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Cellulant’s Payment Processing Platform to Power Online and Offline Payments for Businesses in Africa

SAN FRANSISCO, US – African Media Agency – 31 March 2023 – Leading payments technology company, Cellulant aims to change how businesses make payments and get paid in Africa by introducing online and offline payment solutions.

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The payments market in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, mainly due to advancements in peer-to-peer (P2P) and consumer-to-business (C2B) payment solutions. However, the fragmentation of payment processing continues to pose a significant challenge for businesses seeking to establish a presence in Africa.

Solving intractable problems is not new to Cellulant; founded at the height of Africa’s mobile technology boom in 2003, Cellulant is building Africa’s most comprehensive payments infrastructure. The company offers a single API payment platform that enables businesses to collect payments online and offline while allowing anyone to pay from their mobile money, local and international cards, or bank. Providing alternative payment methods for African consumers is particularly important on a continent that holds 70% of the world’s $1 trillion mobile money market. Card penetration sits at a 3% penetration rate – meaning global companies looking to expand into Africa need a payments partner that can offer alternative payment methods for the local market.

At the recently held 25th Annual Harvard Africa Business Conference in Boston, Cellulant’s Group CEO Akshay Grover stated, “Solving the payments challenges in Africa is not just about payments but accelerating global economic growth. Africa’s dynamic economies and lack of an established payment infrastructure have resulted in a unique occurrence on the continent. On the one hand, this has prompted the growth of payment platforms and solutions to meet the various needs of businesses and consumers, turning Africa into a centre of innovation in the payments sector. On the other hand, with multiple providers, a wide range of payment methods exists due to the absence of a consistent infrastructure enabling businesses to collect payments seamlessly or easily operate across borders. Therefore, a payments infrastructure in Africa must holistically address the needs of businesses and their consumers by making it easy to collect payments online and offline -regardless of the size of the business.”

Cellulant has built, Tingg, a payments platform that provides multinational and international businesses with a one-stop-shop solution for their payment needs across the continent. The payments gateway connects to over 370 payment methods from mobile money operators and banks across the continent to global and regional card switches such as Visa, Mastercard, NIBSS and Verve.

The payments platform has full-stack offline and online payment capabilities. It caters to businesses in various sectors, such as Airlines, Telecoms, E-commerce, Ride-Hailing, Retail and Remittances, enabling these businesses to deliver a frictionless payment experience to their customers. Today, Cellulant powers payments for renowned global companies such as Emirates, Bolt, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Glovo, Kenya Airways, and Jumia; and processes billions of dollars yearly.

Cellulant is ISO 27001 (ISMS), ISO 27701 (PIMS), ISO 22301 (BCMS), ISO 20000-1 (Service Management) and PCI-DSS compliant for all its payouts and collections products.

Hashtag: #Cellulant

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

About Cellulant:

is a leading Pan African payments technology company that provides locally relevant and alternative payment methods for global, regional and local merchants.

Cellulant provides a single API payments platform – – that enables businesses to collect payments online and offline while allowing anyone to pay from their mobile money, local and international cards or their bank.

Bybit Launches Optimized ETH Staking Ahead of Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Media OutReach – 31 March 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange, launched its new Web3 Staking Pool today, enabling users to take advantage of the exchange’s uncomplicated ETH staking options in time for Ethereum network’s much anticipated Shanghai upgrade.

The staking pool drastically simplifies the process of adding liquidity to premier decentralized finance protocol Curve Finance from 11 steps to just three and saves transaction fees, too. The added benefits could lead to an ETH staking APR of up to 6.5%. And Bybit users don’t even need to buy ETH as the product can be accessed using BTC, USDT and USDC balances.

According to Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, “By introducing our Web3 Staking Pool via a dedicated landing page, we are making it easier for users to interact with decentralized finance and gain more rewards for their assets. Essentially, we are offering single-sided staking, which boosts the APR of ETH.”

