Author: Abbas Ali Sheikh (Abbas Ali Sheikh)

Post

DHL Global Connectedness Index 2020 signals recovery of globalization from COVID-19 setback

  • Global trade has rebounded strongly,
    sustaining economies around the world
  • 'Digital globalization' raced ahead
    as people flows plummeted
  • Singapore leads the pack of six Asia
    Pacific countries ranked among the top
    30
  • Five Asia Pacific countries dominated
    list of top 10 countries that "punch above their weight"

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 3
December 2020 - Today, DHL and the NYU Stern
School of Business released the DHL Global Connectedness Index 2020 (GCI). The report, now in its seventh edition,
is the first comprehensive assessment of globalization during the spreading COVID-19
pandemic. It tracks international flows of trade, capital, information and
people across 169
countries and territories. After holding steady in 2019, current forecasts imply that the
index will fall significantly in 2020 due to the distancing effects of COVID-19
on societies, such as closed borders, travel bans and grounded passenger
airlines. Nonetheless, the pandemic is unlikely to send the world's overall
level of connectedness below where it stood during the 2008 -- 09 global
financial crisis. Trade and capital flows have already started to recover and
international data flows surged during the spreading pandemic as
in-person contact migrated online, boosting international internet traffic,
phone calls and e-commerce.

In the seventh edition released today, the DHL Global Connectedness Index 2020 signals recovery of globalization from the COVID-19 setback

"The
current crisis has shown how indispensable international connections are for
maintaining the global economy, securing people's livelihoods and helping
companies strengthen their trading levels," says John Pearson, CEO of DHL
Express. "Connected supply chains and logistics networks play an essential role
in keeping the world running and stabilizing globalization especially at a time
of a crisis that spans our globe. This reminds us of the need to stay
prepared for any challenge. The recent vaccine breakthrough has put a spotlight
on the systemic importance of fast and secure medical logistics dependent on a
worldwide interconnected network that effectively ensures international
distribution."

While
COVID-19 has disrupted business and life around the world, it has not severed
the fundamental links that connect nations. "This report shows that
globalization did not collapse in 2020, but that the pandemic did transform -- at
least temporar­ily -- how countries connect. It also demonstrates both the
dangers of a world where critical linkages break down and the urgent need for
more effective cooperation in the face of global challenges," comments GCI lead
author Steven A. Altman, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the DHL
Initiative on Globalization at the NYU Stern School of Business. "Stronger
global connectedness could accelerate the world's recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic, as countries that connect more to international flows tend to enjoy
faster economic growth
."

Six Asia
Pacific countries ranked among top 30, Southeast Asia countries outperform
expectations

In
the report, six Asia Pacific countries are ranked in the top 30 for overall
connectedness -- a measure of both their depth and breadth of connectivity --
with Singapore ranked second, Malaysia 16th, Taiwan (China) 19th,
South Korea 22nd, Hong Kong S.A.R. 25th, and Thailand at
30th. Singapore took the top spot on the depth scale, which measures
international flow relative to domestic activity, followed by Hong Kong S.A.R.
at a close second. On the breadth dimension, which captures whether a country's
international flows are spread out globally or more narrowly focused, Asia
Pacific countries also scored well, with South Korea and Japan coming in at fifth
and sixth respectively.

Of
particular note, the list of economies that have punched well above their
weight in terms of international flows are led by Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam,
Malaysia, the Netherlands, Malta, the United Arab Emirates, Mozambique,
Hungary, and Thailand. Fully half of these top 10 countries are located in
Southeast Asia, a region where countries tend to have unusually high trade
depth. The report finds that Southeast Asian countries benefitted from linkages
with wider Asian supply chain networks as well as ASEAN policy initiatives promoting
regional economic integration.

"Over
the years, globalization and greater international connectedness have not only
raised the living standards and income levels of people all over Asia, it has
also helped to keep trade and critical supplies moving during challenging times
such as during this pandemic. Greater international connectedness drives
economic recovery and prosperity, and at DHL Express we have seen how the
growth of cross-border e-commerce has built great businesses and improved lives
across the region," said Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific. "With the recent
signing of the RCEP, we are
confident that Asia Pacific countries will bounce back from this pandemic
stronger and become even more connected."

The COVID-19
stress test for globalization: Digital flows surging, trade and capital flows
recovering, people flows plummeting 

Predictably, lockdowns and travel bans to curb the spread of the virus
have led to an unprecedented collapse of people flows in 2020. The number of
people traveling to foreign countries is on track to fall 70% in 2020,
according to the latest UN forecast. International tourism may not return to
its pre-pandemic level until 2023. In contrast, trade, capital, and information
flows have held up surprisingly well.
International trade has rebounded strongly after a sharp plunge at the
onset of the pandemic and remains a vital backbone for economies worldwide.


Capital flows were hit harder. Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows,
which reflect companies buying, building or reinvesting in operations abroad,
could fall 30-40% this year, as also projected by the UN. However, strong
policy responses by governments and central banks have helped to stabilize
markets. Digital information flows have surged as the pandemic has sent work,
play and education online. People and companies rushed to stay connected
digitally, driving double-digit increases in global internet traffic.


The DHL Global Connectedness Index employs more than 3.5 million data
points to track the globalization of 169 countries over the period from 2001 to
2019. It measures each country's global connectedness based both on the size of
its international flows relative to the size of its domestic economy ('depth')
and the extent to which its international flows are distributed globally or
more nar­rowly focused ('breadth'). This year's GCI report also marks the start
of the new DHL Initia­tive on Globalization at New York University's Stern
School of Business. The new research initiative aims to create a leading center
of excellence for data-driven glo­balization research. To learn more about its work,
visit the website at
www.stern.nyu.edu/globalization.

Note
to editors:

The report
was commissioned by DHL and authored by Steven A. Altman and Phillip Bastian of
the New York University Stern School of Business. The methodology used to
calculate the 2020 DHL Global Connectedness Index is largely unchanged from previous
editions of the index. The only significant methodological change introduced in
this edition is the addition of international scien­tific research collaboration
as a component mea­sure within the information pillar of the index. The data
used to compute the index have been com­pletely updated both to extend the
results up to 2019 as well as to incorporate revised source data for prior
years. They document and dissect levels of globalization, both at the global
level and for 169 countries and territories that together account for 99% of
the world's GDP and 98% of its population.

