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Ending Violence Against Women and Girls is Possible… I am hopeful!

Ending Violence Against Women
Opening of Women's Protection Shelter in Savannakhet in December 2020. Deputy Minister of ICT, Savannakhet Vice Governor, LWU Vice President, UK Ambassador to Lao PDR, UNFPA Representative Lao PDR and President of Savannakhet LWU.

The following is an opinion piece by Mariam A. Khan, Country Representative UNFPA, Laos.

Laos Confirms New Daily Record with 1,510 Cases of Covid-19

Vientiane Covid Update


Laos has recorded a new daily record number of Covid-19 cases, confirming 1,510 new cases across the country today.

Authorities in Vientiane Issue Statement on Eviction of 36 Families

Eviction of 36 families in Phonsinuan Village, Vientiane Capital
Eviction of 36 families in Phonsinuan Village, Vientiane Capital following a court order.

Authorities in Vientiane Capital have issued a statement regarding a land dispute in Sisattanak District involving the eviction of 36 families.

Woodfibre LNG awards EPFC contract to McDermott

Collaboration to design and build the lowest-emission LNG facility in the world

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 26 November 2021 – Woodfibre LNG has signed an Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, and Construction (EPFC) contract with McDermott International. The EPFC contract is an important step in advancing detailed engineering and construction scheduling work in advance of Woodfibre LNG issuing a notice to proceed.

 

Responsibly produced natural gas is a necessary part of making a successful global transition from heavy-emitting fuels to renewables. By harnessing the low-carbon gas resources of British Columbia’s Montney region to replace coal-fired energy sources in Asia, Woodfibre LNG will reduce global emissions by 3.5 million tonnes CO2e per annum, equivalent to removing 5 per cent of B.C.’s annual emissions from the atmosphere each year. McDermott and Woodfibre’s collaboration on front-end engineering and facility design, relative to typical LNG facilities, will result in an ~86 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of LNG produced.

 

Woodfibre LNG, a subsidiary of Pacific Energy Corporation (Canada) Limited which is a member of the Singapore-headquartered RGE group of resources-based companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, will be the cleanest liquefied natural gas export facility on earth, achieved through the adoption of a low-emission philosophy across every element of engineering and design. The facility will use hydroelectricity for the main liquefaction process, and includes state of the art technology that enables liquefaction machinery to restart without flaring, a recycling system for “boil-off” gas, and additional transformers, switchgear and transmission lines. Altogether, this results in the most groundbreaking technical achievement in the world of LNG, and sets a new standard for efficient plant design. This next-generation LNG production is in high demand. Woodfibre LNG has two offtake agreements signed with BP, meaning over 70 per cent of Woodfibre’s annual throughput has already been sold.

 

McDermott’s industry-leading NetZero Modular LNG strategy has been fully utilized during the development of this advanced onshore gas processing and liquefaction facility with floating storage near Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. The strategy provides multiple pathways through design, execution and construction to reduce operational and project emissions.

 

“Our contract with McDermott is a positive step forward for this substantial piece of clean energy infrastructure,” said Christine Kennedy, president of Woodfibre LNG. “Together, we will be building the lowest-emission, most sustainable and innovative LNG export facility in the world. A particular point of pride for us is that the Squamish Nation serves as a full environmental regulator for this project. Serving as a unique example of economic Reconciliation, this is the first arrangement of its type for an LNG facility.”

 

McDermott will manage onshore construction, leveraging Canadian-based contractors and commitments included in Woodfibre LNG’s Impact Benefit Agreements with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). It is estimated that 650 people will be working on the Woodfibre LNG site at peak construction. The EPFC contract commits McDermott to Woodfibre LNG’s hiring priority for qualified Squamish Nation members and local workers first, followed by British Columbians and then Canadians. The joint priority is to create a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace that brings benefits to the project’s Indigenous partners and community.

