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72% of Asia Pacific Generation Zs, Millennials Aspire to Be Entrepreneurs – Herbalife Nutrition Survey

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 June 2021 – Premier global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition, unveiled findings from its 2021 Asia Pacific Young Entrepreneurs Survey today, which found that 72% of Generation Zs and Millennials in Asia Pacific aspire to have their own businesses. The survey showed that almost 9 out of 10 (87%) respondents believe that the best age to start a business is under 40 years old, with the average best age identified at 27 years old.

Herbalife Nutrition polled 4,093 people in the Generation Z and Millennial (aged 18 – 40) groups to examine entrepreneurship trends across eight countries i.e. Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

“Many aspiring entrepreneurs are driven by the prospect of following their passions, and desire to become their own bosses. They see their youth as a strength, especially when it comes to being technology savvy and having fresh ideas,” said Stephen Conchie, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific.

However, a desire for entrepreneurship does not mean respondents are jumping into it: the average respondent said they believe someone should have five years of experience before starting their own business.

“Most respondents feel intimidated by their lack of experience, are concerned about business start-up costs, and the necessary financial and market knowledge. This is where learning good business fundamentals; having mentors, the right resources and a supportive community can help budding entrepreneurs to better navigate the uncertainties ahead. These important steps can improve their chances of success,” added Conchie.

Aspiring young entrepreneurs believe their age will help their chances for business success

87% of respondents believe that the best time to start a business is when they are still under the age of 40, with average prime age for starting a business at 27 years old. In addition, 54% of respondents believe that their age will help their chances of business success due to the following reasons:

  • I’m better at adapting to new technology (61%)
  • I’m more likely to embrace new technology (51%)
  • I have fresh, unexplored ideas (44%)

Key reasons for entrepreneurship

When asked about the motivations for their entrepreneurship aspirations, the top reasons include following their passion (40%), becoming their own boss (39%), wanting more flexibility in their jobs (37%), supporting their families (36%), and wanting a career change (33%).

Cost, lack of financial and market knowledge holding entrepreneur hopefuls back

Respondents said the main challenges to starting a business are the initial costs (38%) and lack of financing and market knowledge support (35%). 68% said now is the best time to start their own business but they are intimidated by their own inexperience (70%) and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of starting a business (77%).

Training, financial resources and business tools can boost success

Among the respondents who already started their own business, 63% said they are still open during the pandemic. They listed more training and education (55%), additional financial resources (52%) and access to business tools (45%) as factors that will help them be more successful.

About Herbalife Nutrition

Herbalife Nutrition is a global company that has been changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and a proven business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers high-quality, science-backed products, sold in over 90 countries by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company’s global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife Nutrition is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world. For more information, please visit IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com.

#HerbalifeNutrition

The Wild Rift SEA Icon Series – Summer Super Cup is poised for a legendary finish, featuring 16 teams from eight different regions

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 23 June 2021 – The 2021 Southeast Asia (SEA) Icon Series, organized by Riot Games, is set to conclude with its first regional championship of the year – the Summer Super Cup. Throughout the tournament circuit, teams have been competing in League of Legends: Wild Rift, the mobile version of the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has recorded over 12 million downloads across the entire SEA and Hong Kong.

“It’s time for Southeast Asia to conquer the Rift. Following the success of our exciting preseason and regional competitions, this monumental tournament is an important step towards establishing our players and teams’ supremacy as among the elite in the global esports scene. Together with our partners, we’re excited to showcase the very best that Southeast Asia has to offer and we encourage all Wild Rift and esports fans to tune in, support, and cheer for your favorites,” said Chris Tran, Head of Esports for Riot Games Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

The Wild Rift SEA Icon Series – Summer Super Cup is presented by the Philippine Pro Gaming League (PPGL), the largest multi-game esports league in the country co-owned by premier esports organization Mineski Philippines and its long-time telecommunications partner Globe Telecom. The tournament is also sponsored by international smart device company OPPO, the official mobile of the Summer Super Cup. Out of more than 800 qualifying participants, only 16 teams will be featured in the first-ever pan-regional Wild Rift tournament – the top two from the eight different regions namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. They will vie for the title of being the first Summer Super Cup champion and a prize pool of USD 150,000 (~HKD 1.1 Million).

