Latest news with #Hadida
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Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Recording a new milestone in journey to success
Published on: Monday, August 18, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 18, 2025 By: Leonard Alaza Text Size: Hunai Jaya is the latest industry player to join the VDP, aimed at empowering Bumiputera vendors to build resilience and sustainability. Kota Kinabalu: Since its inception in 2016, Hunai Jaya Resources Sdn Bhd has steadily grown into a formidable player in the local oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) industry. The Sabah-based company built its legacy by prioritising quality and reliability, ensuring customer satisfaction remains at the forefront of its operations. This commitment to excellence has paved the way for its inclusion in PETRONAS' Vendor Development Programme (VDP), a significant milestone for the company. Gaining recognition and building momentum Hunai Jaya's formative years were focused on developing their core competencies and strengthening their operations through workforce upskilling and building strategic partnerships. 'As we gained recognition in the electrical and instrumentation fields, our dedication to sustainability and innovation allowed us to expand our service offerings and customer base,' said Hadida Hadi, the company's director. Today, Hunai Jaya has diversified its offerings to include oil and gas engineering maintenance, instrumentation validation and calibration services, civil construction and building maintenance, marine consultancy, grass-cutting services and manpower supply. Reflecting on its early days, Hadida recalled the initial challenges that the company faced upon its establishment. Hunai Jaya's collaboration with PETRONAS began as early as 2016 with its first project at PETRONAS Chemicals Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd facility in Sipitang, where they supplied general workers. 'This marked the beginning of our journey in manpower supply, meeting PETRONAS' standards. As many experienced professionals sought opportunities abroad, one of our early challenges was sourcing semi-skilled and skilled workers. 'To address this, we expanded recruitment beyond local districts and provided housing facilities to ease workers' transition. We also prioritised safety training and regulatory compliance, ensuring our workforce was well-prepared to meet industry demands,' Hadida said. Since then, Hunai Jaya has worked for PETRONAS to construct and maintain petrochemical plants, offshore platforms and pipelines, and offer consultancy, design solutions and feasibility studies for industry projects. Hunai Jaya's workforce has also expanded to over 200 employees engaged in various projects. Levelling up At the Sabah Commemoration Day in Kota Kinabalu earlierthis year, PETRONAS welcomed Hunai Jaya as the latestindustry player to join its Vendor Development Programme (VDP), marking a significant milestone in its growth journey. Since 1993, VDP has empowered Bumiputera vendors to build resilience and sustainability, with 21 Sabah vendors appointed to date. The programme focuses on enhancing technical competence, commercial viability and homegrown innovation while fostering growth and paving the way forinternational expansion, including potential listing on Bursa Malaysia as a long-term objective. When asked on the decision to embark on this prestigious programme, Hadida highlighted several key factors that drove Hunai Jaya's motivation to participate in VDP. 'Apart from providing us access to resources, technology and increased market visibility, VDP also fosters collaboration with industry players, allowing us to forge strategic partnerships while encouraging best practices and innovation. 'This commitmentto continuous improvement aligns with our dedication to operational excellence and long-term growth,' said Hadida. Hunai Jaya hopes to leverage its experience as a VDP vendor, acknowledging that it was initially challenging to meet the programme's requirements and determine their eligibility. 'Through active internal and external engagements with VDP representatives and our workforce, we managed to overcome these challenges and strengthened our capabilities in positioning Hunai Jaya for long-term growth in the oil and gas sector,' Hadida said. Commitment to environment and society As a VDP participant for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder maintenance, Hunai Jaya demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by supporting PETRONAS' sustainability aspirations, including the Net Zero Carbon Emissions (NZCE) by 2050 agenda. 'We adopt sustainable maintenance practices, prioritising eco-friendly and energy efficient methods to reduce energy consumption. We also support NZCE goals through the maintenance of LPG cylinders, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of LPG use, promoting a lower-carbon energy solution,' Hadida adds. On the social front, Hunai Jaya remains committed to empower localtalent, create job opportunities and enhance local workforce capabilities in LPG cylinder maintenance. 'We aim to prioritise hiring 100 per cent local Sabahans across our operations and support local suppliers by sourcing our materials and services from them, ensuring employment opportunities for the regional workforce and contribute to economic stability in the State. 'Apart from investing in employee upskilling through industry-specific training to enhance their capabilities in the OGSE sector, we also invest in local infrastructure development, where our projects contribute to improvement ofroads, utilities and facilities that benefit the community,' Hadida said. Looking ahead As a newcomer to the VDP and despite the initial challenges that Hunai Jaya encountered, Hadida is optimistic that the company's participation in the programme will be invaluable in enhancing operational efficiency, driving innovation and ultimately support industry growth. 'Through VDP, we aim to enhance our capabilities, contribute to industry growth and achieve long-term success. We are committed to making the most of the programme's opportunities and look forward to advancing our journey with VDP,' Hadida said. The collaboration between Hunai Jaya and PETRONAS through VDP will support Hunai Jaya's aspirations to continue becoming a trusted industry partner, reaffirming their commitment to delivering exceptional value and contributing towards the success of their customers and the wider community. Meanwhile, PETRONAS and the Sabah Government continue to drive significant progress in strengthening the state's oil and gas industry, fostering economic growth and expanding local vendor participation. This aligns with PETRONAS' commitment to supporting the Sabah Government and industry partners in realising the state's aspiration of becoming a regional oil and gas hub. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
