Hytera multi-mode advanced radios with RoIP solution improves public safety response

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Hytera has announced its multi-mode advanced radios with RoIP solution providing public safety personnel with a vital tool to help them carry out their jobs more efficiently.

According to a statement, Hytera RoIP solution is based on the convergent broadband and narrowband platform, which delivers both multi-network roaming and fast broadband services, such as video calling.

First responders are facing growing challenges worldwide from public safety crises such as terrorist attacks and pandemics, as well as environmental disasters like wildfires and floods.

Public safety personnel must be able to respond quickly and effectively to these challenges, whereby Hytera multi-mode advanced RoIP-enabled radios fulfill this need. These smart, easy-to-use radios reduce workloads and allow public safety personnel to concentrate on the tasks that matter most.

Hytera RoIP solution, a form of Voice over IP (VoIP) with a mission-critical PTT feature, combined with Hytera HyTalk Pro and narrowband trunking system provides an intelligent platform to deliver integrated narrowband mission-critical one-to-one and one-to-multiple voice services, and a wide range of multimedia broadband services.

This deep integration delivers a unified communication experience and more luxurious convergent experience to users.

The multi-mode advanced radios preferentially access the narrowband network for voice services, but if there is weak or no signal, the radio will automatically switch seamlessly over to the broadband network. The radio ID remains the same whichever network is being used.

More details on Hytera's latest multi-mode advanced radio solutions at https://pardot.hytera.com/MAR-form-en/PR.

-- BERNAMA

Skilling goes global with FSA Seychelles licence acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- Forex and CFD online trading platform, Skilling reached another significant milestone this year with the acquisition of the FSA Seychelles licence that allows global expansion.

Founded in 2016, Skilling acquired its CySEC licence in 2018, allowing the company to offer trading services in the EEA, and obtained its FCA UK Branch authorisation in January 2020, to continue servicing the UK post Brexit.

“The acquisition of the prestigious Seychelles licence is a very important milestone for our global expansion. Since our launch in Europe last year, we proudly witnessed a high demand for our product,” said Skilling Group Chief Executive Officer, André Lavold.

“Skilling is well-positioned for international growth; and, with the Seychelles licence, our customers outside Europe can expect the same level of excellence Skilling has been providing to its customers in Europe.”

Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the regulator for non-banking financial services in the Seychelles, according to a statement.

Established under the Financial Services Authority Act, 2013, the Authority is responsible for the licensing, supervision, and development of the non-bank financial services industry of the Seychelles through a solid regulatory regime.

-- BERNAMA

Fusionex brings next level of customer experience for nationwide group of companies

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- Fusionex has clinched a contract to provide consolidated insight-driven digital platform for a national group of companies that can be leveraged across all its disparate businesses.

Renowned for its chain of 24-hour mini supermarkets, the client is a nationwide group of companies that encompasses an extensive network of industries and sectors.

According to a statement, leveraging Fusionex's AI-powered customer engagement platform, the technology helps generate more leads with the goal of increasing new and repeat sales.

This platform will also advance the efficiency and quality of customer experience, which is now delivered digitally in a seamless manner.

In addition, the client can analyse crucial information amid the vast volumes of data to help guide their decision-making and strategic planning efforts.

The client will also be able to leverage on the platform’s AI capabilities to perform predictive and prescriptive analytics to uncover new discoveries and recognise the value of various consumer trends.

With this information, they would be able to predict and mould customer behaviour, measure marketing campaign success, recognise and rectify underperforming processes and scale operations nationwide.

This cutting-edge platform makes it easier for the client to seize sales opportunities, realign digital strategies in response to changes in the market, and capture better upselling and cross-selling prospects to a more accurately targeted and receptive consumer base.

-- BERNAMA

Country Garden secures RM495 million Sukuk to confirm positive outlooks

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 -- Country Garden Real Estate (CGRE) has successfully issued three tranches of Islamic Sukuk for a total of RM495 million in March, with the longest tenure among them being seven years.

These issuances are reflection of the positive reception of the Company's most significant project, ‘Forest City’, as well as demonstration of confidence that Malaysian capital markets have in both Country Garden Group and CGRE’s long term growth in Malaysia.

According to a statement, this is also shown by RAM Ratings that in September 2019 reaffirmed the AA3/Stable rating of CGRE’s Islamic Medium-Term Note (IMTN) Program.

