Thailand’s Nong Khai province has taken steps to address the issue of overwhelming amount of PM2.5 dust particles, engulfing the province in recent weeks.
Nong Khai Fights PM2.5 Haze with Water Mist Campaign
VinFast delivers first VF 9 vehicles to customers in Vietnam
The second shipment of the VF 8 to North America leaves in early April
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 27 March 2023 – VinFast celebrated the delivery of the first 27 VF 9 all-electric SUVs to its customers at an event in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The delivery events took place approximately 1 year after introducing the VF 9 model to the public, which is a testament to VinFast’s expertise and speed in developing and delivering vehicles.
The first batch of VF 9s, produced and delivered to customers in Vietnam, has a 6-seat configuration. The 6-seat design is equipped with two captain’s seats in the second row, combined with a large armrest to bring a luxurious and spacious feel to the ample business class cabin. The VinFast VF 9 brings a classy, comfortable and technologically-advanced experience to all passengers.
The all-electric VF 9 SUV offers a panoramic glass roof (Plus version), integrated massage function with heated and ventilated front seats, (Plus version), a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen, an 8-inch infotainment screen for the second row (Plus version), windshield HUD, auto-dimming outside rearview mirrors (Plus version) and many other premium options.
The VF 9 is also equipped with level 2 ADAS and Smart Services. The electric motor has a maximum power of up to 300kW (402 hp), maximum torque of 620Nm providing a powerful and exhilarating performance. The 92kWh battery pack has a range of up to 438km for the Eco version and 423km for the Plus version on a full charge (WLTP target).
Following the initial delivery events, VinFast will continuously to deliver to other individual customers nationwide in accord with their reservation order. Customers can also choose to receive their vehicles at a VinFast showroom or at their home.
In addition to the 6-seat configuration, the VinFast VF 9 also has a 7-seat option, which is expected to be delivered to customers in the near future. VinFast will continue to offer EV test drive opportunities at VinFast showrooms nationwide to allow customers the opportunity to experience the VF 8 and VF 9 all-electric vehicles.
Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup, CEO of VinFast Holdings shared: “Today’s VF 9 delivery event is the beginning of VinFast’s series of events that will be consistently held on a global basis. We expect to export the VF 8 standard edition models to the U.S. and Canadian markets in April 2023 and expect to soon deliver the VF 5 Plus model to customers in the Vietnamese market. Following that, we expect to export the VF 9 and open reservation for the VF 6 and VF 7 in the coming months. I am confident that VinFast’s high-quality electric vehicles will meet the needs of our customers, bringing a high-level of satisfaction to customers around the world.”
Along with a high-quality passenger vehicle lineup, VinFast has also developed an infrastructure of 150,000 charging ports for electric vehicles and e-scooters; a system of 89 showrooms; as well as dealers and service centers across 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam. With three core values (1) High-quality product, (2) Good price, (3) Excellent services, VinFast is the only automotive company in Vietnam providing a “non-stop” service, along with dedicated customer care options such as Mobile Service, Mobile Charging and 24/7 roadside assistance.
Hashtag: #VinFast #Vingroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About VinFast
VinFast – a member of Vingroup – envisioned to drive the movement of global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: 
https://vinfastauto.us.
VinFast Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include VinFast’s expectations. Forward-looking statements typically can be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar terms. While these forward-looking statements represent VinFast’s current judgment on what the future holds, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the automotive industry, competition in certain markets, the volatility of battery prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, and our ability to achieve the expected benefits and timing of our electric vehicle projects. VinFast undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause VinFast’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect VinFast’s future results.
UN Warns Sustainable Development Goals in Asia-Pacific Region “Badly Off Track”
The United Nations has warned that many developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are now off track to achieving their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
“The ReStart Art Club” Private Party Returns to Hong Kong
#RestartArtClub
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 March 2023 – “The ReStart Art Club”, the annual private party hosted by Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Dino Sadhwani during Art Basel Hong Kong returned on Thursday, 23rd March 2023 at K11 ATELIER King’s Road. This one-night only event brought together the global creative community and luminaries to celebrate the reinvigoration of the international art scene in Hong Kong.
Curated by Jason Swamy and produced by COI Communications, the event explored the binaries of art – familiar and foreign, digital and analog, acoustic and electronic, while showcasing the confluence of age, ethnicities, and cultures.
Alongside the hosts, this event was brought together by five distinguished Host Chairs: Adrian Cheng of K11 Group, Alan Lau of M+, Eva Chow of LACMA, Michael Govan of LACMA, Philip Tinari of UCCA, together with 18 Host Committee members.
