SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – China’s leading online travel company, Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited (“Tongcheng Travel” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries the “Group”, stock code: 0780.HK), made its debut at ITB Asia, the largest travel trade exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region held earlier in Singapore, where it showcased its rich product offerings and comprehensive services to global travel practitioners. The Company leverages Singapore’s position as a regional hub to extend partnerships with more suppliers, hotels, and travel agencies to accelerate the expansion in Asia-Pacific and provide Chinese consumers with more comprehensive outbound travel packages and experiences.
“Asia, especially East and Southeast Asia, has always been a target travelling destination for Tongcheng Travel,” said Li Liang, Senior VP of Tongcheng Travel and CEO of Accommodation and Local Consumption Businesses. “Participating in ITB Asia enables us to explore expansion in Singapore and neighboring countries and regions, and further build partnerships with quality hotel suppliers across the Asian region and further,” he added.
China was one of the world’s leading consumers in outbound tourism before the pandemic. With the remarkable recovery of the outbound travel market, the changing development trends and travelers’ preferences have attracted the attention of major travel companies worldwide. In particular, the rising demand and consumption power from users in non-first-tier cities in China are becoming the driving force behind the recovery of tourism spending. As international air travel continues to normalize with expanded coverage, facilitating more convenient traveling from non-first-tier cities in China, the demand for outbound travel is expected to rise further.
“We see optimistic growth potential in China’s outbound travel market,” added Li Liang. “As airline capacity and destination supply chains gradually recover, China’s outbound travel market is poised for further growth. Tongcheng Travel has already served millions of travelers in China, especially in non-first-tier cities where we have a competitive edge. This positions us well to capitalize on the opportunities in the outbound travel market.”
As of the second quarter of 2023, approximately 87% of Tongcheng Travel’s registered users resided in non-first-tier cities in China. About 70% of its paying users on the Weixin platform came from lower tier cities during the same period. With its solid market position in these areas, the Company is well-positioned to capitalize on China’s outbound travel boom.
Younger users are becoming the dominant force in China’s outbound market. Users born after the 90s now make up over 50% of outbound travel spending. The new generation of travelers, known as the Gen-z, is accustomed to digital life and booking travel online. They prefer free and independent travel and make bookings through Weixin and mobile applications.
Tongcheng Travel has launched a series of products and services tailored to Chinese outbound travelers and overseas Chinese. To satisfy demand from young travelers seeking “unique” and “exploratory” trips, Tongcheng Travel has offered customized packages for Jay Chou’s “Carnival World Tour 2023” in Bangkok. These packages bundle accommodation, airport transfers and limousine and concert ticketing into a one-stop concert travel experience.
Presently, Tongcheng Travel provides online accommodation reservation services for approximately 390,000 hotels and alternative accommodation options in over 380 cities in China through multiple channels such as its mobile application, Weixin-based mini-program and website. It also covers around 790,000 hotels and alternative accommodations in more than 10,000 overseas destinations.
Hashtag: #TongchengTravel
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited (HKSE Stock Code: 0780.HK)
Travel is a one-stop shop for users’ travel needs. With the mission “make travel easier and more joyful”, Tongcheng Travel offers a comprehensive and innovative selection of products and services covering nearly all aspects of travel, including transportation ticketing, accommodation reservation, tourist attraction ticketing, and products including package tour, self-guided tour and cruise, including a wide array of transportation and leisure travel scenarios primarily through its online platforms, which comprise its Tencent-based platforms, its proprietary mobile apps, quick apps and other channels.
As a technology-driven company, Tongcheng Travel leverages big data and AI capabilities to better understand the preferences and behaviors of users, thereby offering users customized products and services. Tongcheng Travel has a strategic focus on lower-tier cities in China and seized opportunities there supported by its diversified traffic sources, product innovation capability and flexible operation strategies. Through the in-depth understanding of user experience and advanced technological capabilities, Tongcheng Travel has been revolutionizing what consumers expect from the online travel industry, making the entire travel process more convenient, personalized and enjoyable than ever. Tongcheng Travel aims to develop and apply its advanced technology to transform from an online travel agency to intelligent travel assistant.
