BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – OZO Hotels invites guests to splash into the jubilant spirit of Songkran, immersing themselves in Thailand’s beloved cultural extravaganza brimming with exhilarating water-filled festivities. Songkran, also referred to as the Thai New Year, stands as one of Thailand’s most revered festivals, symbolising fresh beginnings and community bonds. Traditionally observed from 13th – 15th April, it heralds the commencement of the Thai lunar calendar.
At the heart of Songkran festivities lies the exuberant water fights, where locals and visitors joyously drench each other as a form of cleansing and renewal. The spirit of the festival permeates across the nation, fostering unity and merriment. Originally centred around the gentle sprinkling of water infused with blessings for prosperity, Songkran’s origins were more serene. Over time, this tradition has metamorphosed into the spirited water battles witnessed today, yet the essence of communal joy and spiritual rejuvenation remains unchanged, whilst also being a great way to cool down and beat the heat of the balmy Thai temperatures.
OZO is the fun and playful hotel brand, with properties in popular spots in Thailand: Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui. To arrive at OZO is to unpack good vibes and enjoy the excitement of the destination, meaning there’s nowhere better to embark on an unforgettable Songkran experience. From exhilarating water fights with all the staff and guests getting involved, to nights filled with endless festivities and dining experiences, Songkran is the ultimate memory-making adventure. Local temples also offer blessings for those looking to experience more of the serenity side of the tradition.
After a long day of merriment, guests can step inside their cosy, welcoming room to discover functional design, practical layouts, space to reunite and play, and sleep-inducing beds to ensure a deep slumber. Guests will wake revitalised for the next day, wherever that may take them.
OZO North Pattaya:
OZO North Pattaya offers modern and stylish accommodation nestled in the heart of Pattaya, with easy access to the beach, shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. With comfortable rooms, vibrant dining options, and thoughtful amenities, OZO Pattaya ensures a memorable stay for every guest. Ensuring the water fun is present throughout Songkran and beyond, OZO Pattaya features a large pool and thrilling slide. In celebrations of Songkran, OZO North Pattaya is hosting a “Songkran Grill & Chill Buffet” evening on 13th and 14th April, featuring a fun and flavoursome of buffet with mouth-watering delights including fresh seafood. The buffet starts from £16 per person. Prices in April 2024 start from £45 per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two sharing a room. Book online and stay before 30th September 2024 to receive a 15% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages. To book and for more information visit: www.ozohotels.com/pattaya
OZO Phuket:
Situated just a 5-minute walk from Kata Beach, OZO Phuket offers 255 guest rooms and suites designed for ultimate comfort and restful nights. The resort features two outdoor pools, including a dedicated children’s pool, and an EAT restaurant serving delicious cuisine. Its prime location near Kata Beach and the vibrant night market provides easy access to nearby attractions, making it an ideal choice for families seeking a beachfront retreat with ample amenities. Prices in April 2024 start from £80 per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two sharing a room. To book and for more information visit: www.ozohotels.com/phuket
OZO Chaweng Samui:
Located along Chaweng Beach Road, the beachfront resort offers proximity to both the vibrant energy of the town and the tranquillity of the beach. Just a 15-minute drive from Samui International Airport and a leisurely stroll to central Chaweng, guests find themselves perfectly situated for exploration. With a fun outdoor pool catering to both adults and kids, a fitness centre, and two restaurants, the resort provides an ideal balance of convenience and relaxation. Prices in April 2024 start from £58 per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two sharing a room. Book online and stay before 31st December 2024 to receive a 10% discount. To book and for more information visit: www.ozohotels.com/chaweng-samui
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Singapore deep tech start-up SECTA5 has launched its flagship product–Cartographer–a revolutionary platform powered by Artificial Intelligence aimed at helping companies speed up their cybersecurity threat analysis, prioritisation and subsequent response in a single platform.
