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FIII HONG KONG INVESTOR SUMMIT 7/8 DECEMBER BRINGS LEADERS TOGETHER TO ADDRESS HUMANITY’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Future Investment Initiative PRIORITY Summit Hong Kong today convenes global investors, innovators and policymakers to tackle technology, climate, and economy threats.
Investors and leaders from across Asia have gathered in Hong Kong with counterparts from around the world at an international summit to address global challenges, and the mobilisation of investment as a force for good.
His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute introduced the inaugural Asia FII PRIORITY summit.
HE Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment also attended the summit and participated in a panel discussion in which he observed that the Global South is turbocharging the global economy, driven by demographics and economic growth.
John Lee, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, welcomed the FII Institute to Hong Kong in the presence of Paul Chan, Financial Secretary, and Laura M Cha, Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX). John Lee delivered a special address to delegates in which he highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super value adder’ for economies, cultures, and peoples from east and west, made possible by the unique ‘one country, two systems’ principle.
The summit, held in partnership with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), is taking place at HKEX Connect Hall today, Thursday 7 December and tomorrow, Friday 8 December 2023.
Nicolas Aguzin, CEO, HKEX noted the dramatic changes to the geopolitical landscape, with power shifting eastwards, and the rising importance of local exchanges and imperative for continuous innovation in financial markets.
During the set piece ‘board of changemakers’ panel, Richard Li, Chairman, Pacific Century Group observed how digitalisation is democratizing financial services, enabling even those with incomes of all levels to access tailored financial products.
A traditional gong striking ceremony signaled the historic moment the markets opened in the presence of HKEX Chairman, Laura M. Cha, Hong Kong Chief Executive, John Lee, and Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan alongside FII Institute’s Chairman HE Yasir Al-Rumayyan and CEO Richard Attias, witnessed by over 1,000 summit attendees and audiences the world over.
The summit, held under the theme ‘Megatrends Shaping Humanity’ is addressing the implications of the rise of Asia as a technological, economic and geopolitical power; advances of AI, and the profound changes to life as we know it; as well as increasing calls for humanity and empathy as anchors to economy and society in a fractured and uncertain world.
Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt & Road, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region described Hong Kong as a “true global hub” and outlined his vision to strengthen Hong Kong as the regional headquarter for MENA region business.
Laura M. Cha pointed out that of the top 15 sovereign wealth funds, five are in Asia and six in the Middle East. China has untapped capital in terms of personal saving of 30 trillion USD and the Middle East has similar potential because of the rise of Saudi and other GCC countries. “It’s going to be an amazing connection that has been underdeveloped in the past; now it is the time for two-way traffic in terms of capital and commerce.” she said.
The FII Institute carries out ongoing research to identify the issues that matters to citizens worldwide. This year’s polling sampled 50,000 people from 23 countries to identify humanity’s priorities. The findings are then used to shape FII’s policy agenda and programme of summits. For example, this year’s research has revealed a dramatic global drop of 20% in satisfaction levels, and discontent across a range of issues, including cost of living, loneliness, technology, and climate concerns.
On the rise and regulation of AI Eric Pulier, Founder & CEO, Vatom Corporation describe how AI models must be trained using locally relevant datasets that preserve local heritage if the AI future is to be universally human-centric.
Solina Chau, Co-founder, Horizons Ventures discussed the importance of curious minds and counterfactual thinking to avoid biases and bad policies in an ever-changing world. She also addressed the low number of women in finance and the need to continue to strive for equality and support each other.
At the summit BOC International signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SPIC International Finance (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. to further strengthen cooperation in green finance, bond investment and issuance, and international capital operations. This agreement was witnessed by Mr. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR, as the FII Institute continues to convene global entities at summits around the world to drive positive action on issues such as sustainability.
The FII institute showcased two Hong Kong-based grassroots initiatives focused on sustainability and local ecosystem. Redress is an environmental organization aiming to accelerate the change to a circular fashion industry. Farm the City builds and manages urban farms to transform underutilized areas to create sources of nutritious and organic food.
The FII PRIORITY Summit Hong Kong continues conversations held in Riyadh last month. It is part of an ongoing global programme of summits, to be held next in Miami (February), London (April), and Brazil (June).
Richard Attias, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative Institute said:
“Megatrends are reshaping our existence. The advancements in AI, automation, and blockchain are opening doors to futures we have yet to imagine. With the world changing and Asia in the driving seat we are discussing the global issues that matter to the 8 billion people who live on this planet, and focusing investor attention for policy action.”
About FII Institute
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute is a global non-profit foundation driven by data with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Global and inclusive, we foster great minds from around the world and turn ideas into real-world solutions in four critical areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Robotics, Education, Healthcare and Sustainability.
