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Tag: Singapore

  • Singtel targets Millennials with all-digital mobile plan

    Singtel targets Millennials with all-digital mobile plan

    Singtel has announced the launch of an all-digital mobile service plan targeted at technology-savvy Millennial customers.

    The new product, GOMO Mobile, offers functionality including immediate online sign up and same-day SIM card delivery, 24/7 live chat for customer service inquiries and a dedicated customer care app.

    The S$20 GOMO Mobile plan includes 20GB of data, 200 minutes of talktime and 200 SMS. The no-contract plan is based on a 30-day payment cycle, and additional allocations can be instantly purchased using a debit or credit card.

    As part of its strategy of targeting Millennials, Singtel is also offering lifestyle rewards such as discounts at selected hipster restaurants and cafes, and plans to expand these rewards to include ride hailing, entertainment events and activities and travel promotions.

    Singtel is also offering a GOMO Travel SIM that provides 3GB of data for 10 days across eight overseas destinations – Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines.

  • SFFA and RPB Asia Announce Inaugural SG Food TechWeek

    SFFA and RPB Asia Announce Inaugural SG Food TechWeek

    s part of this year’s Speciality & Fine Food Asia (SFFA) and Restaurant, Pub & Bar Asia (RPB Asia) 2019 trade shows held from 17 – 19 July 2019 at Suntec Singapore, we are pleased to announce the inaugural SG Food Tech Week.

    Held over three days, SG Food Tech Week, developed in consultation with Edelman Predictive Intelligence Centre, will bring together the top minds in food and beverage technologies and consultancies with policy makers to uncover key challenges and opportunities in this space.

    The keynote session and panel discussions will focus on topics like block chain and its impact on supply chain management, big data trends and smart manufacturing and how to balance the power of predictive technologies with consumer privacy.*

    Themes for each session will also be co-curated by SFFA and RPB Asia’s panel of Industry Ambassadors to ensure that the content is relevant and tailored to the specific needs of participants.

    In addition, start-ups and SMEs in this space will also be invited to showcase their latest technologies in the second installment of the highly successful investor pitching series PITCH!. The competition will focus on spotlighting the latest technological solutions and innovations that tackle pressing hospitality challenges, streamline workflow and address the need for sustainability in various food production processes. PITCH! will be split into two different tracks focusing on hospitality and production solutions on day one and sustainability on day two, providing contestants with valuable face time with industry heavyweights, investors and mentors.

     

  • First UFC Gym opens at CityLink Mall, Singapore

    First UFC Gym opens at CityLink Mall, Singapore

    UFC Gym Singapore has opened its first branch at CityLink Mall.

    The gym has been opened under a franchise agreement with local operator NF Fitness, which is planning to expand to 15 gyms during the next decade.

    “We will have access to best-qualified coaches, as well as top-notch gym-training equipment,” said Barnabas Huang, UFC Gym Singapore’s MD.

    The gym aims to combine MMA and fitness, including functional workouts (Daily Ultimate Training, TRX Suspension Training), MMA classes (boxing, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay thai) as well as group fitness classes (Zumba and yoga).

    It has gained more than 300 members since pre-sales began in January and about 1500 more are being targeted.

    UFC Singapore may face competition from other MMA academies in Singapore, such as Evolve MMA, Juggernaut Fight Club, Fight G and Impact MMA.

    The American gym chain already has more than 160 gyms in more than 14 countries.

  • The Alley Singapore to open two more outlet stores

    The Alley Singapore to open two more outlet stores

    Taiwanese bubble tea chain The Alley Singapore is opening two outlets in mid-April.

    The first of a new global concept called The Alley Luxe is set to open in Cineleisure. The concept carries what the brand describes as its finest collection of beverages on a curated menu distinctive to Singapore.

    The outlet will offer European baked treats such as croissants, ‘cruffins’ and Kouign-amann. Customers can opt for take-away, or dine-in while enjoying a view over Orchard Road.

    The Alley Luxe

     

    The second outlet will be launched in Jewel Changi Airport about the same time.

    Having opened its first outlet in 2013, The Alley now has more than 300 stores around the world.

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  • V-MORE expands their redemption product range to users

    V-MORE expands their redemption product range to users

    Today, V-MORE makes an indelible mark in the e-commerce space with the launch of a luxury fashion line for redemption. Consumers are able to redeem more than 800 products ranging from iconic luxury bags, shoes, apparels to exclusive accessories on V-MORE shopping site. International renowned brands, Gucci, Balenciaga, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, LV and Tods are amongst the swish brands that make their presence on V-MORE with their latest and new season range; giving consumers the widest and trendiest choice for redemption.
    V-MORE shop, save and earn program rewards sellers and buyers. Sellers list for free on V-MORE. Buyers receive rebates and earn points to redeem quality products. The more consumers shop, the more they are rewarded. The luxury products are offered to V-MORE customers for redemption globally.

