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Easy Zero Carbon Living by behavioural change in Clothing, Food, Housing, and Transport – Environment and Conservation Fund Carbon Neutrality Campaign Competitions Awards Presentation Ceremony

Over 13,000 Participants Engaged in Diverse Empowering Educational Activities and Competitions – New Carbon Neutral Living Culture Emerges in Hong Kong HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – The Environment and Conservation Fund Carbon Neutrality Campaign organized by the Hong Kong Women Professionals & Entrepreneurs Association (HKWPEA) held its Awards Presentation Ceremony this afternoon at the HKPC Building, with Mr. Wong Chuen-fai, JP, Commissioner for Climate Change, and Dr. Cheng Kam-chung, SBS, MH, OStJ, JP, Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee as officiating guests. Close to 300 participants and guests joined and celebrated with the award winners. The Environment and Conservation Fund Carbon Neutrality Campaign Competition Award Presentation Ceremony recognise magnificent crowd of carbon reduction winners. Ms. Julianne Doe, President of the Hong Kong Women Professionals & Entrepreneurs Association (HKWPEA), stated, “The year-long Carbon Neutrality Campaign successfully attracted over 13,000 people registering to participate, which is truly encouraging. This reflects our society’s strong support and active engagement in environmental initiatives, confirming that Hong Kong’s sustainability culture is already in place. The competitions participants collectively reduced a total of 150 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by over 6,500 trees in one year. If expanded to the entire population of Hong Kong, this saving ratio could lead to over 84,000 tonnes of carbon reduction annually.” Ms. Doe urged fellow Hong Kong people to continue to protect the environment and work in concert towards carbon neutrality. Mr. Wong Chuen-fai, Commissioner for Climate Change said, “Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, through measures on net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. This Carbon Neutrality Campaign supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund serves as a pivotal force in mobilizing community engagement across different sectors, enhancing public awareness and participation, and driving behavioural change towards the carbon neutrality goals of the city.” Mr. Leung Wing-mo, Ambassador of the Carbon Neutrality Campaign, remarked, “Becoming a ‘Zero Carbon Champion’ as the ambassador of the Campaign enables me to convey the critical message of carbon neutrality to friends across all ages and sectors. I am deeply touched by the efforts of every participant. Let us expand and sustain together the vision of zero carbon living—for ourselves, our future generations, and our only home, the Earth.” Artist Candice Yu and Candy Lo were invited to present awards on the occasion. Previously, alongside Leung Wing Mo, Campaign ambassador “Zero Carbon Champion”, the former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, they filmed clips in an online video series to share carbon reduction tips in an easy-to-understand manner. “Gourmet Carbon Reduction” expert Candice Yu stated that choosing local, organic, and seasonal ingredients in daily meals can reduce transportation and carbon emissions, while properly planning food portions helps avoid waste. Candy Lo’s “Eco-Friendly Living” tips, on the other hand, include selecting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home appliances, minimizing household waste, reducing waste at source, and supporting clean recycling. The Carbon Neutrality Campaign Competition attracted over 13,000 people who registered to participate and achieved an impressive reduction of 150 tonnes of carbon among qualified contestants. Top-performing teams were honored at the ceremony with practical and meaningful prizes, including carbon credits, local hotel stays, and theme park tickets. In addition, special awards were presented to property management companies and schools to recognise their efforts in driving carbon reduction among tenants, building occupiers and students. Winners of the grand prize, titled “Carbon Reduction Champion”, not only achieved significant carbon reduction but also provided creative low-carbon living tips across clothing, food, housing, and transport such as: Clothing: Consider the necessity for new purchases before buying or upcycle materials like fabric from broken umbrellas into reusable handbags. Food: Bring your own containers for takeout, support local agricultural products, or even grow your own food. Housing: Create eco-friendly cleaning agents, use bamboo mats, or enhance natural ventilation by opening windows to reduce reliance on air conditioning. Transport: Walk or cycle more to minimize car usage and promote sustainable travel habits. Let’s embrace zero carbon in clothing, food, housing, and transport. Hashtag: #EasyZeroCarbonLiving The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About the Environment and Conservation Fund Carbon Neutral Campaign The Environment and Conservation Fund Carbon Neutral Campaign is a comprehensive effort aimed at promoting carbon neutrality across various sectors. Our campaign seeks to raise public awareness and encourage community involvement in carbon neutrality, with the ultimate goal of fostering persistent behavioral changes. To achieve this, we provide guidance and resources for individuals and organizations to implement sustainable practices and reduce their carbon emissions. Additionally, we strive to foster a culture of sustainability and inspire collective action towards carbon neutrality. Through this campaign, we hope to build a more sustainable future and contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change. During the 10-month contest period, eight major seminars, three experiential activities, and multiple lectures for schools and businesses were held, attracting over 4,000 participants. The seminars invited experts from various fields to share knowledge on climate change and carbon neutrality, while the experiential activities allowed participants to learn how easy it is to practice a low-carbon lifestyle. Additionally, the Carbon Neutrality Campaign launched an eight-episode series hosted by Ambassador Leung Wing-mo, featuring many celebrities recording “One Minute Low Carbon Tips”. For more information about the campaign, please visit: https://CarbonNeutralityhk.com. About The Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association The Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association (HKWPEA) was established as a non-profit organisation in September 1996 by a group of local women professionals and entrepreneurs. The association aims to develop and inspire leadership skills in young women; to provide support for women professionals and executives in achieving their full career potential; to promote the well-being and healthy aging of women; and to liaise with the HKSAR government to formulate policies for achieving these goals. For more information, please visit https://www.hkwpea.org/

