Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Lists 2,032,500,000 Additional Shares on NSE

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday listed additional 2,032,500,000 ordinary shares of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI Plc).

In a notification to market stock dealers, the NSE said the additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of the shares done at 52 kobo per share on the basis of one new share for every four ordinary shares held. The Rights Issue was 100 per cent subscribed, fetching the company about N1.056 billion.

Commenting on the successful outing, Group Managing Director/CEO of CHI Plc, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, expressed delight at the good result despite the challenging period the offer was held during look-down occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The additional shares listed on The Exchange arose from the Company’s Rights Issue of 2,032,500,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 52 Kobo per share on the basis of 1 new ordinary shares for every 4 ordinary shares held as at 3 February 2020.

The Rights Issue was 100% subscribed. With this listing of the additional 2,032,500,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc has now increased from 8,672,000,000 to 10,704,500,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.”

“It is great to see investors’ confidence and trust in our company being exhibited with the full subscription of the rights offer,” he said.

MEDICAL TAIWAN to be Held in October with Both Virtual and Physical Exhibitions

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 20 August 2020 – MEDICAL TAIWAN – International
Medical, Health and Care Exhibition hosted by the Taiwan External Trade
Development Council (TAITRA)
will run from October 15th to 17th, 2020 at the
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. With both the physical exhibition and
the “virtual trade show” that features exhibits at three-dimensional (3D)
booths going on simultaneously, MEDICAL TAIWAN will be a perfect online/offline
platform that pulls exhibitors and buyers together and helps usher in business
opportunities in the healthcare industry, thereby promoting continuous development
of international economy and trade.

 

The new coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic has changed the way we live and work, while accelerating the
implementation of remote and online services that spawn extraordinary “zero
contact” opportunities in many aspects. This year’s show will go both ways —
physical and virtual, and the latter will be using virtual reality (VR)
technology to make 3D booths possible, showcasing 700 medical products from more
than 200 medical device manufacturers. For the physical exhibition, “trade show
tour” broadcast will take the viewers to some of the latest products and
technologies, and get to know the international healthcare players with “no
social distance” needed.

 

In MEDICAL TAIWAN 2020, visitors have
an opportunity to explore an entire “epidemic-prevention ecosystem” and the
latest “smart healthcare” solutions. Taiwan’s high-quality epidemic prevention
products and the potential of its digital healthcare industry are on full
display. One of the highlights — TAITRA’s Taiwan Anti-COVID-19 Pavilion is
instrumental in facilitating medical and healthcare information exchanges via
video conferencing, matching and allocation of medical materials, sharing of
epidemic prevention experiences and updates of medical technology. It shows
what Taiwan’s healthcare industry can offer to the whole world.

 

Biotech and medical technology
industries play an important role for Taiwan’s future economic development and have
listed as one of the six core strategic industries by Taiwan government. The
policy resonates in various government agencies, industry associations and
research institutes and many of which, such as Ministry of Health and Welfare, Industrial
Development Bureau, Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Taiwan
Medical and Biotech Industry Association, Taipei Medical Instruments Commercial
Association, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan Nonwoven Fabrics
Industry Association, Footwear and Recreation Technology Research Institute and
Taiwan Sports Technology Association will bring their members to take part in
this year’s show, demonstrating the achievements of Taiwan’s healthcare
industry and its vision for the future.

 

MEDICAL TAIWAN also features “online sourcing
meetings” where the local companies can connect with important buyers gathered
by the 63 overseas offices of TAITRA in “real time”, hoping it will lead to
further cooperation in the future. The “MEDICAL TAIWAN Forum” will also be held
during the show, focusing on the smart healthcare post-pandemic industrial
development. Visit our website for more show information.

 

Website: https://www.medicaltaiwan.com.tw/en/index.html

Medical
Taiwan Virtual: https://storage.googleapis.com/www.taiwantradeshow.com.tw/show-menu/202008/T-11440063.pdf

 

About TAITRA

Founded in 1970 to help promote
foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the
foremost non-profit trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored
by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations,
TAITRA assists Taiwan businesses and manufacturers with reinforcing their
international competitiveness and in coping with the challenges they face in
foreign markets.

ERA Singapore Invests Additional S$4 Million Renewal Packages to Help 7,300 Real Estate Salespersons Beat Covid-19 Woes

  • Over S$18.3 million has been disbursed so far to help ERA teammates tide through challenging times in the form of commission and management fee advances, loyalty growth dividends, skills development training and subsidies of business costs.
  • Ground-breaking Commission Advancement initiative, through partnership with LytePay and Rapyd, gives real estate salespersons (RES) access to commissions, anytime and anywhere in the world

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 August 2020 – ERA Singapore will continue to help 7,300 of its teammates by investing another S$4 million to support their business costs for the coming year. Together with the S$18.3 million disbursed previously, ERA’s S$22.3 million stimulus is intended to fully support its network of property agents while strengthening its organisation in this unprecedented time.

