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Bybit Enables Peer-to-Peer Transactions

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – Bybit, one of the world’s fastest growing cryptocurrency exchanges has taken trading to the next level by enabling peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions to help easier on- and off-ramp access. Starting Jan. 18, 2022, Bybit users can buy and sell Tether (USDT) with other users, easily and securely, at no platform or hidden fees on the Bybit website, with the app version to be launched soon.

 

The P2P platform offers more than 80 different payment methods and more than nine fiat options (Australian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Indian rupee, Malaysian ringgit, Philippine peso, Russian ruble, New Taiwan dollar, Ukrainian hryvnia and Vietnamese dong) with more in the pipeline.

 

What to Expect From Bybit’s P2P

 

Bybit’s P2P provides the best way to buy and sell crypto while giving Bybit users more control over crypto to fiat conversions and vice versa, in a safe and secure environment. Once a buyer completes their order, the seller’s cryptocurrency will be placed in a temporary deposit until both parties confirm that the transaction is successful. There will also be an ad posting feature to allow whitelisted users to personalize their offers according to preferred price, payment method and local currency.

 

“We at Bybit are excited to introduce P2P to address niche pain points in financial inclusion. For the underbanked and retail investors everywhere, this fiat currency payment solution provides them with seamless access to invest in cryptocurrencies, freeing investors from the burdens of intransparent fees, layers of intermediaries, delays and high barriers to entry. Bybit is in the business of financial innovation and creating new gateways to financial freedom,” said Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit. 

About Bybit

Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in March 2018 to offer a professional platform where crypto traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. The company provides innovative online spot and derivatives trading services, mining and staking products, as well as API support, to retail and institutional clients around the world, and strives to be the most reliable exchange for the emerging digital asset class.

For more information please visit: https://www.bybit.com/

For updates, please follow Bybit’s social platforms on

https://discord.com/invite/bybit

https://www.facebook.com/Bybit

https://www.instagram.com/bybit_official/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bybitexchange/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bybit/

https://t.me/BybitEnglish

https://www.tiktok.com/@bybit_official

https://twitter.com/Bybit_Official

#Bybit

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

Hong Kong Baptist University research reveals that bisphenol S exposure may promote breast tumour progression and increase cancer risk

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – A study led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has revealed that different degrees of exposure to bisphenol S (BPS), an industrial chemical widely used in paper products and plastic containers, are associated with the growth and deterioration of breast tumours in a mouse model. The research results suggest the need for more in-depth and comprehensive research on the potential negative impact of BPS on human health, and the ongoing search for a safer alternative for use in industrial production may be warranted.

 

 

A research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis at HKBU, has revealed that different degrees of exposure to bisphenol S are associated with the growth and deterioration of breast tumours in a mouse model.

 

Apart from the HKBU scientists, the research team also included researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xi’an Jiaotong University. The research results have been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, an international scientific journal.

 

Association between BPS and breast cancer under-researched

 

In the past, bisphenol A (BPA) was widely used in the production of a diverse range of products, such as baby bottles, food and beverage containers, and the thermal paper used for printing receipts. As previous research has shown an association between BPA exposure and human endocrine system disruption, metabolic disease and an increased risk of breast cancer in recent years, scientists have looked for alternatives to BPA, and BPS has been used as one of the substitutes. Despite reports on the adverse effects of BPS on human health, its impact on tumour progression and how it disrupts the relevant metabolic processes in breast cancer remain poorly understood.

 

A research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis at HKBU, carried out several experiments to explore how BPS exposure at environmentally relevant levels affects the development of breast tumours, including the tumour’s morphological characteristics as well as lipid and protein distribution, with the aid of mass spectrometry imaging technology.

 

BPS exposure increases tumour volume and weight

 

The research team conducted experiments on three groups of mice model that had been transplanted with human breast cancer cells. In the first dosing group (BPS-10 group), the mice were fed daily with a lower dosage of 10 micrograms of BPS per kilogram of body weight for eight weeks. In the second group (BPS-100 group), the mice were fed with a higher dosage of 100 micrograms of BPS per kilogram of body weight. The mice in the control group were fed olive oil.

