YAMATO HOLDINGS FREIGHT SERVICE BETWEEN SOUTHEAST ASIA, EUROPE TO REDUCE TRANSIT TIME

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- Tokyo-headquartered Yamato Holdings Co Ltd has launched an international multimodal transport service by truck and rail connecting Southeast Asia and Europe on May 1.

The service was introduced to build a resilient global supply chain between Southeast Asia and Europe, in which the new transportation option offers seamless connectivity for the customers.

According to a statement, Yamato Holdings has helped customers build their global supply chains across 24 countries and regions.

In addition, its group company, Overland Total Logistic Services (M) Sdn Bhd in Malaysia has been providing cross-border truck transport services utilising container trailers between Southeast Asian countries and China since 2001.

Moving forward, the company will continue to propose solutions that optimise the customers' entire global supply chains, aiming for total logistics cost reduction, production efficiency improvement, and environmental impact reduction.

By utilising Overland Total Logistic Services' truck transport network for the Southeast Asia-China segment and partnering with rail service providers for the China-Europe segment, Yamato Holdings will provide seamless transportation through the delivery destinations.

This solution has shorter transit times than maritime transport via the Cape of Good Hope, and lower cost and less greenhouse gas emissions than air transport.

-- BERNAMA

DACTA, HEIMDAL TEAM UP TO EXPAND APAC'S ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- A cybersecurity solutions provider, DACTA and Heimdal have forged a strategic partnership, aimed at bringing Heimdal's advanced cybersecurity solutions to the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

According to a statement, this collaboration represents a key initiative in DACTA's plans to expand its presence and offerings in APAC, while exploring potential business expansion opportunities for both companies.

“Our collaboration with Heimdal marks a strategic step towards enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the APAC region.

“We are excited to bring Heimdal's world-class solutions to our markets and look forward to exploring further avenues for innovation and growth together,” said DACTA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Benjamin Xie.

Meanwhile, Heimdal CEO, Morten Kjaersgaard said this partnership represents an important opportunity for the company to expand its global footprint and is confident that DACTA's expertise in the APAC market will be instrumental in bringing its advanced cybersecurity solutions to a wider audience.

This alliance will leverage DACTA's established network and market insights in the APAC region to introduce Heimdal's state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions, with the primary goal to address the growing demand for robust digital protection in one of the fastest-growing markets for cybersecurity services.

By bringing Heimdal's solutions to APAC, DACTA aims to offer a new level of security effectiveness and operational efficiency to businesses and government agencies in the region, which aligns with the rising need for advanced cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving digital threats.

The partnership extends beyond the immediate distribution of solutions with both companies committed to exploring further business expansion opportunities, potentially leading to the development of new market strategies and collaborations in cybersecurity innovation.

Furthermore, this strategic alliance is set to make a significant impact in the APAC cybersecurity landscape, demonstrating both DACTA's and Heimdal's commitment to providing top-tier digital protection and exploring new frontiers in cybersecurity.

-- BERNAMA

LESS THAN HALF OF VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS FEEL THEIR PROFESSION IS APPRECIATED

• World Veterinary Day 2024 celebrates the essential work of veterinarians, yet new data show only 49% of veterinary professionals believe their profession is appreciated.
• Veterinary associations and Boehringer Ingelheim unite to help address this issue—starting with showcasing often-unseen aspects of the veterinary profession.

Ingelheim, Germany, April 26 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  The World Veterinary Association’s theme for World Veterinary Day this year (April 27, 2024) highlights that veterinarians are essential health workers. Without veterinarians, food safety cannot be guaranteed, animals suffer needlessly, and humans face a higher risk of exposure to dangerous infectious diseases. Yet access to veterinary care should not be taken for granted as many veterinarians are currently considering leaving their chosen career, most often due to reasons associated with work-life balance and their mental health.¹

Today Boehringer Ingelheim released findings from a survey of 1056 companion animal, livestock, and equine veterinarians in the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and Germany, to explore if veterinarians feel valued and understood by animal owners. A main finding of the study is that only 49% of veterinarians feel that the veterinary profession in general is appreciated.

“Understanding the reasons why veterinarians feel their profession is underappreciated, raising awareness of often-unseen and complex aspects of veterinary work, and most importantly, showing veterinary professionals that we recognize their essential work, is an important first step,” remarks Fabio Paganini, Member of the Global Animal Health Executive Committee at Boehringer Ingelheim. “As a veterinarian myself, I know that there is so much to love about this job. Together, we can showcase the relentless dedication, the genuine compassion, and the scientific know-how it takes to work as a veterinarian. It truly is a vocation to aspire to.”

