Air by crazybaby (NANO) available in 10 colours

Source: Hwee Seng Electronics. Air by crazybaby ^(NANO) is available in 10 colours.

Hwee Seng Electronics, the Singapore audio electronics distributor, is now the official distributor for premium audio solutions provider Crazybaby in the country. Air by crazybaby ^(NANO), also known as Nano, is now available in Singapore, through the company.

Nano fuses crazybaby’s signature, futuristic aesthetic with a splashproof design. Nano was designed using carbon nanotube technology. Carbon nanotube components generate sound differently from traditional diaphragm or thermo-acoustic components, and typically do not require moving parts. A newly-designed, compact charging capsule doubles as a case.

Nano also uses the newest CSR chip from Qualcomm Technologies International and Quick Listen technology. With Quick Listen, Nano can be taken out of its wireless charging case and will play automatically when plugged into the ears – no power-up required.

“Air by crazybaby ^(NANO) sports a new spin on our classic design, with a range of vibrant colours to suit every style, offering everything you’d find in Air by crazybaby at the very best value,” said Allen Zhang, Founder and CEO of Crazybaby.

“We’re excited to introduce the Nano at a price-point of just S$199, making this technology even more accessible to all, as we continue to push the boundaries of wireless personal acoustic devices.”

Nano features Crazybaby’s Super Fuel technology, which enables 90 minutes of use on just a five-minute charge. Up to 12 hours of listening and up to 16 hours of talk-time are promised.

Details:

Air by crazybaby ^(NANO) is available in 10 colours - Black, White, Red, Purple, Pink, Matte Gold, Austin Yellow, Morandi Blue, Atlantis Green, and Volt Green. In Singapore, it is on sale at Audio House, Best Denki, Elush, Harvey Norman, Polaris, Popular, Singtel, SprintCass, Swee Lee, and Takashimaya, at S$199. 
 
Air by crazybaby ^(NANO) feature highlights

·      High-fidelity sound
·      Passive noise isolation
·      True wireless stereo
·      Carbon nanotube driver
·      12 hours+ of listening, 16 hours of talk time
·      Super Fuel Technology (five minutes of charging results in 1.5 hours of music playback)
·      Bluetooth 5.0-ready
·      Crazybaby Super Stabilized Connectivity (CSSA), a custom-made planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) designed for reliable and strong connections
·      Quick Listen Technology allows users to restart Nano without powering it up, even after it is back in its case, within a set window of time

INSKEN hosts global marketing summit for Malaysia entrepreneurs

Source: INSKEN. Firdaus delivered
welcome remarks at GMS 2018.

Held for the second year, INSKEN’s (Institut Keusahawanan Negara's) annual Global Marketing Summit (GMS) aims to help create game changers in the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Malaysia's YB Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof said, “Significant attention continues to be placed on promoting the growth on entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, specifically for B40s and M40s*. The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development (MED) will utilise the allocated budget to develop a focused and inclusive entrepreneur development program to be implemented in 2019.

“Our mission is to generate entrepreneurs with integrity and competitiveness in the global market. This is to encourage entrepreneurship in Malaysia Baharu** particularly among the low-income groups across all segments of the society.”

INSKEN, the lead agency for National Entrepreneurship Development and the National Entrepreneurship Resource Centre, staged the first GMS last year to address the global challenges facing homegrown businesses, and again this year for local entrepreneurs keen to up their game.

“Over the years, a myriad of entrepreneurship programmes and skill enhancements have been undertaken to nurture and groom individuals and companies to reach business perfection. As the leading agency for National Entrepreneurship Development under the purview of Ministry of Entrepreneur Development, it is INSKEN’s responsibility to address this problem. Thus, the idea of Global Marketing Summit was born,” said Firdaus Azharuddin, CEO, INSKEN.

He said the GMS 2018 was focused on creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to meet and learn from influential speakers. Sessions at the event featured Rob Craven, Sales Advisor for Microsoft and Airbus; Vinita Bali, former Marketing Director for Coca-Cola and Cadbury; Ashraf Sinclair, actor and owner of TGI Fridays Indonesia, and Neelofa, founder of Naelofar Hijab.

INSKEN aims to develop highly knowledgeable, resilient and capable movers and shakers who embrace the tech-driven, app-enabled and disruptive environment that entrepreneurs operate in today, without sacrificing their sense of humanity and fair play. It became an agency under MED in July 2018.

Since 2015, INSKEN has successfully trained 28,330 local entrepreneurs via 1,109 entrepreneurship development training programmes held throughout Malaysia. These programmes are divided into several categories to empower different tiers of entrepreneurs, from public outreach to startup programmes, scale-up programmes, and ecosystem enhancement. By the end of 2017, INSKEN noted that 325 out of 500 companies that undertook its training programmes had successfully increased their revenue by 10%.  

*B40 refers to the bottom 40% of household income earners.There are three population bands, with T20 being the top 20% of income earners and M40 the middle 40% of household income earners.

**The New Malaysia, as based on the manifesto of the current ruling government.

The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok announces renovation of River Wing

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the renovation of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s River Wing, designed to confirm this historic hotel’s position as one of the best in the world. 

Scheduled to commence in March 2019 and taking seven months to complete, the renovation will encompass all the rooms and suites in the Thai hotel’s River Wing, together with the lobby, swimming pools and Lord Jim’s, The Verandah and Riverside Terrace restaurants. The historic Authors’ and Garden Wings of the hotel will remain open throughout the renovation.

In keeping with the successful restoration of the Authors’ and Garden Wings in 2016, the River Wing renovation is designed to further enhance the accommodation and facilities of the iconic hotel, while maintaining its classic, Thai-influenced elegance and unique resort style.

A major component of the work will be to enlarge the guest rooms located in the River Wing. The overall number of guest rooms will be reduced from 338 to 301, while the number of suites will increase from 30 to 46. All rooms will have views of the Chao Phraya river. Jeffrey Wilkes of Design Wilkes has been appointed to oversee the changing of the interiors, which will feature updated amenities, bespoke Thai fabrics, and reconditioned artwork from the hotel’s collection. The hotel’s Lobby, Lord Jim’s, The Verandah and Riverside Terrace restaurants will also be renewed, with many original features restored and reinstated.