 

Tumour proliferation in the mice was then investigated, and the team used morphological analysis to study the breast tumour tissue. In general, increases in tumour volume and weight represent proliferation of tumour tissues. When a tumour further develops, the condition of its necrotic region and its peripheral tissues will change. However, the volume and weight of the tumour may reduce as a result of changes in the conditions of the tissues.

 

After the eight-week experiment, the average volume and weight of the tumours in the BPS-10 group were 13 times and 11 times higher than that of the control group respectively, and the average volume and weight of the tumours in the BPS-100 group were 4 times and 4.5 times higher than that of the control group respectively. Therefore, the results show that exposure to BPS was closely related to the proliferation and deterioration of breast tumours.

 

Different dosages associated with tumour proliferation and deterioration

 

The research team analysed the necrotic region and neoplastic region of the breast tumours in the three groups of mice. The two regions are common pathological features of solid tumours. An increase in the relative proportion of the necrotic region reflects the proliferation of the tumour, while an extended neoplastic region indicates the deterioration of the tumour.

 

In the control group, the status of tumour cells in the necrotic region and the neoplastic region was stable, and the mice from the group showed no significant tumour proliferation and deterioration after the experimental period. However, in the two BPS treated groups, an increase in tumour size was observed along with changes in the arrangement and distribution of tumour cells conducive to tumour proliferation and deterioration.

 

After the experiment, the necrotic regions in the BPS-10 and the BPS-100 groups accounted for 54.7% and 11.5% of the average section area of the tumours respectively. The results indicate that a low dosage of BPS induces faster tumour growth, and a high dosage of BPS may ultimately lead to deterioration of the tumour, as shown by the relatively small average size of the necrotic region and the extended neoplastic tissue in the BPS-100 group.

 

BPS affects the distribution of tumour-related lipids and proteins

 

The research team identified six lipid biomarkers that regulate tumour growth. With the analysis of tumour tissues’ morphological characteristics and the use of mass spectrometry imaging, it was found that in the two BPS-exposed groups, these lipids were highly abundant in the necrotic regions of breast tumours when compared with the control group. The team inferred that the metabolism of these tumour-regulating lipids was interrupted in the breast tumours following exposure to BPS.

 

The team also discovered the distribution of twelve protein biomarkers, including the proteins associated with breast tumour proliferation and deterioration. The results demonstrate the important function of BPS exposure-related lipids and proteins, and future research will further explore their role in breast cancer.

 

BPS may increase human breast cancer risk

 

The research team then compared the distribution of lipids and proteins in the BPS-exposed mice groups with those observed in human breast cancer tissue samples, and similar patterns were identified. While not all tumours will become cancerous, based on the benchmark results, the team deduced that exposure to BPS will increase the risk of breast cancer in humans.

 

“BPA was replaced by the less studied chemical BPS in industrial production. Our research findings show that BPS may potentially be associated with breast tumour proliferation, and further study is deemed necessary to unveil more about the chemical’s possible negative impact on human health. In the long run, industry may need to identify safer substitutes for both BPA and BPS. Policymakers should also establish relevant safety standards and regulations for the use of BPS,” said Professor Cai.

#HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

Alt Farm Announced the First-ever 3D Food Printing Technology in Asia

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – Hong Kong Technology Startup, Alt Farm, one of the startup incubators of the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center, today announced the debut of the first-ever 3D food printing technology for high-quality and creative food with the patented nozzle design in Asia that achieves a level of product quality comparable to high-quality dessert, plant-based food, resulting in a far more efficient, sustainable, and ethical way to create foods without compromising on quality.

From left to right: Christy Cheung, Prof. Marshal Liu, Kenny Fung, Joanna Hui

 

Having the startup idea in 2019, three HKUST alumni Kenny Fung, Christy Cheung and Joanna Hui have developed 3D food printing technology with its mission to expand the application of 3D food printing for different kinds of food through chemical processing. They started Alt Farm with their own 3D printer with bio-reacting nozzle and will continue to work on biochemical engineering research and collaborate with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to incorporate 3D food printing technology for other traditional food with the support from Prof. Marshal Liu, Associate Professor of Engineering Education of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

 

With its first patent granted on December 28, 2021, Alt Farm specializes in carrying out specific enzymatic reaction in the nozzle to generate the fibrous texture of foods. On top of the traditional 3D food printing on altering temperature profile, the patent nozzle could facilitate chain aggregation and gelation to mimic different kinds of food in constructing different 3D structure. Their target is to mimic fibrous structure in food with the help of economical scaled 3D printing technologies, and this would be achieved with the help of the HKUST Bioengineering team.

