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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and Nepal Deepen Science and Technology Partnership with New Agreement

    Source: Government of India

    India and Nepal Deepen Science and Technology Partnership with New Agreement

    Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Sign MoU to Strengthen Indo-Nepal Scientific Cooperation

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 3:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Marking a significant milestone in Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation between India and Nepal, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18th February 2025 at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi.

    The agreement, signed and exchanged by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, and Secretary, DSIR, and Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor, NAST, establishes a broad framework to promote bilateral scientific and technological collaboration.

    MoU for S&T cooperation between CSIR, India and NAST, Nepal being exchanged by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR and Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor, NAST

    CSIR and NAST share a long history of cooperation, dating back to 1994, when an agreement between CSIR and then-RONAST (now NAST) was signed to promote joint research and technological development in areas of mutual interest. To execute the agreement, two Working Programmes were signed in 1997 and 2002, leading to the organization of several joint workshops and training programs that continued beyond the official period of these agreements.

    The newly signed MoU seeks to rejuvenate and expand this collaboration, enhancing scientific engagement between the two institutions.

    The renewed partnership under the 2025 MoU will be implemented through various collaborative activities, including the exchange of scientific information, research materials, and scientists, the organization of joint S&T seminars, workshops, and training programs, the execution of joint research projects, access to each other’s major research facilities, technology partnerships, and the twinning of institutions for capacity development. The cooperation will focus on mutually agreed areas, including biological sciences, food science and technology, water and environmental technologies, fuel and mining sciences, metallurgy, material sciences such as glass, ceramics, biomaterials, and nanotechnology, alternative energy, leather and footwear technologies, metrology, polymer sciences, and drug discovery.

    The apex-level meeting held during the signing was attended by senior leadership from CSIR, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and NAST. Discussions centred on the most effective modes of collaboration and key focus areas for joint research and development efforts. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR, emphasized CSIR’s keen interest in strengthening its technology and capacity-building partnerships with Nepal through NAST. She underscored the enormous untapped potential for collaboration in multiple sectors and stressed the importance of swiftly putting the MoU into action with a targeted implementation plan.

    Vice-Chancellor of NAST, Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, reaffirmed NAST’s commitment to this partnership, highlighting the value Nepal places on scientific cooperation with India. He noted that this MoU and the discussions held today would pave the way for a strengthened and enduring S&T relationship between the two nations. He also proposed the formation of subject-specific working groups to facilitate structured collaboration in priority areas.

    With the exchange of this MoU, CSIR and NAST have reaffirmed their shared vision of leveraging scientific and technological advancements to drive progress, innovation, and economic growth. The agreement marks a new era in Indo-Nepal scientific collaboration, opening new avenues for joint research and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Resonate: The EDM Challenge

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Resonate: The EDM Challenge

    Pioneering the Next Wave of Electronic Music

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 3:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Pioneering the Next Wave of Electronic Music

    Introduction

    Resonate: The EDM Challenge is set to take centre stage at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), bringing together global talent in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) to celebrate innovation, creativity, and collaboration in music production and live performance. Organised by the Indian Music Industry (IMI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), this initiative is part of the “Create in India Challenge” and seeks to strengthen India’s status as a global centre for music fusion, electronic music, and DJing artistry.

    WAVES is built on four key pillars i.e. Broadcasting & Infotainment, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality), Digital Media & Innovation, and Films. The EDM Challenge is a part of the Broadcasting & Infotainment segment, which focuses on both traditional and evolving forms of information and entertainment delivery. This pillar prioritises content creation, empowers citizens through information, and explores new ways of taking music and entertainment to a global audience while adapting to the challenges of the 21st century.

    Taking place from 1-4 May 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre & Jio World Gardens, Mumbai, WAVES is a landmark platform designed to propel India’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry to greater heights. The summit will serve as a key forum for industry leaders, stakeholders, and creators to explore new opportunities, drive innovation, and shape the future of entertainment. At its core, the Create in India Challenges have already garnered over 73,000 registrations, fostering a dynamic environment for creative excellence. Through Resonate: The EDM Challenge, WAVES further cements India’s role in the global entertainment landscape.

    Eligibility and Participation Guidelines

    The competition is open to artists, composers, musicians, and performers from any country with prior experience in creating and producing Electronic Dance Music (EDM). The theme of the competition is “Resonate: The EDM Challenge” focusing on the use of Global music styles to create a cohesive and culturally rich musical piece.

    1. The last date to register for participation is 10th March, 2025.

     

    1. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

     

    1. Only individuals or creative teams (maximum of two members) may apply; corporate entities are not eligible.

     

    1. Each participant or team is allowed to submit only one application.

     

    1. Only human-created content is eligible; AI-generated music will not be considered.

     

    1. For a detailed understanding of the participation rules, please refer to the following link: Terms and Conditions.

     

    Challenge Format

     

     

    Submission Process

    1. Participants must email their participation interest to wavesatinfo@indianmi.org.
    1. Submission details must be provided using the designated template, available at the following link: Submission Template.

    Judging Criteria

     

    Prizes and Recognition

    References:

    Click here to see PDF:

    Santosh Kumar/ Ritu Kataria/ Saurabh Kalia

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Administration of estate of late Mrs Nina Wang

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ6: Administration of estate of late Mrs Nina Wang
    LCQ6: Administration of estate of late Mrs Nina Wang
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         Following is a question by the Hon Judy Chan and a reply by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in the Legislative Council today (February 19): Question:     The Department of Justice issued a statement last month, formally appointing Nina Wang Charity Management Limited as the trustee of the charitable trust of Mrs Wang’s estate. There are views that as it has almost been 10 years since the Court of Final Appeal handed down its judgment on the estate of over $140 billion, coupled with the high management fees of the charitable trust while yielding no social benefits, the trustee should release the estate for charitable purposes as soon as possible, particularly when the Government is facing a deficit and needs the support of the business sector to promote charitable causes. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether it knows the relevant expenses incurred in dealing with the management, legal proceedings, etc, of the aforesaid charitable trust since the Court of Final Appeal handed down its judgment in 2015; (2) when the authorities plan to announce the membership of the trustee’s board of governors, the scheme of administration for the estate, and other relevant information; and (3) how it supports the trustee in fulfilling its responsibilities, including assisting the trustee in manpower deployment and formulation of relevant budgets, so as to facilitate the trustee’s vetting and approval of charity projects, conduct of fundraising, and preparation for setting up a “fund and a Chinese prize of worldwide significance similar to that of the Nobel Prize” in accordance with Mrs Wang’s testamentary wishes? Reply: President,       In relation to the Estate, the Secretary for Justice (SJ) has been actively following up on the blueprint of the scheme for administration of the Estate (Scheme) as laid down in the judgment of the Court of Final Appeal dated May 18, 2015, as well as the subsequent legal proceedings, court orders and directions in the legal capacity of the protector of charities. On May 16, 2024, the court approved the Scheme submitted by the SJ. The SJ then made an application to the court to appoint Nina Wang Charity Management Limited as the Trustee of the charitable trust under Mrs Wang’s Estate, with the court’s approval granted on November 21, 2024. The SJ has also appointed three independent individuals, namely Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Mr Joseph Yam Chi-kwong and Mr Cheng Yan-kee, as members of the supervisory managing organisation (SMO) responsible for supervising the operation of the Trustee.      In relation to the Hon Judy Chan’s questions, I reply as follows: (1) The expenses incurred by the interim administrators in managing the Estate have been prescribed by the Court in the Appointment Order and are subject to the Court’s scrutiny. However, according to the court’s order, the relevant terms of the order are subject to confidentiality and cannot be disclosed without the court’s approval. The SJ in the capacity of the protector of charities will continue to follow up as appropriate so as to ensure that the interim administrators’ expenses are maintained at a reasonable level.      Regarding the expenses incurred in the related legal proceedings, we are unable to provide such information at this stage as the relevant legal proceedings are still ongoing, and the legal costs will have to be eventually taxed by the court. (2) As to when information regarding the composition of the Trustee’s board of governors, details of the Scheme and other information will be announced, according to the Scheme approved by the court, the Trustee will pursuant to the terms of the Scheme and its relevant Articles of Association disclose related information at a suitable time later. (3) The Trustee’s main duty is to implement the Court’s judgments and the relevant procedures under the Scheme. In view of the significant public interest involved, during the interim period the Department of Justice (DoJ) has been providing suitable support and assistance in respect of the preliminary work, including assisting the Trustee in forming its board of governors, so as to facilitate the Trustee to properly and expeditiously make use of the Estate for charitable purposes pursuant to the Scheme and the late Mrs Nina Wang’s wishes. Upon formal commencement of the Trustee’s operations, the same will be supervised, as I have mentioned earlier, by the SMO comprising three persons as provided for under the Scheme. The DoJ generally would not be directly involved with its operations unless necessary, but the SJ will, of course, in accordance with general legal principles continue to keep the matter in view in the capacity of the protector of charities, and exercise legal power to take appropriate actions when necessary.      The DoJ firmly believes that once the Trustee’s board of governors is established and commences its operations, the Trustee will do its utmost in administering the charitable trust under the supervision of the SMO, including considering to conduct independent auditing of the Trust assets, launching charitable projects, carrying out fundraising and establishing a “fund and a Chinese prize of worldwide significance similar to that of the Nobel Prize”, to fulfil Mrs Wang’s testamentary wishes and bring benefits to the country, including different sectors of Hong Kong society.      Thank you, President.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 17:38

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India is no longer just a follower; it is now leading the way in multiple fields: Dr. Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 3:04PM by PIB Delhi

    • India’s Space Sector Soars: From Chandrayaan-3 to Bharatiya Antariksh Station, Nation Emerges as a Global Leader in Space Exploration
    • India Leads Global Healthcare Innovation with DNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccine and First Herpesvirus Vaccine for Cervical Cancer
    • India’s Bioeconomy Booms: From $10 Billion to $140 Billion, Poised to Reach $250 Billion with Thriving Biotech Startups
    • India Pioneers Space Biology: Advancing Research in Space Medicine and Sustainable Life Beyond Earth
    • India’s Nuclear Energy Vision: 100 GW by 2047 to Drive Sustainability and Global Climate Leadership
    • India Rises as a Global Research Powerhouse, Poised to Lead the World in Scientific Publications by 2030
    • India’s Space Economy Poised for 10X Growth, Strengthening Global Leadership in Science and Bio-Manufacturing

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh has asserted that India is no longer just a follower but is now setting global benchmarks, offering leadership and pioneering innovations across sectors. He highlighted the remarkable advancements India has made in recent years, in the fields of space, biotechnology, and nuclear energy etc positioning itself as a key player on the world stage.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that India’s space sector has witnessed an unprecedented transformation, with a surge in ambitious missions and international collaborations. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) is a testament to India’s technological progress, paving the way for future space missions, including Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s upcoming international space station.

    India has also emerged as a preferred destination for satellite launches, earning global credibility. The nation has successfully launched 433 foreign satellites, of which 396 were deployed in the last decade alone, generating $157 million and €260 million in revenue from 2014-2023. The historic success of Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole, has positioned ISRO at the forefront of lunar exploration. The world’s leading space agencies, including NASA, are now awaiting India’s findings from the Moon’s southern pole, a milestone that underscores the nation’s rising dominance in space research.

    The Minister also highlighted India’s pioneering role in biotechnology and bioeconomy. India became the first country to develop a DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, demonstrating its leadership in vaccine research and development. Furthermore, India has introduced the first herpesvirus vaccine for cervical cancer, reinforcing its position as a leader in preventive healthcare.

    India’s bioeconomy has surged from $10 billion in 2014 to nearly $140 billion today, with projections to reach $250 billion in the coming years. The number of biotech startups has skyrocketed from just 50 in 2014 to nearly 9,000 today, making India a global hub for biotech innovation. In bio-manufacturing, India now ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region and 12th globally, with its influence expanding rapidly.

    India has also taken a bold step into space biology, laying the foundation for human survival beyond Earth. ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology have signed an MoU to advance space biotechnology research, focusing on growing plants in space to sustain long-term space missions. The study of space medicine and human physiology in extraterrestrial environments is becoming a critical area of research, and India is now setting global standards instead of just following them.

    India’s nuclear energy program, once met with scepticism, is now recognized for its peaceful and sustainable ambitions. The country has set an ambitious target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 50%, a commitment that is influencing global climate strategies. The world has now acknowledged India’s nuclear policy, which was envisioned by Homi Bhabha for peaceful purposes, as a model for responsible energy development.

    India’s scientific output is gaining global recognition, with the country now ranked fourth worldwide in scientific publications. Projections suggest that by 2030, India could surpass the United States to become the world’s top-ranked country in scientific research.