    “V-MORE teams up directly with renowned fashion houses to offer luxury products for redemption that will be delivered to members right to their doorsteps globally. We will continue to provide an even wider range of products for our members to choose from,” said Sir Eldee Tang, CEO and Founder of Noble Vici.

    “Based in Singapore, Noble Vici boasts of a new five-storey HQ facility at Ubi Crescent specifically designed to oversee V-More operations regionally as well as to provide financial administration. E-commerce and luxury products are readily embraced by the Singapore market, forming a base ground here for us to have a foothold in and more importantly for us to expand regionally,” Sir Eldee added.

  • DFS Celebrates Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore

    DFS Celebrates Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore

    DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer in partnership with Changi Airport Group (CAG) hosted its eighth annual edition of the prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. The highly-anticipated event showcased a curated collection of 140 of the rarest and finest whiskies, wines, Cognacs and Champagne from around the world.

    The 2019 edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits was hosted at Singapore’s state-of-the-art complex, Infinite Studios. The event brought together over 1,000 local and international guests to celebrate DFS’ global travel retail leadership and innovation and their relationships with some of the world’s top wine and spirit houses. Guests were invited on an immersive and interactive journey to discover each of the brands through engaging video art installations and digital projections and an exploration of a wide variety of unique tasting experiences.

    This year’s edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits explored the theme of “Masters at Work” – an homage to those who have acquired complete knowledge or skill in a subject, technique or artform and whose passionate commitment to their task continues to raise the bar for all others in the field. During the weekend, DFS celebrated six masters across a spectrum of backgrounds including Brooke Supernaw of DFS as Master of Curation, Ewan Gunn of Diageo as Master of Whisky, Sarah Burgess of The Macallan as Master of Malt, Fabrice Papin of Château Lafite Rothschild as Master of Wine, Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five as Master of Cocktails, and DJ Arthur Bray as Master of Music.

    The event also featured four exceptional masterclasses to inspire and delight guests. Masters of Malt hosted by Sarah Burgess, Whisky Maker at The Macallan, saw guests taste premium and exclusive products such the Macallan Enigma and Macallan M Decanter. Masters of Wine hosted by Fabrice Papin, International Brand Ambassador of Château Lafite Rothschild took guests through a full-range tasting of eight different Domaines Barons de Rothschild Châteaux wines. Masters of Blending hosted by Ewan Gunn, Global Whisky Master at Diageo, saw guests taste Coal Ila 35 year-old, Port Ellen 39 year-old and Johnnie Walker Blue Ghost and Rare.  Masters of Cocktails presented by Japanese mixologist and Spirited Awards World’s Best Bartender in 2016, Hidetsugu Ueno, took guests on a journey through the Japanese craft of spirits and a cocktail making session featuring whisky, sake and gin.

    “This year’s Masters of Wines and Spirits once again showcases the extensive expertise of DFS’ merchant team in curating a world-class, bespoke collection and bringing together the world’s most sought-after wines and spirits and their brand ambassadors,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Food and Gifts. “Our ability to present such an unrivalled and illustrious assortment of highly collectable and exclusive products would not be possible without the longstanding partners and relationships we hold dear.”

    “Changi Airport is honored to host the latest annual edition of the Masters of Wines and Spirits here in Singapore. Through our long-term partnership with DFS, we strive to delight our passengers with unique experiences and look forward to showcasing another outstanding and rare collection that can only be found at Changi,” said Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President for Airside Concessions, Changi Airport Group.

    The 140-piece strong curation – featuring collectable items such as the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan family, The Macallan 72 Year Old in Lalique – The Genesis Decanter; a set of three extremely rare vintages, The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection; and one of 1,500 bottles produced from the owner’s original stocks – Port Ellen’s 39 Year Old. The collection will also be showcased and celebrated at Changi Airport through a series of activations at Terminals 2 and 3 until the end of April.

    DFS’ Masters of Wines and Spirits 2019 Collection

    More than 80 Cognacs and Whiskies make up this year’s collection and include The Dalmore Constellation Vintage 1973 Drinking Cabinet, a very special bespoke and handcrafted cabinet commissioned by Richard Paterson, containing The Constellation Vintage 1973 (cask no.10). The Bunnahabhain 39 Year Old Spanish Octave Finish, an exclusive limited edition piece that forms part of the new Bunnahabhain Element Series which is crafted around the importance of various elements impacting on the character of each Bunnahabhain whisky, and the DFS Exclusive, Caol Ila 35 Year Old boasting a fine freshness, cleanliness and precision for its age.