The report
and additional background information can be downloaded at www.dhl.com/gci.

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL
is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer
an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and
international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions,
international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain
management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and
territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and
reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions
for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and
healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail,
DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world".

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group
generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros in 2019. With sustainable
business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group
makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to
achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.

New York University
Stern School of Business
, located in the heart of
Greenwich Village and deeply connected with the City for which it is named, is
one of the nation's premier management education schools and research centers.
NYU Stern offers a broad portfolio of transformational programs at the graduate,
undergraduate and executive levels, all of them enriched by the dynamism and
deep resources of one of the world's business capitals. NYU Stern is a
community that fosters inclusion, belonging, diversity and equity, and inspires
its members to embrace change in a globally changing world.  Visit www.stern.nyu.edu.

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Eat With Your Family Day Draws Participation of Over 600 Organisations Amidst COVID-19

Initiative to Encourage Families to Honour Grandparents in 2021

 

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 3
December 2020 - Despite the more challenging
times of the COVID-19 season, the Eat
With Your Family Day (EWYFD)
initiative has drawn the participation of over
600 organisations such as
City
Developments Ltd, Etiqa Insurance Pte Ltd and Eu Yan Sang
International Ltd who encouraged their employees to end work earlier and
gather with their families for meals this year.


During this time,
most organisations were still in a work-from-home mode and employees often
grappled with the blurred boundaries of work and life, at times working beyond
normal working hours although they were at home. To encourage employees to be
present for their families, and bond over meals and activities, the organisers
of EWYFD tied-up special deals with over 50 merchant partners for the EWYFDs in
September and November to offer food, retail and fun options for family
activities.


During EWYFD on
4 September 2020,
the organisers of EWYFD worked with
over 40 organisations
to
plan a special programme for their employees. The 150 families nominated by
their organisations received a family meal delivered to their homes and
participated in a photo contest and movie trivia to win prizes and goodie bags.
For both events in September and November, special movie
screenings of "Happy Feet 2" and "Despicable Me 2" were also broadcasted on
Mediacorp Channel 5 so families could bond over movie time. In addition, the Centre
for Fathering offered complimentary online fathering and parenting workshops to
further strengthen family bonding.


Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament and
Patron for Centre for Fathering and DADs for Life said, "Family-friendly
initiatives such as Eat With Your Family Day may seem only beneficial to
employees but this practice can benefit the company in the long run. Organisations
who put their employees first by helping them prioritise their families tend to
have employees who are more productive and committed. As such, I would like to
encourage companies to embrace EWYFD as part of their efforts to nurture a
family-friendly work culture."


To build on the momentum and positive feedback,
EWYFD will go on to place special emphasis on encouraging families to eat
together with grandparents in 2021.
 As the saying goes, "It takes a village to
raise a child." With the stress imposed by today's fast-paced society, many
parents feel the strain of managing multiple roles at work and home. The role
of
 grandparents in providing support for parents,
acting as a role model and being a link to family history and traditions, is
critical to the family's well-being. This support by grandparents is even more
pertinent amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 season.


 "Our grandparents' greatest joys are the times
when the family gathers for meals. Unfortunately, the demands of our fast-paced
society have made it difficult for many families to regularly spend time
together as an extended family. With families connecting digitally, the less
tech savvy grandparents are excluded from this social interaction, which may
cause them to feel isolated," said Mr Bryan Tan, CEO, Centre for Fathering and
DADs for Life. 


He added, "Spending time with grandparents over
a meal on occasions such as EWYFD shows that they are important in our lives
and emphasises the values of respect and esteeming our elders to our children.
We want to recognise the selfless love of grandparents - from caring for the
grandchildren when parents are at work, to whipping up our favourite dishes."


Underpinned by multiple research studies that
show how connecting as a family over a meal can improve the physical and mental
health of family members, EWYFD was launched in 2003 by the Centre for
Fathering to encourage organisations to arrange for employees to leave work at
5pm so that they can eat with their families.
 Held on the last Friday of each school term,
EWYFD will take place on 12 March, 28 May, 3 September and 19 November in 2021.
EWYFD is brought to you by MUMS for Life, DADs for Life and Centre for
Fathering, in support of Made for Families.


For more information, go to fathers.com.sg/ewyfd.


About Centre for Fathering, DADs for Life and MUMs for Life

Centre for Fathering (CFF) is a non-profit
organisation founded in 2000 to promote active and involved fathering and
address issues caused by fatherlessness in Singapore. The organisation aims to
turn the hearts of children towards their fathers by empowering more fathers to
be better role models and an enduring inspiration to their children.
 


Since 2015, CFF has been the driving force
behind Singapore's nation-wide fathering movement - DADs for Life which seeks
to inspire and mobilise fathers to become more involved with and a good
influence to their children... for life. Under the DADs for Life umbrella are
initiatives such as DADs@School, Back to School with DAD, Eat With Your Family
Day and Celebrating Fathers -- to encourage fathers to spend time with their
families and create a culture that promotes active fathering.


MUMs for Life is a ground-up movement to
celebrate a mum's unique identity as a woman, daughter, wife & mother. Our
key partner is DADs for Life because we believe that mums and dads play
irreplaceable and complementary roles in parenting together.  


CFF is Made For Families

 

CFF is
proud to be part of the ecosystem supporting families in Singapore, and
identify ourselves as an organisation that is Made For Families. Made For
Families represents the different ways -- big and small -- in which Singapore
supports families. Companies, organisations and community groups can adopt the
brand mark to identify themselves as promoting the value of family in our
society.
 
Together, we can build a
society that is Made For Families, by laying a foundation of support, from
family-friendly spaces and workplaces, products and services, and
family-bonding activities.  Visit
go.gov.sg/MadeForFamilies for more information.


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WeTV Enters a Partnership with Media Prima, Making Exclusive Premium, On-Demand Content More Accessible For Viewers

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 3 December 2020 - Malaysia's entertainment scene has reached new heights as it celebrates a partnership between leading streaming platform for emerging markets; WeTV and the nation's integrated media powerhouse, Media Prima. This significant milestone will see both parties working hand in hand to offer rich on-demand experiences to locals and viewers across Asia, boosting local content offerings for both parties. This partnership entails a licensing deal that enables WeTV's acquisition of both exclusive and library titles from Media Prima, beginning 26 November.

