Archive for March 19th, 2015
Victorian Connection Event Links Alumni and Businesses in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar, March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — More than 25 alumni from various institutions of higher learning in Victoria, Australia, together with business owners from Myanmar and Melbourne, attended the Victorian Connection event recently to network and stay connected.
Organised by the Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO), the Victorian Connection program in Myanmar aims to foster new trade and business ties between the State of Victoria and Myanmar.
“I am pleased to have met alumni members from various academic institutions in Victoria here in Myanmar. Melbourne continues to be the preferred destination for higher education for the people of Myanmar. Having lived and received high-quality education in Victoria, these alumni play a critical role in strengthening Victoria’s relationship with Myanmar,” said Celia Yeo, Acting Executive Director of Victoria State Government of Australia.
Yeo reiterated that, “There is tremendous potential for bilateral trade and investment between Myanmar and Victoria because of the links established through the alumni’s experience in Victoria — and we want to tap into these opportunities.”
Currently, there are 250 students from Myanmar who are pursuing their tertiary studies at Victoria’s world class universities, Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutes.
Mr Philip Htoo Htoo Aung Lin, Deakin University alumnus, spoke fondly of his experience in Melbourne, “I felt totally at home and I was touched by the warm Victorian hospitality during my stay in Melbourne. Melbourne has given me an opportunity to widen my view of the world and of course a good solid education.” Mr Htoo is currently the Sales Director for a distributor of TATA vehicles.
VIP guests at this Victorian Connection event included the Australian Ambassador Designate His Excellency Nicholas Coppel, Mr Ross Bray, Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade and Professor Helen Bartlett Provex President Monash University Malaysia.
About Victorian Connection — Myanmar Chapter
The Victorian Connection is a networking group that connects professional Victorian expatriates, repatriates, alumni and those interested in doing business with Victoria, Australian’s who live outside of Australia, as well as Victorians in Australia who are interested in export or trade.
For more information or register for the Myanmar chapter of the Victorian Connection, please contact Ms YiLin Koo of the Victorian Government Business Office at Tel: 03-20551508 or YiLin.Koo@ecodev.vic.gov.au
About the Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO)
Established in 2009, the Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO) is operated by the State Government of Victoria to help promote Victorian trade and investment in the South East Asia region. Through a variety of programmes and business initiatives, the VGBO assists Victorian exporters and provides assistance to South East Asian regional companies and organisations to source products and services, business introductions and investment opportunities with Victoria. For information, please visit http://www.invest.vic.gov.au
Source: Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO)
Prestigious Associations in the Philippines to Fully Support the Staging of Water Philippines 2015
MANILA, Philippines, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — In less than a week, the third edition of the Water Philippines 2015 Expo & Forum will return to Pasay City from 25 – 27 March 2015 at SMX Convention Center in the Philippines. This event is set to showcase a wide range of services, technologies, systems, purification processes and equipment for the Integrated Water and Wastewater Industry by over 300 exhibitors from 28 countries. It offers every opportunity for government and business organisations to develop a deep understanding of the industry and further progress in their business development.
Major water and wastewater companies to gather at Water Philippines 2015
Major water and wastewater companies to gather at Water Philippines 2015
Water Philippines 2015 is honoured to receive considerable support from prestigious associations such as the Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA), the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers (PSSE) as well as the Philippines Society of United Master Plumbers (PSUMP). These associations will be adding their voice and expertise to the development of the water and wastewater industry in the Philippines. With these collaborations and contributions, Water Philippines 2015 is confident that the objectives for the show are achievable.
The National President of the Philippines Society of Sanitary Engineers (PSSE), Mr. Engr. Bonifacio B. Magtibay emphasised the importance of Water Philippines 2015 in his recent statement:
“It is important to promote and stimulate the industry of water and sanitation while allowing professionals to undertake research in sanitary and environmental engineering. We would like to encourage all industry players to build networks and yield take-away messages which are applicable in relevant areas at Water Philippines 2015. In this context, PSSE is pleased to support the staging of Water Philippines 2015, as it without a doubt, is and will continue to be an invaluable platform for all trade visitors as well as exhibitors.”
PSSE has placed their support specifically for one of the highlights of Water Philippines 2015 and also the latest feature, “Pipes and Tubings.”
The President of Philippine Society of United Master Plumbers, Inc (PSUMP), Engr. Armando R. Diaz further highlighted the benefits of Water Philippines 2015:
“The Philippine Society of United Master Plumbers, Inc (PSUMP) takes great pride in continuously developing and enhancing our expertise for the purpose of ensuring the safety of all infrastructure facilities and securing the highest efficiency and quality especially in the field of plumbing works. Therefore, it is commendable that Water Philippines 2015 is able to bring hundreds of exhibitors from across the world, together with their state-of-art equipment and expertise. All registered Master Plumbers throughout the country stand to benefit from this gathering in terms of exposure to advanced technologies.”
PSSE and PSUMP will also contribute to some of the 28 Technical Seminar sessions that will be held during Water Philippines 2015 covering insightful topics and various aspects of water by renowned keynote speakers from across the globe specialising in this field.
In conjunction with Water Philippines 2015, the Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) will co-organise a Water Philippines 2015 Conference with the theme of ‘Securing, Shaping and Greening our Water Future Through Innovation.’ The Asia Pacific International Water Association (United Kingdom), Department of Health and World Health Organisation (Philippines), Nobel Systems, Inc. and Clean Water Technology, Inc. (USA), Toray Chemicals Korea, Inc. (Korea), ITAC (Germany), AECOM (Singapore) are among the renowned speakers.
Water Philippines 2015 will definitely attract the most influential market leaders and features a complete overview of what the water and wastewater industry in the Philippine is all about and this year, it is expected to receive over 7000 trade industry professionals. This is the place where you can meet the world’s top companies in the industry such as Maynilad Water, CNP Pump, Tsurumi Pump, Ebara, Festo Inc, Yokogawa, ABB, DHI, Pedrollo, LEO Pump, Boerger, Caprari, VA Tech, Burkert, Atlas Copco, HOMA, Seepek, Pentair, Endress + Hauser, Promark Process, Weida and Andritz and many more. The event will also showcase nine international pavilions including Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Korea, mainland China, Malaysia, the United States, Thailand as well as the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
Visitors can register free admission online. For more information, please log on to http://www.waterphilippinesexpo.com.
Kindly contact Ms. Airin Rushdi at +603-2176-8788 / email: airin.rushdi@ubm.com or Mr. Michael Blancas at +632-886-0348 / email: michael.blancas@ubm.com for further enquiries.
UBM is also the organiser of the globally renowned Asia Water & Wastewater Industry Show Series across ASEAN countries – AsiaWater, VietWater, Thai Water and MyanmarWater.
Notes to Editors:
1. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 30 offices and over 1,400 staff.
With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 21 market sectors with 160 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions, 75 high-level professional conferences, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock vertical portals and virtual event services for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.
UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world’s fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen, where we organise more than 70 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 50 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country.
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 via online and print providing them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional communities from doctors to game developers, journalists to jewellery traders, farmers to pharmacists. Our 6,500 staff members in more than 40 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150317/8521501681
Logo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150317/8521501681LOGO
Logo – http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/04/19/20100419602891.jpg
Source: UBM Asia (Malaysia)
Fi Asia 2015 Holds Successful Journalist Program
BANGKOK, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — UBM, the organisers of Fi Asia, recently held a successful journalist program to encourage media coverage, and inspire more overseas exhibitors and visitors to attend Fi Asia 2015 (9-11 September, BITEC Bangkok, Thailand) and position Fi Asia as the ASEAN business platform for food and beverage ingredients.
Guests from Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Federation of Thai Industries Chiang Mai Chapter, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), UBM and journalists took photos together on Networking Reception night
Guests from Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Federation of Thai Industries Chiang Mai Chapter, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), UBM and journalists took photos together on Networking Reception night
Journalists learnt more about food and beverage processing
Journalists learnt more about food and beverage processing
“We worked on the principal that journalists will be more motivated to provide detailed and extensive media coverage if they have actually visited our incredible country and experienced some of our leading F&B companies and their products first-hand,” said Rungphech Chitanuwat, Business Director, UBM Asia (Thailand) Co Ltd.
With TCEB’s support, 16 journalists from relevant media from seven Asian countries visited four leading food companies in Chiang Mai, showcasing innovative and high quality products which primarily use the abundance of raw materials sourced from northern Thailand.
Sun Sweet Co., Ltd – a global sweet corn industry leader, with its internationally-recognised flagship ‘KC’ brand. Producing more than 100,000 tonnes annually, all products are processed within 24 hours of harvesting to keep their freshness.
Bee Products Co., Ltd – offers a range of products in addition to honey, including bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis. Recognising that a key factor to their success is R&D, they cooperated with Chiang Mai University to investigate the properties of honey made from the famous longan flower to create uniqueness and add value to its products.
Premium Foods Co., Ltd – “making quality is our priority” is not just a motto, but a philosophy, and this was evident throughout the company’s impressive operations in the production of a range of food ingredients, frozen and ready-to-eat foods.
Chiang Mai Fresh Milk Co., Ltd – processing 160 tonnes of milk each day, with just over half of production going to the school milk program, providing 100% pure cow’s milk, an important source of calcium and protein.
While the businesses visited were very diverse in their product ranges, there was a constant recipe for their successes to ensure high quality products, and readiness for the coming ASEAN Economic Community including;
strict quality control, certified by reputable, internationally recognised organisations, including halal certification for many products
encouraging and educating approved farm vendors
being environmentally-conscious, minimising waste and ensuring sustainability
on-going product development that is responsive to customer’s needs
A Press Conference in cooperation with Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Federation of Thai Industries Chiang Mai Chapter and TCEB encouraged local food and beverage manufacturers to visit Fi Asia 2015.
A dinner then allowed industry leaders to informally network with the journalists to further promote Thailand’s strengths and resources for the F&B market.
The program also included a visit to the Halal Science Centre, Chulalongkorn University, which is widely recognised as a pioneer in halal research and innovation. Thailand is known as a world leader in halal quality and compliance.
The program concluded with a meet the press luncheon with the Presidents of the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), the National Food Institute (NFI) and Rama Production Co., Ltd. This gave the journalists a better understanding of developments and trends in the Thai and ASEAN F&B industries.
The journalists agreed that their personal experience of the F&B industry in northern Thailand will help them better understand why Thailand is the ‘kitchen to the world’, and to positively profile and support our food manufacturing industries in their local media.
About The Show
Your gateway to the entire Southeast Asian food & beverage industry
Fi Asia 2015 is the must-attend business platform for food and beverage professionals. Grow your business network with an expected 650+ leading local, regional and international ingredient suppliers, all under one roof.
In its 19th edition, Fi Asia continues to break records for exhibitor and visitor attendance. Annual growth of about 25% for the last four years confirms its status as Asia’s flagship F&B industry event. The perfect moment to launch an additional product, Fi Asia 2015 will also feature health ingredients, strengthening Fi Asia 2015 & Hi as the leading ASEAN food ingredients exhibition.
Learn the latest industry trends and innovations with the Fi Asia 2015 & Hi conference and seminar programmes!
The educational program will feature the highlight “Health Ingredient and Functional Ingredients” symposium. An international conference supported by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand will focus on halal ingredients and food safety. Leading food and beverage exhibitors will also be presenting their latest products, technologies and developments.
About The Organiser
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 30 offices and over 1,400 staff.
With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 21 market sectors with 160 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions, 75 high-level professional conferences, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock vertical portals and virtual event services for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.
UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world’s fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise more than 70 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 60 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country.
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150316/8521501637-a
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150316/8521501637-b
Logo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20140829/8521404895LOGO
Logo – http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/04/19/20100419602891.jpg
Source: UBM Asia (Thailand)
UMCity Medini Lakeside Partners with Samsung, Ascott, Shama, OZO, MBO and Regus
— UMCity strengthens its position as the premier development in Medini and Iskandar via tie-ups with international and established brands
— Ascott to open award-winning Citadines Apart’hotel serviced residences in UMCity
— Samsung S-1 Security Solutions Korea to provide comprehensive security solutions for UMCity
— Shama Medini will be the first Shama property in Malaysia and the second Shama upscale serviced apartments outside of Hong Kong and Shanghai
— OZO Hotels to operate OZO Medini in UMCity for the smart savvy travellers on the go
— MBO Cinemas to bring the latest technology in entertainment to UMCity Lakeside Shopping Centre
— Regus to set up its international brand of serviced offices at the UMCity Corporate Office Tower
— Total GDV of UMCity is RM1 billion, UMLand has previously signed documents with Samsung C&T and Samsung Malaysia Electronics
NUSAJAYA, Malaysia, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand)’s premier mixed development in Medini Iskandar, UMCity Medini Lakeside today welcomed five (5) new established partners (representing 6 brands) who will bring a new level of quality services to Iskandar Malaysia.
UMCity Medini Lakeside Partners with International Brands
UMCity Medini Lakeside Partners with International Brands
Signing Ceremony of UMLand (UMCity Medini Lakeside) with Onyx Hospitalit
Signing Ceremony of UMLand (UMCity Medini Lakeside) with Onyx Hospitalit
Datuk Chia Lui Meng, UMLand Group CEO interacting with the media
Datuk Chia Lui Meng, UMLand Group CEO interacting with the media
This is a significant milestone for UMLand in positioning itself to become the lifestyle developer and to provide luxury and quality products in all their projects. The RM1 billion Gross Development Value (GDV) UMCity is uniquely located next to a lake, offering an exclusive enclave for business and living.
These new strategic alliances are with The Ascott Limited, ONYX Hospitality Group, Samsung S-1 Security Solutions Korea, MCAT Box Office and Regus.
UMCity Medini Lakeside will be enhanced with award-winning serviced residences by The Ascott Limited, the largest international serviced residence owner-operator globally and in Malaysia. Ascott is set to provide both residents and visitors to the Iskandar development with contemporary vibrant living at Citadines Medini Nusajaya, the first Citadines Apart’hotel in Nusajaya. The Ascott has over 26,000 operating serviced residence units in over 200 properties worldwide.
The Ascott Limited’s Chief Investment Officer, Gerald Yong said, “There is significant potential for serviced residences in Iskandar, which is primed to be a key economic growth region in Malaysia as more multinational companies set up base in the area. We are delighted to partner with UMLand again to bring our award-winning Citadines brand of serviced residences to UMCity. Ascott was the first international serviced residence owner and operator in Nusajaya, a major new growth centre of Iskandar, where we recently opened Somerset Puteri Harbour Nusajaya and will be opening Somerset Medini Nusajaya later this year. Somerset Puteri Harbour Nusajaya is our first collaboration with UMLand in Nusajaya and it has been performing well since it opened last month.”
Comfort, style and luxury at UMCity will come in the form of Shama Medini, the first Shama property in Malaysia. The Shama Medini lifestyle serviced apartments, which will have a lakeside view, is the 11th property under the Shama brand, which has presence in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Shama Medini in UMCity will provide an unparalleled level of lifestyle, luxury and comfort for the discerning business travellers, residents and expatriates in a new city.
OZO Medini will offer stylish hotel accommodation designed to cater to the diverse needs of the business and leisure travellers. Practical yet stylish, OZO Medini is all about getting the important things right – the things that matter to travellers. OZO Medini is the second planned OZO property in Malaysia, after OZO Penang.
Both the Shama and OZO brands are managed and operated by the ONYX Hospitality Group, which is well known for its Amari brand of hotels in Thailand and the Middle East.
“We are pleased to bring the Shama and OZO brands to UMCity Medini Lakeside. The location and development master plan resonate with our core values and growth strategy. All Shama serviced apartments are located in neighbourhoods that brim with life and character. Likewise, OZO which provides quality services that matter and understand the lifestyle needs of its guests are always chic and located in prime locations. We found the perfect fit for both Shama and OZO in UMCity Medini Lakeside,” said Peter Henley, President & CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group.
Working and setting up office in UMCity Medini Lakeside is made easy with the Regus Serviced Offices, which will be located on the 16th floor of the UMCity Corporate Office Tower. The Regus Serviced Offices in UMCity will feature serviced business suites, conference facilities and full office operations and management services, bringing a brand of professional business space into Medini and Nusajaya. The world’s largest provider of ready offices that serve as flexible workspaces, Regus offers bespoke packages in over 120 countries.
In the entertainment area, MCAT Box Office will set up an MBO Cinema, which will boast the latest technology in cinema entertainment at UMCity Medini Lakeside. One of the largest cinema chains in Malaysia, MBO Cinemas has more than 24 cinemas and 176 fully digitalised screens. This fast growing brand will provide exciting entertainment for UMCity Medini Lakeside residents and visitors.
UMLand also extends its partnership with Samsung by collaborating with another Samsung subsidiary, Samsung S-1 Security Solutions Korea for its total security solutions for the UMCity Medini Lakeside project. Samsung S-1 is an international security services company with over 38 years of international experience.
UMLand had earlier in 2013 and 2014 entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement with Samsung Corporation C&T for joint construction works and Samsung Malaysia Electronics as an exclusive Smart Lifestyle Partner and official supplier for consumer electronic products in UMLand’s current and future developments.
UMLand Group CEO, Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng said, “UMCity Medini Lakeside is expected to redefine metropolitan living. UMCity is Phase One of UMLand’s Medini Lakeside master plan, which is situated at the gateway into Medini Iskandar and is strategically positioned to be the ideal enclave. This one of its kind waterfront commercial development is designed for vibrant community living and work. We are very excited that these international partners are bringing brands that are a class of its own, to help turn the concept of UMCity Medini Lakeside into reality.”
Upon completion in 2018, UMCity will have a premium corporate office tower, two (2) internationally-branded serviced residences, one hotel, a lakeside shopping centre and a wide range of business suites. UMCity will be the home of the renowned brands of Citadines, Shama, OZO, MBO and Regus, whilst Samsung is the comprehensive solutions provider. These full-fledged branded facilities set UMCity apart from other developments.
UMLand’s development in Medini reflects the high level of confidence in the efforts to position Medini as the preferred destination for investment. With continuous support from the Malaysian federal government as well as the state government together with the participation of prominent industry players, these collaborations will take UMCity and Medini to the next level. It will contribute towards investors worldwide recognising it as another positive milestone, thus encouraging them to explore investment opportunities in Medini and to be part of the development of Iskandar Malaysia.
About United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand)
UMLand operates two development divisions, namely the Township and Niche Divisions and a construction and building materials division called UM Land Builders Sdn Bhd. The Group has over 1,800 acres of undeveloped land in both Township and Niche Divisions.
The Township Division has four mixed township developments; Bandar Seri Alam, Taman Seri Austin and Taman Seri Albion are strategically located within Iskandar Malaysia, Johor whilst Bandar Seri Putra is situated in Selangor.
The Niche Division has to date completed four residential serviced residences and condominiums in Kuala Lumpur — Suasana Sentral Loft at KL Sentral, Suasana Bangsar in Bangsar, Seri Bukit Ceylon and Suasana Bukit Ceylon located in the city centre. The Division is now actively developing Suasana, Iskandar Malaysia in Johor Bahru city centre. Somerset Puteri Harbour and The Waves @ Puteri Harbour are some of the newest projects in Nusajaya while UMCity Medini Lakeside, a multi-phased mixed development in Medini, Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia.
Star Residences, upmarket service residences in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre is the latest addition of exclusive developments by UMLand.
UMLand operates numerous Sales Galleries in its townships of Bandar Seri Alam, Taman Seri Austin and Bandar Seri Putra and recently opened Sales Galleries for its niche development of UMCity Medini Lakeside and a new sales and service centre in Singapore.
For more information, please visit http://www.umland.com.my
Or contact:
Kairin Romeena
Group Corporate Communications
United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLAND)
Tel: 03-2036-8033
Fax: 03-2036-8014
pr@umland.com.my
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501686-a
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501686-b
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501686-c
Source: United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand)
DirectD Announces Soon-To-Be-Available, the New Revolutionary ChatSim, the World’s First SIM That Let Users Chat Anywhere and Without Limits. Even Without Wi-Fi or Roaming Expenses
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Extrovest Group, Malaysia’s major player in the mobile phone retailing industry, announced the formalising of a partnership with Zeromobiles.r.l., an Italian company for its new revolutionary product ChatSim. They combined to bring about the world’s first SIM card that enables users to chat for free, using global instant messaging worldwide without Wi-Fi or roaming expenses.
Photo 1
Photo 1
“Over 3 billion people are using instant messaging systems. We aim to connect them with a single SIM, wherever they are,” says Manuel Zanella, inventor of ChatSim.
Extrovest Group has signed an exclusive agreement with Zeromobiles.r.l. for ChatSim to be its sole distributor in Malaysia. DirectD Retail & Wholesale Sdn Bhd has been appointed as the official retail partner in Malaysia.
“Partnering with Zeromobiles.r.l. for ChatSim, we aim to bring connectivity at minimum cost and maximum convenience to the users,” said Esther Kwan, the Group CFO of Extrovest & DirectD.
About ChatSim, Extrovest & DirectD
Photo 2
Photo 2
ChatSim is Manuel Zanella’s stroke of genius. As the founder and CEO of Zeromobiles.r.l., he has created a revolutionary SIM card allowing users to be globally connected; thanks to agreement with most known worldwide telco operators to have a flat rate. ChatSim was designed to connect with the world’s most popular messaging system even without Wi-Fi – is the only SIM that let you chat 24 hours a day with all messaging systems around the world: Much more than the conventional SIM, ChatSim enables its users to exchange text messages and emoticons worldwide using famous instant messaging services such as WhatsApp, Line, Tango, Messenger, WeChat, QQ Chat, iMessenger, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Telegram, Snapchat, Hangout, Viper, Twitter, Chat on and others. With coverage in 150 countries and partnerships with over 400 mobile phone operators, ChatSim allows you to be truly connected with best coverage wherever you are.
“To achieve the maximum coverage and the best conditions, we have designed two SIMs: ChatSim and ChatSim Plus,” explains Zanella. “The two SIMs differ in coverage in some countries. In this way, users can choose the SIM that covers the countries they are interested in. The retail price of ChatSim will be announced soon by DirectD within the next few weeks.
Extrovest Group is a market leader in the mobile phone industries in Malaysia. Established in 1999, the group has developed a strong foot-hold in the retailing of mobile phones and related accessories. DirectD is the retail arm of Extrovest Group and currently operates 5 outlets in Subang Jaya. It has an extensive range of handset models with comprehensive after-sales services such as repair and maintenance. DirectD is a value-driven company, aim to bring the latest smartphones and tablets at the best price to customers.
DirectD will be opening the largest first of its kind, Gadget Mega Store in Malaysia with the concept of a ‘one-stop solution’. Along the Federal Highway and opened all-yearly from 9am to 10pm, DirectD Gadget Mega Store provides a one-stop solution for customers – mobile phones, gadgets and accessories, bill payments for Maxis, Digi, U Mobile, Celcom and YES, SIM card replacement, repair, trade-in, phone line registrations, the Internet packages’ registration, ChatSim and smartphones knowledge hub. Customers can now shop in the comfort of spacious show room and specialized counters for phone-specific enquiries and demonstration before making a purchasing decision.
Recently, DirectD was awarded the BrandLaureate SME’s Best Brands Award 2014 in Retails – Communication Devices by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation. In 2013 / 2014 DirectD was ranked top dealer/retailer for Asus, Huawei, Motorola, Oppo, HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, Lenovo, Sony. For further enquiry regarding ChatSim kindly email to enquiry@directd-asia.com.
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501694-a
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501694-b
Source: DirectD Retail & Wholesale Sdn Bhd
Darktrace Raises US$18m to Fund Global Expansion
SINGAPORE /PRNewswire/ — Darktrace, the leader in Enterprise Immune System technology, has raised US$18 million from investors including Invoke Capital, Talis Capital, Hoxton Ventures and private individuals, valuing the company at US$80 million. The company will continue its fast global growth and today announces its expansion into Asia Pacific.
Vasile Foca, co-founder of Talis Capital, commented: “Darktrace is an extremely dynamic company and an excellent addition to our digital portfolio. They have created a truly unique Cyber Security product and have already shown impressive sales traction. Indeed there are exciting times ahead and we very much look forward to working with the team.”
Darktrace, whose Enterprise Immune System technology protects companies from advanced cyber threats within their networks, has opened up operations in Asia Pacific. Sanjay Aurora, who has more than 25 years’ experience leading enterprise software firms, will oversee the expansion process in the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Aurora is joined by John Muser, formerly of IBM Security, heading up Australia and New Zealand, and Stanley Hsu, formerly of McAfee Intel, leading emerging markets in South East Asia.
“Darktrace is growing at a phenomenal rate. It has been barely a year since we deployed to our first customer and now we have deployments at 75 companies and relationships with 50 partners across America, UK, continentalEurope and the Middle East,” said Darktrace CEO Nicole Eagan. “Our headcount has tripled over the past year and expansion into Asia is a natural next step.”
Based on advanced machine learning and mathematics developed at the University of Cambridge, and with customers including BT, Virgin Trains and Drax, Darktrace is rapidly shifting the way cyber security is approached as the market transitions to a new model based on early-stage detection of cyber threats that bypass traditional controls.
Darktrace’s Asia Pacific Managing Director Sanjay Aurora commented: “Cyber security is a global challenge for organizations worldwide and is top-of-mind for Boards of Directors and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in Asia Pacific. Singapore is leading the way within the region and has recently announced the creation of a new ministerial position and central agency dedicated to cyber security so the timing for Darktrace in Asia Pacific is just right.”
About Darktrace
Darktrace is one of the world’s fastest-growing cyber threat defense companies and the leader in Enterprise Immune System technology. Darktrace detects previously unknown threats in real time using advanced machine learning and mathematics developed at the University of Cambridge to analyze the behavior of every device, user and network within an organization. Some of the world’s largest corporations rely on Darktrace’s self-learning appliance in sectors including energy and utilities, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and transportation. The company was founded in 2013 by leading machine learning specialists and government intelligence experts, and is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with offices in London,Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore and Washington D.C.
About Talis Capital
Talis Capital is a multi-family office based in London, specializing exclusively in direct Private Equity and Venture Capital deals and have completed over $300m of transactions since 2009. www.taliscapital.com
About Hoxton Ventures
Hoxton is a London-based early stage venture capital firm that invests in European startups able to scale into global winners. It focuses on companies that either disrupt existing industries or invent entirely new ones.www.hoxton.vc
Media contacts
Sng Su Min / Nicholas Tan
Edelman
+65–6494–1564 / +65–6494–1579
sumin.sng@edelman.com / nicholas.tan@edelman.com
SunEdison To Provide the People of Georgetown Texas with 150 Megawatts of Solar Power
— Georgetown Utility Systems Becomes 100% Renewable Powered
PRNewswire/ — SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world’s largest renewable energy development company, today announced that it will construct new solar plants in West Texas to supply the City of Georgetown with 150 megawatts of solar power for 25-years. The SunEdison solar plants will be interconnected in 2016, and will provide over 9,500 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to Georgetown through 2041, enough to power more than 24,000 homes a year for 25 years. Upon completion, SunEdison expects to offer this project for investment to TerraForm Power, Inc. (Nasdaq: TERP), a global owner and operator of clean energy power plants. This project will create close to 800 jobs in Texas during construction.
“SunEdison is very excited to be working with Georgetown Utility Systems to provide their customers with 100% renewable, clean energy,” said Paul Gaynor, Executive Vice President of North America Utility and Global Wind at SunEdison. “Georgetown is an exceptional city, and by going 100% renewable they will cut down on pollution, save water, and enjoy stable energy prices. They’re able to accomplish all of this without spending a penny up front with SunEdison’s power purchase agreement. Georgetown is a model for other cities that hope to become powered by clean renewable energy.”
“When Georgetown Utility Systems opted to seek new sources of power in 2012, we were charged with a mission to secure the most cost effective energy that balanced risk and reward,” says Jim Briggs, interim city manager for the City and general manager for utilities. “Georgetown Utility Services isn’t required to buy solar or other renewables – we did so because it will save on electricity costs and decrease our water usage. This power purchase agreement makes Georgetown Utility Systems one of the largest municipal utilities in the nation to be 100% renewable powered. It also provides a hedge against future fuel and regulatory risks.”
The power purchase agreement is one of the largest solar agreements in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) jurisdiction, and represents the largest utility scale solar agreement that SunEdison has signed in Texas to date. SunEdison will construct the project and provide financing. Operation and maintenance of the solar power plants will be performed by SunEdison Services, which provides global 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services.
About SunEdison
SunEdison is the world’s largest renewable energy development company and is transforming the way energy is generated, distributed, and owned around the globe. The company manufactures solar technology and develops, finances, installs, owns and operates wind and solar power plants, delivering predictably priced electricity to its residential, commercial, government and utility customers. SunEdison is one of the world’s largest renewable energy asset managers and provides asset management, operations and maintenance, monitoring and reporting services for its renewable energy customers around the world. Corporate headquarters are in the United States, with additional offices around the world. SunEdison’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SUNE.” To learn more visit http://www.sunedison.com.
About TerraForm
TerraForm is a renewable energy leader that is changing how energy is generated, distributed and owned. TerraForm creates value for its investors by owning and operating clean energy power plants. For more information about TerraForm, please visit: http://www.terraform.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, SunEdison solar plants will be interconnected in 2016, and will provide over 9,500 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to Georgetown through 2041, enough to power more than 24,000 homes a year for 25 years; upon completion, SunEdison expects to offer this project for investment to TerraForm; this project will create close to 800 jobs in Texas during construction. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include changes in applicable regulatory requirements and incentives for production of solar power; and general business and economic conditions, including seasonality of the industry, and other risks described in SunEdison’s and TerraForm’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent SunEdison’s and TerraForm’s judgment as of the date of this press release. SunEdison and TerraForm disclaim, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Source: SunEdison, Inc.
Related stocks: NASDAQ-NMS:TERP NYSE:SUNE
Related Links:
http://www.sunedison.com
Globe Telecom Sets Global Trend for Internet Adoption thru Free Facebook Campaigns
MANILA, Philippines /PRNewswire/ — Globe Telecom set a global trend to promote internet adoption through the Free Facebook campaigns it has implemented over the past two years, in support of the objective of internet.org, a Facebook-led initiative to provide data connectivity to two-thirds of the global population.
Globe President & CEO ErnestCu joins leaders around the world during a dinner hosted by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Kneeling from left to right: Mario Zanotti, Senior EVP, Latin America, Millicom; Augie Fabela II, Vimpelcom; Javier Olivan, VP of Growth and Analytics, Facebook; Ernest Cu, CEO, Globe Telecom; Daniel Hajj Aboumrad, CEO, Telcel; Jon Fredrik Baksaas, CEO, Telenor; Dan Rose, VP for Partnerships, Facebook; Chris Daniels, VP of Business Development, Facebook.
Following Globe Telecom’s successful Free Facebook campaign, which encouraged internet adoption among Filipinos, other telco providers are following the initiative of promoting and increasing data connectivity among mobile customers.
Globe generated a data customer growth of 110% over the telco’s two Free Facebook campaigns, indicative that the campaign has been an effective tool in enhancing internet adoption in the country, Daniel Horan, Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Group, said.
“Our partnership with Facebook enabled more Filipinos to gain internet connectivity, in line with the vision of internet.org to allow more and more people to have free access to internet services. Globe Telecom is extremely honored to be a pioneering force in improving internet adoption, an example that is now being followed by other telcos locally and globally,” Horan said.
As corporate partnerships go, few are probably more relevant in our country today than the ongoing relationship between Facebook and Globe Telecom. Together, these two giants introduced the Philippines to “Free Facebook” back in 2013. As evidenced by a recent study, the campaign significantly changed the landscape of the mobile Internet space in the entire country, Horan said.
A recent whitepaper published by Globe and Facebook outlined how Globe’s efforts and massive investments to scale the necessary infrastructure for data usage (e.g., its massive 3G rollout), along with its drive to increase smartphone penetration, set the stage for a breakthrough in Internet penetration in the country. This breakthrough would come in the form of the “Free Facebook” campaign, which was launched in October 2013 for the first phase and again in October 2014 for the second phase.
The results of the campaign clearly demonstrate the long-term impact of the partnership. Over the first phase of the program, the number of data users on Globe’s network doubled, and Globe prepaid subscribers active on mobile data grew from 14% to 25%. The partnership also had an enduring effect that was sustained even after the campaign ended. After the first phase, Globe was able to continue acquiring twice the number of new mobile data users versus prior levels, even when access to Facebook was no longer free.
As a result, the Free Facebook campaign helped drive an increase of 6 million Filipinos actively using mobile internet during the period. For more details on the partnership and its impact, you can read the full whitepaper here: http://www.globe.com.ph/documents/50301/15939122/2015-03-05+FB+Globe+Whitepaper
“The partnership does not end there. Globe and Facebook will be launching new and exciting offers to make mobile internet further accessible via Internet.org, aiming to make more subscribers connected by providing a safe environment for browsing without incurring unexpected charges. More details to be released very soon,” Horan said.
To read the full white paper, click here: http://photos.prnasia.com/prnk/20150318/8521501721-b
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150318/8521501721-a
Two SunEdison and TerraForm Projects Awarded ‘Deal of the Year’ by Infrastructure Journal and Project Finance Magazine
PRNewswire/ — SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world’s largest renewable energy development company, announced today that two projects developed and financed by SunEdison and owned by TerraForm Power have been honored by IJGlobal (Infrastructure Journal and Project Finance Magazine) at their Americas Awards ceremony, which recognizes innovation in financing and infrastructure over the past year. The Regulus project, located in Kern County, California, was named “North American Renewables Deal of the Year”. The Javiera Solar project, located in the Atacama region of Chile, was named “Latin American Solar Deal of the Year”. SunEdison received the awards in recognition of their innovations in project finance as well as their ability to attract commercial investment to such high value projects.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150316/182208
Regulus, an 81.6 megawatt DC facility, is one of SunEdison and TerraForm’s largest utility scale solar power plants in California. Construction was funded with construction debt provided by Deutsche Bank Securities. Wilmington Trust acted as the administrative agent. The permanent debt was provided by Prudential Capital Group and Santander Bank N.A., and the tax equity provided by Google Inc. TerraForm Power (NASDAQ: TERP), a global owner and operator of clean energy power plants, owns the facility.
“Regulus was an extremely difficult and complicated project. It was the collective creativity of our capital partners that allowed us to consistently deliver solutions when problems arose. We are very proud of the communities and agencies that were involved in the project, as well as our development and construction teams who worked tirelessly to bring the project to life,” said Ryan Bennett, Vice President of project finance, North America at SunEdison.
The Javiera solar project, a 69.5 megawatt solar power plant in Chile, was funded through a $130 million USD non-recourse debt financing arrangement with CorpBanca and BBVA. The power plant will provide energy under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to Minera Los Pelambres, a subsidiary of Antofagasta Minerals, the largest private mining group in Chile and one of the largest copper producers in the world. The Javiera project represents the first time that a solar plant in Chile was financed exclusively by commercial banks. Javiera is on TerraForm Power’s call right list, giving TerraForm the option to acquire 60% of the project from SunEdison (40% of the interest is already held by an affiliate of the off-taker).
“This award recognizes our ability to innovate in project finance and to attract commercial banks to finance high value projects such as Javiera in Chile,” said Jose Perez, President of SunEdison EMEA and Latin America. “It is also the result of the strong alliance between SunEdison and TerraForm Power that facilitates access to better financing conditions, making us more competitive. We are glad that leading banks, such as CorpBanca and BBVA, invested in solar photovoltaic energy and we hope to expand this collaboration to new projects in the near future.”
Source: SunEdison, Inc.
RS Components Brings Industry-Leading NFC Technology from Panasonic to Wider Developer Community
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HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the global distributor for engineers, is making Near Field Communication (NFC) applications easier to design and more accessible by introducing the Panasonic NFC tag platform, which comprises a versatile set of NFC ICs and easy-to-use development tools.
The NFC chips simplify tag design by integrating RF, signal-conditioning and host interface circuitry, as well as non-volatile 4Kbit FeRAM memory, in a compact surface-mount package. The device connects directly to an external antenna, and supports RF, serial and tunnel communication modes to manage data exchanges between host, reader, and tag.
The development tools also now available from RS include a selection of NFC tag boards containing the IC, antenna and a host connector, as well as evaluation kits that comprise the NFC tag board and a generic microcontroller board. Using either approach helps relieve wireless-design challenges and allows engineers to quickly configure a prototype and begin testing their application using an NFC-enabled mobile handset or dedicated reader/writer. Embedded NFC tags designed using these tools allow innovative ways of communicating with smart posters, home appliances, wearable devices, or office equipment such as printers. NFC also simplifies pairing of Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices.
RS is currently stocking four types of NFC tag ICs. The MN63Y1210 IC is for NFC Forum Type-3 communication, and the MN63Y1208, MN63Y1212 and MN63Y1213 are capable of supporting Type-3/Type-4 communication. RF interfaces are compliant with JIS X 6319-4 (FeliCa) and ISO/IEC 14443 13.56MHz standards. The host interface can be a 38.4kbps UART or 1Mbps serial port when using the MN63Y1210. The MN63Y1208 and MN63Y1213 have an I2C host interface capable of supporting AES128-encrypted communication.
About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer around 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include semiconductors, interconnect, passives and electromechanical, automation and control, electrical, test and measurement, tools and consumables.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2014had revenues of GBP1.27bn.
For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.
About PAISEU
Panasonic Automotive and Industrial Systems Europe (PAISEU) is a company that provides unparalleled expertise to leading car manufacturers, industrial customers and OEMs. It researches, develops, manufactures and supplies key electronic components, devices and modules up to complete solutions across a broad range of industries; and provides production equipment which builds the manufacturing lines of global corporations.
Globally, Panasonic’s Automotive and Industrial Systems company is responsible for over one third of Panasonic’s overall revenue.
For further product information, please visit: http://eu.industrial.panasonic.com/
RS Components
Tan Soo Chun
Public Relations Manager – Asia Pacific
Email: soochun.tan@rs-components.com
Telephone: +65-6391-5745
Edelman Public Relations (Singapore)
Yvette Yeo
Manager
Email: yvette.yeo@edelman.com
Telephone: +65-6347-2355
Further information is available via these links:
@RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components
RS Components on Weibo
http://e.weibo.com/u/3206377000?type=0
Relevant Links:
Electrocomponents plc
www.electrocomponents.com
RS Components
www.rs-online.com/
DesignSpark
www.designspark.com
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