Perceived levels of appreciation for the veterinary profession were relatively consistent across key types of veterinary teams — with only 48% of pet-focused (cats and dogs), 55% of livestock and 42% of equine veterinary professionals reporting that their profession was appreciated. This is despite 75% of survey respondents reporting feeling personally appreciated by their client base.

“We should not stand quietly as our colleagues leave the ring due to stress and burnout,” remarked Dr Ellen Van Nierop, President at World Small Animal Veterinary Association. “Veterinarians are exceptional professionals, who play an essential role in directly maintaining and improving the health and well-being of animals and indirectly, of the whole society. It is imperative that we shine a light on the often-unseen care and effort veterinarians put into forging a healthy and happy society.”

Digging deeper: what underpins appreciation levels?
Veterinary professionals believe their personal clients appreciate their “level of expertise” (reported by 66% of veterinarians surveyed), the “ability to deal with ethical dilemmas (including euthanasia)” (61% of veterinarians) and the fact “they provide a large variety of care” (57% of veterinarians). However, the survey also revealed that clients don’t always have full awareness of how far veterinarians push themselves to provide care. Of all participants, 49% felt they were underappreciated by clients when it came to understanding the “resilience to stress and emotional exhaustion” required from the job, with 48% reporting an underappreciation of the fact they “work despite feeling physically exhausted” and the way they “trade-off their work-life-balance to help animals”.

What needs to be done?
All survey respondents were asked to state a key aspect of their profession that they wish people knew more about. The most common responses from pet-focused participants were “our compassion and dedication to animal welfare i.e. not money” and “our commitment to being a veterinarian and the difficulties of the role”. Similarly, the most common response from both livestock and equine veterinary professionals was the “importance, competence and value of the profession”.

Boehringer Ingelheim, together with the Word Small Animal Vet Association (WSAVA) and the World Association for Buiatrics, plus other leading organizations, are united to help veterinarians — starting with showcasing veterinary professionals’ compassion and dedication to animal welfare, while shedding light on the often-unseen complex and difficult aspects of care.  

“By celebrating the essential behind-the-scenes work veterinarians do, we can help them feel seen and appreciated so that they hopefully retain their passion for animal care for as long as possible,” shared Prof. Arcangelo Gentile, President of the World Association for Buiatrics. “World Veterinary Day 2024 (April 27) serves as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of what really happens behind the clinic, farm and stable doors.” Countless young people are dreaming of becoming a veterinarian. We want them to understand the beautiful, complex, raw, fascinating, and touching reality behind the dream. And we want them to know how rich a life lived as a veterinarian can be.

Going Beyond 2024 survey (implemented by Kynetec, on behalf of Boehringer Ingelheim)
“We're proud to have partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim on this project. Working together, we were able to provide significant insight that we believe will lead to increased understanding of the care that veterinarians provide and make their essential professional engagement widely recognized in the public,” commented Dr. Jan Bahlmann, Kynetec's Head of Animal Health Customer Insights (Europe).

Top-line survey design
The survey was conducted from mid to end of March 2024 across 1056 veterinarians in Brazil (212), Japan (201), United Kingdom (170), France (162), United States (160) and Germany (151). The survey scope included companion animal (57%), equine (5%), dairy (10%), beef (8%), swine (6%) and poultry (3%) specialist veterinarians as well as mixed practices without a main focus (11%). Computer-assisted web as well as telephone interviews in local language were used to collect the data.

Going Beyond campaign
Going Beyond is a campaign developed by Boehringer Ingelheim with support from industry partners and veterinary associations to raise awareness of, and celebrate, the essential behind-the-scenes care that veterinarians provide for animals and communities worldwide. This care, which often goes unseen by animal owners, can leave veterinarians feeling underappreciated, contributing to poor mental health. Launching around World Veterinary Day 2024, Going Beyond aims to tackle this issue head-on by showcasing the boundless dedication, resilience and passion of veterinarians who care for animals in often challenging circumstances. The ultimate goal is to help veterinarians feel seen, appreciated and motivated to continue doing what they do best – caring for our beloved animals.