Media OutReach

Year of Extremes: 2024 Market Review by Global Broker Octa

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – 2024 has been a year of contradictory events, significant economic changes, and major political shifts. On a positive note, it was the year when global central banks finally managed to tackle inflation, partly induced by the negative and far-reaching effects of the COVID pandemic and partly by the more recent geopolitical events. After holding borrowing costs near record highs for most of 2023, almost all major central banks started to cut rates in 2024. However, the pace of interest rate reductions varied, leading to a divergence in monetary policy expectations between different economies, which, in turn, resulted in notable exchange rate fluctuations among major currencies. On a negative note, however, 2024 has been a year of lingering political uncertainty and geopolitical instability. Although investors learned to coexist with the simmering conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, a sense of underlying unease persisted. Adding to this sense of anxiety is the changing political landscape. Indeed, numerous elections took place in tens of countries around the world in 2024. Investors were particularly concerned about the parliamentary elections in France, the general elections in the United Kingdom, and the presidential and congressional elections in the United States. The market still feels the effect of these elections, with traders and investors anticipating major changes in economic policies and trying to front-run their impact on global assets. The U.S. Dollar (USD) has been the best-performing currency in 2024 among the 20 global currencies that Octa Broker tracks. From 29 December 2023 to 13 December 2024, the U.S. dollar index (DXY), which measures the value of the greenback against the basket of six foreign currencies (the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc) rose by almost 6%. However, the index has undergone substantial fluctuations over the course of the year. Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker, explains: ‘The dollar index has been on a rollercoaster ride in 2024, soaring to new multi-month heights and plummeting to fresh multi-month lows. Although the greenback looks like the best-performing currency in 2024 so far, the lion’s share of its appreciation occurred during the latter part of the year and has been mostly driven by expectations for a major shift in U.S. trade policy.’ Top 20 currencies performance in 2024 Source: Octa Broker calculations Indeed, the market is concerned that Donald Trump’s proposed immigration and trade policies could have inflationary consequences, prompting the Federal Reserve (Fed) to adopt a less dovish monetary policy. As a result, the divergence in investors’ monetary policy expectations between the Fed and other major central banks has widened, leading to higher capital inflows into the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the U.S. economy has been outperforming other advanced economies in 2024 and is expected to continue to do better than the rest in 2025 as well. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of advanced economies in 2024 will average just 1.8%, whereas the U.S. GDP is projected to expand by 2.8%. Because the dollar advanced higher, most major currencies are poised to conclude the year with negative performance. The only exception is the British pound, which is anticipated to finish the year virtually unchanged compared to 2023. ‘The relative strength of the U.S. dollar is only one of many reasons why most other major currencies underperformed in 2024. Other factors, however, are specific to individual countries and a major bearish factor this year specifically has been the lack of political certainty, which currencies do not like,’ says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, EURUSD, the most liquid and widely traded foreign exchange (Forex) pair in the world, has been weakened by political uncertainty in the eurozone’s largest economies—France and Germany—where political stalemate led to high-profile resignations and early elections. Likewise, when the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap parliamentary election, GBPUSD experienced one of the biggest one-day declines of 2024. Moreover, the sluggish growth in the eurozone and the U.K. has prompted investors to anticipate additional rate cuts from both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). In contrast, the Fed is expected to slow down its easing cycle, further widening the interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar on the one hand and the euro and sterling on the other. Despite its safe-haven status, the Japanese yen (JPY) was the most volatile currency among the majors. Three-month implied options volatility for the yen, a measure of trader hedging demand, averaged around 9.73% in 2024, whereas the total average across seven major currencies was 7.46%. ‘USDJPY traders have had a wild ride in 2024. It has been a total rollercoaster, to be honest. I think fortunes were made and lost here very quickly. This outgoing year has been truly historical for the JPY,’ says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, during the year’s first half, the bullish dollar momentum has propelled the pair to a multi-decade high. Then, as rumours of potential intervention by Japanese authorities to bolster the yen began to spread, the USDJPY pair started to decline. A massive sell-off accelerated in late July after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised interest rates to 15-year highs and announced details on how it will reduce its huge bond buying. Kar Yong Ang explains: ‘At that time, it looked like BoJ was taking a surprisingly hawkish stance. Its decision really shook the markets and caused investors to reassess popular JPY carry-trades.’ The commodities’ performance varied greatly, and each deserves a separate story to tell, but coffee, lithium, gold, and silver have certainly been the biggest stories in 2024. Just recently, the prompt-month futures contract of arabica coffee traded on Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) hit an all-time high. It is up some 70% year-over-year (y-o-y), which makes it the best-performing commodity in 2024 among 20 other commodities that Octa Broker tracks. ‘Like