 

Many countries see rising demand for plant-based or vegan meat alternatives for health and sustainability concerns. According to a Gallup study[1], 41 percent of Americans have tried plant-based meats and 60 percent of those respondents say they were likely to continue eating them. Growing consumer awareness about the harmful effects of traditional meat production has led Alt Farm to explore sustainable ways to produce meat without causing harm to animals and the environment. To keep up with the booming needs of consumers, Alt Farm will extend the use of technology to other traditional food without compromising the food’s original texture and taste.

 

About Alt Farm

Founded in 2021 in Hong Kong, Alt Farm is one of the leading startup incubators of the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center that specializes in 3D food printing technology with the patented nozzle for printing different kinds of food with chemical processing. By applying the technical know-how, Alt Farm will explore sustainable ways to produce food without causing harm to animals and the environment. To keep up with the booming needs of consumers, Alt Farm will extend the use of technology to other traditional food without compromising the food’s original texture and taste.

 

Alt Farm is funded by Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities (TSSSU) 2022/23 and recognized by the HKSTP Ideation Program in 2021 in Hong Kong. 

#AltFarm

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

Gym Aesthetics Partners with OliveX Holdings Limited (OLX.NSX) on the NFTs in Sandbox

STUTTGART, GERMANY – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – Gym Aesthetics, a fashionable and dynamic German fitness apparel brand, is pleased to announce its collaboration with OliveX (BVI) Limited, a subsidiary wholly-owned by OliveX Holdings Limited (NSX: OLX), to bring Gym Aesthetics trademarked fitness apparel to the metaverse.

Gym Aesthetics digital items will be designed, constructed and distributed by OliveX while experiences are being offered to users within the 12 x 12 parcel of land owned by OliveX in the Sandbox through the sale of NFTs. The Sandbox is a leading decentralized virtual real estate and gaming world from Animoca Brands and has partnered with globally significant brands and Intellectual Property (IP) such as Snoop Dogg, Steve Aoki and The Walking Dead.

Users will be able to visit the OliveX owned 12 x12 parcel of land and Social Hub which will include a marketplace for the Gym Aesthetics trademarked NFTs and provide a digital space for the Gym Aesthetics experiences.

The Gym Aesthetics NFTs will provide players the ability to enjoy their rewards across a wider range of games, including utility within the wider OliveX ecosystem including Dustland Runner and Dustland Rider as well as in the Sandbox.


Miranda Wong, Managing director of Gym Aesthetics, commented:

“To cater the 24 hour fitness market demand, Gym Aesthetics plans to initiate a brand new “Fitness Interactive Platform” for the establishment of digital fitness ecosystem. The launching of NFTs is our first step to embrace the new era of digital fitness.”


About Gym Aesthetics

Gym Aesthetics is a fashionable and dynamic German fitness apparel brand which appeals to both the aesthetics and functional needs of its customers worldwide. Gym Aesthetics is the brainchild of two Bosch engineers, Phil and Aleks, serving the automobile industry and two professional Youtubers and athletes, Karl and Ralf. Its initial flashy wide stringers and short, thigh hugging shorts stormed the German bodybuilding community with enormous success, and achieved cult status shortly. 2017 marked a new chapter for Gym Aesthetics when an Asian fund company spotted its potential and invested in the German brand to further reinforce its brand image, expand its product range and market share globally. The headquarters was subsequently relocated to Hong Kong, with branches in Stuttgart, Germany and Beijing, China. Gym Aesthetics has a significant social media presence and has partnered with prominent fitness professionals such as Sergi Constance, a world renowned Spanish bodybuilder, Mr. Olympia competitor, world famous influencer with 5.1 million followers and the Gym Aesthetics’ current brand ambassador. Currently, Gym Aesthetics is proactively embracing omni-channel marketing and retailing, and is making impressive strides in its globalisation strategy. In line with this strategy Gym Aesthetics is now seeking to bring its world class apparel products to the fitness metaverse.