“Along with our partner Mineski, the largest esports organizer in Southeast Asia, we at Globe are honored to secure this remarkable opportunity that will allow us to demonstrate the talents and skills of our Filipino esports enthusiasts in delivering exciting esports tournaments and experiences in front of our Asian neighbors. Most especially with the rise of Wild Rift in the country, Globe has been very supportive it is competitive scene” said DC Dominguez, Head of Globe Games and Esports

The regional tournament for Hong Kong is completed with MVP leading the ranks, followed by QWQ.

The Wild Rift SEA Icons Series – Summer Super Cup is divided in two stages, starting with the Group Stage that will run from June 19 to 22 and the Playoffs from June 25 to 27. The Grand Finals will happen on the last day as well.

The Group Stage will follow a double round-robin format. Teams will be divided in four groups of four with a maximum of two #1 seeded teams with no teams from the same country. A total of 12 matches will be played per day until the top three teams from each group will be determined. They will then advance to the Playoffs that will follow a best-of-five series in a single elimination format. The top-seeded teams per group will advance to the quarterfinals while the remaining will compete for their spot. Similar to the Group Stage, no teams from the same country will compete against each other in the qualifying matches. Afterwards, single elimination continues until the top two teams are decided who will battle it out for a chance at supremacy and the distinction of being the Southeast Asia Summer Super Cup champion and conqueror of the Rift.

Prove yourself. Dominate the competition. Be victorious. Leave your mark and become Legends.

Catch the exclusive livestreams of the Wild Rift SEA Icon Series – Summer Super Cup on the official channels of PPGL.

Facebook – facebook.com/ppgl

Twitch – twitch.tv/ppgl

YouTube – youtube.com/c/PPGLGG

TikTok – tiktok.com/@helloppgl

For more information, visit wildrift.leagueoflegends.com, http://www.facebook.com/wildriftPH or https://twitter.com/wildriftPHL

About League of Legends: Wild Rift

League of Legends: Wild Rift is the skills-and-strategies 5v5 MOBA experience of League of Legends, now built from the ground up for mobile and console. With fresh controls and fast-paced games, players of every level can team up with friends, lock in their champion, and go for the big plays.

About Riot Games

Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, to worldwide acclaim. League has gone on to be the most-played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports.

As League enters its second decade, Riot continues to evolve the game while delivering new experiences to players with Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, VALORANT, League of Legends: Wild Rift, and multiple work-in-progress titles. Riot is also building the world of Runeterra through multimedia projects across music, comic books, board games, and the upcoming animated series Arcane.

Founded by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, and led by CEO Nicolo Laurent, Riot is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and has 2,500+ Rioters in 20+ offices worldwide.

About Mineski Philippines

Mineski Philippines is a leader in the country’s esports industry, with a slew of original esports leagues and platforms alongside nationwide tours and esports mall events organized for client brands. Mineski Philippines has pioneered every esports venture in the Philippines from our pro team to events organizing and esports marketing. For more information, follow Mineski Philippines on Facebook.

About Globe

Globe is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines and publicly listed in the PSE with the stock symbol GLO. The company serves the telecommunications and technology needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connectivity, internet, and managed services. It has major interests in financial technology, digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding for startups, and virtual healthcare. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel, acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph. Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Philippine Pro Gaming League

The Philippine Pro Gaming League (PPGL) is an amateur and professional esports league co-owned and operated by Mineski Philippines and Globe Telecom. It is the largest multi-game league in the Philippines, with eight official seasons through over three years of delivering the esports experience and gaming entertainment to Filipino gamers of all types and from as many gaming communities as possible.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since launching its first smartphone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology, Today, OPPO provides customers with a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series, ColorOS operating system, as well as internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 research institutes and 4 R&D centers worldwide and an international design center in London, OPPO’s more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

#Mineski Philippines #Mineski

Hong Kong’s data center stands firmly in the market

Ranks the third most attractive data center location in APAC

Land supply increase through HSITP in the Lok Ma Chau Loop advisable

  • Pandemic and geopolitical tension exert little impact on the market position of Hong Kong’s data center. Hong Kong advances to the third most attractive data center location in Asia Pacific this year
  • Shorten the time gap between power capacity expansion work and data center delivery, streamline and accelerate the approval of data center applications and procedures by relevant government departments are recommended
  • Increase data center land supply and enhance Hong Kong-Shenzhen collaboration through Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in the Lok Ma Chau Loop

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 June 2021 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield reveals today that while pandemic and geopolitical tensions have impeded the development of data centers in multiple markets around the world, Hong Kong’s data center market still stands out firmly. Hong Kong advances to the third most attractive data center location in Asia Pacific and is highly sought after by investors and operators.