Compared to conventional manual methods of cyber risk management – also known as cyber risk triage – where teams must manually trawl through tens of thousands of disclosed vulnerabilities and assess them individually, ranking them in importance for their companies to address, Cartographer can do it at twice the speed with greater precision.
This solution will greatly help companies which are increasingly at risk of cyber attacks to prioritise their cyber security efforts and resources – saving time and money while lowering risk to business operations and information systems.
Last year, there was almost a four-fold surge of disclosed vulnerabilities – weak points where a company’s information security system can be breached or compromised – 26,447 reports when compared to 2013.
As reported by American enterprise cyber risk & security platform Qualys, this huge spike in software vulnerabilities shows that the conventional gold-standard practice is becoming increasingly ineffective against the backdrop of growing workloads and a shortage of seasoned security professionals.
To tackle these issues, SECTA5 was founded by two alumni from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), and their partners, who possess strong expertise in ethical hacking such as red teaming and attack simulations against large organisations.
With support from the venture building team from NTUitive, the innovation and enterprise company of NTU Singapore, SECTA5 successfully automated the cyber risk analysis and prioritisation processes with the help of Machine Learning and Generative AI and has successfully tested it in real-life trials.
Clients that trialled Cartographer were able to speed up their cyber risk triage while being able to have continuous threat and exposure management (CTEM), which blends business context, threat intelligence, automation, and prioritisation into a cohesive system.
Mr Sky Seah, Co-founder of SECTA5, said their flagship product gives organisations a powerful and easy tool to navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity challenges, especially for Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers who have to make key decisions in a fast-paced environment.
“Cartographer enables organisations to swiftly identify the most critical cyber risks and prioritize their remediation efforts accordingly. In the analogy of a ship, it is no longer just about patching whatever leaks that spring up in the hull, but to systemically prioritise the patching of major leaks and reinforcement of areas where it will have the largest risk of leaks before the leak happens,” explained Mr Seah.
“It is like proactively reinforcing the defences of a castle. By centralising vulnerability management processes around Cartographer, businesses can enhance their cybersecurity defences autonomously, strengthen their overall infrastructure and prepare countermeasures before an enemy breach.”
Cartographer VM Features
Curation of vulnerability pipelines – Choose data that is relevant for the organisation, ingest outputs from industry-leading vulnerability scanners, penetration test reports, agent-based sensors, and more
Auto-triage with context – Rationalise vulnerability data in consideration of what is critical for specific businesses, including environment and regulatory obligations
Enrichment with threat intelligence – Incorporate industry-leading threat intelligence feeds when triaging each vulnerability to validate if there is indeed actual impact to an organisation
Prioritisation at scale – Automate time-consuming triage across multiple platforms so that security professionals can prioritise higher-value strategic work
Enterprises Must Prioritise To Optimise Limited Resources
According to Gartner®:
“”Continuous threat exposure management is a pragmatic and effective systemic approach to continuously refine priorities and walk the tightrope between two modern security realities. Organisations can’t fix everything, nor can they be completely sure what vulnerability remediation they can safely postpone.””*
“At the core of Cartographer’s development was a simple question: How can we make exposure and risk-based vulnerability management more effective and inherently smarter? The answer is our Software-as-a-Service platform that not only automates triage but does so with a precise understanding of each organisation’s environment, unique risk profile and real-life threat intelligence. We aim to help IT teams zoom in on the cyber risks that really matter, and mitigate them faster and more effectively,” added Mr Seah.
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* Gartner Article, How to Manage Cybersecurity Threats, Not Episodes, By Kasey Panetta, August 21, 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT SECTA5
SECTA5 is a cybersecurity company built by former cyber attackers for today’s cyber defenders. Our mission is to empower organisations by predicting and neutralising security breaches with our cutting-edge, autonomous security orchestration platform.
