Malaysian tycoon Vincent Tan’s gaming business just got bigger

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290829

pic

July 18, 2016 01:00
By THE STAR

KUALA LUMPUR – The founder of multi-industry conglomerate Berjaya Corp (BCorp) will launch the first phase of his Vietnam lottery business, which is held under Berjaya Gia Thinh Investment (BGTI), in Ho Chi Minh City. The next five years will see the roll

And over the week, Tan had entered into a RM108mil deal with a group associated with Sabah tycoon Yap Yong Seong – the former police officer turned businessman who is also popularly known as Duta Yap – that will soon give him full control of his Sarawak number-forecast operation (NFO) via Berjaya Assets (BAssets).

While upping his stake in the Sarawak NFO business is unlikely to give a significant boost to his wealth, the Vietnam venture will present a different story.

Experts reckon there is huge earnings potential in Vietnam, whose lottery market is estimated to be worth at least US$3 billion (Bt105 billion) per year. Tan has an effective stake of 51 per cent in the Vietnam lottery business through BCorp and Berjaya Sports Toto (BToto).

BCorp and BToto respectively have 49 per cent and 10 per cent interest in BGTI, while state-owned Vietnam Computerised Lottery One Member llc (Vietlott) owns the remaining 49 per cent stake in the company. The group was given the exclusive right to operate a nationwide computerised lottery in Vietnam for the next 18 years in January this year.

“We think the fact that Tan has parked the bigger portion of the BGTI stake in the holding company, that is, Bcorp, in which he has direct interest, speaks volume of the potential he sees in the Vietnam venture,” an analyst with a local bank says.

“By keeping a smaller portion of the BGTI stake in the subsidiary level, he will be able to limit the dilution of the potential gains from the Vietnam venture,” he explains.

According to Maybank Investment Bank’s (MIB) estimation, Berjaya’s Vietnam lottery business could potentially rake in a net profit of 522 million ringgit per annum during its steady state. This could translate into a net profit accretion of 209 million for BCorp and 52 million for BToto based on their effective stakes in BGTI.

“We are positive on this development but unsure as to when BGTI will reach steady state, and thus contribute materially to BToto,” MIB said in its recent report, noting that BToto’s 10-per-cent shareholding in BGTI will likely be recognised as an investment only.

“We opine that the larger beneficiary is BCorp due to its larger 41-per-cent shareholding in BGTI,” the brokerage argued.

The Vietnam venture is Tan’s second overseas lottery licence after getting one such licence in the Philippines in the mid-1990s. Among the products that will be offered by the Vietnamese operation are Lotto Games, Digit Games and Fast Draw Games. These will be distributed through various channels, such as computerised terminals, telephones and mobile phones, and the Internet.

“The risk for Berjaya group in Vietnam is the potential competition from the illegal gaming market,” an analyst says. “But the fact that a Vietnamese government-linked company is the group’s partner in the business could send a positive signal that such risk could be contained,” he adds.

No game changer

Meanwhile, the increase in BAasset’s stake in the Sarawak NFO business is not expected to be a game changer for the group. After all, the NFO market in Malaysia will likely remain sluggish over the medium term because of the prevailing weak consumer sentiment in the country.

Over the week, BAssets through its subsidiary Tropicfair Sdn Bhd (TSB) entered into a share sale agreement yesterday to acquire the remaining 50% stake, or 3.5 million shares, in Megaquest for a cash consideration of RM108mil, or RM30.81 per share, from Violet Circle Sdn Bhd (V-Circle).

The deal will enable BAssets to raise its effective stake in Natural Avenue Sdn Bhd (NASB) – the exclusive licensed agent for Sarawak Turf Club’s Special Cash Sweep Number Forecast Lotteries to conduct the 1+3D Big/Small and 3D Big games in Sarawak – from 65% to 100% upon completion of the proposed acquistion in the next six months.

The Megaquest group has a 70% stake in NASB, while the remaining 30% stake in NASB is directly held by three other wholly owned subsidiaries of BAssets. vDuta Yap and his son Yap Wee Sean are among the directors of Megaquest, which is a 50:50 JV between TSB and V-Circle. V-Circle, on the other hand, is jointly owned by Duta Yap’s wife Puan Sri Leong Li Nar and son Yap Wee Chun.

“The deal can help boost earnings for BAssets, but we do not think it will be significant mainly because NASB itself is already experiencing shrinking earnings amid a challenging market,” an analyst says.

