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Salmon partners with SM Store, the largest retailer in the Philippines

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach – 23 February 2023 – Salmon, a consumer lending-first fintech start-up, today announces its partnership with the largest retailer in the Philippines, SM Store. From now on customers of SM Store will have the opportunity to buy their products using the Salmon point-of-sale service giving them access to installment financing as well as greater freedom and flexibility.

With its first-rate service and fast loan approval process, Salmon will allow customers to enjoy shopping without long approval processed and the hassle of needless paperwork. Partnership with SM Store adds on to the merchant network of Salmon throughout the Philippines and aims at satisfying the significant pent-up demand for consumer lending with Filipino customers.

Raffy Montemayor, Co-founder of Salmon said – “Partnering with SM Store, a true leader in the world of retail in the Philippines, will deliver considerable mutual benefits both to SM Store and Salmon. SM Store attracts a large number of Filipinos looking for a great shopping experience, and Salmon will now be there to make this experience better and even more affordable. Continuing to follow our business ethos, we are expanding alongside some of the most marquee names in retail so that finance rather than an obstacle to shopping will come to aid of ordinary shoppers with our quick installment loans. We are firmly convinced that using financial products, obtaining loans, paying bills and all other time-consuming financial routine will eventually be seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, at Salmon we will aim to make this vision a reality.”
Hashtag: #Salmon



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Salmon

Salmon is a brand under FHL Financing Company Inc. Based in the Philippines, it was founded in October 2022 by banking and fintech veterans Pavel Fedorov, George Chesakov, and Raffy Montemayor and today has more than 120 professionals in its Manila office. Salmon develops financial products with a focus on innovation, flexibility and value add for clients. Starting with point-of-sale (POS) lending, the company intends to expand its range of financial services to cover all the daily needs of the client in the Philippines and beyond.
“Salmon” is a brand owned by FHL Financing Company, Inc., a licensed financing company regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission with Certificate of Authority
No. F-22-0038-29 and Company Registration No. 2022100071291-07. Read the terms& conditions and the relevant disclosures before availing of any loan product or service.

SM Store

SM Store is the Philippines’ largest department store chain with several branches nationwide. We offer a great selection of menswear, womenswear, children’s wear, all kinds of beauty products, and things for the home. You can also find stationery, electronic gadgets, snacks, toys, hardware, and fun Philippine souvenirs here.

Luang Prabang Hydropower Project Construction to Wrap up by 2030

Luang Prabang Hydropower Project Construction to Wrap up by 2030
Luang Prabang dam under construction (photo: Energy and Mines news)

According to a recent conference held by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the construction of the Luang Prabang hydropower project is expected to be completed by 2030, ten years after its inception in 2020.

Delta Global Bets on Hong Kong to Grow Regional Business on the Back of E-Commerce Boom

The trusted leader in luxury and sustainable luxury packaging solutions doubles down on Hong Kong as its Asia-Pacific hub and plans regional expansion after robust revenue growth.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 23 February 2023 – Delta Global, the trusted leader in sustainable luxury packaging solutions plans continued expansion in Asia-Pacific on the back of a booming international luxury retail e-commerce market. The UK-based company, which recorded a 55% growth in revenue in the last fiscal year that ended September 30, 2022, will drive its regional expansion efforts from Hong Kong. With Hong Kong’s historically favourable business environment and recent forward-thinking policy announcements from The Hong Kong 2023-24 Budget, the city is the perfect base for Delta Global to grow its footprint and expand in Mainland China, SEA and Australia.

The move comes as direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce channels drive a wave of growth in international retail. According to KPMG, the market grew by 26% in 2020 and 16% in 2021 with D2C channels alone reporting growth of 45% in 2020. Estimates suggest the overall market value neared US$5.5 trillion in 2022. Among the many brands that have benefited from this post-pandemic e-commerce boom are Net-A-Porter and MatchesFashion, both of which rely on Delta Global for stylish and sophisticated boxes and bags that are 100% recyclable and use FSC-certified materials.

Charting the sustainable future of the luxury packaging industry

Driven by a mission to merge luxury, sustainability and innovation through environmentally-friendly packaging solutions and AI-driven supply chain management that enable brands to reduce their carbon footprint, Delta Global is working to change the way businesses and consumers interact with premium retail products. With luxury clients that span the world’s leading retailers and fashion brands – including Harvey Nichols, ZIMMERMANN, TOM FORD, JW Anderson, Ted Baker, Anya Hindmarch, Cefinn and Fortnum & Mason – it offers cutting-edge design and innovation from its in-house creative studio, as well as in-house manufacturing and fully integrated global distribution services.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the company posted revenue growth of 55% with major client wins including ZIMMERMANN, CAMILLA AND MARC, ARNE Clothing and more.

Beyond sustainable packaging, one unique service that has hit a high note with luxury retail clients is the Delta Global Intelligence Platform. This proprietary supply chain management tool enables clients to harness the benefits of data processing and machine learning technologies, addressing their pain points in supply chain management and allowing them to make informed decisions that save valuable time and resources. At the same time, it allows Delta Global to work towards its ultimate goal of producing less packaging in a more sustainable way.

The unique online portal provides access to detailed stock positions at all locations, fully customisable forecasting and planning tools, as well as product reporting and comparison services. Its built-in AI technology learns and understands data and patterns in stock used to improve just-in-time logistics, preventing issues involving undersupply and oversupply to create a more sustainable supply chain and tangible results in reducing a company’s carbon footprint.

“With a clear goal to be the world leader in sustainable luxury packaging, sustainability is at the root of everything we do. Our mission is to produce beautiful products that have as little impact on the environment as possible. We help to guide our clients through every step of the journey from sourcing sustainable materials and innovating in packaging structure to meeting the highest standards of verified innovation and environmental performance – ultimately producing less packaging for more clients,” said Robert Lockyer, Founder and Chief Client Officer of Delta Global.

Delta Global’s approach to social responsibility enables its clients to actively reduce their carbon footprint and implement best sustainable practices, two key factors that are increasingly driving sales among today’s luxury consumers. According to KPMG, global consumers are placing less importance on luxury or brand names and more on what a brand stands for, what its impact level is and how the brand gives back. In Mainland China and Hong Kong, specifically, corporate responsibility was the second most important factor in potentially changing consumers’ purchasing habits and mentality with 30% of surveyed consumers aged 18 to 24 citing it as a key consideration when making luxury purchases.

Seizing opportunity in the thriving Asia-Pacific region

According to Straits Research, the global luxury packaging market was valued at US$19.4 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5% in 2022-2030 to reach US$30.5 billion by 2030. As the demand for luxury brands increases in places like China and Korea through channels such as travel retail and e-commerce, the packaging industries for premium brands are likewise anticipated to boom. Other trends driving growth include greater environmental awareness and demand for personalised packaging solutions among consumers, especially the Gen Z and Millennial generations.

With this in mind, Delta Global intends to expand its footprint in Asia, including Hong Kong, Mainland China and Australia, in response to growing retailer needs. Its integrated and collaborative approach to design, manufacturing and distribution ensures that each client benefits from a global partnership that allows them control over the decisions that matter to them.

“We are delighted to learn from The Hong Kong 2023-24 Budget that the government is placing greater emphasis on promoting green tech development. This will undoubtedly arouse corporate and public awareness around sustainable business practices, which perfectly aligns with our vision and mission,” said Robert Lockyer, Founder and Chief Client Officer of Delta Global. “As Hong Kong charts a new path to growth and launches multiple measures to attract international enterprises and talent, there is no better time for us to double down on our efforts in Hong Kong and leverage its strategic position to expand further into the GBA and APAC.”

Hashtag: #DeltaGlobal

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Delta Global

Delta Global was created to innovate and disrupt the status quo, to show that with clear design, thought and purpose, great things happen. In the continual journey to elevate luxury packaging, Delta Global has created four key pillars that are at the very heart of everything it does. From the design, texture, feel, and finish, each product exudes elevated luxury whilst positively contributing to the world.

Mission: To bring luxury, sustainability, and innovation together to excite the client’s customer experience in-store or online. Delta Global’s vision to merge luxury, sustainability and innovation in the form of environmentally friendly packaging solutions drives every strategic move and decision.

Vision: Envisaging a future where packaging is about more than just functionality. Packaging should be a reflection of both the brand and the quality of the product itself. Delta Global works tirelessly to turn that vision into a reality, ultimately creating less packaging for more clients.

Values: Delta Global is all about helping customers experience brands in a unique way. It partners with clients to deliver inclusive solutions that meet their responsibilities to the planet, with a touch of theatre along the way.

Travelers from Laos Report Long Departure Lines at Bangkok Airport

Long lines at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Photo: Thomas Cristofoletti via Twitter)
Long lines at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Photo: Thomas Cristofoletti via Twitter, 20 February)

Tempers flare at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport with travelers returning to Laos reporting long lines and delays.

Philippine fintech leader GCash joins plenary at Mobile World Congress

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach – 23 February 2023 – The Philippines #1 Fintech App GCash, operated by the Globe Group‘s Mynt, will join the plenary of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this month as its President and CEO Martha Sazon delivers a keynote speech on the evolving customer at the main stage of the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry.

Sazon is one of the keynote speakers at the MWC on “New Behavior for a New Reality,” a topic close to GCash’s story. GCash emerged as a crucial digital platform during the pandemic, allowing personal financial transactions online and enabling entrepreneurship despite movement restrictions.

Sazon will also speak at the “Fintech Summit: The Rise of Fintech Disruption” on how fintech is enabling the creation of powerful and disruptive solutions.

GCash is now a double unicorn valued at $2 billion with ~76 million users. It continues to expand financial services covering payments, cash transfers, credit, savings, wealth, insurance and investment products. It also features retail, food, wellness, travel, recreation and real estate services.

Meanwhile, Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu will banner the company’s pivot from telco to techco in a panel with Transcelestial, a company supported by the Globe Group’s Kickstart Ventures.

Cu will join CEOs of top Southeast Asian telcos in a discussion on new network-related technologies and connectivity challenges in the Philippines, among others.

“Our fintech company’s debut at the Mobile World Congress Barcelona is a crucial milestone for the Globe Group as we establish ourselves as a leading digital disruptor and enabler in the Philippines, and banner our evolution into a technology company. We are proud to showcase our achievements as we uplift the lives of Filipinos through digital solutions, and to be part of the global conversation on the future of technology and connectivity,” said Cu.

MWC Barcelona is the world’s largest mobile industry gathering, attracting thousands of exhibitors and visitors worldwide. Hosted by GSMA, a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem, this year’s MWC will be held from February 27 to March 2, 2023.

With almost a hundred portfolio companies under its wing, the Globe Group has successfully expanded into the country’s leading digital solutions platform, with services in fintech, health tech, adtech, edutech, outsourcing and managed services, enterprise data, and investments.

For more information about the Globe Group, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Hashtag: #TheGlobeGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Vietnam Gives Death Sentence to Lao National Over USD 42 Drug Deal

Lao Resident Convicted Of Drug Smuggling Charges
Yer Vang (middle) handcuffed between Vietnamese customs and border patrol ( Photo : VN Express )

A Lao national was issued the death penalty in Vietnam for trying to transport narcotics across the Ha Thin Border in August 2022, for which he was paid only USD 42.

Thai Flight Attendants Penalized For Neglecting Food Trays Until Landing

Flight attendants from Thai Airways have been issued a one-month suspension and pay cuts for not collecting food trays from customers until landing.

Ministry of Finance Issues New Electronic Road Tax Stickers for 2023

Vientiane 23 Singha Road. ( Photo: Monlady Souliyavongsa).

Laos’ Ministry of Finance has introduced new electronic road tax stickers that can be used in place of traditional physical stickers.