Marked a milestone in the Golden Age for Middle East and Hong Kong relations

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 15 September 2023 – The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) welcomed an official United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation led by the Minister of Economy marking a milestone in the Golden Age for Middle East and Hong Kong relations and further deepening the collaboration between Hong Kong Innovation and Technology ecosystem with Middle East.

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, was in Hong Kong to attend the two-day Belt and Road Summit and visited the Science Park as part of his itinerary. The visit follows an earlier delegation in February to the UAE led by Hong Kong Chief Executive, John Lee and attended by HKSTP Chairman, Dr Sunny Chai.

The accompanying delegation, which includes representatives of the UAE’s private sector, visited InnoHK’s Multi Scale Medical Robotics Center, as well as the Science Park’s Experience Centre. They met with senior executives from HKSTP including Dr Chai and CEO, Albert Wong to discuss how new doors can be opened for tech ventures as well as explore mutually beneficial development opportunities.

The delegation met with companies from the Science Park and its alumni network with interest in expanding into the UAE. The companies include Cornerstone Robotics, FJ Dynamics, Floship, FreeD, Lalamove, Meat the Next, Prenetics, Rice Robotics, SenseTime and Smartmore. Selected companies also had separate discussions with Emirati corporates that have expressed interest in potential partnerships.

Ir Dr HL Yiu, Chief Corporate Development Officer at HKSTP, said, “Innovation and technology is relentless. This is why HKSTP is committed to harnessing its resources to build bridges for tech ventures to pave way to blue ocean opportunities and long-term success. The UAE is a cosmopolitan and digitally progressive market that offers incredible expansion opportunities, while Hong Kong is an international innovation and finance hub that can help accelerate the journey from start-up to scale-up. I am confident that we will see further opportunities for collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships.”

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, said, “The Belt and Road is one of the most important economic development corridors in the world right now and we are humbled that Hong Kong has welcomed the UAE with open arms. As Asia’s global innovation and financial hub, Hong Kong is an attractive destination for tech ventures where they can incubate, thrive and scale. At the heart of this is HKSTP and by connecting Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem with the UAE’s, it is opening doors to new opportunities between our markets and beyond.”

Appendix – List of Companies

Hashtag: #HKSTP

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B2B Collaboration Enables Industry-First Rollout in Hotels

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 15 September 2023 – bonaqua®, Hong Kong’s leading bottled water brand¹, has been promoting sustainable development for years. Echoing the brand’s mission to continuously explore sustainable solutions, bonaqua® became a sponsor of this year’s “ReThink Sustainable Development Business Forum and Solutions Expo” (ReThink Expo). A “bonaqua® Sustainability Journey and Refill Station” was installed at the expo to showcase the company’s commitment to improving packaging and promoting sustainability over the years. Meanwhile, bonaqua® unveils its mineralized water in returnable glass bottles, marking a pioneering B2B collaboration with the hotel industry. This collaboration advances bonaqua®’s sustainability vision through a 100% returnable glass bottle design.

bonaqua® believes that the introduction of its new returnable glass bottle products to the hotel and B2B industries can help drive corporate commitment to sustainability. Starting in September 2024, bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles will be available at different hotels, motivating hotel guests and its employees to adopt these eco-friendly alternatives and develop recycling habits.

Designed with eco-friendly elements including recycled materials, bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles is specially designed for the needs of the hotel industry, who shares a common aspiration on sustainability. Key features of the new bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles include:

1. Recyclability: Made of high-quality food-grade glass, bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles is designed to be 100% recyclable and returnable, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
2. Durability: bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles has a shelf life of up to 365 days.
3. Compatibility: bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles currently comes in 250ml and 750ml bottles, catering to different needs of the hotels. For example, the 250ml bottle can be used for business conference participants, while the 750ml bottle can be placed in guest rooms for daily consumption. (Placing two complimentary 750ml bottles in each guest room will help reduce refilling frequency and staff workload.)
4. Easy operation: The returnable bottle crates are light-weight and space-saving, easy to store and transport for easy daily handling by hotel staff.
5. Established transportation system: A bottle return mechanism is set up with participating key customers. Multiple transportation solutions are available to suit different customer needs, supported by a professional logistics team to ensure proper recycling.