Founded by a group of former attackers and defenders, SECTA5 was founded to harness the collective experience of simulating and defending against attacks end-to-end, and present a unique solution to secure organisations.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Sixty-six per cent of Malaysian small businesses grew in 2023 with 2024 expected to be an even better year, a new survey by CPA Australia shows.
The annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey found seventy-eight per cent expect to grow in 2024, the country’s best result since 2012 and higher than the survey average of 70 per cent.
The upbeat sentiment is pegged to the confidence in the economy with nearly three quarters expecting it to grow this year, above the survey average of 65 per cent.
Fifty-nine per cent sought external funding for business growth in 2023 reflecting a shift from business survival in 2022.
The increasing cost of doing business, however, remains a key concern with materials, utility costs, staff costs and rent being the costs that impacted businesses the most last year. Close to 50 per cent said increasing cost negatively impacted their business.
“Young entrepreneurs are driving the momentum on innovation and technology uptake. The survey results have shown over many years that small business with younger entrepreneurs are more likely to be growing, innovating, using emerging technologies and exporting,” said Surin Segar, President of CPA Australia Malaysia Division.
Strong returns from online sales through a wider choice of new digital and payment technologies and greater social media presence are driving technology spending. Mobile apps remain the most popular technology for Malaysian small businesses to invest in 2023, with almost 50 per cent reporting their technology investment improved profitability.
Thirty-two per cent said they will introduce a new product, process or service to Malaysia or the world in 2024. This will support long-term growth and improved competitiveness of Malaysia’s small businesses.
“With many small businesses being risk averse, it is imperative for policymakers to support potentially inexperienced young people owning or in key positions to seek business advice.”
Fearing cyber risks from the increased use of technology, 52 per cent of small businesses owners reviewed their cybersecurity in the last six months compared to 48 per cent in 2022.
“It is encouraging to see the increase in cyber risk awareness as the government continues to strengthen regulatory frameworks with the new Cyber Security Bill tabled in Parliament. This is aligned with the Communications and Digital Ministry’s call for collective action and global coordination to counter cyber threats,” said Surin.
ESG focus for small businesses centred on staff health and safety, supply chain sustainability, diversity and inclusion policies.
“We hope to see increased investment in advanced ESG practices such as renewable energy and the adoption of green and sustainable finance opportunities.”
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About CPA Australia
CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 173,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 10,500 members in Malaysia. CPA Australia has been operating in Malaysia since 1956 and opened our Malaysian office in 1994. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. Find out more at cpaaustralia.com.au
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Following the success of the CEO Summit and Award Ceremony held at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore on the 15th of March, Influential Brands® extended its reach to Thailand, hosting another grand event at the Chatrium Grand Bangkok Hotel on the 1st of April, 2024. The events served as a platform to celebrate and acknowledge the innovative leaders and businesses in ASIA with the participation of more than 300 influential personalities, including top executives and entrepreneurs.
Guest of Honour Mr. Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament with Top CEOs, Top Employers, Top and Outstanding Brands at the CEO Summit & Award Ceremony at the Fullerton Hotel
As a regional company, Influential Brands celebrated Asia’s Best in Class in Singapore and Thailand with a presence of more than 350 C-suite executives from leading companies from across the region such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
At the CEO Summit in Singapore, Mr. Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament, and Guest of Honour at the event, emphasised the need for adaptability in the face of evolving consumer needs and technological advancements. He stated, “It is incumbent upon strong leadership to not only acknowledge these challenges but also to embrace the winds of change.” He urged business leaders to contribute to the emerging green economy, emphasizing that ‘innovation becomes paramount.’ Moreover, he emphasized the government’s role in supporting businesses, facilitating innovation, and enhancing competitiveness to address sustainability challenges effectively. He stated, “The Government remains committed to supporting businesses, facilitating innovation, optimizing resources, and enhancing competitiveness.”
Some of the esteemed Awardees recognised in Singapore include prominent Brands, such as: FairPrice Group and ZALORA.