    India’s space economy is set to grow 5 to 10 times in the next decade, further solidifying its leadership. The nation’s rapid economic ascent is evident in its global rankings, including its 12th position in bio-manufacturing and fourth place in scientific research publications.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by emphasizing that India’s rise is no longer just about catching up but about setting the agenda for the world. “The clock has turned 360 degrees. Earlier, we learned from others; now, the world is looking up to us. The traffic is both ways,” he remarked.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area invites in-situ land exchange applications

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area invites in-situ land exchange applications
    Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area invites in-situ land exchange applications
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         The Lands Department (LandsD) issued today (February 19) Practice Note No. 2/2025 inviting in-situ land exchange applications for designated development sites within the Second Phase Development of Yuen Long South New Development Area (YLS NDA). The Practice Note is available on the department’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk), which provides the location of sites available for in-situ land exchange applications, application criteria and conditions, and application deadlines, etc.     In accordance with the in-situ land exchange arrangements for the Enhanced Conventional New Town Approach as revised and promulgated in 2023 (please refer to Practice Note No. 13/2023) and taking into account other relevant considerations, the land exchange applications in this round cover two sites planned for industry development (about 4.9 hectares in total) which are mainly for logistics and storage uses, etc.     The deadline for land exchange applications this round is May 19, 2025, while the deadline for acceptance of binding basic terms offer (with premium) is May 19, 2026. Applicants may choose standard rates for premium assessment, as an alternative to the conventional case-by-case assessment mechanism. The applicable level of standard rates will be announced later this year. If an application cannot be concluded within the specified deadline, the Government will proceed with land resumption and commencement of construction works in order not to delay the works programme of the entire YLS NDA.     The YLS NDA and the adjacent HSK/HT NDA, together with the existing Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai New Towns and the Lau Fau Shan/Tsim Bei Tsui/Pak Nai area under planning, are situated within the High-end Professional Services and Logistics Hub, one of the four major zones in the Northern Metropolis. This Hub can work with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and Nanshan District in Shenzhen in such areas as finance, professional services and logistics services, promoting and deepening high-end economic co-operation. The site formation and engineering infrastructure works for the First Phase Development of YLS NDA commenced in 2022, with the first batch of population intake targeted for 2029. Subject to funding approval by the Legislative Council, the site formation and engineering infrastructure works for the Second Phase Development is planned to commence from mid-2025.     According to the revised Recommended Outline Development Plan announced in 2020, the entire YLS NDA will provide about 32 900 housing units accommodating a population of about 98 700, and about 727 000 square metres of gross floor area for various industrial and commercial uses. Also, about 13 700 job opportunities will be created. The Government is now reviewing the development area, development intensity and housing provisions under the Third Phase Development of YLS NDA. The target to complete the review is within 2025.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 20:20

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and Nepal Deepen Science and Technology Partnershipwith New Agreement

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India and Nepal Deepen Science and Technology Partnershipwith New Agreement

    Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Sign MoU to Strengthen Indo-Nepal Scientific Cooperation

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 3:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Marking a significant milestone in Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation between India and Nepal, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18th February 2025 at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi.

    The agreement, signed and exchanged by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, and Secretary, DSIR, and Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor, NAST, establishes a broad framework to promote bilateral scientific and technological collaboration.

    MoU for S&T cooperation between CSIR, India and NAST, Nepal being exchanged by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR and Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor, NAST

    CSIR and NAST share a long history of cooperation, dating back to 1994, when an agreement between CSIR and then-RONAST (now NAST) was signed to promote joint research and technological development in areas of mutual interest. To execute the agreement, two Working Programmes were signed in 1997 and 2002, leading to the organization of several joint workshops and training programs that continued beyond the official period of these agreements.

    The newly signed MoU seeks to rejuvenate and expand this collaboration, enhancing scientific engagement between the two institutions.

    The renewed partnership under the 2025 MoU will be implemented through various collaborative activities, including the exchange of scientific information, research materials, and scientists, the organization of joint S&T seminars, workshops, and training programs, the execution of joint research projects, access to each other’s major research facilities, technology partnerships, and the twinning of institutions for capacity development. The cooperation will focus on mutually agreed areas, including biological sciences, food science and technology, water and environmental technologies, fuel and mining sciences, metallurgy, material sciences such as glass, ceramics, biomaterials, and nanotechnology, alternative energy, leather and footwear technologies, metrology, polymer sciences, and drug discovery.

    The apex-level meeting held during the signing was attended by senior leadership from CSIR, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and NAST. Discussions centred on the most effective modes of collaboration and key focus areas for joint research and development efforts. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR, emphasized CSIR’s keen interest in strengthening its technology and capacity-building partnerships with Nepal through NAST. She underscored the enormous untapped potential for collaboration in multiple sectors and stressed the importance of swiftly putting the MoU into action with a targeted implementation plan.

    Vice-Chancellor of NAST, Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, reaffirmed NAST’s commitment to this partnership, highlighting the value Nepal places on scientific cooperation with India. He noted that this MoU and the discussions held today would pave the way for a strengthened and enduring S&T relationship between the two nations. He also proposed the formation of subject-specific working groups to facilitate structured collaboration in priority areas.

    With the exchange of this MoU, CSIR and NAST have reaffirmed their shared vision of leveraging scientific and technological advancements to drive progress, innovation, and economic growth. The agreement marks a new era in Indo-Nepal scientific collaboration, opening new avenues for joint research and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Coal Organizes Roadshow on Opportunities in the Coal Sector & Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in Kolkata

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 2:58PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Coal successfully organized a Roadshow on ‘Opportunities in the Coal Sector & Commercial Coal Mine Auctions’ at Kolkata today. Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt was the chief guest and graced the occasion accompanied by Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority Ministry of Coal, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to supporting stakeholders. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders, showcasing the Government’s commitment to transforming the coal sector through progressive reforms and transparent policies.

    In her welcome addresses Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal reassured investors of the Ministry’s commitment to supporting them throughout the investment process. She emphasized the streamlined clearance processes and continuous enhancements to the ease of doing business in the sector. Ms. Brar stated that the Ministry is dedicated to ensuring a seamless investment journey for all stakeholders, backed by a transparent regulatory framework and accelerated project approvals. She also highlighted the Government of India’s progressive policies promoting coal gasification and underground mining to diversify coal utilization methods, reduce environmental impact, and enhance mining efficiency. She reiterated the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to good governance, maintaining the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency, while being open to dialogue, feedback, and collaboration with stakeholders.

    In his keynote address, Secretary, Ministry of Coal Shri Vikram Dev Dutt emphasized the Ministry’s vision to unlock the untapped potential of India’s coal resources. He highlighted how ongoing reforms are fostering sustainable growth and delivering mutual benefits to all stakeholders, ensuring that India’s coal sector remains a strong driver of economic growth and energy security. Shri Dutt also mentioned the Ministry’s active coordination with various State Governments and various Ministries, including the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to expedite early clearances and enhance logistical support through Ministry of Railways. Secretary, emphasized that underground mining will have its place in upcoming auctions, offering a sustainable and efficient approach to coal extraction while minimizing environmental impact.

    He urged private players to not just invest in mining but also contribute meaningfully to the communities they operate in. He emphasized that the industry owes much to society and should strive to set new benchmarks in afforestation, restoration, and welfare initiatives. “Our growth must be inclusive, and our progress must leave a lasting, positive impact on both people and the planet,” he affirmed.          

    The Roadshow featured comprehensive presentations on the upcoming commercial coal mine auctions, offering insights into investment prospects and policy frameworks. It also provided a platform for investors to engage with key decision-makers, explore new business avenues, and gain a deeper understanding of India’s evolving coal sector landscape.

    The event also served as an interactive platform for stakeholders, including industry leaders, potential investors, mining experts, and policymakers, to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities. Stakeholders were able to gain clarity on the auction process, better understand regulatory frameworks, and learn about investment incentives. This engagement reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly ecosystem, ensuring stakeholders can capitalize on the growing opportunities within the coal sector and contribute to India’s energy security and sustainable growth.

    The Roadshow in Kolkata marks a significant milestone in the Ministry of Coal’s efforts to unlock new avenues for investment and foster growth in India’s coal sector, further reinforcing the country’s position as a global leader in coal production.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tender awarded for site in Tung Chung

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Tender awarded for site in Tung Chung
    Tender awarded for site in Tung Chung
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         The Lands Department announced today (February 19) that the tender for a site, Tung Chung Town Lot No. 55 at Area 106B, Tung Chung, New Territories, has been awarded to the highest tenderer, Land Castle Limited (parent company: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited), on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $602,000,000.     The tenderers, other than the successful tenderer, in alphabetical order, with the name of the parent company where provided by the tenderer in brackets, were:(1) Able Best Limited;(2) Strong Associate Limited (K. Wah International Holdings Limited); and(3) Top Brilliant Limited (Sino Land Company Limited).     Tung Chung Town Lot No. 55 has a site area of about 10 648 square metres and is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area is 22 361 sq m, and the maximum gross floor area that may be attained is 37 268 sq m.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 17:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis and its four sub-committees

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government announced today (February 19) the appointment of non-official members to the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis (ACNM) and its four sub-committees for a new term of two years, from February 10, 2025, to February 9, 2027.
          
         The membership lists of the ACNM and its four sub-committees for the new term are at the Annex. The newly appointed members of the ACNM include Ms Cheng Jie, Mr Lee Shing-put, Mr Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, Mr Timothy Ma Kam-wah and Mr Simon Ng Ka-wing, who will also serve on the respective sub-committees under the ACNM. Additionally, Professor Karl Tsim Wah-keung is appointed as a new co-opted member of the Sub-committee on Development of Industries.
          
         The ACNM is chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan. The four sub-committees under the ACNM are the Sub‑committee on Planning, Land and Conservation; the Sub-committee on Development of Industries; the Sub-committee on Transport and Other Infrastructure; and the Sub-committee on Promotion and Public Engagement. The sub-committees aim to conduct in-depth discussions on relevant areas and provide recommendations.
          
         Mr Chan said, “The Northern Metropolis is a crucial component of Hong Kong’s social and economic development. It serves as the carrier of a new engine of economic growth, playing a pivotal role in advancing innovation and technology, deepening integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and dovetailing with the overall national development strategy. Also, the Northern Metropolis creates high-quality career opportunities and living environments for the public. The development of the Northern Metropolis has been advancing on all fronts at full speed. The valuable insights provided by the ACNM members are instrumental in our work.” He expressed gratitude to members of the last term for their contributions. He also looks forward to working closely with members of the new term to continue promoting the development of the Northern Metropolis.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Composite Interest Rate: End of January 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Composite Interest Rate: End of January 2025
    Composite Interest Rate: End of January 2025
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    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (February 19) the composite interest rate at the end of January 2025 (Note 1).           The composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, decreased by 8 basis points to 2.16 per cent at the end of January 2025, from 2.24 per cent at the end of December 2024 (see Chart 1 in the Annex). The decrease in composite interest rate reflected the decreases in the weighted funding cost for deposits and interbank funds during the month (see Chart 2 in the Annex) (Note 2).           The historical data of the composite interest rate from the end of the fourth quarter of 2003 to the end of January 2025 are available in the Monthly Statistical Bulletin on the HKMA website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Note 1: The composite interest rate is a weighted average interest rate of all Hong Kong dollar interest-rate-sensitive liabilities, which include deposits from customers, amounts due to banks, negotiable certificates of deposit and other debt instruments, and all other liabilities that do not involve any formal payment of interest but the values of which are sensitive to interest rate movements (such as Hong Kong dollar non-interest bearing demand deposits) on the books of banks. Data from retail banks, which account for about 90 per cent of the total customers’ deposits in the banking sector, are used in the calculation. It should be noted that the composite interest rate represents only average interest expenses. There are various other costs involved in the making of a loan, such as operating costs (e.g. staff and rental expenses), credit cost and hedging cost, which are not covered by the composite interest rate.Note 2: Since June 2019, the composite interest rate and weighted deposit rate have been calculated based on the new local “Interest rate risk in the banking book” (IRRBB) framework. As such, these figures are not strictly comparable with those of previous months.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Auglaize County of State of Ohio in US suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Import of poultry meat and products from Auglaize County of State of Ohio in US suspended
    Import of poultry meat and products from Auglaize County of State of Ohio in US suspended
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         ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Auglaize County of the State of Ohio in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 79 630 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 19.6 million poultry eggs from the US last year.     “The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on January 8