Data center investment market in Hong Kong has remained robust despite the pandemic. Early in the year, Mapletree Investments acquired a site in Fanling at HK$813 million to debut their local data center construction project in Hong Kong, which is expected to complete by 2023. Established operators such as PCCW, Equinix and SUNeVision also continue on their new data center facilities, and mainland operator GDS has kicked off their first owned data center project in Kwai Chung, expected to complete in mid-2022.

The cable infrastructure in Hong Kong has increasingly strengthened and been extensive and further fibre connectivity will soon link Hong Kong to other regional locations. For example, the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) is scheduled to go live by the end of 2022, with no fewer than eight major telecommunications firms providing capital and know-how for the 9.400-kilometre system. The cable will link Hong Kong to Japan, the Philippines, mainland China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Also coming online next year is the Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 linking Hong Kong to South Korea, Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand. The China Mobile Mobile-backed Hainan to Hong Kong Express cable will link Hong Kong to Hainan and Zhuhai, with operations commencing this year. Cushman & Wakefield expects that the Hong Kong data center market will continue to flourish in the future, with investor interest and absorption remaining at a relatively high level.

As of end-1Q21, total data center stock in Hong Kong amounts to 8.38 million sq ft, of which 80% is dominated by 10 operators including the two largest (in terms of total floor area) local operators – SUNeVision and PCCW Solutions, which account for 30% of the market area. Non-local operators collectively occupy around 43%. Existing data center demand is supported by finance, banking, insurance, and telecom operators. With growing use of Internet of Things (IoT), 5G network, and cloud computing, as well as the post-COVID-19 working from home practice becoming a “new” normal, the market demand for cloud computing and storage surge rapidly. Cushman & Wakefield expects the future demand of data center be largely driven by leading global cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud.

Cushman & Wakefield anticipates 4.16 million square feet of data center supply by the end of 2025, yet the rate of construction has yet to meet the ever-rising demand for high-tier facilities. Mr Keith Chan, Cushman & Wakefield’s Head of Research, Hong Kong, commented, “We notice that about 86% of the upcoming supply has already been pre-committed by data center operators, leaving only a small fraction of space available for future demand. In Hong Kong, it generally takes at least three to four years to build a new data center. Therefore, we expect data center supply is still in short in the medium term”.

Power shortages present another bottleneck in supply. The existing 11kV power supply network cannot meet the substantial power demand of hyperscale data centers. It usually takes power companies about four years to provide the additional power supply with 132kV power transformers, creating a gap of 18 to 24 months between the target commencement date of data center operations and delivery of the necessary power supply. Cushman & Wakefield recommends the government and power companies to swiftly explore and coordinate on how to increase power supply capacity and shorten power delivery timelines to ensure the infrastructure is in place for future development of data center in Hong Kong.

Shortage of land supply remains one of the critical challenges to the future growth of the Hong Kong’s data center market. Mr John Siu, Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield, Hong Kong mentioned, “In response to the shortage of land catered for data centers, the government may consider collaboration with Shenzhen at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop for joint development of data center facilities for the Greater Bay Area. Besides, the government should also streamline the coordination across different departments, and accelerate the application and approval process of the works required for data center development and reconstruction.”

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 50,000 employees in over 400 offices and 60 countries. Across Greater China, 22 offices are servicing the local market. The company won four of the top awards in the Euromoney Survey 2017, 2018 and 2020 in the categories of Overall, Agency Letting/Sales, Valuation and Research in China. In 2020, the firm had revenue of $7.8 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).

#Cushman&Wakefield

The Key to the International Success of Taiwan’s Renewable Energy Industry

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 22 June 2021 – To alleviate the effects of global warming and the environmental impacts caused by extreme climate, net-zero emission and carbon neutrality have become hot button topics as of late. Countries around the globe are now actively transitioning towards net-zero emission and developing renewable energy, and Taiwan is no exception. Extensive support from a well-rounded industrial cluster has allowed Taiwan to become the best partner nation in global renewable energy development.