The introduction of bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles also aligns with The Coca-Cola Company’s vision of a ‘World Without Waste’ – a global commitment to collect and recycle every bottle or can that the company sells by 2030.

Marella Canepa Risso, Franchise Operations Director, Hong Kong and Macau at The Coca-Cola Company, said, “As Hong Kong’s most popular bottled water brand, bonaqua® has been continuously exploring packaging breakthroughs to reduce product packaging and increase bottle recyclability. We’ve also been promoting public awareness on sustainability through community campaigns such as ‘Power of Less’ and ‘Choose Less’, educating the public about proper recycling and engaging the community to build a World Without Waste together.” Marella added that the company has already been receiving orders for bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles from hotels: “This is an industry-first rollout in the hotels. By joining hands with the hotel industry, we can make significant strides in sustainability. We hope that this collaboration will inspire other industries to prioritize sustainability and work together towards a greener future.”

Packaging innovations and sustainability efforts help establish bonaqua® as a sustainable brand

The “bonaqua® Sustainability Journey and Refill Station” at the Rethink Expo not only showcased various bonaqua® bottled water packaging designs, but also, with a water refill station, invited visitors to use their refillable water bottles and invite them to rethink their sustainability habits.

The launch of bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles further enhances the brand’s commitment to a sustainable future. Since 2020, all locally produced bonaqua® mineralized water products (2L or below) have adopted 100% rPET (recycled plastics) for production of bottles, each of which weighs 11.8g (per bonaqua®’s 500 ml bottle), that is 52.8% lighter than a typical PET bottle found in the market, which weighs 18 – 32g², helping to reduce carbon footprint by 29% ³ as compared with most other brands in Hong Kong. In 2022, bonaqua® launched its first label-less bottled water for individual sale, further reducing packaging waste and improving recyclability through innovative product packaging.

Earlier this year, Coca-Cola Hong Kong staged the first-ever “Recycle Bar”, featuring 30 pieces of 3D-printed bar furniture made out of 18,000 recycled plastic bottles, as well as a collection of rPET-turned everyday items. The exhibit highlighted the importance and benefits of recycling plastic bottles. This time around, bonaqua® displayed furniture made from rPET at the ReThink Expo with a message loud and clear: used PET bottles can be given a new life – again and again – if returned and recycled properly.

If any customers are interested in learning more about the bonaqua® mineralized water in returnable glass bottles, please feel free to contact the Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong customer service hotline at +852 2210 3888.

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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­¹Nielsen MarketTrack Service data shows that bonaqua® was ranked first in Sales Volume (Litre) in the Packaged Water category for the 15-year period ending November 2021 for Total Supermarkets, CVS, Drug Stores, Provision Stores and Soft Drink Outlets in Hong Kong.

2 bonaqua®’s 500 ml bottle weighs 11.8g, which is lighter than the typical PET bottle found in the market, which weighs 18 – 32g. (Source: New Life Plastics Ltd – https://www.nlplastics.com.hk/pet-hdpe/)

³ Refers to bonaqua® 500ml only.
Based on research conducted by a local university, ‘Consequential Life Cycle Analysis Results for the Development of bonaqua® Environmental Claims’ (July 22, 2022)
Compared with the other top-selling bottled water brands in Hong Kong based on Neilson Retail audit (2021) for the 500mL plastic bottle category, the bonaqua® bottle has a total CO2e that is 29% lower than an average bottle.

Hashtag: #bonaqua

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About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. In Hong Kong, the company has a portfolio covering sparkling, sweetened and unsweetened tea, juice, sports drink, water, enhanced hydration beverages, etc. We have 15 brands offering 70 different variants such as “Coca-Cola”, “Coca-Cola No Sugar”, “Coke Plus”, “Sprite”, “Fanta”, “Schweppes”, “OOHA”, “Bonaqua” Mineralized Water, “Authentic Tea House”, “Minute Maid”, “Minute Maid Qoo”, “Yeung Gwong”, “Aquarius”, “Healthworks”, and “Kochakaden” CRAFTEA”. We are constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. Learn more at https://www.coca-colacompany.com/ and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

About Swire Coca-Cola HK

Swire Coca-Cola HK (SCCHK) has been the authorized bottler and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company since 1965. It is the leading non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer in Hong Kong which serves a wide range of beverages including “Coca-Cola”, “Sprite”, “Fanta”, “Schweppes”, “Bonaqua” Mineralized Water, “Aquarius”, “Minute Maid”, “Minute Maid Qoo”, “Authentic Tea House”, “fuze tea”, “HealthWorks”, ,”Yeung Gwong”,, and “Monster”. Apart from the products of The Coca-Cola Company, SCCHK also distributes “Nestea” tea drinks, “Nestle” ready-to-drink coffee and milk tea.

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This content was prepared by Media OutReach. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Siam News.

Revolutionary limb saving procedure set to benefit patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia, typically caused by Type 2 Diabetes

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 15 September 2023 – M&L Healthcare, in its first major MedTech investment, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted premarket approval (PMA) of the LimFlow System – a revolutionary therapy providing limb-saving treatment for patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI). The approval comes after successful outcomes in the PROMISE II Pivotal trial in the United States, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The LimFlow System for Transcatheter Arterialization of Deep Veins (TADV) is designed to re-establish blood flow in deep veins for “no-option” CLTI patients. It is the first and only FDA-approved device for TADV and provides no-option CLTI patients with access to a minimally invasive treatment.

Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of CLTI, a condition that affects millions of people globally. The United States alone witnesses approximately 150,000 ischemic amputations each year, resulting in healthcare costs of over US$95 billion. LimFlow’s therapy was developed to offer a limb-saving procedure to patients with incurable CLTI. The minimally invasive LimFlow is designed to bypass blocked arteries in the leg and deliver oxygenated blood back into the foot via the veins in CLTI patients who are facing major amputation and have exhausted all other therapeutic options. Given the high personal and social implications of amputation, as well as the alarming mortality rate of CLTI patients (approximately one in five amputees die within one year*), the availability of the LimFlow System marks a significant milestone.

Dr. Steven Kum, Chief Medical Officer for M&L Healthcare, and a Vascular Surgeon, shared his thoughts on this achievement:

“We are thrilled that the LimFlow System has received FDA approval for the LimFlow System this week. This breakthrough therapy has already achieved several significant milestones out of the work done in US, Europe and Singapore including the first-in-man procedure which was performed by the Vascular Team in Changi General Hospital Singapore. LimFlow has revolutionized the treatment of CLTI, aiding in wound healing and preventing debilitating amputations. It grants patients a second chance and potentially enhances their life span and quality of life. Considering Type 2 diabetes is the major cause of CLTI globally, the availability of LimFlow is crucial for improved patient outcomes.”

LimFlow overcame numerous hurdles, navigating the complexities of conducting clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the significance of bringing this life-changing therapy to fruition, M&L Healthcare proactively provided the clinical support and necessary funds to mitigate the unexpected additional costs to ensure the clinical trial stayed on track.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ms. Jocelyn Kum, Executive Director of M&L Healthcare, expressed her confidence in M&L Healthcare’s capabilities as an investment partner, stating, “Our contribution to LimFlow’s success is a testament to the dedication and business acumen that M&L Healthcare brings to the table.”

“Statistics show that only 1% of MedTech devices cleared for the US market in 2021 were novel and required pre-market approval, with the rest cleared via the 510(k) pathway. M&L recognized the early clinical and investment value of LimFlow and established itself as a reliable partner, demonstrating the financial stability and determination required to support investments throughout the challenging journey to success.”[1]

The LimFlow journey to date

Established in Germany in September 2012, the LimFlow System was supported by Paris-based accelerator fund, MD Start I. By November 2012, LimFlow embarked on its first animal study under then-acting CEO, Mr. Tim Lenihan, a partner in MD Start I.

