Shell Celebrates 40 Years of Scenarios

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, Nov. 19, 2012/PRNewswire/ —

Scenario planning helps Shell make critical business decisions

Forty years ago, in 1972, work began on what many people regard as the first Shell Scenarios document, published the following year, though the roots of this work lie even further in the past. Since then, scenario planning has been at the heart of Shell’s business, developing senior leadership understanding of critical factors in the business environment and the possible directions which economic, geopolitical and social systems could take, decades into the future.

In the last four decades, Shell Scenario planners have highlighted many key world trends and discontinuities, ensuring that Shell as a business has been able to plan for several eventualities and maintain business continuity through even the most turbulent times. For example, the original Scenarios helped Shell’s leaders to prepare for the possibility of an oil price shock – a prescient move given the Yom Kippur war, which broke out in October 1973.

Jeremy Bentham, Shell’s Vice President, Global Business Environment, said: “Ever since our Scenarios programme began forty years ago, we have been creating and applying many different scenarios to anticipate global and local economic, social and political changes and how they could affect our business.

“Looking to the future, our scenario planners are now developing a new angle to their work, which recognises the even more complex nature of the modern world. It will provide clarity and insights by zooming in on specific details, then zooming out to give a broader perspective.”

The next iteration of the Shell Scenarios, to be published in early 2013, will focus on areas that are fundamental to the development of energy and environmental systems in the 21st century. These include the connection between energy, water and food systems and the impact of growing global urbanisation.

To mark this major anniversary, we are publishing ’40 Years of Shell Scenarios’, a reminder of our Scenarios work over many years with illustrations of how scenario planning has had a positive impact on the world in a variety of areas.

Speaking ahead of a panel discussion to coincide with the booklet’s launch today, Simon Henry, Shell’s Chief Financial Officer, said: “Shell has a long and distinguished history of scenario planning, and the intelligence and innovation that our Scenarios teams have contributed over many decades has proved hugely beneficial to our business. By providing unique insights and detailed analysis into the ever-changing global landscape, and projecting forward possible outcomes, the Scenarios team helps Shell’s senior leadership make better informed decisions about our current and future operations.”

The Shell Scenarios methodology has been adapted by many different organisations and individuals worldwide to help them in their work.

Adam Kahane, Associate Fellow at the Saïd Business School, Oxford University said: “The Shell methodology has been one of the main building blocks for the ‘transformative scenario planning’ work that my colleagues and I have been engaged in for the past twenty years. The spirit of Shell’s scenario practice – logical and rigorous, creative and open – has guided us throughout.”

Peter Ho, Senior Advisor for the Centre of Strategic Futures, a think-tank of the Singapore Government, said: “The Singapore Government started using scenario planning in 1991. Shell strongly supported this effort. Today, scenario planning is embedded in the Government’s annual strategic planning cycle.”

Philip Bobbit, Herbert Wechsler Professor of Jurisprudence at Columbia University and Director of Columbia Law School’s Center on National Security, said: “One thing that’s always impressed me about the Shell people was that they did a whole new set of scenarios every five years, sometimes even less. Yet if you look at all their old scenarios, they are almost uncanny in showing how the world would change. Scenario planning is perhaps the most important analytical tool we have and Shell has been the most important innovator in that process.”

Amory Levins, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute, said: “Shell Scenarios are a unique resource for all of us who think about the energy future. Shell is the most far-sighted and strategic of the majors, largely because the Scenarios informed the thinking of Shell leadership and many others in the energy ecosystem. Without this exercise, people would have a much shorter and dimmer view of the future than they need to in a very long lead time business.”

Notes to Editors:

For more information about Shell Scenarios, and to download ’40 Years of Shell Scenarios’, visit http://www.shell.com/home/content/future_energy/scenarios/40_years.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 80 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit http://www.shell.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “goals”, “intend”, “may”, “objectives”, “outlook”, “plan”, “probably”, “project”, “risks”, “seek”, “should”, “target”, “will” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 (available at http://www.shell.com/investor and http://www.sec.gov ). These factors also should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 19 November 2012. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

ENQUIRIES: Shell International Media Relations, +44(0)20-7934-5550

Hamburg Summit: China Meets Europe

HAMBURG, Germany/PRNewswire/ —
Leading representatives from politics, business and science discuss China’s and Europe’s future in Hamburg
From 28 to 30 November 2012, international delegations gather at The Hamburg Summit: China Meets Europe, Germany’s major Sino-European economic conference and the first large-scale international China conference after the US elections and China’s leadership changes. Topics include Sino-European trade relations, their role in the global economy, raw material supply, currency liberalisation, Smart Cities, and China’s and Europe’s strategies in a multi-polar world.
Wan Gang, vice-chair of the 11th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of Science and Technology will open the conference on 28 November, followed by a speech by Prof Georgios Papastamkos, vice-president of the European Parliament. Keynote speakers on 30 November include Peter Praet, chief economist of the ECB. Business representatives include Dr Thomas Enders, CEO of EADS, Jürgen Fitschen, co-chairman of Deutsche Bank and Capt. Xu Lirong, CEO of China Shipping. Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State and former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt will discuss the future of Europe, China and the US in world politics. Final keynote speaker will be Karel De Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade.
The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce is host to the Hamburg Summit since 2004. With Europe’s second-largest container port, Hamburg is the major economic bridgehead between the EU and China. More than 400 Chinese companies are located in this international waterside business hub. The Hamburg Summit is the platform for fair exchange and allows participants to expand their networks, thereby enhancing Sino-European relations. The event is co-hosted by the China Federation of Industrial Economics (CFIE) and the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS).
Accreditation for journalists: http://press.hamburg-summit.com
Pictures and further information: http://www.hamburg-summit.com
Contact:
Hamburg Marketing GmbH
Matthias Beer
Phone: +49-40-411110634
Mobile: +49-152-54864536
Fax: +49-40-411110615
E-mail: matthias.beer@marketing.hamburg.de
http://www.marketing.hamburg.de
Source: Hamburg Marketing GmbH

Infosys Launches “India in a Box” for Japanese Companies

Expansion across India made simple; Japanese firms get robust IT infrastructure in just eight weeks

BANGALORE, India and TOKYO, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys, a global leader in consulting and technology, today announced the launch of a new solution called “India in a Box” for its Japanese clients. The new solution is based on industry-standard Microsoft Dynamics NAV. It enables Japanese companies to jumpstart their business operations in India in a shorter time by moving to a robust IT infrastructure in just eight weeks. The pre-packaged solution is tailor-made for the unique Indian market, addressing issues such as local taxation and accounting.

Key functionalities of the solution tailored for specific requirements in India include:

Financial Management – To support the International Accounting Standards Committee and complies with Indian GAAP (general accounting, account receivable/payable, budget control, fixed asset management, period-end closing operations).
Supply Chain Management – To facilitate sales, purchasing, inventory, warehouse management.
Production Management – To track requirement planning and bill of materials, manufacturing order creation, production planning and processes and scheduling.
Service, Resource, & Project Management – To maintain service contracts and track project costs, milestones and budget utilization.
Employee Management – To maintain comprehensive employee details including master employee list, skill sets and attendance.
Customer Management – To collate customer information, payment and delivery terms

Tomoyuki Nakanishi, Group Senior Manager, Dynamics Product Group, Microsoft Japan, said: “Japanese firms are looking to grow in India, which is why ‘India in a Box’ is such a valuable resource. What used to take years – learning how to navigate the often-complicated Indian marketplace – now takes a matter of weeks. Japanese companies can use this innovative Infosys product as their all-in-one business solution.”

V. Sriram, Head of Japan, Infosys Ltd., said: “With this new solution Infosys has tried to address one of the biggest issues facing Japanese companies entering the Indian market: The sometimes rocky interface between a new location and Tokyo headquarters. With ‘India in a Box,’ firms can easily establish the interface with the Enterprise Resource Planning in the home office. Executives in Tokyo can manage the sales and production of their Indian operations on a daily basis without a hitch. ‘India in a Box’ is all about improving real time decision-making and governance.”

Infosys set up its Japan operations in 1997. Today it has offices in Tokyo and Nagoya with more than 200 employees. For more information log on to http://www.infosys.com/jp

About Infosys

Infosys partners with global enterprises to drive their innovation-led growth. That’s why Forbes ranked Infosys 19th among the top 100 most innovative companies. As a leading provider of next-generation consulting, technology, and outsourcing solutions, Infosys helps clients in more than 30 countries realize their goals. Visit http://www.infosys.com and see how Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY), with its 150,000+ people, is Building Tomorrow’s Enterprise® today.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and on Form 6-K for the quarters ended December 31, 2011,June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012.These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company.

The Coming Wave of 4G Innovation From Asia

SINGAPORE /PRNewswire/ — Many analysts are referring to the 21st century as the Asian Century, with the region predicted to become the dominant shaper of global politics, culture and economics.

This certainly applies to the latest wave of innovation in the telecommunications sector, as mobile operators roll out ultrafast 4G services – think 100MB/second – under the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network standard.

“Asia already accounts for about 50 percent of the world’s 41 million LTE customers,” says Mar Pages, Principal at Delta Partners. “This is expected to grow tenfold to 400 million by 2017 and still constitute half of the global total.”

“Consumers are fuelling this need for speed as they upgrade to smartphones and tablets in growing numbers to access bandwidth-intensive multimedia content and become part of the ‘always on’ society,” adds James Ong, Manager.

Delta Partners, the leading advisory and investment firm specialising in telecommunications, media and technology (TMT), today releases a series of articles on LTE that assess the impact on mobile operators in the short to medium term.

The series consists of the following four papers:

Voice over LTE (VoLTE): Telcos face a conundrum. Operators upgrading to LTE are moving towards an all-IP network, which, next to ultra-fast broadband access, means transmitting voice calls as data packages (o la Skype), raising questions about the optimal timing for VoLTE deployment.
Pricing and products in an LTE world: As more operators in developed markets roll out LTE, correctly implemented economics are key to success. This paper offers guidance on optimal pricing in the context of different market environments.
Korea awakening: South Korea has emerged as the leader in LTE, overtaking Japan. Is this lead sustainable? We discuss the impetus behind its emergence and the lessons to be learned.
Samsung’s entry into the equipment race: Samsung Electronics has decided to enter the LTE equipment race, making substantial bets and setting ambitious targets. How likely are they to succeed?
“It is an exciting time to be in the eye of the storm,” says Amit Arora, Manager. “We expect Asia to drive much of the innovation in 4G, and the aim of this series is to examine and understand the key drivers and success factors.”

To download the full articles, please visit

http://www.deltapartnersgroup.com/our_insights/articles

Karen Cordeiro
Group Marketing Coordinator
M: +971-56-681-5864
E: kc@deltapartnersgroup.com

World Cocoa Foundation Announces Selection of Seven International Scientists for Cocoa Research Fellowship in United States

Fellowship Recipients Include First-Ever from Vietnam
ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ivoire /PRNewswire/ — The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has announced the selection of seven cocoa research scientists from five countries for fellowships through the WCF/U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program Global Cocoa Initiative. The scientists, representing research institutions in Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, the Philippines and Vietnam, will complete a 2-3 month fellowship in the United States beginning in early 2013. The presence of a Vietnamese cocoa research scientist is unprecedented in the five-year history of the program.
In making the announcement in the commercial capital of the world’s leading cocoa producing country, WCF President Bill Guyton said, “The Cocoa Borlaug Fellowship Program helps ensure a new generation of cocoa scientists is well trained and connected with their peers in research institutions around the world. The efforts of these scientists will help address a range of challenges in the cocoa sector, improve cocoa production, and in turn, support increased incomes for farmers and their communities.”
“WCF has been an invaluable private-sector partner in USDA’s efforts to foster sustainable farming practices and strengthen communities in cocoa-producing countries around the world,” said Patricia Sheikh, deputy administrator, Office of Capacity Building and Development at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. “We are pleased to welcome this new class of cocoa research fellows, and with WCF’s continued support we will broaden our impact by offering training and mentoring opportunities to leading members of the scientific community in cocoa-producing countries.”
Research to be conducted during the fellowships will focus on factors known to affect cocoa production, including swollen shoot virus; black pod; shade management/intercropping; insect pests; and the effects of farming practices on pollinators. During the program, scientists acquire skills and knowledge that can be shared broadly upon their return home. In turn, mentors, identified by the program and who work with the individual scientists during their stays in the United States, travel to the scientists’ home countries to broaden the program’s impact.
The World Cocoa Foundation is the leading non-profit organization in cocoa sustainability worldwide and represents more than 80 percent of the global cocoa market. For more information, visit http://www.worldcocoa.org.
About the World Cocoa Foundation: The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is an international membership foundation that promotes a sustainable cocoa economy by providing cocoa farmers with the tools they need to grow more and better cocoa, market it successfully, and make greater profits. WCF’s membership includes cocoa and chocolate manufacturers, processors, supply chain managers, and other companies worldwide, representing more than 80 percent of the global cocoa market.
Source: World Cocoa Foundation

DHL Announces Investment of Euro 50 million to Strengthen Its Supply Chain Business in Thailand

– New facilities and new transport fleet to be launched
– Additional 2,000 jobs to be created by 2015

BANGKOK, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — DHL Supply Chain, the global market leader for contract logistics solutions, today announced an investment of Euro 50 million to further strengthen its market-leading position in Thailand. Over the next two and a half years, the company plans to build new facilities, expand its fleet of trucks, invest in new technology, intensify its training and talent development programs and create an additional 2,000 jobs.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/09/02/20100902467742-l.jpg )

Paul Graham, DHL Supply Chain CEO for Asia Pacific, said, “Thailand is one of the fastest growing markets for our business with our footprint growing 30 percent in the last year. We want to be ready to grow with our customers as they expand within the market.”

“To achieve this, we are launching several projects in 2013, including an Automotive campus on the eastern seaboard to leverage our automotive operations, a new warehouse facility at Bangna to support our retail sector, an expansion of our truck fleet and a new transport management system to create greater efficiencies in our distribution capabilities. We will also create 2,000 new positions on top of our existing headcount of 9,500 to support these enhancements to our in-country network,” added Oscar De Bok, CEO South and South East Asia.

New facilities in 2013

“DHL Supply Chain will launch its second (Note 1) Automotive campus in 2013 to help customers meet the new demands of the Thai automotive industry. Thailand is now the world’s top tenth in terms of auto production as a result of a full recovery of the industry from last year’s floods and the production increases by both assemblers and parts-makers. Demand has also been generated by the First Car Buyer Program (Note 2),” added Kevin Burrell, DHL Supply Chain’s new Managing Director for Thailand.

Next year DHL Supply Chain will also launch a new facility at Bangna to support its continual growth in the retail, fashion, and consumer sectors. The new facility consolidates the company’s key strategic accounts, offering customers an optimized operating environment and greater efficiencies in the face of growing business demands. The facility will also be retrofitted with energy efficient specifications to achieve DHL’s GoGreen (Note 3) aspirations, as well as stringent security features.

Mr. Burrell continued, “According to recent reports, The Thai Retailers Association (TRA) expects the retail industry to grow by 12 percent this year, the highest in three years and exceeding its earlier projection of 8 percent (Note 4). We are also expecting healthy retail growth, and the new facility will help us innovate and develop better and more efficient supply chain processes. Our customer’s pain points are our pain points. We constantly invest in new processes or technologies to help customers run their businesses more efficiently in an ever increasing competitive environment.”

“DHL Supply Chain’s retail operations boast world class automation and warehouse management systems, making them amongst the most productive and efficient facilities in our Asia Pacific business,” added Mr. De Bok. “We have been able to leverage the retail expertise we have developed here in Thailand in other markets by replicating the best practises from our key retail sites.”

Investments in transportation

In showing its dedication to the country’s retail sector growth, DHL Supply Chain will expand its transportation fleet. The fleet, which currently consists of over 1,000 vehicles, is capable of averaging more than 1,200 trips per day and covering over 11 million kilometers every month. Over the next few years, the company will continue to invest in its fleet and increase subcontractor partnerships to support growth in this dynamic sector.

Investments in this area also include the training of drivers. Before taking to the road, all new drivers undergo an intensive training program that covers classroom and yard exercises, simulation activities and on the road driving practice. These on-the-road skills are constantly refreshed. All drivers graduate from the DHL Supply Chain Thailand Transport Driver Training School located at a distribution center in Bang Yai.

People development

Apart from the investment into its business operations, DHL Supply Chain Thailand is fully committed to continuing its people development initiatives. Thailand has pioneered a School of Excellence where world-class employee training programs covering major areas of its operations (Note 5) are developed for the whole Asia Pacific business.

Said Mr. Burrell, “We take considerable pride in training and career development opportunities for our staff. In Thailand, 4,000 employees have been trained in our Operations Simulations centers, and over 200 of our managers have completed our Executive Development Program run here in Bangkok in conjunction with Kasetsart University.”

DHL Supply Chain will also invest further in creating value added supply chain services, specifically in the area of crisis management. Most recently, with experience gained from the floods in Thailand, and the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes, the School of Excellence has developed a program on “Business Continuity Management and Disaster Response”.

DHL Supply Chain first began operations in Thailand in 1995. Today, it has a market leading position in the retail and consumer sector and is growing fast in the life sciences, automotive and technology sectors.

Notes:

1. DHL Supply Chain already has key automotive facilities in Rayong.
2. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Thailand-set-for-record-auto-production-30190808.html
3. DPDHL has three Corporate Responsibility programs – GoGreen (protecting the environment), GoHelp (delivering help after natural disasters) and GoTeach (championing education).
4. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/304134/retailers-tout-rosy-12-growth-forecast
5. Warehouse, transport, and safety

– End –

DHL – The Logistics company for the world

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees’ worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of 53 billion euros in 2011.

SOURCE﹛DHL

Emirates Airlines Soars With New Windows 8 Business Application and HP Tablet Experience

In-flight application running on touch-enabled HP ElitePad 900 tablets allows airline pursers and crew to provide exceptional service to customers.
REDMOND, Wash. /PRNewswire/ — Emirates, one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world, announced today at the Windows 8 launch event in Dubai the development of a line-of-business application for Windows 8 called Knowledge Driven Inflight Service (KIS). An in-flight communication and customer relationship management device first introduced by Emirates for its pursers in 2004, the KIS application will now run on the soon-to-be-launched HP ElitePad 900 business tablets and will enable Emirates to continue to deliver extraordinary customer service and experiences.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
“At Emirates, we strive to deliver the world’s best in-flight experience,” said Kevin Griffiths, senior vice president, Cabin Crew at Emirates. “We constantly invest in the best aircraft, products and service. To support our crew, we have created an application on Windows 8 that delivers a unique, personalized experience with the necessary information for our cabin crew to better serve the needs of customers. The Windows 8 platform running on HP ElitePad 900 devices gave us this option, allowing us to create the KIS app that enables our crew to offer an experience not available on other airlines.”
Pursers on the flight use the KIS application to brief the cabin crew before every flight and understand how to best meet the personal preferences and needs of passengers. The crew can also use the application to easily conduct in-flight upgrades to business class or first class for Emirates Skywards members, as well as customer feedback that is immediately routed to headquarters upon landing.
As the first global customer of the HP ElitePad 900, Emirates is creating a new KIS tablet that is light, attractive and has a long battery life, ideal for nonstop flights. The device, announced by HP in October and available to customers in January 2013, is built specifically for business users, offering Windows 8 optimization and a beautiful lightweight design. Combined with Windows 8’s touch-optimized user interface, which quickly shows the most important information via Live Tiles, the crew can spend more time interacting with customers in a unique and efficient way.
When deployment across its fleet is complete, Emirates will have 1,000 HP ElitePad 900 devices running the KIS application on Windows 8. More information on the KIS application running on Windows 8 is available at the Microsoft Showcase.
Emirates operates more than 2,500 flights per week to 126 destinations in 74 countries across six continents. The award-winning airline operates the largest fleet of A380s with 27, and the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777s.
More information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available on the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Source: Microsoft Corp.