    The Glenfiddich 45 Year Old, an exclusive blend for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits, honors a whisky-making tradition dating back to 1887 and is a true reflection of the passion and innovative spirit passed down through all five generations of the Grant family. Possibly the last ever cask of Karuizawa Single Malt to be bottled in Japan is the Karuizawa Single Cask 1995. Port Ellen 39 Year Old is an elegant complex 39 year old Single Malt Whisky, unlocked from the heart of Port Ellen and is expertly married from a selection of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry refill casks.

    Macallan presents The Macallan 72 Year Old In Lalique – The Genesis Decanter, the oldest whisky ever released by the Macallan family in commemoration of the opening of its new Distillery and Visitor Experience. Presented in a bespoke limited-edition crystal decanter handcrafted by Lalique, this exceptional whisky celebrates the collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship. Also from the Macallan family comes The Macallan Fine & Rare Decades Collection. Created exclusively for DFS, the collection features five Fine & Rare vintages from 1938, 1947, 1954, 1965, 1976, each drawn from a single unique cask, denoting key historical events for the year.

    From the world of wine, DFS presents more than 60 collections including The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection, a rare opportunity to collect three of the great vintages produced by the estate in big formats and The Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum Collection, a unique six-vintage magnum set of exceptional vintages from 1988 to 2009.

    The Penfolds 2015 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon Imperial is one of the world’s most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons and a true representation of the Penfolds ‘House Style’ and has shown its ability to age with grace and finesse since the first vintage in 1964. All great wines begin with a great site, and the Continuum Tim Mondavi Library Vertical Selection is a unique collection offering an opportunity to enjoy a vertical flight of Continuum vintages from 2010 through 2015.

    Giving reason to celebrate is the Rare Le Secret Magnum Vintage 1997 With Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire. Inspired by the muse of both Maisons, Marie- Antoinette, Queen of France, Rare Le Secret  High Jewellery is royally embellished with a one- carat precious stone, interwoven golden bands set with 510 diamonds. Presented in a majestic box, this spectacular edition has been for more than 20 years in the cellar of Régis  Camus,  Rare  Champagne’s Cellar Master.

    DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions around the world. The Masters Series is a showcase of the pinnacle of DFS’ leadership and innovation in curating and creating exceptional experiences across its five pillars of luxury: Wines and Spirits, Beauty and Fragrances, Watches and Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, and Food and Gifts.

    The full 2019 Masters of Wines and Spirits Collection will be available for purchase at Singapore’s Changi Airport from March 25. A smaller, curated collection will be available later in year at T Galleria by DFS in Hong Kong and Macau.

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  • Tealive parent Loob Holding eyes on IPO

    Tealive parent Loob Holding eyes on IPO

    Tealive parent Loob Holding, is planning an IPO to fund ‘aggressive expansion’. The company is looking to open 1000 Tealive stores in 15 countries by the end of next year.

    Along with another 150 new outlets in India by 2024.

    China is still its focus market, with 500 more outlets to come after first outlet opened last November.

    Tealive has more than 200 outlets in its home market, seven in Vietnam, two in China, and one in Australia. About one third of these are operated by franchisees.

    Loob Holding CEO Bryan Loo said the company is building relationships with potential business partners in Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, and the UAE, while Singapore is also in its expansion plan.

    Apart from Tealive, Loob also runs F&B franchises in Malaysia, including Gindaco, Croissant Taiyaki, Define:food, Define:burgers and Ko Ko Kai.

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  • Vietnam ride-hailing app FastGo to hit Singapore streets

    Vietnam ride-hailing app FastGo to hit Singapore streets

    Vietnamese ride-hailing firm FastGo is set to launch Singapore operations in April as part of its regional expansion plans. The nine-month old Vietnamese start-up has announced that drivers will be able to register on its ride hailing application from April 1, and customers can use the service from April 30. Diep Nguyen, country manager for FastGo Singapore, said the company’s fleet size will be at least 3,000 cars.

    Singapore is the third country in which FastGo will operate, after Vietnam and Myanmar. The firm is expected to face fierce competition from market incumbents including  Singapore’s Grab, Indonesia’s Go-Jek, as well as local startups Ryde and TADA.

    FastGo, which is part of Vietnamese technology startup NextTech Group, has plans to launch in five other countries in the region, including Indonesia and the Philippines, by the end of 2019.

    While FastGo has not yet publicised fares, but the ride-hailing app will not charge peak period surcharges, and customers can tip drivers. FastGo aims to undercut competitors like Grab and Go-Jek, who collect 20 percent of ride fares from drivers, by charging them a fixed daily subscription fee of $5 if a driver’s income exceeds $30 a day.