Media OutReach

Hongkong Land Launches Next-Generation Tenant Engagement Service for the Professional Community in Central

The new app delivers a highly personalised user experience and includes new features, content and services to enhance the working lives of professionals in the Central Portfolio The launch comes as Centricity celebrates five years of innovation in Central community building HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – Hongkong Land announced the launch of Centricity App 2.0. The new and improved digital gateway provides office tenants and their staff with more personalised and seamless access to Hongkong Land services, spaces, privileges and experiences in the Hongkong Land’s Central portfolio, all in the palm of one’s hand. The new app features a customised homepage displaying your building and personalised greetings, offering quick access to preferred functions and services for a seamless and efficient workday. The launch of the new digital engagement service, the most comprehensive of its kind in the Hong Kong market, comes as Hongkong Land’s Centricity platform – an exclusive collection of spaces and services designed to enhance the working lives of tenants – celebrates its fifth anniversary with strong growth in usage. Since its inception in 2019, Centricity has become a vibrant community-building platform in Central, offering an extensive blend of online and offline amenities for businesses, their employees, non-profit organisations and luxury brands. Neil Anderson, Director and Head of Office, Commercial Property, Hongkong Land, said: “Centricity is an unmatched tenant engagement platform in Hong Kong and we are delighted by its success as it marks its fifth anniversary. As well as providing tenants and their employees with convenient and flexible access to a broad range of services, amenities and spaces in the heart of Central, it curates exclusive privileges and experiences that meet their diverse needs. In short, it embodies our newly introduced brand promise – “Experience is central.” “The launch of our next generation tenant service, Centricity App 2.0, exemplifies the Company’s core values. This innovative, highly personalised service anticipates what our tenants want from the workplace ecosystem of the future and underscores our focus on collaborating across multiple touch points in their working lives.” The new digital service is the culmination of years of analysing tenant behaviours and usage data and anticipating their future needs. The new app sports a significantly refreshed look, enhanced features and exciting new content, elevating the user experience. Key highlights include a personalised and customisable landing screen, access to curated privileges and events and improved information sharing, with new real-time public transport arrival information in the core Central area. Tenants will also benefit from more seamless access to workplace services provided by Hongkong Land. This will include temperature control in offices[1], indoor air quality monitoring, enhanced visitor access management and more convenient meeting rooms and hot desk booking at Centricity. Leveraging the original Centricity App’s 22,000 registered users, the 2.0 app is expected to strengthen the professional community within Central by facilitating connections through events and information sharing among tenants and customers. On the events side, it will complement Centricity’s Concentric Event Space in Chater House, a dynamic 7,000 sq. ft multi-purpose space for corporate and luxury customers. In 2024, Concentric received 230 bookings, a significant increase on the near-50 in its first full year of operation. A record 66% of bookings were by Central Portfolio tenants, highlighting the strong integration of Centricity within the Hongkong Land ecosystem. Ms Iris Chan, Assistant General Manager, Hongkong Land, said: “Centricity is a focal point for the business and luxury lifestyle community in Central, Hong Kong. From Sotheby’s auctions and luxury brand fashion shows to wellness workshops and corporate functions, Centricity delivers exceptional experiences that enrich the working day lives of our more than 400 tenants and their guests.” Centricity places a strong emphasis on work-life balance and has hosted more than 270 wellness-related events including yoga and meditation classes. Its wellbeing focus, coupled with innovations such as the app and Concentric’s ongoing success, reinforces Hongkong Land’s leadership in creating dynamic and engaging workspaces at the heart of the Central business district. [1] Varies depending on access rights. Hashtag: #HongkongLand The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Centricity Launched in 2019, Centricity is an exclusive collection of spaces and services created to enhance working life for Hongkong Land tenants and their staff in Central, Hong Kong. Centricity blends all-day dining (Catchic Bar & Restaurant), elegant event spaces (Concentric Event Space), a premium flexible office solution (Flex) and members’ privileges, all digitally linked through the Centricity App. First launched in mid-2019, the Centricity App has enhanced tenants’ daily experiences within Hongkong Land’s Central Portfolio. App users can make restaurant bookings, order takeaways, monitor taxi queue times, check members’ events, book workplace services, arrange concierge services such as umbrella lending and shower room bookings, and receive privileges including select discounts at luxury stores and F&B outlets, among other features. Hongkong Land Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. The Group focuses on developing, owning and managing ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. Its mixed-use real estate footprint spans more than 850,000 sq. m., with flagship projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry-leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. The Group’s Hong Kong Central portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. The Group has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures and five retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing. In Shanghai, the Group owns a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund, which is due to be completed in 2028. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