“BAssets itself has conceded that the rampant illegal gaming in Sarawak is negatively impacting NASB’s earnings,” he adds.

In its filings with Bursa Malaysia, BAssets revealed that the Megaquest group posted a net profit of 9.35 million ringgit and revenue of 225.52 million ringgit for the financial year ended June 30, 2015. This represented a decline of 31 per cent from a net profit of 13.53 million ringgit and 6 per cent from revenue of 239.8 million ringgit in the preceding financial year. In fiscal 2013, the group’s net profit was 14.13 million ringgit against revenue of 236.86 million ringgit.

“The NFO market in Malaysia is rather saturated, with limited growth opportunities, so we don’t see much excitement with BAssets increasing its stake in NASB… it is certainly not a game changer for Berjaya group,” a market observer argues.

Be that as it may, Tan is still seen as putting his bets at the right places.

And as US presidential hopeful Donald Trump once said, “it’s good business being the house”.

Indian leather industry eye huge Vietnam market

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290850

pic

July 18, 2016 01:00
By News Desk
Viet Nam News

HO CHI MINH CITY – Indian leather and footwear businesses have only recently discovered Vietnam is a huge market while their Vietnamese counterparts import massive quantities of leather but little from India.

Last year, Vietnam imported US$5 billion worth of leather and accessories, only 5 per cent of it from India, the second largest global producer of leather and footwear.

Vietnam exports 850 million pairs of shoes every year but faces a severe shortage of raw materials, especially processed leather.

Diep Thanh Kiet, vice chairman of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, asked his Indian counterparts at a meeting on Thursday on the sidelines of the 2016 Show and Leather Fair in HCM City attended by 41 Indian firms: “Indian leather has good price and quality; why cannot we buy from India?

“Every year, we imports billions of dong worth of leather from other countries, not India.”

But things have been changing in recent times, with Indian leather and footwear exports to Vietnam increasing steadily.

It rose from US$40.66 million in 2009–10 to $117.07 million in 2014–15. The latest reports show that in April-December last year they had risen to $84.5 million.

Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman of India’s Council for Leather Exports, in turn urged Vietnamese footwear companies to grab the opportunity that India, with its huge market, offers.

The Indian footwear market is estimated to be worth US$6.5 billion now and expected to rise to $12 billion by 2020.

India is renowned for its quality raw leather, while its large young population means the availability of skilled labour at competitive wages, Ahmed said.

The leather and footwear industry is among the top 10 foreign exchange earners for India, with an estimated US$6 billion.

A Khan of Kbro Leathertex, who was visiting the country for the first time to take part in the exhibition, said she had thought Vietnam was a small market but now realises it is huge and plans to open an office next year.

“Vietnam’s several free trade agreements with important markets in the world and membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will offer a big advantage for investors here.

“I guess several leather and footwear factories will be moved from other countries to Vietnam.”

India’s ambassador to Vietnam, Parvathaneni Harish, said bilateral trade was US$7 billion in 2015 and is expected to rise to $15 billion by 2020.

The leather and footwear sector would greatly contribute to achieving the target, he said.

Indian companies see great opptunity in the Vietnamese market, he added.

ADB poll identifies key skills for Asian youth

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290848

pic

July 18, 2016 01:00
By Md Fazlur Rahman
The Daily St

DHAKA – Youths in Asia and the Pacific should learn skills in four key areas — communication, technical, leadership and ICT knowledge — to get them ready for the labour market.

This skills set is the result of a recent poll on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) blog and was published just days ahead of the World Youth Skills Day.

World Youth Skills Day was on July 15 and the United Nations observed the day with a special event under the theme ‘Skills Development to Improve Youth Employment’. In a blog poll in June, the ADB asked its readers what they believe are the top skills that the youth of Asia and the Pacific need to find jobs today.

This was not the case before, as most education systems in developing Asia were able to meet the skills required for employment, but global trends have altered the picture. Traditional learning methods, according to a World Economic Forum report released earlier this year, cannot keep up with the current employer demands.

The blog said skills alignment is crucial for the future of 754 million young people in Asia and the Pacific, where a skills mismatch can result in wasted economic potential for regional inclusive development.

“It is, therefore, interesting to know what skills our readers perceive are most necessary for youth to acquire,” wrote Richeline Tan Mascarinas, communications consultant for ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, on the development agency’s blog site.