Celebrating arts, culture, creativity
As guests arrived, they were met with a modern Chinese music performance where musicians performed amidst an elevated flower stage with dancers concealed within the installation.
Guests were invited to enjoy a Five Flower Tea Gin cocktail before traversing through the nature-themed digital exhibit created by d’strict at ARTE M, the first overseas showcase of Korea’s largest immersive media art exhibition. A molecular cocktail was then offered as guests were guided into a lift with an eccentric dancer. The lift opened into a mysterious speakeasy with traditional Hong Kong and industrial elements. Spectacular local and international performances were unveiled throughout the night such as Grammy-award winning musician Sly5thAve, accordion virtuoso Mario Batkovic, and other dance and DJ performances.
Princess Alia Al-Senussi and Dino Sadhwani, have successfully created yet another captivating and fun-filled event. It is hoped that the event will continue its success in celebrating the collaboration among people passionate about art, culture, performance, gastronomy, music and entertainment.
Sponsors: 11 SKIES, d’strict, Moët & Chandon, Don Julio, Cloudy Bay, KHEE Soju, Two Moons Distillery
Attended Host Committees: Alan Lo, Yenn Wong, Alison Chan, Claudine Ying, Edward Tang, Eugene Tang, Gilbert and Martina Yeung, Ivan Pun, James Neary, Jonathan Cheung, Katrina Razon, Lester Lam, Loui Lim, Marc Spiegler, Pranitan Phornprapha, Rishabh Tongya
Some notable guests: Sir David Adjaye, Cecile Debray, Marc Spiegler, Kyoko Hattori, Vassilis Oikonomopoulos, Marisa Chearavanont, Lim Se-Ryung, Beeple, Staffan Ahrenberg, Simon De Pury, Sean Lee, Aaron Cezar
Hashtag: #RestartArtClub
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Savannakhet Holds First Monkey Feeding Festival
Savannakhet welcomed international and regional tourists at its first-ever Monkey Feeding Festival which was held on March 24, in the province’s Champhone District.
Vientiane Authorities Clarify Reason Behind Sihom Night Market Shut Down
The famous night market in Vientiane, also known as Hengboun Food and Culture Street, has been closed by order of the Department of Industry and Commerce of Vientiane Capital. The closure is in preparation for the upcoming 2024 ASEAN Summit where Laos will serve as the ASEAN Chair.
S P Jain’s Data Science graduates sought after as they receive job offers from Australia, India and Vietnam
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 27 March 2023 – SP Jain School of Global Management, ranked #12 in the world for it’s 1-year Global MBA Program (2019-21) announced today impressive career outcomes for graduates from its Bachelor of Data Science (BDS) program.
The School reported that the Class of 2022 has produced success stories, with graduates securing jobs at starting salaries ranging from AUD 78,000 to AUD 120,000 in Australia. A handful of students received offers from companies based in Vietnam while several others were accepted for higher studies at reputed universities in the US, Canada, UK, France and Australia.
Graduates of this latest class received offers from various organisations, including Fortune 500 companies, technology start-ups and government agencies. Some notable companies that have hired these graduates include Macquarie Group (Australia), EdgeRed Analytics Pty Ltd (Australia), Integrity Solutions (Australia), NSW Government -Grad Program (Australia), Amazon (India), Wolters Kluwer (India), Viettel Big Data Analytics Center (Vietnam), OCB Bank (Vietnam), Savills (Vietnam), and ITR (Vietnam). The rigorous program curriculum and a strong emphasis on skill development resulted in 100% employment rate within 6 months of graduation. Several of these full-time offers were result of successful Internships in the companies.
“The Bachelor of Data Science program at SP Jain is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of data analysis and the skills necessary to tackle complex business problems by effectively leveraging both quantitative and qualitative data. We are thrilled to see the success of our graduates and their impressive job offers from leading companies in the technology and e-commerce sectors. The curriculum at SP Jain is designed to keep pace with the fast-evolving digital landscape, and the participation of industry professionals from the technology sector demonstrates our commitment to providing a cutting-edge education. The high starting salaries our graduates have secured are a testament to the efficacy of our programme, and showcase the core skills and aptitudes that employers demand and appreciate,” shared Dr Abhijit Dasgupta, Director of BDS program at SP Jain.
One of the significant highlights of this program is that it offers students a variety of opportunities to gain real work experience with top companies and universities even before they graduate. Students of the program have previously interned at Adaptive Investments (US), the University of Massachusetts at Boston (under the guidance of renowned professor Dr Lawrence Pohlman), AI Australia (Sydney), VP Bank (Vietnam), Johnson & Johnson (Sydney), Instagram, Facebook, ISI, NITIE, Edify Accelerator, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay and other top US and European universities.
