HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — INCUBASE Arena, the anime cultural experience hub established by INCUBASE Studio, reopened at its new location in Mong Kok’s Chong Hing Square on January 17. At the same time, its first international branch opened earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—an exciting double launch! Within a year of its establishment in Hong Kong in April 2024, INCUBASE Arena has expanded to Malaysia, showcasing its vision of promoting anime culture and building a vibrant community for anime fans.

The name “INCUBASE” blends “Incubation” and “Base,” signifying a nurturing ground. In Hong Kong and some other regions, anime is seen as a “subculture” and its considerable influence is often underestimated. Anime not only expresses diverse ideas and values but also sparks boundless creativity, becoming an integral part of many people’s lives and significantly shaping their daily experiences.

“INCUBASE aims to nurture the anime experience, positively impacting society and providing opportunities to introduce anime culture to a wider audience,” said Sion Yip, Founder and CEO of INCUBASE Studio.

New INCUBASE Arena in Mong Kok Spanning 20,000 Square Feet

The new INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong is located in the basement levels B1 and B2 of Mong Kok’s Chong Hing Square, covering over 20,000 square feet. The entire B2 level is dedicated to exhibition space, while B1 features a variety of new facilities, including an expanded INCUShop with a wide selection of anime merchandise. Additionally, there are popup spaces, card battle zones, capsule toy areas, personalised card machines and photo booths, all designed to provide a diverse experience. The F&B section will transform with different anime themes, offering thematic food and drinks series. INCUBASE Arena is set to become a new hotspot for anime culture and entertainment in Hong Kong.

The first exhibition following the relocation at INCUBASE Arena is the “Chainsaw Man Animation Exhibition – Hong Kong“. This exhibition marks the first overseas showcase, recreating the rich content of the original Japanese exhibition while featuring a unique Hong Kong-exclusive area, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the universe of “Chainsaw Man”. Star voice actor Kikunosuke Toya, who voices the main character Denji, was invited to the opening ceremony as an honourable guest, with the beloved Pochita mascot also making a surprise appearance during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The new location offers more space, providing a diverse exhibition experience for anime fans, and its position in Mong Kok makes it more convenient for visitors. We already have plans lined up for 2025, continuing to bring unforgettable anime cultural experiences to Hong Kong and the surrounding areas, so stay tuned!” shared Sion.

INCUBASE Arena Expands to Malaysia

The new INCUBASE Arena Malaysia is located on the second floor of Fahrenheit88 in Kuala Lumpur, showcasing the “Kamen Rider 50th Anniversary Exhibition” following its successful run in Hong Kong. It hosted the largest gathering of Kamen Rider belt fans in Malaysia’s history, attracting over 400 participants and earning a spot in The Malaysia Book of Records for this largest Kamen Rider exhibition ever!

INCUBASE Arena Malaysia will regularly host various anime exhibitions and related activities, alongside a merchandise shop INCUShop, providing local fans with a new and refreshing anime experience.

During the opening ceremony, Sion expressed gratitude for the support from anime fans and revealed plans for the future expansion of INCUBASE Arena to other Southeast Asian countries, as well as mainland China, Taiwan, and even the Middle East, Europe and America.

With the launch of the new INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong and Malaysia, INCUBASE Studio remains committed to creating a world-class hub for anime cultural experience, promoting exciting experiences and events, and inviting all fans to join this fun and creative journey.

Please follow the official platforms of INCUBASE Studio and INCUBASE Arena for the latest news and upcoming events:

INCUBASE Studio:

Website: www.incubasestudio.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/incubase.studio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/incubase.studio

INCUBASE Arena:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/incubase.arena
Instagram: www.instagram.com/incubase.arena

INCUBASE Arena Malaysia:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/incubase.arena.my
Instagram: www.instagram.com/incubase.arena.my

About INCUBASE Studio

INCUBASE Studio curates diverse IP-themed exhibition experiences that celebrate and connect fandoms worldwide. The Studio brings stories to life by blending captivating content with engaging installations and interactive devices. Since its establishment in Hong Kong in 2021, INCUBASE Studio has been committed to realising and promoting Touring Experiences across Asia, pushing the boundaries of physical venues and experiences.

