Laos has recorded a new record number of cases of Covid-19 as the outbreak that began at a garment factory continues to spread.
Covid-19 Cases Reach More Than 20,000 in Laos Following Garment Factory Outbreaks
Garment Association President Makes Statement on Covid-19 Spread at Factories
The President of the Lao Garments Association has given a statement regarding recent outbreaks of Covid-19 at garment factories in Vientiane Capital.
Heavy Rain And Strong Winds Expected Across Laos This Week
Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for several parts of the country this week with floods and landslides expected in northern Laos.
Russia Donates 30,000 Doses of Sputnik Light Vaccine to Laos
Laos has received 30,000 doses of Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine as part of humanitarian assistance from Russia.
VITAL Chooses X0PA AI as its Platform of Choice for Objectivity and Efficiency
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 September 2021 – X0PA AI’s AI recruitment platform is the platform of choice for VITAL.
VITAL, the Central Agency for Shared Services in the Singapore Public Service, has embarked on a recruitment tech pilot programme with X0PA’s AI Recruiter solution to streamline its recruitment processes and improve hiring outcomes. With X0PA’s AI Recruiter platform, the pilot leverages on technology and machine learning to create a ready pool of qualified candidates, improve candidate job matching capabilities and reduce time and cost to hire within the public service.
X0PA AI’s AI Recruiter solution aims to enhance the existing recruitment processes through:
– Inclusive hiring features such as resume and personal information masking for objective shortlisting
– Automated candidate screening & matching powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for objective and unbiased selections
– Hiring automation via Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
– Talent pooling capabilities to improve candidate experience and shorten hiring lead time
– Enhance candidate engagement & virtual assessment capabilities
“VITAL is in a unique position within the Singapore Public Service to experiment with emerging technologies such as AI and automation. With a capable recruitment system and a ready database of qualified candidates, we foresee a more effective and efficient hiring process. We look forward to the partnership with X0PA.”
– Dennis Lui, Chief Executive, VITAL
“X0PA is committed to solving talent management challenges and making process transparent and objective with the power of ethical AI. With this strategic engagement with VITAL, X0PA is determined to augment existing recruitment capabilities and someday, for the whole of public service. X0PA AI will help improve both the user experience and create measurable outcomes with transparent and objective hiring processes on the platform.”
– Sid S., Global Head of Sales, X0PA AI
About VITAL
VITAL is the Central Agency for Corporate shared services in the Singapore Public Service. A department established under the Ministry of Finance, VITAL’s mandate is to aggregate common corporate services within the public sector to leverage economies of scale, improve efficiency and enhance service quality. Today, VITAL serves more than 110,000 public officers across more than 100 agencies over a wide range of corporate and administrative processes in finance, human resource and procurement.
About X0PA AI
Singapore headquartered, X0PA AI is a SaaS company that helps in talent acquisition, hiring, assessment and related areas that use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. X0PA AI combines this technology with automation for accurate, objective, and efficient hiring at scale. X0PA AI has other offices across India, UAE, UK. X0PA AI is recognized by IDC as one of four innovative companies in Asia-Pacific that provides Artificial Intelligence-powered automation solutions and is a partner of Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, Intel and Nvidia.
X0PA Is a strategic partner of Microsoft and the company has developed cloud-based tools and products to enhance the hiring process and selection processes for government, academia, and enterprises.
#X0PA
APICORP Launches Its Inaugural Green Bond Framework
DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA – EQS Newswire – 22 September 2021 – Green Bond Framework follows the approval of the ESG Policy Framework in April 2021; Reinforces APICORP’s ( www.APICORP.org ) focus on funding of renewable energy and other green projects; Exposure to green assets in lending portfolio more than quadrupled from 2015 to 2020; Paves the way to the issuance of a Green Bond in the near future as one of the first energy focused institutions in the world to do so.
The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), a multilateral development financial institution focused on the energy sector in the MENA region, today announced that it has launched its inaugural Green Bond Framework (Framework).
The Framework will serve as a means to raise Green Bonds/Sukuk which reinforce the institution’s commitment to projects that are aligned with its recently approved ESG Policy Framework as well as advance the development of the broader sustainable finance market. In particular, the projects financed, refinanced and/or invested in by APICORP’s Green Bond/Sukuk are also intended to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will aim to promote climate mitigation and adaptation, the transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control and biodiversity preservation.
Notably, the Green Bond Framework is in alignment with the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles 2021 (GBP). In addition, the Green Bond Framework enjoys a Second Party Opinion (SPO). V.E’s SPO assesses APICORP’s Green Bond program “Contribution to Sustainability” and “Expected Impacts” as “Advanced,” along with a “Coherent” classification vis-à-vis APICORP’s strategic sustainability priorities and sector issues.
Dr. Ahmed Ali Attiga, Chief Executive Officer of APICORP, said: “The energy sector is undergoing an exciting and rapid transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix. By launching the Green Bond Framework, APICORP is providing new avenues for investment in projects and ventures that further the development of safe, affordable, and renewable energy sources. The Framework reflects our deep understanding of the ESG impact of our investments across the energy spectrum and our commitment to setting out new engagement strategies with our stakeholders to spread awareness of their ESG exposure. This will, in turn, enhance our collective ability to address the challenges posed by climate change.”
Dr. Sherif Elsayed Ayoub, Chief Financial Officer of APICORP, said: “The Green Bond Framework meets our strategic objective of enlarging the share of green financing within our lending and investment portfolios as well as expands the potential for regional and sectoral debt issuers to access the green space. We are particularly pleased with the Second Party Opinion of ‘Robust’ that was provided by V.E, as it confirms our strong willingness and ability to lead the energy transition in the MENA region, and beyond, in a manner that corresponds to global best practices.”
The latest announcement follows the unveiling of APICORP’s ESG Policy Framework and its plans to allocate US $1 billion towards green energy projects and sustainable energy companies over the next two years, which is complemented by a commitment to measure the ESG footprint of all its assets by end of 2023 through active engagement with its stakeholders. Notably, the ESG Policy Framework is underpinned by three core pillars – Responsible Banking and Investing, Social Inclusion and Partnerships, and Financial Resilience and Governance – and is a key element of APICORP’s strategy to formalize and institutionalize its commitment to environmental protection, social responsibility, and robust governance. It also guides how APICORP will go about identifying, measuring, managing, monitoring, and reporting ESG risks and opportunities.
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About APICORP:
The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) is a multilateral development bank established in 1975 by an international treaty between the ten Arab oil exporting countries. It aims to support and foster the development of the Arab world’s energy sector and petroleum industries. APICORP makes equity investments and provides project finance, trade finance, advisory and research. APICORP is rated ‘Aa2’ with stable outlook by Moody’s and ‘AA’ with a stable outlook by Fitch. APICORP’s headquarters is in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
More information can be found at: 
www.APICORP.org
#APICORP
New Indicative Ending Date Set for Sanakham Dam Consultation
An MRC governance meeting has agreed to a new indicative date to conclude the prior consultation process of the 684-megawatt Sanakham dam.
Vientiane Capital Signs Off On Flood Protection Project and Public Park
The second phase of a flood protection embankment along the Mekong River in Vientiane Capital is to commence next month.