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on January 8
    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on January 8
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    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: (Approved for Issue by the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee on February 5, 2025) Report on Currency Board Operations (October 19 – December 24, 2024)———————————————————————————-     The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7656 – 7.7848 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated slightly in the first half of November amid a pullback of the local stock market, and then recovered in December. HKD interbank rates continued to track the USD rates while also being affected by local supply and demand. Meanwhile, following the decreases in the target range for the US federal funds rate in early November and mid-December, many banks reduced their Best Lending Rates by a total of 37.5 basis points, and the Best Lending Rates in the market ranged from 5.25 per cent – 5.75 per cent at the end of the review period. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.     ​The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,958.14 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.     ​The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities——————————————     The Sub-Committee noted that with the incoming US administration, uncertainties over US fiscal sustainability and trade policies, the future policy direction of the US Federal Reserve and the global economic outlook had increased considerably.     The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the introduction of a series of new policy measures since late-September 2024 had boosted asset market sentiment and led to some signs of improvement in the real economy moving into Q4 2024. At the Central Economic Work Conference and the Politburo Meeting in December 2024, the authorities further signalled more stimulus measures. However, the economic outlook was still subject to the tussle between the challenging external environment and domestic policy response. The renminbi exchange rate had remained relatively stable against the currency basket but had recently come under pressure against the USD amid a strengthening dollar, reversing the rally in August and September 2024.      ​     The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, the economy continued to grow but the momentum had softened in Q3 2024 amid subdued private consumption and decelerated growth of merchandise exports. Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s economy was expected to grow moderately in 2025, with downside risks stemming from the US policy rate path, global growth prospects, and the trade policies under the new US administration. Despite the sharp increase in housing market transactions in October and November 2024, market sentiment had softened in recent weeks amid increased concerns about a slower pace of US interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, the commercial real estate markets remained subdued especially in the office segment.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Complaints handled by Medical Council of Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):
     
    Question:
     
         This Council passed in 2018 the amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance, with the aim of improving the complaint investigation and disciplinary inquiry mechanism of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) to address the problem of a backlog of cases. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council if it knows:
     
    (1) the average time taken by MCHK to handle a complaint case at present, and the average processing times at the consideration stage by Preliminary Investigation Committee and the inquiry stage respectively;
     
    (2) the total number of complaint cases received by MCHK in each of the past five years and, among them, the respective numbers of cases in which inquiries were held and the complaints were determined to be substantiated, with a breakdown by the type of medical practitioners involved (i.e. private medical practitioners, medical practitioners employed by the Hospital Authority, as well as medical practitioners of the Department of Health); and
     
    (3) among the complaint cases handled by MCHK in each of the past five years, the respective numbers of cases in which the handling time was less than two years, two to four years, five to seven years, and eight years or more; among these cases, the shortest, longest and median time taken from the lodging of the complaint by the complainant to the completion of all procedures, and the main reasons for cases taking a longer time to handle (i.e. more than two years)?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
              
         Healthcare professions in Hong Kong observe the principle of professional autonomy. Their statutory regulatory bodies were established by legislations. They are responsible for the registration of professionals, and maintaining and uplifting relevant professional standard and conduct. These regulatory bodies must be accountable to the public in discharging their duties, ensuring that Hong Kong can maintain healthcare professional standards and safeguarding the broader interests of the community.
     
         The Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) is a statutory body established under the Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO) with the objectives of developing and facilitating medical professional competencies and standards, safeguarding ethical conduct and protecting patients. The MCHK is empowered by the MRO to regulate the medical profession, including handling the registration of medical practitioners, organising Licensing Examinations, formulating codes and guidelines for the profession, and conducting disciplinary inquiries against complaints made by members of the public in respect of professional misconduct of medical practitioners.
     
         Handling complaint cases is an important function of the MCHK. The mechanism of complaint investigation and disciplinary inquiries must be fair, impartial, transparent and efficient, in order to ensure healthcare professional standards and patients’ safety, and facilitate mutual trust between patients and healthcare professionals. The Government’s role is to ensure that the operation models of regulatory bodies keep up with time and the system work smoothly to meet the changing needs of society. To that end, the Government keeps the MRO under regular review to enable the MCHK to better carry out its various statutory functions, including the function of handling complaints, and propose amendments to the MRO to enhance the efficiency of the complaint-handling mechanism where necessary.
     
         With regard to the complaint-handling mechanism which was unable to operate effectively due to statutory limitations in the MRO, leading to a backlog of complaint cases, the Government proposed to amend the MRO in 2017 to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the mechanism. Newly introduced measures include setting up inquiry panels under the MCHK to conduct inquiries, increasing participation of lay persons in inquiry proceedings, and increasing the number of assessors. The legislative amendment was passed by the Legislative Council in 2018, enhancing the efficiency of the MCHK in handling complaints. After the legislative amendment, the number of inquiry cases heard per year increased from an average of 25 before 2018 to an average of 48 in the past five years, marking an increase of 90 per cent. The average time for processing a disciplinary inquiry case also dropped from around six years to an average of 3.5 years. 

         At present, the establishment of the MCHK Secretariat comprises 30 civil service posts, and contract staff are also engaged. The Government will review the services provided by the Secretariat for the MCHK from time to time, and increase its operational efficiency through various measures, such as increasing the use of information technology and organisational structure to better support the MCHK in discharging its statutory duties. The Government will also consider suitably increasing manpower and other resources for the Secretariat where necessary.
     
         In response to the Hon Chan Hoi-yan’s question, after consulting the MCHK Secretariat, the consolidated reply is as follows:
     
         In the past five years, the number of complaint cases the MCHK received per year ranged from around 500 to over 3 000. The number of cases requiring disciplinary inquiries and involving doctors in private practice and in the public sector, and the number of substantiated cases, are set out at Annex 1.
     
         The MCHK had concluded over 8 700 complaint cases in the past five years. The average time taken since receipt of complaints till conclusion of cases is 27 months. In 98 per cent of these cases, disciplinary procedures were completed within four years after receiving the complaint. Other cases that required longer processing time were usually more complex in nature, requiring time to examine relevant medical record(s), seek medical experts’ report(s), and consult legal advice, etc. Among these complaint cases, the Preliminary Investigation Committees (PICs) dismissed around 7 000 cases for being frivolous or complainant not providing further information, decided that no inquiry by an inquiry panel was to be held in around 1 500 cases, and referred three cases involving the physical and mental condition of the medical practitioner to the Health Committee for consideration. Disciplinary inquiries were required in only 221 cases, i.e. less than 3 per cent. Those some 8 700 concluded complaint cases, broken down by processing time, are set out at Annex 2.
     
         President, the Government will continue to strive for reforms to enhance healthcare quality and efficiency, including inviting major institutions in the Hong Kong healthcare sector to establish the Institute for Medical Advancement and Clinical Excellence last December as a professional platform to develop evidence-based clinical protocols and explore the feasibility of devising service quality and efficiency standards for healthcare services with the plan to consult the sector within this year. 
     
         Regulatory bodies of healthcare professions must also undergo constant reform to meet the expectation of the community. The Government will keep the operation of the MCHK under ongoing review, and is happy to listen to the views of different sectors.
     
         Thank you, President. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TRIFED signs MoUs with Meesho, IFCA & Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialisation

    Source: Government of India

    TRIFED signs MoUs with Meesho, IFCA & Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialisation

    The collaboration to promote livelihood generation of tribal community

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 1:29PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant move to transcend from B2C to B2B approach for tribal communities, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) has entered into a strategic partnership with Meesho, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) to facilitate tribal businesses. Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed on 18th February during the ongoing flagship event ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the National Capital being from 16 to 24 February 2025, marking a pivotal step in ensuring the implementation of the B2B approach and augmentation of the tribal product market.

    The principal objective of the MoU with Meesho is to facilitate the onboarding of tribal products onto their social commerce platform, accompanied by training and capacity-building initiatives for tribal suppliers. Whereas the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) will assist in establishing long-term collaborations with culinary professionals and hotel chains through their technology platform. Furthermore, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) has partnered with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) as the knowledge partner to conduct training and capacity building for artisans.

    These MoUs were exchanged by General Managers of TRIFED with Ms Prachi Bhuchar, Head of Public Policy & Government Affairs, Meesho, Chef Manjit Gill, IFCA and Dr. Ashutosh A. Murkute, Director, MGIRI respectively in the presence of Shri Ashish Chatterjee, Managing Director, TRIFED on various aspects leading to social economic development of tribal communities across the country. With this and several other ventures, TRIFED continues further with its efforts to enable the economic welfare of these communities and bring them closer towards mainstream development.

    President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu had inaugurated the festival on February 16, 2025 in the august presence of Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs; Shri Durga Das Uikey, MoS Tribal Affairs; Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, New Delhi.

     

    About TRIFED: TRIFED is an organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, dedicated to the socio-economic development of tribal communities through the marketing development of tribal products. TRIFED has been organising “Aadi Mahotsav – National Tribal Festival” to provide direct market access to the tribal master-craftsmen and women in large metros and State capitals. The theme of the festival is “A Celebration of the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Tribal Craft, Culture, Cuisine and Commerce”, which represents the basic ethos of tribal life.

    About Meesho: Meesho is an Indian e-commerce platform that primarily focuses on social commerce. It allows individuals and small businesses to sell products online through their portal and often through social media channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The platform provides a wide range of products including clothing, accessories, home goods, and more.

    About IFCA: The Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) is a professional organization dedicated to the development and promotion of the culinary arts in India. It serves as a national body that represents the interests of chefs and culinary professionals across the country. The IFCA works to advance the culinary profession through education, networking, and collaboration among chefs, culinary educators, and the hospitality industry.

    About MGIRI:

    *The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) is an institution in India dedicated to promoting rural industrialization. It was established to carry forward the vision of Mahatma Gandhi regarding sustainable rural development and self-reliance through the promotion of small-scale and cottage industries.

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    Pawan Singh Faujdar/Divyanshu Kumar

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Monitoring of public organisations

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):Question:     There are views pointing out that the Reports of the Director of Audit (the Reports) in recent years have revealed the governance problems of quite a number of public organisations, and this has aroused concerns about the Government’s ability to monitor public organisations. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) as it has been reported that, to the Director of Audit’s surprise, the arrangements concerning claims for allowances as put in place by some organisations receiving subventions from government funds are contrary to government guidelines, whether the authorities will review how to enhance the monitoring of such organisations, so as to comply with the guidelines on the governance of public organisations in respect of a key element therein relating to robust internal control as well as reporting and monitoring mechanisms;(2) as it has been reported that the Audit Commission will place more emphasis on conducting audits on public organisations, funds and social welfare organisations in the future, of the details of the specific work plan; whether the organisations concerned include statutory bodies such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, which receive relatively substantial government subventions; and(3) of the number of public organisations which needed to improve their governance in the light of the recommendations made in the Reports in the past five years, and whether it has looked into the average time taken by such organisations to implement the relevant improvement measures; whether it will step up efforts in monitoring the progress of the relevant work of public organisations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?Reply:President,     Thank you Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong for the question, offering me a chance to talk about the monitoring of public organisations. The Government attaches great importance to good corporate governance of public organisations and monitors these organisations under a multi-pronged approach. Enhancing corporate governance of public organisations not only uplifts their overall efficiency and cost effectiveness, but also plays an integral role in facilitating effective implementation of the organisations’ policies and work objectives. Generally speaking, while respecting the need for public organisations to maintain flexibility in operation and its independence, the Government considers the objectives of setting up the organisations and the powers conferred on them, and formulates regulatory mechanisms for these organisations as appropriate and necessary. Detailed arrangements are mapped out by the relevant bureaux.      In consultation with the Administration Wing and the Audit Commission (AUD), our reply to Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong’s question is as follows: (1) Public organisations should devise a proper governance framework, having regard to the size of the public organsations, the nature of their work and relevant Ordinances. The relevant bureaux should also ensure that a good governance framework is in place in the organisations under their purview. Such arrangements generally consist of the following elements: (i) To set clear work objectives;(ii) To make a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between the Government, the governing body and the senior management of the public organisation; and(iii) To put in place robust internal monitoring and reporting systems.     Bureaux also appoint appropriate personnel (e.g. those with relevant experience and professional knowledge) to the governing bodies of the public organisations, with a view to monitoring the organisations in an effective manner.     In terms of financial control, subvented organisations are required to prepare a budget annually and submit audited financial accounts to the Government. Where necessary, the Government may include the relevant organisations into the scope of audit by the AUD having regard to the actual circumstances. The subvented organisations should also develop comprehensive understanding of the relevant guidelines pertaining to the management and control of government funding, put in place an appropriate system of cost control and monitoring, and abide by the principle of financial prudence with a view to ensuring proper use of public money and cost-effectiveness. The relevant bureaux will also formulate appropriate monitoring measures, such as drawing up service level agreements and setting out consequences of non-compliance with the responsibilities therein, to maintain effective supervision. This will be done having regard to the organisations’ individual targets, nature and circumstances.     Where the Director of Audit (the Director) selects individual public organisations for conducting Value for Money (VFM) audits, the respective bureaux/Controlling Officers (COs) should give their full co-operation and supervise the public organisations under their purview in implementing the audit recommendations conscientiously. They should also review how to strengthen monitoring of the relevant organisations in accordance with the elements of robust internal control and reporting/monitoring systems as set out in the guidelines on governance of public organisations.      In a nutshell, the Government has strived to enhance the governance of public organisations on various fronts. Bureaux will conduct reviews on the governance of public organisations under their purview from time to time to ensure their effective operation and good governance.(2) The AUD conducts VFM audits on a wide range of subjects, with a view to ensuring proper use of public money. In addition to bureaux and departments, the AUD may conduct audits on various bodies such as public organisations, funds and social welfare organisations, having regard to the following circumstances: (i) The body receives more than half of its income from public money; (ii) The Director is empowered under an Ordinance to audit the accounts of the body and there are currently 23 such bodies. The Director reviews and conducts audits on the economy and efficiency with which these bodies have used their resources in performing their functions and exercising their powers; (iii) The Chief Executive authorises the Director to audit the accounts and records of the body in the public interest; or(iv) By virtue of an agreement made between the Government and the individual body, the Director is empowered to audit the body’s accounts and records. Examples include social welfare organisations funded under the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System.     As the Hong Kong Trade Development Council does not meet the above criteria, it does not fall into the Director’s scope of audit.     In selecting VFM audit projects and according priorities, the Director takes into account a number of factors, including the materiality of projects, their timeliness, the public money and risks involved, and the benefits to be brought about. Until the reports are tabled in the Legislative Council (LegCo), the issues under the AUD’s investigation are confidential. Therefore, we cannot disclose the specific work plans. (3) Among the 10 reports which the Director prepared from 2020 to 2024, 12 chapters involved audit recommendations for 12 public organisations to improve their governance. Of these public organisations, six have fully implemented the recommendations made by the AUD and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of LegCo. On average, it takes about 1.5 years for the said organisations to implement all the recommendations.     The Government makes regular reports to the LegCo implementation progress of various recommendations in the form of Government Minutes and Annual Progress Reports. In addition to efforts by the relevant bureaux/COs in monitoring their public organisations in implementing audit recommendations seriously and expeditiously, the AUD would also discuss with the PAC the progress of audited organisations (including public organisations) in implementing the recommendations.      Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Defence Secretary co-chairs 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur

    Source: Government of India

    Defence Secretary co-chairs 13th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur

    Both countries enhance cooperation in domains of defence industry, maritime security, multilateral engagements & emerging areas

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 12:49PM by PIB Delhi

    The 13th meeting of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) took place in Kuala Lumpur on February 19, 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary General of Ministry of Defence, Malaysia Mr Lokman Hakim Bin Ali. Both sides expressed happiness at the growing bilateral defence cooperation with regular engagements between the two Armed Forces in recent years.

    The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on effective & practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements and regional & global issues. Both chairs identified steps to further enhance cooperation in emerging areas such as cyber security and AI. They identified ways to deepen existing collaboration, particularly in the defence industry, maritime security, and multilateral engagements. They agreed to form a joint focus group to address non-traditional maritime security threats.

    Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the new initiatives under the defence pillar of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s visit to India in August 2024.

    India and Malaysia also exchanged the finalised Terms of Reference (ToR) on the establishment of Strategic Affairs Working Group. This forum will act as a consultative mechanism intermediate between the MIDCOM and the two sub-committees to progress all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation.

    Both sides also exchanged the finalised ToR on the establishment of Su-30 forum as an outcome of MIDCOM. Su-30 Forum will enable closer cooperation between the two Air Forces in exchanging expertise and best practices in Su-30 maintenance.

    The Defence Secretary highlighted the capability of the Indian defence industry, particularly its potential to collaborate with the Malaysian companies and the Armed Forces in their capability enhancement and modernisation. He congratulated Malaysia on assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and wished MoD, Malaysia the best for conduct of ADMM Plus and ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting meetings this year.

    India supports ASEAN centrality and unity, which is a crucial element of India’s Indo-Pacific Vision. The Defence Secretary reiterated India’s support to Malaysia’s endeavours as ASEAN chair in promoting a stronger, unified, and prosperous ASEAN that plays a central role in shaping the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.

    India considers Malaysia as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific as Malaysia lies at the confluence of three key foreign policy visions i.e. Act East Policy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

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    SR/Savvy

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly embraces National eVidhan Application

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 12:38PM by PIB Delhi

    The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has embraced the National eVidhan Application (NeVA) and become a Digital House.

    The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami and Speaker Smt. Ritu Khanduri inaugurated the National eVidhan Application in the Assembly. The Governor of Uttarakhand, Shri Gurmit Singh also graced the event.

    ***

    SS/ISA

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Burglary crimes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuet-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):Question:      Some members of the public have relayed that there has been an increase in the number of burglary crimes targeting low-density residential properties and shops in rural areas and suburbs, and the situation is even worse near Chinese New Year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the numbers and detection rates of burglary crimes in each of the past five years, with a tabulated breakdown by the 18 districts in Hong Kong; the numbers of persons convicted of such crimes and, among them, the respective numbers of those who were minors and non-Hong Kong residents; (2) of the details of both the publicity activities on the prevention of burglary and joint operations against burglary crimes conducted by the Hong Kong Police Force in the whole year of 2024, as well as the effectiveness of such efforts; (3) of the details of the publicity activities conducted by the Fight Crime Committee and District Fight Crime Committees on the prevention of burglary in the whole year of 2024; and (4) whether the Government will review the existing mechanism on the prevention of burglary crimes, including whether it will consider installing smart lampposts fitted with cameras and subsidising village offices to install closed-circuit television monitoring systems or other appropriate alarm devices at major entrances and exits of villages so as to deter law-breakers? Reply: President,      The Police pay close attention to burglary cases which occurred in different locations and premises. In addition to actively taking measures against such crimes, the Police have been providing home security and anti-burglary advice to the public through various channels.      After consultation with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Home Affairs Department, our consolidated reply to the Member’s question is set out below: (1) The number of burglary cases and detection rates by Police Districts in the past five years (from 2020 to 2024) are set out in Annex I.      Regarding the number of persons convicted, the number of persons convicted of burglary-related offences (i.e. burglary under section 11 and aggravated burglary under section 12 of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210)) and, among them, the number of those who were minors or not holders of Hong Kong Identity Cards at the time of their first appearance, from 2020 to the third quarter of 2024, are set out in Annex II. (2) The Police adopt a multi-pronged approach to enhance the prevention and combating of burglary cases. In terms of enforcement, the Police have stepped up intelligence gathering and adopted an intelligence-led approach. They have increased high-profile patrols and stop-and-search operations in high-risk areas, such as village houses. Additionally, drones and helicopters from the Government Flying Service are deployed for nighttime aerial patrols and the pursuit of burglars. Roadblocks are also set up at different times and locations to stop and search suspicious vehicles or individuals, thereby enhancing deterrence.      On the publicity front, to enhance public awareness, the Police have launched a one-stop platform, SafeCity.HK, to provide the public with crime prevention tips, including information on burglary prevention. The Police also conduct publicity through various channels, such as social media platforms, press conferences, OffBeat 360 and Offbeat 120s, to share with the public ways to enhance home security and encourage them to report to the Police any suspicious persons or behavior. The Police also organise regular seminars for different sectors (for example, members of the property management and security sectors, the retail industry, and so on) and distribute anti-burglary pamphlets to the public in conjunction with District Councils, Rural Committees, Area Committees and property management companies to enhance anti-burglary awareness from different perspectives.      As a result of the Police’s vigorous efforts in combating burglary, the situation of burglary cases has improved significantly. In 2024, 1 220 burglary cases were reported, representing a decrease of 134 cases or 9.9 per cent compared to 2023, and the amount of loss was also reduced by 48 million Hong Kong Dollars or 25.5 per cent. The Police will continue with its related work, such as stepping up publicity during high-risk periods, such as the Chinese New Year and long holiday periods (e.g. using the Anti-crime Promotional Truck to visit different districts across the territory) to educate the public on the importance of and ways to prevent theft. (3) In response to burglary cases, the Fight Crime Committee (FCC) has adopted Beware of Burglary and Theft as the theme of one of its anti-crime publicity campaigns in 2024-25. The campaign will be launched through various media, including online advertisements and distribution of publicity materials such as door and window alarms, to remind members of the public to step up their home security to prevent burglary and theft.      As for the District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs), various DFCCs organised different publicity campaigns under the theme of Beware of Burglary and Theft in 2024, such as carnivals, seminars and design competitions; distribution of promotional souvenirs, leaflets, banners, etc; and placing advertisements on the backs of minibus chairs and on the lightboxes of bus shelters. The aim is to integrate messages about preventing burglary and theft into various aspects of citizens’ daily lives at the district level. (4) To further enhance law and order and combat crime in a comprehensive manner, the Police Force has started installing closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in various districts (including rural areas) in Hong Kong since April 2024. The installation points are located at traditional lampposts, smart lampposts and government buildings. 615 sets of cameras have been installed by the end of last year, with the first phase of installation to be completed within 2025 with a total of 2 000 sets of cameras. As at the end of 2024, the system has assisted the Police in detecting 122 cases, including serious crimes such as murder, robbery and burglary, with 202 arrests. Of the 16 burglary cases detected with the assistance of CCTV, half of them (eight cases) were solved within one day, demonstrating that CCTV has not only made investigations more effective, but has also greatly enhanced the efficiency of crime detection.      Apart from assisting in crime detection, CCTV also has a deterrent effect on criminal behavior. In order to understand the relevant data, the Police have analysed the number of street crime cases for various types of crimes and found that they have dropped after the installation of CCTV. This shows that the scheme has brought about a very positive effect on crime prevention and elimination. The Police will progressively install CCTVs according to the crime rate or pedestrian flow of individual districts and locations (including rural areas), with a view to maximising the effectiveness of CCTVs in preventing and combating crime.      In addition, the Police, in conjunction with the DFCCs, have also encouraged and assisted in the installation of CCTV systems in old low-security buildings. Police Districts also distribute door and window alarms to rural residents, so as to enhance the security level of residential premises.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India organises an open house discussion on ‘Ensuring privacy and human rights in the digital era: A focus on corporate digital responsibility’

    Source: Government of India

    NHRC, India organises an open house discussion on ‘Ensuring privacy and human rights in the digital era: A focus on corporate digital responsibility’

    NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian emphasises the need for safeguarding privacy as a human right in the digital world

    Cautions against the consequences of the significant decline in value systems

    NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi raises concerns over the lack of digital literacy in the financial transactions

    Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal says, protecting people’s privacy online is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders

    Among various key suggestions, simplifying the user agreements and policy frameworks to enhance consumer understanding and control over personal data highlighted

    Establishing clear accountability structures for data breaches, especially for research institutions and third-party data processors also emphasised

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 12:25PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised an open house discussion in hybrid mode on ‘Ensuring privacy and human rights in the digital era: A focus on corporate digital responsibility’ at its premises. It was chaired by the Chairperson, Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian in the presence of Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, senior officers, domain experts, industry representatives among others.

    Addressing the participants, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian emphasised that safeguarding privacy as a human right in the digital world is necessary. The technological advancements should align with fundamental human rights and privacy protections. The responsibility must begin with the individual user. He highlighted that maintaining digital hygiene is crucial. He also pointed out the significant decline in value systems, cautioning that one must bear the consequences of this shift.

    He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fostering inclusive discussions on digital rights and corporate accountability for developing a robust regulatory framework that balances innovation, security, and individual privacy.

    NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi raised concerns regarding the lack of digital literacy which make many people dependent on others who may dupe them. He said that simplifying the processes of digital technology to maximise its safe usage by the common people in the country.

    Before this, NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal while setting the agenda for discussion, gave the objective of this discussion on an important emerging issue i.e. ‘Ensuring privacy and human rights in the digital era: A focus on corporate digital responsibility’. He gave an overview of three sub-themes: ‘Establishing a proper regulatory framework and compliance mechanism’, ‘Building a culture of data privacy’, and ‘Identifying threats and best practices’. Citing data from 2023, he mentioned that over 20% of global data is generated in India whereas it has only about 3% of the storage capacity requiring a major role for Indian corporates. He said that while the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and other regulations are in place, the challenges in the digital age are increasing. The draft rules have been notified and consultation process is going on. He also said that collection, storage and processing of personal data ‘brings’ huge responsibility of entities and they keep this data as a ‘trustee’. Any breach of trust in this trusteeship, is unacceptable. He stressed that protecting people’s privacy online is a collective responsibility requiring joint efforts from individuals, private sectors which plays a major role and the government and its agencies.