    However, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, as saying “another small entrant” will not make a difference to the local ride-hailing market, unless the new player is financially backed by a strong sponsor or a well-known Singaporean firm.

    “Other than GoJek and Grab, the other (existing) players have very small market share and have difficulty making much impact locally. The market is easy to enter but it’s very hard to get a substantial market share,” he said.

    Founded in April 2018, FastGo Vietnam JSC launched its service after Uber’s exit from Southeast Asia last June. With almost 60,000 drivers onboard, the company claims to be the second most popular ride-hailing firm in Vietnam, following Grab. After receiving an undisclosed sum in a Series A investment from venture capital platform VinaCapital Ventures in August last year, FastGo is aiming to raise another $50 million in its Series B investment round over the next few months.

    According to the company’s statements, FastGo will diversify its services to include food delivery and financial services.

  • Industry leaders at Café Asia, Singapore’s largest coffee and tea show welcome the inaugural Restaurant Asia 2019

    Industry leaders at Café Asia, Singapore’s largest coffee and tea show welcome the inaugural Restaurant Asia 2019

    This morning, business leaders and key players from the coffee, tea and bakery industries gathered at the official opening ceremony of the 7th Café Asia 2019, the 7th International Coffee & Tea (ICT) Industry Expo, and the 6th Sweets & Bakes Asiashows at Marina Bay Sands Singapore Expo & Convention Centre. This year, the three shows are held concurrently with the inauguralRestaurant Asia 2019 (RA 2019).

    The official opening ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education.

    Together, the four exhibitions form a dedicated platform to host some 250 exhibitors from 28 countries, who are here to meet the needs of cafes and restaurants all over ASEAN and beyond. The one-stop convenient sourcing hub for the coffee, tea, pastry and the F&B industries is organised to foster new collaborations, explore opportunities, and to present the latest trends and developments to trade professionals and members of the public. Spanning a gross exhibition area of 7,000 square metres, the shows are expected to attract over 10,000 restaurateurs, baristas, café and coffee purveyors, coffee roasters, tea and baking ingredients suppliers, equipment distributors, and members of the public over the next three days.

    Restaurant Asia 2019 presents a dedicated showcase of the latest in cutting-edge restaurant, kitchen and culinary equipment, as well as solutions and supplies that will address the needs of restaurant owners, from front of house reception to the back of house operations. Restaurant Asia will also present its first Restaurant Asia Symposium 2019. Speakers at the symposium themed, Futureproof F&B: The Next Lap, will share invaluable insights on productivity, capability development and leverage on relevant technologies to future-proof the F&B business.

    Among the topics to be presented at the symposium is Menu Re-engineering for Profit Maximisation, led by Mr Chen Xin Shi, Managing Director of the illustrious Han Yuan Academy, a Taiwan-based organisation which provides consultations and classes for restaurateurs and the food & beverage industry. Classes and consultations conducted by Mr Chen are known to have leaders and players of the local and international food & beverage industry flocking into Taiwan for his invaluable insights and knowledge. During the presentation, Mr Chen will share knowledge on actionable steps to increase top-line through an understanding of customers and restaurants’ value perceptions and needs. Through strategic menu design and mixed management, restaurant owners will be able to enhance customer satisfaction and maximise unrealised profits.

    The launch of the inaugural Restaurant Asia expo this morning also bore witness to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between restaurant associations in the region to facilitate the forming of the ASEAN Restaurant Association Alliance. Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Cambodia Restaurant Association, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Malaysian Food & Beverage Executives Association, the Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines, the Restaurant Association of Vietnam and the Restaurant Association of Singapore.

    The MOU is the first step to the associations in ASEAN working towards promoting each other’s events and jointly organising activities for the business benefit of members of the collaborating associations, promoting the industry’s best practices, the creation of strong business relations among members of MOU partners and more.

    A key highlight of Café Asia this year is the inaugural ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF) Specialty Coffee Auction which will make its debut on the second day of the show. A joint event by the ACF and Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (CEMS), the auction will feature coffee of specialty grade from participating exhibitors of Café Asia and also from ASEAN. All the beans on auction have been graded to meet ASEAN’s very own set of Coffee Standards which focuses on coffee beans cultivated in the ASEAN region. The set of ASEAN Coffee Federation Standards which was announced at Café Malaysia earlier this year, also makes its debut at Café Asia and is an excellent tool to boost the growth of the coffee industry in ASEAN which features key differentiations from existing standards originating from the west. The auction is attractive because the specialty coffee beans offered observe a dedicated process to acquire better quality beans.