MD Start approached Dr Kum and together with CLTI expert Roberto Ferraresi, the team sought to develop a percutaneous procedure for Deep Venous Arterialization, leveraging their extensive clinical and engineering experience.

Dr. Kum played a critical role in the development of the LimFlow technology and procedure, performing one of many cadaver studies in Singapore. In July 2014, he performed the first-in-human trial in Singapore with the purpose built Crossing Catheters and Valvulotome and subsequently completed a seven-patient pilot study with a 100% technical success rate. The results of the pilot study were promising with all primary safety endpoints met. 6 of 7 patients had avoided major amputations at 6 months and their wounds healed by an average of 4 months.

In September 2014, LimFlow closed its Series A funding round, with M&L Healthcare as the lead investor. Now, a decade later, LimFlow stands apart as a game-changer in the field of medical technology. Having participated in all financing rounds since Series A, M&L Healthcare and Dr. Steven Kum have been integral to LimFlow’s successful journey, pioneering a life-changing solution for CLTI. Unlike many medical devices which optimize existing solutions, LimFlow has addressed a significant, unmet need in CLTI, an area historically considered as a graveyard for technological advancements.

What’s Next for LimFlow

In March 2023, a significant milestone was reached when LimFlow’s US pivotal trial results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The six-month outcomes exhibited a limb salvage rate of 76% where over three-quarters of participants kept their leg, avoided amputation, and experienced progressive wound healing LimFlow previously received Breakthrough Designation from the FDA and the results substantially surpassed the FDA’s performance target. This publication in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine underscores the transformational potential of the LimFlow System for patients desperately in need.

LimFlow successfully obtained Conformitè Europëenne (CE) Mark in October 2016 and is currently available commercially in Europe. FDA pre-market approval on 11 September2023.

Building on these outstanding trial results and regulatory approvals in major markets, LimFlow is now gearing up for commercialisation in the US, the EU, and the UK, with plans for subsequent worldwide distribution.

For more information about LimFlow, visit www.limflow.com

Patient testimonies

Case study 1
Case study 2
Case study 3

Hashtag: #M&LHealthcare #LimFlow #MedTech #Diabetes

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

About M&L Healthcare

M&L Healthcare Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore-based Kum family, one of the pioneers in the Singapore shipping sector and a global investor in hospitality. Leveraging off over 40 years of business experience and entrepreneurial spirit spanning across several different sectors, M&L Healthcare aspires to be a leading life sciences company of the future.

Led by Executive Director, Ms Jocelyn Kum, and Chief Medical officer, Dr Steven Kum, M&L Healthcare made its first investment in LimFlow Medical Technology in 2014. M&L Healthcare Investments has since participated in various financing rounds with investments in Europe, United States and Asia Pacific valued in excess of US$150 million.

M&L Healthcare Investments is a subsidiary of the diversified M&L Group, which is valued at approximately US$2.5 billion. The group includes M&L Hospitality, M&L Shipping, and M&L Healthcare and Alternatives. With growing investments across various sectors, M&L Healthcare is poised to benefit from the group’s extensive international network and strong investment acumen. This positions M&L Healthcare for significant growth.

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This content was prepared by Media OutReach. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Siam News.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 15 September 2023 – The “Asian Games Letterbox” is an initiative, under the esteemed guidance of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee (hereinafter referred to as “Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee”) and the Information Office of the Zhejiang Provincial Government; Phoenix Satellite Television and ifeng.com invite local communities across multiple nations and regions in Asia to handwrite messages of goodwill for the Asian Games personally. The inaugural stop commenced in Hong Kong on June 18th, drawing participation from tens of thousands of individuals, and sparking a significant surge of enthusiasm for the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

Less than two weeks before the opening of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, a young participant in the “Asian Games Letterbox” Singapore stop wrote down her heartfelt wishes for the Games and the athletes, “I wish the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 will be successfully organized, and every athlete will achieve triumph on the field.”