In 2024, INCUBASE Studio established INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong and Malaysia as hubs for Japanese anime culture and entertainment experiences, continuously hosting a variety of popular anime IP exhibitions and related events to build a vibrant community for anime fans in both regions and the surrounding areas.

www.incubasestudio.com 

SINGAPORE, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore and backed by Hillhouse Investment, has announced the acquisition of Virtuzone, the UAE’s leading and award-winning provider of company formation solutions, corporate services, and tax consultancy. This strategic move signifies Ascentium’s entry into the dynamic Middle East markets, leveraging Virtuzone’s expertise and local presence to tap into emerging opportunities in the region.

The acquisition of Virtuzone—which includes Virtuzone’s sister companies, Taxready.ae, Next Generation Equity and MAKTABI—positions Ascentium to establish a robust foothold in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extend the potential reach across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. With foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the UAE soaring to USD 30.6 billion in 2023 and the Middle East’s GDP growth projected to reach 3.9% in 2025, this acquisition aligns with Ascentium’s growth strategy in strategic markets.

Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, remarked, “We are pleased to expand in the GCC through the acquisition of Virtuzone, and we welcome them to the Ascentium group. Their expertise and commitment to excellence will bolster our organisation and drive us towards our strategic goals. Virtuzone’s strong presence in the Middle East complements our existing capabilities, and together, we look forward to achieving new milestones and delivering exceptional value to our global clientele.”

Neil Petch, Chairman and Co-founder of Virtuzone, commented, “As global leaders in the corporate services industry, Ascentium embodies the core values that Virtuzone has upheld over the years, empowering businesses and delivering customer-centric solutions, transformative innovation, and unrivalled service excellence. By combining their business acumen with our local market leadership and expertise, I believe this new era will bring significantly greater value to our clients, partners and the communities that we serve.”

George Hojeige, Group CEO of Virtuzone, shared, “We are excited to join the Ascentium family, where our shared values and vision will drive us towards even greater success. The opportunities ahead for Virtuzone within Ascentium are truly promising, especially in expanding our reach in the Asia-Pacific region. Ascentium’s global network and expertise will enrich our service offerings and allow us to deliver tailored solutions to our clients, further solidifying our position as a leader in the corporate solutions sector.”

Founded by Zhang Lei in 2005 with initial investor capital from the Yale University Endowment, Hillhouse is a leading diversified asset manager with strategies across equities, credit, and real assets. The firm manages capital for global institutions, including non-profit foundations, endowments, and pensions and has a proven track record of completing large complex transactions across more than 30 countries.

In line with the acquisition, Ascentium will provide additional resources to Virtuzone, enabling the Dubai-based company to expand its suite of corporate services, strengthen its local presence, and serve as a catalyst for Ascentium’s expansion into the Middle East.

About Ascentium

Ascentium is a leading global business services platform dedicated to helping businesses scale greater heights. Headquartered in Singapore and backed by Hillhouse Investment, we empower extraordinary growth through specialised expertise across secretarial, finance, payroll, HR administration, family office, fund administration, GRC, and cross-border & FDI specialist services. Our team of 1,500 professionals spans 9 markets in the Asia-Pacific region, serving over 20,000 active clients across diverse industries. Through innovative, technology-enabled solutions and collaborative approach, Ascentium drives transformative growth, helping clients navigate complex global environments.

For more information, visit: ascentium.com

About Virtuzone

Virtuzone is the UAE’s first and largest company formation specialist and an award-winning corporate service provider. Established in 2009, we have set up the companies of more than 80,000 entrepreneurs from 180 countries.

With over 250 staff members speaking 40 languages, we provide end-to-end company formation and corporate services, ranging from trade licensing and visa processing to bank account opening, tax consultancy, compliance, accounting, legal services, and more.

We are part of Virtugroup, a Dubai-based holding company that comprises Taxready.ae, an FTA-certified tax and accounting firm; Next Generation Equity, which offers citizenship and residency-by-investment programmes; and MAKTABI, a world-class business centre located in the heart of Dubai.

About Hillhouse

Hillhouse Investment is a long-term investor focused on partnering with quality business leaders to help them grow their organizations globally. For almost 20 years, Hillhouse has worked alongside traditional businesses that have redefined their industries. Our goal is to establish alignment and build sustainable, forward-thinking companies that create lasting value for all stakeholders. Hillhouse is a full life-cycle private equity firm, investing for the long term across opportunities in the business services, healthcare, consumer, and industrials sectors. Operating an integrated platform spanning private equity, credit, real assets and public equity, the firm manages capital on behalf of global institutions such as non-profit foundations, endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and pensions.