    Café Asia’s packed comprehensive programme includes three high-octane National Coffee Championships which will see Singapore’s home-grown baristas, brewers, latte artists, and students contend in the Singapore Latte Art Championship, Singapore Cup Tasters Championship and the Singapore Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. Winners of the respective national titles will represent Singapore on the international stage at the world championships later this year.

    As part of the multi-sensorial and a highly interactive experience promised by Sweets and Bakes Asia 2019, visitors and bread-lovers will get to attend cooking studio workshops and demonstrations at the show. Activities will include hands-on sessions on baking the classic Ham Mayo Bread treat, workshops on baking the soft and fluffy Soufflé Cheesecake, as well as demonstrations on how to bake the all-time favourite flourless Gateau au Chocolat. Coffee cocktail lovers who visit Café Asia will also be feted with three daily demonstrations by coffee experts on how to concoct coffee cocktails using the finest coffee liqueur.

    Café Asia 2019, the International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2019, and Sweets & Bakes Asia 2019 are organised by CEMS. Café Asia 2019 and International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2019 are hosted by Singapore Coffee Association. The inaugural Restaurant Asia 2019 is organised by the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) in partnership with CEMS.

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  • IOT Asia 2019 : Optimise Business Returns With IOT Applications

    IOT Asia 2019 : Optimise Business Returns With IOT Applications

    Asia’s leading platform for Internet of Things (IoT) returns to drive deeper insights into critical developments in the digital sphere, with new highlights on building value chains for Smart Cities and Industrial IoT. Bringing together a diverse spectrum of participants, IoT Asia 2019 aims to facilitate the application of IoT technologies in business communities. Singapore’s champion for the Smart Nation Initiative Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs will be in attendance as guest-of-honour to deliver his opening address on 27 March 2019 at 10:30 am.

    Jointly organised by SingEx Exhibitions and the Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA), the 6th edition of IoT Asia 2019 will be held at Hall 1, Singapore EXPO, 27-28 March 2019. It will be co-located with Last Mile Fulfilment Asia 2019, which addresses the agenda of disruptive technologies and their applications in the retail fulfilment and logistics space.

    Riding the wave of IoT transformation

    Set to welcome over 6,000 international attendees, IoT Asia 2019 will showcase more than 100 technology companies, start-ups and emerging IoT players with innovative products and solutions to help businesses improve efficiency and increase bottom-line.

    Furthering the agenda of creating collaborations in the IoT community, SIAA will be signing MOUs with the Singapore-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC) and the Indonesia IoT Association on March 28 to form strategic alliances that impact innovation adoption. These MOUs will reflect the commitment of the countries in supporting the formation of an IoT-centric ecosystem that taps into the strength of shared networks and expertise.

    “IoT trends and emerging technologies are set to reinvent the landscape by driving digital business innovation for a decade. We recognise that the adoption of IoT presents an

    unparalleled opportunity for us to identify the technologies that will impact businesses in multiple industries. In this context, IoT 2019 plays a key role as an enabler of technology adoption; a matchmaker of quality business leads; and a cultivator of skills development and education,” said Mr. James Boey, Executive Director, Industrial & Urban Solutions, SingEx Exhibitions.

    Mr. Terence Teo, President, Singapore Industrial Automation Association, further commented on the impact of technology innovations: “We are at a higher stage of civilisation where it has been exponentially transformed by accelerated technological development. Undeniably, emerging technologies have helped to grow businesses through greater data- driven insights, and as the industry grows at an unprecedented rate, advanced technologies will be required to make sense of the complex bulk of digital data collected.”

    Discover possibilities on Interchange

    IoT Asia 2019 has evolved into an active ecosystem that connects other business and emerging technology communities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and implementation in multiple industries. Launched at IoT Asia last year, the Interchange team has joined hands with De/Centralize, a Blockchain community, to curate conversations with seasoned technologists that examine the intersection of IoT and DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology).

    Through interesting onsite and digital-streaming formats, Interchange will provide companies with an opportunity to identify the possibilities offered by DLT and blockchain- defined perimeters in their enterprise deployment. To facilitate this engagement and to understand why blockchain is a game changer, Interchange will address the challenges and uncover the potential opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. (For details on the Interchange, please refer to Annex A).

    Trending conference topics

    This year’s conference kicks off with a focus on building value chains with key segments on Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. IoT 2019 will delve into specific industry sectors such as e-commerce and construction with a focus on key areas of application: 1) Superior infrastructure with enhanced security via Blockchain; 2) Advanced data analytics using Artificial Intelligence 3) Data analytics and 4) Enablers

    The conference programme features a stellar cast of international luminaries such as Saadia MUZAFFAR, Founder, TechGirls and former member of Waterfront Toronto’s Digital Strategy Advisory Panel, Canada; and Martin YATES, Chief Technology Officer, South Asia & Emerging Markets, Dell EMC who will take to the Unplugged Stage for a no-holds barred discussion on the implications of smart cities.