All rooms and suites in the Authors’ and Garden Wings, located in separate buildings to the River Wing, will remain open throughout the renovation period, as will the hotel’s remaining restaurants and banqueting facilities. These include the two-Michelin-starred Le Normandie, the Authors’ Lounge, the Bamboo Bar, Ciao Terraza, Sala Rim Naam, Terrace Rim Naam, The China House and the Ballroom. In addition, the hotel’s spa and fitness facilities will remain fully operational. 

Source: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

As both swimming pools will undergo renovation, alternative arrangements will be made for guests wishing to swim.

“Throughout its 142-year history, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has been an icon of this vibrant city. The River Wing renovation will complement the stunning Authors’and Garden Wing refurbishment, and has been meticulously designed to recognise the property’s heritage while ensuring our continued position as one of the world’s legendary hotels,” said Greg Liddell, GM, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

Details:

The River Wing will close during the city’s low season, and re-open in October 2019, in time for the start of the high season in Bangkok.

TV boxes popular in Thailand, still available in Singapore

Fifteen percent of Singaporean consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV boxes, also known as illicit streaming devices (ISDs), allow users to access hundreds of pirated television channels and video-on-demand content, usually with a low annual fee. TV boxes often come preloaded with pirated applications allowing 'plug-and-play' access to pirated content.

The survey found that MyIPTV, UBTV, WorldTV, MoonHD, and Infinity TV were some of the most popular illegal applications amongst Singapore consumers.

The survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and conducted by YouGov, also highlights the detrimental effects of streaming piracy on legitimate subscription video services. Of the 15% of consumers who purchased a TV box for free streaming, more than one-quarter (28%) asserted that they had cancelled their subscriptions to a Singaporean-based online video service as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. Nearly one in five (18%) Singaporean users in the same segment have abandoned international subscription services in favour of ISD purchases.

Of those Singapore consumers who own an ISD, more than half of respondents (62%) claim to have purchased their illicit streaming device from two of the largest Southeast Asia-based e-commerce stores*. More than one-fifth of ISD owners (21%) say they acquired their devices via one of the world’s most popular social media platforms**. Over one-third (38%) of ISD owners said they purchased their pirate TV box from IT exhibitions or physical retail stores in Singapore.

Neil Gane, GM, CAP said, “The overt availability of ISDs in Singaporean malls and IT exhibitions is a major concern for the content industry. Unfortunately, there is no one silver bullet to deterring piracy due to the fragmented nature of the ecosystem. What is required is an holistic solution to include enforcement, cooperation with technology platforms and intermediaries, disabling access to pirated content through effective site blocking and consumer outreach”.

In late November AVIA announced the landmark November 2 High Court injunction ordering Singapore’s Internet service providers to block access to popular illegal applications that are frequently preloaded on ISDs sold in Singapore.

As a consequence of these High Court orders, Gane added, “Consumers are wasting their money when purchasing new subscriptions to illegal applications when they find their ISD can no longer access live sports matches or their favourite TV shows. CAP will continue to prevent and disrupt illegal feeds of live sports, TV channels, and VOD content through judicial blocking orders against piracy applications. ISDs can never provide quality programming and a service guarantee.”

Singapore currently has over a dozen online legal services providing an array of live sports, TV channels and video-on-demand content at varying pricepoints.

In mid-November, AVIA released similar results for Thai consumers that revealed 45% of consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content.

The survey found that Mango TV, HD Playbox and U Play are among the most popular pirate applications amongst Thai consumers.

Of the 45% of consumers who purchased a TV box or dongle for free streaming, more than two in three (69%) stated that they cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay TV services. Nearly a quarter (24%) said that they cancelled their subscriptions to a Thai-based online video service as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. International subscription services, which include pan-Asia online offerings, were impacted the most - nearly one in three (30%) Thai users have abandoned subscriptions in favour of ISD purchases.

Cancelling legitimate subscription services and replacing them with pirated content is risky, said Gane at the time of the announcement. 

"The damage that piracy does to the creative industries is without dispute. However, the damage done to consumers themselves, because of the nexus between content piracy and malware, is only beginning to be recognised. Piracy websites and applications typically have a 'click happy' user base, and, as such, are being used more and more as clickbait to distribute malware. Unfortunately the appetite for 'free' or cheap subscription pirated content blinkers users from the very real risks of malware infection".

Of consumers who own an ISD, about half of respondents (47%) claim to have purchased their ISD from two of the largest Southeast Asia-based e-commerce stores*. Close to one-third (31%) of ISD owners say they acquired their devices via one of the world's most popular social media platforms**.

In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer-term problem. The survey found that ISDs are particularly favoured among 18- to 24-year-olds, with more than three in four (77%) cancelling legitimate subscription services as a result of owning ISDs. Forty percent of the cancellations were of international online subscriptions.

The Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Ministry of Commerce, who oversees the Copyright Act, commented that "to enhance the efficiency of enforcement action, the DIP has proposed the amendment of the Copyright Act by adding provisions on the manufacture, sale, import, or traffic into the country of devices or any parts or components of a device, for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure.

"These amendments were approved by the Cabinet on 16 October 2018 and will shortly be presented to the State Council. The amendments are explicitly targeted at the manufacture and distribution of pirated TV boxes. This is a crucial step to address the current piracy problem".

Sompan Charumilinda, Executive Vice Chairman at cable and satellite operator True Visions, listed a number of concerns. "First is the danger to consumers through the use of malware and spyware embedded in these illicit sites and applications. Second is that supporting these criminal enterprises does real damage to legitimate businesses that are struggling to survive. Third, it also undermines the Thailand 4.0 initiative and the country's aspiration to become counted among the world leaders in the new digital economy by showing Thailand to have made little progress in terms of its acceptance and tacit approval of these criminal networks.

"Consumers should care about piracy personally because of the harmful effects of malware and spyware, and also because of the damage that it does to our country. As a leading media company in Thailand we are happy to work with the Department of Intellectual Property, CAP and all relevant stakeholders to help continue to educate the public about these dangers," he said.

A growing concern from the anti-cybercrime community remains the nexus between online piracy and pernicious malware such as spyware, malware mining and ransomware. In September 2018, the European Union Intellectual Property Office released a report entitled Identification and Analysis of malware on selected suspected copyright infringing websites which found that most of the documented malware on piracy sites were Trojans or other malware which, when installed on an end-user’s, computer would cause “not only financial losses, but also theft of personal data and other risks of unwanted access and control”.

AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes major video content creators and distributors in Asia. Members include: beIN Sports, Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, FOX Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW Media, Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media Networks.

