Bangkok, 18th March 2015 - ASIATODAY.COM - The two-day conference on cold chain sector in ASEAN region, Asia Cold Chain Congress has formally being launched by announcement of its program and sessions.

To be organized in concurrence with Asia Cold Chain Show on 22nd and 23rd July 2015 at Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, theme of the congress is ‘Exploring new strategies and opportunities to grow cold chain business’.

“ This year’s program is absolutely in sync with the objective of our show to bring all key stakeholders at one platform and discuss the business landscape of cold chain sector in ASEAN region. We strongly feel that a dedicated conference on exploring avenues to grow business and profitability gives a definite reason for buyers to attend the event. This kind of forum is being organized for the first time in the region and stress on networking would be at all time high”, said Kiran Mittal, Managing Director, Manch Communications, organisers of the show.

The agenda is a perfect mix of policy issues, sector forecast, business development and technology up gradation in the form of panel discussions and presentations. The conference agenda suggest that a larger emphasis has been given on cold supply chain having linked to building and running of cold storage, key elements in cold transport and customer satisfaction.

“We encourage more buyers to speak at the conference so that the industry get the real time insight into their expectations, priorities and decision making. We have also included important processes such as Just-in-time delivery and Farm-to-Fork solutions to cover the entire value chain of cold logistics.” Added Mittal.

The call papers from speakers are invited and the speaker panel would be announced by mid April, according to the organizers. The key sessions highlighted covers technical advancement of cold storages, avenues for extra revenue generation, safety in cold chain operations and how global brands look at this market to set up operations. The last session is dedicated to ASEAN countries to present the current landscape and growth prospects of cold chain sector in their respective countries.

“We recommend everyone to register for the conference at the earliest as we have limited seats available for the sessions. Registration can be done online with a safe payment gateway in place. We also request industry stake holders to send us their suggestions on the conference program regarding any other key topic to be covered at the forum.” Concluded Mittal.

Full conference program is available on the show website 　www.AsiaColdChainShow.com for your reference.

Contact Person: Nidhi Singh
Email: nidhi@manchcommunications.com
Telephone: 91-11-40575102

- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com

Collaborating with Public and Private Organisations to Launch the Second ‘Spice Up Your Business Agenda’ Campaign Targeting International MICE Travellers

Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President of TCEB said that, “This year, TCEB aims to leverage online marketing promotion through three key initiatives including the improvement of our innovative Thai MICE website to provide comprehensive information on MICE products and services catering to our target audiences. To increase Thailand’s online competitive advantage, the new website will be available in eight languages including Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Bahasa Indonesia, Russian, and Vietnamese. As a tool design to communicate with international MICE travellers, TCEB is also creating a TCEB mobile application for smartphone and tablet users, enabling them to gain an easy access to information on Thailand’s MICE industry.”

To support marketing and sales promotion for Thai MICE entrepreneurs, TCEB is developing online marketing tools and digital sales kits, which include a blog, digital brochure, photo and VDO content to promote Thailand’s MICE industry, as well as a PowerPoint Presentation, and ready to use online sales kits to meet with emerging demands.

To build awareness of Thailand’s MICE industry and reinforce Thailand’s positive image as a premiere MICE destination, TCEB is creating a series of online marketing promotion and PR campaigns throughout 2015 in line with the bureau’s international marketing strategy, in key high potential markets. This integration of traditional and online marketing efforts will help drive Thailand’s leadership position more strategically and effectively.

Mr Nopparat added that, “One of the key campaigns in 2015 includes the second edition of Spice Up Your Business Agenda, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International Pcl, the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of International Trade Promotion, and Visa International (Asia-Pacific), LLC. Aimed at attracting high quality MICE travellers to experience the strength of Thailand’s MICE industry, the ‘Social Connectivity’ campaign will connect to many channels of social media, amplifying its benefits to wider target audiences. Special privileges include 50 percent discount on accommodation, car rental, airport transfer, and golf course fees, as well as Bt500 cash coupons for every Bt5,000 spent. Moreover, we are introducing the additional Meeting Package programme covering meeting rooms, venues and accommodation, and the Rejuvenation Package programme to corporate meetings delegates, exhibition visitors, and VISA Commercial Cardholders in Thailand.”

To showcase Thailand’s MICE Cities and high potential tourist destinations, such as Hua Hin and Ko Samui, the online campaign also focuses on target markets to stimulate spending, and extending length of stay in Thailand. Since its first inception last year, Spice Up Your Business Agenda was well received by international MICE professionals, with more than 1,000,000 online impressions, 7,000 e-coupon downloads, and more than 30,000 privilege coupon booklets being distributed at many prestigious international exhibitions in Thailand.

Mrs Lalida Jivanantapravat, Director of the Office of Digital Commerce from the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), views the “Spice Up Your Business Agenda 2015” campaign to be an enticing campaign providing not only excellent privileges, but also exclusive discount deals for MICE tourists coming to or in the process of deciding to come to Thailand. This campaign will, without a doubt, foster trade activities hosted by DITP. It is a widely known that DITP frequently organises numerous trade exhibitions across the year attracting a number of overseas visitors to Thailand. Within these exhibitions, business matching sessions are held to serve the requirements of visitors such as in our international trade exhibitions hosted domestically and though the in-coming international trade delegations. The Department of International Trade Promotion is honoured to be one of the organizations which helps promoting this remarkable campaign through our promotion tools both offline and online, and through our Thai Trade Centers with over 60 offices around the world.

Mr ChattanKunjara Na Ayudhya, Executive Director Advertising and Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reaffirmed the benefits of this campaign to the MICE and tourist industry by adding that MICE travellers are the high quality group of tourists that looking for both business and leisure. “MICE travellers have a high spending power. Their contribution to the Thai economy starts from making business deals and topped up by the recreational spending that followed. TAT aims to increase number of quality tourists and as such we have been an active partner in this campaign 2 years in a row. This campaign will reaffirm Thailand’s position as the world’s best business and leisure destination. It will accommodate and facilitate MICE travellers as well as attracting them to come to Thailand and stay longer for leisure. Therefore, the benefits of the Spice Up Your Business Agenda 2015 campaign are far beyond the MICE industry but help the tourism industry as a whole.”

Mr Chutintorn Srisittikum, Vice President, Digital Commercial Department, Thai Airways International Pcl. said that as a national carrier, THAI places the importance of MICE market by joining closely with TCEB. For this campaign, THAI and TCEB work together on the on-line marketing platform with a view to strengthen Thailand’s position as the world’s best MICE destination. While Thailand possesses magnificent resources in terms of locations, facilities, services, just to name a few, THAI has the variety of flights and routes to offer. “The variety of THAI’s flights and routes allow MICE travellers to easily plan their trips and tailor to their business agenda. Usually, MICE travellers have a long list of activities that they do not come to only one destination. Moreover, they tend to extend their business trip for leisure activities. THAI offers both international and domestic flights that reflect their needs. Moreover, in joining this campaign, THAI offers a very attractive price privilege which is an important factor for business travellers to plan their trips. With THAI, our state-of-the-art services will allow them to have the ‘Thainess’ experience not only on the ground but also up in the air. We ensure that their memorable journey begins prior to their arrival in Thailand and lasted even after they left the country.”

Mr Somboon Krobtheeranon, Visa Country Manager, Thailand acknowledged the spending power of MICE travellers: “There are a number of offers and privileges exclusively designed for business travellers that will enhance TCEB’s ‘Spice Up Your Business Agenda 2015’ campaign. While last year’s Spice Up aimed only at international business travellers attending business events in Thailand, this year’s offers will extend to local Visa commercial or corporate cardholders. What Visa brings to this campaign is the capacity to tap into millions of Visa cardholders around the world. Last year for example, we have helped to promote this scheme heavily in China and Japan, and have seen increased activation of these offers. Examples of this year’s offers are discounts of up to 54 percent at participating hotels, restaurants, spas, golf courses and other leisure attractions.”