The Taiwanese government has been encouraging industries to undergo green energy transition and aims to have 20% of the nation’s power supplied by renewable sources by 2025 and further proposes accomplishing the goal of “net-zero emissions transition by 2050.” Sensing great potential in the renewable energy market, Taiwanese businesses have come to invest in the market and attained remarkable results.

This is what Taiwanese companies, Sun Rise E&T Corporation, Swancor Renewable Energy, SRE, and Sysgration Ltd. have each achieved:

Solar-Fishery Pioneer: Sun Rise E&T Corporation Takes on the Global Green Energy Market


With high amounts of sunshine, Taiwan has always been well suited for the development of solar energy. However, breaking through the limitation landmass constraints by installing solar energy equipment on lakes and dams, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of solar power generation. This type of watered-area solar power is what the Sun Rise E&T Corporation has long pursued.

Sun Rise E&T Corporation Chairman Tung Chi-Hsu says that: “floating solar systems allow nations with relatively small landmass but high sunshine to be able to develop solar power.” Installing floating solar systems in dams or hydropower plants not only alleviate the problem of low electricity generation hydropower plants face during the day but can also effectively reduce water loss from the reservoir caused by evaporation. Furthermore, because temperatures on water surfaces are lower than that of land, floating solar systems can generate 10% more power than their land counterparts.

“Compared to blow-molded floating solar power systems on the market, our floating solar system uses extrusion-molded and injection-molded HDPE-PE100 with higher material strength and durability. Furthermore, the system’s unique anchoring design has been well received by clients and proved its capability by surviving through various windy conditions, such as the wind tunnel test in Japan. Currently, the system has seen wide deployment in sites located in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.”

Excellence in Offshore Power: Swancor Renewable Energy Spreads its Wings in Asia alongside Industry Chain Partners


Taiwan’s unique geographic advantage has created great prosperity for the nation’s offshore wind power industry. In particular, one company has not only participated in the construction of offshore wind sites like Formosa 1 and Formosa 2 but even took the initiative to start the Formosa 4-1, Formosa 4-2, and Formosa 4-3 projects. That company is Swancor Renewable Energy, SRE.

“Not only are we familiar with technologies for offshore wind power, but we are also experienced in working with international contractors. We know how to lower the financial risks of projects through project financing and understand the state and needs of offshore wind power in both Taiwan and the entire Asian region. More importantly, the farms we have been involved with are all seeing great returns and are operating smoothly.” Swancor Renewable Energy CEO Lucas Lin further explains that the process of building an offshore wind farm can be broadly divided into three phases based on different goals during each phase: development, construction, and operation. SRE is the only offshore wind power developer in Taiwan that has participated in and can provide services for all three phases. Next, the company will seek to develop the Formosa 4 wind farm per government policies and lead industry chain partners in Taiwan’s offshore wind power field to tap into the promising Asian offshore wind power market.

Sysgration Ltd. Maximizes Renewable Energy Utilization with Smart Power Storage


“Since renewable energy is a type of variable energy, maintaining long term and consistent supply of power is an issue that every renewable energy company must contend with. In fact, this is why smart energy storage systems have been so greatly anticipated on the market.” General manager of Sysgration Ltd., Hsieh Tung-Fu says that smart energy storage systems provide three critical functions: energy storage, output smoothing, and energy coordination. These functions will not only allow renewable energy suppliers to stabilize energy output but even perform time shifting by reserving renewable energy to be supplied to the grid at designated peak periods to maximize energy utilization.

Hsieh points out that energy management has been changed especially in the areas of power generation, transmission, distribution, consumption, and portability. In addition to offering products and services to meet the demands of each field, Sysgration Ltd. will assist renewable energy operators to smoothly integrate renewable energy to the grid, stabilize the quality of the grid, adjust energy supply in response to off-grid/peak demand, lighten lithium battery power sources, and further assist Taipower and large consumers achieve better energy control.

To further assist with the successful development of the energy industry in Taiwan, TAITRA will hold Energy Taiwan targeting the four areas of solar power, wind power, hydrogen energy, and fuel energy. The one and only B2B renewable energy show in Taiwan not only expects to attract over 14,000 visitors but also hold procurement meetings and professional forums to establish a better industrial communication environment for buyers and sellers.

Moreover, virtual show, the online platform supports catalogue display, text/ video chat and meeting arrangements, will simultaneously open with physical show to allow insiders from home and abroad to find business opportunities, thereby vitalizing the development of the energy industry in Taiwan and creating a new world of possibilities for the energy industry going forwards.