Marcus Chu, Chief Operating Officer of ERA Singapore, presenting the renewal packages during the virtual ERA Q3’20 Career Advancement Day

Announced during its virtual ERA Q3’20 Career Advancement Day, the S$4 million additional cash relief is targeted at a long-term sustainable business plan, helping its salespersons to tide through this tough period. This extended support accentuates ERA’s corporate culture of love and its focus on human capital — one that is heavily vested on recruitment and retention.

 

The newly announced S$4 million renewal packages will benefit 7,300 teammates and be divested in the following areas:

  • S$2.1 million in 2021’s Renewal Registration & Application Fees
  • S$1.3 million in 2020 Conference Fees
  • Approximately S$600,000 in 2020 Professional Competency CPD Courses

 

Previously, ERA has invested:

  • S$10.7 million in Commission Advance Scheme
  • S$1.8 million in Loyalty Growth Dividends
  • S$2.8 million in skills development annually
  • S$2 million worth of ERA points
  • S$1 million in community building initiatives

 

Business Wallet to Facilitate Instant Access to Commissions, Anytime and Anywhere in the World

ERA also unveiled a game-changing initiative which allows RES to advance yet-to-be-paid commissions in its first of a kind business wallet. RES can advance commissions to their bank account using the LyteMoney service. The business wallet also comes with a payment card powered by Rapyd’s Card Issuing capabilities. The card, called Lyte Talent Card, enables RES to use their commissions anywhere Mastercard is accepted.This is especially important during the current climate in case they need funds for emergency situations. Usually, RES have to wait three to six months after a deal’s closure to receive their commission pay-out.


This first-ever business wallet, exclusively for ERA teammates for now, is made possible through the partnership with LytePay, a Singapore-based financial solutions provider, and Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-Service company. This function will enable each RES to better plan their finances and assist them in alleviating any financial burdens that is incurred during this time.

 

“We’re always looking to help our teammates navigate the fast-changing Covid-19 landscape. Improving their cash flow will go a long way in alleviating the ongoing burden of running their own business. Real estate salespersons usually re-invest up to 25% of their income back on business expenses, such as marketing or promotional costs. We hope to empower our teammates to create more sales, capture opportunities faster and serve their clients better,” said Mr Jack Chua, Chief Executive Officer of ERA Singapore.

 

“By using artificial intelligence, data science and fintech, we want to help all property agents make more money and live better lives. We’re grateful for the opportunity to innovate with ERA these past two years to make this a reality,” said Dennis Goh, Co-founder of LytePay.

 

Latest Proptech Tools to Stay Ahead of Crisis

Standing at the forefront of technology advancement, ERA continues to seek conception of new tools and renewal of existing tools to empower its salespersons. Their latest update includes:

 

–       New Launch Collection via iERA mobile application

The digital new launch collection feature aims to help ERA salesperson to offer customised professional advices to clients instantly based on their preferences and conditions. With this new feature, salesperson will be able to present a summary page of the recommended projects via an auto-generated custom domain link based on the clients’ housing requirements and selection criteria. The summary provides a dearth of information which include lowest price & psf unit available with floor plan, highest possible floor unit, largest possible size unit, promotion units from developers (starbuy) and recommended good deal units (spotlight).

 

Dynamic Dialogue: Defying Limitations – Covid-19 Stories

During the ERA Q3’20 Career Advancement Day, Dynamic Dialogues were held concurrently in three main languages — English, Chinese, and Malay — with a focus on “Defying Limitations – Covid-19 Stories” where top-achieving panellists shared their success journey in overcoming hurdles and finding success in the past three months despite the uncertain climate the world is in now.

 

Over 400 ERA teammates have showed great resilience in the past quarter and have clocked in notable achievements made from April to June 2020. These include:

 

–           Division Director Appointments & Promotions

–           Top Leader Awards Presentation

–           Top 350 Awards Presentation

–           Top Project Division Director Appointments

–           Top Project Category Awards Presentation

–           Top 10 Divisions in Project Sales

–           Top Category Awards Presentation

 

“We have focused heavily on technology adaptations and innovations this year to ensure our teammates stay ahead of the competition in these uncertain times. At ERA, it is straightforward: Together as OneERA, we can achieve greater things,” Chua added.

