Australia, Thailand, Canada and Malaysia make up the rest of the top five markets. Japan is sixth most popular, followed by Singapore, the UK, New Zealand and France.

Of the ten most popular Asian-buyer markets, six are in the Asia Pacific. The US, Canada, the UK and France are the only top-ten nations not in the Asia Pacific.

Juwai IQI’s report identifies four drivers of Asian cross-border buying demand.

Interest rates have dropped to historic lows and monetary stimulus has helped drive prices upward in many markets. Buyers worry as a result that they will miss out on future price gains. They are eager to find opportunities to benefit from price growth.

Because of the pandemic, many Asian buyers have reevaluated their cross-border real estate priorities. This is similar to changes that have occurred within local markets.

Some Asian cross-border buyers are also driven by factors in their home markets that make investing there less appealing. In China, government real estate restrictions cause some buyers to look overseas. Other countries face insufficient inventory or weak confidence. There is a large number of buyers who postponed acquisitions during the pandemic and are eager to make up for lost time.

“In 2020, the pandemic scrambled existing patterns of investment, migration and overseas education,” said Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group Executive Chairman Georg Chmiel.

“All of these factors have a direct bearing on Asian cross-border real estate investment.”

The press release Six of Top 10 Markets for Asian Cross-Border Real Estate Buyers are in the Asia Pacific: Juwai IQI comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

This startling statistic comes from Juwai IQI’s new Q1 2021 residential real estate report, “Asian Investment in Australia.” The unprecedented report is sponsored by Kay & Burton, the leader in Melbourne’s premium real estate market.

China is not the only major Asian investor in Australia, however. Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan also lead in inbound investment. Thailand and Vietnam are prominent growth countries.

COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact, knocking Chinese real estate buyer enquiries back by some 19.2% in 2020.

Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group Executive Chairman Georg Chmiel said:

“What you can obtain by reading the ‘Asian Investment in Australia’ report is a clear overview of one of the world’s most significant channels of residential property investment. The report includes data on total investment by source country, investor preferences, the impact of COVID-19 and the post-pandemic outlook.”

“Asian Investment in Australia” also includes an exclusive interview with Jamie Mi, Partner & Head of International Division at Kay & Burton, the report’s sponsor. Mi explains why she expects inbound investment to rebound from the second half of 2021 and Significant Investor Visas seems to have accelerated.

Kay & Burton’s Mi said:

“Thee Asian communities overseas are watching Australia very closely. There are many positive reasons they like Australia, including education, the stable political environment, and how we are handling COVID-19 thus far.

“Next year, there will be plenty of buyers coming in and plenty of offshore wealth invested in Australia. It will be Asian buyers, and also buyers from the U.S. and U.K. and expats.”

The press release Asian Investment into Australian Dwellings Far Outpaces Investment into USA: New Report from Juwai IQI comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

For more information and to register, please go to: https://live.parksystems.com/nssa2020/

“NanoScientific Symposium Asia is a valuable opportunity for people doing scientific research using SPM who want a chance to hear from and network with experts in the field,” states Keibock Lee, Park Systems President. “We encourage all who are interested in Nano Metrology to attend and experience these insightful presentations.”

Scanning probe microscopy, including the AFM, is gaining popularity thanks to its powerful nanoscale imaging and measurement capability, versatility in applications from semiconductor, chemistry to life sciences and recent advances in the ease of use. This virtual event brings together a leading group of experts on a variety of topics and will be a great networking opportunity.

“The Nanotechnology World Association is proud to sponsor the NanoScientific Symposium Asia. It is a great opportunity to hear from academic and industrial experts from across the world, as they share their perspectives and insights on multiple topics relevant to all of us. We invite all professionals in our field to attend,” comments Marine Le Bouar, CEO, Nanotechnology World Association, sponsor of NanoScientific Symposiums.

Some of the presentations at NanoScientific Symposium Asia include:

Prof. Nam-Joon Cho | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Nanomechanical Mapping of Viral Protein Binding Interactions with Phosphoinositide Receptors and Pharmaceutical Drug Screening

Dr. Jae Sung Yun | University of New South Wales, Australia

Probing nanoscale defects in emerging photovoltaic materials using scanning probe microscopy

Dr. Tan Kim Song | Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysia

Studies of natural rubber (NR) based materials using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique.

Dr. Wang Junyong | National University Singapore, Singapore

Light-emitting diodes based on atomically thin semiconductors

Dr. Sang-Joon Cho | Park Systems, Korea

Optical Hybrid SPM technology Development

Dr. Murni Handayani | Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia

Two wired single molecular diodes based on porphyrin-imide dyads connected covalently between Single-walled carbon nanotubes as electrodes

Ilka Hermes (Principal Scientist) | Park Systems Europe, Germany

Stabilizing the piezoresponse via dual frequency resonance tracking

Dr. Persia Ada N. de Yro | Department of Science and Technology, Philippines

Nanomaterials charactization and nanotechnology research in DOST-ITDI

Dr. Jake Kim | Park Systems, Korea

A comparative study for surface potential mapping using KPFM

NanoScientific published quarterly since 2014 showcases advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology across a wide range of multi-disciplinary areas of research and has a global distribution of over 40,000 in North America, Europe and Asia. NanoScientific Symposiums in 2019 are also being held in New York, Italy, Korea, China & Mexico.

About Park Systems

Park Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of atomic force microscopy (AFM) systems with a complete range of products for researchers and industry engineers in the chemistry, materials, physics, life sciences, and semiconductor and data storage industries. Park’s products are used by more than a thousand institutions and corporations worldwide. Park’s AFM provides the highest data accuracy at nanoscale resolution, superior productivity, and the lowest operating cost, thanks to its unique technology and innovative engineering. Park Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with its global manufacturing and R&D headquarters in Korea. Park’s products are sold and supported worldwide with regional headquarters in the US, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, China and Mexico, and distribution partners throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Please visit http://www.parksystems.com or send an email to inquiry@parkssystems.com for more information.

The press release Park Systems Announces NanoScientific Symposium Asia Nov. 24-25, 2020 comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

UNITS offers commercial and residential customers best-in-class containers and a hassle-free method for moving or storing personal belongings. Currently, UNITS Storage and Service Centers reach over 500 cities throughout the United States.

“We’re incredibly excited to start growing internationally,” UNITS Moving and Portable Storage CEO Michael McAlhany said. “We have no doubt our business model and service offering will translate to success for franchisees across the globe. It is an extremely scalable model with a tremendous ROI that provides both B2B and B2C business opportunities.”

The moving and portable storage industry continues to grow and find success. Even during slower economic times, the need for moving and storage services remains strong. The flexibility of the UNITS Moving and Portable Storage model gives both consumers and businesses a local solution that works with their needs and provides a necessary service during these uncertain times.

As a result of their partnership with World Franchise Associates, there are now UNITS franchise opportunities available across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. International expansion markets are now available in the following countries and regions: Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, KSA, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Scandinavia.

UNITS’ ideal candidates can manage a small team and hold them accountable for the daily activities, with many of the responsibilities able to be handled remotely. UNITS is also looking for empire builders who are looking to grow their portfolio with a proven model of success. While UNITS is expanding internationally, there are key markets still available in major metropolitan areas across the U.S.

To learn more about franchise opportunities with UNITS Moving and Portable Storage, visit https://www.unitsfranchisegroup.com/.

ABOUT UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage

Established in 2003, UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage is an Inc. 5000-ranked franchise that was founded by Michael McAlhany during the emergence of the moving and portable storage industry. The company’s mission was to provide personal customer service and supply the most innovative and highest quality equipment. Nationwide UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage are locally-owned and operated and familiar with the communities they serve. UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage offers high-quality constructed containers featuring barn-style doors and all-steel construction. The UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage container is clean, weather-resistant, spacious, and available in 16-ft. lengths. The UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage robotic delivery system is the most technologically advanced in the industry, virtually eliminating any shift in contents when lifting containers on and off transport vehicles. The container may be placed in a UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage service center or at the customers’ desired location, always at ground level for easy access. The national network of UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage and Service Centers currently services over 500 cities in North America with additional locations scheduled to open in 2020 and 2021.

