Laos has earned over USD 900 million from the export of agricultural products in 2021, according to a recent government report.
Laos has earned over USD 900 million from the export of agricultural products in 2021, according to a recent government report.
The National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control has announced the detection of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in Laos.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 January 2022 – Hang Lung Group Limited (Stock Code: 00010) and Hang Lung Properties Limited (Stock Code: 00101) (collectively, “the Companies” or “Hang Lung”), are pleased to announce that they have recently garnered a number of awards for their achievements in the areas of environmental, social and governance (ESG) over the past year. These awards include:
Hang Lung Properties receives the Corporate Governance Excellence Awards – Hang Seng Index Constituent Companies from The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies and The Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy of Hong Kong Baptist University
Hang Lung is committed to integrating sustainability into all aspects of its work, with a particular focus on its four Priorities of Climate Resilience, Resource Management, Wellbeing and Sustainable Transactions. In 2021, the Company made significant strides forward on its journey to becoming one of the most sustainable real estate companies in the world, underscored by the establishment of its 25 targets to be achieved by the end of 2025 (“25 x 25 Sustainability Targets“). The Company is also committed to enriching lives and promoting diversity and inclusion in communities. Despite the ongoing pandemic situation and under stringent precautionary measures in 2021, the Hang Lung As One Volunteer Team held over 130 online and physical volunteering activities, with participation from more than 1,800 volunteers in Hong Kong and 11 projects in nine cities across mainland China. These activities collectively contributed over 14,500 service hours and benefited more than 14,800 people in need in Hong Kong and mainland China.
In addition to its recent awards, Hang Lung received a 4-Star performance rating and an A-grade disclosure rating under GRESB, and was included as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series in 2021. The Company has been listed as an Index Component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices in the Asia Pacific Index since 2017, and was selected as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index and the Hang Seng (Mainland and Hong Kong) Corporate Sustainability Index with an “AA-” rating or above since 2010. Hang Lung has also received a BBB rating by the MSCI ESG Ratings since 2015 and a low ESG risk rating by Sustainalytics since July 2020.
Hang Lung Properties Limited (stock code: 00101) creates compelling spaces that enrich lives. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. With its luxury positioning under the “66” brand, the company’s Mainland portfolio has established its leading position as the “Pulse of the City”. Hang Lung Properties is recognized for leading the way in enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities.
At Hang Lung Properties – We Do It Well.
For more information, please visit www.hanglung.com.
#HangLungProperties
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
More than two thousand domestic tourists visited Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province throughout December 2021.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 6 January 2022 – AXA Hong Kong supports customers to achieve their health goals and fight the pandemic with strong physique in 2022. Emma by AXA, our all-in-one insurance & health services platform, is now offering “Free AXA SportCare Programme” to the public. From now until 28 February 2022, all Hong Kong residents aged 18 to 80 can enjoy 90-day complimentary protection for accidents arising from playing any sports in a non-professional capacity[1], including home workouts, by downloading Emma by AXA app and completing a simple registration. Each eligible registrant can add up to 4 family members[2] aged between 6 months and 80 years old for the same protection. Limited quotas are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Key benefits of the “Free AXA SportCare Programme”:
At AXA, our Purpose is to “Act for human progress by protecting what matters”. Last year, we launched “Post-Vaccination Protection” Progrmme and were the first insurer to make “Benefits for Hospital Income (COVID-19)” a standard policy provision, giving our customers a peace of mind and supporting the community amid the pandemic. AXA also understands that engaging in physical activity can bring long-term benefits for mood, sleep and physical health to our customers. To encourage Hong Kong people to do more exercises and prepare themselves physically and mentally for the new year, we launched the “Free AXA SportCare Programme” to provide sports protection for our customers and their loved ones, encouraging them to maintain an exercise routine for a healthy life.
To learn more about “Free AXA SportCare Programme”, please visit https://www.axa.com.hk/en/axa-sportscare-programme.
Terms and Conditions apply. The above information is for reference only, please refer to the relevant Terms and Conditions for details.
[1] Excluding engaging or participating any kind of speed contest or racing (other than on foot), or engaging or participating in sports in a professional capacity, or where one would or could earn income or remuneration from engaging or participating in such sports.
[2] Family members include the eligible registrant’s spouse, children, parents and parents-in-law.