    The meeting extensively discussed the intensity of the problem that arises due to misuse of data and data breaches. Further, several key provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 were also discussed.

    Data Usage and Privacy Concerns

    The participants raised concerns over the extensive control exerted by global technology companies on user data, which complicates regulatory enforcement. Law enforcement agencies often face challenges in accessing critical data due to data storage in offshore centres. Additionally, the increasing reliance on digital platforms makes maintaining individual privacy more challenging.

    Cyber Law and Regulatory Framework

    Discussions also highlighted the gaps in the draft data protection rules, including the requirement to report data breaches within 72 hours and the accountability of research institutions handling personal data. The Government representatives highlighted ongoing consultations on data protection regulations, particularly the introduction of the Right to Nomination to enhance data privacy rights.

    Corporate Digital Responsibility

    The Corporate representatives shared best practices in data protection, digital well-being, and compliance-by-design strategies. However, they also highlighted operational challenges, particularly in navigating complex multi-layered digital operations. Companies transitioning from a low digital penetration environment to a structured data protection framework emphasised the need for regulatory flexibility to accommodate evolving business models and global compliance requirements such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union. Referring to the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, the corporate stakeholders said that it should include explicit penal provisions for non-compliance and guidelines for obtaining verifiable parental consent for minors.

    Consumer Rights and Policy Simplification

    The participants noted that consumers have limited choices in consenting to data collection, as many business models mandate data sharing. The existing Do-Not-Disturb (DND) mechanism by TRAI was deemed ineffective.

    The participants included Shri Shailendra Trivedi, Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Information Technology, Reserve Bank of India, Shri Deepak Goel, Group Coordinator (Cyber Law), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ankur Rastogi, Principle Project Engineering, EGSTM, Centre For Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Shri Sanjoy Bhattacharjee, Chief Data Officer, HDFC Bank, Shri Ajay Gupta, Executive Director, ICICI Bank, Shri Soumendra Mattagajasingh, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, ICICI Bank, Shri Rajiv Kumar Gupta, President, PB Fintech, Policy Bazaar, Shri Sameer Bajaj, Head of Communication & Corporate Affairs, MakeMyTrip, Shri Ashish Aggarwal, Vice President and Head of Policy, NASSCOM, Dr Muktesh Chander, NHRC Special Monitor, Cyber Crime and Artificial Intelligence, Shri Tanveer Hasan A K, Executive Director, Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) in India and Shri Sameer Kochhar, President SKOCH Development Foundation, NHRC, India Registrar (Law), Joginder Singh, Director, Lt Col Virender Singh among others.

    Some of the important suggestions that emanated from the discussion included;

    • Simplify the user agreements and policy frameworks to enhance consumer understanding and control over personal data;
    • Establish clear accountability structures for data breaches, especially for research institutions and third-party data processors;
    • Strengthen user consent frameworks for greater transparency and informed decision-making;
    • Define the mandate and composition of the proposed Data Protection Board;
    • Develop a localised approach to data privacy regulations to support small businesses while addressing India-specific challenges;
    • Encourage companies to integrate privacy-by-design principles in digital operations;
    • Enhance consumer awareness through targeted digital privacy and cybersecurity literacy programmes;
    • Have explicit penal provisions for non-compliance;
    • Need for bilateral agreements to address cross-border security and data-sharing concerns;
    • Address the challenges arising from strict data localisation mandates; and
    • Clear guidelines for obtaining verifiable parental consent for minors.

    ***

    NSK

    (Release ID: 2104596) Visitor Counter : 69

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ22: Planning for former Choi Hung Road Market

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):
     
    Question:

         It has been learnt that the Government closed the Choi Hung Road Market in Wong Tai Sin in 2022 to free up the site for other long-term development purposes, but so far the site has not been planned for any use. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has considered revitalising the former Choi Hung Road Market; if so, of the timetable and roadmap;

    (2) whether it will consider opening up the former Choi Hung Road Market to youth groups or non-profit-making district groups in the short term for the creation of music and art spaces as well as cultural and creative markets, so as to optimise the use of idle spaces; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (3) whether it will, in the long run, consider converting the former Choi Hung Road Market for the provision of dental clinics as well as leisure and cultural services facilities (e.g. libraries and study rooms) to cater for the needs of local residents; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,
         
         With regard to the overall planning of the Choi Hung Road (CHR) Playground, the CHR Sports Centre and the former CHR Market site, the Energizing Kowloon East Office (the Office) of the Development Bureau commenced the study and planning work in collaboration with relevant government departments including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Planning Department and the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD). The objective is to improve the recreational and sports facilities and integrate other uses under the principle of “single site, multiple use” to make better use of land resources and meet societal needs at the same time. After consultation with the relevant policy bureaux and departments, the reply to the questions is as follows:

    (1) and (3) The CHR Playground, the CHR Sports Centre and the former CHR Market are located in San Po Kong with a total site area of about 4.5 hectares. Taking into account the actual district situation, it is recommended to preserve the playground open space area as far as possible with enhancement to increase its attractiveness and inclusiveness. To gather creative design and ideas, the Office and the ArchSD co-organised the Design Competition for Redevelopment of Open Space at CHR Playground and would consider adopting some of the design ideas and concepts of the winning entry for the design of the redevelopment project. As for the CHR Sports Centre and the former market part, taking into account the advice from relevant policy bureaux and departments, it is proposed to develop a new integrated government complex under the principle of “single site, multiple use” to reprovision and upgrade the existing recreational and sports facilities and to introduce some new services. The Office consulted the Wong Tai Sin District Council and other members of the local community on the preliminary proposals of the redevelopment project in February 2023 and incorporated the relevant comments. In terms of recreational and sports facilities, under the latest design, the sports centre facilities which will be reprovisioned and upgraded include an indoor multi-purpose arena, badminton courts, a multi-function activity room, a children’s play room, a table tennis room, a dance room and a fitness room, and a new indoor futsal-cum-handball court. The integrated complex will also provide space for welfare facilities (including elderly and child care centres) and set up the Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre as a hub to provide and co-ordinate primary healthcare services of the district. A public vehicle park will be provided in the redevelopment project and the existing San Po Kong Public Library will also be reprovisioned in the integrated complex so as to upgrade the services and facilities of the library. The relevant preliminary studies for the project have been completed. The Office is liaising with concerned departments on details of commencing the relevant town planning procedures to prepare for the project implementation.

    (2) The CHR Playground and the CHR Sports Centre are still in operation while the CHR Market was closed in March 2022. To optimise the use of resources, following the established procedures, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has identified appropriate alternative user departments to use the premises. Currently, part of the premises is separately used by the FEHD for temporary storage purpose and by the Transport Department for temporary storage of seized bicycles that were illegal parked or abandoned.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):

    Question:

         The Government has launched the three-year Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (the Scheme) from November 13 2023 to provide subsidised diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening services in the private healthcare sector to Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the following information on the participants since the launch of the Scheme: (i) the number of participants, as well as the distribution of their gender, age and respective District Health Centres (DHCs) and DHC Expresses and, among them, the respective numbers of participants who (ii) have completed DM and HT screening, (iii) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT, and have entered the treatment stage, and (iv) have been arranged by their family doctors to receive a one-off internal medicine specialist consultation at the Hospital Authority through the bi-directional referral mechanism;

    (2) of the following information on the participating family doctors and family doctors’ service points (service points) since the launch of the Scheme: (i) the number of family doctors, (ii) the number and geographical distribution of service points, and (iii) the number of family doctors and service points that can pair participants with a family doctor at the clinic and are open for direct enrolment to the Scheme;

    (3) as it is learnt that under the Scheme, the Government has recommended that family doctors should only charge participants a co-payment fee of $150 for each consultation during the treatment stage, whether the Government has compiled statistics on the respective numbers and proportions of family doctors and service points which are currently charging a co-payment fee of (i) $150 or less and (ii) over $150, as well as the highest co-payment fee;

    (4) as it is learnt that there is an imbalance between family doctors and service points participating in the Scheme and participants in some districts, resulting in members of the public having to seek medical treatment in other districts or giving up on participating in the Scheme, whether the Government has measures in place to rationalise the allocation of resources, including encouraging more family doctors and service points to participate in the Scheme;

    (5) as the Health Bureau announced on January 20 this year that the Scheme has introduced dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the district health network at over 40 service points across Hong Kong, of the number of participants who have received the additional services so far, together with a breakdown by type of service; whether it has plans to further introduce service points in the 18 districts across the territory; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (6) given that the 2024 Policy Address has proposed to expand the Scheme to cover blood lipid testing within this year, of the specific implementation timetable and work progress concerned; whether it will further expand the Scheme to cover other tests and diseases, such as cholesterol check and osteoporosis; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (7) whether the various service performance indicators of the Scheme since its launch have met the Government’s expectations; how the Government will step up publicity to attract more target members of the public to participate in the Scheme?

    Reply:

    President,

         The Government launched the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) in November 2023, which is the first major initiative under the Primary Healthcare Blueprint. The Scheme provides Government-subsidised diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening and doctor consultation services to Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT, with the aim to encourage citizens to receive early screening in order to get a better understanding of their own health status, so as to achieve the objectives of early prevention, early identification and early treatment.

         In consultation with the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission), the replies to the respective parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung are as follows:

    (1) and (6) As at February 13, 2025, the number of participants in the CDCC Pilot Scheme has exceeded 100 000 (about 101 800) (see Annex I), of which around 58 700 participants have completed the screenings for DM and HT, and around 23 500 of them (i.e. nearly 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes (note), DM or HT. The latter patients can proceed to the treatment phase and will be subsidised by the Government to continue their treatment with self-selected family doctors by shouldering certain co-payment amount under a co-payment model, and subject to their health conditions, be offered prescribed medication, and follow-up care at nurse clinics and allied health services. In addition, the Government has established a bi-directional referral mechanism with the Hospital Authority (HA) under the CDCC Pilot Scheme. Family doctors can refer participants with clinical needs to receive a one-off specialist consultation at a designated Medicine Specialist Out-patient Clinic of the HA according to clinical diagnosis and pre-defined criteria and guidelines. 29 participants have received one-off specialist consultation at the HA through the mechanism. 

         The Government noted that there is a higher proportion of women among participants. As at December 31, 2024, about 67 per cent of the participants were female and 33 per cent were male, with around 70 per cent of participants aged between 45 and 64. In view of the relatively low proportion of male participants, various District Health Centres / District Health Centre Expresses (collectively DHCs) are enhancing their promotional efforts focusing on men, including stepping up promotional efforts targeting at practitioners of particular industries such as transport, construction and catering, and arranging promotional activities on non-working days, especially Sundays.

         The Government regularly reviews primary healthcare services and the service scope of the CDCC Pilot Scheme based on scientific evidence and resource utilisation considerations. The Government is actively planning to expand the CDCC Pilot Scheme in 2025 to cover blood lipid testing for eligible participants, allowing a more comprehensive approach to the assessment and proper management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including the “three highs” (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol). Details will be announced in due course. There is currently no sufficient scientific evidence to support the recommendation that routine screening for osteoporosis among persons at average risk is effective or cost-effective. In light of this, the Government has no plan to provide osteoporosis screening services to the public at the moment. At the health management and promotion level, the DHCs will continue to organise educational activities to promote prevention of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture, and collaborate with different community organisations and healthcare service providers to provide information or make referrals for those interested or in need of osteoporosis services.

         As mentioned in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, local studies have shown that the healthcare system can achieve savings in healthcare expenses and reduce the burden of disease through the provision of subsidised screening and management services for DM management to suitable patients. The CDCC Pilot Scheme is a pilot scheme that encourage eligible citizens to undergo screening for DM and HT, two common chronic diseases, so that hidden patients of chronic diseases can be detected at an early stage, and their complications can be treated and prevented as early as possible, thereby reducing the need for hospitalisation. In order to further examine the effectiveness of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, the Government commissioned a local university in the first quarter of 2024 to conduct a study to assess the extent to which the objectives of the Scheme are met and the overall performance, including the service quality, effectiveness, as well as the cost-effectiveness. The Government will review the service model and operational details of the CDCC Pilot Scheme in a timely manner and make enhancements as necessary to ensure its effectiveness.

    (2), (3) and (4) Family doctors are generally supportive of the CDCC Pilot Scheme. As at February 13, 2025, there are 599 family doctors (at 785 service points) participating in the CDCC Pilot Scheme, of which 182 family doctors (at 218 service points) offer direct patient enrolment at their clinics. 

         Of the participating service points, two-thirds (530 service points) charge co-payment at the Government-recommended consultation co-payment fee of $150 or below. The number of family doctors’ service points, the distribution of districts and the range of co-payment set by the family doctors are set out in Annex II. 

