Laos has confirmed 28 new cases of Covid-19 following an outbreak believed to have begun during the Lao New Year holiday period.
Vientiane Authorities Ground Boats Along Mekong River
Authorities in Vientiane Capital are stepping up efforts to closely monitor illegal border crossings along the Mekong River and have prohibited the use of boats in multiple districts.
Samsonite Unveils Sustainable ‘Magnum Eco’ Luggage Collection
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – On Earth Day (April 22), Samsonite is launching Magnum Eco − a durable, lightweight luggage collection that harnesses the innovative advancements of recycled material Recyclex™. The launch takes Samsonite a step further on its responsible journey to becoming the most sustainable luggage company.

Recyclex™ material technology is applied to Magnum Eco. The exterior shell uses recycled polypropylene (PP) while the inside fabric is made from recycled PET bottles. But the Magnum Eco collection does not compromise on quality or strength – upholding the reliability that is built into Samsonite’s core DNA. This durability only adds to the sustainability efforts of the Magnum Eco range by ensuring each suitcase keeps on the road, and out of landfill, for as long as possible.
This new collection is the fruit of years of research and development and close collaboration with Quality Circular Polymers, the plastics recycling joint venture of SUEZ and LyondellBasell. Antoine Grange, CEO of SUEZ Recycling and Recovery in Asia, commented “We are delighted to provide Samsonite with solutions that cover the whole value chain to produce high-quality secondary raw materials and satisfy the highest standards, from industries to consumers.”
“We are honored to be a part of the solution to end plastic waste and welcome the opportunity to partner with Samsonite,” said Ken Lane, Executive Vice President, Global Olefins & Polyolefins of LyondellBasell. “The Magnum Eco is a perfect use for our recycled material because it gives new purpose to this valuable resource by providing travelers with a long-lasting product.”
Magnum Eco also boasts lightweight and impact-resistant qualities. The suitcase has been through all the rigorous strength tests that Samsonite is famous for and is amongst the lightest in its category. The collection offers five desirable colour options, each inspired by nature. When it comes to security, travellers can rest assured their belongings are safe thanks to a 3-Point Lock System.
“Over the past 111 years, Samsonite has focused on innovation, design, and has been an industry leader in using new materials,” said Paul Melkebeke, Samsonite President APAC and Middle East. “Magnum Eco is our further proof to pioneering solutions for the decades to come helping travellers’ journey further.”
For eco-conscious consumers that are unwilling to compromise on durability and style, the Magnum Eco collection makes an unrivalled travel partner.
Son Suk-ku of SBD Entertainment, Wholly-Owned by Spackman Entertainment Group’s Associated Company, Spackman Media Group, Stars In OTT Media Service Watcha’s Original Content, UNFRAMED PROJECT
- Son Suk-ku of SBD Entertainment to participate in OTT media service Watcha’s original content, UNFRAMED PROJECT
- UNFRAMED PROJECT set to carry out filming throughout the year and release exclusively on Watcha in December 2021 as an original series
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“Spackman Entertainment Group” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups, wishes to announce that Son Suk-ku of SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited, shall star in OTT media service Watcha’s original content, UNFRAMED PROJECT.
UNFRAMED PROJECT will have the actors take on the role of directors in terms of writing scripts and actual directing. Other than Son Suk-ku of SBD Entertainment, Park Jung-min, Choi Hee-seo and Lee Je-hoon will also participate in UNFRAMED PROJECT. This is the first time these four actors challenge themselves in directing.
UNFRAMED PROJECT is expected to carry out filming throughout the year and release exclusively on Watcha in December 2021 as an original series.
Previously, Son Suk-ku starred in K-drama MATRIMONIAL CHAOS (2018) and DESIGNATED SURVIVOR: 60 DAYS (2019).
About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited
Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), founded in 2011 by Charles Spackman, is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea. According to Variety, Korea was the world’s fourth largest box office market in 2019, behind only North America, China and Japan.
The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.
Production Labels
SEGL’s wholly-owned Zip Cinema Co., Ltd. (“Zip Cinema“) is one of the most recognised film production labels in Korea and has originated and produced some of Korea’s most commercially successful theatrical films, consecutively producing 10 profitable movies since 2009 representing an industry leading track record. Recent theatrical releases of Zip Cinema’s motion pictures include some of Korea’s highest grossing and award-winning films such as CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), COLD EYES (2013), and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012). For more information on Zip Cinema, do visit http://zipcine.com
SEGL also owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information on Novus Mediacorp, do visit http://novusmediacorp.com.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release GUARDIAN (working title) in 2021 tentatively.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.