Ms. Elaine Heng, Deputy Group CEO and CEO Retail Business at FairPrice Group, said: “We are humbled to receive Influential Brands’ Top Brand 2023 awards for Supermarket, Online Grocery Retailer, and Supermarket Private Label. Our mission of moderating the cost of living for all in Singapore is always at the top of our minds, and we are deeply committed to serving our customers with heart across all our touchpoints, everyday.”
Mr. Achint Setia, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer at ZALORA Group, said: “We are honoured to be awarded Singapore’s Top 2023 E-Commerce Fashion Retailer by Influential Brands. This award is a testament to our commitment to creating WOW-worthy experiences for our local fashion communities.”
Awardees at The Chatrium Grand Bangkok Hotel
At the grand event held at the Chatrium Grand Bangkok Hotel, Influential Brands and its Thailand’s partner, Neo Target, proudly awarded the following esteemed individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to their respective industries. Some prominent awardees include Tops, Lotus’s, Major Cineplex, Thai Life Insurance, Muang Thai Life Assurance, among other distinguished awardees.
TOP EMPLOYERS HONOURED FOR TRANSFORMING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT TO MEET CHANGING EMPLOYEE NEEDS IN SINGAPORE
Backed by a robust anonymous employee survey with the participation of more than 15,000 employees, 10 companies are crowned “Asia’s Top Employers”. These organisations have not only exceeded industry standards but have also demonstrated a profound commitment to fostering meaningful employee engagement, establishing a strong alignment between employee and company culture, and implementing pertinent HR practices in the digital age.
The Awardees are: Aspial Corporation (Lifestyle Retail), CGS International Securities Singapore (Financial Services), Declarators (Customs Permit Declaration & Courier Services), Income Insurance (Insurance), Klook (Travel and Experiences), LUXASIA (Luxury Beauty Retail & Distribution), NTUC LearningHub (Continuing Education & Training Institute), PlayFACTO School (Premium Student Care), Razer (Technology) and SATS (Cargo, Ground Handling and Food Solutions Provider) are lauded by their own employees through anonymous surveys as excellent employers.
Ms. Carol Fong, Group Chief Executive Officer at CGS International Securities, said: “This accolade is testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing a positive and inclusive work environment, where every team member feels valued and empowered. Our people are the heart of our business. Therefore, it is important that every employee goes through a journey of growth and excellence with us and that we foster a workplace where talent is nurtured. We thank all of our employees for standing by our PACES (People-oriented, Accountability, Collaboration, Excellence, and Sustainability) core values, as we work towards our vision of becoming a leading and world-class investment bank in Asia.”
Ms. Angie Ng, Chief People Officer at Income Insurance Limited Singapore, said: “We are elated to have received this recognition for the first time. This accolade serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating a ‘people-first’ culture within our organisation. With this recognition, it reinforces our belief that prioritising our people and their development is the right path to follow. Income Insurance is committed to this ongoing journey towards excellence, creating a workplace that our people can thrive.”
Ms. April Wan, Global Head of Human Resources at Razer Inc. says: “We are proud and honored to win the Top Influential Brand’s ASIA’S TOP EMPLOYER Award. Being a great place to work and a place to do great work is not just a vision but a necessity to ensure Razer’s continuous success as the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers. We will remain steadfast in our endeavor to push the boundaries of what it means to be an employer of choice in the dynamic and competitive tech landscape, and groom the next generation of phenomenal talents in Asia that will elevate Razer to greater heights.”
Mr. Kean Ng, CEO at Aspial Lifestyle Ltd. says: “We are honoured to accept the Top Employer Brand award. This accolade reaffirms the passion and collaborative spirit of all Aspialites and our aspirations for excellence. Congratulations to all Aspialites! Together, let’s forge the path to a brighter future, driven by innovation and unity.”
