MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, further expands its presence overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom and Europe, through the new UK/EU Bank Cash In feature, revolutionizing remittance for around two million Filipinos in Europe.

Starting in November, overseas Filipinos in the UK and Europe will be able to seamlessly link their international bank accounts to GCash, making it easier and more convenient to send remittances to the Philippines.

Previously, sending money from the UK and Europe to the Philippines has been a complex and time-consuming process, often involving expensive fees and multiple intermediaries. With the new feature, Filipinos can enjoy lower fees and faster transaction times when sending money home, as well as competitive exchange rates and real-time access to funds.

“Many Filipinos have chosen Europe and the United Kingdom as their home. GCash hopes to provide their needs and help them connect with their loved ones, as a trusted digital finance partner made for Filipinos, by Filipinos,” said Paul Albano, GCash International General Manager.

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, added, “We are expanding our collaboration with GCash, a long-standing valued Member of our Direct Global Network, to transform digital wallet top-ups. Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, we are now delivering an instant top-up service that simplifies cross-border transactions. Our alliance with GCash is a testament to our passion for innovation, the versatility of our proprietary network, and our dedication to financial inclusion through money movement around the world.”

Through its vision of making ‘Finance for All’ a reality for its users around the world, GCash has recently become the Philippines’ first and only $5 billion unicorn. With its relentless push for financial inclusion and strong growth prospects, it recently gained new investments from Japan’s largest banking group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), and Ayala Corporation one of the Philippines’ biggest and most enduring conglomerates.

“At GCash, we prioritize finance for all Filipinos whether they are in the Philippines or abroad. We know our countrymen in Europe and the UK work hard to provide for their families back home,” says Albano. “We want to make their lives easier by looking for more convenient ways to help them send money back to their families.”

About GCash

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.

About Thunes:

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Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes’ Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes’ Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 15 locations, including Abidjan, Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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BEIJING, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The renowned Italian luggage maker BRIC’S in partnership with BranDNA are thrilled to announce the opening of BRIC’S first China brick-and-mortar shop in the bustling Wangfujing shopping district of Beijing. 

This strategic entry follows BRIC’S remarkable success in key Asian markets such as Japan and Korea, marking a significant milestone in its international expansion journey.

Founded in 1952, BRIC’S has become synonymous with luxury and elegance, famous for its premium leather craftsmanship and the meticulous artistry that goes into every piece of luggage, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation and function.

The newly opened BRIC’S store at Dong An Rui Jin in Beijing offers a diverse range of its signature collections, including the BELLAGIO, FIRENZE, LIFE, and X-COLLECTION tailored to discerning traveler needs. 

“We see great potential in the Chinese market, especially as travel rebounds post-pandemic,” stated Attilio Briccola, CEO of BRIC’S. “This partnership with BranDNA is pivotal in ensuring that our brand is strategically positioned for success. BranDNA’s deep industry expertise and robust network will help us present our elegant creations to a whole new audience.”  

China’s travel sector is booming, with outbound trips expected to reach 130 million this year and domestic travel up by 14.3% in the first half of 2024, per the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This surge presents a key opportunity for BRIC’S.

James Chen, CEO of BranDNA, shared, “We are excited to satisfy the burgeoning demand of today’s travelers who seek both style and utility in their travel accessories. With BRIC’S, we aim to set a new standard in the Chinese luggage market.”

With over 20 years of brand management experience in China, BranDNA manages strong portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands, including 7 For All Mankind, United Arrows, Pink House, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Ben Sherman, Body Glove, Borghese and many others.

Visit the new BRIC’S location at Dong An Rui Jin, Store F1-11, No. 138 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, and experience the art of Italian craftsmanship.

About BranDNA

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With a comprehensive functional service, including China entry strategy, merchandising, retail management, business development network marketing, and more, BranDNA offers a one-stop solution and a safer and efficient road for brands entering China and Southeast Asia. 

Discover more about BranDNA at www.brandna.net or connect via LinkedIn at BranDNA.

About BRIC’S

BRIC’S is a luxury Italian luggage brand known worldwide for its exceptionally designed luggage including trolleys, duffles, handbags, briefcases, and other leather and nylon goods. BRIC’S collections have always been characterized by constant development, where research and Heritage, innovation and tradition, functionality, and elegance are intertwined and balanced with skilled craft, advanced technology, and interpretation of new trends, creating a perfect fusion between shape, function, and design. Today, BRIC’S reflects timeless elegance typical of its province, Lake Como, harmoniously blending with the urban and cosmopolitan style of Milan – the city that hosts its most important Flagship Store in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

For more information: www.brics.it | IG @bricsmilano | FB @bricsmilano

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• The company has certified the sustainability of its business management with EcoVadis, receiving the third consecutive gold medal
• With 78 points out of 100, Hinojosa has received its best score to date, mostly due to improvements in key areas such as environment, labour practices and human rights

VALENCIA, Spain, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hinojosa Packaging Group has been awarded the EcoVadis gold medal for the third consecutive year, achieving with 78 points out of 100 its highest score to date and being placed in the 97th percentile of the best rated companies. The company has experienced sustained growth since has started in 2020 to certify management and positive impact on sustainability, within this internationally recognised platform.

The EcoVadis evaluation covers a wide range of non-financial management systems, including impact on issues such as environment, labour practices and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. Both in environmental area and labour practices & human rights’ area, the company has improved its previous scores by 10 points, reaching, respectively, 90 and 80. Progress in these two areas has enabled Hinojosa to further improve this year the overall score and position itself in the top 3% of all companies.

The improvement in the environmental area is due, among other things, to the validation of the emissions reduction targets and to achieving the Net-Zero Standard in 2050, as part of the SBTi (Science Based Target initiative). Some of the company’s commitments in this area include achieving a 60% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 42% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030, in addition to using 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Adding to these commitments to the future, Hinojosa continues to work on a daily basis to ensure that its constant, steady and sustainable growth is guaranteed accordingly to circular economy’s principle. During 2023, the company reduced emissions by 16% compared to the previous year. This outstanding reduction of carbon footprint was also followed by a waste recovery rate over 95% and a 7% increase in the energy used for production from renewable sources, reaching 71% of the total energy used.

Hinojosa’s efforts to generate a positive impact in labour practices and human rights has also been recognised by EcoVadis. The expansion and consolidation of its FP Dual program or the creation of Hinojosa Cathedra together with Universitat Politècnica de València are some of the most relevant initiatives. In addition, the commitment of all company’s employees to comply with the MSH (Hinojosa Safety Model) has led to an almost fifty percent reduction in global occupational injuries.

EcoVadis corporate sustainability ratings assess each company based on its size, location and business area. More than 90,000 companies are rated internationally, receiving scores between 0 and 100 and in case their performance excels, EcoVadis will grant medals. After winning a bronze medal in 2020 and a silver medal in 2021, Hinojosa has now three consecutive gold medals in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, thanks to this assessment, the company has received guidance on its strengths and 22 areas for improvement, which allows Hinojosa to focus on sustainability efforts and to develop action plans to improve performance.

About Hinojosa Packaging Group

Hinojosa is a leading company in the design and manufacture of sustainable packaging solutions. With more than 75 years of history, its model is based on the principles of the circular economy.

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Thanks to permanent innovation, customer orientation and the pursuit of excellence, the Group has continued to grow, experiencing a significant boost in recent years with its commitment to internationalisation. Today it has 2900 employees and 24 production plants located in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, combining the strength of a global group with proximity to the territory.

Hinojosa’s commitment – and performance – is to generate a positive impact where it operates, contributing to a greater common well-being. Because it is not only about making the best packaging, but taking care of everything around you.

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