#AXAHongKong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 January 2022 – As small enterprises and prominent businesses alike are embracing the future of work, Influential Brands® conferred recognition on brands and employers who stood strong in their commitment to excellence.
Backed by a robust market survey in Asia with the participation of 15,000 consumers and an anonymous survey of more than 10,000 employees, 32 companies are named the “2021 Asia’s Top Influential Brands”, 5 companies are named “2021 Thailand’s Outstanding Brands” and 5 companies are crowned “2021 & 2022 Asia’s Top Employer Brands”.
A strong brand equity and company culture have been proven to be the key which enables businesses to weather through a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. The 32 companies cited by consumers as their preferred choices are AOX, Bangchak, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Bio-Home, Canadian 2for1 Pizza, Central Department Store, Chow Tai Fook, CP, EB Foods, Ecovacs Robotics, Eu Yan Sang, Family Mart, Holistic Way, IG, Krispy Kreme, Siam Makro, MindChamps, Muang Thai Life Assurance, Naturel, NTUC FairPrice, NTUC LearningHub, Pigeon, Pokka, PropertyGuru Group, Rajdhevee Clinic, Refresh, SparSha, SUU Balm, True Corporation, Thai Life Insurance, The Mall Group, Tops Market.
Based on their branding efforts to engage customers and provide an excellence experience, 5 companies from Thailand were recognised as Outstanding brands. Those are: FWD Insurance, Major Cineplex Group, Winner Group Enterprise, Techno Medical and Lamina Films.
Finally, 5 companies were awarded with the title “2021 & 2022 Asia’s Top Employers” for their outstanding achievements engaging their employees and building a healthy and meaningful company culture. Those are: Siemens, PropertyGuru Group, Watsons Singapore, The National University Health System (NUHS) and JustCo.
Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, Managing Director of Influential Brands® said, “To emerge top in consumers’ minds during such a time is a testament that extends beyond a commendable or well-thought out crisis response. The common thread among the Top Brands is their emphasis on innovation, consistency in promise delivery and many faithful years of serving market needs. Such efforts are valued by consumers and are in turn reflected in the market sentiment. I would like to congratulate all Top Brand Winners for their well-deserved win, especially during this exceptional time.”
BRAND LEADERS ARE GLAD TO WIN THE HEARTS OF CONSUMERS
“FairPrice is privileged to be entrusted with this prestigious award for the seventh consecutive year. This is only possible because of the trust accorded to us by consumers,” said Mr. Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group.
“We are excited and humbled to be voted a 3rd-time winner of this award. PropertyGuru is on a mission to help Southeast Asians make confident property decisions and aspires to be a brand of trust, supporting people to find, finance, and own their homes. Being recognised as the most influential brand gives us the confidence to keep raising the bar and deliver towards higher aspirations,” said Mr. Bjorn Sprengers, Chief Marketing Officer & Head of FinTech of PropertyGuru Group.
“MindChamps started out as an idea with a passion to fill the gaps in education. To be able to bring that idea to fruition and make a positive difference to the next generation is an honour and we are grateful to be accorded this award for 7 years running. This is a testament to the trust our students and parents have in our research-backed curriculum and delivery,” said Mr. David Chiem, MindChamps Founder CEO and Executive Chairman.
“We are honoured to be conferred the title of Top Influential Brand under the categories of Health & Wellness TCM Retailer, Bird’s Nest and Essence of Chicken, based on a nation-wide study on consumer preferences by a leading research agency. We are truly humbled by the continued support we received from our valued consumers and partners as the Influential Brands awards recognise brands that have achieved a great standing with consumers in addition to the brand’s continuous drive towards brand excellence. Staying true to our value of ‘Caring for Mankind’, we stay focused on empowering our consumers with the best health and wellness solutions to lead an active and healthy lifestyle,”said Ms. Serene Seow, Managing Director of Eu Yan Sang Singapore.
TOP EMPLOYERS ARE RECOGNISED BY THEIR VERY OWN EMPLOYEES
Besides customers, employees are also primary stakeholders of an organisation and how they are managed is consequential on how well organisations can neutralise external threats or capture market opportunities.
