growth. (Not all of them on merits of their innovation, of course, but rather because they were hyped into oblivion by clever marketing.)

 

These attributes might display why cryptocurrency as an asset class fits perfectly into the Millennial lifestyle. For anyone still wondering why Millennials would invest in cryptocurrencies, here are some excellent reasons:

●      High and quick returns (Millennials are considered one of the most ambitious generations, historically speaking. They seek investments that benefit them with high returns in a shorter duration. While there are not many assets that generate high returns quickly, cryptocurrency can be an exception.)

●      A bonus to a decent retirement portfolio

 

Concerning the last point, it’s even more severe. Unlike their parents (depending on the country they live in), most Millennials in Latin America, for instance, are a generation without access to a future pension assured by the state. Even those who hold good jobs now are not likely to receive a pension once retirement starts. This urge to take matters into one’s own hands, making long-term investments, is driven by the possibility of reaching independence and financial freedom.

 

Cryptocurrency is highly volatile. The fact that sometimes its 30-day gains or losses can exceed 100% is a testament to that. Meaning, the risk and returns are relatively high. However, if played out wisely, they can make a great addition to a Millennial’s retirement portfolio. In that sense, the statistics already show how Gen Y demographics often seek other incomes than just what their official jobs generate. That’s why it is imperative to consider which platform gives the best conditions and security to avoid precarious situations. A service that can help them generate even more additional income on which they can rely.

Also, studies have shown that the pandemic has increased the risk appetite among Millennials significantly. Here is a paradox: They remain a relatively young generation that is not very worried about liabilities since, on the one hand, they don’t have a whole lot to lose and starting over does not seem like that much of a tragedy. On the other hand, they`re used to sudden changes and have come to deal with these in a surprisingly determined and organised manner.

 

A suitable Alternative Investment

The term ‘Alternative Investment’ means performance is unrelated to traditional asset classes such as stocks and bonds. Cryptocurrency can make for an alternative investment for Millennials over the long term since they are likely to remain strong and pull through any financial crisis that may occur in the futureparticularly if the fundamentals, use case, partnerships, and innovation of the blockchain project hold up.

 

So, how to invest safely? The first step is finding a reliable and trustworthy exchange for cryptocurrencies. Simplicity, security, and accessibility are three aspects that everyone should consider while choosing an exchange to invest in crypto. Before ever trying to buy any asset with your hard-earned money, make sure the platform is legit.

 

Many lost orientation and perspective due to the great crashes in the crypto market, like back in March 2020, or more recently, in May 2021. When the typical Elon Musk tweet hits home and provokes severe market fluctuations, some of the best platforms should be able and willing to give guidance and adapt to their customers’ needs.

OctaFX is one of those platforms.

The fintech company just recently accommodated its clients with a leverage update:

it raised the leverage for all its cryptocurrency pairs from 1:10 to 1:25.

As a friendly reminder, the most-traded cryptocurrencies at OctaFX, ranked by popularity, are:

BTCUSD (Bitcoin/U.S. dollar)

XRPUSD (Ripple/U.S. dollar)

ETHUSD (Ethereum/U.S. dollar)

LTCUSD (Litecoin/U.S. dollar)

BCHUSD (Bitcoin Cash/U.S. dollar)

 

OctaFX decided upon meeting this customer demand after carefully analysing the client sentiment and attentively reviewing client communications.

 

The cryptocurrency adventure is a wild one and plays a decisive role in ushering in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Thanks to Millennials or Generation Y, it gathered momentum never seen before on any financial market and has to be reckoned with in the future.

About OctaFX

OctaFX is a global broker that provides online trading services since 2011. It offers a state-of-the-art trading experience to over 7 million trading accounts globally. OctaFX has won more than 40 awards since its foundation, including the ‘Best ECN Broker 2020’ award from World Finance and more recently the 2021 ‘Best Forex Broker Asia’ award and the 2020 ‘Most Transparent Broker’ award from Global Banking & Finance Review and Forex Awards, respectively. The company is well-known for its social and charity activities. It is also committed to educating its clients about trading and investing in accessible and appealing ways.


#OctaFX

Curated Conscious Beauty Solutions Online Platform, Aardae, Launches In Singapore

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 8 September 2021 – Aardae, a thoughtfully curated online platform celebrating sustainable, non-toxic and cruelty-free products launches in Singapore to introduce an extensive selection of the finest beauty products sourced from international indie brands to Southeast Asia. Promising a diverse selection of high-performance products with large following internationally, Aardae showcases an exciting range of products that are suitable for all skin types.

 

Having analyzed the skincare market in Singapore and understanding various transitions in the importance of sustainable non-toxic products within Asia, Aardae promises to bring fellow enthusiasts’ various options through their pioneer platform. Co-founded by two passionate entrepreneurs, Shweta Gupta and Darshana Balagopal, Aardae’s philosophy is sharing knowledge about products that are not merely heavily embedded in conscious beauty but also promise high efficacy.

 

Aardae has carefully curated 1,000 products from 40 unique brands including international favourites such as Dot & Key, Juicy Chemistry, OCEGLOW, Purearth, Earth Rhythm and Omorfee. Committed to quality, Aardae performs in-house consumer testing on each product prior to its inclusion into the catalogue.

 

Co-founder Shweta Gupta said, “At Aardae, we believe in exclusively curating products that are high in quality. Patrons can rest assured that every aspect of each brand and product has been considered and put through objective and stringent testing before being offered. As skincare afficionados, we wanted to close the existing gap and come up with a platform that is essentially the first-of-its-kind. While we are thrilled to introduce these fabulous brands to Singapore, we are equally eager for consumers to be introduced to a dedicated clean beauty platform such as Aardae as a one stop solution for all their hair and skin needs.”

