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TOJOY Participates in Malaysia Smart Nation Expo to Foster China-Malaysia (ASEAN) Business Opportunities


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – TOJOY Shared Smart Enterprise Services, a leading entrepreneur resource-sharing platform headquartered in China, is pleased to announce its inaugural participation in Southeast Asia’s largest technology event, the Smart Nation Expo 2024, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This delegation comprises distinguished innovative enterprises, traditional entrepreneurs, and investors from China, who will engage in meaningful discussions and exchanges with local stakeholders across various sectors.

In his speech, Mr GE Jun, the Chairman of the Board and CEO of TOJOY, emphasized the importance of leveraging Malaysia’s unique position as a gateway between the world and Southeast Asia to promote global growth and foster collaborative opportunities across various fields.

In his speech themed "Embracing Platform, Shaping A Shared Futured," Mr GE Jun highlighted Malaysia's advantages, including its linguistic diversity, rich cultural background, and world-class ports, make Malaysia an exceptionally appealing investment destination

Unlocking Malaysia’s Strategic Development Potential
Mr GE Jun led a delegation of 8 high-quality Chinese innovative enterprises to Malaysia, engaging in projects across various sectors, including AI health examinations, AI-driven education ,entertainment, residential water treatment, automotive cleaning robots, traditional Chinese wellness therapies and biopharmaceuticals。Each of these companies presents innovative solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of modern society, offering new development opportunities for the Southeast Asian market. Mr GE Jun stated that these innovative companies, along with traditional entrepreneurs and investors with them, are eager and confident about entering the Southeast Asian market.

In his speech themed “Embracing Platform, Shaping A Shared Futured,” Mr GE Jun highlighted Malaysia’s advantages, including its linguistic diversity, rich cultural background, and world-class ports. He noted that these factors, combined with a series of government incentive programs designed to attract foreign investment, make Malaysia an exceptionally appealing investment destination.

China and Malaysia share similar cultural backgrounds, which enhance business interactions between the two regions. This cultural synergy facilitates easier market entry for Chinese entrepreneurs in Malaysia, allowing them to establish stronger partnerships. In his speech, Mr GE Jun remarked on the significance of social media platforms such as TikTok and Xiaohongshu in Malaysia, which serve to bridge cultural differences and support effective marketing strategies.

Committed to Fostering the Malaysia-China Partnership

Mr GE Jun stated, “Malaysia’s unique position enables it to serve as a bridge connecting Southeast Asia with China and other markets. TOJOY is committed to establishing strong connections on this platform to promote mutual growth between the Southeast Asian market and Chinese enterprises while exploring new models of win-win collaboration.”

Additionally, Smart Nation has awarded the ” Gold Sponsor Award ” to Mr GE Jun, acknowledging TOJOY and Mr GE Jun’s leadership and efforts in fostering collaboration between businesses in Malaysia and China. This prestigious award reflects the significant impact that TOJOY has made in enhancing bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

Hashtag: #TOJOY

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

About TOJOY and Mr GE Jun

Mr GE Jun brings extensive experience from his time at leading technology companies such as Apple, Intel Corp, and NVIDIA. His international background provides him with a unique perspective on the future of TOJOY, and he is dedicated to promoting international business collaboration while fostering partnerships between China, Malaysia, and the broader Southeast Asia region.

Established in 2011, TOJOY has been providing precise resource matching for innovative enterprises and offering solutions for business expansion and marketing promotion over the years. The company is dedicated to fostering co-creation, sharing, and mutual success between traditional and innovative enterprises, as well as helping traditional businesses transform and seize market opportunities.

Laos to Suspend Alluvial Gold Mining, PM Says

Laos to Suspend Alluvial Gold Mining, PM Says

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone stressed the government’s increased efforts to tackle the detrimental environmental effects of development projects, particularly mining, in response to ongoing concerns raised by members of the National Assembly.

