Latest news with #LoI
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, El Salvador sign ‘letter of intent' on Bitcoin cooperation
Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib and Director of El Salvador's National Bitcoin Office Stacy Herbert sign the Letter of Intent (LoI) on Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy X Listen to article Pakistan and El Salvador have agreed to establish formal cooperation on Bitcoin and blockchain initiatives, following a high-level meeting between Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador. The engagement, described as the first official meeting between the Miinster of State and the Salvadoran head of state, culminated in the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Bitcoin Office of El Salvador and the Pakistan Crypto Council. The agreement aims to facilitate technical cooperation and knowledge exchange in key areas such as public sector applications of Bitcoin, blockchain-based financial inclusion, sovereign digital asset reserves, and regulatory innovation in emerging economies. 🇸🇻🤝🇵🇰 The Bitcoin Office signed a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council yesterday: "The purpose of the LOI is to outline the mutual intention of the Parties to explore and establish a strategic collaboration in the fields of Bitcoin education, Bitcoin mining,… — The Bitcoin Office (@bitcoinofficesv) July 17, 2025 According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance, the meeting centred exclusively on digital asset collaboration and was seen as a landmark in what officials termed 'Biplomacy' — a blend of Bitcoin and diplomacy reflecting the growing role of decentralized technologies in international engagement. 'El Salvador's bold Bitcoin experiment has inspired governments around the world,' said Bilal Bin Saqib, who also heads the Pakistan Crypto Council. 'This visit marks the beginning of a strategic relationship rooted in innovation, inclusion, and shared learning.' President Bukele welcomed Pakistan's outreach, commending its forward-looking approach to digital assets and reaffirming El Salvador's support for emerging economies exploring Bitcoin as a tool for financial sovereignty. El Salvador, which made headlines in 2021 as the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, has become a focal point for nations assessing digital currencies to expand financial access and reduce reliance on traditional monetary systems. Just met one of the most extraordinary visionary leaders of our time, President of El Salvador, @nayibbukele A head of state who doesn't just talk tech, but challenges it, from AI and robotics to Bitcoin. He's a leader from the future, who saw the future first because when it… — Bilal bin Saqib MBE (@Bilalbinsaqib) July 16, 2025 Pakistan is similarly working to establish a structured digital asset economy. Earlier this year, the government created the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) via presidential ordinance to regulate the crypto sector, curb illicit finance, and promote responsible innovation. The State Bank of Pakistan also announced plans to complete a pilot project for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) within the current fiscal year. Officials believe the Pakistan–El Salvador agreement will help advance policy dialogue on sovereign digital asset frameworks, encourage public-private collaboration, and position Pakistan as a serious participant in global crypto governance. Financial analysts estimate that ongoing reforms, including the integration of virtual assets into the formal economy, could bring up to $25 billion into the country's tax net.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
UPNM and NSC partner to boost sports and academic growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) have formalised a strategic partnership to strengthen sports and academic development, particularly for national athletes and coaches. The collaboration was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI), witnessed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh during the 'Rakan Muda Turun Kampus' 2025 programme at UPNM, Kem Perdana Sungai Besi. The partnership aims to develop work-based learning (WBL) academic programmes, improving competitiveness and employability for athletes and coaches by recognising their skills and experience. Additionally, the initiative will map career pathways aligned with existing academic curricula. The LoI also provides opportunities for NSC staff, athletes, and experienced coaches without formal qualifications to pursue higher education through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Access (APEL.A) pathway. Special admission into UPNM programmes will also be offered to athletes and coaches, with further fields of collaboration to be mutually agreed upon. Hannah Yeoh highlighted that the partnership aligns with the Youth and Sports Ministry's (KBS) efforts to holistically empower the national sports ecosystem, including education. 'We want to empower students pursuing sports while helping athletes continue their studies and build careers post-retirement,' she said. The event was attended by UPNM vice-chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad and NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin. The 'Rakan Muda Turun Kampus' programme serves as a platform for students to share their aspirations and ideas on youth and sports development directly with KBS. This year, 10 editions of the programme will engage around 5,000 students, featuring interactive activities supported by Rakita radio station. This initiative reflects the Malaysia MADANI concept, emphasising trust, compassion, and youth involvement in nation-building. - Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
UPNM, NSC Partner To Strengthen Sports And Academic Development
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) today signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish a strategic partnership to strengthen sports and academic development, especially among national athletes and coaches. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, in conjunction with the sixth edition of the 'Rakan Muda Turun Kampus' 2025 programme at UPNM, Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, here. The collaboration focuses on developing work-based learning (WBL) academic programmes to enhance competitiveness and improve the employability of athletes and coaches through the recognition of their skills, experience, and expertise. bootstrap slideshow This initiative also includes mapping career pathways with existing academic curricula. In addition, the LoI opens the door for NSC staff, athletes, and experienced coaches without formal academic qualifications to pursue higher education through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Access (APEL.A) pathway Also offered are special admission opportunities into UPNM academic programmes for athletes and coaches, in addition to other fields that will be mutually agreed upon by both parties from time to time. According to Hannah, the collaboration is in line with the Youth and Sports Ministry's (KBS) efforts to empower the national sports development ecosystem holistically, including the education aspect. 'We want to empower students who want to pursue sports, while also helping athletes continue their studies and build a career after retiring from sports,' she told reporters after the event. Also present were UPNM vice-chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad and NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, El Salvador sign LoI on crypto collaboration
Bilal Bin Saqib, Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain and CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), met with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in San Salvador, marking the first-ever official meeting between a Pakistani government representative and the Salvadoran Head of State. During the meeting, Saqib and Bukele discussed El Salvador's experience as the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, and explored avenues through which Pakistan could draw on these learnings to inform its own digital asset frameworks, read an official statement released on Wednesday. A pivotal outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Bitcoin Office of El Salvador and the PCC. Pakistan's commitment to digital assets, economic innovation: meeting held 'The LoI, signed by Bilal in his capacity as CEO of the PCC, establishes a formal channel for knowledge exchange and cooperation on Bitcoin-focused initiatives. 'It lays the foundation for bilateral collaboration in areas such as public sector adoption, blockchain-based financial inclusion, and policy design for emerging economies,' read the statement. 'El Salvador's bold Bitcoin experiment has inspired governments around the world,' said SAPM Bilal Bin Saqib. 'This visit marks the beginning of a strategic relationship rooted in innovation, inclusion, and shared learning.' Meanwhile, President Bukele welcomed the engagement, praising Pakistan's stance on digital assets and reaffirming El Salvador's commitment to supporting emerging economies exploring Bitcoin as a tool for financial sovereignty. This high-level interaction comes amid Pakistan's broader shift towards structured digital asset regulation, including the launch of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) and the announcement of the country's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve earlier this year.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
University of Southampton first to set up full Indian campus in Gurugram
The University of Southampton, based in the United Kingdom, officially inaugurated its campus in Gurugram on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign university to establish a fully operational campus in India under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. The launch event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who both welcomed the development as a key moment in India's higher education reforms, according to a report by the Press Trust of India. The university had received a Letter of Intent (LoI) last year, following the UGC's guidelines for foreign higher education institutions setting up campuses in India. "This marks a momentous milestone towards internationalisation of education at home under NEP 2020, and also towards strengthening the education pillar of India-UK cooperation as envisioned in the India-UK Roadmap 2030," said Pradhan. He also praised the swift establishment of the campus, noting that it was built within a year of receiving the LoI. "University of Southampton has set up this state-of-the-art campus within a year of receiving the LoI. I am confident that the campus, with its basket of forward-looking courses and Southampton's legacy of academic excellence, will emerge as a distinguished institution shaping leaders of tomorrow," he added. Focus on STEM and global problem-solving Pradhan encouraged the university's leadership to introduce STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses at the Gurugram campus and said it should serve as a centre for addressing global challenges. "Education has been placed at the heart of India's development. Through the internationalisation of education at home, India is being envisioned as a global knowledge destination, reviving its civilisational legacy and reigniting its intellectual heritage from Pushpagiri and Nalanda to Gurugram," he said. "I invite other leading universities across the world to come to India for co-creating ecosystems of innovation, research and education," Pradhan added. Courses and global opportunities for students The Gurugram campus will provide undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that align with UK academic standards. Students will also have the opportunity to spend up to one year at the University of Southampton's campuses in the UK or Malaysia. From 2025, the campus will offer BSc programmes in Computer Science, Economics, Accounting & Finance, and Business Management. It will also provide MSc courses in Finance and International Management. Support from Haryana and UGC CM Saini expressed his support for the initiative and reiterated the state's commitment to developing Gurugram as a hub for global education and innovation. "NEP 2020 positions India as a global hub for education, research, and innovation," he said, while Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi added, "I am confident that the University of Southampton, with its legacy of academic excellence, will offer quality education in critical areas like Computer Science, Economics, International Business, and Management, contributing to India's priorities in digital innovation and global leadership." Joshi also highlighted the UGC's streamlined process for enabling such partnerships and noted that the new campus would strengthen ties between Indian and global academic communities. Diverse student body and global faculty The first intake at the Indian campus includes high-performing students from across India and countries such as the UAE and Nepal. The university plans to recruit more than 75 full-time faculty members, all of whom will meet UK academic benchmarks and undergo the University's Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. These educators bring experience from countries including the UK, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The University of Southampton boasts a global alumni network of over 290,000, including more than 1,700 from India. Many alumni are expected to support the new campus by acting as mentors and industry liaisons.