“I did an internship with The University of Massachusetts and another one with HDFC ERGO, where I was a Data Science intern. One thing that SP Jain has always focused on, right from the beginning, is looking at real-world business problems and solving them, even in class. So, when I started my internship, I found it very easy to understand their workflow model and acclimatise because the kind of business problems I was solving at work were on the same lines as the ones I was solving in class,” shared Vedant Kabra from the Class of 2022. On completing the BDS program last year, Vedant landed a role with the Macquarie Group in Sydney, Australia.
The BDS is a three-year multi-city program accredited by the Australian government’s Tertiary Education Quality & Standards Agency (TEQSA). Students can opt to study in Mumbai (Year 1) and Sydney (Years 2 and 3) or complete all three years of the program in Sydney. Upon graduation, students may live and work in Australia by applying for a post study work visa* of up to four years.
The program curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in the principles and techniques of data science, programming and analytics, machine learning, simulation modelling, data mining, social web analytics, and big data processing techniques and platforms. The program is open to Grade XII students and is ideal for those with an aptitude for math and science.
*As an international student, you may be able to continue to live and work in Australia temporarily, following the completion of your undergraduate degree at S P Jain. While graduating students can apply for a post-study work visa, it is not a guaranteed outcome of the program. For eligibility and more information, please visit: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
The Bachelor of Data Science program is not offered in Singapore.
Hashtag: #SPJain
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT S P JAIN SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT (SP JAIN GLOBAL)
S P Jain School of Global Management is an Australian business school that provides modern, relevant and practical global business education. With campuses in the dynamic business hubs of Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, S P Jain Global is renowned for its multi-city undergraduate and postgraduate programs as well as doctoral, executive and short-term online programs. For its flagship Global MBA program, the School has been ranked by reputed international publications such as 
Forbes, Times Higher Education–Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and The Economist.
S P Jain Global is registered as an Institute of Higher Education by the Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Upon graduation, students receive a degree conferred by SP Jain School of Global Management, Australia. The School is registered as a Private Education Institute (PEI) by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), Singapore, and permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Government of Dubai, UAE. Click here to read more.
Inflation and supply chain fears easing, but global economy continues to face uncertainty
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 27 March 2023 –
- Sharp falls in inflation to leave behind some of the recent challenges for the global economy.
- Central banks approaching the end of the tightening cycle partly as a response to recent tensions in the banking system.
- Easing supply chain pressures and resilient labour markets to support recovery but uncertainty about the outlook remains high.
- KPMG forecasts world GDP growth of 2.1 percent and inflation at 5.3 percent for 2023
KPMG Global Economic Outlook H1 2023
The outlook for the global economy took a positive turn in the first half of 2023 as inflationary pressures began to ease, but ongoing geopolitical tensions and domestic challenges in key markets are slowing any return to sustained growth, according to the latest forecast from KPMG.
According to KPMG’s latest Global Economic Outlook report, global energy prices returning to levels last seen prior to the invasion of Ukraine, combined with easing commodity and food prices, have helped put further downward pressure on inflation for the rest of 2023.
Despite the positive news, major economies throughout the world – most recently the UK and USA – are facing their own domestic pressures, delaying any hopes of improving market conditions and a drop in inflation. The nuanced, complex picture in each country, region and territory is placing unprecedented pressure on central banks, with worries that core inflation could remain sticky and price rises could become entrenched due to the relatively tight economic environment facing a number of territories. Growing fears for the wider international banking system could further complicate matters for central banks as they weigh in financial stability risks against a plan to bring inflation back to target.
The global organisation is forecasting GDP growth of 2.1 percent in 2023 and 2.6 percent in 2024 with inflation forecast at 5.3 percent in 2023 and 3.2 percent in 2024, and global unemployment levels of 5.2 percent in 2023 and 5.4 percent in 2024.
Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG in the UK, said:
“Despite the resilience of the labour market and the improving inflation conditions, we expect global economic growth to be relatively modest over the next two years, and to stay below its long-term average. Global growth is expected to be driven by the recovery of the Chinese economy and a relatively strong growth in some of the emerging markets, while Eurozone and the US economy are expected to contribute less to global growth over the next two years. Risks to the outlook are broadly skewed to the downside given the volatility in financial markets.
“The global economy has been through a series of significant shocks over the past three years – the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict – and saw a major expansion to government debt and a significant hike in policy interest rates by central banks. The ramifications of some of these headwinds may not have surfaced yet and we are still to see their full impact and how they interact.”
With monetary policy focused on moderating inflation while stabilising financial markets, fiscal policy is left as the potential tool to boost economic growth. Unfortunately, the public finances have deteriorated significantly over the past three years. Governments have spent significant amounts on first shielding their economies from Covid-19 and subsequently on protecting households and businesses from higher energy prices. That left public debt at historically elevated levels, with less room for expansionary fiscal policy. Even in the U.S., federal spending is expected to slow despite the ramp up in infrastructure spending, although in China fiscal support is to be stepped up following the reopening of the economy. The rise in interest rates has made these larger debt levels more costly to service, putting further pressure on government finances. Nevertheless, some positive growth momentum is expected this year from the relatively smooth reopening of the Chinese economy following the lifting of Covid-related restrictions in December last year.
The pressure on global supply chains has eased significantly in recent months, while shipping costs have dropped too. This should help alleviate some inflationary pressures and improve supply capacity. Global trade remains relatively weak, although we would expect it to recover this year as trade flows normalise with the reopening of the Chinese economy and a recovery in global growth, while we expect geopolitical tensions to continue to exert some pressure on trade flows over the medium term. Consumer demand is also expected to pick up this year, with excess savings – money saved during the pandemic when spending on certain services was not possible – still relatively high in China and Europe, which could potentially be deployed once confidence returns. Indeed, consumer confidence has started to improve in Europe, although it remains at relatively low levels.
Paul Kent, Partner, Advisory, at KPMG in Singapore, said:
“Singapore stands out as a beacon of hope amid global economic uncertainties. Even as the world faces challenges such as geopolitical tensions and banking crises, Singapore continues to experience steady growth in its economy that is expected to remain notably higher compared with other regions – thanks to strong optimism in the ASEAN region and sustained international investment in the nation. Furthermore, unemployment levels remain low and are expected not to rise significantly this year, highlighting Singapore’s relative resilience in the labour market.
“To ensure that Singapore remains vibrant and competitive economically, businesses across sectors need to focus their efforts on increasing productivity and upskilling their workforce to weather any potential turbulence ahead. Moreover, Singapore must also continue to keep a close pulse on the implications of global developments on inflation and interest rates to ensure that households and businesses remain sufficiently cushioned from the rising costs.
“The good news is that Singapore has in place robust and sound controls to safeguard its financial systems, with overall limited risk and exposure to banks here so far. However, the country will have to tread cautiously amid heightened volatility in the global financial markets and be ready to respond decisively to any ‘black swan’ events that could destabilise the economy.”
Regina Mayor, Global Head of Clients & Markets at KPMG, commented:
“How we get back to sustainable, long-term growth is the big question facing boardrooms and political chambers around the world right now. Some of the biggest inflationary fears – widely predicted late last year – have been mitigated by more direct, pro-active political action geared especially towards getting rising energy prices down. There are also signs that other commodities and food prices are finally starting to ease – helping consumers and business owners who’ve been facing a significant financial squeeze.
“The actions taken over the coming months are likely to play a significant role in the pace and nature of the world’s economic recovery. KPMG’s forecasts show that employment levels should remain robust, even given recent tech layoff announcements – a sign that the tightness of the labour market faced post-pandemic shows little sign of easing. It’s an indication of the complexities the world faces today. Strong employment figures are often held up as an example of buoyant market conditions, but they can also reflect the challenges central banks are facing as they attempt to juggle wage expectations, tightened credit conditions and the ever-present danger that any shift in the conflict in Ukraine could bring inflation back into the mix. The upside of a strong labour market, combined with relatively strong personal savings among consumers – especially in Europe and the Americas – means we could start to see robust consumer spending, driving a return to slow-but-steady domestic growth in key markets.”
Download KPMG’s Global Economic Outlook H1 2023 report at this link.
Hashtag: #KPMG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About KPMG Global Economic Outlook
KPMG’s Global Economic Outlook provides bi-annual economic forecasts, produced by macroeconomics teams across KPMG’s global network using a suite of external and in-house models capturing the main inter-relationships in the world economy. As with all forecasts, these are subject to considerable uncertainty and the outturn may differ significantly.
About KPMG International
KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.
KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 265,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.
KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
About KPMG in Singapore
KPMG in Singapore is part of a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 265,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.
© 2023 Copyright owned by one or more of the KPMG International entities. KPMG International entities provide no services to clients. All rights reserved.