Media Contact

Nancy So – Associate Director, Group Marketing, Ascentium

nancy.so@ascentium.com

SINGAPORE, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) announced today the opening of applications for the 12^th edition of its flagship event – the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), one of Asia’s most globally representative and exciting deep-tech start-up competitions. 

This year’s LKYGBPC will focus on Urban Solutions and Sustainability. Finalists will also be connected with Southeast Asia’s business families to explore collaborations, and receive exclusive access to senior venture capitalists at the biggest Venture Capital Office Hours in SouthEast Asia. 50 finalist teams (RVLT50) will receive a fully sponsored trip to Singapore for BLAZE – a week-long innovation festival culminating in the LKYGBPC Grand Finale.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will come onboard as the first official Scientific Knowledge Partner for LKYGBPC, bringing a new level of expertise to the competition.

“A*STAR has developed deep technological capabilities critical for a sustainable future, driving Singapore’s sustainability goals through innovation. We are excited to support and nurture young founders in creating transformative solutions that address global urbanisation and sustainability challenges while fostering the growth of a thriving deep-tech startup ecosystem,” said Ms Irene Cheong, Assistant Chief Executive (Innovation & Enterprise) at A*STAR.

Held since 2002, the 11^th edition of LKYGBPC in 2023 attracted over 1,000 entries from 1,100 universities spanning 77 countries, including Argentina, China, Germany, the United States, Ukraine, Japan and Indonesia. Competition alumni have successfully gone on to raise US$1 billion over the last five years.

Prof Lim Sun Sun, Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement, SMU, and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication & Technology said, “As SMU consistently strives to translate research and entrepreneurial endeavours into real-world solutions that benefit society, we are confident that LKYGBPC’s global reach and impact will enable us to drive concrete, positive change for a better tomorrow.”

Ms Shirley Wong, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SMU IIE, Managing Partner of TNF Ventures, and Chairperson of the 12th LKYGBPC Advisory Committee said, “The 2025 LKYGBPC unfolds amidst a unique confluence of milestones: Singapore’s 60th anniversary, SMU’s 25th anniversary, and the Singapore Grand Prix 2025. This dynamic backdrop, combined with other major youth-focused festivals that are taking place simultaneously, creates an extraordinary platform for start-up founders to connect with global business leaders and emerging talents in and outside of the competition.”

LKYGBPC participants, who must be university student founders or recent alumni, can enter individually, or as part of a team. More information can be found at smu.sg/lkygbpc.

To submit an application, please log on to: http://smu.sg/LKYGBPC-APPLY.

Successfully Hosted at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Summit on Digital Economy Summit on Data-driven New Quality Productive Forces (“the Summit”) was successfully held on January 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organized by the Greater Bay Area International Information Technology Association (GBAITA), co-hosted by the Big Data Governance Association (IBDG) and the Hong Kong Web3.0 Standardization Association, with the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as a supporting organization. During the summit, the International Data Industry Alliance was officially established, aiming to make Hong Kong an international data hub by uniting industry forces.

The summit was honored by the presence of Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the GBAITA, Mr. Leung Chun-ying; the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po; Mr. Liu Guangyuan, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. Ir Yeung Tak Bun, President of the GBAITA and founding chairman of the Big Data Governance Association; Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue of Pakistan; Mr. Rogelio V. Quevedo, Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines; Ms. Dini Maghfirra, Executive Director of Satu Data Indonesia, Ministry of National Development Planning Indonesia, who all served as distinguished guests of honor.

As the representative enterprise of the Big Data Governance Association (IBDG) and the exclusive gold sponsor of the summit, KN Group engaged in discussions on data-driven digital economic development with the attending guests, contributing to the digital economy in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The summit focused on innovative applications of data across various industries and sectors to effectively unleash new productivity. Guests from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan participated in a roundtable discussion, sharing their perspectives on promoting the development of data ecosystems. They discussed how data governance and technological innovation can drive sustainable development of the digital economy, enhancing regional economic competitiveness.

Mr. Wang Yi, Senior Vice President of KN Group, stated, “We are honored to participate in and support this significant summit. KN Group has been dedicated to leveraging advanced artificial intelligence technology and big data analytics to drive innovation and development in financial services. Through this event, we hope to contribute to the development of the digital economy in Hong Kong and the around the world.”