CGRE’s IMTN Programme was set up in 2015, which was the first ever Ringgit Sukuk issued by a China-related corporate entity. It was bestowed with the Triple-A Islamic Finance Awards 2016 by The Asset and the League Awards 2016 by RAM.

Forest City Johor, which is located adjacent to Singapore and situated in the Iskandar Special Zone of Johor, is currently the Group’s largest overseas project. To this date, the basic infrastructure of the Forest City has already been developed in scale.

Country Garden Malaysia has considerable liquidity and a healthy balance. Sales have remained resilient across all projects, and they are in line with the Group’s encouraging recent announcement of its financial performance report.

Malaysia is currently one of the world’s biggest markets for Islamic finance. Sukuks are Islamic financial certificates (similar to a bond), that complies with Islamic religious law commonly known as Syariah.

-- BERNAMA

EIG secures US$1.1 billion for Global Project Fund V

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 -- EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG), a leading institutional investor to the global energy sector has announced the successful final close of EIG Global Project Fund V (GPF V or the Fund) with total commitments of US$1.1 billion, nearly 50 per cent higher than the Fund’s US$750 million target. (US$1 = RM4.344)

EIG also raised an additional US$1.5 billion of commitments in the form of separately managed accounts that will invest alongside GPF V. In total, since the first closing of GPF V in July 2019, EIG has raised US$2.6 billion of commitments for its direct lending strategy.

GPF V is a continuation of EIG’s platform for energy and infrastructure direct lending that invests across the full energy, midstream, power, renewable energy and infrastructure complex on a global basis.

According to a statement, more than 70 per cent of the strategy’s capital commitments are from investors domiciled outside of the United States, reflective of the global nature of EIG’s business.

“Our fundraising success in the current environment is a strong testament to our investors’ enduring trust in our ability to identify and execute on attractive opportunities across the global energy and infrastructure value chain,” said EIG Chief Executive Officer, R. Blair Thomas.

EIG’s placement agent for GPF V was Credit Suisse; Kirkland & Ellis served as legal counsel. More details at www.eigpartners.com.

-- BERNAMA

COVID-19: Teledyne supplies high performance CCDs for diagnostic scientific instruments

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 -- Teledyne is supplying high performance charged coupled devices (CCDs) for COVID-19 diagnostic scientific instruments.

“The Coronavirus outbreak has triggered increased demand and interest for CCD and CMOS sensors. We expect to have manufactured several times the forecasted annual demand for the CCD77-358 devices by the end of this quarter alone,” said Teledyne e2v Space & Quantum President, Miles Adcock.

These highly sensitive image sensors are used for low-light imaging applications such as microscopy and other scientific imaging techniques deployed for research and diagnostic testing of COVID-19.

In the past few weeks, the UK CCD Fabrication team has been producing hundreds of CCD77-358 devices that will be designed into camera systems to support COVID-19 diagnostics.

The CCD77-358 sensor is back-illuminated and has an image resolution of 512 x 512 pixels, a large pixel size of 24µm in size and high dynamic range, according to a statement.

Testament to the resilience of CCD technology in the most demanding applications, Teledyne is committed to the provision of a long-term vertically integrated, dedicated CCD fab and continues to make technology developments to the design and production of CCDs.

Teledyne e2v is a part of the Teledyne Imaging group. Their innovations lead developments in healthcare, life sciences, space, transportation, defence and security, and industrial markets.

-- BERNAMA

Released: Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells first official teaser trailer

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 -- Zynga Inc, a global leader in interactive entertainment with official licensing from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and published under Portkey Games, has released Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells first official teaser trailer.

From platform nine and three-quarters and Diagon Alley, to the Hogwarts Express and the Grand Staircase, this first video takes players on an advance tour of some of the beloved settings they will visit as they progress through the puzzle gameplay.

In anticipation of the game’s upcoming worldwide launch, fans can also visit the newly-launched Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells game website at www.harrypotterpuzzlesandspells.com to stay tuned and sign up for further updates.

“From the Great Hall of Hogwarts to the Gryffindor common room, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells gives players a chance to revisit their favourite Wizarding World landmarks in a new way,” said Zynga President (Publishing), Bernard Kim.

“This new trailer gives the first look at what to expect, and we urge fans to stay tuned to the magic, mischief and puzzles ahead through the game’s website,” he added.

