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Fujitsu and Mizuho Bank embark on collaboration for sustainable management information services

TOKYO, Jan 26, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu Limited (Fujitsu) and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Mizuho Bank) today announced a collaboration focused on the development of services for corporate customers to manage ESG and SDG related data including greenhouse gas emissions.Figure: Image of the joint projectThe joint effort will combine Mizuho Bank's customer networks and knowledge of environmental and energy solutions with Fujitsu's cloud services for visualizing CO2 emissions across the entire supply chain, supporting customers in their efforts towards de-carbonization and to improve the efficiency of their sustainable management strategies.Responding to the call for urgent climate actionEnvironmental management represents an increasingly important issue in corporate activities. In addition to financial information, the proactive disclosure of non-financial information, related to environmental and social tasks, has become an important factor in corporate evaluations. At the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in 2021 (COP 26), countries agreed on the "goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C."(1) As countries worldwide are accelerating their de-carbonization efforts, companies are being required to enhance their responses to practical issues including the calculation of GHG emissions.Mizuho Bank positions initiatives addressing climate change as an important part in its management strategy and is actively engaging in constructive dialogue with its customers in response to their unique challenges and needs. Mizuho Bank is further developing and providing financial products and services to support its customers' efforts to combat climate change and to contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society.Fujitsu, too, is focusing on climate related issues and is actively working towards the decarbonization of its own operations by utilizing technologies and services that support digital innovation. Fujitsu provides its customers and society with the know-how and technical capabilities gained through its efforts to go carbon neutral via consulting and service solutions that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.Outline of the joint initiativeWithin the joint project, the two companies will leverage Mizuho Bank's customer networks and insights in customers' environmental management issues and needs with Fujitsu's services, including the SaaS based sustainability management information service provided by Fujitsu Japan Co., Ltd. as well as Fujitsu's Manufacturing Industry Solution COLMINA Factory Optimization Dashboard. This will allow the two companies to calculate, visualize and accurately and efficiently analyze GHG emissions to support customers in reducing their carbon footprint. By making it possible to comprehensively manage various ESG data (non-financial information), including energy consumption, waste management, occupational health and safety and CSR activities, the new service will enable companies to respond to the Japanese Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Act) and also promptly and accurately disclose information for global reporting standards including CDP(2), TCFD(3), SBT(4) and RE 100(5). In this way, the two companies will contribute to solving customers' environmental management issues and ultimately support clients in enhancing their corporate reputation and attract ESG investment.Fujitsu and Mizuho Bank will additionally continue cooperation with the aim to develop further services and solutions to support customers in their business.Future PlansMizuho Bank will continue to proactively promote sustainability action to realize a sustainable society. As a comprehensive financial institution, Mizuho Bank provides advisory services and solutions, including financing support through sustainable and environmental finance, that help customers to strengthen their business and transition towards de-carbonization.Fujitsu will continue to promote "Sustainable Manufacturing," one of the Key Focus Areas of Fujitsu Uvance, to achieve growth through the coexistence of people and the earth.(1) Goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C(2) CDP:International non-profit organization representing institutional investors that encourages companies to disclose their environmental impact and to take measures to mitigate those impacts.(3) TCFD:"Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures"; Disclosure in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. Established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to examine how to conduct climate-related disclosure and respond to financial institutions.(4) SBT:"Science Based Targets"; In 2015, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a joint initiative of organizations including the United Nations Global Compact and the World Resources Institute (WRI), identified targets.(5) RE 100:An initiative run in partnership with CDP by The Climate Group, an international NGO. Made up of companies aiming to use 100% renewable energy.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.About Mizuho BankMizuho Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., one of the largest, full-service financial institutions in the world, with approximately 60,000 employees in 35 countries/regions outside of Japan, nearly 150 years of banking experience, and assets of almost USD 2 trillion. Mizuho Bank has one of the largest customer bases in Japan, and a global network of financial and business centers.Press Contacts:Fujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations Division Inquiries (www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/presscontacts/form/index.html)Mizuho BankCorporate Communications Department Phone: +81-3-5252-6574 Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Mitrade Hits 2.4 Million Users, Up 900,000 from Last Year

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, January 12, 2023 – (SEAPRWire) – Mitrade, a leading global CFD trading platform, has reached a major milestone by amassing 2.4 million users. This marks a significant increase from the 1.5 million users the platform had at this time last year, representing a growth of 900,000 users in just one year. This impressive growth is a testament to the exceptional trading system that Mitrade offers to its traders. From advanced trading tools to top-notch customer support, Mitrade has made it their mission to create a seamless and enjoyable trading experience for all of its users. The company is thrilled to have reached this milestone and is excited to continue providing users with the best possible trading experience. Mitrade wishes to extend their gratitude to all of its 2.4 million users for their support and trust in the platform. The future looks bright for Mitrade as the company continues to grow and innovate. New Trading Features and Upgrades Over the past year, Mitrade has implemented numerous new features and upgrades to their platform, including advanced charting tools, launching a PC client available on both Windows and MacOS, improved security measures, and an updated sleek user interface. They also made a big effort to boost their customer support team to ensure that all clients receive prompt and helpful assistance. Mitrade also plans to release their very own education platform, Mitrade Academy, in the first quarter of 2023. Won Eight Financial Awards Mitrade’s commitment to excellence in every area of their business has earned them these prestigious honors. In 2022 alone, Mitrade has won eight awards, recognizing their efforts on different aspects in the industry. Some notable awards that Mitrade won are the Best Forex Broker, Fastest Growing Fintech Broker and Best Forex Educational Resources. Mitrade is proud to have been recognized by industry experts and intends to continue to work hard to maintain its reputation as a leading provider of CFD trading. About Mitrade Founded in 2011, Mitrade is a multi-licensed leading online CFD trading platform that offers a wide range of financial instruments including forex, commodities, and indices. With a focus on user experience and customer support, Mitrade is committed to providing a simple and accessible trading experience for all of their clients. For more information, visit https://www.mitrade.com/. Social Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitradeOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitradeOfficial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitradecom/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitrade_official/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mitradeglobal/ Media Contact: Brand: Mitrade Contact: Media Team Email: branding@mitrade.com Website: https://www.mitrade.com/ SOURCE: Mitrade The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEAPRWire ( https://www.seaprwire.com/ ) makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact cs/at/SEAPRWire.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEA PRWire: PR distribution in Southeast Asia (Hong Kong: AsiaExcite, EastMud; AsiaEase; Singapore: SEAChronicle, VOASG; NetDace; Thailand: SEAsiabiz, AccessTH; Indonesia: SEATribune, DailyBerita; Philippines: SEATickers, PHNotes; Malaysia: SEANewswire, KULPR; Vietnam: SEANewsDesk, PostVN)

