SINGAPORE–Media OutReach– 13 June 2022– After months of product development and beta testing, local on-demand logistics platform JustGo Singapore announced that it has officially launched its tipper truck booking app in Singapore.
Founded in 2021, JustGo’s vision is to transform the construction industry by adopting new technologies, overcoming the stigma that the industry is failing to keep up with technological advances. With the launch of its app, JustGo hopes to improve the sector’s efficiency and solve problems through technology.
There are two types of apps available – a Merchant App and a Driver App, each serving their respective purposes.
To encourage digital adoption within the construction industry, the JustGo app creates an efficient online marketplace to connect construction companies with trusted suppliers.
The Merchant App allows businesses looking for tipper truck services and construction companies seeking to rent a tipper truck with driver in Singapore to connect. Users can create job postings for organisations that are able to provide tipper truck driver services that precisely match their demands and budget within the user-friendly booking app.
On the other hand, the Driver App allows tipper truck providers and construction companies that own tipper trucks in Singapore to offer their services to organisations that need them. Through the app, companies and individuals can offer and accept tipper truck driver jobs in Singapore.
With the app, JustGo Enterprise hopes to reduce the cost for construction companies as they will no longer be restricted to prices quoted by a single supplier. They do not need to buy additional trucks either if renting is more cost-effective.
On top of that, JustGo aims to create a materials marketplace for the industry, to allow the reuse and recycling of materials such as hardcore and soil. This will greatly improve the productivity of JustGo’s users, as it will reduce their cost, and ensure minimal wastage of these materials. Moreover, with the JustGo app, it addresses the lack of such a platform in the industry to offer and request for materials and/or tipper truck services, contributing greatly to the progress of the industry.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Mass Migration Wave Triggers Surge in Business Start-ups
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 13 June 2022 – The fifth wave of Covid-19 has swept Hong Kong, the unemployment rate climbed to a ten-month high of 5.4 per cent, and more than 200,000 people were out of work. The livelihood consumption and tourism-related sectors have been severely affected, especially the retail, accommodation, and food services industries. The overall economic situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating. Given this, numerous Hongkongers have been exploring new opportunities to stay resilient in this “epidemic” environment. Many have started their businesses and opened online stores to seek a way out.
The “One-stop E-commerce Undertaking System” of Online Rich, the best e-commerce launcher platform
However, as a novice in starting a business, it could be formidable to run an online store. From purchasing supplies, building a website, and expanding customer sources, to order processing, shipping, and after-sales services, the workflow is complicated and trivial. It requires a considerable investment in time, workforce, and operating costs, which discourages many business starters.
Online Rich new e-commerce operation model to help new business starters to perch a firm foothold
To help e-commerce practitioners solve their operational problems as well as provide comprehensive and quality support for the newbies, Online Rich (“the Company”) has custom-made a “One-stop E-commerce Undertaking System”. The system equips all the “e-commerce novices” with express yet integrated services and comprehensive yet flexible support to help them lower risk and reduce cost while improving operational efficiency significantly. With the help of Online Rich’s native and international executive team, start-ups can tailor-made indigenous content on social media and other e-commerce platforms, which could greatly boost the success rate of starting an online business.
Online Rich searches and selects a wide range of hot-selling products at cost prices for users. Users can initiate their e-commerce operations from scratch even if they do not have any experience. After browsing the hot-selling products with decent margins on the supplier’s pages, users can select what they want and establish their e-stores by automatically uploading product information on their platforms to sell. Online Rich provides strategic marketing consultancy and artwork assistance throughout the process. Once receiving orders, the store owner can utilize the integrated automatic delivery and distribution feature of Online Rich to ship goods, collect a payment, and recognize a profit. Distinguished from other online store outlets only providing tutorial videos, Online Rich offers 24-hour live customer service to follow up the whole course, cope with any questions, and strive to stay close to the users, interlock to assist them in completing the main sections of the e-commerce platform construction.
Within four years, it has successfully helped more than 536 startups establish their e-stores internationally. More than 289 among them have successfully evolved into self-contained brands, accounting for total sales exceeding US$80 million.
Mr. Darek, a restaurant manager who turned into an online shop owner, shared, “Due to the epidemic, my restaurant was mired in stagnation, so I had to leave that trade and try to start the e-commerce practice. At first, I didn’t know anything about e-commerce, thanks to Online Rich’s new automatic sales system combining product selection, sales, customer service, and so on, which functionally simplifies those conventional and cumbersome management procedures. I can use the Online Rich App to monitor real-time sales and profits at any time. After opening my online store for three months, my monthly sales have reached almost US$40,000.”
Ms. Katherine, who worked in the tourism industry before the epidemic, said she was hesitant before deciding to use Online Rich, as there are many so-called e-commerce startup platforms out there that rely on ‘click farming’ to commit fraud on newcomers who want to start an online business. She said, “I did much research before ending up with Online Rich. Its parent company is a leading e-commerce solution provider in Asia with a good reputation, so I feel comfortable using it. Online Rich’s procurement, website design, marketing, logistics, sales, customer service, and even the technical team are very professional; it highly fits someone with zero experience starting their e-business just like me”. After setting up for two months, Katherine’s online store has been on the right track, with monthly sales amounting to US$35,000.
Breaking boundaries to expand into the European and U.S. markets; An ideal choice for Immigrant Business Owners
Many Hong Kong people have moved to other places in recent years. The figures of the Hong Kong Immigration Department showed a net outflow of more than 140,000 Hong Kong residents in the first quarter of 2022. Various investigations revealed that many immigrated Hong Kong people are not able to cope with the rising cost of living and fail to secure a job in places. Usually, their professional skills grasped in Hong Kong cannot be fully employed. Hence, opening an online store to start own business has also become the ideal choice for many immigrant Hong Kong people. The competitive edges of Online Rich include breaking through the geographical, time, and language restrictions with low cost and burden-free. Users can make a living promptly after moving to a new environment and ensure a certain source of income.
Mr. Hui, CEO of Online Rich, commented, “Online Rich is committed to establishing a barrier-free cross-border e-commerce platform for start-ups, empowering them to open up the European and U.S. markets favorably. Our internal professional marketing team can help users build their bespoke brand websites to create marketing content that caters to the corresponding culture. Meanwhile, by using popular social media such as Facebook and Instagram to help users target European and American markets and boost the operational performance of online stores. Even if you have no experience and base, as long as you are hardworking and willing to reflect and defeat the obstacles caused by the epidemic, a small online shop can also tread its stride into international markets.”
About Online Rich
Established in 2018, Online Rich is an e-commerce system founded by Good Timing Holding Ltd (Asia’s leading e-commerce solutions company). The Company has successfully helped more than 536 start-ups establish their e-stores internationally, of which more than 389 have successfully established their self-contained brands, accounting for total sales exceeding US$80 million.
Online Rich launched a brand-new and innovative e-commerce operation model devoted to assisting Hong Kong brands to go worldwide and creating a global cross-border e-commerce ecosystem. Its creative e-commerce business model provides potential start-ups with a low-cost and automated cross-border platform to secure business opportunities without any geographical and time restrictions, further optimizing and enhancing its global e-commerce business across the board.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR , Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo.
The United Nations General Assembly convened the Plenary Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment yesterday on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDS, which were adopted by the General Assembly on June 8.
This Meeting provided a timely global review on the fight against HIV/AIDS and the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 3 on “Good Health and Well-being,” ensuring that the world gets back on track to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
At the opening session, the President of the 76th Session of the General Assembly inaugurated the meeting. This was followed by the General Debate, presided over by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to the United Nations. Several UN member states took turns delivering their statements on behalf of regional groups by highlighting the importance of enhancing international cooperation to support the global efforts to achieve health-related goals, including the 2030 target for ending the AIDS epidemic.
The Assembly acknowledged that a financing gap for addressing HIV/AIDS still exists and there is a need to further promote technology transfer, improve access to medicines in developing countries and to scale up capacity-building, research and development.
Despite some progress, the data released by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has shown that HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are not declining fast enough to end the pandemic by 2030.
Against this backdrop, the international community reaffirmed its joint commitment and common responsibility in taking actions against HIV/AIDS to fully implement the commitments contained in the UN Declaration.
