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Business of Design Week 2024 Concludes With Over 15,000 in Attendance at Summit

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Paving a Design and Innovation-Driven Path Forward to a Sustainable Future with France

Italy announced as Partner Country for BODW 2025

HONG KONG, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Business of Design Week 2024 (BODW 2024), Asia’s premier international annual event on design, innovation and brands concluded on 7 December, 2024. This year, the ‘Inter/Section: Design Artistry and Innovation‘ themed Summit recorded an attendance totalling over 15,000, with a rich and thought-provoking line-up of over 40 keynotes and panels conducted by more than 50 speakers from Hong Kong, France, the Mainland and the rest of the world.

BODW 2024 was organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), with France as Partner Country, Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR as Lead Sponsor, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) as Co-organiser. At BODW 2024, dialogues and long-term relationships between Hong Kong and France have been further strengthened on the business and academic levels, with a focus on leveraging innovation and design artistry to support initiatives in Urban Futures, Brands & Retail Resurgence, Craftsmanship & Material Mastery, Culture & Digital Aesthetics, and AI & Future Tech aimed at tackling the increasingly complex challenges faced around the world.

Mrs. Christile Drulhe, the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, said, ‘It has been an honor for France to serve as the partner country for this year’s BODW. This collaboration has provided a unique platform to showcase the depth and creativity of French design, from heritage craftsmanship to cutting-edge innovation. I really want to thank the Hong Kong Design Center for organizing this incredibly beautiful event. This event has truly been a celebration of creativity and cultural exchange, and I’m proud of the long-lasting connections that have been built on this occasion.’

Looking ahead, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) is pleased to announce Italy as its Partner Country for 2025. Italy will introduce prominent speakers, exceptional talents, and a year-long series of design events through KODW, BODW and more, with the goal of fostering mutual learning and collaboration opportunities between the two vibrant design communities and the world at large.  

Prof. Eric Yim, MH, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre, said, ‘We were pleased to host over 20 designers, architects and creative minds from the French delegation in Hong Kong to organise exciting design programmes in 2024. Looking forward to next year, we are thrilled to extend our strategic partnership to Italy as our third-time Partner Country for BODW 2025, following our previous collaborations in 2007 and 2017. This will herald a remarkable year-long collaboration that synergises our Eastern and Western perspectives, cultural heritage, historical legacies, and unique strengths in creative design. We anticipate achieving significant milestones and are excited about making meaningful impacts on our communities, shaping a sustainable future of culture and businesses together.’

Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao, stated, ‘We are truly excited about our partnership with Hong Kong Design Centre for BODW 2025. This collaboration will serve to showcase the rich design wisdom and cultural heritage of both Italy and Hong Kong. Together, we will embark on a year-long journey of innovative design programs that celebrate our unique artistic traditions while also fostering creative exchanges between our two vibrant cultures. I eagerly anticipate promoting Italy’s unique wisdom and perspective in the collaborative creation of an outstanding platform that strengthens business, cultural, and educational exchanges related to design in all its diverse forms here in the international hub of Hong Kong.’

Besides the Summit, BODW 2024 features a series of Concurrent Programmes, including the Launching Party of the Hong Kong Design Centre’s DX design hub at Sham Shui Po, GBA Creative Fortnight, the BODW 2024 Gala Dinner cum DFA Awards Presentation Ceremony at Hong Kong’s newest landmark, The Henderson, BODW In The City, Motion Plus Design, deTour 2024 Design Festival, 2024 Leadership Forum by PolyU and DesignInspire, presented by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This flagship creative showcase includes highlight events such as the Maison&Objet Design Factory and the Business of IP Asia Forum. The above events have been successfully held, marking a perfect conclusion to BODW 2024 (December 2 to 7).

 

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Hong Kong Design Centre is pleased to announce Italy as its Partner Country for 2025, introducing a series of design events.

 

Mrs. Eva Nguyen Binh, President of Instuit français and and Ambassador for French Cultural Diplomacy delivered an opening keynote speech on the Summit's theme

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Kazakh Activists Launch Global Movement to Save the Caspian Sea

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kazakh environmental activists, scientists, and thought leaders are calling on the international community to address the unfolding ecological crisis of the Caspian Sea with the launch of a new global movement, Save the Caspian Sea.