Explore:

Piracy also affects software preloaded onto new PCs. Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the Microsoft PC sweep in Asia.

*According to ecommerce^iq, the most popular e-commerce sites in Singapore are Qoo10, Lazada and Zalora, in that order. Zalora focuses on fashion items. Ecommerceiq said the most popular e-commerce sites in Thailand are Lazada, Shopee and JD, in that order.

**SimilarWeb has the most popular social networks in Singapore down as Facebook, Instagram and then Twitter. SimilarWeb lists the most popular social networks in Thailand as Facebook, Twitter and then Instagram, in that order.

MAS unveils 2019 Year of Boar Almanac coins

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has unveiled the 2019 Year of the Boar Almanac coins, the third issue in the Singapore Fourth Chinese Almanac Coin Series. 

Source: MAS. A gold and silver set of coins.

The series is issued over a span of 12 years, from 2017 to 2028. Each year’s issue depicts a zodiac animal in a park or natural landscape setting in Singapore. 

The 2019 Year of the Boar coins, to be issued on 1 January 2019, will feature the boar with Pulau Ubin in the background. Pulau Ubin is Singapore’s second largest offshore island. There are 10 different versions, comprising various metallic compositions, minting relief effects and shapes. Special premium sets consisting of various coin combinations will also be available. 

The obverse of the coins bears the Singapore coat of arms with the year 2019.

Details: 

The coins will be sold by The Singapore Mint. For enquiries and orders, call +65 6566 2626 or check online. Orders must reach The Singapore Mint by 16 December 2018. The coins will be subjected to balloting if oversubscribed.

Four in 10 Singaporeans have suffered a data breach in the past 12 months

Walia introduces findings from the survey. Seven in 10 (72%) of consumers respond negatively when they hear that a company has experienced a cyberattack or a breach.

ESET, developer of award-winning cybersecurity software, recently commissioned a survey* to understand consumer behaviours online and their attitudes towards cybersecurity in light of the recent cases of data compromises.

The ESET 2018 APAC Consumer Behaviour Survey revealed that four out of 10 (42%) Singaporeans have experienced a data breach in the past 12 months. These breaches range from personal data being stolen and used, fraudulent charges on bank accounts, social media breaches, malware breaches and the most prominent, virus attacks. 

Virus attacks are the most common (19%), then malware attacks (15%), followed by experiencing the consequences of personal data that has been stolen (15%).

Singaporeans increasingly own more connected devices and spend more time on the Internet as a result. On average, 62% of Singaporeans are spending more than three hours a day on the Internet.  On average, Singaporeans have at least two connected devices with smart TVs being the most prevalent in Singaporean homes**. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they own a smart TV, among other devices such as wearables, lights, fridges and more.

The survey further revealed gaps in understanding of basic cybersecurity protocols. A quarter of Singapore respondents said they are confident about their knowledge of cyberthreats. However, many respondents were not familiar with ransomware, phishing or Trojan horses. On a brighter note, seven in 10 (71%) of Singapore respondents are willing to receive information about cybersecurity.

Only 22% of respondents would check if a website is secure before making a transaction. The highest proportion of respondents (40%) state they would trust a familiar website despite familiar sites being a prime target for phishing. The lack of need to check could be due to the perception that such websites are safe as the respondents believe that the highest source of cyberattacks originate from social media (17%) and Internet downloads (17%). 

Respondents also felt that mobile apps were relatively safe, when they are still a source of vulnerability. Only 7% of respondents thought mobile apps could be unsafe.

Source: ESET infographic. Cybersecurity status for Singapore consumers.

Password hygiene continues to be a key challenge as close to half (44%) of the respondents admitted that they use similar passwords over different platforms. Similar passwords across different platforms pose greater threats when the platforms they protect contain important information such as personal data and credit card information. 

Four in 10 (42%) of Singaporeans subscribe to cybersecurity solutions, and respondents prioritised firewalls, anti-malware and anti-spyware as features they want in such solutions That said, they are open to obtaining more features that would protect them.

“The survey shows that while Singaporeans have a general understanding of cybersecurity, more needs to be done given the evolving threat landscape. Consumers need to understand that basic cybersecurity hygiene is important and take proactive measures to educate themselves, especially given how much time we spent online, and how (often) digital transactions are taking place today,” said Parvinder Walia, Sales and Marketing Director for Asia Pacific and Japan, ESET.

*The survey polled 1000 respondents in Singapore, of which 43% were male and 57% were female. The bulk of respondents were aged between 35-44 years (27%), followed by range of 18-24 (20%) years. The ESET Consumer Behaviour Survey was conducted in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The objective of the survey was to get a better understanding on the behaviour of consumers online, as well as the threats they are vulnerable to. In particular, it sought to uncover what their thoughts were on data protection measures such as password strength and anti-virus solutions, in light of the growing trend of owning and using constantly connected devices.

**Excluding computers, laptops and mobile devices.

Singapore, Kazakhstan promote bilateral trade

Singapore and Kazakhstan have exchanged a bilateral investment treaty to support greater investment flows between both countries.

The treaty protects the interests of investors from Singapore and Kazakhstan and gives them more confidence to leverage investment opportunities in either country. Under the terms of the treaty, Singapore companies operating in Kazakhstan will enjoy protection on their investments on top of that already accorded under Kazakhstan’s domestic laws, and vice versa. The Kazakhstan-Singapore treaty will also grant investors from both countries:

 Non-discriminatory treatment compared to other foreign investments (most favoured nation treatment);

 Fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security based on customary international law;

 Protection from illegal expropriation*;

 Non-discriminatory compensation for losses arising from war, armed conflict and civil strife;

 Freedom to transfer capital and returns in and out of country; and

 Access to international arbitration for investment disputes.

Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon commented that there is still headroom for bilateral trade growth. “Emerging markets such as Kazakhstan have strong potential for growth. Kazakhstan’s rapidly improving economic reforms, highly literate workforce and growing urban middle class present opportunities for Singapore companies. I strongly encourage our companies to venture into Kazakhstan and the rest of Central Asia,” he said.

2018 marks 25 years of bilateral relations for the two countries, Dr Koh revealed in a speech at the Kazakhstan-Singapore Business Forum. "Kazakhstan’s forward thinking leadership embraced globalisation early on, participating in the ebbs and flows of shifting global supply chains, and linking markets from Europe to Asia. Kazakhstan stands at the crossroads between the East and West, and the North and South. As the world’s economy moves East, Kazakhstan can be a key node connecting China, Central Asia, Europe and possibly even Southeast Asia," he said.

"The opening of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in July this year is a notable step that could help build up Kazakhstan as a Eurasian commercial and financial node that would eventually serve as the pathway for investments and other economic opportunities in the region." 

Kazakhstan is Singapore’s most significant economic partner among the five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Minister Koh said bilateral trade in goods amounted to S$133.6 million last year, while bilateral trade in services grew 16% over the last five years to reach S$40 million in 2016. Bilateral investment grew approximately 30% over the same five-year period.

Kazakhstan is also part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a customs union formed by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Singapore is in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with the EAEU and will build on the current agreement as a foundation to the negotiations.

*This refers to a public sector authority taking property from a private sector owner for public use or benefit.

Garuda has the most brand advocates in Indonesia

Airline Garuda Indonesia has the strongest brand advocates among Indonesian consumers, an analysis from YouGov BrandIndex* has found.

The carrier heads the list with a score of 87.5, followed by Singapore Airlines (77.2) and Bank Central Asia (76.5).

YouGov’s rankings are a form of net promoter score and analyse which brands have the highest proportion of current and former customers recommending them to a family member or friend. The top 10 features a number of automotive brands. Toyota in 4th (75.9) while Honda appears twice - with Honda cars in 6th (75.2) and Honda motorcycles in 8th (74.4).

The list comprises of both global brands – such as Google in 7th (74.6) and Apple in 9th (74) place, and fashion retailer Nike scoring 10th (73.1). Local players include Traveloka in 5th place (75.4).

In terms of customer advocacy improvement Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) is out on top (+10.7 points), ahead of cosmetics brand Maybelline and insurance company Prudential. The two brands came in at joint 2nd, each up by 10.1 points.

Ervin Ha, Head of Data Products, YouGov said: “Recommending a brand to friends and family is great indicator of how well a brand is performing, and Garuda has emerged a true winner in this regard. Capturing the attention and advocacy of consumers in a market as extensive as Indonesia is no easy feat, but Garuda has soared to the challenge.”

Source: YouGov. The top 10 list of brands most recommended by Indonesian consumers.

*The YouGov BrandIndex Brand Advocacy Rankings were calculated by measuring recommend scores among each brand’s customers for the twelve-month period through October 2018. Scores are calculated by subtracting the negative responses from the positive responses. Respondents were drawn from YouGov’s online panels of 6 million consumers across 38 markets. The index looks to give brands a good indication on how well or poorly they have been doing in terms of their customer service, as well as quality of services and products provided.

Singapore, Jiangsu deepen bilateral economic opportunities

The Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) will drive more opportunities for Singapore and Jiangsu companies in third-party market collaboration, trade and logistics, and financial services, contributing to the Singapore-Jiangsu economic partnership and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Thirteen memoranda of understanding (MoUs) relating to these areas were signed.

Singapore Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, Co-Chairman of the SJCC said, “Singapore and Jiangsu have enjoyed a good and longstanding relationship. Building on this strong foundation, Singapore will continue to partner Jiangsu in supporting the development of the BRI. This will open up opportunities for companies to increase cooperation in third-party markets, trade and financial connectivity.” 

At the meeting, Enterprise Singapore signed an MoU with the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC) to facilitate more partnerships between Singapore and Suzhou enterprises. Specifically, the agreement covers collaboration on the BRI, connectivity, logistics, and professional services support for internationalising Chinese companies. Enterprise Singapore will also connect Jiangsu enterprises to relevant Singapore partners in legal, financial and other professional services.

Further promoting third-party market collaboration, the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Development Company* (CSSD) and Sembcorp will partner to develop industrial parks in Southeast Asia. CSSD will leverage its experience gained from the Suzhou Industrial Park** (SIP), while Sembcorp contributes knowledge and experience in this region. 

As Jiangsu companies internationalise, Singapore stands to benefit as an international business hub and regional springboard. These companies can utilise Singapore’s established financial market and international connectivity to expand their operations abroad, especially in Southeast Asia***. Singapore companies providing logistics solutions and professional services such as legal and financial services could also see more opportunities to collaborate. 

SIPAC also signed MoUs with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) as well as banks DBS, OCBC and UOB to promote collaborations in fintech and facilitate investments into Singapore and Jiangsu. Additionally, Phillip Capital Management signed an MoU with the Bank of Suzhou to establish an onshore fund management joint venture in the SIP, bringing best international practices and service offerings to Jiangsu. 

In line with both Singapore’s and Jiangsu’s common focus on promoting innovation, Sembcorp signed an MOU with Clean Energy Centre**** , DuralitePower and Nanjing College of Aerospace Engineering to set up a collaborative innovation centre for smart drone surveying technology for environment protection.

Oriental Energy Singapore International Trading will partner the China Eastern Central Western Demonstration Area for Regional Cooperation Cooperation to develop clean energy and a new materials processing base in Lianyungang.

On the talent front, Business China signed an MOU with the Jiangsu Youth Federation of Entrepreneurs to explore more exchanges and collaboration opportunities between young entrepreneurs and enterprises from Singapore and Jiangsu. The Jiangsu Youth Federation of Entrepreneurs will also set up an innovation and entrepreneurship centre on the Singapore Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island***** (SNEHTI), to facilitate exchange of ideas between Singapore and Jiangsu entrepreneurs and youths. 

The Singapore University of Social Sciences will also be collaborating with Jiangsu’s Soochow University on student exchanges, joint research collaborations, and cultural exchanges.

In his speech, Minister Heng shared that Singapore’s total trade with Jiangsu in 2017 was RMB78.4 billion, a 15.7% year-on-year increase. Singapore’s investment in Jiangsu province totalled RMB8.3 billion RMB6 in 2017. This is an increase of almost 20% from 2016. As of the first half of 2018, Singapore’s total cumulative investment into Jiangsu has reached RMB189.4 billion7 .

"Jiangsu accounts for approximately 30% of Singapore’s investment in China, and has consistently remained as the top investment destination for Singapore in China," he said in his opening speech at the meeting in Singapore. "Singapore is committed to partner Jiangsu in supporting China’s economic priorities."

The SJCC is supported by Enterprise Singapore, the secretariat for the council. It will also look at furthering innovation and startup collaboration. 

*CSSD is a joint venture between Singapore-Suzhou Township Development and the Suzhou United Development Company. 