JINAN, China, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On January 17-18, 2025, the “Global Fluid and Environmental Testing Summit Forum and Meide Group Fluid and Environmental Testing Research Institute (Phase I) Opening Ceremony” organized by Meide Group was a complete success.

Wang Hao, an academician of the CAE Member, Zhao Li, a national engineering survey and design master, UL, VdS, KC and other nearly 100 experts, masters and more than 50 global enterprise representatives from all over the world participated in the event. Dave Viola, President of the World Water Association, sent a congratulations message to Meide Group via video. Kong Linglei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Meide Group, Chang Cheng and Guo Lei, Vice Chairmen, Yu Ruishui, Assistant Chairman, and Wang Shixin, Dean of the Research Institute attended the big event.

This forum focuses on green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, jointly exploring new opportunities in the fluid transportation industry and exploring new perspectives for high-quality development. At the same time, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of Meide Group’s Fluid and Environmental Testing Research Institute. 21 authoritative institutions, including China Architecture Design and Research Institute, China Foundry Association, China Pump and Valve Inspection and Testing Center (Zhejiang), and China Polymer Quality Inspection Center, awarded the institute with plaques.

Meide Group Fluid and Environmental Testing Research Institute is committed to building a comprehensive intelligent fluid laboratory. The largest diamater DN1200 integrated intelligent control multi zone fluid testing system and environmental testing laboratory have more than ten leading technologies, integrating raw material inspection, pipe and valve testing, flow calibration, type testing and other functions, actively solving key technical problems in the fields of fluid mechanics and fluid engineering.

• ZTE has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal for sustainability, ranking among the top 4% of companies assessed over the past 12 months
• Recognized for excellence in environment, labor & human rights, sustainable procurement, and ethics, ZTE continues its commitment to responsible corporate governance and sustainable practices

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medal in the EcoVadis 2024 Sustainability Performance Overview report.

This recognition places ZTE among the top 4% of companies assessed by EcoVadis over the past 12 months(96+ percentile) globally. Furthermore, ZTE ranks in the top 2% of companies within the Manufacture of Communication Equipment industry, reflecting its outstanding performance in sustainability. 

EcoVadis awards medals based on a company’s percentile rank, with the Gold Medal recognizing those in the top 5% (95+ percentile). ZTE’s exceptional performance places it among this elite group, underscoring its strong commitment to sustainable practices:

Environment: ZTE ranks in the top 7% of companies in the Manufacture of Communication Equipment industry, demonstrating its ongoing efforts to minimize environmental impact.

Labor & Human Rights: ZTE’s performance in this area places it in the top 3% of companies, reflecting the company’s dedication to ensuring fair labor practices and human rights standards.

Sustainable Procurement: ZTE’s commitment to sourcing responsibly places it in the top 3% of assessed companies in this category.

Ethics: ZTE ranks in the top 3% in ethics, emphasizing its strong governance practices and dedication to transparency and integrity in business operations.

An EcoVadis medal or badge is an acknowledgement of achievement relative to other assessed companies across the EcoVadis database. It serves as a positive indicator of a company’s commitment to sustainability management.

To celebrate the completion of this assessment, EcoVadis will be planting a tree on behalf of ZTE through its partnership with One Tree Planted.  

As a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), ZTE has proactively released its sustainability report for 16 consecutive years since 2009. ZTE’s achievements in sustainable development have been widely recognized.

ZTE is the first large-scale ICT company in China to receive dual targets approvals from Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) while also making CDP A List. Additionally, the company has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the ninth consecutive year and selected as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series for the 13th year.

ZTE has further distinguished itself by winning two accolades at the 6th BDO ESG Awards 2024, namely the “Theme Award” and the “Outstanding ESG Performance of H-Share Companies” award. These recognitions demonstrate ZTE’s ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable development through innovative practices and corporate responsibility.

The EcoVadis Gold Medal this time further strengthens ZTE’s position as an industry leader, committed to fostering innovation while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability standards.

ABOUT ZTE:

ZTE helps to connect the world with continuous innovation for a better future. The company provides innovative technologies and integrated solutions, its portfolio spans all series of wireless, wireline, devices and professional telecommunications services. Serving over a quarter of the global population, ZTE is dedicated to creating a digital and intelligent ecosystem, and enabling connectivity and trust everywhere. ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. www.zte.com.cn/global

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:

ZTE Corporation Communications
Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn