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Nine entries made it to the First Scholastic Picture Book Award longlist out of 136 submissions Asia-wide

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Apr 14, 2015
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Singapore, 8th April 2015 - The longlist for the first Scholastic Picture Book Award (SPBA) was announced on 8th April by the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS). SPBA is a joint initiative between NBDCS and Scholastic Asia, the world's largest children’s books publishing and distribution company.

The new award will be presented biennially to an outstanding unpublished picture book with distinct Asian themes by a writer and illustrator team of Asian descent living in Asia. As well as a $10,000 cash prize, the winning book will also be published by Scholastic Asia. There were a total of 136 entries from all over Asia, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. Only nine made it to the long list.

The Longlist:

Name

Title

Country

Roya Yadollahi Shahrah and Vajihe Golmazari

The Bundle

Iran

Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien

The First Journey

Vietnam

Shoba Dewey Chugani and Lyly Young

The Janggan Dragon Kite

Indonesia

Emily Lim and Patrick Yee

Mooncake Panda

Singapore

Ary Nilandari and Dewi Tri K.

Pandu, the Ogoh-Ogoh Maker

Indonesia

Ichinnorov Ganbaatar and Bolormaa Baasansuren

Purchased Dream

Mongolia

Jina Heo

The Small Fox

South Korea

Kim Seon Young

Somi and the Clouds Gardener

South Korea

Wendy Aw and Alan Choong

Wandering Off

Singapore

Mr R Ramachandran, Executive Director of NBDCS said, “This award is an extension of our partnership with Scholastic Asia that began with the Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). SABA has successfully encouraged more writers from across Asia to write Asian-themed fiction for children and teens. The Scholastic Picture Book Award is intended to similarly encourage more Asian-themed content for younger children.”

Selina Lee, Director of Scholastic Asia, said, “We are delighted by the positive response to the new Scholastic Picture Book Award. A total of 136 entries were received from countries the length of Asia from Turkey to Japan. The overall standard of entries was very high which made selecting the nine titles for the longlist a tough but necessary job. Scholastic is looking forward to working with the eventual winners and bringing their Asian stories to the world.”

The shortlist will be announced in early May, and, befittingly for a competition for Asian-themed content, the winner will be announced during the Awards Night of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) on 2nd June.

For more information, please contact:
Adan Jimenez
National Book Development Council (NBDCS)
D +65 6848 8294
M +65 9770 4876 E adan@bookcouncil.sg

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Adapting Brands to International Cultures

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Apr 14, 2015

To reach globally a business must think locally.

Large companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Malboro, Coca-Cola, and more, have the benefit of being dominant players in their industries. With this dominance they have the budget and resources to identify the local aspects when they expand their brand on a global scale.

Your business, however, isn't likely to have multi-billion dollar budgets to open divisions in new countries, hire teams of professionals from the region, and network with other companies which ease the transition to the new marketplace.

But that doesn't mean it's not possible to make a splash.

The key term I would like for you to remember throughout this work is assimilation (the process of changing one's language & culture to resemble another group).

When companies fail to assimilate to the new culture, their efforts to grow globally often backfire, such as some of these blunders rounded up in a post by Geoffrey James:

• Coca-Cola's brand name, when first marketed in China, was sometimes translated as “Bite The Wax Tadpole”.

• Ford blundered when marketing the Pinto in Brazil because the term in Brazilian Portuguese means “tiny male genitals”.

• The American Dairy Association replicated its “Got Milk?” campaign in Spanish-speaking countries where it was translated into “Are You Lactating?”.

This brings us to one of the important elements of extending your brand abroad and that is language.

Though English has become widely-used around the globe (and especially online) it's worth your while to seek quality translation services for any online or offline business assets. The easiest method is to reach out to companies within the area that are experienced in great translation services that also can report if a campaign needs to be tweaked to avoid a language blunder.

Another of these important items for reaching the global marketplace (with the attention to detail to the local marketplace you plan to enter) is the presentation of your goods and services.

A quick showing of this idea of presentation can be seen through how companies change the look & feel of their websites such as from this article by Graham Charlton; most notable when examining the difference that come to mind include:

• Promotional material is tailored to the market based on culture, economics, and needs

• Copy and creative shift depending on location where there may be rivalry

• Translation and a reformatting of what is frequently displayed is shifted due to marketplace demands that may not reflect the home country

The presentation continues to evolve and take shape in the physical side of selling products. In the States we have seen the trend of minimal design on many product boxes whereas in places such as Japan the boxes may be littered with celebrities, cartoon characters, expressions, promotions, and so much more.

A method to allow your business to reach those locals (abroad) is by working with box suppliers to develop and create designs that will fit within that local marketplace. An idea of what is possible with customized packaging can be seen online, where many companies display the different shapes, styles, coloring, and printing options. The Custom Boxes Now blog even has a post entitled "6 Examples of Companies Using Custom Boxes to Reflect Their Products."

The final element (but in no way the only other worth noting) is to understand cultural differences.

We've already talked about the language barrier but what other cultural differences are there to take into consideration when going global?

• Body language, mannerism, and gestures play an important role to set the right tone for doing business with people from the region (it's important to know them so you avoid create offense).

• Conversations are also conducted in a different manner; such example is the direct discussions we may have in the States versus the passive type of conversation you may find in Japan.

• Politics, without a doubt, will come into play when trying to understand cultural differences and in this case it's best to stay neutral on both sides to avoid aggravation or hostility.

All-in-all, it comes back to the term I wanted you to remember assimilation.By doing research about the culture, devoting the resources for services that remove language barriers, learning the cultural differences and customs, and adapting the presentation to the design styles of the region you will be one step closer to global growth.

Written by Jane Brown

Photo credit / INSEAD

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The National Restaurant Association Announced the 2015 FABI Award Recipients

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Apr 15, 2015
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Get to know the breakthrough products with achievement in taste, marketability, creativity and profitability potential that will be showcased at NRA Show 2015

The National Restaurant Association announced the recipients of the Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, which recognize progressive food and beverage products that will make a significant impact in the restaurant industry. Representing the largest number of products to date in the awards’ five-year history, the 28 winners represent today’s leading food trends from new takes on gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives to local sourcing initiatives, including a revolutionary technology to freeze fruits and vegetables for up to three years.

An independent panel of experts, representing a variety of both commercial and non-commercial industry segments, selected the FABI Award recipients based on their exciting benefits to restaurant operators as well as the end consumer. The award recipients will be showcased throughout the exhibit halls at the NRA Show 2015 on May 16-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Some of the 2015 FABI Award winners are:

BRANDS OF BRITAIN, LLC | Fever-Tree Hand-Picked Elderflower Tonic Water | BOOTH #3784
Artisan-crafted in glass bottles to ensure premium freshness and high levels of carbonation, Fever-Tree Hand-Picked Elderflower Tonic Water uses only the best natural ingredients—handpicked elderflower from the UK, real quinine from Africa, and pure cane sugar—making its refreshing floral flavor both light and subtle in character, a true standout among mixers.

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY | Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000 | BOOTH #4402
Offering 60+ beverages, the Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000 is an ice-cooled countertop beverage dispenser that saves space and retrofitting costs for foodservice operators who want the advantages of the original Freestyle, but without compromising the benefits of consumer engagement, flavor variety and choice, and unparalleled access to consumption data and marketing programs.

CUP4CUP LLC | Gluten-Free Wholesome Flour Blend | BOOTH #10233
Developed in the kitchen of the famed French Laundry in Napa Valley, CA, Cup4Cup’s new Wholesome flour blend boasts such healthy additions as ground golden flaxseed and rice bran delivering 4g of fiber, 1200mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and 14g of whole grains per serving, making this the premier certified gluten-free, dairy-free, Kosher and non-GMO Project Verified cup-for-cup flour replacement for cooking and baking.

CANE SIMPLE™ | Liquid Sugar | BOOTH #10730
The only individually packaged simple syrup on the market and available in three flavors—Original, Mint and Vanilla—this all-natural Liquid Sugar not only dissolves instantly into cold beverages (unlike granulated sugar), but is ideal for hot beverages too.

EXPLORE ASIAN INC. | Organic Black Bean Spaghetti | BOOTH #10635
Offering foodservice operators another way to reach the growing consumer audience looking for healthier meals and gluten-free dishes, this delicious Black Bean Spaghetti cooks to al dente in just 7-8 minutes, delivering an organic, vegan, non-GMO and kosher experience packed with 25g of protein and 12g of fiber per serving.

HAIL MERRY® LLC | Nut Hummus | BOOTH #10642
Made from Macadamia nuts and cashews rather than traditional garbanzo beans, these dairy and gluten-free vegan dips are available in three savory flavors of Sriracha, Red Pepper Macadamia and Hatch Green Chile. They pair well with vegetables and crackers as well as sandwich spreads or pasta sauces to provide consumers with the beneficial fats and protein derived from raw nuts.

HEINEKEN® USA | BrewLock Draught Beer System | BOOTH #11309
This revolutionary, 100% recyclable draught system for Heineken Lager and Newcastle Brown Ale provides brewery fresh taste and perfect carbonation from the first pour to the last. It also eliminates the need for mixed gases to dispense the beer and its 20-liter kegs weigh in at 25% less than steel sixth-barrels and boast a 99.9% yield, considerably more than traditional draught systems and, therefore, more profitable.

NICE FRUIT | Nice Fruit | BOOTH #9116
The result of 10 years of research, Nice Fruit allows locally produced fruits and vegetables to reach any country in the world at any time of the year via a 100% physical process that allows the foods to be frozen without damaging their cellular structure, thus maintaining the vitamins, flavor and organaleptic properties of fresh-picked produce for up to three years.

TEART | The New Way of Drinking Tea | BOOTH #10519
Consisting of a patented conic disposable infuser that adapts to any sized paper cup and filled with 3g of premium loose-leaf tea, Teart combines the operational simplicity of tea bags with the premium loose-leaf flavors and aromas of the traditional tea pot. The result is a delicious and affordable single-serve beverage suitable for today’s on-the-go urban lifestyle.

WAIAKEA® INC. | Waiakea® Hawaiian Volcanic Water | BOOTH #10638
Beginning as snowmelt and rain in one of the purest environments on Earth—the peak of Hawaii’s active Mauna Loa volcano—then naturally filtered through 14,000 feet of porous volcanic rock, Waiakea volcanic water offers consumers a delicious tasting, naturally healthy, alkaline, carbon-neutral and ethically sustainable thirst-quenching beverage.

For more information about the FABI program and to get to know the other award recipients, visit http://show.restaurant.org/Exhibit/FABI-Awards.

2014 FABI Awards from NRA Show on Vimeo.

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National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees. Together with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to lead America’s restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. For more information, visit our Website at www.restaurant.org

Media Contact

Tatiana Vieira Green
tatiana@adaptinternational.com
+1 (312) 836-1047

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Ashland introduces enterprise solutions in bioavailability and texture-rheology control at in-cosmetics 2015

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Apr 15, 2015

Delivering more sophisticated solutions based on superior global expertise in key areas of consumer care, the company advances its core competencies in support of highly functional products

BARCELONA, Spain – At in-cosmetics, the world’s leading trade fair for personal care ingredients, Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) presented examples of enterprise solutions in key areas of consumer care that will enable manufacturers of finished products to introduce new, more dynamic and more efficient formulations. Showcasing comprehensive expertise in bioavailability, the company provided insights into the future of products based on enhanced ingredient delivery in skin, scalp, hair and oral care applications. Presenting advancements in rheological design, Ashland also demonstrated its capability to provide signature texture solutions for skin and hair care.

“Ashland has advanced its successful business collaboration approach in consumer care markets to include enterprise solutions that finished product manufacturers may implement across product platforms,” said James Mish, group vice president, Consumer Specialties, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. “Focusing on our recognized core competencies in bioavailability and texture-rheology control, we will create defining solutions for our customers in these areas and carry them forward for adoption in the consumer care market.”

Creating enterprise-level solutions in key areas of consumer care requires leadership in ingredient technology, applications development, formulations and consumer science. Ashland has integrated all of these capabilities in-house and organized them in a way that enables the company to bring forward solutions for large-scale adoption and implementation.

“The number one challenge in most consumer markets is bioavailability. Making actives or substances fully available in a formulated product is essential to a superior consumer experience. Our objective is to work with major manufacturers of consumer care products at the early stages of product development to deliver bioavailability solutions that lead to better market opportunities for customers,” said Mish.

Enterprise level solutions
Offering enterprise solutions on a pro forma basis, Ashland’s in-house development team invests resources to work directly with product formulators to implement the best-available bioavailability solution in virtually any product form.

“Designing a bioavailability solution for a product platform and managing it all the way to commercialization is more beneficial to our customers and ultimately to the consumers than a technical adjustment at a later stage in the development program,” Mish explained.

A case in point is seen with sun-care formulations, where a novel bioavailability solution may serve to advance the efficacy of sunscreens. Formulating sunscreen products that spread evenly on the surface of skin as a result of the optimized multifunctional components of a sunscreen formulation, for example, affords manufacturers solutions to create highly efficient, more innovative products.

Signature texture solutions
Advancing core competency in rheology, Ashland outlined its ability to create signature texture solutions for manufacturers of personal care products. The company creates and commercializes emollients, emulsifiers, lamellar gels, rheology modifiers and specialty solvents, taking into account the functionality of its technologies to advance textural attributes that can be delivered from a range of delivery systems.

At its texture bar, a number of skin care demonstration formulations possessed soft or bouncy textures normally delivered from aerosol systems, but made available as simple cream gels or serums. Moreover, Ashland demonstrated how it is possible to create skin care product forms such as body butter with better sensory attributes than formulations that normally employ more expensive waxes.

In hair care, Ashland demonstrated how its knowledge in the six primary hair textures – fine, straight, wavy, coarse, frizzy and curly – may be accentuated or optimized to assure beautiful, easy-to-manage hair. Ashland works with all hair types in areas such as hair fiber repair that help to restore the texture of damaged hair fibers back to the look and feel of healthy hair. Textural solutions may also be tailored by Ashland to create multidimensional hairstyles and enhance color and shine. Today's sleek and smooth hair trend and in contrast the "beach wave" look remain largely a function of texture control and modification and may be optimized with novel formulation design and polymer choices.

Mastering the art of personal care with novel ingredients
Formulators and marketers of personal care products tend to visit in-cosmetics to discover novel ingredients and novel approaches that help them master the art of advanced skin and hair care. From Ashland’s Vincience research center in France comes Elixiance™ biofunctional, a new ecological and sustainable ingredient for skin care products aimed at anti-pollution effects.

In hair care, more information was made available about its new commercial offering for hairspray - the Advantage™ 4910 polymer.

Ashland also introduced a highly innovative preservative platform. The Optiphen™ P platform is the first non-alcohol preservative technology platform with a functionalized delivery system. The delivery system serves to ostensibly maximize preservative efficacy typically without interfering or destabilizing cosmetic formulations, such as emulsions. The first preservative product offered within the Optiphen P platform addresses today’s demand for cost-efficient preservatives that follow natural ingredient trends. New Optiphen DP preservative complies with major eco-labels: Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice), Nordic Ecolabelling (Swan) and EU Ecolabel (Flower) 2014/893/EC.

For more information, visit Ashland at the in-cosmetics exhibition in Barcelona, Spain, April 14-16, Stand 7D40, or on the web at Ashland.com/personalcare.

About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients is the #1 global producer of cellulose ethers and a global leader in vinyl pyrrolidones. It offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product-performance challenges. Using natural, synthetic and semisynthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, as well as acrylic and polyurethane-based adhesives, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications. Key customers include: pharmaceutical companies; makers of personal care products, food and beverage companies; manufacturers of paint, coatings and construction materials; packaging and converting companies; and oilfield service companies.

About Ashland
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global leader in providing specialty chemical solutions to customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Through our three commercial units – Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline – we use good chemistry to make great things happen for customers in more than 100 countries.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Michaela Neilson
Communications Manager EMEA
Tel + 41 (0) 52 560 55 25
mneilson@ashland.com

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Everbright International expands into waste-to-energy market in Sichuan

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Apr 15, 2015

13 April 2015, Hong Kong – China Everbright International Limited ("Everbright International" or the "Group") (HKSE: 00257) is pleased to announce that the Group has signed an equity transfer framework agreement for the Sichuan Guang’an Waste-to-energy Project (“Guang’an Project”).

According to the framework agreement, the Group will acquire a 52.34% equity interest in Guang’an Project based on the results of an independent evaluation.

Guang’an Project is designed with a daily household waste processing capacity of 900 tonnes. The Project Phase I has a designed daily household waste processing capacity of 600 tonnes and will be constructed on a BOT basis. The concession period is 30 years (excluding construction period) and its gas emission will comply with the Euro 2000 Standard. To date, 90% of the construction work has been completed and the Project is expected to complete construction by the first half of this year.

In addition, Sichuan Everbright Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Investment Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the Group and Sichuan Energy Industry Investment Group Co., Limited, signed a concession agreement with Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Suining City, Sichuan Province, to invest in the development of a household waste-to-energy project in Suining City (“Suining Project”).

The total investment of Suining Project amounted to RMB450 million. Everbright International holds a 64.3% equity interest in the Project. Suining Project is designed to have a total daily household waste processing capacity of 800 tonnes and the concession period (including the construction period) is 30 years. The Project is expected to generate on-grid electricity of approximately 76.70 million kWh annually and the gas emissions will fully comply with the Euro 2000 standard.

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About China Everbright International Limited
China Everbright International Limited focuses on its core businesses in green environmental protection and alternative energy. These mainly include waste-to-energy, industrial and hazardous waste integrated treatment, biomass integrated utilisation, solar photovoltaic energy, wind power, methane-to-energy, waste restoration, reusable water, environmental protection engineering, technological research and development, environmental protection equipment manufacturing as well as the planning and construction of environmental protection industrial parks.

For media inquiries, please contact:

China Everbright International Limited Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Corporate Communications Deborah Tsui/ Adrian Yao
Arlene Wong Email: deborah.tsui@citigate.com.hk
Email: arlenewong@ebchinaintl.comadrian.yao@citigate.com.hk
Tel: +852 2823 4877 Tel: +852 3103 0123/+852 3103 0125

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Malaysia’s position in the rising solar panel industry

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Apr 15, 2015
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The environmental advantages of solar energy are clear. In spite of this, and the phenomenal growth of the photovoltaic panel industry, the practicality of solar panels is still being debated, citing the expense of installation.

Despite the high costs of installation, solar panels are still an optimal choice where renewable energy is concerned. In a recent article, futurist Ray Kurzweil notes that "solar power has been doubling every two years for the past 30 years" and is only "six doublings […] away from meeting 100 per cent of today's energy needs."

A Citigroup study points out that renewable energy sources "are increasingly competitive with natural gas peaking and Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plants on an LCOE (levelised cost of energy perspective) basis.” The study goes on to compare wind and solar to other forms of energy and concludes that solar energy has advantages over hydro, nuclear and coal energy sources, especially in terms of cost. Hydropower requires a water source and dam construction can have adverse effects on surrounding wildlife, whilst solar panels can be used anywhere. Nuclear plants in the USA face shutdowns due to challenging economics, and the price of coal energy is subject to fuel volatility in the market.

Solar panel production in Malaysia

Solar panel manufacturing is labour intensive, which leads to high costs. This challenge can however, be addressed by producing solar panels in countries where labour costs are lower. Although China remains the largest producer of solar panels currently, other countries in ASEAN (like Vietnam and Cambodia) with low labour costs also stand a chance to grow in the solar panel manufacturing industry.

Malaysia, as a country, is considered a highly beneficial ground for foreign investment. Besides being strategically located in Southeast Asia near appropriate shipping routes, the country also enjoys a stable government and comprises a lower corporate tax rate of 25 per cent as compared to other countries (30 per cent in Australia, 34 per cent in Brazil and India, 33 per cent in Japan and 30 per cent in the Philippines). Combine these with strong tax incentives for investment in the manufacturing sector and you can peg Malaysia as an international hub for green-building technologies.

It was reported that "one of the solar industry’s best-kept secrets" is in Malaysia. First Solar’s 100MW TetraSun facility in Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah currently produces 300W solar modules, and the facility is also said to manufacture five-sixths of the company's solar panels.

Also within Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Panasonic’s own solar panel fully integrated manufacturing facility is also working to produce top class Panasonic HIT solar modules with a production capacity of 300MW.

In response to the expanding global market demand for renewable energies, Panasonic has been expanding its production and has worked to spread the adoption of solar energy globally. Since the start of solar panel production in Kulim Hi-Tech Park in 1997, Panasonic has produced a total of 1 billion solar cells that are used in its HIT solar modules, equivalent to approximately 3GW.

Statistics from the International Energy Agency(IEA) indicate that renewable energy has been on the rise since 2000, with renewable-energy consumption set to rise in years to come.

With a huge market at its doorstep, Malaysia is poised to become one of the world’s foremost suppliers of not just solar panels, but possibly other forms of sustainable energy components well into the future.

SOURCE / Panasonic

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PaintExpo Eurasia Attracts Lively Exhibitor Interest

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Apr 16, 2015
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3rd Trade fair for industrial coating technology in Istanbul (Turkey) from 15 - 17 October 2015

Oberboihingen – Roughly 80% (as of April 1st, 2015) of all available booth floor space has already been booked and reserved for the 3rd PaintExpo Eurasia. The trade fair for industrial coating technology will take place at the Expo Center Istanbul in Turkey from the 15th through the 17th of October, 2015. The exhibitor list already includes companies from eleven countries which will cover the entire process sequence for industrial coating technology.

The Eurasian offshoot of PaintExpo the leading international trade fair for industrial coating technology is establishing itself more and more as the information and procurement platform at the interface between the Occident and Orient. “For the third edition of the trade fair, which will take place in Hall 9 of the Expo Centre Istanbul for the first time, we are expecting around 100 exhibitors. Thus, we will be able to provide visitors from Turkey and the MENA region with a comprehensive and representative spectrum ranging from pre-treatment through coating right up to quality control”, said Juergen Haussmann, CEO of the German company FairFair GmbH, which is organizing the trade fair for industrial coating technology in Turkey together with Artkim Fuarcilik.

The glance at the exhibitor list shows that Haussmann is not promising too much. Just about every important Turkish industrial technology provider is there already listed. Additionally, numerous foreign companies such as Dürr Systems, Eisenmann, Finishing Brands, IST Metz, Lesta, LTB Luft- und Thermotechnik, Nordson, Pollution Control Products, PPG and VR Coatings – some of them among the world’s market and technology leaders – have also decided to take part. The spectrum of exhibits ranges from machines and systems for wet painting, powder coating and coil coating, application technology, wet paintings and powder coatings, automation and conveyor technology, cleaning and pre-treatment, drying and curing, environmental technology, air supply and exhaust air purification, recycling and disposal right up to accessories, metrology and test technology, quality assurance, paint-stripping, job-shop coating, services and technical literature.

With this comprehensive program, PaintExpo addresses the needs of in-house painting facilities and job-shop coaters from Turkey, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and neighboring countries. As they are faced with the requirement of coating products faster, with a higher quality, more flexibly, cheaper and in a more environmentally sound way. This is especially demanded in sectors such as the automotive and supplier industries, commercial vehicles, trains, ships and shipyards, aerospace, plant and machine construction, metal and sheet metal working, plastics processing, household appliances, furniture manufacture (wooden, metal and plastic), sport and leisure goods, metal and glass façade construction, window and door manufacture, the electronics industry, heating and air conditioning technology and the packaging industry.

Parallel to PaintExpo Eurasia the second STT Eurasia Surface Treatment Chemicals and Technologies Exhibition will be held at the Expo Center in Istanbul from 15th to 17th October 2015.

Further information can be found under  www.paintexpo.com.tr or obtained from FairFair GmbH, Max-Eyth-Strasse 19, 72644 Oberboihingen, Germany, Tel +49 7022 60255-0, Fax +49 7022 6025577.

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We would be delighted to receive a copy or link from/to any publications containing information obtained from this press release.

Contact partner for editorial matters or requests for graphic material:

SCHULZ. PRESSE. TEXT, Doris Schulz, Landhausstrasse 12, 70825 Korntal, Germany, Tel +49 (0)711 854085, Fax +49 (0)711 815895, ds@pressetextschulz.de,  www.schulzpressetext.de

FairFair GmbH, Jürgen Haußmann, Max-Eyth-Strasse 19, 72644 Oberboihingen, Germany, Tel +49 (0)7022 6025510, Fax +49 (0)7022 60255 77, info@paintexpo.de,  www.paintexpo.com

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“Hong Kong ICT Awards 2015: Best Business Solution Award” Presentation Ceremony

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Apr 16, 2015

Hong Kong-The Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS), the organiser of ”Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) - Best Business Solution Award" for the 9th consecutive year, held the presentation ceremony today at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in honor of the 12 outstanding winning entries this year.

Ir. Allen Yeung, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, pointed out that “HKCS as the largest professional association in Hong Kong hopes to propel innovation and competitiveness of local ICT enterprises, to raise public awareness of ICT application development, as well as to nurture a culture of ICT adoption in the community through this Award.”

With the support from members of the organizing committee, judging panel and other responsible units, HKCS has meticulously selected the winning entries amongst all high-quality submissions (refer to Annex 1 for the list of winners). HERMES OTT Platform from TFI Digital Media Ltd. was awarded both the “HKICTAwards 2015: Best Business Solution Grand Award” and the “HKICTAwards 2015: Best Business Solution (Product) Gold Award” with its robustness, high scalability and integration of various new technologies including data streaming, content transcoding and network bandwidth optimisation. For the “HKICTAwards 2015: Best Business Solution (Application) Gold Award”, the winning work – Modernised Chinese Medicine Service, by Wellsoon (Int'l) Medicine Co. Ltd., impressed the assessors with its comprehensive and innovative operational model that enhances the efficiency of the traditional Chinese medicine industry.

To meet the new trends of Cloud Computing application, two "Most Innovative (Cloud) Award” selected from the winners of “Best Business Solution (Application) Award” and “Best Business Solution (Product) Award” respectively were added this year, to recognise the outstanding applications and products of Cloud, and to nurture local expertise in this field. InvesTrade All-In-One B2B Cloud-Enabled Trading Solution by Infocast Ltd. and Global Stager Backup System by Tesco Int'l Sourcing Ltd. & BizCONLINE Ltd., were the winners of this newly established award.

Prof. Timothy W. Tong, JP, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Chairperson of the Judging Panel remarked that “The winners of these awards have well demonstrated the capabilities of local professionals in responding to the global ICT development and their potentials to stand out in the world.”

Mr. Michael Leung, President of HKCS concluded that “HKICTAwards 2015 would not have been such a resounding success without the support from various parties involved. I would like to express our gratitude for the contributions of all participants, the Organising Committee, the Assessors, the Judging Panel, our supporting organisations, as well as the HKCS Secretariat. In particular, I am deeply grateful for the excellent leadership of Ir. Allen Yeung, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, and Prof. Timothy Tong, JP, Chairperson of the Judge Panel. Last but not least, I would also like to send my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners. I am confident of a greater variety of outstanding entries next year and a more vibrant development of local ICT industry going forward."

About the Hong Kong ICT Awards: Best Business Solution Award”
The Hong Kong ICT Awards were established in 2006 with the collaborative efforts of the industry, academia and the Government. Steered by Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and organized by 10 Hong Kong ICT industry associations and professional bodies, the Awards aims at building a locally espoused and internationally acclaimed brand of ICT awards.

The “Hong Kong ICT Awards: Best Business Solution Award” (Formerly known as “IT Excellence Awards”), was established in 1998 by Hong Kong Computer Society, and has become a well recognizing award in Hong Kong. This annual event has become a great tool to encourage the use of ICT, to stimulate innovation and competitiveness in the ICT industry and to raise public awareness of ICT application development.

About Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS)
The Hong Kong Computer Society is a non-profit professional organization established in 1970, which strives to improve and develop Hong Kong's Information Technology (IT) industry. Being the most well-established and the largest professional association in Hong Kong, the HKCS is dedicated to promote the highest professional standards for the industry. The HKCS members are from a broad spectrum of Hong Kong's IT industry, from corporate users to individual talents, all working together for the benefit of the industry.

Issued by: Hong Kong Computer Society
For Media Enquiries: Please contact Kayi Lau at DT Communications
3696 6962 (office); 9624 2295 (mobile); kayi.lau@dt-asia.com (email)

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The World Travel & Tourism Council celebrates this Wednesday its 15th Global Summit in IFEMA

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Apr 16, 2015

The Convention and Congress Centre IFEMA receives for two days the Annual Summit of the WTTC, after seven years of absence in Europe

The World Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC, has chosen IFEMA to celebrate in Europe its annual summit again about travels and tourism, after seven years of absence in the continent. The 15th Global Summit of the WTTC will begin this Wednesday 15th of April and will conclude on Thursday 16th in the Fair of Madrid.

The World Travel & Tourism Council tries to promote the sustainable growth of the industry, working for it, with governments and international institutions, with the purpose of creating jobs, impelling exports and generating prosperity. For the president of the WTTC, David Scowsill, “there is no higher event in the calendar for private and public sector leaders inside the tourism industry”.

This appointment, which is celebrated for the first time in our country, in words of the mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, “contributes to establish Madrid as a destination in the minds of nearly 1,000 experts in the travel industry, as well as sharing with the whole world the touristic, cultural, gastronomic, shopping and leisure attractions of Madrid”.

The Annual Summit of the WTTC gathers the maximum representatives of the public and private sectors, of the travel associations and the media in the only discussion forum. The presence is foreseen of up to 1,000 people from around the world, including 300 chief executives, the government ministers, thought leaders and media. These bring specialist knowledge to guide government policy and decision­making, to announce the importance of the industry as an economic generator of prosperity.

Among the assistants will be José Manuel Barroso, ex­president of the European Commission, who will discuss Europe’s economic and political past, present and future, in addition to the situation that the Travel and Tourism sector faces as the continent penetrates into a new political stage; Ana Botín, executive chairman of Banco Santander; Tony Tyler, CEO of IATA – International association of Air transport; Taleb Rifai, Secretary­General of UNWTO – World Tourism Organisation­; Michael O'Leary, executive director of Ryanair; or Luis Maroto, Amadeus' president, will also participate in 15th Global Summit of the WTTC.

A fact to highlight is that at 9:30am of Thursday 16th, there will be a special panel dedicated to our country that will try to explain its link with the rest of the world. Spain is considered to be the third most visited country of the world and Madrid plays more than important role as a world destination centre. Some of the questions that will be answered are, for example, how Spanish will influence the travel agencies in the next decades or what connections Spain offers to the rest of countries. In this block, will participate Ana Botella, mayor of Madrid; Emilio Butragueño, the director of Institutional Relations of Real Madrid C.F.; Simón Pedro Barceló, cochairman of the Council Barceló Group; or Luis Gallego, manager of Iberia, among others.

The companies that are associated WTTC members move annually a capital of more than 300,000 million euros (350,000 million dollars). The tourism sector is key for the investment and the economic growth on a global scale. Last year, the abovementioned sector represented 277 million jobs (1 of every 11 of all the jobs in the world), which contributed to 9.5% of the world’s GDP (a total of 7.6 trillion dollars).

Contacts

Department of Communication and Press IFEMA
Jesús González, 91 722 50 05 / jesusg@ifema.es
WTTC Congress
Ana Moreno Soria / 91 788 32 43

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CommunicAsia2015: Implementing a Mobile-First Strategy, One Stream at a Time

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Apr 16, 2015

SINGAPORE - Picture this: you are going on a long trip and will be spending at least two hours on the road. You begin downloading songs onto your mobile device and then a pop-up appears. "Memory full. Please manage your storage in Settings."

Online entertainment is moving from downloading to streaming on both PC and mobile devices for various reasons. The convenience and ability to cherry-pick your favourite content is already a good draw, but the true irresistible power of such streaming services comes from freeing up on storage space. You no longer have to pay for songs, instead you pay for access to a vast library of songs - a number much larger than a single device could conceivably store.

Mobile-only Asians

Not only does Asia have high mobile penetration rate, it is in fact, a growing mobile-only market. That is, mobile is the only connected device for many Asians, and the desktop experience is completely skipped. In Singapore for example, almost 70 percent of Spotify's audience is between 18-34 years old, and over 70 percent are either a mobile-only or cross-platform user. With that, Spotify was launched in Asia with mobile as a priority, not as an afterthought or nice-to-have.

Since Spotify launched its mobile-free tier in the region in December 2013, mobile streams have gone up to as much as five times compared to the previous year. Looking at the numbers, the mobile-first strategy has also fuelled growth in Spotify's user base, which subsequently bumped up premium subscriber numbers at an average conversion rate of about 20 per cent.

"We're so committed to the freemium model on mobile because we completely agree with the labels that subscribers are key to bringing the industry back to health - and we need the free 'funnel' to drive subscription," said Sunita Kaur, Managing Director, Asia, Spotify. "By bringing listeners into our free, ad-supported tier, we migrate them away from piracy, which is rife in this part of the world."

For Spotify, the other obvious advantage of going mobile is the ability to provide personalised recommendations to music fans. "We are constantly charting and looking at usage data to provide users with a more comprehensive experience. We recommend music depending on what you are already listening to and curate playlists that fit every activity - whether you're at a party, driving to work or studying, we have playlists that are with you at each moment. For example, we partnered with The Music Run(TM), and developed a digital tool that allows all music runners to listen, vote and share their favourite tracks," added Kaur.

The result of tailoring the streaming experience to individual needs is that users are spending an average of over 160 minutes listening, dancing or singing along to Spotify every day.

Going Beyond the Play Button

Spotify believes that their best marketer has, and always will be, their users. By first considering the demands of the consumers, words about Spotify spread and profits eventually followed in the form of subscriptions and advertisements.

Elaborated Kaur, "Evidently, both our advertisers and 60 million active users are extremely important to the long-term survival of Spotify, and the music industry at large. We want to help brands connect to this engaged audience in a variety of ways, while ensuring that these advertisements will be more interesting and useful to consumers. Whether it's advertising on our platforms or even co-creating campaigns that help brands tell their story through Spotify, we are the ultimate cross promotional tool."

In second quarter of this year, Spotify is announcing the roll out of a new video ad product. Sponsored Sessions give brands ownership of 30 minute ad-free mobile sessions. Users opt-in to an ad-free experience by viewing a 15 or 30 second video on their mobile device.

Kaur recalled what Daniel Ek, CEO and Founder of Spotify once said in an interview, "The reason I started Spotify was not because of my love of music. It was because I saw an opportunity to create something that made it easier for people to do the stuff that they were already doing, but legally."

"That is precisely the advice I will give to any brands deliberating a mobile strategy. There is no cookie-cutter approach, so consider if your mobile strategy will add value to your consumers' lifestyles. Learn to build for the user, go beyond mobile-first, and go user-first," concluded Kaur.

For more insights on how businesses can implement a mobile marketing strategy, join Sunita Kaur, Managing Director of Asia, Spotify, at CommunicAsia2015 this June.

CommunicAsia2015 / EnterpriseIT2015 Exhibition

Incorporating: SatComm2015
Date: 2-5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Levels B2, 1 & 3
Opening Hours: 2-4 June 2015: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm, 5 June 2015: 10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Admission: Business and trade professionals only

CommunicAsia2015 Summit

Date: 2-5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Level 3
Admission: Registered delegates only

BroadcastAsia2015 Exhibition

Incorporating: ProfessionalAudioTechnology2015
Date: 2-5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Levels 4 & 5
Opening Hours: 2-4 June 2015: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm, 5 June 2015: 10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Admission: Business and trade professionals only

BroadcastAsia2015 International Conference & Creative Content Production Conference

Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Level 3
Date: 2-5 June 2015, Tuesday - Friday
Admission: Registered delegates only

About Spotify

Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 30 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the world's music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever you want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is now available in 58 markets globally with more than 60 million* active users, and over 15 million paying subscribers. Since its launch in Sweden in 2008, Spotify has driven more than US$2bn to rights holders. Spotify is now the second biggest source of digital music revenue for labels in Europe, and the biggest and most successful music streaming service of its kind globally.

* Users active within the previous 30 days.

About Singapore Exhibition Services (SES)

Singapore Exhibitions Services organises a portfolio of international tradeshows serving the Communications, Engineering, Machinery and Lifestyle industries. Our events consistently attract a high level of overseas participation with foreign exhibitors accounting for almost 80% of the show floor. We are a member of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, a global network with over 50 offices worldwide.

Contact:
June Seah
Singapore Exhibition Services
Tel: +65 6233 6621
Email: june.seah@sesallworld.com

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ZW HR Consulting Singapore Launches 2015 HR Salary Guide

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Apr 16, 2015
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Positive outlook for Human Resource Professionals and the top 5 HR jobs likely to be in demand this year.

SINGAPORE, April 16, 2015 -- Leaders in mid-senior level recruitment, ZW HR Consulting Singapore has launched its first Human Resources Salary Guide for 2015. This guide aims to provide employers and jobseekers alike with a comparative overview of HR salaries in Singapore.

Recent findings by ZW HR Consulting, one of Asia's largest headhunting and HR consulting firms, discovered some interesting changes in the salary patterns within the diverse field of HR. Due in part to the "value added" services that HR professionals bring to businesses, HR salaries have seen an upward swing as a direct result of the short to long term cost savings by having more efficient and streamlined processes and/or HR related functions internally.

Human Resources is a lucrative profession that increasingly attracts top professionals in Singapore and it has seen an upward growth trend, which is expected to continue, as more companies continue to streamline their people management processes. This includes an increasing number of smaller companies that are adding internal Human Resources Departments for managing their people professionally. As Singapore is a regional hub for many multinational companies (MNCs), the prevalent salaries in this region have become benchmarks for Asia Pacific professionals.

Mr. Mervin Chui, Managing Director, ZW HR Consulting said, "2015 is likely to turn out to be a reasonably good year for HR Professionals. The average salary bands for HR Professionals are up 5% to 10% for 2014/15 as compared to 2013/14 figures. The potential for HR to influence and drive business strategy has never been stronger as employers realize they need to invest in strong HR professionals."

"Against the backdrop of a talent scarcity across Singapore, experienced skilled professionals can expect to see salary hikes. Employers will have to consider hiking up salaries to keep pace with inflation, to attract the right talent and to retain their critical workforce. This guide will help organizations and talented professionals gain a better understanding of the current state of wage pressures, through the provision of an accurate and transparent contextual comparison for the region," said Mr. Chui.

Mr. Sunil Dutta, Director for Human Resources Practice at ZW HR Consulting said , "We are seeing a high demand for HR related jobs in various sectors as MNCs and large local firms continue to aggressively expand their presence across the region. This has created new opportunities for more robust and sturdy HR, Compensation & Benefits and Learning & Development professionals with specific industry experience to manage long-term strategies. Overall, there has been an increase in the number of HR roles coming to market at all levels and across various disciplines."

The top 5 positions bringing the most "value added services" according to the salary guide are as follows:

REGIONAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS MANAGER:
These individuals can make a huge impact upon several critical areas such as salary benchmarking, employee benefits solutions and talent retention.

TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGER:
Talent Acquisition Managers have transformed recruitment into a key and strategic HR function, with the responsibility of Talent Attraction and market mapping a pool of competent external candidates -- which would provide an alternative and/or backup to internal succession plans.

HR BUSINESS PARTNER:
The role of a business partner is to integrate business goals with management and employees across various departments promoting efficiency and eliminating waste. A business partner is also expected to be a HR subject matter expert who is able to consult for the business on HR matters, policy and governance.

HRIS LEADER:
The responsibilities of HRIS leaders include maintaining and frequently upgrading information systems, to ensure the smooth running of the HR department.

TALENT MANAGEMENT & ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT (OD):
This department works in close collaboration with all the heads and the major stakeholders so as to understand their precise needs and thereby address their talent management problems accordingly by placing the right people in the right places.

Lastly, those in HR Generalist positions should see 5% to 10% wage increases for similar positions, over the next year.

As Human Resource professionals continue to provide "value added services" that increase profitability, efficiency and provide the best people for the right positions, they will continue to grow and be compensated for their efforts.

If you would like to learn more about the 2015 Singapore Human Resource salaries or receive a copy of the salary guide, please visit our website www.zwhrconsulting.com.sg or email us at marketing@zwhrconsulting.com

About ZW HR Consulting
ZW HR Consulting provides recruitment solutions focused on mid-senior level professionals. Originally founded in Shanghai in 1998, ZW HR has since grown into one of the biggest headhunting recruitment firms in Asia. With 10 offices across Asia, ZW HR Consulting currently has over 200 employees. As of 2012, ZW HR Consulting has become an exclusive member of InterSearch Worldwide. Established in 1989, InterSearch ranks as one of the top international executive search alliance organizations in the world, with 100 offices in over 50 countries.

Media Contact:
Vikram Tandon
Vikram.Tandon@zwhrconsulting.com

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Discovered Gene Allows a Peek into The Future on Eye Disease

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Apr 16, 2015
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Study opens new possibilities for scientists to create genetic tests and future treatments for Exfoliation Syndrome

Singapore — An international research collaboration led by Singaporean researchers have led to the discovery of a mutated gene that renders people highly susceptible to a severe eye disorder called Exfoliation Syndrome (XFS). The study involved 8,400 patients from 17 countries and was reported in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Genetics.

The scientists found that Singaporean Chinese with the mutation are 40 to 56 percent more likely to develop XFS some time in their lives compared to Singaporean Chinese without the mutation. They also noted that Singaporean Indians with the mutation are between 19 to 25 percent more likely to develop XFS some time in their lives compared against Singaporean Indians without the mutation. This figure is in stark contrast to the global average of 16 to 25 per cent of similar individuals likely to develop XFS. The study is led by researchers from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI).

XFS usually develops in people above the age of 60 years old and is characterised by the body’s inability to remove abnormal protein deposits from inside the eye. The accumulation of these protein deposits clogs the eye’s drainage mechanism that results in a build-up of fluid and pressure in the eye in a condition called Glaucoma. If left untreated, a person with glaucoma can become permanently blind.

The gene believed to be responsible for XFS is called CACNA1A. The scientists found that CACNA1A affects the body’s calcium transport channels, which are important for many vital biological functions. Those who carry the CACNA1A gene have faulty calcium transport channels that hinder normal bodily functions, such as the eye’s ability to efficiently remove abnormal protein deposits.

A*STAR’s Dr Khor Chiea Chuen from GIS said, “Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases in Singapore and around the world. With this knowledge, we can now concentrate our efforts to develop therapeutic solutions to address and normalise the calcium signalling function in order to reduce the risk of XFS and the development of glaucoma.”

SERI Executive Director and Senior Consultant and Head of Glaucoma Service, Singapore National Eye Centre, Prof Aung Tin said, “This is an exciting discovery as the pathway we have found could be a target for new therapies and medications to prevent or treat this type of glaucoma.”

“On a personal level,” added Prof Aung, “the project was extremely stimulating and interesting as we were working with more than 90 collaborating sites from 17 different countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, North America and South America. It was a huge honour for us in Singapore to be coordinating and leading this global study of such scale and impact.”

Prof Robert Ritch, Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair, Professor of Ophthalmology and Surgeon Director and Chief (Glaucoma Services) at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary said, “This new gene may not only explain some of the manifestations of Exfoliation Syndrome, but may also help us explain why associated systemic diseases occur in conjunction with it. This discovery opens doors to further elucidation, understanding, and perhaps new treatments for Exfoliation Syndrome.” Prof Ritch is also the founder, medical director and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at The Glaucoma Foundation.

“This is a very important study showing association of a novel DNA variant with disease risk in populations throughout the world,” added Janey L. Wiggs, who holds the post as the Paul Austin Chandler Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Harvard Medical School. Prof Wiggs jointly supervised the project.

“Exfoliation Syndrome is a debilitating disorder affecting many people in the world. The study is highly relevant to local as well as some foreign populations. The next step after this study is to capture the value from this new knowledge and turn it into health outcomes, such as to develop a genetic test to screen for XFS and new treatments for individuals carrying the CACNA1A gene,” said Prof Ng Huck Hui, Executive Director, 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

Mr Ravi Chandran
Corporate Communications
Singapore National Eye Centre
Tel: +65 6322 8394
Email: ravi.chandran@snec.com.sg

About the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact.

The key research areas at the GIS include Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Computational and Systems Biology, and Translational Research.

The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.

For more information about GIS, please visit: www.gis.a-star.edu.sg

About the Singapore Eye Research Institute

Established in 1997, SERI is Singapore’s national research institute for ophthalmic and vision research. SERI’s mission is to conduct high impact eye research with the aim to prevent blindness, low vision and major eye diseases common to Singaporeans and Asians. Serving as the research institute of the Singapore National Eye Centre, and directly affiliated to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, as well the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, SERI undertakes vision research in collaboration with local clinical ophthalmic centres and biomedical research institutions, as well as major eye centres and research institutes throughout the world.

SERI has grown from a founding team of five in 1997 to a faculty of 220, encompassing clinician scientists, scientists, research fellows, PhD students and support staff. This makes SERI one of the largest research institutes in Singapore and the largest eye research institute in Asia-Pacific. The institute has amassed an impressive array of publications totalling 2,100 scientific papers as of November 2014, and has secured 212 external peer-reviewed competitive grants worth $197 million. As of November 2014, SERI’s faculty has been awarded over 300 national and international prizes and filed over 90 patents.

For more information about SERI, visit www.seri.com.sg

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ISH China & CIHE 2015 reaches new heights with record-breaking exhibitor participation

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Apr 17, 2015
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ISH China & CIHE – China’s International Trade Fair for Sanitation, Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning, hailed as Asia’s largest HVAC and plumbing exhibition, is scheduled to be held from 13 – 15 May 2015. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Beijing B&D Tiger Exhibition Co Ltd, the show will take place in Beijing at the New China International Exhibition Center. This year, 2015, marks the fair’s best year to date. The three-day event expects to welcome over 1,100 exhibitors, covering more than 90,000 sqm across seven halls. With more exhibitors compared to the previous edition, the fair anticipates over 45,000 professional visitors from around the world.

The fair features a comprehensive collection of products including boilers, wall-hung boilers, radiators & fittings, heat exchangers, solar powered heat pumps, intelligent home automation technologies, district energy solutions, floor-heating, pipes & fittings, valves & pumps, rainwater harvesting & drainage technology, heat meters, energy efficient HVAC products and more. To accommodate market needs, the newly added hall E4 will focus on ventilation, water purification and smart home technologies.

Returning exhibitors from within and outside of China have already confirmed their place to display their state-of-the-art products. Prominent brands include AO Smith (USA), Ariston (Italy), Baxi (Italy), Danfoss (Denmark), Devotion (China), Ferroli (Italy), Giacomini (Italy), Hailin (China), Immergas (Italy), Jaga (Belgium), Menred (China) , Nather (Germany), QD Navien (Korea), Rehau (Germany), Rettig (Finland), Rotex (Germany), Vanward (China), Watts (USA), Zehnder (Germany) and others. The number of exhibitors in 2015 is reaching new heights.

Immergas is a leading Italian HVAC brand that specialises in manufacturing domestic boilers. Mr Weng Yan, General Manager of the firm in China expressed: “Over the years, the ISH China & CIHE has made a name for itself for being the largest and most reputable HVAC and plumbing exhibition in the region. Attending the fair has turned into an annual activity for our firm. Through this well-established trading platform, we hope to promote our company and brand image to discover even more business opportunities in China’s booming HVAC market.”

German, Italian and Turkish Pavilions reaffirms the Beijing show as a gateway for tapping China’s HVAC market

Supported by their respective governmental authorities and industry associations, the German, Italian and Turkish Pavilions composed of many prominent industry brands are one of the biggest highlights for the 2015 edition. The return of the up-scaled pavilions reaffirms ISH China & CIHE’s status as the first choice for overseas brands to enter China’s lucrative market.

The increasing popularity of ISH China & CIHE has led the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology of Germany to encourage local enterprises to take part in the 2015 show to display the country’s advancements in HVAC technology to the Chinese market. This year, the German Pavilion will be formed by more than 10 reputable companies, including Aquatherm, Brötje, H.M., IVT, Jürgen, Schlösser, SIEGENIA, Wefatherm and others who are ready to showcase some of their most innovative products.

Furthermore, Italian firms are making great efforts to expand their business into demanding markets for individual heating technology such as China. Supported by the Italian Trade Commission (ICE), the scale of the Italian Pavilion has also increased. Over 10 prominent brands have already confirmed their participation at the fair, including Aquatechnik, Bugatti, Fondital, General Fittings, ITAP and others.

In conjunction with a confirmed mix of exhibitors from around the world, the Turkish Pavilion will make their first appearance at the 2015 show. Supported by the Central Anatolian Exporters Union (OAiB) and the Turkish HVAC-R Industry Exporters Union (iSiB), leading exhibitors to take part in the Turkish Pavilion include Sanica, Caldera, Chorka, Dizayn, E.C.A and others.

Over 50 insightful concurrent events scheduled

Fringe events have played a significant role in ISH China & CIHE. For 2015, the show will feature over 50 fringe events, including congresses, technology display zones and a cocktail reception. The reputable Sino-European HVAC Congress has officially been renamed to “China International HVAC Congress”. Covering some of the industry’s heated topics, the conference will provide an unparalleled platform for local and international industry experts to exchange the latest technologies on renewable energies, intelligent HVAC, ventilation and heat pumps.

The organisers have partnered with the Architectural Society of China Water Supply and Wastewater Association to host the second China International Building Water Supply and Drainage Forum. Rainwater Drainage & Harvesting Technologies and Grease Separation Technologies will serve as the two main themes of the forum. It will also touch on the development and market trends of the building plumbing industry in China, as well as showcasing international cutting-edge plumbing technologies and products.

Additionally, the organisers have joined hands with the Federation of German Heating Industry (BDH) as well as the Association of Air Conditioning and Ventilation in Buildings (FGK). Together, these business associations will set up display zones that will showcase Europe’s latest HVAC and ventilation technologies.

ISH China & CIHE 2015 key fringe events will include:
- China International HVAC Congress
•Renewable Energies & Heating Technologies
•Ventilation & IAQ Technologies
•Intelligent HVAC Technologies
•Heat Pump Technologies
- China International Building Water Supply and Drainage Forum
- BDH / FGK Europe Innovative HVAC Technology Display Zones
- LOHAS Cocktail Reception

ISH China & CIHE is headed by the biennial ISH event in Frankfurt, Germany. Held from 14 – 18 March 2017, it is the world’s leading trade fair for the Bathroom Experience, Building, Energy, Air-conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies. Furthermore, the next edition of ISH Shanghai & CIHE will be held from 23 – 25 September 2015 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

– end –

Media contact:
(Ms) Keena Tsui
Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd
Tel: +852 2238 9970
Fax:+852 2519 7919
Email:keena.tsui@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

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Nordic Essence with attention to detail

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Apr 17, 2015
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Nordic Essence is this fall's trend theme for the Formex interior design and gift fair that will be held August 19-22, 2015. It refers to a single cohesive idea that encompasses everything from building facades to everyday items and interior design details. Inspiration for the theme comes from our nature and surroundings in the Nordic region.

“Bloom where you are planted”, naturalness, sustainability and attention to detail are several of the key words for this fall's theme. In Nordic Essence we look at what is in our immediate vicinity and find inspiration in the nature that is just around the corner. The expression is modern, but it also has a natural simplicity that in many ways is characteristic of Nordic design. It also includes a growing focus on the details.

– There is an increasingly evident trend in the interior design of offices, public spaces and private homes. Details are becoming more important and small objects are moving into focus. The big picture is important. One example of this is that several of Sweden's most prominent architects and designers are to a larger extent transitioning away from facades and furniture and moving toward small objects,” says Christina Olsson, Event Manager for Formex.

The trend theme for the fall, Nordic Essence, which is a progression of the spring theme, Nordic Neat, continues to draw on shapes, colors and materials that have a strong Nordic association. The palette tends toward greens and reds paired with neutrals, such as beige tones and all nuances of gray. Well-tested natural materials are used with new technology and in combination with completely new composite materials. Shapes and patterns are inspired by nature.

Colors:
There are red tones, inspired by pale and burned bricks and the patinated Falun red facades, and neutrals, such as dark slate, gray stones and light-colored sand. Green tones are derived from moss and lichens in the forest.

Materials:
Traditional materials such as birch bark and cork are used in new contexts. We see leather, long-haired hides and textiles with soft, tactile surfaces for a warm, cozy feel, as well as wooden surfaces, brick, stone and slate for a natural and slightly raw look.

Shapes:
All of nature's sensual ways of creating shapes and patterns can be seen in the product design, like the multi-colored paths of the anthill and the geometric patterns of the beehive, the morning dew on the leaf of the Lady’s Mantle that is perfectly round. The shapes of snow crystals are an inspiration, as are the bubbles in a natural spring.
For more information, please visit www.formex.se or contact:

Christina Olsson, Event Manager christina.olsson@stockholmsmassan.se, +46 8 749 44 28
Catarina Oscarsson Media Relations Manager catarina.oscarsson@stockholmsmassan.se, +46 8 749 43 66,

Formex is arranged by Stockholmsmässan and takes place twice a year. It is the leading Nordic meeting place for new products, business opportunities, trends, knowledge and inspiration in the interiors industry. Formex welcomes 850 exhibitors, 23,000 trade visitors and more than 850 media representatives.

World-class meetingsI
Inspiration and information, business opportunities and new friends. Stockholmsmässan is the largest meeting place in Scandinavia hosting around 70 leading exhibitions and hundreds of national and international congresses, conferences and corporate events every year.
Love to meet you!

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The Top 5 Things Your Media Monitoring Company Should Do For You

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Apr 17, 2015
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Media monitoring is one of the top priorities many large companies focus on today. Staying on top of what the media, your target audience and the public at large say about your brand and your competition, can give you the edge for engagement, reputation management, and increasing sales. Therefore, a lot is on the line when you hire a media monitoring company. Here are 5 things that your media monitoring company should do for you.

1. Identify and then track all the types of media you need covered.

A media monitoring company should be able to help you identify the types of coverage and issues you want to track. In many cases, you might already know what you want to track. You probably have customers that do some or all of: watching television, spending time online, reading newspapers and listening to radio. Also, your competitors may be active in all those media, and your industry issues might be discussed. Therefore, you need to make sure your monitoring provider can actually cover television, online, radio, newspapers and magazines. In many cases, you will want to break down television and print coverage to regional specifics, as well, depending on where your markets are. Once you have agreed upon the types of media coverage your company needs, then you can determine which media monitoring company has the ability to provide you with the services you need.

Assist in setting up media monitoring briefs and creating the right searches.

Once the media monitoring scope in our #1 is defined, then it is time to set up that monitoring. This is a critical step in the process. The company you hire should help ensure that you have the right searches set up. Media monitoring won’t be useful if your tools aren’t set up properly. Irrelevant search returns just waste valuable time. Your media monitoring company should have the expertise and customized client service to help you create your set up and keep an eye on it to ensure that it is up to date and changes with the times as different issue might arise. Setting it once and then leaving it will not help you for the long term. Before signing with a media monitoring provider, ask them to detail what type of support they provide so that you know what to expect.

2. Offer different speeds of monitoring delivery with filters.

Some media monitoring providers have different speeds of delivery. Some may provide a daily email with your mentions for that day or maybe you only need a weekly summary of mentions. Some providers will give a real-time feed, but with only minimal filtering and lots of irrelevant content. The combination of speed, accuracy and scope provide the fundamental benefit of media monitoring. Filtering helps with the accuracy, and therefore the effectiveness, of your media monitoring service, and you should make sure your monitoring provider can demonstrate their ability to provide both accuracy and speed before you sign up. Some media monitoring companies will try to lock you in to a long term contract without letting you even see how their platform works in real time with real issues.

3. Guide you when you need assistance.

Just as you are an expert in your field or your industry, your media monitoring company needs to be an expert in this arena. If you aren’t sure about what you should be monitoring, then you should be offered advice and assistance in figuring out what you should be tracking in the way of keywords and key phrases as well as where the company should be looking to monitor.

4. Offer concise reports on coverage.

This is especially important if you need to report your media tracking findings to a manager, board or directors, or other team members. A great media monitoring provider can make this easy by having a report function that quickly and easily prepares regular media coverage reports for you.

Summary

Media monitoring can be a big advantage for your company and help you stay one step ahead of your competition. Local and regional monitoring is one important way to hone in on media monitoring and ensuring that your media mentions apply to your company. Isentia media monitoring would be an excellent example of this. When you are looking to hire a media intelligence company, make sure that you can check our 5 things off your list that your media monitoring company should be able to do for you.

Written by Elizabeth Victor

Photo Credit / Isentia

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Tech Heavyweights Add Spark To Electronics Fair, ICT Expo

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Apr 18, 2015
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17 April 2015 – The four-day run of the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and the HKTDC International ICT Expo concluded yesterday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Event organiser, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) commissioned an independent onsite survey, interviewing more than 800 buyers and exhibitors about their views on market prospects. According to the survey, over 90 per cent of buyers and exhibitors expect overall sales to improve or remain the same in 2015, compared to last year.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “We saw vibrant trading momentum on the fairground. From the survey results, the prospects for wearable electronic products would be positive. The interviewees expect that smart watches, smart wristbands, and earphones or headphones that are compatible with mobile devices will have the highest potential in next two years.”

Dressed For Success

Wearable electronics is the hot trend worldwide and the debut Wearable Electronics zone received good feedback from the buyers. Hong Kong exhibitor Pure Performance Distribution Limited joined the fair to promote its new smart watches that are equipped with built-in GPS and exercise-monitoring functions. The watches were very well received by buyers at the fair, according to the company’s Sales and Operations Director, Timothy Hui. He said the Spring Electronics Fair was an excellent platform to present new products and promote the brand, adding that the company was in talks with many customers from emerging markets such as India, the Middle East and Egypt, and he was confident that some of the orders would be finalised within the month.

Brands On Show

This year’s Spring Electronics Fair and ICT Expo featured internationally renowned tech giants and brands, such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Motorola and Softlayer, an IBM Company. Leading US semi-conductor manufacturing company, Intel Corporation offers silicon, turnkey solutions, basic reference designs and marketing support to more than 30 partner companies in Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland. Stephanie Hallford, Director, Business Development and Customer Marketing, Mobile Communications Group, Intel Corporation, said: “The fair provides a great place for our partner companies to show their products and OEM capabilities to buyers from all over the world. It is a big show which makes deals happen. Our booth has been very busy. Many buyers including those from Europe and Latin America are interested in our products.”

Another US tech giant, Microsoft Corporation, was at the Spring Electronics Fair for the first time, showcasing its Windows 10 to buyers. Jack Huang, Senior Director, OEM Local Device Sales, Microsoft Corporation, said: “In the past, we did this kind of event every six months; but now it’s two months or three months because the cycle is getting shorter. Hong Kong is so close to Shenzhen and is part of the China technology ecosystem. We have lots of investments and resources in Shenzhen, and our partners are close to Hong Kong so it’s easy for them to carry all the devices here and meet with all the customers.”

Rio Branco is Brazil’s second-largest distributor of computer accessories and electronics and network products. The company’s Purchase Manager, Rafael Montello, has visited the Electronics Fair many times. He said the fair’s wide range of products and suppliers inspires him to develop new products for his company’s brands. Mr Montello said he had found 60 new suppliers at the fair and had bought US$500,000 worth of DVD players, portable sound systems, car radios and tablets from new suppliers. He had also placed orders worth US$800,000 with existing suppliers at the fair.

Tech Showcase

Held concurrently with the Spring Electronics Fair, the International ICT Expo is a signature event of the Asian ICT industry. This year’s show included pavilions from Australia, Canada, the Chinese mainland, India, Korea and New Zealand. Ian Burchett, Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong & Macao, said 13 Canadian companies were featured at the Canadian pavilion of the Expo this year, offering innovative products and services in the areas of data analytics, electronic document management, mobile security, wireless technology and cloud-based IT solutions. “ICT Expo remains the longest running trade show for this sector in Hong Kong. Repeatedly, Canadian companies have found this event a great venue to identify business partnerships and to learn more about the market potential for their products and services, for the neighbouring Asian markets as well as other worldwide regions.”

Mohammed Sajid Ali, Senior Divisional Manager, Al Rostamani Communications LLC, from the United Arab Emirates, said: “I’ve identified more than 10 exhibitors for the provision of ICT solutions and smart devices. One of them is an Indian company providing various transportation, warehouse management and logistics and data centre solutions. We will introduce these solutions to customers in the UAE. Negotiation is also under way with a New Zealand exhibitor distributing its data centre management solution.” He said the Indian and New Zealand exhibitors will visit Dubai next month to conclude details worth a total of at least US$1 million per annum.

The twin technology-focused events welcomed around 92,000 buyers from 150 countries and regions. Around 62,000 buyers visited the Electronics Fair which is the largest Spring electronics show in Asia, while nearly 30,000 visitors attended the ICT Expo. Attendance from some developed markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Korea recorded growth. Specific emerging markets such as India, Israel and Argentina also recorded increased attendance.

Fair Websites
Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition):  http://www.hktdc.com/hkelectronicsfairse
International ICT Expo:  http://www.hktdc.com/ictexpo

Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

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Asian Attractions Expo 2015 to Feature Four Exclusive Networking Events

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Apr 19, 2015
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Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, and Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Among Featured Venues During Asia’s Premier Global Attractions Industry Event

(April 17, 2015) – Attractions industry professionals will have the opportunity to visit three of the Asia-Pacific region’s most distinguished facilities as part of Asian Attractions Expo 2015 (AAE 2015), 16-19 June, and the Asian Attractions Expo 2015 Post Tour 20-21 June. Participants will connect with industry peers and colleagues during four separate events, including the Opening Night Event at Hong Kong Disneyland, a facility tour of Ocean Park Hong Kong, the Young Professionals Forum at Ocean Park, and a post tour to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom. Asian Attractions Expo 2015 is the region’s largest international attractions industry event and will bring more than 7,000 participants to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

Opening Night Event at Hong Kong Disneyland
Wednesday, 17 June, 6:30–10 p.m.

Asian Attractions Expo attendees will mix, mingle, and recap the first day of the Expo while enjoying rides and a new spectacular night parade at Hong Kong Disneyland. Attractions open will include the recently finished Mystic Point area featuring the “Mystic Manor” ride and Grizzly’s Gulch featuring the “Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars” steel roller coaster. Guests will also experience Hong Kong Disneyland’s “Disney Paint the Night” parade, which debuted in October 2014.

Young Professionals Forum
Thursday, 18 June, 5–9 p.m.

Young professionals from throughout the Asia-Pacific region will make new connections, share work experiences, receive tips for career advancement, and go on a guided tour of Ocean Park Hong Kong during the Young Professionals Forum. The event will include an hour-and-a-half long education session and forum, followed by a guided tour of Ocean Park showcasing its “Grand Aquarium,” “Adventures in Australia,” and “Amazing Asian Animals” exhibits. A cocktail reception will follow.

Facility Tour of Ocean Park Hong Kong
Friday, 19 June, 4–8:30 p.m.

Ocean Park Hong Kong officials will guide Asian Attractions Expo attendees through the newest attractions at the expanding marine theme park. Tour participants will explore the depths of the ocean during a tour of the “Grand Aquarium,” ride the “Ocean Express” train, experience an up-close encounter with cold-weather animals at the “Polar Adventure,” and unveil the mysteries of sharks and rays as they visit the “Shark Mystique” exhibit. Then, guests will take a scenic cable car ride to the Waterfront section of the park where they will see the all-new “Adventures in Australia” exhibit and “Amazing Asian Animals” exhibit before a lakeside reception and show.

Post Tour to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
Saturday, 20 June, 8:30 a.m.–Sunday, 21 June, 5:15 p.m.

Following the conference and trade show, the Asian Attractions Expo 2015 Post Tour to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom begins. Tour participants will travel from Hong Kong to China’s Hengqin Bay Hotel, where guests will stay for two days as they learn about the development of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort and other rapidly emerging projects on Hengqin Island. During a tour of Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, participants will see a rare whale shark, beluga whales, polar bears, emperor penguins, and other exotic animals, while also enjoying exhilarating rides. The night of 20 June, participants will enjoy the high-flying “Glamourous Sky Over Ocean” spectacular featuring lighting, audio, video, fireworks, and stunt performances. Sunday, 21 June, guest will explore three of Chimelong’s premier themed hotels, the Chimelong Penguin Hotel, Chimelong Circus Hotel, and Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel. Later that day, participants will depart Hengqin Island, and travel back to Hong Kong.

Separate tickets and Asian Attractions Expo 2015 registration must be purchased to attend each event. IAAPA members save at least 25 percent on each event ticket.

About Asian Attractions Expo
Since 1997, Asian Attractions Expo has been the premier international event for the multibillion-dollar leisure and attractions industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Asian Attractions Expo 2015 will take place at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, 16-19 June, and include an 8,500-net-square-meter trade show floor, a comprehensive industry education program, networking events, and visits to some of the region’s premier attractions. More than 7,000 attractions industry professionals from more than 65 countries will participate in the 2015 event.

About IAAPA
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide. Founded in 1918, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently located amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the attractions industry. IAAPA represents more than 4,800 attraction, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries. The association's global headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, and it maintains regional offices in Brussels, Hong Kong, Mexico City, and Orlando.  www.IAAPA.org @IAAPAHQ #AAE15

###

Contact Information:
pressoffice@IAAPA.org or +1 703/299-5127
Colleen Mangone: cmangone@IAAPA.org
David Mandt: dmandt@IAAPA.org

In Hong Kong
June Ko: jko@IAAPA.org
In Hong Kong & China
Karen Kwok: Karen.kwok@baobab-tree-event.com
Fiona Tsui: Fiona.tsui@baobab-tree-event.com

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Broadcast premiere of Epic Adventures - Hong Kong, Naturally - on select PBS stations

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Apr 19, 2015
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Los Angeles, CA – April 15, 2015 – Epic Adventures – Hong Kong, Naturally will premiere on PBS stations in New York and Los Angeles in May as part of Asian-Pacific Heritage Month.

Epic Adventures - Hong Kong, Naturally - Hong Kong, Asia's World City, offers a universe of things to do and places to see. Host Danielle DiLorenzo (well-known to TV audiences from two seasons on Survivor) seeks to capture all that Hong Kong has to offer from hanging out over Victoria Harbor (literally) and flying off the Dragon's Back to getting schooled in the art of Tai Chi, racing dragon boats and exploring HK's electrifying streets and markets in an adventure that is nothing short of Epic!

Epic Adventures is from the creative team of Emmy-winning PBS travel series, Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope. This new series is a mix of soft adventure and exotic locales as our engaging hosts provide a fresh look at various travel destinations, also highlighting the iconic attractions. Hosting future adventures is fitness/outdoor enthusiast Keishia Gu, who is also well-known for her work in commercials and dance and was recently featured in Health Magazine.

Broadcast Dates:
New York – WNYE / NYC Life
Friday, May 15, 7pm
Monday, May 18, 12am
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30pm

Los Angeles – KVCR
Tuesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m.

Epic Adventures thanks The Om Collection for its support of the premiere broadcast and G Adventures for its online support.

Contact:
Julie Rosendo Synchronicity Media, LLC
O 310-455-7164 PO Box 519
C 310-482-1052 Topanga, California 90290
Julie@travelscope.net

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Hybrid computing tablets gain traction in Malaysia

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Apr 20, 2015

Sales volume surged by nearly twofold in the past year despite overall lowering demand for laptops

20 April, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR – Amidst the slowing down consumer demand for laptops in Malaysia due to maturation of the market, one particular segment which has been continuing to record increasing sales in the past 12 months is the hybrid computing tablet. Compared to the previous year, consumers in the country bought 60,000 less of the traditional laptops; but hybrid computing tablets bucked the overall declining trend of the market by doubling in demand.

GfK retail audit data from March 2014 to February 2015 reported sales volume of laptops in Malaysia reaching over 925,000 units, of which hybrid computing tablets accounted for around eight percent in the latest tracked month of February 2015—up from its previous share of only four percent in the same month last year. This growing segment contributed USD22.5 million from March 2014 to February 2015 and accounted for nearly five percent of Malaysia’s USD896 million laptop market.

“Even though the overall laptop market is slowing down in the country, hybrid computing tablets are still being sought after by consumers and growing in demand,” observed Selinna Chin, Managing Director for GfK in Malaysia. “This version of laptop with a detachable screen that turns into a tablet is riding on the popularity of media tablets and winning favor of those who like the sleek and compact form, yet packs the power, functionality and performance of a computer.”

GfK defines hybrid computing tablets as laptops with a flat/ touch screen and detachable keyboard which can be used as a notebook or slate tablet.
Half of all the respondents in a separate survey conducted at the end of last year among 400 Malaysian consumers said they do not own a media tablet. Nearly two of five of these respondents who did not already own media tablets stated that they were not interested in purchasing one as phablet sizes are nearly on par, but said they will instead consider buying hybrid computing tablets.

“Due to the similarities in their physical appearance, some consumers may see little difference and make direct comparisons between media tablets and hybrid computing tablets,” observed Chin. “This is apparent in the GfK consumer study since respondents who did not own a media tablet said they would rather choose a hybrid computing tablet with bigger screen size and better performance.”

Rising demand has been encouraging manufacturers to launch more models of hybrid computing tablets, bringing about a significant 38 percent surge in the number of models now available in the market —from 68 the year before to reach 94 last year. Average prices have also fallen by 40 percent to a more affordable USD 473—from USD 792 before—and making them more attractive than the traditional laptop (USD552) but slightly more costly than media tablets (USD293).

Meanwhile, sales momentum of media tablets have slowed significantly to achieve only marginal growth of less than two percent in the past 12 months when compared against the previous year. Generated sales revenue has correspondingly dipped by over 16 percent, shrinking the market value of this product to USD349 million in the March 2014 to February 2015 period.

“The overall market would likely have seen a surge in demand in the first quarter of the year due to consumer buying to avoid the additional Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was implemented in April,” said Chin. “However, with the eager buying largely done in the first quarter, the market is anticipated to slow down for a while, in the post-GST quarter before resuming to normal subsequently,” she 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.

-END-

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

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Lack of Water Holding Back Asian Growth

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Apr 20, 2015
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Investment in water infrastructure is critical to the region's socioeconomic development.

Asia is the world’s most dynamic region with the fastest economic growth. Yet more than 75% of countries in the region face serious water shortages, which if left unmanaged pose a real threat to continued growth and prosperity.

The sources of Asia's water challenges are various and interconnected - ranging from a rapidly growing population, increasing and diversifying food demands, urbanization, unsustainable land-use change, to the excessive extraction of groundwater, water-related disasters, and climate change.

For example, of the world’s estimated 1.1 billion people without access to safe water, nearly 70% or 700 million come from Asia and the Pacific. The situation is even grimmer when it comes to sanitation. The region accounts for 2 billion of the 2.5 billion people who lack access to improved sanitation. And of these, 780 million in the region are still practicing open defecation.

In large parts of Asia and the Pacific, more than 80% of the volume of untreated wastewater leaches into accessible freshwater and coastal waters, affecting public health, livelihoods, and productivity. This problem is particularly grave in rural areas where 70% of the world’s poor reside.

Agriculture is the biggest user of regional water resources. As the region’s population - and prosperity - grow, widespread inefficiency in water use together with increasing demand for water-intensive food products are putting yet more pressure on finite water resources.

Tackling the global water crisis
Held every three years since 1997, the World Water Forum (WWF) is the largest international water event, providing a venue for stakeholders to work together on joint approaches to global water challenges.

This year’s 7th World Water Forum, taking place in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, in the Republic of Korea, on 12-17 April will attract lawmakers and other government officials from more than 150 countries.

The event is split into four segments - the Political Process, the Regional Process, the Thematic Process, and the Science and Technology Process, each containing topics developed in cooperation with industry professionals, governments, international agencies, academia, and NGOs into a common framework of goals and targets.

At the 7th World Water Forum, ADB and its partners are contributing knowledge in the following areas:

  • water security and sustainable development
  • financing for water management
  • public-private partnerships in the water sector
  • modernization of irrigation systems
  • green growth
  • water supply and sanitation.

    ADB, through its Youth Initiative, is also supporting a group of 20 young people to join the Asia Pacific Youth Forum and to participate in sessions and serve as rapporteurs and communicators.

    Water infrastructure financing
    Among the event highlights will be the high-level panel on Financing Infrastructure for a Water-Secure World on 13 April, co-sponsored by the World Water Council and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In this session, a report will be presented containing a number of proposals to influence the international debate on water infrastructure financing.

    “The report underscores the importance of investing in strategic water infrastructure that can provide a solid platform for economic growth,” said Bindu Lohani, ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, who will head ADB’s delegation to the WWF. “We need to explore different business models for designing and operating such infrastructure with a move toward ‘green’ infrastructure that can complement the ‘gray’ kind.”

    ADB launched its Water Financing Program in 2006, aimed at doubling ADB’s investments to over $2 billion annually during the period 2006-2010 or a total of $10 billion by the end of 2010. The program has been continued until 2020 with target investments to be sustained at $2.0 billion-$2.5 billion annually or a total of over $20 billion-$25 billion by the end of 2020.

    The report also calls for international financing institutions to make better use of their balance sheets to boost lending for water infrastructure. To this end, ADB recently announced a plan to combine its concessional Asian Development Fund’s equity and lending operations with the balance sheet of its Ordinary Capital Resources. This will raise annual financing commitments (loans, guarantees, equity investments and grants) by up to 40%, from the current level of $13 billion to $15 billion-$18 billion in the coming years.

    “I am looking forward to a fruitful conference which can raise the critical concerns of water security in the Asia-Pacific region and provide direction on better regional coordination of water issues. We also need a clear road map for accelerating universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation as the Sustainable Development Goals supersede the MDGs,” Mr. Lohani said.

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