Media OutReach

Year of Extremes: 2024 Market Review by Global Broker Octa

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – 2024 has been a year of contradictory events, significant economic changes, and major political shifts. On a positive note, it was the year when global central banks finally managed to tackle inflation, partly induced by the negative and far-reaching effects of the COVID pandemic and partly by the more recent geopolitical events. After holding borrowing costs near record highs for most of 2023, almost all major central banks started to cut rates in 2024. However, the pace of interest rate reductions varied, leading to a divergence in monetary policy expectations between different economies, which, in turn, resulted in notable exchange rate fluctuations among major currencies. On a negative note, however, 2024 has been a year of lingering political uncertainty and geopolitical instability. Although investors learned to coexist with the simmering conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, a sense of underlying unease persisted. Adding to this sense of anxiety is the changing political landscape. Indeed, numerous elections took place in tens of countries around the world in 2024. Investors were particularly concerned about the parliamentary elections in France, the general elections in the United Kingdom, and the presidential and congressional elections in the United States. The market still feels the effect of these elections, with traders and investors anticipating major changes in economic policies and trying to front-run their impact on global assets. The U.S. Dollar (USD) has been the best-performing currency in 2024 among the 20 global currencies that Octa Broker tracks. From 29 December 2023 to 13 December 2024, the U.S. dollar index (DXY), which measures the value of the greenback against the basket of six foreign currencies (the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc) rose by almost 6%. However, the index has undergone substantial fluctuations over the course of the year. Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker, explains: ‘The dollar index has been on a rollercoaster ride in 2024, soaring to new multi-month heights and plummeting to fresh multi-month lows. Although the greenback looks like the best-performing currency in 2024 so far, the lion’s share of its appreciation occurred during the latter part of the year and has been mostly driven by expectations for a major shift in U.S. trade policy.’ Top 20 currencies performance in 2024 Source: Octa Broker calculations Indeed, the market is concerned that Donald Trump’s proposed immigration and trade policies could have inflationary consequences, prompting the Federal Reserve (Fed) to adopt a less dovish monetary policy. As a result, the divergence in investors’ monetary policy expectations between the Fed and other major central banks has widened, leading to higher capital inflows into the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the U.S. economy has been outperforming other advanced economies in 2024 and is expected to continue to do better than the rest in 2025 as well. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of advanced economies in 2024 will average just 1.8%, whereas the U.S. GDP is projected to expand by 2.8%. Because the dollar advanced higher, most major currencies are poised to conclude the year with negative performance. The only exception is the British pound, which is anticipated to finish the year virtually unchanged compared to 2023. ‘The relative strength of the U.S. dollar is only one of many reasons why most other major currencies underperformed in 2024. Other factors, however, are specific to individual countries and a major bearish factor this year specifically has been the lack of political certainty, which currencies do not like,’ says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, EURUSD, the most liquid and widely traded foreign exchange (Forex) pair in the world, has been weakened by political uncertainty in the eurozone’s largest economies—France and Germany—where political stalemate led to high-profile resignations and early elections. Likewise, when the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a snap parliamentary election, GBPUSD experienced one of the biggest one-day declines of 2024. Moreover, the sluggish growth in the eurozone and the U.K. has prompted investors to anticipate additional rate cuts from both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). In contrast, the Fed is expected to slow down its easing cycle, further widening the interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar on the one hand and the euro and sterling on the other. Despite its safe-haven status, the Japanese yen (JPY) was the most volatile currency among the majors. Three-month implied options volatility for the yen, a measure of trader hedging demand, averaged around 9.73% in 2024, whereas the total average across seven major currencies was 7.46%. ‘USDJPY traders have had a wild ride in 2024. It has been a total rollercoaster, to be honest. I think fortunes were made and lost here very quickly. This outgoing year has been truly historical for the JPY,’ says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, during the year’s first half, the bullish dollar momentum has propelled the pair to a multi-decade high. Then, as rumours of potential intervention by Japanese authorities to bolster the yen began to spread, the USDJPY pair started to decline. A massive sell-off accelerated in late July after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised interest rates to 15-year highs and announced details on how it will reduce its huge bond buying. Kar Yong Ang explains: ‘At that time, it looked like BoJ was taking a surprisingly hawkish stance. Its decision really shook the markets and caused investors to reassess popular JPY carry-trades.’ The commodities’ performance varied greatly, and each deserves a separate story to tell, but coffee, lithium, gold, and silver have certainly been the biggest stories in 2024. Just recently, the prompt-month futures contract of arabica coffee traded on Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) hit an all-time high. It is up some 70% year-over-year (y-o-y), which makes it the best-performing commodity in 2024 among 20 other commodities that Octa Broker tracks. ‘Like