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Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Fully Repays USD 45 Million Loan to IFC

JAKARTA, Dec 6, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - On 5th December 2022, Wintermar Group (WINS) fully repaid the US$45 million loan facility by IFC signed in December 2011. The IFC loan enabled Wintermar to transform the fleet into higher valued vessels through the purchase of 8 OSVs. Although the loan maturity had been extended to 2025, through better cash management the Company has been able to fully repay the loan early on December 2022.Sugiman Layanto, Managing Director of WINS said, "Wintermar values IFC as a partner that has played an important role in the growth of Wintermar. Our relationship with IFC facilitated the Company's growth to become a recognised international shipowner and operator in the Offshore industry. With IFC's support, Wintermar has continued to develop and reaffirm its best practices in Environmental, Social as well as Corporate Governance standards. We are thankful that we have been able to complete this early repayment of the loan ahead of the repayment schedule. We look forward to continuing our relationship."Azam Khan, IFC Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste said, "We are very pleased with IFC's long term partnership with Wintermar. It demonstrates IFC's commitment and continuous support to local clients even during challenging times. We look forward to continuing this relationship and supporting the company's new initiatives such as offshore wind and other renewable energy endeavors."Wintermar has in recent months embarked on a fleet expansion program, with total acquisition of 2 PSVs in 2021 and 1 PSV and 5 AHTS in 2022 through internally generated cash and term loans of US$14 million. Net gearing after this repayment is still low at 8.9%, providing room for further growth in the coming years.About Wintermar Offshore Marine GroupWintermar Offshore Marine Group (WINS.JK), developed over nearly 50 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, and sails a fleet of more than 48 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All vessels are operated by experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real-time by shore-based Vessel Teams.Wintermar is the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, and is currently certified with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO14001:2015 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com.For further information, please contact:Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFAInvestor RelationsPT Wintermar Offshore Marine TbkTel (62-21) 530 5201 Ext 401Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Olympus to Join Government Project to Verify Dissemination of Endoscopic AI Diagnosis in Vietnam

TOKYO, Dec 6, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global medtech company committed to making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, today announced their part in a project in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC), entitled, "Survey Study for International Expansion of Endoscopes Utilizing High-definition Imaging Technology AI Diagnosis Support System in Vietnam."Participants in kick-off meetingThis is the third year, after similar projects in Thailand in fiscal year 2021 and India in fiscal year 2020, that Olympus has acted as a corporate partner to investigate the effectiveness and potential dissemination of an AI diagnostic support system. As part of these projects, Olympus has researched clinical applications in collaboration with major local medical institutions. Past clinical use by doctors in India and Thailand, along with consultation with Japanese physicians, showed the effectiveness and potential for future use of EndoBRAIN-EYE and other endoscope diagnostic imaging support software.From November 2022 to March 2023, Olympus, in collaboration with CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO., LTD., will conduct research on the effectiveness and future use of the AI diagnostic support system EndoBRAIN-EYE at Cho Ray Hospital and 108 Hospital in Vietnam. In addition, specialist lecturers and physicians from Japan's Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital and Shizuoka Cancer Center will provide expert guidance to doctors at major Vietnamese hospitals. They will train doctors in techniques for detecting diseases and differential diagnosis with colonoscopes using EndoBRAIN-EYE, and they will also instruct on how to train the next generation of endoscopists.At the kick-off meeting on November 28, Ho Dang Quy Dung M.D. from Cho Ray Hospital said, "AI is a new and powerful technology making endoscpic procedure more efficient and high quality. I do think that AI will be the big breakthrough of the filed of GI endoscopy in the upcoming years. I hope we have the opportunity to work with Japanese experts in the field of AI in endoscopy." Professor Shin'ei Kudo from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital also commented, "I hope this project will contribute to not only dissemination of the AI technology but also increased partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and look forward to amazing results from this exciting collaboration."Background of Olympus' ParticipationCancer rates have been on the rise in recent years in Vietnam, and colorectal cancer in particular has become a significant issue. It ranks fourth among all cancer cases in men and third among all cancers in women, as well as ranking second in mortality rate among all cancers in both men and women. While the demand for endoscopic screenings, which are essential for the early detection and treatment of cancer, is expected to increase, there is a shortage of physicians with the advanced knowledge and skills required for these examinations. Olympus has joined this project to support the specialists training doctors in Vietnam, to verify the effectiveness and dissemination of AI-assisted colonoscopy, and to contribute to the development of the healthcare environment in Vietnam.Purpose of the MIC ProjectThe MIC aims to realize the sustainable development goals and SDG pledges to ensure "no one will be left behind." To this end, the MIC aims to realize a model that contributes to SDG through digitization and to disseminate and promote an SDG + ICT model domestically and overseas between both the public and private sectors. This project aims to contribute to the introduction and dissemination of Japan's endoscopic AI diagnostic support system to Vietnam in response to the social issue of increasing cancer prevalence in Vietnam.Project Scope:1) Surveys on the policies in the medical, health, and hygiene sectors and the introduction of medical information and communication technologyInformation will be collected from major medical institutions and external research institutions to investigate the state of dissemination of medical information systems, including endoscopy systems.2) Verification through proof-of-concept testsResearch will be conducted on the effectiveness and future use of the AI diagnosis support system at Cho Ray Hospital and 108 Hospital in Vietnam. Physicians from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital and Shizuoka Cancer Center will train doctors at major Vietnamese hospitals covering processes from the detection of disease utilizing a colonoscope with an AI diagnostic support system to discriminatory diagnosis, as well as provide training in how to pass on this knowledge to other doctors. Olympus will provide equipment and training courses.Company names and product names in this release are trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.Products or devices presented include future technology which may be pending regional regulatory approval and are not available for sale in all regions.About OlympusIn its Endoscopic Solutions business, Olympus uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance the quality of life for patients. Starting with the world's first gastrocamera in 1950, Olympus' Endoscopic Solutions portfolio has grown to include endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, digital and integrated customer solutions, as well as solutions for infection prevention. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp.Media contact:Nao TsukamotoGlobal-Public_Relations@olympus.comOlympus Corp [TYO: 7733] [ADR: OCPNY] [GDR: OLYS] https://www.olympus-global.com Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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HKTDC welcomes ground-breaking measures in 2022 Policy Address