The press release UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Expands Internationally comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, November 8, 2020 /Xinwengao.com/ - The MediaIntel.Asia platform, which launched services last year as an offshoot of sister service ChinaPulse.com, has expanded its News Briefs to Southeast Asia. With MediaIntel.Asia’s slogan of “Be Smarter”, subscribers gain crucial intelligence for conducting business across Asia-Pacific.

News Briefs are daily executive briefings delivered by email to subscribers. Each MediaIntel.Asia News Brief contains top news and media insights in particular business sectors. This express service provides a curated list of Asia media intelligence across industries like technology, insurance, manufacturing, tourism, finance, and retail. After launching services for mainland China, MediaIntel.Asia now has opened three different industry sector News Briefs for Singapore covering technology, tourism, and finance.

“We have built the MediaIntel.Asia platform on top of two decades of experience in media intelligence and media monitoring,” says Paul Doyle, director at MediaIntel.Asia’s parent Asia Media Network. “Our ChinaPulse.com platform began 20 years ago, and the insights gained in sentiment analysis, artificial intelligence, data monitoring, and news syndication have created the backbone for the launch of MediaIntel.Asia’s expanded services across Asia. Be smarter with your own subscription!”

In addition to the daily News Briefs, subscribers can login anytime to the MediaIntel.Asia platform to view and search thousands of daily news articles from global media. And for each news article, MediaIntel.Asia has rolled out its new “News Timeline” feature. With the News Timeline, each and every news post on the platform can be traced to related news from around the globe. For example, if a news story is published in Indonesia about a Chinese tech company, the News Timeline links that story to one published 3 hours earlier in Malaysia. And that Malaysia article is then tied to an article published in Germany a day previously, which in turn is linked to a Hong Kong article published a few hours prior to that. So researchers can use the News Timeline to have a forensic analysis of the genesis and ongoing distribution of a news story, rumor, meme, or online posting.

MediaIntel.Asia also provides its data using its own taxonomies along with the Global Industry Classification Standard, Industry Classification Benchmark, Thomson Reuters Business Classification, and the IPTC NewsCodes. These various taxonomies provide researchers the power to drill down into necessary data easily and quickly.

MediaIntel.Asia is a service of Hong Kong-based Asia Media Network. MediaIntel.Asia now includes China and Singapore in its News Brief coverage, and the company will soon expand to Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia.

More information at https://www.mediaintel.asia

The press release MediaIntel.Asia Expands Media Intelligence News Brief Services To Southeast Asia comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

“The strategic acquisitions of recognised companies such as Sonar Platform and NAMA marks Dataxet’s progress in building its branded network of integrated data intelligence in Asia following the launch of Truescope Singapore,” said David Liu, CEO & Co-Founder of Dataxet. “Securing presence in key commercial markets across Asia is part of our plan to provide a truly ‘best-in-class’ data intelligence at scale while ensuring localised expertise and context.”

Amien Krisna, Founder and CEO of Sonar Platform, who will join Dataxet’s executive board after the acquisition shares, “I’m excited to join the Dataxet Group and look forward to the opportunities that the combination of our expertise will bring. Sonar Platform has a track record of delivering insights with the use of smart technology which we want to bring to the Dataxet network.”

Ooi Kiam Hong, CEO and Founder of NAMA adds, “I trust in the team’s vision of building a robust and next-generation data intelligence network – one that continuously focuses on product innovation, technology and talents to deliver smarter insights for clients.”

1. Sonar Platform, founded in 2015, boasts of two state-of-the-art intelligence modules:

i. Sonar Analytics – intelligence platform that combines social media, digital media, print media and marketplace data sources aimed at delivering mission critical insights and automated insight reports on demand. Using artificial intelligence, the application can automate the immense processing, analysis and reporting of billions of social and digital media to capture and analyse sentiment, trends and industry content.

ii. Sonar Influence – end-to-end social media influencer management platform covering influencer discovery, campaign management and intelligent reporting aimed at optimising branded influencer campaigns and maximising ROI.

iii. Crisis support, audience profiling, campaign reporting and bespoke audits are some examples of its strategic add-on services provided for its clients beyond these intelligence platforms. The company’s portfolio includes a range of well-known global brands across diverse sectors such as Microsoft, Grab, Huawei and AirAsia.

2. News and Ads Monitoring Agency (NAMA) was founded in 2006 and has grown to be the largest independent media monitoring company in Malaysia.

i. Provides a full range of traditional media monitoring service with comprehensive coverage across print, broadcast and radio.

ii. Amongst its services, the company also delivers customised media measurement and insights reports to several global and local brands from industries such as travel, financial services and telcos.

Jason Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Dataxet adds, “While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected parts of the economy, Dataxet is not slowing down and instead, looking forward to ensure that we stay ahead of what the market needs and be at the forefront of the industry in providing smart, accurate and actionable intelligence. Growing a diverse and creative pool of talents, starting with Amien, along with continuous product innovation and creative collaborations, will be our key priorities as we look to grow Asia’s ‘best-in-class’ media and data intelligence network and capabilities.”

-ends-

Media Contacts:
Teo Hui Shan
Huishan.teo@huntington.com.sg
+65 90052796

Jordon Simpson
Jordon.simpson@huntington.com.sg
+65 9630 4274

About Dataxet: Dataxet Pte Ltd is a leading integrated data intelligence holding company operating in Asia. Its branded networks provide best-in-class media monitoring services along with localised research and data analytics expertise to deliver accurate, applicable and actionable data insights. https://www.dataxet.net/

The press release Dataxet continues to expand its footprint across Asia with acquisition of Sonar Platform and NAMA comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, February 27, 2019 /Xinwengao.com/ - #8226;Acquisition is PAT and free cash accretive from day one
#8226;Marks Thomas Cook India Group’s entry into an adjacent sector, complementary to its travel travel related services portfolio

Thomas Cook India Group, the leading integrated travel services group, has announced its acquisition of a 51% stake in Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), one of the world’s leading imaging solutions and services providers at an enterprise value of US $40.6 Million (Rs 289 crores). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

The acquisition marks the Thomas Cook India Group’s entry into an adjacent sector, complementary to its travel travel related services portfolio and is both PAT and free cash accretive from day one.

Established in 2004, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging is a technology driven company with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, Orlando, and Kuala Lumpur. DEI focuses on imaging solutions for the attractions industry with a robust end-to-end turnkey model by providing equipment, software, talent and operational expertise consultation to its business partners.

With a strong network of over 120 partners, DEI is present at more than 250 venues spanning over 14 countries (Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, UAE, Macau SAR, China, USA, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, Maldives, Egypt, India and Kuwait), and has completed 3.6 million transactions in 2018.

Since 2012 DEI has tactically chosen Singapore as its regional headquarters in the Far East. This approach paid off resulting in DEI successfully securing the majority share of imaging partnerships in Singapore. The importance of this location was reinforced by the successful extension of their 10-year partnership with Wildlife Reserves Singapore and One Faber Group – operator of several attractions in Sentosa. DEI’s partnership with Marina Bay Sands was also renewed recently, strengthening their presence in Singapore.

Having a strong foot hold in South East Asia, DEI is aggressively expanding their presence into Greater China, including Hong Kong SAR. DEI’s proprietary imaging solution has enabled payment gateway localization for the local Chinese market expanding into AliPay and WeChat Pay. Their local hosting and content distribution is in compliance with local privacy policies, allowing guests to share their memories on Chinese social media channels like We Chat, Sina Weibo, QQ and Qzone. Based on current tourism trends, DEI is aggressively viewing the Far East as a pivotal region and a major contributor of revenue over the next 5 years. DEI intend to focus on rapid growth over the preceding years in this belt.

DEI’s partner attractions encompass waterparks, theme parks, aquariums, towers and resorts, including iconic attractions in Hong Kong (Ngong Ping 360), Singapore (Universal Studios Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Zoo), Macau (Macau Tower, The Venetian), the UAE (At The Top Burj Khalifa, Ski Dubai, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Warner Brothers, Ferrari World), Malaysia (PETRONAS Twin Towers, Resorts World Genting), China (Atlantis Sanya, Chimelong Safari Park), India (Ramoji Film City, Imagica, Wonderla Holidays Ltd.), Maldives (Taj Exotica, W Retreat Spa, Shangri-La Villingili), Mauritius (St. Regis Mauritius Resort, Shanti Maurice Resort Spa), Indonesia (Waterbom Bali, Bali Zoo, Trans Studio), Egypt (Ski Egypt, KidZania), Thailand (Ramayana Water Park, Vana Nava Water Jungle), USA (Hard Rock Caf#233; New York, Mango’s Tropical Caf#233; and Gaylord), to name a few.

In 2017, DEI launched KlassAkt, its school photography arm, and has already partnered with more than 90 schools across the UAE and India, including the prestigious GEMS group of schools in the UAE, the Oberoi International School, Jamnabai Narsee International School and Aditya Birla World Academy in Mumbai, India.

Madhavan Menon, Chairman and Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Our acquisition of DEI, a global imaging solutions and services giant, presents the Thomas Cook India Group an opportunity to participate in an exciting new business space, adjacent to our core travel services portfolio that is both PAT and free cash accretive from day one. DEI is an entrepreneurial success story with an impressive and proven track record of leadership, growth and profitability.”

He elaborated, “With several key markets in common, the addition of Ram and his team at DEI to our family, also presents new synergistic opportunities leveraging our travel services across 25 countries. We see an immediate opportunity for our outbound customers from India and Hong Kong, as well as our inbound and DMS customers across our global network. With the growing demand for experiential travel and social sharing, DEI’s partnerships with iconic attractions, theme parks, water parks and resorts will further enhance our travel services portfolio in line with our philosophy of creating long term shareholder value.”

K.S. Ramakrishnan, founder CEO and President of Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging said, “Our synergy with Thomas Cook India Group in the travel and tourism ecosystem strengthens DEI’s position in our existing markets whilst giving us immense reach to expand. DEI is leading the digital transformation of the guest photo journey through NFC, facial recognition and other state of the art proprietary technology enabling the guest to receive and share their memories in real time. We are proud to be part of a globally renowned travel and tourism leader, the Thomas Cook India Group. Innovation being key to DEI’s core entrepreneurial spirit with focus on long-term partnerships aligns us perfectly with the vision and ethos of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.”

The press release Thomas Cook India Group announces its acquisition of Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI) – one of the world’s leading imaging solutions and services providers comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, September 7, 2018 /Xinwengao.com/ - The thought leadership report titled “The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: Chinese Investment In ASEAN” offers a comprehensive review on managing risks and seizing opportunities along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“This is a timely report as China’s important Belt and Road Initiative was launched five years ago, and this report offers detailed analysis of the achievements and challenges this national initiative has encountered in this past five years,” says Nina Xiang, managing editor of China Money Network. 

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) turns five this year. With maturity, comes expectations, and, as with all global economic programs, expectations beget more expectations. In other words, the BRI is now entering a new phase and Southeast Asia will be front-and-center of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. 

While the BRI is considered a long-term objective, few can argue that the state-backed program will evolve into one of the defining geopolitical moves of our time. The numbers alone point to an unprecedented opportunity: two-thirds of the world’s population potentially touched; projections of US$4 trillion in investment forecast; and approximately 2,000-plus infrastructure projects on the cards.

Using all metrics, the size, scope and expectations of BRI are high. With geopolitical and economic tensions ripe globally, the world is watching and ASEAN will be one of the main theaters.  The role of the BRI within the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) provides a window into how China’s masterplan will evolve. 

Location-wise, many obstacles are removed in terms of logistics. Politically, the Chinese government has also signed numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and trade agreements with ASEAN markets, paving way for new BRI projects. 

ASEAN and China have long-standing commercial and cultural links, underscoring the implications of the BRI to the South East Asia bloc. Supply chains between the regional economies are firmly established, investment corridors continue to open and from China’s point of view, the ASEAN region has a strong track record as a testing ground for international expansion. 

Since the launch of the China-backed program, ASEAN has been a major recipient of outbound capital flow. Singapore alone accounted for around half of China’s total overseas direct investment in the BRI zone in 2015. Elsewhere, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia have appealed to Chinese investors and more outbound capital is already earmarked to arrive. 

Given this backdrop, the BRI has been welcomed in ASEAN, in the first phase at least.

The big question remains though, what happens next? More investment will be high on the agenda for both sides of the transaction. Identification of specific sectors for investment will also be a priority.  “The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: Chinese Investment In ASEAN” report abstract can be downloaded at chinamoneynetwork.com.

“This is a must-read for investors and business leaders to learn about the most updated developments for seizing opportunities and managing challenges in China’s signature globalization program. Join us on 13 September in Hangzhou, China as we unveil the most anticipated, comprehensive BRI report so far,” says Naveet McMahon, managing partner of China Money Network.

To register for the event in Hangzhou, please visit: https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/the-trillion-dollar-opportunity-chinese-investment-in-asean

About China Money Network:
China Money Network is a leading professional investment and technology data and media company. Founded in 2012 and based in Hong Kong, CMN hosts an AI-based bilingual platform that follows China’s smart investments and technology innovation every day. The professional team of China Money Network has more than 60 years of combined experience in professional media sectors, with members coming from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Haymarket Group and Acuris. Millions of professionals globally rely on CMN specialist news, analysis, research and data to take the business pulse of China by following daily/weekly trends, expert network events, exclusive company rankings, customized thought leadership research, and subscription-based digital services. Visit us at www.ChinaMoneyNetwork.com

The press release Hangzhou Event Unveils “The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: Chinese Investment In ASEAN” comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, February 8, 2018 /Xinwengao.com/ - New Rutronik employees can expect training sessions in Germany – but not too much German ‘seriousness’!

Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH (Rutronik) is a well established player in Asia’s electronics supply chain. The company now has a total of seven sales offices across the region – three on the Chinese mainland (Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chengdu), and one each in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. Hong Kong also serves as Rutronik’s Asian logistics center.

Rutronik now plans to expand its Asian presence, in terms of both infrastructure and staff. The enlarged facilities, which allow rapidly increasing teams to sit in, include new office room in Shanghai, with move-in at the end of January; as well as in Shenzhen, scheduled for no later than October 2018. In Singapore, a new office with legal entity will be opened within the first quarter. Then three additional offices are planned for the second half of 2018, in Tianjin, Malaysia, and India. An additional warehouse is to be built in Shanghai.

Between now and 2020 the distributor will also be recruiting new talent in the region at an annual rate of 20-50%. The following positions have now been approved and are eagerly recruited: a Customs Clearance Specialist for China business; a Supply Chain Manager; and a Quality Manager.

Optimizing the work environment

New employees at Rutronik will find they are treated well. Rutronik takes its social responsibilities very seriously and seeks to develop its employees’ skills and knowledge to the fullest. The company gives its staff every opportunity to undertake further training at Rutronik’s headquarters in Germany, where they can meet and talk with their German colleagues and exchange vital information about suppliers and markets. They also gain a deeper understanding of Rutronik’s corporate culture.

These training sessions are not all hard work. Visiting colleagues have the opportunity to visit places of interest and take part in local ‘special events.’ Rutronik employee Ted Tsai, from Taiwan, commented that, “The training was a very nice experience. The most memorable event was St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on 6 December. We had so much fun at this big party in the evening, tasting traditional German sausages and drinking mulled wine. This was a truly special event.”

As a responsible employer, Rutronik knows that its human resources are its most valuable resources!

Learn more about products and services from Rutronik at www.rutronik.com.

About Rutronik (www.rutronik.com)

Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH is the third largest distributor in Europe (European Distribution Report 2016) and the number ten worldwide (SourceToday, May 2017). The broadline distributor supplies semiconductors, passive and electromechanical components as well as boards, storage, displays wireless products. The company’s primary target markets are the automotive, medical, industrial, home appliance, energy and lighting industries. The ranges RUTRONIK EMBEDDED, RUTRONIK SMART, RUTRONIK POWER and RUTRONIK AUTOMOTIVE provide customers with specific products and services in groups tailored to the respective applications. Expert technical support for product development and design-in, individual logistics and supply chain management solutions as well as comprehensive services complete its scope of performance.

The company, founded by Helmut Rudel in 1973 in Ispringen, Germany, now has over 70 subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Rutronik employs more than 1,600 staff worldwide and achieved Group sales of 950 million euros in the fiscal year 2017.

The press release Rutronik aims for expansion in Asia, looks to hire on new talent comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, January 30, 2018 /Xinwengao.com/ - Ingenico Group, the global leader in seamless payment, and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, today announced an extension of their global partnership that sees Ingenico integrate native, in-app payment functionality into Shangri-La’s next generation mobile app. With the new Shangri-La Mobile app, guests can easily book rooms, access mobile check-in and check-out, manage loyalty points and redeem rewards.

As mobile phones have become central to how consumers interact with their environment, mobile apps are an increasingly important way for hotel groups to provide value-added services and unlock additional convenience for guests. With Ingenico Connect, Shangri-La can accept a wide variety of payment methods directly from within the app, with no need for redirects to scheme pages. Guests enjoy a seamless, in-app experience that includes single-click payments for recurring use. Through Ingenico’s strategic alliance with Oracle, online payment acceptance is fully integrated in Shangri-La’s Micros Property Management System (PMS) and Central Reservation System (CRS).

“Shangri-La’s new Mobile App plays an important role in enhancing the customer experience through technology and creates a seamless online to offline journey,” said Oliver Bonke, President and Chief Operating Officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. “In Ingenico, we have a partner that shares our vision and has the technology and expertise to help us deliver an integrated payment process through our app for our travelers.”

“Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts represent the pinnacle in luxury and customer service, and they understand very well that the payment experience is an integral part of how their guests perceive their relationship with the company,” said Gabriel de Montessus, Senior Vice President, Global Online Business for Ingenico Group. “Whether it is through the website, call center, an Online Travel Agency or now through this innovative new mobile app, we are proud to support Shangri-La in their ongoing drive to optimize how they let their guests complete their stay.”

The Shangri-La Group owns and manages five-star luxury hotels and resorts throughout Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Indian Ocean. The Group is rapidly expanding its global footprint, with new hotels under development in Australia, Mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Shangri-La selected Ingenico as its global payment partner in 2015, and now accepts online payments in more than 20 different currencies, letting guests pay for rooms in their native currency irrespective of their country of origin.

About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel management companies, currently operates over 100 hotels in 22 countries and 76 destinations under the Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen and Traders brands. Prominently positioned in Asia, the group has established its brand hallmark of “hospitality from the heart” over four decades in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, North America and the Indian Ocean. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Australia, mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. For more information, please visit www.shangri-la.com.

About Ingenico Group
Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world’s largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world’s best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise.
www.ingenico.com twitter.com/ingenico

The press release Ingenico Integrates Seamless Payment Capability in Shangri-La’s Next-Generation Mobile App comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, September 27, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - Dimension Data’s WAN optimisation solution provides operational savings and enhanced service delivery

Hong Kong, 27 September 2017 – Dimension Data, the global ICT solutions and services provider, was recently appointed by the largest life insurance company in Asia to redesign its IT environment. This included an upgrade of its data centre backbone connectivity, as well as an implementation of a WAN optimisation solution.

The organisation delivers a broad range of insurance services across 21 operational branch offices, supporting up to 17,000 agents and over 3 million customers. However, its network speed was constrained as the backbone of its data centre was still reliant on a limited 1GbE network. This led to higher maintenance costs to maintain optimal network performance, increasing the overall annual link costs between their data centre and disaster recovery centre.

Dimension Data Malaysia addressed the insurance provider’s business challenges by proposing a WAN optimisation solution. This included upgrading the data centre backbone connectivity to 10GbE, increasing the organisation’s network coverage and range along with strengthening the network’s security with a firewall.

“Our previous network constantly suffered from severe downtime despite us spending a significant sum on maintenance costs”, said a spokesperson for the organisation. “Dimension Data’s solution helped us to achieve our long-term goal in business efficiency. With Dimension Data’s established track record and expertise in networking and managed services, our organisation’s network refresh has been a seamless and successful experience.”

The implemented 10GbE network data centre backbone has improved the organisation’s networking speed by ten folds, and provided its customers with 20% faster access to its business applications. Driven by enhanced service capabilities and data centre backbone access, the insurance provider is also enjoying up to 20% savings in WAN link costs. The refreshed network is also equipped with new, stronger security capabilities for an assured e-business application experience.

“As organisations continue to grow and support an increasingly large user base, connectivity should not be taken for granted to avoid an IT nightmare,” said Henrick Choo, Managing Director of Dimension Data Malaysia. “We are glad to have supported our client in meeting their networking needs by providing sound consultation advice and implementing a solution that addressed our client’s pain points.”

– ENDS –

About Dimension Data
Dimension Data harnesses the transformative power of technology to help organisations achieve great things in the digital era. As a member of the NTT Group, we focus on digital infrastructure, hybrid cloud, workspaces for tomorrow, cybersecurity, and network as the platform. With a turnover of USD 7.5 billion and offices in 58 countries, we deliver services wherever our clients are, at every stage of their technology journey. Accelerate your ambition.

In Asia Pacific, we operate in 35 offices across 13 countries. We help clients enable technology, operate their IT infrastructures and transform technology solutions that deliver value. It combines an expertise in networking, security, customer experience (CX) and collaboration, data centre and end-user computing, with advanced skills in IT outsourcing, IT-as-a-Service, Systems integration services and training. www.dimensiondata.com

The press release LEADING INSURANCE COMPANY IN ASIA APPOINTS DIMENSION DATA TO TRANSFORM AND REFRESH ITS IT ENVIRONMENT comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, June 26, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - Action cameras, flat panel TVs and wearables were the fastest-growing technology products in the past year

The consumer technology market in Asia Pacific (APAC) has grown tremendously over the past year, with the introduction of new technologies and advancements of existing technologies.

One innovative product that is gaining popularity in the market is the action camera. More brands (from 2 brands in 2015 to 13 brands in 2016) that offer 360-degree features have entered the market. In the last 12 months, emerging markets in APAC have been the key growth driver for such action cameras, registering 57% and 33% increase in sales volume and value respectively, while the region’s developed markets experienced a corresponding 9% and 40% growth last year.

Action cameras with 4K features are also selling well with sales accounting for 47% and 52% growth in volume and value respectively in APAC. Meanwhile, emerging markets in the region contributed up to 46% share of the pie in both volume and value terms.

“Nowadays, consumers are increasingly sharing videos, contributing to the rising popularity of action cameras,” said Gerard Tan, Senior Director, Technology at GfK Asia. “Besides one of its key draw factors of being able to connect seamlessly to today’s smartphones, action cameras also tend to appeal to active consumers who are seeking new and interesting ways to record their lifestyle activities to view or share in full HD quality.”

Another product which has jumped onto the 4K bandwagon is TVs. In the past year, 4K TVs, also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD), have been gaining traction as sales growth hit over 103% in units across APAC in the past 12 months, with the market upgrading the display resolutions from Full High Definition (FHD) to UHD. Demand is expected to continue to rise at a rate of 42% in 2017, with emerging economies projected to register higher growth (55%) due to the erosion of UHD prices.

“There is a rising uptake of 4K TVs as discerning consumers are increasingly choosing UHD TV technology due to its sleek design and better image quality,” observed Tan. “The popularity of UHD will subsequently create more opportunities for content studios to produce better image content, especially when more recording devices are beginning to support 4K recording, enabling more UHD content to be made readily available for consumers.”

Since the advent of the Smart TV in 2011, there have been ample opportunities for companies to develop TV software for its platforms. In the last 12 months, sales of Smart TVs in APAC continued to increase by 40% to reach over 5 million units.

One of the latest technologies available in the TV market is OLED TV—a TV display technology based on the characteristics of organic light-emitting diodes. According to GfK findings, OLED TV has been registering significant growth since its launch in APAC in 2014, growing in demand from 7,000 units in 2014 to 98,000 units in 2016. As more brands continue to come into the equation, the OLED TV market is projected to expand further by more than 63% in 2017, with huge growth anticipated from the developed markets in APAC.

Meanwhile, core wearables, comprising smart watches, and, health and fitness trackers, is yet another thriving category within the consumer electronics. Total sales units in the last year reached 3.3 million across developed APAC markets as consumer spending on the product category grew 9% year on year.
“Heart Rate Sensor and GPS are generally the key features that appeal to consumers looking to purchase a wearable device, and this is reflected in the significant increase in devices that provide these features. The sales of wearables with heart rate sensors rose by 28% within a year, while devices with inbuilt GPS almost doubled (98%) during the same time period,” said Tan.

With consumers embracing the digital lifestyle and using smart devices, the overall consumer technology market in APAC is expected to perform positively this year, with TVs, action cameras and wearables likely to experience further growth.

Note:
#8226; APAC includes Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia and New Zealand
#8226; GfK Point of Sales tracking period: May 2016 – April 2017 versus May 2015 – April 2016
#8226; Value growth tracked based on local currency, but common currency for consolidated tracking based on USD.

The press release -Connected Consumers Driving Growth of Smart Devices in Asia Pacific comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, May 17, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - Hong Kong, May 11, 2017 — CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) announced the new CA Advantage Partner Program that reflects partners’ desires for simplicity, profitability, protection and competitive differentiation. The partner program evolution is driven by CA’s strategic aim to accelerate growth through focused route-to-market strategies, while delivering exceptional experiences for CA Partners.
The new program introduces two new partner levels, Focus and Global, which demonstrate CA’s investment in strategic partners who are mutually willing to invest in CA’s business. The Focus and Global partners will join CA’s partner community, which includes partners across the Premier, Advanced and Member levels.
The new levels are defined by invitation to strategic partners who can execute within a framework for revenue commitment and expectations, including more stringent business plan requirements and higher thresholds, while CA will provide expanded benefits to support their evolving business models.
Redesigned with a focus on the entire partner experience, CA addressed the opportunities and barriers recognized by their partners across every region and business model. Across interviews with the worldwide partner community, partners shared with CA that they wanted a program in which they could easily understand the benefits and rewards tied to profitability, protection for their investment in opportunity pursuit, and unique benefits to differentiate the rewards compared to the industry.
The new CA Advantage Partner Program is simplified, with richer benefits that reflect the expanded recognition of our most strategic partner contributions and focused route-to-market strategies that help partners accelerate growth, increase revenue potential and drive new opportunities. Specifically, for the first time ever, CA will provide differentiation in rewards by allowing partners to choose their performance rewards as either business development funds, or rebates.
For partners at all levels, the new CA Advantage Partner Program provides:
‧ Increased opportunity to profit: With compelling margins and profitability, the new program offers greater earning potential due to simplification of reward payouts and a variety of demand generation initiatives to help partners grow their business. These initiatives are supported by a new Partner Experience Platform that provides partners better access to assets they need to create integrated marketing programs aligned to specific solutions and a self-service campaign management tool with pre-built co-branded campaigns. The new Global and Focus level partners will be rewarded with the highest margins of profit, and all partners will be increasingly rewarded as they move into higher tiers.
‧ Simple and clear incentives: The simplified program framework, featuring streamlined performance-based incentives and rebates, makes CA’s pricing, benefits and rewards clear. Partners can more easily forecast their financial position on the front and back of a deal and quickly understand their general profitability of CA Technologies solutions.
‧ Protection for opportunity pursuits: Partners can pursue CA opportunities with an assurance that their investment (time and resources) will be rewarded.
‧ Differentiated rewards: For the first time ever, CA will provide some partners a choice in back-end rewards aligned with the types of business they transact – so they have the flexibility to choose to reinvest with business development funds, or take a direct rebate. To encourage partners to strengthen their skills and expertise around CA capabilities, CA will provide a higher level of reward to partners who choose business development funds, which can be used toward:
– Training amp; Enablement Courses and Certifications
– Customized CA Training
– In-Company Awareness Events, Contests and Materials for Practice Development
– Deal Development Activities, like Proof of Concepts to help drive sales

“To deliver exceptional customer experiences, we have built partnering into our DNA. This is to ensure long-term profitable and sustainable growth for our customers, our partners as well as CA,” said David Aston, vice president, Partner and Digital Sales, Asia Pacific amp; Japan, CA Technologies. “Partners are looking to deliver the most innovative and relevant solutions to their customers. With the launch of this redesigned CA Advantage Partner Program which provides a comprehensive framework, we are enabling them with the best possible resources to be successful.”
Current CA Technologies partners will be assimilated into the CA Advantage Partner Program and can log in to the CA Partner Experience Platform to access the latest sales and marketing tools, training, and CA resources. Global, Focus, and Premier partners will also have access to dedicated sales support, enablement, assigned account management, and market and business development funds.

Partners in Asia Pacific on the CA Advantage Partner Program
“CA Technologies has been our partner of choice for over eight years and what differentiates them is not just the quality of their offerings – it is also their commitment to grow with their partners,” said Dustin Loh, co-founder and executive director, Entiis. “The new CA Advantage Partner Program is a testament of this commitment and we are confident its flexibility and enhanced benefits will enable us to continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations while seizing new opportunities in the dynamic IT landscape.”

“We chose CA Technologies as our partner due to their great products and their high-quality partner enablement programs. The CA Technologies team is always on hand to bring us timely support and services. By participating in serval enablement trainings, we are more effective in meeting the requirements of our customers in China on their digital transformation journeys,” said Xin Wang, general manager, North China Business Group, Beyondsoft, China.

“The CA Advantage Partner Program is one of the best in the industry. It helps give focus partners like us a competitive advantage and drive improved profitability. It brings a sense of protection and trust. We appreciate CA for launching such a global program and look forward to the many collaborations coming our way,” said Safalya Mitra, assistant vice president, Services, Locuz, India.

“CA Technologies is our true partner. They provide us both technical support and business guidance to help our customers transform their organizations into digital enterprises,” said Vincent Ng, vice president of Integrated Global Solutions Limited, China and Hong Kong.

To learn more or join the CA Advantage Partner Program, please visit www.ca.com/partner. Current Members may contact their CA Partner Account Manager or log in to the CA Partner Experience Platform to learn more about the new program.
About CA Technologies

CA Technologies (NASDAQ:CA) creates software that fuels transformation for companies and enables them to seize the opportunities of the application economy. Software is at the heart of every business in every industry. From planning, to development, to management and security, CA is working with companies worldwide to change the way we live, transact, and communicate – across mobile, private and public cloud, distributed and mainframe environments. Learn more at www.ca.com.

About Entiis

Entiis Pte Ltd is a premier partner of CA Technologies engaging in the business of digital transformation, focusing specifically in the IT infrastructure and security management space. With offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Entiis works with CA Technologies and all partners to deliver, implement and support solutions across all major platforms. Learn more at http://www.entiis.com/home.php.

About Beyondsoft
Beyondsoft is a leading global IT services and solutions company that has been helping enterprises innovate and prosper since 1995. Beyondsoft-North America, headquartered in Mountain View, CA and with satellite offices in Seattle, Washington. The company’s global headquarters in Beijing, China, Beyondsoft has more than 32 research and delivery centers across North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. A seamless network of approximately 8,000 IT developers and business consultants helps companies capture global market opportunities and increase customer engagement.
Beyondsoft’s portfolio includes E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Services, Mobility, Cloud, Analytics, IT Infrastructure Management, IT Consulting, Product Engineering, Application Development, and Maintenance Services. Learn more at www.beyondsoft.com.

About Locuz

Locuz is an IT Infrastructure Solutions and Services company focused on helping enterprises transform their businesses thru innovative and optimal use of technology. For over a decade, Locuz has exclusively focused on delivering value to customers, helping them with their strategic IT initiatives that required technology agility in core infrastructure.
Locuz specializes in Hybrid Cloud Computing, Datacentre Transformation, NextGen Networking, Enterprise Collaboration, Information Security amp; Identity Management, High Performance Computing, Big Data amp; IT Automation. Learn more at www.locuz.com.

About Integrated Global Solutions Limited (IGS)

Integrated Global Solutions Limited (IGS) provides IT solutions and consulting services to help IT organizations to achieve their business goals with the adoption of best practice framework. IGS is dedicated to provide operational enhancement products, services, and solutions to small, medium-sized and enterprise organizations, as well as to the government sector. IGS focuses on providing IT Service, Infrastructure, Asset and Security Management solutions (including software license, service and training) for clients in Hong Kong, Macau and China. Learn more at http://igsl-group.com/index.php.

The press release CA Technologies Launches New CA Advantage Partner Program comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, May 16, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - With over 4 million diners seated through its website and mobile applications, eatigo continues to extend its reach throughout Asia with latest launch

Hong Kong, 11 May 2017 – eatigo, Southeast Asia’s leading restaurant reservation platform, announced today that it is now officially available to users in Hong Kong. The platform offers discounts of up to 50% throughout the day to the entire bill at all of its participating outlets, and enables users to make fuss-free reservations at over 130 restaurants (and counting) in Hong Kong, and more than 1,000 restaurants across Southeast Asia.

In line with eatigo’s mission to connect empty tables with empty stomachs, users will be able to choose from an expansive list of restaurants ranging from upscale hotel locations, to popular food chains and small-scale eateries, and enjoy the same discounts on a wide variety of cuisines regionally.

Savour a fancy dinner at Grissini at the Grand Hyatt, or perhaps something more casual at the popular Crystal Jade. You can also choose to kick back and start the weekend at Mr amp; Mrs Fox. Regardless of your choice, with eatigo you get to enjoy attractive discounts any time, any day. You do not need to pay upfront or even use your credit card – users just need to make a reservation on eatigo to enjoy reduced prices on their meals.

Michael Cluzel, eatigo co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, “After great success in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, where we seat an average of 1 diner every 5 seconds, we’re excited to continue extending eatigo’s reach throughout Asia. eatigo was developed to help restaurants fill their empty seats during off-peak hours, while also offering users discounted meals at their favourite restaurants. And now with our expansion plans set in motion, we’re looking to connect even more users to great food in Hong Kong.”

With eatigo currently available in Bangkok, Pattaya, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and now Hong Kong, the company has its sights set on more Asian destinations, allowing users all across the region to look forward to enjoying good meals at attractive discounts. With over 120 million HKD in funding to date and TripAdvisor as a major investor, the platform currently boasts over 1 million downloads across the region since it first launched in Thailand. “eatigo is always looking to add more quality dining places to the list, and we believe having a good mix of affordable and upscale options, in addition to the wide variety of cuisines on offer, will keep users coming back to the app for more,” states Michael.

The press release eatigo is now available to Hong Kong diners, offering up to 50% discounts at every restaurant, every day comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, February 7, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - The 15th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) today unveiled its lineup of 25 outstanding film projects to be presented from 13 to 15 March 2017. The projects were selected out of over 350 submissions from 14 different countries and regions, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.

This year’s selections include projects by young directors developing their first feature films, with an unprecedented increase in the number of women filmmakers. Most of the films are family-driven projects that touch on contemporary social issues, while others explore topics such as non-traditional families, marriages in upheaval, and the complexities of parent-child relationships. Shortlisted projects this year also include two genres not usually seen at HAF: science fiction and gothic thriller.

As one of the most recognized film-financing platforms in Asia, HAF continues its role in connecting filmmakers and their upcoming film projects with internationally prominent film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors, buyers, and funders for potential co-production ventures.

Five Hong Kong Projects to Be Presented

This year, the shortlisted projects include five from Hong Kong: veteran filmmaker Derek CHIU Sung-kee’s No.1 Chung Ying Street, a drama that examines the 1967 riots in Hong Kong; Sunny CHAN’s Man on the Dragon, a comedy-drama about five middle-age men who compete in a dragon boat championship to regain the braveness and passion of lives; Impossible Split, from TOM Chung-sing, which tells the inspiring story of bowling athlete WU Siu-hong, who achieved world championship status despite being haunted by a fatal disease. The film is produced by award-winning director Adam WONG, whose films The Way We Dance and She Remembers, He Forgets both received critical acclaim, and whose project Trains in the Night was presented at last year’s HAF.

The Goddess, from Sobel CHAN Ka-lok, pays homage to classic 1930s Chinese films and focuses on the issues of Hong Kong’s public-education system, the lives of Mainland immigrants and conflicts between mother and daughter. CHAN’s League of HK Movie Heroes was selected as one of the five finalists of the HAF/FOX Chinese Film Development Award at the 11th HAF in 2013. Completing the lineup of Hong Kong projects is Forget You, Still Love You?, about a couple whose troubled marriage finds focus again after a husband is diagnosed with a devastating illness, from co-directors Kenneth LAI Siu-Kwan and Paul SZE Pak-Lam, both of whom participated in last year’s HAF with the thriller Hypnotize the Jury.

Speaking on behalf of HAF, Mr. Jacob WONG, Curator of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and Director of the HAF commented, “We are thrilled to receive HAF submissions worldwide with extremely high quality, offering distinct perspectives on a diversity of vibrant topics. The review process is, as expected, arduous yet exhilirating, and we are very proud of the dedication and persistence of our creative film talents.”

Women Directors Shining at the 15th HAF

Nearly half of the 25 selections consist of projects from female directors, including Femme Fatale, a dark comedy about two women whose parallel lives touch and collide, the first feature from Japanese documentary filmmaker MIYAKE Kyoko; and Made in Bangladesh, the first-ever HAF project from Bangladesh, about garment workers’ rights, from Rubaiyat HOSSAIN.

Other projects include Pawns With No Return, a touching story about fate bringing together an old man and a young boy, from CHEN Yi-Jung of Taiwan; I AM A BANANA!, an East-meets-West cross-cultural romantic comedy, from Honey B SINGH; and Rainbow Mountain, the second feature from Degena Yun of China, a drama about two Mongolian women from different generations whose lives cross paths throughout time and history. Degena’s critically acclaimed first feature, A Simple Goodbye, was presented at the 13th HAF and awarded The Spirit of Asia Award in Tokyo International Film Festival 2015.

Two more documentaries from women directors include The Grassland of Narangerel, which examines environmental challenges in Inner Mongolia, from YING Weiwei of China; and the Israeli-German co-production Leftover Women, from co-directors Shosh SHLAM and Hilla MEDALIA.

Exploring Family Dynamics and Science Fiction Genres

Family dynamics come into focus for several projects this year, including Ten Thousand Happiness from Chinese director Johnny MA, in which the sudden divorce of grandfather from an elite family in China sets off a chain of reaction, forcing each member to evaluate their own relationships with love and happiness; Indian filmmaker Shashwati TALUKDAR’s The New Wife, a Himalayan gothic thriller tale about a young bride’s discovery of the secrets harboured by her respectable new family.

The Asadas, the third feature from NAKANO Ryota of Japan, a drama with humor based on an original story inspired by the photographer Masashi Asada; and Chantou, Australian director Grant SCICLUNA’s gay-family drama about a couple who discover that their adopted Cambodian daughter is a victim of human trafficking.

Other projects include Restore Point from Robert HLOZ, a science-fiction murder mystery set in the future. It is the first sole Czech-Republic project feature to be presented at HAF. Also, an as-yet-untitled project commissioned by the Nara International Film Festival in Japan from director Ida PANAHANDEH and Japanese producer KAWASE Naomi, will be a free modern adaptation of a work by Shakespeare.

The HAF/FOX Project Award Presented to Drifting Lives

Sharing the same vision to encourage quality Chinese-language projects, HAF is pleased to continue its collaboration with FOX International Productions (FIP) and FOX Networks Group (FNG) Asia to present the “HAF/FOX Project Award” to suspense murder-mystery. Drifting Lives, from first-time director Danlly LI of China. The project will receive a cash award of US$10,000 (approx. HK$78,000) and a Development Contract with FOX. The award has established since 2012 to develop Chinese feature films with regional appeal, through providing support and nurture for promising scripts.

Ms. Cora YIM, SVP, Head of Chinese Entertainment and Territory Head of Hong Kong, FOX Networks Group Asia said, “With the support of HAF, we have the privilege to work with up-and-coming creative talent and being introduced to a new generation of emerging talent. We are absolutely thrilled to identify the potential cinematic storytellers who offer unique perspectives of Chinese-language cinema.” As one of the judges, Ms. Xian LI, Director of Production, Creative Development and Global Production of FOX International Productions also said that Asian cinema, especially Chinese-language cinema is one of the most significant markets for FOX. “We look forward to working with more talented filmmakers in this region to create exciting high-quality films.”

Extending Awards and New Partnerships

The 15th HAF will present a total of ten awards, amounting to HK$1,372,000 (approx. US$176,700) in cash and value in-kind. HAF is also proud to announce our new sponsor, mm2 Asia Limited to present an award to encourage and support Chinese-language film projects with a cash prize of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900).

“mm2 excavates stories in various Chinese speaking territories, turns them into movies with both artistic and commercial sense,” Mr. Melvin ANG, Chairman of mm2 Asia Limited said. “Through collaborating with HAF, the leading film platform in Asia, we are able to meet and support new pioneers in the Asian film industry.”

HAF is also delighted to extend collaboration with iQIYI for the third year with an award to encourage and support young film talents from Chinese-speaking territories. One cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) will be presented to an outstanding Chinese-language feature film project with commercial qualities. Other award sponsors include Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, China Film Foundation — Wutianming Fund For Young Talents, G2D Co. Ltd., Paris Coproduction Village, White Light Studio and Wouter Barendrecht Film Foundation.

Work in Progress Laboratory

In addition, HAF creates the “Work in Progress Laboratory” as a significant new initiative to help directors and producers securing post-production funds through meetings with distribution agents and film festival programmers. Representatives from shortlisted projects will be invited to present their work at HAF. The WIP Lab will assist interested industry professionals to set up individual meetings with them to obtain further collaboration details. The shortlisted projects will be announced later in February.

Media and Guest Accreditation for HAF

Journalists worldwide are cordially invited to join this premier film financing platform in Asia. Media accreditation will be opened for online application at http://society.hkiff.org.hk/en/press_accreditation_media.php from 23 January 2017 to 5 March 2017. Successful applicants will be given access to HAF, in addition to joining our official networking events, screenings, seminars or other special activities.

Film financiers, investors and participants can register and schedule appointments with filmmakers of the shortlisted projects at http://www.haf.org.hk/guest.php before 5 March 2017.

A complete list of the selected projects for the 15th HAF and HAF/FOX Project Award can be found in Appendix 1. For more information about HAF, please visit the official website at http://www.haf.org.hk/ and HAF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hafhkiffs/.

About The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)

The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognized as an established film financing platform in Asia. The HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. Attracting more than 1,000 filmmakers and financiers from at least 35 countries and regions, around 25 to 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.

HAF has partnered with international organisations to provide a range of opportunities to participants. Previous partners include iQIYI (China), Fox International Productions (Greater China) (US), Cinemart (the Netherlands), Asian Project Market (South Korea), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (Taiwan), New Cinema Network (Italy) and others. Cash and in-kind awards to the value of around US$150,000 are made with support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund among others.

Past participants include China’s JIA Jiangke, JIANG Wen, LU Chuan and NING Hao; Hong Kong’s Peter CHAN, Stanley KWAN, Ann HUI, Fruit CHAN and PANG Ho-cheung; Taiwan’s TSAI Ming-Liang, WEI Te-Sheng, CHUNG Mong-Hong and Leon DAI; Japan’s KORE-EDA Hirokazu, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, KAWASE Naomi and IWAI Shunji; South Korea’s PARK Chan-wook, KIM Jee-woon, BONG Joon-ho and IM Sang-soo; as well as Thailand’s Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, Ekachai UEKRONGTHAM, Nonzee NIMIBUTR and Pen-ek RATANARUANG.

About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS)

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society organises two annual flagship events in March and April: “Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)” and “Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).”  “HKIFF Cine Fan”, a monthly screening programme features a variety of curated contemporary, retrospective and thematic showcases was also launched in April 2013.

Through its year-round programmes, the mission of the Society is to strengthen global appreciation of Asian and Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong. Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.

About FOX International Productions

Fox International Productions (FIP) builds upon 20th Century Fox’s industry-leading international motion picture activities and upon parent company 21st Century Fox’s unparalleled global media reach by aligning all the company’s international film productions under one banner. FIP also complements Fox’s worldwide film releases with films sourced through partnerships with international producers, filmmakers, financiers, and strategic production & distribution agreements.

About FOX Networks Group

FOX Networks Group (FNG) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FNG’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life, FOX+ and National Geographic Channel. FNG’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium and SCM (formerly Star Chinese Movies). Our non-linear brands include FOX Play, FOX Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high- definition extensions, reach over 1.825 billion cumulative households worldwide. In addition, FNG owns and operates two production studios and produces thousands of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties.

The press release The 15th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum Project Announcement comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, September 22, 2016 /Xinwengao.com/ - You’re a journalist whose article deadline is fast approaching and you still need a few more sources and background to make your story standout. Where do you go and how do you find the right expert for inclusion in your article? Prayers for many journalists in Asia were answered last year when Pitch.Asia launched.

Pitch.Asia launched in September 2015 as the definitive platform for connecting journalists to experts in Asia. Now with over 20,000 registered users, Pitch.Asia connects journalists with experts ready to provide insight into important news-worthy topics at https://www.Pitch.Asia.

Pitch.Asia provides a news dashboard covering business, political, and social news from across Asia from Afghanistan to Japan and down to Malaysia; online job boards for journalists; a query service for reporters to seek comments from registered industry experts; and online forums for journalists to exchange knowledge. Registration continues to be free for both experts and journalists.

Journalists login to Pitch.Asia and post media queries. Experts are then emailed queries from journalists. If an expert thinks he/she is able to respond, then the expert responds with appropriate information. The journalist’s contact details are kept secret and provided with special redirection emails so experts won’t abuse their access to the media.Ultimately, if the journalist uses the expert’s statement, then the expert gains valuable media exposure, for free. Experts help reporters, and the reporters help the experts!

About Pitch.Asia
Journalists want to hear better pitches, and experts need to have their voices heard. Pitch.Asia connects Asia’s top expert sources with the bloggers, journalists, writers, and reporters covering important activities in Asia. We are backed by Matoka Capital and use their parent company’s offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Contact us for more information at https://www.Pitch.Asia

The press release Pitch.Asia Celebrates First Anniversary As Platform To Connect Media To Key Opinion Leaders In Asia comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Fujian, China, July 22, 2016 /Xinwengao.com/ - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announces the appointment of Mr. Jonas Amstad as general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou in the capital city of Fujian province in the southeast of China.  In this role, he will oversee hotel operations and lead the team in delivering quality and exceptional guest experiences at this property.

Mr. Amstad, a Swiss national is fluent in German, French, English and Russian.  Prior to this appointment, his 25-year experience spans several five-star international city hotels and resorts, including Sheraton Warsaw and Sheraton Oman, Park Hyatt & Hyatt Regency, Baku, Shangri-La Hotel and Resort, Fiji, Donbass Palace Hotel, Donetsk, Radisson Resort & SPA, Alushta, as well the Radisson Belorusskaya in Moscow.

Mr. Amstad is well versed in hotel management.  His hospitality journey starts at Beckenried from 1988.  For the past 25 years, he had worked for numbers of fields and various positions in Eastern Europe, Middle East, Mainland China, South Pacific and?Indian Ocean, before he arrived in Fuzhou.  Prior to Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou, he was the Resident Manager of Shangri-La’s Resort & SPA in Maldives.

“I am passionate about joining the Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou, which is such a historical and leisure place. Driven by a philosophy rooted in Asian hospitality, the Shangri-La Fuzhou team has been doing an excellent job by maintaining its market-leader position since it opened in 2005.  I hope to lead this team to meet new challenges and to consistently provide the highest service quality to our valued guests,” said Mr. Amstad.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages more than 85 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 36,000.  Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.  Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.  The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

The press release Shangri-La Hotel Fuzhou Welcomes Jonas Amstad As General Manager comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Beijing, China, July 7, 2016 /Xinwengao.com/ - China World Hotel, Beijing collaborates with Italian luxury handmade jewellery brand Damiani to create an elegant Butterfly Collection Afternoon Tea that will be served at the hotel’s Lobby Lounge  until 31 July 2016.

Inspired by the beautiful jewellery design, China World Hotel, Beijing’s Executive Pastry Chef Jonathan Wu will present a combination of culinary craftsmanship and precious jewels in the Butterfly Collection Afternoon Tea.  The vivid luxury handbag, high-heel shoes, exquisite diamond ring and carven butterfly are all made of fine chocolate and sugar for the ladies’ epicurean delights.  The delicate desserts will spoil guests with the most fabulous high-tea experience.

Damiani Afternoon Tea was the ultimate indulgence for Ms Nicoletta Romanoff, the Italian movie star when she stayed with us at China World Hotel.  Guests can now also enjoy the same beautiful Afternoon Tea in our Lobby Lounge and get a chance to win a surprise lucky draw gift on the last Sunday of the month!  Live orchestra performance is available from 3pm to 5pm every Sunday while you sip on your tea.

Damiani is the only Italian jewellery company to design and produce jewels since its inception.  Maintaining tradition is important at Damiani; handwork is still the same as it was decades ago, and each piece is handmade with centuries-old skills and an accurate attention to detail.  Every Damiani jewel is the most important expression of “Made in Italy” in high-end jewellery.  Damiani is the only known jewellery company to have received as much as 18 “Diamonds International Awards”.  Calderoni also won four of these awards, in 1960, 1977, 1978 and 1996.  It also received many other prizes, including two Tahitian Pearl Trophies, one Haute Couture Design Award, one Vogue Joyas award and quite a number of entrepreneurial and communication prizes.

The lightness and delicate flutter of a butterfly’s wings are the inspiration for the Butterfly collection.  The butterflies are in white or yellow gold and enriched by white or black diamonds with coloured stones like emeralds, rubies and amethysts.  Each butterfly can be used as a pendant, brooch or set onto a ring.

Damiani’s iconic design par excellence for beautiful rings and large crosses.  Belle Époque is inspired by the graphic design of cine film and, like the cinema, brings dreams and great feelings to life.

As the only Italian jewellery company to design and produce jewels since its inception, the Damiani company was founded in 1924 in the heart of the goldsmith district of Valenza Po (North West Italy) by Enrico Grassi Damiani.  Thanks to his skills as a goldsmith, Enrico quickly became the preferred supplier to important families and notables who asked him to create special and exquisite unique pieces.  He soon began to supply the Italian royal family, the earls of Cavour, Gabriele d’Annunzio and Luigi Pirandello.  Damiano Grassi Damiani, Enrico’s son, born in 1934, launched a serious industrial processes and thought of commercial expansions in the sixties.  He promoted design research and technical innovation, the two roots of the company’s future.  Damian jewels attracted more and more fame, thanks to a very revolutionary idea at the time: to guarantee the price to clients and to create catalogues of all the collections.  

Guests may contact the Damiani boutique at China World Trade Center at (010) 6505 9890 or find it at WB 123A, B1, China World Trade Center, No.1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing.

China World Hotel, Beijing anchors the China World Trade Center complex, and is attached to China World mall, in the heart of the city’s diplomatic and business district.  Hailed one of the first three hotels in mainland China to be awarded a Platinum Five Star rating by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), China World Hotel, Beijing has been named one of the world’s best hotels by both Condé Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure magazines.  China World Hotel, Beijing has also been voted “Best Hotel in Beijing” by Euromoney, Frommer’s Guide and Finance Asia; “Best Business Hotel in Beijing” by Business Traveller China and Asia Pacific, TTG Asia, The Asset and Asian Legal Business; received the “Top Ten Business Hotels in China – Golden Pillow Award” by 21st Century Business Herald; and named one of “The Top 50 Hotels in China” by Forbes and Travel + Leisure China.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently own 95 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 39,000.  Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.  Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.  The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar and Sri Lanka.  For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

The press release China World Hotel Beijing Partners With Italian Luxury Handmade Jewellery Brand To Offer Damiani Butterfly-Themed Afternoon Tea comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Shanghai, China, June 3, 2016 /Xinwengao.com/ - Pitch.Asia, Asia’s leader in connecting journalists with industry experts, has created a new licensing partnership with Xinwengao (Xinwengao.com) for the use of Xinwengao’s database of more than 30,000 media records.

The partnership leverages and connects Xinwengao’s focus over the past decade on media monitoring, press release distribution, and media database building with Pitch.Asia‘s services across Asia. Pitch.Asia will use the database to help update its own records and assist industry experts and public relations firms in reaching out to a broader group of reporters, editors, and social media influencers inside China.

“Our China Media Database services have been sculpted by over a decade of use by our clients, and we continue to maintain a high level of integrity for this service,” says Rose Gao, Media Manager at Xinwengao. “Expanding licensing to more companies like Pitch.Asia ensures we continue to connect with every record in our system to ensure freshness and availability. Pitch.Asia already has a large journalist database for Greater China, and we will complement this for a win-win partnership.”

The Chinese online news and media sector has witnessed many business movements and much growth in the past few year as Alibaba has purchased partial or entire stakes in Shanghai-based China Business Network, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post; and video-sharing website Youku Tudou. And U.S.-based Time Magazine just announced the purchase of CCI Asia-Pacific Ltd., the Hong Kong-based publisher of Fortune China. Forbes.com was also sold to a Hong Kong-based investor group nearly two years ago.

Pitch.Asia currently provides a news dashboard covering business, political, and social news from across Asia from Afghanistan to Japan and down to Malaysia; online job boards for journalists; a query service for reporters to seek comments from registered industry experts; and online forums for journalists to exchange knowledge. Utilization of Xinwengao’s database is also assisting Pitch.Asia in its beta testing of a full Chinese-language media service that will be soon rolled out.

About Pitch.Asia
Journalists want to hear better pitches, and experts need to have their voices heard. Pitch.Asia connects Asia’s top expert sources with the bloggers, journalists, writers, and reporters covering important activities in Asia. We are backed by Matoka Capital and use their parent company’s offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Contact us for more information at https://www.Pitch.Asia

About Xinwengao.com
While the number of print newspapers in China has remained steady at about 1900 for the past few years, the number of online media titles, journalists, influencers, and online writers has exploded in China as social media and microblogging as taken off. Xinwengao tracks the key key media data necessary for public relations, marketing, advertising, and outreach organizations to use for online media campaigns. Xinwengao was first acquired by Vocus Inc. in early 2010 from top SaaS and online marketing firm BDL Media, and then it was acquired as a standalone entity in 2012. Xinwengao now operates as an independent entity with operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing and provides press release distribution, online media monitoring, and media database services.

The press release Pitch.Asia Secures License For China’s Biggest Media Database With Xinwengao comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Beijing, China, May 10, 2016 /Xinwengao.com/ - Mr. Christopher Chia has been appointed vice president at Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited and general manager of China World Hotel, Beijing. He will be responsible for the whole operations and services of three hotels, including China World Hotel, Beijing; China World Summit Wing, Beijing; and Traders Hotel, Beijing.

Mr. Chia has more than 30 years of management experience. Prior to joining China World Hotel, Beijing, he was the vice president and general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing. He started his hospitality career with the group as front office executive at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. He has since held management positions within the group in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing.

China World Hotel, Beijing soars over the China World Trade Center complex, including the China World Exhibition Center and shopping mall, in the heart of the city’s diplomatic and business district. Hailed one of the first three hotels in mainland China to be awarded a Platinum Five Star rating by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), China World Hotel, Beijing has been named one of the world’s best hotels by both Condé Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure magazines. China World Hotel, Beijing has also been voted “Best Hotel in Beijing” by Euromoney, Frommer’s Guide and Finance Asia; “Best Business Hotel in Beijing” by Business Traveller China and Asia Pacific, TTG Asia, The Asset and Asian Legal Business; received the “Top Ten Business Hotels in China – Golden Pillow Award” by 21st Century Business Herald; and named one of “The Top 50 Hotels in China” by Forbes and Travel + Leisure China.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns 95 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 39,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar and Sri Lanka. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

The press release Shangri-la Hotel and Resorts Appoints Christopher Chia as VP at Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited and GM of China World Hotel, Beijing comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.