    Tackling the hot topic of IoT security is Prof. YU Chien Siang, Chief Innovation & Trust Officer, Amaris AI; and Oliver Meili, Head of IoT Development & Operations, Bosch Software Innovations, among others, while Anthony Burke, Professor of Architecture & Associate Dean of International & Engagement, Faculty of Design Architecture & Building, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Joelle Chen, Director, Global Partnerships & Marketing, Intelligent Air Solutions, MANN+HUMMEL Group; and Salim Aslam, IoT Solution Architect, Social Innovation Business, Hitachi Consulting, Singapore will share insights on reimagining and redefining a truly intelligent city.

    AI and cyber terrorism: How to manage risks?

    Navigating the IoT security landscape with new technologies like 5G, blockchain and AI adds to existing challenges faced by governments and industries. We pose questions such as “how will future developments of these technologies take shape”, “what are the key considerations and implications for governments and industries”, and “what are the measures to better address security-breach concerns?”

    Join us for an interactive discussion on “Shake-ups in the emerging IoT security landscape,” on 27 March, 3pm at the Unplugged Stage

    What is the future of the workplace?

    Driven by progress in automation, human jobs will not disappear but rather evolve, renew and become more complex. The labour force will therefore have to acquire new skills. What are the new skills that will be in demand in an AI future? Find out how AI and humans are able to co-exist in the workforce and the types of management frameworks that have to be created to ensure successful collaborations between humans and machines.

    Join our discussion ”Human cognitive capabilities and skills that matter for an AI future

    – Will we have what it takes?” on 27 March, 4pm at the Unplugged Stage.

    Behind the design of Singapore’s first integrated “Smart district” At the forefront of Singapore’s Smart Nation push is the Punggol Digital District (PDD), envisioned to be a vibrant district where cutting-edge technology and social innovation transform the way we work, live, learn and play in the future. The first district in Singapore to adopt an integrated masterplan approach – combining a business park, a university and community facilities – PDD aims to create synergies, enable close integration between industry and academia, as well as foster vibrant and strong communities.

    Housing key growth sectors that abide within IoT such as cyber security, artificial intelligence and data analytics, the district will be an ecosystem of open innovation and a conducive test-bed environment, enabling businesses and the community to thrive in a digital economy.

    To learn more about Singapore’s first Smart district, join us on 27 March, 1:20pm at the Centre Stage. 

    For more information on the conference programmes at IoT Asia 2019 and LMFA 2019, log on to www.internetofthingsasia.com and www.lmfasia.com.

  • Konnectivity to buy out remaining shares of M1

    Konnectivity to buy out remaining shares of M1

    Konnectivity, the joint venture buying out Singapore’s M1, has revealed plans to embark on a multi-year transformation of the operator to enhance its competitiveness in the market. The venture revealed it will compulsorily acquire the remaining shares in M1 after securing a 94.55% stake.

    Konnectivity, which is jointly owned by Keppel Corporation and Singapore Press Holdings, announced it will exercise its rights to acquire all remaining M1 shares at the offer price of S$2.06 ($1.52) per share, and then take the company private.

    After the compulsory acquisition, Konnectivity will own 80.69% in M1, while Keppel Corp subsidiary Keppel Telecommunications and Transportation will own the remainder.

    After the acquisition closes, Keppel Corporation and SPH plan to work with M1 on a transformation strategy focused on the three prongs of innovation, technology adoption, and digitalization to help Singapore’s smallest operator better compete with larger rivals Singtel and StarHub.

    “As a member of the Keppel Group, M1 looks forward to working closely with the Keppel Group and with SPH to accelerate the changes needed to deliver even more innovative and compelling products and services, to stay ahead of the competition,” M1 CEO Manjot Singh Mann said.

    “M1 shall endeavour to transform to be at the heart of convergence of various digital services and technologies that present day consumers and enterprises demand. Keppel and SPH bring with them their organisational strengths and stability, which will help us chart our growth plans aggressively, while seeking significant opportunities of synergy with them.”

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  • Singapore’s Start-Up To Launch World’s First All-In-One Digital Currency App

    Singapore’s Start-Up To Launch World’s First All-In-One Digital Currency App

    A team of Singaporean startup will be launching the world’s first all-in-one digital finance mobile application to help general public come onboard to the world of digital currency or better known as cryptocurrency.

    Started off as a media portal AsiaTokenFund, the company has launched the app called ATF to integrate its media platform with a dynamic cryptocurrency “store & utilize” platform. The company realized that as more and more real-businesses are moving into blockchain and adopting cryptocurrency, there is a need to bring more people from the general public into the industry by adopting and utilizing cryptocurrency in everyday life. The main issue is that, at the present moment, it is very difficult or troublesome for a new-to-crypto user to come onboard as the processes are so segmented.

