PETRONITA'S VIRTUAL ORCHID RUN STEP UP TO INSPIRE IN 2020

 KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The highly anticipated annual Orchid Run event by the Association of Wives and Women Employees of PETRONAS (PETRONITA) returns this year with the theme “Step Up to Inspire”, aimed at supporting mental health whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the nation, its 6^th edition will take the form of a virtual run where participants are required to complete a 15km run and achieve a target of 20,000 steps at their convenience between 5^th December and 13^th December 2020.
 
Organised in collaboration with BookDoc app, the primary objective of the virtual Orchid Run is to raise funds for the Malaysia Mental Health Association (MMHA). The funds will be contributed to schools with the aim of better equipping the teachers in managing the students’ mental health needs by upskilling them with Mental Health Aid. The contribution allows MMHA to support schools in focusing on the necessary interventions to improve social connections amongst students and the environment they are in, particularly in the current pandemic situation. 
 
“Despite the unprecedented challenges brought about by COVID-19, we can still find purpose in our lives and be supportive of one another. The virtual Orchid Run presents an opportunity for all Malaysians to come together and help support mental health whilst practicing a healthy lifestyle. Given the recent closure of schools and postponement of major examinations, there is a need to aid teachers with interventions to support students in overcoming the numerous anxieties they face. We believe the virtual Orchid Run can play its part as a practical intervention to support students and families during this stressful time,” said PETRONITA President, Puan Jemilia Md Jelas.
 
Coinciding with the virtual run, PETRONITA is also collaborating with PETRONAS’ Group Health, Safety, Security and Environment (GHSSE) for the Walk4Trees Challenge. For every step taken, PETRONAS will plant trees, with a target of 1 tree for 1 million steps. By having more trees, we can ensure that we will continue to have cleaner air to breathe and control climate change, which is an  equally important element in maintaining good health and sustainability of the earth.
 
In realising this virtual sporting event, the Orchid Run is also supported by corporations, namely ConocoPhillips Malaysia, Mubadala Petroleum, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad, as well as assistance from PETRONAS’ Division and Upstream Strategic Communications and Administration Department. All the support and contribution received will definitely make a big impact to the lives of the affected students.
 
For more information on the run or incase you or your company are interested in participating and support as contributors, please contact the organisers at
petronitakl@petronas.com.
 

Photo link: https://www.dropbox.com/t/4JjP3iIcjrrFM6yN
Photo 01 Caption : Funds raised from the Virtual Orchid Run will be channeled to schools via Malaysia Mental Health Association (MMHA), to upskill the teachers with Mental Health Aid.
Photo 02 Caption : Virtual Orchid Run 2020 Poster
 

SOURCE : PETRONITA

Sanya Beach Handball Invitational ends in Hainan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 -- The two-day ‘Beautiful Sanya Lishan Distillery Cup’ Beach Handball Invitational 2020, beginning Nov 12, was held in Sanya, China.

The beach handball competition was divided into men's and women's groups from Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong and other regions in China, with Anhui women's team and Shandong men's team winning the championship in the match.

Shandong beat Anhui 2-0 to win the men's team title at the 2020 Sanya Beach Handball Invitational Tournament, according to the Sixth Asian Beach Games Sanya 2020 Organising Committee, in a statement.

Anhui attacked fiercely at the beginning of the match, while Shandong used defensive counter-attacking tactics, with the goalkeeper scoring directly when Anhui players did not come to the defensive positions.

Meanwhile, in the women's event, Anhui beat the Chinese young women's national team 2-0 to win the title. The Anhui women's team comprising many national team players won the match easily with their height and experience.

“The ‘Beautiful Sanya 2020’ competition series is designed as a practice run for the working process of The Games. The Sixth Asian Beach Games Sanya 2020 Organising Committee will spare no effort to ensure the operation of the invitational while carefully adhering to epidemic prevention and control,” said Sanya City Vice Mayor, Zhou Jun.

-- BERNAMA

Madison Realty Capital closes new debt investment vehicle up to US$1 billion

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 -- Madison Realty Capital, a New York City-based real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies, recently closed on a new debt investment vehicle with up to US$1 billion in investing capability. (US$1 = RM4.11)

Madison, with US$5.6 billion of gross assets under management, will deploy this new debt strategy to target lighter value-add and core-plus real estate transactions with a greater focus on income generation with rates of four per cent to 7.5 per cent.