         At present, all districts in Hong Kong have a certain number of family doctor service points. CDCC Pilot Scheme participants can, according to their own needs, choose to go to a service point near their place of residence, workplace or any other suitable service point to match with a family doctor for screening and follow-up services in a flexible manner, and hence the number of enrolled participants across districts may not align with the distribution of family doctor service points. The PHC Commission will continue to strive to increase the number of family doctor service points in various districts, with a view to providing the public with more choices and enhancing their convenience and flexibility in seeking treatment. In this connection, the PHC Commission has organised five webinars to promote and introduce the CDCC Pilot Scheme to family doctors, and actively invited family doctors/clinics, in particular, doctors who enrolled in the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme and those enlisted in the Primary Care Directory, to participate in the Scheme. The PHC Commission and the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians co-organised the World Family Doctor Day Symposium 2024 on May 18, 2024, to share and discuss with healthcare professionals the promotion of primary healthcare services in a concerted manner. The Symposium also highlighted the enhancements introduced by the Government to support family doctors in providing necessary care to CDCC Pilot Scheme participants, and successfully encouraged more doctors to join the Scheme.

         Furthermore, the Government has been optimising the operational details of the Scheme by streamlining various administrative procedures and workflow, with a view to enhancing the family doctors; ease of operation of the system. Moreover, to increase the flexibility of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, starting from March 2024, members of the public can choose to directly enrol at certain participating clinics of the CDCC Pilot Scheme to pair with a family doctor in the clinic for screening. In addition, having reviewed the actual needs of participants, the Government has expanded the basic-tier drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme since August 2024 to increase the coverage of its basic-tier drugs from 43 items at the initial stage to 59 drug items, providing family doctors with greater flexibility in prescribing drugs according to the clinical needs of participants.

    (5) In order to provide a broader scope of healthcare services with better coherence to the CDCC Pilot Scheme participants, dedicated nurse clinic and allied health (including optometrists, physiotherapists and dietitians) services were introduced on January 20, 2025. Nurse clinic and allied health services are referral-based. Family doctors or the DHCs will make referrals based on the health needs of CDCC Pilot Scheme participants for suitable treatment and follow-up care. Nurse clinics are generally able to handle most cases effectively and their service points cover Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, whereas allied health services mainly focus on patients with specific clinical needs or complex medical conditions, and thus it is not necessary to establish service points in all districts. In less than a month since the introduction of the relevant services, 47 CDCC Pilot Scheme participants have already made appointments for relevant services, of which 33 have received services (see Annex III).

         The dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services will be rolled out in phases, with the first phase to provide services to CDCC Pilot Scheme participants. Other members of the DHCs who are not participating in the CDCC Pilot Scheme will receive dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under a co-payment model in the next phase, with details to be announced later.

     (7) Since the launch of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, the Government has promoted the CDCC Pilot Scheme through various channels, among which the DHCs play an important role. In addition to inviting existing eligible members to participate in the CDCC Pilot Scheme, the DHCs also organise large-scale promotional activities in respective districts and strengthen connection with the public through community outreach activities, mobile outreach vehicles and promotional booths in community complexes. The DHCs have been actively co-operating with community service partners, such as the District Services and Community Care Teams to organise community activities to recruit eligible individuals to become Scheme participants. 

         At the same time, the Government has also been carrying out other forms of publicity activities to promote the CDCC Pilot Scheme through various television and media channels, and providing the public and healthcare service providers with latest information of the CDCC Pilot Scheme through various communication platforms (such as website, telephone hotline, posters and brochures, electronic newsletters and online briefings). 

    Note: Prediabetes with glycated haemoglobin level of 6.0 to 6.4 per cent or fasting plasma glucose level of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Examination toppers participate in 8th episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 12:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The insightful discussions initiated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the inaugural episode of the 8th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha culminated with the eighth and final episode, where eight young achievers engaged with students. They were Radhika Singhal (CBSE topper 2022-23); Shuchismita Adhikari (ISC Exam topper 2024); Brahmacharimayum Nistha (PPC anchor & MBBS student, Manipur University); Ashish Kumar Verma (PPC anchor & IIT Delhi student); Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy (IIT JEE Advanced AIR – 1, 2023); Jai Kumar Bohara (CLAT AIR – 1, 2024); Armanpreet Singh (NDA AIR – 1, 2024); and Ishita Kishore (UPSC-CSE AIR – 1 2022).

    While interacting with the students, Nistha suggested revising previous years’ questions and learning to prioritize, as advised by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his book, emphasizing the importance of “becoming wise with revise.” Shuchismita encouraged focusing on preparation and advised writing down answers to help articulate learned concepts.

    Jai Kumar highlighted the need for personalized preparation strategies and recommended experimenting with different methods to find the best. He suggested studying for 25 minutes, taking a 5-minute break, and maintaining discipline in this routine. His key advice for students was to be ready to make sacrifices to achieve their goals.

    Armanpreet emphasized focusing on strengths, while Ishita stressed the importance of honesty and not being overpowered by fear. She also highlighted the significance of maintaining a balanced schedule—studying for 7-8 hours, pursuing hobbies for 1-2 hours, and ensuring adequate sleep.

    Radhika underscored the value of extracurricular activities in building confidence. Chidvilas shared tips for managing exam-related stress, suggesting activities such as indoor and outdoor games, reading, or listening to music between study sessions. He also encouraged students to remain happy but never complacent.

    Nistha reminisced about her experience anchoring Pariksha Pe Charcha, highlighting how it enhanced her communication and preparation skills, benefiting her exam readiness. Ashish shared his mantra of the “three wins”—spiritual, mental, and physical.

    Additionally, Ishita and Jai guided students through an interview masterclass, while Ashish conducted a session on question paper strategies, helping students prepare for life through structured time management.

    Students asked questions about board exam preparation, societal support, and mastering life skills. Participants from Japan and Dubai also asked questions to the guests. After the session, students reflected on their learning from the interaction with the panellists.

    To ensure comprehensive development, distinguished personalities from various fields—including sports icons, technical experts, toppers of competitive exams, entertainment industry professionals, and spiritual leaders—are enriching students with insights beyond textbooks. Each session provided students with essential tools and strategies to excel academically and personally.

    The eighth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2025, in its revamped and interactive format, has been receiving widespread appreciation from students, teachers, and parents across the nation. Breaking away from the traditional Town Hall format, this year’s edition commenced with an engaging session featuring Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the scenic Sunder Nursery, New Delhi, on 10th February 2025.

    In the inaugural episode, the Prime Minister interacted with 36 students from across the country, discussing insightful topics such as Nutrition and Wellness, Mastering Pressure, Challenging Oneself, The Art of Leadership, Beyond Books – 360º Growth, Finding Positives, and more. His valuable guidance offered students practical strategies to tackle academic challenges with confidence while fostering a growth mindset and holistic learning.

    Pariksha Pe Charcha has been a beacon of inspiration for students, empowering them with confidence and resilience to tackle academic and life challenges with a positive mindset.

    Link to watch the 1st episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5UhdwmEEls

    Link to watch the 2nd episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrW4c_ttmew

    Link to watch the 3rd episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgMzmDYShXw

    Link to watch the 4th episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CfR4-5v5mk

    Link to watch the 5th episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GD_SrxsAx8

    Link to watch the 6th episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhI6UbZJgEQ

    Link to watch the 7th episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Zg7B_o8So

    Link to watch the 8th episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR9BazO6Vfo

    *****

    MV/AK

    MOE/PPC/18 February 2025/12

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 18 FEB 2025 9:30PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) Pilot programme of the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh. The Union Minister also launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) Booklet, Video and Flyers on  NAKSHA Programme, and flagged off  WDC Yatra. WDC video was screened and Watershed Anthem was played on the occasion. The NAKSHA launch functions have also been parallelly organized in 122 ULBs and some LSG / Revenue Department Headquarters across 26 States and 3 Union Territories. The occasion marked the demonstration of technological advancement in land surveying like use of drones, GNSS Rovers etc. Drone flying was one of the main features at the national launch at Raisen and in other ULBs.

     

    The function was presided over by Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. The event was also graced by Dr Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Government of India, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Madhya Pradesh, Shri Karan Singh Verma, Revenue Minister,  Madhya Pradesh, Shri Narayan Singh Panwar, Minister for Fishermen Welfare and Fisheries Development Department, Madhya Pradesh, MLA, Sanchi,  Shri Prabhu Ram Chaudhary, Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary,  Department of Land Resources, Government of India and other officers from Government of India and Madhya Pradesh State Government. People from across  Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country was present at the function.

     

    The participating ULBs and departments across the States and UTs have given wide publicity to the NAKSHA programme for creating awareness about the aim, objective and the benefits of the programme, which includes creation and updation of land records in urban and peri urban areas thereby empowering citizens, improving ease of living, enhancing urban planning, and reducing land-related disputes. The action under the programme also includes establishing IT-based system for property record administration to foster transparency, efficiency, and support sustainable development.

     

     

    *****

    MG/RN

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Stock Yards Bancorp Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.31 per Common Share

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in the Louisville, central, eastern and northern Kentucky, as well as the Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan markets, announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per common share. The dividend will be paid on April 1, 2025, to stockholders of record as of March 17, 2025.

    Louisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $8.86 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.” For more information about Stock Yards Bancorp, visit the Company’s website at www.syb.com.

    Contact: T. Clay Stinnett
      Executive Vice President, Treasurer
      and Chief Financial Officer
      (502) 625-0890

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Organising Chairman of Australia-ASEAN Business Forum

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Francis Wong, Organising Chairman of the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on strategies to enhance economic cooperation, facilitate trade and investment opportunities, and strengthen engagement between ASEAN and Australia, ahead of the upcoming Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, scheduled to be held in the second half of 2025 in Australia.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Organising Chairman of Australia-ASEAN Business Forum appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung India Launches Galaxy A06 5G: ‘Kaam ka 5G’ with Superfast Connectivity & Powerful Performance at an Affordable Price

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy A06 5G, bringing an awesome 5G experience at an affordable price. As the most affordable budget Galaxy A series 5G smartphone, Galaxy A06 5G is designed to offer consumers maximum value with its reliable performance and longevity.
     
    Starting today, Galaxy A06 5G will be available across all retail outlets in India, Samsung exclusive stores, as well as other offline channels, in multiple storage variants. Starting just INR 10499 for the 4GB RAM variant with 64GB storage, Galaxy A06 5G comes in three sleek and attractive colours – Black, Gray and Light Green. As a special launch offer, customers can avail one-year screen protection plan with Samsung Care+ package at just INR 129, providing additional protection and peace of mind.
     
    “With the launch of Galaxy A06 5G, we are bringing segment-leading 12 5G bands for a great 5G experience. Designed to offer awesome connectivity, powerful performance, and segment leading innovations, the device reaffirms our commitment to making cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone. With this device, we are also ensuring that users can enjoy high-speed connectivity for work and entertainment along with unmatched durability,” said Akshay S Rao, General Manager, MX Business, Samsung India.
     
     
    Awesome Performance
    Galaxy A06 5G supports all network compatibility, 12 5G bands and features carrier aggregation for enhanced network connectivity and faster speeds across all telecom operators. Powered by the MTK D6300 processor, Galaxy A06 5G ensures powerful performance and makes multitasking, gaming, and streaming an effortless exercise. The smartphone also provides RAM up to 12GB with RAM Plus feature.
     
     
    Awesome Camera and Display
    The device is equipped with a 50MP main rear camera for capturing sharp and detailed images and a 2MP depth camera for enhanced clarity, while the 8MP front camera ensures high-quality selfies and video calls. The smartphone also features a sleek and stylish design while ensuring a vivid visual experience with its expansive 6.7-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone also features a 5,000 mAh battery with best in segment 25W fast charging support.
     
     
    Awesome Trustworthiness
    Galaxy A06 5G will be available with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7, ensuring users get the latest software experience. Samsung is redefining reliability with Galaxy A06 5G, offering an impressive 4 generations of OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates, a commitment that sets it apart in this segment. These industry-leading upgrades and updates are set to keep the device always up to date and ensure smoother usage experiences for users for a long period. Built for durability, Galaxy A06 5G comes with an IP54 rating, providing protection against dust and splashes.
     
     
    Awesome Galaxy Experience
    Samsung is also introducing ‘Voice Focus’ in the smartphone for the first time, an India-first innovation designed to enhance call clarity in noisy environments, making conversations clearer and more effective. This feature reflects Samsung’s commitment to bringing meaningful innovations tailored to the needs of Indian consumers. The device also prioritizes security and privacy by incorporating Samsung’s defense-grade Knox Vault security that empowers users to manage their data securely, enhancing their overall experience.
     