About OliveX Holdings Limited:

OliveX (NSX:OLX) is a digital health and fitness company selling innovative products and applications to deliver a unique user experience using artificial intelligence, gamification and premium content. With its flagship product the KARA Smart Fitness Mirror and associated subscription-based applications, OliveX provides a platform that links and engages consumers with brands, influencers and fitness coaches and that enables any space to become a personal fitness studio. OliveX has a market reach that spans over 170 countries.

#GymAesthetics

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

MOU Signing: SOCAM and viAct join force to promote digitalisation and site safety via AI technology

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – SOCAM Development Limited (HKEX 983)”SOCAM”) and viAct are pleased to announce the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the collaboration in adapting construction technologies to improve site safety, while promoting ‘Construction 2.0’ among Hong Kong construction industry.

 

SOCAM Head of Corporate Development Mr. Adrian Lo (left) and viAct CEO Mr. Gary Ng (right) signed an MOU to jointly develop innovative construction technologies for site safety and to promote Construction 2.0.

 

In the recent years, the HKSAR Government has extensively promoted digitalisation in the construction industry and encouraged developers and contractors to adopt  construction technologies from architectural planning to site management, in order to strengthen construction monitoring and improve safety. The recent initiative ‘Construction 2.0’ announced by the HKSAR Government set the directions on construction transformation in achieving innovation, professionalisation and revitalisation. Meanwhile, the ‘Construction Innovation and Technology Fund’ (CITF), established by the HKSAR Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in 2018, has provided support and subsidy to the industry to adopt technologies in different construction areas.

 

In response to the construction industry blueprint led by the HKSAR Government, SOCAM and viAct will collaborate and adopt Artificial Intelligence in construction site monitoring and actively apply construction digitalisation to improve productivity, construction safety and develop green construction projects. Key collaboration areas include implementing environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and tactics by integrating and adopting technologies to build a human-and-social oriented strategic investment framework – bringing ESG considerations into the corporate decision-making model.

 

The holistic collaboration will combine the rich construction experience from SOCAM and construction-based and computer-vision cloud technology from viAct to utilise the application of construction data, which has been overlooked by the whole industry. The new-built system converts the raw data to insightful information, providing strategic directions on productivity, construction safety and environmental protection for all management levels to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the decision-making process. In addition, the close collaboration demonstrates the potential of in-depth industrial transformation to the whole construction industry.

“As a traditional industry, the construction industry  needs to keep up with evolving business trends and technology. The adoption of innovative technologies not only improves the way we work, but also provides an opportunity to attract young and energetic talent to the workforce. Letting them solve the problems with new technology is a way to revitalise the industry and accomplish the ESG visions. We believe it is a valuable investment to the whole industry and even the society” said Mr. Adrian Lo, Head of Corporate Development of SOCAM.

“It is our pleasure to collaborate with SOCAM and contribute to the digitalisation of the construction industry by integrating the experience from SOCAM and the construction-based AI technology competence from viAct. This MOU shows our commitment to promote construction digitalisation and workplace safety” said Mr. Gary Ng, viAct Chief Executive Officer.

Under the all-round cooperative partnership, SOCAM and viAct will strive to build an in-depth relationship , explore and develop construction technologies by extensively applying various technologies, including but not limited to automating construction monitoring systems across different sites, and improve safety and productivity.

About SOCAM Development Limited

Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1997, SOCAM Development Limited (HKSE Stock Code : 00983) is a member of the Shui On Group, and is principally engaged in construction and property businesses, with operations spanning Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

About viAct

viAct focus on AI R&D since 2016, with our proprietary vision technologies and extensive domain experience, we can detect and anticipate the potential risks in construction sites and trigger real-time warning signals and instant alerts to save worker lives. Recognized by CEMEX Ventures as Top50 ConTech Startups 2020 and selected as the Sector winner in Smart Cities by SLINGSHOT 2021 held by Enterprise Singapore.

viAct is committed to visual intelligence technology development and believes that more advanced technology achievements can solve the existing problems in the construction industry. viAct’s mature visual intelligence technology has been widely adopted in the whole industry, which makes viAct the leading AI monitoring solution for the construction industry in Asia.

 

#viAct

New York Medical Group and Keiser University Sign a Chiropractic Scholarship Cooperation Program

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – New York Medical Group (NYMG) and Keiser University entered into a doctoral scholarship cooperation. The New York Medical Group will screen and recommend several outstanding medical students to the United States to pursue a doctorate in chiropractic every year, and the Keiser University School of Medicine will provide scholarship funding. Eligible students will be able to join EC Healthcare to provide pain management services after completing the DC program.