The new strategy adds another solution to Madison Realty Capital’s comprehensive lending and investment platform and allows the firm to provide an even greater variety of options to its deep relationships of real estate owners, operators and lenders.

Accordingly, the firm will originate and acquire senior loans and mezzanine loans as well as make preferred equity investments backed by a diversified pool of transitional real estate assets.

The new vehicle also enables Madison Realty Capital to provide other alternative real estate lenders with financing solutions on both a single asset and overall portfolio basis. 

“Expanding our product offering is consistent with Madison’s approach of developing financing solutions to meet the evolving needs of our borrowers and to capture more income-oriented opportunities we might have otherwise had to forego,” Madison Realty Capital Managing Principal and Co-Founder, Josh Zegen said in a statement.

-- BERNAMA

PERU STRENGTHENS ITS TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH MALAYSIA

 ^{Peruvian Fresh Grapes}


• The Peruvian and Malaysian governments continue to work on protocols that will allow mangos, avocados and pomegranates access to Malaysia. 
• The main Peruvian foods imported by Malaysia last year were cocoa, fresh grapes, pomegranates, quinoa, blueberries and sacha inchi oil.
 

LIMA, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Peru continues to focus on Asia with the aim of becoming a strategic partner for the export of its fresh products. With an annual growth rate of close to 5%, Peru is one of the Latin American countries with the greatest international projection. Food exports represent its second largest generator of foreign currency and, even though its main destination markets are currently North America and the European Union, the growth in commercial exchange with Asia in the fruit and vegetable sector has evolved favourably in recent years. 

In 2019, Malaysia received fresh Peruvian products worth over $12,000 million dollars, an exchange that represents over 2% of the Peruvian exports in Asia. This figure, together with the great economic development which Malaysia has shown in the previous years – a GDP with a growth of 4.3% in 2019 - places Malaysia among the main economies in the region. This encourages the great expectations that Peru has regarding this country. 

As a result of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Peruvian and Malaysian government continue discussing and moving forward on protocols and phytosanitary requirements to achieve market access for mangoes, avocados and pomegranates. The latter product, with an increase of 13.6% last year, is precisely one of the fastest growing in imports to Malaysia. Cocoa and fresh grapes are the most imported Peruvian products by Malaysia, which also receives significant volumes of quinoa, sacha inchi oil and blueberries. Blueberry imports in particular went up by more than 75% in the first quarter of 2020. 

"Malaysia has become a major priority for Peruvian exports due to its great growth potential," said Erick Aponte, Trade Commissioner of PROMPERÚ in South East Asia. "Peru has been participating in the CPTPP since the end of 2018, which allows us to increase the number of Peruvian products with access to the market. Since then we have been working on new protocols and during the last year, we have been managing access for some fresh products, such as pomegranates, avocados and mangoes. The latter two are among the most imported fresh fruits by Malaysia and actually, they are the most recognized Peruvian products outside our borders".

It is important to note that mango currently accounts for 12% of fresh fruit imports into Malaysia, reaching a figure of over 62,000 tonnes. In addition, avocado, another Peruvian fruit that is expected to gain access to the Malaysian market in the short term, has also continued to grow its presence in the Malaysian market, with more than 3,000 tonnes imported last year. 

FOOD TRADE WITH ASIA 

Asia currently accounts for 9% of all Peruvian agri-food exports worldwide. China is the biggest Asian market for Peruvian produce, with a 30% share of all exports, followed by Hong Kong (20%), South Korea (14%), Japan (12%) and Indonesia (8%). To a lesser extent, but growing strongly, are Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. PROMPERÚ’s trade office for South-East Asia is based in Hong Kong and works to increase the demand for Peruvian food. Opening new markets by establishing strategic partnerships, signing new export protocols, and engaging in tactical promotional campaigns targeting both retailers and consumers are some of its goals.  

SUPER FOODS PERU 

The tremendous biodiversity of Peru, as well as its varied geography that includes the ocean, the coast, mountains and jungles, enables the country to offer a wide array of top quality agri-foods all year round. 

