Friday 29 December 2023

YILI GROUP CELEBRATES DYNAMIC GLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS AT THE TOP PARTNERS CONFERENCE 2024

 



SANYA, China, Dec. 28, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--
 
Between December 6 and 20, Yili Group and its Thai and Indonesian subsidiaries, respectively, brought together global partners for their Top Partners Conference 2024, themed "Grow with Innovation, Forward in Unity."

Fueled by record-breaking sales, Yili Group has cemented its all-around leadership in the industry

Supported by global partnerships, Yili's performance in the first three quarters of 2023 was a resounding success. Revenue soared to a record 97.404 billion yuan (approx. US$13.32 billion), accompanied by a notable 16.36% increase in net profit.

Yili's international business has experienced sustained and rapid growth, driven by the expansion of its strategic global network. The company has now put into place a network comprising a global resource system, a global innovation system and a global market system, owning a total of 15 R&D and innovation centers and 81 production bases worldwide.

This year, Yili's operation in New Zealand and Australia was recognized as the fastest growing in the region, with its products now gracing shelves in over 40 countries and revenue hitting an all-time high.

Brands like Thailand's Cremo and Indonesia's Joyday have both achieved the industry's highest sales growth rate. In the face of fierce market competition, Yili's Thai subsidiary rolled out rich product portfolios like Atom, Pilot, and Choco-Crush to better meet the needs of local consumers. At the conference, Yili's Indonesian subsidiary shared its 2024 market expansion plan, which will focus on product innovation, channel expansion, brand promotion, and efforts to continue to improve consumer satisfaction. It also released five major initiatives focused on empowering partners with value-sharing.

Over 100 new products launched at this year's conference

Upholding the belief of "no innovation, no future," Yili always actively creates products in response to the full life-cycle, all-scenario needs among all types of consumers. It launched over 100 new products at this year's Top Partners Conference.

At the conference, Yili's Liquid Milk Business Unit showcased impactful product innovations across various segments, with its flagship brands like AMBOPMIAL, SATINE and PLANT SELECTED launching new flavors to enrich the portfolio.

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Wednesday 27 December 2023

OVERSEAS CHINESE SHARING VIEWS ON OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT IN FUZHOU, FUJIAN

FUZHOU, China, Dec. 26, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--
 
The first Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development, co-hosted by All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Fujian Provincial People's Government, commenced on 20th December in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The conference seeks to establish a platform for sharing industry insights, talent policies and measures, fostering interactions among overseas Chinese professionals. Additionally, the event serves as a showcase for overseas Chinese academic and innovation accomplishments, and a platform to connect talents, projects and capital from overseas Chinese communities, aiming at building a standing platform of overseas Chinese wisdom for development.
 
Recently, the poster of the conference has been widely pushed via multiple overseas media including "ORIENTAL. PARIS" and social media channels such as "Discover Fujian" and "Discover Fuzhou", inviting overseas Chinese around the world to join and share their views on opportunities and development, according to the Publicity Department of CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee.
 
Themed "Blessings from Five Continents in 'Fuzhou': Overseas Chinese Building Chinese Dream", the conference, attended by more than 1,000 guests from 37 countries and regions from home and abroad, incorporates 17 important activities, offering a platform for related academic exchanges, showcasing innovation accomplishments, and on-site science and innovation competition, connection of industry, university, R&D and application, etc.
 
Fuzhou, Fujian is a major hometown of overseas Chinese. Nowadays, more than 4.3 million overseas Chinese from Fuzhou live in over 170 countries and regions. In recent years, Fuzhou has made every effort to optimise the business environment for overseas Chinese, and the city has attracted 17 projects funded by overseas Chinese since 2022, signing foreign investment contracts worth of USD 531 millions in total.
 
The conference also witnesses Fuzhou city reading out the Fuzhou Declaration of the New Generation of Overseas Chinese.
 
Source: Publicity Department of CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee 

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Saturday 23 December 2023

HONG KONG HOSTS THE FINALE OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC RACE BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Ms. Vivian Sum, Commissioner for Tourism (left) and Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of HKTB (right) welcomed Mr. Alejandro Agag, Chairman and co-founder of E1 (middle), for bringing the first-ever UIM E1 World Championship to Hong Kong (Photo: Hong Kong Tourism Board) 

UIM E1 World Championship

HONG KONG, Dec 21 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Under the official Championship Standings “Race to Hong Kong”, the first-ever UIM E1 World Championship (E1) will stage its grand finale in Hong Kong – E1 Hong Kong Grand Prix – for the first three seasons from 2024 to 2026 with joint support by the Tourism Commission of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). The E1 Hong Kong Grand Prix – the Hong Kong leg of the UIM E1 World Championship – is an event supported by the funding earmarked under the 2023-24 Budget to attract mega events with strong visitor appeal and significant tourism promotional effect to take place in Hong Kong.
 
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231220200058/en/ 


E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric race boat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). It will bring a brand new exposure and raise global awareness on sustainability across an exciting and competitive on-water racing platform based on electric technologies. As the only East Asian city to host this pioneering championship in its inaugural season, Hong Kong will welcome up to ten teams of pilots on 9 and 10 November 2024 after 6 international legs in Europe and the Middle East. E1 Hong Kong Grand Prix is expected to attract thousands of spectators from around the world to attend in person and experience the ultimate electric boat race on the waters of the picturesque Victoria Harbour in front of the city’s iconic skyline.