Representatives of the Japanese Embassy at the Japan-Lao Strategic Partnership meeting. (Photo supplied)
The Government of Japan has provided a grant of USD 71,500 to support the construction of a new concrete bridge in Na-Han-Noi Village, Savannakhet Province, Laos.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – Trend Micro (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704) today announced its recognition by Forrester as a Leader in endpoint security. The independent market analysis states that “Trend Micro is the veteran that leads with a full-featured endpoint security offering…Trend Micro has continually worked to ensure features function in both environments. This has helped it maintain high customer loyalty for enterprises of all levels on a global basis.”
Kevin Simzer, COO at Trend: “Do you have a handle on your organization’s enterprise attack surface, including endpoints and every asset beyond that? In order to reduce risk, you have to be able to see it. Our platform provides the broadest visibility in the industry, and endpoint is a critical element of that strength.”
Trend Micro received a maximum possible score of 5.0 in 12 of Forrester’s evaluation criteria: exploit prevention, malware prevention, identity protection, network threat detection, application control, mobile device security, endpoint performance impact, innovation, roadmap, adoption, revenue and number of customers.
Forrester’s report notes that “Trend Micro has benefitted from consistent protection of endpoints,” and that Trend “maintains a high level of investment in innovation,” and has a roadmap that continues to “ensure endpoint protection is foundational to all its enterprise security offerings.” Other notes from the report include:
“Attack prevention engines have been a staple of customers who want an endpoint security solution ‘that just works'”
“Trend Micro is a good fit for customers who want a consistently strong endpoint protection platform that can support evolving to XDR”
Trend Vision One™ – Endpoint Security offers threat protection, detection and response across endpoints, servers and cloud workloads—for on-premises, hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
A comprehensive range of threat detection capabilities includes high-fidelity machine learning at pre-execution and runtime, behavioral analysis, app control, ransomware rollback and much more.
Integrated EDR delivers prioritized, actionable alerting for accelerated incident response alongside threat hunting. Virtual patching leverages Zero Day Initiative intelligence to protect endpoints from unknown threats, and cloud-native security protects and monitors for suspicious activity across containers and workloads.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Trend Micro
Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,500+ employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.trendmicro.com.hk.
Thai PM Srettha Thavisin lands at Vientiane airport on 30 October. (Photo/ไทยคู่ฟ้า)
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin arrived in Vientiane Capital, Laos on the morning of 30 October, to strengthen and enhance cooperation between the two nations. The visit comes at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister, Sonexay Siphandone.
Four Incredible Highlights at Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2023!
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – “Fashion Summit (HK) 2023″ which is organized by the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) with Create Hong Kong of the HKSAR Government as the lead sponsor, demonstrates the determination of Hong Kong to develop sustainable fashion. From 11th to 12th October at Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, brings a stunning display of sustainable fashion through International Conference, Sustainable Fashion Showcase, and International Fashion Show. The opening guests on 11th October and 12th October include Hon. Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP, President of the HKSAR Legislative Council; Mr. Victor Tsang, Head of Create Hong Kong, HKSAR Government; Mr Richard Cheng, Chairman of Fashion Summit (HK) 2023; The Hon. Sunny Tan, Member of the Legislative Council (Textiles and Garment); Dr. Henry Tan, BBS, JP, LHD, Chairman of Textile Council of Hong Kong; CEO of Luen Thai Group Ltd. and Mr Dan Bradshaw, Chairman of WWF-Hong Kong.
Fashion Summit (HK) 2023, themed “Actions to the Sustainability Journey,”unleash the power of sustainable fashion. This two-day event, held at the iconic Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, brings together industry leaders, visionary designers, and creative minds from diverse sectors
Hon. Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBM, GBS, JP, President of the HKSAR Legislative Council stated during his welcome remarks, “As a major sustainable fashion event in Asia, Fashion Summit (HK) 2023 encourages designers to integrate their designs with the concept of sustainable fashion under the theme ‘Actions to the Sustainability Journey.’ It also aims to educate consumers on practicing sustainable fashion. The event plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable fashion by bringing industry leaders, fashion practitioners, and decision-makers together for in-depth discussions on the subject.” Fashion Summit (HK) 2023 is privileged to invite designers from around the world to share their insights on sustainable fashion, including designers who have implemented innovative technologies in their fashion designs. Mr. Leung believes that collaboration between various sectors and the government is essential in nurturing talent, encouraging cross-sector and cross-category innovative collaborations in the fashion industry.
The Hon. Sunny Tan, Member of the Legislative Council (Textiles and Garment) mentioned in the opening speech on the first day, “The Hong Kong textile and garment industry has made significant contributions to the Hong Kong economy, with Hong Kong companies holding a leading position in the international market and serving as a crucial hub in the global supply chain. The National 14th Five-Year Plan also aims to develop Hong Kong as a center for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world, as well as an international innovation and technology center. It is important for the industry to integrate government resources and leverage innovative technologies to meet the challenges of sustainable fashion.”
Dr. Henry Tan, BBS, JP, LHD, Chairman of Textile Council of Hong Kong also highlighted Hong Kong’s significant and influential position in the global textile and garment industry during his opening speech on the second day. He emphasized that Hong Kong possesses unique advantages and urged all sectors to integrate existing resources and leverage innovative technologies to propel the industry to new heights.
Mr Richard Cheng, Chairman of Fashion Summit (HK) expressed in his welcome speech, “This year’s Fashion Summit (HK) 2023 is able to invite designers, industry representatives, and scholars from around the world to Hong Kong, showcasing Hong Kong’s advantages on the global stage and reaffirming our position as a global fashion center.” While Mr. Victor Tsang, Head of Create Hong Kong, HKSAR Government also emphasized during the opening ceremony on the second day, “Fashion Summit (HK) 2023 has attracted experts and scholars from various sectors, bringing innovative technologies and ideas to the Hong Kong fashion industry, in line with the government’s efforts to accelerate the development of the cultural and creative industries.” The diverse activities of Fashion Summit (HK) 2023, including the international fashion show, sustainable fashion design gallery, and international summit, symbolize Hong Kong’s recovery and vitality after the pandemic, providing a platform for industry leaders, tourists, and the public to actively promote the development of sustainable fashion and establish Hong Kong as a global fashion center.
【1】The Runway to Sustainability blended with Culture: First- and- ever International Fashion Show
Fashion Summit (HK)’s most exciting event of the year – the first-ever International Fashion Show, themed ‘Sustainability · Heritage · Culture’ took place at the Grand Theatre of Xiqu Centre.
Cutting-edge designs from six vibrant regions (in order of appearance: Mr. Dorian Ho from Hong Kong SAR, Mr. LEE Khoon Hooi from Malaysia, Mr. Dennis Lustico from Philippines, Mr. Nagara Sambandaraksa from Thailand, Mr. Roei Derhi from Sweden, Ms. ZHANG Yichao from Mainland China) showcasing a mélange of groundbreaking designs integrated the cultures of their respective regions with sustainable fashion. They challenge traditional fashion norms, weaving cultural elements with sustainable practices into a tapestry of change. The one-of-a-kind fashion extravaganza attracted over a thousand attendees and received support from numerous celebrities.
In addition to the meticulously crafted international fashion showcase, Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2023 also featured a grand designer fashion exhibition held for two consecutive days at the atrium of Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon Cultural District. This magnificent exhibition served as a dynamic platform for creativity and innovation, showcasing the works of twenty esteemed designers from nine different regions, the exhibition was a testament to the diversity and talent within the industry.
Among the featured designers was Juliana Lam, renowned as the “Glove Queen” for her pioneering use of high-tech sustainable and eco-friendly masks. Karen Chan, a designer known for her fusion of Eastern and Western fashion, brought her unique perspective to the exhibition. The exhibition also included Atthapon Pongsawat and Sayuri Okawa, founders of sustainable fashion brands from Thailand, Arto Wong, a visionary designer pushing the boundaries of knitwear designs, Mountain Yam, a versatile designer with an array of eclectic creations, and Stevie Crowne, a British designer renowned for transforming unsold garments and fabrics into new fashion pieces.
The exhibition not only attracted design school students but also captivated the attention of passersby and tourists with its exquisite decorations. It served as a visual feast, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of these exceptional designers.
【3】The industry’s top-tier international conference brought together elites from various fields
To uphold this year’s theme of “Actions to the Sustainability Journey” and establish Hong Kong as a sustainable fashion hub, Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2023 organized an international conference including 4 keynote presentations, global talks and a total of eight thematic discussions, bringing together over 40 prominent figures from the fashion industry, government, business, and education sectors. These discussions delved into topics such as innovative technological advancements, the digital transformation of fashion design, and sustainable investments, exploring the development and opportunities in sustainable fashion. Esteemed experts shared their profound insights on the international fashion design industry. The international conference also attracted numerous investors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and representatives from the fashion industry, fostering deeper exchanges within the field and further advancing the cause of sustainable fashion.
【4】Embrace Sustainable Living with WWF Hong Kong
In collaboration with WWF Hong Kong, Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2023 took practical actions to promote sustainable living. They organized the “Sustainable Living” Carnival at the Xiqu Centre, aiming to educate individuals on sustainable choices in fashion, food, housing, and transportation, inspiring a sustainable fashion lifestyle. Attendees enjoyed engaging activities like the “Swap and Match” booth and the enlightening “Rolling Hunting Community Exploration,” empowering them to incorporate everyday sustainability practices. To further emphasize the significance of businesses in shaping a sustainable future amid climate and environmental challenges, WWF presented a captivating screening of “Hong Kong Nature Stories.”
Hashtag: #FashionSummitHK
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Fashion Summit (HK) 2023
Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) is organised by Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) , with Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor. Fashion Summit (HK) is a result of continuous learning and discovering process, bringing together leading academics, key players from the fashion industry, NGOs, media, decision makers and leaders to achieve sustainable fashion in Asia. Since 2017, Fashion Summit (HK) annually organised a 2-Day International Conference. It plays a vital role to provide a sharing platform for participants from around the world to exchange insights on the latest sustainable fashion trends, technology, best practice, solutions, and opportunities.
Starting from 2022, Fashion Summit (HK) not only focuses on Sustainable Fashion but also on Fashion Designers and Consumers. There will be a series of events, such as 2-Day International Conference , seminars, exhibitions, workshops, guide tours, overseas study mission, etc., for encouraging Fashion Designers to integrate the sustainability concepts into their designs and also to educate Fashion Consumers the sustainable ways for consumption.
The theme of Fashion Summit (HK) 2023 is “Actions to the Sustainability Journey”. Sustainability is a progressive journey. It needs actions to change and expedite the pace. What actions have been taken by the fashioners along the journey? Among all those actions, which ones should be reviewed and recognised? It’s time for us to discuss the existing and upcoming sustainability solutions, actions and the cosmopolitan outlook for the fashion industry. We welcome you all to join the Fashion Summit (HK) events to discuss the solutions. Together We Take Actions to the Sustainability Journey!
Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – KPMG welcomes the recent tax-related policy measures and talent retention policies announced in the Policy Address. These initiatives mark a significant step forward in addressing key challenges faced by the city.
In response to the current residential property market and economic conditions in Hong Kong, the government has adjusted the demand-side management measures for residential properties. Notably, this includes a reduction in the rates of both the Buyer’s Stamp Duty and the New Residential Stamp Duty from 15% to 7.5%, effectively lowering transaction costs for homebuyers. Ivy Cheung, Regional Senior Partner in Hong Kong SAR, KPMG, said, “We agree with the government’s decision and believe that continued monitoring of the property market is necessary to ensure its healthy and stable development.”
The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme will enable eligible investors who invest HK$30 million or more in assets such as stocks, funds, and bonds to apply for entry into Hong Kong. Ivy Cheung further added, “Considering the minimum asset threshold of HK$240 million under the family office tax regime, this threshold is not high, and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) families should not face difficulties meeting the requirement. The Scheme, along with the family office tax regime effective from the 2022/23 tax year, will contribute to the development of family office businesses in Hong Kong and enhance its status as an international asset management centre. We look forward to the announcement of the further details of the Scheme by the end of this year.”
Commenting on the talent initiatives,Ivy Cheung said: “The introduction of the Multiple-entry Visa to the Mainland for Foreigners Working in Companies Registered in Hong Kong is highly welcomed as it aligns well with the goal of attracting overseas companies to set up operations in Hong Kong. The ability for foreign executives to have easy access to the Mainland through multiple-entry visas will give Hong Kong an advantage over other jurisdictions. The administrative friction that often accompanies frequent travel to the Mainland will be alleviated, making Hong Kong an attractive destination for companies and talents alike.”
Regarding the Talent List coverage, she commented: “The Talent List currently covers a wide range of professions and industry segments, and we suggest including accountants in the list. Additionally, streamlining the application approval processes will support the smooth movement of talent into Hong Kong.”
These policies implemented by the Hong Kong government are steps in the right direction to address the talent shortage. By continuously evaluating and refining these policies, KPMG believes that Hong Kong could remain competitive and attractive to professionals from various fields, thereby bolstering its position as a global hub for professionals.
With the strong support of Chinese Mainland and the close connection to the world, Hong Kong should capitalize its strength as the only world-class city that can benefit from both Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world.
Hashtag: #KPMG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About KPMG China
KPMG China has offices located in 31 cities with over 15,000 partners and staff, in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Working collaboratively across all these offices, KPMG China can deploy experienced professionals efficiently, wherever our client is located.
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.
In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting network to be granted a joint venture licence in the Chinese Mainland. KPMG was also the first among the Big Four in the Chinese Mainland to convert from a joint venture to a special general partnership, as of 1 August 2012. Additionally, the Hong Kong firm can trace its origins to 1945. This early commitment to this market, together with an unwavering focus on quality, has been the foundation for accumulated industry experience, and is reflected in KPMG’s appointment for multidisciplinary services (including audit, tax and advisory) by some of China’s most prestigious companies.
The Kenanga Islamic Asia Pacific (ex Japan) Total Return Fund seeks to provide Shariah-compliant long-term capital growth for investors.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – Kenanga Investors Berhad (“Kenanga Investors”) has announced the launch of the Kenanga Islamic Asia Pacific (ex Japan) Total Return Fund (“Fund”). The Fund is a Shariah-compliant equity fund that invests in a diversified portfolio of Shariah-compliant equities and Shariah-compliant equity related securities of companies in the Asia Pacific (ex Japan) region (“APAC Region”).
From left to right: Lee Sook Yee, Chief Investment Officer, Christopher Kok, Head, Equities and Ranjit Gill, Head, Product Development at the launch of the Kenanga Islamic Asia Pacific (ex Japan) Total Return Fund.
“Kenanga Investors is dedicated to offering our investors regional Shariah-compliant exposure, driven by robust demand from investors for a fund with an Asia Pacific focus viewed through a Shariah-compliant investing lens,” said Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis.
The Fund offers investors a unique opportunity to tap into the APAC Region’s potential for economic growth, spurred on by the region’s increasing integration into the global economy and rising affluence as its young population is lifted out of poverty into a growing middle class, among other tailwinds.