“The highly liquid and trading-integrated ETH staking options we will be rolling out around the time of Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade will open up many new opportunities for our users,” Zhou added. “By offering convenience and transparency, our users will gain more control over how they manage their funds and grow their wealth in the Web3 era.”

Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade is also the theme of two special trading events hosted by Bybit. Both events kick off on April 4th at 10:00 am (UTC) and run until April 21 and 25, respectively.

Firstly, the ETH Shanghai Upgrade Trading Bash opens the door for Bybit users trading any ETH-related derivatives (perpetuals, inverse or futures contracts) to share in a total prize pool of 450,000 USDC. Secondly, by entering Bybit’s Supreme Scorer 2023, users have the chance to predict the price movement of eight different ETH-related trading pairs and share in the 80,000 USDT bonus pool.

Bybit is proud to offer Web3 integrations that create a simple, streamlined user experience and bring next level opportunities and products to institutions, crypto-natives and newcomers alike.

More from Bybit

Hashtag: #Bybit #EthereumShanghai

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

About Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, esports teams NAVI, Astralis, Alliance, Made in Brazil (MIBR), and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports, and association football (soccer) team Borussia Dortmund.

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Vientiane’s Khua Din Market to Temporarily Close for New Development

Khua Din market. ( Photo : Sopy Ryfyma).

The iconic Khua Din market, located in Vientiane Capital, will close temporarily next month to undergo major development.

Forbes Names Laos as SE Asia’s Most Charming Country

Forbes Names Laos as SE Asia's Most Charming Country
A beautiful river in Vang Vieng, Laos (photo: trailsofindochina)

The American business magazine, Forbes, published an article on Thursday calling Laos the most charming country in Southeast Asia.

KBTG Wins MongoDB APAC Innovation Awards 2023

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 31 March 2023 – On March 30, 2023, KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) was named the winner of the 2023 MongoDB APAC Innovation Award in the Customer-Focused category through MAKE by KBank, a money management application for the new generation. This award honors projects and people who dream big, celebrating the groundbreaking use of data to build compelling applications and the creativity of professionals expanding the limits of technology with MongoDB.

Mr. Chetaphan Siridanupath, Managing Director of KBTG, said, “we are thrilled to be one of the nine winners of this year’s MongoDB APAC Innovation Awards. At KBTG, we always strive to empower our customers’ lives through innovations. MAKE by KBank is one such innovation that allows our users to take control of their finances. To continue to achieve great customer satisfaction, we need to continue delivering new features as well as maintain the excellence of our system. MongoDB’s solutions have made development so much quicker and keeping our system optimized and secure so much easier.”

Mr. Chetaphan Siridanupath, Managing Director of KBTG

Mr. Chetaphan Siridanupath, Managing Director of KBTG

Established in 2016, KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) is the technology arm of KASIKORNBANK (KBank), one of Thailand’s leading commercial banks. A digital banking pioneer and innovation powerhouse, KBTG aims to build world-class technology and groundbreaking solutions that would create a disruptive force within the fintech industry, with its mission rooted in two prominent areas: run the bank and create the future. In 2020, KBTG launched MAKE by KBank, a money management application specifically designed to accommodate the Thai young generation’s financial needs. With unique features like:

  • Cloud Pocket split money under one bank account into unlimited pockets, allocated for separate usages to accommodate various lifestyles.
  • Chat Banking transaction records reconstructed into an intuitive chat format, easy to view the sender’s name and review past transactions.
  • Pop Pay send money to nearby friends in the 10-meter radius, simply wait for Bluetooth to display their icon and click on their picture to transfer.
  • Expense Summary summarize users’ monthly spending to help them analyze and improve their financial habits.

Combined with traditional mobile banking features, MAKE by KBank has proven itself to be a strong newcomer in the fintech industry. The app currently serves more than one million users across the nation with widely positive feedback. As of January 2023, 3.5 million cloud pockets have been created and more than 72% of all users are younger than 30 years old, proving its popularity among the young generation. With a bright future ahead, KBTG and MAKE by KBank are hoping to help Thai people manage their money more easily, be more disciplined with their finances, and ultimately improve their financial literacy that will lead up to a better quality of life – one cloud pocket at a time.