**The SIP began in 1994 as a bilateral project between Singapore and China. 

***In 2017, Jiangsu companies invested in 175 projects in Singapore with an estimated value of S$1.99 billion. 

****The Clean Energy Centre is a research centre in Temasek Polytechnic that aims to provide research & development capabilities and technological knowhow for Singapore’s clean energy industry. 

*****The 15km² project on Nanjing’s Jiangxinzhou island is jointly developed by Singapore Consortium and Nanjing city government. It aims to be a showcase of international, high-tech and sustainable development.

MoneySense steps up financial education initiatives in Singapore

MoneySense, Singapore’s national financial education programme has rolled out new initiatives to encourage the public to check if their finances are in good shape.

A Financial Planning Attitudes Survey commissioned by the MoneySense Council (chaired by MAS and the Ministry of Manpower) found that only three in five Singapore residents have started planning for their future financial need. Those who have not done so felt that it was still early to start, did not know where or how to start, or did not think they had enough money to start. This finding was common across respondents from all ages.

To equip Singaporeans with the knowledge and skills to plan and manage their finances effectively, new initiatives will be implemented under the MoneySense programme:

- An online financial health check tool on a refreshed MoneySense website to help Singaporeans assess their financial health, identify gaps, and take steps to plug these gaps

The Financial Health Check questionnaire enables Singaporeans to assess their financial health in the areas of money management, insurance, investment, as well as retirement and estate planning. Customised recommendations will be provided to help them address the gaps identified.

For example, Singaporeans who want to improve their savings habits can take part in the Pledge to Stash initiative. Pledge to Stash is a commitment to themselves to save before they spend, by setting up a recurring transfer to automatically save into a dedicated savings account every month.

Singaporeans will also be able to able to access “starter packs” on the refreshed MoneySense website to work on identified weak areas to improve their financial health.

Enhanced services at government touchpoints

HDB will provide more information for home buyers and owners to consider different home loan financing and repayment options to help them save on interest payments while the CPF Board has strengthened its existing Retirement Planning Service - one-on-one sessions aimed at helping CPF members understand the CPF schemes and to plan ahead - to help CPF members who are turning 55 years old to understand their options in unlocking the value of their HDB flats for retirement.

These are 

- MoneySense annual campaign and roadshows. The MoneySense annual financial education campaign will run from November 2018 to February 2019. The focus is of this year’s campaign is to encourage Singaporeans to take the MoneySense Financial Health Check. Visitors to the MoneySense roadshows will find out how to put their Financial Health Check recommendations into action. Complimentary one-to-one financial health clinics are also available for those who would like more detailed discussions on their Financial Health Check recommendations.

Details:

Roadshows will run at:

8–9 December 2018: HDB Hub, Toa Payoh
12–13 January 2019: Canopy@J-Link, Jurong East
26–27 January 2019: Kampung Admiralty

Celebrate the festive season with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Asia

Welcoming the holiday season, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group presents a variety of seasonal packages at select properties throughout Asia.

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Source: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong website. Mother with daughter in a Christmas setting.

The hotel will be dressed in a holiday theme while guests will be greeted with traditional Christmas goodies including mince pies and roasted chestnuts.

Priced from HKD4,200 per night, the Winter Getaway package is available from 1 December 2018 to 6 January 2019 and features accommodation, daily breakfast for two and seasonal amenities.

The hotel’s Suite New Year package is available from 21 December 2018 to 6 January 2019 and is priced from HKD68,888 to HKD98,888. The package features accommodation in the Macau, Tamar or Mandarin Suite, round-trip airport limousine chauffeur or transfers within Hong Kong Island, and dinner for four guests at two Michelin-starred Pierre restaurant.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau

A five-star retreat, Mandarin Oriental Macau is one of the most exclusive hotels in town. There are special rates over the festive season as well as limited-edition Mr and Mrs MiniMO Santa panda bears. As part of the hotel’s sustainability efforts, its traditional live Christmas tree will be replaced this year with a special tree forged from metal and LED lights. Guests are encouraged to take the Santa panda stuffed toys home for HKD388 each, with all proceeds donated to the MINDSET programme, which raises awareness of mental health.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Guests can celebrate in style with traditional gourmet offerings, festive specialties, and a spectacular two-venue New Year’s Eve party. Priced from JPY270,000 for a two-night stay, the New Year Holiday package is valid from 21 December 2018 to 6 January 2019 and includes accommodation gourmet seasonal treats, and an original zodiac fan gift by Ibasen.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia’s premier urban resort has a New Year package priced from RM 2,769 and valid from 31 December 2018 to 2 January 2019. The New Year Holiday package includes accommodation in a Mandarin room, New Year’s Eve dinner at Mandarin Grill or AQUA, and New Year’s Day brunch at Mosaic.

Mandarin Oriental, Singapore

In addition to seasonal menus and a range of accommodation offers, guests can add their own touches to gingerbread men into one-of-a-kind characters at Melt Café during Sunday brunch, create their own Christmas wreaths using fresh foliage with in-house florists and enjoy the spectacular Christmas tree and festive lighting with Christmas carols and a life-sized Santa Claus.

Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai

Yuletide celebrations, accommodation packages, banquets and parties are available at the Huangpu riverfront. Hotel guests can enjoy menus featuring traditional delicacies on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Mandarin Oriental, Taipei

Arguably the most sophisticated address in the city and with a reputation for having one of the most Instagrammed Christmas trees in town, Mandarin Oriental, Taipei presents the Winter Family Getaway room package for the festive season.

This provides a pampering trip with relaxing spa massages for adults by Bizzie Bees, the Hong Kong-based social enterprise to encourage creativity. Priced from TWD16,500 and available from 1 December 2018 to 6 January 2019, this features accommodation in a deluxe room, a 60-minute massage for two at The Spa, as well as daily breakfast at Café Un Deux Trois.

The hotel continues its long-standing tradition of donating a portion of Mandarin Cake Shop profits to a remote Taiwanese aboriginal school this year.

New moneylending regulations in Singapore

The Singapore Ministry of Law will implement the first phase of the Moneylenders (Amendment) Act 2018* and Moneylenders (Amendment) Rules 2018 to provide better protection for borrowers and strengthen the regulation of licensed moneylenders from 30 November. 

The new rules will introduce aggregate loan caps to limit the amount an individual may borrow from all licensed moneylenders combined. As announced on 4 October 2018, the following caps will apply to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, as well as foreigners residing in Singapore**:

To facilitate the implementation of the aggregate loan cap, a regulatory framework has been introduced for the Moneylenders Credit Bureau (MLCB). The new framework places obligations on the MLCB and licensed moneylenders to strengthen the confidentiality, security, and integrity of borrower data. This will better enable the MLCB to function as a central repository of moneylending data, and help moneylenders make more informed and responsible lending decisions, the ministry said. 

The new rules also provide for a self-exclusion*** framework, to help borrowers regulate their borrowing behaviour and participate in debt assistance schemes which typically require self-exclusion. Under the framework, licensed moneylenders are prohibited from lending to any individual who has applied for self-exclusion. Implementation of the self-exclusion system is on-going; more details will be available in due course. 

To prevent undesirable characters from entering the moneylending industry, the approval of the Registrar of Moneylenders will be required before any licensed moneylender can employ or engage any assistant in the business. The Registrar’s approval will also be required before anyone can become a substantial shareholder of, or increase his substantial shareholdings in, a licensed moneylender. 

In addition, it is now an offence for any licensed moneylender to enter into a loan contract that breaches regulatory caps on interest and fees. 

Legislative changes relating to the professionalisation of the moneylending industry will take effect in the first quarter of 2019. All licensed moneylenders will be required to be incorporated as companies limited by shares with a minimum amount of paid-up capital of S$100,000, and to submit annual audited accounts to the Registry of Moneylenders.

*The Moneylenders (Amendment) Act 2018 was passed by the Parliament on 8 January 2018.

**The aggregate loan caps apply to all holders of Work Passes, Dependent’s Passes, Student Passes and Long Term Visit Passes. Holders of Short Term Visit Passes (up to 90 days) will not be covered. 

***In a self-exclusion framework, someone can request that their name is added to a list of people who are excluded from an activity. In the traditional sense, they would be banned from borrowing money though the regulations could implement self exclusion differently - they could be allowed to borrow much less money instead, for example.

Razer BlackWidow Lite is a mechanical keyboard for work and play

Source: Razer. The Razer BlackWidow Lite in the centre.

Razer, the global lifestyle brand for gamers, has unveiled the Razer BlackWidow Lite, a mechanical keyboard designed for work and play.

The BlackWidow Lite keyboard boasts the powerful performance of a Razer mechanical gaming keyboard with a sleek, minimalistic profile that is ideal for professional environments. Equipped with Razer Orange mechanical switches that provide near-silent, tactile feedback, the Razer BlackWidow Lite ensures the best typing experience possible while being discreet.

Each switch has been also tested for exceptional durability of up to 80 million keystrokes. The Razer BlackWidow Lite also ships with separate o-rings for extra sound dampening and fatigue control.

The BlackWidow Lite joins the Razer Atheris and the Razer Goliathus Mobile Stealth in Razer’s performance-productivity peripherals roundup, complementing the company’s other workhorses, including the Razer Blade Stealth laptop, Razer Phone 2 and Razer HammerHead USB-C ANC earbuds.

“We play hard, but we work just as hard,” said Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “One third of our daily lives are spent in front of desks, so we want you to experience a keyboard that makes typing feel great. The BlackWidow Lite keyboard was engineered to be the perfect companion for work and for play.”

The Razer BlackWidow Lite has a compact, tenkeyless layout (without a numeric keypad) and includes a detachable braided cable for easy storage and portability. Individually white-backlit keys on the keyboard enable productivity in low light, with fully adjustable brightness controls. Advanced options and granular control are available with Razer Synapse 3, a cloud-based hardware configuration tool that lets users assign macros, set shortcuts, and more.

Details:

The keyboard costs S$149.90 and can be ordered on Razer.com, with selected availability in stores worldwide.

Product specifications:

• Razer Orange mechanical switches - silent and tactile for discreet typing
• 80 million-keystroke lifespan
• Individually white backlit keys 
• Included o-rings and keycap puller
• Razer Synapse 3-enabled
• Detachable braided fibre cable with strap
• 10-key rollover with anti-ghosting
• Gaming mode option to disable windows key and alt+tab
• Fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• 1,000 Hz ultrapolling*
• Aluminum matte top plate
• Instant trigger technology for the fastest typing response times

*Ultrapolling is a technology developed by Razer that heightens the frequency of the keyboard reporting actuation information back to the computer.

Winners announced for FinTech Awards

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) have awarded 12 fintech companies a total of S$1.2 million at the FinTech Awards, which took place at the 3rd Singapore FinTech Festival.

This year’s winning solutions have a greater ASEAN representation* and focus on financial inclusion, spanning multiple business areas, such as credit-scoring, mobile security, anti-money laundering and digital investment.

The 12 awardees are:

ASEAN Open Award**

1st place (S$150,000) – LenddoEFL (Philippines), for its alternative data credit score

2nd place (S$100,000) – SQREEM Technologies (Singapore)

3rd place (S$50,000) – Finantix Asia Pacific (Singapore), which received

ASEAN SME Award** 

1st place (S$150,000) – FinAccel Teknologi (Indonesia), for Kredivo, a digital credit card designed for Indonesian Millennials

2nd place (S$100,000) – Katipult (Thailand)

3rd place (S$50,000) – MoneyMatch Transfer (Malaysia)

Singapore Founder Award**

1st place (S$150,000) – CCRManager, for its cloud-based platform of the same name that supports the distribution of trade finance assets by financial institutions

2nd place (S$100,000) – Cynopsis Solutions

3rd place (S$50,000) – Thin Margin

Global Award**

1st place (S$150,000) – Everspin (South Korea), for Eversafe, a mobile application security solution based on its Dynamic Security Module Technology.

2nd place (S$100,000) – Naffa Innovations (India)

3rd place (S$50,000) – Keychain (Japan)

The FinTech Awards, supported by PwC, recognises innovative fintech solutions that have been implemented by fintech companies, financial institutions and technology companies. Entries were evaluated based on four criteria: impact, practicality, interoperability, and uniqueness and creativity.
This year, 40 finalists were shortlisted from more than 280 global submissions including the companies who participated in the ASEAN PitchFest***.

The ASEAN PitchFest, powered by PwC, was launched this year to recognise innovative talent in ASEAN countries. The nine winners participated in the final round of the FinTech Awards.

Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, MAS, said, “We are delighted to see more talent in the region coming through the new ASEAN PitchFest and to observe how the winners are applying fintech solutions to a wide range of business areas."