 

“This is another example of how we are applying our unique integrated capabilities to solve challenges and create successes for our customers,” said Samik Mukherjee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of McDermott. “This award is a tremendous opportunity to further demonstrate how our LNG and modularization expertise enables a new generation of sustainable energy solutions.”

 

In addition to the EPFC work, McDermott will also be responsible for commissioning and start-up services Pre-installation work for the project is planned for early 2022 and will gradually ramp up to September 2023, when major construction is targeted to begin. Major works will continue through to substantial completion, expected in Q3 2027.

About Woodfibre

The Woodfibre LNG project is located approximately 7 km west-southwest of Squamish, British Columbia (located midway between Vancouver and Whistler). The project is gearing up to start pre-construction of a single train, liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on the previous Woodfibre pulp mill site. The facility will have a storage capacity of 250,000 m3 and produce approximately 2.1 million tonnes per year of LNG using 100 per cent renewable hydroelectric technology. Once operational, the facility will produce and export the cleanest, most technologically advanced LNG in the world. Woodfibre LNG is also the only industrial project in Canada, and possibly in the world, to have received an environmental approval from an Indigenous people in the absence of a treaty. Woodfibre LNG Limited is a privately held Canadian company based in Vancouver, and a subsidiary of Pacific Energy Corporation (Canada) Limited.

About McDermott

McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott’s innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructure—empowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott’s locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties that may impact McDermott’s actual results of operations. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected scope, execution and timing associated with the project discussed in this press release. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders and other creditors of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. This communication reflects management’s views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

#WoodfibreLNG

The Events Network brings Christmas Cheer to Kwon Eun Bi fans in Singapore with a virtual meet and greet on 18 December 2021

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 26 November 2021 – The Events Network (TEN), a brand experience company, in partnership with Connected Stage, brings Christmas cheer to Singapore fans of Korean superstar Kwon Eun Bi via a virtual meet and greet on 18 December 2021. Lucky AIA Singapore customers will get a chance to participate in her first global online fan meeting <WELCOME TO EUNBI LAND: OPEN THE DOOR >, a fairytale universe inspired by Alice in Wonderland, right at their virtual doorstep.

Kwon Eun Bi, former leader of IZ*ONE, made her solo debut in August with her first mini-album, “OPEN”. She proved her global popularity on iTunes TOP K-POP, ranking No. 1 in Hong Kong and Singapore and No. 2 in 14 countries, including the United States, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Japan.

 

<WELCOME TO EUNBI LAND: OPEN THE DOOR> is Kwon Eun Bi’s highly anticipated first global online fan meeting. Fans will be treated to an exciting Christmas surprise of colourful live performances, fun games and get a chance to interact with the superstar in real-time.

 

In Singapore, the online fan meeting is produced and planned by TEN in partnership with Connected Stage. It will be broadcast live through AIA Singapore and hosted by YJ Partners and KT seezn, exclusively provided by seezn and Olleh TV in Korea.  Global fans can be seen on KAVECON, while Japan is broadcasted exclusively on Mahocast.

 

Mr Eric Kwan, Managing Director of TEN, says, “It is an honour to bring a superstar like Kwon Eun Bi to meet Singapore fans in her first-ever global online fan meeting. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with AIA Singapore to help them celebrate their brand purpose of helping millions of people live healthier, longer, better lives.”

 

Mr Chin Chung Wen, Chief Distribution Officer of AIA Singapore, added, “AIA Singapore is pleased to bring this virtual meeting with Kwon Eun Bi for her Singapore fans. We would like to thank our customers for their support, spread positivity and cheer during this festive season and inspire them to continue to take charge of their health and happiness.”

 

Details are as follows:

Title: <WELCOME TO EUNBI LAND: OPEN THE DOOR>

Day/Date: Saturday, 18 December 2021

Time: 6:00 pm (Singapore Time)

AIA Pre-entrance: 5:40 pm (Singapore Time)

Tickets: Available exclusively through AIA Insurance Representatives or register

 

Contact your local AIA Insurance Representative or https://aiagency.com.sg/fans on a first come first served basis. Stand to win a limited number of memorabilia such as autographed mobile phone covers during the AIA pre-entrance at 5:40 pm (before the fan meeting)!

