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中华人民共和国成立七十二周年、东联成立三十周年志庆 东联第十一届会董就职曁东联社会服务基金换届 越秀第三届理事会就职典礼

HONG KONG, Oct 5, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 九龙东区各界联会(「东联」)与香港越秀各界合会(「越秀」)日前于香港龙堡国际隆重举办了庆祝中华人民共和国成立七十二周年暨东联成立三十周年志庆以及两会就职典礼。李志峰蝉联东联及东联基金会长、膺香港越秀各界合会会长,东联常务副会长颜宝云任庆国庆筹委会主席,香港越秀各界合会主席周忠信致谢辞。今年适逢东联成立三十周年志庆,中联办副主任何靖,中联办九龙工作部部长郭亨斌,环境局局长黄锦星、运输及房屋局局长陈帆、公务员事务局局长聂德权、创新及科技局局长薛永恒、政制及内地事务局局长曾国卫、财经事务及库务局局长许正宇、保安局局长邓炳强、理民政事务局局长陈积志、民政事务总署署长谢小华,东联创会会长杨孙西出席主礼,为东联、越秀新任会董会及东联社会服务基金代表颁发委任证书。行政长官林郑月娥通过视像联机致词,见证东联、越秀两会就职并发表祝贺。行政长官林郑月娥女士视频致词,向两个联会的仝人衷心致贺。东联会长、东联基金会长、越秀联合会会长--李志峰先生, JP致词。庆祝国庆筹委会主席颜宝云女士致词。林郑月娥:东联及越秀作为特区政府的坚实伙伴 将携手建设更繁荣的香港行政长官林郑月娥以视像形式见证东联、越秀两会就职并发表祝贺。她表示,中国成立七十二年一路走来并不平坦,凭着多年的努力,今时今日终于成为全球第二大经济体。近年来,国家在航天、科技、运动等领域大放异彩,并积极支持各国抗疫,尽显大国风范。今年是国家十四规划的开局之年,林郑月娥深信港人能把握十四规划纲要带来的机遇,积极参与大湾区建设,融入国家发展大局。她相信,东联及越秀作为特区政府的坚实伙伴,一定会落实贡献。由全国政协常委杨孙西博士和一班热心人士创立的东联,在过去三十年来一直致力凝聚爱国爱港力量,坚定支持特区政府施政,并推动内地同香港的经济、技术以及文化交流。在小区方面,东联更是一个积极服务社群,凝聚市民的机构。虽然东联只是成立了短短三十年,但会董会及理事会不遗余力地举办的各类活动,促进社会团结和谐及加强市民了解内地的发展。东联及越秀的各项工作均展现心系祖国、热爱香港的精神,她深信两会在新一届会董会及理事会的带领下,必定会承先启后,与特区政府携手建设更繁荣的香港。李志峰:东联未来希望达至三个「融合」- 目标融合、伙伴融合、小区融合今年是东联成立的三十周年,大会准备了东联特备短片。短片播放完毕后,李志峰发表欢迎词。他表示回望过去,无论东联经历过多少「甜酸苦辣」都已经成为历史。 香港经历了过去几年的严峻挑战和困难后,现在到了一个「重生亅的时机,所以重点是怎样规划好未来东联会务发展的方向。是次活动的大会主题是「融合同行」,亦是代表着东联的未来发展方面。东联将侧重于「三中」的目标人群,「三中」代表:中间立场、中产阶层、中青少年,这些都是香港未...

Whistle-blowers singled out by bosses should go to MOM, Tafep for help

SINGAPORE - Whistle-blowers who feel victimised, targeted or discriminated against by employers should approach the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or Singapore's employment watchdog for guidance and assistance, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon on Tuesday (Oct 5). The ministry or the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep) will then further investigate the allegations and consider enforcement action against the employer. Dr Koh was responding in Parliament to a question from Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC), who had asked what could be done with employers who fail to provide a safe environment for employees to speak up, and what recourse would employees have when faced with retaliation for reporting discrimination. "It is somewhat an unequal relationship," she said. Noting that such cases are rare, Dr Koh also told the House that the law protects employees against dismissal without just cause or excuse, including situations where they are sacked for reporting workplace discrimination. Tripartite guidelines on fair employment practices also require employers to treat all employees based on merit, at all phases of employment, he said...

