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New IFC Report Proposes Action Plan to Support FDI Opportunities in Laos

Laos Still Unable to Centralize Investment Facilitation (Photo TF Travel)
Photo: TF Travel

Developing a holistic investment strategy along with continued regulatory reforms will help the Lao PDR attract more diverse and higher-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), according to a new report released by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.

Microbusinesses Account for Majority of Registered Enterprises in Laos

Microbusinesses dominate private sector in Laos
A rural barber shop.

Microbusinesses account for the majority of businesses in Laos, making up 94.2 percent of all registered enterprises, according to a recent survey.

Vetter continues its successful performance at the 2021 CMO Leadership Awards

Winning five core categories reaffirms Vetter as a trusted solution provider, particularly during globally challenging times

 

  • Vetter reaffirms its high performance in customer-critical aspects
  • Results reflect the positive experience of pharma and biotech companies in their daily work with the service provider — particularly during a pandemic
  • Winning five awards mirrors the company’s core value of customer partnership

RAVENSBURG, GERMANY – Media OutReach – 19 February 2021 – Vetter, a globally operating Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), was granted the 2021 CMO Leadership Awards in five core categories — quality, expertise, compatibility, capabilities, and service. The award, now in its tenth year, was given by the leading trade press publication, Life Science Leader. Vetter was also the recipient of the award in a variety of categories in previous years.

“Yet again, Vetter is honored to be a winner of the CMO Leadership Awards as determined by our most important judges — our global customers,” said Vetter Managing Director Peter Soelkner. “This recognition is of particular importance given the challenging and turbulent times we are all experiencing with the global Covid-19 pandemic.” Carsten Press, Vetter’s Senior Vice President Key Account Management/Supply Chain Management/Marketing added, “Winning this award in five key categories is a direct reflection of what we strive to project to our customers. It further demonstrates our stable performance for them and especially their patients.”

Unlike other awards where an application process takes place, winners of the CMO Leadership Awards are chosen according to a customer ranking system. The basis for this is their hands-on experience with the service providers they have actually worked with. Using this method of validation means results are not able to be influenced in any manner. As such, the awards honor true customer performance and signify that winning companies have distinguished themselves through a leading level of support for the needs of their pharma and biotech customers.

“These past months reinforced the criticality of the services and partnership models provided by CDMOs to biopharma organizations of this size,” said Louis Garguilo, Chief Editor and Conference Chair, Outsourced Pharma. “In fact, much of the drug development and manufacturing industry was sustained by reliable outsourcing in the face of a horrible pandemic. That reliability was a result of constant dedication to customers, and perhaps, one attribute above all — flexibility.”

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About the CMO Leadership Awards

The CMO Leadership Awards is an annual event now in its tenth year. In determining the award recipients, Life Science Leader teams up with Industry Standard Research (ISR) which conducted the research. For the 2021 award, more than 70 contract manufacturers were assessed by 23 performance metrics in ISR’s annual Contract Manufacturing Quality Benchmarking survey. Participants were recruited from pharma and biotech companies of all sizes and screened for decision-making influence related to working with contract manufacturing partners. Respondents only evaluate those companies with which they have worked on an outsourced project within the past 18 months. Through this level of qualification, survey responses are based on actual involvement with contract manufacturers and clear experiential data.

About Vetter

Headquartered in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter is a family-owned, global leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with production facilities in Germany, Austria and the United States. Currently employing more than 5,000 individuals worldwide, the company has long-term experience in supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers both large and small. Vetter services range from early stage development support including clinical manufacturing, to commercial supply and numerous packaging solutions for vials, syringes and cartridges. As a leading solution provider, Vetter appreciates its responsibility to support the needs of its customers by developing devices that contribute to increased patient safety, convenience, and enhanced compliance. Great importance is also given to social responsibility including environmental protection and sustainability. Learn more about Vetter at www.vetter-pharma.com.

Waste Management A Growing Problem For Vientiane Capital

Waste Management in Vientiane Capital
Garbage trucks at the city landfill (Photo: Lao Ecnomic Daily)

Vientiane City Office for Management and Service (VCOMS) says it faces several major challenges in waste management across Vientiane Capital.