 

AIA Singapore will also draw 20 lucky winners who registered for this event on the following dates:

 

7 December 2021 @ 2pm

(Singapore Time)

8 December 2021 @ 2 pm

(Singapore Time)

10 lucky winners,

will be picked to appear on the

Fan Meeting Video Wall

on 18 December!

10 lucky winners will get to

WIN a ‘backstage pass’ experience

on a 1-to-1 video call with Eun Bi

after the fan meeting on 18 December!

 

To find out if you are one of the lucky winners, check here for more details. The organiser will contact you after the draws.

 

Stay tuned to the AIA Singapore on Facebook (@Singapore.AIA) and Instagram (@AIASingapore) in the coming weeks for the latest details.

 

About The Events Network

Founded in 2013, The Events Network is a brand experience and events company that provides turnkey solution-oriented ideas that deliver aware-winning brand experiences that meets clients objectives with measurable ROI. TEN has a strong global presence across Singapore, Thailand, China, South Korea, Australia, Asia Pacific, Middle East (Dubai) and Europe (Barcelona), offering complete in-house creative event management services, 2D and 3D graphic design, AR and VR content development, audio-visual production services, app development, artiste management, customised product design, rental of equipment and event management for sales kick-offs, conferences, incentive trips, venue and destination management, MICE, product launches, gala dinners, as well as groundbreaking ceremonies in Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Spain and the Middle East.

#TheEventsNetwork

Growthwell Foods Launches Singapore’s First Plant-based Protein Innovation, R&D and Manufacturing Facility with High Moisture Extrusion Technology for Large-scale Production

  • Singapore’s first fully automated large-scale production line for plant-based products
  • Introducing HAPPIEE! A New Homegrown Plant-based Range That Includes Chickiee Nuggets, Chickiee Popcorn and Fishiee Patties and Fishiee sticks

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 26 November 2021 – Growthwell Foods, a leading manufacturer of plant-based alternatives for meat and seafood for the Southeast Asian market, has launched its Innovation, R&D and Manufacturing Centre at JTC Foodhub Senoko. The centre features Singapore’s first fully automated large-scale production line for plant-based products.



 

The centre is a step towards realising Growthwell’s goal of contributing to Singapore’s 30 by 30 vision by producing plant based products for the local market here in Singapore.  The organisation aims to become Asia’s leading plant-nutrition food tech company, nourishing a 100 million lives through the provision of sustainable and nutritious plant-based food options. The R&D activities at the centre will focus on improving the taste and nutritional properties of its plant-based products.

The centre will function as a pilot plant, making Singapore the launchpad for further expansion into other regions with dedicated production in the future.  

 

Not only that, the new facility will also enable Growthwell to further expand its portfolio and offer chefs and consumers even more options. Highlights of the facility include Singapore’s first production-scale High Moisture Extrusion (HME) line owned by a local SME. This HME line will enable Growthwell to significantly improve the texture of its plant-based meat products. The new facility also features Singapore’s first fully automated large-scale production line for plant-based products, which will handle manufacturing, freezing and packaging. The automation enables the company to enjoy greater economies of scale and to offer great quality products at better prices. It will have the ability to produce 4,000 metric tons of products in a single year.

 

“Growthwell Foods has come a long way since its inception in 1989,” says Justin Chou, Executive Director of Growthwell Foods. “We began as a food solution company catering to the needs of vegetarian consumers. Now, we are looking to harness the potential of a global market hungry for alternative proteins. Well-equipped to handle large-scale production as well as spearhead our own R&D efforts, our facility is poised to shake up the status quo in the plant-based meat industry. We will make Singapore proud by bringing homegrown products on to the global stage!”