 

Since January 2020, WeTV Malaysia has seen a viewership growth of more than 10-fold, positioning it as one of the nation's leading streaming platforms. The entertainment scene is taking the initiative to adapt to digitalisation with the rise in digital consumers as the masses are shifting from the traditional means of media consumption to more on-demand offerings and services.

 

As a result of this partnership, a variety of content from Media Prima will be readily available on the WeTV platform, paving the way for more Media Prima consumers to access on-demand local content offerings. This content will not only consist of library titles formerly aired through Media Prima's channels but also brand new exclusive programmes and films locally produced by the entertainment house themselves. This partnership will serve to further strengthen the local entertainment industry and bolster it with even higher quality content which will be enjoyed by not just Malaysians but by viewers across Asia through the WeTV platform.

 

To kick off the partnership between both parties, two new exclusive programmes by Media Prima will also be launched via WeTV's streaming platform throughout the month of November and December. "Sang Pewaris" depicts a rags to riches story with an interesting romantic twist in the plot, featuring on 26 November 2020 while "Bidadari Salju" looks into a classic tale of love revenge and is set to be released on 15 December.

 

"We are very excited to be working hand-in-hand with Media Prima, one of the entertainment pioneers for this collaboration and are honoured to be the chosen streaming platform for all of their great content as the local entertainment industry moves forward in big digital strides", said Aik Kuang Heng, Country Manager of WeTV Malaysia. "With this partnership, we hope that the drama and film industry in Malaysia will achieve a fresh breakthrough as the programmes are made to be even more accessible. From working together as well we hope to further promote and shed light onto the local creative industry while driving up viewership across both WeTV and Media Prima platforms."

 

The WeTV and Media Prima partnership will be at the forefront of introducing a vast array of Malay-centric content, with exciting future plans of adding more Media Prima library titles in phases. Boasting over 9.5 million daily audience reach, Media Prima is excited to further expand its reach by bringing its content online.  "Our goal with this partnership is to ensure that the local audiences are able to enjoy their favourite shows on-demand via their preferred streaming device", said Datuk Khai Salleh, Chief Executive Officer of Primeworks Studios and Television Networks, Media Prima Berhad . "We are equally as excited as WeTV to have them on board as we figure out ways to navigate and elevate the industry to a whole new level together. With this collaboration, we're aiming to reach out to an even bigger pool of audience as streaming is made convenient for everyone. Our current library of programmes also consist of a diverse range of genres, with a focus on Asian titles, ensuring that everyone has something to look forward to watching."

 

A large majority of the programmes on WeTV are available to be streamed free of charge, anywhere and at any time. Support the local entertainment industry by catching "Sang Pewaris" and "Bidadari Salju" right now, streaming exclusively on WeTV at wetv.vip, or on the application available on the Apple Store for iOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users.

About WeTV

WeTV Malaysia is an Asian streaming service that sees the creation of premier video-on-demand (VOD) and provides over-the-top (OTT) local content. The streaming service provides content from around the region, inclusive of selected Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean and Chinese series and movies. Operating as a freemium service, the basic features and most shows can be accessed for free while for an ad-free service with more premium content can be accessed for a small fee. WeTV can be accessed on your browser at wetv.vip, or on the application available on the Apple Store for iOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users.

About Primeworks Studios

Primeworks Studios is an established South-East Asian production company involved in the creative content business in every aspect of the media chain in TV and film production, content sales, film distribution and marketing, animation, talent management as well as licensing and merchandising. It is an award-winning content company producing over 3,000 hours of compelling content annually for a range of platforms including television, cinema and digital. The production house is the creative force behind a wide range of content genres including entertainment, animation, magazine, documentary, sports, and drama.

About Media Prima

Listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, Media Prima Berhad ("Media Prima" or the "Group") is Malaysia's leading fully-integrated media company with a complete repertoire of media-related businesses in television (TV3, 8TV, ntv7, and TV9) , Print (The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad), Radio (Media Prima Radio Networks), Out-of-home advertising (Big Tree, The Right Channel, Kurnia Outdoor, Gotcha, UPD, Big Tree Seni Jaya), Home Shopping Network & E- Commerce ( CJ WOW SHOP),  Content Creation ( Primeworks Studios)  and Digital Media ( Media Prima Digital, REV Asia Holdings, Media Prima Lab)

The Group's latest service, Media Prima Omnia, is an integrated solution provider that offers creative services and integrated marketing solutions across all Media Prima platforms, specialising in brand campaigns, events and creative content. Omnia's services currently address 98% of Malaysian households, and 24 million audiences across all ages and walks of life in the country daily.

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Twitter brings K-pop artists and fans closer than ever with the exclusive ‘2020 MAMA Stanbot’ videos

2020 MAMA partners with Twitter to give K-Pop fans worldwide content from their favorite artists, including ‘2020 MAMA Stanbot’, and Worldwide Fans’ Choice voting on Twitter

 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Media OutReach - 3 December 2020 - Twitter and Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA), one of the most iconic global K-pop awards shows, are coming together to bring K-Pop fans' favorite artists closer to them than ever before. This year, Twitter and MAMA will bring the event to K-Pop fans around the world with the 2020 MAMA Stanbot, and Worldwide Fans' Choice voting on Twitter.

 

#2020MAMA will be the first time that 'Stanbot' captures the looks and moments of Kpop artists from MAMA. 'Stanbot' will create high quality, slow-motion cinematic videos of artists, capturing a side of them that many of their fans have never seen before. These exclusive '2020 MAMA Stanbot' videos will be viewable only on Twitter (@MnetMAMA). Twitter is also providing special emojis for hashtags #2020MAMA, #MAMAVOTE, #2020MAMA_Stanbot.

 

Voting for MAMA Worldwide Fans' Choice began on October 29, 18:00 KST, and will end on December 5, 23:59 KST at MAMA official website (www.2020mama.com), but will continue on Twitter until SNS voting deadline is announced during 2020 MAMA live on December 6th. Fans who want to vote for Worldwide Fans' Choice on Twitter are required to include both the #MAMAVOTE hashtag and the artists' official hashtag (#ARTISTNAME) within their Tweet for their votes to be considered valid. Fans across the world will also get to help decide the results of major awards categories including "Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year" and more via the official MAMA website: www.2020mama.com.

 

YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global Kpop Partnerships at Twitter said, "From #MAMAVOTE and #2020MAMA_Stanbot to keeping updated on everything happening on MAMA via Tweets and Fleets, Twitter is the best place for global K-Pop fans to join in the 2020 MAMA event, find out what's happening in real time, and to talk about it with other K-Pop fans."

 

https://twitter.com/MnetMAMA/status/1329401169953710082

 

Previously announced performers for 2020 MAMA are ATEEZ (@ATEEZofficial), BTS (@bts_twt), CRAVITY (@cravitystarship), ENHYPEN (@enhypen_members), (G)I-DLE (@G_I_DLE), GOT7 (@GOT7Official), IZ*ONE (@official_izone), MAMAMOO (@RBW_MAMAMOO), MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX), NCT (@NCTsmtown), OH MY GIRL (@wm_ohmygirl), SEVENTEEN (@pledis_17), STRAY KIDS (@Stray_Kids), THE BOYZ (@Creker_THEBOYZ), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members), TREASURE (@treasuremembers), TWICE (@JYPETWICE) and TAEMIN. In addition, Korean actor Song Joong Ki will return as the host of the 2020 MAMA. The 2020 MAMA award ceremony will be LIVE on December 6th 18:00 (KST) and more information, including where and when fans around the world can watch the show is posted at www.2020MAMA.com.

Follow the official Mnet MAMA Twitter account (@MnetMAMA) right now to get real-time updates about the awards show and the K-pop artists attending the event.

 

ABOUT Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS

Presented by CJ ENM, Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA) is Asia's largest music awards ceremony, acclaimed by fans around the world for its gigantic performances and elaborate stage production, which has introduced Korea's top-notch production abilities to global audiences. Each year MAMA attracts the biggest artists in music from Asia, like BTS, TWICE, MONSTA X, ITZY, and GOT7, as well as the worldwide superstars including Snoop Dogg, Dua Lipa, and the Black Eyed Peas. MAMA's began in 1999, as the Mnet Music Video Daesang, then later became the Mnet KM Music Festival (MKMF), sparking the growth of the Korean music industry. In 2009, MKMF was renamed the Mnet Asian Music Awards. In 2010, the massive award show began touring Asia each year, starting in Macau and followed by 2011 MAMA in Singapore. MAMA has been held in Hong Kong since 2012, highlighting the event's pan-Asian popularity. Starting 2018, MAMA expanded its previously one-day event to span across multiple Asian countries to promote exchanges between different Asian music markets. MAMA is further expanding its presence as an iconic global music festival by taking MAMA online this year to a global audience. Not only has MAMA become a significant year-end music awards ceremony, it has also blossomed into an extravagant international music event packed with groundbreaking performances.

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SAPA Thale Is Contributing to Repelling the Peak Wave of Covid-19

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 2 December 2020 - The European Union (EU) has issued the correct warning since September 2020 that the Covid-19 epidemic in some of its member countries will be worse than the March's peak. The first week of November 2020 reported the highest number of new infections in its member countries; On November 3rd, Europe reported 233,645 new infections and 3,801 deaths, which increased the number of infections and deaths caused by Covid-19 in Europe to 10,694,930 and 273,890 cases, respectively.

Map and photo of Bijeljina field hospital.

In the context of a sudden increase in new Covid-19 infections in European and North American countries, the General Director of World Health Organization (WHO), Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that this is an crucial time for leaders to take action and seize the opportunity to control the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, WHO's Director of Emergency Programs, Mr. Mike Ryan said, European governments are facing a "very difficult situation" in controlling new infections while citizens of the European Union (EU) are becoming increasingly tired of the new restrictions in their daily lives.

Bosnia-Herzegovina was a country that succeeded in repelling the Covid 19 epidemic in the EU in March, but now they are also facing a very high wave of Covid-19 epidemic, which started in mid-October 2020, on November 25th, the number of new infections in Bosnia-Herzegovina was 1,589. The death rate was much higher than earlier this year, the number of deaths on November 16th was 75, the highest number ever reported in the country since the Covid-19 epidemic.

SAPA Thale always considers that the bilateral investment cooperation relationship between SAPA Thale Group and the Government and the leading business sector of Bosnia - Herzegovina is a strategic relationship.

In 2019, SAPA Thale conducted a series of visits and business trips in Europe. In which the key was a visit to Bijeljina city, Bosnia-Herzegovina. President of SAPA Thale Group, billionaire Mr. Mai Vu Minh met with the mayor of Bijeljina city and signed an investment cooperation agreement, in which SAPA Thale will export its technology products and garments to Bijeljina and invest in the finance, technology and infrastructure sector in Bijeljina.

 

 

Bloomberg TV report - Billionaire Mai Vu Minh works with countries' governments.

However, in 2020, Sapa Thale has witnessed an outbreak of Covid-19 worldwide, including Bosnia-Herzegovina and the peaceful city of Bijeljina. In the face of a series of multidisciplinary import and export projects in Bijeljina and investment plans, SAPA Thale realized that we needed to contribute our efforts to repel Covid 19 in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bijeljina, and to create a social welfare before scaling up our multidisciplinary investment.

Billionaire Mai Vu Minh (right) and Mayor Mr. Mico Mićić, during his visit to and work in Bijeljina city, Republika Srpska (Bosnia-Herzegovina).

SAPA Thale has cooperated and contributed a part of capital to the construction of a field hospital in Bijeljina to expand the capacity of receiving, treating patients, reducing the number of patients in the main hospitals; create great social welfare.

Each Tent Rome 10 is 50m long, 10m wide and 2.3 m high. This field hospital can afford 500 beds with basic medical conditions, and the military force is gathered to support medical staffs. The Field Hospital has around 1,700 staffs including physicians and volunteers, who are working hard to cope with the current peak wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SAPA Thale Group has moreover cooperated with TRB Group -- a State-owned enterprise established in 1955 in Bosnia-Herzegovina to develop products namely: Mobile power, water systems, mobile security systems.