Singapore Achieves Progress in Sustainability Reporting, Outperforming Global Benchmarks

  • Singapore is one of only seven countries globally where all top 100 companies report on sustainability, surpassing the global average of 79 percent.
  • Singapore’s top 100 companies outperformed global benchmarks in six of 12 key sustainability reporting indicators, including board-level accountability, ESG integration and climate risk recognition.
  • 76 percent of Singapore companies now recognise climate change as a financial risk, well above the global average of 55 percent and up from 49 percent in 2022.
  • However, the percentage of Singapore companies seeking assurance for their sustainability information (37 percent) remains below the global average of 54 percent.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – Singapore’s top 100 companies have made significant strides in sustainability reporting for 2024, exceeding global averages across six of twelve key indicators (see Table 1). The city-state is also uniquely positioned as one of only seven countries globally where all top 100 companies report on sustainability, in contrast to a global average of 79 percent.

The findings come from KPMG’s 2024 Survey of Sustainability Reporting, which examines the sustainability reporting approaches of the largest 100 companies (termed ‘N100’) in 58 countries or jurisdictions, representing a total of 5,800 companies.

Notably, Singapore’s top 100 companies demonstrated significant progress in three key areas compared to 2022, further surpassing global averages in these domains:

  • Climate Change as a Financial Risk: 76 percent of Singapore’s top 100 companies now recognise climate change as a financial risk to their business, a considerable rise from 49 percent in 2022. This also exceeds the 2024 global average of 55 percent, underscoring a broader corporate acknowledgment of climate-related risks.
  • Strengthening Governance Leadership: The proportion of companies with a board or leadership representative responsible for sustainability governance rose to 55 percent in 2024, up from 35 percent in 2022. This increase highlights an enhanced commitment to embedding sustainability principles within corporate leadership.
  • Integration of ESG in Reporting: 84 percent of Singapore companies now integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information into their annual reports, up from 68 percent in 2022. This achievement also stands well ahead of the 2024 global average of 62 percent, emphasising stronger corporate integration of sustainability disclosures.

Cherine Fok, Partner, ESG Consulting, KPMG in Singapore, said:

“This year’s data marks a pivotal moment for sustainability reporting in Singapore, showcasing significant progress in how companies address climate-related risks. The increase from 49 percent in 2022 to 76 percent of firms recognising climate change as a financial concern highlights a deepening corporate understanding of its pervasive impact on business resilience and value creation.

This advancement has been driven by the strong alignment between public and private sector initiatives. Government-led efforts, such as the impending adoption of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards in 2025, have set a clear framework for corporate transparency, while the rise in board-level responsibility and the integration of ESG factors into annual reports—now at 84 percent compared to 68 percent two years ago—reflects growing accountability at leadership levels.

However, there are areas that warrant further attention. Challenges in quantifying climate risks, obtaining third-party assurance, and linking sustainability metrics to executive remuneration present key opportunities for improvement. For instance, independent assurance can offer an impartial perspective that builds trust among investors and partners while clarifying an organisation’s long-term ESG strategy. The slight dip in companies tying sustainability to pay may reflect boards exercising caution around disclosure, particularly as climate-linked remuneration becomes a disclosure requirement under the ISSB framework, prompting strategic recalibrations.

Emerging areas such as biodiversity and social-related risk categories are also gaining traction. Initiatives like the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association’s biodiversity workstream and national movements such as Forward Singapore provide platforms for progress. Globally, forthcoming reporting standards are poised to enhance disclosures on these topics. While the Sustainable Development Goals serve as an overarching aspirational framework, companies might choose to adopt more specific standards like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) for detailed guidance.

To sustain this momentum, Singapore must pivot challenges into strengths, leveraging innovation, collaboration, and cultural transformation to embed sustainability at the core of business strategies. Tools like KPMG’s ESG Assurance Maturity Index can help companies better navigate the evolving landscape of reporting, regulations, and insights, ensuring they remain positioned for leadership in corporate sustainability.”

Performance against global averages

Singapore’s top 100 companies outpaced global benchmarks in six sustainability reporting indicators. Key areas include the acknowledgment of climate change as a financial risk, identification of material topics, inclusion of ESG information in annual reports, reporting of carbon reduction targets, and governance leadership.

However, some aspects of sustainability reporting show room for improvement. For instance, 38 percent of Singapore companies now link sustainability to executive remuneration, reflecting a decrease from 67 percent in 2022, though still notably ahead of the global average of 30 percent. In addition, 37 percent of Singapore’s top 100 companies have sought assurance for their ESG or sustainability-related information, an encouraging increase from 2022, though below the global standard of 54 percent. Singapore’s progress in sustainability reporting can be expanded further in areas such as integrated reporting, alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, enhanced biodiversity disclosures, and addressing social and governance-related risks. These dimensions present opportunities to build on Singapore’s strong foundations and drive continued improvement in corporate sustainability practices.