Once the largest enclosed inland body of water, supporting over 270 million people across Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea is now in peril. Water levels are dropping at an alarming rate of 70 centimeters per year, with parts of Kazakhstan already witnessing shoreline retreats of up to 18 kilometers. By the end of the century, the sea could shrink by another 18 meters, bringing catastrophic consequences to coastal communities, local economies, and ecosystems dependent on this vital resource. The crisis is already evident in the mass die-off of rare Caspian seals, with over 4,000 carcasses discovered in just the past two years, a grim indicator of the environmental disaster unfolding.

“Despite years of discussions, conferences, and isolated NGO efforts, the situation is worsening. The Caspian Sea is at a critical turning point, and the choices we make now will define its future. It’s time for all stakeholders—governments, industries, and communities—to come together in a coordinated effort to safeguard this unique and vital ecosystem,” said Vadim Ni, environmental and climate law attorney, director of the Social and Environmental Fund, and founder of Save the Caspian Sea. “We are committed to fostering collaboration, transparency, and meaningful investments to ensure the Caspian Sea remains a source of life and prosperity for generations to come.”

The movement draws strength from its global network of partners and supporters. Among them are Kate Watters of Crude Accountability, Galina Chernova of NGO Globus Centre for Environmental Law Initiative, and Tatyana Sedova from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). These partners bring expertise in corporate accountability, biodiversity conservation, and transparent governance to the campaign. “We are leveraging global expertise and resources to address this crisis and demand justice, transparency, and preservation for one of the world’s most significant ecosystems,” said Kate Watters, Executive Director of Crude Accountability.

Speaking at the movement’s launch event, Galina Chernova, a leading environmental expert and a key advocate for the campaign, emphasized the urgency of global action. “The Caspian Sea is not just a regional issue; it is a global crisis. What happens here affects ecosystems, economies, and people far beyond its shores. We are at a crossroads. This campaign is not just about saving water or wildlife—it’s about protecting livelihoods, cultural heritage, and the natural balance of our planet. Together, we can turn the tide.”

As part of its action plan, Save the Caspian Sea will focus on coordinating and promoting conservation research to inform sustainable policies and practices. The movement will also prioritize fundraising for restoration initiatives aimed at mitigating biodiversity loss and reversing environmental degradation. Additionally, it will organize international events and awareness campaigns to engage stakeholders and amplify the urgency of protecting the Caspian Sea. Finally, it seeks to develop partnerships with governments, NGOs, and corporations to foster collaborative solutions.

Save the Caspian Sea aims to engage millions worldwide through a global awareness campaign, amplified by the hashtag #SaveTheCaspian across social and traditional media platforms. By galvanizing public support, the movement seeks to pressure decision-makers into prioritizing urgent preservation efforts for this critical ecosystem.

For more information about the movement, how to get involved, or to arrange interviews with key campaign figures, please visit www.savethecaspiansea.com or contact [email protected]

About Save the Caspian Sea (SCS)

The Save the Caspian Sea (SCS) is an international movement dedicated to addressing the environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, the campaign aims to preserve the sea’s unique ecosystem and ensure a sustainable future for the millions of people who depend on it.

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HashKey Chain Launches $50 Million Atlas Grant Program to Empower Global Web3 Developers

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HONG KONG, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On December 10, HashKey Chain announced the $50 million Atlas Grant Program to support global Web3 projects. This initiative aims to drive innovation in the OP Stack ecosystem, accelerate HashKey Chain’s application layer growth, and boost on-chain adoption.

HashKey Chain leverages OP Stack technology to enhance transaction speed and reduce fees. This open-source framework powers Optimism’s L2 Rollup and allows developers to build customizable Layer 2 blockchains with Ethereum’s security.

The grant pool includes $50 million in HSK tokens, with $10 million allocated initially. Funding is tied to milestone achievements by developers and teams building on HashKey Chain.

Key Areas of Focus:

  • RWA (Real-World Assets): Tokenization of financial assets for liquidity and transparency.
  • PayFi, stablecoins, and BTCFi: Driving blockchain adoption in finance.

Hong Kong’s role as a financial hub makes it ideal for RWA tokenization, aligning with HashKey Chain’s compliance-focused strategy to bring traditional financial products on-chain.