At a time where the labour market is faced with great uncertainty and employee morale is at an all-time low, Siemens, PropertyGuru Group, Watsons Singapore, The National University Health System (NUHS) and JustCo are lauded by their own employees through anonymous surveys as excellent employers.
These five companies were awarded with the title “2021 & 2022 Asia’s Top Employers” for scoring above international benchmarks. They surpassed industry standards in having meaningful employee engagement, strong alignment between employee & company culture and relevant HR practices in this digital age. The company culture and employee engagement assessment were conducted in collaboration with aAdvantage Consulting firm, Influential Brands’ research partner.
Dr. Thai Lai Pham, CEO of Siemens ASEAN, shared, “Behind such recognition is the unwavering commitment from our team to support the industries that form the backbone of our economies, making it more resilient, productive, and sustainable. Congratulations Team Siemens! I’m proud to work with all of you in transforming the everyday lives of billions of people across Asia by creating technology with purpose.”
When asked about what has been Siemen’s approach in ensuring productivity, Dr. Lai shared, “I see team empowerment as a top priority. Empowerment doesn’t mean delegating everything and only showing up for ribbon-cutting ceremonies. It means being there when it matters most, while creating a self-sufficient, accountable team that can handle everything else. You trust the team to do the work, and the team trusts you to be there when they need you”.
Ms. Priscilla Teo, Group Chief Human Resource Officer of NUHS shared “The National University Health System (NUHS) is a dynamic organisation with professionals from diverse backgrounds. Across our institutions, our employees are dedicated to delivering leading-edge patient care, research, and education. The award affirms our effort and commitment to providing a work environment that is conducive and engaging for our 15,000 staff. Be part of the OneNUHS family and explore a purposeful career with ample opportunities for personal growth and development!”
Speaking on how NUHS has been adapting their engagement strategy to suit the evolving needs of NUHS employees during this COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Teo added, “COVID-19 has been stressful for our healthcare professionals. Recognising the critical need to focus on employee well-being especially during this period, NUHS has set up a dedicated Well-Being Office in 2021 to drive cultural and systemic change to enhance our staff’s health and mental well-being. In addition, all our institution leaders have stepped up their effort to communicate extensively to all our staff, keeping them abreast of key updates, and rallying everyone to come together as oneNUHS to hold the defence line for Singapore.”
Mr. Wan Sing Kong, Chief Executive Officer of JustCo shared, “JustCo is honoured to be recognised by Influential Brands as Asia’s Top Employer (Co-working Category). We dedicate this award to the entire JustCo team across Asia-Pacific. You are truly the greatest bunch that makes work better for everyone!”
Summing the critical factors that drove success in employee engagement at JustCo, Mr. Kong commented, “Overall, I would say that it is the trust that employees have in the leaders and our strong ‘family’ culture where people genuinely care for and support one another, and the ability to put the right people in the right job so they enjoy what they do. Our leaders in JustCo are purpose driven, care for and support their team members. We do so by providing opportunities for them to grow professionally and learn new skills, recognizing the contributions of good performers, and showing our appreciation to long service staff and those who go the extra mile to get things done”.
Ms. Irene Lau, Managing Director of Watsons said, “Watsons Singapore is honoured to be recognised as 2021-2022 Singapore’s Top Employer in Health & Beauty Retailer category. We recognise that people are our greatest assets and we are committed to providing a safe, healthy, supportive, and discrimination-free environment for all employees. We believe in fostering a culture of people development where employees receive the right tools and training to optimise their performance and growth within our company. The pandemic might have disrupted how we work, but we are determined to overcome the odds and stay connected via digital innovations. Together, we can achieve more through synergy and collaboration!”
“When employees are engaged, the workplace is filled with positive vibes and employees will be happier, more productive and in turn, work cohesively together to lead the business to successful outcomes. We believe that a consistent effort to engage our staff is more than introducing new benefits; it requires a relentless commitment to the cause. In all our actions, we focus on our people and organisational culture ensuring that their actions align with our business strategy,” she added.
Ms. Genevieve Godwin, Chief People Officer of PropertyGuru Group shared “I am delighted to accept this award as Asia’s Top Employer in the Technology industry. We believe every employee can make a real difference at PropertyGuru Group. On our journey to help people make confident property decisions, we will stay true to our culture and values and continue to focus on the engagement, wellbeing, and development of our employees across Asia.”
GALA EVENT TO MARK THE CELEBRATION WITH AWARDEES IN THAILAND
The secret to success is often said to be good leadership.
As part of the recognition of the Champions of Business Excellence, Influential Brands and its Thailand partner, Neo Target, a leader in the corporate reputation field in Thailand recognised Thailand Business Leaders at the 2021 CEO Asia Summit. 100 Thailand C-suite executives came together in Bangkok on Monday, 20th December, to recognise the top achievers among their peers, including the Top CEOs and Outstanding Leaders of the Year.
The Guest-of-Honour for the CEO Summit was Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, The Kingdom of Thailand.
He said “I would like to thank Influential Brands and Neo Target Company Limited for organising the “2021 Asia’s CEO Summit & Award Ceremony” to honour all the top leading brands in Asia who are with us tonight. Covid-19 pandemic has been making everything more challenging than ever. Given the pandemic, I still believe that strong leadership in an organization is important. People are the key to every challenge and success. I urge us all to take this opportunity to empower our team and community to be ready to cope with all new coming challenges which may surpass the current pandemic and transform your organization post-covid together. Congratulations to all the promising awardees once again.”
A total of 8 Business leaders took the honours:
2021 Thailand Top CEOs: Mr. Chatchai Sirilai, President of GH Bank, Dr. Narong Thasnanipan, President and CEO of Seafco, Mr. Sara Lamsam, CEO of Muang Thai Life Assurance, Mr. Sithi Panupattanapong, Chairman of Synphaet and Mr. Somchai Lertsutiwong, CEO of Advanced Info Services.
2021 Thailand Outstanding Leaders: Dr. Ausanee Mahagitsiri Leonio, President of King Food Group, Ms. Kanlayanee Kongsomjit, President of TKK Corporation and Mr. Oliver Kittipong Veerataecha, Chief Brand and Communication Officer of True Corporation.
The business leaders were chosen based on a mix of factors, including leadership, innovative mindset, reputation as well as the company’s financial performance.
Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, Managing Director of Influential Brands, said: “This year, we are delighted to honour C-suite winners from Thailand. I would like to congratulate all the winners for their exceptional and exemplary leadership in their respective companies, industries and communities.”
Mrs. Vannee Leelavechbutr, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Neo Target, added: “The 2021 CEO Summit & Award Ceremony is more than just an event for celebration. We aim to make it a platform for prominent executives and brand owners across Asia to collaborate and grow beyond national levels.”
Influential Brands® is a think-tank, research and business recognition platform to celebrate “Champion of Excellence”.
Deeply embedded in our beliefs, is the need to foster a culture that honours the exemplary practices of leading brands in Asia, as well as their commitment to distinction. We delight in rejoicing with organisations over their successful brand efforts that have added value and left significant impression in their respective industries. Through this, we hope to contribute to the knowledge pool of best practices so that companies can produce quality and meaningful brands that influence and impact our environment, living standard, lifestyles and future.
The Influential Brands family of brands comprises global and regional brands from more than 15 countries worldwide.
Website: www.influentialbrands.com
Facebook page: Influential Brands Facebook
#InfluentialBrands
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 January 2022 – (NASDAQ:AMZN) – The annual Amazon Singapore Seller Summit 2022 returns for its second edition with new programs and tools to help sellers in Singapore start selling online locally and expand globally.
To be held virtually on 14 January 2022, from 9am to 6:30pm SGT, the free event will educate sellers in Singapore on key e-commerce topics such as shipping and fulfilment, advertising, brand building, and global expansion plans. Attendees can also look forward to networking with Amazon experts, successful Amazon sellers, and third-party service providers.
“Global Selling is a significant opportunity for businesses of all sizes. In fact, according to the report ‘Local Sellers, Global Consumers: Capturing Singapore’s e-commerce export opportunity’, the annual value of business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce exports in Singapore was estimated at S$1.4 billion in 2021, and it could reach S$3.5 billion in 2026 if micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) accelerate their pace of using e-commerce to sell overseas,” said
Stars at the Summit
Building on the success and impact of the 2021 Amazon Expo, Seller Boot Camp, Amazon will also recognise certain sellers through its inaugural Amazon Small Business Awards in categories including: Community Ambassadors (Community Drivers), Go Global Seller of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.
Other notable Summit highlights include:
Sellers can also look forward to a revamped website with more accessible education online, one-on-one account management support (to support sellers looking to expand globally), and more that will be announced by Eric Broussard, Vice President of International Seller Services, Amazon, at the opening ceremony of the Summit.
The businesses at this year’s Seller Summit, particularly Coco and Eve, Mate Mate, Naoki Matcha, Pristine Aroma, and Snailax Singapore, have leveraged Amazon’s services and fulfilment programs to scale up their businesses effectively.
“At Coco and Eve, we prioritise meeting consumers at their comfort level with the right messaging as they move through different channels and expect seamless shopping experiences. With over 200 million Amazon Prime members worldwide, we want to tap on Amazon to scale up our business across borders, beyond any geographical boundaries. Thanks to their extensive fulfilment network and solutions, we can ensure fast shipping for our customers, which translates to the best shopping experience for them. Since selling on Amazon in 2018, our product range has grown ten-fold, and we’ve seen more than an 800% increase in revenue. We’re excited to continue growing and expanding with Amazon,” said
“We launched our store on Amazon.sg in 2021, and are in the process of expanding in the US, Australia, the UK, EU, and Japan. While it all seemed complicated initially, the account managers at Amazon closely guided us through the process to turn our business plans to reality. Our goal by the end of 2022 is to open a brand store in every country where Amazon is present so we can enter new countries and reach customers more quickly and in a cost-effective way,” said
“Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) has been crucial for our growth journey because of how scalable it is. When we started in 2016, our first shipment was just 10kg. As our volumes grew many times beyond that, FBA easily handled the increased warehousing and delivery needs. That allowed us to grow very efficiently in the USA. Amazon.com also has a huge customer base, even for a niche product like matcha. Thanks to the growth we achieved through selling internationally with Amazon FBA, we were able to confidently launch and grow our business in other markets like Singapore and the UK,” shared
“We started on Amazon nine months ago because of the large customer base and haven’t looked back since. With FBA, we have already expanded as an international brand to the US, Canada, and the UK. The international reach that Amazon has is truly unmatched!” said
“Although we started out as a new seller on Amazon.sg without any e-commerce experience, the guidance from our Amazon account managers has immensely helped to scale up our operations within just a few months. The user-friendly interface of Amazon Seller Central means we can have more data to easily analyse our stock turnover and sales performance – and always be ready to take advantage of growth opportunities,” said
For a hands-on guide to selling locally and globally with Amazon, local businesses are welcome to join the Amazon Singapore Seller Summit 2022 on 14 January 2022, from 9am – 6:30pm SGT.
For more information and event registration, please visit:
https://sell.amazon.com.sg/learn/singapore-seller-summit-2022
Appendix: List of Amazon sellers featured in Seller Summit 2022
Coco & Eve is a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand launched in 2018. Sourcing the best tropical Balinese ingredients – from coconut oil and cocoa to ripe, juicy mangoes, papayas and guava – the Instagram-famous brand has won multiple beauty awards for its skin-and-hair-loving formulas. Popular products include the award-winning Like A Virgin Hair Masque and Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam.
Mate Mate is an all-natural multifunctional caffeinated energy beverage, made from the green ate leaf and with low sugar content. A great substitute for coffee and for energy drinks, Mate Mate looks to become a global leader in the category of Energy Drink and Caffeinated Drinks.
Naoki Matcha is a homegrown brand that curates and sells “specialty matcha” from different tea regions of Japan. Selling a variety of specialty matcha at reasonable prices, the brand is on a mission to share its rich knowledge and guide customers in enjoying traditional and non-traditional ways of preparing matcha.
Pristine Aroma seeks to inspire rejuvenation with aromatherapy. With various products such as scented candles, reed diffusers, and aroma concentrate, Pristine Aroma is on a mission to consistently restore you back to your pristine condition – so you can take on every day refreshed and with the clearest state of mind.
Snailax is a brand of massagers that encourages customers to relax in their hectic, stressful lives and enjoy a slow pace like a snail. The brand seeks to provide customers with high quality health and personal care products embedded with the most innovative and relaxing features.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit Amazon.sg.
#Amazon
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Laos has recorded 1,083 cases of Covid-19 across the country today, with two deaths confirmed.