Wednesday, 20 December 2023

ST KITTS AND NEVIS 2024 BUDGET ADDRESS FOCUSES ON BUILDING SUSTAINABLE ISLAND STATE




KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Terrance Drew has delivered a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s fiscal performance and outlined future economic plans during his 2024 Budget Address.

The central theme of the 2024 budget speech, "Marching Forward on the Journey to a Sustainable Island State", underscored the government's commitment to transforming into a sustainable island state.

Dr Drew outlined the seven pillars forming the foundation of a sustainable island state, namely, water security; energy transition; food security; sustainability industry; sustainable settlements; circular economy; and social protection.

According to a statement, these pillars serve as the focal points for the 2024 budget address, laying the groundwork for sustainable development in St Kitts and Nevis.

Dr Drew also acknowledged the achievements in tourism that received international recognition, positioning St Kitts and Nevis as a prominent destination in the Eastern Caribbean.

The 2024 Budget Address reflects the government's commitment to sustainable development, fiscal responsibility, and the well-being of St Kitts and Nevis’ citizens. The outlined initiatives and improvements aim to strengthen the nation's economy, infrastructure and overall prosperity.

Furthermore, he highlighted the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme's remarkable contribution, exceeding budget expectations by 54.9 per cent, as well as emphasised the importance of supporting the CBI Programme for sustainable economic development.

The Prime Minister also announced the imminent launch of a Contributory Pension Plan, aimed at enhancing the welfare and financial security of public sector employees, in which the plan is strategically designed for a secure and sustainable pension system.

Meanwhile, the economic benefits of a higher minimum wage were also highlighted, empowering workers and stimulating local businesses, in which effective Jan 1, 2024, the minimum wage will rise from EC$9 per hour to EC$10.75 per hour, reflecting the government's dedication to improving the financial well-being of minimum wage earners. (EC$1=RM1.72)

-- BERNAMA

Friday, 15 December 2023

AM BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF PROVIDENT INSURANCE CORPORATION LIMITED

SINGAPORE, Dec 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bb+” (Fair) of Provident Insurance Corporation Limited (PICL) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is positive.

The ratings reflect PICL’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The positive outlooks reflect an improving trend in balance sheet fundamentals, including an increase in and greater stability of PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, combined with growth of the company’s absolute capital base. Additionally, successful execution of PICL's business plan is expected to further support prospective internal capital generation.

The balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is at the strongest level in fiscal year (FY) 2023, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects PICL’s risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at least at the strong level over the medium term, supported by positive retained earnings and conservative investment strategy. An offsetting balance sheet factor includes exposure to long-duration policies that increases reserving risk.

AM Best views PICL’s operating performance as adequate. The company reported a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 13.8% (FYs ending 31 March 2019 – 2023), showing a positive trend in underwriting performance over this period. PICL has made significant investments into its information technology and pricing capabilities, which will increase the expense ratio in the short term but are expected to support prospective operating performance.

AM Best assesses PICL’s business profile as limited. This reflects the company’s relatively modest scale of operations and limited geographical diversification, with all business emanating from New Zealand. PICL is a niche insurer that focuses on mechanical breakdown insurance and private motor vehicle products, largely distributed through motor dealerships and several distribution partners across its domestic market.

AM Best assesses PICL’s ERM as appropriate, given the size and complexity of its operations. AM Best views the successful execution of the company’s underwriting strategy and planned infrastructure investment to be a key risk exposure. Over the medium term, PICL’s risk management capabilities are expected to continue to develop in order to support increasing operational scale and widening product offerings.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

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GETMYBOAT HELPS BOAT BUSINESSES GROW WITH A POWERFUL DIRECT BOOKING FEATURE



The world’s leading boat rental platform launches a new solution for charter businesses to streamline payments and scheduling for just 1.5%  


MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Getmyboat, the world's leading booking platform for yacht charters and boat rentals, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Direct Booking feature.

