Business

The corrected release reads:

• The payment platform will allow businesses in Hong Kong to make payments with credit cards in instances where the recipients do not accept card payments.
• CardUp’s solution will help Hong Kong-based businesses maximise and digitise their cash flow, access flexible and competitively-priced capital during the current economic climate, whilst equipping businesses with the tools to automate their payables processes
• CardUp is a registered Visa Business Payment Solution Provider (BPSP); this partnership enables customised pricing for Visa Commercial card holders at competitive rates

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 December 2020 – CardUp, the digital credit card enablement platform, has launched their solution that enables local businesses to pay any non-card accepting recipients by credit card, even when cards are not accepted. This launch coincides with CardUp’s partnership with Visa as a registered Business Payment Solution Provider (BPSP) that enables Hong Kong-based businesses to maximise their cash flow by tapping onto existing credit card lines at customised rates.

As a Visa-registered BPSP, CardUp can help more businesses in Hong Kong tap onto their underutilised credit limits, allowing businesses to leverage their credit cards for payments at a competitive price and customised rate. To enable card payments in places where cards are not accepted, CardUp charges a processing fee.

“We are delighted to expand our services to businesses in Hong Kong, many of whom grappled both with cash flow problems and challenges digitising payables and receivables whilst finance teams work digitally in the new post-pandemic world. We saw an opportunity to help them with a more flexible digital business payment facility to enable their business continuity,” said Nicki Ramsay, CEO of CardUp. “By launching our platform in Hong Kong, we enable businesses here to tap onto existing credit card lines more easily to help them tide their cash flow during this uncertain time. Our collaboration with Visa allows us to double-down on this flexibility as our BPSP facility is competitively-priced, more convenient than using conventional credit lines and quicker as there is no need for applications or waiting times.”

A survey by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) found that 42 percent of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 24 percent of large corporations were concerned about their survivability amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic^[1]. During this time, these businesses were particularly exposed to reduced short-term cash flow due to revenue losses. CardUp believes that its new B2B facility and its status as a registered Visa BPSP will help the businesses benefit from more flexible payment options to keep their businesses afloat during uncertain economic periods.

“Many businesses often think of a credit card as nothing more than a payment method. However, a business credit card can also double up as a planning and budgeting tool. Based on our research, Visa recognised that cash flow optimisation is one of the top pain points of Hong Kong SMEs,” said Maaike Steinebach, Visa General Manager, Hong Kong and Macau. “Our partnership with CardUp helps businesses extend their days of payable outstanding and optimise their working capital with their commercial cards, crucial under current business climate.”

As a registered Visa BPSP, CardUp provides the following payment facilities for both businesses and banking partners.

For businesses

1. Enable B2B payments on credit cards. CardUp allows businesses to use their credit cards to pay business expenses to non-card accepting recipients, which includes payroll, supplier invoices, rent and more.
2. Improve cash flow. Businesses can improve their cash flow by using CardUp’s platform to obtain up to almost two months of interest-free credit and early settlement discounts. This solution, coupled with competitive rates presented by their status as a Visa BPSP, presents an extremely cost-effective way for companies to access working capital. It is also much easier for them to obtain these funds, without any lengthy and cumbersome applications or heavy documentation required for loans.
3. Digitise processes. CardUp provides businesses a digital interface where they can schedule recurring payments and monitor payment statuses all from one dashboard — allowing them to easily leverage data to track and reconcile payments. CardUp’s platform also equips businesses with invoice automation tools to digitise payables and receivables processes, helping finance teams work digitally and thrive in the new normal.
4. Cost and time savings. Businesses enjoy additional cost savings through card rewards earned on these business expenses, as well as time and cost savings through the automation and consolidation of domestic and international payments on one platform.

For banking partners

1. Obtain more customers and business growth prospects. Banks and payment networks can benefit from increased coverage, capturing incremental spend in non-card accepting sectors, as well as advance digitisation efforts. With over US$1 trillion still being spent by cheque in Hong Kong, this opens up opportunities in the cards sector as businesses are able to use their heavily underutilised credit limits for large business expenses previously not possible by card.

CardUp’s technology connects to accounting and ERP platforms, to provide businesses with seamless data flow and reporting. This provides a solution that enables any payment made by bank transfer or cheque to be shifted to cards — regardless of whether the end-recipient accepts card payments.

CardUp already collaborates with all major banks in the region such as Citi, DBS and UOB. Outside of Hong Kong, the company has already made its digital platform available in Singapore (where it first launched) and Malaysia and has managed hundreds of millions of dollars in payments today to vendors globally. The company is currently seeking opportunities to expand its digital platform across the region to give more businesses in the region and alternative, digital payment facility to better manage their cash flow.

