ASIA'S MAIDEN WORLD OF COFFEE HEADING TO BUSAN THIS MAY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Global coffee figures and baristas will gather at BEXCO, Busan, for the inaugural World of Coffee in Asia, from May 1 to 4, which also feature the 2024 World Barista Championship.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is working with host Busan Metropolitan City and organiser EXPORUM, with support of the 2024 Portrait Country, Indonesia, to debut World of Coffee in Busan, marking a significant milestone for the Asian coffee community.

According to a statement, over 20,000 global attendees, including 12,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries, are expected to visit BEXCO, anticipating contributions not only to the event but also to local economic activation.

At the ‘World of Coffee 2024’, more than 280 domestic and international coffee companies will participate, showcasing coffee-related products, technologies, and services, including the Roaster Village exhibition to introduce domestic and international roastery cafes and brands.

Additionally, activities such as networking with global coffee enthusiasts; experiencing and evaluating various domestic and international coffees; as well as engaging in seminars to experience and promote new coffee cultures will be conducted, creating a platform for diverse experiences and trends representing the global coffee event.

Furthermore, the World Barista Championship will return to Korea after seven years where it was last held at Cafe Show Seoul.

Competitors will demonstrate their expertise in crafting innovative espresso-based drinks across the espresso, milk, and signature beverage courses, with the cutting-edge approaches and tools used on stage having extensive and enduring impacts on the industry.

-- BERNAMA

TELEDYNE FLIR IIS LATEST FORGE CAMERA SERIES DELIVERS IN HARSH INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Teledyne FLIR IIS (Integrated Imaging Solutions), a Teledyne Technologies company, has unveiled the Forge 1GigE IP67, the latest in its industrial camera series designed to perform in harsh industrial environments while ensuring highly efficient production capabilities.

According to a statement, Forge 1GigE IP67 is the latest in the company’s commitment to deliver advanced imaging systems for factory automation.

“We are proud to announce the launch of our latest machine vision product, exclusively designed for smart agriculture, food, and beverage industries. Unlike general-purpose cameras in a crowded machine vision market, our solution is tailored to address the complexities of a specific industry.

“We focus on key markets, and develop solutions from the ground up, armed with a clear understanding of the market, customer partnerships, and technology innovation,” said the company’s General Manager, Sadiq Panjwani.

The Forge 1GigE IP67 camera series has an IP67 cylindrical enclosure for optimal and easy system integration, simplified post operation washing, and the prevention of dirt accumulation.

A wide selection of IP67 rated components are available with partners such as Smart Vision Lights and Components Express LLC, creating an entire IP67 vision ecosystem for customers.

With advanced on-camera features such as auto-brightness functions (Automatic Gain Control and Auto-Exposure), the new cameras dynamically adjust in variable and outdoor lighting conditions.

The IEEE1588 protocol enables multi-camera image capture synchronisation, and Lossless Compression provides higher frame rates and lower bandwidth requirements, maximising camera output without compromising image quality for high-speed applications.

-- BERNAMA

NX (South Asia & Oceania) To Host Indonesia Logistics Webinar Next Month

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (South Asia & Oceania) Pte Ltd (NXSAO), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, will be holding a webinar titled "Indonesia Logistics Situation" on May 13 and 14.

The increasing globalisation of business has brought growing attention to Indonesia as one of Asia’s growth markets and this webinar will provide basic information on doing business in the country as well as detailed explanations of logistics conditions there.

According to a statement, all interested parties are welcome to participate, including companies considering a move into the Indonesian market and companies already doing business in the country.

Also included in the webinar will be an introduction to Nippon Express (Indonesia) Group; as well as import and export regulations.

The webinar is free of charge with attendance limited to the first 800 participants, and deadline for registration is on May 7.

-- BERNAMA

YUGABYTE EMBRACES 'NO DOWNTIME, NO LIMITS,' AS THE THEME OF THE UPCOMING DISTRIBUTED SQL SUMMIT ASIA

Experts and Executives from Airwallex, Helpshift, IMDA, Navi, Rakuten, Singtel, Tagbangers, and UL Systems to Present at the Virtual Event

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 18 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Yugabyte, the leading open source distributed SQL database company, today announced the keynote theme and final schedule for the upcoming fourth annual Distributed SQL Summit (DSS) Asia.