Table 1: Results of sustainability key data points by N100 companies in Singapore versus global average

No Key data points Global average (2022) Singapore results (2022) Global average (2024) Singapore results (2024)
1 ANNUAL REPORT

(number of companies that include ESG/Sustainability information in their annual report)

60% 68%

Medium/High

62% 84%

High

2 INTEGRATED REPORT

(number of companies that state that it follows the International <Integrated Reporting > Framework)

22% 9%

Medium/High

19% 7%

Medium/Low

3 ASSURANCE

(number of companies that seek assurance for their ESG/Sustainability information)

47% 26%

Medium/Low

54% 37%

Medium/Low

4 MATERIALITY

(number of companies that identify material topics)

71% 100%

High

79% 96%

High

5 SDG

(number of companies that identify specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it considers most relevant to the business)

71% 69%

Medium/High

75% 69%

Medium/High

6 CARBON TARGET

(number of companies that report carbon reduction targets)

71% 78%

High

80% 81%

Medium/High

7 BIODIVERSITY

(number of companies that recognize the loss of biodiversity/nature as a risk to the business)

40% 34%

Medium/High

49% 30%

Medium/Low

8 CLIMATE RELATED RISK

(number of companies that acknowledge climate change as a financial risk to business)

46% 49%

Medium/High

55% 76%

High

9 SOCIAL RELATED RISK

(number of companies that acknowledge social elements as a financial risk to business)

43% 34%

Medium/Low

51% 45%

Medium/Low

10 GOVERNANCE RELATED RISK

(number of companies that acknowledge governance elements as a financial risk to business)

41% 41%

Medium/High

51% 44%

Medium/Low

11 GOVERNANCE

(number of companies with dedicated member of the Board and/or leadership team responsible for sustainability)

34% 35%

Medium/High

46% 55%

Medium/High

12 GOVERNANCE

(number of companies that included sustainability within compensation)

24% 67%

High

30% 38%

Medium/High

Legend:
For each data point, the country has been ranked and grouped into one of four quartiles:
Top quartile (High) = Countries ranked 1 – 15
Middle – high quartile (Medium/High) = Countries ranked 16 – 30
Low – middle quartile (Medium/Low) = Countries ranked 31 – 44
Bottom quartile (Low) = Countries ranked 45 – 58

KPMG 2024 Survey of Sustainability Reporting

Globally, the findings of KPMG’s Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2024 indicate six major trends:

  1. Reporting on sustainability and setting carbon targets has become part of business as usual. Both sustainability reporting and carbon targets have been adopted by almost all of the G250 global group of companies and four-fifths of the N100 groups.
  2. Some companies have already changed practices in advance of the move to mandatory reporting on sustainability under the EU’s CSRD. The directive applies to an initial group of companies for reports on financial years ending from 31 December 2024, with some having until 2029 to publish their first compliant reports. However, some companies, mainly European-headquartered or with activities in Europe, are already preparing for CSRD such as by reporting material topics in accordance with the ESRS. Nearly half of European companies in the research already make disclosures using the EU Taxonomy.
  3. Double materiality, required under CSRD, is now used by half of the largest companies. Nearly four-fifths of both the G250 and N100 groups use materiality assessments. The larger G250 companies are more likely to use double materiality processes that assess both impacts on society and the environment and how this affects their financial performance. Double materiality is the most complete form of materiality assessment and is a cornerstone of compliance with the EU’s CSRD, so some of those adopting it are likely to be doing so to prepare for it becoming mandatory.
  4. Despite moves towards mandatory reporting, voluntary guidelines and standards remain widely-used. GRI remains the most popular standard, with three-quarters of G250 companies using it and nearly as high a proportion of the N100 groups. There have been bigger increases in use for both SASB and stock exchange guidelines over the last two years, although from lower bases. Their adoption varies significantly by country and region, with all surveyed companies in Saudi Arabia using its stock exchange guidelines and two-thirds of those in the Americas using SASB.
  5. Reporting on biodiversity continues to increase. Around half of both the G250 and N100 groups now report on biodiversity, up from around one-quarter four years ago, although growth has been slower in the last two years. Significant differences between regions on adoption rates found two years ago have narrowed since, with companies in the Middle East and Africa moving closer to the global average.
  6. Adoption of TCFD recommendations continues to rise. Nearly three-quarters of G250 companies report climate risks in line with TCFD.