HONG KONG, Oct 19, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the Policy Address announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu today, and believes the proposed ground-breaking and wide-ranging policies can help drive Hong Kong's long-term development while resolving some of its pressing issues.Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council said, "The Policy Address clearly sets forth strategic priorities to ensure Hong Kong's growth by defining the city's role in supporting and leveraging the development of the mainland, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) while contributing to global initiatives in innovation and technology, healthcare and environmental protection. The new structures and resources in coordinating infrastructure, economic, social and youth development as well as sector synergy will also create sustained momentum for Hong Kong. At the same time, policies to support SMEs, attract talent, encourage investment and tackle social issues will help resolve some of the immediate problems we are facing."I am particularly pleased that the Chief Executive has taken into account the suggestions of the business community on supporting SMEs and revitalising Hong Kong's position as an international trade fair and convention capital." Dr Lam added. These include the expansion of exhibition space and the extension of the "Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme to the end of June 2023. Hong Kong companies will also benefit from the higher level of government funding support in the "Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)" and the "SME Export Marketing Fund," the latter also includes an extension of special measures covering virtual fairs and local consumer fairs and expansion of eligibility to cover non-SMEs. Dr Lam also welcomes the new support scheme to attract other exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong over three years.Dr Lam also welcomed policies to boost the growth of specific sectors such as technology and innovation, art and culture and intellectual property (IP) to help diversify Hong Kong's economy while opening up opportunities, especially in the GBA and mainland market and Belt and Road countries."Our full range of fairs, conferences and programmes are ready to support Hong Kong's economic sectors, from finance, aviation and logistics, legal services to technology and innovation, art and culture and IP, for which our Business of Intellectual Property Asia Forum (BIP Asia) and Asia IP Exchange portal will support Hong Kong's development into a regional IP trading and commercialisation hub. In addition, we will work with the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong family of organisations to promote Hong Kong's strengths overseas. Through our global network of 50 offices, support programmes such as GoGBA, and major international promotional events such as Think Business, Think Hong Kong, we will promote Hong Kong to the world and create opportunities for the local, mainland and global business community."About 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 enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.orgSam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Honda to Extend Power Unit Technical Support Agreement with Red Bull Power Trains to End of 2025

TOKYO, Aug 3, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Following discussions between Red Bull and Honda, it has been agreed by both parties that Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the Honda subsidiary that runs its racing activities, will continue to provide technical support for Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) relating to Formula 1 power units from 2023 to the end of 2025. In 2022, HRC has been providing PU-related technical support in line with Red Bull's request to Honda, with both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri therefore using the PU from the support program. The extension of the existing agreement for HRC to continue providing technical support from 2023 to 2025 has now been mutually agreed between Red Bull and Honda.Honda officially ended its participation in Formula 1 at the end of 2021, with the resources allocated to PU development diverted to meet the company's future carbon-neutral goals. The ongoing agreement between the two parties does not involve PU development, therefore HRC will be able to provide this service from within its current resources.Dr. Helmut Marko, Motorsport Advisor, Oracle Red Bull Racing: "We thank Honda for their positive response to working together. We are excited to continue our partnership in F1 until the end of 2025 with the PU supplied by Honda. We have had a successful relationship so far, winning the Drivers' championship in 2021 and currently leading the Drivers' and Teams' classifications, with the aim of securing both 2022 titles."Christian Horner, Red Bull Powertrains CEO and Team Principal: "Red Bull's partnership with Honda has been an incredibly successful one and we are pleased that this will continue until the end of the current era of the FIA's power unit regulations in 2025."Koji Watanabe, Head of Corporate Communications Supervisory Unit, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President of Honda Racing Corporation: "We have agreed to continue supporting Red Bull Power Trains in Formula 1 through HRC, following Red Bull's request to extend our current agreement, which HRC can meet within its existing resources. Once again, we aim to use our involvement in the pinnacle of motorsport for the development of technologies and of our workforce." Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Zisre Tech Begins Crowdfunding to Develop Revolutionary Robotics to Support People with Physical Disabilities 

Glasgow, Scottland, June 27, 2022 - (SEAPRWire) - Zisre Tech, a robotics company dedicated to creating affordable robotic technology for the average household, has begun the next phase of development in robotics designed to assist those living with physical disabilities. For Zisre to complete the next stage in development, a crowdfunding effort has been created to raise awareness for the development and research phase of the project and help bring in support to provide the funds they need to complete the work. The development, research, and advances made within the robotic industry are designed to enhance everyday life in the home and workplace. However, robotics technology is not an affordable option for many households worldwide. Zisre Tech lays out a roadmap over the next two years dedicated to help get robots in the homes of people who need them the most, those living with physical disabilities unable to complete daily tasks. The affordability of Zisre Tech’s enhanced robots and inventive use of materials will make this possible. Once they are ready to market, these advanced robots will be affordable for the average person. They are designed to be able to perform tasks that may be challenging for many people living with disabilities to complete on their own. Advanced robots can complete tasks such as cooking and cleaning to support the daily routine involved in running a home. For the research and development phase, Zisre Tech needs a total of 45% of the first round of funding to complete the research into the movements, AI tech, and materials required to make the robots. The funding will also allow them to develop advanced arms with the ability to complete the requested tasks. Thorough testing will be completed before licenses are requested to take the robots to the market for the general public. Once licenses are obtained, Zisre Tech will begin manufacturing the life-changing robots. People can support Zisre Tech's robotic technologies by making contributions through support contributions, donation contributions, zero-interest loan contributions, or reward contributions. People can make a simple contribution if they want to support the funding efforts without receiving their money back. People can also provide support through one of the many options that give their funds back after the company becomes profitable or after a specified time. Through the donation contributions, any amount donated plus an additional 15% will be donated to local charities once the company becomes profitable. For those participating in the reward contribution, Zisre Tech will give their contribution plus an additional 15% to them as spending rewards to use on products once their robots are ready to go to market. People can support by applying for a zero-interest loan where they will receive their funds back within 36-60 months. About Zisre Tech Zisre Tech, established in 2018, has put together a team of dedicated individuals committed to creating cost-effective robotics to help simplify life around the home for the average person and provide assistance for those that need it most. Zisre Tech's robotics are made possible through the support from the community and continuing contributions that make it possible to develop the future of robotics. Learn more about Zisre Tech by visiting https://www.zisretech.com/ Media Contact Brand: Zisre Tech Contact: Media team Email: HELLO@ZISRETECH.COM Website: https://zisretech.com/ SOURCE: Zisre Tech   The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEAPRWire ( https://www.seaprwire.com/ ) makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact cs/at/SEAPRWire.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEA PRWire: PR distribution in Southeast Asia (Hong Kong: AsiaExcite, EastMud; AsiaEase; Singapore: SEAChronicle, VOASG; NetDace; Thailand: SEAsiabiz, AccessTH; Indonesia: SEATribune, DailyBerita; Philippines: SEATickers, PHNotes; Malaysia: SEANewswire, KULPR; Vietnam: SEANewsDesk, PostVN)

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Kagome and NEC establish a joint venture in Portugal to provide farming support for processed tomatoes using AI

Tokyo and Aichi, Japan, Jun 15, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Kagome Co., Ltd. and NEC Corporation will establish DXAS Agricultural Technology, a joint venture in Portugal to provide farming support for processed tomatoes using AI. Establishment is scheduled for July of this year.The new company will contribute to sustainable agriculture in countries around the world by promoting environmentally friendly and profitable farming through the integration of Kagome's agronomies and NEC's technologies.BackgroundThe production of processed tomatoes is expected to continue expanding in line with population growth and economic growth, particularly in emerging countries. However, for sustainable tomato cultivation, we need to address a variety of issues, such as responding to a decline in producers and reducing environmental impact.In 2015, Kagome and NEC began technological development and business verification of farming advice using AI(1) with the aim of realizing environmentally friendly and highly profitable farming. Since then, the companies have begun conducting demonstration tests in Portugal, Spain, Australia, the United States, and are currently expanding business in 7 additional countries.In April 2020, we signed a strategic partnership agreemen (2). With the Smart Agri Division, an organization newly established within Kagome under the direct control of top management, the two companies used NEC's AI-enabled agricultural ICT platform, CropScope, to further improve the functions and quality of farming advice, as well as to study the marketing and future potential of farming support businesses.We recently decided to expand business with the launch of a new company, aiming to further accelerate technological development and strengthen sales activities in the farming support business.By further combining Kagome's knowledge of tomato farming with NEC's AI-based analytical and forecasting technologies, we will accelerate farming support mainly in the processed tomato markets of Europe, the Americas, and Australia.Vision"Innovate global agriculture with DX solutions"By delivering optimal solutions created by incorporating skilled farming technologies into AI, we will enter an age in which everyone can conduct agriculture accurately and efficiently.We aim to establish new agriculture that is adaptable to climate change, sustainable, low input, high output and more productive.Accelerating technological developmentWe will accelerate the creation of new value and the enhancement of services from the AI technologies that we have accumulated.In terms of future initiatives, we will further improve the efficiency of farming operations through collaboration between AI and irrigation facilities, and contribute to reducing the burden on tomato processing companies and producers.Furthermore, we aim to provide environmentally friendly and profitable farming support services by improving comprehensive cultivation methods (from soil preparation to harvesting) from Kagome's agricultural research results, which is important for crop growth.Strengthening the Service Provision SystemWe will strengthen service provision systems through the new company and develop a global system in which personnel with agronomic knowledge and experience understand each user's farm site and support the proposal of optimal services and the application of technology.We will also strengthen partnerships in the agricultural industry to further accelerate business development."We believe that our business, through CropScope, will help realize both environmental sustainability and profitable farming while fulfilling the promise of farmers, like us at Kagome, to contribute toward people's health through the nutritional value and delicious taste of tomatoes," said Yoshihide Watanabe, Director & Senior Managing Executive Officer, Kagome. "This Business will help realize environmentally conscious and profitable tomato farming, along with the social value of supporting our customers' food and health, leading to growth of our new company and Kagome.""In the face of a challenging global environment characterized by global warming, climate change, soil pollution, and soaring prices for water and fertilizers, we have continued to develop solutions with Kagome, aiming to provide value to production sites and food safety by utilizing AI and other advanced technologies," said Osamu Fujikawa, Executive Vice President and CFO, NEC Corporation. "Going forward, NEC will work with the new company and Kagome to provide direct value to society through NEC technologies that contribute to food production and agriculture worldwide."(1) NEC reinforces agricultural ICT for global marketswww.nec.com/en/press/201511/global_20151111_03.html(2) NEC and Kagome to provide AI-enabled services that improve tomato yieldswww.nec.com/en/press/202003/global_20200331_01.htmlAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. 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ETP Group Partners with Matahari to Accelerate Its Retail Digital Transformation Journey

Jakarta, Indonesia, May 20, 2022 – (NovationWire) – ETP Group is proud to announce a new partnership designed to grow and enhance Matahari’s ability to deliver world-class, omni-channel experiences to its customers. PT Matahari Department Store Tbk (“Matahari”; “LPPF.JK”) and ETP Group – two organizations will be deeply engaged with the retail industry and consumer journeys. Matahari, Indonesia’s first and leading modern department store, has a deep legacy in Indonesian retail. Over the years, Matahari has established itself as a truly groundbreaking national brand with 140 large format stores in 77 cities across Indonesia and has a growing online presence through MATAHARI.COM. ETP Group is an Omni-channel Retail Software company serving market leaders in 24 countries across the Asia Pacific, India, and the Middle East. ETP has successfully implemented its V5.5 Omni-channel platforms across 35,000+ stores for 500+ brands. ETP’s unique value proposition is its ability to consistently deliver enterprise class omni-channel retail solutions to its customers and build long-term strategic partnerships. Matahari has a clear vision of becoming the leading omni-channel lifestyle retailer as a customer-centric ‘House of Specialists’ and the Category Authority in lifestyle apparel, footwear, and cosmetics. To grow its consumer base, rejuvenate and expand its omni-channel presence and improve customer experience, Matahari has chosen ETP as its technology partner. The Matahari leadership team has conducted a detailed evaluation through which it selected ETP as a partner to achieve the following strategic objectives: To implement an omni-channel POS system that can manage a high volume of transactions, as well as their CRM and loyalty programsTo implement a system that can manage complex promotions, sales, and reports of both direct purchase and consignment vendorsEnable data consolidation and analysis across stores and external marketplacesTo improve staff productivity so that Matahari can reward its employees more creatively and become the ‘Employer of Choice’To work with a partner that has a history of successful modernization and ongoing R&D that will continue to innovate in the retail software space to bring the best of physical and digital retail together To help Matahari realize this vision, ETP will implement its enterprise-class V5.5 Omni-Channel Retail Software Solution that seamlessly integrates point of sale (POS), customer relationship management (CRM), loyalty management, merchandise and inventory management, promotions planning, and business intelligence (BI). ETP V5.5 allows the scalability required for business growth. ETP has enabled brick and mortar retailers to embrace unified commerce and drive their brands and customer relationships seamlessly. ETP V5 Omni-channel Retail Solutions will support Matahari to deliver a unified omni-channel experience with features such as Click and Collect, Click and Deliver, Endless Aisle, and a holistic view of inventory and the customer. This will be done using real-time integration of ETP’s POS, CRM, and Promotions engine with web stores and marketplaces using ETP Connect‘s secured web services framework, which can see and manage order flows. Speaking about the partnership with ETP, Mr. Terry O’Connor, Matahari – Chief Executive Officer says, “We plan to grow loyal customers through great customer experiences by expanding our omni-channel footprint, harmonizing physical and digital experiences for customers, and increasing customer loyalty and retention. ETP will help us with this. We selected ETP because we feel that a partner should essentially be an extension of Matahari and ETP understands our vision, values, and governance well. We believe they will help us achieve omni-channel sales growth. ETP has state-of-the-art retail and digital platforms that will support us in our omni-channel transformation and help us benefit from the full potential of data analytics coming from ETP technology.” Mr. Naresh Ahuja, Chairman and CEO of ETP Group says, “ETP is extremely pleased to partner with Matahari in Indonesia. ETP has executed many retail projects where companies have transformed from pure physical retailers to multi-channel retailers and then to omni-channel retailers. ETP’s retail, e-commerce, and omni-channel platforms and continued innovations will support Matahari to meet its goals of business growth and delightful customer experiences. ETP is aligned with Matahari’s goals of creating amazing customer experiences, store network optimization, operational excellence, and omni-channel operations. We look forward to partnering closely together and doing great work at Matahari.” About PT. Matahari Department Store, Tbk PT Matahari Department Store Tbk (“Matahari” or “Company”, https://www.matahari.com/corporate/) has a deep legacy in Indonesian retail. For over 60 years, Matahari has provided the growing Indonesian middle class with quality, fashionable and affordable apparel, beauty and footwear products. Matahari is very proud of its support to the Indonesian economy, employing more than 30,000 people and partnering with 600 local suppliers, as well as international suppliers. The Company has received many industry recognitions – nationally and internationally – including Top 3 Best Non-Financial Sector and Top 10 Mid-Cap Issuers ASEAN Corporate Governance Awards 2021, Top 50 Most Valuable Brand Awards 2021 from Brand Finance Indonesia, Top 500 Retail Asia Pacific from Retail Asia, Euromonitor & KPMG; Brand Asia 2018 – Top 3 Most Powerful Retail Brands in Indonesia from Nikkei BP Consulting, Inc. and WoW Brand Award 2019 – Gold Champion from MarkPlus Inc. The Company has also received the Netizen’s Brand Choice Award 2018 from Warta Ekonomi. All of these awards reaffirm the Company’s position as one of the leading, most dynamic, and trusted companies in Indonesia.  About ETP Group ETP (www.etpgroup.com) is an Omni-channel Retail Software company serving market leaders in 24 countries across the Asia Pacific, India, and the Middle East regions. ETP’s solutions include omni-channel orchestration, POS, Mobility, CRM, Marketing Campaigns, Promotion Management, Order Management, Product Information Management, and Analytics. ETP has successfully executed over 500 enterprise software projects across 35,000+ stores for 500+ brands. ETP’s unique value proposition is its ability to consistently deliver enterprise-grade omni-channel solutions to its customers and build long-term strategic partnerships spanning decades. MEDIA CONTACT Vikrant Deshmukh, Associate General Manager-Marketing ETP Group Vikrant.deshmukh@etpgroup.com Website: https://www.etpgroup.com/ SOURCE: ETP Group The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEAPRWire ( www.seaprwire.com ) makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact cs/at/SEAPRWire.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEA PRWire: PR distribution in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines & Hong Kong )

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Marubeni, OPExPARK, Beyond Next Ventures and DENSO Collaborate to Promote DX in the Healthcare Industry

TOKYO, Apr 1, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Marubeni Corporation ("Marubeni"), OPExPARK Inc. ("OPExPARK"), Beyond Next Ventures Inc. ("BNV") and DENSO CORPORATION ("DENSO") have agreed for Marubeni to invest with BNV andin OPExPARK to support the digital transformation ("DX") of operating rooms and a surgical education platform business for doctors ("this project"). OPExPARK was jointly established by DENSO and BNV.From left, BNV Executive Officer Katsuya Hashizume, OPExPARK President and CEO Yasunori Honda, Marubeni Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer of the ICT & Real Estate Business Div. Tatsuya Abe, and DENSO Manager Hideki OkudaIn recent years, the need for DX has been rapidly increasing in the healthcare industry, as represented by the development of new medical services such as telemedicine and online medication guidance, and the utilization of medical data. In addition, with the decrease in the number of surgeries and restrictions on movement, delivering surgical education has been challenging, with young doctors having fewer opportunities to learn techniques from operations that senior doctors perform. Therefore, there is a growing expectation for an educational platform that allows doctors to learn surgical techniques online.OPExPARK was established in 2019 with the support of BNV, utilizing the information integration platform "OPeLiNK" developed by DENSO with the support of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. OPeLiNK is an information integration platform that constantly provides data gathered from each piece of equipment in the operating room, which is conventionally handled individually, with data in a consistent format so that it can be used by any device. By extracting and delivering accumulated equipment and biological data, information important to the decision-making of the surgeon can be visualized, and advanced tacit knowledge that was difficult to learn outside the operating room can be shared. OPExPARK promotes DX of surgical education through the delivery of educational contents that enables anyone to learn cutting-edge surgery anytime, anywhere. In addition, OPExPARK contributes to the improvement of the quality of medical care in Japan and overseas by transmitting surgical videos and data acquired by OPELiNK in real time and by providing advice on diagnosis and surgery from remote locations.Marubeni has strengthened and expanded its IT consulting services business and cloud integration business to support and promote DX for customers and partners. By investing in this project and utilizing its cultivated know-how of DX support and promotion, support for IT fields (including the cloud), and cooperation with other businesses, Marubeni will contribute to the expansion of OPExPARK's services from DX in operating rooms and surgical education to DX in hospitals. By acquiring knowledge, networks, and business know-how in the healthcare industry through participation in this project, Marubeni aims to expand business in the digital health industry by promoting DX and developing new services in the field of drug discovery and clinical trial support in the future.Since 2018, BNV has been involved in the establishment of OPExPARK (with carve-out support from DENSO) and support for its business growth. In establishing the company, BNV developed initial business strategies, business plans, and support for management team organization through "BRAVE", an acceleration program provided by BNV. After the company's establishment, BNV has been involved in continuous investment, recruitment, business development, and business growth support.From 2014 to 2019, DENSO developed OPeLiNK and has been developing businesses that raise the medical level in emerging countries by utilizing the surgical information acquired through OPeLiNK. Even after OPExPARK's founding, DENSO has continued to acquire know-how in the digital twin business, support OPExPARK through joint research, and dispatch both technical and sales employees to the company.Through this agreement and this project, Marubeni, OPExPARK, BNV, and DENSO will promote DX in the healthcare industry and contribute to the improvement of medical quality.For more information, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Human Resource Initiatives Bolster Fujitsu’s Status as DX Leader

TOKYO, Mar 8, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu today announced its plans to strengthen its status as a leading digital transformation (DX) company that drives DX both in its own and customers' businesses with the aim of realizing a sustainable society.Amidst an ever-changing business environment and growing demand for talent with the skills needed to thrive in the digital age, Fujitsu continues to offer new ways to empower its employees to take ownership of their career development, enhancing the mobility of talent throughout the Group to quickly and optimally allocate the right people to the right positions. Fujitsu also provides employees with opportunities for continued growth, such as a group-wide posting program and a system that supports reskilling of its talent. Fujitsu also actively hires on a rolling basis through its new graduate and mid-career recruitment activities.1. Program to transform talent into "business producers"Fujitsu implemented a system to support employees with training programs to raise and change their skills and to visualize the skills of its approx. 8,000 sales personnel in Japan, aiming to foster the development of "business producers" responsible for creating new value in cross-industry sectors, rather than filling vertical, industry-specific sales positions.Going forward, business producers, who are in direct contact with customers, will play a central role in accelerating Fujitsu's transformation into a DX company.2. Assigning the right people to the right positionsIn fiscal 2020, Fujitsu introduced a job-based human resources system for all manager-class people and up and a group-wide job posting system that allows Group employees that are located in Japan to take on new job positions on their own initiative. In fiscal 2021, approximately 2,000 employees that are located in Japan were transferred or relocated through this group-wide system.Fujitsu also supports the diversification of careers by utilizing its expertise and experience in responding to job offers from outside the Group, and also offers a system to support employees seeking career course redirection outside of the Fujitsu Group at their own request.3. Expansion of the temporary "Self-Produce Support System"As one of the measures to accelerate the optimal allocation of human resources, Fujitsu expanded the existing "Self-Produce Support System"(1), a temporary system to support employees seeking career course redirection outside of the Fujitsu Group. By February 28, 2022, 3,031 employees (full-time employees or those re-employed through the post-retirement re-employment system) mainly 50 years of age or older and employed at Fujitsu or Fujitsu Group companies in Japan had applied for this support.4. Financial impact of the above initiativesThe expansion of the temporary "Self-Produce Support System" is expected to involve a non-recurring expense of 65 billion yen. This expense is recorded in the consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2022. Accordingly, the full-year consolidated forecast has been revised as follows.(1) Self-Produce Support System :A system that provides a certain level of support to employees who seek career course redirection outside of the Fujitsu Group.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.For more information, visit bit.ly/3CwqscA. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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PlatoData, Government Blockchain Association (GBA) Form Alliance to Support the Growing GBA Community

Washington, D.C., Jan 27, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - PlatoData and the Government Blockchain Association (GBA) has formed an alliance to support the growing GBA community. The partnership extends the working relationship between both organizations across Plato's growing data ecosystem. Plato's curated approach to both data intelligence, press syndication and engagement strategy was setup to support communities throughout the blockchain ecosystem. "It's a great honor to be part of such a wonderful and entrenched organization such as the GBA," stated Bryan Feinberg CEO of Plato. "The Impact GBA is playing across the Government Enterprise market is substantial and represents what we consider a best of class opportunity to support the GBA community with integrated access to Plato's Data Platform. Our goal as a company is to help those communities in need of both awareness and understanding of the regulatory compliance our industry faces on a daily basis. Our plan is to extend Plato's extensive data repository to all GBA members and to support members with a full suite of news, analytics and electronic content syndication."Gerard Dache, GBA's executive Director said, "We have had the pleasure of working with Plato over the past year and are extremely excited about what this opportunity represents to the GBA community. Plato represents everything we expect out of partner relationship as it relates to innovation, trust and a commitment to driving commercial adoption of Distributed Technologies and Regulatory Compliance. We are happy to extend out continued support the global community we represent."About PlatoPlato is an open intelligence repository and data platform that unlocks the power of Vertical Search in a highly scalable way. The platform is designed to provide an ultra-safe and secure environment to consume sector-specific real-time data intelligence. More information can be found at: https://platoblockchain.com About GBAThe Government Blockchain Association (GBA) is an international nonprofit professional association. GBA focuses on its members as individuals and organizations that are interested in promoting blockchain technology solutions across to the government sector. GBA cultivates professional workflows between technologists, public policy makers, application specialists, and those who want to learn about the new and emerging digital currencies. More Information: https://gbaglobal.org/Source: Plato Data Intelligence: Zephyr@platodata.io Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Moonstake to Support Staking of Everscale (EVER) in 2022

SINGAPORE, Dec 28, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Moonstake announced today it will implement staking support for EVER, the native coin of the Everscale blockchain, which was rebranded from FreeTON earlier this month, in early 2022. With this update, Moonstake Wallet users can now send, receive, and own EVER on both the web and mobile versions. Moonstake is the world's first multi-asset wallet for EVER, as EVER has only been supported by dedicated EVER wallets until now.Moonstake launched its staking business in 2020 with the aim to create the largest staking network in Asia. Since then, it has developed the most user-friendly Web Wallet and Mobile Wallet (iOS/Android) with support for over 2,000 cryptocurrencies. Currently, Moonstake supports 14 high-demand staking coins: Cosmos, IRIS, Ontology, Harmony, Tezos, Cardano, Qtum, Polkadot, Quras, Centrality, Orbs, IOST, TRON, and Shiden. After a full-scale operation launched in August 2020, Moonstake's total staking assets have grown rapidly to reach $1.8 Billion and by June 2021, Moonstake was the third best staking provider in the world out of 15,000 staking providers worldwide. In March 2021, the company entered DeFi with Muse.Finance, a DeFi platform, and will continue to expand into the DeFi business.Meanwhile, Everscale Network is a blockchain made up of DAOs called sub-governance. Everscale is an SDK with Solidity and C++ compilers, APIs, 13 programming languages, and client libraries for all popular platforms, local nodes for DApp testing, CLI tools, DeFi, NFT, tokenization, and governance. It has powerful developer tools such as a decentralized browser and a range of wallets that empower many applications. Everscale is a new and unique blockchain design that combines a scalable distributed world computer with the distributed operating system Ever OS.Previously, Everscale, known as Free TON at the time, hosted a social media sharing campaign to engage their community in staking support on Moonstake. This campaign helped Free TON gain nearly 7,000 engagements and over 1,200 shares. Since then, Moonstake has been working with Everscale to support sending and receiving EVER, and has now also decided to implement staking support.With Everscale's large global community, Moonstake plans to offer new user experiences and exciting opportunities through a variety of events in 2022.About MoonstakeMoonstake was recently established to develop a staking pool protocol to satisfy increasing demands in regional and global blockchain markets. Moonstake develops a staking pool protocol and provides business services through partners and companies.Moonstake aims to be the largest staking pool network in Asia by providing an active environment for crypto asset holders. Establishing a clear partnership roadmap with Moonstake represents another significant milestone for continuing to strengthen ties with leading platforms across Asia's burgeoning Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ecosystem. Partnerships have been announced with Emurgo, Ontology and NEO to boost staking adoption, Binarystar, Japan's biggest blockchain hub, OIO Holdings Limited (SGX: OIO), a Singapore-listed company. Industry's reputed advisors, such as Lisk and Lawrence Lim of RAMP DEFI support Moonstake's innovative journey.With a full-scale operation launched in August 2020, we expanded our business and as of now, our total staking assets exceeded over USD 1 billion. https://www.moonstake.io/About EverscaleEverscale is a new and unique blockchain design that proposes a scalable decentralized world computer, paired with a distributed operating system. The network is based on a platform called Ever OS, capable of processing millions of transactions per second, with Turing-complete smart contracts and decentralized user interfaces.Everscale presents some new and unique properties, such as dynamic multithreading, soft majority consensus and distributed programming, which enable it to be scalable, fast and secure at the same time. It is governed by a decentralized community founded upon meritocratic principles via Soft Majority Voting protocol.Everscale has powerful developer tools, such as compilers for Solidity and C++, SDK and API, client libraries ported to more than 20 languages and platforms, a range of decentralized browsers and wallets empowering many applications in DeFi, NFT, tokenization and governance domains. https://everscale.network/ Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s wife, founder of a stroke support charity, dies aged 67

SINGAPORE - Ms Chew Poh Yim, the founder of a stroke support charity who held leadership roles in NTUC FairPrice and the wife of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, died peacefully on Sunday (Oct 31). The 67-year-old founded Stroke Support Station (S3) in 2015, an initiative that was started by volunteers to support stroke survivors and caregivers. S3 programmes are supported by medical professionals and therapists from various acute and community hospitals in Singapore. Ms Chew started the charity after realising that there was a need for increased community support to reintegrate stroke survivors into society and ensure their well-being. She helmed various portfolios at NTUC FairPrice, including in procurement and marketing and corporate communications, and was general manager of NTUC FairPrice Foundation. She had more than 25 years of experience in management, marketing and branding in the consumer and retail market. Ms Chew was a supporter of community programmes for the elderly through collaborations with institutions such as the National University Health System and People's Association. She was also on the board of trustees of SingHealth Foundation (now known as SHF-Foundation) and a former president of Girl Guides Singapore. She graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Marine Parade GRC MP and FairPrice group chief executive Seah Kian Peng told The Straits Times on Tuesday that he treasured Ms Chew's friendship. "I know Poh Yim in two capacities. She was of course the ever gracious, thoughtful and caring Mrs Teo Chee Hean. We were also colleagues at NTUC FairPrice for a period of close to 10 years where we worked together closely. "In the different roles she took on, she was always thinking of the organisation, the staff and customers. From time to time, we would also share our views on various matters and on topical issues," he said. He described her as an authentic and forward-looking colleague, with a positive outlook and clarity of thought. "She was firm but fair. I found it easy to talk to her and appreciated her views... We will all miss her." A private family funeral was held on Tuesday. Ms Chew leaves behind Mr Teo, a son, a daughter and a grandchild. All donations received will go to S3, NUS Mind-Science Centre, Girl Guides Singapore, the NCCS Cancer Fund, and Assisi Hospice. The family requests no wreaths.

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Government to consider PME task force recommendations for workplace fairness

SINGAPORE - Proposals from the labour movement and employer's federation to ensure workplace fairness and support local workers will be considered by the Manpower Ministry (MOM). It noted on Friday (Oct 22): "The recommendations will be taken into consideration in the ongoing review of manpower policies, the workplace fairness framework and employment support initiatives." The remarks were in response to nine proposals put out by a PME task force led by the National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation to pinpoint better ways to assist professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). One of the key thrusts of the task force's recommendations is to enhance workplace fairness through improving human resources standards, re-looking the review process for employment pass applications and differentiating foreign worker access by occupations. The MOM noted on Friday that a tripartite committee had been formed in July to review the framework for workplace fairness. "(The committee) will study the recommendations put forth by the PME task force as it designs a legal framework that is balanced, and in the best interests of Singapore and Singaporeans," MOM said. It added that it regularly reviews work pass policies to ensure that foreign professionals complement the local PME workforce and help businesses create good jobs for Singaporeans. "We have been exploring further refinements to the employment pass framework to achieve our objectives of a strong Singaporean core, complemented by a diverse foreign workforce," it said. The PME task force also made recommendations to support PMEs in career progression and skills upgrading. The MOM noted: "Helping locals access opportunities has been the Government's priority, especially given the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and labour market." It added that the National Jobs Council has boosted job opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. The Government also recently extended the Jobs Growth Incentive, which supports firms to expand hiring local jobseekers. Experts agreed that the task force proposals will help PMEs who face challenging times with the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the rapid pace of technological change. Adecco Singapore country manager Betul Genc said: "Age discrimination for one is a common challenge more and more PMEs are increasingly facing. Stiff competition has been coming from the younger generations like the millennials, who are increasing rising and landing positions in junior management roles." Ms Genc added that while workers know they need training, employers must also provide the time off and support for it. More on this topic   Related Story NTUC, SNEF call for unemployment support for PMEs, tighter process for employment passes   Related Story Labour movement, SNEF offer 9 recommendations to better support PMEs But the unemployment support might be "tricky", she said, given the potential abuse of the measures if individuals choose to remain unemployed or delay their entry into the workforce. AYP Group managing director Jolin Nguyen said: "On top of training and relief provision, the government could also offer initiatives such as job matching, which could potentially be done through technology. This would benefit the unemployed PMEs as well as many companies that are still struggling to find the right talent." Firms also recognise that training workers is a win-win solution. Ms Susan Cheong, DBS talent acquisition group head, said the bank is in the process of upskilling and reskilling 4,300 employees here in emerging areas such as design thinking, data and analytics and machine learning. The bank, which has a representative on the PME task force, said: "DBS is committed to grooming Singaporean talent for leadership positions." PMEs themselves pointed to skills training as one of the most vital aspects of the recommendations. More on this topic   Related Story Bigger rise in local PMET employment and wage growth despite foreign PMETs: Tan See Leng   Related Story Competition between local and foreign PMEs not zero-sum game: Ong Ye Kung Procurement manager Daniel Tong, 45, said structured jobs and skills plans can help him understand the required capabilities for a role and what a company needs from him. Mr Philip Kwa, 59, who runs a training services business, added: "Training support and mentorship programmes will be very helpful to PMEs like myself. We need to keep ourselves relevant." The short-term support for firms hiring mature workers is also helpful in encouraging employers to consider older workers, he said, alluding to his own challenges finding a job after being retrenched during the pandemic.

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Labour movement offers 9 recommendations to better support PMEs

SINGAPORE - The taskforce by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) released nine recommendations to better support professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). They are: 1. Enhance fair employment practices through Improving human resources standards Strengthening enforcement on errant companies that adopt unfair practices An online survey of 1,000 PMEs over 40 years old in July found that 26 per cent said they experienced discrimination at work while 24 per cent said they perceived discrimination when applying for jobs. It also noted that 67 per cent felt a key reason for finding it hard to get a job was because companies were not being open to workers over 40. 2. Strengthen the Singaporean core through Differentiating foreign worker access by occupations Enhancing the Employment Pass application review process Facilitating skills transfer to local PMEs 3. Widen support for PMEs This can be done through reviewing the legislation on their representation. A tripartite work group can be set up to look into the scope of union representation of PMEs. 4. Strengthen unemployment income support for PMEs by Introducing a support framework to provide supplementary income relief and assistance to those who are involuntarily unemployed, supported by active labour market policy. Active labour market policies refer to initiatives that encourage people to stay employed, such as ensuring that people are actively sending out resumes or attending job fairs before they can qualify for handouts. Providing an additional tier of support for all union members and/or vulnerable mature PMEs 5. Assist mature PMEs to transit to meaningful employment through Short-term salary support for companies who hire them Supporting training courses and mentorship programmes for relevant roles Fast-track training programmes with certification More on this topic   Related Story NTUC calls for national support framework for unemployed PMEs   Related Story Bigger rise in local PMET employment and wage growth despite foreign PMETs: Tan See Leng 6. Build Singaporean leadership bench strength by Supporting leadership development programmes for Singaporean PMEs Facilitating global development of Singaporean talent 7. Provide customised career coaching support to PMEs Supporting and expanding the funding of career coaches with NTUC or SNEF, allowing them to guide PMEs in companies. 8. Develop structured jobs and skills plans for PMEs This can be done through leveraging the company training committees under NTUC to help upskill workers in line with business and industry requirements. 9. Strengthen the nexus between tripartite partners to prepare the workforce for economic transitions and investment pipelines Repositioning the existing Job Security Council under NTUC as a joint NTUC-SNEF Jobs Security Council to strengthen the jobs ecosystem This joint body can work with the Ministry of Manpower and the relevant government agencies to improve employment prospects and create good jobs for Singaporeans Ensuring that training needs are incorporated into the curriculum of institutes of higher learning, in tandem with the fast-changing economic landscape More on this topic   Related Story More than 32,000 workers matched to new jobs by NTUC's Job Security Council

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NTUC calls for national support framework for unemployed PMEs

SINGAPORE - A support framework that includes financial aid is needed to help unemployed people move into new jobs. The framework should include a basic tier to provide supplementary income relief and assistance, while an additional level could offer more support for union members and vulnerable, mature workers. This was among nine recommendations that the labour movement released on Thursday (Oct 21) after a year-long consultation exercise to pinpoint better ways to assist professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). The initiative, which was carried out by a task force from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), involved consultations with around 10,000 workers and business leaders. NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said: "PMEs feel the pressure from foreign competition and for mature PMEs, they find it challenging to bounce back when they lose their jobs. "Thus, we must do more to level the playing field for our local PMEs, while enabling other forms of employment and employability-related support, like unemployment transition support, job search or training support, for them." The task force also called for a tripartite work group to be set up to assess the feasibility, conditions and size of the proposed unemployment support. NTUC assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay said more issues have to be studied, such as when to give out unemployment support, how much to give and for how long. He added that a survey showed that 80 per cent of unemployed workers took six months to find a new job. This move must also go together with active labour market policies, he said, such as requiring workers on unemployment support to participate in employability camps, go for job interviews and show that they are actively trying to find work. Specifically, there should be more help for PMEs who are over 40 years old, the task force added, calling on the Government to provide short-term salary support of up to 50 per cent, capped at $3,800 a month for six months, for firms that hire such job seekers. There should also be more fast-track training programmes with certification to help them transition into new roles. Besides help for the unemployed, the task force also made recommendations to strengthen the Singaporean core in the workforce by reviewing the application process for employment pass holders. For one thing, foreign worker access should be differentiated by occupation, such as those that have an ample supply of locals who have the required skills, the task force said in its report. More on this topic   Related Story Labour movement offers 9 recommendations to better support PMEs   Related Story Competition between local and foreign PMEs not zero-sum game: Ong Ye Kung The process could also use a point system that considers factors such as whether the employer has been hiring local workers and the diversity of nationalities within the firm. This goes beyond the usual considerations of education qualification and salary. Companies should also facilitate skills transfer from foreign staff to local PMEs, it added. The task force proposed improving human resources standards, including having shared services for smaller firms, and empowering the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices to enhance workplace fairness by imposing tough penalties on errant companies. Dr Robert Yap (left), the president of SNEF, and Mr Ng Chee Meng, the secretary-general of NTUC during a media conference at the NTUC Building on Oct 20, 2021. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SNEF president Robert Yap said: "Providing support to strengthen the employability of local PMEs is essential for employers to meet their manpower and skill demand. Through developing a strong Singaporean core complemented by foreign manpower, this will help employers to grow their business in and from Singapore." He added that the recommendations also aim to help local PMEs develop deeper skills and gain overseas exposure so they can take on global roles. More on this topic   Related Story Bigger rise in local PMET employment and wage growth despite foreign PMETs: Tan See Leng   Related Story New job portal with over 7,000 openings for Singapore residents launched For instance, the task force proposed more funding for PMEs to be groomed for leadership roles in multinational corporations and large local enterprises, as well as incentives for firms to send local PMEs for overseas opportunities. More structured jobs and skills plans will also help them to upskill in line with industry requirements, the report said. The task force said that its consultation exercise found that PMEs were most concerned about the lack of job security and required greater support in employment and training opportunities. These issues also affect those in their 40s to 60s more acutely, the SNEF and NTUC added. "Even as businesses transform to ensure business sustainability, the skill sets possessed by PMEs, including younger PMEs, may be at risk of becoming obsolete. These are especially so as the Singapore economy has been impacted by Covid-19," they said. More on this topic   Related Story NTUC calls for unemployment support for PMEs beyond current grants   Related Story Professionalise all jobs, do away with PMET classification: MAS chief Mr Ng said the Government could consider its recommendations. He hopes to get some clarity next year.  "I think this is an important and urgent issue for the labour movement, and NTUC wants to step in - in the interest of our vulnerable PMEs," he said.

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