New plant-based range HAPPIEE!


Growthwell’s Innovation and R&D Manufacturing Centre will be producing HAPPIEE!, a brand-new, homegrown plant-based range that evokes positivity and inspires active lifestyles. Enjoy nibbling on the snacks while having a picnic or suntanning by the beach. The ingredients are also perfect for complementing your Asian- or western-style homecooked feasts. As they are produced locally, the plant-based nutritious bites will come with an attractive price tag, in turn enticing more consumers to switch to plant-based nutrition and embark on their own sustainable living journeys.

There are four products under the soy-based chicken range: HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Chickiee Nuggets, HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Chickiee Popcorn, HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Chickiee Patties and HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Breaded Chickiee Patties. The ChickP isolate is used in the Chickiee Nuggets. Made with konjac, the fish range comes with two products: HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Fishiee Sticks and HAPPIEE! Plant-Based Fishiee Patties. All six products are free of trans fat.

Appointed distributors for HAPPIEE! include Country Foods and Indoguna. Country Foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SATS Food Services and one of Singapore’s primary food importers, distributors and manufacturers Country Foods. With over 20 years of experience under its belt and presence in Singapore, Cambodia, and Dubai, Indoguna is a purveyor of gourmet meat, seafood, and artisanal wine. Its vast network includes hotels, cafés and restaurants.

“Country Foods, a 100% SATS subsidiary, is happy to expand its partnership with Growthwell with the introduction of the latter’s quality and innovative range of plant-based protein finished products and meal solutions to its broad customer base of retail, foodservice and institutional clients in Singapore,” says Susan Ng, Country Foods General Manager. “Country Foods has extensive network and insight into the local marketspace and key players, and an established logistical, development and manufacturing infrastructure that will give both companies a strategic advantage in delivering on their ambitious growth plans in Singapore and beyond.”

“Indoguna Singapore, as part of Food Service APME, has 40 years of experience servicing world-class customers,” says Melissa Ng, Senior Business Development Manager, Indoguna Singapore Pte Ltd. “More than just a purveyor of food, we offer in-depth expertise and curate complete solutions for the most complex business needs. With sustainability as a pillar in our business priorities, we are honoured to be at the forefront of the plant-based arena with Growthwell to offer our clients an unparalleled range of protein alternatives, in turn spurring positive changes both for the planet and humankind.”

An investor in ChickP, the first in the world to launch 90% chickpea isolate

 

In 2019, Growthwell invested in ChickP an Israeli food technology startup led by Professor Ram Reifen.  (MD, Founder and CSO of ChickP) ChickP developed a proprietary process and technology to make a 90% pure chickpea isolate that

  • Is high in protein, fibre and minerals
  • Is free of hormones, allergens, gluten, lactose and GMO
  • Has a neural aftertaste

The 90% chickpea isolate is a complete protein with all 9 essential amino acids. It has a very mild taste and emulsifying properties that make it a superior ingredient for dairy applications. Unlike other plant protein sources such as soy, wheat and pea, chickpea is a crop that is available in Asia. This allows Growthwell to source ingredients closer to home, shortening the supply chain and making production more environmentally friendly.

 

Launch of the Innovative Plant-based Salmon Flakes


Besides the HAPPIEE! range, Growthwell is also poised to launch a new product: Plant-based Salmon Flakes. Made from soy, this product incorporates algae-derived omega-3 oil and achieves its neutrally Note RD. Neutrally or Naturaly looking pinkish colour derived from vegetables. with vegetable powder.

At Growthwell, Research & Development activities are driven by dialogues with chefs, F&B professionals and anchored on customer feedback. Growthwell continues to invest in resources that allow it to better understand the trends that are shaping perceptions of food, in particular the needs, wants and expectations of plant-based foods. Growthwell’s plant based salmon flakes are testimonial to that with chefs and customers both asking for more seafood like options which not only taste good, yet are also healthier. Hundred grams of the newly introduced “HAPPIEE! Salmoniee Flakes” provides adults their daily dose of recommended Omega-3.  