On November 10th, the BiH Government convened an emergency meeting to make a decision to give 10 million BAM (~ 5 million EUR) to public hospitals in the Federation, due to increased pressure on the health system, which was caused by the increased enrollment of COVID -19 infections.

The EU Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) listed Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Malta as "cause of concern" countries.  According to the ECDC, the seven countries above have reported an increase in hospital admissions as well as severe complications because of Covid-19 in the elderly. In these countries, the number of deaths also tends to increase.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bijeljina are also urgently involved in the prevention of Covid-19.

Bijeljina wishes to repel Covid 19 once again as it was in March. The contribution of SAPA Thale and Group President, Mai Vu Minh is very practical in this difficult time, it has an important meaning in serving the community, promoting diplomatic cooperation of SAPA Thale and Bijeljina city.

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Singapore Fintech Festival and the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology to feature world’s first 24-hour hybrid digital and physical event

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 2 December
2020 - The Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) and the Singapore
Week of Innovation and TeCHnology (SWITCH), the world's first week-long
round-the-clock, hybrid digital and physical event, will run from 7 to 11
December 2020. Organised by Monetary Authority of Singapore and Enterprise Singapore, the event will
feature a unique hybrid format that combines a 24-hour online event platform
with global satellite events around the world.

SFF
x SWITCH 2020 will feature a digital city that will allow participants access to
over 650 speakers from the global innovation and tech community, 150 content
partners, 200 sessions to engage participants and more than 900 exhibitors on
the Digital Singapore platform. Participants can access live content broadcasts
running round-the-clock and on-demand sessions. Established speakers participating
at SWITCH include:

  • Dr
    Chi Youngcho, President and CIO, Hyundai Motor Group
  • Timothy
    Draper, Founding Partner, Draper Associates
  • Henry
    Ma, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, WeBank
  • Professor
    H.S. Philip Wong, Willard R. and Inez Kerr Bell Professor in the School of
    Engineering, Stanford University
  • Albert,
    Co-Founder, Traveloka
  • Ye
    Gang, Group Chief Operating Officer, Sea Ltd

The
SWITCH Global Channel, curated by SWITCH's global innovation partners allows
participants access to market knowledge, opportunities, insights and tips on
business culture from over 42 cities in 31 countries across Africa, Asia
(China, India and Southeast Asia), Europe, Middle East, North America and
Northeast Asia & Oceania.

Another highlight of SWITCH is Asia's most exciting
global startup competition, SLINGSHOT, happening from 7 to 9 December. The Top
100 global startups stand a chance to win over S$7.5 million worth of prizes,
including resources such as office space, cloud credits and mentorship to help
global startups take root in Singapore.

Key
panels during SWITCH include:

SWITCH
Connect Channel

Co-Innovation in Smart Cities -- Accelerated Through a
Resource Integrator

Hosted by CapitaLand

Unique
opportunity to learn how global companies - DHL, Kone and Schneider Electric - continue
to innovate and co-innovate with partners to stay at the top of their game, and
the role that the recently launched Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab can play.

 

Deep Tech Summit: Deep Tech for a Post-COVID-19 World

Hosted by SGInnovate

With
humanity facing pressing challenges in health, climate change, we want to
explore the promise of deep tech to help our future economy and society be more
resilient, liveable and sustainable, particularly as we begin to rebuild in the
post-COVID-19 era.

 

The Rising Asian Founders

There's
a fascination around entrepreneurs. Often characterised by an appetite for
risk, overcoming odds and being the leaders of change in their generation. They
are a diverse group of individuals who share the drive to risk it all while
making the impossible possible. Tune in to hear the rising founders of
Southeast Asia share their story on how they got to where they are today.

 

Why We Need 'Open Innovation' to Tackle the Biggest Global
Challenges

Hosted by UNDP

In
tackling our biggest challenges -- from COVID-19 to climate change -- we need to
use the best of human talent, wherever it may be found. Open innovation is
about collaboration and community: building talent, solutions, and partnership.
Join us to hear more about how it's working in practice, and how you can get
involved.

SWITCH
Global Channel

Market Access: Southeast Asia - The Diversity of Corporate
Innovation in Southeast Asia

Central Group, VNG Corporation, Dexa Group

The
unprecedented challenges arising from the pandemic presents opportunities for
Southeast Asia's corporates to reimagine their operating models. Join us as we discover
the diversity of corporate innovation in Southeast Asia.

Corporate Innovation in China

Ericsson ONE, Boehringer Ingelheim

In
today's everchanging digital world, innovation is crucial. Find out from Patrik
Sandin, Director of Ventures & Growth, Ericsson ONE and Hong Wa Poon from
Boehringer Ingelheim, BIX China, about how the economic landscape has evolved,
and the opportunities
available in the corporate innovation space.

Germany Singapore Business Forum (GSBF) Connect X Switch
2020

The
panel will shed light on how open innovation helps create growth opportunities
and targeted solutions to address rapidly-evolving market demands. Participants
can benefit
from the practical insights of our guest speakers from Germany and Singapore on
what to expect and how to get started on their own open innovation journeys.

Edges of Southeast Asia

Deloitte,
US-ASEAN Business Council, Economic Development Board (Singapore)

There's
much more to Southeast Asia than what the headlines and numbers tell you.
Hidden in plain sight are Edges -- people, places, and platforms that are pushing
against the boundaries and transforming Southeast Asia from the inside. Join
leaders and experts from Deloitte, the US-ASEAN Business Council, the Singapore
EDB and more, as we take an unflinching, refreshing look at Southeast Asia from
its Edges, and
discuss what they mean for the future of the region and the world.

 

Navigating the New Funding Landscape in India and Southeast
Asia

256 Network

Catch
the leaders of leading venture firms like Qualcomm Ventures, KB investment and
B Capital as they share insights on the funding landscape in India and
Southeast Asia.

For
more information, please visit www.switchsg.org. You can register for SWITCH
2020 at www.bit.ly/32P2EQg.

-END-

About Enterprise Singapore

Enterprise Singapore is the Singapore government agency championing enterprise development. It also supports the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups.

