​SDC LAUNCHES CLEARCHOICE™ INTERACTIVE PRODUCT SELECTOR GUIDE

​SDC LAUNCHES CLEARCHOICE™ INTERACTIVE PRODUCT SELECTOR GUIDE

THE OKURA PRESTIGE YANGON TO OPEN IN 2020

— Will become the Okura Prestige brand’s first property in Myanmar —

TOKYO, July 31 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. announced today that it will open The Okura Prestige Yangon, the first Okura Hotels & Resorts member hotel to operate in Myanmar, in 2020. For the operation and management of The Okura Prestige Yangon, Hotel Okura expects to sign a contract in August with a local alliance comprising Fujita Corporation, Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development and Yangon Technical & Trading Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Ayeyar Hinthar Holdings Co., Ltd.

The Okura Prestige Yangon will be a luxury hotel offering approximately 390 rooms in downtown Yangon, a short walk from Yangon Central Railway Station and a short drive from the historic Shwedagon Pagoda. It will be situated within a large commercial complex, including office buildings and retail facilities, to be constructed on the site of the former Defense Services Museum.

Toshihiro Ogita, president of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. said, “It is a true honor for Hotel Okura to take part in this large development project, the first investment permit under the new Myanmar Investment Law, thanks to a coordinated effort by Japan’s public and private sectors, as well as the local partner. We will leverage Hotel Okura’s experience and expertise in traditional Japanese hospitality to create a much-beloved hotel for the people of Myanmar, aiming to become the country’s most well received hotel. Including The Okura Prestige Yangon, we are keen to add three to five more hotels in Myanmar in the next five years.”

The new hotel will offer banquet halls, conference rooms and diverse dining options, including an all-day dining area, a Japanese restaurant and a lounge bar. The hotel will also feature an executive lounge with views of the golden-domed Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar’s most celebrated Buddhist pagoda.
Myanmar, since shifting toward civilian democracy, has enjoyed GDP growth averaging at around 7% per annum. Inbound investment from Japan, Europe and the United States is projected to rise steadily.

Hotel Okura’s inaugural Myanmar property is part of an ambitious undertaking to expand the group’s global portfolio to 100 properties, primarily in Asia, by 2020. Okura Nikko Hotel Management, a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, currently has seven properties in the pipeline outside Japan, now counting The Okura Prestige Yangon. These include four Okura Hotels & Resorts properties opening in Cappadocia in 2018 and Manila, Phnom Penh and Saigon in 2020, and two Nikko Hotels International properties opening in Bangkok in 2018 and Hai Phong in 2020.

About Fujita Corporation

Fujita Corporation, a construction company within the Daiwa House Group, has managed numerous urban development projects and other important facilities in Japan. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. Please visit www.fujita.com.

About Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.

Tokyo Tatemono is a real estate development company based in Japan. Founded in 1896, the company is involved with the development, management and administration of buildings, commercial complexes and private homes. Please visit www.tatemono.com/english.

About Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN)

JOIN is a government-private fund based in Japan and specializing in overseas investment in infrastructure including railways and airports. Please visit www.join-future.co.jp/english.

About Ayeyar Hinthar Holdings Company Limited

Ayeyar Hinthar Holdings is based in Yangon, Myanmar with business in agricultural product manufacturing and exporting, construction, trading, and hospital management among others.

About Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.

Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. was founded in 1958 and opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962. Hotel Okura has extensive expertise in the hospitality world, including asset ownership and hotel development, as well as hotel management, restaurant business and chain operations through its subsidiaries and other group companies. The brand unites its member hotels under the Best Accommodation, Cuisine and Service (Best A.C.S.) philosophy to ensure that all guests enjoy Okura’s signature hospitality, which combines Japanese attention to detail and Western functionality. Please visit www.okura.com.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, operates 72 properties (47 in Japan and 25 overseas) encompassing nearly 23,000 guest rooms (July 1, 2017) under three hotel groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City. Please visit www.okura-nikko.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=51598836&lang=en

Contacts

Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.
Shoko Amano (Ms.) / Ryutaro Suzuki (Mr.), +81-3-6864-2734
Public Relations
pr@hotelokura.co.jp

 

Source: Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.