About CardUp

CardUp is a credit card enablement platform that brings value to both individuals and businesses by improving the way they pay and get paid, access credit and manage payments.  

The company started by allowing any big expense previously made by bank transfer, cheque or cash to be shifted to card, even where cards are not accepted. Examples include rent to a landlord, insurance premiums, payroll, supplier invoices and more. CardUp has since gone on to launch merchant card solutions, card enablement APIs and payment automation tools that help SMEs save time and automate their finance processes. 

CardUp manages hundreds of millions of dollars in payment volume in the region today. The company continues to innovate in technology across business financing, payment automation, data insights and card rewards, to deliver their vision to unlock the benefits of card payments for everyone. As of 2020, CardUp operates in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. 

For more information, please visit: www.cardup.hk

Make this holiday season an unforgettable one with iShopChangi. Running until January 3, 2021, shoppers can save up to 60% on over 10,000 top-notch deals. Across stellar sitewide discounts, promotions and vouchers, find a duty-free bargain on everything from the latest electronics to festive wine and spirits.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 3 December 2020 – As the festive season kicks off for Black Friday, 12.12 and Boxing Day, shoppers have a chance to score some unbeatable deals. Never one to miss out on the action, e-commerce retailer iShopChangi is getting into the spirit of things, with the Happy Haulidays campaign offering sitewide promotions, flash deals and discounts that’ll make this holiday season one to remember.

Running until January 3, 2021, shoppers will discover exclusive savings of up to 60% on more than 10,000 deals, ranging from high-end electronics and premium beauty products to the perfect liquor to share with friends.

Soak Up The Holidays With Splendid Wine & Spirits

When it comes to celebrating the holidays with your loved ones, it never hurts to have a five-star drink on-hand. With iShopChangi, you won’t have a problem finding a delicious tipple, with a vast range of discounted premium brands and new arrivals offering endless Christmas cheer. Look out for our special wine and spirit flash vouchers using the code DRINKS10, offering an extra 10% off with no minimum spend, capped at $50.

Across brands like BAILEYS, TANQUERAY and SINGLETON, you can find a bargain no matter your drink of choice. Plus, there are a wealth of tempting bundle deals and gift packs, including a delicious pairing of Auchentoshan 21 Year Single Malt Whisky with Legent American Bourbon Whisky.

Find A Deal On The Latest Electronics

There’s no better time to stock up on the latest gaming, audio and fitness tech than during the festive season. If you’ve been eyeing an innovative device but haven’t been ready to commit, iShopChangi’s remarkably reduced prices might just be the incentive you need.

With a host of exclusive Christmas deals that are so good you might not want to give away your gift after all, you’ll find high-quality HUAWEI, SONY and NAKAMICHI headphones and speakers at exceptional prices. Alternatively, start the New Year with a bargain on a huge range of FITBIT products.

Secure Flash Vouchers & Promotional Codes

With holiday joy approaching fever pitch, iShopChangi is getting in the mood by offering shoppers an incredible array of promotions and discounts. This holiday season, make the most of iShopChangi’s tiered discount system to ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck.

All you have to do is spend S$100, S$250 or S$800 and apply the relevant code to save S$7, S$20 or S$88 respectively. Simply enter XMAS7, XMAS20 or XMAS88 when you’re ready to checkout! Plus, if you want the ideal bright and bubbly gift, redeem a vibrant tokidoki Kaiju premium for S$6.90. Just spend a minimum of S$100 at iShopChangi to snag these colourful items for a great price.

Make this festive season the best one yet with iShopChangi’s unmissable discounts, promotions and bundle deals. See the latest Happy Hauliday offering with iShopChangi on Facebook to save this Christmas and New Year!

About Changi Airport Group

Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) (www.changiairportgroup.com) was formed on 16 June 2009 and the corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS) followed on 1 July 2009.  As the company managing Changi Airport, CAG undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services.  CAG also manages Seletar Airport (IATA: XSP, ICAO: WSSL) and through its subsidiary Changi Airports International, invests in and manages foreign airports. 

About iShopChangi

iShopChangi was launched in 2013 as an extension of Changi Airport’s promise to deliver greater comfort and convenience to travellers in its suite of airport retail offerings. Passengers can browse and purchase tax- and duty-free products across all terminals between 30 days to 12 hours pre-flight on the e-store — and choose to collect their items at Collection Centres within departure, upon arrival or have them delivered free in Singapore. Providing easy access to over 30,000 products across 900 brands and exclusives such as Changi First product launches, the site has since received global recognition with its award for Best Website — Retail Customer Facing at The Moodies: the Airport and Travel Retail Digital Media Awards 2018. In early 2020, the e-commerce store started to retail a selection tax- and duty-absorbed products to Singapore-based residents without the need to fly.

The Emerge X Program sits within Microsoft’s Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative, which discovers and nurtures high potential technology startups & grows the ecosystem in emerging markets across APAC

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 3 December 2020 – Four startups from Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Singapore are winners at Microsoft’s inaugural Emerge X Regional Pitching Competition in Asia Pacific: 

1.     Abivin from Vietnam: An AI-powered platform that optimizes supply chains across multiple sectors by solving the vehicle routing problem 

2.     Lifetrack Medical Systems in the Philippines and Singapore: A cloud-based platform that provides affordable access to medical imaging in emerging markets 

3.     Agrithmics from Sri Lanka: A cloud-based solution that enriches the agri-industry by digitizing the farm to factory supply chain and connecting farmers and buyers 

4.     Milky Way AI, from Singapore: An AI-powered smart retail solution leveraging image recognition technology to help retailers manage shelf inventory and maximize sales 

“For Asia Pacific to remain at the forefront of global transformation, it takes disruptors, visionaries, and futurists. There are no limits to what people can achieve when the world and technology reflect the diversity of everyone who uses it. Which is why at Microsoft, we build technology so that others can create technology, and to be successful we all need to come together,” said Andrea Della Mattea, President, Microsoft Asia Pacific. “Through the Highway to a 100 Unicorns and our Emerge X program, we aim to help startups on the road to innovation, where they can meet unarticulated needs of the industry and help businesses become resilient.” 

Growing the Startup Ecosystem in Emerging Markets across APAC 

The Emerge X Program is part of Microsoft’s Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative, which was launched in Asia Pacific in October 2020 after overwhelming success in India. Microsoft engaged with more than 70 prominent startup ecosystem players and governments across 16 countries, who then nominated more than 300 of their most promising for the program.  

The 16 countries engaged in the program are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. 

79 startups were selected to join the Microsoft Emerge X program. As an Emerge X startup, they will participate in a year-long mentorship program with Microsoft for Startups which is designed to help them scale and accelerate their growth. They will also receive GitHub and Azure credits, have the opportunity to attend a Founder Bootcamp for 3 days, gain access to enterprise clients globally through Microsoft’s unique co-sell program, and interact with Microsoft experts and industry stalwarts.  

Of these, 21 of the Emerge X startups pitched their ideas at the Emerge X Regional Pitching Competition, held at the Philippine Startup Week 2020, with Abivin, Lifetrack Medical Systems, Agrithmics and Milky Way AI identified as the top startups in the whole region. They were selected by a jury of leading investors and startup ecosystem leaders, including investors from BOV Capital, Cradle, Monk’s Hill Ventures, Movac, M12, SBK Tech Ventures, Sequoia, Vista Consulting Group, and 54i Ventures, and ecosystem leaders from GitHub and Target Accelerator. 

Details on the top four startups can be found in APPENDIX A, and a full list of Emerge X startups and jury members at the Philippine Startup Week 2020 can be found in APPENDIX B. 

Highway to a 100 Unicorns at the Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology 2020 

Microsoft’s Highway to a 100 Unicorns Regional APAC Event will be held at Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH) 2020 on 9 December, from 2pm-4pm. At that session, industry leaders from Microsoft and their partners will discuss the opportunities ahead and how to manage the challenges startups could face in APAC. The top four Emerge X startups will share their founding stories and how they have leveraged technology to solve some of the key challenges faced by business owners across different industry sectors. 

Said Peter Ong, Chairman of Enterprise Singapore, who is organizing SWITCH, “We are happy that Microsoft has chosen to launch its inaugural Highway to a 100 Unicorns Regional APAC Event in Singapore. Culminating at SWITCH after its mentorship program and pitching competition, we see great synergies in bringing together the region’s most innovative and ambitious startups to network with our diverse line-up of speakers and participants. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Microsoft to provide a vibrant and conducive ecosystem for the development of innovative startups.” 

APPENDIX A 

Abivin: Optimizing Supply Chains  

Established in 2015, Abivin’s AI-powered solution helps manufacturers, distributors, retailers, transporters, logistics service providers and container freight operators tackle the challenges of logistics execution and solve the vehicle routing problem, resulting in up to 30% savings. 

“When we applied to be a part of the Highway to a 100 Unicorns, our objective was to connect and learn from Microsoft, industry experts and other startups across the Asia Pacific. It has been a valuable experience and we are both surprised and proud to be selected as one of the top four startups in the region,” said Cassie Nguyen, COO and Co-founder, Abivin. 

