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HDBank gets US$50 million from French development agency to finance green projects

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 17 September 2021 – Proparco, the French Development Finance Institution, has granted a US$50 million loan to HDBank to finance green projects and promote sustainable development in Vietnam.

It marks the first collaboration between Proparco and HDBank.

A pioneer in green lending, HDBank has in past years helped foster Việt Nam’s economic development while minimising the impacts on the environment.

The loan will help the bank get closer to international standards in green credit.

All projects funded by HDBank satisfy green criteria such as reducing energy consumption, reducing CO2 emissions, reducing pollution, and targeting sustainable growth.

Green projects promise to create more than 1,350 direct and indirect jobs over the coming years.

They will contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Pham Quoc Thanh, Chief Executive Officer of HDBank stated: “Being one of the pioneer bank in Vietnam in green credit, HDBank is strongly committed to boost economic and social development while minimizing environmental effects.  We are confident that the facility will move HDBank a step closer towards international standards on the green credit. We are pleased to have further collaboration with Proparco as well as other development institutions to promote the sustainable development of Vietnam.”

Based on their common views on sustainable development, creating long-term values for the economy and community and society, the two sides promised to have more strategic cooperation in future.

Since 2018 HDBank has been financing green projects to support high-tech agriculture and renewable energy.

As of August 31 this year its outstanding loans to green projects were worth nearly VND13.5 trillion (US$593.2 million).

Through its green credit programme, HDBank not only provides customers with the best financial solutions but also targets sustainable values, promotes renewable energy, ensures the national energy security, supports hi-tech agriculture, and contributes to environmental protection.

HDBank was the first member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to receive the Green Deal Award, a recognition for its notable achievements in green finance while participating in the ADB Trade Finance Programme.

HDBank was also voted by readers of Vietnam Economic Times as the Best Bank for Green Credit Financing in 2019.

#HDBank

Laos to Vaccinate Final Year Secondary School Students

Laos to Vaccinate Final Year Secondary School Students
School students in Laos (Photo: Xinhua)

The Lao Ministry of Health has officially approved vaccinations for people aged 17 years and above under certain conditions.

Preface, the Hong Kong-based EdTech Company, Sees 500% YoY Surge in Revenue, Overcoming Impact of Pandemic

Series A Funding Completed to Fuel Growth in Coding Education Cultivate Future Global Talents, Build Coding as Universal Language

TOKYO, JAPAN and LONDON, UK – Media OutReach – 17 September 2021 – Preface, the Hong Kong-based EdTech company, has announced the completion of its Series A funding from prominent investor Sunlink Holdings (H.K.) Limited. The company will use the latest round of funding to further develop its business in major cities including Hong Kong, Tokyo and London, with a determination to popularise coding knowledge and make it a universal language. Preface aims to equip the new generation with this key language for a better future.

Tommie Lo (front row, second left), Founder and CEO of Preface, and the Management Team

    

The global EdTech industry continues on a sharp growth path and is now worth more than US$100 billion. Despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic, Preface has seen a continued improvement in its performance, with year-on-year revenue growth of 500% over the past 12 months.

 

Tommie Lo, Founder and CEO of Preface, said: “Coding will become the universal language of the future. Trusted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UNESCO in the provision of programming education, Preface offers award-winning programming curricula to global academia and leading multinational corporations. Through the high-mobility classroom model we are initiating, our goal is to equip future talents with this key language.”

 

“We are very excited to support Preface in its Series A round of funding. In the digital transformation era, education has become one of the fastest-changing landscapes and we see enormous potential for the business. We trust that a forward-looking company like Preface can revolutionise the education industry through their innovative approach,” said Angus Chan, COO and CFO of Sunlink Holdings (H.K.) Limited.

 

With the digitisation of society, cultivating global coding talents has become the responsibility of education

As the first Asian teaching platform to win an award at “EdTechXEurope”, the world’s largest education summits, Preface Coding by Preface is committed to nurturing talents and cooperating with universities around the world, such as MIT and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States. Preface has also designed official coding courses for top-ranked universities and co-organised seminars and workshops with multinational technology companies and non-profit organisations. Preface has now trained more than 10,000 students around the world.

 

Decentralised Classroom – solving issues raised by traditional education model and fuelling innovation technology

Preface’s innovative teaching concept, the “Decentralised Classroom” delivery model, emphasises that education should not be restricted by time and place. Students from Preface are able to choose how and where to attend their coding courses as they prefer, receiving teaching materials according to real–time analysis and being matched with teachers through AI technology.

 

About Preface

Founded with a vision that personalised education is for all, EdTech company Preface is committed to liberate knowledge and promote coding as the future’s universal language. As an award-winning coding education company, Preface reshapes both the teaching and learning experience by providing personalised classes. Our businesses are across Hong Kong, Tokyo and London, with a focus on the coding education platform Preface Coding and F&B and lifestyle concept space Preface Coffee & Wine. Stay up to date at www.preface.ai

#Preface

Detainee Infected with Covid-19 On The Run in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

A prisoner undergoing treatment for Covid-19 has fled from hospital in Luang Prabang province.

Vientiane Capital Bans Travel to Provinces with Severe Covid-19 Outbreaks

Vientiane police out in force

Vientiane Capital has issued a notice restricting interprovincial travel, with those entering the capital from certain provinces now required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Laos Records Over 200 Cases of Community Spread of Covid-19

Covid-19 Update Laos

The Covid Taskforce reported that 4,690 tests were conducted over the last 24 hours, with 288 new cases of Covid-19 recorded.

Khammouane Goes Into Full Lockdown with Range of New Penalties for Violators

Khammouane goes into full lockdown
Khammouane goes into full lockdown (Photo: Laos Travel)

Khammouane Province has imposed stringent lockdown restrictions with heavy fines against violators as the province tries to control the worsening community spread of Covid-19.

Prince Group Joins Asia’s Responsible Enterprise Club

NGO Enterprise Asia picks Prince Group in Cambodia for Social Empowerment award; Organizer receives more than 500 entries

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Media OutReach – 17 September 2021 – Prince Holding Group (“Prince Group”), one of Cambodia’s largest and fastest growing conglomerates, has been recognized for responsible entrepreneurship at the 2021 Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA). Prince Group was commended for its high-impact work during the COVID-19 epidemic in Cambodia. Being the fifth award received by Prince Group this year, regional and international judging panels have highlighted the company as a leading Asian business championing sustainable development in Cambodia and across the ASEAN region.

Established in 2011, AREA seeks to identify examples of green leadership, investment in people, health promotion, social empowerment, corporate governance, circular economy leadership and responsible business leadership. It has worked to create a community of like-minded peers so that the best businesses in Asia learn from one another, with Prince Group now joining the list. It aims to promote corporate activity in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Other AREA awardees include Foxconn Education Foundation, WPP India Foundation and King Power International Co., Ltd.  Prince Group was recognized under the Social Empowerment category for a multi-sector response that saw it carry out rapid and coordinated activity involving a partnership of business units, governmental departments and non-governmental organizations. Previously, Prince Group was also recognized for its COVID-19 corporate response in the Stevie Awards Asia Pacific while Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Group, won Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2021 International Business Awards.

Over the past year, the Group has launched the Chen Zhi Scholarship program for 400 Cambodian university students alongside the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS), contributed US$1 million in aid to civil society organizations better placed to make an impact in rural areas, donated US$6 million to the Cambodian government’s anti-pandemic efforts including the purchase of 1 million COVID-19 vaccines, and organized several rounds of COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure 3,500+ employees were fully vaccinated. Focusing on Cambodia’s post-pandemic recovery, the Group began work on Ream City, an 834-hectare coastal development project with a masterplan by Singapore’s Surbana Jurong, aiming to transform Sihanoukville with a sustainable ecosystem of tourism, commercial and residential activity with the potential to house up to 130,000 residents. 

“Prince Group, leveraging the work of Prince Foundation, has consistently worked to ensure our commercial and philanthropic operations work in tandem to make a difference to our employees, residents in Cambodia and the environment,” said Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Group. “We will continue to work hard to raise Cambodia’s profile internationally and learn from our peers across the region as we look to rebuild to deliver a sustainable and resilient future.”

Over the years, Prince Group has invested more than US$2 billion in local projects and the conglomerate will continue to affirm its long-term commitment to Cambodia in various ways on a continuous basis.

About Prince Holding Group:

Prince Holding Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia, with its various units focusing on three core areas: real estate development, financial services and consumer services.

Prince Holding Group’s key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, Cambodia Airways, Belt Road Capital Management, as well as Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 80 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, aviation, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, and lifestyle sectors etc.

Rising foreign direct investment, free trade agreements with leading countries and future participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are expected to act as key drivers for the Cambodian economy, supported by pro-industry policy initiatives by the government.

Leveraging a network of industrial, business and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group has laid the foundation to be a vital conduit for local and international capital. The Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia. For example, Prince Holding Group is developing Ream City, an upcoming tourism and residential project that will be one of Cambodia’s first sustainable real estate projects, aiming to secure $16 billion in total investment for the region. Located conveniently within a 10-minute drive from the Sihanoukville International Airport, the project aims to contribute to economic recovery in Sihanoukville.

About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)

The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards programme recognises and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.

#PrinceHoldingGroup