Since 2017, Peru has been showcasing its products under the ‘Super Foods Peru’ brand, which seeks to highlight the high nutrient content of Peruvian produce. In addition to fruit and vegetables, the Andean nation produces grains such as quinoa, native tubers such as maca, and a wide array of seafood from its fishing industry, all of which are protected by this distinctive quality mark. 

Learn more about ‘Super Foods Peru’ https://peru.info/en-us/superfoods
 
SOURCE : PROMPERU

TOKYO SUSTAINABLE FINANCE WEEK AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION IN TOKYO SUSTAINABLE FINANCE FORUM SET FOR FEBRUARY 2021

 TOKYO, Nov. 9, 2020 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

The Tokyo Sustainable Finance Week will be organized in February 2021 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) with the aim of promoting ESG investment and sustainable finance that contribute to development of sustainable cities and enhancing the TMG's presence in these areas.
 
(Logo:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/
M106335/202011046683/_prw_PI1fl_8ElAU7C3.jpg)
 
 
(Image:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/
M106335/202011046683/_prw_PI2fl_j88o2YUk.png)
 
 
During the week, the Tokyo Sustainable Finance Forum will be held, targeted at professionals working at financial institutions and relevant organizations in Japan and overseas. The Financial Seminar for Tokyo Residents will also be held, designed to improve financial literacy and raise awareness for sustainable finance among the general public.
 
From November 9, applications to attend the Tokyo Sustainable Finance Forum are being accepted. The TMG looks forward to seeing participants there.
Applications for the Financial Seminar for Tokyo Residents will open in early December.
 
Forum outline
1. Date: 1:30-5:20 p.m., February 9 (Tue.), 2021
 
2. Target audience
Professionals at public institutions, financial institutions, financial industry groups and other relevant organizations
 
3. Program and speakers (*Japanese-English simultaneous interpretation will be provided / admission free)
- Keynote speech 1: Global Trends in Sustainable Finance (tentative)
Speaker: Takejiro Sueyoshi, Special Advisor, UNEP Finance Initiative
 
- Keynote speech 2: Development of Sustainable Finance in Japan
Speaker: Mariko Kawaguchi, Specially Appointed Professor, Rikkyo University
Graduate School of Social Design Studies, and Executive Advisor to CEO, Fuji Oil Holdings Inc.
 
- Keynote speech 3: Sustainable Finance Trends in Japan and Overseas from the Perspective of Investors
Speaker: Yasunori Iwanaga, Chief Responsible Investment Officer (CRIO), Amundi Japan Ltd.
 
In addition to the above keynote speeches, a panel discussion will also be held. Please refer to the website below for details.
https://www.sustainablefina.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/forum/english
 
*Please note that program contents and speakers are subject to change.
 
4. Application period
November 9 (Mon.), 2020 - February 8 (Mon.), 2021
 
5. Application method
Please apply at https://sites.net-convention.com/tsfw_forum_en/
 
 
Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Japan AQS confirms NIAH isolation of ASF virus from illegally-brought pork

 
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 -- Gene of African swine fever (ASF) virus was recently confirmed as a result of the gene test on pork sausages illegally brought into Japan by a passenger from the Philippines.

The test was carried out by Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Japan, according to a statement.

Live virus was also isolated from the products as a result of virus isolation carried out by the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.

After a quarantine detector dog at Haneda airport found the meat products, AQS disposed of them as prohibited import products, and a part was sent for testing.

AQS has been testing the ASF virus gene on pork products illegally brought by international passengers since August 2018, and this is the 89th case found to be ASF gene positive and is the third case that the infectious ASF virus is isolated.

Animal products including ham, bacon, jerky, sausage and processed meat products are prohibited to be brought into Japan, regardless of volume, in accordance with the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control.

AQS will continue to strengthen import inspection of animal products to prevent the incursion of ASF through international passengers and parcels by utilising quarantine detector dogs at international airports and post offices.

Violators shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to three years or a fine of up to JPY3 million. Business corporations shall be punished with a fine of up to JPY50 million. Passengers with illegal animal products may also be denied permission for landing in Japan. (JPY100 = RM3.968)

-- BERNAMA