BTO flat waiting times between 4 and 5 years, even with Covid-19 delays: Desmond Lee

SINGAPORE - The average waiting time for ongoing Build-to-Order (BTO) flats is between four and five years, even after taking into account delays brought about by the pandemic, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee. "Some have said that waiting times have risen to six to seven years. This is not the case," he told Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 5). "By and large, barring further unexpected developments, most flat buyers can expect to move into their flats within four to five years after booking their flats." The minister was responding to Ms Cheryl Chan (East Coast GRC), who had asked if estimated completion dates are expected to be pushed back, given the impact that Covid-19 has had on the construction sector. For BTO projects launched this year and last year, estimated waiting times range between three and 5½ years. The Hougang Citrine development, launched in August, is expected to be completed in three years, and the waiting time for Alkaff Breeze in Bidadari, launched in February, is just over three years. Garden Court @ Tengah, launched last November, has a waiting time of about 3½ years. But several projects - including Queen's Arc in Queenstown, launched in August - ar...

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Hospitality workers who stay resilient despite pandemic recognised with award

SINGAPORE - Rice cookers, pots, pans and bags of rice were not things that hotel security supervisor Suresh Kumar Govindaraju ever thought he would see in guests' luggage. But that was what happened when Amara Singapore was turned into a government quarantine facility for foreign workers in 2020. They thought that they would have to cook their own food in hotel rooms. Mr Suresh, 54, volunteered to be transferred to the Tanjong Pagar hotel from his position at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa to be part of the frontline team taking care of 250 foreign workersin quarantine. On Monday (Oct 4), he was recognised for his dedication. He is one of 69 recipients of the Employee of the Year award, given to hospitality staff who have stayed resilient amid the disruption from the pandemic. The awards are organised by the National Trades Union Congress; Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union; and Singapore Hotel Association. When asked on Monday if he was worried about catching the virus with Singapore hitting a record number of infections at the time, Mr Suresh shook his head. "Anyone I stand next to in public can have the virus, not just those in the facility. Why should I be scared of the peop...

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Team Singapore honoured in Parliament; work being done to increase cash rewards for para-athletes

SINGAPORE - Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong on Tuesday (Oct 5) moved a motion in Parliament to honour Team Singapore athletes who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. In his address, he also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to supporting and enhancing sports in Singapore at all levels, including disability sports. The issue of monetary rewards for Paralympians was in the spotlight recently after swimmer Yip Pin Xiu won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Each win will earn her a $200,000 reward, which is a fifth of the payout for an Olympic gold. Mr Tong touched on how some MPs had inquired about this disparity in Parliament. He said the private award schemes are managed by the relevant sports bodies. The Major Games Award Programme (MAP) for able-bodied athletes is managed by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), while the Athletes' Achievement Awards (AAA) for para-athletes is managed by the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC). The Tote Board is the primary sponsor for both programmes, which also feature contributions from the private sector. The award amounts offered under both schemes are raised and ...

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Career Development Plans launched for marine and offshore industry

SINGAPORE - Two Career Development Plans were launched on Tuesday (Oct 5) to attract local talent to the marine and offshore engineering industry. The plans, which are targeting drafting specialists and quality professionals, will provide a structured progression pathway in terms of wages, skills and job roles. The announcement came during the Marine Week Symposium 2021, a hybrid event regarding opportunities in the industry. Candidates under the plans will undergo pre-determined training and pick up skillsets directly relevant to their job role, boosting productivity for the industry. This also means they can receive pay that is based on their skill levels. The tiered approach will help workers progressively build up skills and experience from entry to principal-level positions, ensuring long-term career prospects in the industry. The plans were jointly announced by the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), the Association of Singapore Marine Industries, and NTUC's Electronics, Marine & Engineering Cluster. The organisations said: "The marine and offshore engineering industry contributed $3.6 billion to Singapore's gross domestic prod...

Tesla ordered to pay worker $185.9 million million for racism at plant

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Tesla lost a trial with a Black former elevator operator and must pay him US$137 million (S$185.9 million) for having turned a blind eye to racial taunts and offensive graffiti he endured at the electric car maker's northern California plant, according to the man's lawyer. Owen Diaz, a former contract worker hired at the company in 2015 through a staffing agency, was subjected to a racially hostile work environment, a jury in San Francisco decided on Monday (Oct 4), according to Lawrence Organ, a lawyer for DMr iaz. The verdict couldn't immediately be confirmed in electronic court records. Mr Diaz's case marked a rare instance in which Tesla, which typically uses mandatory arbitration to resolve employee disputes, had to defend itself in a courtroom trial in public. The company almost never loses workplace arbitrations, though it was hit with a US$1 million award in May in a case brought by another ex-worker that was similar to Mr Diaz's. The trial's outcome could embolden shareholder activists who have pushed Tesla's board, so far without success, to adopt more transparency about its use of arbitration to resolve complaints about sexual harassment and racial...