Hashtag: #KBTG #MAKEbyKBank #BeyondBanking #MongoDB #RunTheBank #CreateTheFuture #CloudPocket #ExpenseSummary

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

About KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG)

KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) produces innovations one step ahead of its industry to run the bank and create the future. Our solid foundations and rising talents allow us to break boundaries in daily-life applications and leading trends.

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Vientiane Capital Announces Eight Regulations for Lao New Year 2023

Vientiane Capital Announce Eight Regulations for Lao New Year
Residents splashing water at one another, celebrating the Lao New Year (photo: asean-china-center)

Authorities in Vientiane Capital have issued eight rules for residents to follow during the Lao New Year period.

BExcellent Group acquires for 30.0% equity of a local overseas education consultant company

Cooperation with industry expert to deepen oversea education business

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 31 March 2023 – “Glocal Education Services Centre” (GES), and “Academic Advisers”, which are owned by BExcellent Group Holdings (“BExcellent Group” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 1775), have officially launched a merger plan with “LINKEDU”, one of the experts in overseas education consulting services.

It is anticipated that this merger will integrate the strengths of the three companies to create a greater team of overseas education advisers, covering both secondary schools and universities, combining resources, expertise and experience of the three teams to provide students and parents with more comprehensive and caring one-stop study advisory services.

The total amount of the consideration for the acquisition is approximately HK$9.18 million, which includes HK$1.05 million being payable in cash upon completion. After the completion date, another HK$2.92 million will be settled by the allotment and issue of approximately 3.65 million Consideration Shares under the General Mandate at the issue price of HK$0.80 per Consideration Share, representing approximately 0.72% of the number of issued Shares. The balance of the consideration, being HK$5.21 million, is payable by the transfer of shares in GES and Academic Advisers, in return for 90,000 new Target Shares to be allotted and issued by “LINKEDU”.

With the extensive network and resources of Beacon Group, the parent company of GES which is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the BExcellent Group, GES has been committed to provide consulting services under career-oriented approaches to students who are interested in the professional disciplines, especially in health sciences and medicine, so as to provide them with the latest academic and industry information. Also, GES provides different internship programmes to allow students understand their suitability to specific disciplines and help to fulfill their dream of overseas studies.

GES has partnered with Academic Advisers for years to provide overseas education consultancy services. Academic Advisers specializes in consultancy services on overseas secondary boarding school and its network of schools covers the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other popular oversea study areas. Also, Academic Advisers works with the local schools to arrange short-term study programs for the students to experience.

As for LINKEDU, it is a specialist in international education in the United Kingdom and Australia. Its services range from different preliminary work, including school selection, admission application, interviews, visas, accommodation and air ticket booking, to follow-up and support services after admission and up to graduation.

Ms. Leung Ho Ki, June, Chairman of the Group, said, “With the addition of LINKEDU to the BExcellent Group, the business will complement GES and Academic Advisers and the services will range from secondary boarding schools to universities and up to the future career consulting services. We will provide students with one-stop overseas education consultancy services. No matter which country the students intend to study in, we will join hands with them to help them realize their dreams.”

Hashtag: #BExcellentGroup

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

BExcellent Group Holdings Limited

BExcellent Group Holdings Limited (“BExcellent Group”) is a leading provider of private supplementary secondary school education services in Hong Kong, particularly in providing private supplementary secondary school education services and a series of ancillary education services and products, and operating private secondary day schools in Hong Kong. The education brands of the Group include “Beacon College”, “Beacon Day School”, and “Beacon Childhood”, etc. Furthermore, the Group has developed international education services for schools and has successfully commenced education programme in the Greater Bay Area. As at 31 January 2023, the Group operated 10 teaching centres, with a total of 80 classrooms, which, in accordance with the EDB’s guidelines, allow a maximum classroom capacity of 2,273 students to attend class at any one time.

Swang Chai Chuan Limited Announces FY2022 Annual Results

Revenue and adjusted profit increased by 25.0% and 18.4% YoY respectively

Performance Highlights

  • Revenue increased by 25.0% to approximately RM835.91 million.
  • Gross profit increased by 18.1% to approximately RM111.62 million.
  • Profit for the Reporting Period, excluding listing expenses, increased by 18.4% to approximately RM33.8 million
  • Basic earnings per share was RM3.25 sen

Financial Highlights:

For the year ended 31 Dec
RM’000 2022 2021 Change
Revenue 835,906 668,738 +25.0%
Gross profit 111,621 94,508 +18.1%
Profit for the Reporting Period 26,787 23,588 +13.6%
Profit for the Reporting Period, excluding listing expenses 33,813 28,562 +18.4%
Earnings per share (sen) 3.25 3.26 Stable

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 31 March 2023 – Swang Chai Chuan Limited (“Swang Chai Chuan” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 2321.HK), an established distributor of food & beverage and other products located in Malaysia, announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2022 (the “Reporting Period”). During the Reporting Period, the Group’s revenue increased by approximately 25.0% to approximately RM835.9 million mainly due to the increase in the distribution revenue from third party brands and white label products amounting to approximately RM143.0 million and RM16.2 million respectively.

The Group recorded a profit for the year of approximately RM26.8 million for the year ended 31 December 2022 compared to RM23.6 million in 31 December 2021 (the “Preceding Year”). The adjusted profit for year, excluding listing expenses, have increased by approximately 18.4% from RM28.6 million to RM33.8 million for the year ended 31 December 2021 and 2022 respectively. Basic earnings per share was 3.25 sen (2021: 3.26 sen) during the year.

During the Reporting Period, gross profit for the year ended 31 December 2022 was approximately RM111.6 million (2021: approximately RM94.5 million). Gross profit margin of the Group decreased to approximately 13.4% in the Reporting Period as compared to approximately 14.1% in the Preceding Year. The decrease in the gross profit margin was due to the result of competitive price strategy to capture market share, inflationary price increase of products that the Group were not yet able to fully pass on to the customers in the second half of the year and the lower margins from securing two new distribution rights.

BUSINESS REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase of demand of F&B products, the Group was actively accelerating its business by leasing warehouses to satisfy increased demand. By the end of 2022, the Group has a total of 9 self-owned and 3 leased warehouses strategically located all over Malaysia which contributed to an aggregate designated storage capacity of 30,900m³. In addition, the Company also owns a fleet with more than 150 self-operated logistics vehicles.

Looking forward, the Group will continue to utilize its existing industry knowledge to expand the core strengths and target to explore more business opportunities, and also exercise a careful cost control measures under high inflation business environment to enhance profit margin and maintain its competitiveness.

Mr. Soon See Beng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said, “Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand of F&B remained strong last year, which driving double-digit revenue and profit growth for the year. The Group was successfully listed on the Main Board of the HKEX last year which represented an important milestone for the Group and laid the foundation for overseas development plans. The Group will continue to actively expand our business by increasing seeking new suppliers, investing in product development, enhancing warehouses capacity in the future. Also, we plan to expand our own brand into different markets like Indonesia and China”.

Hashtag: #SwangChaiChuan

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

Swang Chai Chuan Limited

Swang Chai Chuan Limited is an established distributor of food & beverage and other products located in Malaysia. The Company distributes a great selection of products consisting of more than 200 international, domestic third-party and own brands. Apart from F&B products such as dairy products, frozen food, packaged food and commodities, sauce, oil and condiments, beverages and speciality products, the Company also provides non-F&B options, which include personal and baby care products, pet care products and cleaning and kitchen supplies. Furthermore, the Company currently has more than 11,000 active customers in Malaysia, and also offers warehousing logistics, sales and other services.