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LiveSpo represents Vietnam, announces world’s first spore probiotics in nasal spray form at the BIO International Convention

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 6 June 2023 – LiveSpo is the first representative from Vietnam to participate in the BIO International Convention, an exhibition showcasing breakthrough biotechnology solutions, held in Boston, USA. This demonstrates remarkable development of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical sector in the realm of biotechnology.

The BIO International Convention, held annually in the United States in June, attracts approximately 14,000 attendees from 65 countries. It serves as a platform for biopharmaceutical companies, investors, and government leaders to exchange ideas, present research findings, and explore partnership opportunities in the field.

This year, the convention takes place from June 5 to 8 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Massachusetts, USA. Among the 1,200 booths, LiveSpo Pharma proudly represents Vietnam as the sole participant, introducing “Made in Vietnam” spore probiotics technology for respiratory disease treatment.

Dr. Nguyen Hoa Anh, R&D Director and Chairman of LiveSpo Pharma, will present LiveSpo’s breakthrough spore probiotics technology at the BIO International Convention 2023. This technology features liquid-form, multi-strain, high-concentration probiotics, including the flagship product LiveSpo NAVAX, a pre-active SPL spore probiotic delivered in the form of nasal spray.

After undergoing rigorous clinical trials aligned with US standards, LiveSpo NAVAX has emerged as the world’s first spore probiotic nasal spray. Its significant impact on reducing treatment duration for acute respiratory infections in children has been proven. LiveSpo NAVAX demonstrates an exceptional ability to reduce the load of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) by 600-fold and influenza virus by 900-fold. The safety and remarkable efficacy of this product have been published in the esteemed Scientific Reports journal (Nature), and the article ranked among the top 100 most downloaded in 2022. (Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-16136-z)

The presence of LiveSpo NAVAX at the BIO International Convention 2023 signifies the leapfrog development of Vietnamese science in the probiotics industry, particularly spore probiotics technology, which has gained traction as a healthcare trend worldwide. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to promote breakthrough “Made in Vietnam” technology globally, providing safe and sustainable treatment options to more patients, particularly children.

LiveSpo NAVAX addresses the treatment needs of 80 percent of children under two years old infected with RSV, a condition currently lacking a cure. It also presents a path towards “A Future Without Antibiotics”, mitigating the persistent global health concern of antibiotic overuse.

During the BIO International Convention, LiveSpo Pharma will engage in B2B meetings with partners from various countries, including Turkey, the UK, Canada, Spain, Australia, Brazil, India, France, and others. Discussions will revolve around the potential and practical applications of breakthrough spore probiotics, as well as opportunities for exclusive distribution of LiveSpo products in international markets. The Vietnamese representative will also host a booth and participate in thematic seminars to explore and remain updated on scientific and technological advancements in developed countries.

Dang Quoc Hung, CEO/Managing Director of LiveSpo, expressed excitement about the opportunity to join the BIO International Convention 2023, stating, “Participating in the world’s leading exhibition of breakthrough biotechnology solutions testifies to LiveSpo’s readiness and competitiveness in the global pharmaceutical market. This milestone serves as a stepping stone towards realizing our vision of introducing Vietnamese biotechnology and LiveSpo spore probiotics to more countries, showcasing Vietnam’s capacity to produce products with high knowledge content.”

Hashtag: #LiveSpo

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

About BIO:

BIO International Convention, which is organized by BIO, is the world’s largest gathering of leading investors and partners in the biotechnology industry.

Founded in 1993, BIO is the world’s largest advocacy association representing member companies, research institutions, state biotechnology groups, and related organizations across the US and in over 30 countries. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial, and environmental biotechnology products.

About LiveSpo Pharma:

LiveSpo is an R&D, manufacturing, and distribution brand of Spobiotics (probiotics in spore form) for digestive and respiratory health, leading in breakthrough technology, rapid effectiveness, and convenience, aiming for “A Future Without Antibiotics”.

LiveSpo has applied spore probiotics technology to develop breakthrough products in liquid form, multi-strain, and high concentration, pioneering in protecting and improving the community’s health in a comprehensive, natural and effective way.

LiveSpo’s outstanding achievements:

– Attended the 13th International Scientific Conference on Probiotics, Prebiotics, Gut Microbiota and Health (IPC 2019) in Prague, Czech Republic.

– The only Vietnamese representative on probiotics to attend the International Microbiology Conference 2022 (ASM 2022).

– LiveSpo’s clinical trial research is published in the Scientific Reports journal (the Nature):

Email: huong.md@livespo.com

Jollibee Foods Corporation starts the year strong, Reports +20.2% Systemwide Sales Growth in North America in Q1 2023

Jollibee, Smashburger, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf ® Parent Group continues momentum with accelerated North Am store network expansion

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach – 6 June 2023 – Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), one of the largest and fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world, reported +20.2% Systemwide Sales Growth and +6.7% Same Store Sales Growth in North America (Philippine Brands and Smashburger), as disclosed by the company.

JFC operates several quick service restaurants in the region, led by its flagship brand Jollibee, known for its fried chicken called Chickenjoy. It also runs the burger chain Smashburger and coffee and tea chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL), which both posted strong systemwide and same store sales growth in the region.

The JFC Group eyes North America as a key market to achieve its vision of being among the top 5 restaurant companies in the world. It plans to open 550 to 600 stores globally in 2023, through organic growth and franchising, as part of its accelerated expansion plans to meet its vision.

Jollibee North America: Continued Strong Growth and American Market Crossover

Jollibee US and Canada continued to post strong double-digit systemwide sales in Q1 2023. It ended Q1 2023 with 89 stores, opening three stores for the quarter including its first-ever double drive-thru in North America located in Orlando, Florida. Last year, it opened 11 stores, including in the iconic New York Times Square and Vancouver—its first in British Columbia, Canada.

“Our successful growth in North America is thanks in no small part to the support of our thousands of customers across the region, and to our teams who joyfully serve them every day,” shared Maribeth Dela Cruz, President of Jollibee Group North America—Philippine Brands. “We are delighted to see more and more customers enjoying our signature Chickenjoy fried chicken, Chicken Sandwich, and Peach Mango Pie, both from our devoted Filipino-American fans and new Mainstream American followers. Their support shows that Jollibee has what it takes to successfully compete in the world’s largest QSR market, and is an important pillar in our company’s global expansion strategy.”

Jollibee’s signature Chickenjoy was named America’s Best Chain Fried Chicken in 2022 Eater.com, besting 15 other fried chicken products from other global quick service restaurant chains. The brand was likewise named among America’s Hottest Brands by AdAge, a global marketing and media publication based in the US. The brand continues to see more and more local Americans coming to its stores, with some locations seeing majority Americans as patrons.

Commenting on the JFC Group’s Global performance for Q1 2023, JFC President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong stated:

“Our first quarter financial results reflected continued strong momentum, delivering another quarter of strong topline and operating income growth,” shared Tanmantiong. SWS growth was broad-based with all brands posting strong double-digit growth compared to the first quarter of 2022. We delivered strong operating profit growth despite continued macro challenges. We remain focused on navigating through these uncertainties and are confident in our ability to deliver another year of strong growth.”

Jollibee Group Outlook for 2023

Based on its target for the year, the JFC Group projects full-year global systemwide sales to be up by 15.0% to 20.0%, with same store sales growth of 7% to 10.0% and store network increase of not less than 5.0%. Operating income growth will range from 20.0% to 25.0%.

The JFC Group expects capital expenditures to be in the range of Php17.0 to 19.0 billion.

Awards and Recognitions
For the third straight year, Forbes named the JFC Group among the World’s Best Employers in 2022. The JFC Group is the highest-ranking restaurant company and the highest-ranking Philippine-based company.

The JFC Group was also recognized by the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Golden Arrow Awards, which measures a company’s performance in such areas as facilitating the rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, ensuring transparency through timely disclosure of material information, and monitoring how the board guides the company strategically and its accountability to its stakeholders.

For more information on the Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com.

Hashtag: #Jollibee

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

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 16 brands with over 6,500 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. It also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines’ most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia’s Fab 50 Companies and among the World’s Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

The preceding disclosure contain forward-looking statements that are based on certain assumptions of Management and are subject to risks and opportunities or unforeseen events.

Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated in the relevant forward-looking statement and the JFC Group gives no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or that such intentions will not change. This Press Release discloses important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the JFC Group’s expectations. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking statements attributable to the JFC Group or persons acting on behalf of the JFC Group are expressly qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statements.

Kerry Logistics Network Expands Electronics After-sales Services to Add Value to the Consumer Experience

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 June 2023 – Kerry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics Network’, ‘KLN’; Stock Code 0636.HK) has expanded its after-sales services to the electronics and technology supply chain to meet rising consumer expectations and the high-precision and reliability requirements of a global technology and smart consumer electronics brand.

The after-sales services encompass end-to-end delivery from repair, software upgrade and hardware replacement to payment and value-added services for mobile phones and tablets. KLN manages the 3,000 sq ft customer service centre dedicated to the brand, which contains service counters, workstations and an experienced team of repair specialists. The one-stop-shop approach shortens the service time frame to improve consumer satisfaction and enable the brand to gain a competitive advantage in the ever-changing communications market.

Samuel Lau, Managing Director – Integrated Logistics North Asia of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “We are currently managing a total of 20,000 sq ft of repair centre facilities for different renowned electronics and technology brands in Hong Kong. We understand that it is essential for consumers to have access to convenient and efficient support. Our dedicated technical experts are committed to offering fast in-store updates and high-quality repairs, ensuring that customers are able to have their devices back within the shortest possible time.”

KLN has been providing regional distribution centre (RDC) solutions for a number of international brands in the electronics vertical, including return merchandise authorisation (RMA) service for a drone manufacturer, the installation of charging stations in commercial and residential properties for electric vehicle brands and components management for leading electronic component manufacturers, offering labelling, packaging, domestic distribution and export services.

Hashtag: #KerryLogisticsNetwork

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

Kerry Logistics Network Limited

Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), e-commerce and express to industrial project logistics and infrastructure investment.

With a global presence across 58 countries and territories, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world’s emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across the Mainland of China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations.

Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$86.6 billion in 2022. It is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index.

FAO Expands Assistance to Food System Transformation in Laos

Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Thatsaka Saphangthong (left), and Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Laos, Mr. Nasar Hayat (right).

The Lao government and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Laos discussed various issues regarding the food system and how it was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and the 5F crisis on Friday at a National Consultation event.

Laos Imports Over 80,000 Vehicles in 2022

Laos Imported Over 80,000 Vehicles in 2022
Cars lined up at a port, (Photo: Freepik)

The President of the Lao Automotive Industry Association informed the public in a meeting on 5 June that Laos imported 80,708 vehicles including cars, motorbikes, and EVs in 2022.

City Energy and Senoko Energy embark on collaborative effort to support Singapore’s Green agenda; starting with the exploration of hydrogen opportunities

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 June 2023 – City Energy, Singapore’s sole provider and retailer of piped town gas for 160 years, and Senoko Energy, one of Singapore’s largest and most established energy companies, have joined forces in a momentous partnership to drive sustainable and eco-friendly energy initiatives. The two companies have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly study the technical and commercial feasibility of import and supply of hydrogen between City Energy and Senoko Energy’s facilities in Singapore.

City Energy and Senoko Energy will also explore other hydrogen-related opportunities, including green hydrogen, to meet the future demand for hydrogen power in Singapore.

Mr. Perry Ong, Chief Executive Officer of City Energy (王光枢, 城市能源总裁), said: “We are excited to partner with Senoko Energy to study ways to develop an efficient and reliable hydrogen supply chain into Senoko. This MoU represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide clean and sustainable energy to households and businesses for generations to come and supports Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy announced in October 2022 as a key decarbonisation pathway undergirding Singapore’s international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”

Mr. Eric Maka, President & CEO of Senoko Energy (首席执行官, 圣诺哥能源), said: “At Senoko Energy, promoting clean energy and energy efficiency is an ongoing endeavor. We are always looking at how we can play our part in supporting the transition to low carbon alternatives along with the production of cleaner and greener energy, all in tandem with Singapore’s Green Plan.

“We look forward to working with City Energy as the onboarding of hydrogen related technologies is very important for Singapore, which has a limited local supply of clean energy. Through our collective efforts and through the harnessing of both companies’ strengths and expertise, we hope to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen power and to help create a more sustainable future for all.”

Mr. Ralph Foong, Deputy Chief Executive (Energy Planning and Development), of the Energy Market Authority (冯永隆, 副局长, 能源规划与发展司, 能源市场管理局), said: “Collaboration between stakeholders to explore new solutions that can reduce carbon emissions in our power system is crucial in Singapore’s journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security. We are encouraged to see City Energy and Senoko Energy making this proactive effort to jointly explore opportunities with hydrogen. We look forward to the success of this initiative and to see how hydrogen can be optimised to accelerate Singapore’s energy transition.”

This MoU follows City Energy’s latest MoU on hydrogen feasibility studies with Gentari, the renewable energy arm of PETRONAS Malaysia; where both companies announced on 18 April 2023 to jointly conduct feasibility studies of a hydrogen supply chain from Malaysia to Singapore. This strategic initiative underscores City Energy’s dedication to fostering sustainable energy solutions and furthering the realization of a greener and more sustainable future.

In 2020, Senoko Energy significantly stepped up its sustainability efforts with the launch of SolarShare, a pilot project that introduced environmentally friendly peer-to-peer (P2P) trading of renewable energy.

SolarShare was driven by two key factors – Senoko Energy’s commitment to meet Singapore’s eco-friendly renewable energy demand and to empower Singaporeans with greater choices in their electricity consumption.

In 2021, Senoko Energy was awarded the National Environment Agency’s Energy Efficiency National Partnership Award for its gas turbine upgrade in two of its combined cycle plants. Through the successful upgrade of its gas turbines using advanced technologies, Senoko Energy improved the thermal efficiency of its combined cycle plants, resulting in about 15,000 tonnes of reduction in carbon emissions annually. This is equivalent to taking more than 4,500 cars off the road a year.

Hashtag: #SenokoEnergy

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

About City Energy

After more than 160 years of being Singapore’s sole provider of piped town gas, City Gas has transformed into City Energy to provide innovative green energy solutions that meet the needs of a growing city and changing planet, now and into the future. City Energy continues producing and distributing piped town gas safely and reliably to more than 880,000 residents, commercial and industrial customers islandwide, while offering low-carbon home solutions and electric vehicle charging services through its sub-brands, Life by City Energy and Go by City Energy respectively. Life by City Energy provides low-carbon solutions that are a part of everyday living. From gas water heaters to gas clothes dryers and gas hobs – our solutions are long-lasting, smart and environmentally friendly. These are available at the Life by City Energy retail store at Plaza Singapura. Go by City Energy is an electric vehicle charging service that powers earth-friendly rides, in line with Singapore’s vision to have all vehicles running on cleaner energy sources by 2040. As its tagline “Good Energy for our City” promises, City Energy is also exploring green hydrogen as part of town gas production to lower carbon emissions. City Energy Pte. Ltd. (as Trustee of City Energy Trust) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Infrastructure Trust.

About Senoko Energy

Senoko Energy Pte Ltd provides energy for life to generations of Singaporeans, delivering safe, innovative, and efficient energy supply to customers since 1977. Integral to Singapore’s development, it is a pioneer in power generation and energy solutions, serving Singapore’s energy needs with proven reliable performance. As one of the largest power generation companies by installed capacity in Singapore, Senoko Energy has a licensed capacity of 3,300 megawatts (MW), providing about one-fifth of the nation’s electricity needs. It is owned by a consortium comprising Marubeni Corporation, ENGIE, The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc., Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc. and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Visit for more information.

TradeMonday Secures Investment from SenseTime To Expand AI Low-code Modularized Platform And ChatGPT B2B Retail Solution

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 June 2023 – TradeMonday, a Hong Kong based startup that specializes in AI-powered retail analytics, announced today that it has successfully completed a new round of investment from SenseTime, one of the world’s leading AI companies. The investment will enable TradeMonday to accelerate its growth and expand its retail analytic product offerings and ChatGPT B2B retail solutions.

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TradeMonday is an AI Low-code Modularized Platform assisting retailers and brand owners to instantly validate their business decisions. The raised funds would be used to invest in R&D and further solidify the company’s AI low-code modularized platform. The platform turns the digital footprint of retail consumer, brand and product such as social media, in-store traffic and transaction data into actionable insights and empowers businesses including retailers, consumer brands and shopping malls, in simulating top-line growth strategies.

“We are thrilled to have SenseTime onboard as our investor,” mentioned by TradeMonday company statement, “their deep expertise in AI and global network will be invaluable as we continue to develop innovative retail analytic solutions that help our clients make smarter and more informed decisions.” TradeMonday also announces the launch of the ChatGPT B2B solution today for retail analytic. “With the integration of TradeMonday’s proprietary retail big data and ChatGPT, it shorten the analytic implementation time and provides better experience to query the insight through bot. The newly launch of ChatGPT B2B retail solution will help TradeMonday to expand the product offering to sales advisory.

“With the completion of this latest investment round, TradeMonday is poised for continued growth and success in the global market. We are also aiming to close a further substantial round of Series A funding in 2023.”
Hashtag: #TradeMonday #SenseTime #ChatGPT #AI #Startup

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

About TradeMonday

TradeMonday is an AI-powered retail platform that helps businesses make product, market and shopper recommendations. It was inspired by the financial model of arbitrage and was founded in 2016 and graduated from Cyberport Incubation programme in 2019. The platform analyzes customer data from various sources globally and provides businesses with actionable insights for better strategy planning through a visual representation of customer persona, potential brands, products, and tenant performance.

The platform is backed by venture funds in the US, Europe, and Hong Kong and has been recognized by organizations such as Plug and Play, Founders Space, Sente, EY, Alibaba, JumpStarter, and RTIA. It has been applied in various industries, including food retail, fashion, cosmetics, electronics, and shopping malls.

Ha Long Bay Tourism Hit by Power Shortages During Peak Season in Vietnam

Hospitality businesses in Vietnam’s popular northern town of Ha Long report mass cancellations of hotel bookings during this peak season due to power outages.