 

Dr Steve Yun, Director of Education at NYMG-Kaiser Program

 

 “There have been multiple clinical studies in Hong Kong over the past two years, indicating that poor posture can cause microtrauma and stress in the upper back and neck area, and leads to pain and discomfort(1, 2, 3, 4), dizziness (5,6,7), numbness (8.9), gastrointestinal problems (10,11,12), and scoliosis (13,14)” Chairman, Dr Eric Chun-Pu Chu, Chiropractic Doctors Association of Hong Kong said.

Keiser University, located in the southeastern state of Florida, is a comprehensive university in the Southern Regional Association of Colleges and Universities. The school provides professional chiropractic course training, and the doctoral program has been accredited by The Council on Chiropractic Education.

 

 “NYMG, as the chiropractic institute which was tables as the top clinical case studies in the international studies (15), is responsible for training a new generation of chiropractors. During the 40-month program, students will pass seminars, lectures, laboratory and practical courses, etc. Diversified learning, training and growing into an outstanding chiropractor. Graduates can go through rotations of 19 medical departments under NYMG, learning artificial intelligence medicine, advanced imaging diagnosis, and observe surgical procedures. They will be more proficient in the chiropractic department with Robotic technology,” said Dr Steve Yun, director of education at NYMG-Kaiser Program.

In view of the fact that the medical schools in mainland China and Hong Kong are currently unable to provide specialized education related to chiropractic, this academic cooperation project not only provides a growth platform for talents, but also establish to further establish barriers to entry of talents in the industry, consolidate the Industry leadership.

 

Looking forward to the future, healthcare ecosystem will continue to strive to improve the competitiveness of talents in different specialty brand fields, and build a more complete closed-loop platform for big health, so that medical professionals can display their professional skills, and continue to grow through lifelong learning, bringing health to more people.

 

References:

1) Chu ECP,. Atlantoaxial Rotatory Subluxation in a 10-Year-Old Boy. Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2020 Jul 1;13:1179544120939069.

2) Chu ECP, Lo FS, Bhaumik A. Plausible impact of forward head posture on upper cervical spine stability. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 May;9(5):2517-2520. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_95_20. eCollection 2020 May.

3) Chu EC, Lo FS, Bhaumik A. Secondary atlantoaxial subluxation in isolated cervical dystonia-a case report. AME Case Rep. 2020;4:9. doi: 10.21037/acr.2020.03.03. eCollection 2020.

4) Chu ECP, Ng M. Long-term relief from tension-type headache and major depression following chiropractic treatment. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018 May-Jun;7(3):629-631.

5) Chu EC, Wong AY. Cervicogenic Dizziness in an 11-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2021 Nov 26;12:111-116.

6) Chu EC, Zoubi FA, Yang J. Cervicogenic Dizziness Associated With Craniocervical Instability: A Case Report. J Med Cases. 2021 Nov;12(11):451-454.

7) Chu ECP, Chin WL, Bhaumik A. Cervicogenic dizziness. Oxf Med Case Reports. 2019 Nov;2019(11):476-478. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omz115. eCollection 2019 Nov.

8) Chu ECP, Lin AFC. Neck-tongue syndrome. BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Dec 4;11(1). doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-227483.

9) Chu ECP, Alleviating cervical radiculopathy by manipulative correction of reversed cervical lordosis 4 years follow-up. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Nov;10(11):4303-4306.

10) Chu ECP, Lee LYK. Cervicogenic dysphagia associated with cervical spondylosis: A case report and brief review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Sep;10(9):3490-3493.

11) Chu ECP, Shum JSF, Lin AFC. Unusual Cause of Dysphagia in a Patient With Cervical Spondylosis. Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 2019 Dec 29;12:1179547619882707.

12) Chu EC, Butler KR. Resolution of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Following Correction for Upper Cross Syndrome-A Case Study and Brief Review. Clin Pract. 2021 May 21;11(2):322-326.

13) Pu Chu EC, Chakkaravarthy DM. Changes in radiographic parameters following chiropractic treatment in 10 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A retrospective chart review. Clin Pract. 2020 Sep 4;10(3):1258. doi: 10.4081/cp.2020.1258. eCollection 2020 Sep 4.