IIOT WORLD TOUR TO STOP IN SINGAPORE ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2017, HOSTED BY THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET CONSORTIUM AND PLATTFORM INDUSTRIE 4.0

SINGAPORE, July 31 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and Plattform Industrie 4.0 have announced a stop in Singapore on their IIoT World Tour, which brings together industry leaders from both organizations and local organizations to accelerate the digitalization of industrial production. The two organizations have partnered with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), to co-host an event in Singapore, held in conjunction with A*STAR’s Future of Manufacturing Singapore, a series of events related to advanced manufacturing. The Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce will serve as a further local partner for the event.
 
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies will dramatically improve productivity and efficiencies throughout the entire manufacturing supply chain, with processes governing intelligent machines to improve production and even take corrective action to avoid unscheduled downtime. A thriving manufacturing sector helps strengthen the global economy.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=29713

​A.M. BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS OF PROVIDENT INSURANCE CORPORATION LIMITED

SINGAPORE, July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” of Provident Insurance Corporation Limited (PICL) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.
 
The ratings reflect PICL’s adequate risk-adjusted capitalization, prudent reserving and conservative investment portfolio. Moreover, despite the company’s start-up nature, its operating performance and claims experience during its first four years of operations have been largely consistent with initial projections.
 
http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=29700

MAIDEN VOYAGE OF FREE SAILING FOR HONG KONG AND MACAO-REGISTERED YACHTS IN CHINA (GUANGDONG) PILOT FREE TRADE ZONE HELD IN NANSHA, GUANGZHOU

GUANGZHOU, China, July 28, 2017 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

On July 24, shortly after the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the maiden voyage of free sailing for Hong Kong and Macao-registered yachts in China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone was held in Nansha District, Guangzhou. Yachts from Hong Kong and Macao docked at Nansha Marina after going through the entry formalities at Nansha Ferry Terminal. The maiden voyage achieved a complete success.

Guangdong Provincial Government submitted the Implementation Plan of "Free Sailing" for Hong Kong and Macao-Registered Yachts in China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as "the Plan") to the Ministry of Transport to explore and innovate policies on exit-entry customs clearance, supervision & inspection, dock setting, reciprocal license recognition and navigation area planning of yachts from Hong Kong and Macao. That means the easily-operable and clearly regulated policy system, management mechanism and work instructions for entry management of yachts could be formulated, which would help accumulate replicable and promotable pilot experience in facilitating the "free sailing" for yachts from Hong Kong and Macao in Guangdong and the rest of China as well as the development of the yacht tourism. The Plan gained great support from ministries and commissions concerned of the central government. On June 20 this year, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Public Security, General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine sent a joint letter to approve the Plan in principle. During this maiden voyage, yachts from Hong Kong and Macao went through such processes and formalities as entry declaration, joint inspection and docking according to the procedures and requirements of the new convenient customs clearance mode - "fixed position docking, nearby joint-inspection", which tested the implementation of the Plan. For the next step, the policy system, management mechanism and work instructions for entry management of yachts will be further detailed according to the results of the maiden voyage, to accelerate the policy implementation. The Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province views that the effort will help promote the costal tourism and construction of the high-quality life circle which is suitable for living, business and tourism in the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area".

Source: Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province

ABIOMED ANNOUNCES Q1 FY 2018 REVENUE OF $132.5 MILLION, UP 29% OVER PRIOR YEAR

Company announces Japanese reimbursement for Impella® heart pumps and raises lower end of FY 2018 revenue guidance


DANVERS, Mass., July 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABMD), a leading provider of breakthrough heart support technologies, today reported first quarter fiscal 2018 revenue of $132.5 million, an increase of 29% compared to revenue of $103.0 million for the same period of fiscal 2017. First quarter fiscal 2018 GAAP net income was $37.4 million or $0.82 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $12.9 million or $0.29 per diluted share for the prior year period.  

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=29695

STARBUCKS TO ACQUIRE REMAINING SHARES OF EAST CHINA JOINT VENTURE AND OPERATE ALL STARBUCKS STORES IN MAINLAND CHINA; ACQUISITION ADVANCES COMPANY'S LONG-TERM CHINA GROWTH AGENDA

Company announces agreements to acquire the remaining 50% of its East China JV and divest its 50% interest in its Taiwan JV; both transactions undertaken with long-term JV partners President Chain Store Corporation and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation

Company Reaffirms its Commitment to Operating 5,000 Stores in Mainland China by 2021

 

SEATTLE, July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) today announced entry into a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 50% share of its East China (“East China JV”) business from long-term joint venture partners, Uni-President Enterprises Corporation (“UPEC”) and President Chain Store Corporation (“PCSC”) for approximately $1.3 billion in cash consideration in the largest single acquisition in the Company’s history. Starbucks will assume 100% ownership of approximately 1,300 Starbucks stores in Shanghai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, building on the Company’s ongoing investments in China, its fastest-growing market outside of the United States in terms of store count.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=29692

AMAZON INTRODUCES PRIME NOW IN SINGAPORE: FREE TWO-HOUR DELIVERY ON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ITEMS

Prime Now is the first Amazon retail service to launch in Singapore, offering free two-hour delivery on grocery items, local favorites and name-brand goods
 
SEATTLE, July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced the launch of Prime Now in Singapore, which offers free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items right from your phone. Customers can shop on the Prime Now app for everything on their list from eggs, cold beverages and ice cream to baby strollers, toys, and consumer electronics. Local favorites such as Tiger Balm, Milo, Scotch-Brite and MamyPoko diapers as well as products from iconic brands including L’Oreal, Pampers, and Samsung are also available for ultra-fast delivery right to your door with free two-hour delivery on orders of S$40 or more.
 
“We are excited to introduce the busy people in Singapore to this convenient, ultra-fast delivery solution to get more time back to do the things they love,” said Aarif Nakhooda, Director of Prime Now Asia-Pacific. “Prime Now is powered by Amazon’s more than 20 years of operational and technological excellence and hundreds of Singapore’s talented and skilled associates.”

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=29691

BUSAN ONE ASIA FESTIVAL, ASIAN NO.1 KOREAN WAVE FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER

“Come to Busan and meet BLACKPINK, Apink, GFRIEND and other popular K-Pop Stars”

BUSAN, South Korea, July 27 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Best K-pop singers will meet their Hallyu (Korean Wave) fans from all over the world in Busan in October. They will come together in the 2017 Busan One Asia Festival (BOF), Asian No.1 Korean Wave Festival. The fest will be hosted by Busan Metropolitan City Government and run by Busan Tourism Organization.

The BOF is a blend of Busan-based cultural and tourism infrastructure, Hallyu content and Asian culture. One can enjoy all things about K-culture, including K-pop, K-food and K-beauty, in one place. A variety of concerts and exhibitions will be held at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan Cinema Center, Gunam-ro in Haeundae Beach, and other Busan sites from Sunday, October 22, to Tuesday, October 31.

BLACKPINK, Apink, GFRIEND, B.A.P, ASTRO and SECHSKIES will excite the audience at the Opening Ceremony Concert. YURI SANGJA(Glass Box), BAEK Z YOUNG, KIM TAE WOO, Ailee and Bolbbalgan4 will send spectators into raptures at the Park Concert.

BLACKPINK is a fast rising K-pop act whose new single, “As If It’s Your Last,” notched the No. 1 spot on the Apple Music Pop’s “Best of the Week” list. The song also topped the Chinese QQ Music chart. Apink is a girl group who landed high on the Japanese Oricon chart and also received special honor at the Taiwanese KKBOX Music Awards. Also, girl group GFRIEND was named as one of “Top 5 K-Pop Artists to Watch in 2015" by Billboard. B.A.P is a group of six boys who were crowned best Korean act of 2016 at the MTV EMAs. ASTRO was voted Hallyu Special Award winner at the Seoul Music Awards by overseas Korean Wave fans. SECHSKIES are the first-generation K-pop idols of the 1990s.

YURI SANGJA is a male duo loved by fans for singing sentimental pop-ballads. BAEK Z YOUNG captivates her fans with a raspy voice. KIM TAE WOO is the lead vocalist of popular boy band g.o.d., often referred to as ‘a national idol group.’ Ailee is a pop diva with superb singing voice. Bolbbalgan4 enjoy popularity on digital release charts.

For details on the BOF, please visit bof.or.kr or facebook.com/BusanOneAsiaFestival.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=51595235&lang=en

Contacts

Busan One Asia Festival
SHIN YOONKYUNG, +82-10-8923-7261
mars@sbs.co.kr

 

Source: Busan One Asia Festival