“Today, online marketing is crucial to the development of Thailand’s MICE industry because of our target audiences in every corner of the globe. Through effective use of = online marketing, TCEB will be able to communicate with stakeholders in real-time, while encouraging engagement among TCEB, Thai MICE entrepreneurs, and target audiences including organisers and MICE travellers in a wide variety of awareness building and marketing promotion campaigns. We believe that our digital MICE initiatives will help drive Thailand’s MICE industry to meet this year’s target of 1,036,300 MICE travellers, generating Bt106,780 million for the Thai economy,” Concluded Mr Nopparat.

# # #

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications Division, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau

Ms Arisara Thanuplang Tel: +662 694 6095 Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th
Mr Pishnu Plaikaew Tel: +662 694 6000 Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th
Ms Kanokwan Kadeedaeng Tel: + 662 694 6006 Email: kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th
Ms Kwanchanok Otton Tel: + 662 694 6096 Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th

SOURCE / TCEB

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Australian Managed and Cloud IT Services Provider opens second office in Asia

Sydney, March 19, 2015: Australian Managed and Cloud IT Services Provider TETRAN recently announced that it’s set up a new entity in Singapore, marking an entry to the high-growth IT Services market in Asia.

The newly incorporated company, TETRAN (Singapore) PTE LTD will offer a host of Managed and Cloud IT services to both international and domestic businesses. The TETRAN suite of services and support model helps clients achieve greater efficiency with their existing IT infrastructure while reducing cost and complexity. This ensures service levels are met by removing overhead administration and managing these functions internally.

Clients in Singapore will have the flexibility of customizing the offerings to meet their needs while gaining access to experienced IT professionals across the region.

Don Francis, Chief Executive Officer of TETRAN said, “Singapore is another milestone in our quest to expand service coverage in Asia. The economic climate and business activity surrounding the market in Singapore presents growth opportunities”.

The expansion follows a period of growth for TETRAN, which has seen the company improve its market share and service offerings across the ANZ region. As a key part of its market strategy in Singapore, TETRAN will look to offer a consolidated service model to Australian businesses with market presence in Asia.

Commenting on the move, Joe Siric, Chief Financial Officer for TETRAN said “TETRAN’s strong financial position allows us to invest in new markets and improve our presence across the region. The move is an important part of our growth strategy and signifies our ambitious plans of expansion.”

TETRAN’s clients in Australia and New Zealand represent a number of industries including Financial Services, Transport and Logistics, Hospitality and Manufacturing.

*****End*****

ABOUT TETRAN

TETRAN focuses on an effective operational and support model incorporating innovative and flexible product and service solutions that enhance productivity and provide business agility. We offer a full range of technology services, catering to all levels of business requirements; including network design, implementation, support services and cloud computing. Our flagship offering is a single point of ‘ownership’ operational ServiceDesk, delivering true business benefits across operations at an affordable cost.

Media Inquiries:
Anik Obey TETRAN Pty Limited T: +61 2 8415 9662 E: anik.obey@tetran.com.au

- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com

Eco-friendly home modifications are good for the environment, but that's not the only reason they're worth investing in. Here's a look at how having eco-friendly features in your home can make your life more comfortable and save you money.

Eco-friendly modifications often bring to mind the issue of elevated prices. On the contrary, eco-friendly and sustainable features needn't be expensive, especially if you start small.

With a good understanding of what passive design, energy efficient household fittings and proper ventilation can do for your home, you can decide which eco-friendly features you want to prioritise and which ones can be added over time.

1. Energy efficient fittings

Figure 1 refers to research by the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, which shows that refrigerators and air-conditioners consume the most energy in an average Malaysian home.

Ensuring that your household appliances are energy efficient, or using alternative heating such as a solar-water heater, will help to shrink your energy consumption levels even more.

Appliances incorporating sensor technology are also currently available in the market. Sensor technology has the ability to detect laundry load in washing machines, direct cool air from air conditioners to areas in the room with higher human activity etc. In 2009, Panasonic launched energy efficient home appliances with its proprietary ECONAVI sensor technology which intelligently and automatically controls power and water consumption.

You can also replace your regular incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient ones. LED (light-emitting diode) light bulbs are about five times more energy efficient than a standard incandescent bulb, so you'll be able to potentially enjoy savings on your electrical bill as well as reduce your carbon footprint.

2. Improve your home's ventilation

If you have to constantly make use of the air conditioner to regulate temperature in your home, lack of ventilation could be a problem. In warm climates like Malaysia, fixing the problem can be as simple as providing cross-ventilation.

First, determine the direction the prevailing breeze comes from. Control the amount of air you let into your home by making sure breeze-facing windows stay open as often as possible. Windows installed higher to the ceiling can also help expel the hot air as it rises within the home. Ventilation fans can also be installed to draw hot air out of the house.

3. Insulate your home to regulate temperature

Insulation is basically the barrier that stands between a building interior and the heat of the sun. There are two types of insulation - bulk insulation absorbs heat and prevents it from entering the building, while reflective insulation reflects heat away from your home's interior. Installing reflective insulation under your roof and bulk insulation above your ceilings can significantly reduce heat transfer to the inside of your house.

Low-e (low-emission) glass works by filtering out UV (ultraviolet heat) radiation while allowing natural sunlight to enter the home. Double-glazed windows have two panes of glass separated by an inner gas pocket. The space between the panes of glass reduces the amount of heat transference through the windows and helps prevent heat from entering a home, reducing dependence on air conditioning.

4. Use shading tools

On a landed property, certain shading features could also reduce heat transference into a home. Planting trees to adequately shade the house from direct sunlight will help keep the home cooler during the day when the sun is at its hottest. You can also install awnings on the exterior walls to help shield the house from absorption of sunlight, resulting in cooler walls and an all-round cooler home.

The ideal green home combines both passive and active solutions, but this doesn't have to be expensive. Every step towards making your home more environmentally friendly contributes to lowering carbon emissions and, in the long run, reduces energy consumption as well as contributes to potential cost savings for home owners.

SOURCE / Panasonic Asia Pacific

On November 18th Shanghai Jiaotong University announced its "Top 100 Universities in Greater China." With a total score of 94.8, NTHU was ranked second, and Tsing Hua University in Beijing was ranked first.

In response to the news, NTHU President Hong Hocheng pointed out that there are a lot of top notch universities in greater China, making ranking a difficult task. He also stated that NTHU's high position in the ranking is due to the great importance we give to conscientiousness, as well as the way it holds faculty members to high standards while also granting them a considerable amount of academic freedom. He also pointed out that NTHU puts a lot of effort into recruiting a diverse group of highly talented students who realize their potential while studying in a stimulating academic environment at NTHU.

The areas covered in the ranking formula included personnel training (35%), scientific research (35%), quality and quantity of teachers (25%), and school resources. NTHU's faculty was rated especially high, and had the highest score on three items: ratio of faculty with doctorate, number of Nature and Science publications, and number of international patents.

First conducted in 2011, Shanghai Jiaotong University's Top 100 Universities in Greater China ranks research universities in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.

In this year's ranking National Taiwan University came in third, followed by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Peking University. As for the entire list, Taiwan had 27 universities among the top 100, while mainland China had 64, Hong Kong had 7, and Macao had 2. For more details, visit the Top 100 Universities in Greater China website at:

http://www.shanghairanking.cn/Greater_China_Ranking/Greater_China_Rankin...

SOURCE / National Tsing Hua University

SINGAPORE - The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) will be leading 34 Singapore media companies to the 19th edition of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), bringing over 180 hours of film and TV programmes.

The Singapore delegation offers content from a wide range of genres - romance, drama, comedy, television documentaries, lifestyle travelogues, to food and cultural programmes, appealing in particular to Asian audiences.

These will be showcased at the Singapore Pavilion at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (Booth 1A-E13, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre Level 1, Hall 1A) from 23 to 26 March 2015.

Made-In-Singapore Content for an Asian Audience

Singapore media companies will showcase titles timed for release with Singapore's 50th Jubilee celebrations this year. These titles not only discuss topics that are identifiable to Singaporeans, they also portray themes such as family relations, filial piety, and a strong national identity, that the Asian audience can relate to.

Stories celebrating Singapore's culture and heritage, with strong Asian flavours:

- "1965", co-produced by Blue3 Pictures and mm2 Entertainment, tells the riveting stories of immigrants and natives during the years leading up to Singapore's independence. The film portrays heightened human drama relating to the magnitude of history unravelling, as its protagonists become caught up in a society divided by racial violence.

- "3688" is a comedy and musical directed by prominent Singapore filmmaker Royston Tan that follows a parking attendant's journey to become a singer like her idol Fong Fei Fei. It is his first feature film in seven years, after the music-themed 12 Lotus in 2008, and embodies the filmmaker's dedication to his father - hence its targeted release date to be set before 21 Jun (Father's Day in Singapore).

- Also slated for release this year is "Lulu The Movie" (Huat Films Pte Ltd), where Singapore actress, host, film director and media personality Michelle Chong reprises her role as one of Singapore's most popular TV characters from hit comedy series The Noose. Taking the form of a mock documentary, it narrates Lulu's adventures in learning English and her journey of self-discovery in Singapore and around the world.

Singapore content with a focus on China:

- Understand modern day China better through "China Close-Up 2", produced by Chow Wai Thong. The documentary tells the country's untold everyday stories on love, life and longing.

- "Route Awakening" is a TV programme that follows Harry Yuan, an American Chinese athlete with a penchant for adventure, sports and organic food, as he explores the less-visited landscapes of China.

- Food travelogue "Halal Galore-China", filmed entirely in China by Monstrou Studios, sheds light on an often-faced situation by Muslim travellers in non-Muslim countries: the lack of Halal-certified food. The show aims to broaden their food choices and discover tastier options.

Other Singapore Pavilion Content Highlights:

- Other content highlights include Singapore's box-office record breaking movie "Ah Boys to Men 3: Frogmen", a movie about young men serving in the Singapore Armed Forces' elite Naval Diving Unit. As of 18 March 2015, "Ah Boys to Men 3's" box office earnings crossed the S$7 million mark. The popular franchise introduces a new character 'Hei Long', played by Hong Kong actor Wesley Wong, the son of veteran stars Melvin Wong and Angie Chiu Nga Chi.

- The film's co-producer mm2 Entertainment will also be making a significant announcement at the Singapore Pavilion on 24 March.

- Other notable film titles include "King of Mahjong", a comedy that pitches Singapore's well-known comedian Mark Lee opposite his Hong Kong counterpart Chapman To and "A Fantastic Ghost Wedding", a drama-comedy also starring Mark Lee and popular Hong Kong actress Sandra Ng, centered on a mother's search for the rightful bride for her son.

- TV titles on showcase include "Jump Class", a Mandarin series about a young boy looking to break the monotony of his school routine and "Days of Disaster", a documentary which charts momentous events including a plane hijack, massive fire and industrial catastrophe that shaped modern Singapore.

More information on Singapore content, talent and companies can be found on the Singapore Media Gallery, at 　http://www.mda.gov.sg/sgmediagallery.

About Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA)

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (www.mda.gov.sg) promotes the growth of globally competitive film, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation and interactive digital media industries. It also regulates the media sector to safeguard the interests of consumers, and promotes a connected society. MDA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information (　www.mci.gov.sg).

Contact:
Joannah Zhong (Ms)
Executive (Industry Communications)
Communications
Media Development Authority
Mobile: +65 9728 9956
Email: joannah_zhong@mda.gov.sg

- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com

SINGAPORE, March 23, 2015 – Singapore’s affluent and well-developed internet infrastructure have been playing a major role in driving consumers’ appetite for connected gadgets. While the connected devices sector in Singapore was valued at only USD 950 million five years ago in 2010, it has today expanded substantially with sales reaching over USD1.8 billion in revenue in 2014.

Connected devices comprise of 20 wireless and connected electronic/digital products tracked by GfK in Singapore, including computers, internet TV, smart cameras, PC accessories, headphones, headsets, routers and also the latest gadgets – smartwatches and health fitness trackers “In line with the country’s high internet usage and technology adoption rate, wireless devices with internet connectivity have been growing every year from 2010 to 2013, registering an additional 3.1 million devices sold within this four year span,” observed Gerard Tan, Account Director for Digital World at GfK. “On the other hand, our sophisticated society is less interested in non-connected devices, with GfK reports revealing steep falling demand year after year since 2012.”

Sales reached a peak in 2013 with consumers splurging more than USD 2.1 billion on over 5.2 million connected devices, following which market saturation led to a slowdown in the 2014. By comparison, non-connected, wired devices within the same product categories witnessed an even steeper decline of 29 percent in value, considerably higher compared to the 15 percent fall registered in the connected segment.

In spite of overall decrease in consumer demand, some connected gadgets continued to register growth in 2014, including smartwatches, health fitness trackers, phablets, wireless printing devices, smart cameras, and loudspeaker soundbars. The top three fastest growing connected devices in Singapore last year were docking/mini-speakers, phablets and loudspeakers/soundbars at 162, 60 and 55 percent increased sales respectively over 2014.

Another interesting insight is the fact that manufacturers are launching more new models of connected devices in spite of the general slowing down of the market. According to GfK findings, the number of market offerings across all products rose by 15 percent to hit 4,920—a strong indication of the positive market sentiment going forward.

“The soaring popularity of this market means we can anticipate more of such products being launched, and the introduction of more new and exciting features, for instance, the function of easy syncing across different products,” said Tan. “With today’s heavy reliance on the internet, it becomes even more essential for modern technology to be equipped with the connectivity feature,” he concluded.

About GfK
GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables its clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK’s long-standing data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence from more than 100 countries. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers’ experiences and choices.

Seraphina Wee
Manager APAC
PR & Communications
GfK | One George Street #22-02 | Singapore 049145
T +65 6826 8622 | M: +65 9385 0222

- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com

23 March 2015 – The 11th edition of the prestigious Entertainment Expo Hong Kong opened today, raising the curtain the industry’s largest annual event in Asia. The Entertainment Expo continues through 19 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and other venues across Hong Kong. It comprises 10 exciting headline events covering a cross-section of multimedia activities.

Top 10
Entertainment Expo includes the three founding events; the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA). Over the years, the Expo has expanded to also incorporate the Hong Kong–Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival (HKAMF), the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia Festival), the Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit, the Digital Entertainment Summit as well as the affiliated event TV World International Forum.

Star Attractions
The 19th edition of FILMART (23-26 March), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) gathers more than 780 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions. As an annual showcase for the film industry in Asia, there will be over 400 screenings with more than 80 film premiers during FILMART featuring the works of Hong Kong as well as regional and international filmmakers. In addition, more than 70 star-studded activities are taking place, including high-profile award presentations, cocktail receptions and a variety of other networking events, for stakeholders to connect and do business.

New Frontiers
The fifth edition of the Digital Entertainment Summit (25 March), jointly presented by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, explores new frontiers for the entertainment industry. Animation & Digital Entertainment World features more than 170 digital entertainment companies, more than 30 of them from Hong Kong. The Business of Intellectual Property Zone (BIP Zone @FILMART) provides intellectual property consultation services while the Short Film Cafe will show award-winning short films. Jeff Gomez, the transmedia producer for Avatar, Transformers & Halo, will be among the speakers at the Digital Entertainment Forum on 25 March.

On The Box
The high-profile TV World marks its ninth edition with more than 360 exhibitors taking part. This year, the TV World International Forum becomes an affiliated event under Entertainment Expo. The forum’s theme is “The Rise of TV Streaming – Opportunities and Challenges” with leading figures from the industry sharing their insights on how to leverage the rise of TV streaming to create spin-off opportunities and tackle the possible challenges.

Pop Fest
The fifth edition of the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival on 27 March will celebrate Asia’s musical talent and provide a cross-market platform for the music and media industries in Asia to connect. Once again this year, music superstars from eight Asian countries/regions, namely Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, will compete against each other for the prestigious Super Nova Award.

Global Spotlight
The major film exhibitors at FILMART include UNIFRANCE and lle de France from France; UK Film from England; IFTA (Independent Film and Television Association) from the US; UNIJAPAN (Japan Association for International Promotion of the Moving Image), JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), SEICF (Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation) and Okinawa Film Office from Japan as well as KOFIC (Korean Film Council), KOCCA (Korean Creative Content Agency), BIPA (Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency) from Korea and Vietnam Cinema Association from Vietnam. Industry players from the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada and Europe return to FILMART with sizeable delegations to promote their entertainment products and services.

Hollywood Treatment
An enhanced conference programme this year includes six thematic events, including first time collaboration with the Producers’ Guild of America (PGA) to organise a panel discussion on “Making Asian Films in America”, featuring producers of top Hollywood Films as well as Academy Award winning independent films. Other topical conference themes are; “Find Your Opportunities in the Media Convergence Age”, “The New Silk Road of Asia’s Film Industry: Challenges, Opportunities and Partnership” and “Digital Entertainment Summit: T for Transmedia: Immersive Storyworld and A New Way of Audience Engagement”.

Film Focus
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (24 March to 6 April) features screenings of more than 280 films from 50 countries and regions. This year’s Filmmaker in Focus is award-winning actress, producer and director Sylvia Chang. Thirteen of her works, including her latest directorial release, Murmur of the Hearts, will be screened during the festival. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Film Awards will be held on 19 April at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to present awards to local film professionals in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

Into The Scene
The theme of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong is “Get into the Scene”, which highlights the event’s goal of fostering the development of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry. To encourage public participation in the event, a citywide campaign has enlisted the support of local cinemas, retailers and the food and beverage industry to provide various promotional offers to movie lovers under the slogan “Enjoy Great Movies, Enjoy Great Offers”.

Fair Website:
Entertainment Expo: 　http://www.eexpohk.com

Media Enquiry

Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART)
　http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart

Ms Agnes Wat
Tel: (852) 2584 4554
Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Mr Sam Ho
Tel: (852) 2584 4569
Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)
　http://www.hkiff.org.hk

Ms Connie Yeung
Tel: (852) 2102 7339
Email: connie_yeung@hkiff.org.hk

The 34th Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA)
　http://www.hkfaa.com

Ms Joey Fan
Tel: (852) 2367 7892
Email: joey@hkfaa.com

The 5th Digital Entertainment Summit
　http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart/des

Ms Agnes Wat
Tel: (852) 2584 4554
Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Mr Sam Ho
Tel: (852) 2584 4569
Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
　http://www.haf.org.hk

Ms Connie Yeung
Tel: (852) 2102 7339
Email: connie_yeung@hkiff.org.hk

Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival (HKAMF)
　http://www.hkamf.org

Mr Ricky Fung
Tel: (852) 2861 4313
Email: rickceo@ifpihk.org

IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award
　http://www.ifpihk.org

Mr Ricky Fung
Tel: (852) 2861 4313
Email: rickceo@ifpihk.org

The 20th ifva Festival
　http://www.ifva.com

Ms Chesna Ng
Tel：(852) 2582 0288
Email: cng@hkac.org.hk

The 8th Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit
　http://www.amp4.com.hk

Ms Anna Kan
Tel: (852) 2570 9016
Email: anna@amp4.com.hk

TV World International Forum
http://www.hktdc.com/hkfilmart

Ms Agnes Wat
Tel: (852) 2584 4554
Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Mr Sam Ho
Tel: (852) 2584 4569
Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Dubai – United Arab Emirates, March 22nd 2015: An official delegation from the Dubai World Dermatology & Laser Conference & Exhibition – Dubai Derma is participating at the International Academy of Dermatology conference and exhibition in San Francisco. The delegation comprises of Prof. Ibrahim Galadari, Chairman of Dubai DERMA conference and the Secretary General of the GCC League of Dermatology, also, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of the Dubai DERMA Conference and Exhibition, Chairman of INDEX Holding and Dr. Hassan Galadari, Chairman of the Scientific Committee at Dubai DERMA Conference.

The delegation; representing Dubai DERMA, signed a number of agreements through their participation. Hence, an MOU was signed today with the International Academy of Dermatology which states that the International Academy of Dermatology conference will be held in conjunction with the Dubai DERMA Conference and Exhibition next year and in association with the GCC League of Dermatology.

The signing took place in San Francisco on the sidelines of the International Academy of Dermatology and attended by Prof. Ibrahim Galadari, Chairman of Dubai DERMA conference and the Secretary General of the GCC League of Dermatology, also, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Executive Chairman of the Dubai DERMA Conference and Exhibition, Chairman of INDEX Holding and Dr. Hassan Galadari, Chairman of the Scientific Committee at Dubai DERMA Conference. And from the Academy Side, Prof. Neil Kenicov, Chairman of the International Academy of Dermatology attended the signing.

It is the first time that Dubai will host this event. The International Academy of Dermatology conference is one of the most prominent international scientific organisations dedicated to dermatology. The International Academy of Dermatology conference also issues a monthly magazine focused on the science of dermatology and publishes remarkable scientific researches by renowned international dermatologists.

Dubai Derma Conference & Exhibition provides balanced and varied education. It is an excellent opportunity for scientists from UAE, Arab and foreign countries to meet and strengthen their scientific cooperation at regional and international levels, and to follow up on the progress in the field of cutaneous medicine, cosmetic dermatology and laser. Dubai Derma helps to promote continuing medical education and strengthen scientific networking and cooperation among dermatologists in the region and the world.

Dubai DERMA is going to be held from the 7th and until the 9th of April 2015 at the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Centre. More than 375 companies from 55 countries are going to display the latest innovation of this industry. In addition, the number of visitors and participants are expected to reach 10,000 from all over the world.

Nada Saaydeh
Co-ordination, Follow up and Media Manager - Chairman's Office
INDEX Holding
Tel: +971 43624717
E-mail:nada.saaydeh@index.ae

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/INS. UPM has significantly reduced work-related accidents with a three year program called “Step Change in Safety 2012–2014”. UPM’s lost time accident frequency* (LTAF) has decreased by 70% from 15.2 in 2012 to 4.4 in 2014.

The Step Change in Safety 2012–2014 initiative engaged all UPM employees in a joint mission to improve the company’s safety culture and safety performance. The pervasive program renewed the foundations of safety work by shifting focus to preventative measures, such as proactive risk identification and management. Strong management commitment and active participation of employees and contractors have been the keys to success.

As a result, UPM’s global LTAF decreased by a total of 70% from 15.2 in the beginning of 2012 to 4.4 by the end of 2014. The total number of lost time accidents globally decreased from over 550 in 2011 to 155 in 2014.

“We have achieved excellent results and they clearly show that a new safety culture has been adopted throughout the company. All UPMers have contributed to the result and we can all be proud of the achievement,” says Jussi Pesonen, CEO of UPM.

One cornerstone for safety work are UPM safety standards, which were put in place during the Step Change in Safety initiative. The standards define the minimum requirements for safety performance and operations, and they are common to all UPM units around the world. For the next three years, the focus will be in perfecting the local implementation practices.

“The great results from our safety initiative have encouraged us to raise the bar even further. Our first goal was to get our LTAF below 5. Next we are aiming to go below 3,” Jussi Pesonen continues.

Careful induction and job specific safety training play important roles in identifying risks and consequently preventing accidents.

Employees' risk awareness is continuously improved by organising safety training, sharing information on near-miss situations and encouraging employees to report all hazardous situations and safety deficiencies.

In 2015 UPM launches a practice in which all UPM employees will be provided a regular refresher safety training to make sure that all the latest information and practices is in use.

You can read more about UPM safety induction from the UPM blog including UPM’s new safety induction video “STOP”.

* Number of lost time accidents per one million hours of work.

Caption 1, 2, 3:UPM reduced work-related accidents by 70% in three years © UPM

For further information, please contact:

UPM, Corporate Communications
Media Desk
tel. +358 (0)40 588 3284
media@upm.com
　www.twitter.com/UPM_News
　www.facebook.com/UPMGlobal

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Shanghai, China - Mar 24th, 2015 - Blue Bamboo today announces that Blue Bamboo offers rugged rubber boots for PocketPOS P10 low-cost receipt printer. These rubber boots are commercially available now.

In order to enable customers to easily use the P10 printer, and prevent this printer from dropping on the floor, customers can carry it via a belt clip.

Blue Bamboo's P10 mobile printer is a portable, receipt printer that supports Bluetooth, USB Charging. With the lightweight and shirt-pocket-size design, this printer is fast, reliable and durable. Under the Apple MFi certification, this printer seamlessly pairs with mobile devices, such as: compatible with Apple iOS devices, such as iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini and iPod touch via Bluetooth.

In addition to iOS devices, this mobile printer is also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets, Windows smartphones, J2ME phones and Blackberry mobile phones.

We offer free SDK for P10's solution providers, who will find it easy to be used to develop applications and solutions. Within six months, many P10's solutions have been developed and projects have been commercially launched.

One of the European airline giants selected Blue Bamboo's P10 low-cost receipt printer to integrate with Apple iPad Tablet (using this airline's mobile application) to offer a total solution to print paper receipts on-board for both cabin crew and passengers. Quoting from this company: "The only differentiation between airlines these days is the human interaction on board; true interaction between passengers and crew. The crew needs to be empowered with tools to better enrich the passengers on-board experience."

Besides, an American mobile merchant selected Blue Bamboo's free PocketPOS Print Apps (iOS & Android) and P10 mobile printer to print paper receipts, coupons, and small agreements, etc. This solution is beneficial to those merchants who need to offer paper receipts for customers.

P10 samples are available in stock. Get a sample today, and we ship within three working days. Contact Blue Bamboo sales at sales@bluebamboo.com.

About Blue Bamboo
Blue Bamboo designs and markets feature-rich and exceptionally affordable products for the POS terminal and peripherals industry. Blue Bamboo's robust electronic payment technology delivers customer-centric wireless and retail payment solutions which meet PCI and EMV standards all in a secure, reliable and versatile design. For more information, please visit 　www.bluebamboo.com.

* "Made for iPod,""Made for iPhone," and "Made for iPad" mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Media Contact:

Potter Yang
Marketing Manager
Potter.Yang@bluebamboo.com

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24 March 2015, Yangon, Myanmar – Panasonic launched the first integrated showroom and service center today to showcase the full lineup of business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) offerings available for Myanmar. B2B solutions including the latest technology designed for the retail, security, hotel, office, eco and solar sectors will be exhibited alongside B2C solutions like home & kitchen appliances, beauty products, TVs, audio-visual products and cameras. These solutions come together to create ‘A Better Life, A Better World’ for consumers and business partners in Myanmar by enhancing quality of living and boosting local business development.

Customers visiting the showroom will get to experience products and appliances first-hand with the assistance of product demonstrators at various sections, including the Panasonic Cooking and Panasonic Beauty corners. To further enhance the customer experience, the showroom incorporates a service centre that will provide robust after-sales support services.

Corporates can also gain a deeper understanding of Panasonic’s suite of technology and solutions developed to support business growth. With a strong network of local engineering channel partners, Panasonic is capable of tailoring solutions to meet unique requirements across different sectors like housing, hotels, office or retail, etc. - serving as a one-stop solutions provider and an integral catalyst to drive businesses forward.

“Through the opening of the new integrated showroom, we will be able to better demonstrate Panasonic technological capabilities and vigor in providing relevant and valuable solutions to local consumers and businesses. We hope that this will further help us capitalise Myanmar’s strong economic growth and contribute to Panasonic’s global sales target of 10 trillion yen by the end of fiscal year 2018, the company’s 100th year of founding,” said Hisakazu Maeda, Chief Representative, Panasonic Asia Pacific Myanmar Branch.

A second integrated showroom will also open in Mandalay in April 2015, making Panasonic products and solutions more accessible to customers around Myanmar.

Panasonic Showroom & Service Center Yangon
Address: G-15, Tower D, Pearl Condominium,
Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 - 17:30 (Showroom & Service Center)
Sunday (except public holidays): 9:00 - 17:30 (Showroom only)
Tel: +95 - 1 - 860 - 4657

Panasonic Showroom & Service Center Mandalay
Address: No.647, Corner of 36th & 78th street, Mahar Aung Myae Township,
Haymamarlar North Quarter, Mandalay
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 - 17:30 (Showroom & Service Center)
Sunday (except public holidays): 9:00 - 17:30 (Showroom only)
Tel: +95 - 2 - 60488

Sponsorship of Yangon United

Other than business growth, Panasonic is committed to Myanmar’s societal progress by tying in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sponsorship activities to the business strategy. In support of the sporting fraternity in Myanmar, Panasonic is announced as the official jersey sponsor of the Yangon United Football Club (FC), which is currently in the running for the championship title of the 2015 Myanmar National League.

U Pye Phyo Tayza, President of Yangon United Football Club (FC), said: “It has been a terrific season so far for Yangon United in the league and to have a renowned brand like Panasonic on board will definitely strengthen the club further. We look forward to partner Panasonic to expand our club presence and outreach in the home market and even beyond Myanmar.”

“We feel that it is important to encourage Myanmar’s young population to engage in an active lifestyle and participate in their community for the nation’s progress. Knowing that football is a popular sport, we engaged Panasonic sponsored Gamba Osaka FC to conduct football clinics for aspiring young athletes here last year. In addition, Panasonic also participated in the 27th SEA Games as the Official Main Sponsor, demonstrating the company’s support to the Myanmar economy and SEA Games’ vision of promoting friendship, co-operation and peace between participating countries in Southeast Asia,” added Maeda.

About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and engineering of electronic technologies and solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates about 500 consolidated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.74 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2014. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more information about Panasonic, please visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

About Panasonic Asia Pacific
Panasonic Asia Pacific provides the whole range of the brand’s products and solutions across the South East Asia and Pacific (APAC) region. The company focuses on promoting its Business-to-Business portfolio, such as in the field of energy solutions, whilst maintaining solid Business-to-Consumer growth, in line with the group’s global direction.

The region has 45 manufacturing sites, which hold as a key hub for Panasonic’s global production activities supporting the consumer, solutions and components and devices business. Based in Singapore, Panasonic Asia Pacific regional headquarter encourages locally-initiated energy solutions partnerships and businesses. Panasonic Asia Pacific will continue to promote green innovation and reduce its regional carbon dioxide emissions footprint in support of Panasonic’s global eco initiatives.

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Tsukuba, Japan - The molecules used to make optoelectronic devices can be engineered to balance the chemical interactions within them and optimise their properties for specific applications, according to a review paper published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. This paper, by researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, proposes engineering strategies that could advance the manufacture of a range of devices.

Optoelectronic devices convert electricity into light, or light into electricity, and are integral to an increasing number of devices. For example, many television and mobile device displays are made with optoelectronic organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Optoelectronics are also central to solar-powered devices, fibre optic communication and some electronic chips.

Many materials that are used to make optoelectronics consist of "pi-conjugated" molecules that feature a complex form of chemical bonding in which many electrons are shared between many atoms. This bonding confers electronic and optical properties that are ideal for optoelectronics, but also leads to limitations. For example, at room temperature, most of these materials are solid and, therefore, unsuitable for flexible devices. What's more, pi-conjugated molecules tend to be insoluble in solvents and difficult to work with in printing technology.

However, these properties can be changed by attaching alkyl chains to the pi-conjugated molecules (alkyl chains have a backbone of carbon atoms, but can vary in length and branching structure). Scientists lack a complete understanding of how alkyl chains affect the properties of pi-conjugated molecules, but Fengniu Lu and Takashi Nakanishi of NIMS have reviewed a range of studies to determine the fundamental rules of the process. (Since 2005, Dr. Nakanishi has himself invented a way to control the self assembly of linear alkyl chains, such as alkylated-fullerenes, to pi-conjugated molecules. In addition, he recently developed an intriguing technique to create luminescent, room temperature "liquid" pi-conjugated molecules by wrapping the pi-moiety up with several branched alkyl chains.)

To assess the effects of attached alkyl chains, the NIMS team collated research that studied the properties of pi-conjugated molecules modified with specific alkyl chains. Some studies demonstrated that different types of alkyl chains, solvent polarity, temperature and chain-substrate interactions led to the assembly of pi-conjugated molecules into various two- and three-dimensional structures. Other studies showed that alkyl chains with certain structures allowed the formation of "thermotropic" liquid crystalline materials - which have properties between those of hard solids and soft liquids - as well as the formation of materials that were "isotropic" liquids at room temperature and from which photoconducting liquid crystals or gels could be formed. The authors describe this strategy as "alkyl-pi engineering" in their review article.

The researchers conclude that changes in the properties of alkylated-pi molecules depend upon the precise balance of the interactions among the pi-conjugated units as well as static interactions (known as van der Waals forces) among the alkyl chains. Different alkyl chains affect the balance of these interactions, leading to different molecular structures and properties. This insight will allow researchers to deliberately engineer pi-conjugated molecules to have specific properties, making the production of high-performance optoelectronic devices more efficient.

For further information contact:
Dr. Takashi Nakanishi
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA),
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Tsukuba, Japan
Tel: +81-29-860-4740
Email: nakanishi.takashi@nims.go.jp

More information about the research paper:
Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. Vol. 16 (2015) 014805
　http://iopscience.iop.org/1468-6996/16/1/014805
Alkyl-pi engineering in state control toward versatile optoelectronic soft materials
Fengniu Lu and Takashi Nakanishi

Journal Information

Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM) is the leading open access, international journal for outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science. Our audience is the international materials community across the disciplines of materials science, physics, chemistry, biology as well as engineering.

The journal covers a broad spectrum of materials science research including functional materials, synthesis and processing, theoretical analyses, characterization and properties of materials. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary nature of materials science and issues at the forefront of the field, such as energy and environmental issues, as well as medical and bioengineering applications. 　http://iopscience.iop.org/1468-6996

For more information about the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, please contact

Mikiko Tanifuji
TITLE: Publishing Director
National Institute for Materials Science
Email: TANIFUJI.Mikiko@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for National Institute for Materials Science.

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Oslo, Norway - On 20 March 2015, Samsung was the first company to get the new Nemko Europe certificate. For the consumer, this certificate confirms that a third party has tested the product's compliance with strict European environmental and safety regulations. For manufacturers and importers, Nemko Europe simplifies the route to compliance with required CE marking directives.

Nemko Europe is the first certification service in the industry to cover the key EU environmental product directives; Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHs) and Energy related Products (ErP) together with the existing directives for telecom, electrical safety and EMC.

It also includes a suite of business critical features:

- Testing of product and verification of documentation
- Updates according to relevant standards and directives
- Prefilled EU Declaration of Conformity
- 10 years storage of mandatory CE Technical Construction File
- Nemko Certificate for electrical safety and EMC
- Factory inspection for valid certificates

Compliance without complexity

Manufacturers and importers are finding the compliance process increasingly complex with the new RoHs and ErP directives. With this new service, Nemko takes care of all the processes and procedures necessary to comply - and stay compliant - with all five CE marking directives.

Demonstrating Samsung's environmental focus

Samsung has been a client with Nemko for more than 25 years, and the new Nemko Europe certification service supports their ambitious environmental efforts. The first products to receive the Nemko European certificate are Samsung TV Monitors type LS 27 D85 and LS 32 D85.

For more information about the new Nemko Europe certification service, please contact:

Nemko: Geir Horthe, Certification Manager, Mobile +47 930 88 565
Samsung: Annachiara Torciano, Sustainability Manager, Mobile: +46 70 699 88 30

About Nemko

Companies around the world trust Nemko to assess their products, systems, installations and personnel for conformity with relevant standards and regulations. Since 1933, we have ensured that our customers comply with requirements anywhere in the world. Our services include pre-compliance, international approvals, product and system certifications as well as product testing. 　http://nemko.com/

Mr Kyoungil Min, Managing Director Samsung Electronics Nordic and Ms Grete Aspelund, Nemko Group CEO: 　http://hugin.info/168189/R/1905848/678335.JPG
Nemko Europe: 　http://hugin.info/168189/R/1905848/678336.PNG

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Golden Pin Design Award 2015 calls for entries of huaren design from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond

This year, as the design world turns its sights on Taipei, the city which will host the World Design Capital in 2016, Taiwan’s Golden Pin Design Award hopes to attract more entries from international companies keen to prove their prowess in the huaren (Chinese-speaking) market.

Seeking to celebrate the world’s most innovative designs for the huaren market, the Golden Pin Design Award opened its doors to the international design community for the first time in 2014. Last year, a record-breaking 1901 products and projects poured into the Golden Pin Design Award from 8 countries and regions, and close to 40% of the 416 Design Mark winners were from outside Taiwan. Products and projects from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore were among the 21 Best Design winners. Award executor, the Taiwan Design Center, hopes these numbers, as well as the amount of participating countries and regions, will increase in 2015 as the media and public attention on Taiwan also increases in the lead up to the World Design Capital 2016.

Wenlong Chen, CEO of the Taiwan Design Center, says:

“This year, we hope to attract even more entries from international designers and companies interested in testing the viability and inventiveness of their product or design project in the huge, diverse huaren market. But there’s also another reason to enter the Golden Pin Design Award in 2015. Taipei will be the World Design Capital in 2016. Since the news was announced in 2014, international media and design industry leaders have been turning their gaze toward Taiwan and the wider Greater China region. You can guarantee that the interest will exponentially increase as we inch closer to 2016, and that can only be a good thing for anyone entering a Taiwan-based design award.”

Individuals or companies that are selling, manufacturing, or designing products or projects in or for a Chinese-speaking country or region are eligible to enter the Golden Pin Design Award. Entries are accepted in four categories: Product Design, Visual Communication Design, Packaging Design, and Interior Design. Entered products and projects are assessed in three stages by an expert jury. Winners receive a Golden Pin Design Mark–an indicator of innovation that they can use to market their product or design project–or a Best Design trophy (awarded in a ceremony in Taipei in November), and brand exposure through the public and media relations efforts of the Golden Pin team.

Entry Details and Timeline

To enter, visit: http://www.goldenpin.org.tw/en/

Entry deadline: June 30, 2015
Entry fee: US$35

Preliminary selection: July 2015
Secondary selection: August-September 2015
Final selection: September-October 2015
Award ceremony: November 2015

*The above dates may be subject to change.

For the latest news on the Golden Pin Design Award, visit:

Facebook: 　https://www.facebook.com/GoldenPinDesign
Weibo: 　http://www.weibo.com/p/1006065181797743/home?from=page_100606&mod=TAB#place

WeChat:

For more insight into what it means to the design for the huaren market, visit: 　http://designperspectives.org/.
For the latest news on the Young Pin Design Award, visit: 　http://youngpin100.com/.

Entrant Enquiries:
Janice Cheng
Project Manager
janice_cheng@tdc.org.tw
+886 2 2745 8199 x 335

Media Enquiries:
Kate Nicholson
International Media Liaison
Golden Pin Design Award DDG
kate.nicholson@ddg.com.tw
+886 2 2772 5850 x 180

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MSD is the newest member of the Innovative Processing for Specialties and Pharmaceuticals Programme (iPSP), to further research in innovative processing for pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals

Singapore—MSD International GmbH (Singapore Branch), one of the top five leading pharmaceutical companies globally, has joined A*STAR’s Innovative Processing for Specialties and Pharmaceuticals Programme (iPSP). This consortium is led by A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences (ICES), and brings together pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals industry players to address an increasingly urgent need to access emerging next generation manufacturing technologies that provide quantum change improvements in cost, quality, environmental impact and process robustness in high value chemicals manufacturing processes.

Since its inception in July 2013, iPSP has been addressing key challenges in the high value chemicals sector, through a collaborative approach. Its membership has expanded from its three founding members, Pfizer, Glaxo Smith-Kline (GSK) and Siemens, to include technology leaders such as Hellma Analytics, Mettler Toledo and Novozymes, as well as leading academic institutions, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Newcastle University International Singapore (NUIS).

A Winning Strategy for Pharmaceutical and Specialty Chemicals

“The objective of iPSP is to help develop mature process innovation capabilities and an innovation community in pharmaceutical and high value chemicals processing in Singapore. These new technologies will make industrial processes more efficient, safer and greener as well as helping industry to respond better to rapidly changing markets. To do this well, there is a need to develop skilled manpower in addition to improving their manufacturing technology,” said Dr Paul Sharratt, iPSP Director and Manager of the Pharmaceutical Programme in ICES.

Mr John Smith, Managing Director, MMD Singapore said “We see the iPSP as offering us not only a platform for accessing new ideas and technologies, but also a route to better process understanding via their programme of training and seminars as well as opportunities to interact with an experienced multidisciplinary team of researchers and our peers in the industry.”

Leveraging on ICES’ Expertise

Based in ICES’ facility on Jurong Island, the iPSP’s multi-disciplinary team of dedicated, highly skilled researchers from ICES work with the consortium members on a range of pre-competitive projects in the fields of process science, continuous processing and process analytical technologies (PAT), based on the needs and challenges faced by members. Through a better understanding of the industry’s requirements, iPSP will be able to create value-added solutions for the industry.

As part of its manpower development activities, the iPSP runs seminars and workshops on topics such as process intensification and organocatalysis. In addition to conducting four workshops and training sessions in 2014, the consortium organised a highly successful symposium on Process Safety with speakers from industry including renowned expert on process safety, Professor Francis Stoessel, recently retired Head of Chemical Process Safety Consulting of the Swiss Institute for the Promotion of Safety and Security in Basel and originator of the Stoessel criterion, widely used to evaluate the thermal safety of processes. These platforms facilitate discussion of issues in high value chemicals manufacturing processing with the industry. In 2015, iPSP will continue engaging with the industry through courses and events such as a workshop on Small Scale Continuous Processing Technology and the second annual Process Safety Symposium.

Dr Keith Carpenter, Executive Director of ICES, said, “We are indeed very happy to have another strong and reputable company like MSD come on board. The past year has shown that by identifying common research interests, companies across the sector can mutually benefit from joint research, from sharing common manufacturing issues and together charting a way forward. It is also a demonstration that we in ICES, the pharmaceutical manufacturers, equipment companies and instrument developers see ourselves as a community where collaboration is the way to be truly innovative.”

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Fazilah Latif
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Tel: +65 6419 6529
Email: fazilah-latif@scei.a-star.edu.sg

For technical or collaboration enquiries, please contact:

Ms Tan Joo Lett
Tel.: +65 6796 3973
Email: tan_joo_lett@ices.a-star.edu.sg

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Awarded for the Technology of Transporting Lightweight Paper Through the Toner Transfer Area

SINGAPORE, March 26, 2015 – Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. has received the 2015 Technology Prize from the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology for its technology of transporting lightweight paper through the toner transfer area in its color on-demand publishing systems (hereinafter, the Technology), which is implemented in VersantTM 2100 Press and VersantTM 80 Press, both launched in 2014.

The prize was given for enabling the Presses to be versatile in handling paper as thin as 52 grams per square meters (g/m2) while also realizing high print productivity of 100/80 pages per minute (ppm)*1 using the transfer roll method—a method conventionally known to be difficult in balancing these two aspects.

With this Technology, Fuji Xerox realized a stable paper transport without causing paper jam, even with lightweight papers, from the second transfer area to the next process. During the second transfer process, toner particles are transferred from the intermediate belt to paper by an electric field. This process causes the paper to be charged with static electricity, which often causes papers, especially lightweight papers, to stick to the intermediate belt. To prevent this, the Technology reduces the influence of static electricity against paper by optimizing the structure of the toner transfer area and the electrical properties of its components.

In the existing product*2, Fuji Xerox employed the transfer belt method to prevent lightweight papers from sticking to the intermediate belt; however, this method resulted in the second transfer mechanism to increase in size as the transfer belt method requires mechanisms to control the transfer belt as well as a complex cleaning system. The awarded Technology, therefore, also contributed to downsizing and reducing the cost of the Presses by eliminating the need to adopt the transfer belt method.

The Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology annually awards new, excellent technologies that have made a significant contribution to the development of the printing technology. This was the second time for Fuji Xerox to receive this prize since 2011 when the Company was awarded for its Belt-Roll High-Speed Fusing Technology.

*1 Versant 2100 Press prints A4 non-coated sheets of 52 g/m2 to 300g/m2 at 100 ppm and 350g/m2 at 80 ppm. Versant 80 Press prints A4 non-coated sheets of 52 g/m2 to 220g/m2 at 80 ppm.

*2 Color 1000 Press

###

Xerox, Xerox and Design, as well as Fuji Xerox and Design are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xerox Corporation in Japan and/or other countries.

About Fuji Xerox:
Founded in 1962, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. is a leading company in the Document Services & Communications field, offering solutions and services to help customers resolve their business challenges. Underlying our solutions and services are our world-class office multifunction devices, printers and production printers that we develop and manufacture for worldwide distribution. Together with cloud and mobile solutions, Fuji Xerox builds a communications environment that enable our customers to access the right information, at the right time, and in the right form—thereby contributing to their valuable communications.

Fuji Xerox is a 75-25 joint venture between FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation and Xerox Corporation, and its direct sales force covers Japan and the Asia-Pacific region including China. We employ approximately 45,000 people globally, with more than 80 domestic and overseas affiliates / sales subsidiaries.

Media Enquiries:
Yvonne Tan
Communication & Promotion Manager
Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
DID: 65 6239 2739
Email: Yvonne.Tan@fujixerox.com

Jeslyn Pua
Account Manager
The Right Spin Pte Ltd
DID: 65 6325 5929
Email: jeslyn@therightspin.com.sg

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Enthusiastic feedback from the leading brands with approximately 90% exhibition space confirmed

The 12th edition of Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology will be held from 9 – 12 June at Area A, the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China. To accommodate the growing needs of China’s building and smart home industry, electrical engineering as well as building and home automation will be the two major highlights for the 2015 edition.

Recognised as Asia’s premier platform for building technology, prominent industry players have shown strong confidence towards the show with approximately 90% of exhibition space booked. New and returning exhibitors confirmed for 2015 include ABB (Switzerland), Control4 (the US), DADE (China), DOOYA (China), Echelon (the US), EnOcean Alliance (the US), HDL (China), HEE (China), IISFREE (China), KNX Association (Belgium), Lite-Puter (Taiwan), Murata (Japan), ORVIBO (China), Schneider Electric (France), T&J Electric (the UK), SINGI (China), WAGO (Germany), Wulian (China), Z-Wave Alliance (the US) and others.

Ms Lucia Wong, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd commented: “The enthusiastic exhibitor response for the 2015 fair indicates that industry players see great potential in China’s evolving building industry, and they value the professionalism of the show. Our goal has always been turning Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology into one of the most specialised and professional exhibition to support China’s fast-growing building technologies market. Through the continued support from industry players, I hope to carry this momentum into the 2015 edition and provide a professional platform for both domestic and international building technology and home automation enterprises to seize opportunities in China’s lucrative market.”

Guangzhou Electric Building Technology receives strong support from international and domestic business associations

In addition to the positive feedback from exhibitors, the support received from industry associations continues to be one of the key factors to the show’s success. This year, the fair organiser has already confirmed several new associations to its list of supporters, including the China Smart Home Industry Alliance, the Intelligent Engineering Branch of China Exploration and Design Association, Modern Architecture Electric Magazine, the Asia Pacific Intelligent Green Building Alliance and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group Inc. Other reputable show supporters include:

 Building Electricity Magazine Agency
 China Hotel Purchasing and Supplying Association
 Guangdong Association of Automation
 Guangdong Real Estate Association
 Intelligent Building Branch of China Construction Industry Association
 Asian Institute of Intelligent Buildings
 Continental Automated Buildings Association
 The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia
 EnOcean Alliance
 The Federation of Asian and Pacific Electrical Contractors Associations
 The Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Ltd
 The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Building Services Division
 KNX Association
 LonMark International
 Macau Construction Association
 The Macau Institution of Engineers
 Taiwan Intelligent Building Association
 ZigBee Alliance
 Z-Wave Alliance

Furthermore, a comprehensive series of forums and seminars will also be held in conjunction with the fair. These concurrent events allow end-users to connect with field experts for cross-sector business collaborations and exchange ideas to facilitate greater future developments. Some of the highlighted topics include:

- Future trends in China’s intelligent building and home automation market
- International intelligent building standards for building control systems
- Latest building automation technology for real estate development
- Internet-of-Things technology and smart home development
- Electrical engineering designs and applications

The 12th edition will be held concurrently with the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Together, the two fairs will serve as a comprehensive platform for showcasing the latest electrical engineering, lighting, and building and home automation technologies and solutions. A diverse range of visitors are anticipated to join, including energy service providers, power companies, system integrators, architects, designers, contractors and end-users.

Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology is organised by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd. The fair is a part of Messe Frankfurt’s building and energy shows, headed by the biennial Light + Building event in Frankfurt, Germany which will take place from 13 – 18 March 2016. The show also follows a series of light and building technology events in China, including:

• Beijing International Building Technology
Spring 2015

• Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology
9 – 12 June 2015

• Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition
9 – 12 June 2015

• Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology
23 – 25 September 2015

• Shanghai International Lighting Fair
23 – 25 September 2015

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Stavie Hung
Tel +852 2238 9907
Fax +852 2519 6800
stavie.hung@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

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A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore develops method to better identify genes involved in diseases

Singapore – Scientists at A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have developed a new technique that simplifies the task of identifying the precise DNA mutations that cause disease, which lays the groundwork for the development of new drugs and new ways of diagnosing diseases.

It is generally extremely difficult to design new drugs for diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis (for example), because we do not know which molecules in the body the drugs should target. This is where disease-causing DNA mutations come in. If we can pinpoint the genetic mutations that cause a particular disease, we can associate those mutations with specific proteins, and then design drugs to block or activate those proteins. We can also measure the activity of proteins identified in this manner to diagnose diseases more accurately, which is a major goal of precision medicine.

A team of scientists, led by Dr Shyam Prabhakar, Associate Director for Integrated Genomics at GIS, developed a new genetic analysis technique called the Genotype-independent Signal Correlation and Imbalance (G-SCI) test that senses specific chemical changes[1] within the genome and connects them to nearby genetic mutations. They then showed that mutations associated with the chemical changes were also likely to cause disease. The G-SCI test was validated in a study of 57 individuals and is reported in the scientific journal, Nature Methods.

When combined with the chemical profiling strategy used in this study, the G-SCI test is 10 times more sensitive than existing methods at identifying detrimental gene mutations. The study’s co-lead, Dr Ricardo del Rosario from GIS, said, "The G-SCI test is transformative – instead of examining gene expression correlations in 500 individuals, we can get away with histone acetylation analysis of a mere 50 to 60. This reduces the number of test subjects needed to conclude each study and gives us the ability to look into multiple diseases."

Dr Jeremie Poschmann from GIS, the other co-lead of the study, highlighted another benefit of the new approach: "Instead of using genome sequencing, we can use the histone acetylation sequencing data from our method to detect DNA mutations. This saves us a huge amount of time, effort and resources."

Prof Bing Ren of the Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) said, "This is an exciting study that sets a new benchmark for genetic analysis of gene regulation. The method greatly enhances our ability to interpret the human genome and will benefit research into the genetic basis of diseases."

The scientists validated the efficiency of the new test and were able to identify links to certain genetic diseases. "We have found a strong association between mutations that perturbed the genome's chemical state and those that caused autoimmune diseases. That's when we knew we had hit the bulls-eye with the G-SCI test," said Dr Prabhakar.

“This work provides important new tools for linking genetic variation to variation in chromatin function, and provides compelling evidence for the central role of this type of genetic variation in human disease," commented Prof Jonathan Pritchard from Stanford University, who is also an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

“I am thrilled by this new method with superior precision for identifying disease-causing mutations. The G-SCI method innovatively utilises epigenetic information to select regions of the human genome for disease association analysis. As we see bigger and more complex datasets, the community will face the forthcoming challenges of analysing big data. This method has expanded our arsenal of computational analytics capabilities at the Genome Institute of Singapore,” said Prof Huck-Hui Ng, Executive Director of GIS.

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Ms Winnie Lim
Head, Office of Corporate Communications
Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
Tel: +65 6808 8013
Email:limcp2@gis.a-star.edu.sg

- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com

HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi: “DIHAD 2015 has become a global platform for specialists and decision makers in the relief and humanitarian field.”
Dubai – United Arab Emirates, March 26th 2015: HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development in the UAE visited DIHAD in its last day; she praised the steady growth of the event, which is evident in the increase of the number of participating companies from more than 60 countries, and the increased percentage in the exhibition size which has reached to 20% compared to the previous year.

HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi congratulated the organizing company, INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions, for their continued efforts in improving DIHAD and their commitment to represent the UAE in the best manner through their cooperation with public and government institutions specialized in the humanitarian field.

HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi added: “DIHAD 2015 had succeeded in putting the UAE on the world map, in which it had become a global platform for specialists and decision makers in the relief and humanitarian field from the governmental and non-governmental institutions.”

The Dubai International Humanitarian and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) had concluded its three days agenda today at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. DIHAD in its 12th edition proved to be the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East, as it attracted world’s key decision makers, procurement and logistics officials, NGOs, UN Agencies, Governmental departments and international associations, in addition to the humanitarian individuals, researchers and academics who came from across the world to benefit from the conference and the interactive sessions held during DIHAD.

Prominent names of Arab and international humanitarian executives and decision makers attended DIHAD and were pleased with the conclusions and agreements that were brought up during this three days conference & exhibition.

The third day’s agenda included important topics that rotated around the role of NGOs in the provision of humanitarian assistance in today’s crises environments, and the role of NGOs as partners in the development assistance. The conference also hosted special presentations on IHC Strategy for 2015 – 2021, updates on Ebola, updates on the Gaza crises, and untold stories about uncommon bonds and co-creation in the development sector.

On the side-lines of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition and International Emergency & Catastrophe Conference and Exhibition, a gala dinner was held at the Grand Hyatt for the distribution of awards in the presence of VIPs in the sector of relief and development. These awards are considered a token of appreciation for the efforts of workers in this field. Awards were given to UAE Red Crescent Authority, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Dubai Police - Government of Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est, the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, International Humanitarian City, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai and Dubai Cares, Ministry of International Cooperation & Development, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, Al Khair Foundation and many more.

DIHAD is organized by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions - member of INDEX Holding and supported by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Est, the United Nations, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, International Humanitarian City, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai and Dubai Cares. DIHAD 2015 is also sponsored by Al Khair Foundation & IQRA TV.

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Suzan Mounzer
Media and PR Executive
Media & Marketing Department
Tel: +971 43624717
E-mail: suzan.mounzer@index.ae

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