The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.
Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. We release all of our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.
The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Song Hye-kyo, Yoo Ah-in, Park Hyung-sik), Fiftyone K Inc. (So Ji Sub, Ok Taec-yeon), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company.
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.
Strategic Businesses
The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has worked with over 25 top
directors and provided the camera and lighting equipment some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON CLASS (2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982 (2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019).
We also operate a café-lounge called Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.
For more details, do visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/
A1 Workman Provides All-around Services To Solve Various Problems With Air Conditioners
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – As hot summer is coming, the sales of air conditioners are fast-growing as well as the demand for cleaning and repairing service of air conditioners. Based on past experience, insufficient cooling and loud noise are the most common problems of air conditioners. Therefore, A1 Workman launched all-around services including cleaning, maintenance, online purchasing, and installation of air conditioners to solve different kinds of problems when using air conditioners.

Regular detection and maintenance become vital as air conditioner problems appear more often in hot summer
In boiling hot weather in summer, air conditioners become a necessity for the people in Hong Kong. However, many people have just realized the air conditioners are not cool enough at this time but they do not know what the problem is and whether they need to buy a new one or not.
In fact, it may not be the quality issues when the air conditioner is not cool enough, it may just be that the filters of the air conditioner have covered too much dirt. The CEO of A1 Workman said: “Insufficient cooling is one of the most common problems when using air conditioners. When the air conditioner has not been cleaned for a long time, there will be a lot of dust accumulates inside the machine, the dust blocks the airflow, affects cooling and heating, and makes the energy consumption increased. In addition, the dust and bacteria accumulated in air conditioners will make the machine blows harmful air, which causes health problems such as allergies, asthma, and air-conditioning disease. Other problems with the machines such as low refrigerant, severe machine aging, and component failure also occur during use, and it needs to identify whether the machine is damaged or not.”
In addition, he pointed out that most air conditioner problems are not serious, and they can be solved by detection, cleaning, or repairing. Therefore, he believes that it is important to check and clean the air conditioner regularly. In order to avoid too much maintenance, A1 Workman launched “eight major processes” for all-around cleaning of air conditioners, which includes more than 16 strict standards, the thorough cleaning of the air conditioner will bring the desired results of removing germs and mites, enhancing refrigeration, and saving energy. Moreover, the service can keep air conditioners in their best condition for a long time.
The online shop of A1 Workman provides installation services all in one station
In recent years, many people demand new energy-saving air conditioners. The data from i-Buzz VOC+ Research showed that the energy efficiency of air conditioners is the most valued, and air conditioners with first-class energy efficiency have become the first choice of netizens. However, consumers also hate products with awful smells or noise. It reflects that consumers want products which is efficient in energy saving as well as improving the quality of life.
What’s more, the functions of air conditioners are also valued by consumers. Some consumers said that they want to buy air conditioners that are able to adjust the temperature automatically, “When the air conditioner is on, we feel cold, but when it is turned off, we feel uncomfortably hot. We are worried that our children will catch a cold when they sleep under the air conditioner, so we have to get up from bed from time to time to adjust the temperature of the air conditioner.” In addition, the CEO of A1 Workman said that consumers demand more functions of air conditioners, and functions such as air purification, automatic cleaning, and intelligent temperature adjustment are also loved by many consumers.
Thus, in order to meet consumers’ demands for a quality life, A1 Workman has set up an online mall that provides superior quality home appliances from the globe, and carefully selects air-conditioning products with high quality and high energy efficiency, products with useful functions, and cost-effective products, to meet the needs of different families. In addition, the online mall also provides door-to-door delivery and installation services, as well as replacement and installation services for consumers who need a new air conditioner, the installation can be done at one go so it helps consumers to spare time and effort.