14) Pu Chu EC, Kai Huang KH. Bridging the gap between observation and brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Family Med Prim Care. 2017 Apr-Jun;6(2):447-449.

15) Trager RJ, Dusek JA. Chiropractic case reports: a review and bibliometric analysis. Chiropr Man Therap. 2021 Apr 28;29(1):17.

 

#NewYorkMedicalGroup

4 in 5 Employees in Singapore Fear Impact of Digitalisation, Turn to Upskilling to Stay Competitive

  • Four in five (81%) employees are concerned about the impact of digitalisation on jobs and roles in their industry.
  • Most employees (93%) agree there is a need to upskill to remain relevant in their current role.
  • On the other hand, employers say that the main impact of digitalisation on the workforce are ‘the need to reskill and upskill workers to meet new skill demands’ (57%), ’employees will spend less time in automated/ repetitive work’ (54%), and ’employees will have to take on hybrid roles/ roles that require a mix of different skill sets’ (54%).

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – As businesses continue to accelerate digitalisation, four in five (81%) employees say that they are concerned about the impact of digitalisation on jobs and roles in their respective industries. Employees reveal that their main concern about digitalisation at the workplace is the ‘need to learn new skills to stay relevant’ (46%). This is followed by the fear of ‘not being able to adapt to new and complex skills’ (40%) and ‘being replaced due to the lack of skills’ (31%).

These are some key findings from NTUC LearningHub’s recently launched Emerging Jobs and Skills Report. Over 650 working professionals from Singapore were surveyed in December 2021, including employers and employees, to uncover a dual perspective about the current job market, emerging jobs and skills, as well as the training landscape.

Most employees (93%) opine that there is a need to upgrade their skills in order to keep themselves relevant and competitive in their current role. The top three reasons cited by employees for upskilling are to have ‘better career progression opportunities’ (66%), ‘better pay’ (58%), and ‘better match with existing skillsets’ (50%).

On the other hand, the employers surveyed say that the main impact of digitalisation on the workforce is the need to reskill and upskill workers to meet new skill demands (voted 57%). This is followed by ’employees will spend less time in automated/ repetitive work’ (54%), and ’employees will have to take on hybrid roles, that is, roles that require a mix of different skill sets’ (54%).

Commenting on the findings, NTUC LearningHub’s Director of Infocomm Technology, Anthony Chew, says, “Although employees fear the effects of digitalisation on their jobs, it is heartening that many see the importance in upskilling to remain employable and competitive. However, instead of fearing digitalisation in the new world order, we urge trainees to take advantage of digital transformation to uplift their skillsets and employability. In fact, employers see digitalisation as an opportunity to upgrade workforce competencies so that their employees can work alongside digital solutions and free up their time for higher-value work. All in all, workers who are able to adapt well with digital transformation will be considered an asset to the organisations they work for, regardless of which sector they are in, as digital skills today are easily transferrable across job functions and sectors.”

To download the Emerging Jobs and Skills Report, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com/emerging-jobs-and-skills-2022. To find out more about the courses, training and grants, contact NTUC LearningHub at www.ntuclearninghub.com/.

About NTUC LearningHub

NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Cloud, Infocomm Technology, Healthcare, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources and Foreign Worker Training.

To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 25,000 organisations and achieved over 2.6 million training places across more than 500 courses with a pool of over 900 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships and offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training solutions and work constantly to improve our training quality and delivery. In 2020, we had accelerated our foray into online learning with our Virtual Live Classes and, through working with best-in-class partners such as IBM, DuPont Sustainable Solutions and GO1, asynchronous online courses.

For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com.

#NTUCLearningHub

AIA reaffirms focus on wealth protection and management with the reveal of its Wealthbeing by AIA priority for the burgeoning High Net Worth segment

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – AIA Singapore today introduced ‘ Wealthbeing by AIA‘ – the pairing of Wealth and Well-being – as it accelerates efforts to meet the underserved needs of High Net Worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking protection and growth for both their wealth and health. This aligns with the company’s advocacy for a more well-rounded approach to achieving healthier, longer, better lives.