 

About ERA Singapore

ERA Singapore (ERA) has been setting and redefining industry standards through the pioneering of real estate concepts, technologies, initiatives and services since its inception in 1982. ERA is a wholly owned subsidiary of SGX Mainboard Listed, APAC Realty Limited.  

 

Headquartered in Singapore, ERA Asia Pacific has a vast network of offices throughout the Asia Pacific region with over 17,300 associates spanning across over 650 offices in 9 other countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. In February 2019, APAC Realty announced its acquisition of the ERA master franchisor for Indonesia and also taking direct ownership of the Thailand ERA master franchise through a partnership. 

 

In Singapore, we are one of the largest real estate agencies with over 7,200 associates, providing a diverse range of professional services and solutions for: Private and HDB residential resale, residential leasing, project marketing, commercial and industrial, property management, auction, valuation and research.  

 

Through extensive network, innovative technological tools and refining the Ultimate Agent Training Programme, a series of specially curated training courses developed for ERA associates, over the years, ERA is able to revolutionise their associates’ skills, equip them with the latest trends and insights of the property market, and help them stay ahead of the competition. 

 

ERA Singapore Pte Ltd 

Estate Agent License No. L3002382K 

ERA APAC Centre 

(ERA Reception @ Level 3) 

750 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh 

Singapore 609431

Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative Again Named Market Leader in Public Vulnerability Disclosures

New Omdia research proves the ZDI accounts for the most software security improvements

 

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach – August 20, 2020 – Trend Micro
Incorporated
(TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704),
the
leader in cybersecurity solutions, today released results from a new report by
Omdia that found its Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) disclosed the most
vulnerabilities in 2019. This independent research analyzed disclosures from 11
vulnerability research vendors, with the ZDI maintaining its position as the
world’s largest vendor-agnostic bug bounty program for the 10th year in a row.

 

The
ZDI’s work helps to improve product security for all users and is especially
useful for Trend Micro TippingPoint customers who are protected for an average
of 81 days before vendor patches are released.

“So
many cyber attacks leverage unpatched vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to
steal sensitive data, disrupt operations and spread damaging malware, which
ultimately results in losses for victims,” said Brian Gorenc, senior director of vulnerability research
for Trend Micro. “We’re proud to continue what we’ve been doing for 15
years — leading the coordinated disclosure market. Coordinated disclosure is
critical in the vulnerability industry to actually improve software security, which
is what we care about most.”

 

Omdia
evaluated the activity of 11 research organizations/vendors to compile its
study, Quantifying the Public Vulnerability Market,
cross-referencing this data against information published by government
agencies including NIST, MITRE and the US CERT/CC.

 

Out
of a total of 1095 vulnerabilities claimed by the 11 vendors, including 14
claimed twice, Trend Micro’s ZDI accounted for 573 (52.3%), 3.5 times more than
the next vendor, which disclosed 15%. This market coverage remains consistent
with that of 2018, as the ZDI
remains the dominant industry player.

 

“Trend
Micro’s Zero Day Initiative continues to lead the vulnerability disclosure
market, contributing not only the most bugs, but also the most dangerous
exposures for business security,” said Tanner
Johnson
, senior analyst for Omdia. “Working with vendors that are
depended on by businesses around the globe helps raise the bar for security
across the board.”

 

Trend
Micro also dominated in terms of the number of high severity vulnerabilities
(56.2%) and medium severity (60.5%) it discovered and disclosed. Additionally,
when analyzing the types of products targeted, a significant total of 269 PDF
vulnerabilities disclosed by all vendors last year, with 61% of the total coming
from the ZDI.

 

Founded
in 2005, Trend Micro’s ZDI changed the vulnerability disclosure market using
bug bounty rewards to incentivize researchers. The ZDI is powered by over
10,000 independent researchers contributing research from many different areas
of the software landscape, including business applications, operating systems,
mobile, IoT and even ICS/SCADA within critical infrastructure. It has
facilitated the responsible disclosure of over 7,500 vulnerabilities and paid
researchers more than $25 million in
bounties.

 

Read
the full report:

https://resources.trendmicro.com/rs/945-CXD-062/images/OMDIA_Public_Vulnerability_Report_July_2020.pdf.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity
solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our
innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered
security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our
products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a
connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling
better, faster protection. With more than 6,000 employees in over 50 countries
and the world’s most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro secures
your connected world. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com.hk .

JY Grandmark 2020 Interim Results Announcements

  • Market Opportunities
    Arise for “Eco-friendly and People-oriented Property”
  • Rapid Growth
    in Core Net Profit        
  • Make Efforts to
    Deploy Urban Renewal
  • Increase Land Bank to Accelerate Geographic Deployment

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach – 20 August 2020 – JY
Grandmark Holdings Limited
(“JY Grandmark” or the “Company“, which
together with its subsidiaries, is referred to as the “Group“, stock
code: 2231), a property developer and operator and property management service
provider based in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), is pleased to
announce the interim results of the Company for the six months ended 30 June
2020 (the “Period”).

 

JY Grandmark positions itself as an
“Eco-friendly and People-oriented Property Developer” and acquired land
reserves in strategic locations with abundant natural resources, rich culture
and potential for growth. The Group takes into account the natural and cultural
resources of its project site in the design of properties to develop homes and
communities that the Group considers to be truly liveable for buyers. This
accurate positioning differentiates the Group from other property developers in
the PRC.

 

During the Period, the Group’s revenue amounted to approximately
RMB924.7 million (1H2019: RMB762.4 million), representing a period-on-period
increase of 21.3%. The Group’s gross profit amounted to RMB404.5 million (1H2019: RMB 396.4 million), representing a period-on-period growth of 2.0%. Core net profit amounted to RMB193.8million
(1H2019: RMB 134.7million), representing an
increase of 43.9%. Profit attributable
to owners of the Company amounted to RMB196.9 million(1H2019: RMB 185.0 million), representing an increase of 6.4 %.

 

Market Opportunities
Arise for “Eco-friendly and People-oriented Property”

 

The epidemic
outbreak occurred around the first half of the year has brought a change to the
supply side of the property market. The demand for home purchasing for home
upgrade continues to rise and tends to gradually exceed the rigid demand for
home purchasing. The Group has been focusing on segmented markets and targeting
at purchasers looking for a home upgrade and multi-house ownership.

 

With “Eco-friendly
and People-oriented Property” serving as our product development concept, we
attach great importance to the health value that the internal and external
living environment brings when selecting project sites, which help our products
get increasing popularity in the market, and bring opportunities for the Group
to further deepen the market.

 

The Group focus on the
development of quality residential properties with comfortable and convenient
living environment. During the Period under Review, revenue from recognised
sales of property development of the Group amounted to RMB 884.7 million,
representing an increase of 24.2% from RMB712.5 million for the same period of
2019. The increase in revenue recognised was primarily due to an increase in the
aggregate gross floor area (“GFA”) completed and delivered as a result of the
Group’s continuing expansion.

 

Increase Land Bank
to Accelerated
Geographic Deployment

 

During the Period,
the Group actively participated in tenders, auctions or listing-for- sale: in
March 2020, it once again obtained nine land parcels in Tengchong, Yunnan
province, increasing developing areas by approximately 1.006 million sq.m.
Located in the Qushi resort area in Tengchong, Yunnan province, where JY Gaoligong
Town (景業高黎貢小鎮), a project of the Group for sale, was
located, those land parcels have iconic landscapes and landforms and will be
developed into projects under two different product lines.

 

As of 30 June 2020, JY Grandmark had
property portfolio of a total of 32 property projects in Guangdong、Hainan、Yunnan, and Hunan,
with an aggregate GFA of approximately 4,000,000 sq.m. , comprising completed
properties available for sale or lease with an aggregate GFA of 230,000  sq.m , properties under
development with an aggregate GFA of 750,000 sq.m. and properties held for
future development with an aggregate GFA of 2,940,000 sq.m.. The Group has
managed to secure a sufficient supply of land resources for property
development over the coming three or more years.

 

In July 2020, the Group formed a joint venture with Jinke Properties (金科地產) with shareholding of 51%: 49% and obtained a
high-quality land parcel at the top of the metro in Kengbei Village, Zengcheng
District, Guangzhou (廣州增城區坑貝村地鐵上蓋)
with developing areas of approximately 100,000 sq.m. It is a new area under the
Group’s deployment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

 

Diversified
Business Strategies
to Promote Healthy Development

 

During the Period,
the Group’s revenue from property management amounted to RMB7.7million,
representing an increase of 37.5% as compared with RMB5.6 million in the
corresponding period of 2019, mainly due to increase in total GFA of the
properties under management.

 

The Group currently self operates the Just Stay Hotel (廣州卓思道酒店) and Just Stay Resort (從化卓思道溫泉度假酒店). During the Period, revenue
from hotel operations of the Group amounted to RMB21.4 million, representing a
period-on-period decline by 41.5% from RMB36.6 million in the corresponding
period of 2019, which was primarily owe to the impact of the outbreak of
COVID-19. As the restaurants reopened and travels started to resume, revenue
from hotel operations has been demonstrating a healthy recovery since the
second quarter.

 

Other than holding
properties for development and sales, the Group also owns commercial properties
for leasing purpose. During the Period, revenue from commercial property
investment of the Group amounted to RMB11.0 million, representing an increase
of 42.9% as compared with RMB7.7 million in the corresponding period of 2019.
The increase was mainly due to increase in total GFA leased in the first half
of 2020.

Sound
Financial Position Gained Recognition in the Capital Market

 

With sound operating
data, the Group gained recognition in the capital market. In March 2020, the
7.5% senior notes in the amount of US Dollar (“US$”) 150 million issued by the
Company were over-subscribed by institutional and individual investors. In May
2020, the Company was included as a constituent of the MSCI China Small Cap Index
by Morgan Stanley Capital International. In July 2020, the Company was on the
list of “Top 20 Guangdong Property Enterprises with High Credit Score(廣東地產資信20強)” organised by the
Guangzhou Province branches of the four state-owned banks, being Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China and Construction
Bank of China. The recognition of the capital market provides stronger support
for the development of the Group. Leveraging on the sound financial
conditions and diversified funding channels, the Group still managed to achieve sustainable and high-quality development
under the background of tightening funding in the industry.

 

Mr. Michael Chan, Chairman and Executive Director
of JY Grandmark said, “
In the first half of
2020, the national property market was affected by the outbreak of COVID-19,
but as the epidemic got under control relatively quickly in Mainland China, the
property market has shown a significant recovery trend, reflecting that the fundamentals
of property market remain sound. Under such macro background, the Group operated
well in the first half of the year. The Group actively ensured the quality and
quantity of constructions and ensured the punctuality and effectiveness at the
node for projects all over the country. It expanded sales channels and achieved
our basic operating indicators. Among the nine property projects for sale,
certain have, driven by market and as a result of effective transfer, recorded
substantial increase in results.

 

Real estate
development has come to the stock building age, and urban renewal becomes the
blue ocean for real estate enterprises to actively deploy, and a core business
growth point of the Group. At present, the
Group is actively studying the possibility of a number of urban renewal projects,
such as the core areas of Guangzhou and Foshan. The overall planning area is
approximately 4 million sq.m., which is planned to be transferred in the next
three years and will bring rapid growth to the land reserve and results for the
Group.

 

Looking into the future, the Group will adhere to the development concept of
“Eco-friendly and People-oriented Property Developer”, seize the rising demand
of customers for improving their living environment and space, and deepen the
building of a diversified “Eco-friendly and People-oriented” product line, thereby
further enhancing our brand’s market competitiveness. It is the Group’s product strategy to realise both good
reputation and high profits by building quality properties that meet the market
needs and lead market trends and transferring higher added value into premium
while ensuring the cost of projects developed under control.”

About JY Grandmark Holdings Limited

JY Grandmark is a property developer, operator and
property management service provider based in the PRC. It runs four principal
businesses, namely (i) property development and sales, (ii) hotel operations,
(iii) property management and (iv) commercial property investment. The shares
of JY Grandmark have been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since December
2019 and the Group has been included as a constituent of the MSCI China Small
Cap Index since May 2020.

 

JY Grandmark has land resources in Guangdong,
Hainan, Yunnan and Hunan provinces for its future development. The Group
positions itself as an “Eco-friendly and People-oriented Property Developer”
and acquired land reserves in strategic locations with abundant natural
resources, rich culture and potential for growth. The Group takes into account
the natural and cultural resources of its project site in the design of
properties to develop homes and communities that the Group considers to be
truly liveable for buyers. This accurate positioning
differentiates the Group from other property developers in the PRC.

Achiko AG: Achiko Extends Covid-19 Ecosystem Platform in Pekanbaru and Integrates Testing as a Foundation to Accelerate Return to Normal

  • Deployment of Teman Sehat (“Health
    Buddy”) in hotels, recreational parks and markets in Pekanbaru, Indonesia
  • Extended Teman Sehat to include integration
    with Covid-19 testing and provide testing passports for a complete ecosystem
    solution
  • Combination of Teman Sehat and proprietary
    testing technology to combat the pandemic

 

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – EQS
Newswire – 20 August 2020 – Achiko AG (SWX:ACHI, ISIN
CH0522213468) is pleased to announce the deployment of Teman Sehat to a
further, extended number of locations, including hotels, recreation parks and
traditional markets. This builds on previous success with deployment at local
hospitals, including Rumah Pangan Madani and Rumah Sakit Madani. As of
14.08.2020, Teman Sehat will be available at Hotel Zuri, Hotel Amira and Hotel
New Hollywood, recreational parks Alam Mayang, Taman Bunga Impian Okura and
Kampung Rabbit and the markets Rumah Sakit Syafira and Transmart Carrefour.

Teman Sehat (“Health Buddy”), Achiko’s ecosystem platform is
providing solutions to revive the Indonesian economy amid the Covid-19
pandemic. Teman Sehat connects the dots between Places, Testing and People with
an ecosystem that allows Places to create safe environments for People to
return to stores and venues while fostering and restoring mutual trust through
Testing. Contact tracing functionalities are embedded into the application.

“Feeling safe and secure is not only important for visitors, but also for
business owners. Businesses fear new clusters at their establishments because
many Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic,” says Drs Riyono Gede Trisoko,
owner of Alam Mayang, a theme park. “With the Teman Sehat
ecosystem, visitors can feel safe coming to our premises, and our team will
also feel secure to work.”

Teman Sehat gamified the user experience with rewards and coupons while
ensuring privacy of its users and Places using the application.

In addition to Teman Sehat, Achiko has joined forces with Regenacellx.sl to
develop an affordable and convenient Covid-19 test kit based on DNA aptamers,
code named Gumnuts. The test technology uses a saliva sample and delivers test
results within minutes. Gumnuts offers several advantages over currently used
testing approaches, including shelf life, cost and ease of use.

“The progressive launch in Pekanbaru is a model for Achiko’s ambitions
to transition the world from the current extraordinary and uncomfortable
situation back to the ‘old normal'”, said Steven Goh, CEO and Director of
Achiko. “The combination of Teman Sehat and Gumnuts, pending clinical
testing, is a powerful tool in fighting the pandemic.”

The Company is now looking
to consolidate Teman Sehat. Its Covid-19 test kit, Gumnuts, will commence
clinical trials shortly; successful trials would enable large-scale commercial
production before the end of 2020. Distribution is planned across Asia and beyond.

The
issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Achiko AG

Headquartered in Switzerland, with a global market focus, Achiko AG (ISIN
CH0522213468) is an entrepreneurial platform company, utilising the knowledge
and experience of its people and key technologies to enable transformation in various
industries.

Through innovations in technology and regulation along with the company’s
unique operating footprint from Europe to Asia, Achiko seeks to transform
markets and bring unique value to its customers, people, and shareholders.
Achiko’s core platform consists of user registration and payment services which
are accessible to application developers. A messaging service and other
community based social features are being launched in late 2020. Achiko
supports innovations in healthcare through its Teman Sehat (“Health
Buddy”) ecosystem, a novel testing technology being developed with
Regenacellx.sl, code named “Gumnuts”, as well as consumer payments
and finance and games and entertainment.

For any inquiries regarding Gumnuts or Teman Sehat, please contact info@achiko.com

Further information about Achiko can be found at https://www.achiko.com

Further information about the Teman Sehat ecosystem can be found at https://www.temansehat.co

Further information about Regenacellex.sl can be found at https://regenacellx.com

Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking
statements concerning Achiko AG and its business. Such statements involve
certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could
cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of
Achiko AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Achiko AG
is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to
update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


Additional features:
Picture: http://newsfeed2.eqs.com/achikoch/1120937.html

Subtitle: Head of Operations Asia, Windiaprana
Ramelan signing agreements with partners to deploy Teman Sehat in Pekanbaru,
Indonesia.

‘Nigerian Economy Needs a Soft Rebooting’ – Isa Pantami

0

Nigeria’s Minister for Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Pantami has declared that Nigeria needs to reboot the entire ecosystem with digital technology in order to survive the present regressive economic outlook as a result of Covid-19 disruption.

The Minister stated this recently at the 2nd edition of the Re-Ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series held in partnership with Businessday Media. “Since the global lockdown earlier in the year, digital commerce has become the most efficient growth area providing the world new ways of doing things as encapsulated in the ‘New Normal’ pseudo phrase”, Dr. Pantami disclosed.

Minister for Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Pantami
Minister for Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Pantami

With the theme “Nigeria at 60 – Rebooting Nigeria’s economy the way forward”, the Honorable Minister who was represented by his Technical Assistant on Info-Tech, Dr. Olufemi Adeluyi, highlighted the National digital economy policy and strategy which would help move the Nigerian economy sector forward.

He stated that the policy is hinged on 8 pillars which includes: the developmental regulation pillar, digital literacy and skills pillar, solid infrastructure pillar, service infrastructure pillar, digital services development and promotion pillar, soft infrastructure pillar, digital society and emerging technology pillar, indigenous content development and adoption pillar.

In conclusion, he said the Nigerian economy needs a soft rebooting which can only be achieved through an economy driven by digital technology.

The program had another eminent member of faculty selected from among tech, creative, oil and gas, financial and digital experts and entrepreneurs who provided perspectives on why the government should create enabling policy environment for business enterprises to thrive within the digital space.

The faculty of discussants are Adia Sowho, Teleco expert and former Director of Digital Business at Etisalat Nigeria; Obi Asika Nigerian creative industries entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Dragon Africa and Storm Productions. A Policy Analyst and General Counsel at Gulf of Guinea Consulting Najim Animashaun; and Abolore Salami, a financial expert both shared perspectives from other markets and the need for government to create enabling regulatory and policy environment.

The webinar was moderated by technology entrepreneur Chineye Mba-Uzoukwu.

They all enumerated challenges that are inhibiting digital growth in the private and public sectors in Nigeria. They also emphasised the need for continuous education of the users and also, the struggles that Telco companies in the country are facing despite the perception that they are making money.

An interesting standpoint was also made by Obi Asika an expert from the creative industry. Obi Asika’s point was majorly on connected thinking and collaboration; connecting Nigeria digitally and a collaboration between the public and private sector.

Salami expressed the reality of what needed to be done to make digital technology drive Nigeria’s economy successfully into the future while relating to older Nigerians. Policy expert, Najim Animashaun with experience in the oil and gas sector, elucidated why Nigeria needs to capitalize on the ICT sector for a reboot of the economy. He advised that the Nigerian government needs to diversify the economy in the wake of the rise in ICT and declination of oil as a percentage of the Nigerian GDP.

Also, in his welcome remarks, Franklyn Ginger-Eke, the Executive Director and COO of Re-Ignite Public Affairs Limited, convener of the Re-Ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series, welcomed all participants and disclosed that the 7 series virtual conference is being conveyed in celebration of the 60th independent anniversary of Nigeria. He disclosed that the series, having considered themes such as Education, Economy, will still examine other sectoral issues themed along with Infrastructure, Health, Agri-Business, Governance and Security.

Re-ignite Public Affairs, is a strategy-driven research-based solution provider in the Public Affairs space for business and government. The firm provides services that help to improve governance and enhance the relationship between the business community and the different arms of government and its agencies.

As the pioneer Public Affairs firm in Nigeria, Re-ignite Public Affairs is poised to enhancing better relationships between the government and its citizens. It is a subsidiary of the CMC Connect Group, a foremost strategic communications company with an impressive 27 years track record in the industry, having worked with virtually all the top brands in the country.

Mr Bigg’s takes delicious experience to Ajasa-Command in Lagos

Consumers within the Ajasa-Command area in Alimosho local government of Lagos were ecstatic following the arrival of Mr Bigg’s express in the area.

Few days after the outlet had opened for business, findings reveal that consumers were trooping in and purchasing the meal of the choice, particularly, the snacks.

Mr Bigg’s takes delicious experience to Ajasa-Command in Lagos
www.brandspurng.com

According to a consumer who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, he said, “The location of Mr Bigg’s outlet in this area has been long overdue, and we are very excited it has finally come to pass.”

Mr Bigg’s takes delicious experience to Ajasa-Command in Lagos
www.brandspurng.com

A Mr Bigg’s lover, Mrs. Taiwo Abimbola, who was also at the outlet to make some purchase, stated that Mr Bigg’s being the first and most renowned in contemporary and local meals, the brand remained the best in terms of customer service.

Mr Bigg’s takes delicious experience to Ajasa-Command in Lagos
www.brandspurng.com

“You can see how staffers are attending to customers with ease,” she pointed to the outlet where customers were being served.

Mr Bigg’s and Debonair Pizza recently celebrated the first anniversary of the northwest store near Victoria garden city, Lekki amid COVID-19 lockdown, where Ikota Primary Health care and Ajah market were supported through the distribution of facial masks, meals, pizza and others.

Big Brother Naija: Laycon, Nengi, and Erica dominate Google searches

Now in its fifth season, Big Brother Naija is a TV juggernaut that shows no sign of slowing down. Interest in the show remains as high online as it is in general, but which contestants are dominating when it comes to online searches and do different regions have their own favourites? 

Overall, Laycon, Nengi, and Erica have generated the most search interest, followed by Ka3na, Dorathy, and Kiddwaya.

Big Brother Naija: Laycon, Nengi, and Erica dominate Google searches

Already a hot commodity on the Nigerian music scene, Laycon’s appearance on Big Brother Naija has increased interest in his musical output, with “laycon songs” the second most-searched term related to his name (after “Laycon” itself). The next most popular Laycon-related term is “laycon bbnaija biography”, variations of which appear on all the contestants’ top searches.

One of the notable top searches when it comes to 22-year-old entrepreneur Nengi, meanwhile is “nengi and ozo”, following the pair’s on-screen romance. Similarly, the chemistry between 26-year-old actress and model Erica and self-employed Kiddwaya saw “kiddwaya and erica” emerge as one of her top search terms.

And while Laycon may have generated the most search traffic overall, Erica saw the biggest search spike. Given that Kiddwaya spiked at the same time, it’s likely that their ‘entanglement’ sparked this interest.

Big Brother Naija: Laycon, Nengi, and Erica dominate Google searches

Regionally, Erica has drawn the most interest from Borno province and Lagos, while Laycon is a firm favourite in Adamawa, Taraba, and several other provinces. Dorathay rules Kwara and Nengi generates the most searches in Bayelsa and Edo.

Big Brother Naija: Laycon, Nengi, and Erica dominate Google searches

With several weeks still to go on the current season of Big Brother Naija, there’s bound to be plenty more drama, which will have a major impact on searches around the show. Be sure to keep an eye out for those developments.

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

Let Us Bet on The African Youth

The discussion on youths across the world can be promising as well as disturbing, depending on how we perceive the energy of young people. In some instances, the youth are active change agents for good; while in some other instances, they can be seen as a threat to economic development.

Particularly in Africa, the narratives about youth have generated mixed feelings. Some people consider the African youth as a “ticking time bomb” in the context of economic instabilities and marginalization.

Let Us Bet on The African Youth
Photo by Jason Leung

There is no doubt that the African continent faces some challenges which can become worse in the future if necessary plans are not put in place. We can talk extensively about the high rate of unemployment among African youths, the crime rate, and youth unrest.

However, this is an unbalanced narrative about this group of people. We also have young people making the continent proud through their works and contributions to the global economy. Overall, we need to identify means of improving the quality of lives of the continent’s rapidly growing youth population.

It is high time policymakers and well-meaning individuals invested in the African youth. We need these kinds of investment if we are hoping to reap some demographic dividends in the nearest future. For the sake of prioritization of needs, this article identifies 4 critical areas where we all can bet some coins on the African youth. These include:

  • Education:The government across Africa needs to invest heavily in education on the continent for us to enjoy the dividends of education in the nearest future. This investment in education involves improving the quality of education available, as well as improving the outcomes of education. This does not only refer to formal education within the four walls of a school but also vocational training and other forms of informal education. For those attending school, we need to ensure that they are learning and acquiring skills relevant to make them independent in the future. In recent times, people around the world have questioned how the formal education system prepares graduates for the needs of employers in the labour market. Hence, investing in the education sector would yield some economic benefits.
  • Employment: One good way of harnessing the potentials of African youth is by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities. Over time, many people have linked a high rate of youth unemployment to some social vices. The argument is that the idle hand is the devil’s workshop. In a 2019 Ibrahim Forum Report, unemployment is considered the most important problem of the African youth. It was identified that this challenge among African youth is worsened by a lack of formal jobs and social safety nets. Similarly,  a 2019 African Union Commission report identified 2 indicators with worsening trends on the continent. These include the rate of unemployment and the rate of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). We need to create employment opportunities for these youth in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. According to a report by the Freedom Lab, the informal sector is a major job creator in Africa as 85.8% of employment on the continent is considered informal. We need higher efficiency in this sector as it continues to provide jobs for the growing youth population.
  • Participation in Development: Young people must be involved in planning and implementing intervention programmes shaping their lives. We need to be committed to youth inclusive development if we are serious about youth transformation. In a policy brief by the African Union, inclusive youth development can be defined as “recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of young people and identifying, understanding, and actively removing barriers that exist for certain groups of young people”. Policymakers need to “plan with” the African youths and not “plan for them”. We need to listen to the voices of the African youth and understand that they are the most important stakeholders when discussing issues affecting their lives. Young people want to be heard. They want to participate in politics and be involved in policy formulation processes.
  • Social Safety Nets: We need to put structures in place to cater to the needs of the African youth. As reported by the World Bank, “Social Safety Nets (SSNs) are critical to reducing poverty because they support inclusive growth and provide resources to the most vulnerable in society”. These include conditional or unconditional cash transfer, assistance to access essentials needs (food, healthcare, education), and school-to-work transition programmes. When these measures are available, they will help manage anxieties and reduce social vices among African youth.

In a nutshell, we need to stop portraying the youth as a threat that can destabilize the continent. But rather, we need to commit necessary resources to the development of African youth. By doing so, we are taking a bet on the future of these youth for them to serve as the much-needed change agents for the continent.

Written by: Anifat IbrahimResearch Associate | Project Management Professional (PMP).