     
    Price and Launch Offers
    Product
    Colors
    Variant
    Price (INR)
    Offers
     
    Galaxy A06 5G
    Black, Gray, Light Green
    4GB + 64GB
    10499
    One year screen protection plan @ INR 129 with Samsung Care + package against standard market price of INR 699
    4GB + 128GB
    11499
    6GB + 128GB
    12999
     
    Galaxy A06 5G also comes with attractive EMI offers with Samsung Finance+, NBFC and banks, wherein consumers can own the smartphone for as low as INR 875 per month.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Global-e Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PETAH-TIKVA, Israel, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global-e Online Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLBE) the platform powering global direct-to-consumer e-commerce, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024 and full year 2024.

    “2024 was yet another record-breaking year for Global-e, and it came to a great close with a fourth quarter which was our strongest quarter ever, as we continued to execute on our strategy and further solidify Global-e’s leadership position in the global e-commerce space,” said Amir Schlachet, Founder and CEO of Global-e. “In addition, we achieved two important financial milestones during the quarter. For the first time in our journey, we crossed the 20% Adjusted EBITDA Margin mark, which was the long-term target we set for ourselves at the IPO, and we reached GAAP profitability for the first time as a public company; a testament to our relentless focus on delivering fast yet durable growth.”

    “As we head into 2025, we remain as committed as ever to continue on our growth path, deliver more cutting-edge and market-leading solutions to our merchants and seize more and more of the great opportunities that lie ahead of us in the world of global e-commerce. In 2025, we also expect to achieve three additional key financial milestones: surpass the 20% Adjusted EBITDA Margin mark on a full year basis, achieve annual GAAP profitability, and most importantly, for the first time, cross an annual run-rate of $1 billion in Revenues.”

    Q4 2024 Financial Results

    • GMV1 in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $1,713 million, an increase of 44% year over year
    • Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $262.9 million, an increase of 42% year over year, of which service fees revenue was $117.3 million and fulfillment services revenue was $145.6 million
    • Non-GAAP gross profit2 in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $120.9 million, an increase of 53% year over year. GAAP gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $118.7 million
    • Non-GAAP gross margin2 in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 46%, an increase of 330 basis points from 42.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023. GAAP gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 45.1%
    • Adjusted EBITDA3 in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $57.1 million compared to $35.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 62% year over year
    • Net profit in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $1.5 million
    • Net cash provided by operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $129.3 million, while capital expenditures totaled $0.5 million, leading to free cash flow of $128.8 million

    FY 2024 Financial Results

    • GMV1 for the full year was $4,858 million, an increase of 37% year over year
    • Revenue for the full year was $752.8 million, an increase of 32% year over year, of which service fees revenue was $350.3 million and fulfillment services revenue was $402.5 million
    • Non-GAAP gross profit2 for the full year was $349.4 million, an increase of 43% year over year. GAAP gross profit for the full year was $339.4 million
    • Non-GAAP gross margin2 for the full year was 46.4%, an increase of 350 basis points from 42.9% in 2023. GAAP gross margin for the full year was 45.1%
    • Adjusted EBITDA3 for the full year was $140.8 million compared to $92.7 million in 2023, an increase of 51.8% year over year
    • Net loss for the full year was $75.5 million
    • Net cash provided by operating activities in the full year was $169.4 million, while capital expenditures totaled $2.3 million, leading to free cash flow of $167.1 million

    Recent Business Highlights

    • Throughout 2024, our existing merchant base continued to stay and grow with us, as reflected in our annual enterprise NDR rate of 119% and GDR rate of 93.5%. GDR and NDR were negatively impacted by the out of the ordinary bankruptcy of Ted Baker and by several Borderfree merchants that chose not to re-platform to the Global-e platform. NDR and GDR excluding the out of the ordinary churn for 2024 is close to 123% and 97%, respectively
    • Recently launched with Logitech, one of the world’s largest and most innovative providers of computer peripherals and input devices, gaming accessories, audio and video gear and smart home device
    • On-boarded many additional new merchants located around the globe and trading in various verticals, including:
      • North America – shapewear brand Spanx, Thursday Boots, and the web store of famous fashion designer Tom Ford
      • UK and Europe – Spanish brand Tous, Italian fashion brand Slowear, UK footwear brand Phoebe Philo, German brand IvyOak, Swiss running gear brand Compressport, famous Austrian lingerie brand Triumph, French brands ZAPA and MOLLI, and the Finish brand HURTTA
      • APAC – Japanese brands Komehyo, one of Japan’s largest retailers of second-hand goods, Kyoto-based wristwatch brand Kuoe, novelty brands Mofusand and Taito, and the tailored shirt brand Kamakura Shirts, as well as the renowned Korean cosmetics brand Depology, and Australian fashion brands Zoe Kratzmann and SECONDLEFT
    • Expanded to new lanes with existing merchants – added Romania and Croatia to the markets we operate for Adidas, went live with a new outlet site for John Smedley, and added Strellson, the third brand to go live with us out of the Swiss Holy Fashion Group
    • Shopify Managed Markets – continued joint work with Shopify to add new features and functionalities to the Managed Markets offering, aimed at making it applicable to a wider range of merchants on the Shopify platform

    Q1 2025 and Full Year Outlook

    Global-e is introducing first quarter and full year guidance as follows:

        Q12025   FY 2025
        (in millions)
    GMV(1) $1,210 – $1,250   $6,190 – $6,490
    Revenue $184.5 – $191.5   $917 – $967
    Adjusted EBITDA(3) $29.5 – $33.5   $179 – $199

    1 Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is a key operating metric. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Operating Metrics” for additional information regarding this metric.
    2 Non-GAAP Gross profit and Non-GAAP gross margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Operating Metrics” for additional information regarding this metric.
    3 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information regarding this metric, including the reconciliations to Operating Profit (Loss), its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Operating Profit (Loss), its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort because items that impact this GAAP financial measure are not within the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. These items may include, but are not limited to, share-based compensation expenses. Such information may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable impact on the Company’s future financial results.

    Conference Call Information

    Global-e will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
    The call will be available, live, to interested parties by dialing:

    United States/Canada Toll Free:  1-800-717-1738
    International Toll: 1-646-307-1865

    A live webcast will also be available in the Investor Relations section of Global-e’s website at: https://investors.global-e.com/news-events/events-presentations

    Approximately two hours after completion of the live call, an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site and will remain available for approximately 30 calendar days.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Operating Metrics

    To supplement Global-e’s financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP, Global-e considers certain financial measures and key performance metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP including:

    • Non-GAAP gross profit, which Global-e defines as gross profit adjusted for amortization of acquired intangibles. Non-GAAP gross margin is calculated as Non-GAAP gross profit divided by revenues
    • Adjusted EBITDA, which Global-e defines as operating profit (loss) adjusted for stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation and amortization, commercial agreements amortization, amortization of acquired intangibles and merger related contingent consideration.
    • Free cash flow, which Global-e defines as net cash provided by operating activities less purchase of property and equipment.

    Global-e also uses Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) as a key operating metric. Gross Merchandise Value or GMV is defined as the combined amount we collect from the shopper and the merchant for all components of a given transaction, including products, duties and taxes and shipping.

    The aforementioned key performance indicators and non-GAAP financial measures are used, in conjunction with GAAP measures, by management and our board of directors to assess our performance, including the preparation of Global-e’s annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, for financial and operational decision-making, to evaluate the effectiveness of Global-e’s business strategies, and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. These measures are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate measures of operating performance because they remove the impact of certain items that we believe do not directly reflect our core operations, and permit investors to view performance using the same tools that we use to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance.

    Global-e’s definition of Non-GAAP measures may differ from the definition used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these metrics or similar metrics. Furthermore, these metrics have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statement of operations that are necessary to run our business. Thus, Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the reconciliation tables provided below. The accompanying reconciliation tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains estimates and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future strategy and projected revenue, GMV, Adjusted EBITDA and other future financial and operational results, growth strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, expansion in new and existing markets, the launch of large enterprise merchants, and our ongoing partnership with Shopify, are forward-looking statements. As the words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Global-e believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but they are inherently uncertain. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this announcement, including but not limited to, our rapid growth and growth rates in recent periods may not be indicative of future growth; the ability to retain merchants or the GMV generated by such merchants; the ability to retain existing, and attract new merchants; our business acquisitions and ability to effectively integrate acquired businesses; our ability to anticipate merchant needs or develop or acquire new functionality or enhance our existing platforms to meet those needs; our ability to implement and use artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies successfully; our ability to compete in our industry; our reliance on third-parties, including our ability to realize the benefits of any strategic alliances, joint ventures, or partnership arrangements and to integrate our platforms with third-party platforms; our ability to develop or maintain the functionality of our platforms, including real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities, or bugs in our platforms; our history of net losses; our ability to manage our growth and manage expansion into additional markets; increased attention to ESG matters and our ability to manage such matters; our ability to accommodate increased volumes during peak seasons and events; our ability to effectively expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our expectations regarding our revenue, expenses and operations; our ability to operate internationally; our reliance on third-party services, including third-party providers of cross-docking services and third-party data centers, in our platforms and services and harm to our reputation by our merchants’ or third-party service providers’ unethical business practices; our ability to adapt to changes in mobile devices, systems, applications, or web browsers that may degrade the functionality of our platforms; our operation as a merchant of record for sales conducted using our platform; regulatory requirements and additional fees related to payment transactions through our e-commerce platforms could be costly and difficult to comply with; compliance and third-party risks related to anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, anti-bribery, regulations, economic sanctions and export control laws and import regulations and restrictions; our business’s reliance on the personal importation model; our ability to securely store personal information of merchants and shoppers; increases in shipping rates; fluctuations in the exchange rate of foreign currencies has impacted and could continue to impact our results of operations; our ability to offer high quality support; our ability to expand the number of merchants using our platforms and increase our GMV and to enhance our reputation and awareness of our platforms; our dependency on the continued use of the internet for commerce; our ability to adapt to emerging or evolving regulatory developments, changing laws, regulations, standards and technological changes related to privacy, data protection, data security and machine learning technology and generative artificial intelligence evolves; the effect of the situation in Ukraine on our business, financial condition and results of operations; our role in the fulfilment chain of the merchants, which may cause third parties to confuse us with the merchants; our ability to establish and protect intellectual property rights; and our use of open-source software which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software technologies; our dependency on our executive officers and other key employees and our ability to hire and retain skilled key personnel, including our ability to enforce non-compete agreements we enter into with our employees; litigation for a variety of claims which we may be subject to; the adoption by merchants of a direct to consumer model; our anticipated cash needs and our estimates regarding our capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; our ability to maintain our corporate culture; our ability to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting; our ability to accurately estimate judgments relating to our critical accounting policies; changes in tax laws or regulations to which we are subject, including the enactment of legislation implementing changes in taxation of international business activities and the adoption of other corporate tax reform policies; requirements to collect sales or other taxes relating to the use of our platforms and services in jurisdictions where we have not historically done so; global events such as war, health pandemics, climate change, macroeconomic events and the recent economic slowdown; risks relating to our ordinary shares, including our share price, the concentration of our share ownership with insiders, our status as a foreign private issuer, provisions of Israeli law and our amended and restated articles of association and actions of activist shareholders; risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel, including risks related to the ongoing war and related hostilities; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Global-e’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024 and other documents filed with or furnished by Global-e from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

    About Global-E Online Ltd.

    Global-e (Nasdaq: GLBE) is the world’s leading platform enabling and accelerating global, Direct-To-Consumer e-commerce. The chosen partner of over 1,000 brands and retailers across the United States, EMEA and APAC, Global-e makes selling internationally as simple as selling domestically. The company enables merchants to increase the conversion of international traffic into sales by offering online shoppers in over 200 destinations worldwide a seamless, localized shopping experience. Global-e’s end-to-end e-commerce solutions combine best-in-class localization capabilities, big-data best-practice business intelligence models, streamlined international logistics and vast global e-commerce experience, enabling international shoppers to buy seamlessly online and retailers to sell to, and from, anywhere in the world. For more information, please visit: www.global-e.com.