Communication and language skills took the top spot as 38 percent of the respondents favoured the skills, according to the poll.

“This is not surprising, since cognitive skills have always been considered as general requirements for employment, regardless of type of occupation,” wrote Mascarinas.

Also, as Asian countries become more integrated and globalised, a young person’s level of skills in effective communication undoubtedly impacts his/her chance in landing a job.

Running second is technical skills at 22 percent. These skills are occupation-specific; young people have to be adept at current trends and meet the needs of their dream jobs. Schools then should know what the demands of the changing workplace are so they can better equip young people with the necessary technical skills. This is a current global challenge as, according to UNDP, it takes 19 months to complete school-to-work transition, and many university graduates do not really use the skills they learned in school.

Leadership and ICT skills are at 20 percent.

“This is noteworthy, since like communications, leadership skills are a requirement that cuts across occupations. In fact, leadership and communications both fall under the so-called ‘sweet spot’ — rare skills that companies surveyed by Bloomberg desire but can’t get,” Mascarinas said.

ICT being acknowledged as equally necessary reflects the changing labour market perceptions. The need for ICT skills will grow in coming years, as industries become increasingly digitised and new markets emerge.

That today’s youth, dubbed as ‘digital natives’, is proficient in ICT skills is pretty much a given, and this may prove to be disadvantageous for young people who do not have easy and affordable access to the internet as well as advanced ICT training.

“Surveys and polls on skills such as this give us a peek into people’s perceptions, which help inform strategic planning on how to educate and correct possible mismatches between labour supply and demands,” said Mascarinas.

She said looking at the current challenges to youth employment, it is not enough to know what skills are deemed necessary for the youth to acquire, or even to know what skills the labour market actually demands.

Mascarinas said skills alignment should be a priority among governments and the private sector.

Besides, she said, civil society, including the youth, should monitor government-led activities on this front to help identify gaps and strengthen efforts. Likewise, development organisations must also innovate and lead in skills training.

The UN says understanding what works to support young people in today’s and tomorrow’s labour market through training and skills development will be key to the achievement of the 2030 agenda.

“On this World Youth Skills Day, let us renew our resolve to invest more in empowering young people. When we do, they can better advance the broader mission of the United Nations for lasting peace, sustainable development and human rights for all,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the occasion.

The ADB blog poll might also help Bangladesh chart its strategies on how to equip its vast youth population with skills that can allow the country to reap demographic dividend.

In 2015, the size of labour force was 6.14 crore. Of them, 5.87 crore are above the age of 15 years, according to a budget document submitted in parliament by Finance Minister AMA Muhith in June.

The document says the skills level of the labour force is not at the satisfactory levels. According to data from 2010, 40 percent of the workforce was illiterate and only 23 percent passed primary education.

This prompted the government to take a number of steps to enhance the skills of the labour force. In 2015-16, the government took up four projects worth Tk 428 crore for skills development.

The government also gave a roadmap on its plans on outbound migration so people going out of the country for jobs are trained.

According to the budget document, there are about 70 lakh Bangladeshis currently working abroad. Of them, 31 percent are skilled, 14 percent semi-skilled, 2 percent professionals and 52 percent low-skilled.

The government plans to raise the number of skilled migrant workers to 50 percent by 2030.

Understated elegance in Pacquiao home a knockout

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290539

July 17, 2016 01:00
By Marge Enriquez Philippine Dai

MANILA – Boxing icon-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, yet despite his stature, he enjoys simple pleasures.

At home, Pacquiao eats fried fish, nilagang baka (beef stew), sinigang na miso with salmon (salmon in sour soup), tinola (ginger chicken soup) and pinaupong manok (sitting chicken) made with native chicken, and kalderetang kambing (goat meat stew). He plays chess with friends and holds weekly Bible studies.

Still, Pacquiao has a taste for understated elegance. In his Makati residence, he favours a contemporary design with subdued colour palette, but rich with warm textures—even if wife Jinkee gets her way at times.

Years ago, the couple bought a three-level house on a sloping terrain, a total area of 1,526 square metres, in North Forbes, regarded as the most expensive and prestigious neighbourhood in the Philippines. It was tempting for them to opt for an opulent Old World or Hollywood décor style, replete with elaborately trimmed interiors and polished surfaces, showing off their affluence.

Asean Now: Weekly Wrap Ep 46

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290760

July 16, 2016 09:05

Asean Now wraps up the latest news of the week in the region.

Convicted child murderer escapes; The Hague tribunal backs Philippines; Boycott of Philippine mangoes; Indonesian military to rescue its troops; Boy gets knocked over by car; Show animal gives birth in the wild; Thailand remains neutral; Famous political critic killed; 4G in major Vietnamese cities; Man illegally breeds protected bears; Tallest man in Laos.

How I survived a week without cash and cards

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290488

pic

July 16, 2016 01:00
By Trevor Tan The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – The brief was simple. Spend a week using only Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay. Just tap and pay with my smartphone. No cash, coins or even physical credit cards.

To do so, I would have to plan my days carefully. For example, I could have meals only in restaurants that support mobile e-wallet payment, do my grocery shopping in some supermarkets and and top up my car’s tank in select petrol stations.

Restaurants that officially support these mobile e-wallets are just a handful, like PastaMania, Din Tai Fung and McDonald’s.

With McDonald’s closest to my office, I ended up going there almost every day to have my lunch. Grabbing a cup of coffee means having to go to Starbucks or ToastBox, instead of my office canteen.

Thankfully, shopping for groceries was much easier.

Most of the major supermarkets, such as FairPrice and Cold Storage, support all three mobile e-wallets. Making payment at the supermarkets’ counters was a breeze.

But I did find one inconvenience when shopping without cash at the supermarkets.

I couldn’t use the trolley, as I had to slot in a one-dollar coin to use the shopping cart. Good training for my biceps with the supermarket basket, I guess.

As I drive, I rarely use my ez-link card. But to keep to the brief, I tried topping up my ez-link card using the mobile e-wallets.

You can now use credit and debit cards to top up ez-link cards at MRT stations’ General Ticketing Machines (GTMs) islandwide, but only Singapore-issued UOB Visa, MasterCard and JCB cards are accepted for now. I observed that these GTMs accept contactless credit cards for payments, so they should be able to accept mobile e-wallets too.

As I use a UOB Visa card on both Apple Pay and Android Pay, I was able to top up my ez-link card using both e-wallets. Samsung Pay does not support UOB cards currently, so no luck here.

For me, the bigger issue is trying to top up my CashCard, as carpark CashCard top-up machines usually accept only Nets. And my old car still uses the old in-car unit that does not support ez-link cards.

I thought I had found a way to top up my CashCard. Go to 7-Eleven or Cheers outlets and ask the cashier to top up the CashCard, and pay using the e-wallet.

But my mission failed, because only cash is allowed when topping up CashCards, according to a 7-Eleven cashier. So I had to ask my wife to help me top up.

Paying for petrol was much easier. I used Samsung Pay and Apple Pay at Shell and SPC petrol stations respectively. All went without a hitch.

Throughout the week, I found myself using Samsung Pay most often. This is because it works with both contactless payment readers and traditional magnetic stripe payment readers, which are more ubiquitous and allow transactions of more than S$100 (US$74).

But, even at supported outlets, the most difficult part was convincing the cashiers that Samsung Pay works on their payment readers, as they are so used to swiping cards.

I usually had to give them a tutorial: “Just tap the phone on the side where you usually swipe the credit card.”

I also found that most still needed me to sign on the paper receipts when using Samsung Pay.

There is no need to do so, according to Samsung.

Even for Android and Apple Pay, with which you just have to tap and pay, it was not so straightforward. Many cashiers seemed quick to reject them. But I have found ways to bypass the reluctance. I would tell the cashiers “Visa PayWave”, and tap my smartphone without their noticing.

My week of going cashless and paying with just my phone required more effort than usual and tested my patience, but I survived. Still, I think mobile e-wallets are not ready for prime time – at least until stalls at hawker centres and coffee shops start having the right payment readers.

Being a typical Singaporean, I still very much prefer the more affordable and tastier hawker centre fare, like bak chor mee or chicken rice.

Not being able to eat at hawker centres was torturous.

Heck, I couldn’t even use the toilet at the hawker centres, since I had no coins to pay the 10-cent or 20-cent toll.

So when the deadline passed, the first thing I did was to satisfy my craving: I grabbed my wallet and cash and headed for my favourite chicken rice stall at my neighbourhood coffee shop.

A thirst for China’s ‘sponge city’ projects

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290643

pic

July 16, 2016 01:00
By Lee Xin En The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – Singapore companies are stepping up to help China with an ambitious – and potentially lucrative – plan to convert most of its urban areas into “sponge cities” by 2030.

These places are designed to behave like sponges, with city-wide systems to catch and store rainwater during downpours, purify it and redistribute the water to residents, especially during times of drought.

Ho Chee Hin, group director of China for trade agency IE Singapore, said that while China has launched several large-scale plans, he saw the latest initiative as a serious “call to action”, which firms here should answer with urgency.

He said IE Singapore is working with urban planning consultancy Surbana Jurong to put together a consortium of players to bid for projects in two cities – Jiaxing and Ningbo, both in Zhejiang province.

“We want to make use of this long-term initiative to get more small and medium-sized enterprises to go into China,” he said.

Wong Heang Fine, group chief executive of Surbana Jurong, said the company’s involvement is expected to be wide-ranging. “Surbana Jurong is working on an integrated sponge city solution, which includes water-related policy framework advisory, masterplanning and design of a sponge city, using smart monitoring solutions to optimise its operation and providing an advisory role in public-private partnerships.”

At least 10 companies are expected to come on board. One is Netatech Engineering, which designs water management solutions.

“China is ready for a storm water management project, because of the sponge city projects. Previously, storm water management demand there was not mature,” said Netatech chief executive David Tan.

While China began promoting the sponge cities concept in 2013, its government sprang into action last October, stipulating that 20 per cent of China’s urban areas should have modern sewer systems and infrastructure allowing for efficient rainwater absorption by 2020.

The first 16 pilot cities were unveiled last year, with 14 more cities, including Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, added in May. Under the first plan, cities can access up to 600 million yuan in funding over the next three years.

Much of the funding will have to come from public-private partnerships, said Ho, citing the city of Zhenjiang, which has published its sponge city projects. It has estimated that costs will hit more than 2 billion yuan (US$298.96 million).

Cities which adopt the public-private partnership will enjoy additional grants. However, Ho emphasised that government funding is a “very important token” to get the cities started. He added that key ministries are involved in the initiative, while pilot cities have to report to the government on their targets monthly, reflecting the political will pushing for the initiative.

Competition will be keen. Mainboard-listed China Everbright Water said in May it will be building China’s first pilot sponge city in Zhenjiang, while foreign firms are eager for a slice of the pie.

Ho said firms here enjoy some advantages. “Singapore has good mindshare in China,” he said, noting that its Active, Beautiful and Clean waters programme has been cited in China as a benchmark.

He added that Singapore’s business councils with provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu are also useful platforms to navigate engagement with Chinese officials.

“It’s not so easy to open doors at the district level in China, as these are regulatory agencies. IE Singapore, with the seven business councils, can more easily open doors.”

The sponge cities initiative has renewed urgency, as China recently experienced its worst flooding since 1998. Its Ministry of Civil Affairs said earlier this week that flooding and rain had affected more than 31 million people in 12 provinces, causing 67.1 billion yuan in damages and a death toll of at least 173.

(US$1 = 6.69 yuan as of 7/14/2016 via oanda.com)

Hyundai wants Indonesian SMEs to play bigger role in manufacturing spare parts

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290695

pic

July 16, 2016 01:00
By Anton Hermansyah The Jakarta

JAKARTA – South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is eyeing the possibility of Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stepping up their production of its spare parts.

The government has collaborated with Hyundai through the government-to-government (G2G) programme between the Indonesian Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry and South Korean government last year, to train SMEs to manufacture spare parts that are compatible with Korean car specifications.

“More spare part manufacturers will help us to negotiate with our principal to launch new models for the Indonesian market. Currently we have a lack of models in the dense market such as small multipurpose vehicles (MPVs] and low sport utility vehicles [SUVs],” Hyundai Indonesia president director Mukiat Sutikno told thejakartapost.com on Thursday in Jakarta.

In a bid to work further on the plan, Hyundai held a meeting with government representatives and SMEs at the small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives building.

Hyundai Indonesia currently imports cars from the South Korean plants as its China-based plant is specifically producing large and luxurious models while its India-based plant is producing small and cheaper models, but with different specifications.

“Especially the engine capacity. Their models are equipped with 1.7 and 1.8 liter engines, in Indonesia a bigger engine of more than 1.5 liter will be subject to an expensive import tax. Thus, it is difficult for us to import from the Indian plant,” Mukiat explained.

Filipino artists take part in Singapore’s grandest mall-based art fair

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290540

pic

July 16, 2016 01:00
By Dexter R Matilla Philippine

SINGAPORE – Fresh new works from Philippine contemporary visual artists are expected to be highlights of the 8th Art Apart Fair which opened on June 11, at Singapore’s Wisma Atria, a shopping haven right at the heart of Orchard Road.

Rosalind Lim, Art Apart Fair’s founder and director, describes Filipino art as “a fusion of Western artistic composition, content, design and technique coupled with the feel of exotic and meticulous Eastern touch.”

Works on exhibit are by Philippine artists Geovanni Abing, Tyago Almario, Cezar Arro, Demetrio dela Cruz, Dennis Francisco, Sam Penaso and CJ Tanedo.

“I am excited to be part of Art Apart Fair because Philippine art has always been great,” Tanedo says. “It’s a privilege to showcase this in other countries.”

“It is very important for Filipino artists to be given an opportunity to showcase their works outside the Philippines,” Arro says. “Mainly because it will greatly improve the state of the art industry for Filipino artists. It will open new doors and more opportunities for artists across the Philippines, especially for artists located in the remote parts of the country where opportunities are quite rare and even nonexistent.”

“Filipinos have always looked up at the success of fellow Filipinos overseas,” says Abing. “[Those who are] able to showcase artworks on a world stage reinforces the fact that Filipino artists are world-class and they become the much-needed fuel for the next generation of talents.”

And these Filipino artists will definitely get to show off at this year’s Art Apart Fair, which will see Wisma Atria converted into one large art space where collectors will get to mingle with artists and gallery owners.

Wisma Atria prides itself in being the first Singapore mall to house new-to-market international brands and, in providing approximately 6,000 square feet of space for Art Apart Fair, it becomes the first to hold what is shaping up to be the biggest contemporary art exhibition to be staged in a shopping establishment.

While there will be signature artworks from the artists, some will be installing site-specific pieces including vintage restored furniture incorporating pop and modern art. Industrial furniture designed and juxtaposed with surreal and abstract art create a certain environment for those who would like to see how the pieces would look like in a home setting.

Previous Art Apart Fair editions from Singapore to London have done this, converting hotel rooms and suites and even shipping spaces into a home-like environment, heavily featuring Filipino artists in most cases.

“Incorporating both art and design in Art Apart Fair is crucial and all the artists from the Philippines bring a fresh perspective to this,” Lim says. “They have been carefully selected for their potential to become well-established not just in Singapore but in other countries as well.”

Lim adds that the “white cube” format exhibition booth does not have the inviting feel of a home setting.

As if all of that isn’t enough to entice art lovers around the world to come and visit, the 8th Art Apart will also have a series of workshops and talks ranging from Southeast Asian contemporary art and wine appreciation to collecting vintage furniture, calligraphy, artisanal jewelry, and even regional Myanmar cooking and brewing coffee at home.

“The uniqueness of Art Apart Fair is that it always exhibits fresh, never-before-seen works by artists,” Lim says. “Artists might have the same theme but the content and colour used will be different. The Art Apart Fair brand DNA is to curate exhibition in a home-like ambience, creating an intimacy and warmth for visitors to feel welcome.”

Vientiane motor expo to rev up trade, investment

Posted on October 28, 2016 by SoClaimon

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/aec/aec/30290692

July 16, 2016 01:00
By Business Desk Vientiane Times

VIENTIANE – The Vientiane International Motor Expo 2016, which is scheduled for September 30 to October 6, will showcase the advanced technologies of vehicle products in acknowledgement of the inception of the AEC.

As Laos hosts the Asean Summit in September, car manufacturing companies from the Asean and Asean+3 nations will also be invited to display their products at the expo.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Director General of the Trade and Product Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Somvang Ninthavong, said the expo, titled ‘Better Trade, Better Technology’ will invite various automobile companies in Asean to participate.

“Domestic customers will have more options when buying a car and it will enable us to avoid a market monopoly,” he said, adding that the expo will help to drive business integration in the region and push Lao entrepreneurs onto the international stage.

Somvang said there will also be a seminar to share information technologies in the car industry, which will allow buyers and sellers to meet each other. The expo will be co-organised by the Trade and Product Promotion Department and PP Xaiyo Entertainment and Event Organiser.

A representative from the company said the event will be the biggest ever automobile expo in Laos. The vehicles on display will range from motorbikes to luxury cars and car accessories.

“I believe that this will enable us to raise the profile of our country and promote the image of Laos on the international stage,” he said.

SootinClaimon.Com

ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย2 [SartKasetDinPui2] : รวบรวม ข้อมูล เศรษฐกิจ สังคม สิ่งแวดล้อม เกษตร ดิน น้ำ ปุ๋ย

Tag Archives: AEC

Malaysian tycoon Vincent Tan’s gaming business just got bigger

KUALA LUMPUR – The founder of multi-industry conglomerate Berjaya Corp (BCorp) will launch the first phase of his Vietnam lottery business, which is held under Berjaya Gia Thinh Investment (BGTI), in Ho Chi Minh City. The next five years will see the roll

Indian leather industry eye huge Vietnam market

HO CHI MINH CITY – Indian leather and footwear businesses have only recently discovered Vietnam is a huge market while their Vietnamese counterparts import massive quantities of leather but little from India.

ADB poll identifies key skills for Asian youth

DHAKA – Youths in Asia and the Pacific should learn skills in four key areas — communication, technical, leadership and ICT knowledge — to get them ready for the labour market.

Understated elegance in Pacquiao home a knockout

MANILA – Boxing icon-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, yet despite his stature, he enjoys simple pleasures.

Asean Now: Weekly Wrap Ep 46

Asean Now wraps up the latest news of the week in the region.

How I survived a week without cash and cards

SINGAPORE – The brief was simple. Spend a week using only Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay. Just tap and pay with my smartphone. No cash, coins or even physical credit cards.

A thirst for China’s ‘sponge city’ projects

SINGAPORE – Singapore companies are stepping up to help China with an ambitious – and potentially lucrative – plan to convert most of its urban areas into “sponge cities” by 2030.

Hyundai wants Indonesian SMEs to play bigger role in manufacturing spare parts

JAKARTA – South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is eyeing the possibility of Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stepping up their production of its spare parts.

Filipino artists take part in Singapore’s grandest mall-based art fair

SINGAPORE – Fresh new works from Philippine contemporary visual artists are expected to be highlights of the 8th Art Apart Fair which opened on June 11, at Singapore’s Wisma Atria, a shopping haven right at the heart of Orchard Road.

Vientiane motor expo to rev up trade, investment

VIENTIANE – The Vientiane International Motor Expo 2016, which is scheduled for September 30 to October 6, will showcase the advanced technologies of vehicle products in acknowledgement of the inception of the AEC.

KUALA LUMPUR – The founder of multi-industry conglomerate Berjaya Corp (BCorp) will launch the first phase of his Vietnam lottery business, which is held under Berjaya Gia Thinh Investment (BGTI), in Ho Chi Minh City. The next five years will see the roll

Share this:

HO CHI MINH CITY – Indian leather and footwear businesses have only recently discovered Vietnam is a huge market while their Vietnamese counterparts import massive quantities of leather but little from India.

Share this:

DHAKA – Youths in Asia and the Pacific should learn skills in four key areas — communication, technical, leadership and ICT knowledge — to get them ready for the labour market.

Share this:

MANILA – Boxing icon-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, yet despite his stature, he enjoys simple pleasures.

Share this:

Asean Now wraps up the latest news of the week in the region.

Share this:

SINGAPORE – The brief was simple. Spend a week using only Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay. Just tap and pay with my smartphone. No cash, coins or even physical credit cards.

Share this:

SINGAPORE – Singapore companies are stepping up to help China with an ambitious – and potentially lucrative – plan to convert most of its urban areas into “sponge cities” by 2030.

Share this:

JAKARTA – South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is eyeing the possibility of Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stepping up their production of its spare parts.

Share this:

SINGAPORE – Fresh new works from Philippine contemporary visual artists are expected to be highlights of the 8th Art Apart Fair which opened on June 11, at Singapore’s Wisma Atria, a shopping haven right at the heart of Orchard Road.

Share this:

VIENTIANE – The Vientiane International Motor Expo 2016, which is scheduled for September 30 to October 6, will showcase the advanced technologies of vehicle products in acknowledgement of the inception of the AEC.

Share this: