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Asian Financial Forum kick-starts 2023 on a positive note

HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2023 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) kicked off today on a positive note, attracting over 1,000 participants on day one, including more than 100 global leaders and officials invited as speakers and 19 delegations from Mainland China and overseas. This was also reflected in the results of a poll conducted at the event, in which close to 70% of respondents indicated a neutral to positive sentiment towards the global economic outlook.The 16th Asian Financial Forum opened today in physical format with digital extension and will run for two days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.Mr Ban Ki-Moon, Former (Eighth) Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered a speech during the keynote luncheon.AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session was once again held in physical format, facilitating business collaborations through face-to-face communication.This year's Forum, themed Accelerating Transformation: Impact - Inclusion - Innovation, comes hot on the heels of the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China, along with Hong Kong's international business travel returning to normal.After two years of being held in virtual format, the two-day event, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), returned in physical format, in addition to being available online.The Forum was officiated by HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee. HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam also delivered his welcome remarks: "The Forum is the first flagship financial event held in hybrid format to kick-start the new year. Hong Kong has long been a leading global financial centre, and the global financial leaders' visit to Hong Kong solidifies our important role in the region and the world at large. Global cooperation has become more important than ever. Our collective aim is to stimulate growth, and if we join hands, we can do just that in this new normal we operate in."The AFF opened with a plenary session hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR. The panelists included Ms. Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance, Luxembourg; Dr Benjamin Diokno, Secretary, Department of Finance, Philippines; Dr Zamir Iqbal, Vice President, Finance and CFO, Islamic Development Bank; Mr Jin Liqun, President and Chair, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Mr Ahmed Saeed, Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank; Mr Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman, International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and Chairman, Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA Belgium); Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Finance, Thailand and Dr Tao Zhang, Chief Representative, Representative Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bank for International Settlements.At the policy dialogue, Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, chaired a panel featuring Mr Otavio Damaso, Deputy Governor for Regulation of the Central Bank of Brazil; Dr Dong He, Deputy Director of Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund; Ms Verena Ross, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority; and Hiroto Uehara, Deputy Director-General of the Bank of Japan.Real-time polling conducted during the Forum gauged participants' views on a broad range of subjects. When asked about the major challenges facing global growth in 2023, 60% of participants believe that the intensifying geopolitical risks will pose the biggest threat. 29% of participants believe the continued tightening of monetary policy will be the biggest risk, apart from cyber breaches and security risks (3%) and high corporate debt restraining business investment (8%). When asked about the possibility of innovation and technology bringing more benefits than risks to growth, 87% of participants said it was very likely or likely.Ban Ki-Moon on multilateralism in a fraught worldAt the keynote luncheon on the first day moderated by Mr Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR and Mr Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of the Management Committee of the China International Capital Corporation, delivered remarks. The luncheon also featured Mr Ban Ki-moon, eighth UN Secretary-General, as the keynote speaker. In his speech, he stated: "COVID-19, climate change and other global crises have underlined our fundamental interconnectedness. These events have also made it clear that we need global solutions to holistically address the enormous challenges that we are now facing. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement provide humanity with a collaborative blueprint to ensure the future that we want, while leaving no one behind. To achieve this noble goal, all stakeholders, including financial and business leaders, should strengthen cooperation, innovation, engagement and action. We can harness this time of uncertainty to pave the way towards a more sustainable, healthy and prosperous world for all."In addition, financial and business leaders also attended sessions that explored prospects for the global economy. In her speech, Ms Valerie Baudson shared : "Speaking about 2023, I think there will be three factors, which will determine the global outlook. The first one is the Central Bank's policy with inflation, which starts to decrease. The second one, the energy crisis and the way the European governments will go on managing them, and the third one is of course the Chinese reopening, which will be very important for global growth". Gu Shu opined that: "The world economy is facing multiple challenges, but it is in better shape compared to that of the last few years. We have experienced sluggish trade and investment, high inflation, and disrupted global supply chains. This year downward pressure remains, but we believe inflation in major economies will start to come down. Growth rate may not be fast, but still in positive territory. We see opportunities coming from green transition and digitization. We call for countries to make concerted efforts to normalize the global economy."In the afternoon, the inaugural Global Spectrum, Dialogue for Tomorrow and Fireside Chat sessions analysed social trends that impact our future, including financial innovation, healthcare and impact investing, and highlight opportunities and challenges facing start-ups in the Guangdong-Hong-Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the potential of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital collectables to drive the digital economy.In view of the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) among corporates and investors, the HKTDC and PwC presented a joint research paper on "Financing the Corporate Transition to a Sustainable Future" at the AFF. Mr Raymund Chao, Asia Pacific and China Chairman of PwC, shared the findings: "It was a great opportunity for us to partner with HKTDC to release our joint research study today at the Asian Financial Forum. Our survey, which centred around ESG transformation, pointed to a number of challenges and opportunities facing local corporations in delivering meaningful results on their ESG journey and effectively financing their ESG initiatives. Businesses need to embrace a game-changer mindset, while working together with all levels of stakeholders to build trust and drive sustained outcomes in this space. As policymakers bring additional focus to ESG, along with higher C-suite awareness, we believe this will not only further Hong Kong's development in green finance, but will also propel the world forward towards a sustainable future."Providing connections for investorsThe AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, have returned in physical format. More than 600 matchmaking meetings are expected to be held. While the sessions take place in-person on 11 and 12 January, they continue online until 17 January, allowing investors and project owners more time to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. Representatives from a variety of industries will participate in this much-anticipated session, ranging from deep technology, digital technology and media, and medical technology to education, infrastructure and real estate services.The Forum continues to provide a platform facilitating projects and business matching among global finance and trade institutions. For instance, the Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association (REI) and Institution of Public Private Partnerships in Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding on the first day of AFF to strengthen collaboration in infrastructure. Yedpay, an exhibitor in the Forum's FinTech Showcase, also joined hands with global financial institutions and local universities at the event to launch a collaboration framework on jointly developing various payment technologies.Two women leaders delivering keynote addresses tomorrowThe AFF will continue to feature stimulating and thought-provoking sessions tomorrow, including a keynote speech in the morning on the promotion of climate change delivered by Ms Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Co-founder of Global Optimism. Ms Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, will join the keynote luncheon as a guest speaker to share her experiences as an influential global leader and her mission to promote a diverse and inclusive culture.There are over 20 workshops and panel discussions on a myriad of topics, such as sustainable development and ESG, green finance, inclusive capital markets, family office challenges, digital Reminibi and innovative technology development. Highlighted speakers include Dr Norman Chan, Chairman of RD Wallet Technologies / RD ezLink; Mr Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect; Dr Feng Xiao, Chairman of HashKey Group; Dr Giovanna Graziosi-Casimiro, Head of Metaverse Fashion Week of Decentraland and Mr Sebastian Fahey, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead of the Metaverse at Sotheby's.The HKTDC is providing a variety of exclusive travel, food and hotel discounts for overseas delegates, to enrich their stay in Hong Kong beyond the two-day Forum. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Gv9xt6Websites- Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/- Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme- Speakers List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker- HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com- Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3vRBnemAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Media enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hkAgnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk Hing-fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:Katy Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgSnowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.orgSunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Asian Licensing Conference explores latest trends and forges new business opportunities