 

Consumers can explore ethically-sourced and thoughtfully manufactured skincare and haircare products that are incredibly versatile and suitable to modern lifestyles. Driven by the desire for consumers to be more conscientious and knowledgeable about their purchases, Aardae aims to provide options that are commited to reducing carbon footprints and minimal environmental impact. Co-founder Darshana Balagopal said, “We are heavily rooted in conscious beauty and it is important that our platform echoes these beliefs. With so many complex options available globally, the challenge was to shortlist products that were safe for consumers and the planet. We hope to encourage smart buying decisions and induce higher levels of mindfulness to the environment using fewer highly efficient products.”

 

More information: www.aardae.com

BCEL Asks Customers to Provide Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination

BCEL to require customer vaccinations

Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL) has issued an internal notice stating that it will require customers to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19 prior to using the bank’s services.

Laos Confirms 211 New Cases of Covid-19

Covid-19 update Khammouane

Community spread continues in Laos as the nation confirms 211 new cases of Covid-19.

Four Lao Nationals Caught Smuggling Frozen Food From Thailand into Laos

Thai police officers sieze smuggled goods
Thai police officers seize smuggled goods

Four Lao nationals were arrested by marine police in Thailand while attempting to smuggle frozen food across the Mekong River.

Chen Zhi Scholarship Jointly Launched by Prince Group and Ministry of Education Youth and Sport to Prepare Cambodian University Students For Post-Pandemic Future

Full tuition fees and stipends for 400 university students to advance sustainable development, financial inclusion and world-class hospitality; Awardees to get internship and employment opportunities at Prince Group

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Media OutReach – 8 September 2021 – Prince Holding Group (“Prince Group”), one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia, has finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) to launch a scholarship program for Cambodian university students. Prince Group will provide full tuition fees and stipends for 400 selected students to pursue their Bachelor of Science degrees at top Cambodian universities including Royal University of Phnom Penh, National University of Management, and Institute of Technology of Cambodia. In total, Prince Group will provide over US$2 million across seven years.

Chen Zhi Scholarship MOU Signing

Chen Zhi Scholarship MOU Signing

Prince Group Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi in conversation with the MoEYS team

As public-private partnerships are essential, Prince Group will work with the government to achieve the goals outlined in the Education Strategic Plan (2019-2023).  Prince Group will work with MoEYS to ensure students get financial support, training, mentoring and work opportunities to bolster learning in three areas: sustainable development of the real estate sector; advancing financial inclusion and the digital economy in the banking and finance industries, and the promotion of world class hospitality standards, meeting the future human capital needs of the local economy.

Through internships, students will learn from top professionals in Cambodia – Prince Group, which oversees more than 80 businesses, possesses a diverse workforce with 20% of employees hailing from places like Singapore, Malaysia and Greater China.

His Excellency Hang Chuon Naron, Cambodia’s Minister of Education Youth and Sport, commented: “We welcome the cooperation of employers that take their role as educators seriously. Cambodia’s road to recovery will require bright young minds from all parts of the country and MoEYS, along with its partners, will remove obstacles, offer targeted guidance, ensure equitable access to education and work opportunities to ensure talented students focus on learning and acquiring skills that will be important for Cambodia’s future.”

“We are pleased to launch one of Cambodia’s largest scholarship programs sponsored by a private enterprise,” said Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer of Prince Holding Group. “Prince Group’s various units are excited to welcome Cambodian students into our family as we will create strong internship and management trainee programs to train, nurture and educate the leaders of tomorrow. The Chen Zhi Scholarship seeks to provide both academic and practical experience for the students, by providing both a first-rate education and exposure to an international working experience.”

The scholarship will be spearheaded by Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Group, who was recently recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year among leaders of conglomerates at the 2021 International Business Awards, due to his business and corporate social responsibility leadership over the course of the pandemic. Under Chen Zhi, Prince Group follows a holistic environment, social and governance framework (ESG) that aims to make a long-term impact in Cambodia. Prince Group has opened the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, Cambodia’s first independent watch school. The training center gives Cambodian youths the opportunity to learn a new artisanal skill – watchmaking – and gain the necessary experience to help them in job markets in Cambodia and abroad. In August this year, Prince Group had also sponsored the Career Preparation Program run by Caring for Cambodia, a leading charity, to help high school students. Prince Group will continue to actively seek out ways to contribute to better educational outcomes for Cambodians from all walks of life.

About Prince Holding Group:

Prince Holding Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia, with its various units focusing on three core areas: real estate development, financial services and consumer services.

Prince Holding Group’s key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, Cambodia Airways, Belt Road Capital Management, as well as Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 80 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, aviation, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, and lifestyle sectors etc.

Rising foreign direct investment, free trade agreements with leading countries and future participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are expected to act as key drivers for the Cambodian economy, supported by pro-industry policy initiatives by the government.

Leveraging a network of industrial, business and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group has laid the foundation to be a vital conduit for local and international capital. The Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia. For example, Prince Holding Group is developing Ream City, an upcoming tourism and residential project that will be one of Cambodia’s first sustainable real estate projects, aiming to secure $16 billion in total investment for the region. Located conveniently within a 10-minute drive from the Sihanoukville International Airport, the project aims to contribute to economic recovery in Sihanoukville.

Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia, through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy.

#PrinceHoldingGroup