Beyond delivering on taste, texture, Growthwell is committed to offering healthier food choices that boast high nutritional value. The R&D team is exploring the use of ingredients such as legumes, algae and plants to provide clean and healthy proteins. Together with the Israeli ChickP team, it will continue to push the boundaries of what ChickP isolate can do to make its products, taste, feel and be better.

The HAPPIEE! range of products is available for foodservices  distribution. HAPPIEE! Chickiee Nugget and Popcorn and HAPPIEE! Fishiee Sticks and Patty  are planned to  also be available in retail stores from 2022 Q1 onwards. The Plant-based Salmon Flakes will first be made available for food services.  

 

About Growthwell Foods

Established in 1989, Growthwell Foods has been the trusted one-stop meat-free solutions provider in Singapore for F&B businesses and organisations around the world. Armed in research and development, Growthwell Foods is the leading plant-based food solutions company in Singapore that helps F&B organisations obtain high quality meat-free products while providing excellent logistics support and customer service for continual growth and success. With an intention of making the world a better place, Growthwell Foods has evolved from a manufacturer of plant-based alternatives in Asia to that of an innovative plant-based food technology company. Equipped with food technology, manufacturing and distribution capabilities in Asia, the group provides end-to-end plant-based food solutions directly to their valued partners and consumers globally.

Website: http://growthwellfoods.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthwell-foods/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthwellfoods/

Instagram: @growthwellfoods

Email: enquiry@growthwellfoods.com

Hashtag: #growthwell

Laos to Graduate from Least Developed Country Status

World Bank Assists Laos with Covid-19 Recovery


The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution that will see the graduation of Laos from the least developed country category.

The King of African Sales Enters Southeast Asia; JD.ID exclusively sells TECNO’s latest Spark 7

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 25 November 2021 – Recently, Jingdong Indonesia (JD.ID) and TECNO have officially announced a strategic partnership. After JD.ID officially becomes the country dealer of TECNO brand, TECNO’s latest Spark 7 is also available exclusively on JD.ID.

 

TECNO’s parent company Shenzhen Transsion Holding Co., LTD. dominates the mobile phone market in Africa. TECNO is also the most popular mobile phone brand in Africa, with its Spark 7 hailed as “the best entry-level smartphone”.

 

For TECNO Spark 7, it is mainly positioned in the entry-level smartphone market. Its main focus is on feature phones, mainly sold to Africa and India, bringing more localized products to consumers there.

 

Spark 7 smartphone, whose main specifications include a 6.52-inch HD display, 2.5D curved glass, 6000 mAh battery and 16 million smart camera, is suitable for everyone. And in the design pursuit of better looking, the 2.5D curved glass makes this smartphone look quite full, visually much better than flat glass, but with strong impact resistance.

 

In addition, the exterior features a waterdrop screen (also known as waterdrop full-screen) design scheme, a rectangular camera module housing dual sensors and a LED flash, and comes with a physical fingerprint sensor. In fact, looking at the Chinese smartphone market in 2021, it is obvious that the water drop screen is not the trend. Most smartphone manufacturers familiar to Chinese people, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO and Samsung, now adopt the design scheme of perforated screen.

 

In order to deepen the African market, Transsion conducted researches on the characteristics of Africa such as lack of electricity, and mainly promoted the feature of long battery life. It also supports multi-card and multi-standby, which is in line with the habits of consumers in Africa. In addition, Transsion also customized a set of selfie beauty algorithm for African consumers.

 

TECNO’s ambition is evident from its dominant market in Africa to its strategic cooperation with JD.ID. Due to the similarities between the Southeast Asian and African markets, where the consumption level is generally low, TECNO’s test run is expected. TECNO’s high price/performance ratio will most likely give it another edge, with many Southeast Asian consumers willing to pay for Spark 7.

#JD.ID