Trailer and additional visual assets available at: http://bit.ly/2PFJdmA. More details at www.zynga.com.

-- BERNAMA

Demand for Asia Pacific's cloud solutions soars to new record in Q1 - report

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 -- Asia Pacific’s demand for cloud-based as-a-service solutions soared to a new record in the first quarter, even as demand for managed services slumped in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This is according to the latest state-of-the-industry report from Information Services Group (ISG), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The ISG Index™, which measures commercial outsourcing contracts with annual contract value (ACV) of US$5 million or more, found Asia Pacific’s as-a-service market jumped 25 per cent, to a record US$1.7 billion of ACV in the quarter, while managed services dropped 27 per cent, to US$522 million. (US$1 = RM4.343)

The two segments, combined, were up eight per cent, to US$2.2 billion. As-a-service accounted for more than 75 per cent of the region’s combined market for the second consecutive quarter, according to a statement.

As-a-service sourcing was boosted by strong demand for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), which climbed 32 per cent, to a record US$1.5 billion, despite some pandemic-related demand constraints in China during the quarter.

“We continue to see growth in the IaaS segment as more and more enterprises shift their workloads to the public cloud, or to a hybrid cloud environment. Demand for managed services, on the other hand, was softer against a robust first quarter last year, and showed signs of pandemic-related weakness,” said partner and head of ISG Asia Pacific, Scott Bertch.

ISG expects managed services ACV to decline 17 per cent sequentially in the second quarter as overall spending slows in response to the pandemic. For the full year, ISG projects managed services spending will be down seven per cent versus the prior year.

In addition, second-quarter as-a-service ACV is expected to be flat, quarter over quarter, with some upside potential for IaaS. For the full year, ISG forecasts as-a-service ACV will be up 12 per cent versus the prior year.

More details at www.isg-one.com.

-- BERNAMA

TOSHIBA RELEASES MOSFET GATE DRIVER SWITCH IPD FOR AUTOMOTIVE ECUS

^{Toshiba: MOSFET gate driver switch IPD "TPD7107F" for automotive ECUs (Photo: Business Wire)​}


TOKYO, May 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba”) has launched “TPD7107F,” a gate driver switch IPD^[1] that controls the conduction and shut-off of current supplied to automotive electronic control units (ECUs), such as junction boxes and body control modules. Shipments start today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200513005018/en/ 

Combined with Toshiba’s automotive low On-resistance N-channel MOSFET^[2], TPD7107F can form a high-side switch suitable for load current. As an electronic switch, free from the contact wear of mechanical relays, the new IPD can help to reduce the size and power consumption of automotive ECUs, and to make them maintenance-free.

By delivering enhanced functions that support the high reliability required for automotive ECUs—a self-protection function and various built-in diagnostic functions that are output to the microcontroller—the new IPD monitors load operation and the MOSFET to which it is connected. In abnormal operation, it rapidly turns off the MOSFET^[3] to reduce the load on the MOSFET.

TPD7107F is housed in a WSON10A^[4] package, and it reduces peripherals such as capacitors since it has built in a voltage boosting circuit. The new IPD secures supply current as low as 3μA (max.) during stand-by.

Applications

Automotive equipment

• ECUs (body control modules, junction boxes, etc.)
• Power distribution modules
• Semiconductor relays

Features

• AEC-Q100 qualified
• Can be used in combination with a low On-resistance N-channel MOSFET^[2], depending on load current
• Built-in voltage boosting circuit, reducing passive peripheral components
• Built-in protection features and diagnostic output functions
  (voltage abnormalities, over current, over temperature, reverse connection of power supply, protection for disconnection of GND terminal, and V_DD short of load line, etc.)

Main Specifications


Notes:
[1] IPD (Intelligent Power Device)
[2] Example of compatible devices: TPHR7904PB (40V/150A), TPH1R104PB (40V/120A)
[3] Rapid off state current (typ.): 237mA
[4] WSON10A: 3.0x3.0mm (typ.)

Follow the link below for more on the new product.
TPD7107F

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba Automotive driver ICs.
https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/semiconductor/product/intelligent-power-ics/automotive-driver-ics.html

*Company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Customer Inquiries:
Power Device Sales & Marketing Department
Tel: +81-3-3457-3933
https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/contact.html 

Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice. 

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation combines the vigor of a new company with the wisdom of experience. Since becoming an independent company in July 2017, the company has taken its place among the leading general devices companies, and offers its customers and business partners outstanding solutions in discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD.

Its 24,000 employees around the world share a determination to maximize the value of its products, and emphasize close collaboration with customers to promote co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building on annual sales now surpassing 750-billion yen (US$6.8 billion) and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.
Find out more about Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200513005018/en/

Contact

Media Inquiries:
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
Digital Marketing Department
Chiaki Nagasawa
Tel: +81-3-3457-4963
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp

Source : Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Pulse Secure meets integrated platforms growing demand with new Pulse Access Suite Plus

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 -- Pulse Secure has announced a new suite of secure access solutions for hybrid IT, providing organisations a simplified, modular and integrated approach to modernise access productivity, management and Zero Trust control.

Pulse Access Suite Plus helps businesses of all sizes and industries consolidate disparate security access tools to gain seamless, secure access to applications and resources from any location, network and device.

According to a statement, Pulse Access Suite is a secure access solution set that provides adaptive identity and device authentication, protected connectivity, extensive visibility and analytics, and threat response across mobile, network and multi-cloud environments.

By consolidating disparate security access tools into an integrated platform, enterprises gain easy access for users and a single-pane-of-glass to streamline provisioning, management and scalability.

Organisations can centrally orchestrate Zero Trust policy to ensure compliant access to applications, resources and services across distributed network, private cloud and public cloud environments.

The Pulse Access Suite Plus also adds numerous new functions into this integrated offering, including advanced User and Entity Behavior Analytics, service level and high availability assurance via virtual Application Delivery Controller and on-demand emergency capacity coverage.

More details at https://www.pulsesecure.net/top-reasons/

-- BERNAMA

COVID-19: Japan's life insurance industry outlook revised to negative - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 -- AM Best has revised its market segment outlook on Japan’s life insurance industry to negative from stable, citing growing pressures the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on current and forecast economic conditions in the country.

In a Best’s Market Segment Report, AM Best states that the reasons for the revised outlook factor the global and Japan economies, with each facing probable recessions.

Also taking into account is the perennial hunt for yield that is increasingly difficult with the combination of interest rate cuts abroad and higher hedging costs.

There is also the greater likelihood of sharp reductions in corporate earnings, which likely will lead to declines in dividend income.

Although the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the insurance industry remains uncertain, the global credit ratings agency expects that most major life insurers in Japan will record lower new business premiums and premium income for fiscal-year 2020-2021.

In addition, AM Best expects the majority of life insurance companies will see dividend income from equity securities shrink owing to deterioration in the overall economic and business environment.

AM Best also expects most life insurance companies in Japan to continue maintaining very strong risk-adjusted capitalisation, and likely to withstand potential impact on capital changes that may result from volatility in the global financial markets.

-- BERNAMA

NTHU enters agreement to jointly establish Taipei School of Economics and Political Science

Add caption

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 -- National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) recently entered into an agreement to jointly establish the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science (TSE), together with the TSE Foundation.

According to a statement, it is being set up with a US$100 million donation from entrepreneur Lin Chen-hai, the founder of the Pau Jar Group. (US$1 = RM4.335)

The TSE’s mission is to provide world-class education in economics, international politics, and public affairs, with Asia as the centre of gravity, and will soon begin recruiting top-notch faculty from worldwide.

At the signing ceremony, TSE Foundation chairman Huang Huang-hsiung said the TSE would be located on the NTHU campus, and this type of cooperation between the public and private sectors was a new first in Taiwan’s history of higher education.

NTHU president Hocheng Hong said the plan for establishing the TSE had already been approved by the Ministry of Education, and that it would soon begin recruiting master’s and doctoral students for the 2021-22 school year, two thirds of whom would be international students, with all courses taught in English.

The TSE will be the 11th college at NTHU, and its multi-disciplinary master’s and doctoral programmes will be modelled on those of the London School of Economics. The TSE plans to admit at least 10 master’s students for the 2021-22 school year.

During the initial phase, TSE classes will be held in the Innovation Incubation Building on the NTHU campus, until the programme’s own building is completed both on campus and in Taipei.

-- BERNAMA

HKSTP Global Matching 2020 to offer technology ventures diversified entrepreneurial support platform

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 -- Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has announced the Global Matching 2020, an inaugural business-and-investment matchmaking event, will be held from July 16 to 23.

The event will offer a diversified entrepreneurial support platform for technology ventures to match potential partners and investors, seek funding, promote business and build connection.

The submissions for proposals are open to technology ventures from Hong Kong and worldwide, according to a statement.

In a strategic partnership with InvestHK, the Global Matching 2020 connects world-class corporates and regional investors with innovative entrepreneurs to seek out opportunities for investment, businesses and seamless adoption of commercially-validated solutions.

Technology ventures can submit their proposals online with solutions addressing problems that persist within the eight designated industry verticals, namely Consumer and Retail; Education; Logistics and Manufacturing; Travel and Hospitality; Finance and Insurance; Healthcare; Real Estate and Construction; and, Smart City and Government.

The event will go ‘Live Everywhere’ on a hybrid platform for online and offline on-site activities at Hong Kong Science Park, including online business and investment matching sessions that engage entrepreneurs and potential business partners or investors in one-on-one pairings.

Additionally, shortlisted technology ventures will record a two-minute pitch on their innovative solutions addressing industry operational challenges, and the pitch will be aired on an online platform to increase their exposure to potential funding and business opportunities.

More details at www.hkstp.org.

-- BERNAMA

Ground Labs announces new capabilities of Enterprise Recon

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 -- Ground Labs, the global expert in data discovery, has announced the latest evolution of its award-winning software, Enterprise Recon.

Along with powerful new capabilities to scan information across a broader range of network environments, Enterprise Recon 2.1 offers a suite of solutions targeted to meet customers’ specific data discovery and remediation needs.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to accelerate their digital transformation including a shift to remote and virtual environments, Ground Labs’ tiered approach provides customers with a simple migration path that adapts with their evolving data discovery challenges and strategy.

According to a statement, these new tiers include Enterprise Recon PCI, Enterprise Recon PII and Enterprise Recon Pro.

Ground Labs Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist, Stephen Cavey said: “With these new tiers of Enterprise Recon, Ground Labs is providing tailored solutions to evolving customer needs.

“This makes it simpler for customers to discover, remediate, manage risk and report on all company data, no matter where it's stored, while ensuring industry, regional and international compliance.”

Enterprise Recon PCI and Enterprise Recon PII are available now through Ground Labs and its participating partners. Enterprise Recon Pro is expected to ship in the third quarter this year.

More details at https://www.groundlabs.com

-- BERNAMA

INGREDION INCORPORATED REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2020 RESULTS

• First quarter 2020 reported and adjusted EPS^* were $1.11 and $1.59, respectively, compared with $1.48 and $1.53, respectively, in the first quarter 2019
• Due to the uncertainty of the effects of COVID-19, the Company has determined that its previous guidance for full year 2020 EPS, cash flow from operations and net sales outlook is no longer applicable

WESTCHESTER, Ill., May 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food manufacturing industry, today reported results for the first quarter 2020. The results, reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for 2020 and 2019, include items that are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents.

“During these challenging times, Ingredion’s operations are considered ‘essential’ to maintaining the food supply in the countries in which we operate,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s president and chief executive officer. “I’m extremely proud of our frontline employees for their commitment to ensuring we continue to deliver quality ingredients and solutions to our customers around the world. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to all of our global employees for the incredible energy and dedication they have displayed since the beginning of this crisis. In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue to focus on keeping our employees safe, serving our customers and the communities in which we operate and maintaining business continuity.”

*Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“adjusted EPS”), adjusted operating income, and adjusted effective income tax rate are non-GAAP financial measures. See section II of the Supplemental Financial Information entitled “Non-GAAP Information” following the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this press release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

“We are pleased with the operational and financial results for the first quarter. Amid macroeconomic disruptions, we experienced solid demand for our products and continued to grow our specialties portfolio. We further streamlined our organization to maximize operational efficiencies as part of our Cost Smart savings program, which is on track to achieve our 2020 savings target. Following the close of the quarter, we advanced our Driving Growth Roadmap, announcing the pending acquisition of PureCircle, a global leader in the high-intensity natural stevia sweetener space that expands our capabilities in sugar reduction,” continued Zallie.

“In the second quarter, we expect strong demand for ingredients found in traditional packaged food products predominantly sold in retail grocery. However, the pandemic has significantly impacted food service traffic and we expect reduced volumes for ingredients that are formulated into food service meals and beverages consumed away-from-home,” stated Zallie.

“While we face unprecedented unknowns, I am confident in the agility of our teams to confront the unique challenges ahead and adapt quickly to best position our business for long-term growth and value creation for all stakeholders,” concluded Zallie.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37299

Hillstone Networks' CloudHive recognised in Gartner Market Guide for Cloud Workload Protection Platforms

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 -- Hillstone Networks, an Enterprise Network Security and Risk Management solutions provider has been included in the Gartner Market Guide for Cloud Workload Protection Platforms for its CloudHive solution.

According to a statement, Hillstone Networks is recognised in ‘Identity-Based Segmentation, Visibility and Control Capabilities’ for CloudHive.

Hillstone CloudHive provides micro-segmentation technology to secure each virtual machine (VM) in a cloud environment in order to protect a business’ critical assets.

It provides comprehensive visibility of East-West traffic and also provides complete protection to stop lateral attacks between VMs. On-demand security services can be applied to any and all new workloads and VMs through its scalability.

Gartner's Market Guide for Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) is a global guide that evaluates Cloud Workload Protection Platforms.

In order to better inform customers on best practices and procurement guidance for solutions in the CWPP space that maps to their needs and requirements, Gartner has grouped the vendors into eight layers.

-- BERNAMA

FPT-OutSystems partnership to accelerate low-code platform adoption in Japan

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 -- Vietnam’s largest tech firm, FPT recently signed the Managed Services Partner agreement with global software firm, OutSystems, a strategic move that helps both sides strengthen foothold in the Japanese market via low-code platforms.

Being the first Managed Services Partner of OutSystems in Japan, FPT will provide a comprehensive range of services from development, operations to maintenance of software applications on its low-code platform.

According to a statement, low-code, as defined by OutSystems, is a software development approach that enables faster delivery of applications, hence faster time-to-market.

“With labour shortage, Japanese businesses have actively adopted digital technologies such as low-code to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. We really look forward to working with OutSystems to accelerate digital transformation in the country,” said FPT Chairman, Dr Truong Gia Binh.

“The partner choice is a testament to FPT’s strength not only in terms of the digital workforce but also technological capabilities,” said OutSystems Regional Vice-President, (Northeast Asia and Japan), Arnold Consengco.

Low-code has helped OutSystems customers achieve exceptional results, from a 253 per cent increase in returning on investment in seven months to launching 60 apps in less than two years, saving 650 days of development efforts.

Since entering Japan in 2005, FPT has dedicated nearly 10,000 employees, both working onsite and offshore, to helping local companies address their digital challenges. More details at www.fpt-software.com.

-- BERNAMA

Thailand's Asian Re has stable credit ratings outlook - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘bbb-’ of Asian Reinsurance Corporation (Asian Re) Thailand, resulting in stable outlook.

The ratings reflect Asian Re’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best described as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

According to a statement, Asian Re’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term.

Capital adequacy is expected to remain supported by the company’s low underwriting leverage despite recent and planned underwriting growth, as well as from its investment portfolio comprising principally cash and short-term deposits.

AM Best views Asian Re’s business profile to be limited, as the company faces challenges in rebuilding its presence in the regional reinsurance market following catastrophe events in 2011 and 2012, which led to a need to recapitalise the company.

 AM Best considers Asian Re’s ERM approach to be appropriate given the size and complexity of its current operations. More details at www.ambest.com

-- BERNAMA

Bureau Veritas’ solutions support business resumption with appropriate health, safety conditions

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services, has developed a suite of solutions to support companies of all sizes as they restart business activity.

According to a statement, ‘Restart Your Business with BV’ has been developed in collaboration with a range of experts and stakeholders.

‘Restart Your Business with BV’ is designed to address the risks specific to all places where people live and work from construction sites and factories to offices, hotels, restaurants, shops and public facilities.

Among Bureau Veritas objectives are ensuring that health, safety and hygiene procedures put in place for the resumption of activity meet local and international regulations, as well as recognised best practices.

Other than delivering a certification or a conformity label, the objective is to confirm that procedures defined are relevant to the specific needs of the company’s area of business, and that they are effectively implemented.

Chief executive officer, Didier Michaud-Daniel said: “Companies and public authorities with facilities open to the public need to demonstrate to their customers and users the implementation of the required protective measures.

“Companies in the industrial, construction and services sectors need to be able to protect their employees when they are back at work, whether on site or in their offices.”

— BERNAMA