The world is facing complex climate, social and geopolitical issues and addressing ESG priorities is more important than ever. The last two years have seen some companies and investors weakening and, in some cases, abandoning ESG commitments. However, KPMG’s Survey of Sustainability Reporting shows that the largest companies worldwide are engaged with at least some elements of its agenda, such as, by setting carbon reduction targets.

John McCalla-Leacy, Head of Global ESG at KPMG International, said:

“KPMG’s findings – and the fact that there are more sustainability leaders within executive teams at the boardroom than ever before – are clear evidence that we’re making solid progress on the journey toward greater transparency and positive corporate actions to address environmental, societal and governance challenges. An increasing number of today’s investors are now taking non-financial data just as seriously as financial data. The mainstream view today is that businesses that measure and report ESG risks – clearly and in-depth – are also likely to manage these risks better and deliver greater long-term value.

“2025 is slated to be a milestone year for sustainability reporting. The Survey of Sustainability Reporting shows that companies are addressing the challenges and getting ahead of the new rules and regulatory frameworks. We are making noticeable progress with ESG reporting in a way that supports short-term and long-term business objectives. With years of analysis on the books, we are building an evidence base which shows how a robust sustainability reporting ecosystem helps businesses not only measure progress on executing their ESG strategy, but also drives value while mobilising capital markets to help support the development of ever-increasing much-needed solutions to the many environmental and societal issues we face. The business world is making progress. Let’s keep going.”

Jan-Hendrik Gnändiger, Head of Global ESG Advisory at KPMG International, commented:

“Our research shows that sustainability reporting has become part of business as usual for almost all of the world’s largest 250 companies and a large majority of the top 100 companies in each country, territory or jurisdiction. The last two years have also seen significant increases in the proportion of companies publishing carbon reduction targets to levels equivalent to those for sustainability reporting. The proportion of companies reporting on biodiversity remains lower but has similarly increased since 2022. While next year will see some companies having to report on sustainability, our research shows that many others are commencing or increasing their work in this area voluntarily. There are excellent reasons to do so, whether to prepare for mandatory requirements or to offer better information to investors, customers, employees, regulators or other stakeholders.”

About the KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting

This survey is based on detailed research by KPMG professionals representing 58 member firms, with each reviewing annual financial, integrated and ESG/sustainability reporting published by the largest 100 companies in their countries, territories and jurisdictions. With data from 5,800 companies, this year’s survey is the same size as 2022’s.

This makes it jointly the most comprehensive in the series, which has run since 1993. For each company, staff at a KPMG member firm have examined its most recent available report to gather up to 52 pieces of data using a standard questionnaire.

The responses from each country, territory and jurisdiction have been combined into a single dataset of more than 180,000 items which has been validated and analyzed to produce the results.

This report also draws on the expertise of KPMG subject matter specialists worldwide through interviews and other input. We have drawn primarily on reports published between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. If a company did not report during this period we have used reports published since 1 July 2022 at the earliest.

If a subsidiary company reports on sustainability only through its parent or group company, we leverage the KPMG network and apply the parent company results to the subsidiaries as well. For example, in more than one case the group sustainability results for an international food and drink manufacturer have also been applied to some of its national subsidiaries.

Survey findings are based purely on analysis of publicly available information. No information was submitted directly by companies to KPMG firms.
Hashtag: #KPMG

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

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 273,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

For more detail about our structure, please visit .

Earn Rewards while Exercising | Five activities to Earn Sweat Points


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – The cashback model has gained popularity over the last decade, and Live4Well has recently enhanced this idea by introducing the VIV PASS ecosystem for exercise rewards. This innovative approach enables users to earn Sweat Points just by working out, without needing to make any purchases. Since its launch in 2023, Live4Well has built a community of over 250,000 users and formed partnerships with more than 200 brands, including gyms such as 24/7 Fitness, Anytime Fitness, World GYM, and Fit24. This initiative is fostering a new fitness culture that prioritizes flexibility and eliminates contracts.