An Open Letter to President Obama and President Thein Sein in Support of Peace, Reconciliation and Development in Myanmar

OTTAWA /PRNewswire/ — On the eve of a meeting between United States President Barack Obama and Myanmar President U Thein Sein, five women Nobel Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative sent an open letter urging the heads of state to commit to bringing an end to the escalating and systematic violence in Rakhine State. This would include full access for humanitarian aid into affected areas and the creation of a reconciliation process led by local community leaders.
Full copy of the open letter follows:
November 18, 2012
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 USA
President U Thein Sein
Office of the President
Naypyidaw
Myanmar
In Support of Peace, Reconciliation and Development in Myanmar
Dear President Obama,
Dear President Thein Sein,
As you meet together in Myanmar this week, we are writing to urge your firm commitment to bring an end to the escalating and systematic violence in Rakhine State. We are deeply saddened by reports of the recent deaths of 170 people, and the displacement up to 110,000 people from their homes. We also encourage an end to the restrictions on humanitarian assistance, preventing survivors of the violence – including women and children – from getting much-needed medical help, food and shelter.
As peace leaders, we are following the conflicts in Kachin and Rakhine States with great concern. Our fellow Laureate and member of Myanmar’s parliament Aung San Suu Kyi has recently called the ongoing violence “a huge international tragedy.” This letter is an urgent call to prioritize in your discussions an end to the violence in both states and the protection of and the delivery of aid to vulnerable populations.
We cannot support the rationale of using violence to end violence. We hold the belief that violence that will not alleviate the suffering of Myanmar’s people. The passive acceptance of the marginalization and discrimination of a minority group, thinking it will lead to peace, is flawed logic. It must not be catered to by national or international lack of political will. Furthermore, these violent conflicts, if not resolved, will continue to delay much needed reforms in economic development and may spread unrest and violence to other areas and destabilize the region.
Your priorities should include the creation of a fully inclusive reconciliation process in Rakhine State and the resumption of meaningful peace talks with the leaders of Kachin State. Women are an important part of such efforts and should be fully represented and meaningfully engaged in both processes. Additionally, lasting peace will require national and international commitments to ending the statelessness of the Rohingya people, with development efforts that improve livelihoods and education for all the people of Myanmar.
We appreciate the recent positive steps for democratic reform in Myanmar. However, to truly succeed, essential work is needed to ensure the genuine inclusion of all political, ethnic, and religious groups in the country’s future development. The inability to govern a diverse people without oppression or violence will threaten development, peace and stability within Myanmar. It is our conviction, that the people of Myanmar have an opportunity to demonstrate the best qualities of a multi-ethnic nation with acceptance and protection of all religions and ethnicities. This is indeed possible and in alignment with your national interests.
Therefore we call for:
Full access for humanitarian aid into affected areas.
The creation of a reconciliation process led by local community and religious elders.
And ultimately, your personal commitment to bring an end to the escalating and systematic violence in Rakhine State.
The government of Myanmar has the daunting task of preventing unresolved grievances from exploding into country-wide and regional violent conflict. We stand with you and the people of Myanmar to work towards advancing human freedom and supporting democratic and economic development so that all within the country and the region can thrive.
Respectfully,
Jody Williams
Nobel Peace Laureate, 1997
Leymah Gbowee
Nobel Peace Laureate, 2011
Mairead Maguire
Nobel Peace Laureate, 1976
Rigoberta Menchu Tum
Nobel Peace Laureate, 1992
Shirin Ebadi
Nobel Peace Laureate, 2003
About The Nobel Women’s Initiative
The Nobel Women’s Initiative is an organization comprised of six women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates: Mairead Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee & Tawakkol Karman. Nobel Women’s Initiative was created with the vision of helping strengthen work being done in support of women’s rights around the world. The Nobel Women’s Initiative uses the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize and of courageous women peace laureates to magnify the power and visibility of women working in countries around the world for peace, justice and equality. Visit our website at http://nobelwomensinitiative.org
CONTACT:
Rachel Vincent
Manager, Media & Communications
Mobile: +1.613.276.9030
rvincent@nobelwomensintiative.org
Source: Nobel Women’s Initiative

UBM Asia Continues to Expand its Leading Position in Malaysia with the Acquisition of Greenbuild Asia

HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — UBM announces that it has acquired 65% equity share in Eco Exhibitions Sdn Bhd which owns Greenbuild Asia to develop the fair and to accelerate UBM’s ASEAN strategies in Southeast Asia and its leading position in Malaysia.
Greenbuild Asia is Southeast Asia’s biggest event for sustainable building, design and construction. In February 2012, the exhibition in Kuala Lumpur welcomed over 12,000 trade buyers and 98 exhibiting companies from across the region. In 2013, the exhibition will be held from 17 – 19 September and will move to a larger exhibition venue at the Putra World Trade Centre to accommodate the increasing demand for space. Andrew Siow, founder and owner of Greenbuild Asia, will remain as a partner and also Managing Director of the company.
UBM Asia has been actively expanding its business in Malaysia these two years. It acquired in 2011 from AMB Exhibitions Sdn Bhd its trade exhibitions related to water, livestock, energy, and mechanical/electrical industries in Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Of these, the two largest shows are AsiaWater and ASEAN M&E Expo, both in Kuala Lumpur.
UBM acquired the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF), Malaysia’s largest exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur and the largest furniture exhibition in Southeast Asia this February. With this acquisition, UBM Asia became the largest exhibition organiser in Malaysia. UBM Asia has since then launched IFSEC Southeast Asia, Rail Asia Exhibition & Conference and EcoBuild Southeast Asia in Malaysia; CPhI South East Asia and Concrete Show South East Asia in Indonesia; Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair in Singapore; and SATTE Indonesia in Bali as part of its ASEAN development.
Showcasing the full range of properties, services, materials, equipment and construction technology dedicated to sustainable buildings, Greenbuild Asia also creates strong synergies with UBM’s Ecobuild brand. Held at London’s ExCeL, Ecobuild is the world’s leading event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. The 2012 event in March brought together more than 57,000 industry professionals who explored the products, services and innovations from over 1,500 exhibitors. This established brand has also been geo-adapted to Asia, in India and China.
Jime Essink, President & Chief Executive Officer of UBM Asia said:
“Southeast Asia is a very important market to UBM and to our customers. Together with our offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, UBM Asia provides a unique and extensive network across the ASEAN. We currently have 30 exhibitions in this region for a wide range of sectors to facilitate our customers in exploring the ASEAN markets which will become one big market in 2015. We look forward to having the tremendous contribution from Andrew and his team to further develop the successful Greenbuild Asia.”
Notes to Editors
1. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.
2. About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)
UBM plc is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

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For press enquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Law, Director of Corporate Marketing & Communications, UBM Asia
Tel: +852 2516 1691
Fax: +852 3749 7342
Email: Jennifer.Law@ubm.com
Source: UBM Asia