New Research From SugarCRM Reveals a Customer Relationship Crisis

Struggling to get a clear picture of their customers, 49% of sales leaders in Australia say their CRM is costing them revenue

 

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – Media OutReach – 19 February 2021 – Fueled by lack of visibility into customer data, companies are facing a customer relationship crisis. Fifty-two percent of sales professionals in Australia believe that their CRM systems are unfit for purpose, while customer churn is costing mid-market companies an average of US$5.5M per year each, according to a new CRM and Sales Impact Report from SugarCRM.

The research reveals that many businesses lack the necessary tools to provide the kind of customer experience that will keep them competitive. Besieged with status quo CRM systems, sales leaders are struggling to ensure their sales teams are spending enough time with customers and can access the data required to build and maintain these vital relationships. The report surveyed 1,000 sales decision-makers in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia, and found that 49% of Australian sales professionals believe their CRM systems are costing them revenue — demonstrating the extent of the issue.

“Customer behavior has fundamentally changed and businesses around the world are facing a customer relationship crisis,” said Craig Charlton, CEO of SugarCRM. “Sales teams are bogged down with administration and stuck with an inaccurate picture of the customer with little advance notice or insight into customer churn. These findings are a wake-up call for companies relying on the market-leading incumbents in CRM with software that is tuned to steady-state and known customer behaviors.

The research found that 53% of sales leaders are fatigued and frustrated with the CRM admin burden placed on their sales teams, which is taking them away from customer-facing activities. Indeed, sales reps are only spending 54% of their time selling. The CRM and Sales Impact Report also revealed over half of sales reps in Australia (52%) reported their customer churn increased in the last 12 months, with 52% of respondents having trouble predicting when customers would churn. And upon reflection, almost half (48%) of those sales professionals reported not knowing why customers churned.

In addition, 50% of Australian sales leaders admit that they cannot access customer data across marketing, sales, and service systems, leaving customer-facing team members without a clear picture of their customers. The gap in customer data, the millions of dollars lost to churn, and the lack of insight, prevents sales and business leaders from acquiring the intelligence they need to make both vital strategic and tactical decisions. Companies that close the data gaps and improve the accuracy and completeness of their customer data, stand to improve retention, increase revenue, and gain more predictable business outcomes.

To download the full CRM and Sales Impact Report from SugarCRM, including regional data for the US, UK, Germany, and Australia, visit:

https://www.sugarcrm.com/au/hd-cx/content/crm-sales-impact/.

About SugarCRM

The SugarCRM sales, marketing and service platform helps businesses deliver a high-definition customer experience by eliminating the blind spots, roadblocks and busy work that plagues legacy CRM. For growth companies and anyone who wants to work smarter not harder, Sugar provides the clear view of the customer that teams need to reach new levels of business performance and predictability.


More than 4,500 companies in over 120 countries rely on SugarCRM. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SugarCRM is backed by Accel-KKR.


Cryptology Asset Group Appoints Current Head of Asset Management, Patrick Lowry, as the New CEO

Under Patrick’s leadership, Cryptology intends to build Europe’s leading publicly listed company for blockchain- and crypto-related business models.

 

VALLETTA, MALTA – EQS Newswire – 18 February 2021 – Cryptology Asset Group (ISIN: MT0001770107; Ticker: 4UD), a leading European investment company for blockchain- and crypto-related business models, co-founded by Christian Angermayer and crypto-legend Mike Novogratz, announced that Patrick Lowry has been appointed as the new CEO. An experienced manager with substantial capital markets experience, Patrick will succeed Jefim Gewiet, who will step into the role of COO for the company.

Patrick is an accomplished asset manager with extensive experience managing crypto assets and blockchain-based venture capital investments. He is the founder and CEO of Iconic Holding, an asset management group and portfolio company of Cryptology. Prior to founding Iconic Holding, Patrick was a member of the Deutsche Börse venture capital team, a Senior Associate at Philadelphia-based private equity firm, Graham Partners, and a former auditor at PwC within the Asset Management Assurance Services practice.

“With the eyes of the world now intensely focused on Bitcoin and crypto markets, Patrick as CEO is the perfect addendum to an already strong team. I am convinced Patrick and Jefim will jointly take Cryptology to the next level,” said Christian Angermayer, Founder and Advisory Board member of Cryptology. “Patrick’s experience managing both a portfolio of crypto venture investments and regulated investment vehicles positions him well to deliver on our shared vision of Cryptology being Europe’s leading investment company for blockchain technology and crypto companies.”

At Iconic Holding, Patrick launched sub-brands Iconic Lab, a seed-stage crypto venture capital group, and Iconic Funds, a licensed and regulated crypto asset management firm. Patrick will continue working with Iconic Holding, an important strategic component of Cryptology’s portfolio.

Patrick received an MBA from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in 2017 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Delaware in 2011. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

“Cryptology, with one of the world’s strongest blockchain- and crypto-related balance sheets, boasting inspired investments in the likes of block.one and Northern Data, is a sleeping giant ready to wake,” said Patrick. “I am humbled and excited to be tasked with leading Cryptology to realize its untapped, and unlimited, potential.”

Earlier this year, Cryptology shares started trading on several German exchanges including Börse Düsseldorf, Gettex and Tradegate. In order to increase trading liquidity and open up to new shareholder groups, Cryptology is exploring an international listing.

About Cryptology Asset Group p.l.c.

Cryptology is a leading European crypto asset and venture investment company. Founded by Christian Angermayer’s family office, Apeiron Investment Group and crypto-legend Mike Novogratz, Cryptology is the largest publicly traded holding company for blockchain- and crypto-based business models in Europe. Noteworthy portfolio companies include crypto-giant and EOS publisher block.one, leading HPC provider Northern Data, commission-free online broker nextmarkets, and crypto asset management group Iconic Holding.

Japan’s VAIO, a leader in innovative technology, unleashes the first 3-D molded, carbon fiber laptop in the world

VAIO® Build The World’s First[1] Contoured Carbon Fiber Laptop


The new VAIO®Z has a lighter yet durable design engineered with VAIO® TruePerformance to make mobile computing effortless.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 18 February 2021 – VAIO® is the first company in the world to successfully mass produce a 3-D molded, carbon fiber laptop with the Uni-direction carbon fiber. Using technology only previously available to the car racing industry, molded carbon fiber makes the new VAIO®Z lighter at just under 1kg^. Moreover, with all around carbon fiber protection, the VAIO®Z offers exceptional toughness, and its turbo charged with unprecedented speed. In fact, the new VAIO®Z features the same powerful processing speed previously only found in the PCs of the most demanding fields.

Although previously gaining popularity, mobile computing has never been more essential. With more professionals and students having to work and collaborate remotely these days, their mobile computing needs have increased.

Of course, there are inherent risks with mobility as seen with mobile phone usage, for example. Everyone is well acquainted with the challenge of keeping mobile devices from getting damaged and now, more so with laptops. Both have become indispensable investments that make work, learning and connecting socially possible. So, when they are damaged, it can disrupt users’ needs.

The new VAIO®Z was designed for today’s mobile computing needs. The VAIO®Z’s lighter yet more durable design makes mobility less cumbersome, more practical and safer for work and learning needs.

No more having to carry a heavy laptop from place to place or even room to room. No more worrying that this valued work partner and learning tool will get damaged, and no more worrying about securing your privacy.

The VAIO®Z offers incredible power through 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H series processors and new Intel® integrated graphics on its 14-inch, high-def 4k LCD panel.

Additional features include crystal clear sound with Dolby Audio speakers. No more struggling to hear teammates or teachers on video conferencing calls.

Camera shutter and mic mute shortcuts for privacy, 180-degree open/close screen for easy collaboration and increased battery life to keep you connected for hours.

Plus, the VAIO®Z will get to know you. It is VAIO® User Sensing engineering combines human sensing technology and biometrics to make the VAIO®Z a truly personal experience. The VAIO®Z uses face authentication to log you in when you are seated before it, and it keeps you logged as long as you are seated in front of it. No more having to remember your password or worrying someone will use it. When you are away, it locks automatically to secure your privacy.

Kaoru Hayashi, Director, Vice President and Head of PC Business at VAIO® Corporation proudly states, “It is with great pleasure that we introduce VAIO®Z to the world. With over a decade of relentless carbon fiber research, VAIO has succeeded in creating and mass producing the world’s first 3D molded full carbon chassis for laptop PCs.

VAIO has developed a unique process of working with carbon fiber to achieve beautifully contoured lines and the flexible molding of carbon fiber, that was previously difficult to mass produce. The achievement of harnessing carbon fiber’s full potential of lightness and durability is both revolutionary and evolutionary as we continue looking ahead. With this evolution, the new VAIO®Z offers exceptional performance, lightness, endurance, now with true ruggedness, and without compromise, all converging into one elegant design. With VAIO®Z as our flagship model, we hope it is the start of VAIO®’s future array of laptop PC developments.

We also want to use this proud moment to share VAIO®’s redefined mission. Like VAIO®Z, we have reshaped our mission statement to show our commitment to our technical ingenuity that is deeply engrained in our DNA. Therefore, our renewed mission statement is “Illuminate your spirit with VAIO. Accelerating innovation through design and technology.”

Our vision is to make VAIO® PCs a valued partner to customers who, like VAIO®, are the world’s innovators, creators, and relentless leaders in their fields. It is our hope that our VAIO® PCs become an enduring presence that inspires our customers as they forge ahead to meet and exceed their goals no matter the challenge.

VAIO®Z Launch Event Link: https://youtu.be/AzySaBo-_5w

Photo Download Link: http://bit.ly/2LZy29B

For further product information, please visit https://hk.vaio.com, registered as VAIO® Member bit.ly/vaiomy_reg


[1] Made with the material that has been three-dimensionally molded on all sides of a laptop PC housing. Confirmed by Stella Associa. January 6, 2021

^ Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability

About VAIO Corporation

VAIO’s HQ and factory are located in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by beautiful forest and mountains known as the Japanese Alps. VAIO®Z innovations were born here, and all VAIO®Z’s are shipped directly to the world from here. VAIO will continue to strive in delivering cutting-edge computing experiences, so that, “Made by VAIO in Azumino, Nagano, Japan” is equated with innovation.”

VAIO Corporation, which inherited the VAIO PC business from Sony Corporation, was established on July 1, 2014, headquartered in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. VAIO Corporation is dedicated to planning design, development, manufacturing and sale of PCs and related products labelled with the VAIO trademark.

About Nexstgo Company Limited

Established in 2016, Nexstgo Company Limited was co-founded by Mr. Wilson Leung, Chairman & CEO, Alco Holdings Limited (SEHK: 0328), and Mr. Alex Chung, out of a shared passion and pursuit of quality tech-innovation. Nexstgo is committed to bringing new revolutionary experiences in technology through introducing a wide product range. In June 2018, Nexstgo was authorized by VAIO Corporation to participate in the production, sales, marketing and after-sales services of VAIO notebook products in Asia, covering markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East, and India.

www.nexstgo.com

The new VAIO®Z has a lighter yet durable design

VAIO® Build The World’s First[1] Contoured Carbon Fiber Laptop


Japan’s VAIO®, a leader in innovative technology, unleashes the first 3-D molded, carbon fiber laptop in the world

Engineered with VAIO TruePerformance to make mobile computing effortless

DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach – 18 February 2021 – VAIO® is the first company in the world to successfully mass produce a 3-D molded, carbon fiber laptop with the Uni-direction carbon fiber. Using technology only previously available to the car racing industry, molded carbon fiber makes the new VAIO®Z lighter at just under 1kg^. Moreover, with all around carbon fiber protection, the VAIO®Z offers exceptional toughness, and its turbo charged with unprecedented speed. In fact, the new VAIO®Z features the same powerful processing speed previously only found in the PCs of the most demanding fields.

Although previously gaining popularity, mobile computing has never been more essential. With more professionals and students having to work and collaborate remotely these days, their mobile computing needs have increased.

Of course, there are inherent risks with mobility as seen with mobile phone usage, for example. Everyone is well acquainted with the challenge of keeping mobile devices from getting damaged and now, more so with laptops. Both have become indispensable investments that make work, learning and connecting socially possible. So, when they are damaged, it can disrupt users’ needs.

The new VAIO®Z was designed for today’s mobile computing needs. The VAIO®Z’s lighter yet more durable design makes mobility less cumbersome, more practical and safer for work and learning needs.

No more having to carry a heavy laptop from place to place or even room to room. No more worrying that this valued work partner and learning tool will get damaged, and no more worrying about securing your privacy.

The VAIO®Z offers incredible power through 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H series processors and new Intel® integrated graphics on its 14-inch, high-def 4k LCD panel.

Additional features include crystal clear sound with Dolby Audio speakers. No more struggling to hear teammates or teachers on video conferencing calls.

Camera shutter and mic mute shortcuts for privacy, 180-degree open/close screen for easy collaboration and increased battery life to keep you connected for hours.

Plus, the VAIO®Z will get to know you. It is VAIO® User Sensing engineering combines human sensing technology and biometrics to make the VAIO®Z a truly personal experience. The VAIO®Z uses face authentication to log you in when you are seated before it, and it keeps you logged as long as you are seated in front of it. No more having to remember your password or worrying someone will use it. When you are away, it locks automatically to secure your privacy.

Kaoru Hayashi, Director, Vice President and Head of PC Business at VAIO® Corporation proudly states, “It is with great pleasure that we introduce VAIO®Z to the world. With over a decade of relentless carbon fiber research, VAIO has succeeded in creating and mass producing the world’s first 3D molded full carbon chassis for laptop PCs.

VAIO has developed a unique process of working with carbon fiber to achieve beautifully contoured lines and the flexible molding of carbon fiber, that was previously difficult to mass produce. The achievement of harnessing carbon fiber’s full potential of lightness and durability is both revolutionary and evolutionary as we continue looking ahead. With this evolution, the new VAIO®Z offers exceptional performance, lightness, endurance, now with true ruggedness, and without compromise, all converging into one elegant design. With VAIO®Z as our flagship model, we hope it is the start of VAIO®’s future array of laptop PC developments.

We also want to use this proud moment to share VAIO®’s redefined mission. Like VAIO®Z, we have reshaped our mission statement to show our commitment to our technical ingenuity that is deeply engrained in our DNA. Therefore, our renewed mission statement is “Illuminate your spirit with VAIO. Accelerating innovation through design and technology.”

Our vision is to make VAIO® PCs a valued partner to customers who, like VAIO®, are the world’s innovators, creators, and relentless leaders in their fields. It is our hope that our VAIO® PCs become an enduring presence that inspires our customers as they forge ahead to meet and exceed their goals no matter the challenge.

VAIO®Z Launch Event Link: https://youtu.be/wsOjBEXxeYo

Photo Downloading Link: http://bit.ly/2LZy29B

For further product information, please visit https://hk.vaio.com, registered as VAIO® Member bit.ly/vaiome_reg



[1] Made with the material that has been three-dimensionally molded on all sides of a laptop PC housing. Confirmed by Stella Associa. January 6, 2021

^ Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability

About VAIO Corporation

VAIO’s HQ and factory are located in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by beautiful forest and mountains known as the Japanese Alps. VAIO®Z innovations were born here, and all VAIO®Z’s are shipped directly to the world from here. VAIO will continue to strive in delivering cutting-edge computing experiences, so that, “Made by VAIO in Azumino, Nagano, Japan” is equated with innovation.”

VAIO Corporation, which inherited the VAIO PC business from Sony Corporation, was established on July 1, 2014, headquartered in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. VAIO Corporation is dedicated to planning design, development, manufacturing and sale of PCs and related products labelled with the VAIO trademark.

About Nexstgo Company Limited

Established in 2016, Nexstgo Company Limited was co-founded by Mr. Wilson Leung, Chairman & CEO, Alco Holdings Limited (SEHK: 0328), and Mr. Alex Chung, out of a shared passion and pursuit of quality tech-innovation. Nexstgo is committed to bringing new revolutionary experiences in technology through introducing a wide product range. In June 2018, Nexstgo was authorized by VAIO Corporation to participate in the production, sales, marketing and after-sales services of VAIO notebook products in Asia, covering markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East, and India.

www.nexstgo.com