Mr. Kevin Yeung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hong Kong SAR Government, welcomed E1 to Hong Kong, “We are most excited to see the debut of UIM E1 World Championship in 2024, and are proud that Hong Kong will host the grand finale of the first three seasons of the championship and will be the only East Asian host city of its inaugural season, highlighting Hong Kong's reputation as a world-renowned events capital and one of the best destinations for tourists around the world.”

Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of HKTB, echoed Mr. Yeung’s enthusiasm for E1’s debut finale in Hong Kong, “Hong Kong is excited to host the finale of the E1 ‘Race to Hong Kong’ in its inaugural season. The adrenaline-filled boat race will showcase our city’s vibrancy and our mesmerising skyline. We will capitalise on this wonderful opportunity and maximise our global promotion to attract visitors to experience this one-of-a-kind championship.”

Mr. Alejandro Agag, Chairman and co-founder of E1, said, “Hong Kong is the perfect city to host the final race of the first three seasons of E1. We are confident that Hong Kong’s superb facilities and international connectivity will enhance the overall experience for both the racing teams and spectators, lay a solid foundation and build a legacy for E1 as a world-class sports event.”

The UIM E1 World Championship Season 1 will feature seven thrilling races around the world in 2024 in cities including Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Venice (Italy), Puerto Banús (Spain), Geneva (Switzerland), Monaco, and Rotterdam (the Netherlands), culminating in a spectacular final event in Hong Kong. The championship will see up to 10 teams and 20 male and female pilots racing on water in iconic cities and navigate tight and technical circuits behind the wheel of electric E1 raceboats. E1’s teams are owned by some of the biggest names in their fields from Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, Virat Kohli, Didier Drogba and Sergio Pérez in sports to Steve Aoki and Marc Anthony in the world of music and entertainment.
 
For more details on the championship and the races, please refer to UIM E1 World Championship’s official website: http://www.e1series.com

 

 
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231220200058/en/


Contact

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Cameron Tong
Tel: 2807 6367
Email: cameron.tong@hktb.com 

Source : Hong Kong Tourism Board

--BERNAMA

HILLSTONE NETWORKS CTO TIM LIU SHARES ANNUAL CYBERSECURITY TRENDS 2024

CTO’s Corner: Navigating the Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape with Tim Liu

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec 22 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hillstone Networks, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, has published the annual year in review from the CTO’s Corner. The cybersecurity landscape in 2024 is poised for significant shifts, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Industry experts are closely monitoring several key trends that open the doors for potential threats as well as innovative IT strategies to counteract them. CTO Tim Liu shares his top trends for 2024:

AI's Impact on Cybersecurity

The surge in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, accelerated by the introduction of ChatGPT and other AI technologies in 2023, continues to reshape cybersecurity. While AI promises enhanced creativity, productivity, and general workflow improvements, it also introduces new threat vectors. The 'wild West' nature of the AI field, coupled with evolving regulations, raises concerns about data security. AI's susceptibility to phishing and social engineering exploits, empowered by more polished tactics, adds an additional layer of complexity to the cybersecurity landscape. As AI becomes more accessible, it raises questions about its potential for both good and malicious purposes and we have to remain diligent about the repercussions.

Cloud Security Challenges

Cloud adoption remains relentless, fueled in part by the demands of enterprise AI initiatives. However, the shared responsibility model for cloud security and compliance is not universally understood, particularly at the C-suite and board levels. Issues such as security concerns in shadow IT-managed cloud instances and oversight lapses by experienced IT teams contribute to lingering cloud security challenges.

Expanding Attack Surfaces

The proliferation of edge devices, including IoT devices, 5G-connected facilities, and network-interfacing electric vehicles, is rapidly expanding the cybersecurity threat landscape. Traditional network defenses must evolve to cover these new attack surfaces and points of entry, requiring a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.

The Human Factor in Cybersecurity

Amidst the focus on AI, cloud, and endpoints, human factors remain a prevalent attack vector. Cybersecurity incidents often stem from human actions, emphasizing the importance of foundational security practices. Regular updates, staff training, and vigilant management are paramount in averting cyber threats, making it clear that cybersecurity is as much a people problem as it is a technological one.

Digital Trust & Security Transformation

As businesses increasingly rely on digital transactions, building and maintaining digital trust has become imperative. Cybersecurity strategies contribute to digital trust, with an emphasis on holistic security postures and evolving practices like Security Operations (SecOps). Tools like SIEM and XDR play a crucial role in moving from pre-breach to post-breach postures, focusing on detection, response, and mitigation. Emerging trends such as SASE and SSE further underscore the need for a unified and integrated security approach.

The cybersecurity landscape in 2024 demands continuous adaptation and innovation. As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, organizations must stay vigilant, prioritize people-centric security measures, and embrace holistic security strategies to effectively navigate the evolving threat landscape.

Happy Holidays from Hillstone Networks.

About Hillstone Networks

Hillstone Networks is a leader in cybersecurity, delivering both depth and breadth of protection to companies of all sizes, from edge to cloud, and across any workload. Hillstone Networks’ Integrative Cyber Security approach brings coverage, control, and consolidation to more than 26,000 enterprises worldwide. www.hillstonenet.com

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Thursday 21 December 2023

Tsuburaya Productions Kicks Off 2024 With Ultraman Card Game Roadshows




KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Tsuburaya Productions Company Limited announced it will run a series of roadshows showcasing its upcoming ULTRAMAN CARD GAME across global markets in 2024 at Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023 (AFA23).

AFA23, held from Nov 24 to 26, was selected as the first event to bring the ULTRAMAN CARD GAME to fans and potential business partners whereby visitors enjoyed test plays and a live stage show introducing the game.

Tsuburaya Productions Deputy Executive Marketing Manager, Takayuki Kawai said this game is designed for all generations, from Ultraman fans to those who are yet unfamiliar with the characters and stories.

“We hope everyone enjoys ULTRAMAN CARD GAME with family and friends and it serves as an opportunity to learn more about and love Tsuburaya Productions’ works,” he said in a statement.

Promotions will begin in 2024, and after the launch, scheduled in summer 2024, local and world tournaments are planned for players worldwide.

The game is scheduled to launch in Japan, North America, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and select markets in Southeast Asia.

ULTRAMAN CARD GAME is a trading card game that combines the worldbuilding of the Ultraman series with gameplay and collectability that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday 20 December 2023

IdentiFlight To Better Serve French Market via German e3 IDF New Office In France

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- IdentiFlight and e3 IDF GmbH announced the launch of e3 IdentiFlight France in the Nantes area, reinforcing IdentiFlight’s global presence and commitment to the French market.

According to IdentiFlight in a statement, the French office offers expertise in renewable energy project development and the IdentiFlight product, the industry leader in avian species detection technology for wind farm applications.

IdentiFlight President and Chief Operating Officer, Don Mills said this partnership expansion with e3 will enhance the company’s ability to serve the French market.

“We are thrilled that the e3 IdentiFlight France office will provide greater accessibility to technology that offers maximum avian protection while maximising wind energy generation,” he said.

Meanwhile, e3 IDF Chief Executive Officer, Jens Schoettler said: “The demand for wind energy is continuously rising. The expansion of e3 offices into France will enable us to meet the increasing need for avian detection and protection across Europe.”

Leading the e3 IdentiFlight France office is Yoann Payelleville, a 20-year veteran in the wind energy sector. His extensive experience in engineering and sales at Enercon equips him with a deep understanding of the French wind energy market.

The France office will be recruiting new positions to help meet the growing French market demand for IdentiFlight technology.

Recognised in 2023 by French Authorities for its effectiveness in reducing red kite fatalities in wind farms, IdentiFlight combines artificial intelligence and high-precision optics to identify bird species and prevent collisions with wind turbine blades.

Additionally, it supports wind energy projects by quantifying bird activity at potential sites.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday 19 December 2023

BEST PLACES TO EMBRACE CHRISTMAS VIBES IN HONG KONG




HONG KONG, Dec 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- 
Hong Kong, as the city renowned for its exceptional Christmas atmosphere among Asia, is now adorned with vibrant holiday decorations, while series of events are also taking place one after another during the festive season. Below are some of the finest spots for visitors to experience the Christmas vibes in Hong Kong. With glistening lights and alluring Christmas ornaments, let’s celebrate the joys of Christmas in Hong Kong and enjoy the festive spirit that trickled every corner of the city!

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231214010889/en/
 
Hong Kong WinterFest 2023

The 20-meter-tall giant Christmas tree, standing in the centre of Christmas town, is the tallest outdoor Christmas tree in Hong Kong.

The brand new 10-minute "Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics" illuminates the seashore of Victoria Harbour and attracts visitors from different places.

Tsim Sha Tsui Christmas lights

Tsim Sha Tsui and East Tsim Sha Tsui have long been popular spots to enjoy the dazzling Christmas lights, this year is no exception.

British light artist Rupert Newman presents a digital light show specifically created for Hong Kong for the festive season, titled ‘In-Between the Sky: A Festive Beacon’. The show is projected on the Sino LuminArt Façade of Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre.

Harbour City

The ‘Bear Rocket Launch Station’ located at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt in Harbour City is also ready to celebrate a unique Merry Spacemas with tourists.

1881 Heritage

With the theme "Botanical Christmas", the Victorian-style greenhouse botanical garden at 1881 Heritage definitely is the must-visit spot for tourists.

Members of the media can download photos from the following link:

https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?cachedCriteria=1&categoryId=1355&categoryTypeId=2&allCats=0
 
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Sunday 17 December 2023

IRDETO PARTNERS WITH SKARDIN TO INTRODUCE GAME-CHANGING CI PLUS 2.0 USB CAM FOR SUPERIOR VIEWING EXPERIENCE

The introduction of the CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM by Irdeto represents a major achievement, extending the availability of CI Plus technology beyond its initial European and African markets to Asia for the first time.

AMSTERDAM, Dec 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irdeto, the world leader in digital platform cybersecurity, is proud to announce the commercial launch of its CI Plus 2.0 USB Conditional Access Module (CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM) in partnership with Skardin, a renowned consumer electronics manufacturing company with a 40-year legacy in delivering set-top box and broadband industry solutions. Irdeto's launch of the CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM marks a significant milestone, making CI Plus technology, once offered only across the Europe and Africa region, now available across the globe.

Irdeto's CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM is built on the proven CI Plus 1.4 solution, offering all the mandatory features of the 1.4 specification. It goes a step further by adding Enhanced Content Protection (ECP) support, specifically designed for safeguarding UHD content in accordance with the MovieLabs specification. CAMs also do not create legacy, as they are codec and resolution agnostic, enabling pay-TV operators to introduce new compression techniques and higher resolution broadcasts such as UHD without the need to replace CAMs.

One of the remarkable innovations that CI Plus 2.0 brings to the table is a new form factor, replacing the traditional PCMCIA design. While CI Plus 1.4 relies on this legacy interface that is non-standard across TVs globally, Irdeto's CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM addresses this challenge by moving to the globally adopted USB interface.

The USB module, when inserted into a compatible TV's USB port, handles the decryption of encrypted TV signals. Users can effortlessly control channels, volume, and more via their TV remote. In addition, it is environmentally friendly and cost-effective, with power consumption up to 10 times lower than STBs. The number of components compared to PCMCIA CAMs are reduced thus decreasing their carbon footprint and electronic waste generation. 

CLINICAL RESEARCH TO GENERATE OVER RM 2 BILLION INVESTMENT IN THE NEXT DECADE

 

Dr Akhmal Yusof (CEO of CRM) presenting during Clinical Research Governance World Conference in
Hong Kong



KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is projected to gain RM 2.1 billion in Gross National Income (GNI) through 3500 sponsored clinical research that are to be conducted between years 2023-2033, according to Clinical Research Malaysia. These targets were unveiled under CRM’s 10-year plan, which were recently presented in the Clinical Research Governance World Conference at Hong Kong, attended by leading clinical research networks.

Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM), a Global Trusted Research Management Organisation (GTRMO) by the Ministry of Health was established since 2012 to accelerate the sponsored clinical research ecosystem within the country. Within the first decade of its establishment (2012 -2022), clinical research in the country has generated a revenue of over RM 1 billion in GNI from over 2000 clinical research recorded.

“CRM’s 10-year mission is focused with the organisation staying steadfast as a GTRMO and in having clinical research recognised as an industry that not only supports the healthcare system but one that contributes effectively to the country’s revenue. To support the growth of the industry, CRM is setting up a Centre of Excellence for graduates to gain a head start into their career in clinical research as well as digitalising our site management processes to stay ahead with global developments. Our vision is to make Malaysia the preferred clinical research hub in Asia by 2033”, added CRM’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Akhmal Yusof.





Saturday 16 December 2023

MARY KAY'S EMPOWERMENT JOURNEY CONTINUES: BRAND JOINS THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PRINCIPLES IN ASIA PACIFIC




DALLAS, Dec 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- 
Mary Kay Inc., a global advocate for women’s empowerment, announced on Women's Entrepreneurship Day that it has officially become a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the Asia Pacific region. In March 2019, Mary Kay Inc. took the first step in its WEPs journey, becoming a global signatory during the WEPs Forum held on the sidelines of the Commission on Status of Women (CSW63).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231214363812/en/
 
As Mary Kay marks its 60th anniversary, the company joins the WEPs to further position itself as a leader in women’s entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region where it is synonymous with unparalleled business opportunity, fostering a supportive workplace, and giving back to the community through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The WEPs provide a holistic framework for companies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community and drive positive outcomes for society and business. Launched in 2010 by UN Women and UN Global Compact, the WEPs are informed by international labor and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In a statement, Wendy Wang, President, Mary Kay Asia-Pacific Region said:

“Through pursuing its global WEPs journey that Mary Kay embarked on in 2019, today, in the Asia Pacific region, the company reaffirms its pledge to help accelerate the closing of the gender gaps in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Women’s empowerment’ goes beyond women’s career successes - it needs a holistic view, a roadmap toward measured progress and impact, as well as the engagement of all stakeholders including the private sector – and the WEPs are doing just that. At Mary Kay, we lead by enabling women from all walks of life with the right tools, mentorship, and education so they can make choices leading to a fulfilling and meaningful life for themselves, their families, and communities.”

In celebration of the WEPs milestone for Mary Kay in the Asia Pacific Region, Mary Kay China just released its first-ever Mary Kay China Empowering Women Impact Report titled, "Thinking Like A Woman." The report operationalizes Principle 7: “Measurement and Reporting” and Principle 6: “Community Initiatives and Advocacy.”

WEPs in Action:

The report discloses Mary Kay China's work and results in women’s empowerment to achieve success through multiple approaches in leadership, marketplace, workplace, and community work. Future editions of the report will cover the pledge and impact of Mary Kay in other countries of the Asia Pacific region where it operates. Some of the following achievements encompassing the 7 WEPs Principles are highlighted in the report:

Long-time Leader and Global Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
  • Mary Kay Asia-Pacific region becomes a WEPs signatory.
  • Implements the "All For Her" development strategy to provide all-round support for the independent beauty consultants.
Empowering Women's Through Business
  • From 2022 to March 2023, 1,327,082 Independent Beauty Consultants participated in training sessions.
  • From 2020 to 2022, Mary Kay invested more than RMB 80 million (Chinese Yuan) in the digital empowerment to develop online and offline business tools for beauty consultants.
A Great Place For Women To Work
  • In 2022, the percentage of women among Mary Kay China's executive team and employees were both 57%, while 64% of promoted employees were women.
  • In 2022, 93% of Mary Kay China employees participated in training on project management, market trends and leadership, with per-person average of 1.6 training sessions, 6 hours of training time, and 1,500 RMB of training investment.
Giving Back to the Community
  • As of April 2023, a total of 257,117 women have benefited from Mary Kay China's CSR programs.
  • In 2022, 1,267 Mary Kay China Independent Beauty Consultants and employees contributed over 9,000 hours of volunteer service in various capacities: serving as non-medical volunteers at a cleft lip and palate surgery center, helping clean their communities, or conducting complimentary beauty classes for charitable causes.
About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on FacebookInstagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

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Friday 15 December 2023

AM BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF PROVIDENT INSURANCE CORPORATION LIMITED

SINGAPORE, Dec 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bb+” (Fair) of Provident Insurance Corporation Limited (PICL) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is positive.

The ratings reflect PICL’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The positive outlooks reflect an improving trend in balance sheet fundamentals, including an increase in and greater stability of PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, combined with growth of the company’s absolute capital base. Additionally, successful execution of PICL's business plan is expected to further support prospective internal capital generation.

The balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is at the strongest level in fiscal year (FY) 2023, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at least at the strong level over the medium term, supported by positive retained earnings and conservative investment strategy. An offsetting balance sheet factor includes exposure to long-duration policies that increases reserving risk.

AM Best views PICL’s operating performance as adequate. The company reported a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 13.8% (FYs ending 31 March 2019 – 2023), showing a positive trend in underwriting performance over this period. PICL has made significant investments into its information technology and pricing capabilities, which will increase the expense ratio in the short term but are expected to support prospective operating performance.

AM Best assesses PICL’s business profile as limited. This reflects the company’s relatively modest scale of operations and limited geographical diversification, with all business emanating from New Zealand. PICL is a niche insurer that focuses on mechanical breakdown insurance and private motor vehicle products, largely distributed through motor dealerships and several distribution partners across its domestic market.

AM Best assesses PICL’s ERM as appropriate, given the size and complexity of its operations. AM Best views the successful execution of the company’s underwriting strategy and planned infrastructure investment to be a key risk exposure. Over the medium term, PICL’s risk management capabilities are expected to continue to develop in order to support increasing operational scale and widening product offerings.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

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THIS CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION FOUNDED INSIDE AN INDUSTRIAL PARK IS ACCELERATING ITS CULTIVATION OF CROSS-BORDER E-COMMERCE TALENTS

NANNING, China, Dec. 14, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

In recent days, TusCBEC instructors led 300 students from the Class of 2022 of the Cross-border E-commerce major of the RCEP Industrial College of Cross-border E-commerce during their visit to the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone for a "scenario-based training" session. The event combined theoretical explanation with on-site investigation, aiming to furnish students with the opportunity to see the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone in person, gain an in-depth comprehension of the operation mechanisms and actual operations of a special supervision zone, thereby enhancing students' understanding of the special supervision zone of the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

The RCEP Industrial College of Cross-border E-commerce is located inside the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and is well-known as China's first cross-border e-commerce industrial college established inside an industrial park. It was jointly founded by the Guangxi International Business Vocational College (GXIBVC) and Guangxi Tus-Innovation Cross-border E-commerce Co., Ltd. (TusCBEC) in September 2020.

"The college works with partners such as cross-border e-commerce platforms, cross-border e-commerce enterprises and third-party service companies to jointly study and formulate talent cultivation programs and design and develop curriculum. In 2022, the Cross-border E-commerce major successfully obtained UK ENIC international qualification certification," said Deng Haitao, Dean of the College of International Trade of the GXIBVC.

The school leans on the comprehensive array of cross-border logistics, warehousing, import and export supply chains and other platforms within the Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park of the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and resource advantages of TusCBEC, in hosting in-depth scenario-based training and education activities, so as to continually provide the cross-border e-commerce industry with talents and intelligence support.

"Students of the college learn basic professional knowledge on campus during freshman year, then undergo practical training inside the Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone for the whole year during their second year. Our company's seasoned industry instructors teach them cross-border e-commerce platform operation, livestream and promotion, videography and editing, cross-border logistics management and other key knowledge of the industry," explained Ge Ronghe, the Vice General Manager of TusCBEC.

At present, the school is speeding up its pace in the cultivation of cross-border e-commerce talents. It has formed cooperation with more than 20 colleges and universities in the ASEAN countries, established one campus of the Guihai Business College and two internationalized faculty training bases in Thailand, with one curriculum standard having gained certification by the Thai Ministry of Education, thereby realizing the export of professional standards and curriculum standards. In addition, one vocational standard has been included in the national vocational education system of Tanzania, two national vocational standards development projects have been approved in Tanzania, which will be included in the national vocational education system of the country.

Liu Jieying, Vice President of the school, explained that the school will establish three new overseas branches of the Guihai Business College, take an active stance in creating vocational education innovation highlands in ASEAN, and form an exchangeable "introduction, student cultivation, output" model of high-quality education resources in partnership with similar education institutions in the states of the ASEAN bloc. By 2035, the school's plan is to complete the establishment of a high-quality vocational school and high-level professional clusters noted for its foreign trade orientation, nation-leading standard, and immense influence in the China-ASEAN region, so as to emphatically provide support in terms of talents and intelligence conducive to the completion of the China-ASEAN community of common destiny and China-ASEAN free trade zone.

Source: Guangxi International Business Vocational College

--BERNAMA

NIQ unveils the creation of NIQ Labs and 'NIQ Ask Arthur', a transformative GenAI-based tool

CHICAGO, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- NIQ, a global leader in data and analytics solutions, is excited to announce the establishment of NIQ Labs, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing the collective power of top-tier talent and capabilities acquired through strategic M&As. Positioned as an innovation powerhouse within NIQ's commitment to bolster sustainable growth through performance-enhancing investments, NIQ Labs stands poised to pioneer the future of inventive products and solutions aimed at tackling industry challenges. Over the past two years, NIQ has invested over $1 billion in operating investments in new data and capabilities to build a Full View™ of consumer shopping behavior to solve client problems and reveal pathways to growth. Coupled with investments, NIQ Labs taps into an extensive array of data assets, employing intuitive business intelligence tools that offer detailed market insights and predictive analytics driven by generative AI (GenAI) and authoritative data science.


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Thursday 14 December 2023

DOCTORS AND EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO PREVENT LIVER HEALTH CRISIS

Global Liver Institute’s Second Edition “Global State of Liver Health” Report Reveals Promising Opportunities

Washington D.C., Dec 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
 Global Liver Institute (GLI), the premier patient-led liver health nonprofit operating globally, released the second edition of its “Global State of Liver Health” report, now including 22 countries covering every region of the world. Following the impetus of the Liver Health is Public Health initiative, international experts drew attention to pressing opportunities for their respective governments to prioritize and improve liver health.

Liver disease continues to pose a heavy burden for the world and its health systems:
“Our continued exploration of the scope and scale of the impact of liver diseases gives us both pause and hope. Powerful human intellect has developed many innovative solutions,” noted GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD. “Rather than let these solutions go to waste, it is now time to direct political will towards putting them into practice and ensuring the ability to achieve liver health – and overall health – around the world.” 

Strategies and technologies currently exist that can prevent liver disease or catch it early. However, putting these tools into practice can require financial investment, expert training, and often complex execution on a scale that necessitates government support. Several of the report’s expert advisors highlighted the policy opportunities and successes that might support liver health:

“We don’t have many tools currently to control tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and even the consumption of unhealthy diets in Vietnam,” shared Dr. Tung Pham, report advisor and lecturer /physician at Hanoi Medical University. “These are the second and third leading factors, so a tightening of standards, maybe raising taxes and implementing other promotional programs, will be essential.”

In contrast, a liberal treatment program that provided newly developed hepatitis C treatment to patients in Australia without many barriers has eliminated more than half of the viral disease throughout the country. As report advisor and leading hepatologist Dr. Simone Strasser noted in the report, several features brought about a successful program, including comprehensive training of primary care providers, minimal direct cost to patients, and local access to treatment.

National experts have identified the greatest threats to liver health in their communities. Now, those who care about liver health and its related conditions must urge their national leaders to prioritize and implement solutions.

The Liver Health is Public Health initiative is made possible thanks to the support of Sanofi and Salix Pharmaceuticals.

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About Global Liver Institute  

Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in the belief that liver health must take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with the prevalence and impact of liver illness. GLI promotes innovation, encourages collaboration, and supports the scaling of optimal approaches to help eradicate liver diseases. Operating globally, GLI is committed to solving the problems that matter to liver patients and equipping advocates to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease. GLI holds Platinum Transparency with Candid/GuideStar, is a member of the National Health Council, and serves as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. Follow GLI on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn, and YouTube or visit www.globalliver.org

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Wednesday 13 December 2023

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND MINERAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF THIRD EDITION OF FUTURE MINERALS FORUM

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 12 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a press conference today, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) announced details of the third edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), to be held in Riyadh 9th-11th January at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.
 
Speaking at the conference, H.E. the Vice Minister for Mining Affairs, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, looked forward to further achievements delivered by the Ministerial Roundtable and FMF 2024. In previous editions, both platforms have seen participation from ministers and a leading group of international speakers to address issues and turn talk into action.

The Vice Minister discussed the unique role of the FMF in hosting the only Ministerial Roundtable of its kind in the industry. He said: "We have succeeded in making this meeting a strategic and influential platform led by governments, providing a voice for many countries and official organizations."

Over 70 countries will be represented by government ministers and high-ranking officials at the Ministerial Roundtable on January 9. For the first time, a Geological Survey Leaders meeting will be held concurrently with the Roundtable, allowing institutions to discuss key mineral issues in the Super Region.

Following the Roundtable, 250 key speakers will participate in 75 sessions over the two-day Forum. Some 90% of them are CEOs of some of the largest companies in the sector.

“We created the FMF to support delivery of the energy transition and create responsible, resilient minerals value chains in the Super Region of Africa, Western and Central Asia. Last week we attended COP and delivered a simple message: without minerals there cannot be an energy transition,” Al-Mudaifer added.

The conference noted the Kingdom’s leadership in supplying the world with energy, and its current substantial role in supporting the development of resilient value chains to deliver clean energy solutions. The Kingdom has the potential to become an international hub for the production and processing of green minerals. This is supported by the Manara Minerals Company, which invests in mining assets globally to help achieve flexibility in global supply chains and accelerate the pace of the energy transition.

For a full list of speakers and more information about FMF 2024 please visit https://www.futuremineralsforum.com/conference-speakers/

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IN SINGAPORE, INDONESIA UNVEILS AMBITIOUS INVESTMENT TRENDS 2024 AND GREEN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

SINGAPORE, Dec. 12, 2023/Antara News Agency-AsiaNet/--
 
In a high-profile investment forum orchestrated by the Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board, Indonesia has laid out its bold investment strategies for 2024 and unveiled an extensive plan to tap into green economic opportunities.
 
The forum signals a significant shift in Indonesia's economic landscape and underscores the government's commitment to sustainable and responsible economic development.
 
Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia said that the strategic steps to attract investment include political, legal, and economic stability, adaptive and progressive policies for investment climate improvement, human resources potential, both in terms of workforce availability and market, and the potential for abundant natural resource downstreaming.
 
"Therefore, the government is focusing on the development of environmentally friendly industries and the utilization of new renewable energy sources that can promote more inclusive, just, and equitable development for all," said the Minister in the investment forum themed "Indonesia's Investment Trends 2024 and Green Economic Opportunities" held in Singapore, Friday (8/12).
 
Equally important, Entering the political year, Bahlil emphasizes that the investment climate in Indonesia remains unaffected by the upcoming general elections.
 
"Despite encountering political events, I remain confident that politics will not impede investments, and the government will continue to streamline business permits through the Online Single Submission (OSS) Indonesia application," he asserted.
 
The conference, with an attendance of around 200 participants, fostered lively discussions about the crucial transition to sustainability. Prominent figures and experts from the National Statistic Agency (BPS), Ministry of Investment, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and Maritime and Investment, along with the Rebana Metropolitan Management Authority, to name a few, took the lead in panel discussions, offering invaluable insights into Indonesia's potential for sustainable growth.
 
Based on the Ministry of Investment's data, Singapore has emerged as the primary source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Indonesia over the past three years, making substantial investments totaling USD 12.1 billion from January to September 2023.
 
SOURCE: Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board  

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Tuesday 12 December 2023

A NEW MILESTONE! WERIDE OBTAINED THE SINGAPORE M1 AND T1 AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES LICENSES

SINGAPORE, Dec 11 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide, a leading global Level 4 autonomous driving technology company, officially announced that it has successfully obtained the Milestone Testing Regime Level 1 License for Autonomous Vehicles (AV) on Public Roads (referred to as "M1 License") and the T1 Assessment License for AVs on Public Paths (referred to as "T1 License") from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore. With these licenses, WeRide's Robobus will be able to conduct tests on a larger scale on public roads in Singapore, covering important areas such as One North and the National University of Singapore.

With this achievement, WeRide becomes the first and, to date, the only technology company globally to simultaneously hold autonomous driving permits in China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.

It is reported that the conditions for obtaining the M1 License in Singapore are extremely stringent. The assessment covers multiple dimensions, including basic autonomous driving functions, static obstacle recognition, dynamic obstacle avoidance, redundancy in vehicle control by safety driver, overall vehicle safety performance, and more. Vehicles must accurately and flawlessly complete the mentioned tasks within test facilities that highly replicate the urban road traffic scenarios in Singapore. Additionally, the Singapore authorities have exceptionally high safety requirements, making this license highly prestigious.

From the arrival of WeRide's Robobus at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles in Singapore (CETRAN) on August 28th to the successful acquisition of both M1 and T1 licenses, WeRide accomplished this feat in just three months. This achievement sets a record for the speed at which an autonomous driving company obtained licenses in Singapore. It highlights the company's international leadership in the Level 4 autonomous driving field.

Over the past decade, Singapore has experienced a staggering 66% increase in total domestic travel, leading to persistent challenges for the local government in terms of road network congestion and parking issues. Additionally, more than 30% of Singapore's urban transportation workforce is over 50 years old, indicating a rapidly aging population.

As a result, the development of high-density autonomous public transportation has become a crucial focus for the sustainable development of Singapore. This aligns seamlessly with WeRide's positioning as a provider of autonomous driving technology solutions and an operator of autonomous driving transportation services. In October of this year, WeRide signed strategic cooperation agreements with two Singaporean companies, Woodlands Transport Services and EZ Buzz, further expanding its network of local partners.

Looking back at the year 2023, WeRide has made remarkable progress both domestically and internationally. On July 3rd, after nearly two years of dedicated efforts of operating Robotaxi fleet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), WeRide was granted the first autonomous driving license in the UAE, announced by the UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This is the first national-level autonomous driving license in the Middle East and even globally. It signifies that all of WeRide's autonomous driving vehicles can undergo road tests and operations on public roads throughout the entire UAE.

On November 17th, WeRide received the notice to launch a commercial operation of fully driverless Robotaxi from Beijing Intelligent Connected Vehicle Policy Pilot Zone, which is called “driverless inside the vehicle and remote monitoring outside the vehicle" stage. This means WeRide can provide a fare-charing service of Robotaxis with no safety driver on board to the public in Yizhuang, Beijing. This marks a significant acceleration in the company's large-scale commercialization.

In the future, WeRide will continue to overcome various challenges, bringing the company's high-quality autonomous driving technology, products, and services to more countries and regions, effectively transforming urban living with autonomous driving.

About WeRide

Established in 2017, WeRide is a leading, commercial-stage global company that develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies. WeRide is the only tech company in the world that holds autonomous driving permits in China, the US, the UAE and Singapore, conducting autonomous driving R&D, tests and operations in over 26 cities around the world.

WeRide aims to develop safe and reliable driverless solutions to make mobility and transportation safer, more affordable and accessible, offering an all-rounded product mix of Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan, Robosweeper and Advanced Driving Solution. With a rich experience in autonomous driving R&D, commercialization and operation, WeRide has formed partnerships with renowned global OEMs and Tier1 including Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Yutong Group, GAC Group, BOSCH, etc.

To date, WeRide has operated an autonomous driving fleet for about 1500 days. And WeRide was ranked 8th in 2023 Change the World list released by Fortune magazine.

For more information, please visit:

Website: www.weride.ai

Medium: https://werideai.medium.com

X/LinkedIn/YouTube: WeRide.ai

E-mail: pr@weride.ai

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0661c118-c218-4e67-9a9e-80cba76976ce

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7e53570-789e-41d1-88eb-f1671260611d 

Source: WeRide Inc. 

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AM BEST REVISES ISSUER CREDIT RATING OUTLOOK TO POSITIVE FOR KOREAN REINSURANCE COMPANY

HONG KONG, Dec 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) of Korean Reinsurance Company (KRE) (South Korea). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect KRE’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The revision of the Long-Term ICR outlook to positive from stable reflects AM Best’s expectation of an improvement in KRE’s balance sheet strength from 2023 onward while its operating performance and business profile fundamentals remain unchallenged. The company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, which AM Best assesses comfortably at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is expected to improve further following its plan to restructure the underwriting portfolio, coupled with increased capital from recent hybrid bond issuances and continued solid profit retention.

KRE’s issuances of hybrid securities in 2022 and 2023 (a total of KRW 580 billion) is expected to provide additional capital buffer under the new accounting and solvency regimes (IFRS 17 and K-ICS). Meanwhile, AM Best expects KRE’s underwriting risk to reduce notably in 2023 due to the portfolio restructure plan to offload unprofitable business (especially in the domestic personal line) and more subdued premium growth over the coming years, leading to enhanced risk-adjusted capitalisation. Notwithstanding, AM Best is of the view that a further monitoring period would be needed to confirm the sustainability of the improvement, given potential deviations from the business plan that could lead to a rebound in underwriting risk, depending on various factors such as reinsurance market conditions.

Other supportive balance sheet strength considerations include good accessibility to capital market and a conservative investment strategy.

KRE’s underwriting performance remains stable, despite a relatively thin margin, mainly due to a large proportion of domestic personal lines business with loss-sensitive commission structures. The company’s underwriting performance in domestic business has improved, largely driven by its ongoing portfolio modification to reduce unprofitable business and favourable pricing environment in the commercial segment. However, its overseas performance deteriorated in 2022 due to sizeable COVID-19 claims and unexpectedly large natural catastrophe losses. KRE plans to reduce its exposure to property catastrophe risks overseas, while trying to expand non-catastrophe business segments such as casualty and specialty lines. KRE’s robust investment income is expected to benefit further from expansion in the investment asset base following recent issuances of hybrid securities and coinsurance contracts.

The company ranked 13th in the global reinsurance market in terms of gross written premium (GPW) in 2022, supported by a strong market base in South Korea as the only local reinsurer and its growing overseas business. Despite the recent decline in domestic market share due to the company’s focus on portfolio improvements by reducing underperforming policies, AM Best believes that KRE’s domestic market leadership will remain unchallenged over the medium term. The company’s overseas business continues to expand gradually, accounting for more than a quarter of its consolidated GPW in 2022, supporting its diversification. AM Best expects the coinsurance business in South Korea to be a growth opportunity and an additional source of earnings for KRE over the long term.

Positive rating actions could occur if there is a sustained improvement in KRE’s balance sheet strength, demonstrated, for example, by materially strengthened risk-adjusted capitalisation while its operating performance and business profile assessment remain unchanged. Negative rating actions could arise if there is a sustained deteriorating trend in the company’s operating performance. Negative rating actions also could occur if there is a material decline in its risk-adjusted capitalisation, triggered by incidents such as multiple medium- or large-scale catastrophe losses retained in a fiscal year.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

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