About A1 WORKMAN
A1 WORKMAN is a professional renovation company in Hong Kong. It undertakes various renovation projects. Their business includes home decoration, air-conditioning engineering, store and warehouse decoration, banner production, office and building construction, building inspection, aluminum window construction, home furnishing and commercial demolition and restoration, door lock installation, and change. https://workman.com.hk/
DHL Supply Chain on track to meet zero carbon emissions target by 2050 in Thailand
- The company most recently installed solar panels valued at approximately US$1.2 million (฿36 million) in four warehouses to optimize energy consumption
- Cements commitment to continue focusing on green warehouse logistics and transport operations
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – In a move to optimize energy consumption, DHL Supply Chain, the global market leader for contract logistics solutions, has installed solar panels valued at approximately US$1.2 million (฿36 million) on the rooftops across four warehouses at its Bangna Logistics Campus in Samutprakarn. The total surface area of the solar panels is approximately 11,000 sqm, the size of almost three football fields.

By converting solar energy into usable electricity, the solar panels will power up the facilities and reduce the amount of energy consumption. These solar panels are expected to generate enough energy to fulfill 38 % of total energy requirements in the facilities, and will reduce energy usage by 20% annually.
“Sustainability is always on the top on our agenda. Over the years, DHL Supply Chain Thailand has implemented a number of innovations in Thailand within our transport and warehousing operations to achieve energy consumption efficiency. This solar project has contributed significantly to our agenda of operating in carbon neutral buildings and aids us to meet Deutsche Post DHL Group’s (DPDHL Group) mission to reduce all logistics-related emissions by 2050,” said Mike Davies, COO of DHL Supply Chain Thailand Cluster.
Other green warehouse logistics solutions and technologies deployed by the company include:
- Motion sensor LED lights, which are activated only at the specific time and operation areas.
- Solar panel lights which are installed around the campus for exterior lighting
- Waste management to drive our customers’ businesses towards zero-waste through the principles of reduction, recycling and reusing. Effective implementation of recycling will minimize waste production.
Maintaining a sustainable transportation operation is also a main focus, as the company applies sustainable and eco-friendly solutions that have seen transport-related carbon footprint fall by 6%, year-on-year in 2020. These solutions are:
- TRAILAR – innovative, eco-friendly technologies to develop a greener fleet through ‘TRAILAR’ solar-technology from the UK. Through its initiative to move towards a more sustainable fleet, DHL Supply Chain is now the first logistics company in Thailand to equip its fleet of 36 vehicles with this cutting-edge technology.
- Telematics – it optimizes routes and address inefficiencies, which helps to save fuel. This technology is installed in our own fleet and is also extended to our subcontractors’ fleet.
- Biofuel – All of DHL Supply Chain Thailand’s trucks use oxygenated fuels, such as biofuel blends, to reduce pollution.
The continuous effort of Thailand’s transport operations to reduce carbon footprint, boost fuel consumption efficiency and capitalize on greener integrated innovations has been rewarding.
These activities are recognized by regional industry body, Green Freight Asia (GFA), which has awarded DHL Supply Chain Thailand with its highest certification; the Label Leaf 4. In fact, DHL Supply Chain Thailand became the first company in Asia Pacific to attain this certification, which cements its position as the global market leader for contract logistics solutions.
DPDHL Group also recently announced that it is investing a total of EUR 7 billion (THB equivalent) over the next ten years in measures to reduce its CO2 emissions, such as expanding the zero-emission e-vehicle fleet and operating in climate-neutral buildings.
DHL – The logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros in 2019. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
Avnet Customers, Suppliers and Employees Reach Further Together to Make a Difference in the World During the Company’s Centennial Year
New corporate sustainability report highlights company strategy and 100 Acts of Giving campaign propels employee giving further
PHOENIX, US – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – As it continues its year-long centennial celebration, Avnet (NASDAQ: AVT), a leading technology solutions provider, is focused on helping its customers, suppliers and employees reach further together to make a difference in the world. Avnet’s latest corporate sustainability report demonstrates how this principle is a cornerstone of the company’s way of doing business and outlines the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. To celebrate the centennial, Avnet is launching a new employee giving campaign, 100 Acts of Giving, to recognize and reward its employees’ charitable efforts. An ongoing article series will also highlight Avnet customers that are leveraging technology to make a positive impact on our world.
“Avnet is entering into its second century in business deeply rooted in the same principle that helped us succeed in the first – we stay situated at the center of the technology value chain – constantly adjusting our position as this center morphs and grows with time,” said Phil Gallagher, Avnet CEO. “One of the critical elements of our continued success is building strong relationships with our many stakeholders so that we’re not only meeting their needs, but we are doing the right things right. The principles of resiliency and sustainability have been the bedrock of Avnet’s business for 100 years, and we are proud to do work that makes a difference in the world.”