“We have observed that many countries in the APAC Region are implementing economic reforms and welcoming foreign investments, further integrating and increasing their influence on the global economy. The region is also punching above its weight globally within the fields of renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicles, semiconductors and various other drivers of the economy of the future. Additionally, with a population of over 4.5 billion that is relatively youthful, the APAC Region is also expected to enjoy a demographic dividend over the next decade further fuelling its growth. Indeed, growth in the APAC Region is expected to outpace global growth for the next few years. Given the convergence of these positives, I believe the Fund will provide significant investment opportunities for investors particularly in areas such as technology, consumer goods and services, industrials and healthcare” added Datuk Wira De Alwis.
He also highlighted the benefit of reducing exposure to any one country or region in today’s investment climate. “Investing at a broad regional level carries the benefit of mitigating risk due of political, regulatory and economic uncertainties and improved overall portfolio performance. By investing in a range of countries in the region, investors can spread their risks of any one country’s developments on their portfolios”, he said.
The Fund utilises an absolute return strategy to provide capital appreciation over the long-term. “The Fund will be managed without benchmark constraints, which provides the flexibility to identify and implement the optimal investment strategy without single sector constraints. This includes bottom-up stock picking to select stocks with the greatest capital appreciation potential and controlled volatility,” explained Chief Investment Officer Lee Sook Yee.
The Fund’s investment process involves seeking out businesses with sustainable returns on Shariah-compliant equity (ROE), which are trading at a significant discount to their intrinsic value. “We believe ROE to be a suitable gauge of the success of a business as it provides common shareholders with a sustainable measure of how effectively their investment capital is being employed over a given period of time”, added Lee.
The Fund is suitable for investors seeking long-term capital growth and are willing to accept Shariah-compliant equity risk to obtain potentially higher returns and wish to have Shariah-compliant investments in the APAC Region with a minimum initial investment amount of RM1,000.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358 (353563-P)
We provide investment solutions ranging from collective investment schemes, portfolio management services, and alternative investments for retail, corporate, institutional, and high net worth clients via a multi-distribution network.
The Hong Kong-based Asia Asset Management’s 2023 Best of the Best Awards awarded KIB under the following categories, Malaysia Best Impact Investing Manager, Malaysia Best Equity Manager, Malaysia CEO of the Year, Malaysia Best House for Alternatives and Malaysia Most Improved Fund House.
At the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards Malaysia 2023, KIB won overall best Mixed Assets – Malaysia Pension Funds Group award for the fourth time. Accompanying this were individual fund wins awarded to: · Kenanga Malaysian Inc Fund (“KMIF”) for best Equity Malaysia Diversified – Malaysia Provident Funds over 10 Years · Kenanga Managed Growth Fund (“KMGF”) for best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Provident Funds over 3 Years · Kenanga Managed Growth Fund (“KMGF”) for best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Provident Funds over 5 Years · Kenanga Managed Growth Fund (“KMGF”) for best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible – Malaysia Provident Funds over 10 Years
The Asset Benchmark Research has ranked KIB as Highly Commended on its list of ‘Top Investment Houses’ in the Asian Local Currency Bond Awards for Asset Managers.
At the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (“UNGCMYB”) Sustainability Performance Awards 2022, we received the “Sustainable Products” award for our launch of sustainable products, which cover the Kenanga Sustainability Series – a suite of multi-asset class products rooted in sustainability considerations to advance long-term financial growth for investors and to generate social and financial value for surrounding communities. The award also recognised the first SRI-qualified high yield bond fund in Malaysia, the Kenanga Sustainability Series: High Yield Bond Fund.
The FSMOne Recommended Unit Trusts Awards 2023/2024 named Kenanga Growth Fund Series 2 as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Focused”, Kenanga Shariah Growth Opportunities Fund as “Sector Equity – Malaysia Small to Medium Companies (Islamic)” and Kenanga Shariah OnePRS Growth Fund as “Private Retirement Scheme – Growth (Islamic)”.
This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability department.
Disclaimer: Investors are advised to read and understand the Master Prospectuses (“MPs”), the Supplemental Master Prospectus (“SMP”) (if any), Information Memorandums (“IM”) (if any), Product Highlights Sheets (“PHS”) as well as consider the fees, charges and risk factors involved before investing. The MP, SMP (if any), IM (if any) and PHS have been registered and/or lodged with the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”), who takes no responsibility for its contents and related advertisement or marketing materials, does not indicate that the SC has recommended or endorsed the product/service. The advertisement has not been reviewed by the SC. Investors have the right to request for a copy of PHS and other relevant product disclosure documents which are available at our office, at any authorised distributors and our corporate website before making investment decisions. If you are in doubt when considering the investment or any of the information provided, you are advised to consult a professional adviser. A Fund’s track record does not guarantee its future performance. Kenanga Investors Berhad is committed to prevent conflict of interest between its various businesses and activities and between its clients/director/shareholders and employees by having in place procedures and measures for identifying and properly managing any apparent, potential and perceived conflict of interest by making disclosures to Clients, where appropriate. Kenanga Investors Berhad 199501024358.
Providing a unique platform for sharing both cutting-edge developments and best practice in English language teaching, learning and assessment across the Asia-Pacific
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 October 2023 – The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, hosted its annual regional flagship language testing and assessment conference, New Directions East Asiaand the Future of Englishexhibition, with the aim of creating a dynamic space in which regional and international policy makers, educational professionals, academics, teachers and assessment practitioners can interact, exchange information and keep abreast of the leading developments in English language teaching, learning and assessment. The regional conference and exhibition took place from 27 to 29 October in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Themed The Future of English Language Assessment in Learning Systems, the conference focused on reimagining the future of learning and education system reform and build stronger, more inclusive, internationally connected English language teaching, learning and assessment systems through exchange of insight, learning and ideas to benefit hundreds of millions of young people. This year the conference was attended by more than 400 participants from over 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
After a decade of bringing together the language assessment and learning community of the Asia-Pacific region to engage in discussion on key topics and to share innovative solutions to challenges in testing and education, this year’s New Directions conference took a retrospective view of how shifts in language, learning and assessment over the last 10 years are shaping the future of English and education systems across the region. It also aimed to gain a broader perspective on the role of language testing in the teaching, learning and assessment system, and consider a more holistic view of the integrated skills that make up communicative proficiency.
Key speakers and panellists at the New Directions conference included thought leaders and educational experts in the field of English Language Assessment including Dr Huu Nguyen, Director, National Foreign Languages Project, Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam and Vice Director, Center for Language Testing and Assessment, VNU; Prof Yukio Tono, Professor at the Graduate School of Global Studies and Director of the World Language Center, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies; Professor Barry O’Sullivan OBE, Head of Assessment Research & Development, British Council; and Associate Professor Jirada Wudthayagorn, Director, Chulalongkorn University Language Institute and President, Asian Associate of Language Assessment.
Mark Walker, Global Director of English and Exams, British Council, said: “English will retain its position as the world’s most widely spoken language over the next decade and teachers will continue to be at the heart of English learning, even in the face of increased automation, AI and machine learning. As a leader in English language teaching, learning and assessment, the British Council is shaping the future of English in a multilingual world through innovation and international partnerships with the aim to enhance English language assessment in education systems.”
Heather Forbes, Regional Exams Director, East Asia, at the British Council, said: “This year’s New Directions East Asia conference explored questions around what English could look like and how it will be used. We discussed what broader competencies are necessary in a rapidly changing and digitally enabled communication landscape, and how these can be developed and assessed in the future. We also explored the potential changes of language education policy and reform in Vietnam and the wider East Asia region. Additionally, our Future of English exhibition, which is part of the New Directions conference, provided a platform to share global perspectives about the future of English with partners, thought leaders, teachers and learners around the world.”
The Future of English exhibition, held alongside the New Directions conference, featured interactive elements which asked visitors for their views on the future of the English language and showcased key themes from the landmark publication Future of English: Global Perspectives– English in education, English in the workplace, and English in the community. This book is the first publication in a major programme of research and global engagement started by the British Council in 2020.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.