INKIA POISED TO BECOME THE LARGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCER IN PERU WITH TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPANSION PLANS

• More than 1 GW of new solar capacity to be available by end of 2025
• 3+ GW pipeline, out of which over 600 MW of wind projects to be launched in 2026
• By adding to its existing 2,237 MW of hydro, natural gas and BESS capacity, Inkia will secure its position as the largest and most diversified generation company in Peru

LIMA, Peru, Oct 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Inkia Energy, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Kallpa, received environmental approval for the expansion of its solar power plant currently under construction in Southern Peru, a leading global solar resource hub. The approval will bring the solar project, Sunny, from 228 MWp to 338 MWp, and is expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2025. Based in Peru, Inkia Energy is the country’s largest power generator and is controlled by global infrastructure investor I Squared Capital.

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Besides Sunny, Inkia has enabled the construction of two adjacent solar projects, by signing energy and I-REC off-take agreements for these developments. With these three projects, Inkia will consolidate the energy of ‘Peru’s Solar Hub’, contributing approximately 1 GWp of renewable capacity to the National Interconnected Grid starting in the fourth quarter of 2025.

In addition, the company expects to launch two wind projects, with an aggregate capacity of at least 600 MW, in 2026. The wind developments, plus several other solar and BESS projects, will bolster the company’s position as the leading renewable energy player to supply Peru’s current and future energy needs. The initiatives reinforce Inkia’s value proposition to provide its customers with a continuous and reliable power supply produced by a combination of different renewable sources and efficient natural gas capacity, which is critical for covering renewable energy shortfalls and intermittency.

Inkia also offers several behind-the-meter energy solutions to its clients through its dedicated retail vehicle, Kondu, which has become one of the largest players in the small and medium enterprise (SME) market segment.

“Inkia is a developer at its core and was the fastest growing generation company during the last decade. The launch of Sunny marks the beginning of the Inkia 2.0 expansion campaign, aligned with Peru’s energy needs and securing Inkia as a leading energy solutions company in the country,” said Willem Van Twembeke, Inkia Energy’s CEO. “We believe that Inkia’s balanced portfolio, along with its investment grade rating, makes the company the top choice for clients in terms of reliability, both in energy and financial support.”

About Inkia Energy

Inkia is the largest power generator in Peru boasting 2,237 MW of installed capacity through its wholly-owned subsidiary Kallpa. Inkia Energy is controlled by I Squared Capital, a leading independent global infrastructure investor with over $40 billion in assets under management. In Peru, Inkia operates a portfolio of hydroelectric and efficient combined-cycle natural gas generation, and recently commissioned a 34 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Besides Sunny, Kallpa is developing several wind, solar and BESS projects, ensuring a continuous, reliable, and environmentally friendly electricity supply for Peru. Inkia also owns Kondu, an energy solutions vehicle dedicated to retail demand, offering several energy supply and behind-the-meter solutions to Inkia’s clients. Outside of Peru, Inkia has owned and operated generation and distribution assets for over 5.5 GW and 2 million clients, respectively, across Latin America. 

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NXHD Completes Acquisition Of German’s Simon Hegele, Becoming A Fully Owned Subsidiary

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Holdings Inc (NXHD) has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of all shares in German-based SH HoldCo GmbH (Simon Hegele), a group of companies specialising in contract logistics in the healthcare industry.

According to a statement, following a sale and purchase agreement inked recently, this transaction will enable NXHD to acquire a unique and scalable healthcare platform in Europe, a significant market for contract logistics.

The company expects to receive highly complementary capabilities and synergistic value through the integration of Simon Hegele with its global network and international forwarding business, resulting in three new growth opportunities.

The three new growth opportunities are growth in the healthcare market; enhancement of end-to-end solutions and cross-selling for healthcare as well as industry and retail clients; and geographical expansion of Simon Hegele's business.

NXHD aims to achieve early realisation of these growth opportunities and provide its customers with higher quality logistics solutions by welcoming Simon Hegele into the group.

"I am looking forward to moving forward on the same path towards the future with the Simon Hegele Group. Specifically, I believe that we can provide even greater value to our customers by combining NX Group's global network capabilities with Simon Hegele's advanced logistics expertise, especially in the healthcare sector," said NXHD Director and Executive Officer, Mamoru Akaishi.

Meanwhile, Simon Hegele Group Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Ulrich said: "It was clear to us that we wanted to find a strategic partner that was a good fit for us, and at the same time is passionate about working with us to further develop tailor-made solutions for our internationally active customers on a global level."

Earlier this year, the company launched the "NX Group Business Plan 2028 Dynamic Growth 2.0 ~ Accelerating Sustainable Growth~" as a guideline for the next five years, promoting business growth in the global market towards the achievement of its long-term vision "To become a logistics company with a strong presence in the global market by 2037".

One of the company’s strategies to achieve this vision is to expand its range of services for each customer, and as part of this strategy, it is advancing the development of a global end-to-end service infrastructure tailored to its customers' industries.

-- BERNAMA

DUCK CREEK TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE RISK MANAGEMENT, MITIGATION SOLUTIONS VIA RCT ACQUISITION

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) insurance, has acquired Risk Control Technologies Inc (RCT), a Toronto-based provider of risk management and loss control solutions.