HONG KONG, Aug 4, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The 11th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), ran successfully from 27 to 29 July. The three-day online event featured 22 thematic sessions where 34 industry experts from different sectors addressed participants. More than 25,000 viewers from 42 countries and regions joined the discussions alongside physical participation at five satellite conferences in Chongqing, Dalian, Hangzhou and Shenzhen in Mainland China and Jakarta in Indonesia. The three-day event generated nearly 140 one-on-one business matching meetings online, connecting global licensing players with potential partners to help them explore business opportunities.The 11th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) online featured 34 industry speakers well versed in the industry and attracted more than 25,000 viewers from 42 countries and regions.Five satellite conferences were held in parallel with the ALC in Chongqing, Dalian, Hangzhou and Shenzhen in Mainland China and Jakarta in Indonesia.The inaugural Brand Forum took place alongside the conference, featuring a number of established Asian brands. Representatives from these brands shared their stories and connected with participants for potential business partnerships.One-stop platform connects licensing partners to global opportunitiesHong Kong is maintaining its position as an international intellectual property (IP) and licensing hub that links international licensors and licensing agents. The ALC provides a one-stop platform where leading global brands and licensors can explore cross-sectoral cooperation and keep abreast of the latest market trends and opportunities. This year the conference addressed topical issues in such areas as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the metaverse, brands crossover, arts and culture licensing, art technology, blockchain gaming, location-based entertainment (LBE) experiences, environmental, social and governance (ESG) in licensing and more.Speaking at the conference, Maura Regan, President of Licensing International, said that following two years of unparalleled change brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers put greater focus on life and cultural experiences. She said the global licensing community should capture opportunities arising from this consumer behaviour shift, expressing confidence that the licensing industry will continue to grow in line with consumer market trends in over the next two years.Brand Forum builds business connectionsThe inaugural Brand Forum took place alongside the conference, featuring a number of established Asian brands such as BANDAI NAMCO, CAPCOM, DNP, Fuji Television, TV TOKYO Communication, Minto, San-Byte, Sony Creative, Poplar Publishing and Tsuburaya. Brand representatives shared their stories and were connected with other participants to explore potential partnerships. In addition, 45 Hong Kong homegrown brands under the DLAB banner presented their creative characters, animations, products and gaming designs. The online exhibition showcased more than 100 instances of IPs, fully demonstrating the power of licensing and creativity in the region.TV TOKYO Communication shared that the event enabled them to connect with potential partners worldwide and explore business opportunities together. Yellow White Stone also said taking part in ALC helped them gain more experience and exposure.At the "China Opportunity" session, one conference highlight, Gao Zheng, Director General, Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation (Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, said Hong Kong has been playing an important role in the development of the country's cultural industry. The conference would further promote business collaboration between international and Mainland Chinese enterprises, and at the same time cement Hong Kong's unique role as an international licensing hub. Jacky Chung, HKTDC Director, Mainland, said the National 14th Five-Year Plan supported Hong Kong's development into an arts and cultural exchange hub that connects the mainland to the rest of the world. This will further enhance the city's function as a trade centre for international IP and a globally recognised licensing hub.He Yizan, Founder and CEO of ARTiSTORY, said technology would have a profound impact on people's lives, and many cultural and art institutions were now actively embracing new technologies. He believed the convergence of art and technology would become a new trend for cultural and art licensing in the future.Over three event-packed days, the ALC addressed numerous topical issues, offered fruitful content to participants and generated business opportunities for industry players. The event served as a prelude to the 20th HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and the 12th Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) to be held from 27 to 29 April 2023. More details of these events will be announced in due course.All ALC sessions were broadcast via the event's online platform. Complimentary playback is available for registered participants until 29 August 2022 through the conference website link [ https://alc.hktdc.com ], while subscription for video-on-demand is available for those who did not register for this year's event. Please email to: alc@hktdc.org for details of the subscription.Website- Asian Licensing Conference website: https://alc.hktdc.com- Photo download: https://bit.ly/3PXfC5iAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.orgSnowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Crypto-Upvotes Is Expanding Its Business by Entering the Asian Market