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
As part of Avnet’s ongoing ESG initiatives, the company published its latest sustainability report highlighting efforts completed in fiscal years 2019 and 2020. The report outlines the company’s strategy and key areas of focus, based on a materiality study Avnet administered in early 2020. It includes letters from both the CEO and Chair of the Board, detailed information on its response to COVID-19, and comprehensive sections on people and communities, environment and corporate governance. It also calls out where Avnet supports the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) and SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board).
A few things to highlight:
- The five topics that ranked highest in Avnet’s materiality assessment include: ethics and compliance, occupational health and safety, climate, diversity and inclusion, and economic performance.
- Avnet’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy will encompass five main areas: listening and learning, policies and practices, education and awareness, community and partnership and business commitments.
- Avnet’s COVID-19 response included taking immediate measures to protect employee health and safety in all our worldwide operations, working closely with customers to resolve complex supply chain issues, enabling them to deliver urgently needed medical equipment in a prompt and smooth manner, and supporting employee contributions to their local communities.
- Our focus going forward on environmental sustainability will include putting together a complete carbon and waste footprint and adding waste and water usage to reporting.
Read Avnet’s full Corporate Sustainability report here.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Technology innovation is a given, but when that innovation makes a positive difference in the world that’s when business becomes more than just a transaction. Avnet is proud of helping customers succeed in the area of technology for good, for example:
- Happiest Baby makes the SNOO Smart Sleeper bassinet for households around the world. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration accepted SNOO into its Breakthrough Devices Program, which puts it on the fast track for review as a lifesaving medical device for its potential to reduce the risk of SIDS/SUID. Avnet handles turnkey manufacturing, assembly, integration, packaging, rental distribution and storage of the SNOO bassinet. www.HappiestBaby.com
- SynPhNe is dubbed a game-changer in the treatment of stroke recovery. It treats cognitive and physical disability in one system and can be self-administered. The wearable product captures tiny brain and muscle signals so patients are able to self-correct their movements in real-time. Avnet accelerated the validation and manufacturability of the prototype with the technical know-how in both wearable devices and electronics. www.synphne.com/
- tiptap created a fixed amount, standalone, touchless payments™ receiver that helps nonprofits securely receive donations. Nonprofits just turn it on and they are ready to collect. Avnet helped tiptap with their product engineering, component selection and supply, and distribution. www.tiptappay.com
Watch for case studies on these companies and more on www.centennialcentral.com over the next few months.
100 ACTS OF GIVING
For an entire century Avnet has been reaching further together to improve the world while its employees have made a positive impact in the communities where they work and live. Avnet Cares, an employee volunteer program, supports the company’s culture of hands-on giving. Avnet employees are known for giving back to their communities, and in its 100th year, Avnet wants to celebrate these efforts through the “100 Acts of Giving” campaign.
Avnet will donate $1,000 to 100 eligible nonprofits/NGOs globally for a total of $100,000 over the coming months. These 100 nonprofits will be identified from volunteer stories Avnet employees share describing their efforts. Eligible nonprofits from these stories will be entered into drawings throughout Avnet’s centennial year. We will share a selection of these stories on Centennial Central and in our next sustainability report.
About Avnet
As a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, Avnet has served customers’ evolving needs for an entire century. We support customers at each stage of a product’s lifecycle, from idea to design and from prototype to production. Our unique position at the center of the technology value chain enables us to accelerate the design and supply stages of product development so customers can realize revenue faster. Decade after decade, Avnet helps its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com.
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http://www.linkedin.com/company/avnet
Microsoft Cloud will accelerate Asia’s post-pandemic economic growth, creating tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue in the next four years
Microsoft launches virtual datacenter tour to enable everyone to experience the foundation of work, life and play
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – As Asia moves out of the pandemic, cloud is not only a critical foundation for business resilience but will also be a key driver of the region’s next wave of economic growth. Recent research by IDC, shows that Microsoft’s most recent datacenter expansions in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan alone, in partnership with its ecosystem, are set to generate more than $21 billion in new revenues and will create 100,000 new jobs in the next four years[1]. Microsoft is also unveiling an immersive virtual datacenter tour to empower every individual to experience the foundation for today’s work, life, and play – the Microsoft Cloud.