Mrs Ong-Ang Ai Boon, Director, ABS added, “This is yet another feather in the cap for the third edition of the Festival in harnessing the power of the talented fintech game changers.” 

*In conjunction with Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship this year, the scope of the FinTech Awards’ SME and Open categories included ASEAN companies outside Singapore. 

**Criteria for the ASEAN Open Award: ASEAN-based companies of any size. The company must have a physical office registered in at least one ASEAN country, and the solution must have been implemented in at least one ASEAN country. The Open category allows companies of any size to participate, such as financial institutions and large technology vendors (e.g. Google). 

Criteria for the ASEAN SME Award: ASEAN-based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs, as defined by Enterprise Singapore, are enterprises with an annual sales turnover of not more than S$100 million OR an employment size of not more than 200 workers. Enterprises qualify as SMEs as long as they satisfy at least one of the two parameters.

Criteria for the Singapore Founder Award: Singapore-based SMEs with at least one Singaporean founder. The term ‘founder’ is defined as an individual who was instrumental in setting up the SME. There is no need for majority share-ownership. The SME must have a physical office registered in Singapore, and the solution must have been implemented in Singapore.

Note on the Global Award: One of the awards in the Global category is given by The Association of Banks in Singapore. 

Fun-sized prints on-the-go with the Canon Mini Photo Printer

Canon has announced its smallest photo printer yet. The 160 g pocket-sized device prints without ink, the company said, allowing photos captured on smartphones to be printed and shared instantly.

Source: Canon. The Canon Mini Photo Printer.

“In today’s world, photos of special moments tend to stay in our social media feed. At Canon, we want to challenge that by encouraging spontaneity through the Canon Mini Photo Printer’s ultra-compact nature. Sharing print photos with friends and family can now be immediate,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore. 

“Testament to Canon’s promise to provide innovative products for different lifestyle needs, the Canon Mini Photo Printer reinvigorates the power of print by bringing these memories to life with the ease of a click.” 

The Canon Mini Photo printer uses ZINK Zero Ink technology, a dry-printing technology that enables printing in colour without the use of ink cartridges. The glossy photo prints are smudge-proof and scratch-resistant, with a peel-and-stick reverse side that adheres easily to just about any smooth surface. 

Designed with a built-in battery, the Canon Mini Photo Printer will print up to 20 photos when fully charged. Printing photos from a smartphone can be done through Bluetooth pairing, activated with a button located at the side of the Canon Mini Photo Printer. 

Through the Canon Mini Print app*, brimming with photo-editing tools, creative filters, photo frames, creative stamps, and text boxes, users can add a personal touch to snapshots. There are also options such as augmented reality (AR), face distortion and image doodling right before printing. Users can either snap a photo through the in-app camera or retrieve the photos from online platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

Beyond the 2” x 3” print, there are options to create collage prints of up to four images, and also a tile print feature which splits a single image into four or nine prints to create a personalised jigsaw puzzle.

Details:

The Canon Mini Photo Printer has a white lid and baseplates that come in a choice of Rose Gold, Mint Green and Slate Grey**. It is now available at all Canon authorised dealers. 

With every purchase of the Canon Mini Photo Printer in Singapore, users will be entitled to a promotional bundle of Tokidoki premiums, which includes a special edition Tokidoki pouch, lanyard, charm and printer body stickers. From now till 31 December 2018, users are also entitled to take home a special edition Tokidoki denim tote bag. The special edition Tokidoki bundle and denim tote bag are valued at S$98.

PV-123 

• Printer body

• 1 pack of ZINK Photo Paper (10 sheets)

• Micro USB charging cable

Retail price S$189


ZP-2030-20

• 1 pack of ZINK Photo Paper (20 sheets)

Retail price S$15

Product specifications

• Approximately 118.4 x 82.36 x 18.7 mm (LxDxH) 

• Print speed: about 50 seconds to produce a smudge-proof and scratch-resistant 2" x 3" photos

• Connect via Bluetooth for direct printing

• Retrieve photos from online albums: Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, and Dropbox

• Customise photos with emojis, cool frames, and fancy text

*The Mini Photo Print app is free for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and is compatible with Android 5.1 and iOS 10, as well as updates that follow.

**Printer colour is found only on the baseplates; the printer top cover is white.

Christmas lights go up along Orchard Road, Singapore

Disney Magical Moments — Christmas on A Great Street! features iconic Disney characters in lighting along Orchard Road in Singapore. The lights officially went on the evening of November 10.

The lights outside Plaza Singapura, featuring a Toy Story theme, on 10 November.

There are four zones, with different coloured lights for each zone:

- Orange: Pixar’s Toy Story, starring Woody and Buzz Lightyear among other Toy Story pals.

- Deep blue: Frozen-themed lights from Elsa and Anna’s world at Orchard Central.

- Sky blue: Mickey Mouse, celebrating his 90th anniversary, with friends.

- Pink: Cinderella-themed mall decorations at Wheelock Place, and an Ariel (The Little Mermaid) photo spot at Shaw House.

The Great Christmas Village at Ngee Ann City is a focal point for festivity, and is filled with food and drinks, amusement rides, and nightly live performances. There is a Hitachi Santa House in addition to the Timbre X Food Village & Bar.

Nakakita addresses the audience at the Christmas Light-Up ceremony.

Hitachi has been the main sponsor of the annual Christmas Light-up since 1991. In remarks at the Orchard Road Christmas Light-up ceremony in Singapore Chairman of Hitachi Asia Kojin Nakakita said that Hitachi is likely to support the event for many years to come.

Just before the lights went on, November 10.

The Disney-themed lights will be on till 1 January 2019.

Details:

The Christmas Village is open

Sundays – Thursdays  11.30 am – 10 pm daily
Fridays and Saturdays 11.30 am – 11 pm daily
Christmas week (20–24 December 2018) 11.30 am – 11 pm daily

Explore:

Hitachi is running games on Facebook for Christmas. Details for a Christmas Light-Up Photo Contest will be shared on Facebook.

Hashtag: #HitachiXmas2018, #HitachiAsia

Peking Garden at Star House reinvents itself for 40th anniversary

Peking Garden in Star House, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a complete revamp. Opened in 1978, Peking Garden is Maxim Chinese Cuisine’s longest-standing and most acclaimed provincial cuisine restaurant.

“We are offering a new dining experience that caters to the evolving need of our customers, while remainining true to our heritage. Peking Garden is about showcasing traditional recipes and craftsmanship, but now with refined, modern presentations,” says Martin Lee, COO, Maxim’s Chinese Restaurants and m.a.x. Concepts.

Source: Peking Garden. sautéed prawn with scallop and sea whelk in chilli sauce.

Peking Garden in Star House is one of the only restaurants in Hong Kong to offer dishes inspired by Beijing’s Imperial cuisine, characterised by its elaborate detail and craftsmanship. Many dishes are exclusive to the Star House outlet. A signature dish is sautéed prawn with scallop and sea whelk in chilli sauce, served on a hand-carved dragon, the symbol of power and strength in imperial China. Each dragon takes up to five hours to carve by hand.

Source: Peking Garden. Cucumber in lime, pomelo and chilli sauce.

Another delicacy is cucumber in lime, pomelo and chilli sauce (揚州龍青瓜), which showcases the knife skills of Peking Garden’s chefs. The dish is created from over 100 slices taken from a single cucumber.

Not-to-be-missed is Peking Garden’s signature barbecued Peking duck. To cater to customer demand for less oily food, the chefs choose the finest of leaner young ducks and roast them in a way that ensures there is less oil. Each duck comes with thin, crispy skin and tender meat, accompanied by seafood sauce, cucumber, scallions and pancakes. Guests who would like to have the duck two ways can choose from boiled duck bone soup with vegetables or sautéed minced duck meat with lettuce cups. Peking Garden also has a card with a backgrounder on Peking duck, including instructions on  how enjoy eat it.

The Instagram generation will love the modern presentations of some of Beijing’s most loved dishes. Peking Garden’s beggar’s chicken (富貴雞) is presented inside an elaborately carved chicken filled with abalone, whelk and mushroom. A guest is invited to crack open the chicken with a large golden hammer before serving. Each chicken comes with a special mini golden hammer and diners can take away a Polaroid photo as a souvenir. The deep-fried Mandarin fish in sweet and vinegar sauce is just as Instagrammable. Crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside, it is crafted to resemble a fish jumping out of the water.

The contemporary chic interiors are one of the highlights of the new Peking Garden. Featuring elements from Beijing culture and inspired by the city’s iconic hutongs (胡同), the modern new design blends heritage with sophisticated chic. The restaurant comes together like a traditional Beijing courtyard house, with different areas each with their own distinctive character and furniture.

Source: Peking Garden. A private room.

 The main dining room features sweeping panaromas of Victoria Harbour and the Symphony of Lights and an open kitchen so guests can see firsthand how the ducks are carved. For more intimate affairs, the new Peking Garden also features a new collection of  private rooms catering to groups of eight to 36 guests. Each of the five rooms features a different theme to cater for different types of celebration.

On entering Peking Garden, guests will see The Return of Spring, a famous artwork resulting from the collaboration of over 10 renowned contemporary Chinese painters and calligraphers such as Zhu Qizhan, Li Kuchan, Chen Dayu, Huang Zhou, Zhang Xinjia and Shufang Xiao. The piece, celebrating the end of winter and the glories of the coming spring, took over a year to create. It was finished by 20 Suzhou embroidery artists who used more than 1,000 different coloured silk threads. Su style embroidery is characterised by delicate work that splits one silk strand into thinner threads, in this case up to 48 strands.

The famous la mian (拉面, hand-pulled noodles) gets its own show too. Every evening at 8.30pm, one of Peking Garden’s master chefs will demonstrate the art of making Beijing la mian, transforming dough into hundreds of long thin strands of noodles within minutes through repeated stretching, twisting and folding. Noodles are a symbol of longevity – the longer the noodles, the better the luck – so the art of hand-pulling noodles is highly coveted.

Peking Garden is also dedicated to promoting Chinese tea culture and will be launching nightly performances that incorporate the use of a long-spout teapot and elements of dance and martial art to pour water at exactly the right temperature into teacups, often from a distance. The show will be performed by a Sichuan tea master certified as a tea-art specialist, and will commence by the end of the year.

Details:

Peking Garden Star House is located at 3/F, Star House,
Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Call +852 2735 8211 for reservations.

Clothes, cosmetics and baby products pique 11.11 shoppers' interest

Source: Alizila blog. The 2018 11.11 Global Shopping Festival logo picked out in neon.

Alibaba's 2018 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is already breaking 2017 records. Live updates from Alizila have revealed that it took just 1 minute and 25 seconds for the festival to get past total GMV* of US$1 billion.

As of 1.15pm, Tmall Global’s GMV has surpassed the platform’s total GMV of last year’s 11.11. In addition, more than 100 overseas brands have exceeded RMB10 million in GMV. Moony, Ya-Man, Swisse and Chemist Warehouse were some of the first to see these numbers, Alizila's live updates on the festival.

As of 1 am, Alizila shared that the top 10 countries/regions selling to China were:
1. Japan

2. US

3. Korea

4. Australia

5. Germany

6. UK

7. France

8. Spain

9. New Zealand

10. Italy

Cosmetics, toiletries, and food supplements ruled the roost for Chinese customers on 11.11. Baby-related products were also popular. The top 10 imported brands bought by Chinese consumers were: 

1. Swisse, a health and wellness company

2. Kao, which has a number of brands including for beauty, women's paper products and toiletries, as well as cleaning products, and baby diapers

3. Moony, which makes baby products. Moony is a Unicharm brand.

4. Aptamil, a milk powder brand from Danone

5. Dr.Ci:Labo, a Japanese medical skincare brand

6. MartiDerm, known for its nutricosmetics

7. A.H.C, the cosmetic brand from Korea

8. Bio Island, which makes supplements

9. GNC, which sells supplements

10. Move Free, a brand of supplements from Schiff Vitamins

It appears that shopping for winter clothing was a biggie this year for 11.11 customers outside of China, plus party clothes for the season.

The top 10 categories of products exported from China were:

1. Dresses

2. Wool coats

3. Pants

4. Hoodies

5. Wool-knitted sweaters

6. Sweaters

7. T-shirts

8. Down jackets

9. Shirts

10. Low-top shoes

*GMV for the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is the total value of orders settled through Alipay on Alibaba's China retail marketplaces, Lazada and AliExpress within a 24-hour period on November 11. It is reported on a real-time basis and includes shipping charges paid (where applicable).
All GMV and other figures presented are unaudited and subject to adjustments.