No. 1 in Canada: Niagara restaurant wins coveted top spot on country's top-100 list
Daniel Hadida and Eric Robertson didn't open Restaurant Pearl Morissette with the intention of becoming the best restaurant in the country. Or at least, not exactly. When they opened the doors to their Jordan Station dining room in 2017, the idea of being named the best restaurant in Canada and earning Michelin stars felt more like a distant ambition than a concrete goal — a necessary motivator in a challenging business often considered novel. And though they did not sit around talking about it every day, 'it would be false to say that there isn't that hope.' 'We want to really push ourselves and we want to be really creative, and we want to be a better partner for the community that we work with,' said Hadida. 'It's an outcome — it's not a purpose, but it's a useful thing to push against.' Nevertheless, it became a goal achieved. After several years bouncing around the top 10 of the best restaurants in Canada list, Restaurant Pearl Morissette earned the coveted No. 1 spot on the Canada's 100 Best restaurants in 2025. St. Catharines Fat Rabbit also earned a spot on the list at No. 97. 1. Restaurant Pearl Morissette — Jordan Station, ON 2. Mon Lapin — Montreal, QC 3. Alo — Toronto, ON 4. Edulis — Toronto, ON 5. 20 Victoria — Toronto, ON 6. Eight — Calgary, AB 7. Beba — Montreal, QC 8. Quetzal — Toronto, ON 9. Published on Main — Vancouver, BC 10. AnnaLena — Vancouver, BC The announcement was made at Canada's Best 100 magazine event Monday evening — an annual celebration honouring Canada's best newcomers, iconic establishments and celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of Canada's culinary scene. In an interview ahead of the ceremony, Hadida and Robertson said they don't fully understand the significance of an honour like this, but for them, 'the morale that comes from it is really the best part.' 'Especially because we're rurally located. We're in the middle of a very small, little town that is literally a one-street town, so that's definitely a cool thing,' said Hadida. 'I just felt quite excited and proud of, and for, the team as a whole.' The top 100 list is decided by 160 judges and the support for Restaurant Pearl Morissette was 'overwhelming,' said Jacob Richler, editor-in-chief and publisher of Canada's 100 Best. Since the day it opened, the restaurant has always been good, but Richler said it has only got better upon each visit. It has now reached a point where the quality of every ingredient on the plate is 'superb' and the experience feels more relaxed. 'They're just doing delicious, wonderful things and people responded to that.' 'They're doing a brilliant job. They're super passionate about what they do. I couldn't be more pleased also to have a place that so emphatically puts its little part of Canada on the plate so recognizably,' said Richler. 'It doesn't happen very often where you go to a restaurant and you think, 'Wow this place is just hitting it out of the park right now.'' Scallop, daikon, apple, shiso Restaurant Pearl Morissette. And in a year when Canadians are looking to stay local and travel within the country's own borders, 'it's great to be able to promote not just RPM, but so many restaurants across the country that are doing a wonderful job of expressing their region in their food and in their experience,' he said. The Jordan Station restaurant now exists as an 'extremely evolved and refined version of what we initially set out do,' said Hadida. Its carte blanche menu is rooted in a holistic approach — one which embraces regenerative practices and processes, partnerships with regional purveyors and food and wine that reflects the local ecosystem and land. But in the beginning, Pearl Morisette was a winery and farm, featuring about 60 pigs, 15 cattle, ducks and chickens raised on pasture. Hadida assisted with special food events, before suggesting an on-site restaurant. Robertson came on as a partner — later joined by gardener, forager and florist Deidre Fraser — and Hadida credits him for his encouragement to be ambitious and take risks. It was those relationships which helped hone the vision for Restaurant Pearl Morissette, ultimately forming the building blocks of the Michelin-starred, fine dining tasting experience on the Niagara Greenbelt. A Nightshade Vesper cocktail at Restaurant Pearl Morissette. After Restaurant Pearl Morissette won best new restaurant, it shifted the goalposts, building out its offerings to give diners 'an unforgettable experience that hopefully they will come back to for years and years,' said Robertson. Then the pandemic hit and for an 'esoteric, niche business in a novel location with a lot of expectations,' the restaurant showed its resiliency. Hadida said it farmed and preserved ingredients, supported vulnerable communities across Niagara and eventually evolved into an outdoor dining project over three summers. It did what it had to do to stay relevant, but Robertson and Hadida wanted to return the restaurant to its roots, cut down the work day and 'really focus and refine and push the level of what we were trying to execute with the restaurant.' 'Being in that point of reckoning effectively and having to decide, OK, everything that brought us here, what do we want to carry with us and what do we want to let go of? I'm super proud of the decision we made during that time and where it's led us to now,' said Hadida. For Robertson and Hadida, Restaurant Pearl Morissette was always about highlighting distinctive ingredients of Niagara and Ontario and with their own experiences in top kitchens around the world, and never saw Canada as playing catch-up. Daniel Hadida, left, and Eric Robertson, co-chef and co-owner of Restaurant Pearl Morissette, are photographed in Jordan. 'You don't have to put France, Italy and Japan on these pedestals of great food region. They are deserved (but) we have equally great ingredients and farmers and growers here in Canada,' said Robertson. 'We really wanted to have a spot where we could showcase that … I hope that we can provide a little bit of a blueprint (for young chefs and cook) moving forward.' After learning the news their restaurant had earned the top ranking, there was a moment of celebration between Robertson and Hadida, with hugs and high-fives before getting back to work. Excitement will continue as the chefs enjoy the moment with their collective team. But Robertson said it was on the ride home that first evening when the achievement 'really sunk in.' 'We are in a place now where we're representing this style of cooking, or this level of dining and restaurant experience in Canada. And with that, there's a little bit of responsibility to uphold the level that we're working at,' he said. 'It's motivating to just continue to push.'
Local France
28-03-2025
- Business
- Local France
Should you file your French tax return before your US one?
Unlike other nationalities, Americans abroad are still required to file a US tax return regardless of where they live, thanks to citizenship-based taxation . As such, springtime means preparing both a US and French tax return for Americans in France. Americans abroad are given an automatic two month extension on their US tax return, meaning it is due by June 15th (instead of April 15th), assuming you have not requested another extension on top of that. As for the French tax declaration, this year the online form opens on April 10th. The due date has not yet been announced, but typically, it is due by late May or early June (depending on where in France you live). READ MORE: The bumper French tax guide for 2025 To help you determine which tax return to submit first, The Local spoke with tax adviser and expert Jonathan Hadida, from HadTax , who explained that the filing order is about "avoiding double taxation". Advertisement He said: "The main question to ask yourself is: do I have French income? If this is the case, then usually it is best to file your French tax return before your American one. "This might be a French salary, rental income, or French investment income, like capital gains. "As with everything related to taxes - it depends on your individual facts and circumstances. Everybody is different, but there are some guide lines," Hadida said. He went on to give a few examples to highlight common scenarios. American working in France "If this person - who earns a French salary and pays French taxes - wants to use the 'foreign tax credit', then they may want to file the French return first in order to get at least an estimate of their French taxes. "They could also wait to have the French avis (final assessment) before filing the American return. To do this, you could request an extension in the US until October or even December. "Asking for an extension would help ensure you enough time to get all the information needed for the tax credit when filing your US tax return," Hadida said. That said, the foreign tax credit is one of the two ways Americans can avoid double taxation, the other is the foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE). When choosing between the two, there are several variables to consider, including whether or not you are contributing to a US IRA or if you want to benefit from the US child tax credit. Hadida explained: "If you take the foreign earned income exclusion, then you could file the US return first. This is a simple and quick option. "But it is possible you'd be better off doing the foreign tax credit. If you take the foreign earned income exclusion, you cannot benefit from the child tax credit. This means that if you have kids in France, and you opt for foreign earned income exclusion - you might be giving up a significant refund from the US," he said. Advertisement American retiree in France "Let's look at the example of someone who only earns US sourced pension or investment income. This person does not have any French income. "They could file the American return first, there's nothing stopping them. As long as they don't need any foreign tax credit information, there's no downside to filing the US return first and then doing the French one after. "The general rule of thumb is that for a retiree without French income, the order doesn't really matter. It's up to you and your preferences," Hadida said. However, if this American retiree has some income in France, the picture changes somewhat. Advertisement "If you have rental income, or investment income (including capital gains) in France, you're going to owe French taxes on it. There may not be US taxable income, but if there is, then you would need the French tax credit to offset US taxes in order to avoid double taxation. As for pension income, the US-France tax treaty is very clear "It is only taxable in the state you received it," Hadida said. This means a US-sourced pension is only taxable in the US, and a French pension is only taxable in France. While you need to declare your US pension on your French tax declaration, you will not owe any French taxes on it. READ MORE: Ask the expert: What Americans in France need to know about 401(k) and other pensions American who expects to owe US taxes If you have French income, you may have decided it is best to file your French return first. However, if you think you will also owe US taxes, then you have some other factors to consider. "In this case, you might be better off paying something to the IRS by April 15th to mitigate any interest or penalties from accruing. "For example, if someone has significant investment income in the US - that income is only taxable in the US. We would want to calculate how much this person would likely owe in US taxes, so basically we would prepare the US tax return as if we are going to finish it. "Then you would make a payment to the IRS based on what you expect to pay, and we will file the return later. "Your balance will be zero, so you won't have any interest or late-payment penalties accruing. "Ultimately, this decision should be made on a case by case basis, and it will depend on how much you expect to in US taxes, as well as your personal preferences," Jonathan said. What happens if you accidentally file in the wrong order? Jonathan explained that in this case, you could amend the return. "However, amending the return will make it take much longer (as in several months) to get your refund. This is why you're probably better off requesting an extension for the American return," Hadida said. You can learn about how to amend a return or request an extension on the IRS website.