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Ethara: EMIRATI SISTERS AMNA AND HAMDA AL QUBAISI RETURN TO YAS MARINA CIRCUIT FOR F1 ACADEMY SEASON FINALE
The single-seater all-female championship series, Formula 1 Academy, wraps up an exciting season of racing at Yas Marina Circuit, supporting the Formula 1 season finale from 5-8 December
Ambassadors of Abu-Dhabi based team, Yas Heat Racing, Hamda and Amna will race at home with Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB – capping off their second season in the championship
ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In their second season competing in F1 Academy, the prestigious single-seater support series, Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi have taken their racing careers to new heights. From 6-8 December, the two young Emirati drivers return to Yas Marina Circuit, where they first developed and honed their skills, to conclude an exhilarating season of on-track action.
Having cultivated their passion for racing in Abu Dhabi, the sisters flourished into competitive athletes under the Yas Heat Academy umbrella, the capital’s premier racing development programme. Now competing for two of the championship’s most competitive teams and serving as ambassadors for Yas Heat Racing, Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi continue to embody the nation’s vision of nurturing young talent at the grassroots level.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was signed by Red Bull Racing for the team’s debut season in F1 Academy. The 22-year-old has delivered standout performances throughout the campaign, culminating in a strong showing at the penultimate race of the 2024 season in Doha last weekend going into the last round in 6th place.
Meanwhile, Amna Al Qubaisi is driving for Visa Cash App Racing in the championship. The 24-year-old Emirati trailblazer has impressed fans and competitors alike, consistently showcasing her skill and determination on the track.
Looking ahead to their return to Yas Marina Circuit, Amna Al Qubaisi shared her excitement:
“I’ve been racing for 10 years now, I started in karting here at Yas Marina circuit, and I slowly developed from karting nationally, moving up to juniors, then seniors, and the next step was Formula 4. Being a Yas Heat ambassador has been great. Yas Heat has helped me develop my skills. They have taught me, coached me, provided me with the the appropriate insights. It is a program that is going to help young racers in karting move up the ladder.”
Red Bull Racing driver Hamda Al Qubaisi added: “Racing at Yas Marina Circuit is both nostalgic and empowering for us as Emirati women. Representing the UAE and Yas Heat Racing on a global stage has been an incredible opportunity, and we look forward to finishing the season on a high note by giving all we can for our teams, surrounded by friends and family.”
Formula 1 Academy joins a packed racing programme at Yas Marina Circuit during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, which also features the FIA Formula 2 season finale and the FIA Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round. Offering non-stop entertainment, the Abu Dhabi GP weekend kicks off on Thursday, 4 December, promising an unforgettable four-day celebration on Yas Island.
For more information, please visit: https://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/motorsports/yas-heat-racing
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ZUG, Switzerland, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Hashgraph Association (THA), a Swiss innovation leader at the forefront of empowering a digital future for all, has committed $1.5 million to the Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance as a founding member. This collaboration aims to drive and fund groundbreaking research and innovation at the intersection of sustainability and digital finance.
The Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance, which brings together academic experts from Stanford University, the University of Zurich (UZH), and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in South Korea, focuses on developing and accelerating research in sustainable digital finance with impact and training students and practitioners to foster innovation on a global scale. With THA’s committed funding, the Centre will expand its efforts to address global challenges in banking, ESG, financial inclusion, and climate finance.
The Hashgraph Association’s involvement extends beyond just funding. The organization will collaborate with the Centre to conceptualize and implement projects leveraging its cutting-edge Hedera DLT platform. Additionally, THA will equip 360 students annually with skills in mastering DLT using the Hedera Hashgraph platform, with over 2,160 students to be trained over the duration of the partnership, which is 6 years. It will also train 10 trainers equivalent to 60 trainers over this period. Participants will receive Hedera certifications in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), adding a digital-first dimension to credentialing.
Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association, stated, “At The Hashgraph Association, we are proud to continue supporting organizations that deliver environmentally sustainable finance solutions in an innovative and compliant way. A recent environmental impact study by University College London (UCL) comparing different distributed ledger networks proved that Hedera is the world’s most sustainable network. The Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance fits perfectly into our Hedera Enablement Program, furthering THA’s efforts to expand research and development in Web3 and support sustainable initiatives.”
A recent survey of 37 UNDP country offices revealed that sustainable digital finance is a priority for many nations, yet only 40% have a digital finance strategy. THA’s partnership with the Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance aims to fill this gap by bridging digital finance and sustainability through innovative, education, impactful research and implementation.