Battery giants face skills gap that could jam electric highway

SEOUL (REUTERS) - The South Korean battery giants powering many of the world's electric vehicles face a skills shortage that could drag on the global race towards zero-emissions transport. The country's three major players, which command a third of the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market, told Reuters they were all grappling with a shortage of research and engineering specialists as demand for the technology balloons. LG Energy Solution (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI all rank in the top-six global battery makers, and supply the likes of Tesla, Volkswagen and Ford Motor among others. Yet they are facing growing demands from big automakers and can't find enough technicians with the training needed to keep advancing cutting-edge tech such as solid-state batteries. "Although we are seeing such a growth in the industry, it appears that we are facing a shortage of talent," an official at LGES said. "It is crucial to recruit external talents as well as nurturing our own talent." This was echoed by its two big domestic rivals, with SK On describing the sector's expansion as "exponential". Indeed the global battery sector has doubled in size over the past five years and South Korea ...

Facebook is weaker than we knew

NEW YORK (NYTIMES) - One possible way to read The Facebook Files, The Wall Street Journal's excellent series of reports based on leaked internal Facebook research, is as a story about an unstoppable juggernaut bulldozing society on its way to the bank. The series has exposed damning evidence that Facebook has a two-tier justice system, that it knew Instagram was worsening body-image issues among girls and that it had a bigger vaccine misinformation problem than it let on, among other issues. And it would be easy enough to come away thinking that Facebook is terrifyingly powerful, and can be brought to heel only with aggressive government intervention. But there is another way to read the series, and it is the interpretation that has reverberated louder inside my brain as each new instalment has landed. Which is: Facebook is in trouble. Not financial trouble, or legal trouble, or even senators-yelling-at-chief-executive-Mark-Zuckerberg trouble. What I am talking about is a kind of slow, steady decline that anyone who has ever seen a dying company up close can recognise. It is a cloud of existential dread that hangs over an organisation whose best days are behind it, influencing ever...

Chinese property developer Fantasia misses debt payments

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Another Chinese developer fell into crisis on Monday (Oct 4) after failing to repay a maturing bond, adding to the strains of the nation's heavily leveraged property firms following industry giant China Evergrande Group's debt woes. Fantasia Holdings Group did not repay a US$205.7 million (S$279 million) bond that was due on Monday, according to a company statement. Separately, property management company Country Garden Services Holdings said that a unit of Fantasia did not repay a 700 million yuan (S$147.4 million) loan that also came due on Monday and that a default was probable. Prices on the builder's bonds tumbled earlier on Monday as speculation mounted that it would struggle to meet its obligations. The company's 6.95 per cent of US dollar-denominated notes due in December plunged nearly 30 US cents on the dollar to 38 US cents, according to the bond-price reporting system Trace. Shenzhen-headquartered Fantasia's management and board "will assess the potential impact on the financial condition and cash position of the Group" stemming from the skipped bond payment, it said. Country Garden Services announced an agreement last month to acquire the propert...

Oil jumps above US$81 to 3-year peak with Opec+ sticking to output increase

BENGALURU (REUTERS) - Oil jumped to a three-year peak on Monday (Oct 4) after Opec+ confirmed it would stick to its current output policy as demand for petroleum products rebounds, despite pressure from some countries for a bigger boost to production. The producer club's decision to keep increasing oil output gradually sent prices sharply higher, adding to inflationary pressures that consuming nations fear will derail an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Opec+ agreed in July to boost output by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month until at least April next year to phase out 5.8 million bpd of existing production cuts. Brent crude settled up US$1.98, or 2.5 per cent, to US$81.26 a barrel. It rose 1.5 per cent last week for a fourth consecutive weekly gain, and was back up to highs last seen in 2018. US oil settled up US$1.74, or 2.3 per cent, to US$77.62 a barrel after gaining for the past six weeks, and was at its highest since 2014. "Given the demand picture and the outcome of the Opec meeting, the overall sentiment around crude is bullish," said Mr John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Demand for coal and natural gas has exceeded pre-Covid-19 h...

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Ashley Black’s FasciaBlaster, America’s #1 Beauty Tool, Launches Into Australian Markets

SYDNEY, Oct 5, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Ashley Black is a sought-after entrepreneur who has given three decades to the beauty industry and aced her game in tissue regeneration. One of the fastest-growing private companies in America is finally expanding into Australia. See official Australian website which includes local shipping across the country.The beauty industry has endured constant growth, notably after people became more aware of how important it is to maintain their health in a holistic and natural approach, especially after they start ageing. This led to the rise of many brands and businesses that promised to help women and others with the best of beauty tools, services and solutions to guide them on a path to achieve their desired goals. However, only a few have been able to deliver on their promises. However, one in particular has grown to become a trusted household name across America. The 'FasciaBlaster' is listed as America's #1 beauty tool.Ashley Black can't emphasize enough that tissue regeneration is real and it is peer-reviewed and public science. Explaining it in simple terms, Ashley Black says that the FasciaBlaster tools are rubbed off on the ...

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Habitat for Humanity Report: Construction is Vast Source of Jobs in Emerging Markets

ATLANTA, GA, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The construction industry -- led by homebuilding -- is a large, often-overlooked source of jobs in emerging market economies, according to a report (https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/A-Ladder-Up_Report.pdf) released today by Habitat for Humanity to mark World Habitat Day. Every $1 million in construction output creates an average of 97 jobs in emerging markets, economists at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, and the University of Washington found in the report commissioned by Habitat for Humanity's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter. That compares to 81 jobs created per $1 million in agricultural output and 96 jobs per $1 million in output in the accommodation and food services sector, according to the report, which focuses on 9 countries: Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and Uganda. Graphics below."Investment in residential construction represents a potential win-win-win in emerging markets because it creates such a large number of jobs locally, helps close stubborn gaps in affordable housing and stimulates...

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NFTGO.io Announces the Launch of Its Comprehensive NFT Data Aggregator Platform

Dubai, UAE, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - NFTGO.io has announced the launch of its comprehensive NFT data platform with attractive features. Nowadays, NFT(non-fungible tokens) has penetrated almost every industry. Based on blockchain technique, virtual assets have gained much attention by their uniqueness, indivisibility, rarity, and verifiability in areas like gaming, art, sports, media & entertainment, etc.- When people first enter this virtual world, some questions are frequently asked:- How to discover the most trendy & valuable NFT? How to purchase NFT easily?- What is the market trend of NFT? How to know the return on investment?- How to evaluate my NFT assets?All these questions could be well answered on NFTGO.Building "The gateway to the NFT ecosystem" and revolutionizing the NFT marketplace, this is why NFTGO, a professional and user-friendly NFT data aggregator, is designed and launched.Here are some of the top features that are recommend from NFTGO.io to help users before start the NFT journey. NFT Liquidity Whales Tracking Listing Powerful Search Engine NFT ContractsFeature #1: NFT LiquidityNFTGO collects and visualizes real-time data on NFT t...

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Bounty Sports Enter into Agreement with SCCG

LAS VEGAS, NV, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Bounty Sports, the first North American provider of paid fantasy pick'em, has entered into a partnership with SCCG Management to bring their platform, previously only available to Canadians, into the United States. Bounty has committed significant investment to expanding their peer-to-peer platform as a fan engagement tool to average sports fans, supported by SCCG Management and its network of key partnerships.Bounty Sports hosts contests where fans compete against other fans in daily contests with the goal of picking winning teams. Users earn points for correct selections, where top ranking individuals win cash prizes. This user-friendly platform engages average fans who have grown tired of the costly and time-consuming traditional fantasy sports models. Bounty Sports provides a fun online community for users to connect with other sports fans, without significant cost and time commitments.Jess Hodgson, CEO of Bounty Sports said, "Whether it's online or at the office, you see the same few people winning traditional fantasy sports pools. Pros are making a lot of money off average fans, who spend countless hours building...

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Trident Financial Planning Joins Connectus, Further Expanding Connectus’ Footprint in the United Kingdom

NEW YORK, NY, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Focus Financial Partners Inc. (NASDAQ: FOCS) ("Focus"), a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, announced today that Trident Financial Planning Limited ("Trident") has been acquired by Connectus Wealth Advisers ("Connectus"). Trident is a boutique chartered financial planning and wealth management firm headquartered in Berkshire, England with a satellite office in East Lothian, Scotland. Founded in 2010 by Vincent Reeves, Duncan Forbes and Andrew Wagstaff, Trident provides customized wealth management and financial planning advice to individuals and families throughout the United Kingdom. Through a high touch, personalized service model for clients across all phases of their financial lives, Trident has established long-standing and loyal multi-generational relationships."We are very excited to announce our partnership with Connectus," said Vincent Reeves, Founder and Director of Trident. "This is the next step in the evolution of our firm, and we are pleased to be gaining a strategic partner who appreciates our entrepreneurial and client-centric mindset. Similarly, we look forward to ga...

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Mitsubishi Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation, and Sembcorp Industries Sign MOU to Explore Supply Chain Commercialization of Decarbonized Hydrogen

TOKYO, Oct 4, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is pleased to announce today's signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chiyoda Corporation (Chiyoda) and Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp), to explore the feasibility and implementation of a commercial-scale, decarbonized hydrogen supply chain in Singapore. The business will take advantage of Chiyoda's proven hydrogen storage and transportation technology, "SPERA Hydrogen". Singapore's Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) aspires to halve emissions from the country's expected 2030 peak to 33 million tons of CO2 equivalent by 2050, with a goal to achieve net-zero emissions as soon as possible in the second half of the century. Singapore has positioned the introduction of hydrogen and low-carbon technologies as significant initiatives to achieve this goal. By promoting such initiatives, Singapore is aiming to transition to an enhanced energy system that balances environmental and economic considerations with reliability and sustainability. In May, 2021, the Japanese Government announced the Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI) that aims to support the achievement of sustain...

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Pacer Ventures announces Pacer Labs, Pan-African software development firm

LAGOS, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Sub-Saharan Africa venture firm Pacer Ventures is set to further unlock the power of digital transformation in Africa with the launch of Pacer Labs, a software development firm born to support the African digital ecosystem and the growth of forward-looking organisations by harnessing the power of advanced technologies.Projections indicate that Africa will be the world's next tech talent center due to the emerging mobile population. This in turn inspires Pacer Labs' confidence for the future market in Africa, positioning them at the forefront of the push towards maximising the tech talent of the African economy.Ray Sharma, Chairman, Pacer Labs and Founder, Extreme Venture Partners and XtremeLabs, says "Pacer Labs aims to become Africa's leading software development firm as measured by sales and employees by 2025, leveraging the success of XtremeLabs and a soon-to-be-announced global partner for the success of Pacer Labs and its customers. Africa has risen. Pacer Labs is set to help deliver efficiency and digital transformation."The true acceleration potential of the African continent lies in the rapid spread of mobile digital t...

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Aoxin Q & M acquires 49% stake in Acumen Diagnostics for S$29.4m

SINGAPORE, Oct 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Aoxin Q & M Dental Group Ltd (SGX: 1D4.SI) ("Aoxin Q & M") and Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX: QC7.SI) ("Q & M"), announced today that Aoxin Q & M will acquire 49% of Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("Acumen Diagnostics") for a consideration of S$29.4 million. Acumen Diagnostics has a preliminary valuation of S$60 million.Diagram 1: Shareholdings upon completion of acquisition of Acumen Diagnostics by Aoxin Q & MAcquisition & ValuationAoxin Q & M has entered into a conditional sale and purchase deed with Acumen Diagnostics' shareholders, Dr Ong Siew Hwa and Acumen Holdings Pte. Ltd., to acquire their 49% shareholding in Acumen Diagnostics.The preliminary valuation of Acumen Diagnostics (upon completion of a restructuring exercise involving Acumen Research Laboratories Pte. Ltd.) is S$60 million, derived based on the latest financial statements of Acumen Diagnostics, taking into account the earnings and growth prospects of its business.The purchase consideration for the shares is S$29.4 million, to be satisfied by way of the allotment and issuance of new ordinary shares in the capit...

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Hitachi Establishes a New Corporate Venture Capital Fund to Expand Strategic Investments in the Environment and Healthcare

TOKYO, Oct 4, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced that it established a second fund for Hitachi Ventures (HV), the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Hitachi. The second fund will make strategic investments in innovative startups, particularly in the growth fields of environment and healthcare, which are part of Hitachi's key business focus areas.Hitachi established HV in 2019 and launched the first fund(1), which has been investing in innovative startups with digital technologies and new business models in Hitachi's business sectors. To date, HV has initiated investments in 11 startups in the areas of industrial AI/IoT, data management / computing, digital healthcare, and life sciences. Through these investments, Hitachi is promoting innovation by leveraging its assets and capabilities to develop new markets and propose new solutions. In recognition of these activities, Stefan Gabriel, CEO of HV, was selected as the Top 25 in the GCV Powerlist 2021(2), which identifies outstanding CVC entrepreneurs.With the aim of accelerating innovation in the environmental and healthcare fields, where Hitachi is focusing its efforts, Hitachi no...