While consulting with partners of boating businesses of all sizes, Getmyboat discovered that many owners shared struggles in managing bookings from off-platform sources, including payment processing issues like fraud and chargebacks, claims management, fees for accepting credit payments, scheduling, renter communication and more which led to organizational headaches. To remedy these challenges, Getmyboat is focused on building a comprehensive software solution specifically designed for boat rental, yacht charter, and boat tour companies, and is constantly introducing new ways for owners to manage their entire business. The launch of Direct Booking on the Getmyboat app is a major first step in streamlining booking management, all for just 1.5%, which is among the lowest rates in the industry. Whether through their own websites, by email, Facebook, phone calls, or in person – Getmyboat owners can now take all leads and seamlessly turn them into bookings making it easier for them and their customers.

Key Benefits of Getmyboat's Direct Booking

Unified Management: Boat owners can now consolidate all bookings, regardless of the source, into one comprehensive platform, eliminating the need for multiple software solutions and calendars.

Simplified Offers and Payment Processing: With a few simple steps, owners can send out offers, securely collect payments including credit cards, and automatically synchronize bookings with their overall calendar, ensuring a hassle-free transaction process for both the owner and renter.

Fraud Protection and Dispute Resolution: Direct Booking benefits from Getmyboat's robust software, providing owners with fraud protection, claims process management, and efficient dispute resolution for all transactions.

Low Cost: Boating businesses only pay 1.5% per transaction to use the service. Not only does this cover credit card fees, but includes all the other integration features above.

Frank D, a fleet owner in Miami, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm really excited to use this new feature. Now, I will be able to see everything in one place, communicate with my clients on a single platform, and collect payments simply. And I'll know where all my boats are supposed to be no matter where the customer came from originally."

Bryan Petro, Getmyboat President, shared "We're thrilled to bring Direct Booking to our partners. We know they have a tremendously hard job on the logistics side of the business, and we can take what we’ve built and extend it to everyone to help their businesses grow."

Getmyboat owners can easily get started by opening the app or website, navigating to their inbox, and clicking on the "Add a Direct Booking" option. From there, they can enter customer and trip information, streamlining their management processes directly within their Getmyboat account.

As the top source of customers for boating businesses globally, Getmyboat continues to innovate to address the challenges faced by owners in managing their business across various platforms and is on a mission to provide the best growth tools in the industry.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d68cd4be-e68b-45b8-8caa-b31733c18679


For further information, please contact:

Val Streif Getmyboat
val@getmyboat.com
+1 612-298-2535

SOURCE : Getmyboat​

Thursday, 14 December 2023

DOCTORS AND EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO PREVENT LIVER HEALTH CRISIS

Global Liver Institute’s Second Edition “Global State of Liver Health” Report Reveals Promising Opportunities

Washington D.C., Dec 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
 Global Liver Institute (GLI), the premier patient-led liver health nonprofit operating globally, released the second edition of its “Global State of Liver Health” report, now including 22 countries covering every region of the world. Following the impetus of the Liver Health is Public Health initiative, international experts drew attention to pressing opportunities for their respective governments to prioritize and improve liver health.

Liver disease continues to pose a heavy burden for the world and its health systems:
“Our continued exploration of the scope and scale of the impact of liver diseases gives us both pause and hope. Powerful human intellect has developed many innovative solutions,” noted GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD. “Rather than let these solutions go to waste, it is now time to direct political will towards putting them into practice and ensuring the ability to achieve liver health – and overall health – around the world.” 

Strategies and technologies currently exist that can prevent liver disease or catch it early. However, putting these tools into practice can require financial investment, expert training, and often complex execution on a scale that necessitates government support. Several of the report’s expert advisors highlighted the policy opportunities and successes that might support liver health:

“We don’t have many tools currently to control tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and even the consumption of unhealthy diets in Vietnam,” shared Dr. Tung Pham, report advisor and lecturer /physician at Hanoi Medical University. “These are the second and third leading factors, so a tightening of standards, maybe raising taxes and implementing other promotional programs, will be essential.”

In contrast, a liberal treatment program that provided newly developed hepatitis C treatment to patients in Australia without many barriers has eliminated more than half of the viral disease throughout the country. As report advisor and leading hepatologist Dr. Simone Strasser noted in the report, several features brought about a successful program, including comprehensive training of primary care providers, minimal direct cost to patients, and local access to treatment.

National experts have identified the greatest threats to liver health in their communities. Now, those who care about liver health and its related conditions must urge their national leaders to prioritize and implement solutions.

The Liver Health is Public Health initiative is made possible thanks to the support of Sanofi and Salix Pharmaceuticals.

###

About Global Liver Institute  

Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in the belief that liver health must take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with the prevalence and impact of liver illness. GLI promotes innovation, encourages collaboration, and supports the scaling of optimal approaches to help eradicate liver diseases. Operating globally, GLI is committed to solving the problems that matter to liver patients and equipping advocates to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease. GLI holds Platinum Transparency with Candid/GuideStar, is a member of the National Health Council, and serves as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. Follow GLI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube or visit www.globalliver.org. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=47760

Thursday, 7 December 2023

"GIGAFARM" CAPABLE OF REPLACING 1% OF UAE FOOD IMPORTS SET FOR CONSTRUCTION IN DUBAI FOOD TECH VALLEY



DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec 7 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Tech Valley has signed an agreement at COP28 with ReFarmTM to start construction on a 900,000 sq. ft. game-changing “GigaFarm”. The innovative waste-to-value farm will be capable of recycling more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste and growing two billion plants each year.

ReFarmTM was established in the UAE by SSK Enterprise and Christof Global Impact (CGI) as a group of companies with focus on projects with circularity and clean technologies. The brand chose vertical farming technology developed by infrastructure supplier Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) and is set to start construction in mid-2024 at Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, a master development launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and being led by major Dubai property developer, Wasl. ReFarmTM has engaged its lead bank to arrange support from UK Export Finance within the UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade.

In a global first, six complementary technologies will be collocated on the Dubai Food Tech Valley site as part of a closed-loop circular waste-to-value system, establishing a self-contained ecosystem designed to maximise resource efficiency and prevent any waste going to landfill.

Capable of growing more than three million kilos of produce annually, the site will support the UAE’s move towards decarbonising food production, replacing 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports. Construction is due to begin in mid-2024, with the site expected to be fully operational by 2026.

HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said: “The United Arab Emirates’ economic growth strategy has placed a strong emphasis on diversification and sustainability, which includes developing new knowledge and capabilities in high-impact industries.

“Rethinking our food production systems is a clear priority, and the decision of ReFarm to launch a facility in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley is a significant step forwards for the development of a technologically advanced, low-carbon agricultural sector.”

Oliver Christof, CEO at Christof Global Impact (CGI), commented: “What has been achieved over the past 36 months in the UAE is a gamechanger for the sustainable food industry. A key factor for success is the open mindset by the UAE leadership and a strong focus on circularity, which allowed us to bring together various groups, including a broad variety of local stakeholders."

Press contact details:

Carla Furneaux

+447976226408

cfurneaux@webershandwick.com

Steven Flanagan

sflanagan@webershandwick.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1662d97a-085e-4e52-a984-01f0cd8ce049 

 
SOURCE : ReFarm TM

ISF NET ESTABLISHES SINGAPORE OFFICE AS IT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN IT TALENT IN ASIA

SINGAPORE and TOKYO, Dec. 7, 2023 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

- GLOBAL ISF PTE. LTD. to Bolster ISF NET, INC's Regional Presence and Support Its Ambitions in Global Expansion -

ISF NET, INC., a leading Japanese IT services and staffing company, announced on December 7 the establishment of GLOBAL ISF PTE. LTD. in Singapore as it eyes greater business expansion in the Asian region.

Logo:
As part of its expansion into Singapore, ISF NET will invest approximately USD13.5 million (2 billion yen) in the venture, setting a sales target of USD20.3 million (3 billion yen) for the global business. The company aims to hire 150 employees by 2030 to bolster its support for clients in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia.

With over two decades of industry experience and with offices in Japan, China and South Korea, ISF NET's entry into Singapore marks a significant step towards strengthening its position in Asia. More significantly, this move represents a strategic shift in ISF NET's focus of services from Japan to the global market.

"As a renowned international talent hub, Singapore offers an ideal gateway for multinational companies aiming to grow in Asia," said Yukiyoshi Watanabe, President and CEO, ISF NET, INC. "I am confident that our foray into Singapore will further strengthen our presence in the region and empower clients with tailored IT infrastructure solutions to help them navigate and succeed in a region as diverse as Asia."

Business Strategy in Singapore
ISF NET's business strategy will focus on providing IT engineering HR support for companies in Singapore and recruiting Japanese-English and Korean-English speaking bilingual IT infrastructure engineers. The engineers will be hired from Singapore and other parts of Asia and will be staffed to IT infrastructure projects in Japan and Korea. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=47723

Tuesday, 5 December 2023

PACIFIC PRIME WINS PRESTIGIOUS HR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ENTERPRISE) AWARD

 Pacific Prime CXA won the Bronze Award for Best HR Management System (Enterprise) at this year's HR Vendors of the Year Awards and was the sole insurance broker to receive the distinction. (Photo: Business Wire)


Pacific Prime CXA won the Bronze Award for Best HR Management System (Enterprise) at this year's HR Vendors of the Year Awards and was the sole insurance broker to receive the distinction. (Photo: Business Wire)


SINGAPORE, Dec 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Pacific Prime CXA won the Bronze Award for Best HR Management System (Enterprise) at this year's HR Vendors of the Year Awards in Singapore, presented by Human Resources Online. In addition to becoming the sole insurance broker to win this category, Pacific Prime CXA has made tremendous strides to become an insurance broker with the best HR management systems.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231204233908/en/
 
The HR Vendors of the Year, which took place on November 24, 2023, stands as a distinguished annual ranking with a longstanding history dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the premier HR solutions providers in Asia. This year’s edition of the awards was held at the Sofitel Singapore City Centre, where Singapore’s most forward-thinking solution providers converged.

Voted as a top 3 HR management system, Pacific Prime CXA's Portal is a trusted HR-enhancing platform for employee benefits management. With seamless third-party integration, simplified benefits management, and a mobile-friendly experience, the platform is the fastest flexible benefits platform in Singapore, capable of adjudicating over 2 million claims annually. Our platform reshapes the landscape of employee benefits administration with its features and user-friendly platform.

Additionally, the platform is customizable to meet the preferred configurations and needs of businesses, enabling the consolidated management of all claims on a single, centralized platform. This establishes Pacific Prime CXA’s Portal as Singapore’s premier solution for large Fortune 500 enterprises and SMEs.

The Portal exemplifies Pacific Prime CXA's dedication to providing an exceptional employee benefits experience; it was built on the expertise of insurance professionals with extensive experience in employee benefits administration across multiple continents.

Heena Bose, CEO of Pacific Prime CXA, shared, “Pacific Prime CXA is privileged to be acknowledged as the exclusive insurance broker awarded the top three position in the HR Management Systems category. Leveraging this achievement, the company remains committed to supporting our clients by delivering comprehensive solutions for benefit management, employee engagement, and retention."

To learn more about Pacific Prime CXA’s acquisition, please visit: https://www.pacificprime.com/corporate/about-us-corporate-insurance-brokers/pacific-prime-cxa

About Pacific Prime

Established in 2000, Pacific Prime is an award-winning global insurance brokerage and employee benefits specialist that offers individual and corporate insurance solutions. With USD $750 million worth of premiums under management, Pacific Prime is now the third largest employee benefits broker in Asia Pacific after acquiring CXA Group’s brokerage arms in 2021. The brokerage has over 1,000 employees and 15 offices worldwide, including Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, the UK, the US, Mexico, and the Philippines.

To learn more about Pacific Prime, please visit: https://www.pacificprime.com/corporate

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231204233908/en/

Contact

Stephen Ho
Chief Marketing Officer
Pacific Prime
+852 3589 0508

Source : Pacific Prime