Sydney, Australia, April 13, 2022 – (SEAPRWire) – Crypto marketing agency Crypto-Upvotes is starting to conquer the Asian market by offering advertisements for crypto projects on billboards in Greater China region. The company will also offer promotions on local social networks such as Wechat & Tiktok. The company is expected to offer similar services in Japan and Korea in a month after the full launch in Greater China. “The popularity of cryptocurrencies in Greater China region is growing every day, and the Asian market has not yet reached its potential. Cryptocurrencies in this region are only at the stage of development and implementation into normal life”, says Crypto-Upvotes CEO Daniel Lazovsky. The decision to expand into the Asian market was made after the successful expansion of Western markets. Until 2022, the company was engaged in advertising and promotion in the United States and Europe. In particular, at the end of last summer Crypto-Upvotes started advertising cryptocurrency projects on billboards across the United States. The first billboards appeared in downtown New York City. To date, the company offers placement on more than 300,000 billboards across the U.S. “We’re taking a really innovative approach”, claims Daniel Lazovsky. “While the overwhelming majority of the advertising for cryptocurrency projects is online, we offer offline promotion. It may sound clumsy, but it works!” According to the CEO, this approach provides a comprehensive promotion. A person sees an advertisement for a cryptocurrency project online, then gets behind the wheel – and observes it on a billboard. Billboard advertisements are a very popular form of advertising in Greater China region. Therefore, in all major cities, billboards can be seen literally on the walls of every house. The marketing team assumes that such a way of advertising cryptocurrency projects will fit organically into the overall picture of the local advertising market and bring the expected effect. As for online activities, the company pays special attention to WeChat, the main communication software used by local Internet users. It is the local equivalent of WhatsApp. WeChat is known for having various groups about cryptocurrencies. The company will leverage this opportunity by creating new groups for its customers. Also, many people in Greater China region like to use Tiktok, which is equivalent to YouTube in other countries. There are many Internet celebrities on Tiktok. The marketing team is considering involving different well-known personalities to create influencer marketing campaigns for its customers. Crypto-Upvotes have been in the cryptocurrency world since 2014. In addition to billboard advertising spots, it offers crypto copywriting services, placing a crypto project on CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, and other services to extend cryptocurrency business globally. It has contracts with major advertising agencies in the USA and Europe. In a month, Crypto-Upvotes is planning to enter the media markets of Japan and Korea to provide comprehensive solutions to promote various crypto projects. Social Links Website: https://Crypto-Upvotes.com TG: https://t.me/marketing_crypto Twitter: https://twitter.com/crypto_upvotes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crypto_upvotes Media contacts Crypto Marketing Agency Crypto-Upvotes Daniel Lazovsky, CEO founder@Crypto-Upvotes.com SOURCE: Crypto-Upvotes The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEAPRWIRE makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact cs@SEAPRWIRE.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEAPRWIRE (www.seaprwire.com) offers newswire service in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines & Hong Kong )

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Singapore’s 1982 Ventures Raises US$12.5M in the First Close of Seed Fund

SINGAPORE, Dec 16, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - 1982 Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm in Southeast Asia, has announced the initial close of its first seed stage venture fund with US$12.5 million in committed capital. The fund is targeting to raise a total corpus of US$15 million.Scott Krivokopich and Herston Elton Powers, Managing Partners of 1982 Ventures, Southeast Asia's leading seed fund which is focused on fintech. (1982 Ventures)Established in early 2020, 1982 Ventures is a Southeast Asia focused venture capital fund that invests in seed stage fintech startups in Southeast Asia. The fund was recently identified as the most active Southeast Asia based fintech investor of 2021 (UOB). The firm's portfolio has made a return of over 3x, with early and first round investments in Indonesian open banking player Brick, Vietnamese retail investment platform Infina (YC S21), home financing proptech Homebase (YC W21), Singaporean automated financial data platform Bluesheets and Southeast Asia's first earned wage access platform Wagely. Their first fund has been backed by US fintech unicorn Carta, Asia's leading multinational Genting Group's Venture arm, US fund of funds First Close Partners and Rally Cap and major Indonesian family office Trihill. The backers of 1982 Ventures include Southeast Asian, European and American family offices, fintech founders, senior executives of tech and financial services companies and GPs of other VC funds including Sheel Mohnot (founding GP of 500 Fintech and Better Tomorrow Ventures) and unnamed GPs at major Southeast Asian VC funds. Herston Elton Powers, Co-founder and Managing Partner of 1982 Ventures stated, "Seed stage fintech in Southeast Asia is a clear once in a generation opportunity. Our focus and credibility with founders make us first money invested and the partner of choice for fintech entrepreneurs in the region." He continued, "Our investors have access to the highest quality deal flow and as a result of their commitment to 1982 Ventures, have directly participated in the region's most competitive fintech rounds." JunYuan Tan, Co-Founder and CEO, of Homebase (a 1982 Ventures portfolio company) stated "1982 Ventures was one of our earliest institutional investors. They have been super helpful even up till today. In fact, 1982 Ventures has by far made the most number of quality introductions to us, especially for lenders, and it's not even close. 1982 Ventures' investment is one of the best money we've ever taken."Southeast Asia represents a once in a generation opportunity with half a billion consumers waiting for financial services. The region is experiencing rapid urbanization and has some of the world's highest technology adoption and mobile and internet penetration rates. Southeast Asian fintech startups represent more than US$10 billion in unrealized value, with 100 projected fintech exits in the coming years (Dealroom). Ian Sulaiman, Vice President, of Trihill, stated "1982 Ventures is filling a critical gap in the VC market with their focus on seed stage fintech companies. The GPs understand how to invest in Indonesia and across the region. Scott and Herston have impressed us with their company selection and we have confidence in the judgement." Going forward, the firm is looking to invest in a total of 30 start-ups primarily in the fintech sector across Southeast Asia. The firm has a core focus on Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Philippines with the ability invest across the region and opportunistically in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Scott Krivokopich, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 1982 Ventures stated, "We are on track to realize our goal of becoming the best performing fund in the region and we are encouraged by the support from the global investment community in backing 1982 Ventures." He continued, "We have seen the incredible rise of fintech in China, India, Latin America, Africa and the West -- now is the time for Southeast Asian fintech to lead the way."Both Herston and Scott are former executives of tryb Group, a Southeast Asian fintech investor, and have each been in Asia for well over a decade. Scott Krivokopich was previously the Head of Investments at tryb Group and prior to that established Moore Stephens Corporate Finance business in China, advised on M&A for Southeast Asian fintech transactions, worked with Micro-Finance pioneer Grameen Bank. Scott started his career in New York working for PwC Structured Credit and Derivatives Advisory. Herston Elton Powers, an INSEAD graduate in Singapore, previously led investments, operations and investor relations at tryb Group. He is credited as the first institutional investor in Indonesia's leading fintech and Neo bank Alami. Prior to becoming a VC investor, Herston was a banker at the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore where he was Head of Southeast Asia and worked on numerous Chinese, Indian and Southeast Asian listings on NYSE and Nasdaq. He also supported the founding of a global fintech company based in Europe. "1982 Ventures has proven its ability to source and invest in the best fintech start-ups in the region." stated Scott Krivokopich. He continued, "Our mission is clear to back the next generation of unicorns which will come from the fintech sector in Southeast Asia." 1982 Ventures expects to announce the final close of its first seed fund soon and is only open for investment from strategic investors to participate in a "greenshoe option" as the fund is already oversubscribed ahead of its final close.About 1982 Ventures1982 Ventures is the leading seed fund investing in fintech start-ups in Southeast Asia. 1982 Ventures focuses on being the first port of call for fintech founders and the first money in.1982 Ventures investments include Bluesheets, Brick, Fundiin, Go Zayann, Homebase, Hugo, Infina, Lista, Nextpay, Pina and Wagely. 1982 Ventures is investing in and supporting the best founders to positively impact the future of financial services in Southeast Asia.For more information visit: https://1982.vc.For Media Enquiries:Herston@1982.vcQuotes From Investors And Portfolio Companies Of 1982 Ventures (In Alphabetical Order): Carta:Davis Thacker, Director and Head of Carta Ventures, of Carta stated "Southeast Asia is a new and critical market for Carta. 1982 Ventures is a strategic investment for Carta and the perfect partner as we look to expand our fintech partnerships in the region. First Close Partners:Carolina Huaranca Mendoza, General Partner of First Close Partners, stated "Our firm is always on the lookout for best in class fund managers from underrepresented backgrounds across the globe. Herston and Scott have built an impressive firm with a strong vertical focus in fintech in Southeast Asia which really stood out to us. We are proud to be investors and tremendously excited to follow their progress as they continue to build their venture franchise. Our hope is that more underrepresented fund managers follow 1982's lead and are inspired to invest in emerging markets." Gavin Tan of Brick:Gavin Tan, Co-Founder and CEO, of Brick stated "1982 Ventures led our first VC round and Brick has been incredibly fortunate to have an investor that lives and breathes fintech and is always ready to support us with investor, customer and talent introductions." Genting Ventures (Genting Group Corporate Venture Arm):Josie Lai, Head of Genting Ventures, stated "1982 Ventures is a pure-play fintech investor that brings key insights and co-investment opportunities that are aligned with our group's strategy." James Vuong of Infina (YC S21):James Vuong, Founder and CEO, of Infina stated "On our first call it was clear that Herston and Scott understood our business model and what we are building at Infina. For a solo founder it is invaluable to have a team you can call for anything, has real experience and expertise, and likes to move fast and get things done." He continued, "Even after our successive fund raising rounds they continued to support Infina by identifying and helping us recruit our Chief of Staff!" JunYuan Tan of Homebase (YC W21):JunYuan Tan, Co-Founder and CEO, of Homebase stated "1982 Ventures was one of our earliest institutional investors. They have been super helpful even up till today. In fact, 1982 Ventures has by far made the most number of quality introductions to us, especially for lenders, and it's not even close. 1982 Ventures' investment is one of the best money we've ever taken." Sheel Mohnot of Better Tomorrow Ventures:Sheel Mohnot, Co-Founder and General Partner, of Better Tomorrow Ventures, stated "We are a global fintech fund and have seen how fintech transforms all markets. 1982 Ventures was the clear choice for a fund to provide us an on-the-ground partner that understands fintech in Southeast Asia." Trihill Capital:Ian Sulaiman, Vice President, of Trihill, stated "1982 Ventures is filling a critical gap in the VC market with their focus on seed stage fintech companies. The GPs understand how to invest in Indonesia and across the region. Scott and Herston have impressed us with their company selection and we have confidence in their judgement." Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Initiative to Enhance Cooperation of China and Central Asian Countries Concludes

LANZHOU, China, Oct 22, 2021 –  The 8th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was concluded in Lanzhou, capital of Northwest China’s Gansu Province on October 17, and a joint initiative was released, aiming at more profound and practical openness and cooperation among participators. With “Strengthen Solidarity and Cooperation for Building a Community of Security and Development” as its theme, the forum was co-hosted by the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Committee of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the People’s Government of Gansu Province. The Forum included four sub-forums covering topics including “China-Central Asia cooperation on China’s BDS” and “green development.” A themed exhibit on China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which can provide customized services according to the needs of different countries and industries, was also held during the event. Representatives from China and Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations, attended the forum online and in person. Secretary-General of the SCO Vladimir Norov said the China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is an authoritative platform for extensive exchanges between China and Central Asian countries. It helps strengthen political interaction, and deepens the relationship between all parties in ensuring regional security, and in responding to current challenges and threats. It also promotes a mutually beneficial cooperation, especially with regards to economy and trade. “Under these conditions, cooperation in the health sector remains a priority. We propose to put environmental protection at the top of the agenda. We have actively participated in the development of the global agenda for sustainable development until 2030, and intend to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060,” said Alikhan Smailov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. Tajikistan’s ambassador to China Saidzoda Zohir pointed out that despite the various challenges of the new era, China’s economy continues to grow, and this will have a positive impact on the joint construction of a healthy, green and digital Silk Road. The volume of Chinese investment and bilateral trade with Central Asian countries has been growing steadily for two decades in a row. The volume of accumulated direct Chinese investments in five countries of the region amounted to about $15 billion in 2020. “A new stage in the advancement of the Belt and Road may be the alignment “point” of China’s development programs with the national strategies of the Central Asian countries,” Saidzoda Zohir added. Source: Global Times Online Media Contact:Liu Gehua,E: Liugehuan@huanqiu.comWebsite: www.Huanqiu.com

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Asian Solar Summit July 2021 Live online

Singapore, Jun 25, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Key leaders from Total Solar Distributed Generation, Juwi, Total Solar, Sembcorp, Cleantech Solar, Vena Energy, ACWA, Ayala Corp and many more will be taking the virtual stage at the upcomign Asian Solar Summit, as they discuss the next big steps for Solar in Asia. With over 40 regional and international public and private developers, financiers and advocates confirmed to share their expertise, the Asian Solar Summit is THE event to take the pulse of Asia's solar market.Alongside the keynote sessions, there will be 6 country-specific panels - covering Thailand, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines - so attendees get a deeper understanding of a selection of the region's key solar markets. Leading developers, financiers, regulators, technology innovators and advocates will all be in attendance virtually.The Asian Solar Summit isn't just a chance to hear from the leaders who are working towards ambitious renewable energy development goals. It's a truly interactive event where attendees can be part of the conversation during the live panel sessions taking place throughout the day. Expert speakers sharing their insights include:1. Dr Valerie Speth, CEO APAC, juwi 2. Rajit Nanda, Chief Portfolio Management Officer and Interim Chief Investment Officer, ACWA Power 3. John Eric Francia, President and CEO, AC Energy & Managing Director, Ayala Corp 4. Maria May Militante, Chief Public Relations & Business Development Officer, MRC Allied 5. Florian Bennhold, CEO and MD, Symbior Solar 6. Frank Gluck, CEO, GreenYellow Thailand & Asia 7. Christopher Ang, Head, Infrastructure & Project Finance Asia, United Overseas Bank Limited 8. Irman Boyle, EVP/Head of Advisory, Indonesia Infrastructure Finance 9. Nicolas van den Abeele, Director of Business Development - Indonesia, ENGIE 10. Samresh Kumar, Chairman and CEO, SkyX Solar 11. Cristiano Spillati, Managing Director, LIMES Renewable Energy 12. Yash Shah, Senior Vice President, Global Structured Finance, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation 13. Franck Constant, President, Constant Energy 14. Davis Chong, Chief Executive Officer, Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd and President, Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA) 15. Lorenzo Mancini, Regional Director, Total Solar Distributed Generation 16. Jen Tan, Head of Integrated Solutions (Singapore & SoutheastAsia), Sembcorp Industries 17. Arnaud Ayral, Country Head of Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia, Cleantech Solar 18. Laurent Margoloff, Regional Lead for Utilities - Energy Asia Pacific, ING 19. Daniel Mallo, Head of Natural Resources and Infrastructure - Asia Pacific, Societe Generale 20. Devin Narang, Managing Director (India), Sindicatum Renewable Energy CompanyKeynote and country showcase panel sessions Kicking off the day is a keynote session with panellists sharing their strategies for building capacity and driving solar generation forward in Asia. Later in the day is the second keynote session on the growing C&I solar market in the region. Throughout the Summit, panellists will give perspectives on the on-the-ground situation, government support mechanisms and trends in partnerships, investments, project development and financing. Visit LINK to view the agenda. Asian Solar Summit1st July 2021LIVE OnlineWebsite: https://bit.ly/2UuF3mRRegister: https://bit.ly/3qrNhrSAgenda : https://bit.ly/3gYPM0iAbout Terrapinn Terrapinn is a business media company. Its products are trade exhibitions, conferences, training solutions and electronic and print publications. For more information, please visit www.terrapinn.com. Note: Press registration for the conference is compulsory and advance scheduling for speaker/ sponsor interviews is recommended. Press passes are strictly reserved for reporters, journalists, editors only. Final issuance of press passes is subjected to Terrapinn's discretion.  For your complimentary press pass, please contact the following: Emma Riddington-BatesMarketing Manager Terrapinn Pte Ltd emma.riddingtonbates@terrapinn.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Sailing: Windsurfer Amanda Ng defies knee injury to clinch Olympic berth for Singapore