This strategic investment is set to transform how insurance carriers prevent loss and manage risk, enabling deployment of advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities at the forefront.

In a statement, Duck Creek Technologies Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mike Jackowski said RCT is a leader in not only identifying potential loss, but preventing it through preemptive risk mitigation.

“In addition to sharing Duck Creek’s core values, RCT’s leadership and team members bring a wealth of insurance knowledge and experience. Together, we will help insurers work closely with their policyholders to prevent losses, improve safety and better prepare for the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, RCT CEO, David Da Costa said being part of Duck Creek will strengthen its goal to help carriers optimise and increase risk-data coverage across their entire business.

“We are excited to be part of Duck Creek and to work jointly to deliver modern technology innovations that transform the insurance industry and help insurers strengthen their customer engagements and drive impactful operational efficiencies,” said Da Costa.

The RCT RiskHub platform will enhance the Duck Creek software as a service (SaaS) suite of insurance technology products, further increasing Duck Creek’s ability to improve underwriting accuracy, optimise claims processes, and reduce overall risk exposure.

By integrating RCT’s solution into Duck Creek platform, insurance carriers will have rich predictive capabilities, enabling them to better manage underwriting risks and maximise an efficient, integrated policy and claims management experience.

RCT’s industry-leading loss control and risk assessment platform will be seamlessly integrated with Duck Creek’s comprehensive suite of products to enable data-driven decisions for all stakeholders to improve proactive risk mitigation.

-- BERNAMA

QIANDONGNAN SEES SURGE IN TOURISM ALONG CHINA'S RURAL TOURISM HIGHWAY 1

QIANDONGNAN, China, Oct. 9, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

From January to August 2024, China's Rural Tourism Highway 1 has welcomed over 25 million visitors and generated a tourism revenue of more than 12 billion yuan, showcasing the vigorous development of tourism in Qiandongnan, according to the data from the Bureau of Culture, Sports, Broadcast-TV, and Tourism of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province.
 
Qiandongnan, located in the southwest of China, is praised as the last refuge for the weary human spirit for its ecological and cultural treasures such as Yuntai Mountain, Xijiang Miao Village and Village Super League.
 
To enable tourists to experience the charm of these treasures all at once, China's Rural Tourism Highway 1 was jointly launched by Qiandongnan Prefecture and Chinese National Geography in September 2023. It aims to integrate with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, serving as an important step for rural revitalization and East-West Pairing-off Cooperation for Poverty Reduction.
 
With a total length of 2,180 kilometers, China's Rural Tourism Highway 1 includes the Miao and Dong Cultural Route, Cultural and Natural Scenery Route and Terraced Fields Scenery Route, running through 16 counties (cities), featuring natural scenery, minority villages and sports events.
 
Since the launch of the Boutique Tourism Loop of Traditional Villages in Dong Township, part of the Miao and Dong Cultural Route, Zhaoxing Dong Village and 12 surrounding villages have welcomed 787,200 visitors and generated a tourism revenue of 702 million yuan from January to August 2024, benefiting the locals and promoting economic development.
 
To further explore tourism resources along China's Rural Tourism Highway 1, Qiandongnan has created China's first premium road trip route for women and established a system of slow-paced travel on scenic highways in the region. It has also launched the Three Thousands and Three Villages Tourism Route, and a new traveling plan, Have Fun in Qiandongnan, providing tourists with diverse experiences.
 
For future plans, Qiandongnan will continue to develop tourism towards the goal of building a world-class ethnic cultural tourism destination based on China's Rural Tourism Highway 1.
 
Source: Bureau of Culture, Sports, Broadcast-TV, and Tourism of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province 

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‘CHA CHAAN TENG’ DEBUT IN PARIS TO FURTHER CEMENTS HONG KONG AS ASIA’S ARTS AND CULTURE HUB

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced its presentation of a Hong Kong-style café, a “Cha Chaan Teng”, at Art Basel Paris from Oct 16 to 20 at the Grand Palais, inviting Hong Kong-based artist Trevor Yeung to illuminate the classic diner with his light artistry.

This marks the first activation in its pioneering three-year global partnership with the world class art fair, following the initial announcement in Basel this June, according to HKTB in a statement.

HKTB Executive Director, Dane Cheng said this collaboration underscores its commitment to promoting Hong Kong as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and the art hub in Asia.

“By sharing the city’s unique character through this immersive experience at the inaugural edition of the three-year partnership at Grand Palais, we hope to inspire travellers to visit our city and discover its thriving creative community and rich cultural experiences,” he said.

HKTB will bring an authentic Cha Chaan Teng experience to Art Basel Paris, a dining format harking back to the 1950s known for its bustling ambiance and eclectic menus of comfort food merging Eastern and Western cultures.

This vibrant gathering space in the heart of Grand Palais will introduce international audiences to the city’s unique culture by showcasing diverse culinary flavours, artistic excellence, and dynamic social atmosphere.

Yeung has created a new artwork especially for the Cha Chaan Teng, which is his next instalment of a well-known series titled Chaotic Suns featuring chandelier-like illuminated artworks, last seen at the 24th Biennale of Sydney in 2024, where he uses the gradient of light to bring the classic Cha Chaan Teng to life.

The positioning of a Hong Kong-style café in the locality of Paris encapsulates Hong Kong’s intrinsic ‘East-meets-West’ culture, presenting a sensory journey to visitors by serving the city delicacies including pineapple buns, egg tarts, milk tea, and mango pudding.

The space will also feature classic design elements such as nostalgic colourful patterned floor tiles and cosy booths, as well as Hong Kong’s signature neon signage.

The collaboration between Art Basel and HKTB fortifies Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s arts and culture hub, hosting flagship art events such as Art Basel, the fair’s only destination in Asia.

-- BERNAMA

OPENGEAR FURTHER SIMPLIFIES IT MANAGEMENT COMPLEXITY

Opengear Unveils Advanced Solutions to Streamline IT Management for AI Innovation, Security, and Compliance

EDISON, N.J., Oct 9 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Opengear, a Digi International company (NASDAQ, DGII, www.digi.com) and provider of secure and Smart Out of Band management solutions, has introduced two new advanced offerings. These innovative solutions will simplify initial setup with zero-touch provisioning and ensure access to IT infrastructure. Opengear continues to be an IT industry leader by providing a highly secure and easy-to-use management solution that reinforces its commitment to supporting IT professionals around the globe.

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Today, Opengear unveiled key enhancements for its Network Resilience Platform. These advanced solutions — Connected Resource Gateway (CRG) and Lighthouse Service Portal (LSP) — dramatically reduce complexity and provide efficiency to IT organizations that are under vast pressure due to increasing demands to deliver results with fewer resources. CRG and LSP simplify the deployment process while providing ease of access, improved security, and simplified management when monitoring and managing IT infrastructure.

Opengear's hybrid cloud model for Lighthouse enables organizations to choose where to use critical applications and services, ensuring they meet regulatory and compliance requirements. As IT complexity increases with growing security, compliance, and AI demands, this hybrid approach mitigates risks while ensuring resilience across IT operations.

Douglas Wadkins, Vice President of Product Management & Strategy, said, “Opengear is committed to delivering solutions that solve real-world challenges. Customers rely on Opengear's solution before their network is operational, when it is unavailable and for everyday IT operations. LSP provides zero-touch provisioning for Opengear appliances and CRG ensures immediate, reliable, and secure access to essential tasks when managing IT infrastructure.”

Connected Resource Gateway (CRG): Simplifying access while strengthening security, CRG streamlines operations for IT teams managing complex infrastructure. It seamlessly integrates with Opengear's Smart Management Fabric (SMF), ensuring a dependable link between network management tools, users, and managed endpoints.

Available via our Lighthouse software solution, CRG now enables IT professionals and networking tools to securely access connected IT resources through a web interface offering serial or IP-based connectivity options. Access is managed through roles, permissions, and attributes, providing flexible and secure connections. It simplifies network management by eliminating the need for complicated client software installations or configurations.

Lighthouse Service Portal (LSP): Designed to simplify the deployment of data center and edge site network infrastructure, LSP streamlines the provisioning of Opengear devices into the Lighthouse software. This cloud-based service easily automates the onboarding of new Opengear appliances. Customers can then leverage configuration management tools and API integrations to push configurations through the Lighthouse Smart Management Fabric and Connected Resource Gateway, completing the provisioning of Opengear appliances and connected network resources.

Available through the Opengear customer portal and in conjunction with Lighthouse, LSP simplifies and secures the enrollment process, providing a smoother, more efficient starting point for IT management.

For more information, request a demo and visit: https://opengear.com/products/lighthouse/. Or please contact your Opengear representative for details.

About Opengear

Opengear, a Digi International company, delivers secure, resilient access and automation to support critical IT infrastructure on the First Day, Worst Day, and Every Day. Through presence and proximity, Opengear solutions enable provisioning, orchestration, and remote management of network devices through innovative software and appliances. Opengear solutions are trusted by global organizations across financial, digital communications, retail, and manufacturing sectors. The company is headquartered in New Jersey, with an R&D center in Brisbane, Australia. For more information, visit www.opengear.com/.

About Digi International

Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) is a leading global provider of business and mission-critical Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and solutions. We help our customers create next-generation connected products and solutions to deploy, monitor, and manage critical communications infrastructures and compliance standards in demanding environments with high levels of security, relentless reliability, and bulletproof performance. Founded in 1985, the company has helped customers connect more than 100 million things — and counting. For more information, visit www.digi.com, or call 877-912-3444 (U.S.) or 952-912-3444 (International). 

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Curia Makes Significant Strides In Net Zero Pledges

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Curia announced its commitment to set near- and long-term company-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in line with science-based net zero with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

According to Curia in a statement, to achieve this goal, the company will be investing resources over the next two years to evaluate and develop GHG emission reduction targets for submission to and approval by the SBTi.

“Our targets are ambitious, but we recognise the urgency and importance of cutting emissions in the near-term. With facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia, our actions can have a significant effect on communities on a global scale.

“Environmental stewardship has long been a priority for Curia, and this pledge underscores our commitment to continuous improvement in reducing our environmental impact and bringing us closer to a more sustainable future,” said its chief executive officer, Philip Macnabb.

The net-zero commitment is another step forward for Curia’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme, a cross-functional team that advances the company’s environmental and social stewardship with sound corporate governance.

Its ESG programme links with the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) management system, modelled after ISO 14001 and 45001, the global standards for environmental management systems and occupational health and safety management systems.

Curia’s EHS management system is grounded on eight key pillars that serve as the framework to deliver measurable improvements year-over-year, and sustainability is one key pillar within that framework that underlies the net-zero commitment.

With this commitment, Curia also joins the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign, a global coalition of non-state actors working toward halving global emissions by 2030.

Curia is a contract research, development and manufacturing organisation, with over 30 years of experience, an integrated network of over 20 global sites and 3,500 employees partnering with biopharmaceutical customers to bring life-changing therapies to market.

-- BERNAMA

GLOBAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION IMPROVED FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR DESPITE CHALLENGING MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS, ACCORDING TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX FROM PRINCIPAL®

• Singapore retains number one position as the world’s most financially inclusive market for the third year in a row, as Asia-Pacific markets comprise half of the top 10.

• All regions saw improvement in financial inclusion with only eight out of the 41 markets analyzed experiencing a decline in scores.

• The U.S. financial inclusion score remained unchanged, but now ranks seventh, falling outside of the top five markets for the first time since the inception of the Index.

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct 8 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Singapore is once again the world’s most financially inclusive market across 41 analyzed, followed by Hong Kong, South Korea, Switzerland, and Sweden, according to the third edition of the Global Financial Inclusion Index (the Index) from Principal Financial Group^®.

The research released today, conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and Principal^®, ranks markets based on the support provided by employers, the government, and the financial system to foster financial inclusion. The report provides a comprehensive and comparative evaluation of financial inclusion on a global scale – ranking 41 markets on a relative basis in addition to an absolute score assigned at the global and regional levels.

“It's been a challenging year with inflation outpacing wage growth, interest rate hikes, and ongoing market uncertainty. However, even amid these economic pressures, we’ve seen global financial inclusion improve for the second year in a row, as employers, governments and financial systems continue to collectively increase access to useful and affordable financial products and services,” said Dan Houston, chairman and CEO of Principal. “As it became harder for businesses and households to access lending, we have seen how governments and the private sector have stepped up to help societies weather these economic conditions. This has led to levels of financial inclusion continuing to increase around the world.”

Key findings

• Financial inclusion has improved globally for the second consecutive year, with all regions and subregions seeing improvements. Latin America showed the greatest improvement.

• The Asia-Pacific region increased its number of top-performing markets. Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, and Australia all secured spots in the top 10 this year.

• Employers in young Asian economies have stepped up to help consumers and businesses weather local market economic challenges by supporting households through short-term periods of financial strain. Southeast Asian economies including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have seen upticks in elements of employer support around flexible pay initiatives such as advancing paychecks or increasing regularity of payments.

• Latin American markets leap forward in financial inclusion with advancements in digital financial infrastructure. Argentina leads the way, jumping 14 places overall.

• Consumer perception of financial inclusion has fallen across the world. Consumer perception of financial inclusion globally has fallen 13.7 points from 74.2% to 60.5%. Perception scores dropped in 39 out of 41 markets.

“The past year has been marked by a combination of significant macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges,” said Christopher Breen, head of economic insight, Centre for Economics and Business Research. “Against this backdrop, it is very positive news that financial inclusion has improved in so many markets across the Index. This reflects governments, the financial system, and employers stepping in at the point of need. While there is still clearly room for progress, the increases in financial inclusion are a testament to the investment and positive progress these groups have made in recent years."

Declines in employer and financial system support sees U.S. fall outside the top five ranking for the first time

The U.S.’s financial inclusion score remains unchanged year over year, suggesting a show of resilience in the face of economic headwinds. However, the market now ranks outside the top five, falling from fourth to seventh. The fall was driven by declines in financial system support (rank down five places from first place to sixth) and employer support (rank down eight places from 12th to 20th). Meanwhile, the U.S.’s ranking for government support rose three places to 16th.

Within the employer support pillar, large employers lead the way in offering financially inclusive measures, such as insurance and retirement benefits, but the gap between smaller and larger firms is narrowing. In 2023, the difference in employer support scores between the largest (over 500 employees) and smallest (under 100 employees) businesses stood at 62.0 points. This year that figure has shrunk to 43.1 points**.

“For the third year in a row, employers are the institution Americans agree does the most to make them feel financially included,” said Amy Friedrich, president of Benefits and Protection at Principal. “This highlights the unique position of employers to positively impact employees’ day-to-day lives. For example, as we see ongoing declines in how financially included people across the U.S. feel, employers are well positioned to help improve financial confidence. Employer actions such as investing in benefits and providing guidance on financial topics can have significant impact on workforce wellbeing, which in turn drives greater retention and efficiency.”

Explore the full results of the Global Financial Inclusion Index here.

Learn more about the methodology here.

Notes to editors
* Global” encompasses the 41 markets contained within the Index
** Calculated using the weighted averages according to the US Census Business Demography Statistics

About the Global Financial Inclusion Index

The Global Financial Inclusion Index ranks 41 markets on three pillars of financial inclusion—government, financial system, and employer support—using data points across public and survey-based sources. These pillars represent the key stakeholders responsible for promoting financial inclusion across the population. The Index explores the challenges and opportunities surrounding increasing access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs—transactions, payments, savings, credit, and insurance, etc.

The Index was conducted in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The methodology combines various data sources into one unified measure of financial inclusion at the market level.

About Principal Financial Group^®

Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with nearly 20,000 employees¹ passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for 145 years, we're helping more than 64 million customers¹ plan, protect, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal® is proud to be recognized as one of the 2024 World's Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere², a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a "Best Places to Work in Money Management³." Learn more about Principal and our commitment to building a better future at principal.com.

¹ As of June 30, 2024
² Ethisphere, 2024
³ Pensions & Investments, 2023

About Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr)

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) is an independent economics consultancy with a reputation for sound business advice based on thorough and insightful research. Since 1992, Cebr has been at the forefront of business and public interest research, providing analysis, forecasts and strategic advice to major UK and multinational companies, financial institutions, government departments and agencies and trade bodies. For further information about Cebr please visit www.cebr.com.

The Global Financial Inclusion Index is a proprietary model output based upon certain assumptions that may change, are not guaranteed, and should not be relied upon as a significant basis for an investment decision.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company^®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/-dealers. Principal Asset Management^SM is a trade name of Principal Global Investors, LLC. Principal Global Investors leads global asset management. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group^®, Des Moines, Iowa 50392.

© 2024 Principal Financial Services, Inc. Principal^®, Principal Financial Group^®, and Principal and the logomark design are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company, in the United States and are trademarks and services marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., in various countries around the world.

3873813-092024 

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SILOAM HOSPITALS GROUP AND PHILIPS SIGN AI CAPABILITY MOU TO SUPPORT INDONESIA'S HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY

Jakarta, Indonesia and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Oct 7 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and Siloam Hospitals Group, Indonesia’s leading private healthcare provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance AI capabilities and development in the healthcare sector in Indonesia.

The strategic collaboration, in partnership with the Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Medical Sciences Group, will focus on capacity building, knowledge sharing, and implementing advanced AI solutions. Leveraging Philips’ AI innovations, the collaboration will help transform clinical care and digital health, enhance healthcare delivery and make the healthcare infrastructure more sustainable. The goal is to deliver better care for more people in Indonesia.

This partnership aligns with the Indonesian government’s healthcare strategy to improve healthcare accessibility, enhance clinical outcomes, and embrace digital transformation.

Key areas of focus in the partnership:

1. AI-driven clinical care: Philips intends to introduce its cutting-edge AI technologies into Siloam Hospitals, particularly in areas such as radiology, pathology, (interventional) cardiology and clinical operations. AI will enhance clinical decision-making and improve workflows, enabling healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients with greater precision and to enhance capacity of the system to be able support more patients.

2. Capacity building and local AI expertise: The MoU will focus on the development of local expertise in AI and digital health through collaboration with the UPH Medical Sciences Group. This initiative includes training programs to enable healthcare professionals, IT specialists and UPH students with the necessary skills to develop and apply AI in clinical settings.

3. Global knowledge sharing with Philips: As a global leader in informatics and AI for healthcare, Philips will share its expertise and global best practices with Siloam Hospitals and UPH. The collaboration includes aligning with Philips’ informatics, AI research and global healthcare strategies to create scalable solutions tailored to the needs of Indonesia’s healthcare system.


4. Digital health transformation: In support of Indonesia’s digital health strategy, Siloam Hospitals will integrate AI into its healthcare management systems, including telemedicine, electronic medical records, and remote patient monitoring. The use of AI will improve patient outcomes, optimize hospital operations, increase capacity and provide patients with personalized, data-driven care, even in remote areas.

5. Supporting the Indonesian government’s healthcare goals: The intended partnership aligns with the Indonesian government’s strategy to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality.

6. Expertise sharing for driving ESG in healthcare: Philips will support Siloam Hospitals in advancing its ESG strategic priorities, including sustainability in the supply chain, environmental stewardship, fostering an equitable workplace, and expanding healthcare access and education.

Quotes from key leaders:

Caroline Riady, Deputy President Director of Siloam Hospitals Group: “This partnership with Philips, Siloam Hospitals and Universitas Pelita Harapan is a significant milestone in our journey to bring advanced healthcare technologies to Indonesia. By investing in AI capability and sharing global expertise, we are helping to build a smarter, more efficient healthcare system that will benefit millions of Indonesians and support the national healthcare agenda.”

Roy Jakobs, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Philips: “At Philips, we believe that informatics and AI will help transform healthcare by optimizing workflows, improving efficiency and increasing capacity – making healthcare more accessible and delivering better care for more people. We are excited to collaborate with Siloam Hospitals and Universitas Pelita Harapan to drive this transformation and fully support the Indonesian government’s vision of improving healthcare through digital innovation.”

Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Investment of the Republic of Indonesia: “The future of healthcare is digital, and AI will play a crucial role in revolutionizing how care is provided. The partnership between Philips and Siloam Hospitals, which allows Indonesia to build local capabilities while tapping into global advancements in AI technology, is an exemplary collaboration to ensure the future economic development and sustainability of Indonesia.”

For further information, please contact:

Mark Groves
Philips External Relations
Tel.: +31 631 639 916
E-mail: mark.groves@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2023 sales of EUR 18.2 billion and employs approximately 68,700 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Attachment

• Leaders from Philips, Siloam Hospitals Group and the Indonesian government 

Source: Philips International B.V. 

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Black & Veatch To Tackle Southeast Asia’s Increasingly Complex Energy Transition At Enlit Asia 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Economies across Southeast Asia must overcome increasing energy transition complexities as they balance energy security and lower carbon emissions, according to Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical human infrastructure solutions.

“The adverse impacts of climate change, including a rise in extreme weather events, persist in Southeast Asia. This highlights the urgency to take immediate action.

“While regional economies balance concerns about affordability, resilience, and security, the shift to low-carbon energy sources must accelerate despite increasing complexities,” said its president, Asia Pacific and India, Narsingh Chaudhary in a statement.

Chaudhary will be chairing the opening plenary on “Shaping Regional Energy Transition – From Malaysia to Beyond” on Oct 8 at Enlit Asia 2024, joined by leaders from Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Sarawak Energy Berhad, Malakoff and the Energy Commission Malaysia.

The session will tackle the opportunities and challenges of addressing the energy transition in the region, chart progress made to date, and discuss how the industry can plan and de-risk the next generation of infrastructure development.

Chaudhary explained further that the energy transition presents significant commercial and technical challenges to deliver the next generation of reliable and affordable power.

“Solutions will vary from case to case, requiring regulation and project planning that de-risk and incentivise lower- and no-carbon solutions that work together. These solutions include LNG-to-power, carbon capture, renewables, energy storage, and hydrogen,” he added.

Taking place at MITEC Kuala Lumpur, attendees are invited to discover and engage with leaders from Black & Veatch, during the three-day event.

-- BERNAMA

CT SEMICONDUCTOR LAUNCHES ATP CHIP SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP TECHNICIAN TRAINING CENTER IN VIETNAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- CT Semiconductor, a member of CT Group, has officially inaugurated and commenced operations of its ATP Semiconductor Chip Technician Training Center at the National Innovation Center (NIC) in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct 1.

The centre at NIC is part of CT Semiconductor's broader activities, which include the establishment of three Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) plants (two in the South and one in the North), two research and development (R&D) centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, notably, two customer service centres in Silicon Valley and Phoenix, Arizona.

In a statement, the leader of CT Semiconductor said the Vietnamese semiconductor industry can only develop sustainably and avoid the pitfalls of merely following trends and seeking foreign direct investment (FDI) for reporting purposes by mastering technology and attracting global talent.

Additionally, experienced engineers from various countries will provide specialised training for key personnel through a “Train the Trainer” programme focused on semiconductor chip assembly, testing, and packaging.

These engineers and final-year electronics students will be equipped to master ATP technology. One key feature is that interns will gain hands-on experience with the latest chip inspection machines and become familiar with different types of chips.

This initiative is a practical step toward realising the plan to develop 10 OSAT plants in Vietnam, in line with the Prime Minister’s decision issued on Sept 21, which outlines the strategy for development of Vietnam’s semiconductor industry by 2030, with a vision toward 2050.

What sets CT Semiconductor apart is its independent technology approach, with a comprehensive foundation starting from ATP specialist training, which serves OSAT companies, R&D, and production under the 4.0 model.

On this occasion, CT Semiconductor also introduced the AMB5600 semiconductor circuit and component testing machine, aimed at supporting research and training at the centre. This is the first chip testing machine to be integrated into a training system in Vietnam.

The aspiration to develop Vietnam's semiconductor industry is admirable but still faces many challenges, requiring collective efforts toward a sustainable technological future for the country.

-- BERNAMA

DUCK CREEK TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCHES PAYMENTS FACILITATOR TO CREATE END-TO-END INSURANCE PAYMENT SOLUTION

New Solution Simplifies Insurance Carriers’ Payments Delivering Secure Transaction Capabilities as Part of the Proven Duck Creek Platform

BOSTON, Oct 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, today introduced its latest insurance-focused payments solution, the Duck Creek Payments Facilitator. This modern, end-to-end payment solution caters to the nuances of payments within insurance by providing carriers with access to digital payment methods for both collecting and disbursing funds.

Duck Creek Payments Facilitator delivers a global solution, combining real-time capabilities, like FedNow, with traditional payments services and Banking as a Service (BaaS) functionalities, such as transactions via push-to-card or digital wallets. Now insurers can collect or pay out to policyholders using any payment technologies in their market of choice.

“In today’s fast-evolving insurance landscape, carriers require more than just transactional solutions. They need a secure, agile, and future-proof approach to global payment processing,” said Jess Keeney, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Duck Creek Technologies. “The Duck Creek Payments Facilitator delivers exactly that—enabling insurers to effortlessly manage instant claims payouts to real-time premium payments—all from a single, proven solution.”

Duck Creek Payments includes Duck Creek Payments Facilitator and Duck Creek Payments Orchestrator, introduced earlier this year. The Duck Creek Payments Orchestrator is designed to seamlessly integrate with carriers existing systems, greatly reducing carrier integration times and costs, while still allowing access to the entire global payments ecosystem.

“As we continue to innovate and expand our offerings, our focus remains on solving the most critical challenges our insurance clients face,” said Michael Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer of Duck Creek Technologies. “The Duck Creek Payments Facilitator is designed specifically to address the unique operational demands of insurance carriers. By embedding this capability into our broader platform, we’re offering carriers a holistic approach that supports flexibility, boosts efficiency, and helps our clients deliver a frictionless experience for policyholders, agents, and vendors.”

For more information on the Duck Creek Payments Facilitator visit Duck Creek Payments.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X. 

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QUANTIOS ACQUIRES KLEA; ACCELERATES AUTOMATION IN CORPORATE SERVICES

LONDON, Oct 3 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Quantios, the global provider of Wealth and Corporate Services SaaS solutions, is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of Klea, an AI-powered legal entity management (LEM) tool.

Led by a highly experienced management team, Klea has built an innovative platform to effectively manage recurring corporate statutory events for a global customer base. Klea’s collaboration tool provides a single source of truth, streamlining corporate secretarial work for legal teams and giving access to real-time, accurate entity data. Headquartered in Belgium, the company boasts legal expertise in over 100 countries, making it highly complementary to the global reach of Quantios SaaS solutions.

Backed by Hg and EQT, Quantios is committed to leading digital transformation for trust and corporate service providers (TCSPs). By combining Klea’s AI-enabled legal entity management tool with Quantios software, corporate legal teams and multi-client service providers will now have access to comprehensive automated workflow solutions.

“The combination of Klea and Quantios affirms our commitment to digitising the TCSP industry by accelerating our ability to automate core corporate service processes,” said Guy Harrison, CEO of Quantios. “Led by Filip, the Klea team have built a best-in-class solution that will increase efficiencies for our customers and corporate legal teams worldwide. We are delighted to be working with them in this next phase of growth for us all.”

“We are proud to become part of Quantios,” commented Filip Corveleyn, CEO of Klea. “This opens a myriad of new opportunities for our clients and will vastly extend the breadth and depth of our offering. We are excited to work with Guy and his team to advance our AI-powered solution and give clients an efficient and worry-free entity management experience.”

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=49449

Crown Bioscience Bolsters Singapore Facility With Advanced Oncology Models, Imaging Capabilities

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organisation (CRO) has announced an expansion of its facility in Singapore with new oncology research models and state-of-the-art imaging technologies.

Located in the epicentre of Asia's biomedical sciences hub, the enhanced facility is set to bolster the company’s support for both global and local biotech and pharmaceutical companies engaged in preclinical and translational oncology drug discovery and development.

“The expansion of our Singapore facility not only amplifies our oncology research capabilities but also reflects our strategic initiative to diversify our global operational bases and enhance accessibility in key regions.

“This ensures that we can continue to provide our clients with unmatched precision and efficiency in preclinical and translational drug research and development,” said Crown Bioscience Interim Chief Executive Officer, John Gu in a statement.

Opened in 2023, the Singapore facility enhances Crown Bioscience's strategic global presence, which spans 12 locations worldwide, and offers an extensive selection of oncology models, utilising in vivo syngeneic, cell-derived xenograft (CDX), and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.

Tapping into its prime location and strong partnerships with leading science and technology providers, the facility is now equipped with advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for orthotopic and systemic models, In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS), and its transient human immunity platform (MiXeno), alongside comprehensive biomarker services.

Headquartered in California, United States, Crown Bioscience is a part of JSR Life Sciences and JSR Corporation, dedicated to improving human health via partnering with biotech and pharmaceutical companies that drive the discovery and development of oncology drugs.

-- BERNAMA

CURIUM JOIN FORCES WITH PEPTIDREAM FOR PROSTATE CANCER THERANOSTICS IN JAPAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Curium, a world leader in nuclear medicine, has entered into a strategic partnership with PDRadiopharma Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PeptiDream, for the clinical development, regulatory filing, and commercialisation in Japan of two agents, 177Lu-PSMA-I&T and 64Cu-PSMA-I&T.

Curium will continue to lead global development of the two agents and support PDRadiopharma through technology transfer to support the set-up of manufacturing lines in Japan, including a high throughput Copper 64 manufacturing line based on Curium’s proprietary technology.

According to a statement, Curium and PDRadiopharma have a long-standing relationship in the radiopharmaceutical field.

“As a global innovator in the field of radiopharmaceuticals with a promising late-stage oncology pipeline, Curium is delighted to partner with PDRadiopharma, which has more than four decades of experience in Japan.

“Curium and PDRadiopharma plan to leverage their complementary strengths to accelerate the development of innovative products for the benefit of prostate cancer patients in Japan,” said Curium Chief Executive Officer, International Markets, Chaitanya Tatineni.

The two agents target prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expressed on prostate cancer cells and are being investigated for prostate cancer treatment and diagnostics.

Both target tumours with high levels of PSMA expression, thus potentially forming a theranostic (therapeutic & diagnostic) pair.

PSMA-targeted PET/CT imaging is increasingly emerging as a highly sensitive method for detection of locally recurrent or metastatic lesions in the context of biochemical recurrence and for localisation of primary prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer continues to be widely prevalent in Japan. Annually, there are approximately 90,000 to 100,000 new cases, with patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer having an overall survival rate of approximately three years in clinical trial settings and even shorter in the real world, and there remains a significant unmet medical need for therapies.

-- BERNAMA

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SPECIALTY INSURANCE ANNOUNCES GLOBAL AND UK CASUALTY PROMOTIONS

BOSTON & LONDON, Oct 2 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) today announced it has named Caroline Alder-Smurthwaite to its Global Underwriting Office for Casualty & Healthcare and promoted Charlotte Behar to succeed Caroline as Head of Casualty, UK.

“Caroline has done an excellent job steering our casualty business in the UK, prioritizing consistency and stability for our customers and brokers,” said Hilary Browne, Deputy Global Chief Underwriting Officer, at BHSI. “I look forward to collaborating with Caroline in her new role as a member of our Global Underwriting Team as she works closely with our Casualty and Healthcare underwriting leaders throughout the world to ensure BHSI’s global approach to underwriting is understood and executed on, while at the same time tailored to local market characteristics. She leaves our UK Casualty business in excellent hands, with Charlotte ensuring a seamless transition, and bringing strong financial acumen, underwriting talent, and customer and broker relationships to her elevated role.”

“Just as we emphasize building strong, lasting relationships with our customers and brokers, we similarly prioritize building a deep and enduring bench of talent inside BHSI,” said Nick Major, Country Manager, UK, at BHSI. “This pair of promotions is indicative of our excellent depth of talent and our success in this endeavor. I’m excited to work with Caroline and Charlotte as they move into their new roles.”

Caroline joined BHSI as Head of General Casualty, UK, in 2021 and brings 25 years of industry experience to her new leadership role. Throughout her career she has held several senior-level roles focused on corporate and global casualty. Caroline continues to be based in London and can be reached at Caroline.Alder-Smurthwaite@bhspecialty.com.

Charlotte, who was previously UK General Casualty Manager, joined BHSI in 2020. She has nearly 15 years of underwriting experience in the European marketplace. She continues to be based in London and can be reached at Charlotte.Behar@bhspecialty.com.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (www.bhspecialty.com) provides commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, transactional liability, surety, marine, travel, programs, accident and health, medical stop loss, homeowners, and multinational insurance. The actual and final terms of coverage for all product lines may vary. It underwrites on the paper of Berkshire Hathaway's National Indemnity group of insurance companies, which hold financial strength ratings of A++ from AM Best and AA+ from Standard & Poor's. Based in Boston, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Columbia, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Irvine, Los Angeles, New York, Plymouth Meeting, San Francisco, San Ramon, Seattle, Stevens Point, Adelaide, Auckland, Barcelona, Brisbane, Brussels, Calgary, Cologne, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Lyon, Macau, Madrid, Manchester, Melbourne, Milan, Munich, Paris, Perth, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto, and Zurich.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241001964887/en/

Contact

MEDIA
JoAnn Lee / +1 617.936.2937

Source : Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

MALAYSIA STANDS OUT IN RECRUITMENT ACTIVITY REPORTING STRONG MOMENTUM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Bossjob recently announced a significant milestone in the Malaysian market, achieving double growth in both jobseeker registrations and employer sign-ups.

According to a statement, when it comes to global expansion, Southeast Asia has become a region impossible to overlook, and Malaysia, in particular, stands out as a rising star with immense potential.

In sectors like internet applications and services, many areas remain relatively untapped, offering a golden opportunity for businesses expanding into Malaysia.

For instance, in August, Bossjob entered into a strategic partnership with the Hvala Group to assist them in finding top talent in Malaysia, and as part of this collaboration, a dedicated Hvala recruitment section was launched on the Bossjob website and app.

Additionally, Hvala rolled out an offline brand campaign, “Can You Serve?” at its stores, encouraging interested individuals to register on Bossjob and apply for roles.

Hvala’s recruitment team engages directly with applicants via Bossjob’s chat feature, making the hiring process more efficient, to which this innovative approach has captured the attention of Malaysia’s youth.

Since the campaign’s launch, Bossjob has seen over a million impressions on its platform, with nearly 500 users applying for Hvala positions through the app’s chat function, and within the first week alone, three offers were extended, sparking buzz in the local job market.

-- BERNAMA

UBIQUBE TAPS SEASONED CLOUD, SECURITY VETERANS TO STRENGTHEN BOARD

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- UBiqube, a leader in hybrid cloud and security infrastructure automation, has appointed two seasoned executives, Jean-David Lehmann-Charley and Ahmed Guetari, to its Board of Directors.

“I am humbled and proud of the endorsement of the addition of Jean-David and Ahmed to our board represents. Their experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable as we scale our operations and continue to expand into global markets,” said UBiqube Chief Executive Officer, Nabil Souli.

UBiqube in a statement said both leaders bring extensive expertise in network, security, and cloud technologies, with proven track records in driving innovation and growth in the service provider industry.

Their addition comes at a pivotal time for UBiqube as the company embarks on its Agile Ops journey, implementing scalable, automated solutions for CloudOps, NetOps, and SecOps practices.

They will join the company’s distinguished directors from NTT and Fujitsu and complete the board with relevant skills to drive the adoption of UBiqube’s innovation.

Lehmann-Charley brings over 20 years of experience in complex sales, direct and indirect, in the network & security market across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America at Palo Alto and before that at Juniper.

Meanwhile, Guetari, General Manager and Vice President of products for Service Providers at F5, brings over 20 years of industry experience. He is an industry-wide recognised strategic thinker with a passion for delivering technology with purpose.

Based in Dublin, Ireland, UBiqube partners with leading system integrators worldwide to design and deliver tailored solutions that address the complexity of an ever-changing information technology infrastructure landscape.

-- BERNAMA