    “Right now if a new user wants to obtain a cryptocurrency, he/she have no idea what it is. He/she will have to read information about it somewhere. Next, he will need to download and set up a wallet and thereafter find a OTC or platform to buy his first cryptocurrency. Thereafter, he’ll have to find other platform to trade or download other app to make payments. It’s just too fragmented with too many processes. You can’t drive mass adoption this way” Said Ken N, Co-Founder & CEO of ATF.

    With ATF Platform / App , users will be able to read the latest news on what’s happening in the blockchain & cryptocurrency space , get the latest market analysis , find out what new currencies are out there to purchase and learn some basic information.

    Adding to that, users will also be assigned their own asset function which comes with a secured wallet to store and utilize their cryptocurrency. In the asset function, users can also purchase cryptocurrency using fiat via bank-transfer or credit / debit cards. Users can also sell their cryptocurrency with the same method.

    In Addition, users can transfer cryptocurrency to peers for free. With the added supported merchant function, users can now purchase items listed in the app by merchants and pay by cryptocurrency. What more, users can also use the ATF app to scan & pay directly at merchant physical shop using their digital currencies.

    “We’ve real companies embarking to accept digital currencies. Recently, we’ve seen news that Starbucks will soon start to accept bitcoin as payment in the US. We’ve also seen news on Facebook announcing its cryptocurrency. I foresee in the near future, more real businesses especially merchants will be able to accept cryptocurrency. There is a gap in the market to provide a one-stop-solution. I hope we are able to do just that” Said Ken N.

    The full function of the app can be summarized as follow:

    • News, Research Articles & Market Analysis.
    • Latest Project Fundraising, issuing new cryptocurrency for purchase.
    • Secured Wallet to store cryptocurrency.
    • OTC, fiat-to-crypto purchase or sell cryptocurrency.
    • Aggregated to Exchange for trading.
    • Transfer crypto peer-to-peer for free.
    • Purchase in-app merchant listed items.
    • Scan & Pay at merchant physical store using crypto.

    ATF currently have over 80,000 subscribers on their media channel www.atfnews.com and social media following of over 140,000 in facebook and other platforms. Headquartered in Singapore, ATF have international teams based in Shanghai, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Germany.

    ATF Mobile App will be launched in both Google Play store and Apple store in first week of April 2019. The company is now set to raise its Series A equity funding to support its global expansion initiatives.

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  • Ho Say Liao, Singapore! Shake Shack’s First Southeast Asia Restaurant Lands at Jewel Changi Airport

    Ho Say Liao, Singapore! Shake Shack’s First Southeast Asia Restaurant Lands at Jewel Changi Airport

    Singaporeans, the wait is finally over! Shake Shack is set to make its highly anticipated debut in Singapore (and in Southeast Asia!) at Jewel Changi Airport on 17 April 2019. The Singapore menu will feature Shake Shack’s signature items including the ShackBurger®, Shack-cago
    Dog™, classic crinkle-cut fries, craft beer, wine and frozen custard ice-cream. Shake Shack will also partner with local food purveyors and producers to create one-of-a-kind items for the Singapore community. Stay tuned to @shakeshacksg for details on the exclusive menu! Shake Shack has partnered with SPC Group, a leading global food company based in the Republic of Korea to bring Shake Shack to the Lion City. The SPC Group is a 74-year-old food company with 51 subsidiaries and 35 brands around the world including USA, France, China and Singapore. In 2016, SPC Group launched the first Shake Shack in Korea and is currently operating 8 Shake Shack restaurants across Seoul.

    Shake Shack is a critically acclaimed, modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers (no hormones or antibiotics – ever), griddled flat-top beef hotdogs, fresh-made frozen custard, crispy crinkle cut fries and more. A fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal, Shake Shack has earned a cult-like following around the world. In its fifteen-year history, Shake Shack has been recognized with countless accolades, including Bon Appétit’s “The 20 Most Important Restaurants in America” (ranked #16), TIME Magazine’s “17 Most Influential Burgers of All Time” (ranked #7 for the ShackBurger) and winning “Best Burger” in 2007 and 2014 at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Burger Bash.

    Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, created by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first public art project. After three summers of fans lining up daily for the cart, Shake Shack opened a permanent kiosk in the park, and Shake Shack was officially born. An instant neighbourhood fixture, Shake Shack welcomed people from all over the city, country and world who gathered together to enjoy fresh, simple, high quality versions of the classics in a majestic setting.