Kynetec
Kynetec is a global provider of data, analytics and insights in agriculture, animal health and nutrition. We empower agribusinesses and animal health and nutrition companies to make data-driven decisions, from strategy to execution, through predictive analytics and advanced insights. What sets us apart is our direct access to the markets we serve - farmers, veterinarians, pet owners, and agricultural experts - and our deep understanding of the complex dynamics that shape those markets. We regularly undertake data and analytics projects in all the major agricultural and animal health/nutrition markets, spanning more than 80 countries, to provide the insights that enable our clients to build winning strategies and brands. Kynetec’s responsibilities in this campaign work included empirical research co-design, survey execution and analytics.

Boehringer Ingelheim - Animal Health business
Boehringer Ingelheim provides innovation for preventing and treating diseases in animals. The company offers a wide range of vaccines, parasite-control products, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock to veterinarians, animal owners, farmers, and governments. As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim values that the health of humans and animals is deeply connected and strives to make a difference for people, animals, and society. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. More than 53,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com. 

Intended Audiences Notice
This press release is issued from our Corporate Headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany, and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.  

¹ Nolen RS., AVMA. Practice Inefficiencies Compound Veterinary Stress. (2021). Available at: https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-12-01/practice-inefficiencies-compound-veterinary-stress Last accessed April 2024.

Attachments

• Poultry image
• Swine image
• Equine veterinarian image
• Livestock veterinarian image
• Pet veterinarian image 

SOURCE : Boehringer Ingelheim

EMGA SECURES US$15 MLN FINANCING FOR BANCO IMPROSA TO SUPPORT SMES IN COSTA RICA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA), in partnership with Banco Improsa, announced it has secured a US$15 million line of credit from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (US$1=RM4.77)

“In spite of a challenging global macroeconomic environment, we are pleased to once again facilitate Banco Improsa’s continued vision to supporting SMEs in Costa Rica and complete this financing solution,” said EMGA Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking, Sajeev Chakkalakal in a statement.

Concurrently, EMGA Managing Director, Jeremy Dobson added that Banco Improsa's strong management and healthy financial position were key factors in helping the EMGA Investment Banking team secure this funding, and this JICA facility will further strengthen Banco Improsa’s ability to grow its core SME lending book.

Meanwhile, Banco Improsa General Manager, Felix Alpizar Lobo said the financing reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening the SME segment in Costa Rica.

“Banco Improsa is proud to share JICA's objective of contributing to the economic and social growth of developing countries,” he added.

Banco Improsa is a commercial bank with more than 37 years of experience, whose relational business model and focus on niche markets specialises in providing financing solutions and services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), among others.

On the other hand, JICA is a governmental agency that provides most of the Official Development Assistance for the Government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting the economic and social growth of developing countries, and the promotion international cooperation.

With offices in London and New York, EMGA assists financial institutions and corporations seeking new debt or equity capital.

-- BERNAMA

OUTSTANDING FIGURES, INSTITUTION RECOGNISED IN 46TH KING FAISAL PRIZE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- The 46th session of King Faisal Prize has acknowledged exceptional accomplishments in the fields of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases and groundbreaking Ribonucleic acid (RNA) discoveries.

Revolutionary scientist Professor Jerry Mendell was awarded the Medicine Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, notably spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Meanwhile, Professor Howard Chang received the Science Prize for unveiling the intrinsic role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, a previously overlooked area of study, according to a statement.

Through innovative gene therapy approaches, Professor Mendell, a Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Curran Peters Chair in Pediatric Research, has revolutionised treatment strategies, offering hope to countless patients worldwide.

On the frontier of molecular biology, physician-scientist and Professor of Dermatology and Genetics, and Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research at Stanford University, Professor Chang's elucidation of the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene regulation has revolutionised the understanding of cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Through innovative genome-wide methodologies, Professor Chang has uncovered the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and gene expression, shedding light on fundamental biological processes underlying development, cancer, and ageing.

In addition to honouring advancements in medicine and science, the King Faisal Prize also recognised exemplary contributions in Islamic Studies to Professor Wael Hallaq, while the Japan Muslim Association and Mohammad El Sammak were honoured for their exemplary leadership in serving Islam and humanity.

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

Launched by the King Faisal Foundation and granted for the first time since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its five different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes.

Each prize laureate is endowed with US$200,000; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grammes, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize. (US$1=RM4.77)

-- BERNAMA

GRADIANT LAUNCHES CURE CHEMICALS FOR THE WORLD'S ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES

Comprehensive portfolio of over 300 proprietary chemical formulations with on-site expertise and world-class service enhances efficiency and sustainability while maximizing cost savings


BOSTON, April 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, announced today the launch of CURE Chemicals. Continuing Gradiant’s track record of innovation and commercialization, CURE Chemicals will set new benchmarks in environmental sustainability and operational efficiency for the world’s essential industries.

The CURE Chemicals product line includes over 300 proprietary formulations for corrosion and scale inhibitors, process chemicals, biocides, antiscalants & cleaners, and coagulants & flocculants. These products are engineered to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of water treatment processes while minimizing their environmental footprint.

"The launch of CURE Chemicals represents a major milestone for Gradiant as we expand our portfolio to include specialty chemicals that complement our end-to-end water solutions capabilities," said Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. "We are now the water industry’s only complete, site-wide portfolio providing bespoke design, proprietary equipment, O&M services, and specialty chemicals uniquely positioned to deliver whole-system expertise complemented by SmartOps AI for accurate, intelligent operation.”

CURE is developed via cutting-edge research combined with operational feedback tailored to meet the demanding requirements of industries ranging from semiconductors to renewables, mining to energy, and food & beverage to pharmaceuticals. "We are excited to bring these chemical solutions to the global market, which not only perform better than incumbents but also adhere to the highest standards of safety and sustainability, all at compelling value to our clients," said Vipan Kalia, Head of Chemicals at Gradiant.

For more information on how CURE Chemicals can benefit your operations, please visit gradiant.com/solutions/cure-chemicals.

About Gradiant
Gradiant is a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions, powered by the top minds in water, the company serves its clients' mission-critical operations in the world's essential industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, lithium and critical minerals, and renewable energy. Gradiant’s innovative solutions reduce water used and wastewater discharged, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. The Boston-headquartered company was founded at MIT and has over 1,000 employees worldwide. Learn more at gradiant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416877381/en/

Contact

Corporate Contact
Felix Wang
Gradiant
Global Head of Marketing
fwang@gradiant.com

Source : Gradiant

SWEET SUCCESS: MANGO INDUSTRY, A "GOLDEN KEY" TO PROSPERITY FOR CHINA’S BAISE CITY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- Mango industry has led Baise City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to rural revitalisation, after 40 years of development.

One of the major mango producing areas in China, Baise has rapidly formed a robust industrial chain in recent years, leveraging its advantages in mango cultivation areas, according to Baise Fruit Industry Development Center in a statement.

In 2023, the total mango area in Baise reached 1.37 million mu (roughly 913.33 square kilometres), accounting for approximately 24.19 per cent of the total mango area in China; the output was 1.25 million tonnes, representing about 27.8 per cent of the total national mango production.

The continuous breakthrough of double "million" targets in planting area and output has made Baise the largest mango production base among prefecture-level cities in the country. The rapid development of planting, output, and output value has stimulated the intrinsic power of the research and development system.

Focusing on key issues in the seed industry, Baise has not only built a big data platform for the mango industry but also implemented projects for digitalising this industry and established a smart cloud platform to develop digital agriculture.

In addition, efforts have been intensified to enhance germplasm resources, focusing on research in mango breeding technology and germplasm innovation, new technologies for facility planting, and a total of 107,000 farmers have been trained.

As of 2023, the city has introduced 14 enterprises for deep processing of mangoes, with the city's capacity for deep processing of mangoes has reached 300,000 tonnes, with an output value exceeding 1.5 billion Chinese yuan, significantly increasing the added value of products. (100 Chinese yuan = RM65.90)

Simultaneously, it has established the largest mango deep processing production area in the country. In 2023, Baise mango, with a brand value of 10.556 billion Chinese yuan, ranked 32nd on the national regional brand top 100 list, at the China Mango Industry Development Conference.

By constructing logistics cold chain and sorting bases, introducing logistics companies such as SF Express, Sanke, and CIMC to build large-scale warehousing logistics, adding 152,000 tonnes of room temperature warehousing capacity and 58,000 tonnes of low-temperature warehousing capacity, it has enhanced its capacity of risk control for the mango industry.

Baise, by creating a powerful characteristic mango industry cluster covering production, processing, circulation, research, and service, has developed "small mangoes" into a "big industry".

-- BERNAMA