The most urgent tasks are to develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine, to provide appropriate medical treatments for all and to increase investment in research and development, science and innovation.
Shared responsibility and solidarity among all nations is more crucial than ever in order to increase and equally allocate resources to scale up universal health coverage. Every year, the United Nations has designated 1 December in commemoration of World AIDS Day.
The launch of their new anthology album sent excited fans on #KpopTwitter into overdrive
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Media OutReach – 12 June 2022 – BTS’ new anthology album Proof was embraced by fans on Twitter all over the world when it dropped on 10th June. Twitter saw an impressive 22 million Tweets on the launch day, and the most Tweeted time was from midnight to 1AM ET on 10th June when Proof was released with 3 million Tweets in just one hour.
The most Tweeted time was from midnight to 1AM ET on 10th June when Proof was released with 3 million Tweets per hour
Fans from South Korea, US, and Indonesia were the loudest on Twitter, and conversations about the group’s latest release came from all over the world, including countries like the Philippines, India, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, and Peru. #KpopTwitter was a flurry of activity as ARMY took a trip down memory lane, enjoying hit songs from past albums, while looking ahead to the title track “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)”. Clearly, the reception towards the band’s past, present, and future music was undeniably explosive.
A screenshot of BTS Proof taking over @TwitterMusic
Twitter launched custom emojis for fans to join in the festivities regardless of where they were. A grey-colored BTS symbol could be included by using hashtags #BTS and #방탄소년단, while#BTS_Proof would activate a special Proof emoji. Furthermore, #YetToCome and #TheMostBeautifulMoment would activate emojis too. Additionally, @TwitterMusic also changed its header to a BTS concept image, bio to #BTS_Proof and name to ‘Twitter Music is listening to BTS “Proof“‘ to promote the new album.
YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global K-pop Partnerships at Twitter said, “Be it to celebrate new albums, or to cheer them on at important occasions, the #BTSARMY has always stayed close to the band on Twitter. Just weeks ahead of their comeback, BTS made a trip to Washington, D.C., paying President Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) a visit to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes, sending hashtags like#BTSatTheWhiteHouse to the top of Twitter trends worldwide. With our various features and activations, we will continue to connect BTS and the fans, helping them to celebrate moments no matter where they may be in the world.”
About Twitter, Inc.
Twitter is what’s happening and what people are talking about right now. To learn more, visit about.twitter.com and follow @Twitter and @TwitterKorea. Let’s talk.
Nam Theun 1 Dam as it begins water storage (April 2021)
Lao Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Daovong Phonekeo, says enacting a specific law to ensure dam safety is a vital part of the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable energy development.
Spotlight on ASEAN’s Largest Enterprises And Their Sustainability Journey in the Digital Age
SINGAPORE –Media OutReach– 10 June 2022– The 3 winning entries of the inaugural ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards have been announced. The awards, hosted by AIBP and supported by Oracle, will be presented to the winners at the 2022 AIBP ASEAN Innovation Retreat to be held in Singapore on 4 July 2022.
In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) have become a key aspect for business resilience and sustainable development in ASEAN.
As digitalisation takes centre stage as a key economic driver for ASEAN, there is increasing focus on how technology will support the sustainability agenda. A survey of enterprises in the region also found that the top 3 UNSDGs that ASEAN Enterprises believe will benefit most from technology are
GOAL #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL #7: Affordable and Clean Energy
These goals were addressed by the winning entries (in alphabetical order) of the 2022 ASEAN Tech for ESG Awards:
Aboitiz Equity Ventures: Accelerating pathways towards Sustainability through Data Science and AI
Aboitiz Equity Ventures (Philippines) drives operational eco(efficiency) and financial inclusion to balance the interests of people, planet and profit by leveraging frontier technologies within their business units. Leveraging Aboitiz Data Innovation’s data science and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, UnionBank was able to promote financial inclusion, while Aboitiz Power and Republic cement managed to optimise resources and minimise wastage with AI & machine learning.
“We said, “Let’s have that entity and capability that knows data”, and actually (show) that sustainability, eco-friendliness and profit are not oxymorons, these goals can be achieved concurrently.”
– Dr. David R. Hardoon, Chief Data & Innovation Officer, Aboitiz Group
Globe Telecom: Using #Tech4Good and creating a #GlobeofGood
Globe Telecom (Philippines) makes use of predictive data analysis and machine learning technology to pre-empt effects of extreme weather conditions and natural disasters for the community. Through its Digital Thumbprint Programme(DTP), the company educates the public and promotes safe digital citizenry. In addition, the telecommunications provider supports donations to 13 partner humanitarian organisations with rewards points and money through its digital platform, Globe Rewards.
“Aside from just looking at it from an inclusivity perspective, there’s always a social, economic and environmental impact that technology can do”
– Apple Evangelista, Head, Sustainability & Social Responsibility, Globe Telecom Inc.
IOI Corporation Berhad: Strengthening & Enhancing Social Practices Through Digital Transformation
IOI Corporation Berhad embarked on a digital transformation journey to drive social inclusion and operational efficiency. Their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system enables wage monitoring that ensures prompt and fair wage disbursement, prevention of working hours manipulation, and easy access to headcount status. E-wallet system, Merchantrade, was also implemented for online salary disbursement to eliminate wage pilfering.
“With technology, our opportunities are endless. It actually helps our workers, gives women empowerment, allows children to be able to be educated. We can continue with that by improving connectivity, building capacity, and making sure that social inclusion is about everybody, not just those who are (fortunately) exposed to digital transformation.”
– Dr. Surina Ismail, Group Head of Sustainability, IOI Corporation Berhad
The awards were judged by the following esteemed panel of judges:
Han Chung Heng, Senior Vice President, Systems and Alliances & Channels, JAPAC, Oracle
Irza Suprapto, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Industry Platform
Milag San Jose- Ballesteros, Global South Diversity Lead, Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
Ozzeir Khan, Director, Digital Innovation & Architecture Division, ADB & Principal IT Specialist for Technology Innovation, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
“It’s great that we’re putting a bigger spotlight on sustainability across Southeast Asia, as seen by all the finalists. The role of technology in achieving our sustainability goals cannot be denied. In fact, Oracle’s recent ‘No Planet B’ study revealed that 66% of people in Asia Pacific believe bots will succeed where humans have failed with corporate sustainability. The 9 projects by the finalists is a promising signal that we are on the right path to create a world where man and machine can co-exist to positively impact businesses, communities and the planet.”
– Han Chung Heng, Senior Vice President, Systems and Alliances & Channels, JAPAC, Oracle
A compilation of all winning nominations, along with a survey of ASEAN stakeholders on their sentiments around the UNSDGs and their organisation’s priorities is available. For any queries, please contact Valerie Tan, Sustainability Program Lead, via email at valerie@industry-platform.com
About the ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards
The ASEAN Tech for Environmental, Social, Governance Awards is held with the key objective of recognising organisations who have embarked on ESG projects, utilising digital tools and innovative technologies, with proven impact and results in their sustainability and ESG efforts. For additional information on the Award, please visit https://iotbusiness-platform.com/award/.
About AIBP
AIBP serves as an avenue for public and private organisations in Southeast Asia to access and exchange information about growth and innovation. With a current network of over 30,000 stakeholders in Southeast Asia, AIBP continues to develop ecosystems by engaging in activities which create value-adding information for our stakeholders seeking to make transformative impacts within their organisations. For additional information about AIBP, please visit https://iotbusiness-platform.com/.
Mobilizes parents to adopt recycling to build a sustainable future for the next generation and simultaneously earn shopping vouchers.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 June 2022 –Mead Johnson Nutrition Hong Kong (“Mead Johnson”) is bringing back the “We CAN Protect the Future” Formula Cans Recycling Program together with the 24-hour online shopping mall HKTVmall (“HKTVmall”) and the World Green Organization (“WGO”) from 15 June to 31 July 2022. The rewarding program encourages parents to make recycling a part of their lives at the same time earning shopping vouchers and taking measures to build a sustainable future for the next generation in a convenient way.
“At Mead Johnson, we are committed to helping parents give their children the best start in life. A green and sustainable future is an inevitable part of this promise,” said Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, General Manager, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Cross-Border of Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited. “We launched the program last year and successfully recycled around 5,800 used formula cans and reduce environmental burden. We also encouraged parents to lead a greener life. We hope the new phase of the program can motivate more parents to join hands in taking action for a sustainable future.”
The third phase of “We CAN Protect the Future” will be held from 15 June until 31 July 2022, and it will be executed in two parts[1]. Parents can bring clean formula cans for recycling to 35 designated HKTVmall O2O shops every Monday and Wednesday before 4pm, and redeem e-vouchers[2] for online shopping. To further encourage more families to develop a recycling habit and build a greener and cleaner future with the next generation, the new phase has included collection points at districts with more families concentrated to meet the needs of parents.
Ms. Jelly Zhou, Chief Executive Officer (Hong Kong) at Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited, said, “HKTVmall is dedicated to raising Hong Kong citizens’ quality of life by taking care of their daily needs. We are delighted to partner with Mead Johnson again and utilize our extensive O2O network to enhance parents’ environmental awareness in a convenient way for them. This time, there are 35 collection points, with nine new O2O shops added to the list including four HKTVmall Supermarkets. We hope that the extensive network of collection points will encourage more parents to join the formula can recycling force.”
WGO continues to provide professional advice on the recycling process as the supporting organization. Dr. William Yu, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organization, said, “We are grateful to partner with two of Hong Kong’s favorite brands to enhance the public’s environmental awareness. We look forward to encouraging more citizens to participate in the recycling program and adopt a greener lifestyle.”
[1] The first e-vouchers distribution period begins from 15 to 27 June 2022, and the vouchers are valid from 15 to 30 June 2022. The second distribution period will commence from 28 June to 31 July 2022, and the vouchers will be valid from 28 June to 3 August 2022.
[2] From 15 June to 31 July, participants will receive one e-voucher (HK$300 discount on HK$900 spending on select Mead Johnson’s products) upon returning one cleaned formula can. They can use the e-voucher at the HKTVmall Mead Johnson Nutrition Official Store. Each person can redeem at most 4 vouchers per day. The voucher will be distributed on a first come first served basis while quantities last. For further details please check with the on-duty staff. All offers are subject to relevant terms and conditions. All e-vouchers are not applicable to stage 1 infant formula. Terms and conditions: https://bit.ly/3Myg7QN
About Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited
Mead Johnson Nutrition has been established for more than a century. Since its founding in 1905, the renowned infant and child nutrition brand has led the way in developing science-based pediatric nutrition products, guided by the mission to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. Currently, Mead Johnson Nutrition provides more than 70 products in over 50 countries.
Excellent quality has helped Mead Johnson Nutrition earn the trust of nutritionists and parents. Its dedicated and rigorous approach, continuous innovation, tireless pursuit of excellence, and caring feedback to the community have also helped establish a good brand image.
Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited has been in Hong Kong for half a century. It provides Hong Kong parents with high-quality, science-based products, various parenting information, and professional advice, gaining trust and support from parents.
Mead Johnson Nutrition’s scientists and healthcare professionals are focusing their efforts on the formula for children with special nutrition needs. Mead Johnson Nutrition is one of the very few brands that insists on producing the formula for children with metabolic disorders, giving them hope.
HKTVmall is the largest 24-hour online shopping mall in Hong Kong and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (SEHK: 1137). HKTVmall provides one-stop shop services including online shopping, marketing & digital advertising, big data analysis, smart logistics & fulfilment as well as physical O2O stores, and to transform all business operation, trading, retail, finance and daily life onto a single digital online platform to establish a unique digital ecosystem. For more information, visit www.hktv.com.hk.
About World Green Organisation
The World Green Organisation (WGO) is an independent non-governmental organization concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. It provides a holistic approach to a fully integrated three-pronged solution that combines social, environmental, and economic dimensions for a paradigm shift towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.
Through science-based policy research and community projects, the WGO aims to enhance the quality of the environment, promote a greener economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. In particular, it will focus on the social concerns of underprivileged groups and on the creation of a green economy to help realize its vision of sustainable development.