CEO Statement:
“We are excited to announce the $50 million Atlas Grant Program to the global market,” said Kay, CEO of HashKey Chain. “We hope individuals, teams, and organizations joining the HashKey Chain ecosystem share a strong confidence in the future of the crypto industry. Together with HashKey Chain, we aim to build a thriving and open Web3 ecosystem, creating groundbreaking applications with real traction across major blockchains while achieving meaningful returns in the process.”

The first phase allocates $10 million in HSK tokens, with applications open from December 10, 2024, to January 10, 2025. Grant recipients will be announced on January 20, 2025.

X:@HashKeyHSK

Application: https://github.com/orgs/HashkeyHSK/discussions/new?category=session-1

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Allego and RAIN Group Unveil Groundbreaking Research on Continuous Learning and Sales Performance

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New study reveals only 33% of companies have effective sales training, explores gaps and opportunities for organizations to elevate sales performance

WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Allego™, the leading provider of revenue enablement solutions, in partnership with RAIN Group, a global sales training company, today announced the findings of their latest study, The Impact of Continuous Learning on Sales Performance. This landmark research underscores the transformative power of continuous learning for sales teams, revealing that organizations embracing this approach are more likely to see higher performance, reduced turnover, and stronger engagement.

The study, based on responses from over 240 sales and sales enablement professionals across industries, including financial services, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, highlights critical continuous learning practices that set high-performing sales teams apart. The findings show that top-performing teams:

  • Are 5.5 times more likely to use skill assessments to identify gaps.
  • Are 2.9 times more likely to prioritize mentorship and coaching.
  • Integrate learning directly into the flow of work, improving productivity and reducing time-to-ramp.

“This research confirms what we’ve long believed. Continuous learning isn’t just a competitive advantage; it’s essential for driving sales success in today’s dynamic environment,” said Deniz Olcay, VP of Marketing at Allego. “By embedding learning into daily workflows and leveraging technology, organizations can transform their teams into agile, high-performing units.”

The report highlights the role of technology in driving continuous learning, with top companies using modern sales enablement platforms to deliver personalized, just-in-time training. These platforms not only enhance sales skill development but also foster sales team alignment and improve knowledge retention.

Key Findings Include:

  • Enhanced Retention and Productivity: Organizations with highly effective training programs are 4.9 times more likely to see faster time-to-productivity and significantly lower turnover.
  • Mentorship as a Game-Changer: Sales teams prioritizing mentorship and coaching are nearly 3 times as likely to have effective training programs.
  • Actionable Learning Insights: Companies leveraging data to tailor and measure their training programs achieve measurable improvements in performance and engagement.

“With only a third of companies achieving tangible results from sales training, there’s a significant opportunity to adopt a more effective approach,” said Erica Schultz, CMO of RAIN Group. “Our research identifies high-impact strategies that drive real change, deepen skill acquisition, and foster continuous improvement across sales teams. By seamlessly integrating onboarding with ongoing learning, organizations can lower turnover, shorten ramp-up times, and build well-prepared teams equipped for sustained success.”

The full research report offers a detailed roadmap for organizations to implement continuous learning strategies and elevate their sales performance. To access the report and learn how continuous learning can transform your sales organization, visit Allego.com.

About Allego
Allego is the leader in modern revenue enablement technology. With Allego, you’ll ready more confident teams, curate impactful content, and engage buyers effectively—all within a unified platform. What sets Allego apart is the company’s expertise in driving adoption across revenue teams to foster alignment and knowledge sharing in the flow of work. This results in up to 50% reduction in software spend, 50% shorter sales cycles, and 45% higher win rates, propelling revenue growth. Learn more about how Allego can transform your sales enablement into a growth-driving powerhouse at www.allego.com.

About RAIN Group
RAIN Group is an award-winning leader in sales transformation, with over 20 years of researching and enabling top sales performance. RAIN Group’s modular, multi-modal approach to sales training provides flexible and customizable solutions for complex global teams. Trusted by leading companies, RAIN Group partners with clients to ensure learning is adopted, creates lasting behavior change, and drives measurable results. Learn more at www.raingroup.com.

Allego Contacts:
Michelle Davidson
[email protected]

“Allego” is a registered trademark of Allego, Inc.

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