    Fine dining roots are a unique part of Shake Shack’s beginnings. For its first three summers, Shake Shack operated out of Eleven Madison Park’s private dining-room kitchen (voted #1 restaurant in the world in 2018) and continued to work closely with the restaurant for years. That fine dining heritage remains a core tenant of Shake Shack today – from its premium ingredients to its sourcing practices to the acclaimed chefs Shake Shack collaborates with around the world like Dominique Ansel, Missy Robbins, Rosio Sanchez, Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, Daniel Boulud, David Chang, and more. Shake Shack sources only high quality, premium ingredients from the best ranchers, farmers, bakers and food purveyors.

    The beef patty is 100% all-natural Angus, vegetarian fed, humanely raised and source verified with no hormones or antibiotics. The fries are crinkle cut with zero artificial ingredients and the vanilla and chocolate frozen custards use only real sugar, no corn syrup, and milk from dairy farmers who pledge not to use artificial growth hormones. Shake Shack’s fine dining heritage and commitment to community building, hospitality and the sourcing of premium ingredients have helped pioneer a new “fine casual” restaurant category. Fine Casual couples the ease, value and convenience of fast casual with the high standards of excellence grounded in fine dining heritage: thoughtful ingredient sourcing and preparation, hospitality and quality. As a pioneer in this new category, Shake Shack strives to maintain the culinary traditions of the classic American burger stand, while providing guests with a menu of inspired food and drinks, made with carefully sourced and quality ingredients, and always cooked to order

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  • Boardwalk Advendture vending machine cluster opens at Sentosa

    Boardwalk Advendture vending machine cluster opens at Sentosa

    Royal Vending has launched 35 cashless-enabled vending machines in a cluster it calls Boardwalk Advendture.

    Featuring more than 50 brands, Boardwalk Advendture is the first automation cluster set in a tourist attraction which the company says ushers in a new age of automated retail-tainment.

    “Boardwalk Advendture pushes the envelope and signals a new age of smart retailing,” said Jae Teo, Royal Vending MDr.

    “The innovative vending concepts of today can help hero made-in-Singapore brands, start-ups and host unexpected products. We hope that the Boardwalk Advendture will inspire other locales to embrace the next generation of retailing.”

    GOH meeting the artists from the Art Faculty by Pathlight

    GOH meeting the artists from the Art Faculty by Pathlight

    Starting off from VivoCity, the first ‘Fresh Point’ cluster kicks off with snacks, refreshments and essentials that visitors can grab to beat the heat and stay cool.

    The midway point houses a ‘Gift Street’ featuring quirky souvenirs, local crafts and tourist favourites from the city.

    There are other pleasant surprises dotted along the way, including ‘Fun Alley’ with game machines and outdoor must-haves that will keep both parents and children entertained.

    An air-conditioned ‘Foodie Zone’ is available at the end for tourists to re-fuel before heading into Sentosa.

    “With the support from Enterprise Singapore, Royal Vending was able to adapt its business model and curate a range of products that … enhance the customer experience as they walk down the Sentosa Boardwalk,” said Alan Yeo, director of Retail & Design, Enterprise Singapore.

    “We encourage more retailers to take the bold step to innovate and introduce differentiated retail concepts that can serve to delight their customers and ensure long-term business growth,” he added.

    Royal Vending’s Boardwalk Advendture will enrich the experience with 24-hour amenities such as food and beverage takeaways.

    Brands already signed up to the cluster include Art Faculty by Pathlight, beauty brand su:m37 and Singapore souvenirs and gift supplier Love SG.

    Royal Vending is one of Singapore’s largest vending machine companies, with more than 15 years of experience.

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  • Singapore retail sales up with 5.3 per cent

    Singapore retail sales up with 5.3 per cent

    Singapore retail sales rose by 5.3 per cent in January, underpinned by consumers stocking up ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

    When motor vehicles are included in the data, the official topline figure was a 7.6 per cent increase.

    Lunar New Year fell two weeks earlier this year compared with last year, which means some volume of pre-holiday stocking up was completed in January rather than the first half of February.

    According to Statistics Singapore, the total retail sales value in January was about S$4.2 billion. Online retail sales accounted for a solid 4.8 per cent of sales.

    Most retail industries recorded higher sales in January this year compared to last. Sales of apparel & footwear, medical goods & toiletries and by department stores, supermarkets & hypermarkets and food retailers registered growth rates of between 8 per cent and 10.5 per cent, as a result of higher demand during the Lunar New Year lead up.

    In contrast, sales of computer & telecommunications equipment declined 11.5 per cent, due in part to lower demand for mobile phones during this period.

    Sales of food & beverage services increased 5.9 per cent in January, reaching $862 million, compared to $814 million in January last year.

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