SINGAPORE - The practice session in Oman on April 1 had ended like so many others, with windsurfer Amanda Ng taking her board out of the water as she wrapped up her preparations for the Mussanah Open Championship. But as she trod on the slippery surface, she slipped and as she landed, she was greeted by pain. The pain in her left knee rendered her unable to stand or walk. It was followed by mental anguish as her Olympic campaign - the regatta was the Asian qualifier for the upcoming Tokyo Games - was suddenly in jeopardy. She was rushed to a hospital, where an X-ray ruled out any broken bones. But little was known about the nature of the injury as no scans were done. A long-distance phone call to Dr Ben Tan, chief of sports medicine at Changi General Hospital and himself a former Olympic sailor, reassured her that she could still compete. But Ng did better than that. She not only competed but also topped the three-woman RSX field in Oman, completing 13 races despite having a suspected tear in her medial collateral ligament. The 27-year-old, who has been using a wheelchair since the fall, told The Straits Times on Thursday (April 8): "I was distraught. I couldn't even stand or walk and the pain was really bad. "I'm very happy and relieved (to have qualified). I was overjoyed and so thankful for all the help and support that I'd gotten." But it was not all smooth sailing for Ng. On the first day of racing just two days after the fall, she finished behind her two rivals - the Philippines' Charizanne Napa and India's Ishwariya Ganesh. Mired in doubt and despair, it took an army to raise her spirits, with her coach Alistair Masters, her family and friends in Singapore, including her church community who prayed for her, all encouraging her on. "My first day was quite bad, I was really far behind, but my coach was saying, 'On the positive side, you have two finishings, so there's still a chance for you to fight back'," said Ng, who also competed at the 2016 Rio Games, finishing 20th in the women's 470 with Jovina Choo. "All this support from people around me helped to keep me going." She tweaked her technique to avoid placing too much weight on her knee and relied on her arms more, to the point that "they felt like they were going to drop off". But she defied the pain in her leg and the discomfort in her arms, and her performances improved throughout the week, culminating in a first-place finish in the medal race on Thursday. Her tally of 17 points put her in front of Napa (24) and Ganesh (37). National windsurfer Amanda Ng feared that she would not be able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics' Asian qualifiers when she fell and twisted her left knee just two days before the start of the competition. PHOTO: AMANDA NG "We thought it was an April's Fool joke but it wasn't. We were very concerned for her when she sent a photo of herself on a wheelchair, but knowing Amanda, she is mentally fit and strong, such misadventure is just a test for her grit, tenacity, and commitment to remain formidable, like they say, what won't kill you makes you stronger," said Singapore Sailing general manager and high performance head, Chung Pei Ming. Compatriot Ryan Lo also secured an Olympic quota spot in the Laser Standard class, wrapping up the competition with 31 nett points, well ahead of India's Vishnu Saravanan (53), who clinched the second and final Olympic berth. Lo and Ng will be nominated by the Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) by virtue of being the top local sailors at the Asian qualifiers. Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low have already earned Singapore a place in the 49erFX event after they came in 15th at the Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in 2019. More on this topic   Related Story Sailing: Lo and Ng book Olympic berths for Singapore at the Asian qualifiers in Oman   Related Story Olympics: Tokyo-bound sailors Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low stay on even keel despite uncertainty

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Asian tennis players must ride the Osaka wave

Following Naomi Osaka's fourth Grand Slam win at the Australian Open last Saturday, the time has come for more Asian players to try to reach her level, said Yoshihito Nishioka, the second-ranked male player in Japan. The 25-year-old told The Straits Times via a video conference call last Sunday: "She's very supportive of Japanese tennis and Asian tennis, so we need to be proud of her and need to improve more so that we can be more like her. She showed that we can do it, so we just have to believe in that and try to do it." Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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SMT is about to Enter the Singapore Market

SMT, an Answer to the Korean Waterjet Industry https://youtu.be/4_TJ972cWSw SMT, the only manufacturer of ultra-high pressure water jet nozzles and tools in Korea, is accelerating its entry to the Southeast Asian water jet market. Founded in 1993, SMT is leading the Korean and Japanese waterjet based on its precise and advanced technology; its technology has been also recognized in Europe, where waterjet technologies are already quite developed. From 2020, it is planning to fully enter the Southeast Asian waterjet market. SMT, whose technology of 30 years has been proven, is expected to make a huge sensation by providing agile CS and perfect solutions in Singapore, which serves as the hub of the Southeast Asian waterjet market. SMT's main products include 'Diamond Orifice' for waterjet cutting,'Diamond Fan Jet Nozzle' used for semiconductor cleaning,'(Double)Spin Nozzle' & 'Cyclone Nozzle' for general pipe cleaning, surface cleaning and heat exchange and 'Rotating Nozzle', water jet guns and valves for primary cleaning. Among them, SMT Diamond water cut nozzles have 15 to 20 times higher life time compared with sapphire nozzles, even at good cut quality. By using diamond for water jet nozzles, water stream width can be minimized, directness and ultrahigh pressure achieved resulting in higher precision. Expanding the width of the water stream(From 0° to 60°), Fan nozzles can also be used for cleaning and removal of burrs. SMT is also manufacturing Sapphire nozzles for high pressure water jet cleaning. An official from SMT said, “SMT's products are attracting great attention from overseas customers from countries including Japan, Italy and Taiwan for our accumulated technical capabilities and reasonable prices. Based on this, we will try to create impressive output in the Southeast Asian waterjet market as well.” Media contact Company: SMT Contact: Changwon Lee Telephone: +82 32 327 4741 Website: https://youtu.be/4_TJ972cWSw  https://www.gobizkorea.com/user/goods/frontGoodsDetail.do?goods_no=GS2020070993514&ctgryCode=S1000100140000&upperCode=M1000100000000&goodsNms=Diamond-Sapphire-Nozzle&skwanSn=&speclKwanId=SPCCD0000626 E-mail: admin@smttool.com The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEA PRWire makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact SEAPRWire/at/gmail.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEA PRWire: PR distribution in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore & Malaysia)

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Southeast Asian Film Financing Project Market 2020 Finalists Announced

SINGAPORE, Nov 6, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - ScreenSingapore today announced finalists for the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market 2020.Ten projects from China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand were selected based on the project's co-production viabilities and the strength of the filmmaking team.This year's SAFF Project Market sees entries coming in from 14 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and North America, including first-timers from Finland, France, and Iran.Taking Asian Storytelling to the WorldSince its launch in 2015, the SAFF Project Market has emerged as a recognised regional platform for established and upcoming content creators to come together and present their projects to the international marketplace.Finalists will be able to meet with financiers, commissioners, and investors - albeit virtually this year - who will be able to bridge them with the resources needed to take their projects to a global audience.Selected projects will join the ranks of SAFF Project Market alumni who have seen their projects produced, undergo production, or acquire financing."The SAFF Project Market funnels expertise and resource from people all-over the world and brings them 'to-the-table' with filmmakers for projects that have the potential for a world-wide audience. Their input gave me different perspectives that have been beneficial to the projects that we have in-development," said Anne Prado-Magadia, President, Atom & Anne Mediaworks, and a previous participant."SAFF Project Market creates concrete linkages between creators and buyers. The network is definitely getting bigger every year and we're always building new relationships with producers, financiers and distributors from the region and beyond," said Micah Tadena, Producer, Quantum Run, and also a previous participant.Finalists for Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market 2020:http://www.acnnewswire.com/clientreports/598/Annex.pdfImage download: https://we.tl/t-FIkQdXO1hkEnabling Southeast Asia Partnerships in MediaHeld alongside the SAFF Project Market is ScreenSingapore's SAFF Forum. The theme for this year's SAFF Forum - Southeast Asian Partnerships in Media: Content, Connectivity & Capability - will be centred on the changing landscape of content buying to discussing concepts that will lend fresh perspectives in Southeast Asian co-productions.The fixed-timing afternoon sessions across all four days during ATF Online+ 2020 is not only a new format but will also be live streamed while meetings take place during the closed door SAFF Project Market Speed Dating sessions. Participants can attend the conference sessions while waiting for their meeting time slot.Initial line-up of speakers and panellists for the SAFF Forum include:- Abhi Rastogi, CEO, 108 Media- Himanshu Shah, Owner, AV8 Media Pte Ltd- Jeremy Chua, Founder, Potocol- Rashid Karim, CEO, Iskandar Malaysia Studios- Anthony Tulloch, General Manager, Iskandar Malaysia Studios- Elliot Renton, Senior Director & Head of Asia-Pacific, GrabyoBridging Asian and European ProducersTIES THAT BIND (TTB), a workshop programme which combines producer training, project development and co-production meetings focusing on co-operation between European and Asian producers, returns this year as part of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore's line-up of events.Five Asian and five European producers with their projects under development, have been selected to be part of the workshop which will take place online from 16 to 30 November 2020.The selected producers will also have the opportunity to meet decision-makers at the ATF Online+ platform from 1 to 4 December 2020.The line-up of decision-makers they stand to meet are:- Alexis Hofmann of BAC Films (France)- Bugno Vincenzo of World Cinema Fund (Germany)- Carole Baraton of Charades (France)- Charles Tesson of Aide aux cinemas du monde & Semaine de la critique Cannes (France)- Emilie Serres of Orange Studio (France)- Georges Goldenstern of Cinefondation (France)- Keiko Funato of Alpha Violet (France)- Per-Eirik Gilsvik of Sorfond (Norway)Justin Deimen, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA), which coorganises the SAFF Project Market and Forum, said, "SAAVA is excited to present these films to the market as year on year, we continue to have an eclectic and electric mix of projects from established and emerging voices in the region, even while the industry pivots to new ways of connecting to each other and keeping business lines open."Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director of ATF and ScreenSingapore, said, "Our digital platform facilitates a smooth exchange of ideas and expertise between Asian producers and decision makers from the rest of the world. This is a great opportunity for Asian storytelling to go the distance, and we are encouraged by the level of support and participation received for our new format this year".ScreenSingapore's SAFF Project Market and Forum, and TTB meetings will take place virtually at ATF Online+ from 1 - 4 December 2020. TTB workshops begin earlier on 16 November. ScreenSingapore is part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF).About ScreenSingapore 2020ScreenSingapore - Southeast Asia's definitive marketplace for filmmakers, producers, distributors, financiers and film buyers to explore co-production opportunities, seek financing, make deals and learn about the changing film landscape.In 2020, ScreenSingapore will once again host the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market and Conference, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind: Asia/Europe Producers Workshop (TTB) to connect promising filmmakers and producers from Southeast Asia and Europe with international co-producing partners, festival programmers, distributors, commissioners, and financiers. For more information, please visit www.screensingapore.com.sgAbout Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2020Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) - the region's leading entertainment content event - is the platform of calibre to acquire knowledge, network, buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all platforms. It is the premier stage in Asia to engage with the entertainment industry's top players from around the world. It's where the best minds meet and the future of Asia's content is shaped.ATF facilitates opportunities to discover vital trends, crucial statistics and significant foresight particularly in TV's digital, kids and formats arenas. Its business match-making programme open doors to new connections in the region. With over 5,700 international buyers and sellers from more than 60 countries and regions, ATF presents valuable business prospects for topof-the-line benefits. For more information, please visit www.asiatvforum.comAbout Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA)The Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA), a non-profit association that seeks to unify media producers and media financiers in the region. The association's mission is to advance creative development across the region, promote Southeast Asian audio-visual content and capabilities internationally, as well as stimulate business collaborations between its members. SAAVA's current board of directors include Teo Yi-Ling, Justin Deimen, and Yeo Kok Siew.About Reed Exhibitions (RX)Reed Exhibitions is a leading global event organiser, with more than 500 events in 30 countries. In 2019, Reed Exhibitions brought together more than 7m event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed Exhibitions' events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. For more information, please visit www.reedexpo.comAbout the Singapore Media Festival (SMF)The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority, is one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 26 November to 6 December 2020, the Singapore Media Festival brings together the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore, and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). SuperGamerFest will also be held in conjunction with SMF. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit www.imda.gov.sg/sgmediafest.Press ContactNinemer Public RelationsDanielle LohSenior Account ManagerT: +65 9176 7502E: danielleloh@ninemer.comJanice ChewAccount ManagerT: +65 9685 7508E: janicechew@ninemer.com Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

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Southeast Asian Film Financing Project Market 2020 Finalists Announced

Singapore - Nov 6, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - ScreenSingapore today announced finalists for the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market 2020. Ten projects from China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand were selected based on the project's co-production viabilities and the strength of the filmmaking team. This year's SAFF Project Market sees entries coming in from 14 countries and regions across Asia, Europe and North America, including first-timers from Finland, France, and Iran. Taking Asian Storytelling to the World Since its launch in 2015, the SAFF Project Market has emerged as a recognised regional platform for established and upcoming content creators to come together and present their projects to the international marketplace. Finalists will be able to meet with financiers, commissioners, and investors - albeit virtually this year - who will be able to bridge them with the resources needed to take their projects to a global audience. Selected projects will join the ranks of SAFF Project Market alumni who have seen their projects produced, undergo production, or acquire financing. "The SAFF Project Market funnels expertise and resource from people all-over the world and brings them 'to-the-table' with filmmakers for projects that have the potential for a world-wide audience. Their input gave me different perspectives that have been beneficial to the projects that we have in-development," said Anne Prado-Magadia, President, Atom & Anne Mediaworks, and a previous participant. "SAFF Project Market creates concrete linkages between creators and buyers. The network is definitely getting bigger every year and we're always building new relationships with producers, financiers and distributors from the region and beyond," said Micah Tadena, Producer, Quantum Run, and also a previous participant. Finalists for Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market 2020:http://www.acnnewswire.com/clientreports/598/Annex.pdf Image download: https://we.tl/t-FIkQdXO1hk Enabling Southeast Asia Partnerships in Media Held alongside the SAFF Project Market is ScreenSingapore's SAFF Forum. The theme for this year's SAFF Forum - Southeast Asian Partnerships in Media: Content, Connectivity & Capability - will be centred on the changing landscape of content buying to discussing concepts that will lend fresh perspectives in Southeast Asian co-productions. The fixed-timing afternoon sessions across all four days during ATF Online+ 2020 is not only a new format but will also be live streamed while meetings take place during the closed door SAFF Project Market Speed Dating sessions. Participants can attend the conference sessions while waiting for their meeting time slot. Initial line-up of speakers and panellists for the SAFF Forum include: Abhi Rastogi, CEO, 108 Media Himanshu Shah, Owner, AV8 Media Pte Ltd Jeremy Chua, Founder, Potocol Rashid Karim, CEO, Iskandar Malaysia Studios Anthony Tulloch, General Manager, Iskandar Malaysia Studios Elliot Renton, Senior Director & Head of Asia-Pacific, Grabyo Bridging Asian and European Producers TIES THAT BIND (TTB), a workshop programme which combines producer training, project development and co-production meetings focusing on co-operation between European and Asian producers, returns this year as part of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore's line-up of events. Five Asian and five European producers with their projects under development, have been selected to be part of the workshop which will take place online from 16 to 30 November 2020. The selected producers will also have the opportunity to meet decision-makers at the ATF Online+ platform from 1 to 4 December 2020. The line-up of decision-makers they stand to meet are: Alexis Hofmann of BAC Films (France) Bugno Vincenzo of World Cinema Fund (Germany) Carole Baraton of Charades (France) Charles Tesson of Aide aux cinémas du monde & Semaine de la critique Cannes (France) Emilie Serres of Orange Studio (France) Georges Goldenstern of Cinéfondation (France) Keiko Funato of Alpha Violet (France) Per-Eirik Gilsvik of Sorfond (Norway) Justin Deimen, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA), which coorganises the SAFF Project Market and Forum, said, "SAAVA is excited to present these films to the market as year on year, we continue to have an eclectic and electric mix of projects from established and emerging voices in the region, even while the industry pivots to new ways of connecting to each other and keeping business lines open." Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director of ATF and ScreenSingapore, said, "Our digital platform facilitates a smooth exchange of ideas and expertise between Asian producers and decision makers from the rest of the world. This is a great opportunity for Asian storytelling to go the distance, and we are encouraged by the level of support and participation received for our new format this year". ScreenSingapore's SAFF Project Market and Forum, and TTB meetings will take place virtually at ATF Online+ from 1 - 4 December 2020. TTB workshops begin earlier on 16 November. ScreenSingapore is part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF). About ScreenSingapore 2020 ScreenSingapore - Southeast Asia's definitive marketplace for filmmakers, producers, distributors, financiers and film buyers to explore co-production opportunities, seek financing, make deals and learn about the changing film landscape. In 2020, ScreenSingapore will once again host the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market and Conference, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) and Ties That Bind: Asia/Europe Producers Workshop (TTB) to connect promising filmmakers and producers from Southeast Asia and Europe with international co-producing partners, festival programmers, distributors, commissioners, and financiers. For more information, please visit www.screensingapore.com.sg About Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) 2020 Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) - the region's leading entertainment content event - is the platform of calibre to acquire knowledge, network, buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all platforms. It is the premier stage in Asia to engage with the entertainment industry's top players from around the world. It's where the best minds meet and the future of Asia's content is shaped. ATF facilitates opportunities to discover vital trends, crucial statistics and significant foresight particularly in TV's digital, kids and formats arenas. Its business match-making programme open doors to new connections in the region. With over 5,700 international buyers and sellers from more than 60 countries and regions, ATF presents valuable business prospects for topof-the-line benefits. For more information, please visit www.asiatvforum.com About Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA) The Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA), a non-profit association that seeks to unify media producers and media financiers in the region. The association's mission is to advance creative development across the region, promote Southeast Asian audio-visual content and capabilities internationally, as well as stimulate business collaborations between its members. SAAVA's current board of directors include Teo Yi-Ling, Justin Deimen, and Yeo Kok Siew. About Reed Exhibitions (RX) Reed Exhibitions is a leading global event organiser, with more than 500 events in 30 countries. In 2019, Reed Exhibitions brought together more than 7m event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed Exhibitions' events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. For more information, please visit www.reedexpo.com About the Singapore Media Festival (SMF) The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority, is one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 26 November to 6 December 2020, the Singapore Media Festival brings together the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore, and Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). SuperGamerFest will also be held in conjunction with SMF. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit www.imda.gov.sg/sgmediafest. Press Contact Ninemer Public Relations Danielle Loh Senior Account Manager T: +65 9176 7502 E: danielleloh@ninemer.com Janice Chew Account Manager T: +65 9685 7508 E: janicechew@ninemer.com Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

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