The agency attracts global commodities traders to establish their global
or Asian home base in Singapore. Today, Singapore is a leading global trading
hub with a complete ecosystem for the energy, agri-commodities and metals &
minerals trading clusters. Singapore is also home to many global enterprises,
startups and investors that operate in its robust pro-enterprise environment.

Enterprise Singapore builds trust in Singapore's products and services
through quality and standards. Renowned for their dedication to quality and
innovation, Singapore companies make ideal business partners.

With Enterprise Singapore's global network in over 35 locations spanning
many developed and emerging markets, it connects businesses with relevant
Singapore companies for their business expansion.

Visit www.enterprisesg.gov.sg for more information.

About SWITCH

The Singapore Week of Innovation & TeCHnology (SWITCH) is the
leading tech festival for the Global-Asia innovation ecosystem. It is a
one-stop platform where innovation meets enterprise, with access to global
startups, investors, corporates, innovation community and ecosystem players. It
focuses on these key industries -- Health & Biomedical Sciences, Smart
Cities & Urban Solutions, and Trade & Connectivity.


SWITCH is a week-long event featuring Exhibitions, Conferences,
Workshops, Lab Crawls, and partner activities such as startups pitching
competition, SLINGSHOT 2020, and open innovation platform, TechInnovation.
Together with the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF), SFF x SWITCH convened over
60,000 participants from 140 countries, hosted 569 speakers and 1,000
exhibitors in 2019.


SWITCH is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore
(NRF).


Find out more at http://www.switchsg.org/.


Post

iText Software is a Digital Signing Partner of Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GOVTECH)’s National Digital Identity (NDI) Program

GHENT,
BELGIUM - Media OutReach - 2 December 2020 - From 5 November 2020,
SingPass users can use the new "Sign with SingPass" feature to electronically
sign contracts, agreements and other legal documentation. This new feature will
be progressively rolled out by the Government Technology Agency's wholly owned
subsidiary, Assurity Trusted Solutions Pte Ltd (ATS), in collaboration with leading PDF
technology provider
iText
Software
and 7 more partners: DocuSign, Netrust, Adobe, OneSpan, Dedoco,
Tessaract.io and Kofax.

iText's award-winning
products are used by millions of users, both open source and commercial. The
diverse customer base includes many of the Fortune 500 companies - ranging from
technology, financial, travel to healthcare companies, as well as small
companies and government agencies.

Besides digitally signed PDFs, iText enables
an even wider range of crucial document creation, manipulation and processing needs;
such as text redaction with pdfSweep, multilanguage
extraction and rendering with pdfCalligraph,
recognizing text from scanned documents with pdfOCR, data
extraction with pdf2Data, PDF
creation from HTML with pdfHTML, generating
images from PDFs with pdfRender, flattening
dynamic forms with pdfXFA, or
easy creation of PDFs based on templates using the low-code tool iText DITO.

As more businesses offer "Sign with SingPass", users can look
forward to using digital signatures to complete transactions without the need
to be physically present to sign PDF documents.

Today's SingPass has evolved to provide seamless and convenient
access to over 1,000 digital services offered by some 250 government agencies
and private organisations. There are now over 2.1 million users of the SingPass
Mobile app since its launch.

As Benedict Lee (李家福), Regional Manager, Asia Pacific for iText
says: "iText Software is a proud partner of GovTech's national digital identity
(NDI) initiative. Working together with GovTech, iText has developed an SDK and
code examples to demonstrate the integration of an organisation's document
workflow with the NDI Digital Signing Service to allow digital signing of PDF
documents in high volumes. By using the open source and dual licensed iText 7 library
(available for Java and .NET) to create and process ISO-compliant, PDF
documents, customers can interface with the SingPass Mobile app and utilise
secure, digitally signed PDFs in a modern, digitalised document workflow, a
necessity in automated document management. Ultimately, businesses can benefit
from growing their business with the NDI SingPass digital signing integration."

About iText Software

iText is a global leader
in innovative PDF software. Its award-winning products are used by millions of
users, both open source and commercial. The diverse customer base includes many
of the Fortune 500 companies - ranging from technology, financial, travel to
healthcare companies, as well as small companies and government agencies.
Headquartered in Belgium, iText also has an office in Asia (Singapore) and in
the USA (Boston).

www.itextpdf.com

Post

POND’S Presents Skin Advisor Live on Shopee to Address Consumers’ Skincare Woes

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach - 2 December 2020 - It's no secret that the pandemic situation has brought many changes to our lives. Continued working from home, constant exposure to the blue light from our computer screens and perpetual mask-wearing have all taken their toll on our precious faces leaving them drier, acne-prone and more susceptible to early wrinkles. To provides solutions to consumers to maintain their skin health, POND'S has teamed up with Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, to integrate its Skin Advisor Live (SAL) chatbot on the platform so consumers can easily identify and find solutions to some of their most pressing skincare concerns.

 

Research by the POND'S Institute shows that common skincare issues in Indonesia such as dullness, dark spots, wrinkles, acne and oily skin were exacerbated by the pandemic due to prolonged mask wearing and continued all-day exposure to our screens. Leveraging data and insights from a global network of skincare experts and researchers, the POND'S Institute predicts that many of these skincare issues will persist into 2021, as those behaviours will continue to be mainstays of our everyday lives.

 

"Our goal is to provide consumers with the most up-to-date and pioneering skincare solutions," said Rohit Bhasin, Global Brand Vice President, POND'S. "Our research from the POND'S Institute helps inform our innovation so we are continually updating our diverse range of products to cater to a variety of skincare needs whatever their environments. POND'S SAL helps consumers on their skincare journey by identifying their own skincare concerns and points them to products which may be able to help -- all from the comfort of their sofa. And with this first-of-its-kind integration onto Shopee, this journey just got even easier and more enjoyable, helping consumers from feeling overwhelmed by the choice of skincare products online."

 

AI skincare advisors such as POND'S SAL chatbot can help to identify the skin issues particular to each person. The cutting-edge AI chatbot will identify key skin concerns based on an individual's selfie or uploaded photo and recommend skincare products to tackle skin concerns. For example, if a user has a high acne score, the Acne Clear facial foam will be recommended as it fights 99 per cent of germs. Users with a high wrinkle score will be recommended the Age Miracle Day Cream, which has Vitamin B3 to offer strong protection against blue light and Retinol-C to help skin regeneration.

 

Over 98 per cent of consumers that have interacted with SAL enjoyed and appreciated the advice given. Now with the integration onto Shopee from 2nd December, it's even easier to check your skin condition via the SAL diagnostic tool and make quick click-throughs to purchase the products that are recommended to heal and improve your skin condition.

"We're excited to be the first e-commerce platform to partner with a globally-recognised beauty brand like POND's, to offer consumers across Southeast Asia easy access to personalised skincare solutions. Our insights show that Shopee users spend time on our app interacting with brands through features such as livestream and chat. SAL will be a bonus feature for them to engage deeper with the brand and learn more about their skin, while enjoying great product deals from POND's," said Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director, Shopee.

The POND'S 'Smarter Skincare Just For You' Brand Day on Shopee will run from 2nd December to 3rd December, featuring educational content and exclusive promotions. For more information on trying out POND'S SAL at Shopee, please visit here.

Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

About Unilever Indonesia

PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk has been operating since 1933 and is the leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company in Indonesia. Unilever Indonesia is divided into 2 operating segments, namely Home & Personal Care ("HPC") and Foods & Refreshment ("F&R"). Unilever Indonesia became publicly listed in 1982 and its shares are recorded and traded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Unilever is strongly committed to move forward together with Indonesia. Throughout the period ended September 30, 2020, the Company's net sales reached IDR 32.4 trillion where HPC and F&R net sales are IDR 22.7 trillion and IDR 9.7 trillion, respectively. Net profit of the Company reached IDR 5.4 trillion.

Unilever has nine factories, which are located in Cikarang and Rungkut. All factories have obtained Halal certification from the Indonesian Council of Ulama.

Globally, in 2010 Unilever launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, a strategy to double the size of the business, whilst reducing our environmental impact and increasing our positive social impact. USLP has three main goals:

1. Improving health and well-being of 1 billion people in 2020

2. Halve the environmental footprint of its business operations in 2030

3. Enhancing livelihoods of millions of people in 2020

For further information about USLP achievements please visit: https://www.unilever.co.id/sustainableliving/ and for other information about Unilever Indonesia and brand, please visit www.unilever.co.id and our social media, Twitter and Instagram @UnileverIDN, Facebook Unilever ID and Youtube Unilever Indonesia.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region's digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea's other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Post

TE Asia Healthcare Partners expands its oncology regional portfolio by investing in Beacon Hospital

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Media OutReach -
1 December 2020 - TE Asia Healthcare
Partners
(TE Asia), a leading private healthcare investment and operations
platform, has formed a strategic collaboration with Beacon Hospital, Malaysia's
leading oncology specialist hospital. Along with this partnership, TE Asia will
acquire a significant stake in Beacon Hospital. This is in line with TE Asia's strategy
in establishing single-specialty hospitals that bring clinician expertise and
healthcare operators together to deliver efficient and high-quality care.

"The healthcare
landscape is changing. Patients are becoming more sophisticated and proactive
in exploring options for their needs. As medicine grows increasingly complex,
healthcare needs to cater to more specific and specialized demands. To better fulfill
such needs, we are further expanding our Integrated Oncology Centres (IOC)
regional portfolio with Beacon Hospital onboard," says Eng Aik Meng, Group
Chief Executive Officer of TE Healthcare.

Beacon Hospital
is a multidisciplinary hospital with a focus on oncology treatments. It recently
received re-accreditation as an European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care and is the first
hospital in Malaysia to receive an ESMO re-accreditation.

TE Healthcare's
IOC portfolio now includes 7 oncology centres and more than 40
oncologists across Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. By
coordinating resources, sharing best practices, and
tapping on economies of scale, IOC benefits both doctors and patients.

Compared to traditional
multi-specialty healthcare, single-specialty hospitals offer the advantages of
specialisation, reduce operational costs, require less capital, and more
importantly, improve patient accessibility. "Our doctors are our partners and
hence involved in all major decisions. Their success becomes our success. The
IOC platform enables doctors to focus on a particular set of diseases and be
assured of access to capital and operational & management expertise. With
this, we expect to provide better outcomes to all our patients," Eng Aik Meng
added.

"We are excited to be part of TE Asia Healthcare
Partners' IOC network as it will immediately benefit our doctors and patients through various
collaborations. We remain committed to
offering the same, if not
better, high-quality treatments to patients under our corporate social
responsibility (CSR) programme, which has subsidized more than RM32mil of
treatment costs for the under-privileged since 2011. We will continue to be very passionate
in providing the best treatment to patients from all walks of life through
various initiatives. In line with our
vision to be A Good Hospital, this is our contribution to Malaysia's
healthcare delivery system," said
Mary Chen, Managing Director of Beacon Hospital.

On future prospects, Eng Aik Meng believes there are
huge opportunities in the region. "We see a huge demand in specialty healthcare
services in Malaysia as well as the rest of Southeast Asia. We are actively
exploring new collaborations with top healthcare professionals. In the pipeline
for 2021,  we are already working with a few
of Malaysia's leading spine and joint surgeons to open a specialty orthopaedics
centre in HSC Medical Centre. We are also opening new specialty centres in Singapore
and Indonesia." Other than Beacon Hospital and HSC Medical Centre, TE Asia
Healthcare Platform's portfolio in Malaysia includes Cardiac Vascular Sentral
KL (CVSKL).

About TE Asia Healthcare Partners

TE Asia Healthcare Partners is a private healthcare
investment and operations platform established in 2014. Backed by TPG Capital,
the firm invests in a portfolio of healthcare assets in the region, focusing on
specialty centres and hospitals.

tehealthcare.com

Post

“EAR UP INCUBATION” Hong Kong music mentoring programme shows young local indie musicians a way to build a Hong Kong music ecology

HONG KONG SAR
Media OutReach - 1 December
2020 - Now in its fourth year,
"Ear Up Incubation" programme invites six local industry masters including
Adrian Chow, Veronica Lee, Alok Leung, Gaybird Leung, Teddy Robin and James
Ting to empower 18 groups of new Hong Kong music talent through an all-round mentorship.