This year’s virtual summit, taking place on Wednesday, April 24, includes speakers from companies including Airwallex, Helpshift, IMDA, Navi, Airwallex, Rakuten, Singtel, Tagbangers, UL Systems, Yugabyte, and more. DSS Asia is a free event and the latest speaker schedule is available here.

DSS Asia is a place for the region’s YugabyteDB community of developers, customers, partners, and industry thought leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of database modernization and transformation.

Expert speakers will discuss use cases, best practices, and real-world accomplishments, and share how they overcame database modernization difficulties with distributed SQL.

“Every year DSS Asia gets bigger and better as we gain momentum in the region. It’s exciting to see this surge in attendance and interest as we meet to share groundbreaking use cases and discuss the benefits distributed SQL brings to companies of all sizes and industries,” commented Karthik Ranganathan, co-founder and co-CEO of Yugabyte. “This year our expert industry speakers will showcase the power and versatility of distributed SQL and share why it should be at the center of your database modernization journey. It promises to be another thought-provoking event, and one you shouldn’t miss!”

DSS Asia features three tailored talk tracks—Technology, Japan, and Customers & Partners to ensure attendees can choose sessions that best meet their needs and interests. There are a wide range of diverse sessions available during the event, providing options for every level of interest, from technical deep dives to customer stories and best practices. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48408

DALI Alliance Unveils DALI+ Test, Certification Specifications

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- The DALI Alliance, the international authority in lighting technology standardisation, has unveiled much-anticipated certification details for its wireless specification, DALI+ over Thread.

As lighting specifications increasingly seek smarter, sustainable and interoperable solutions, DALI+ emerges as a crucial enabler of standardised wireless or internet protocol (IP)-based lighting systems.

Collaboration with partners such as Thread Group has resulted in the integration of enhanced security and encryption solutions, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data transmission within DALI+ networks.

“This represents a significant advancement in DALI-enabled technology. Our members and users will experience the benefits of enhanced wireless interoperability and strengthened sustainability credentials.

“By leveraging the potential of DALI technology, we are not only revolutionising lighting controls but also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future for generations to come,” said DALI Alliance General Manager, Paul Drosihn in a statement.

Meanwhile, Thread Vice President Commercial Buildings, Klaus Waechter said this partnership underscores the company’s commitment to advancing wireless connectivity and interoperability for commercial grade markets and the lighting industry in general.

Key features of DALI+ with Thread include an IP version 6 (IPv6) based wireless mesh network created by Thread, in which off-the-shelf Thread border routers can also be used to connect multiple Thread networks through IP technologies, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Furthermore, DALI+ supports a wide array of control devices, including occupancy sensors, light sensors, switches, sliders, rotaries  as well as pushbuttons, while control gear support currently includes LED drivers with the three optional data parts namely luminaire data, power and energy, as well as diagnostics data.

-- BERNAMA

SAUDI ARABIA HIGHLIGHTS INVESTMENT INITIATIVES IN TOURISM AT INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT FORUM

^{Mr. Mahmoud Abdullhadi, Deputy Minister of Destinations Enablement. (Photo: AETOSWire)}


RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 18 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- ​The Saudi Ministry of Tourism is currently taking a prominent stage at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), presenting a unique opportunity for global investors to dive into the thriving tourism landscape of the Kingdom. With the spotlight on the Tourism Investment Enablers Program (TIEP), that was recently announced, Saudi Arabia is aggressively pushing towards its Vision 2030 goal of being a top global tourism destination for investors and tourists alike. ​

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240417879947/en/

This strategic presentation comes at a time when Saudi Arabia's tourism sector celebrates an incredible milestone of 100 million visitors in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule, marking a significant stride towards economic diversification and emphasizing the sector's growing contribution to the national GDP. The flagship Hospitality Investment Enablers (HIE), one of TIEP’s initiatives, aims to leverage this momentum, planning an investment infusion into the hospitality sector of up to SAR 42 billion in key destinations, which alone is anticipated to create 120,000 new jobs by 2030.​

The IHIF audience is getting a close look at Saudi Arabia's plans to expand its accommodation capacity dramatically. The Kingdom is targeting an increase in hotel rooms to over 500,000 and aiming to welcome 150 million visitors annually by 2030. The HIE stands at the core of these ambitions, designed to energize the hospitality sector by introducing a new wave of supply in targeted tourism hotspots, significantly enriching the Kingdom's diverse tourism offerings.​

The initiative is supported by a suite of strategic enablers, including access to government-owned land under favorable terms, streamlined project development processes, and regulatory adjustments aimed at reducing barriers to market entry and operational costs. This comprehensive approach is expected to catalyze a significant socio-economic transformation within the Kingdom, with private sector investments projected to reach SAR 42.3 billion and a forecasted annual GDP increase of SAR 16.4 billion by 2030.​

Saudi Arabia’s active participation in IHIF aims to showcase the Kingdom as an enticing investment frontier for international investors, emphasizing the lucrative opportunities within the tourism and hospitality sectors. This global stage provides the perfect platform for the Ministry of Tourism to forge lasting partnerships and highlight the Kingdom's commitment to elevating its tourism industry standards, fostering sustainable growth, and offering robust support to investors.​

Through this engagement, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism is not just showcasing investment opportunities; it is inviting the world to be a part of Saudi Arabia's ambitious journey towards redefining global tourism norms. Investors are encouraged to seize this unparalleled chance to collaborate with the Kingdom, as it paves the way for a new era of tourism excellence aligned with Vision 2030's transformative objectives.​​

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240417879947/en/


Contact

Najla Alkhalifa
Media and Communications
Najla@mt.gov.sa

Source : Saudi Ministry of Tourism

Zscaler Selected To Bolster GLP’s Cloud Security Transformation Journey

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Zscaler Inc, the leader in cloud security, announced that GLP, a global real estate logistics provider and investment manager, is leveraging Zscaler for Users, part of Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange cloud security platform, to further strengthen its cybersecurity practice across its portfolio.

Zscaler Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific & Japan, Andreas Hartl said the severity, frequency and volume of cybersecurity threats faced by multinational corporations is escalating faster each year.

“Zscaler is committed to simplifying while accelerating our customers' security transformation journeys through using our Zero Trust Exchange, the world’s largest cloud security platform.

“We are thrilled to be identified as the most secure solution partner-of-choice by a leading brand like GLP and we are excited to support them in this journey to secure their operations globally,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, GLP Global Chief Information Officer, Miao Song said: “With the increasing physical and digital footprint of the company, it was imperative for us to be proactive in creating a cybersecurity strategy that would ensure our critical assets are well protected from escalating threats.

“We were looking for a partner that can help us implement a robust Zero Trust strategy and selected Zscaler for its capabilities in helping us attain our desired outcome.”

GLP determined the security limitations and risk associated with their legacy security stack built on virtual private networks (VPNs) was not able to protect their users, data and applications from the increase in sophisticated cyber attacks.

As part of the first phase of their Zero Trust transformation, GLP is deploying the Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) solutions that will enable both GLP staff as well as third-party vendors to securely and effortlessly access private apps and operational technology (OT) devices.

With Zscaler for Users, GLP and its affiliated users will be able to take advantage of Zero Trust connectivity directly to applications, which is especially beneficial in managing assets across the enterprise’s hybrid cloud environment globally.

-- BERNAMA

NX Group Now Offers NX-GREEN SAF Program In Japan

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Holdings Inc has started offering the NX-GREEN SAF Program in Japan, enabling its valued customers to purchase the environmental attributes derived from sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in customers' supply chains.

The programme which began service at NX Europe in July last year was a carbon-insetting programme that can be used to reduce CO2 emissions from all air transport services provided by the NX Group.

According to a statement, air transport utilising SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by about 80 per cent compared to conventional fossil fuels.

The programme is available for transport services arranged by the NX Group, which is the first Japanese forwarder to offer such a service without restrictions on the choice of airlines.

Customers participating in the programme will be issued with a CO2 reduction verification statement verified by SGS, one of the world's largest certification bodies, that can be used in information disclosure required by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project).

To address climate change, the NX Group has set the goals of reducing its own CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 50 per cent from 2013 levels by 2030, and of helping realise carbon-neutral societies by 2050 (Scope 1, 2 and 3).

The NX Group will continue practicing sustainability management from a long-term perspective and contributing to better lives for people and the development of sustainable societies by addressing climate change through its business.

-- BERNAMA

Taiwan Earthquake Claims Unlikely To Exceed Losses From 2016 Trembler - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Earthquake-related claims for Taiwan’s commercial insurers related to this month’s seismic event are unlikely to exceed those stemming from the 2016 Meinong earthquake, given the more recent event’s greater distance from the economic centres and science parks, according to global credit rating agency AM Best.

The Best’s Commentary, “Taiwan Earthquake Claims Unlikely to Exceed 2016 Levels”, notes that the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on April 3 is not expected to add significant net claims and lead to a capital event for Taiwan’s non-life insurance industry.

AM Best senior director, analytics, Christie Lee said the non-life segment’s capitalisation was weakened from a large operating loss in 2022 due to pandemic insurance.

“The industry’s capitalisation rebounded in 2023 after capital injections from insurers’ parent companies, coupled with favourable operating results, but remained below 2021 industry capital levels by 21 per cent,” she said in a statement.

In Taiwan, residential earthquake losses are ceded to the Taiwan Residential Earthquake Insurance Fund (TREIF), hence commercial insurers mainly bear commercial and industrial losses, added the report.

Most prior major earthquakes in Taiwan resulted in claims to commercial insurers for industrial losses. More generally, significant losses for the latest event could arise from business interruption coverage.

This is due to the material role the technology and science sectors play in Taiwan’s overall economy, combined with large insured purchasing adequate insurance protection, with the vast majority of these exposures ultimately being ceded to the international reinsurance market.

-- BERNAMA

FPT SOFTWARE RECOGNIZED WITH 100 PERCENT WILLINGNESS TO RECOMMEND RATE IN 2024 GARTNER® PEER INSIGHTS™ 'VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER' : ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION

 

HANOI, Vietnam, April 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Global IT Firm FPT Software has been named in the 2024 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Voice of the Customer report for Robotic Process Automation. This marks the second consecutive time that the company has been recognized for its automation solution akaBot with 100 percent of “willingness to recommend”, based on 28 reviews as of November 2023. 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240411594646/en/ 

Access 2024 Gartner® Peer Insights™ ‘Voice of Customer’: Robotic Process Automation here.

According to the reviews in the report, 79% of FPT Software's reviews are from the Finance sector and 14% from the Healthcare sector, with 93% of its customers operating in Asia-Pacific.

In 2023, with the growth of a clientele exceeding 3,900 global enterprises across diverse industries, the Vietnamese RPA solution provider also boosted its global presence through strategic partnerships with a network of 40+ partners worldwide.

Notably, the hyperautomation solution garnered praise from a client from the Finance industry with a revenue of 50-250 million USD, describing it as “a game-changer, effortlessly handling tasks with speed and precision. It consistently operates in the background, efficiently completing tasks without any hiccups. The bot's ability to quickly and accurately accomplish tasks has greatly enhanced my productivity."

"We believe our two-time recognition in the Gartner Voice of Customer report is a testament to our established position as a reputable and reliable partner,” Bui Dinh Giap, CEO of akaBot, stated. “RPA Migration has become increasingly popular as more businesses’ choices to deal with the upcoming economic downturn. As a one-stop shop automation solution, we will continue to collaborate with more global partners, particularly in the APAC, to deliver the most comprehensive automation packages and assist global clients in staying competitive in this digitalization era.”

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48354

AMOGY PARTNERS MPA, COLLABORATORS TO DEVELOP FUTURE FUELS TRAINING HUB FOR MARITIME WORKFORCE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Amogy has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and other collaborators to develop a Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF) to train maritime professionals in operating ships powered by alternative fuel systems.

Amogy Chief Executive Officer, Seonghoon Woo in a statement said: “We are thrilled to embark on this exciting and important project in partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and other esteemed collaborators.

“This initiative showcases Singapore's leadership in driving sustainable maritime solutions and underscores our commitment to advancing ammonia as a clean energy source for maritime shipping and equipping the global maritime workforce with the necessary skills to navigate the future of shipping.”

The LOI was signed on the Opening Day of Singapore Maritime Week 2024 by the MPA and 22 partners, including international organisations, engine makers, classification societies, trade associations, unions, and institutes of higher learning.

The establishment of a training facility follows a recommendation put forth by the Tripartite Advisory Panel, formed in early 2023, which aims to identify emerging and future skills and competencies needed to build the maritime workforce of the future.

The METF will be a decentralised facility based in Singapore, utilising the various partners’ assets and training technologies to train global seafarers in the use, manning, and operation of vessels powered by zero or near-zero emission technologies.

With hundreds of crew changes conducted daily in Singapore, the METF's establishment is strategically positioned to support vessel operators and ship management companies with their crew training needs as part of their crew change arrangements.

When fully operational, the METF is anticipated to benefit around 10,000 maritime personnel, including seafarers, from now to the 2030s.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS HONG KONG’S TUGU INSURANCE CREDIT RATINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of Hong Kong’s Tugu Insurance Company Limited (TIC).

In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook reflected TIC’s balance sheet strength, which was assessed as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).

TIC’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, is assessed at the strongest level and expected to remain so over the short to intermediate term.

Offsetting balance sheet strength factors include the volatility in the absolute capital and surplus size due to underwriting volatility, concentration risk in investment properties, and fair value movements of these properties.

The company’s marginal operating performance is demonstrated by its volatile bottom line, contributed both from underwriting and investment experience; nonetheless, its operating expense ratio remains high with a limited premium base.

Despite stable rental income from its investment properties and interest and dividend income arising from its liquid assets, TIC experienced investment losses in 2022 and 2023 due to a decline in the fair value of investment properties. The company’s overall profitability is expected to remain modest over the intermediate term.

TIC’s ultimate parent company is PT Pertamina (Persero), a state-owned integrated oil and gas company in Indonesia. While TIC obtains a substantial portion of its top line from its parent, it also has expanded other revenue sources actively for more diversification, including overseas business and domestic business in Hong Kong, over the past few years.

The rating agency also assesses TIC’s ERM as marginal with key areas of concern include underwriting, investment concentration, strategic planning and reserving capability.

To address these concerns, the company has taken remediation actions including developing its risk management framework with refined risk appetite and risk policies, and performing relevant stress and scenario testing to ensure compliance with the latest regulatory requirements and internal concerns.

-- BERNAMA

HONG KONG’S CMB WING LUNG INSURANCE RATED EXCELLENT - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the Hong Kong’s CMB Wing Lung Insurance Company Limited (CMBWLI) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent).

In a statement, AM Best said these credit ratings (ratings) which have a stable outlook reflected CMBWLI’s balance sheet strength, which was assessed as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

CMBWLI’s very strong balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its robust risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR).

The company’s capital base continued to grow organically in 2022, supported by its positive operating results and profit retention, partially offset by a one-off dividend in specie to CMB Wing Lung Bank in 2022. During 2022 and 2023, cash and cash equivalents remained as CMBWLI’s largest asset type.

Additionally, the insurer continues to enhance the credit quality of its bond investments, which remains as its largest investment asset type other than cash, as well as the de-risking of its equity portfolio during 2023.

The company’s overall operating performance has been consistently strong and better than average, as evidenced by annualised returns on equity of eight per cent and nine per cent respectively, in 2022 and 2023.

Net earnings continued to be supported by decent growth in premium volume and profitable underwriting results. CMBWLI’s investment performance continues to be supported by a stream of interest and dividend incomes during 2022 and 2023.

A medium-size, non-life insurer in Hong Kong, and one of the major market players in its domestic market’s employees’ compensation (EC) segment, CMBWLI ’s product mix remained diversified in 2023, with EC, motor and property damage making up the bulk of its business.

CMBWLI has continued to strengthen its risk management over the last few years, including investment risk controls, risk identification and monitoring tools, as well as risk governance.

-- BERNAMA

Region Smart City Awards For Asia Applications Open Until June 14

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Powered by World Smart City Awards, the Region Smart City Awards, which have a special focus on emerging cities in Asia, are now accepting applications with submission deadline on June 14.

The Awards aim to recognise outstanding projects, enterprises, and leaders in smart city development; foster a culture of learning and cooperation among cities in Asia; and drive diversified development.

It also advocates the sharing of successful experiences and strategic solutions, catalysing joint efforts towards digitalisation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable growth across the Asian urban landscape.

According to a statement, the evaluation principles of the Awards revolve around inclusiveness, equality, technology for good, and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

Key facets of evaluation include diversity, innovation, relevance, impact, top-level design, citizen participation, co-creation, inclusivity, viability, and replicability of solutions.

The World Smart City Awards organised by the Smart City Expo World Congress, have been successfully held for 13 years and are acclaimed as the “Oscars” in the field of global smart city development.

Shortlisted entities will be invited to participate in the Smart City Expo World Congress · Hangzhou Stage, scheduled from Sept 25 to 29, including relevant forums, government-enterprise closed-door meetings, and the award ceremony.

From 2010 to 2025, 440 emerging-market cities are poised to propel nearly half of global gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Among them, the prominence of emerging cities in Asia is significant, harbouring 57 per cent of the world's populace, with the majority living in urban areas.

-- BERNAMA