Ms. Cary S., Vice President People & Culture at Klook, says: “We are honored to be awarded Asia’s Top Employer from Influential Brands. Our globally diverse team of 1,500 (and growing) work collaboratively towards our mission of “bringing the world closer together through experiences” – thank you to our Klookers for living out our PATH core beliefs as ONE team, and strengthening our position as the leading travel and experiences platform!”
Top Employers, Top Brands and Outstanding Brands are conferred with the title of the Best in Class
BRAND LEADERS ARE GLAD TO WIN THE HEARTS OF CONSUMERS
Backed by a robust market survey in Asia with the participation of 10,000 consumers, 50 companies are named the “Top Influential Brands”.
The Awardees by category are: E-Commerce: ZALORA, Tourism & Travel: Changi Airport Group, Gardens by the Bay, Retail: Marina Bay Sands, Fairprice Group, Chow Tai Fook, Lotus’s, Tops, Insurance: Muang Thai Life Assurance, Thai Life Insurance, Food & Beverage: Auntie Anne’s, Astons, Mister Donut, Din Tai Fung, Kopitiam, Old Chang Kee, Neo Garden, Polar, Harry’s, Big Onion Catering, Fast moving consumer goods: Sadia, Chew’s, Woh Hup, Cafe Pho, Fun-O, Tivoli, Education: MindChamps, NTUC LearningHub, PlayFACTO School, my first skool, Beauty & Health: A.M. aesthetics, AOz, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Eu Yan Sang, Holistic Way, Others: Simmons, Ogawa, CarTimes, Cotto, Major Cineplex.
Finally, based on their branding efforts to engage customers and provide an excellence experience, 4 companies were recognised as Outstanding brands. The Awardees are: FWD Insurance, The Curtain Boutique, South East Life Insurance, Arch Angel, La Glace, Lamina Digital.
Mr. Henry Chu, Chief Executive Officer of Food Services (Kopitiam) at FairPrice Group, said: “I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our valued customers for choosing Kopitiam as their preferred food court in the Food Court category of the Influential Brands’ Top Brand 2023 awards. We take pride in our food court’s cleanliness, comfortable ambience, curation of different food types, cashless or takeaway conveniences and our Kopitiam Signature Breakfast sets.”
Mr. Justin Chen, CEO at PlayFACTO School, said: “What truly distinguishes PlayFACTO is our unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing environment for the best after school experience, consistently hailed as a “home away from home” by our parents. Our aim is to not only fuel motivation but to also inspire children to reach their full potential.”
INSPIRING VISIONARIES SHAPING THE FUTURE: RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP
The main highlight of the event in Singapore and Thailand was the recognition of the Top CEOs who were assessed based on their capacity to expand their business (local and international), financial performance, innovation and personal integrity.
Top CEO Winners from Asia, Thailand and Outstanding Leaders from Thailand
Three prominent CEOs were awarded as ASIA’s Top CEO: Ms. Dione Song, CEO of Love Bonito and Mr. Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Mr. Bhurit Bhirombhakdi, Group CEO of Boon Rawd Brewery.
Besides, eight business leaders were recognised as Top CEOs in Thailand, namely, Mr.Stephane Coum, CEO of Central Food Retail Co., Mr. Sara Lamsam CEO of Muang Thai Life Assurance PCL., Mr. Chai Chaiyawan, CEO of Thai Life Insurance PCL., Mr. Vitoon Sila-On, CEO of S&P Syndicate PCL., Mrs. Salisa Piboonswadi, Founder and CEO of Comets Intertrade Company Limited, Mr. Ban Kasemsap, Co-CEO of of SCGJWD Logistics PCL., Mr. Phoosak Hirunyatrakul, Managing Director of Bara Scientific Company Limited and Mr. Vitai Ratanakorn, President and CEO of Government Saving Bank.
Based on her outstanding leadership capabilities and performance, the Outstanding Leader Award has been conferred to Ms. Pavarisa Chumvigrant, Chief Branding and Communications Officer of FWD Life Insurance PLC.
Mrs. Vannee Leelavechbutr, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Neo Target, shared: “The CEO Summit & Award Ceremony in Thailand is more than just an event for celebration. We take great pride in our role in supporting and championing Thai organizations, entrepreneurs, and business owners. This endeavor is geared towards enhancing their competitiveness on both domestic and global fronts, ultimately aiming to propel them towards achieving the pinnacle of excellence as the foremost organizations in Asia.”
Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, Managing Director of Influential Brands, said, “It is our honour to recognise C-suite executives who are highly respected in their industries and are committed to embrace new business models with a great sense of responsibility. We are also committed to recognise Top and Outstanding Brands that have been able to delight consumers, gaining their trust and loyalty. Finally, the accolade of Top Employer is a true testament of companies’ efforts to implement best-in-class HR practices and build a great culture, making them the best employers to work for. We are looking forward to a greater engagement with ASEAN business leaders in 2024“.
Hashtag: #InfluentialBrands
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About INFLUENTIAL BRANDS®
Influential Brands® is a think-tank, research and business recognition platform to celebrate “Champion of Excellence”.
Deeply embedded in our beliefs, is the need to foster a culture that honours the exemplary practices of leading brands in Asia, as well as their commitment to distinction. We delight in rejoicing with organisations over their successful brand efforts that have added value and left significant impression in their respective industries. Through this, we hope to contribute to the knowledge pool of best practices so that companies can produce quality and meaningful brands that influence and impact our environment, living standard, lifestyles and future.
The Influential Brands family of brands comprises global and regional brands from more than 15 countries worldwide.
Unveils Faster Delivery, Enhanced AI Chatbot, and Industry-Leading Customer Service
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, doubles down on operational and logistics investments in the country as it maintains its #1 marketplace position by average monthly active users and total time spent in-app. Shopee’s commissioned study with Kantar revealed recently that 70% of the platform’s buyers across Southeast Asia are now 32 years old and below (Generation Z), spending an average of 30 minutes on its app daily*.
Shopee’s Customer Service Team Celebrates Record User Satisfaction Rates
Over 2023, Shopee enhanced fundamental capabilities to create seamless and safe experiences targeted to these digitally savvy buyers. This included providing Malaysians with faster and more flexible delivery options, such as Next Day delivery, Instant Delivery, and increased Shopee collection points for self-collection.
Malaysian users shopping or selling on the app contacted Shopee’s customer service team 9.5 million times with questions in 2023 — these cases were resolved within 30 seconds 98% of the time with success — and with 80% customer service satisfaction rate, the highest across industries.
The first point of contact for most Malaysians has typically been with Shopee’s proprietary AI chatbot, affectionately named Sophie (after the company’s mascot). Sophie’s neuro-linguistic programming was enhanced to help users along the way by recognising relevant intents, anticipating queries based on users’ live interactions, and providing more granular solutions based on a localised management playbook. In 2023, Sophie’s successful closure rate doubled, such that it resolved 80% of cases satisfactorily from 18 million chats handled before routing them to live customer service agents.
On this front, Shopee optimised the number of customer service agents available, and boosted their processes, training, and incentives so that even with the volume of questions throughout peak e-commerce shopping periods, end-to-end resolutions across cases of various complexities took less than a day to resolve and abandonment rate (dropped calls) were nearly zero at the end of 2023.
In fact, Shopee’s customer service agents received one of the best in market monthly incentives for good performance. They were also equipped with SOP Assistant Tool that empowered front line agents to solve more cases based on internal information and turned them into decision making experts using first-party CRM data across the platform.
Shopee’s customer service team often receives personalised feedback such as, “Very fast response from the team. Thanks a lot. I preferred using Shopee [over competitor], due to its simpler refund process. Thanks Shopee ” and “I appreciate your hard work! Customer service strives for prompt and efficient response. Thank you for acknowledging my concerns.”
“Users should use the Shopee Guarantee period wisely to track the status of their shipments and then check whether the products delivered meet their requirements. If users cannot use Seller Chat to resolve any issues with sellers directly, they should contact Shopee’s customer service agents directly. Shoppers can also report products using the Menu for seller features tab in the right corner of any product listing in order to help keep the community safe, as Shopee holds all sellers to high standards of responsible selling,’ explained Sern-Li Lim, Head of Operations at Shopee Malaysia.
In 2024, Shopee continues to enhance the capabilities of its logistics ecosystem to support faster shipping to buyers. Shopee’s logistics partner SPX has expanded warehouse facilities and will operate seven days a week. Shopee is also working closely with brands, sellers, and partners to aim for 95% of orders to be shipped out in the same day.
Moreover, Shopee has spearheaded a comprehensive and fuss-free returns policy to give millions of Malaysians confidence when looking to check out their desired products, including high-value goods, that they cannot touch or feel when shopping online. First, by enhancing the Return Refunds process so that it is much easier and shorter, completing in only two and a half days (compared to the retail industry sector benchmark of seven days), with two times more drop-off points and doorstep pick-up option. Second, by expanding its Change of Mind free returns, no questions asked policy from 19 March 2024 for more products and items, providing additional flexibility throughout the shopping journey during the 15-day Shopee Guarantee period.
A #ShopSafeWithShopee survey of 1,000 Malaysian shoppers aged 18 and above found that nine out of ten utilise platform features like Shopee Live demos, seller chat, Shopee Mall’s Authentic Deals circle, and Shopee Guarantee to ensure safe online shopping transactions**.
Notes to Editor: * Kantar study “The Future of Shopping: Engaging Generation Z Shoppers in the Digital Era” commissioned by Shopee polled 2,000 respondents across Southeast Asia in January to March 2024
** #ShopSafewithShopee was a voluntary survey conducted on 1,095 buyers and 548 sellers between 14 August to 14 September 2023 on Shopee MY marketplace app.
Hashtag: #Shopee #ShopeeMY #ShopeeMalaysia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.
Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.
Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Following last year’s resounding success, ICEX Spain, through the Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in Singapore, is excited to announce the launch of “Eat Spain Drink Spain Singapore 2024”, a larger and more ambitious initiative to promote the exquisite and healthy Spanish cuisine in Singapore with 10 events of unique gastronomic experiences with Spanish flavour. This activity is going to be held between September the 15th and October the 15th.
This year, with an increased budget, the campaign expands to 10 exclusive events including wine dinners, tastings, showcookings, culinary demonstrations, and joint promotions with renowned Food & Beverage companies in Singapore.
These activities will highlight the richness and diversity of Spanish cuisine, globally recognized as a cornerstone of the exquisite and healthy Mediterranean diet, associated with one of the world’s longest life expectancies.
Moreover, this year’s campaign places special emphasis on promoting the 18 Singaporean restaurants bearing the Restaurants From Spain (RFS) seal, a guarantee of authenticity and quality in Spanish cooking. Further details regarding participating restaurants and can be found on the restaurants’ websites.
With the purpose of strengthening cultural and commercial ties between Spain and Singapore, “Eat Spain, Drink Spain 2024” campaign invites everyone to explore and enjoy the unparalleled culinary experience offered by Spanish cuisine.
For more information about the campaign, check this link about last year’s Eat Spain, Drink Spain (ESDS).Hashtag: #EATSPAINDRINKSPAIN #FOOD #RESTAURANTS #RESTAURANTSFROMSPAIN #RFS #SPANISHFOOD #CULINARYEXPERIENCE
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
“Restaurants from Spain (RFS)”
The “Restaurants from Spain” certificate is an instrument for the support and recognition of restaurant initiatives that are focused on Spanish cuisine and, by extension, the Spanish culture, guaranteeing the level of quality of these establishments. It recognizes and establishes quality standards and criteria for the consumer who is looking for quality Spanish cuisine, as well as models that can be followed by restaurateurs who may wish to offer Spanish cuisine in other parts of the world. All the restaurants that have the “Restaurants from Spain” certificate will share a feeling of Spanish gastronomy based on genuine roots, ingredients, recipes, and quality.