Over the past year, we have seen digital transformation on an unprecedented scale. Entire industries have been reimagined, people have connected differently to work, live, learn and be entertained, resulting in real structural change that will outlast the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Microsoft has accelerated the growth of its cloud datacenter footprint in Asia, expanding from seven to eleven markets to better support and co-innovate with customers and partners. As part of this expansion, the company announced the addition of cloud regions to four new markets across Asia – Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and New Zealand. This expansion was combined with additional cloud infrastructure investments, empowering customers with faster access to the cloud and allowing for in-country data residency.
“There is no doubt that during the past year we have seen the acceleration of digital transformation efforts across all industries,” explains Ahmed Mazhari, President, Microsoft Asia. “Asia now accounts for sixty percent[2] of the world’s growth and is leading the global recovery with the digitalization of business models and economies. Cloud will continue to be a core foundation empowering the realization of Asia’s ambitions, enabling co-innovation across industries, government and community, to drive inclusive societal progress.”
In Malaysia, Celcom, a leading telecommunications company is embracing Microsoft Cloud in its pursuit towards becoming digital economy powerhouse in the region. “We highly applaud Microsoft’s plans to establish its first datacenter region in Malaysia, providing access to a secure, scalable, highly available, resilient and sustainable cloud services for the government, and across multiple industry verticals. As the anchor telco tenant, we look forward to bringing the benefit of this datacenter to our customers and partners” said Idham Nawawi, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom.
In healthcare, Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals, India’s leading integrated healthcare services provider which is offering round-the-clock virtual consultations with just 15 minutes notice commented: “Ultimately, all our transformation efforts center around providing seamless and secure healthcare experiences for our patients. With a trusted cloud infrastructure, we can not only improve patient engagements, but also have access to intelligent health insights for better patient outcomes. We are excited to see how this will continue to evolve, and how we can continuously combine our network and capabilities with Microsoft’s technological expertise as we look toward the future of healthcare.”
Building Asia’s cloud foundation for region’s technology-driven future
According to IDC, Microsoft, along with its ecosystem of partners and cloud-using customers, are expected to generate over $21 billion in new revenue and to create more than 110,000 jobs, including nearly 19,900 new skilled IT jobs, in Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan during the next four years[3].
- Microsoft’s first-ever datacenter region in Malaysia, announced on April 19, will help generate up to USD $4.6 billion in new revenues for the country’s ecosystem of local partners and cloud-consuming customers and will create more than 19,000 new jobs[4].
- Microsoft’s Indonesia datacenter region announced in February 2020 is forecast to add USD $6.3 billion to the revenues of local cloud-using customers and partners, contributing to the creation of nearly 60,000 jobs[5].
- Microsoft’s Taiwan datacenter region, announced in October 2020, will add more than USD $10.4 billion in new revenues and will add approximately 30,720 jobs to the Taiwanese economy[6].
- New Zealand’s datacenter region will be Microsoft’s first in the country, and the first by a major cloud provider.
- A new Azure region in China – China North – will effectively double the capacity of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud portfolio in the country during the coming years.
- With existing and announced datacenter regions in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan, Microsoft has also made a commitment to expand Azure Availability Zones to every country in which we operate a datacenter region by the end of 2021. For instance, last year it launched three Availability Zones in Australia.
[1] IDC Info Snapshot, sponsored by Microsoft, The Microsoft Cloud Dividend 2020: IDC #US46777220 October 2020
[2] IMF Regional Economic Outlook: Asia Pacific October 2018
[3] IDC Info Snapshot, sponsored by Microsoft, The Microsoft Cloud Dividend 2020: IDC #US46777220 October 2020
[4] IDC Info Snapshot, sponsored by Microsoft, The Microsoft Cloud Dividend Snapshot: Malaysia, Doc. #US46918020, October 2020
[5] IDC Info Snapshot, sponsored by Microsoft, The Microsoft Cloud Dividend Snapshot: Indonesia, Doc. # US47443521, February 2021
[6] IDC Info Snapshot, sponsored by Microsoft, “The Microsoft Cloud Dividend Snapshot: Taiwan,” Doc. #US46913920, October 2020
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.