Legacies forged with Wealthbeing by AIA 

Elevate your wealth, optimise your well-being

(Click onto the image to view the video)  

The leading life insurer believes Wealthbeing by AIA is the future of wealth planning, where legacies are forged not only on wealth but also on health in order to thrive for generations. Wealthbeing by AIA is testament to AIA’s expertise in providing holistic solutions tailored to the individual. This holistic approach transcends financial horizons to maximise growth and fulfilment for HNWIs, with a specially curated suite of wealth and health privileges, bespoke lifestyle experiences and innovative product offerings to help them and their loved ones achieve Wealthbeing.

Ms Melita Teo, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, AIA Singapore, says, ” A wealthier life isn’t always better because it comes at the expense of time, freedom and health. We believe that achieving Wealthbeing – the goal of growing your wealth and well-being goes hand in hand, that will allow everyone to truly live healthier, longer, better lives. ”

 

Financial well-being (64%), mental wellbeing (62%) and physical well-being (61%) are the top three dimensions of wellness HNWIs in Singapore prioritise, according to a recent study [1] . Relationships (41%) and Sense of Self (39%) are important for them too, scoring higher than Work (33%) in their list of priorities.

Pursuit of sustainable investing and ESG commitments

The well-being of the world’s future is also important to HNWIs, and they are walking the talk with 4 in 5 (80%) having sustainable investing and/or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds in their investment portfolio. In fact, 47% look to find out if the company they invest with has good ethical policies before investing, where possible.

AIA Group – holding total assets of US$326 billion[1] – is doubling down on its ESG commitments, recently announcing that the company sold off almost US$10 billion of investments in coal mining and coal-fired power business, and that it won’t make new investments in businesses directly involved in coal mining or generating electricity from coal.

The company has set a target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is committed to the Science Based Target initiatives (SBTi) [3] , which will inform its US$286 billion portfolio [4] engagement processes.

 

Enhanced offering for High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth clients

Mr Chin Chung Wen, Chief Distribution Officer, AIA Singapore added , “Having served generations of families in Singapore for more than 90 years, we understand what matters to our clients the most – being financially prepared for every stage in life and having the health to enjoy their best life with their loved ones. Tapping into our decades of expertise in navigating the complexities of wealth planning and health management, we believe our holistic solutions will keep our High Net Worth client segment on top of their game, always.”

AIA Singapore will be upskilling 1,000 AIA Financial Services Consultants (AIA FSCs) by 2023 to elevate their financial advisory competencies to better serve the rapidly growing affluent population in Singapore [5] . This upskilling initiative will provide AIA FSCs access to elite Private Banking training and the opportunity to earn the exclusive AIA Prestige Elite Consultant title for service excellence in the affluent and High Net Worth segment.

In 2019, AIA partnered the Wealth Management Institute (WMI) to become the first insurance organisation in Singapore to provide AIA FSCs the same level of training, assessment and IBF certification as private bankers. AIA remains today the only insurer who upskills AIA FSCs with both the Client Advisor Competency Standards (CACS) regulatory examinations and WMI’s Certified Private Banker to achieve the IBF Qualified Private Banking certification.

AIA Singapore’s wealth management capabilities are also bolstered by trusted stewards of Asia’s wealth to ensure superior long-term sustainable results. AIA Investments, the investment arm of AIA responsible for managing US$330 billion of assets for the Group, has one of the largest teams of investment professionals in Asia Pacific, consisting over 250 investment professionals, and averaging 12 years of experience.

High Net Worth clients will have their protection and growth priorities met by the specially curated Platinum product series by AIA. Through the by-invite-only AIA Altitude Programme, clients who own and maintain AIA policies with total premiums that meet the qualifying premium requirement will get access to an exclusive suite of lifestyle privileges, advanced healthcare services, and bespoke experiences. This includes priority services, complimentary will writing services as well as exclusive perks and event invitations, amongst many others.

There are three membership tiers to the programme, namely AIA Altitude, AIA Altitude Platinum, and the newly introduced AIA Altitude Pinnacle tier for Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) clients.

For more information on Wealthbeing by AIA campaign and comprehensive wealth management proposition, please visit: aia.com.sg/wealthbeing

 


[1] WealthLens™ 2021. Singapore Study (Oct 2021) Agility Research & Strategy. Powered by Affluential™

[3] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$330 billion as of 30 June 2021.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

 

Notes:

1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.

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