    Investor Contact:
    Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
    Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
    IR@global-e.com 
    +1 617-542-6180

    Press Contact:
    Sarah Schloss
    Headline Media
    Globale@headline.media 
    +1 786-233-7684 

    Global-E Online Ltd.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (In thousands)    		  
        Period Ended  
        December 31,     December 31,  
        2023     2024  
              (Unaudited)  
    Assets                
    Current assets:                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 200,081     $ 250,773  
    Short-term deposits     96,939       187,322  
    Accounts receivable, net     27,841       41,171  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     63,967       84,613  
    Marketable securities     20,403       36,345  
    Funds receivable, including cash in banks     111,232       122,984  
    Total current assets     520,463       723,208  
    Property and equipment, net     10,236       10,440  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     23,052       24,429  
    Long term deposits     3,552       3,786  
    Deferred contract acquisition costs, noncurrent     2,668       3,787  
    Other assets, noncurrent     4,078       4,527  
    Commercial agreement asset   192,721       66,527  
    Goodwill     367,566       367,566  
    Intangible assets     78,024       59,212  
    Total long-term assets     681,897       540,274  
    Total assets   $ 1,202,360     $ 1,263,482  
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                
    Current liabilities:                
    Accounts payable   $ 50,943     $ 79,559  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     107,306       141,551  
    Funds payable to Customers     111,232       122,984  
    Short term operating lease liabilities     4,031       4,347  
    Total current liabilities     273,512       348,441  
    Long-term liabilities:                
    Deferred tax liabilities     6,507       –  
    Long term operating lease liabilities     19,291       20,510  
    Other long-term liabilities     1,071       1,098  
    Total liabilities   $ 300,381     $ 370,049  
                     
    Shareholders’ deficit:                
    Share capital and additional paid-in capital     1,360,250       1,425,317  
    Accumulated comprehensive income     (1,420 )     515  
    Accumulated deficit     (456,851 )     (532,399 )
    Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity     901,979       893,433  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 1,202,360     $ 1,263,482  
    Global-E Online Ltd.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)    		  
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended  
        December 31,   December 31,  
        2023     2024     2023       2024  
        (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)  
    Revenue   $ 185,401     $ 262,912     $ 569,946       $ 752,764  
    Cost of revenue     109,080       144,253       336,343         413,331  
    Gross profit     76,321       118,659       233,603         339,433  
                                     
    Operating expenses:                                
    Research and development     25,169       28,284       97,568         105,487  
    Sales and marketing     58,756       70,936       217,035         250,661  
    General and administrative     15,451       14,257       56,059         51,213  
    Total operating expenses, net     99,376       113,477       370,662         407,361  
    Operating profit (loss)     (23,055 )     5,182       (137,059 )       (67,928 )
    Financial expenses (income), net     (5,010 )     6,073       (5,262 )       11,465  
    Loss before income taxes     (18,045 )     (891 )     (131,797 )       (79,393 )
    Income tax (benefit) expenses     4,055       (2,400 )     2,008         (3,845 )
    Net profit (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders   $ (22,100 )   $ 1,509     $ (133,805 )     $ (75,548 )
    Net profit (loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic   $ (0.13 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.81 )     $ (0.45 )
    Net profit (loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, diluted   $ (0.13 )   $ 0.01     $ (0.81 )     $ (0.45 )
    Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic     165,626,904       168,419,800       164,353,909         167,323,350  
    Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, diluted     165,626,904       175,674,929       164,353,909         167,323,350  
    Global-E Online Ltd.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In thousands)
        Three Months Ended     Year Ended
        December 31,     December 31,
        2023     2024     2023     2024  
        (Unaudited)             (Unaudited)  
    Operating activities                                
    Net profit (loss)   $ (22,100 )   $ 1,509     $ (133,805 )   $ (75,548 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:                                
    Depreciation and amortization     489       547       1,788       2,131  
    Share-based compensation expenses     12,180       9,538       44,960       39,158  
    Commercial agreement asset     37,433       37,433       150,451       148,594  
    Amortization of intangible assets     5,091       4,402       20,434       18,812  
    Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency     (3,011 )     3,554       (1,901 )     4,468  
    Changes in accrued interest and exchange rate on short-term deposits     72       (1,373 )     (416 )     (1,329 )
    Changes in accrued interest and exchange rate on long-term deposits     (144 )     364       (255 )     200  
    Accounts receivable     (14,390 )     15,925       (11,417 )     (13,330 )
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     61       (24,164 )     (11,736 )     (18,019 )
    Funds receivable     (9,038 )     8,726       (11,074 )     (3,205 )
    Long-term receivables     (1,497 )     51       (339 )   551  
    Funds payable to customers     40,817       2,564       33,107       11,752  
    Operating lease ROU assets     786       991       3,230       3,691  
    Deferred contract acquisition costs     (772 )     (322 )     (1,207 )     (1,382 )
    Accounts payable     18,438       37,176       (1,277 )     28,617  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     25,345       35,945       30,625       34,272  
    Deferred taxes     3,635       (2,592 )     120       (6,507 )
    Operating lease liabilities     99       (987 )     (3,067 )     (3,533 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities     93,494       129,287       108,222       169,393  
    Investing activities                                
    Investment in marketable securities     (851 )     (18,331 )     (3,728 )     (21,128 )
    Proceeds from marketable securities   –     2,028         671       4,988  
    Investment in short-term deposits     (43,250 )     (77,848 )     (175,237 )     (269,601 )
    Proceeds from short-term deposits     34,318       22,298       125,068       180,548  
    Purchases of long-term investments     (4 )     (307 )     (82 )     (1,459 )
    Proceeds from long-term deposits     10       24       10       24  
    Purchases of property and equipment     (926 )     (482 )     (1,741)       (2,335 )
    Net cash used in investing activities     (10,703 )     (72,618 )     (55,039 )     (108,963 )
    Financing activities                                
    Proceeds from exercise of Warrants to ordinary shares     –     3       22     5  
    Proceeds from exercise of share options     244       1,632       1,969       3,271  
    Net cash provided by financing activities     244       1,635       1,991       3,276  
    Exchange rate differences on balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash     3,011       (3,554 )     1,901       (4,468 )
    Net Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     86,046       54,750       57,075       59,238  
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash—beginning of period     182,551       273,086       211,522       268,597  
    Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash—end of period   $ 268,597     $ 327,835     $ 268,597     $ 327,835  
    Global-E Online Ltd.
    SELECTED OTHER DATA
    (In thousands)
    		  
        Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
        December 31,     December 31,  
        2023     2024     2023     2024  
        (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
    Key performance metrics            
    Gross Merchandise Value     1,189,467               1,712,903               3,557,444               4,857,970          
    Adjusted EBITDA (a)     35,178               57,102               92,735               140,767          
                                                                     
    Revenue by Category                                                                
    Service fees     89,936       49 %     117,268       45 %     262,255       46 %     350,311       47 %
    Fulfillment services     95,465       51 %     145,644       55 %     307,692       54 %     402,453       53 %
    Total revenue   $ 185,401       100 %   $ 262,912       100 %   $ 569,946       100 %   $ 752,764       100 %
                                                                     
    Revenue by merchant outbound region                                                                
    United States     94,887       51 %     146,250       56 %     285,619       50 %     399,596       53 %
    United Kingdom     54,962       30 %     55,807       21 %     173,584       30 %     182,904       24 %
    European Union     29,421       16 %     44,469       17 %     92,566       16 %     125,547       17 %
    Israel     479       0 %     1,671       1 %     1,806       0 %     2,746       0 %
    Other   5,652     3 %     14,715       5 %   16,371     3 %     41,971       6 %
    Total revenue   $ 185,401       100 %   $ 262,912       100 %   $ 569,946       100 %   $ 752,764       100 %

    (a) See reconciliation to adjusted EBITDA table

    Global-E Online Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION TO Non-GAAP GROSS PROFIT
    (In thousands)    		  
        Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
        December 31,     December 31,  
        2023     2024     2023     2024  
      (Unaudited)
    Gross Profit     76,321       118,659       233,603       339,433  
                                     
    Amortization of acquired intangibles included in cost of revenue     2,796       2,198       11,183       9,994  
    Non-GAAP gross profit     79,117       120,857       244,786       349,427  
    Global-E Online Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (In thousands)    		  
        Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
        December 31,     December 31,  
        2023     2024     2023     2024    
        (Unaudited)  
    Operating profit (loss)     (23,055 )     5,182       (137,059 )     (67,928 )  
    (1) Stock-based compensation:                                
    Cost of revenue     186       275       639       929    
    Research and development     6,962       4,153       26,266       17,291    
    Selling and marketing     1,238       1,528       4,259       5,836    
    General and administrative     3,794       3,582       13,796       15,102    
    Total stock-based compensation     12,180       9,538       44,960       39,158    
                                     
    (2) Depreciation and amortization     489       547       1,788       2,131    
                                     
    (3) Commercial agreement asset amortization   37,433       37,433     150,451       148,594    
                                 
    (4) Amortization of acquired intangibles   5,091       4,402     20,434       18,812    
                                 
    (5) Merger related contingent consideration   3,040       –     12,161       –    
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA     35,178       57,102       92,735       140,767    
    Global-E Online Ltd.
    RECONCILIATION TO FREE CASH FLOW
    (In thousands)
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   December 31,
        2023     2024     2023     2024  
      (Unaudited)
    Net cash provided by operating activities     93,434       129,287       108,222       169,393  
    Less:                          
    Purchase of property and equipment     (926 )     (482 )     (1,741 )     (2,335 )
    Free cash flow     92,508       128,805       106,481       167,058  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NNIT A/S: Notice convening the annual general meeting for NNIT A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Board of Directors gives notice of the annual general meeting for NNIT A/S, company registration (CVR) no. 21 09 31 06 (the “Company”), to be held Thursday, March 13, 2025, 2:00 pm (CET) at Novo Holdings A/S, Tuborg Havnevej 19, DK-2900 Hellerup.

    The general meeting will for shareholders be webcasted live on the Company’s investor portal. It is not possible to vote or ask questions via webcast.

    The notice for the annual general meeting, including Appendix A: Candidates for (re-)election to the Board of Directors, is attached.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations
    Carsten Ringius
    EVP & CFO
    Tel: +45 3077 8888
    carr@nnit.com 

    Media Relations
    Sofie Mand Steffens
    Senior Communications Consultant
    Tel: +45 3077 8337
    smst@nnit.com 

    ABOUT NNIT

    NNIT is a leading provider of IT solutions to life sciences internationally, and to the public and private sectors in Denmark.

    We focus on high complexity industries and thrive in environments where regulatory demands and complexity are high.

    We advise on and build sustainable digital solutions that work for the patients, citizens, employees, end users or customers.

    We strive to build unmatched excellence in the industries we serve, and we use our domain expertise to represent a business first approach – strongly supported by a selection of partner technologies, but always driven by business needs rather than technology.

    NNIT consists of group company NNIT A/S, subsidiaries in Region Europe, Asia and US and subsidiary SCALES in Region Denmark. Together, these companies employ more than 1,700 people in Europe, Asia and USA.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP and Republic of Korea boost food security and resilience for vulnerable families in Kenya

    Source: World Food Programme

    NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$5 million from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to improve food security and build resilience for vulnerable communities in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.

    With below-normal rainfall forecasted for the upcoming March-May rainy season, strengthening early warning systems is critical to help communities and government anticipate and prepare for extreme weather events.  

    “The Republic of Korea’s commitment to supporting vulnerable families in Kenya is commendable,” said Lauren Landis, WFP’s Country Director in Kenya. “This contribution comes at a time when people in the arid and semi-arid regions face the risk of both droughts and floods, exacerbating food insecurity and increasing humanitarian needs. This project will equip communities with the tools and resources they need to prepare and build sustainable livelihoods.”

    The contribution will enable WFP to support more than 158,000 people like smallholder farmers, pastoralists, women, and youth, to restore degraded ecosystems, create economic opportunities, and strengthen early warning systems to provide accurate and timely forecasts in Baringo, Mandera, Samburu, Tana River and Turkana Counties. 

    “The Republic of Korea recognizes the urgent need to build resilience and food security in Kenya,” said Nam Sangkyoo, the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya. “By partnering with WFP, we are empowering communities to break the cycle of crises and build a future where they can thrive.”

    The Republic of Korea is a longstanding supporter of WFP’s work in Kenya and this contribution is in addition to past investments like resilience projects supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and rice contributions for refugees from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). 

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X @wfp_kenya, @wfp_africa, @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Northern Metropolis advisors named

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government today announced the appointment of non-official members to the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis (ACNM) and its four sub-committees for a new term of two years.

         

    The newly appointed ACNM members are Cheng Jie, Lee Shing-put, Sunny Lee, Timothy Ma and Simon Ng, who will also serve on the respective sub-committees.

     

    Additionally, Prof Karl Tsim was newly appointed to the Sub-committee on Development of Industries as a co-opted member.

         

    Members will serve a new term of two years from February 10.

     

    The ACNM is chaired by Financial Secretary Paul Chan. The four sub-committees conduct in-depth discussions and provide recommendations in areas of planning, land and conservation; development of industries; transport and other infrastructure; and promotion and public engagement.

     

    Commenting on the appointments, Mr Chan said: “The development of the Northern Metropolis has been advancing on all fronts at full speed. The valuable insights provided by the ACNM members are instrumental in our work.”

     

    After thanking members of the last term for their contributions, the Financial Secretary expressed that he looks forward to working closely with members of the new term to continue promoting the advancement of the Northern Metropolis development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –