Latest news with #HONGKONGSAR
Arabian Post
17 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
KN Group and AlloyX Form Strategic Partnership, Launching World's First On-Chain Tokenized Consumer Loan Assets
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2025 – In July 2025, Hong Kong fintech company KN Group announced a significant strategic partnership with AlloyX, a prominent Hong Kong-based Web3 financial technology company. Leveraging AlloyX's on-chain tokenization infrastructure technology, the two parties will jointly launch the industry's first tokenized fund with consumer loans as its underlying assets. This collaboration marks the first tokenization of individual cash loans on-chain, providing broader funding sources for the underlying assets and exploring new possibilities for traditional consumer finance businesses. As a promoter of inclusive finance with business spanning emerging markets including Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Mexico, KN Group will conduct a shelf offering of USD 100 million in tokenized consumer finance assets (RWA), with an initial issuance size of USD 20 million. AlloyX, a renowned Hong Kong Web3 fintech firm, specializes in bridging traditional finance with blockchain-based services, providing secure and efficient fiat and stablecoin payment solutions alongside asset tokenization services. This powerful alliance will significantly enhance asset liquidity, stability, and capital efficiency, opening new channels for global capital market asset allocation. Lucas Kong, General Manager of KN Group Hong Kong and Global Head of Treasury at KN Group, stated: 'This global debut is a major milestone following KN Group's decade of deep cultivation in AI fintech. It successfully bridges traditional financial services with the global capital markets through digital pathways. This initiative explores a replicable path for onboarding traditional consumer financial assets onto the blockchain, granting investors greater transparency, flexibility, and investment efficiency. Through financial asset tokenization, we aim to better serve global investors. Moving forward, we aspire to achieve further breakthroughs in setting new industry standards, unlocking fresh asset value, and connecting global emerging ecosystems, continuing our strides in innovative finance.' ADVERTISEMENT Under this strategic partnership, AlloyX provides KN Group with blockchain technology solutions and support. Jessie Chen, Head of RWA Issuance at AlloyX, commented: 'We are delighted to partner with KN Group to jointly advance the global tokenization of cash loans, accelerating the integration and development of traditional financial systems with next-generation Web3 technology applications. This ensures high-quality financial assets circulate on-chain in a compliant and transparent manner. AlloyX will continue collaborating with industry partners to support institutions in their standardized, modularized, and globalized blockchain-based business expansion.' As a key enterprise introduced by the Hong Kong Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), KN Group will leverage this innovation as a starting point. It will continue to harness its strengths in AI-powered risk control technology, optimize asset management, expand into emerging markets, and lead the global digital development of inclusive finance. Hashtag: #FintechInnovation #Blockchain #RWATokenization #DeFi #Web3 #DigitalAssets #FinancialInclusion #KNGroup Wechat: KN Group The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. KN Group Established in 2014, KN Group is a financial technology company with a core focus on artificial intelligence and big data. Its vision is to make financial services more accessible, convenient, and fair. Leveraging AI technology, KN Group has developed comprehensive assessment models to effectively evaluate customer credit risks, gain deeper insights into customer needs better through extensive infrastructure, provide more personalized services, and identify and manage risks more efficiently. KN Group is one of the strategic enterprises introduced under the Hong Kong Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). Its business now spans multiple regions, including Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Mexico.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Cushman & Wakefield Takes Gold, Silver and Bronze Prizes at Phoenix Tree Marketing Awards 2025
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2025 - Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, has won the Gold Prize in the Integrated Marketing category at the 11th Phoenix Tree Digital Marketing Summit 2025 and Awards Ceremony for the firm's Better Never Settles brand campaign. The firm also won the Silver Prize in the ESG Marketing category for its Earth Day campaign; and the B ronze Prize in the Video Marketing category for its Better Never Settles video series. Cushman & Wakefield launched the Better Never Settles brand campaign in Greater China in June 2024. The firm conducted marketing activities both internally and externally through a range of channels including online social platforms and offline in-person events, significantly enhancing brand impact, demonstrating a market-leading position and marking an important milestone for the branding campaign globally. Cushman & Wakefield Greater China launched a one-month Earth Day — Planet vs Plastics campaign, running from April 22 to May 22, in conjunction with Bottloop, a pioneer in recycling and environmental conservation. Staff across more than 20 offices actively engaged in the campaign, which was widely featured through a range of channels including WeChat, Weibo and leading media outlets, achieving more than 90,000 views and demonstrating a successful ESG marketing initiative. The firm's Better Never Settles video series has been one of the most notable Better Never Settles campaign elements. The short-format video series showcased four team members from different markets and different business units sharing their stories on how they bring 'Better never settles' into their lives when they engage in sports, arts, career development and in their personal lives. The video series reached over 140,000 views, generating significant buzz in the industry and reinforcing the firm's strong branding. KK Chiu, Chief Executive, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield, said, 'We are honored to receive such high recognition for our excellent performance at the 11th Phoenix Tree Marketing Awards. This achievement reflects the trust and respect from our clients, media and the real estate community, and marks an important milestone in the growth of our marketing capabilities across Greater China. We will continue to deliver innovative and integrated marketing initiatives to strengthen our brand positioning and elevate our industry presence because at Cushman & Wakefield, better never settles.' Founded in 2015 at the inaugural WMMS Global Mobile Marketing Summit, the Phoenix Tree Awards form part of the industry's premier recognition for mobile marketing excellence. Judged by an independent panel of senior experts, the awards evaluate criteria including innovation, strategy, execution and impact, celebrating companies that set new standards in brand marketing. Over the years, they have evolved into a symbol of professionalism and prestige, renowned for honoring high-quality case studies that drive industry advancement.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
SleekFlow Unveils AgentFlow: Building Teams of AI Agents To Increase Revenue For Businesses
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2025 - SleekFlow, an Agentic AI platform for conversions, announces the launch of AgentFlow, a transformative AI solution designed to build teams of AI agents and redefine how businesses do sales. By leveraging cutting-edge conversational AI, AgentFlow empowers enterprises of different sizes to turn every interaction into a conversion opportunity, accelerating lead generation, sales, and customer retention across multiple channels. --> SleekFlow, launched in 2019, operates in 6 regions and helps more than 2000 businesses globally handle 600k conversations every day --> With its engineering team led by former Silicon Valley based LinkedIn China CTO Gao Lei, SleekFlow presents one of Hong Kong's first AI agent platforms specifically designed to increase sales and human collaborations --> Last week, the AgentFlow launch event, 'Connecting at Scale with AgentFlow,' in Hong Kong brought together tech innovators from Microsoft, McKinsey, and HSBC to inspire AI transformation to a crowd of 100. AgentFlow: A New Era of Secured Intelligent Customer Interactions curated by AI AgentFlow is built on SleekFlow's advanced AI engine, utilizing a multi-agent architecture and graph database technology to deliver scalable, context-aware conversations. Unlike traditional AI systems that struggle with complex queries, AgentFlow deploys specialized AI agents to handle distinct tasks—such as data retrieval, inquiry resolution, and lead scoring—with unparalleled precision. Key capabilities include: --> Multilingual Mastery: Supports seamless conversations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Cantonese, enabling businesses to engage diverse audiences effortlessly. --> Advanced Data Processing: Extracts structured information from complex file formats like spreadsheets, PDFs, and visual-heavy documents, ensuring accurate and context-rich responses. --> Model-Optimized Performance: Integrates models like GPT-4o, 4o-mini, and Gemini, dynamically selecting the best model for each task to enhance natural language understanding and data retrieval. --> Vector Database Efficiency: Leverages vector databases for rapid, scalable retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), minimizing response times and reducing AI hallucinations. --> Seamless and No-code Integration: Trains AI agents using existing knowledge bases and integrates with Flow Builder to embed intelligent automation into workflows. --> Enterprise-level Security: AgentFlow is developed with security and compliance at its core ISO/IEC 27001 & SOC 2 Type II Certified and GDPR Compliant. AgentFlow is built on Azure OpenAI, the customer data is never used to train public models. 'With SleekFlow's AgentFlow, we're making it radically easy for businesses to deploy AI at scale in a flexible and effective solution.' said Henson Tsai, CEO of SleekFlow. 'We want to empower companies to deliver human-like interactions that drive revenue and build lasting relationships, and this is just the beginning.' Launch Event Highlights: A Vision for the Future of AI conversions On July 10, 2025, SleekFlow celebrated the launch of AgentFlow with an exclusive event at The Executive Center, Central, together with their AI launch partners Beame, EGL and HKBN. Over 100 industry leaders, technology innovators, and business executives from sectors such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Wellness, and Retail gathered to explore the transformative impact of AI-native customer engagement. --> Featuring insights from enterprises like Microsoft, McKinsey, and HSBC, the discussions underscored one key takeaway: mastering AI is no longer optional—it's essential for businesses and employees to thrive in the future. --> Alfred Kam, Chief Information Officer of EGL Tours, Hong Kong's leading travel agency, shared, 'Adopting AI isn't just about staying competitive today—it's a skill that will help employees remain relevant for the next 20 to 30 years.' --> Kenneth She, Chief Transformation Officer of HKBN—one of Hong Kong's top broadband providers now expanding into insurance and other products—added, 'Let the team stay what they do, do what they are good at, and transform them to do better [with AI].' --> Samson Fong, Regional Head of Marketing at Beame, a provider of advanced orthodontic solutions: 'To keep the brand voice and protect the brand at scale across regions, human involvement remains essential. AI-human collaboration is key to achieving this balance.' --> Henson Tsai, Founder & CEO of SleekFlow: 'The best time to start AI was yesterday. The second best time to start AI is today.' AgentFlow simplifies AI adoption, empowering businesses to integrate this critical skill with ease. As the AI era accelerates, understanding and leveraging its potential is a skill every professional must embrace to stay ahead. The Unstoppable Rise of AI in Commerce, revealed by SleekFlow's exclusive survey SleekFlow's 2025 Whitepaper on AI in Commerce underscores the critical role of AI in today's business landscape. Based on a survey of 200 Hong Kong consumers and businesses, the findings reveal: --> 65% of consumers are familiar with conversational AI, using it for product discovery, order tracking, and reservations. --> 66% of businesses have adopted AI to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. --> 45% of businesses plan to increase AI investment by 2027, signaling strong momentum for AI-driven solutions. These insights highlight the growing demand for intelligent, scalable platforms like AgentFlow, which empower businesses to meet evolving consumer expectations while optimizing operations. 'AgentFlow represents a leap forward in conversational AI, blending cutting-edge multi-agent systems with no-code integration. At SleekFlow, we've engineered an agentic solution that not only understands complex customer needs but is also capable of taking actions on behalf of you—truly empowering businesses to thrive in the AI-native era.' Lei Gao, CTO of SleekFlow. About SleekFlow Trusted by over 2000 enterprises across 70 countries, SleekFlow unifies WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS, Website Live Chat, and more into a single, clutter-free workspace—so your team can focus on building relationships that convert. Seamlessly integrated with your e-commerce, payments, calendar, and CRM systems, our AI Revenue Agent understands customer history, recommends products, collects payments, and schedules appointments—handling the entire journey from inquiry to sale. Designed for AI-human collaboration, SleekFlow's Inbox Copilot centralizes communication, automates repetitive tasks, and highlights next steps and upsell opportunities. This empowers your team to close more deals with less effort. SleekFlow is located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and the UAE. In Jun 2025, the Series A+ startup secured an additional funding round, bringing its total capital raised to USD $23.5 million. Investors include Atinum Investment, AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi Partners GBA and Transcend Capital Partners), Moses Tsang (Former General Partner of Goldman Sachs Group and Chairman of Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC) and Mars Growth Capital.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
HKSTP Joins Hands with Mainland and Overseas Institutions to Launch Global University Innovation Network
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2025 - The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in collaboration with 15 local tertiary institutions and supported by leading global tertiary institutions and organisations, today celebrated the 10th anniversary of its flagship international intercollegiate innovation and technology (I&T) event, Hong Kong Techathon+ (HK Techathon+) at Hong Kong Science Park. The occasion also marked the launch of the 'Global University Innovation Network' (GUIN), a new initiative designed to deepen international collaboration among tertiary institutions, and further bolster Hong Kong's position as an international talent and I&T hub. Establishment of GUIN to Foster Global Innovation and Talent Exchange The newly established GUIN is a collaborative effort between HKSTP and 15 local institutions: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Education University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, and Tung Wah College. GUIN is further supported by renowned universities, in the overseas including Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Social Sciences, The University of Queensland (Australia), The University of Newcastle (Australia), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (mainland China), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Universiti Malaya (Malaysia), and Astana Business Campus of Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan). The initiative aims to enhance innovation collaboration between Hong Kong and esteemed global institutions, facilitating cross-regional resource sharing, talent exchanges, and the commercialisation of R&D outcomes. GUIN will attract top-tier international I&T teams and startups to Hong Kong, further elevating the city's position as the international talent and I&T hub. Profess Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, remarked, 'Hong Kong enjoys a unique advantage of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, converging global innovation resources, including high-calibre talents. The Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Over the past two years, we have attracted over 200 I&T enterprises with high potential and representativeness to set up or expand their businesses here. I encourage all the young talents to seize this opportunity to collaborate, innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible.' Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: 'From a bold vision a decade ago, HK Techathon+ has evolved into a flagship Hong Kong and international intercollegiate I&T event, symbolising the collective commitment of HKSTP, our partnering institutions, and supporters in nurturing innovative talent. HKSTP has been committed to cultivate a vibrant I&T ecosystem, offering comprehensive support to young innovators – from ideation and R&D to business expansion. We look forward to seeing these young talents unleash their creativity and potential, becoming key drivers of Hong Kong's I&T development and co-creating an exciting new chapter in our city's innovation journey.' Key initiatives Under GUIN: 1. Theme-based Global Incubation Programme Leveraging the research strengths of Hong Kong's tertiary institutions, this Programme attracts global innovation teams to conduct R&D and commercialisation activities locally. The Programme will develop in various academic sectors. The initial phase includes partnerships with the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Dentistry to establish the 'Global Hub for Future Dentistry' programme, and with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Optometry and InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research to launch the 'Global Vision Tech Incubation' programme. 2. Talent Exchange Initiatives Through HKSTP's Global Internship Programme and industry academia research frameworks, overseas talents gain valuable practical experience and industry engagement opportunities. This summer alone, HKSTP welcomed over 200 interns from world-leading institutions – including 32 students from The University of Newcastle, Australia, partner of GUIN – to work with five startups in the Science Park on credit-bearing projects. HK Techathon+ Celebrates a Decade of Promoting Intercollegiate I&T Collaboration Since its inception in July 2015, HK Techathon+ has grown significantly, attracting over 7,000 young innovators, generating more than 2,400 innovative projects, and nurturing hundreds of entrepreneurs and startups. Many alumni have gained global recognition, with several featured on the 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia' list. Since expanding into a global event in 2024, HK Techathon+ has welcomed participation from over 30 leading international institutions from mainland China, Taiwan, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and the United States, including world renowned institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and The University of Queensland. This international platform enables local and overseas academic innovators and startups to exchange ideas, deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's vibrant I&T ecosystem, and integrate seamlessly into the city's innovation landscape.
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025 APAC Key Highlights
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 July 2025 – The sixth edition of the Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report confirms the ongoing shift from material consumption towards experiences. Jen-Ai Chua, Research Analyst, Asia, Julius Baer, commented: 'Asia Pacific remains one of the fastest-growing regions globally. Real GDP grew 4.5 per cent year on year in 2024 – moderating slightly from 5.1 per cent in 2023 but still outpacing the global average of 3.3 per cent. Firm fundamentals have set the stage for the rapid ascent of wealth in the region. The number of high-net-worth individuals in Asia is projected to have grown 5 per cent year on year to 855,000 in 2024. Growth in China and India is expected to help bring Asia's share of new HNWIs globally to an estimated 47.5 per cent between 2025 and 2028.' ADVERTISEMENT Global city rankings: Three APAC cities in the top six globally Asia Pacific (APAC) continues to be an expensive place to live well in general, as its developing cities continue their upward economic trajectory. The region saw only slight price decreases of 1 per cent on average across the region, making it the most stable of all the surveyed regions this year. Once again, two of the world's three most expensive cities can be found in the Asia Pacific region, where Singapore ranks 1st (unchanged) and Hong Kong ranks 3rd (from 2nd). Bangkok and Tokyo made the largest leaps, each climbing six places to 11th and 17th respectively. Conversely, Shanghai dropped from fourth to sixth, and Manila fell to 23rd despite a 7.5 per cent rise in average local currency prices. Singapore (ranked #1 globally): Singapore continues to top the index as the costliest city for living well for the third consecutive year. Despite this, the city remains highly liveable, appealing to high-net-worth individuals and businesses due to its stable political climate, safety, and quality services, including education and healthcare. Overall, Singapore's stability and connectivity continue to make it a leading choice for relocation and residency. Lifestyle index[1]: Singapore is ranked the most expensive for categories of car and women's handbag, second for women's shoes and third for residential property and healthcare. It is amongst the least expensive for a treadmill (ranked 21 st ). Hong Kong (ranked #3 globally): Hong Kong remains one of the most expensive cities to live well. Its low taxes and cosmopolitan appeal continue to attract wealthy individuals, bolstered by a residency-by-investment programme that has drawn significant interest from both mainland Chinese and global HNWIs. Lifestyle index: Hong Kong is ranked the most expensive for a lawyer, and second most expensive for car and residential property, and third for degustation dinner. While Singapore saw hotel suites rise 10 per cent this year, Hong Kong saw a 26 per cent fall in prices. Shanghai (ranked #6 globally): Lifestyle index: Shanghai remains the second most expensive city for watches, the third most expensive city for women's shoes, and while it is the most expensive city to have a degustation dinner, it is interestingly the second cheapest for Champagne, after Hong Kong. Bangkok (ranked #11 globally): Bangkok made one of the biggest jumps this year, going up 6 places. While relatively affordable for many services in the index, Bangkok is one of the priciest global cities for luxury goods such as ladies' and men's fashions, as well as cars and watches. Lifestyle index: Bangkok is ranked most expensive for women's shoes, and third for cars. Mumbai (ranked #20 globally): Despite India's position as a rising economic powerhouse, Mumbai is relatively affordable for most services, particularly hospitality and travel. Lifestyle index: Interestingly, it is jointly ranked most expensive for treadmill, but cheapest across the board for LASIK. Shifting spending patterns among APAC's wealthy In APAC, spending on goods remains high, though consumer preferences continue to evolve. The growing wealth of APAC's HNW population, combined with increased interest in health, wellness, and experiences, continues to shape spending patterns across the region. ADVERTISEMENT APAC HNWIs boost investment and risk appetite HNWIs in APAC have tended to increase both spending and investing (39 per cent), with the highest overall total increase in those investing at 68 per cent. Most HNWIs from APAC have increased the diversity of assets in their portfolio and a consistent proportion has increased the level of risk. Investors in these regions also tend to be more interested in investing in future trends or in line with their values. Equities remain the preferred asset class in APAC, followed by real estate and cash. Despite notable 'ESG fatigue' in other regions, there has been a growing commitment to sustainable investing in APAC. Products and services APAC HNWIs spent more money on in the past 12 months HNWIs in APAC have seen some of the biggest jumps in cost for lifestyle spending habits, outpacing all regions in high-end women's clothes, hotels, fine dining, as 80 per cent of them have reported increased assets over the past year. There was one category this year where prices increased more sharply than any other – across almost all cities and in APAC, business class flights rose 12.6 per cent and the region also saw a marked increase in leisure travel compared to business travel. In line with global trends, longevity is now top of mind for many HNWIs in APAC. In the region, 100 per cent said they are taking measures to increase their lifespans, ranging from lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a good diet to more extreme measures such as gene therapy and cryogenic chambers being used by 21 per cent of respondents in APAC. Unlike other regions, those in APAC said that their attitudes are overwhelmingly concerned with health, even as other regions reported more interest in dining experiences and human interaction. The Next Generation When it comes to financial longevity, the majority of HNWIs say the will adjust their wealth strategy to cover an increase in lifespan, with measures ranging from reviewing their existing wealth structure and rebalancing their portfolios to re-evaluating retirement goals. Respondents in APAC were much more likely to create a long-term care plan, with 68 per cent positively checking this option. While old economy businesses will be a mainstay of wealth in Asia, entrepreneurship opportunities facilitated by the emergence of newer technologies are changing the profile of the Asian HNWI. Concurrently, the intergenerational wealth transfer that should see a projected USD 5.8 trillion in assets change hands between 2023 and 2030 will accelerate the shift towards new preferences in lifestyle and spending choices, such as a growing focus on sustainability, increased digitalisation and a bias towards experiences. As wealth continues to shift in Asia Pacific, these trends will influence global luxury markets, real estate, and investment strategies in the years ahead. To download the Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025, please visit: (the report will be available after 3 p.m. Hong Kong Time) [1] Refer to Appendix from page 54 onwards for more details on rankings, and details on price changes on Lifestyle Index items for each city. Hashtag: #JuliusBaer The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Julius Baer Julius Baer is the leading Swiss wealth management group and a premium brand in this global sector, with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients. In all we do, we are inspired by our purpose: creating value beyond wealth. At the end of April 2025, assets under management amounted to CHF 467 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI), comprising the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks. Julius Baer is present in over 25 countries and around 60 locations. Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices in key locations including Bangkok, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Monaco, Mumbai, Santiago de Chile, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. Our client-centric approach, our objective advice based on the Julius Baer open product platform, our solid financial base, and our entrepreneurial management culture make us the international reference in wealth management. For more information visit our website at