Awarded following a stringent selection process by a joint committee composed of official institutions and sectoral associations, chaired by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, strongly linked to gastronomy such as the Royal Academy of Gastronomy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Regulatory Council for Jérez-Xérès-Sherry Wines D.O.P., INTERPORC, ASTUREX, the Spanish Wine Federation, Spanish Olive Oils Interprofessional and the REPSOL Guide,[MS1] the certificate will distinguish those establishments that outside Spain offer their diners not only Spanish products but also authentic quality Spanish cuisine, with a unique and differentiated image.
The certification, which will be renewed annually, will have a direct and immediate impact on the HORECA channel, whose activity has been severely affected by the pandemic, by promoting greater knowledge of the restaurant in the country, boosting its occupation, and the dissemination of authentic quality Spanish cuisine.
Besides the certification, the restaurant’s team will receive specialized training in both gastronomy and Spanish wines, thus being able to expand the Spanish culinary offer available on the menu. And in parallel, the certificate will facilitate access to the restaurant, and therefore to the market, to a greater number of suppliers of Spanish products, which will boost the presence of Spanish food and wine around the world.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2024 – Salmon Group, a leading financial technology group dedicated to improving access to credit, savings, and investments for over 500 million underserved customers in Southeast Asia, is thrilled to announce its partnership with AllBank (A Thrift Bank), Inc. to introduce an innovative QR Ph-enabled payment solution, marking a significant shift in the way repayments for financial products are made.
Repay or cash in your Salmon products using QR Ph
This groundbreaking collaboration harnesses the Salmon Group’s expertise in both fintech and in consumer lending alongside AllBank’s established presence in the banking sector to provide a seamless, secure, and convenient QR Ph payment solution to millions of customers across the Philippines.
Through this partnership, AllBank will extend the reach of its QR Ph-P2M system to merchants and customers, facilitating transactions through the straightforward scanning of QR Ph codes using smartphones, eliminating the necessity for inputting details manually for traditional payments, offering consumers a modern and efficient alternative.
This means that Salmon repayments are now much simpler. You don’t need to open several screens and apps just to make a transaction. All you need to do is open the Salmon app and choose QR Ph as the payment option, generate your unique QR Ph code and save it to your photo gallery. You can just upload the QR Ph to your preferred e-wallet or bank app to make a repayment.
Raffy Montemayor, Co-Founder of the Salmon Group and Chairman of the Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), highlighted the importance of the partnership in expanding its financial services, saying, “We are excited to partner with AllBank to introduce this innovative QR payment solution to Filipino consumers. This makes Salmon loan repayments much easier with the use of QR Ph codes. There is no more need to go back and forth between apps to make a payment. It’s now easy and hassle-free.”
The partnership between Salmon and AllBank underscores their joint commitment to driving financial inclusion and innovation in the Philippines. By merging Salmon’s cutting-edge technology with AllBank’s established banking infrastructure, the QR payment solution aims to meet the evolving needs of Filipino consumers in an increasingly digital world.
Both companies prioritize ensuring the security and convenience of transactions, providing a safe and efficient method for customers to make payments at participating merchants.
For further information about Salmon and its initiatives, please visit Salmon’s website at www.salmon.ph
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About the Salmon Group
Salmon Group is made up of Fintech Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries in the Philippines including Sunprime Finance Inc. and the Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Inc., which was established in 1963. The Group is dedicated to expanding financial inclusion by providing customers with cutting-edge, customer-centric, AI and data-driven banking and financial services. It is on a mission to empower underserved communities across Southeast Asia and is supported by world-class shareholders including the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi (ADQ) and other blue-chip international and Filipino investors.