Live shows and concerts

Apart from
dedicated small group mentorship sessions, the programme also includes a series
of performance workshops and international forums for young musicians to
enhance live performance skills, understand the latest industry trends and
discover potential collaboration opportunities. Livehouse showcases and school
showcases are also arranged for participants to gain performance experience and
build up a fanbase. All the participants are selected through open recruitment
and audition process organised by Ear Up
Music
.

Fostering new Hong Kong music

Ear Up Music was
set by Renaissance Foundation Hong Kong
to develop a sustainable and diverse music ecology in the industry, and nurture
rising young music stars. Sponsored by Create
Hong Kong
(a Government unit that aims to develop Hong Kong into a regional
creative capital) since 2016, the
label has now created the "Ear Up Incubation" programme to spotlight new music
in Hong Kong and in neighbouring regions and beyond.

Young Hong Kong musicians on a mission

The music
industry in Asia is going through a renaissance at the moment, with musical
phenomena like K-pop even attracting a global audience, as societies worldwide
becoming more open to diverse strains of music styles. In Hong Kong, Cantopop
is still the dominant musical genre, but the city is also embracing a growth in
independent music. Groups of young local musicians are on a mission to bring
the Hong Kong music industry to a new heyday.

A helping hand

But there are
challenges. Ear Up Music understands that lack of professional training and
guidance are the main stumbling blocks for new musical talent to break through
the homogeneity of the local music industry. To help overcome these issues, the
label created "Ear Up Incubation" to help local independent musicians be
equipped with label establishment knowledge and find suitable career paths for
their strengths through a series of practical training sessions and workshops.

Preparing for the world

Mr YUEN Chi-Chung,
a veteran music producer and the project director of this year's Ear Up
Incubation explained that, "The programme provides opportunities for young
indie musicians to broaden their musical vision and gain insights into the
industry by interacting with experts from different sectors. In this way they
can identify what they need to improve and be better prepared for the
international stage."

THE BIG FESTIVAL FINALE
After the
all-round training and preparation, 12 groups of outstanding mentees will be
selected from the programme to showcase their music in the Ear Up Music Festival in January 2021 at Macpherson Stadium,
Hong Kong.

Don't miss the show

Four major awards
including the "Ear Up Grand Prize",
the "Ear Up Creativity Award", the "Ear Up Performance Award" and the "Ear Up Audience Award" will be given
to the best performers in each category. Eman Lam, a local singer and Rubber
Band, a popular local Cantopop Band, who are both from another project Ear Up Global, will also perform during
the show. Details of the festival will be announced in mid-December. Stay tuned
to Ear Up Music social media so you won't miss this exciting festival of new
Hong Kong music.

Date: 22 -- 24 January 2021 (Friday --
Sunday)

Venue: Macpherson Stadium, Hong Kong

Ticketing: Free Entry (Details will be announced
in mid-December on Ear Up Music social media platforms)

 

18 Groups of Hong Kong Mentees

1. Andy is
Typing...
2. Chonotenki
3. COOL COOL
CAT
4. Elly C
5. Franklin
Telescope
6. Gordon Ho
7. Lydia Pau
8. METER ROOM
9. Noisy
Charlie
10. Plural
11. Polypumpkins
12. SadJay
13. TAOTAO &
flat550
14. WHIZZ
15. wongguyshawn
& sumj.chan
16. ZELOS
17. Gigi
Cheung
18. Lau Heung
King


Gigi Cheung graduated from the Drama School of
the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 2016. She is currently a
model and TV host at Viu TV. With a background of learning classical piano at
an early age, Gigi's music style is deeply influenced by theatre and classical
music. Gigi has also started her role as a singer-songwriter and composed solos
in recent years.

Formed in 2016, Chonotenki literally
means "super happy-go-lucky" in Japanese and embodies their enthusiasm for life
and passion for music. All four of them are vastly different in character, but
have been brought together by a perfect music climate. Although Hong Kong is
going through its ups and downs, the band would like to share their
positiveness and "funk up" the city with their music.

Andy
is typing...
is an alternative rock band originated from Hong Kong in 2016.
With musical influences ranging from alternative rock classics like Radiohead,
Red Hot Chili Peppers to British bands like Oasis, even some Japanese rock
bands, Andy is typing... loves to write punchy and explosive, yet emotional and
expressive music, with twists. Andy is Typing... released their debut single
<Take A Break> in April 2017. This is a love song written by JKY, one of
the four band members, to express his fatigue over being involved in
complicated modern relationships. The release of <Take A Break> managed
to reach #1 on iTunes Hong Kong in the rock category.

Inspired by John
Lennon and Beyond, TAOTAO believes
'a big group hug and a massive dance party' is what the world needs right now.
This has driven her to become a singer-songwriter. Her love for music inspired
TAOTAO to further her studies in music and production instead of political
economy. She received vocal and songwriting training at the Musicians Institute
in Hollywood and has performed with her band throughout Los Angeles. Her
western journeys in London and LA have shaped her musical style of R&B and
pop with an electronic touch.

Polypumpkins is a Hong Kong-based duo band which
focuses on electronic music. Their recent works consist of Synthwave and
Chillout music. With distinctive musical backgrounds and diverse experiences
across different fields, Dominic and Pion work diffuse rich electronic flavours
with heavily synthesized sounds. Their music target is to bring audiences on a
special journey of ups and downs, without a fixed boundary of musical genres.


High Resolution Images Download Here

Ear Up Music Social Media

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

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/earupmusic

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/earupmusic/

About Ear Up Music

Ear Up Music is a music label that spotlights new music of Hong Kong to its neighbouring regions and beyond. The label, established by Renaissance Foundation Hong Kong in 2016, runs numerous projects from talent development to showcase events that connect with global music networks. These projects, mainly sponsored by Create Hong Kong of the HKSAR Government, include Ear Up Incubation, Ear Up Global, Ear Up Tour and Ear Up Gig On.


In 2018, we founded Ear Hub to curate the latest developments in the Hong Kong, Asian and International music, media, production and interactive industry.  Ear Hub is an international music conference and festival that offers an audiovisual feast as well as a cordial environment to initiate cross-border collaborations for music lovers and professionals.