SYNCHRONOSS SOLUTION TO BENEFIT 25 UNIVERSITIES, 8 MILLION STUDENTS IN INDONESIA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Synchronoss Technologies Inc has announced partnership with Telkomsigma, the IT arm of Telkom Indonesia Group, to deliver the Synchronoss Personal Cloud® Solution to Indonesian universities.

According to a statement, the Telkom Community Cloud will be offered to students at 25 universities as a tool to securely store, share and transfer academic documents with their professors, school groups and peers.

The white-label Synchronoss Personal Cloud solution will run on top of FLOU, Telkomsigma’s multi-cloud platform. 

First-year students at selected universities will be able to join the new cloud solution, beginning September, with thousands of additional students phased in over the next three years. 

At the end of the three-year onboarding process, 450,000 students are expected to have access to the new Synchronoss-powered personal cloud solution.

Students will also have the option to continue using a paid version of the same solution after they graduate, giving them the ability to access, store and share their academic files, photos, videos and other personal content long after they have left their educational institutions.

Via automatic backup capabilities, the Telkomsigma Community Cloud also protects students from loss of data due to hardware failure. 

And unlike other cloud solutions on the market, the Synchronoss-powered personal cloud allows student data to be stored in-country, a critical requirement for Telkomsigma to adhere to Indonesian law.

Synchronoss’ personal cloud solutions have been adopted by mobile operators and other companies to deliver a high level of value to their customers and to drive new revenue.

-- BERNAMA

OPUS ONE TO PREPARE SINGAPORE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR LOW CARBON ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Opus One Solutions has been contracted by SP Group (SP) to implement its GridOS® software, optimising SP’s existing distributed energy in real time and integrating more renewable energy into the grid.

According to a statement, Opus One is a leading provider of software in distributed energy resource (DER), planning, management and transactive/flexibility energy markets, and a Global Cleantech 100 company.

Building on the company’s existing smart grid initiative, Opus One and SP will undertake a proof-of-concept exercise where Opus One’s GridOS DER management platform will be deployed to enhance DER capabilities for a selected circuit.

Opus One will leverage its GridOS software to simulate scenarios in the future for the users to understand the effects of more DERs on the distribution system and how to enhance grid reliability in the scenarios.

Some specific applications will be tested with the software solution including analysing network constraints, calculating hosting capacity for DER connections and managing DER dispatch with grid constraints. 

Through the proof-of-concept exercise, Opus One hopes the results will support SP in preparing Singapore for a low carbon energy future.

To combat climate change and rising electricity demand, Singapore is working to build a more sustainable, reliable and affordable energy supply with the country planning to deploy at least two gigawatt-peak of solar energy by 2030 and 200 megawatts of energy storage beyond 2025.

As a small, low-lying city-state with one of the world’s most open economies, Singapore is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change and as a result is now working on a US$72 billion plan to safeguard the city against extreme temperatures and flooding. (US$1 = RM4.114)

-- BERNAMA

CISCO APPDYNAMICS BROADENS GLOBAL SAAS OFFERING VIA 5 NEW LOCATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Cisco AppDynamics, the industry leading Business Observability platform has expanded its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering through five new strategic locations, enabling fast, secure and reliable access to the AppDynamics Business Observability platform.

Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the new locations are Cape Town (South Africa); Hong Kong (China); London (England); São Paulo (Brazil); and, Singapore, according to a statement.

This will provide regional customers and partners with access to full-stack observability solutions that are secure, scalable and adhere to their local data residency regulations, enabling companies to deliver a superior digital experience.

“AppDynamics is committed to delivering superior digital experiences through our Business Observability platform, and the expansion of our SaaS presence will provide a level of SaaS coverage unmatched in our industry,” said AppDynamics chief product officer, Vipul Shah.

The addition of five new locations offers a solution to enterprises concerned with potential data sovereignty and governance requirements, and provides access for customers worldwide.

With points of presence already in place in Portland (US), Frankfurt (Germany), Mumbai (India) and Sydney (Australia), AppDynamics now has more SaaS support than any other vendor in the market.

Recently acknowledged as a notable strength by Gartner, AppDynamics’ robust global SaaS footprint will ensure enterprise companies can focus on creating flawless digital experiences through the Cisco AppDynamics Business Observability platform.

The addition of the five new locations comes on the heels of AppDynamics’ SaaS offering in India, announced in October last year, and builds on the company’s global SaaS footprint across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. 

-- BERNAMA

ACAMS' 12TH ANNUAL AML & ANTI-FINANCIAL CRIME CONFERENCE - APAC TAKES CUTTING-EDGE LOOK AT THE PERILS AND PROMISE OF COMPLIANCE EFFORTS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Financial-crime prevention experts from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines, British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong, and APAC’s leading financial institutions will share mitigation strategies on money laundering, sanctions, corruption, bribery and other regulatory challenges

Hong Kong / Singapore, April 21 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing effort to help compliance professionals meet evolving regulatory expectations in the Asia Pacific region, ACAMS will present a one-of-a-kind training and networking event for its 12th Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crime Conference – APAC. Beginning on April 26th, attendees at this two-day, fully virtual event will have the opportunity to learn best practices from the region’s leading subject-matter experts and hear what lies ahead in the fight against financial crime from high-level regulators, including officials with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines. 

In panel discussions and roundtable talks, conference speakers will share thought leadership and offer guidance on a spectrum of issues, including deploying artificial intelligence in transactions surveillance, developing an AML-Conduct Agenda and Risk Tolerance Statement framework, disrupting illicit wildlife trafficking, identifying the misuse of legal persons using proxy and nominee accounts.

In between sessions, attendees will also have the opportunity to network with their peers in the conference’s Virtual Exhibit Hall. 

“With monetary penalties on the rise and ever-growing regulatory expectations, the next 12 months will be busy for compliance professionals working in Asia-Pacific institutions,” said ACAMS president and managing director Scott Liles. “That’s why we knew this year’s conference needed to place a special emphasis on cutting-edge topics, such as new technological innovations, while offering sessions for non-bank financial institutions and the Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions, such as insurance companies, and professional service providers.”

“Whether you’re from a major bank seeking to detect COVID-19 procurement fraud or from an insurance firm that wants to mitigate its exposure to evolving sanctions and proliferation financing risks, we have an unparalleled line-up of sessions and expert speakers ready to offer practical compliance advice and answer your questions,” he said. 

In addition to keynote addresses from the Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Assistant Managing Director overseeing financial crime at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the conference will feature financial-crime experts from Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines, Standard Chartered Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, ANZ, Bank Julius Bär, SMBC, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, MUFG Bank, RCBC, AIA, Deloitte, British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and WWF-Hong Kong, among other organizations. 

Attendees will be able to view panels in real-time or watch on-demand content that will be made available for 90 days following the conference. The full program can be found here.



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WEBENGAGE SCORES NOTCH IN FINANCIAL TIMES ASIA-PACIFIC HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- WebEngage, a full-stack Marketing Automation company, has been accorded recognition by Financial Times as one of Asia-Pacific’s top 500 high-growth companies, debuting in the list at rank 206 to emerge as a rapidly-growing company.

The report compiled in partnership with Nikkei Asia and research provider Statista — ranks Asia-Pacific companies by their compound annual growth rate in revenue between 2016 and 2019, according to a statement.

The recognition cements the Mumbai-headquartered company’s reputation as a leading global martech platform for digital consumer businesses.

Recently, WebEngage registered another notable mention as one of India’s fastest-growing companies in the year 2021 by The Economic Times and Statista.

Chief Executive Officer, Avlesh Singh said: “It is an exhilarating moment for us to be recognised as one of the high-growth companies in the APAC region by FT. We are in the 10th year of our operations, and it's been a great ride building a much-loved brand.

“Over the years, we have successfully enabled consumer brands to create immersive digital experiences and drive tangible business results. We have grown steadily despite the impact of COVID in 2020.”

WebEngage started as a web-based tool and later pivoted to a full-stack marketing automation platform over the years. It serves thousands of mid-market and enterprise customers in 35 countries across verticals like E-Commerce, Fintech and Online Retail.

-- BERNAMA

INSTEP CONTINUES TO PROMOTE TECHNICAL COOPERATION AMONGST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

KUALA NERUS, April 21 (Bernama) -- Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) recently hosted two three-day sessions of Virtual Conference & Dialogue on Managing Global Talents in Oil & Gas Industry.
 
The sessions were part of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) which advocates the sharing of development experiences and expertise with other developing countries through technical cooperation programmes. Participants were from Algeria, Cambodia, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Zambia.
 
INSTEP is supporting the Malaysian Government’s commitment to promote regional and technical cooperation amongst developing countries as well as nurture collective self-reliance of the global South. Since the inception of MTCP in 1980, participants from 144 countries have benefited from various capacity building programmes offered under the MTCP. 
 
Held in March and April 2021, the MTCP-INSTEP programme sought to encourage strategic conversations amongst the industry players on ways to develop technical talents in their localities. Topics related to training, education and localisation, particularly in advancing homegrown talents and capability framework were addressed through virtual discussions and presentations.
 
Participants were exposed to INSTEP’s current initiatives in talent development since its establishment in 1981, and were able to gain insights into how it navigates efforts to connect talents to technical competencies with a goal to enrich the global energy workforce. 
 
The highlight of this training course was an engagement session with INSTEP’s leaders which enabled participants to understand the on-going initiatives and stumbling blocks affecting the oil and gas industry in Malaysia with regards to Human Capital Development.
 
About INSTEP
 
Established in 1981, INSTEP accelerates human capital development in the energy industry and has produced more than 130,000 competent technical workforces globally. The year 2021 marks INSTEP’s 40 years of contribution to building technical competencies and commitment in enriching the energy workforce towards a sustainable future.
 
About MTCP
 
The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) was officially launched on 7 September 1980 at the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting in New Delhi, India, to signify Malaysia’s commitment to the South-South Cooperation, in particular, the Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). The MTCP emphasises on the development of human resources through the provision of trainings in various areas which are essential for a country’s development such as the public administration, good governance, health, education, agriculture, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, economy and finance, ICT and environment. Annually, Malaysia offered more than 65 capacity-building and technical assistance programmes under the MTCP, which have benefited more than 34,000 participants from 144 countries.
 
W: https://www.instep.my/Pages/default.aspx
FB: https://www.facebook.com/instep.MY/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/instep.my/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/instep-my/mycompany/

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FWD TAKAFUL LAUNCHES FWD BIG 3 CRITICAL ILLNESS TO OFFER FULL PAY OUT FOR CANCER, HEART ATTACK OR STROKE

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- FWD Takaful Berhad (“FWD Takaful”) has launched FWD Big 3 Critical Illness, a simple and consumer-friendly online product that provides coverage against cancer, heart attack or stroke. To meet the fundamental life protection needs, this regular contribution plan offers up to RM20,000 death benefit, with options to enhance the plan via the neurological and heart disorders benefit rider.

 
There is a lack of coverage among Malaysians for critical illnesses even though they’re the top three death causes, specifically cancer, stroke and heart attack. These three critical illnesses also make up 85%¹ of critical illness claims. Furthermore, only 6.15%² of Takaful certificates issued online were from the critical illness category.
 
Salim Majid Zain, FWD Takaful’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Sedentary lifestyles have exposed Malaysians to a higher risk of lifestyle diseases and chronic conditions. We created FWD Big 3 Critical Illness to help customers seek early treatment for a better chance of recovery and allow them to cope with unexpected changes in their life, both financially and emotionally.”
 
FWD Big 3 Critical Illness covers individuals from 17 years old up to 75 years old with a sum covered of up to RM250,000. Customers will receive a 100% pay-out upon diagnosis of the covered critical illnesses including neurological and heart disorders if this additional benefit is opted. This additional coverage will pay out a benefit in the event the person covered suffers from any of the 24 covered conditions, such as the need for a cardiac pacemaker insertion or bacterial meningitis infection.
 
Wan Ahmad Najib Wan Ahmad Lotfi, FWD Takaful’s Chief Strategy and Digital Distribution Officer, said, “FWD Big 3 Critical Illness is designed to strike a balance between sufficient coverage and affordability as we understand the considerable financial impact from treatment costs of cancer, heart attack and stroke. This plan offers early-stage protection against these three most commonly claimed critical illnesses.”
 
The key features of FWD Big 3 Critical Illness are:
• Cancer, Stroke and Heart Attack – FWD Takaful will pay the sum covered or total contributions, whichever is higher, if the person covered is diagnosed with any of the three critical illnesses.
• Death – FWD Takaful will pay RM20,000 if the person covered dies due to any causes.
• Enhanced coverage with Neurological and Heart Disorder benefit – FWD Takaful will pay 100% sum covered should you suffer from or require procedures from any of the 24 covered neurological and heart conditions that affect your brain (11 conditions) or heart (13 conditions) function.
 
To find out more about FWD Big 3 Critical Illness and its benefits, please visit fwd.com.my/direct/big-3-critical-illness. Alternatively, call 1300 13 7988 or email contact.my@fwd.com for more information.
 
Source:
¹ FWD Takaful claims record, as at December 2020
² Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) Annual Report 2019
 
About FWD Takaful Berhad

FWD Takaful Berhad (“FWD Takaful”) is a Takaful provider in Malaysia that offers family Takaful services. FWD Takaful is licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 and is regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia.

It is a Takaful business unit of FWD Group (“FWD”) – which spans 10 markets in Asia including Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Cambodia, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, employee benefits, Shariah and family takaful products across a number of its markets.

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences and making the insurance journey simpler, faster and smoother, with innovative propositions and easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer by changing the way people feel about insurance.

Established in Asia in 2013 with a trailblazer mentality, FWD is the primary insurance business of investment group, Pacific Century Group.

For more information, please visit fwd.com.my.
 
Source: FWD Takaful Berhad

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MARY KAY LAUNCHES FIRST VIRTUAL POP-UP SHOWROOM, SUITE 13™

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Global beauty brand, Mary Kay Inc and its Mary Kay Global Design Studio have presented an innovative virtual beauty experience, digitising Mary Kay's first virtual pop-up showroom.

Designed with the latest virtual reality technology, the new Suite 13™ offers Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and customers a 360-degree as well as 3D beauty experience.

Users can virtually browse the beauty brand’s portfolio of skin care as well as explore the company and its founder Mary Kay Ash’s history.

Based on a statement, Suite 13™ invites users to tour via virtual ‘rooms’. Upon entering the ‘Lobby’, users can learn about the Company’s global legacy. 

The other virtual rooms include the ‘Pink Plaza’ which explores the Company’s values and the ‘Innovation Center’ that presents Mary Kay’s innovative skin care products and showcases key product benefits and ingredients. 

The platform also allows users to add their favourite Mary Kay products to a Wishlist to be shared with the user’s Independent Beauty Consultant.

For the design of Suite 13™, Mary Kay partnered with Obsess, a leading experiential e-commerce platform that enables brands to create interactive, online virtual experiences using virtual reality. 

In keeping with its mission to empower women’s lives, Mary Kay also partnered with several female photographers to produce the images displayed in the virtual platform.

Suite 13™ was initially launched in Mexico earlier in 2021, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Colombia and Peru. The Company expects to launch the platform in most of its markets by year-end. 

-- BERNAMA

SAFR FACIAL RECOGNITION FOR LIVE VIDEO NOW INTEGRATED WITH GEUTEBRÜCK VMS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- SAFR from RealNetworks Inc has announced that its SAFR facial recognition system for live video is now integrated with the Geutebrück G-Core VMS (Video Management System).

SAFR from RealNetworks is a high-performance computer vision platform while Geutebrück is an international provider of proprietary, high-performance video security software and the corresponding hardware.

According to a statement, SAFR for Geutebrück is an AI layer that runs on top of the G-Core VMS, providing advanced video analytics that save time and increase efficiency of surveillance operations.

The best-in-class integration features live video overlays that display event details, streamlined enrollment of individuals appearing on the Geutebrück VMS directly into the SAFR identity database, and custom alarms and notifications that notify security personnel of SAFR events directly within the VMS.

SAFR matches faces appearing in live video feeds against watchlist images more effectively (99.87 per cent), and with less bias, than humans. 

This enables security personnel to prioritise feeds that require review while providing them the key information they need to respond to persons of interest more quickly.

SAFR also recognises individuals wearing masks with remarkable accuracy (98.85 per cent).

The enrolled or reference image is displayed side by side with the face detected in the VMS video. Operators have instant access to the enrolled person’s face image to confirm match events.

More details at https://safr.com 

-- BERNAMA

LintonPharm authorised by China’s NMPA to proceed catumaxomab clinical trial

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 -- China’s health authority, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has authorised LintonPharm Co Ltd to proceed with a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of catumaxomab.

The clinical trial will involve patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) whose tumours have recurred due to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine failure.

“Regulatory clearance to move forward with our clinical programme evaluating catumaxomab in bladder cancer is another significant milestone for LintonPharm and supports our goal of exploring the potential for this targeted therapy in a broad range of cancers,” said LintonPharm Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Li, Ph.D., DABT.

“Patients with NMIBC BCG failure have high rates of tumour recurrence and often face a lifetime of surgical intervention which may impact bladder function. New treatment options are needed and we are hopeful that this study puts us one step closer toward helping these patients.”

According to a statement, this is LintonPharm’s second clinical programme evaluating catumaxomab. In July last year, the company announced authorisation of a Phase 3 trial in advanced gastric cancer which screened its first patient in October last year.

Recently, Lindis Biotech, partner of LintonPharm, initiated a dose-finding Phase 1 trial with catumaxomab in NMIBC patients in Germany and reported an excellent safety profile, which supports the conduct of the Phase 1/2 trial in China.

Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide. In 2020, bladder cancer was diagnosed in approximately 573,278 patients globally and approximately 1.8 million people were living with this form of cancer over a five-year period.

-- BERNAMA

WUDANG MOUNTAINS CULTURAL HERITAGE FAIR HELD IN CHINA’S HUBEI UNTIL MAY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently held a special global promotion for Hubei Province in central China. 

The Wudang Mountains, the holy place of Taoism, once again made a stunning appearance in front of the world.

In the meantime, the first ‘2021 Wudang Mountains Intangible Cultural Heritage Temple Fair’ is underway in Yuxu Street, according to the Wudang Mountains Tourism Special Economic Zone Working Committee in a statement.

Lasting until May 6, the fair presents powerful martial arts performances, graceful folk dances and dazzling Han Chinese costume show.

People in the city of Shiyan invite tourists from home and abroad to visit the Wudang Mountains, joining the temple fairs, enjoying the beautiful scenery and practising martial arts.

The natural landscape of the Wudang Mountains is so magnificent until it is known as ‘the most beautiful mountain in the world’.

The Wudang Mountains has the most complete and largest existing Taoist architectural complex in China. 

These buildings make full use of the terrain characteristics, and build the palaces among the peaks, mountains, slopes, rocks and streams, reflecting the fine tradition of ‘harmonious coexistence of man and nature’ in Chinese architectural art.

It also shows the idea of ‘Tao following nature and the unity of man and nature’ in traditional Chinese culture. 

The Wudang Mountains is thus known as ‘the museum of ancient Chinese architectural achievements’ and ‘the Forbidden City hanging on cliffs’.

-- BERNAMA

TIGERGRAPH'S GRAPH + AI SUMMIT 2021 TO FEATURE 40+ SESSIONS, LIVE WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKERS FROM JPMORGAN CHASE, NEWDAY, PINTEREST, JAGUAR LAND ROVER AND MORE

More than 6,000 Attendees Expected at April 21-23 Event; TigerGraph Finalizes Speakers, Sessions and Workshops Focused on Accelerating Analytics, AI and Machine Learning with Graph

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TigerGraph, provider of the leading graph analytics platform, today unveiled the complete agenda for Graph + AI Summit 2021, the industry’s only open conference devoted to democratizing and accelerating analytics, AI and machine learning with graph algorithms. The roster includes confirmed speakers from JPMorgan Chase, Intuit, NewDay, Jaguar Land Rover, Pinterest, Stanford University, Forrester Research, Accenture, Capgemini, KPMG, Intel, Dell, and Xilinx, as well as many innovative startups including John Snow Labs, Fintell, SaH Solutions and Sayari Labs. The virtual conference, set for April 21-23, offers keynotes, speakers, real-world customer case studies and hands-on workshops for data, analytics and AI professionals.

“The combination of analytics, AI, machine learning and graph is a powerful one that offers many ‘human benefits’ — and forward-looking companies in all industries have taken note,” said Dr. Yu Xu, founder and CEO of TigerGraph. “Graph + AI Summit is again bringing together industry luminaries, technical experts and business leaders from the world’s largest banks, fintechs, tech giants and manufacturers to share implementation best practices, lessons learned and more. We’re pleased to welcome back speakers from Jaguar Land Rover and Intuit, and welcome new participants from an impressive list of today’s top innovators driving the adoption of graph. Our goal is to make graph accessible, applicable and understandable for all, as more people grasp how graph-related technologies can improve our lives.”

Graph + AI Summit returns after a successful Graph + AI 2020; the inaugural event attracted more than 3,000 attendees from 56 countries, and welcomed data scientists, data engineers, architects and business and IT executives from 115 of the Fortune 500 companies. The latest conference will host over 6,000 attendees this year and again focus on accelerating analytics, AI and machine learning with graph algorithms — timely technologies that are on the minds of today’s business leaders. After 2020 accelerated enterprises’ shift to the cloud, businesses are realizing graph technologies are key to connecting, analyzing and helping glean insights from data.

Graph + AI Summit 2021 includes keynote presentations, executive roundtables, technical breakout sessions, industry tracks (“banking, insurance and fintech,” “healthcare, life sciences and government”) and live workshops for advanced analytics and machine learning.


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EIG, ARAMCO INK US$12.4 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- EIG, a leading institutional investor to the global energy sector and one of the world’s leading infrastructure investors, has announced entering into a lease and lease-back agreement with Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Aramco).

Under this agreement, a consortium of investors led by EIG will acquire a 49 per cent equity stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company (Aramco Oil Pipelines), a newly-formed entity with rights to a 25-year tariff payments for oil transported through Aramco’s stabilised crude oil pipeline network.

The transaction is valued at approximately US$12.4 billion with Aramco holding the remaining 51 per cent stake in the new entity, indicating a total equity value of Aramco Oil Pipelines of approximately US$25.3 billion. (US$1 = RM4.133)

The pipeline network, which includes all of Aramco’s existing and future stabilised crude pipelines in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, connects oilfields to downstream networks.

According to a statement, the pipeline network transports 100 per cent of Aramco’s crude oil produced in the Kingdom under its Concession Agreement.

As part of the transaction, Aramco will lease the usage rights in its stabilised crude oil pipelines network to Aramco Oil Pipelines, and Aramco Oil Pipelines will grant back to Aramco the exclusive right to use, transport through, operate and maintain the pipeline network during the 25-year period in exchange for a quarterly, volume-based tariff, payable by Aramco.

The tariff will be backed by minimum volume commitments. Aramco will at all times retain title to, and operational control of, the pipeline network and will assume all operating and capital expense risk. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for EIG’s investors, and we are proud to partner with Aramco in this marquee global infrastructure asset,” said EIG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, R. Blair Thomas, adding the transaction aligned perfectly with EIG’s philosophy of investing in high-quality assets with contracted cash flows in critical infrastructure.

More details at www.eigpartners.com.

-- BERNAMA

AKWEL RECORDS STRONG IMPROVEMENT IN 2020 PROFITABILITY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- AKWEL, an automotive and HGV equipment and systems manufacturer specialising in fluid management and mechanisms, has posted its 2020 annual results.

Due to the upturn in activity during the last four-month period, the annual fall in turnover was -14.9 per cent and -10.9 per cent, at a constant exchange rate and comparable perimeter.

The EBITDA increased by 34.6 per cent, caused by the group quickly adapting to its cost structure under crisis conditions, work focusing on profitability and levels of operational maturity of new sites.

The group’s self-financing capacity of €154.4 million, improvement in working capital requirements down by €7.7 million, and management of investment budgets (€34 million) resulted in free cash flow generation of €128.2 million. (€1 = RM4.923)

With a positive net cash position of €60.6 million, AKWEL enjoys a particularly solid financial situation enabling it to come through this crisis. 

According to a statement, the payment of a dividend of €0.45 per share will be proposed for the 2020 financial year.

AKWEL is forecasting an increase in activity over the financial year underway but at this stage is not anticipating a level of profitability and cash generation comparable to that seen during the 2020 financial year.

 The outlook for new mobility solutions - and particularly the development of hydrogen - and increasing demands in the Corporate Social Responsibility field will be key areas to be focused this year.

-- BERNAMA

GUPSHUP TO CATALYSE CONVERSATIONAL MESSAGING VIA US$100 MILLION LATEST FUNDING

 Following rapid, profitable growth, the investment values Gupshup at $1.4 billion, validating its leadership position in Conversational Messaging

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gupshup, the leader in conversational messaging, today announced it has raised $100 million in funding from Tiger Global Management, propelling the company’s valuation to $1.4 billion. This funding will be followed by a second close with significant additional funds raised from more investors, to be announced later. This latest round follows years of profitable growth, product innovation, and customer adoption that saw Gupshup emerge as the global leader in conversational messaging. Gupshup’s API enables over 100,000 developers and businesses to build messaging and conversational experiences delivering over 6 billion messages per month across 30+ messaging channels. Gupshup will use this investment to rapidly scale product and go-to-market initiatives worldwide in order to accelerate the transformation of business-to-consumer interactions with conversational experiences delivered over messaging channels.

“The growth in business use of messaging and conversational experiences, transforming virtually every customer touchpoint, is an exciting secular trend,” said John Curtius, Partner at Tiger Global Management. He added, “Gupshup is uniquely positioned to win in this market with a differentiated product, a clear and sustainable moat, and an experienced team with a proven track record. In addition to its market leadership, Gupshup’s unique combination of scale, growth and profitability attracted us.”

Gupshup has long been the incumbent leader in business messaging in India. Most major brands in India across industries use Gupshup API for customer engagement across multiple channels, especially SMS. Over the last few years, business messaging has become more conversational as SMS messages include hyperlinks along with the rise of newer IP-based messaging channels, such as WhatsApp, RCS, and the Gupshup IP (GIP) messaging channel. Gupshup has been a pioneer and first-mover driving this industry transition to conversational messaging. Unlike the telco-based SMS ecosystem that is fragmented by country, IP messaging works exactly the same way globally thereby accelerating Gupshup’s global expansion. Gupshup’s technology, optimized for a mobile-first economy like India, is seeing great traction in emerging markets with similar dynamics. With a focus on automated, self-serve, developer-centric, partner-friendly APIs and solutions, Gupshup is making it easier and quicker for businesses, large and small, to leverage IP messaging and build conversational experiences for their customers. Gupshup offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including messaging APIs, bot platform, bot building tools, scripting engine, omni-channel inbox, conversational AI, client-side software and more.

The ubiquity of smartphones and dominance of messaging apps is forcing businesses to go where the consumers are: in their favorite messaging apps. Just like websites during the prior wave of technology-driven transformation, conversational experiences are enabling businesses to better engage, interact with and sell to their customers. Conversations are the new digital storefront for businesses – virtually every business will have to build it. This digital transformation has been further accelerated by the pandemic.

“Customers expect to converse with businesses the way they do with friends. They expect the conversation to be simple, easy, quick, contextual, and personalized,” explained Beerud Sheth, Gupshup Cofounder and CEO. “Gupshup’s mission is to build the tools that help businesses better engage customers through mobile messaging and conversational experiences. As we work towards our mission, we are delighted with this investment from Tiger Global, given its incredible track record of making big, bold, successful bets on innovative, category-defining companies worldwide.”

Gupshup’s last funding round was in 2011. Gupshup grew rapidly over the last few years, exiting 2020 with annual revenue run rate of approximately 150 million dollars.

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4-DAY VIRTUAL E3 2021 ENGAGES VIDEO GAME FANS WORLDWIDE THIS JUNE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- It’s a ‘Game On’ for E3 as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) officially unveils plans for a reimagined, all-virtual four-day E3 2021, beginning June 12.

Engaging video game fans everywhere, developers will be showcasing their latest news and games directly to fans worldwide.

According to a statement, the ESA will be working with media partners globally to help amplify and make this content available to everyone, for free.

Video game industry showcase returns with confirmed partners being Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media.

“For more than two decades, E3 has been the premier venue to showcase the best that the video game industry has to offer, while uniting the world through games,” said the ESA President and Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Pierre-Louis.

“We are evolving this year’s E3 into a more inclusive event, but will still look to excite the fans with major reveals and insider opportunities that make this event the indispensable centre stage for video games.”

While maintaining E3’s longstanding position as a central destination for industry networking -- where new partnerships and connections between video game publishers, developers and media are made -- the digital format for E3 2021 means more people than ever can participate.

The ESA looks forward to coming back together to celebrate E3 2022 in person. 

-- BERNAMA

YAYASAN PETRONAS EQUIPS 136 STEM TEACHERS FOR HYBRID TEACHING

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Yayasan PETRONAS, through its Program Duta Guru (PDG) initiative, has successfully equipped  its first cohort of 136 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers for hybrid teaching via classroom and virtual modes across 113 school districts in Malaysia.

Over the past months, each teacher received an online teaching kit which includes a mini green screen kit, a pedagogical book Pembelajaran Abad-21 and school stationery to help make online lessons effective, fun and interactive. They also received guidance on how to innovate and apply these items to create more engaging virtual lessons for their students.

With public secondary schools reopening this week, over 180,000 school teachers are expected to transition back to regular teaching duties in Malaysia. Despite this, teachers would still need to continue with the online delivery of lessons as and when needed.

“Our teachers are critical to the nation’s progress – they play such a huge role in the success of our students. Together with our partners, we are supporting the teachers’ professional development so they may better help students navigate the new normal and enhance their Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) through the STEM subjects,” said Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer Nelly Francis Shariah.

Initiated in 2019, PDG is a collaboration between Yayasan PETRONAS and the Ministry of Education’s Pusat STEM Negara, with Teach For Malaysia as the implementation partner. It aims to strengthen the teachers’ capability and continuously improve their teaching quality through training and coaching, curated content and by providing infrastructure.

PDG was rolled out through a series of three virtual sessions last year, where teachers gained insights from successful innovators in STEM education, discussed trends and challenges in the field – including how to effectively manage online classrooms and improve student learning outcomes.

Chief Executive Officer of Teach For Malaysia, Chan Soon Seng said, “Along with the rest of the world, the future of educators is one fused with technology. Teachers will need to become savvy users of digital tools, as well as creators of online content and knowledge. They need to help their students foster these skills for the future workforce as well.”

Since the delivery of the online teaching kits in December, many teachers have taken the opportunity to prepare ahead for their lessons this year.

“This programme is very beneficial to me. It has impacted how I apply integrated STEM teaching into delivering online lessons. It also helped in boosting my confidence to be a STEM leader in school,” said Zulfadzli Mahamad @ Muhamad, a teacher from SMK Trusan, Sarawak who is part of PDG’s Cohort 1.

Another PDG inductee from Labuan, Angela Joseph went a step further to collaborate with Yayasan PETRONAS in creating videos on the practice of good personal hygiene for primary school students. The collaboration was part of Yayasan PETRONAS’ Back To School programme, where 21,000 underprivileged primary school students received school supplies and personal hygiene kits.

“PDG taught me how to engage with students virtually and share these key takeaways with our teacher community groups. Through the collaboration with Yayasan PETRONAS, I am glad that students nationwide can also benefit from science to help them remember to follow the SOPs and stay safe,” said Angela.

Senior Principal Assistant Director of the National STEM Centre, Dr. Ihsan Ismail said, “With STEM teachers so consequential to the future of our students, we must address their needs as they face new challenges in their work. We hope to see more organisations stepping forward to collaborate with us in improving the quality of teaching in Malaysia.”

By 2030, PDG aims to have empowered 4,500 teachers to be highly capable STEM educators serving as role models in enhancing students’ interest and competency in STEM education and higher order thinking skills.

Each teacher cohort will undergo a two-year training comprising workshops, online training, industry visits, and participate in projects that address issues hindering the progress of STEM in their student communities. PDG’s Cohort 2 is set to be inducted through a virtual session this month.

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Shell investment to boost LanzaJet's leading technology global commercialisation

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 -- LanzaJet Inc, a leading sustainable fuel technology company and sustainable fuel producer, announced that Shell has joined as an investor in the company to advance LanzaJet’s global growth, accelerate commercialisation of its technology, and scale the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).  

According to a statement, Shell joins founding investors in LanzaJet, including LanzaTech, Suncor Energy Inc, Mitsui & Co Ltd, and more recently, British Airways, as well as participation from All Nippon Airways.  

This innovative phased investment approach significantly accelerates commercial deployment at a time when reducing emissions, especially of aviation, is increasingly important and demonstrates a joint commitment to creating a resilient, low carbon future.  

With the right policies to support the uptake and production of SAF, aviation can achieve net-zero emissions.  

The investment comes as LanzaJet continues its work to build the first Alcohol-to-Jet facility of its kind globally, a commercial-scale plant (10 million gallons per year capacity) in Soperton, Georgia, USA. Freedom Pines Fuels, as it's called, continues on schedule with operations beginning in 2022.  

LanzaJet was launched in June last year following nearly a decade of technology development and commercial scale-up through a partnership by LanzaJet’s founder, LanzaTech, with the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

The LanzaJet process can use any source of sustainable ethanol for jet fuel production, including, but not limited to, ethanol made from recycled pollution, the core application of LanzaTech’s carbon recycling platform.  

LanzaJet’s technology is uniquely able to produce up to 90 per cent of its fuels as SAF, with the remaining 10 per cent as renewable diesel. The SAF will be blended with conventional fossil jet fuel and be supplied to airports through the existing supply routes.  

The versatility in ethanol, and a focus on low-carbon, waste-based, and non-food /non-feed sources, along with ethanol’s global availability, make LanzaJet’s technology a relevant and enduring solution for SAF.  

-- BERNAMA

YAYASAN PETRONAS HELPS WITH FLOOD RECOVERY IN THE EAST COAST

 Sentuhan Kasih Programme supports 111 affected families in three districts

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Yayasan PETRONAS, in collaboration with PETRONAS, is continuing its annual Sentuhan Kasih Disaster Relief Programme to help 111 families affected by floods in the efforts to refurbish their homes as well as communal facilities. Over RM41,000 worth of basic supplies and refurbishment items will be distributed to assist affected households and improve several communal facilities, including two pre-schools and one primary school in Kemaman, Dungun and Kuantan. Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer Nelly Francis Shariah said: “The pain of losing one’s home and the financial difficulties caused by the floods, especially during a pandemic, are often beyond what many underprivileged families can bear. We hope our contribution would help ease their situation as they continue to rebuild their lives.” Since last week, PETRONAS has distributed learning aids, including chairs, desks, racks and whiteboards to Tabika Kemas Kampung Teladas, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Raja and Taska Kemas Kampung Shukur in Terengganu. Household items such as gas cookers, rice cookers, rice, cooking oil, amongst others, will be delivered to four villages in Pahang and two villages in Terengganu in the first week of April. Floods in the East Coast earlier this year forced more than 10,000 people and over 23,000 people to be evacuated to relief centres in Terengganu and Pahang respectively. Amongst those worst hit were residents of Kemaman and Dungun, as well as Paya Bungor, Kuantan. Head of PETRONAS East Coast Che Ahmad Tarmizi Abdul Rahman added: “We have been working closely with local community heads to assist the affected families and identify the communal facilities that require restoration and refurbishment. We hope that through our contribution, homes will be rebuilt and communal activities can resume in a safe and comfortable environment.” Yayasan PETRONAS’ Sentuhan Kasih Disaster Relief Programme is aligned with the PETRONAS Sustainability Agenda and the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. The Foundation has been working with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and non-governmental organisations to identify the needs of flood victims in various states across the country since the end of 2020. About Yayasan PETRONAS Yayasan PETRONAS is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of PETRONAS. Its mission is to enrich lives for a sustainable future. Yayasan PETRONAS aims to deliver sustainable impact, improving the quality of life and socio-economic outcomes for communities across the nation through its focus areas in Education, Community Well-being and Development and the Environment. Issued by: Yayasan PETRONAS To download photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XLjRfnf0z6uYb1RsCU5qTt8gd_dmVTc0?usp=sharing Photo 1: PETRONAS East Coast Media Relations Manager, Zamri Mohamad (right) handed over learning aid for Tabika Kemas Kampung Teladas to Kemaman District Kemas Officer, Ahmad Asri Sulaiman (left) in Kemaman, Terengganu recently. Photo 2: Pendidik Masyarakat Tabika, Suzanna Mustaffa (left) and PETRONAS East Coast staff, Haziq Zainal Rashid (right) and Hasmawi Omar (centre) teamed up to arrange the new tables and chairs contributed by Yayasan PETRONAS so that the preschoolers at Tabika Kampung Teladas can learn in a safer and more comfortable environment. Source: Yayasan PETRONAS http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=39721

MDV RECOGNISES AS ONE OF THE LEADING FINANCIERS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AT THE NATIONAL ENERGY AWARDS 2020

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV), a subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) [MOF Inc] and an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), took home an award for Sustainable Energy Financing at the National Energy Awards 2020 (NEA 2020).

 
The NEA is an annual award which recognises the outstanding achievements and best practices of the public and private sectors in driving the country’s sustainable energy agenda. Inaugurated in 2018, the NEA is part of the government’s effort in promoting Energy Efficiency (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE).
 
MDV was selected as one of the 30 winners of the NEA 2020 under the newly introduced Special Awards category for Sustainable Energy Financing (Development Financing Institutions & Others), which acknowledges financial institutions’ support in financing RE and EE projects in Malaysia.
 
The award ceremony which was held at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday saw MDV receiving recognition as one of the leading financiers for Sustainable Energy in Malaysia based on its contribution to the sector via the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) in which MDV is currently the highest financier under the scheme with more than RM912.0 million financing approved for 64 green technology companies since the scheme was first introduced by the Government back in 2010.
 
MDV’s Chairman, Khairul Azwan Harun said, “We are deeply honoured by the recognition given to us by the NEA for our efforts in financing sustainable energy projects in Malaysia. As a dedicated technology financier, MDV is highly invested in the development of the green technology sector in Malaysia by offering flexible and innovative financing solutions to green technology projects and companies even in the earlier days when financing was not readily forthcoming due to the sector being a relatively new concept in Malaysia and the numerous market and credit risks associated with the projects.”
 
Azwan further remarked that MDV has always been a firm supporter of the country’s sustainability agenda and believes that green technology holds an important key to achieving sustainable economic growth for the continued development of the nation.
 
To date, MDV has approved a total of RM1,203.7 million for 84 green technology projects. comprising RM936.4 million in renewable energy, RM128.0 million in energy efficiency, RM89.8 million in water & waste management projects and RM139.3 million in related green projects.
 
The award ceremony also saw MDV’s customers, Concord Green Energy Sdn Bhd becoming the winner for the RE category (on grid: national grid) for its Lepar Hilir Biogas Plant in Pahang, while Lotus West Sdn Bhd and Cenergi EE Sdn Bhd each received an award under the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) category. While MDV is proud of its customers excellent achievement in the area of RE & EE, it is also an indication of MDV’s expertise in identifying potentially viable projects to support, through its stringent due diligence processes and detailed assessment of projected performance of the business.

About MDV – The Nation’s Technology Financier 
 
Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance Incorporated established in 2002 with the objective of providing flexible and innovative financing to develop high-impact and technology-driven sectors of the economy, identified and prioritised by the Government as future engines of growth. MDV’s strategic role in the technology financing ecosystem in Malaysia is defined by its approach to funding which is different from other financial institutions. MDV’s niche is helping to fund young technology-based companies or start-ups that are unable to secure financing from commercial financial institutions due to their novel business model, lack of proven operating track record and lack of collaterals. With the rapid rate of technological and digital advance, and Malaysia’s continued push towards becoming an advanced nation, MDV will continue to have a significant role to play particularly in financing emerging technology areas and in achieving its vision of becoming the Nation’s Technology Financier. 
 
For more information on MDV, please visit www.mdv.com.my 
 
Please click here for photos and captions:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dtxllcjalqtxs74/AAD1hPTgEzTmUQD3oMNQQ8Yta?dl=0 
 
Source: Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad 

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PROFESSIONALISM OF KENANGA FINANCIAL PRACTITIONERS ENHANCED WITH REGISTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER (RFP) DESIGNATIONS

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC), and Kenanga Investors Berhad (Kenanga Investors) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in respect of Kenanga Investors’ goal to enhance careers of financial practitioners with financial planning qualification. The RFP will be able to provide a full analysis for a potential client and suggest possible solutions for a client to attain financial well-being.

 
The Registered Financial Planner (RFP) programme is a financial planning qualification programme that was introduced and launched in November 2002 by the then Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Ever since its inception in 2004, MFPC has worked towards developing the financial planning profession through its professional education programmes and introducing several initiatives and projects to raise the financial literacy of Malaysians from all walks of life. Subsequently, in line with the developments in the Malaysian Financial landscape, the RFP & Shariah RFP designations were approved by Bank Negara Malaysia as a professional qualification for the application of the Financial Adviser License and Financial Adviser Representative License, and by the Securities Commissions Malaysia for the application of the Capital Market Services License. The RFP & Shariah RFP programmes are also accredited by the Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA), an agency that is responsible for certifying the standards and quality of professional learning and development in the financial services industry.
 
In consideration of Kenanga Investors being amongst the country’s leading asset and wealth management company, MFPC is optimistic that this initiative will produce significant results and achieve success. This will then ensure that Malaysians would be able to obtain professional financial planning advice. Currently, apart from the individual advisers attached to the 39 licensed financial planning firms, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Agensi Kaunseling & Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) have ensured that all the frontline customer serving personnel are professionally qualified with the RFP designations.
 
President of MFPC, Vincent Kwo Shih Kang said, “It is our hope that through this collaborative effort of both entities, personnel from Kenanga Investors will stand in an even better stead as professional financial planners in the financial services sector”.
 
Financial planning is the methodical approach enabling a person or business to achieve monetary goals through the optimum deployment of resources. It has the prospects and poises to be an important factor in transforming the financial system of Malaysia. In collaboration with members of the Financial Education Network (FEN), the Council’s national initiative; “My Money & Me” offer free basic financial literacy programme to all the Rakyat.

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