As the first Asian stop beyond China, back on July 22nd, H.E. Ms. Sun Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, attended the prelude sports meeting of the “Asian Games Letterbox” Singapore stop, lending her support to this vibrant celebration of the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

At present, the “Asian Games Letterboxes” strategically positioned at prominent locales in Singapore, such as Merlion Park, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Clarke Quay, and Gardens by the Bay, have been officially unveiled, swiftly capturing the enthusiastic participation of local residents, overseas compatriots, and Chinese in Singapore.

Every individual who joins this event is adorned with smiles, as they inscribe their heartfelt aspirations and sincere sentiments for the upcoming Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in both Chinese and English upon postcards. These well-wishes are then placed within the letterboxes, destined to be conveyed back to China.

Amidst the exquisitely designed letterheads adorned with heartfelt blessings, the “Global Insights” microphones were handed to passersby on the streets of Singapore. A local student from Hangzhou, presently enrolled at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, expressed, “I am delighted to witness my hometown hosting the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. I hope that through this Asian Games, more friends from different countries will get to know China and Hangzhou.”

Singapore is also brimming with anticipation for this Asian Games. It is reported that Singapore will dispatch its largest-ever delegation, consisting of a remarkable 431 athletes, to participate in the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 across 32 different sporting disciplines. Of the 431 athletes, 336 athletes will be making their debut at the Asian Games, with the youngest being the 14-year-old synchronized swimmer, Li Jiaxuan, and the most senior participant being the 60-year-old Go player, Kang Zhanbin. This shows Singapore’s profound regard for the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, and the local residents have conveyed their hopes for the event during interviews.

“The Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 will be an unparalleled celebration, and I hope Singaporean athletes will collaborate with their Chinese counterparts to staging wonderful games for the spectators on the field. While I may not have the opportunity to personally attend and cheer for the athletes at the event, I have already learned on the Internet what a beautiful city Hangzhou is. I hope that one day I can sit by the West Lake, taste the West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, and drink Longjing tea.”

Just as the blessings and aspirations conveyed through the “Asian Games Letterbox”, athletes from various countries, traveling from afar, arrive in Hangzhou not only with a resolute determination to excel but also with a mission of fostering friendly exchanges. Likewise, the spectators from different places worldwide will shower these sportsmen and women with the most heartfelt applause.

The Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 is not just a mere sporting competition; it serves as a bridge that connects China with other nations through the medium of sports. People of different nationalities, ethnicities, and beliefs will be closely connected and united through this event, marching hand in hand towards a brighter future. Through the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, the world will undoubtedly gain deeper insights into China’s future trajectory, and China, in turn, will contribute its strength to the future of Asia and the globe.

Hashtag: #AsianGamesLetterbox

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27 September 2023: rare photographic treasures of early NASA space travel from the Victor Martin-Malburet Collection in Dorotheum online auction

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – news aktuell – 15 September 2023 – In the online auction The Beauty of Space – Iconic Photographs of Early NASA Missions, which ends on 27 September 2023, the Austrian auction house Dorotheum offers around 200 historic photographs of the US space agency NASA, dating from the beginning of manned spaceflight in the early 1960s to the mid-1970s. A selection of vintage prints collected over a period of 25 years by French space historian and art collector Victor Martin-Malburet can be purchased at auction – with attractive opening prices, starting at 100 euros, and without reserve.

The colour and black-and-white photographs were originally taken for scientific purposes and most of them were kept under lock and key. The auction includes important visual treasures from the Golden Age of astronautics, such as the first space selfie, the first human-taken photograph of the Planet Earth, and the first human-taken photograph of the surface of another world. An absolute rarity, with an estimate between 15,000 and 25,000 euros, is the only photograph of the first man on the Moon (Neil Armstrong) taken by astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the first lunar landing of the APOLLO 11 mission in July 1969.

Parts of the Martin-Malburet Collection have already been exhibited in renowned museums worldwide, including the Grand Palais in Paris, the Kunsthaus in Zurich, the Museum der Moderne in Salzburg and the Louisiana Museum of Art in Denmark.

View online catalogue https://www.dorotheum.com/en/a/99412/

Hashtag: #Dorotheum #TheBeautyofSpace

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This content was prepared by Media OutReach. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Siam News.