Energy Taiwan

Physical show: Oct. 27 – 29, 2021 │Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1

Virtual show: Oct. 27 – Nov. 12, 2021

https://www.energytaiwan.com.tw/en/index.html

About TAITRA

Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations, TAITRA assists Taiwan businesses and manufacturers with reinforcing their international competitiveness and in coping with the challenges they face in foreign markets.

#TAITRA

Asian Agri Committed to Preventing Forest and Land Fires in the Midst of the Pandemic

TEBO, INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 22 June 2021 – In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Asian Agri remains committed to preventing forest and land fires in the villages around company’s operational areas.

“In spite of the pandemic, Asian Agri business unit PT Rigunas Agri Utama (PT RAU), remains committed to implementing the Fire Free Village Program (FFVP) in participating villages to prevent fires. Today (9/6), there are five villages signing the FFVP MoU: Teriti Village, Tuo Sumay Village, Muara Sekalo Village, Suo-Suo Village, and Semambu Village. Through the FFVP, the company works closely with village officials, government agencies, TNI and Polri to assist and support fire prevention activities and provide firefighting assistance where required by the villages,” said Bibit Sembiring, Estate Manager of PT RAU, Kebun Bungo Tebo. He was accompanied by Hafiz Hazalin Sinaga, Manager of the Asian Fire Free Village Program. Hafiz added that Asian Agri started the Fire Free Village Program in Jambi in 2017 to great success.

“Asian Agri is a plantation company that is part of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group, which manages a group of resource-based manufacturing companies with global operations. We always strive to benefit the community and the environment where we operate. One of our many efforts is the Fire Free Village Program, which raises awareness in the village communities on the dangers of forest and land fires, equipping them with the knowledge and resources to prevent forest and land fires in their villages,” said Hafiz. RGE was founded by Sukanto Tanoto, and will celebrate its 55th anniversary in 2022.

“The Fire Free Village Program started in Jambi in 2017, has proven effective in preventing forest and land fires. Prior to the program, the average fire size in the village was 20 hectares. However, since joining the Fire Free Village Program, there are two completely fire-free villages, namely Muara Sekalo Village and Teriti Village. Meanwhile, in Tuo Sumay Village, Semambu Village and Suosuo Village, fires have decreased considerably, at around 2 hectares per year. This achievement earned the five villages awards from the Tebo Police Chief in 2020,” Hafiz added at the MoU signing event for the DBA Program at the PT RAU office, Sumay District, Tebo Regency.

The Head of Suosuo Village, Urista, expressed appreciation for the success of PT RAU’s Fire Free Village Program, and hoped the FFVP would continue and that his fire-prone village will remain fire-free.

“We thank the Manager of PT RAU for guiding us in preventing forest and land fires. Thanks to the Fire Free Village Program, the number of fires in our village have greatly reduced. We hope this program can continue to be in place and grow, especially in terms of monitoring and establishing monitoring posts in fire-prone locations, considering the size of the forest and potential fire-risk locations in our village,” said Urista.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the Estate Manager of PT RAU, Bibit Sembiring; Asian Agri Fire Free Village Manager, Hafiz Hazalin Sinaga; PMKS PT RAU Manager, H Purba; Public Relations of PT RAU, Bastari; Head of Tuo Sumay Village, Hazri; Teriti Village Head, Raden Sofli; Chief Des Suosuo, Urista; Head of Muaro Sekalo Village, Suherman; Head of Semambu Village, Akmal; Fire Care Society, Bukhari, Raden Kamal, Saipul, Edi, Ade Chandra, and TNI, Kopda Julhendri.

About Asian Agri:

Asian Agri is one of Indonesia’s largest palm oil producers. Founded in 1979, the company today manages 100,000 hectares of plantation land and employs over 25,000 people. A pioneer of the Indonesian government’s Trans-National Government Migration (PIR-Trans) program, Asian Agri currently works with 30,000 Plasma Scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi who operate 60,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, and independent smallholders who manage a total 41,000 hectares.

Implementing a strict “no burn” policy since 1994 and best practices in sustainable plantation management, Asian Agri has helped its smallholder partners improve productivity, yield and supply chain traceability, while assisting them obtain certifications. The company’s mills are technologically advanced and energy self-sufficient, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

Asian Agri (PT Inti Indosawit Subur) is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2006. More than 86% of its owned plantations in North Sumatra, Riau & Jambi provinces and 100% of Plasma Scheme smallholder plantations in Riau & Jambi provinces have been RSPO certified. All its owned plantations and those owned by scheme smallholders ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) certified since 2014. In 2019, the company also achieved 100% ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification.

The company’s operations are ISO 14001 certified, while its Learning Institute and nursery research center in Riau province, Indonesia are both ISO 9001 certified. Asian Agri’s laboratory at the Center for Research and Development in Tebing Tinggi is accredited by the National Accreditation Committee under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA).

#AsianAgri

Mastercard Foundation Appoints Robin Washington to Board of Directors

TORONTO, ONTARIO – African Media Agency – 22 June 2021 – The Mastercard Foundation announced changes to its Board of Directors. Robin L. Washington was appointed to the Board and long-time Board member President Festus G. Mogae will be retiring.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Robin Washington to the Board,” says Zein M. Abdalla, Mastercard Foundation Board Chair. “As you can see from Robin’s biography, she brings a fantastic range of operational experience and insight that will benefit the Foundation enormously as we continue to expand our impact.”

Robin L. Washington is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Alphabet, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., and Salesforce.com. She served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc. from May 2008 until November 2019, where she oversaw Global Finance, Facilities and Operations, Investor Relations and the Information Technology divisions. Prior to Gilead, she was the Chief Financial Officer of Hyperion Solutions, Inc. Ms. Washington is a certified public accountant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

“The Mastercard Foundation does not shy away from the complex challenges facing the world in these unprecedented times,” says Washington. “They have an ambitious goal that will drive meaningful change and impact the lives of millions of young people living in poverty. I am looking forward to being a part of the Foundation’s Board and contributing to this important work.”

Current Board member President Festus G. Mogae is retiring from the Board after 11 years of service. He led the Republic of Botswana from 1998 to 2008 and focused his efforts on fighting poverty and unemployment as well as reducing the spread of HIV/AIDs. President Mogae is the recipient of several international awards, including the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership and the Grand Cross of the Légion d’honneur presented to him by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 for his exemplary leadership in establishing Botswana as a “model of democracy and good governance.” President Mogae currently serves as a Trustee of the Rhodes Trust and is an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“President Mogae is deservedly celebrated for his work across Africa and globally. He has long been an advocate for peace and a supporter of human rights, and his active leadership has enabled the advancement of economic and social progress on the continent,” says Abdalla. “On behalf of the Foundation, I sincerely thank him for his wisdom and service over the years. He will be deeply missed.”

Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors

The Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors currently includes:

  • Zein Abdalla, Mastercard Foundation Board Chair and retired President of PepsiCo, Inc.
  • Valerie Amos, CH, Director of SOAS, University of London and former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator
  • The Honourable Louise Arbour, Jurist in residence at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
  • Doug Baillie, Retired Chief Human Resources Officer of Unilever
  • Craig Calhoun, Professor of Social Sciences, Arizona State University
  • Jennifer Fonstad, Co-Founder, Aspect Ventures
  • Dr. Jendayi Frazer, Managing Partner, African Exchange Holdings Company; President of 50 Ventures, LLC; and former U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
  • Jay Ireland, Retired President and CEO, GE Africa
  • Jim Leech, CM, Senior Advisor with McKinsey & Company; former Chancellor of Queen’s University; and retired CEO of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
  • Michael Sabia, Deputy Minister of Finance Canada and former Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto
  • Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
  • Robin L. Washington, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Gilead Sciences, Inc.

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a Canadian foundation and one of the largest foundations in the world with more than $39 billion in assets. For more than a decade, the Foundation has advanced financial inclusion and education in Africa, improving the lives of more than 45 million people living in poverty. The Foundation was created in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. Since its inception, the Foundation has operated independently of the company. The Foundation’s policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board of Directors and President and CEO. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org

#MastercardFoundation

Lenovo Reveals New ThinkEdge Portfolio of Embedded Computers

New ThinkEdge SE30 and SE50 enable digital transformation at the edge for healthcare, retail, manufacturing and all data-dependent industries

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 June 2021 – Lenovo™ announced today its all new portfolio of embedded computers for the edge. Building from the existing edge portfolio from Lenovo, the ThinkEdge devices – the new ThinkEdge SE30 and ThinkEdge SE50 – are small, rugged, and powerful enough to meet the demanding needs of enterprise data processing, security and scalability at the edge.



ThinkEdge SE30



ThinkEdge SE50

Accelerating Productivity at the Edge

It is estimated that by 2025, 75 percent of enterprise-generated data will be processed at the edge. 1 The global pandemic has become a catalyst for digital transformation and accelerated the push to the edge for many levels of the enterprise, as new solutions for operations and sales are introduced in global markets. Edge computing applications are numerous and growing rapidly. Retailers are implementing more automated checkouts and dynamic signage, real-time store traffic monitoring, inventory and fulfilling. Manufacturers are further automating assembly lines with predictive maintenance alerts and utilizing smart cameras for safety and quality inspections. Healthcare turns to edge computing for remote patient monitoring and medical device integration. With increased need for powerful, real-time insights across industries, the edge is becoming more critical and complex than ever.

Lenovo’s December 2020 survey of IT executives and managers found that edge computing solutions are an urgent priority and their deployment is on a fast-track. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed stated they are “looking to implement new edge computing solutions within the next 6 months.” And 82 percent stated that “real time data collection and analysis is where edge solutions are making the most impact on their business.” 2

ThinkEdge Portfolio

The new Lenovo ThinkEdge devices are powered by Intel technology and built for the data needs of tomorrow. The embedded edge computers are for customers who need faster processing power, better security, and scalability. With the right data securely on hand for when it matters, businesses can be more efficient, insightful and competitive.

“Edge computing is critical infrastructure for intelligent transformation within the enterprise,” said Jon Pershke, vice president of Strategy and Emerging Business for Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group. “The new products in the ThinkEdge portfolio are purpose-built devices designed to be networked on premise or embedded in solutions to give Lenovo’s customers an advantage in performance, security and scalability.”

The new ThinkEdge SE30 is a small and rugged compute device for edge workloads. It includes the latest 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 vPro® processors for industrial computing. The processor improves compute power, accelerates AI workloads, and is built for the challenges of edge implementations in enterprise with extended temperature support from -20 to +60 Celsius, long-life reliability, as well as enhanced security and manageability features.

The ThinkEdge SE30 will support global 4G connectivity and have 5G availability with key carrier support in the second half of this year3. 5G edge devices enhance wireless connectivity to match the low-latency, high-reliability, and high-capacity capabilities of existing wireline solutions with both improved agility of capabilities and better return on investments.

Embedded applications for the ThinkEdge SE30 include kiosks and ATMs for smart retail, automated production lines in manufacturing, and medical device monitoring in healthcare, among others.

Key Features / Specs:

  • 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 vPro® processors for industrial computing
  • Up to 16GB memory and 1TB storage4
  • Fan-less, operational temperature range of -20 to 60 Celsius
  • Both 4G 1 and 5G 1 modules

The new ThinkEdge SE50 is designed for versatile applications that require higher analytics and data processing at the edge. The embedded edge compute device includes an Intel® Core™ i5 or i7 vPro® processor for industrial computing and up to 32GB of memory.

End users can deploy the ThinkEdge SE50 to aggregate and analyze real-time data from distributed IoT devices. This smart edge device can filter and forward IoT data across the WAN to the cloud or data center. Customers have the option to enhance their edge AI strategy with cutting edge silicon and optimized software leveraging the OpenVINO™ toolkit.

Key Features / Specs:

  • Intel® Core™ i7 or i5 vPro® processors for industrial computing
  • 32GB memory and up to 2TB storage5
  • Fan-less, operational temperature range of 0 to 50 degree Celsius, and IP50 rating
  • 2-liter design with full industrial I/O


Lenovo’s Solutions Give Customers the Edge

The same commitment to continuous innovation that drives Lenovo’s global leadership in solutions and services development provides the foundation for its edge device roadmap. Lenovo’s portfolio of ThinkEdge devices gives enterprises the flexibility to specify what they need today with the value to include processing capacity to grow for future functionality.

The ThinkEdge portfolio is supported by a growing group of industry-leading software providers, OEMs and system integrators to deliver devices that become a seamless part of the overall ecosystem. The ThinkEdge Certified Solutions Partners include Telit, IMS Evolve, Software AG and many more.

ThinkEdge devices are ready to be embedded in solutions to accelerate time to market and improve efficiencies for OEMs. Lenovo, through its OEM Solutions business, provides secure, reliable hardware and services to design purpose-built appliances and solve industry pain points.

1 Gartner ‘What Edge Computing Means for Infrastructure and Operations Leaders’

2 Lenovo commissioned an online survey of 288 U.S. IT managers in roles associated with edge computing in organizations that employ at least 500 people, the survey was conducted December 12-18, 2020.

3 Requires 5G network service and separately purchased cellular data plan that may vary by location. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges apply. Connection speeds will vary due to location, environment, network conditions and other factors.

4 Available user storage is less due to many factors, including operating system, software and functions utilizing part of this capacity.

5 Available user storage is less due to many factors, including operating system, software and functions utilizing part of this capacity.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$60 billion revenue Fortune Global 500 company serving customers in 180 markets around the world. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, we are developing world-changing technologies that power (through devices and infrastructure) and empower (through solutions, services and software) millions of customers every day and together create a more inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable digital society for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com/hk/en/pc, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

LENOVO and THINKEDGE are trademarks of Lenovo. Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other company, product and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others and are the property of their respective owners. ©2021, Lenovo Group Limited.

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Epicor Reaffirms Industry Cloud Leadership with a Total Refresh of Its Manufacturing ERP Platform, Rebranded Kinetic

New name, advanced features, enhanced web user interface, same dedication to better serve the manufacturing industry

Hong Kong SAR – Media OutReach – 22 June 2021 – Epicor today released Kinetic, the cloud-based ERP solution built with manufacturers, for manufacturers, as part of its continued commitment to build the best-in-class Industry Cloud. Epicor does not offer a one-size-fits all ERP solution, it designs tailored technology platforms laser focused on the needs of the end-to-end supply chain industries it exclusively serves, the essential businesses who make, deliver and sell goods.

The new Kinetic platform offers an intuitive, configurable and guided user experience with embedded learnings, artificial intelligence, and built-in social collaboration tools to better utilize real-time data to accelerate customer profits. The new browser-based User Interface (UI) is simpler, more intuitive and can be accessed from any device, saving customers valuable time and offering greater access to critical business data. The new Application Studio tool offers low-no code customization so customers can build complex configurations with visual impact smartly and produce web deployable designs for use in ecommerce sites. Kinetic now allows users to configure applications with layers using a visual designer with rules and events, move elements around with drag and drop functionality, and preview and validate changes before going live.

Epicor piloted Kinetic in a controlled release environment with over 100 customers and implemented nearly 500 pieces of customer feedback, proof that this release is made with manufacturers, for manufacturers.

Improved Future-Focused Features:

  • Cloud Solutions for Regulated Industries (Medical Devices & A&D): Kinetic is the only multitenant cloud solution in the market that is designed to meet the needs of medical device manufacturers for software validation under FDA regulations. In addition, Kinetic is achieving CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) certification for Aerospace & Defense manufacturers.
  • Epicor Commerce Connect 2.12: Modernized design for an improved look and feel alongside punchout capabilities, to support greater ease of use for online customers.
  • Epicor ECM 21.1: New security feature for document workflow approvals and new custom revision numbering feature for Medical Device and A&D manufacturers. 
  • Epicor EDI: New purpose-built API endpoints for real-time connectivity and error messages that support over ten standard demand-side and supply side documents.
  • Spreadsheet Server: Leveraging data and the MS Excel® tool for reporting, Spreadsheet Server simplifies financial reporting for cloud users.

“At Epicor, we understand deeply the industries we serve, which is why the upgrades we have made to Kinetic to modernize and future-proof the platform were architected alongside our customers to better help them scale and thrive. This journey has been many years in the making, and our goal is that the new product name and the enhanced platform convey the ongoing momentum of Epicor, our continued industry focus, and our goal to deliver the defacto Industry Cloud.”

––Himanshu Palsule, Epicor President

To learn more about Kinetic, please see here.

About Epicor

Epicor Software Corporation equips hard-working businesses with enterprise solutions that keep the world turning. For nearly 50 years, Epicor customers in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, and automotive industries have trusted Epicor to help them do business better. Epicor’s innovative solution sets are carefully curated to fit customer needs and built to respond flexibly to their fast-changing reality. With deep industry knowledge and experience, Epicor accelerates every customer’s ambitions, whether to grow and transform, or simply become more productive and effective. Visit www.epicor.com for more information.

Epicor, the Epicor logo, and Kinetic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation.

#Epicor