Archive for September 30th, 2016
Experts Gathered at CSR Asia Summit 2016
-To encourage Innovative Sustainability Leadership
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — CSR Asia Summit 2016, the annual thought-inspiring conference on corporate social responsibility in Asia, returned to Hong Kong on 28th and 29th September at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong with a focus on bold and effective sustainability leadership.
Gathering over 70 influential speakers and 480 VIPs and guests, the Summit successfully created a forum for representatives from businesses, government, academic organisations and the community to share and connect. The event took existing sustainability dialogue to a new level, and involved discussion on innovative Shared Value practices in Asia Pacific. Key advocates and attendees included H&M, Hermès EOS, Huawei, Kering Asia Pacific, MTR Corporation, Sime Darby Berhad, The Coca-Cola Company and VISA.
The Summit also announced the top performing companies in the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking. The Ranking provides investors and consumers with insights into corporate sustainability practices, and sets a benchmark for business performance against other regional businesses. The top 3 companies in the Ranking for 2016 are:
1st Wipro Ltd, India
2nd City Developments Limited, Singapore
3rd Lite-On Technology Corp., Taiwan
A breakdown of the top 100 companies by country/region reveals; Japan (33), Taiwan (20), India (16) and South Korea (13). Regulatory oversight of corporate sustainability disclosures is the likely reason for companies in these countries to take leading positions. Companies in the technology sector captured the largest proportion of positions (38 of 100) in the Ranking.
CSR Asia Summit 2016: Innovative sustainability leadership on shared value creation
The 4 main themes, “Strategic Value Creation”, “Business Leadership for Sustainable Development “, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “Make it Happen”, were covered over the 2-day summit. Under the stream “Strategic Value Creation” business leaders and professionals explored how to lead society to co-create shared value through sustainable business strategies in order to address global complex challenges and develop corporate social innovation.
Dr Richard Welford, Chairman and Founder of CSR Asia said, “Bold and effective leadership – from business, government and individuals – is required to drive the sustainability agenda forward in Asia Pacific. Our decision to host the CSR Asia Summit once again in Hong Kong, reflects our view that the city is an ideal hub for advancing this agenda.”
“In order to grow awareness and create initiatives which nurture sustainability leaders, we also need to shape the future landscape across the region. Factors which will play a crucial role in this include intensive training on shared value creation, organisational culture cultivation, innovation roadmap development, community investment measurements and identifying opportunities for corporate social responsibility.”
The region remains optimistic towards its rapid economic growth and the resulting opportunities, enabling an integration of social needs into business planning and processes. In the long run, more and more companies will allocate sufficient resources to sustainability business reporting and talent retention, hoping to identify risks and opportunities and transforming them into continuous business profits and social benefits.
For more information on CSR Asia Summit 2016, visit
http://www.csr-asia.com/summit2016/index.html
For more information on The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking, visit http://sustainability-ranking.channelnewsasia.com/
For more information on CSR Asia, visit http://www.csr-asia.com/
Follow CSR Asia on Twitter: @CSR_Asia
Follow CSR Asia on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/482974
About CSR Asia Summit
CSR Asia Summit is an annual leading conference on corporate social responsibility in Asia. Since 2007, CSR Asia has brought together hundreds of sustainability professionals and thought leaders to discuss cutting edge issues and share their experiences.
The two-day event combines a packed programme of speakers and panel discussions covering a wide range of relevant topics, and also provides excellent networking opportunities. CSR Asia also runs an additional day of optional capacity building courses prior to the Summit.
The CSR Asia Summit is attended and supported by many leading global companies, NGOs and academia. In addition, the event is held at a different location in Asia each year to provide local companies and organisations with a platform to build awareness of the challenges and opportunities specific to their country.
About the Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking
The ranking, now in its third year, is a joint initiative between Channel NewsAsia, CSR Asia and Sustainalytics, and identifies and celebrates regional leaders in corporate sustainability. The ranking lists the Top 100 sustainable companies in Asia and highlights the Top 20 Asian companies, as well as the Top 3 companies in each economy. Territories covered in the 2016 ranking include mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The 2016 rankings were launched at the annual CSR Asia Summit on 28th September 2016 at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ruder Finn Asia
Jennifer CHOW
T. +852 2201 6433
E. chowj@ruderfinnasia.com
Ruder Finn Asia
Charlene WAN
T. +852 2201 6438
E. wanc@ruderfinnasia.com
Source: CSR Asia
INEOS Styrolution Equips the New Viomi Super Filter Kettle
— Viomi Appliance Technology selects INEOS Styrolution Luran® 368R (SAN) for its high impact resistance and its suitability for food contact
— Specialty styrenics as material of choice for design, durability and cost-effectiveness
/PRNewswire/ — INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, has been selected by Viomi Appliance Technology as the thermoplastic supplier for its new Viomi super filter kettle, L1 (UV germicidal Edition), which will be launched in October 2016. Viomi Appliance Technology, the business unit of Xiaomi’s Ecological Chain Enterprise specializing in filtered water solutions for household, had identified INEOS Styrolution’s Luran 368R as the material of choice for the clear and transparent wall of its new filter kettle. This grade offers high mechanical strength, brilliant color and is compliant with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU) food contact regulations.
Viomi super filter kettle, L1 (UV germicidal Edition) (image courtesy of Viomi Appliance Technology, 2016)
Viomi super filter kettle, L1 (UV germicidal Edition) (image courtesy of Viomi Appliance Technology, 2016)
Key points:
Material of choice for processing, design and safety: The Luran product line from INEOS Styrolution provides outstanding surface quality, excellent transparency and food contact compliance, enabling the creation of products that are aesthetically pleasant, durable and safe for daily household use. Luran 368R also exhibits practical toughness and superior processability for demanding injection molding and extrusion applications. These properties fulfill Viomi’s requirements in terms of food contact safety, aesthetics and functionality.
A versatile and cost effective solution: A trusted material with excellent property retention, INEOS Styrolution’s various Luran grades are currently used in various household applications such as water filters, mixers and blenders, cosmetics jars and coffee machine water containers.
Quote:
Sven Riechers, Vice President, Specialties Business Management, Asia Pacific, INEOS Styrolution: “Viomi is a growing innovative and global brand within the household industry. We are very proud that Viomi has chosen INEOS Styrolution for their new filter kettle application and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
About INEOS Styrolution
INEOS Styrolution is the leading, global styrenics supplier with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 85 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering the best possible solution, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, toys/sports/leisure, and packaging. In 2015, sales were at 5 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,100 people and operates 15 production sites in nine countries.
More information: http://www.ineos-styrolution.com
Contact
Hui Boon Kwa
Communications Manager Asia Pacific
INEOS Styrolution APAC Pte Ltd
111 Somerset Road
#08-01/02 TripleOne Somerset
Singapore 238164
Phone: +65-69338373
Email: huiboon.kwa@styrolution.com
Internet: http://www.ineos-styrolution.com
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160927/8521606123
Source: INEOS Styrolution APAC Pte Ltd
Related Links:
http://www.ineos-styrolution.com
World’s Oldest Auction House Presents Important Kandinsky
/PRNewswire/ –Swedish auction house, Stockholms Auktionsverk is delighted to have been commissioned to handle one of the most important sales in its 342-year history – the IngaBritt & Arne Lundberg Collection. “The collection features an extraordinary bouquet of artworks by some of the most important names in twentieth-century art history” says Niclas Forsman, CEO of Stockholms Auktionsverk.
Arne Lundberg – Managing Director of Fortia, the parent company of pharmaceutical company Pharmacia, and his wife IngaBritt are perhaps best known for their work through the IngaBritt & Arne Lundberg research foundation. With almost a billion Swedish kronor in equity, this foundation is devoted to promoting medical science research, primarily in the fields of cancer, kidney disease and orthopaedics.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7933251-worlds-oldest-auction-house-kandinsky
What few people know, however, is that the Lundbergs shared a great passion for and interest in art. After a good deal of research, Stockholms Auktionsverk has determined that the Lundbergs were autodidacts in the area of art collection. The conclusion is thus that working purely on feeling, they made a series of inspired purchases from galleries and art dealers during their regular journeys through Europe. Their art collection features 19 significant works of the finest international calibre including Wassily Kandinsky, Yves Klein, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Victor Vasarely, Raoul Dufy, František Kupka and Jean Fautrier.
The absolute highlight, however, is without doubt Kreis u. Fleck by Wassily Kandinsky, one of the greatest, most trailblazing artists of the 1900s. The work stems from 1929 during the artist’s significant period as a leading member of the Bauhaus School in Weimar and Dessau (1922-1933). Kandinsky, who is considered to be one of the finest proponents of the abstract movement, developed the abstract approach in works including the book of art theory entitled Über das Geistige in der Kunst (Concerning the spiritual aspect of art), in which he combines various facets of spiritualism with strict formalism.
The painting was previously owned by the influential Sidney Janis Gallery in New York, and it has been exhibited in a range of museums and galleries around the world, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Kunsthalle in Bern, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Galerie Beyler and Galerie Möller in Basel, and Marlborough Fine Art in London.
Viewing selected works, London 6 October – New York 13 October. Evening sale in Stockholm, 15 November 7 pm CET.
Contact: Nina Juhl, +46-733-40-67-84, nina.juhl@auktionsverket.se
Note to Editors:
A picture/s accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160928/412721 )
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7933251-worlds-oldest-auction-house-kandinsky
Source: Stockholms Auktionsverk
SWIFT Examines Application of Financial Business Standards to Distributed Ledger Technology and Smart Contracts
-New paper highlights opportunity for financial industry to coordinate efforts using common messaging and data standards
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — SWIFT announces today the availability of a new paper investigating the application of business standards to distributed ledger technology (DLT) and smart contracts (SC). The paper examines the need for the financial industry to find agreement on the format of shared data, business processes, roles and responsibilities so that these new technologies can be used to efficiently address complex problems in financial services.
Both DLTs and SCs are currently generating a huge amount of interest amongst financial institutions and technology providers with their promise to transform automation within the financial services industry. To enable application on an industrial scale, however, a level of standardisation is required. Market participants will need to work together to define and agree on the meaning and format of the data deployed on DLT platforms, outline formalised business processes, and clarify legal implications.
The paper examines the role of standards from two distinct angles: the necessary preconditions for standardisation of DLT/SC, and the possibility of repurposing some of today’s existing standards. The following questions are addressed:
What are the necessary preconditions for standardisation of DLT/SC and are these met?
What would be the characteristics of standards in the DLT/SC world?
What can be learned from previous industry standardisation initiatives?
What can be reused today from existing standards?
What are the benefits of reusing existing standards?
“The promise of DLT is the synchronisation of financial data between multiple organisations, whilst smart contracts can further provide self-executing efficiencies on the ledger,” says Stephen Lindsay, Head of Standards, SWIFT. “This paper addresses some integral questions about how DLT/SC automation can run smoothly in a multi-party network environment and highlights the importance of avoiding ‘reinventing the wheel’ when it comes to business definitions that facilitate interoperability. The paper recognises that full-scale standardisation of DLT/SC use cases is premature; however, SWIFT stands ready to work with the community to conduct further studies into the reuse of existing business standards in order to better facilitate the efficient workings of DLT/SC technologies for the financial industry as a whole.”
In order to avoid the fragmentation of global standards, SWIFT sees the potential of DLT/SC as a clear opportunity for the financial community to coordinate efforts over common messaging and data standards. Recent global standards, such as ISO 20022 (financial messaging) and ISO 17442 (Legal Entity Identifier), enable the creation of robust, interoperable processes between multiple parties by reducing the ambiguity of specifications and fostering efficient reuse of knowledge, skills and technology. SWIFT, as a key contributor to financial business standards for over 40 years, including ISO 20022, is ready to offer its experience to support this important effort in order to meet the needs of the financial industry for security, resilience and scalability.
For more information about SWIFT’s position on DLTs or to download a copy of the paper, please click here.
About SWIFT
SWIFT is a global member-owned cooperative and the world’s leading provider of secure financial messaging services.
We provide our community with a platform for messaging and standards for communicating, and we offer products and services to facilitate access and integration, identification, analysis and financial crime compliance.
Our messaging platform, products and services connect more than 11,000 banking and securities organisations, market infrastructures and corporate customers in more than 200 countries and territories, enabling them to communicate securely and exchange standardised financial messages in a reliable way.
As their trusted provider, we facilitate global and local financial flows, support trade and commerce all around the world; we relentlessly pursue operational excellence and continually seek ways to lower costs, reduce risks and eliminate operational inefficiencies.
Headquartered in Belgium, SWIFT’s international governance and oversight reinforces the neutral, global character of its cooperative structure. SWIFT’s global office network ensures an active presence in all the major financial centres.
For more information, visit http://www.swift.com or follow us on Twitter: @swiftcommunity and LinkedIn: SWIFT.
Contacts:
Cognito
swift@cognitomedia.com
+44 (0)20 7426 9400
Logo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160127/8521600559Logo
Source: S.W.I.F.T.SCRL
Related Links:
http://www.swift.com
Sino Group Presents the Inaugural Gold Coast Motor Festival
-Hong Kong’s Premier Motor Celebration
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — Sino Group is delighted to present the inaugural Gold Coast Motor Festival, which will be held during the National Day Golden Weekend (1-2 October 2016), and is a new mega event that adds to Hong Kong’s attraction and positively contributes to Hong Kong’s tourism. Hong Kong’s premier motor celebration was kick started at an opening ceremony held today graced by The Hon Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Other officiating guests include Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Ms Cathy Chu, JP, Commissioner for Tourism; Mr Lawrence K K Yu, BBS, MBE, JP, President of the Hong Kong Automobile Association and Vice Patron of The Community Chest of Hong Kong as well as Mr Daryl Ng, JP, Executive Director of Sino Group.
Gold Coast Motor Festival was kick started today graced by The Hon Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Ms Cathy Chu, JP, Commissioner for Tourism; Mr Lawrence K K Yu, BBS, MBE, JP, President of the Hong Kong Automobile Association and Vice Patron of The Community Chest of Hong Kong as well as Mr Daryl Ng, JP, Executive Director of Sino Group.
Gold Coast Motor Festival was kick started today graced by The Hon Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Ms Cathy Chu, JP, Commissioner for Tourism; Mr Lawrence K K Yu, BBS, MBE, JP, President of the Hong Kong Automobile Association and Vice Patron of The Community Chest of Hong Kong as well as Mr Daryl Ng, JP, Executive Director of Sino Group.
“We are delighted to present the inaugural Gold Coast Motor Festival. It has been thoughtfully curated to enable the public to enjoy some of the most coveted dream cars, learn more about the latest in motor trends and innovations while enjoying a weekend with families and friends in the scenic Hong Kong Gold Coast precinct through the diverse two-day programme,” remarks Mr Robert Kaiwai, General Manager of Hong Kong Gold Coast.
The picturesque waterfront precinct has been transformed into various dynamic lifestyle and entertainment zones, each with a different motoring experience, in partnership with leading car brands including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Pagani, Porsche, Volkswagen and more that will be opened for the public to enjoy the excitement of the festival.
Over 60 exquisite world-class classic and collector cars sourced from private collectors will be on display. The dazzling line-up includes La Ferrari, Porsche 918, Pagani Huayra BC, McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, Ferrari Daytona, Nissan R34 Z Tune, providing motoring aficionados with a rare and unmissable opportunity. The motor festival is also generously supported by the Aston Martin Owners Club, which will present over 17 prized Aston Martin collector cars dating from the 1950s to the present day.
The Gold Coast Motor Festival pays tribute to classic craftsmanship as well as technological innovation of the modern day. A panel of judges led by Chief Judge, Mr Joseph Fung, a veteran motor enthusiast, will select the crème de la crème among these rare gems for the following awards: Best Competition Hero, Best Collector’s Classic, Best American Muscle, Best Alternative Speedster, Best Dream Super Car, Best Collector’s Porsche, Best Collector’s Aston Martin and Best of Show Winner.
The diverse programme features a series of motor seminars hosted by motorsports figures, designers and automotive leaders, such as Prof C C Chan, widely known as the ‘Father of Asian Electric Vehicles’, Mr Darryl O’Young, Mr Lawrence Yu and Mr Douglas Young, to name a few, to inspire and empower the next generation of car enthusiasts with information and know-how while encouraging innovation.
There are also entertainment zones and activities for families to spend an action-packed weekend, ranging from live music performances to pro-racing simulator experiences, test driving zones by Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen, retail lifestyle zone and a UBS x MakerBay Electric Vehicle Lab.
Gold Coast Motor Festival is delighted to partner with renowned Japanese model car brand, Tomica, on a kids’ workshop and creative display in the Tomica Wonderland, where parents and children can together explore the motor fantasy world. Children will also be fascinated by the exhilarating ride by the waterfront on the special Gold Coast children’s mini train ride, Hong Kong’s first outdoor electric train designed for children.
To encourage sustainable development, a zone has been designated for an open-source vehicle display. UBS has partnered with social enterprise MakerBay and its team of primarily student designers and engineers at its Electric Vehicle Lab (EV Lab) to build a concept electric car.
In addition to showcasing some of the most sought-after collector cars, Gold Coast Motor Festival is raising funds for The Community Chest of Hong Kong, the Official Charity Partner. Donation boxes will be placed around the precinct, and a raffle draw with prizes amounting to over HK$350,000 will give every festival-goer a chance to win fabulous prizes. Proceeds from all sales of tickets will also be pledged to The Community Chest of Hong Kong with no deduction of administration costs.
“The timing could not have been more golden with Hong Kong welcoming more international and national tourists in the National Day Golden Week. Gold Coast Motor Festival is a new mega event for Hong Kong people and tourists to enjoy; we have put together a rich programme to give our visitors an unforgettable experience. There are seminars for motor aficionados to learn more about cars; there are entertainment and activities for families to spend a weekend here. It is a fun-filled festival for all, there is something for everyone. It is great for the motor industry, great for tourism, great for Hong Kong,” concludes Mr Kaiwai.
Exquisite world-class classic and collector cars will be on display at Gold Coast Motor Festival.
For more information, please visit the official website: http://www.goldcoastmotorfestival.com or follow us on Facebook @goldcoastmotorfestival
View the trailer of Gold Coast Motor Festival online: https://youtu.be/WUqIEiGd8WI.
Please download high-resolution images of cars from this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c1uvk8oohry4r5x/AABs_dyLf2zUMU0OiSJPsnRva?dl=0
Special thanks to Gold Coast Motor Festival sponsors: Ping An Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited, UBS, Izzue, Avis, Telford International, Bremont and Wilson Fine Foods Limited.
Gold Coast Motor Festival 2016
Date:
1-2 October 2016 (Saturday and Sunday)
Opening Hours
1 October 2016: 10am to 9pm
2 October 2016: 10am to 7pm
Ticket Price:
Standard Ticket – HK$100
Concession Ticket – HK$60 (for holder aged under 12 or over 65)
(**includes complimentary shuttle service and one complimentary drink)
Ticketing
http://www.goldcoastmotorfestival.com/tickets
http://www.hkticketing.com/events/TMGOLDC1016
Shoppers may redeem a Gold Coast Motor Festival 20% discount voucher from 11 participating Sino Malls upon spending HK$300 or more. Travellers may enjoy Gold Coast Motor Festival Room Package from The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers and Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel. Package prices range from HK$1,850 to HK$1,988.
About Sino Group
Sino Group is one of the leading property developers in Hong Kong with core business in developing residential, office, industrial and retail properties for sale and investment. The Group is also a major player in hotel investment and management, club management, property management, car park operations as well as environmental and security services. With a 10,000-strong team of dedicated professionals, Sino Group strives to consistently deliver quality properties and services that surpass the expectations of customers.
A committed corporate citizen, Sino Group has been actively participating in community services and green activities as well as art and culture events over the years. The Group focuses corporate social responsibility efforts on four areas: Sino Care, Sino Green, Sino Art and Sino Heritage. Sino Land Company Limited (083) has been a constituent member of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series since September 2012 for its continual efforts in promoting sustainability.
About Hong Kong Gold Coast
Hong Kong Gold Coast is an accessible yet idyllic retreat merely 30 minutes’ drive from the hustles and bustles of the city. Situated by a beautiful marina and Golden Beach, Hong Kong Gold Coast spans hectares of lush greenery and landscape that offers a relaxing leisure lifestyle, attracting international and local holiday-goers as well as friendly neighbourhood communities attracted to the outdoors, sun and sand. Gold Coast Hotel features over 450 spacious rooms with family-friendly facilities, including eight kid-themed rooms, as well as amenities for large-scale events, celebrations and corporate retreats. The marina is home to the city’s mega yachts and Golden Beach is one of Hong Kong’s longest beaches at half a kilometre in length.
Comprising over 2,000 residences with a well-equipped clubhouse and Hong Kong’s largest free-form pool, the resort and conference hotel by the coast, the yacht club with its beautiful marina, and outdoor shopping piazza with alfresco dining offerings, Hong Kong Gold Coast is an all-in-one integrated waterfront precinct that offers a medley of outdoor and indoor enjoyments.
Source: Sino Group
Related Links:
http://www.sino.com
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