Thomas Puschmann, Founder and Executive Director of Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance, states, “We are very pleased to be working with The Hashgraph Association. Sustainable digital finance has the potential to build inclusive, safe digital foundations, and technologies such as DLT, AI, and IoT, helping to increase transparency and reliability of information, especially in the climate financing domain. These foundations also aid in tackling corruption issues when funding SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) projects.”
The Hashgraph Association launched a $50 million Sustainability Venture Studio for enterprises earlier this year and has also partnered with Deloitte to enhance the verification of corporate ESG impact, reporting, and sustainability claims, leveraging the Hedera Guardian as the trusted balance sheet of the earth. Collaborating with Deloitte NL Risk Advisory B.V. in the Netherlands, this partnership focuses on enabling corporations to measure, track, report, and tokenize evidence-based ESG impact and sustainability claims on Hedera and ensuring a carbon-neutral future.
Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association is available for an interview upon request
About Global Center for Sustainable Finance
The financial system is currently being transformed by digitization and sustainability. However, existing knowledge on the topic of Sustainable Digital Finance, which bridges both areas, is still rare and a more comprehensive understanding of the domain is a missing component. The Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance focuses on this domain and aims to develop innovative approaches (research), accelerate those approaches (impact), and train students and practitioners to foster innovation on a global scale (education).
About The Hashgraph Association
The Hashgraph Association is at the forefront of the digital enablement and empowerment of organizations through the broad adoption of Hedera-powered enterprise-grade solutions and decentralized applications, which includes supporting and funding of training, innovation, and venture-building programs globally. As a non-profit organization headquartered in Switzerland, The Hashgraph Association provides funding for innovation, research, and development that enables economic inclusion and a digital future for all, with a positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact.
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For Media Enquiries:
Dustin Rotenberg, Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-hashgraph-association-pledges-1-5m-to-global-centre-for-sustainable-digital-finance-302325106.html
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Thomson Reuters named a Leader in 2024 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-enabled Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Enterprise
TORONTO, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Thomson Reuters (NYSE/TSX: TRI), a global content and technology company, today announced that it has been positioned as a Leader in two IDC MarketScape reports – IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled SaaS Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Enterprise 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52035324, December 2024), and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Value-Added Tax Management Applications 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52732824, December 2024).
“In today’s rapidly evolving global marketplace, tax compliance has become increasingly complex for multinational corporations. At Thomson Reuters, we’re committed to empowering our customers with cutting-edge technology that not only ensures compliance but also enhances their competitive edge,” said Ray Grove, head of Corporate Tax and Trade at Thomson Reuters.
“We believe our recognition as a Leader in both the enterprise SUT and VAT markets in this IDC MarketScape underscores our unwavering dedication to our customers’ success. Through our trusted ONESOURCE solutions, serving over 205 countries and territories, we continue to push the boundaries of innovation. Our vision is to create a seamlessly connected suite of global indirect tax calculation, reporting, and e-invoicing capabilities, providing best-in-class technology to enable our customers to navigate the complexities of tax compliance with confidence and agility.”
“Businesses of all sizes are grappling with an increasingly complex tax landscape, and they are turning to technology vendors for sophisticated tax automation solutions that seamlessly integrate, ensure compliance, and boost operational efficiency,” said Kevin Permenter, research manager at IDC. “Thomson Reuters has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation and customer success in the SaaS and cloud-enabled Value-Added Tax automation software market. Their ONESOURCE platform stands out for its comprehensive global coverage, robust integration capabilities, and advanced features powered by edge computing and AI. They are positioned well to address the evolving needs of businesses facing intricate tax compliance challenges across multiple jurisdictions.”
Pagero, part of Thomson Reuters, was also recently named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: European Compliant e-Invoicing 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #EUR151806424, September 2024). As a key part of Thomson Reuters e-invoicing offering, ONESOURCE Pagero supports businesses to accelerate growth with trusted, automated e-invoicing software that streamlines global compliance processes to unlock valuable business insights.
Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE offers comprehensive tax compliance solutions, including automated tax return preparation and filing for Sales and Use Tax and VAT. It integrates with major ERPs and provides tax determination and calculation for all transactions. ONESOURCE also features edge computing for faster, more controlled tax calculations. Recently, Thomson Reuters launched ONESOURCE with CoCounsel globally, integrating generative AI assistance. This enhanced solution combines a new AI Product Support skill with CoCounsel, Thomson Reuters professional-grade generative AI assistant that provides instant, natural-language answers drawn from Thomson Reuters trusted, proprietary content.
About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (NYSE / TSX: TRI) (“TR”) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com.
Media contact
Kirsty Bennett
Director, Customer and Product PR
[email protected]
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