Media OutReach

Hongkong Land Launches Next-Generation Tenant Engagement Service for the Professional Community in Central

The new app delivers a highly personalised user experience and includes new features, content and services to enhance the working lives of professionals in the Central Portfolio The launch comes as Centricity celebrates five years of innovation in Central community building HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – Hongkong Land announced the launch of Centricity App 2.0. The new and improved digital gateway provides office tenants and their staff with more personalised and seamless access to Hongkong Land services, spaces, privileges and experiences in the Hongkong Land’s Central portfolio, all in the palm of one’s hand. The new app features a customised homepage displaying your building and personalised greetings, offering quick access to preferred functions and services for a seamless and efficient workday. The launch of the new digital engagement service, the most comprehensive of its kind in the Hong Kong market, comes as Hongkong Land’s Centricity platform – an exclusive collection of spaces and services designed to enhance the working lives of tenants – celebrates its fifth anniversary with strong growth in usage. Since its inception in 2019, Centricity has become a vibrant community-building platform in Central, offering an extensive blend of online and offline amenities for businesses, their employees, non-profit organisations and luxury brands. Neil Anderson, Director and Head of Office, Commercial Property, Hongkong Land, said: “Centricity is an unmatched tenant engagement platform in Hong Kong and we are delighted by its success as it marks its fifth anniversary. As well as providing tenants and their employees with convenient and flexible access to a broad range of services, amenities and spaces in the heart of Central, it curates exclusive privileges and experiences that meet their diverse needs. In short, it embodies our newly introduced brand promise – “Experience is central.” “The launch of our next generation tenant service, Centricity App 2.0, exemplifies the Company’s core values. This innovative, highly personalised service anticipates what our tenants want from the workplace ecosystem of the future and underscores our focus on collaborating across multiple touch points in their working lives.” The new digital service is the culmination of years of analysing tenant behaviours and usage data and anticipating their future needs. The new app sports a significantly refreshed look, enhanced features and exciting new content, elevating the user experience. Key highlights include a personalised and customisable landing screen, access to curated privileges and events and improved information sharing, with new real-time public transport arrival information in the core Central area. Tenants will also benefit from more seamless access to workplace services provided by Hongkong Land. This will include temperature control in offices[1], indoor air quality monitoring, enhanced visitor access management and more convenient meeting rooms and hot desk booking at Centricity. Leveraging the original Centricity App’s 22,000 registered users, the 2.0 app is expected to strengthen the professional community within Central by facilitating connections through events and information sharing among tenants and customers. On the events side, it will complement Centricity’s Concentric Event Space in Chater House, a dynamic 7,000 sq. ft multi-purpose space for corporate and luxury customers. In 2024, Concentric received 230 bookings, a significant increase on the near-50 in its first full year of operation. A record 66% of bookings were by Central Portfolio tenants, highlighting the strong integration of Centricity within the Hongkong Land ecosystem. Ms Iris Chan, Assistant General Manager, Hongkong Land, said: “Centricity is a focal point for the business and luxury lifestyle community in Central, Hong Kong. From Sotheby’s auctions and luxury brand fashion shows to wellness workshops and corporate functions, Centricity delivers exceptional experiences that enrich the working day lives of our more than 400 tenants and their guests.” Centricity places a strong emphasis on work-life balance and has hosted more than 270 wellness-related events including yoga and meditation classes. Its wellbeing focus, coupled with innovations such as the app and Concentric’s ongoing success, reinforces Hongkong Land’s leadership in creating dynamic and engaging workspaces at the heart of the Central business district. [1] Varies depending on access rights. Hashtag: #HongkongLand The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Centricity Launched in 2019, Centricity is an exclusive collection of spaces and services created to enhance working life for Hongkong Land tenants and their staff in Central, Hong Kong. Centricity blends all-day dining (Catchic Bar & Restaurant), elegant event spaces (Concentric Event Space), a premium flexible office solution (Flex) and members’ privileges, all digitally linked through the Centricity App. First launched in mid-2019, the Centricity App has enhanced tenants’ daily experiences within Hongkong Land’s Central Portfolio. App users can make restaurant bookings, order takeaways, monitor taxi queue times, check members’ events, book workplace services, arrange concierge services such as umbrella lending and shower room bookings, and receive privileges including select discounts at luxury stores and F&B outlets, among other features. Hongkong Land Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. The Group focuses on developing, owning and managing ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. Its mixed-use real estate footprint spans more than 850,000 sq. m., with flagship projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry-leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. The Group’s Hong Kong Central portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. The Group has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures and five retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing. In Shanghai, the Group owns a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund, which is due to be completed in 2028. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

News

Malaysia-China Summit 2024 Officially Launched

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-China Summit 2024 (MCS 2024), a platform for future-focused trade, investment and collaboration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China bilateral relations, was officially launched yesterday.  YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport Malaysia, officiated the opening ceremony held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). MCS 2024, which takes place from 17-19 December 2024, aims to position Malaysia as a strategic bridge for ASEAN-China collaboration, particularly in anticipation of its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. The summit also serves as a pivotal platform to create economic growth and collaborative opportunities between governments and businesses.  Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister highlighted the significance of Malaysia-China trade relations over the past five decades. He emphasised the summit’s broader vision to drive regional development, shared prosperity, and sustainable growth through innovation and cooperation. “Over the decades, Malaysia’s partnership with China has been a vital part of our journey. Today, China is one of our largest trading partners and a key source of investment in critical sectors, from electronics to green technology. But this relationship is beyond commerce—it is about vision, trust, and shared progress. “The theme of this summit, “Prosperity Beyond 50,” is a call to action—a challenge to imagine and realise a future defined by innovation, sustainability, and unity. It is an opportunity to lay the groundwork for the next 50 years of Malaysia-China relations, rooted in trust, respect, and shared vision,” he said.  MCS 2024 is organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Qube) in association with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) as the final economic pillar programme under MITI to commemorate the golden anniversary. “MCS 2024 aims to bring nations and multi-sectoral businesses across industries together, providing opportunities for fruitful engagements, collaborations and investments. It will feature MATRADE’s signature International Sourcing Programme (INSP), facilitating pre-arranged business meetings between Malaysian companies and international buyers.  “We see strong interest from Chinese importers and buyers seeking to source from Malaysia, and through our five offices in China, we managed to facilitate successful engagements between Chinese buyers and Malaysian exporters. With 49 trade offices worldwide, MATRADE continues to open new opportunities for Malaysian exporters, said MATRADE Chairman YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican. The five-decade long partnership has developed closeness between Malaysia and China that has withstood the test of time. This relationship has nurtured a resilient partnership rooted in cultural and economic collaboration He shared that MCS 2024 is the grand finale of the Malaysia-China 50th-anniversary celebrations, and the summit brings together participants from Malaysia, China, and ASEAN, with potential trade and investment opportunities exceeding RM2 billion. Meanwhile, Richard Teo, Executive Chairman of Qube Integrated and MCS 2024 Organising Chairman, highlighted that the summit will spotlight five thematic pillars – Future Knowledge & Experience, Future Opportunity, Future Tech, Future Growth, and Future Mobility & Connectivity.  “Our goal for MCS 2024 is to provide and foster a conducive environment beyond economic and business outcomes. We aspire to make this summit a meeting ground for an exchange of ideas, cultures and values that will inspire the next generation of business and thought leaders who will continue to shape ASEAN-China relations,” he said.   Achieving ‘Shared Prosperity’ through MCS2024 Over the next three days, MCS 2024 will feature a vibrant array of programmes designed to inspire, engage, and propel a shared vision for collaboration and growth. The International Trade and Investment Expo will feature multi-sectoral exhibitors and trade delegates from Malaysia, China and ASEAN countries.  This dynamic marketplace will be an opportunity to forge partnerships and explore investment prospects in areas like digital technology, renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, and many more.  The expo will also feature strong representation from China industries, including popular products like hardware, home furnishing, interior fixtures, building materials, electronics, lifestyle & fashion, and arts & crafts. There will also be several side events, industry forums, pocket talks, MoU exchanges and product launches. Key events include the Malaysia-China EV Forum, co-organised with China EV100 and MAYCHAM China with supporting partners MARii and MyZEVA, which will provide insights on EV transformation and industry trends.  Additionally, the China-Malaysia Business Forum will be held in collaboration with the China Chamber of International Commerce, while other events are hosted by the Malaysian Consortium of Mid-Tier Companies, the ASIA CEO Community and Yingke Consulting Sdn Bhd. Meanwhile, the opening day also saw the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), together with Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle)— Malaysia’s leading agency for the startup ecosystem— soft launching Startup ASEAN, a transformative platform that aspires to establish the ASEAN region as a thriving hub for startups and innovation. MCS 2024 is strongly supported by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, together with Gold Sponsor Huawei Technologies Malaysia; Silver Sponsors Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd and PETRONAS; Corporate Sponsors DSR Taiko Berhad and Berjaya Food Berhad; Official Airline Partner AirAsia; Official Media Partners Bernama, Star Media Group and Sin Chew Daily; and Official Venue Partner MITEC, along with several other strategic partners.  The public are encouraged to visit the expo by registering at: https://reg.malaysia-chinasummit.com.my/profile/visitor-register/. 

News

Investors wait for a boost in Vietnam’s IPO market

HANOI: A new chapter is expected to unfold in Vietnam’s financial market, as companies across various sectors gear up for their initial public offerings (IPOs), signalling a notable shift in the country’s investment landscape. Recent developments in the Vietnamese IPO scene have set the stage for a series of high-profile offerings. Notable among these is Vinpearl, a subsidiary of the renowned Vingroup conglomerate. It is known for its extensive portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, conference centres, culinary establishments and five-star golf courses across Vietnam. Vinpearl’s board of directors recently approved a filling for a public offering to existing shareholders, a move that brings the real estate giant one step closer to the eagerly anticipated launch of its IPO. The approved plan outlines the upcoming public offering, expected to take place either in the fourth quarter of 2024 (4Q24) or 1Q25. The company aims to issue 70 million shares at a rate of 1,000:40.673. With a price of 71,350 Vietnamese dong per share (US$2.81), its targeted fundraising goal is over five trillion dong, if all the shares are successful distributed to shareholders. The IPO landscape in Vietnam has weathered a subdued phase following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, with state-owned enterprises largely absent from the public market limelight. Instead, private enterprises have taken centre stage, with notable examples such as the recent offering by DNSE Securities Joint Stock Company, which sought to sell 30 million shares to investors. The Vietnamese market is on the brink of an IPO resurgence, with policymakers focusing on enhancing transparency and streamlining administrative procedures to encourage IPO activities that align seamlessly with listing requirements. Not long after the National Assembly officially approved revisions to nine laws, including the Securities Law, a draft mending Decree 155/2020/NĐ-CP, which details the implementation of specific provisions of that law, is currently undergoing review by the Finance Ministry and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam. — Viet Nam News/ANN

Media OutReach

LiveIn and JinJoo Home Form Strategic Alliance to Strengthen Vietnam’s Co-Living Market

HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – LiveIn, Southeast Asia’s leading long-stay provider dedicated to converting surplus properties into modern homes for young people, has formed a strategic alliance with JinJoo Home, Vietnam’s pioneer in co-living for young professionals. Together, they aim to unify and strengthen Vietnam’s co-living market by offering solutions for local operators that blend international standards and local relevance. Keek Wen Khai, CEO & Co-founder of LiveIn (left), and Jason Wong, CEO & Founder of JinJoo Home (right), at the alliance signing ceremony. Vietnam’s urbanization rate is expected to surpass 50% by 2025, and with over 50% of the population being millennials and Gen Z, the demand for co-living spaces in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City is set to rise. However, the market remains fragmented, and local operators face challenges, such as high vacancies, maintenance costs, and inconsistent service. Keek Wen Khai, CEO & Co-founder of LiveIn, said: “Vietnam’s long-stay market remains highly fragmented, but we see great potential in driving sustainable growth through collaboration. By forming a strategic alliance with JinJoo Home, we aim to bring operators together, address their challenges, and elevate standards to deliver a better living experience for the next generation.” Jason Wong, CEO & Founder of JinJoo Home, said: “We’re excited to join forces with LiveIn, a leading player in Southeast Asia. Our shared passion for improving young people’s living experience makes this alliance a natural fit. Together, we can combine our strengths and create a more dynamic and high-quality co-living market in Vietnam.” The strategic alliance comes at a time when Vietnam’s residential real estate market is projected to reach USD 45.62 billion by 2029, with co-living playing a pivotal role. As many fragmented operators struggle to scale due to limited resources, LiveIn and JinJoo Home are focused on helping them seize this growth opportunity by combining LiveIn’s international standards with JinJoo Home’s extensive local expertise. LiveIn continually refines its product standards to address changing consumer preferences and ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements. With 10,500 rooms across 200 buildings in 4 Southeast Asian countries, LiveIn brings its proven regional expertise in technology, operational management, and demand generation. Meanwhile, JinJoo Home’s deep local knowledge and strong presence in Ho Chi Minh City will help consolidate and support operators in adopting these best practices, tailored to meet the unique needs of the Vietnamese market. The strategic alliance with JinJoo Home builds on LiveIn’s earlier strategic alliance with Hive, a regional leader in co-living renovations, to establish the LiveIn Global Renovation Division. Through this new division, LiveIn delivers thoughtfully designed homes that inspire growth and new experiences across all the markets it serves, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Both synergies further cement LiveIn’s position as a leading flexible housing provider in Southeast Asia. Hashtag: #LiveIn #AffordableHousing https://www.livein.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/livein-my/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. LiveIn LiveIn is dedicated to converting surplus properties into affordable, modern homes for young people across Southeast Asia. Driven by a mission to shift the fundamental way young people live and empower them to dream boldly, LiveIn operates close to 10,500 rooms in four countries, fostering vibrant communities for urban youth. Visit www.livein.com for more details. JinJoo Home JinJoo Home, a leading co-living provider in Ho Chi Minh City under Pearlcoin Group, offers premium long-term rental apartments. We create vibrant co-living communities with affordable, cozy design spaces, as well as maintenance, customer service, and more, providing young people with flexible living solutions. Visit www.jinjoohome.com for more details.

Media OutReach

LiveIn and JinJoo Home Form Strategic Alliance to Strengthen Vietnam’s Co-Living Market

HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – LiveIn, Southeast Asia’s leading long-stay provider dedicated to converting surplus properties into modern homes for young people, has formed a strategic alliance with JinJoo Home, Vietnam’s pioneer in co-living for young professionals. Together, they aim to unify and strengthen Vietnam’s co-living market by offering solutions for local operators that blend international standards and local relevance. Keek Wen Khai, CEO & Co-founder of LiveIn (left), and Jason Wong, CEO & Founder of JinJoo Home (right), at the alliance signing ceremony. Vietnam’s urbanization rate is expected to surpass 50% by 2025, and with over 50% of the population being millennials and Gen Z, the demand for co-living spaces in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City is set to rise. However, the market remains fragmented, and local operators face challenges, such as high vacancies, maintenance costs, and inconsistent service. Keek Wen Khai, CEO & Co-founder of LiveIn, said: “Vietnam’s long-stay market remains highly fragmented, but we see great potential in driving sustainable growth through collaboration. By forming a strategic alliance with JinJoo Home, we aim to bring operators together, address their challenges, and elevate standards to deliver a better living experience for the next generation.” Jason Wong, CEO & Founder of JinJoo Home, said: “We’re excited to join forces with LiveIn, a leading player in Southeast Asia. Our shared passion for improving young people’s living experience makes this alliance a natural fit. Together, we can combine our strengths and create a more dynamic and high-quality co-living market in Vietnam.” The strategic alliance comes at a time when Vietnam’s residential real estate market is projected to reach USD 45.62 billion by 2029, with co-living playing a pivotal role. As many fragmented operators struggle to scale due to limited resources, LiveIn and JinJoo Home are focused on helping them seize this growth opportunity by combining LiveIn’s international standards with JinJoo Home’s extensive local expertise. LiveIn continually refines its product standards to address changing consumer preferences and ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements. With 10,500 rooms across 200 buildings in 4 Southeast Asian countries, LiveIn brings its proven regional expertise in technology, operational management, and demand generation. Meanwhile, JinJoo Home’s deep local knowledge and strong presence in Ho Chi Minh City will help consolidate and support operators in adopting these best practices, tailored to meet the unique needs of the Vietnamese market. The strategic alliance with JinJoo Home builds on LiveIn’s earlier strategic alliance with Hive, a regional leader in co-living renovations, to establish the LiveIn Global Renovation Division. Through this new division, LiveIn delivers thoughtfully designed homes that inspire growth and new experiences across all the markets it serves, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Both synergies further cement LiveIn’s position as a leading flexible housing provider in Southeast Asia. Hashtag: #LiveIn #AffordableHousing https://www.livein.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/livein-my/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. LiveIn LiveIn is dedicated to converting surplus properties into affordable, modern homes for young people across Southeast Asia. Driven by a mission to shift the fundamental way young people live and empower them to dream boldly, LiveIn operates close to 10,500 rooms in four countries, fostering vibrant communities for urban youth. Visit www.livein.com for more details. JinJoo Home JinJoo Home, a leading co-living provider in Ho Chi Minh City under Pearlcoin Group, offers premium long-term rental apartments. We create vibrant co-living communities with affordable, cozy design spaces, as well as maintenance, customer service, and more, providing young people with flexible living solutions. Visit www.jinjoohome.com for more details.

Media OutReach

JustMarkets Awarded ‘Best Broker for Leverage Trading in Vietnam’

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 – The multi-asset global broker JustMarkets is thrilled to announce its recognition as the ‘Best Forex Broker with High Leverage in Vietnam’ for 2024 by FXEmpire, a leading global financial portal. JustMarkets Best Broker for Leverage Trading in Vietnam Retail traders in Vietnam can take advantage of exceptional leverage options, including up to 1:3000 for forex and metals trading, 1:500 for indices, and 1:200 for energies. These high-leverage opportunities are available for traders with net equity below $1,000, making them particularly accessible. With seven diverse account types, JustMarkets caters to a wide range of trading preferences, offering commission-free, raw-spread, and swap-free options. Traders can access over 260 CFDs on popular platforms MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and on JustMarkets mobile app. In their assessment, FXEmpire’s experts highlighted JustMarkets’ appeal for both casual and advanced traders: “We determined that JustMarkets is a smart choice for casual traders because of its low minimum deposit requirement and reliable customer support. Meanwhile, advanced traders can benefit from its favorable trading fees and fast execution speeds.” As a client-focused broker, JustMarkets is committed to providing tailored services for traders in Vietnam. The company offers a localized website, customer support, and trading platforms in Vietnamese. Clients can also use the Vietnamese Dong (VND) as a base account currency and enjoy seamless deposit and withdrawal options via local banks in VND. JustMarkets continues to prioritize convenience and innovation, solidifying its position as a trusted broker for Vietnamese traders. Hashtag: #JustMarkets https://justmarkets.pro/ The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. JustMarkets JustMarkets is a globally recognized multi-asset broker providing reliable and transparent trading services since 2012. The company has earned over 50 industry awards, highlighting its excellence in the financial sector. JustMarkets offers a diverse array of trading instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies, serving clients in over 160 countries.

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