Live4Well Five Activities to Earn Sweat Points
Live4Well Five Activities to Earn Sweat Points

Ultimate Points-Earning Guide | Steps to Sweat & Earn

Step 1: Register Live4Well Account (3 Minutes)

(1) Download the Live4Well App (Apple Store) | (Play Store)

(2) Create Account – Enter email to register, or sign up using Google or Apple account. A verification code will be sent to the registered email (check the spam folder if needed). Copy the code and paste it in the app to complete the registration.

(3) Set Up Profile – Fill in basic information, including name and password. Be sure to enter the invitation code to receive a fantastic welcome points package! (Code: L4WPR2024)

(4) Create Health Database – Input the height, weight, and other health details.

(5) Set Up an Encrypted Wallet – Unlocking wallet will provide access to additional redemption options. This step can be skipped for later set up.

Step 2: Earn Points

The current plan allows global users to participate with no barriers. Five main activities earn Sweat Points:

(1) Daily Exercise: Complete daily walking for calorie-burning challenges. Sync the health data by clicking the update icon in the top left corner. The points will be added when targets are met.

(2) Participate in Competitions: Upload proof of participation in specified sports activities along with the required information. Points will be granted after the details are being verified.

(3) Purchase Health & Fitness Products & Services: Submit receipts of specified sports or health-related purchases and the necessary information. Points will be awarded after submission is approved.

(4) Personal Trainer Certificates: Upload any valid personal trainer certificates and earn points after approval.

(5) In-App Gamified Exercise Training: Users earn points by completing the in-app exercise challenges.

Creating a Sustainable Exercise Reward Ecosystem and Establishing a Pioneer Position in the Sports Market

Exercise rewards are a key component of Live4Well‘s vision to build a sustainable reward ecosystem that consistently adds value for both merchants and users. Every user who registers for free will receive an entry level Earth VIV PASS, providing access to enjoy the aforementioned earning rights. The real excitement lies in the option to upgrade to a Galaxy VIV PASS, which unlocks all features of the Live4Well app.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Galaxy level is its AI-driven gamified workout training system. This feature allows users to engage in fitness games across eight virtual planets anytime and anywhere, all while earning significant rewards.

When it comes to redeeming points, Earth level users can exchange their points for rewards through brand collaborations organized by Live4Well. After upgrading, Galaxy level users gain access to the entire rewards marketplace, which includes offerings from over a thousand sports brands, health products, gym memberships, professional training courses, wellness programs, and personal training resources. This enables users to fully immerse themselves in the culture of “earning rewards while exercising.”

Points-Earning Tips

The Live4Well team highlights that the effectiveness of this ecosystem depends on strong user participation and brand engagement. Early-stage initiatives focus on attracting more fitness enthusiasts to increase the ecosystem’s appeal to sports brands. Users with previous records of sports competitions, purchases, or certificates should definitely join the ecosystem and actively redeem points; they are sure to be pleasantly surprised!
Hashtag: #Live4Well #VIVPASS #sweattoearn #web3 #sports #globalsportsalliance #wellness #NFT #sweatpoint





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

Incentivising Wellness Al & Sports Membership Platform

Live4Well aims to create a reward-driven wellness platforms that merges health and technology. Utilizing AI, we focus on both individual wellness and sports, fostering a community-based economy that incentivizes healthy behavior.

De Beers Group Proudly Supports The HKFDA 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner By Sponsoring Ten Natural Diamond Pins


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – De Beers Group proudly supported the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Fashion Visionaries Award 2024, taking place at Cloud 39 Ballroom, The Henderson, on November 26th.

De Beers Group proudly supports the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Fashion Visionaries Award 2024 by sponsoring ten pins, which can also be worn as pendants, each set with a 0.20 carat natural diamond.
De Beers Group proudly supports the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Fashion Visionaries Award 2024 by sponsoring ten pins, which can also be worn as pendants, each set with a 0.20 carat natural diamond.

Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) Chairman Kevin Yeung and De Beers Group Head of Natural Diamond Marketing APAC Loletta Lai
Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) Chairman Kevin Yeung and De Beers Group Head of Natural Diamond Marketing APAC Loletta Lai

Acknowledging the significant role that natural diamonds have played throughout history in fashion, art and culture, De Beers Group sponsored ten pins, each adorned with a 0.20 carat natural diamond as a tribute to those who embodied the spirit of innovation and creative expression. The natural diamond pins were presented to four international couture designers participating in the “VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture” fashion show, as well as six Fashion Visionaries 2024 awardees.

The four international couture designers (from left to right): Charles de Vilmorin from France, Mohamed Benchellal from the Netherlands, Cheney Chan from the mainland China, and Kay Kwok from Hong Kong
The four international couture designers (from left to right): Charles de Vilmorin from France, Mohamed Benchellal from the Netherlands, Cheney Chan from the mainland China, and Kay Kwok from Hong Kong

The six Fashion Visionaries 2024 awardees: (Row 1, from left to right) artist Angelababy, Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, and Marjorie Yang, chairman of Esquel Group. (Row 2, from left to right) Socialite Mira Yeh, the fashion brand pushBUTTON, and the digital fashion platform FabriX.
The six Fashion Visionaries 2024 awardees: (Row 1, from left to right) artist Angelababy, Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, and Marjorie Yang, chairman of Esquel Group. (Row 2, from left to right) Socialite Mira Yeh, the fashion brand pushBUTTON, and the digital fashion platform FabriX.

Through this partnership, De Beers Group aimed to foster a new generation of fashion and visionary creators who embraced bold aesthetics, sustainable practices, and cultural narratives, paving the way for a more conscious and dynamic future.
Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds #HKFDA

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

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo-American plc group. For further information, visit .

About Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA)

The Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) was founded in 1984 by a group of successful and enthusiastic local fashion designers. As a non-profit making and self-financed organization, it aims to unite fashion designers, with both professionalism and expertise, to develop and better both their careers and the industry with and beyond the territory.

With supports from the industry and fellow designers in the past years, the Association has evolved to a key platform to share ideas and experiences through organizing fashion events such as catwalk shows, exhibitions, seminars, interviews and group discussions. Reputed not only as an official unit of Hong Kong fashion elites who provides excellent services with expertise, the HKFDA joins its force to promote the industry with other organizations and hence is recognized as one of the leading fashion institutions in Hong Kong, the Mainland and other cities in the Asia Pacific region.

Amazon invested over S$2 billion in Singapore and enabled the creation of more than 10,000 indirect jobs in 2023

  • Amazon helps thousands of Singapore-based businesses to sell their products in the Amazon store.
  • Through Amazon Global Selling, Singapore selling partners can export their products to customers around the world on Amazon.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) enables thousands of Singapore customers to use the AWS Asia Pacific (Singapore) Region to digitally transform.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – Today, Amazon announced that it has invested more than S$2 billion across its retail and cloud businesses in Singapore in 2023. This includes both capital expenditure such as improvements to existing infrastructures, including fulfilment centers, delivery stations, and data centers, and operating expenditure towards technology, safety, expansion of programs for customers, delivery partners, small and medium businesses and employee compensation.

The company’s investment in Singapore supported more than 4,000 indirect jobs in areas like construction, logistics, and other professional services according to third-party consultancy firm Keystone Strategy. In addition, according to a survey conducted by Amazon, Singapore businesses selling on Amazon have created more than 6,000 jobs to support their Amazon-related business activities. In total, Amazon supported more than 10,000 indirect jobs in Singapore in 2023 alone.

Amazon’s local investment reflects the company’s continued commitment to create solutions and services that delight Singapore customers and contribute to the growth of Singapore businesses. “Since the start of our operations in Singapore in 2010 and the launch of Amazon.sg in 2019, we’ve been able to invest and grow our presence in the country with the support of our customers and selling partners,” said Peter Li, Director, China & Singapore, International Store, Amazon. “We’re humbled to see our investments unlock growth opportunities for businesses in Singapore and are proud to continue to support Singapore’s economy and digitization.”

Since the launch of Amazon Prime Now in 2017 (now renamed Amazon Fresh) and Amazon.sg in 2019, Amazon has continued to invest in its operations to offer a faster and more convenient shopping experience for Singapore customers. Amazon’s investments have enabled the company to avail same-day and next-day delivery for eligible products to customers in Singapore. In addition, Amazon Prime membership in Singapore offers unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, and video game benefits with Prime Gaming, access to Prime Day and Prime Big Deals Days, free 2-hour scheduled delivery on groceries with Amazon Fresh, free one-day domestic delivery for eligible items as well as free international delivery with no minimum spending on eligible items.

Thousands of Singapore-based businesses – many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises – sell their products in the Amazon store. Through Amazon Global Selling, Singapore selling partners can export their products to customers around the world on Amazon. Amazon continuously invests in tools, services and programs to improve its selling partners’ experience and help them grow their businesses with Amazon. This includes tools leveraging generative artificial intelligence such as the option for selling partners to provide a URL to their own website to easily create high-quality product detail pages on Amazon, freeing up valuable time for other business priorities. In 2023, Amazon launched the “Singapore Cross-border Brand Launchpad” developed together with Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation to help over 100 local Singapore micro, small and medium enterprises to launch and scale their brands, and access export opportunities in the United States by 2025.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been supporting Singapore’s digital transformation ambition by helping Singapore businesses modernize IT and innovate securely at pace since it started operations in Singapore in 2010. Today, thousands of active Singapore customers, such as Grab, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore, Singlife, and Synapxe, use the AWS Asia Pacific (Singapore) Region to digitally transform. With over 25 years of experience in artificial intelligence (AI), AWS is working with Singapore organizations to develop innovative, industry-first solutions powered by AI and generative AI. Recently, AWS launched its AI flagship program, AWS AI Spring, a multifaceted collaboration with the Singapore Government, public sector organizations, and enterprises to help accelerate the adoption of AI and generative AI in Singapore.

Amazon is committed to supporting the communities where it operates. In 2023, as part of its Delivering Smiles program, Amazon Singapore donated $100,000 in cash to 4 local non-profit organizations, including Children’s Wishing Well, Club Rainbow (Singapore), Fei Yue Family Service Centre and Glyph Community, to help children and youths in Singapore better learn, play, and develop in the long-run. In 2022 and 2023, AWS InCommunities sponsored the Science Centre Singapore’s Youth STEM Empowerment program, guiding students to develop innovative products and solutions to solve real-life community problems using Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). More recently, Amazon and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced a strategic collaboration under the national Digital for Life movement to help advance Singaporeans’ essential digital skills – including safe online shopping and GenAI – through the organization of community workshops. These educational initiatives are led by corporate volunteers from Amazon.sg, Amazon Payments and AWS, supported by IMDA. AWS has trained more than 400,000 people in Singapore on cloud skills since 2017.

Amazon is committed to investing and innovating in sustainability across its businesses in Singapore. Amazon has invested in two renewable energy projects in Singapore – a 62 megawatt (MW) solar project with Sunseap, and a 17.6 MW project with Sembcorp. Combined, these projects will generate enough renewable energy to power nearly 20,000 Singaporean homes each year. Amazon is working hard to reduce delivery packaging across its Singapore fulfilment operations. Since 2021, Amazon has increased the number of non-grocery orders sent without added delivery packaging from our Fulfilment Centre to Singapore customers by 80 %. By working closely with brands on their packaging, Amazon is enabling more and more essential items – such as nappies, toilet rolls and bottled drinks – to be delivered to Singaporean homes without additional delivery packaging.

Amazon strives to be Earth’s Best Employer by offering career opportunity and mobility programs to employees and prioritizing creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming workplace for all employees. In 2023, Amazon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SG Enable, Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion, to hire persons with disabilities and help create equal opportunities for them at Amazon’s operations facilities in Singapore. Amazon was ranked among the top 10 companies in 2023 on LinkedIn’s Top Companies list—an annual list that identifies the most sought-after places to work in Singapore, and earlier this year, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Singapore has been endorsed by its employees and Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for 2024.

Hashtag: #Amazon

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

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit About Amazon (https://www.aboutamazon.sg).

AIA Hong Kong Fully Supports Additional Performance for Coldplay: Music Of The Spheres World Tour

Further Promotes Local Mega-Events


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – Following the announcement of the highly anticipated Music Of The Spheres World Tour taking place in Hong Kong in April 2025, all presale tickets for Coldplay’s three shows were quickly sold out upon release. As the exclusive insurance partner of Coldplay: Music Of The Spheres World Tour, AIA Hong Kong fully supports the additional fourth performance, so more people can experience the extraordinary world-class band’s musical talent and stage presence.

Photo Credit: Anna Lee
Photo Credit: Anna Lee

AIA Hong Kong is also thrilled to announce two of its sponsored events – AIA Carnival and Coldplay: Music Of The Spheres World Tour – have been included in Hong Kong’s Mega Events Calendar for the first half of 2025. As the largest annual winter spectacle, AIA Carnival has contributed an estimated HKD 1.8 billion to the Hong Kong economy over the past decade and is set to return to the Central Harbourfront this December.

Photo Credit: Anna Lee
Photo Credit: Anna Lee

Through its staunch support of the local mega-event economy, AIA Hong Kong aims to create more delightful experiences and precious memories for the community, while also promoting economic benefits such as tourism and employment opportunities, helping everyone live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.
Hashtag: #AIAHongKong #coldplay

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

ISCA and Kaplan Higher Education Academy Forms Partnership to Grow the Accountancy Profession in Singapore


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2024 – The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and Kaplan Higher Education Academy (Kaplan) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), bringing together two esteemed institutions to create opportunities for local and international students to embark on the journey towards becoming a Chartered Accountant of Singapore.

Under this partnership, ISCA and Kaplan will jointly launch a specially curated 15-month programme designed for both local and international students, which will cover the learning outcomes of the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification’s (SCAQ) Foundation Programme. As part of the programme, students will embark on the SCAQ exams and complete the ethics and professionalism requirements. Upon completion, participants will be conferred the Professional Business Accountant (PBA) designation, providing a structured pathway for students to progress towards becoming a Chartered Accountant of Singapore.

The programme will also include employability workshops, aimed at helping participants improve essential workplace skills such as resume writing and how to succeed at interviews. Top performers of the programme may also be considered for employment opportunities with ISCA’s wide network of over 500 Accredited Training Organisations (ATOs), which span across sectors such as banking, finance and accounting services.

The MOU was signed by ISCA CEO Ms Fann Kor and Kaplan Higher Education Academy President Dr Susie Khoo today, at Kaplan City Campus @ Wilkie Edge.

The newly formed partnership is part of ISCA’s continual efforts to nurture interest in accountancy as a choice study amongst tertiary students. Since 2023, ISCA has signed several MOUs with various Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and these partnerships help to develop pathways for students to become Chartered Accountants. This will also help to cultivate and sustain a steady talent pipeline of professional accountants to serve the evolving business landscape.

President of Kaplan Higher Education Academy Dr Susie Khoo said, “Kaplan (Singapore) and ISCA have partnered to address the rising demand for qualified accountancy professionals in Singapore. This collaboration seeks to bridge the gap by offering Professional Certification Courses that equip graduates with globally recognised credentials. It also provides a strong entry point for individuals from non-accountancy backgrounds to pursue rewarding careers in the field.”

ISCA CEO Ms Fann Kor said, “We are excited to collaborate with Kaplan to create a new pathway for students to become Chartered Accountants of Singapore. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to developing a strong and diverse talent pipeline for the accountancy profession, helping the students gain competitive edge, with greater career mobility in the exciting job market.”
Hashtag: #SCAQ #ISCA #Accountancy #DifferenceMakers #Kaplan

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

About the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore with over 36,000 ISCA members making their stride in businesses across industries in Singapore and around the world. ISCA members can be found in over 40 countries and members based out of Singapore are supported through 12 overseas chapters in 10 countries.

Established in 1963, ISCA is an advocate of the interests of the profession. Complementing its global mindset with Asian insights, ISCA leverages its regional expertise, knowledge, and networks with diverse stakeholders to contribute towards the advancement of the accountancy profession. Its Academy designs and develops professional development courses and programmes that equip accountancy and finance professionals on developing themes in business and specialisation areas such as sustainability reporting, financial forensics and corporate governance topics for directors.

ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the Designated Entity to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore – CA (Singapore) – designation.

ISCA is a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global family that brings together the members of leading institutes to create a community of over 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students in more than 190 countries.

For more information, visit .