Lifetrack Medical Systems: Providing Affordable Access to Medical Imaging 

Lifetrack Medical Systems was started in 2011 to rethink how radiology software could be distributed and made accessible, especially in the challenging conditions of emerging markets. Via its LifeSys™ platform, over 1.7 million patients in 12 different countries have been diagnosed.  

“Microsoft’s Emerge X competition has given Lifetrack a platform to share the work we have been doing to improve affordable access to medical imaging with our partners and stakeholders around the world. We are excited to join the Highway to a 100 Unicorns and looking forward to partnering with Microsoft to drive innovation forward in the region for the benefit of all,” said Dr. Eric Schulze, CEO and Founder, Lifetrack Medical Systems. 

Agrithmics: Digitizing the Farm to Factory Supply Chain 

Agrithmics was founded in 2016 to enrich the agri-industry in Sri Lanka and connect small hold farmers to agri-buyers, eliminating pilferage by middlemen and providing more access to cash and credit. More than 40,000 registered farmers are now using AgriX — an IOT-enabled and cloud-based procurement solution — and Agri-Pay Transaction Switch to conduct their transactions, with more than100 million kg of raw tea leaves transacted via its platforms in the last three years. 

“The journey with Emerge X has been fantastic for us. It was a great opportunity to meet several regional startups and learn about their innovative ideas. Agrithmics is excited to be part of the Highway to a 100 Unicorns and I am confident we will be able to reach greater heights with Microsoft,” said Prashanth Premakumar, CEO and Founder, Agrithmics. 

Milky Way AI: Helping Retailers Maximize Sales 

Founded in 2019, Milky Way AI’s Instashelf platform utilizes image recognition technology to help retailers and brands better manage shelf inventory by automating the stocktaking process. It is used by major retailers and brands in four countries and has helped merchandising teams increase their in-store productivity. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Microsoft in digitizing physical retail with Computer Vision and AI, delivering innovative omni-channel customer experiences and augmenting the largest workforce globally,” said Eunice Wong, CEO and Co-founder, Milky Way AI. 

APPENDIX B 

Emerge X Program Startups 

Startups in italics participated in the Emerge X Regional Pitching Competition at PH Startup Week 2020 

• Bangladesh: Alice Labs, Loop, PriyoShop, Sigmind.ai 
• Bhutan: DrukRide, One Click Shop  
• Cambodia: Peth Yoeung 
• Indonesia: Crowde, GREDU, Kiddo.id, Konvergen AI, Neurosensum, Ritase, Tjetak 
• Malaysia: Alpha Red Services, Betacard, Leaderonomics Digital, Naluri Hidup, OrangeFIN Asia, SalesCandy, Setel, Softinn Solutions, Soft Solvers Solutions, Supplycart.my, Talentcloud.ai 
• Maldives: FahiPay 
• Myanmar: Better HR, Expa.ai, Karzo Co., Village Link  
• Nepal: Digital Age Nepal, The Secured ID, Tootle  
• New Zealand: Book Me Bob, Projectworks, Showcase Workshop, Storbie, Vibe.fyi 
• Philippines: Aiah, ChatGenie, Edukasyon, Expedock, Frontlearners Inc., Investagrams, Lifetrack Medical Systems, Omnirio, Packetworx, Rumarocket, Tangere, Qwikwire 
• Singapore: Accredify, Bambu, JobKred, Lifetrack Medical Systems, Milky Way AI, Sentient.io, Tookitaki, Wiz.Ai 
• Sri Lanka: Agrithmics, DirectPay, Eimsky, Enhanzer, InsureMe, OMAK, Roar Global, SIXER VIDEO 
• Thailand: AltoTech, Bizcuit, ENRES, FilmDoo, Finema, Jabjai Corporation, PUUN Intelligent, Ricult, Robolingo, Vonder, ZTRUS 
• Vietnam: Abivin, Base.vn, House3D 

Emerge X Regional Pitching Competition Jury  

• Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Managing General Partner, BOV Capital    
• Kishan Nadarajah, Principal, BOV Capital  
• Juliana Jan, Chief Investment Officer, Cradle  
• Eunice Wong, Investment Associate, Monk’s Hill Ventures 
• Cassie McAdams, Investment & Community Manager, Movac 
• Abhi K, Partner, India Head, M12 
• Farhan Rahman, Strategic Development Specialist, SBK Tech Ventures 
• Pieter Kemps, Principal, Sequoia 
• Bala Girisaballa, Managing Director, APAC, Vista Consulting Group   
• Dipta Shah, Founding Partner, 54i Ventures 
• Maneesh Sharma, Country Manager, GitHub  
• Ravi Kanniganti, Director & Head, Target Accelerator India 

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 December 2020 – NEFIN,
leading solar developer and investor in carbon neutrality solutions, and Alliance
Construction Materials Limited (“Alliance”), a joint venture of CK
Infrastructure Holdings Limited (“CKI”) and HeidelbergCement
Group providing concrete and aggregates total solutions are proud to announce
the successful completion of the solar power projects in two of Alliance’s concrete
batching plants in Tsing Yi and Yuen Long. The systems will generate 76,170 kWh
electricity annually. From December, the electricity output will be able to
offset a total of 39 tonnes CO₂ per year, similar to planting extra 647 trees for
Hong Kong.

As the trusted partner for developers, contractors and other
professionals in the construction industry, Alliance provides concrete and
aggregates solutions to support diverse range of construction projects around Hong
Kong. With its primary “green” objectives of protecting the climate, preserving
resources and reducing emissions, the company adopts stringent carbon reduction
measures in its operation, including concrete batching plants, aggregates
depots and logistics chain.

Mr. Vincent Yu, CEO of Alliance, said, “Consolidating green innovation
in traditional practices established by decades of industrial development is
not an easy task. As we pride ourselves on being a pioneer to enable a circular
economy, we are keen to explore
new approaches to lower our carbon footprint. This solar power
project is one of our many green initiatives to make a difference. By setting long
term decarbonisation target, deploying
conservation measures in entire manufacturing and delivery process, as well as
developing low carbon concrete products, we strive to minimise our environmental impact
and support the construction industry to build a greener Hong Kong.”

“Many enterprises are beginning to focus on environmental
sustainability, but are hesitant to proceed due to a lot of considerations. For
example, when companies think about developing their own solar power projects,
they may think that it is not feasible if the area of their facilities is not large.
This is where partnering with the right solutions provider can make the
difference. NEFIN tailor-makes bespoke solutions to suit each company’s
considerations.  We believe that everyone
plays an important role in embracing carbon neutrality. In this collaboration,
Alliance is a role model to its industry and the society as they decide to adopt
renewable energy on their facilities even where there maybe space constraints.
Our team is able to design a solar PV system that maximizes the rooftop space
of Alliance’s plants and satisfy Alliance’s requirements,” said Mr. Glenn Lim,
CEO of NEFIN.

The implementation of this
solar project took place during COVID19 pandemic. The unprecedented situation
has created challenges to both teams. Due to the social distancing
restrictions, certain points of the construction process were delayed. With the
co-operation and understanding between Alliance and NEFIN, the solar PV systems
were completed on time within 2020.

The two companies will continue to work together to monitor the electricity
output of the two pilot plants and explore the opportunity to promote renewable
energy to the other production facilities to enhance efficiency and strive
towards carbon neutrality.

About Alliance Construction Materials Limited

Alliance Construction Materials Limited
(“Alliance”) is the leading concrete and aggregates total solutions provider in
Hong Kong. Having grown hand in hand with Hong Kong since early 1960s, Alliance
has evolved to be a joint venture owned by CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited
(“CKI”) and HeidelbergCement Group since 2004.

Embracing the international credentials and local
expertise inherited from both CKI and HeidelbergCement Group, Alliance provides
innovative, reliable and customer-focused solutions on ready mixed concrete and
aggregates to meet the most demanding requirements of construction projects in
Hong Kong. With a proven track record of more than 55 years, the company is committed
to delivering the best value for its customers with unrivalled technical
expertise and production capability, strategically located concrete plants,
sustainable rock reserves, strong logistic capability, automated process and
dedicated customer service team. For further information, please visit https://www.concrete.hk/en.

About NEFIN Group

NEFIN Group is a regional renowned solar developer and investor with bespoke experience in solar system deployment and a committed partner to organisations that aim to achieve carbon neutrality. Founded by a core management team of DuPont Solar Business, legal experts, and investment bankers, NEFIN Group has collectively delivered over 300MW of utility-scale, commercial, and industrial rooftop solar systems regionally. The group offers consulting services such as due diligence, feasibility studies, and lender-technical advice on top of project development, system design, engineering, and asset management. NEFIN Group also offers flexible financing options to partners who opt for zero investment. Please refer to NEFIN’s website www.nefinco.com  for more information.

• 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 16^th, Taiwan (China) 19^th,
South Korea 22^nd, Hong Kong S.A.R. 25^th, and Thailand at
30^th. 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.

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.

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.

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 6^th 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.

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 3^rd, 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 25^th, 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 16^th 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 10^th, 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.

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/.